Paid chapters

Everyone’s state of mind

In the middle of winter, Beijing is already transformed into a world of ice and snow.

The smooth negotiations between China and Japan, even in the compensation clause, the Japanese did not have too much entanglement in the demand for compensation of 15 million. The smooth negotiations and the improvement of the national status only made President Yuan Shikai

, and immediately felt relaxed.

Looking at the world through the window, the green leaves are gone, the red flowers are gone, from the roof to the branches to the ground, they are all covered in silver, dazzling and bright. It is so boring, but it is pure, so pure.

His heart was filled with sweetness. He took the unlit cigar and swayed it quietly in his hand, and started to moan softly in his mouth.

I live among the mist and falling sunlight,

Not a single thing is relevant.

Pour out the remaining jade and run it through the bamboo,

After rolling up the book, I lay down in Huangting and looked at the mountains.

Greedy and proud,

Ren Baocan

He was startled and stopped abruptly.

"Isn't this "Partridge Sky" written by Lu Fangweng of Shanyin? It was when he resigned from office and returned to his home, he used casual, free and open-minded brushwork to express his melancholy and frustration at not being able to serve the country. I am proud of the spring breeze,

I want to rejuvenate my country, my nation, and my Yuan family. What do I mean by this word?"

He quickly lit up the cigar, took two strong puffs, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. However, his mood at the moment was really melancholy, and he really felt a bit "wrapped".

The negotiation went smoothly, but he realized that the time was getting closer and closer. To be precise, the time for Li Zicheng to enter Beijing was getting closer and closer. At the end of the day, that is, after the Spring Festival, it might also be

Before the Spring Festival.

What does this mean?

This means that before he enters Beijing, he must deal with the issue of his "position". The Zhengshitang Zuocheng, Youcheng, and Zhengshitang counselors are not suitable for these positions. The most practical position is the Secretary of State of the Zhengshitang.

But even as the Secretary of State, he may not be satisfied.

Prime Minister

Thinking of Liang Shiyi's words that day, Yuan Shikai couldn't help but secretly sigh in his heart. That was probably the only position that allowed him, Li Zicheng, to stay in the capital obediently, but he still had to think a lot more.

Ju Ren, Ju Ren, I hope my old friend can understand my painstaking efforts.

The Xia Zhu Building of the Zhongnanhai Presidential Palace is the Political Affairs Hall of the People's Republic of China. It is the office of Xu Shizan and Yuan Shi. Therefore, the confidential bureau is on the left, and the rest room of the left and right Prime Ministers is on the right. The plaque of the Political Affairs Hall and the words on both sides are "Heaven Sees, People See, and Heaven Listens."

The people listen" and the couplets "People drown themselves, drown others, and themselves are hungry" were all written and written by Xu Shichang, who was the Secretary of State of Zhengshitang.

Xu Shichang, who was originally from Tianjin, was born in Ji County, Henan Province, and came from a family of minor officials. In his youth, he taught in Huaining County, where he met Yuan Shikai and became sworn brothers. After that, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. Recommended by Yuan Shikai, he successively

He held important positions such as promotion of the Military Training Department, Minister of the Ministry of War, Minister of the Patrol Department, Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Governor of the three eastern provinces. On the eve of the Revolution of 1911, he was promoted to Minister of Military and Aircraft and Associate Minister of the Cabinet. After the establishment of the Communist Party of China, he appointed himself a posthumous minister and excused himself as "National

He became worried and angry" and retreated to Qingdao. On the surface, he did not care about political affairs, but in fact he secretly participated in Yuan Shikai's serious decisions. He had long been known as the "Coastal Prime Minister".

When he became Secretary of State last year, everyone in the presidential office respectfully called him "Prime Minister". He has been dating Yuan for more than 20 years, and he knows Yuan's temperament and ambitions well. He knows that Yuan is not only as good as him in playing political intrigues,

And he is superior to him in many aspects. Regarding major policies, he never takes the initiative to propose plans, but only formulates strategic methods that must be used to achieve the goals.

When he first took office, some people suggested that he publish policy policies to appease the people. He said that he should not talk too much in politics, saying: "In the past, when the cabinet members were in office, they made many announcements, but in fact they did not do much.

Go. After the current chaos, I just want to rest. I don’t dare to say much. I just choose to do what is feasible, and do not do what is not feasible. If you do it and it is effective, it is good, if not, it is evil. It depends on the results.

Now even though I have nothing to express in ridiculing, I will never say no, or the reason why I must express my intention in all aspects is because of this lack of expression."

It can be seen that, just as Yuan Shikai hoped, after the Chinese Communist Party changed the cabinet system to a presidential system, the Governor's Office that replaced the State Council was just an agency under the Presidential Palace. It is precisely because of this that it was allowed to

The Communist Party and newspapers leaning towards the Communist Party accused the "republican system of being ruthlessly trampled on".

However, they obviously ignored that during the Nanjing Provisional Government, the power scale of the provisional president was by no means inferior to that of Yuan Shikai now. At least Yuan Shikai still played this political game within the framework of a republic.

Xu Shichang, as the Secretary of State of the Political Affairs Hall, is sitting in the office at this time, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes frowning in concentration. These days, he, the Secretary of State, has been living like a year. As the Secretary of State, as the negotiations become increasingly smooth, he

The smile on his face gradually faded.

"Resign and make way for talents"

After the president asked the three of them for advice, the next day, Liang Shiyi visited him in person and talked about the president's difficulties and Li Zhiyuan's arrangements. The only meaning behind his words was to let him

If the Secretary of State voluntarily resigns and makes way for someone else, he will at least be known as a "virtuous prime minister."

"Rang Xian, why don't you all give in to me..."

Feeling annoyed in his heart, Xu Shichang even started to hold grudges with Li Zhiyuan, who was far away in Lianyungang.

At this moment, Yang Shiqi's political minister Zuo Cheng walked in. Although his position was inferior to that of Xu Shichang, who was the Secretary of State, because he was Yuan Shikai's lucky minister, his power was actually greater than Xu's.

"Xingcheng is here, sit down quickly"

Seeing Yang Shiqi coming, Xu Shichang greeted him warmly and said that he knew this "subordinate" Xu Shichang quite well. He started out as Li Hongzhang's assistant. After Li's death, he switched to Yuan Shikai's sect and served as the chief copywriter of the Western Affairs Bureau. He became Yuan's general secretary.

The pawn who "moves with people and controls the political power" has been favored for more than ten years. He is regarded as a confidant by Yuan and is known as the "think tank". His scheming is unpredictable and rare in the world. And now he is in the political affairs hall.

How could Xu Shichang not know that power was in his hands? But precisely because of this, he was enthusiastic about Yang Shiqi.

"Brother Ju Ren, it seems that the president is determined to withdraw from the political hall this time."

Although the President did not invite Yang Shiqi for discussion that day to avoid suspicion, with Yuan Shikai's trust in him, how could he not know the President's plan? What's more, the news has already spread among a few dozen people in the capital.

How could he not know if it was open?

"No,"

Xu Shichang did not reveal his attitude. Everyone knew that Yang Shiqi was the president's confidant, so it was better to be cautious in front of him.

"This time the president is choosing talents instead of sticking to common sense."

Yang Shiqi didn't say anything else, but indirectly mentioned Li Zicheng's age.

"Li Zhiyuan is only 24."

The meaning of Yang Shiqi's words made Xu Shichang's heart skip a beat. In terms of power, even the Secretary of State himself was not as powerful as Yang Shiqi, the Zuocheng of the Political Affairs Hall. Could it be that, with his heart skipping a beat, he tentatively said something.

"You are a bit young, but your talent is far beyond what others can match."

"His talent is unparalleled, but after all, he is still too young and lacks too much experience in the government affairs of this country. How can he do it without some experience?"

At this point, Yang Shiqi flattered Xu Shichang again.

"Lao Xiangguo has always had a thorough understanding of state affairs and has good plans for governing the country. When the president chooses Lao Xiangguo as his secretary of state, he really has a sharp eye and recognizes the pillars. But this time..."

In fact, Yang Shiqi was naturally conflicted in every possible way about the abolition of the Zhengshitang and the reestablishment of the State Council. He knew clearly that once the matter was settled, his position as the left prime minister of the Zhengshitang would probably come to an end. How could he be in the State Council at this time?

Yang Shiqi's place of residence is precisely because of this. To a large extent, his and Xu Shichang's positions are consistent.

In the past period of time, ever since he learned the news, he had been observing Xu Shichang, and Xu Shichang's reaction was exactly what he expected. That's why he had today's visit, and the reason why he chose to meet at the Political Affairs Hall

It’s not just Xu Shichang’s family, he also has his plans. He has been with the president for so many years, so he can be said to know the president quite well. I’m afraid that if he pays a private visit to Xu Shichang today, the president will know the news tomorrow. By then, if Xu Shichang

If he takes any action, the president will soon connect the two things, which is far less confidential than "discussing official business" in the political hall.

"Brother Juren, do you know why Liang Yansun supports the president in reestablishing the State Council?"

“This is not simple yet”

Xu Shichang said with the corners of his lips raised in a mocking tone.

"At the time of the State Council, the center of the government's political affairs was ostensibly in the State Council, but in fact it was in the Secretariat of the Presidential Office. And Liang Yansun, the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, naturally did not have the name of prime minister but acted as prime minister. How could he not want to restore the status quo of yesterday?

Respect."

"No, in order to fundamentally change this inconsistent situation, the President abolished the State Council and the Secretariat, and established the Government Hall in the Presidential Palace. "All military and national affairs are decided and implemented by the Government Hall." This Government Hall

Ah, its status is slightly equivalent to the Military Aircraft Department of the former Qing Dynasty. Through the Political Affairs Hall, the president concentrated administrative power in his own hands. When he issued orders, the original seal of the President was used, but now it is added "the Political Affairs Hall is under the policy order"

Words like this, and the Seal of the Bell Government Hall, this is a replica of the format of the "cabinet's edict" in the former Qing Dynasty, and Brother Juren's secretary of state is roughly equivalent to the chief military minister of the former Qing Dynasty, only to the president.

Responsible and not responsible to anyone in any agency. This has fundamentally solved the dispute over the authority between the President and the Prime Minister since the 1960s and concentrated all powers on the President. But now if the State Council is re-established, I am afraid it will happen again.

If a power struggle arises between the president and the prime minister, it will really not be a blessing for China."

Hearing what Yang Shiqi said, Xu Shichang just nodded slightly in agreement. In fact, he didn't know that Yang Shiqi was afraid that he was thinking the same as Liang Shiyi, for his own power. Liang Shiyi wanted to regain power, but Yang Shiqi was afraid of becoming what he is now.

Liang Shiyi.

"So, Brother Juren, although we as subordinates must obey the President's orders, sometimes we must give timely advice. Although the advice may be offensive, but with the President's knowledge, with just a little bit of guidance, the president can win."

How could the president not understand the stakes?"

Yang Shiqi's words only aroused Xu Shichang's approval, but when he looked at Yang Shiqi, he smiled heartily, and then said with a smile.

"I also have this intention. Since Xingcheng also has this intention, I wonder if you would be willing to meet with me to meet the President."

"this……"

After a few dry laughs, Yang Shiqi stood up and said.

"Since the Secretary of State wishes it, Shi Qi is determined that the Secretary of State cannot foresee this matter. We must plan carefully so that we can succeed."

In the Taxation Department of the Ministry of Finance in the capital, with half-closed eyes, Liang Shiyi tapped the desktop from time to time. On his desktop was a secret document sent from the Political Affairs Hall. This secret document was sent by his informant in the Political Affairs Hall. The content was
To be continued...