Beiyang 1917

"Brother Youzheng, according to my humble opinion, the leader of Beiyang began with Li Zhongtang, and his achievements were made by President Yuan Da, and then succeeded by Premier Duan. Do you agree with this point of view?" Wang Geng said calmly.

"Everyone in the world is saying this. I hate Li Yuanhong, Feng Guozhang, and the military leaders in the south, large and small, who refuse to face up to this reality! Today's Beiyang leader, who is better than Prime Minister Duan? It is Li Yuanhong and Is Feng Guozhang, who is in the eyes of power and money all day long, comparable?!"

Xu Shuzheng said bitterly while nodding, obviously he had a very bad impression of Li Yuanhong and Feng Guozhang.

Duan Qirui, who was reviewing the official documents above, obviously noticed something. He raised his head and saw that Wang Geng and Xu Shuzheng had been sitting side by side and whispering at some point. Zheng, who is not easy to get close to, is also caught.

Next, Wang Geng continued to speak to Xu Shuzheng in a low voice, "My little brother thinks that Prime Minister Duan has contributed to the republic and is not as keen on the monarchy and being an emperor as President Yuan. Do you agree with this?"

Xu Shuzheng warned himself not to be led by the nose by Wang Geng, but nodded involuntarily, thinking that what Wang Geng said was right, if Duan Qirui had the idea of ​​an emperor and wanted to restore the imperial system, I, Xu Shuzheng, would be the first One jumped up to rebel against him. Of course, this cannot be said in front of Wang Geng.

Then Wang Geng lowered his voice and said, "Brother Youzheng, my younger brother thinks that in today's Beiyang, Zhiwan and Anhui stand side by side, the Feng family follows closely, and among the Prime Minister's Anhui departments, Brother Youzheng is well-versed in both Chinese and Western, and is the best in the world. Both civil and military, he is the chief confidant and general of the prime minister's closest confidant, the greatest contribution, the greatest credit, and the most loyal, but is that so?"

Xu Shuzheng's old face turned red, and he warned himself not to be overwhelmed by Wang Geng's misty soup, but he still nodded involuntarily, thinking that Wang Geng's vision at West Point is really a little bit, but I also know that I, Xu Shuzheng, are the only one in the Anhui Department. The detached and unique position above everyone!

Wang Geng thought to himself, Nima, I don't fool you, how did you win the great situation of stability and unity and gain a firm foothold!

The fellow smoked a cigarette, drank some coffee, then continued to lower his voice,

"Brother Youzheng, the Prime Minister is fifty-two this year. In the past, I heard that President Yuan Dafa lied to Feng Guozhang and said that the founding monarchs of all dynasties basically reached the top around the age of 50. Our current Republic of China is not a country at all. It was the Warring States Period with countless military leaders!

If China can really be unified under the banner of the Prime Minister, to put it bluntly, among the people under the current Prime Minister's command, is there anyone who is more qualified to be the successor of the Prime Minister than Brother Youzheng? "

Wang Geng looked at Xu Shuzheng without blinking his eyes, as if he and Fa Xiao were speaking intimately, and seemed extremely sincere.

Xu Shuzheng heard a buzzing sound as if a spring thunder had exploded. He didn't expect that Wang Geng, who was obviously his biggest competitor in the future, would make such a heart-to-heart gesture when they met for the first time when they were newcomers!

If you don't show up, who would dare to say that I, Xu Shuzheng, is not Duan Qirui's first confidant and successor. Now that you, Wang Geng, are here, there may be a real change. Xu Shuzheng really can't figure out what Wang Geng wants to do for a while!

Knowing that I am the successor of Lao Duan, you still come to this muddy water?No, looking at this guy brazenly saying in front of everyone in the conference room just now that he wanted to change the appearance of being the deputy chief of the army with me, this guy is by no means a low-key master, don't be fooled by this guy, Xu Shuzheng warned himself in his heart .

"Wang Geng, what exactly do you want to say? Don't blindly confuse me, it's better to speak out openly!" Xu Shuzheng took a deep puff of cigarette, lowered his voice and said to Wang Geng, he felt that he was led by the nose by Wang Geng again Let's go, at that time, maybe this guy will really get in.

"Brother Youzheng, Liu Guanzhang and Liu Guanzhang are the three of you who need to be sworn brothers in Taoyuan. If you alone take over the whole world of Anhui Province, no matter how capable you are, you may not be able to do so. If you miss the great cause of reunification, it will be a matter of time. The family is happy and the family is sad!"

Wang Geng looked at Xu Shuzheng sincerely, and said word by word,

"I came to join the Prime Minister, firstly because the Prime Minister's personality and morality are in line with my pursuit, secondly because the Prime Minister's policy of unifying China by force makes me useful, and thirdly because the Prime Minister has you as a great successor, As for my own plan, first, I am loyal to the Prime Minister, and second, I hope to be your greatest help!"

Xu Shuzheng narrowed his eyes and looked at Wang Geng in front of him, chewing on the inside and outside of this guy's words, wanting to debate the truth!Could it be that if something happens to the Prime Minister, you, Wang Geng, will continue to follow me, Xu Shuzheng?Xu Shuzheng didn't ask these words, but he felt that this was what Wang Geng was implying.

"Brother Youzheng, a single yang does not grow, and a single yin does not grow. It is not that the Anhui Department of the Prime Minister has too many talents, but too few like-minded comrades. I, Wang Geng, have a lot of money in the United States. I came back to China to help you and The Prime Minister realized the ideal of unifying China and establishing a real republic, and he did not come back for some power and wealth!"

"Is this true?" Xu Shuzheng's eyes sparkled, and at this moment he had to admit that he was moved by Wang Geng's words.

"Brother Youzheng, you admit that whether you are in the Anhui Department or in Beiyang, everyone says that you are arrogant and do not take anyone seriously. The big reason is that you are indeed too good, and you have a cleanliness in morality and ability, which makes you unable to tolerate those incompetent people who are noisy and dangling in front of you! So you will be dismissive and hostile to them "

Wang Geng's analysis can be said to hit Xu Shuzheng's weakness, especially pointing out that Xu Shuzheng has a cleanliness obsession with moral ability. The deputy army chief sighed and murmured,

"I also know that Mu Xiuyu and Lin Feng must urge him, but seeing these incompetent guys just know how to make money and fight for power and profit all day long, I don't want to vent my anger!"

"Brother Youzheng, the Prime Minister's helpers are not too many, but too few. Your and my personalities complement each other perfectly. I come to join the Prime Minister. It is definitely not a 1-1 subtraction problem. I hope to fill in the gaps and do a good job for you and the Prime Minister." Helper, if you continue to sing bad faces, I will sing red faces for you, so that the Anhui faction will only be more united than it is now, and will not be more divided!"

The bewilderment in Wang Geng's voice gradually melted the ice in Xu Shuzheng's heart.

"One sings the red face, the other sings the bad face..." Xu Shuzheng murmured.

"Yes! Brother Youzheng, look, originally in the Anhui faction, if someone offends you, he has nowhere to go. He can only seek refuge with forces outside the Anhui faction. Everyone knows that the Prime Minister will not abandon you and choose someone else. Now that I am here, I will sing the red face for you, so that these guys who are reprimanded and suppressed by you, I will comfort and gather them for you, so that they feel that the Anhui Department is not your brother Youzheng's one word, and they will be willing to continue to stay for you. Prime Minister works!"

Wang Geng looked serious, but said in his heart, this Xu Shuzheng is really not easy to fool, but at this moment, he looks a little moved by what he said.

"Wang Geng, your abacus is not bad. Do you want to draw people over to fight against me?" Xu Shuzheng said hesitantly. In fact, he was already inclined to temporarily accept Wang Geng's statement in his heart. Poor face, maybe it would be much easier to be sung a one-man show by yourself?

Xu Shuzheng is an individual talent as well as a capable person, but in such a big country, he alone has to manage the State Council and the Ministry of War for Duan Qirui, deal with the Warlord Corps to consolidate the basic power for Duan Qirui, and organize to win over members of parliament. To negotiate with the big powers, but also to intrigue with Li Yuanhong's presidential palace, he is really as exhausted as Zhuge Liang and has to do everything himself.

"Brother Youzheng, I am more open-minded than the bright moon. The Anhui Faction cannot live without the Prime Minister and you, but after having me, the Anhui Faction will be stronger, more united, and more powerful! If you really want to be that To supervise the preparations for participating in the war and to train troops, I am willing to take on the burden of the undersecretary of the Ministry of War for you! This is my sincere words!"

Wang Geng smiled genuinely and falsely, but his eyes were as clear as ever.

Xu Shuzheng looked at Wang Geng and laughed. If Wang Geng's heart-to-heart talk and confession didn't impress Xu Shuzheng, then it's not true. If Xu Shuzheng believed it, then he would underestimate this fellow's wisdom!

"Wang Geng, people are doing it, and the sky is watching. Since the old man appointed you to be the supervisor of the preparations for the war, it depends on your own performance. Although I, Xu Shuzheng, am arrogant, I still cherish the real talents. You may be my greatest future." opponent, but today, I am willing to follow the old man to make such a bet first!"

"I will continue to sing about my white face, and you can try to sing about your red face. I hope that everything you told me today is true more than yourself! I will take good care of you for the Prime Minister! If Don't blame Xu Shuzheng for not talking about our fellowship in Jiangsu!"

While talking, Xu Shuzheng stretched out his hand, and Wang Geng also stretched out his hand to hold each other's hand tightly. The two of them temporarily reached a preliminary consensus on win-win cooperation.

This scene was watched by the Prime Minister who had just raised his head from the desk, and Duan Qirui was delighted!This Wang Geng has eloquence!