Chapter 200 Rainstorm

"... When the people heard that the Beiyang Army passed through Cangzhou, they had a lot of doubts, because the previous military actions were often accompanied by robbery. People often fled their hometowns, and some women actually committed suicide by throwing themselves. This time, the people were surprised to find that the Beiyang soldiers were well disciplined, paid for everything, and were not allowed to buy food or water in private during the march, which surprised people's good military discipline of the new army... At night, the march encountered heavy rain, and they bought forage and supplies along the way. It turned out that the tent of fifty or sixty catties was more than 100 catties after heavy rain... When the brigade passed through Cangzhou, it was already 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and everyone was slodled and embarrassed. At this time, it was seen that our military discipline was indeed not bad. When the staff came, the soldiers set up their guns themselves, stood still in the heavy rain... The record of the Qing New Army was unexpected, and it was as good as the Southern Guangfu Army.

The foreign reporter in the newspaper said, but he did not mention the "turtle speed" of the Beiyang army's operation. In the past ten days from the Beiyang army, the march was only more than 30 miles a day, and only more than 20 miles. When the "urgent army" of the Beiyang Army went south, Yuan Shikai, as the minister of Beiyang, was still in the governor's office of Baoding City.

At night, it seemed a little hot in Baoding City without a trace of wind. After a Tianma stopped in front of the governor's mansion, then a man in a suit got out of the car and led into the governor's mansion.

It is said that Zhiyi is in his early fifties. He is thin and small. He has a ball of Rendan beard under his dry nose, and his two small eyes that often rotate quickly are covered with a pair of golden tortoises. This talented student who graduated from the Department of Law of Tokyo Imperial University is a language genius. He is proficient in English, German, French, and has been influenced by his family since he was a child. He is not only fluent in Chinese, but also has a lot of research on Sinology.

In the year of Gengzi, he came to Yanjing and served as the counselor of the Embassy in the Qing Dynasty. Although he has only been in the Qing Dynasty for four years, he is familiar with the national conditions of the Qing Dynasty, and has been in contact with Yuan Shikai many times. He also knows this powerful minister of the Qing Dynasty very well.

"Hello, Mr. Counsellor!"

Yuan Shikai stepped into the reception room and stretched out his hand for the benefit. At this time, Yuan Shikai did not wear official clothes, but wore German military uniforms.

"Good night, Governor!"

Wearing a black suit and a blue and white tie, he stood up quickly. First, his hands were vertical, he bent down deeply and bowed, and then he stretched out his right hand and shook hands with Yuan Shikai.

"Please sit down, please sit down!"

Yuan Shikai pointed to the sofa with a smile and personally pulled out a cigar from the small iron box on the coffee table. Please smoke it. He politely declined. He refused.

There is a professional smile on Zhiyi's face.

"Governor, I've been busy all day, and I'm sorry to bother you again."

"Where, where."

Yuan Shikai smoked his own cigar, and he was a little surprised by Zhiyi's visit.

"When I came to your country, I was in trouble with Yihe Boxing. At that time, the Governor was working as a governor in Shandong, and your courage to resolutely suppress the rioters is still admirable.

"Yihe Boxing is a fool. It's not strange for the fool to come out some gods and ghosts. It's strange that there was a group of auxiliary ministers around the old Buddha who also believed it. It's really ridiculous!"

At this time, Yuan Shikai put on a prophetic look.

"I have asked the old Buddha many times. It is only appropriate to suppress the bandits and not condone them. I will never show mercy to them in Shandong, so there is no chaos in Shandong.

Listening to this, I'm busy with compliments.

"I still remember that Mr. Li Hongzhang had a memorial in those years, saying that the situation at that time was disturbed by the clouds of Yan and Qi Lu Fengcheng, and praised the calmness of the social order in Shandong. Because of this, on the eve of Mr. Li's death the following year, he was sent to the court, saying that there was no one who looked around the world and was right of the governor, and suggested that the governor succeed him as the governor of Zhili. Mr. Li is a wise hero. Since then, the world of the Qing Dynasty has been supported by Mr. Governor.

Yuan Shikai was very happy to hear that Yuan Shikai was praised by the first-class counselor of the embassy in front of him, but said modestly.

"The counselor's words are heavy. Xiang Shuai is highly virtuous, and he is the pillar of the country.

"Of course, the governor of Zhang Zhidong is also the dry city of your country, but he is old and sick. Now he is trapped in Hubei. He has a spare but not enough strength. The burden of the country is actually on you, the governor."

Seeing that the heat has arrived, Zhiyi intends to introduce the topic into the fixed track.

"I am lucky to be in the capital at this time, and now I can't help but be deeply worried about the future of your country."

Listen to Yuan Shikai take off the cigar in his mouth and look at him carefully.

"The counselor, what are you worried about?"

"I am responsible for whether the chaos in your country can be calmed down."

He looked at Yuan Shikai. He came to Baoding by the order of the envoy of Uchida Kangzai. It was said that the policy towards the Qing Dynasty had fundamentally changed. In order to ensure the change, something must be done, so he came to Baoding. He said with a very sincere attitude.

"Discussion on this matter is a little disrespectful to your country, but from a friend's point of view, I can't help but talk about it."

Yuan Shikai, who muttered in his heart, smiled and stared at the benefits that had been exchanged several times.

"In my governor's mansion, I don't want to be afraid of anything, just don't worry about it!"

"The Governor is worthy of being a real hero!"

He said that he used to supporting his glasses, "It is well known that since Chen Junke fell into Jiangning in the south, although the Guangfu Army has nearly 600,000 troops, it has not made progress beyond the seven provinces. Some people say that Chen Yi is just the current rebellion!"

"They are all ignorant people. Although Chen Wei did not use troops outside the seven provinces, he could send thousands of officials to enrich the prefectures and counties and empty their power when they did not move all over the prefectures and counties, so as to stabilize the rear. He sent student officers to adapt to the restoration army in the provinces. When the reorganization of the restoration army is completed, it is also a major attack!"

When he spoke, Yuan Shikai frowned and secretly ordered the Beiyang army to "go slowly, wait and see", in order to show his goodwill to Jiang Ning, and the rise of Jiang Ning's general made him hesitant. According to the original agreement, he should use the imperial court to cut Dalian as an excuse to raise an army, but it came to an end. It's inevitable to beat the drums in my heart.

He knew what his support was. It was not the governor of Zhili, but the officers and forces of the two towns in Beiyang. With the troops of these two towns in hand, the court needed him. Similarly, Jiang Ning also needed him. If it was true according to the agreement reached by Xu Shichang and Chen Wei, he should have revolted long ago, but it was delayed to this day out of fear of the future.

It is also the fear brought about by the current dilemma. As a loyal minister of the Qing Dynasty, he knows that he has no intention. He is a rebellious minister of the Qing Dynasty and worries about the future. Chen Moran is only 30 years old. After the change of dynasty, the old man of the previous dynasty will use it, but an old man like himself who holds military power... Although he is not from the imperial examination, it does not mean that Yuan Shikai does not understand the "iron wrist" of the new dynasty in history books.

But he can drag the old queen, but he can't drag the restoration of the army. In three months at most, when the army is restored to complete the training, can he still guard and wait like now? At that time, I'm afraid it will be Zhang Xiangtao... "When I look around the Qing Dynasty, I'm afraid that no one can stop the situation of the restoration of the army!"

"Your excellency is indeed worthy of what Mr. Li calls a figure who looked around the world, and there is no one who is right of the governor."

Zhiyi picked up the teacup, took a mouthful of it with great education, and paused for a moment.

"That is, the governor explores the current situation, why don't you learn that end..."

"Duanfang?"

Listening to the name, Yuan Shikai squeezed out some strange smiles on his face. The end was detained as the "Director of the Bureau of the Temporary Political Axe for Ethnic Affairs", specializing in ethnic minority affairs. He became the director from the end of the end, and often exposed the "darkness" and " brutality" of the Qing Dynasty to public opinion. Anyway, he did not say a word. He used the insider. The "secret thing in the palace" almost angered the old Buddha to death.

"Duan Fang is just a gallbladder. How can I learn from him!"

"Whether it's a gallbladder or a handsome man who knows the current affairs! At least it's true that Duan Fang is the director of the New Deal Axe now!"

Staring at Zhiyi, Yuan Shikai took out a cigar from the small iron box and said with an inadvertent attitude.

"The counselor said that you came to Baoding today to be a lobbyor for Jiang Ning. When did you start to help the traitor?"

"It's not!"

At this time, the benefit was not in a circle, and it was immediately clearly denied.

"Our policy towards the Qing Dynasty will undergo a fundamental change. Out of our previous friendship born from this war, we feel it is necessary to express our attitude to the Governor-General that our country will break off diplomatic relations with the Qing Dynasty and establish diplomatic relations with the Chinese regime."

His trip was to convey this signal. The reason for this was that he needed to add a successful bargaining chip to his decision. After Tokyo made the conditions to accept Jiang Ning, he also made a decision to help Jiang Ning gain power. Yuan Shikai's "turtle rush" of the Beiyang Army has proved his mind.

"Fone up!"

But the 45-year-old Yuan Shikai, as soon as he heard the news, was almost blindfolded by Zhiyi's words, but his mind was still calm. He knew that if he had expressed this attitude to the world, it would undoubtedly be announced to the world that he would have broken the common decisions of all countries and take the lead in recognizing Jiang Ning's regime.

Why did I do this?

Dalian! Yuan Shikai suppressed the surprise and doubt in his heart and said calmly.

"Although things are trending, I have been favored by the court for generations, and I dare not give birth to any rebellious ideas. Thank you, Mr. Counselor, for your understanding."

Taking Yuan Shikai as a person, acting in front of people is his specialty. It is rare to tell the truth to his subordinates who have followed him for many years, not to mention a foreign counselor?

After saying that the government axe conveyed a signal, the purpose of this trip had been achieved, and there was no need to wait for his attitude immediately. Knowing that it was impossible to reveal the truth, he got up and said goodbye.

After he left, Yuan Shikai had a gloomy expression, and there was a staggered expression of surprise, puzzlement, doubt and panic on his face. Finally, he let out a long sigh and reached out to call a cronies, as if to explain something.

More than ten minutes later, a group of staff members entered the hall.

The world is strange, and the weather is also full of bitterness. The country is in danger. More than a million flag people in this city are really anxious when they look at this situation! They really want to do their best to share their worries for the court, the empress dowager and the emperor. I want to contribute to the court, but I really have the heart but I don't have enough strength! At most, it's a good time to curse the traitors in the south.

Since the beginning of May, the capital seems to be shrouded in a sad cloud and mist, and occasionally there is a drizzle. This kind of bleak weather can't help but make people feel the collapse of the country and the death of the family.

"Fortunately, there is also Lord Yuan. Some time ago, Lord Yuan asked the court to allow him to recruit 22,500 strong men in Zhili, Shandong, Henan and other provinces to be organized into the third town. When Lord Yuan's Beiyang army goes, Chen will be able to be flattened..."

It seems that the whole dynasty is full of hope for Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang Army, just like decades ago, people were full of hope for the Xiang army. It seems that Yuan Shikai is the commander-in-chief of the Qing Dynasty who is trying to turn the tide and rejuvenate the Qing Dynasty. The city thinks so, but it is very powerless in the current situation, but even so, the old and young men in the capital are still willing to believe it.

Compared with all kinds of rumors spread by those old and young masters in private that Commander Yuan did not say rebellion, the eastern warm pavilion in the imperial city was like the weather, shrouded in a sad cloud.

"The minister, Yasuya Uchida, handed over the withdrawal letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying..."

When I read this little eunuch with his head down, he didn't dare to read it again. In the early morning, several eunuchs in the palace were killed by sticks.

"Recite it!"

Cixi, who frowned and had a gloomy face, drank, and the ice in her words only made the princes and ministers kneeling in front of the curtain feel cold. The Dongnuan Pavilion also seemed to have plummeted several degrees.

"The original barbarians of the Manchu Qing Dynasty were not the virtue of order, nor did they have any success in China. They took advantage of the decline of the emperor and Ming, violently robbed them. For a time, they were full of opportunities and cleverly killed the world. Today, China's restoration of the army is full of the Qing Dynasty, and China has been friends with China for thousands of years..."

As the eunuch read Yasuya Uchida's break-off book, Cixi's face changed from white to blue, from blue to tight. Finally, after the little eunuch finished reading it, Cixi shouted softly.

"Come on, drag this unfaithful, unfilial and unrighteous bastard out of the stick..."

"Old Buddha, spare my life..."

The little eunuch who was dragged out begged for mercy only made the princes and ministers in the Dongnuan Pavilion look at the princes and ministers through the curtain, and the blue-faced Cixi asked coldly.

"Yiqi, do you know why you broke up with me!"

"I...I don't know..."

Yi Qian, who was asked, was immediately scared into a cold sweat. He really didn't know why he broke up with the Qing Dynasty, broke the common policy of all countries, and admitted Chen Yi first.

Looking at Yiqi, Cixi took out a memorial from the yellow box and said in a low and indignant voice.

"The break between China and foreign, the overall situation is so bad! You, the prime minister and the presiding officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, don't know that you have to say that I will send money to you and lie in your ear to tell you that you only know it? How bad is the situation of you slaves before you are willing to stop?

The slightly hoarse scolding only made Yi Qian kneel down and kowtoe his head. Cold sweat came out along her back. The Empress Dowager Cixi's face was so tight that it was inconvenient to say anything.

Finally, she looked at the military aircraft and the imperial minister summoned by herself. Her eyes were red, and she meditated for a while before she said.

"Now that the situation has collapsed, what else can you do!"

Prince Qing, who met this time, was still kneeling there and begging for mercy. Knowing that the Empress Dowager did not mean to deal with him, everyone still bowed down. Finally, Qu Hongli, the military minister, stood up and took a step.

"I think that it is just a small country in the East, and now it is a dispute with the Russians. It is not enough to be afraid of being trapped outside the customs. Its inheritance is nothing more than being forced by the harbored by the green mud, but today's plan..."

He said a lot, and in the end, Qu Hongli gave a way, that was to ignore him. For the foreigners, Cixi never had any way. At least after the year of Gengzi, she felt so. She couldn't ask the foreigners and didn't dare to ask. Looking at Yi, who was still kneeling all over her body, Cixi asked him to go back and stand and asked again.

"Where is Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army!"

"Fly to the old Buddha!"

The minister of the Ministry of War gave up his body and knelt down and kowtowed first.

"Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Army striker has arrived in Cangzhou!"

"Cangzhou! Cangzhou!"

After chanting twice, the ministers through the curtain couldn't see it, but Guangxu sitting next to him could look at the anger on his "pro-father" face, which made his face tremble. This scene made Guangxu sneer in his heart. He couldn't wait to eat Yuan Shikai's bones. Maybe... in Guangxu When I was thinking about this, there was a sudden thunder outside the Dongnuan Pavilion. It was common for Xia to thunder, at most of which was just a heartbeat. But it's serious in the emperor! He was so scared that his face was pale, cold sweating, and he put his hand on the table, looking a little unsupportable.

Such an emperor can't be looked up to by anyone with courage and determination, but he really can't help but feel pitiful. Li Lianying really couldn't bear to see the emperor's miserable appearance. She hurried forward to hold him and let him sit down on the chair. Finally, he recovered. Guangxu himself also felt a little cowardly. He looked at Li Lianying in a dodanely and looked at the contempt on the Empress Dowager's face. His face was full of a look of begging for understanding.

At this moment, a person suddenly broke in the Dongnuan Pavilion. It was the military aircraft duty that broke in. As soon as he entered the Dongnuan Pavilion, he raised the fold in his hand and cried with a sad face. Before Cixi and the princes and ministers scolded him.

"The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, Yuan... Yuan Shikai rebelled!"

Almost a cry just scared the people in the room like earthy, and Cixi, who had looked at her eyes contemptu with contempt, was even more frightened pale, holding her hands on the chair and trembling.

At this moment, the dark sky rolled through a roar, and the thunder exploded overhead again, followed by a series of lightning and thunder. The wind blew harder and stronger, and the wind was wrapped in a downpour of rain. At this time, the rainstorm seemed to be unwilling and did not relieve its hatred. It fell more violently, and it became particularly fierce and terrible with a whirring sound from time to time.

This sudden rainstorm made the people in the Dongnuan Pavilion suddenly feel that the Qing Dynasty, which had been established for more than 260 years, was about to fall into the eternal hell!

(to be continued)