On the eve of the 192 congressional election

In the winter of 1912, on the eve of the congressional election, the political tide surged.

The first snow of this year fell in Jiangcheng.

Li Xiang bought a bunch of white roses and tulips from the only flower shop in Jiang'an Street, Hankou Special District, and boarded the car waiting outside the flower shop and left.

In the car, Li wanted to hold the flowers, and his face showed a contemplative expression. His expression was far away, as if he had infinite emotions, and his heart surged. It seems that I am thinking about the upcoming congressional election. The whirlpool of the political tide is surging and surging where it is. After a long time, he whispered to himself with a solemn look.

"Failure, such a big family business, but not even a home..."

The relationship between him and Tang Yuewan has long been an open secret. Since the old man Tang family does not object and the two are so inseparable, it seems more reasonable for them to get married and live together formally. Occasionally, Li wants to imagine the future, but when it comes to reality, he hesitates.

Last time he confessed, Tang Yuewan left the problem. He felt that he might not be able to do it, and he always felt that it was too cruel to the narcissus. Li wanted to think inexplicably whether it was such a happy trouble for every successful man. However, the main reason is that as a modern person, Li Xiang really can't bear to have three wives and four concubines, and he can't pass this level of thinking. At the critical moment, these problems become fetters.

In a word, marriage is a major event in life. How can you end it? Of course, if two people really want to live together, there is nothing they can't do.

The key question is whether we can face these problems. At least at present, Li Xiang's mood has not been fully sorted out.

The car came up to the dock, the ferry was sent across the river, and then went straight to Luojiashan Villa.

When Li wanted to go back to the villa, Tang Yue was already waiting for him.

"Happy birthday to you." Li wanted to present a bouquet of flowers.

"What a beautiful flower." Tang Yuewan smelled the fragrance of flowers.

"How can I celebrate your birthday?" Li wanted to hold Tang Yuewan's delicate hand intimately.

"It's enough to have your bouquet of flowers." Tang Yuewan's clear eyes flashed at Li Xiang.

"I always want something." Li thought, "Isn't it your birthday?"

"I have a request, okay?" Tang Yuewan thought for a moment, smiled sweetly, raised a finger and said.

Li wanted to quickly say to Tang Yuewan, "Of course."

"Will you take me on a trip? Go to a place where you can't see anyone." Tang Yue said gently.

To be honest, sometimes Li Xiang really wants to escape from this closed secret room and go to a deserted place.

Where should I go? How about the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau?

Li Xiang's mind reflected the figure of their two people standing on the snow mountain plateau. Li wanted to go there once in the summer before crossing. The snow-capped mountains, such as the pure sky of blue and white porcelain, and the quiet blue lake, made him still remember it vividly.

How comfortable it would be to go to the quiet and mysterious Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with Tang Yuewan.

"Have you been there?" Seeing that Li wanted to fall into memories, Tang Yuewan asked.

"Well." Li wanted to say, "I've only been there once in the summer."

"When?" Tang Yuewan asked.

"It was a long time ago," Li Xiang said vaguely, "It was still when I was young. It's really beautiful there."

The door was pushed open with a crash.

"Marshal, Liang Qichao has returned to China."

Lv Zhongqiu pushed the door and saw such an ambiguous scene. He was stunned for a moment and quickly pulled the door up again and retreated. No wonder the Narcissus just received this information and asked him to report it.

Lv Zhongqiu is still thinking nonsense. Li Xiang has come out: "Go to my study."

Lv Zhongqiu thought for a moment, didn't say anything more, and followed Li Xiang.

"Liang Qichao's return from Japan caused a sensation in politics: Cai E, a disciple of Liang Qichao, sent a telegram to welcome teachers back to China. Although Hu Hanmin in the Kuomintang objected, Zhang Ji and Liu Kuiyi have already called to welcome them." Lv Zhongqiu said.

"It's like this. They all have made a statement. We should also make a statement," Li Xiang smiled and said, "Let Li Yuanhong communicate on behalf of the Hubei District."

"It's not right, general." Lv Zhongqiu bowed slightly and said loudly, "Liang Qichao returned to China this time. He was popular in Beijing and Tianjin. Mr. Sun and Mr. Huang were several times more than Mr. Sun and Mr. Huang went to Beijing, and there were only five or six popular meetings. However, he was only a few days in Beijing and went to the meeting 19 times. The presidential palace held a welcome meeting, accompanied by all the state officials. Shanxi tickets that do not invite people, as well as Buddhist associations, flag people, Kuomintang... They are constantly welcoming everywhere. They are really overwhelmed and tired and happy. When he meets people, he boasts that this is "the fastest life of extreme life" and "the most bitterness of extreme life." This welcome is more than ten times that Sun and Huang came to Beijing, and the welcome from all walks of life is out of heartfeltness and sincerity. ... When Sun and Huang came, every speech was laughed at, and every speech I made was touching. There were so many welcome meetings, which was far from what Sun and Huang could reach. We also welcome the old man, isn't it the prestige of the enemy?

Li Xiang sneered and said, "How powerful can an old man from the Qing Dynasty be? That is to say, in the old man's nest to punish the prestige, do you really think you are a person? Yuan Shikai doesn't want to win the parliamentary election even if he has him. Unless..."

Li wanted to stop.

......

In Iron Lion Hutong, it is snowing heavily outside the presidential palace, and the interior is as warm as spring.

Small dining room. A piece of tender steak was fried on the pan, making a "squeaky" sound. A Western chef with a big nose and red hair is skillfully stir-frying a shovel.

Several exquisite Western dishes have been placed on the long table, and the foreign wine has been prepared. Yuan Shikai and Liang Qichao are sitting opposite the table.

"I know that Zhuo Ru loves western food, so I specially invited the chef of Tianjin Qi Shilin." Yuan Shikai raised his glass and drank with Liang Qichao.

Liang Qichao looked up half a glass of wine and said, "The president is too polite."

Yuan Shikai also drank it all and said, "I, the president, should still have this privilege, right? However, if the Provisional Senate knows it, it can also come up with an impeachment case.

Liang Qichao smiled and said, "The president is too worried."

Two waiters brought two plates of fried steaks to the table. The two of them moved their knives and forks at the same time, then dipped in a little ketchup, and sent a small piece of steak into their mouths. The two chewed and nodded with satisfaction.

Liang Qichao couldn't help but be kind and said, "It's really fresh and tender."

Yuan Shikai nodded with consent, but sighed, "If the 'Recongative Rice' is so delicious, that's good!"

Liang Qichao looked at Yuan Shikai and suddenly became cold and said, "The president can still eat it."

Yuan Shikai muttered, "I thought it was delicious. The Wuxu change began, and later I prepared to establish a constitution. I was thinking about promoting constitutionalism. But the constitutional government is really coming. I find that there are all the tricks that restrict me, but there is nothing to help me.

Liang Qichao asked again, "What kind of constitutional government does the president need to feel comfortable?"

Yuan Shikai ate wine with a red face and said, "I know that the separation of powers makes sense. But as a big president, I can't even be a public! In fact, Mr. Sun Yat-sen also knows that it is uncomfortable to be such a big president. When he was in Nanjing, he did the 'presidential system'. His interim president had unlimited power, and the cabinet was just his office. But when I'm the president, he let Danchu make a "Date Law" and make it into a cabinet prime minister system. There is also a Senate at the top - the Sun Monkey is let Tang Seng rule, but it's just a tight curse. What about me? I wear two, and I change it. Good guy, the two tight hoop me to curse me. My president is "generally" and 'generally" , 'Unification' is not allowed, and there is no real power! Zhuo Ru, don't you think this is sincere in me!"

Suddenly, he found that Liang Qichao was always looking at himself with a smile. Yuan Shikai was stunned and immediately smiled, "Zhuo Ru, haven't you seen me complain yet? ...But who can I talk to if I don't say these words to you, a constitutional expert?"

Liang Qichao smiled and said, "You can talk to Xizi - he is also a constitutional expert."

Yuan Shikai waved his hand and said casually, "Don't mention it. As soon as I told him, he asked me to change the national system - engage in a constitutional monarchy, saying that it was also constitutional government - let me be the emperor under constitutional politics, oh, just like the Japanese emperor, saying that it was in line with the national conditions of the Republic of China. But how can I do it!"

Liang Qichao said righteously, "You can't do it!"

Yuan Shikai was stunned.  

Liang Qichao put down his wine glass and said seriously, "President, the national weight device, once it is established, it must not be moved."

"Yes, yes, I also think Xizi is a joke..." Yuan Shikai pretended to laugh and said, "I'm also ridiculous. I should get a drink!" After saying that, he raised his glass and swallowed.

Yuan Shikai put down his goblet and looked at Liang Qichao affectionately: "That's why I asked Zhuo Ru to help me..."

Liang Qichao frowned and said, "The president has thought about it!"

Yuan Shikai muttered, "In fact, there are only two: I don't want any cabinet system! It is said that the United States is a true republic, but it is also a presidential system! There is no responsible cabinet at all. It only sets up a Secretary of State for the president to help the administration of the president. In this way, there will be less constraint in doing things. It's much smoother! This is one. Second, this change must be stipulated in the formal constitution in the future before it can take root! So I ask you to form a party bigger than the Kuomintang and compete with the Kuomintang when running for parliament. If our party has a majority, we will have more power to speak when drafting the constitution in the future, and the presidential system will be just around the corner.

Liang Qichao said thoughtfully, "I am in favor of the presidential system. Compared with the cabinet system, the president has greater power and authority. But you have to compete with the Kuomintang in the election..." He shook his head, "This is difficult! The predecessor of the Kuomintang is the Alliance Association, and the predecessor of the Alliance Association is the Xingzhong Association and the Huaxing Association. Speaking of which, it has a history of sixteen or seven years, with deep roots, the hearts of the people and the Party, and the right time and place are all on his side..."

Liang Qichao said for a little thought and smiled.

Yuan Shikai smiled gloomily and said, "But the government is always richer than the Kuomintang..."

Liang Qichao still shook his head and said, "Money can't solve all problems."

Yuan Shikai asked eagerly, "Then what else do you want? As long as I can do it, just say it!"

Liang Qichao pondered, but finally said, "The president trusts me so much, I'll try..."

Yuan Shikai's eyes lit up and he said happily, "Okay, okay..."

At this time, two bowls of soup were served on the plates of the two waiters and put them down.  

Yuan Shikai smiled warmly in the spring breeze and said, "Zhuo Ru, come on, try this Italian-style red cabbage soup.