In the Congress, the power that Song Biao controlled as emperor was not limited to the Guangfuhui. The New Deal Power Congress and the Constitutional Congress all had some of his candidates.

The New Deal Powerhouse was dominated by new officials left over from the previous dynasty. Song Biao himself was one of the founders of the New Deal Powerhouse, and the other two important founders were Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai.

The composition of the Constituent Assembly was the most complex, with the centralist faction represented by Zhang Jian and the local autonomy faction represented by gentry from other places. The main body was business gentry from various places, such as Zhang Bishi, Yu Qiaqing, Zhu Baosan, Qu Benqiao, Qiao Jingyan, Sun Yat-sen and others.

Mei Tang and others attended the National Assembly in the name of members of the Constitutional Council.

Although Liang Qichao's Reform and Progressive Association has nothing to say, it is basically consistent with the Liberation Association in terms of philosophy. It emphasizes centralization, constitutional monarchy and enlightened democracy. There is no problem in fully supporting the imperialist faction. At the moment, it is just trying desperately to win in the cabinet government and Congress.

Just looking for a location.

On June 10, 1911, Ouyang Geng, who was the foreign minister of the cabinet government, and Chen Qicai, chief of staff of the Northeast Army of the Central Army, signed the Sino-Japanese Armistice Treaty with the Japanese government in Pyongyang on behalf of the central government.

Before Song Biao left Pyongyang, he had already reached an agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Saionji Konomo on the Korean Peninsula issue on the principle of "separating the north and the south and jointly supervising administration." The only point of dispute was whether the capital of North Korea should stay in Seoul or move to Pyongyang.

This question is actually related to the question of which of the two countries, China and Japan, will directly control North Korea.

In the end, China gave in and agreed to keep the North Korean capital in Seoul, while the CSKA retained a regiment of troops in the north of Seoul, and Japan also retained a regiment. The two countries' forces in Korea were bounded by the Han River, and the garrison was also bounded by this.

The total number of troops stationed in North Korea by both sides cannot exceed 30,000.

The concession made by Japan was to agree to divide the Western Ryukyu Islands to China, with the Miyako Strait as the boundary between the two sides, and the remaining terms were to be in accordance with the agreement before Song Biao left Pyongyang.

Since the Sino-Japanese Armistice Treaty and the Sino-Japanese Commerce Treaty of 1911 were negotiated together, after the signing of the Sino-Japanese Armistice Treaty, the Sino-Japanese Commerce Treaty continued to be formally signed in Pyongyang on June 14, 1911.

In the Armistice Treaty, Japan gave up all its privileges in China

and concession, the two countries re-signed a new trade treaty to protect Sino-Japanese economic and trade, stipulating that Japan's international trading ports in China enjoy commercial and trade rights, while China enjoys equal commercial and trade rights in Japan's international trading ports, and each other has the right to invest in each other's country, and

Enjoy all rights within the legal jurisdiction of the other country.

Unlike Japan, China generally welcomes foreign investment and the influx of foreign capital. Whether it is British capital, American capital, French capital, Japanese capital, or Russian capital, as long as they are willing to abide by the relevant laws of China, they can invest in China.

Invest freely.

After the signing of the Sino-Japanese Armistice Treaty, China banned foreign privileges as a victorious country for the first time in the 19th and 20th centuries. Domestically, Song Biao's reputation as emperor naturally increased.

Taking advantage of such a favorable opportunity, members of the Imperial Party within the National Assembly took the opportunity to adjust some provisions of the draft provisional constitution. On July 1, 1911, the "First Constitution of the Chinese Empire" was officially adopted. The provisions of the "First Constitution" were very

It was beneficial to the emperor. It not only formally recognized the emperor's supreme military power and command power in legal terms, but also continued to grant the emperor political power.

The training regime is a very powerful thing. With this power, the emperor can dissolve Congress and remove the government cabinet at any time. In special situations such as war, turmoil, and division, the emperor also has the right to reorganize a temporary cabinet based on the training regime.

In addition, the military and intelligence agencies in the central cabinet government are also under the direct supervision of the emperor. They also have the power to appoint the highest official of the central court.

In short, among the various constitutional monarchy empires in the first decade of the 20th century, the Russian Czar had the highest real power, followed closely by the Chinese Emperor. The third was the Kaiser, while the Japanese Emperor actually had no real power.

It's just that his status is extremely high and he has the collective fanatical allegiance of the entire national and military class.

The difference with the Tsar is that the members of the Russian Duma were all aristocrats appointed by the Tsar, while Song Biao, as the emperor of the Chinese Empire, only had less than 1/3 of the direct appointment power of the total number of members of the Congress, that is, he was "selected" on average in each province.

"On the basis of two members of parliament, the emperor has the right to "elect" one more member of parliament by province. In the central government, the emperor has the right to decide 5 senior members, 7 army members, and 3 navy members.

But compared to the Kaiser, the actual power of the Emperor of the Chinese Empire was definitely much greater.

After the "First Constitution of the Empire" was formally voted by the Congress, Song Biao also confirmed that he would officially ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor on July 15. Before that, he began to move to live inside the Forbidden City.

Song Biao's plan was to establish a new Kyoto District in Fangshan County and Daxing County, south of Beijing, as the general residence of the central government, military, intelligence agencies and other national social institutions, while Beijing was the nominal capital and not the capital.

Actually undertakes too many political tasks.

It's just that it can't be moved temporarily. It costs money to build a new capital, and the central government already owes a lot of debt. Although Song Biao can pay for the construction of the palace himself, it will take six or seven years to start.

Built.

Tongzhou is definitely not suitable for the central government and the imperial court to stay for a long time. During this period, the internal purge of the capital had been completed. Song Biao finally decided to make Zhongnanhai the permanent residence of the imperial court. He and his family lived in the original regent's palace, in Zhonghai

Conduct official business in the region.

Because he was determined not to move into the Forbidden City, Tang Shaoyi racked his brains to expand the original walls of the Regent's Palace, and included Ziguang Pavilion and Shiying Palace into the imperial palace. He continued to demolish Prince Qing's Palace to expand it, and expanded Ziguang Pavilion to include the east and west pavilions.

, Shiying Palace was expanded into Xuanzheng Garden, and the original unfinished Regent's Palace was also completed and renamed the West Courtyard. The newly expanded and newly built Ziguang Pavilion, Xuanzheng Garden, and Yufeng Garden were collectively called the East Courtyard.

After the expansion, Ziguang Pavilion was the centralized office area of ​​the General Administration of the Imperial Palace, as well as a more formal place for receiving foreign guests. Xuanzheng Garden was where Song Biao worked daily, and Yufeng Garden was the landscape garden next to Zhonghai.

One month before he officially ascended the throne on July 15, Song Biao's family moved to Zhonghai Xiting. The central cabinet government had already moved to Nanhai and surrounding areas as early as the beginning of the year. Congress held a temporary meeting in Yuyuantan, and everything was ready.

Just waiting to officially ascend the throne,

The first chief of the inner court of the General Administration of the Interior was Yuan Jinkai, the chief of the inner court guards was Zhang Futian, and the chief ceremonial officer of the inner court was Zhang Binglin.

All the preparation work had been done. After Foreign Minister Ouyang Geng returned, after negotiating with the ministers of various countries, and with Song Biao's consent, he made arrangements in advance for the ministers of several major powers to formally meet the emperor in advance.

In terms of specific ranking, because Russia sent Grand Duke Mikhail to Beijing in person to congratulate Song Biao on his ascension to the throne, he was naturally ranked first, followed by German Foreign Minister Vaughan Hardonen in second place, and British Minister Zhu Erdian.

The Jazz ranked third, followed by the United States and France.

Even this ranking is already very respectful of Britain. After all, the Grand Duke and the Foreign Secretary arrived in Beijing in person, and they were the special envoys of the Russian Emperor and the Kaiser.

After spending two days alone to meet with Archduke Mikhail and the German Foreign Minister, Song Biao met with Sir Juldian in the morning of the third day. In the afternoon, he met with the Rock Hill Special Envoy sent by US President William Taft, and again in the evening.

Meeting with the French Minister.

Xuanzheng Garden is a new garden built after the Qing Prince's Mansion was demolished. As usual, it has the Imperial Study Room, Yihua Hall, Zizheng Pavilion, Privy Council Hall, Chamber of Servants' Hall, Reception Hall, Conference Hall and West Flower Hall. Because the land is limited, the layout is relatively simple.

Compact. In the end, the Yufeng Garden, which was designed separately, was squeezed onto the lake in Zhonghai and built near the lake.

Song Biao personally consulted on the design of this Xuanzheng Garden. It was relatively in line with his requirements. The Imperial Study Room and Yihua Hall were connected to each other. Song Biao usually handled some official business in the Imperial Study Room, and went to Yihe Pavilion to rest in his free time.

During the afternoon nap, the Zizheng Cabinet is used to handle more formal matters, such as meeting with cabinet officials.

Because the schedule was very tight, Song Biao arranged the meeting very early. After breakfast in the morning, he walked to the Zizheng Pavilion in Qingfeng Garden accompanied by Zhang Futian. Minister Zhu Erdian came even more than the Song Emperor.

Much earlier, waiting in the living room early in the morning.

Although the actual power was between the Tsar and the Kaiser. The Song Emperor did not have many close ministers around him, which was far from being comparable to the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Secretariat of the General Administration of the Inner Court was still the closest to him, and Chen Qimei was still a good person.

Because of his talent, Song Biao also made an exception and promoted him as the new director of the Secretariat. The entire Secretariat works in the Privy Council Chamber.

Song Biao went directly to the imperial study room. Yesterday he met with Grand Duke Michael and German Foreign Minister Hadorning here. Continuing to receive the British minister here is not considered a courtesy.

After the chamberlain had finished all the preparations, the first chamberlain Jiang Zuobin led Minister Zhu Erdian into the imperial study.

Entering the imperial study, Zhu Erdian stepped forward and bowed. He presented a diplomatic letter from the British Prime Minister, congratulating the Song Emperor in advance on his ascension to the throne in the name of the government. After receiving the letter, Song Biao asked Jiang Zuobin to give Zhu Erdian a chair.

The specifications are still the same as in the past. The minister enjoys a lower-grade mahogany chair with armrests.

At this time, Zhu Erdian still failed to reach an agreement with the Imperial Foreign Minister Ouyang Geng on the Sino-British issue, and he was not very sure. The so-called personal friendship between him and His Majesty the Emperor now seems to have turned into spring mud and was destroyed by the war.

Has no value whatsoever.

Sir Juldian sat down respectfully and said: "Your Majesty the Imperial Emperor, please allow me to express my congratulations to you on behalf of the Prime Minister of the British Empire, His Excellency Herbert Asquith, and at the same time express to you the Prime Minister's hope for further expansion between the two countries.

Wishes for friendship and cooperation.”

Song Biao nodded slightly and said: "China and Britain are both one of the largest empires in the world. The cooperation between the two countries plays a very vital role in the stability of the world. I hope so too."

What he said was purely polite. Now even the devil knows that China and Germany have a very close relationship. It can also be said that they are wandering between the Russo-French Alliance and Germany and Austria. It is still unknown which side they will fall to, but it is absolutely

Nothing will happen to Britain.

Sir Juldian certainly knew this very well, but no one could reveal these things.

There are really too many problems between China and the UK. China demands that Britain give up all its privileges in China except the Hong Kong colony and give up the Boxer Indemnity. Britain is absolutely unacceptable.

Of course, Song Biao and Foreign Minister Ouyang Geng also knew that it was impossible for countries such as Britain, France, Russia, and Germany to give up their privileges in China. However, the reason why they wanted to formally raise the matter with other countries so forcefully was to make full use of the Sino-Japanese Revolution.

The influence of the war is used to maximize national interests and reduce the privileges of various countries in China through negotiations as much as possible.

After thinking about it, Song Biao simply stood up and walked into the hall. Sir Zhu Erdian also stood up in a hurry and saluted to accompany him.

Song Biao slightly raised his hand to signal Sir Zhu Erdian to accompany him to the garden on the west side. On the side of the Royal Bookstore was the Yihua Hall where Song Biao had a lunch break. On the west side was a rockery garden with an enclosed corridor with glass windows.

Song Biao stopped in this corridor, and asked someone to prepare a coffee table and a wicker chair. He sat here and watched the scenery, lit a cigarette, and provided Sir Zhu Erdian with a box of cigars and a pot of Keemun black tea, saying:

"Our country is a country of etiquette. There is an old saying that 'you are a guest when you enter the door.' According to the truth, since you have come to congratulate me on my enthronement and official proclaiming as emperor, I naturally have to be more polite to you.

I won't say anything unpleasant, but if that's the case, we can't talk about anything serious. If we want to talk about friends, you and I can be considered friends, so I won't hide it from you. Let's just talk about what we have to say.

Regarding the invitations from Germany, France and other countries to our country for further cooperation or even alliance, my answer is the same. Who is willing to give up all unfair privileges in China first and sign a contract with our country?

If you want to sign a treaty of friendship, which country will we start comprehensive cooperation with first? As an old friend, I can tell you, and I also allow you to tell the Prime Minister of your country. It is very simple. If the United Kingdom takes this step first, I can

Ensure that the UK's advantages and benefits from cooperation with our country are much higher than before. Of course, I know that the UK is unwilling to give up its so-called privileges, and I am thinking of ways to differentiate.

Look at our country and think of ways to keep our country subservient to Britain and become a stepping stone for Britain's world dominance. Then my only choice is to borrow 100 million pounds from Germany for military expenses, and wait until Britain actually goes to war with Germany.

, my only choice is to use two million troops to sweep across Asia, fight from the Shanghai Concession and Hong Kong all the way to Singapore, and then detour through Central Asia and hit India."

Speaking of this, he thought of a famous saying. At this moment, he really felt the same way. He reminded Minister Zhu Erdian seemingly plainly: "The Chinese are a little poor, but they are not afraid of death in a war. China is a little weak, but at least there are still

There are 400 million people. As long as someone is willing to use guns and cannons, an army of 10 million can still be organized... It’s just an army of 10 million. With so many people, there is no big problem. At least I can do it."

Minister Zhu Erdian was frightened. He would rather Emperor Song not regard him as a friend and not say such true things. In other words, he believed that Emperor Song might be able to organize an army of ten million if he was really ruthless.

Not to mention anything else, during the Sino-Japanese War of 1911, the Northeast Army included militiamen, and wasn't the total mobilization of civilians close to three million people?

China has too many people and too large an area. As long as an emperor like Song Biao comes and dares to make a decision to fight a decisive battle with foreign countries, no country will really dare to blindly fight. After all, this is not as simple as Japan. This is a country with a vast territory.

And a country with a population of 400 million.

Song Biao finished what he wanted to say and looked at the scenery outside the window indifferently. He was smoking a cigarette without much expression, but his will was so firm that he could not be questioned by others.

What can Minister Zhu Erdian say?
To be continued...