The west mountain of the capital is a branch of Taihang Mountain. It was called "the head of Taihang Mountain" in ancient times, also known as Xiaoqingliang Mountain. It is like a soaring dragon raising a python, guarding the capital from the west. Therefore, the ancients called it "the right arm of Shenjing".

Qirui became "sick", so he went to Xishan, known as Xiaoqingliang Mountain, to "recuperate from his illness".

Since he and Yuan Shikai had a dispute over Xu Shuzheng's stay and leave a few months ago, and since the Ministry of War was sidelined, Duan Qirui has become ill, thanking guests behind closed doors and ignoring military affairs. He doesn't even want to pay attention to outside matters.

He just wanted to recuperate and leave everything to Xu Shuzheng. He not only won Xu Shuzheng the position of director of the General Affairs Office, but also won Xu Shuzheng the position of deputy minister of the Ministry of War.

"Some people are dissatisfied, resentful, and afraid of Xu Shuzheng. I just want to reuse Xu Shuzheng."

Few people know that Duan Qirui's "illness" is also the result of a mutual agreement between him and Xu Shuzheng. He still occupies the position of Army Chief, hides in Xishan and ignores affairs, and Xu Shuzheng still acts as agent for everything. It won't be long before Yuan Shikai has to find a way out.

Come.

People who make wishful thinking may not always get what they want.

This time, the two of them made a wrong calculation——

Since his separation from Yuan Shikai, Duan Qirui's waist seems to have become even harder. In the past, he was like a young daughter-in-law living in front of her fierce mother-in-law, not daring to straighten her waist, not daring to raise her head, and not even daring to speak big words.

Duan Qirui is no longer the lai kid with a runny nose, nor is he the supervisor of the Lushun Fort, but the head of a dignified team.

As for Yuan Shikai, when he established the "Commanding Office of the Army, Navy and Fire Marshal of the Presidential Palace", he still asked the "ill" Duan Qirui to serve as a clerk. He, the Chief of Staff and the Chief of the Navy jointly headed the office. Soon, Yuan Shikai

He was also given the title of General Jianwei, in charge of the affairs of the General's Office, and was awarded the First Class Wenhu Medal. He still held the post of Chief of the Army Department, with a dazzling title. Lao Taishan loved him enough.

Duan Qirui laughed off everything, neither accepting the appointment nor rejecting it. He knew in his heart that Yuan Shikai was playing tricks.

"Tricks can only be shown to people in the audience; Taiwanese people and people behind the scenes know clearly that it is a trick."

Duan Qirui, who was ill, received preferential treatment. He was also given ginseng, silver, and leave. He also wanted to discuss something with him. Yuan Shikai was really generous.

After leaving Duan Qirui, Yuan Shikai became more relaxed than Duan Qirui. There were not many people who could and dared to restrain him. Naturally, they no longer consulted with him if anything happened.

After a few months of being cold, Duan Qirui felt uncomfortable.

In a pavilion in a separate courtyard in the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, a man in a green shirt was sitting there, holding on to the stone platform.

Shock!

To be precise, I was shocked!

There was a broken teacup at Duan Qirui's feet, which seemed to have fallen from his hand. Such a gaffe was extremely rare for him with a cold personality.

At this time, Shitai's copy of the telegram sent from the War Department was placed on Shitai, but Duan Qirui, who was sitting in the pavilion, remained silent and did not wave.

Although he was in shock, he did not show any attitude or make any decision. He was waiting for someone!

This person is Xu Shuzheng

In the blink of an eye, Xu Shuzheng and Duan Qirui have been together for fifteen years. Everything they have done together in the past fifteen years has made Duan Qirui sincerely convinced of Xu Shuzheng. After leaving Xu Shuzheng, Duan Qirui seems to have lost his backbone in even small things.

Regarding Duan Qirui's situation today, although Xu Shuzheng made some miscalculations, Duan Qirui still trusted Xu Shuzheng, even at this time.

But now, thinking about the contents of the telegram, Duan Qirui realized that maybe, this was an opportunity. The ups and downs of officialdom are commonplace, and countermeasures cannot be devised overnight. Dealing with Yuan Shikai is not an easy task.

Just when to lift and how to lift?

Still to be thought about.

The Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary was assassinated!

Duan Qirui muttered the content of the report again. Although he only received such a report, he was so shocked that he couldn't recover because four months ago, someone had predicted this and had predicted it.

He completely scoffed at that kind of prediction, but now, the gunshots in Sarajevo changed everything.

"If the Balkans are in chaos, a world war will begin!"

Yesterday, the Balkans were in chaos!

Although he was in extreme shock, he still sent someone to invite Xu Shuzheng.

As in the past, Xu Shuzheng was dressed in the uniform of an army lieutenant general and looked like an army deputy minister. He was smiling and relaxed, as if he was catching up on something very pleasant. Almost as soon as he arrived at the Reclining Buddha Room, the pilgrims

In the courtyard, facing Duan Qirui, he took tea and cigarettes as the guest, and acted very proactively.

It's just like Xu Shu entering Cao's camp without saying a word. In fact, this is due to his personality. Sometimes, he and Duan can stay silent for an hour or two, and often end the conversation with a few words.

The decision is based on his opinion.

After thinking for a long time, Duan Qirui said.

"Zheng Zheng, have you read the telegram?"

Xu Shuzheng nodded. He had ordered someone to forward the notification. How could he not read it? He knew that the news was an hour earlier than the commander-in-chief, but at this time, he seemed not to be thinking about it. After nodding, he forgot about it.

Duan Qirui, who usually didn't say much, couldn't hold his anger anymore. He invited Xu Shuzheng here because he wanted to hear his opinion on the matter. What's the point of being silent? So, he couldn't wait to speak.

"Again, it seems that Li Zhiyuan won the bet!"

Xu Shuzheng remained calm and silent, even though he was also shocked and silent deep in his heart.

"I regret that I didn't believe it at first, otherwise... I would like to discuss it with you now. What do you think?"

Xu Shuzheng then turned his face, peered at Duan Qirui for a moment, nodded and said.

“The boss’s opinion is very good, very good”

"I'm asking you"

Faced with this unsatisfactory statement, Duan Qirui didn't have any emotion at all.

"If, as Li Zhiyuan guessed, there really is a fight, what should we do?"

"what to do?"

Xu Shuzheng hesitated for a moment. He had been thinking about this issue since he saw the telegram. In the end, he only came to one conclusion. He looked at Duan Qirui again and saw that he had a look of anxiety on his face.

So, he said in a very serious tone.

"This matter is of great importance. How about Rong Shuzheng think about it some more?"

Duan Qirui's heart suddenly jumped up. He knew Xu Shuzheng, and for him to say this at this time showed that he also had no idea, otherwise he would have spoken out long ago.

Xu Shuzheng looked at the chessboard on the table and said.

"Boss, I couldn't find a chance to play chess in the past. Today, you and I are worthy of our reputation. I want to play three games with you. How about it?"

"Playing chess?"

Duan Qirui shook his head fiercely.

"How could you have such thoughts?"

But at this time, Xu Shuzheng had already gone ahead with black. Faced with Xu Shuzheng's attitude, Duan Qirui could no longer refuse, and tried his best to socialize. The two sat opposite each other, playing chess, and Xu Shuzheng talked.

"Boss, we have been left behind on this matter from the very beginning!"

Xu Shuzheng didn’t say it was that one thing, maybe it was two things, one was the “disease” and the other was Europe.

Both of them took these two things for granted, but they did not expect that Yuan Shikai was more inclined to "recuperate" from Duan than to rely on him. The same was true for the other thing. When it came to his understanding of Europe,

Can the two of them understand Europe better than Li Zhiyuan?

It was precisely because I didn't understand this that I fell behind from the beginning.

Duan Qirui nodded and played a chess move. Although his family supported many national players, he played a stinky chess move. He would be absent-minded and the chess moves would naturally become more stinky.

But Xu Shuzheng didn't ask so many questions, and still took his pieces and played his chess.

"Just like this chess game, after he counts ten moves, he will naturally have a nine-move advantage. You and I only look at one step, and naturally there will be only one-move advantage. In comparison, there will be eight moves!"

You and You have the same pronunciation, but their meanings are completely different. Xu Shuzheng was obviously talking about chess, and while talking, he captured two pieces in succession.

The expressionless Duan Qirui was just thinking about Xu Shuzheng's words in his heart, and his mind was still not on the chess game. He knew that Xu Shuzheng was telling the truth. Just like the chess game at this time, Xu Shuzheng had the advantage, and in comparison, his own

Isn’t the situation just like this chess game...

"The president is not a simple person, but Li Zhiyuan is not simple either!"

"oh!"

"The President and Li Zhiyuan have known each other for more than two years since the Republic of China. They have never taken advantage of each other. On the contrary, Li Zhiyuan treats others with sincerity and has deep calculations!"

Mentioning Li Zhiyuan's sincerity towards others, Xu Shuzheng felt a good impression in his heart. Li Zhiyuan was different from others. He would always tell others clearly what he was going to do. It seemed that he never played any conspiracy, even if

In the face of conspiracies, he often laughs it off and tries to think of ways to convert other people's conspiracies to help himself.

Such a person is really not simple!

"Boss, actually..."

Suddenly lowering his voice, Xu Shuzheng's eyes flashed with excitement.

"Li Zhiyuan's bet was that a European war might break out in the future. Whether he can win is another matter, but looking at it now, he has at least won half of it. If..."

"What do you mean again, Zheng?"

As he pondered, Duan Qirui vaguely guessed what Xu Shuzheng wanted to say before he finished speaking.

"Commander, if a war breaks out, it will be difficult for China to survive alone. If we had planned ahead, maybe we, China, could benefit from it, and..."

Xu Shuzheng leaned forward and expressed his suggestions to Duan Qirui in as low a voice as possible.

"...If this thing is done, then the president's idea will naturally be abandoned. You know..."

Before he could finish speaking, Duan Qirui shook his head and said.

"Again, this matter..."

Before Duan Qirui could finish speaking, Xu Shuzheng interrupted him decisively.

"But before that, I have to go to Lianyungang and visit Li Zhiyuan!"

"Visit Li Zhiyuan?"

"Yes! This matter comes from Li Zhiyuan. He has already made plans to come there!"

Xu Shuzheng nodded vigorously.

"Then, for what reason..."
Chapter completed!