third chance

Through the ages, clouds fly and smoke disappears.

……

It was an unbearable night, not only for the emperor, but also for the ministers, especially Yuan Shikai.

The little six sons who followed the emperor's will led Yuan Shikai to a small house in Dongchanglang.The hut is surrounded by all large inner buildings, the houses are next to each other, the beams are connected to the beams, and the beams, walls, and windows are all carved with exquisite patterns, which are neat and tidy, which is pleasing to the eye.What's even better is that from the outside, you can't see the appearance of the house at all. You can only enter the house through the corridor and through the small door. It is really hidden.Although Yuan Shikai was a frequent visitor to the palace, there were usually eunuchs leading the way, and there were only a few places he frequented. The royal guard was heavily guarded, and under the circumstances that a wrong step in the palace would be a death penalty, he had no chance at all to get a glimpse of the Forbidden City. The whole picture, not to mention knowing that there are such cabins.

"Yuan Zhongtang, according to the emperor's wishes, the miscellaneous family invites you to rest here for two days. After a while, someone will bring the booklets, and the bedding, pillows and other things will naturally be brought by someone. The place is cramped, so please be patient. Take care." Little Six was serious, confessing to Yuan Shikai with a straight face.

"Yes! Yes! I'm going to trouble my father-in-law. It's just meaningless, not respectful." Yuan Shikai took out a bank note from his pocket with his fat hands, rolled it up and stuffed it into the hand of the little six.

"The miscellaneous family will leave first." Xiaoliuzi stepped across the threshold, shook off the bank note in his hand, and found that it was only 50 taels of silver, and cursed angrily, "A dog's eyes look down on people!" Yuan Shikai used to give money When it was given to Li Lianying and Xiao Dezhang, which one was not tens of thousands, only a few dozen taels of silver were used to deal with dispensable and small characters.Little Six thought to himself: Yuan Shikai, you haven't been bouncing around for a few days, and you're still so snobbish?

This time it was wrong to blame Yuan Shikai, why didn't old Yuan want to give more tonight, it's just that he walked in a hurry and didn't bring extra banknotes, this one was left over from yesterday's tipping.Yuan Shikai has grown up for a long time, thinking that he should not show timidity in front of the little eunuch, so he gave it with the same style as before, making it impossible to see the anxiety in his heart.

Looking at the large pile of documents before the case, Yuan Shikai was in no mood.The words "loyalty to the country" and "sharing my worries for me" are all the emperor's nonsense in his opinion-if I really want to review the papers, I will not go to such a legitimate place as the military aircraft office, but I want to find a secluded room. Could it be that my old Yuan is really a fool?Whether these papers are approved or not approved is not important to the overall situation, so he is too lazy to do it.

How to get out?Looking up, although there is no movement on the window paper, but the footsteps can be clearly heard, there must be someone guarding the door.This confirmed his judgment even more - the emperor was clearly embarrassing himself under the guise of "sharing my worries for me".It is obviously impossible to sneak away. First, such a big commotion cannot escape the surveillance of the guards. Second, even if he can slip away, it is not the right way. Although the emperor's way of keeping people is a bit weird, he personally agreed , Is this disobedience or disobedience?What's more, the gate of the palace is locked tightly, and the inside of the palace is strictly guarded. If there is a mistake, you will not be able to tell the difference even if you are covered in mouths.

Nervously weighing various pros and cons, and carefully analyzing his own situation, Yuan Shikai couldn't help recalling the scene of Tan Sitong's late-night visit 10 years ago. At that time, there was such a fierce ideological struggle. He didn't expect that he would still face the same difficult situation 10 years later situation.Retribution, retribution, is it possible that I, Yuan Shikai, are really the emperor's destined enemy?

After thinking hard for a long time, listening to the sound of swaying footsteps, the train of thought gradually became clear: the emperor hated him deeply, and showed his murderous intentions, but there was no suitable charge or reason for killing, so he could only lock himself in this room to vent his anger .Thinking of this, the corner of his mouth could not help showing a sneer. He thought that the emperor would wake up after ten years of "experiencing" in Yingtai, but he was still so reckless and impulsive. Can you lock me up for a while, can you lock me up, Yuan Shikai I?

As for the emperor's failure to return to the west, Yuan Shikai believed that there were only two possibilities: one was that the servants below were not doing their job effectively, and the "good medicine" was obviously a useless dose, and they would have cramps when they went back; Li Lianying, an old dog, didn't get any work done at all. Obviously, this bastard asked my old Yuan to help, so why is he so careless?Suspicious, suspicious!Just after much deliberation, I can't find the reason why Li Lianying did this. Si Gege's hint also shows this point. It is probably because the emperor's fate is good, and Li Lianying can't find a chance to do it-this is really a curse, and it can't be kept anymore. .It's just that the emperor, who had always been sick, suddenly changed his body?Yuan Shikai pondered for a long time but couldn't figure out why.

After such an in-depth study, the panic and uneasiness that he had been caught off guard in his heart had disappeared, replaced by weighing and calculating.Yes, the emperor does hold the power of life and death, but even if you are an emperor, if you want to kill important ministers, you have to have a plausible reason. He thinks the emperor can't find this reason-the old saying that he sent troops to kill the queen mother 10 years ago Bring it up again?That was matricide, and no matter how stupid the emperor was, he would never say that—this was a moral standpoint for not daring to kill.Yuan Shikai thought complacently: Now that my old Yuan holds the military power in his hands, even if the Ministry of the Army takes back four of the six towns of Beiyang, if there is any trouble, most of the officers and soldiers will definitely support me. This is the biggest capital. Even if the emperor wants to kill me desperately, he still has to consider the power of these tens of thousands of horses.The British Minister Zhu Erdian outside also supported me. If the emperor dared to use force, the foreigners would not agree first. With this layer of constraints, the emperor seemed to be tied up, and he didn’t want to use his skills at all—this is in terms of strength. Can't kill my high ground.

Since you don't dare to kill me, you can't kill me, so what are you worrying about?From the bottom of his heart, he taunted the emperor: Come on, the Queen Mother has imprisoned you for 10 years, so I, Lao Yuan, let you be imprisoned for a few days, and I will give you an explanation.When Lord Qing comes back, our family will talk to him, and you have to let me go.If you come here, you will be safe, and we can be regarded as people who have lived in the palace for a night.

Now that his life was safe and there was no way to escape, his tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed, and he felt sore all over his body and sleepy in his eyes.After a while, the snoring sounded like thunder...

Although he was over 70 years old, Zhang Zhidong's literary thinking was still very fast. As soon as Liangbi left, he brought over the manuscript he had written.Originally planned to read it to the emperor in the palace, but Lin Guangyu said he was not in a hurry, but ordered the imperial dining room to prepare snacks, and was going to eat and talk with the old official. I really felt empty in my stomach, so I didn't refuse and went.

Zhang Nanpi was a little apprehensive, but also quite excited, having never had a drink at such a time and in such an environment.The dining place is in the attic next to the Fuchang Hall. You can see the surrounding scenery without being blown by the wind. It is elegant and secluded, and it is indeed a good place for a drink.Although he only asked for dim sum, Lin Guangyu was still a little hesitant looking at the plates of exquisite dishes. This was clearly a sumptuous meal! "Dim sum" is already like this, how about dinner?He has an intuitive impression of the luxury of the emperor's house.Because he was not used to people standing and watching while eating, the eunuch asked him to rush downstairs to wait on him. The eunuch didn't let the eunuch do the wine, and filled Zhang Zhidong's wine pot himself.

Zhang Nanpi was terrified, he almost knelt down in shock, what kind of courtesy is the king pouring wine for his minister?

"Filial piety," Lin Guangyu said with a smile, "you don't need to be too polite. This is a wine for respecting veterans. Praise him for worrying all day and night, and dedicating himself to the country. You deserve it."

"The emperor killed the old minister."

"Don't worry about it, I'll go through the manuscript first, and you can have some snacks first."

Lin Guangyu picked up the manuscript and started to read. The square and beautiful regular script appeared on the paper in one hand. After reading a few lines, he swept them away with the corner of his eyes. Zhang Zhidong sat nervously on his seat, staring at the dishes thoughtfully, The chopsticks were motionless.Lin Guangyu knew that he abided by the etiquette of emperors and ministers, and would never dare to use chopsticks before the emperor moved his chopsticks, so he smiled slightly, picked up a piece of beef and swallowed it. Alcohol, the whole body is indescribably comfortable.As expected, Zhang Zhidong continued to follow up after the emperor moved his chopsticks.

"Giving Bode, only inheriting the order of Emperor Wen Zongxian, and preparing for the palace. Emperor Mu Zongyi rushed to the year to succeed, and it was appropriate for the time when the rebellion was not settled and the Fang Yin was crusaded. At that time, there were twists and turns, and back to Miao Chu to harass, There are many accidents in the sea, the people's livelihood is dying, and the devastation is everywhere! I and Empress Xiaozhenxian worked together to train and worry about work day and night, adhering to the legacy of Emperor Wenzongxian, encouraging internal and external ministers and ministers, and all ministers in charge of the military, giving advice and diligently seeking governance. Accept advice from the virtuous, rescue disasters and sympathize with the people, so they have to look up to the heaven, reduce the catastrophe, and turn the crisis into peace. And the emperor Mu Zongyi came to the world, and the current emperor entered the throne at a young age. The more difficult the current situation, the more difficult the people's livelihood, internal and external troubles, one after another , I have to conduct political training again..."

This is an article that Lin Guangyu is very familiar with. When he saw the word "have to", he smiled: "The Empress Dowager 'has to' conduct political training again, and I also 'have to' recuperate in Yingtai..."

Zhang Zhidong had just picked up the dishes in the air, when the emperor spoke, he couldn't help being startled, and the dishes he had picked up fell onto the plate.The emperor's meaning couldn't be more obvious-he is extremely dissatisfied with listening to politics behind a curtain. The word "have to" certainly pointed out the difficulties of "love is not a last resort" and successfully excused Cixi's love, but it also aroused the emperor's new and old hatreds. How can we be happy?After squinting his eyes and thinking for a while, he replied: "Since the emperor thinks it is inappropriate, it is appropriate to delete the word 'have to', and it does not change the original intention of 'training the administration again'." Zhang Nanpi is a smart man!It's so nice to talk to smart people!Lin Guangyu continued to read: "...the edict of preparing for the establishment of a constitution was announced the year before last, and the number of years for preparing for the establishment of a constitution was announced this year. It is extremely difficult to deal with it, and I am exhausted. Fortunately, I have a strong body and can still support me. I don't expect that since summer and autumn this year, the time Feeling unwell, government affairs busy, no way to take pictures quietly, inappropriate sleep and food, procrastination for a long time, energy gradually exhausted, still not daring to relax for a day. On the 21st of this month, the illness worsened, and he was dying. Looking back on the past 50 years, there have been many worries There is no time or explanation for the conscientiousness of the scriptures. Today, the New Deal is being held. The emperor is in his prime, and the ministers at home and abroad should praise him for his cooperation and solidify our country's foundation. When the state affairs are the most important, it is especially appropriate to encourage the festival Grief and diligent study of classics, he has a bright future, and he has high hopes! The mourning clothes will be removed on the 27th, and the public will be announced to the world, so that the salty emissaries will know."

"I have no objection. Tomorrow, all the military planes will officially announce it to the world after it is circulated." Lin Guangyu said while putting a crystal shrimp ball in the opponent's bowl. Abnormally, Qing wrote the posthumous letter today, which is enough to comfort her old man in Jiuquan."

"The Empress Dowager Long En, I dare not expect to repay one of them." Zhang Zhidong couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion when he thought of the past when Cixi personally ordered the flowers 45 years ago.

Suddenly there was a heart-piercing shout from downstairs: "The person who came here... is out of water..." Lin Guangyu was startled, stood up and opened the window to find that there was already thick smoke billowing not far from the southwest, through the night We can still see Mars vaguely.Zhang Zhidong's old eyes were dim, and he drank two cups of wine after a busy night. His mind was a little dazed, and his concentration dropped sharply. Intense, he just sat on the chair without moving.

The little eunuch who was serving downstairs ran upstairs, crying loudly, "Your Majesty... Zhang Zhongtang... I don't know where the water is in the house, slave... slave... implore the emperor Move and take shelter."

"It's okay, let me see first, what's going on?"

Where the smoke started, sparks splashed everywhere, and Zhu Rong raged.The houses in the Forbidden City are almost all brick and wood structures, which are very easy to catch fire. Lin Guangyu saw it clearly. Just now, there was still black smoke lingering, but in a blink of an eye, it has turned into flames. Under the reflection of the fire, many black shadows appeared, obviously from the palace. The crowd has been alarmed and is trying to put out the fire.

Before turning the clock back to this point, it was Liang Bi who was guarding Yuan Shikai with his guards.There was thunderous snoring from inside the house, but the people outside did not dare to slack off at all, even though the cold wind was blowing, they still patrolled around this area to take strict precautions.The palace gradually quieted down, but Liangbi couldn't calm down in his heart. Just now the emperor's eager eyes and ardent expectations kept circling in his mind.

"I want to do it, I want to do it quickly, how should I do it?" Various ideas emerged in his mind one by one, and were overturned one by one.It was almost a piece of cake to kill Yuan Shikai, as long as he broke into the door, or with a knife or a gun, a little effort was enough to kill the other party.But Liangbi is not a dead man with a simple mind, nor a reckless man with no plans. Although it is convenient to do it this way, the trouble will not be reduced-he is not afraid of death, but how can the emperor explain to the world?An improper handling will inevitably lead to a rebound from Beiyang as a whole, which is the most troublesome.The cold wind froze the bones, but Liangbi was sweating profusely, and was saddened that he could not find a good plan.

A few guards huddled together, relying on moving their bodies and huddling together to keep each other warm, but their expressions were resolute—it is a big thing to obey the emperor's order, what is this coldness?

"Brothers, it's not a solution to suffer so hard. I'll go get some shochu to warm up everyone."

"To tell you the truth, my lord, it is indeed a bit cold, but we are not afraid, don't look at this bastard Yuan Shikai lying comfortably in the quilt, he is probably colder than us!"

... Interesting, everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere became more lively.

Liangbi went to get some wine, he was indeed a relative of the Red Ribbon, and he was also familiar with the imperial dining room, so he managed to get a small bottle of shochu and half a plate of beef at such a late hour.

"Come on, everyone, take a couple of sips..." Liangbi gulped down his throat twice, and then handed the bottle to the guard. With the officer taking the lead, the guard became more courageous.According to the rules, drinking is not allowed when on duty, but today is not a formal mission and Mr. Liang Bi said it was for warming up, so everyone didn't have so many scruples.

"My lord, look...there seems to be water flowing over there." A guard just took the wine bottle and found that black smoke began to rise not far away, and then flames, and the sparks were particularly obvious in the dark night sky.

"It's not good, I'm really out of water." Liangbi became anxious, the fire was already on fire, but Ouchi didn't respond yet.

"You guys hurry over to put out the fire..."

"Then this guy?" Someone pointed to the room.

"It's okay, I'll keep an eye on him and make sure he's 'safe and sound'".

Hearing the command of the officer, the guards did not dare to be negligent. They knew the power of the fire. In winter, the climate was dry and the vegetation was withered. Once the fire spread, it would be no small matter.

Seeing the backs of the people leaving, Liangbi gritted his teeth, entered the room through the corridor, pushed open the door, and walked to Yuan Shikai's bedside without anyone noticing.

Looking at the round, fat face at the head of the bed, Liangbi contemptuously said, "Yuan Shikai, Yuan Shikai, you are so arrogant when you are about to die, and you don't even lock the door. Do you really think I can't do anything about you?" With a flick at the waist, he quickly untied his trouser belt, fiddled with it lightly, and the trouser belt was already wrapped around Yuan Shikai's thick and short neck.

Yuan Shikai was startled awake, and he was horrified to see a figure suddenly appearing in front of him, and he happened to be someone he knew.

"Liang..." Before Bi could say the word, the other party had already tightened the belt in his hand, and there were bursts of pain from his neck.

"Ah..." Yuan Shikai struggled, twisted, and desperately grabbed the rope of life around his neck with both hands, but unfortunately...it was too late!The life-threatening noose was getting tighter and tighter, and he only felt blackness in front of his eyes, and stars were popping up, and he suddenly let go of his hands, lost consciousness, and tilted his head involuntarily—he, hanged up.

Liangbi loosened his trouser belt, probed the opponent's breath with his hand, and let out a long breath after no response.He put the quilt that Yuan Shikai had dropped on the ground when he was kicking his legs desperately just now and put it on the bed again, but a corner of the quilt was draped over the stove.The fire...burned blazingly, the fire...spread everywhere, the bed was set on fire, and smoke began to rise from the room... Soon the cabin was engulfed in flames, Liangbi pushed open the door, turned around with complicated emotions After taking a look at Yuan Shikai, he resolutely left.

Due to the unique environment and location of the cabin, although the flames inside have already reached the beams, it looks like black smoke from the outside, which is not easy to detect in the dark night, not to mention that the Forbidden City is focused on Where the water has gone!The fire spread quickly, and after a while, the surrounding houses also began to smoke and the flames burst into flames.

Liangbi smiled slightly, and looked around vigilantly to see if anyone noticed.In the distance, the entire palace was alarmed. Countless eunuchs rushed out to put out the fire, calling for people, those carrying water, crying and crying, those fighting the fire, and of course there were people who took advantage of the fire to steal... Liang Although Bi was in the noisy scene, he dared not relax for a moment.

Finally someone yelled heart-piercingly: "It's not good, the east side is also flooded..."

Everyone looked up, and as expected, Lao Gao's flames burst out from the vicinity of Dongchang Corridor, and the flames seemed to be more powerful than here.The guards who were participating in the fire were stunned, threw down the buckets and left in a panic. The task entrusted by the emperor was to keep an eye on Yuan Shikai. Now that the fire is on fire, what happened to Mr. Liangbi and Yuan Shikai?

After running for a few steps, he saw the figure in front of him struggling to put out the fire. When he got closer, his beard and hair had been burned by the fire. Isn't this Liangbi?

"grown ups……"

"Quick... hurry... call more people, this side is on fire too, I can't save it by myself." Liang Bi was panting heavily, his face was black and smoky The traces of the fire-the fire is fierce!

When the guards and a group of distraught eunuchs arrived again, the fire had already engulfed the entire house, and the scorching heat wave could be felt a dozen steps away, and the fire was obviously much more violent.

"Quick, quick, quick... Ah! Master Yuan is still inside?" Little Six cried out heart-piercingly, "Hurry up and save people..."

How the emperor will deal with Yuan Shikai has nothing to do with him, but this place is arranged by him under orders, and he must be the first one to take the blame when something happens.

save people?The eunuchs looked at each other in blank dismay, this was clearly rushing in to die!Lord Yuan?Why is Master Yuan here.The fire takes advantage of the wind, and the wind helps the fire. There is the sound of beams and columns collapsing everywhere, and logs with flames falling from the air, making a shocking sound, and splashing water on them is of no avail.

Liang Bi was in a hurry, he took a bucket of water and poured it on his body, the cold wind blew, his whole body was shivering, he shouted: "Master Yuan is still inside, I... I will save him." After saying that, he rushed towards the sea of ​​flames with all his might, and the guards around him held him back, tearfully persuading him, "My lord, you can't go...the fire is so big...you will die in it too..."

"Your Majesty Yuan is very lucky, maybe he would have escaped when the fire started, my lord, you must never go in again..."

"Boom boom boom" several times, with a huge sound of collapse, accompanied by the sound of wind, screams, and whistling, the houses collapsed and fell down like paper... The people around were so frightened that they ran away .

"It's over!" Xiaoliuzi and Liangbi sat down on the ground, the former lamented, but the latter was relieved.

A gleam of light flashed across Liangbi's gloomy eyes, and then dimmed again in an instant - he set two fires and burned many houses, and he didn't know if the emperor would blame himself.

Never mind him, go all out...