Jagged Warlord

Dazed by the emperor's dream, Yuan Shikai did not listen to the dissuasion of all parties, let alone the opposition of the people of the world, and finally issued an order to recognize the throne on December 1915, 12. He ascended the throne on New Year's Day.

In December, Beijing was once again a frozen world, and the cold current from Siberia came across the Great Wall.The cold wind blowing on the face is painful, and the men and women walking in the alleys of Huo Street shrank their necks down and down.

The only thing that is in full swing is Yuan Shikai's great cause of proclaiming himself emperor.

Yuan Shikai is going to be the emperor, although he has not ascended to the throne to declare the world, all internal and external affairs must be handled according to the emperor's "statutes". Changed to "Yu".A yellow satin pad was added to his seat, and he received congratulations from civil and military officials above the Jian level led by Neishi Ruan Zhongshu in Huairentang; Consultant Yuga Changxiong also presented as a "foreign minister";

Afterwards, Yuan Shikai issued a series of "political affairs hall orders":

Do not allow "disorderly people" to spread rumors to incite and collude with the change of the state system, otherwise, they will be punished by law enforcement and a lot of money will be lenient;

Feng Li Yuanhong as Prince Wuyi;

The room cleaning conditions will never change:

Specially appointed Pu Lun, the imperial family of the Qing Dynasty, as the president of the Senate;

Amendment to the Organizational Order of the Government Affairs Hall;

Specially appointed Feng Guozhang as Chief of Staff;

Old couples and seniors are not allowed to be ministers;

The Legislative Affairs Bureau of the Zhengshitang ordered the retention and abolition of laws and regulations since the Republic of China;

Xu Shichang, Zhao Erxun, Li Jingxi, and Zhang Jian were named "Four Friends of Songshan Mountain", and each was awarded a frame of Songshan Photo;

6 people including Long Jiguang and Zhang Xun were specially appointed first-class princes, 9 people including Tang Xiangming were first-class marquises, 12 people including Zhang Xiluan were first-class uncles, 4 people including Zhu Qinglan were first-class sons, 6 people including Xu Shiying were first-class men, Li Zhaozhen and other 2 He is a second-class male; Lu Zhengxiang is specially appointed as the Secretary of State and also the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

They wanted to confer titles, and the sons and sons of princes and princes were all conferred in groups, but the king was only conferred on Li Yuanhong, and a canonization order was specially issued.Yuan Shikai racked his brains on the canonization order of "Prince Wuyi".

Yuan Shikai was most afraid of people scolding him for taking power from the Qing emperor. Although he betrayed the [-] Revolution, he still wanted to praise the heroes of the [-] Revolution.In this way, a situation was created: Yuan's Chinese Empire did not develop on the basis of Aixinjueluo's Qing Empire, but developed on the basis of the Republic of China.Li Yuanhong can be regarded as a representative figure of the Revolution of [-]. If Li Yuanhong is held back, Li is both a hero of the Republic of China and a prince of the empire. Yuan Shikai cannot be regarded as a traitor to the Republic of China.Furthermore, holding Li can stabilize all the people who participated in the Revolution of [-].

However, Li Yuanhong was still sober, and he rejected Yuan Shikai's canonization.This made Yuan Shikai very unhappy.As for Li Yuanhong's failure to enshrine Tuo, and the court could not live without a king, Yuan Shikai wanted to canonize the fallen little emperor Puyi as Prince Yide, and stated that "the preferential treatment conditions of the Qing Dynasty will never change."

Probably because of the "never change" preferential treatment conditions, the old Qing court was willing to "serve" Yuan, and the Qing Household Affairs Office picked up the signboard again, and Pu Lun knelt down in front of Yuan Shikai to read a message from the Senate Council.What did you say at the beginning? Yuan Shikai didn't understand, but he heard the last paragraph clearly. It said, "Now the representatives of the people of the whole country decide on the constitutional monarchy, and the current president is elected as the emperor of the Chinese Empire. It is a plan to get rid of the old and renew it, so as to achieve long-term peace and stability." The plan, all my royal family, strongly agree with" and other words.Yuan Shikai was very happy to see that the Qing Dynasty was so flattering, and immediately ordered Pu Lun to be appointed as the dean of the Senate to replace Li Yuanhong, "and reward the prince's full salary to show his excellence."

Just as the matter of becoming king came to an end, foreigners stood up again and expressed their opposition to Yuan Shikai's proclaiming emperor.

Yuan Shikai couldn't figure it out: "The Chinese are their own emperors on the land of China, why don't you care about foreigners?"

Foreigners have been making irresponsible remarks on the change of China's national system for many days, and later it even developed to the extent that the ministers of five countries including Japan, Britain, the United States, Russia, and Italy came out to interfere.Yuan Shikai was bored, he wanted to seek refuge with foreigners, and now foreigners interfered with him.Yuan Shikai is a hero of a generation, but only as far as China is concerned. Like many Chinese politicians of this era, he lacks a global vision.

In fact, the political situation in China is affected by the political situation in the world.As early as the Revolution of [-], the British, who played a pivotal role in China, led Yuan Shikai forward. Zhu Erdian directed a play of "North-South Peace Negotiation", and Yuan Shikai became the president.

Today's Britain is not what it used to be. The war in Europe is fierce, and Britain is exhausted. Although they still want to support Yuan Shikai, they can't do both. They have to give up the eastern power to Japan.Japan is not what it used to be. They are far away from the European battlefield, and they can take advantage of the fire in China.Although a unified and powerful China is not in the interests of Japan, at the same time they are afraid that China will be too turbulent to affect their economic interests in China.

When most of China's provinces were ordered to vote for the imperial system, Kobata, the Japanese acting minister in China, together with the British and Russian ministers, went to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proposed a three-country joint proposal to postpone the imperial system. commotion.Therefore, the governments of the three countries hope that the Chinese government will suspend the implementation.

Yuan Shikai's Emperor Dream was in high spirits, so how could he agree to delay the process at this critical time? So he instructed Lu Zhengxiang to explain the reason why the process could not be postponed.

Lu Zhengxiang did so, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited the envoys of Japan, Britain, France, and Russia. Lu Zhengxiang assured them, saying: "At present, 20 provinces and regions in the country have voted for the constitution. If there are a few mobs who oppose it, no matter what Whenever and wherever, we have enough power to destroy them. As far as the time to realize the imperial system, I can assure you that the government of this country has decided not to change the state system within the year. Please rest assured all friends."

At this moment, the army directly controlled by Yuan Shikai has increased from the original seven divisions and two mixed brigades to twelve divisions and 32 mixed brigades and regiments. Long Jiguang's Zhenwu Army has a total strength of more than 38 people. Yuan also has a navy of 39 ships and eight larger arsenals.It is with these family backgrounds that Yuan Shikai is confident that he can wipe out anyone who opposes him as emperor.

But foreigners still didn't believe it, and the next day, Italy joined the ranks of persuasion.Foreigners interfered more and more intensely, and Lu Zhengxiang, as the chief of foreign affairs, also felt more and more pressure.

Li Mohan, who was far away in Xuzhou, also received Yuan Shikai's "edict" that he canonized as a brave general and a third-class noble.Li Mohan specially recruited a group of subordinates to lead the envoy sent by Yuan Shikai.

It was Hua Anxi who came to "deliver the decree", "General Fen Yong, kneel down to receive the imperial decree." Hua Anxi looked arrogant.

"Kneeling to accept? Imperial decree?" Li Mohan sneered and said, "I will not be rewarded for no merit. I am truly ashamed that I did not make any contribution to President Yuan."

Hua Anxi corrected: "General Fenyong, you made a mistake. It should be His Majesty Emperor Hong Xian, not President Yuan Da. Besides, you also signed a document to express your approval when you supported His Majesty the Emperor to be called Emperor. This is the merit of your support." , you deserve it."

"I still say the same thing. You don't get rewarded for nothing. The special envoy has come from a long distance, and the saddle horse is tired. Please go to rest first." Li Mohan waved his hand, "Master Liu, you must treat Mr. Hua well."

Hua Anxi's face darkened, "Li Xunyue, you don't want to toast and refuse to eat fine wine. You have failed His Majesty's grace."

Li Mohan also lowered his face, and said: "I am ashamed to accept it, I can only accept it. See off the guests."

Seeing Li Mohan's tough attitude, Hua Anxi was helpless.

After sending Hua Anxi away, Li Mohan went back to the inner room and saw Liang Qichao was already waiting inside. "How is it? What did Yuan Shikai's people say?" Liang Qichao hurriedly asked

"It's nothing more than conferring an official Xu Jue." Li Mohan replied with a smile: "It seems that Yuan Shikai is determined to be emperor."

Liang Qichao said: "I originally hoped that Yuan Shikai would take up the burden of revitalizing China, but it seems that he is still blinded by power."

"Don't worry. Only you and I can do things that Yuan Shikai can't do." Li Mohan asked, "Is the person you sent reliable? That's a huge sum of money."

Liang Qichao said: "Don't worry, this person is reliable. With this money, Songpo can rise up and ask for Yuan with peace of mind."

Li Mohan said: "As long as Brother Songpo revolts in Yunnan, Yuan Shikai will definitely mobilize a large number of Beiyang troops to go south to crusade. At that time, we will launch an attack in Shandong, go north along the Jinpu Railway, attack Huanglong, enter Beijing, and capture Yuan Shikai alive. You and I Songpo is the hero of the Second Republic. With your prestige, sir, and the strength of Brother Songpo and I, are you afraid that you will not be able to command the world and benefit the country?"

Liang Qichao held Li Mohan's hands excitedly and excitedly, "That's right."