Duan Zhigui listened to Cao Kun's words patiently and with great interest, and then picked up the teacup and slowly took a sip of the tea. When Cao Kun had finished what he said, he lowered the teacup with an expression on his face.
He said with a bit of seriousness: "Master Cao, although you and I have not worked together for too long, we are both understanding people. Some words do not need to be too roundabout. Now Master Cao has been secretly working on the issue of imperialism.
Rumors have spread everywhere, and even if I am just an outsider, I will inevitably hear about it. I really don’t understand how Master Cao can still behave so calmly and calmly today?"
After hearing these words, Cao Kun was a little surprised. He seemed very relaxed before and suddenly became a little uncomfortable. After being stunned for a long time, he finally said: "Brother Xiangyan, you are so
What you said...seems a little unreasonable? Although I, Cao Kun, am a big boss, but I do things worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth, so why can't I be calm and composed?"
Duan Zhigui smiled secretly and further said: "Master Cao invited me to Ezhou as a guest, but he was so secretive in his words. How can he show his sincerity? As the saying goes, I don't go to the Three Treasures Hall for anything, so I have to say what I need to say.
Duan Xiangyan has already said before that if Mr. Cao is still so hesitant, this meeting will be unnecessary."
As Duan Zhigui said, although Cao Kun and Cao Kun came from the same Beiyang army, they were in charge of different areas and rarely had any intersection, so the relationship could only be described as an acquaintance. He had heard of Duan Zhigui.
He had a temper, but he didn't expect that the other party's mouth was really merciless. Not only did he speak harshly, but he also acted condescendingly, not taking himself seriously at all.
However, if you take a closer look, it is obvious from what Duan Zhigui said just now that he is very aware of the incident currently brewing within Beiyang, and he is also clearly aware of the impact that he is now in Hubei on this matter, so he thinks so highly of himself.
This is another manifestation of cunning. He talks about other people and tells lies when seeing ghosts. He is a complete snob.
"Haha, look at what Brother Xiangyan said. Since Brother Xiangyan is so open and honest, then I, Mr. Cao, will not beat around the bush. I invite Brother Xiangyan here for a while, just in the hope that we can have a good discussion on the biggest problem in Beiyang.
Let’s talk. In any case, it is not easy for us in Beiyang to work hard to get to where we are today. The country has just entered the formal stage. It is the time when we need to recuperate and develop well. However, at this juncture, war breaks out again. How can we not call it
Are we feeling disappointed?" Although Cao Kun felt unhappy, he was still good at putting on a smile. There was no sign of any anger on his face, but he said with an increasingly cheerful smile.
"Oh, what do you think Mr. Cao has to say?" Duan Zhigui still put on airs when he spoke and asked seriously.
"Well, it's helpless to say the least. Cao has been working on this matter for a while and asked several of our old ministers in Beiyang for advice, but everyone just felt helpless and nothing good came out of the discussion.
Luzi. I invited Brother Xiangyan here today because I hope to hear if Brother Xiangyan has any suggestions." Cao Kun said while doing Tai Chi.
Cao Kun has been preparing for this matter for so long. Almost every person he visits will ask this question, but this question is extremely sensitive. When he does not fully understand the other person's mind and is sure that the other person will be on his side,
Naturally, the plan cannot be revealed easily.
"Zhongshan, you are restless. Anyway, there is no one else today. If there is anyone else, you won't come to me to talk about this matter. So you just open the skylight wider. You have been traveling all over the country recently.
How can I not know about the so-called activities? I really don’t understand. You said that you are trying to avoid war for the country, and now you are causing trouble. Wouldn’t it make the country more chaotic? What do you want?
What is it?" Duan Zhigui asked bluntly.
Although he didn't dare to expose Cao Kun's shortcomings in front of Yuan Shikai, but now that Cao Kun wanted something from him, he might not dare to show off his power in front of Yuan Shikai. In fact, he didn't mean to have trouble with Cao Kun, but he just followed the Chinese
The most common idea that people take for granted is to start with a higher starting point when bargaining, so that there is more room for profit.
"You misunderstood, brother Xiangyan, what else can I, Cao Laosan, want? Isn't it just for the future of our Beiyang? Just ask, although the rebel parties in the south were not very powerful before, what about now? We are all here
I have been in Hubei for a while, and the voices of the Chinese people's dissatisfaction with the imperial system are increasing day by day. Wen Yue said that we should be prepared for a rainy day. I, Cao Laosan, just have to make plans in advance." Cao Kun put on a look of loyalty and loyalty.
His liver looked like he was just patting his chest and talking.
"Okay, okay, Zhongshan, you have said that, what else can I say! It's okay if you don't say it. Listening to you say this, think about the fact that there have been some changes in the domestic limelight now, which is really disappointing.
It's worrying. His Majesty and his old man are far away in the capital and are safe and sound, but our subordinates who are guarding the outside have to be more cautious." Duan Zhigui said slowly.
"Brother Xiangyan can think so, that's of course the best. As ministers of Beiyang, we must consider the overall situation of Beiyang no matter what. Yes, our Beiyang Army was established under the single-handed control of His Majesty, but really
Let our banner of Beiyang come to this day and reach the position of ruling China, but in the end it was us ministers who survived step by step. We regard Yuan Xiangcheng as the emperor and leader, and we respect and admire him from the bottom of our hearts.
"Cao Kun subtly changed his tone and became more serious.
"That's the truth." Duan Zhigui nodded slightly to express his attitude, and waited for Cao Kun to speak further.
"We won't be fooled anymore. The problem is already before us, so let's talk about it openly. Now that His Majesty, our Great Emperor, has brought such a crisis to Beiyang, should we continue on this path and cause everyone to perish, or should we
Hurry up and think of a way out. How can we keep our orthodox banner of Beiyang? Which one is more important, which one is right, which one is wrong? Brother Xiangyan, please tell me something." Cao Kun said it neatly.
came out.
Of course Duan Zhigui understood the intention of Cao Kun's words. It was clear that Cao Kun was thinking about this matter in his heart and deliberately singled out the issue for others to choose. This was really a way of making excuses. He had expected it earlier.
As far as Cao Kun is concerned, today is just to see if this matter is good for him. He has not yet figured out how to get a share of the pie, but he wants to express his position first. Of course, it cannot be so cheap.
bother.
After pretending to hesitate, he put on an indecisive look and said hesitantly: "Brother Cao San, what you said does make sense. No matter what it is, in the end, the overall situation must be the first priority. However,
We have to figure out which side of the overall situation we are on. What's more, we have to think carefully about it. Our Great Emperor is not a fool. If we really want to do anything to offend him, he will not do anything to do it.
Give in easily."
When Cao Kun saw that Duan Zhigui had changed his name to "Brother Cao", he saw the change in Duan Zhigui's mentality, so the expression on his face became more cordial, and he nodded in agreement and said: "Brother Xiangyan is thinking about it, but at the moment
In our Beiyang circle, I, Cao Laosan, am not the only one who thinks so. It is precisely because of the general trend that I, Cao Laosan, dare to stand up and run around. It is related to the rights and interests of all of us, so I have to boldly talk to Xiang Cheng
Show this card."
Duan Zhigui pretended to smile and said: "Speaking of rights and interests, please forgive me for thinking things too carefully. We are all people who have been here before, and we don't like to mince words now. Our emperor doesn't treat us like this anymore.
It’s too bad. As for those ne’er-do-wells in the south, they are just clowns. If they really want to take action, they can settle the matter in just a few minutes. Why do you really think they will make a big fuss about it?"
The implication of these words is to let Cao Kun convince himself with more practical reasons.
Although Cao Kun had no education, he had been talking to many people about related matters during this period, so he was naturally familiar with the routines. He did not hesitate too much, but deliberately showed a somewhat cautious attitude and said: "We brothers
The two of us will not talk about the two families. To put it more broadly, even if we are able to solve the problem on that side this time, Yuan Xiangcheng is so insistent on going his own way and does not consider the feelings of us people at all. There may be another southeast uprising next year.
If there is another national protection movement in the year after next, sooner or later we in Beiyang will be completely brought down."
After pausing for a moment, he continued: "To put it more briefly, Yuan Xiangcheng has reached this age. He was going to be the president before. We, the people, support him and follow him. It doesn't matter. Now he is considered a president.
Having tasted the sweetness of being surrounded by stars, I not only thought that I would become bigger and bigger, but also thought that the Yuan family would live forever, that I would sit on the throne and pass it on to my descendants. To put it bluntly, we people have