Jagged Warlord

It was a sunny day, the temperature was neither too hot nor too cold, the breeze stirred the young willows, the surface of the pool was rippling with light waves, small flowers shyly bloomed among the fresh green lawns, and birdsong rang out from the branches, Duan Qirui walked out of the room , came to the small garden, looked up at the sky, it seems that the sun is particularly bright today.

Duan Qirui got into a carriage and went to Zhongnanhai refreshed. However, Duan Qirui didn't notice that when his carriage left the Xishan residence, in an inconspicuous corner, a pair of eyes opened tightly. Watching her and him.

In the small reception room of Jurentang, Yuan Shikai was still dressed in the same clothes, with a short navy blue jacket on the outside and a long blue gown inside. He looked haggard and touched his head from time to time, Yuan Shikai's forehead Although he still looked wide, obviously a lot depressed, he tried to open his eyes wide, but his eyes were dull and mentally exhausted.

Finally, when Yuan Shikai saw Duan Qirui, he only called out affectionately and rather sadly: "Zhiquan! You are here." Then he motioned for Duan Qirui to sit down.

Duan Qirui wore a casual gown and a black top hat. When meeting Yuan Shikai, Duan Qirui held the top hat in his hand, bowed respectfully, and then asked, "Your health is good!" and sat on a chair beside him. , did not take the initiative to speak, and looked straight ahead with both eyes, seeming to see but not seeing. This situation and this scene seemed to be mourning Yuan Shikai, and the atmosphere was very embarrassing.

Duan Zhigui, who was present at the moment, seemed quite unrestrained and at ease. He is His Highness, and he often pretended to be a "junior" in front of Duan. Therefore, this time when Duan Yuan met, Duan Zhigui walked between the two as both the host and the guest. , "Old Zhi, you two, Weng and Son-in-Law, have been through the wind and rain together for decades. You are in a state of war, and you have no time to talk calmly. Today is a rare opportunity. Let's have a good talk, and I will prepare a banquet!"

After Duan Zhigui walked out, it was finally Duan Qirui who spoke first, and he said: "Zhiquan has been suffering from illnesses recently, and he can't cheer up, so he doesn't come to greet him, and confess his crimes!"

"I know about it, I know about it." Yuan Shikai said with some embarrassment: "I don't blame you for this matter, I also have a lot of work, you know, I should see you, but I just haven't found time to come!"

After two sentences of entertainment, Duan Qirui was afraid that he would drag the topic far away, and also afraid that Yuan Shikai would go back on his word, so Duan Qirui cut to the chase and said with emotion: "Zhang Yiling went to see me a few days ago and told me At that time, I was very difficult: first, I was afraid of disappointing the cultivation and hope of the adults, and I had a heavy trust; Zhiquan also betrayed you, so I still agreed, now, I'm afraid I can't win the big task!"

There was a thorn in Duan Qirui's words, he didn't call him His Majesty, he didn't call him President, but called him Your Excellency, to show that there was a gap between the two.

Yuan Shikai waved his hands and said, "Zhiquan, don't say these words, who are you? I don't know yet, and I can do whatever I want. Now, the difficulties are coming, and there are only a few people who can share weal and woe. , you can understand and support me." Then, Yuan Shikai sighed sadly, and said: "Apart from you, who else can I count on." After finishing speaking, Yuan Shikai took out his handkerchief and gently Rubbing his eyes, he seemed to be in tears.

Duan Qirui softened his heart when Yuan Shikai was so provocative. He said: "The current problems all stem from one thing, that is, the reform of the system. The republic is what the people want, and it is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people! If you can act according to the situation, think about everything Everything will be accommodated!"

Yuan Shikai felt a headache again. He was most jealous of people talking about the imperial system. Although Duan Qirui changed his tone, he still opposed the imperial system. Hear more opinions from all sides!"

Duan Qirui felt that Yuan Shikai was procrastinating again, and there was another resentment in his heart. However, Duan Qirui was Duan Qirui after all. He changed the subject and said, "I just said that no one is available. An available one!"

Without Duan Qirui's words, Yuan Shikai can use his thumb to think that the person Duan Qirui wants to recommend is Xu Shuzheng. Xu Shuzheng is talented, but he is young and frivolous and easy to offend others. Yuan Shikai doesn't like him, but now Yuan Shikai has something to ask Duan Qirui Rui couldn't refuse, so he said: "I've thought about Youzheng's matter, of course I won't let him idle, let me think about where to go, and then tell you!"

When Duan Qirui heard Yuan Shikai's procrastination, he was not happy, but he still said softly: "I want you to be my secretary-general. I believe that this person will do things well." It's appropriate, since your lord hasn't decided yet, let's leave it for now, and now in Beijing, I will send someone to send him away when I go back, so as not to cause any trouble!"

When Yuan Shikai heard that Duan Qirui had something to say, he hurriedly said, "Zhiquan, how can you think like that? You don't have to do that, you don't know that when I was in Jinan Prefecture, I trusted Shuzheng extremely; when I came to Beijing Afterwards, I still favored him; dismissing Shuzheng was a last resort, but I have been suffering from the pain of "cutting horses" for a long time! Now, after learning from the pain, Shuzheng is your arm, of course it is arranged by you, you If you feel that he is suitable to be the secretary-general, of course it will not be a problem!"

Yuan Shikai said to Duan Zhigui again: "Xiangyan, go back and tell Zhang Guogan that Shuzheng's appointment should be handled quickly!"

He turned around and said to Duan Qirui: "Zhiquan, can this work? Let Shuzheng take the post of deputy secretary-general temporarily, but there will be no more appointments for the post of secretary-general!"

"Everything is under the arrangement of the adults." Duan Qirui finally nodded in satisfaction

Duan Qirui became Secretary of State, and Xu Shuzheng was appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, acting as Secretary-General. On the second day Duan Qirui took office, he began to adjust the chiefs of several major ministries, making Lu Zhengxiang the chief of foreign affairs and Wang Yitang the chief of internal affairs. Sun Baoqi is the chief of finance, Liu Guanxiong is the chief of the navy, Zhang Zongxiang is the chief of justice, Zhang Guogan is the chief of education, Jin Bangping is the chief of agriculture and commerce, and Cao Rulin is the chief of transportation.

Yuan Shikai also knew the likes and dislikes of the Chinese people towards him. He was worried that the imperial system would be abolished, and the president would be unable to hold on. The centrist identity of the imperial system came out to deal with it in order to achieve its goal, and Xu Shuzheng withheld Duan Qirui's letter. Therefore, Xu Shuzheng said with certainty that Yuan Shikai was "very serious" about the abolition of the imperial system.

On March 1916, 3, Yuan Shikai issued a decree announcing the abolition of the imperial system. This decree said a lot of reasons why he had to be emperor, and now the situation forced him to abolish the imperial system, but finally expressed his heart:

All parties are guilty, and there is only one person. Now the case of recognition (monarchy) has been revoked. If there is any disturbance in the local area, it will be self-evident, and disasters and fortunes will be brought about by itself. The president of this country has the responsibility to rule the whole country, and he cannot sit idly by. Regardless, he finally showed that he was no longer the emperor, and he was still the "big president". Woohoo, it took Yuan Shikai a total of 83 days from acknowledging the throne to revoking the acknowledgment of the throne. The emperor's dream was only 83 days, which can be described as short!

Yuan Shikai is no longer the emperor, this is only a step to solve the problem, there are many specific things to do? For the imperial system, Yuan Shikai has already transferred 6000 million yuan from the treasury, 2000 million for the preparation of the grand ceremony, 3000 million for miscellaneous items, and 1000 million for preparation Ascension to the army, except for the 1000 million yuan of the army that has not been used, the remaining 5000 million has basically been used up. Except for the transfer of China and the Bank of Communications, this huge sum of money is basically borrowed from domestic and foreign debts. Duan Qirui, the Secretary of State, where does the money come from? Duan Qirui can't help worrying.

Yuan Shikai was no longer the emperor, so the Southwest War to Protect the Country could naturally be stopped, but the important task of peace talks and a truce also fell to the Duan Cabinet. Duan Qirui discussed with Xu Shichang and drew up six conditions to negotiate a settlement with the South. These six are:

[-]. Dian, Guizhou, Guangxi, and the provinces controlled by Li Mohan will cancel their independence;

Second, order Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Li Mohan's units to maintain law and order;

[-]. Dian, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Li Mohan's troops added a few new recruits, all of which were disbanded;

[-]. All the soldiers and horses of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Li Mohan in the battlefield retreat to their original station;

Fifth, from now on, troops from Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Li Mohan's troops are not allowed to fight with officers and soldiers;

Sixth, one representative from each of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Li Mohan came to Beijing to discuss the aftermath.

The South responded in a timely manner, saying that "if peace is desired, the central government should recognize six major conditions." These are also six:

First, Yuan Shikai could die on loan within a certain period of time, but he must be deported abroad;

13. According to the requirements of the Yunnan Uprising, [-] people including Yang Du and Duan Zhigui who were rebels were killed to thank the world;

6000. About 13 million yuan in preparation expenses and military expenses for the imperial system should be confiscated and compensated for the property of [-] people attached to Yuan Shikai;

Fourth, the descendants of Yuan Shikai, the third deprived of public rights;

Fifth, after Yuan Shikai abdicated, according to the agreement, Li Vice President Yuan Hong succeeded him;

Sixth, civil and military officials, except for state servants, will still serve their posts, but the place where the army is stationed must obey the orders of the military commander.

Go six, come six, equal trade! How can two six be merged into one? Duan Qirui was worried, but Xu Shuzheng, who was careful, discovered the mystery. He pointed to the telegram signed by the Southern Guard and said: "Zhiquan, look , The telegram we sent in the past included Li Mohan from Xuzhou, but Li Mohan was not included in the telegram from the south, and Li Mohan did not second this telegram!"

Duan Qirui took a closer look and found that it was indeed the case, "Why, does this kid have his own little plan!"

Sure enough, within a few days, Li Mohan sent a telegram in the name of the head of the military government of the Republican Army: In the telegram, Li Mohan first clarified his political position, whether it is a constitutional monarchy or a democratic republic, whether it is a presidential system or a cabinet system. The purpose is still for the prosperity and revitalization of the country. As long as it is for this purpose, abandoning private interests and rights, and serving the country wholeheartedly, that is a good political system, but if some people only want the power and interests of individuals or small groups, even if they adopt democratic A republic is also bad and evil, and everyone can get it and punish it.