Yingtai in Zhongnanhai.

The setting sun of late spring is still on the waist of the Western Mountain, and the place is already brightly lit; the once deserted hall is suddenly decorated with tables and chairs for a banquet: the lights are feasting, the food is fragrant, and the dignitaries invited to accompany them are filing in, laughing and cheering.

, around the courtyard: Vice President Li Yuanhong, a figure who rarely appears in the capital, is also full of joy today, holding the hand of Acting Prime Minister Sun Baozhi, as if there are endless military and national events to talk about; Speaker of the Political Council Li Jingxi

After exchanging pleasantries with Sun Yujun, the chairman of the convention, he sat silently in a corner.

After Li Jingxi sat down, he found Yang Du sitting alone and silent, so he walked over to chat with him: the most busy and uncertain person was Liang Shiyi, the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office. Obviously, he was socializing as a host. When night fell,

President Yuan Shikai walked in accompanied by a man who was slightly older than him. Everyone present stood up to welcome him. This man was Xu Shichang, whom Yuan Shikai planned to appoint as Secretary of State.

Xu Shichang, who had just reached his sixtieth year, was obviously old. His not tall body was a bit hunched, his temples had silver threads, and his eyes were a bit sunken. The short beard around his lips was neatly trimmed. He was not because of that.

"The Republic of China" felt disappointed. He walked lightly, smiled all over his face, and frequently greeted people with fists in his hands, asking questions or greetings. Naturally, those eyes revolved around him.

"Everyone, take your seats, take your seats!"

Liang Shiyi shouted loudly.

At a long dining table in the middle, Yuan Shikai took the main seat, Xu Shichang took the guest seat, everyone took their seats one by one, and the feast just started.

After everyone sat down, Yuan Shikai raised his glass and said with a smile to everyone.

"Everyone, everyone, we are gathered together today to pay homage to our old prime minister, His Excellency Xu Buwu. Buwu worked tirelessly to come to the capital from Qingdao on the coast of the East China Sea to gather with you and reminisce about the past. We should raise a toast to him."

Everyone stood up, raised their glasses together, and said greetings in unison.

"Good old Prime Minister and good country"

Xu Shichang was an associate minister in the former Qing cabinet, so he was called Xiangguo. He and Yuan Shikai had been friends for more than 30 years.

After the Revolution of 1911, with the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the emperor's associate cabinet minister lived in seclusion in Qingdao, adhering to the "three no's" principle of not serving as an official in the Republic of China, not cutting his braids, and not receiving honors from the Republic of China. In the second year of the Republic of China,

In December, a ceremony was held in Beijing to enshrine the Chongling Mausoleum of Emperor Dezong. Xu Shichang also hurried to Beijing to participate in the "national mourning" without "country".

So someone asked him.

"Old Xiangguo, your old friend has been elected as the official president. On the day of his inauguration, he even awarded you an honorary title. This is the highest honor of the Republic of China. Are you here to receive the honorary title?"

Xu Shichang smiled lightly and shook his head.

"I have the Three Nos. This trip is to attend the transfer ceremony of the late emperor. Maybe I stopped by to see an old friend and express my congratulations to him."

That time, Xu Shichang left without even looking at his old friend.

A few months ago, after being elected as the president, President Yuan wanted to change the State Council to the Secretary of State. So he remembered this old friend and sent his student Wang Yitang to Qingdao to persuade him, which led to this Yingtai feast.

After a few rounds of drinking, Yuan Shikai picked up his wine glass, left his seat, came to Xu Shichang, and called Xu the nickname that only their literary friends used to call him.

"Brother Juren, how about we join hands again and fight on the same rope?"

Xu Shichang picked up the cup and still smiled lightly.

"Juren is old and has failed to meet the expectations of the public."

"You will strengthen the country and the people will look forward to you."

"Looking forward to me?"

Xu Shichang shook his head.

"I am returning lazily from the Jade Tower and the Golden Tower, and I am drunk in Luoyang by planting plum blossoms. Come on, come on. Over the years, I have become accustomed to everything. I have written thousands of poems and drank thousands of cups of wine. How many times have I set my sights on the princes? Everyone, drink, drink."

Yang Du, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly felt something in his heart.

"Ah? Does this musty old prime minister really want to imitate Zhu Xizhen and love the mountains and rivers? Sure enough, it is a smart move."

At today's banquet, Yang Du was quite depressed. He made up his mind to say nothing like Xu Shu did when he entered Cao Ying. Is there anything he can say?

After the Republic of China, Yang Du believed that everything was not a reform. He turned his heart to Yuan Xiangcheng and devoted all his efforts to realize a new world. He had no intention of being on equal footing with Yuan. He was only determined to be a good "internal assistant" who assisted Yuan.

He is a "prime minister" who is famous for his accomplishments but is also inconspicuous. He has always regarded himself as prime minister in Zhongnanhai. Unexpectedly, after Yuan Shikai became the official president, the lack of prime minister did not favor him, but

The three invitations and four invitations must be entrusted to the associate ministers of the cabinet of the Qing Dynasty.

Faced with this situation, Yang Du became disheartened. If he had not been forced to do so, he would not have attended such a banquet. He originally thought that the result of this banquet would be that Yuan Shikai would drag Xu Shichang down in public.

If he came out, he would have to be promoted to the position of "Secretary of State"; but Xu Shichang must have half-assed it, creating an unchangeable fact.

Now, Yuan Shikai did not change his original intention and begged again and again, but that Xu Buwu really didn't want to come out. Especially after he clearly recited Zhu Dunru's "Partridges Can Fly to the West". A heavy stone finally settled in his heart.

Landed. Zhu Dunru, courtesy name Xizhen, was a Jinshi in Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty. He was promoted to a doctor in the Ministry of Military Affairs and moved to Zhejiang and Zhejiang to serve as a prison. During the Jingkang disaster, he left officialdom and lived a life of seclusion. He never served as an official again.

.Xu Shichang borrowed his words, which obviously meant to apply the law. Yang Du finally picked up the cup, came to Xu Shichang, and toasted him respectfully.

The person with the same problem as Yang Du is Li Jingxi, the Speaker of the Political Conference. The former governor of Yunnan and Guizhou who once led the petition to the imperial court for the establishment of a constitution and convened the National Assembly, this time he became the Speaker of the Political Conference and made up his mind to win the "prime" position. Li Jingxi's Political Conference

He indeed made great contributions to President Yuan's legislation. Just when he was waiting eagerly for the chancellor, he also discovered that Yuan Shikai favored Xu Shichang instead of him.

After Yang Du finished the toast, Li Jingxi walked towards Xu Shichang with a smile on his face. At least now it can be concluded that Xu Shuchang has no intention of "showing off". In this case, he can't act too petty.

At this moment, Army Deputy Chief Xu Shuzheng came over in a hurry and shouted.

"President!"

Then a military salute was performed. Since the establishment of the "Army and Navy Generalissimo Command Office", Army Chief Duan Qirui, who was actually demoted to the next "clerk" of the Generalissimo Office, is no longer a director, and Xu Shuzheng has acted as Army Chief.

For a time, all the governors of provinces and divisions knew that Xu Shuzheng was in the Ministry of War, and all telegrams and letters were sent to Xu Shuzheng. Even the president was thrown aside by him.

The reason why Xu Shuzheng chose to come to Yingtai suddenly at this time today was just because he received a telegram from Jiangsu an hour ago. After receiving the telegram, he hesitated for a while and sent someone to Duan.

When Qi Rui sent it, he also personally sent it to the president. He knew that the president was dissatisfied with him, so he could not let him pick an excuse to "delay the military plane."

"Oh, it's Youzheng! What's the matter?"

As soon as he saw the visitor, Yuan Shikai said lukewarmly that he had never had a good impression of Xu Shuzheng, especially since Xu Shuzheng was also known as the "Soul of Hefei". It could be said...

"The President, Han, Chief of the Jiangsu Army Staff Department, called earlier!"

As he spoke, Xu Shuzheng raised his hands and handed the telegram from the Jiangsu Army Staff to Yuan Shikai. Xu Shuzheng was not good at communication, and when he spoke, he was also lukewarm.

Looking at this scene, Yang Du and others couldn't help but shake their heads. Birds of a feather really flock together. Duan Zhiquan has this kind of temperament, and so does his Hefei soul.

"Jiangsu Army..."

Listening to these four words, Yuan Shikai frowned. Who was the biggest winner in the second revolution last year? On the surface, it was Yuan Shikai. After all, he took the opportunity to drive away the revolutionary party and force it to go into exile. In fact, in Jiangsu,

, the biggest winner is him, Li Zhiyuan.

Cheng Dequan, the governor of Jiangsu Province, ignored the military affairs of Jiangsu Province, which all came from the Jiangsu Army Staff Department. The purpose of appointing Han Wu as the chief of staff was to divide the Jiangsu Army Army into groups and provoke internal discord. But who would have thought that the other two divisions would have been taken over long ago?

He, Li Zhiyuan, was "bought". A few months ago last year, Li Zhiyuan was just a businessman. At most, he was carrying the hat of Huaihai Economic Envoy. But now, he is carrying the hat of Huaihai Economic Envoy, holding a hand in his sleeve.

Following the Jiangsu Army's banner.

What story did Li Zhiyuan come up with?

Thinking in his mind, Yuan Shikai frowned and took the telegram. At the same time, he was secretly wary. Ever since he found out that Li Zhiyuan controlled the Jiangsu Army last year, he had been thinking about his history of dealing with him.

It's not a big deal if it doesn't add up. If it does, he'll be shocked.

When fighting against Li Zhiyuan, Yuan Shikai never took any advantage at all. Even if he tried to stumble and set traps, in the end, Li Zhiyuan still took advantage of him. He still had to be cautious when dealing with Li Zhiyuan, otherwise he would accidentally

The trap you set for him might become your own trap, just like now.

Looking at the contents of the telegram, Yuan Shikai was stunned. This telegram was eloquent and contained as many as a thousand words.

"President Junjian:

Mongolia and the hinterland of China are closely interdependent. For thousands of years, Mongolia has actually been the land of China. Three years ago, when Wuchang revolted, the provinces became independent one after another. The Central Plains was agitated and turbulent in all directions. Mongolia was isolated on the border, and the Mongolian people took advantage of the opportunity to become independent and divided.

The reality of the country is that now a republic has been established, with five ethnic groups and one family, there is no dispute between the north and the south, and the central government has the master. The independence of the previous provinces has been cancelled. The Mongols are all members of the Chinese nation, and it is appropriate for them to work together to maintain the Republic of China. As time goes by, Mongolian lamas and princes have no

The heart of returning, but the land of Mongolia is the key to China,..."

Mongolia?

Yuan Shikai frowned, what kind of abacus did Li Zhiyuan want to make? His abacus was far enough! He went from Jiangsu and Suzhou to Mongolia!

"Although Jiangsu is located in the southern province, it is China's army. It has been training for more than 10 years. It should relieve the country's worries. I immediately asked the government for orders to take the Jiangsu Army Division as the vanguard and attack Kulun to relieve the border troubles..."
Chapter completed!