Everyone chatted in the hall for a while, and then Shang Dequan proposed to invite Zhang Jian to the Grand Hotel first. After all, the Grand Hotel was the next home venue. It was crowded and lively, so Zhang Jian could not be neglected here. Zhang Jian agreed.
came down, but said that he would let others go first, and that he hoped to take Yuan Su's carriage and go to the hotel where he was staying to put his luggage first.
Shang Dequan and others were naturally aware of the situation. It seemed that the real purpose of Zhang Jian's trip was to ask Yuan Su for something important, so everyone agreed and left first.
Even though domestic disturbances all hit the National Protectorate conflict, some additional rumors can often be caught in Tianjin, a focus of international politics. Shang Dequan and others are still somewhat aware of the current internal affairs of the Beiyang Group.
The situation is a bit subtle. First, Duan Qirui came to Yuan Su, and now Zhang Jian came to Yuan Su. It can be seen that Yuan Su's influence is growing, and the final result is that this young man will most likely
Out of the mountains again.
After Shang Dequan and his party left one after another, Yuan Su ordered his attendants to load Zhang Jian's luggage into the carriage one by one, and arranged for Zhang Jian's entourage to settle down as well. Naturally, he was not stupid, and he also realized that Zhang Jian must have something to say to him.
He said it himself, so he didn't rush out of the office building lobby immediately.
After all the idle people had withdrawn, Zhang Jian changed his previous friendly attitude and put on a very serious look. He said to Yuan Su: "Young Master Yuan, actually, I want to apologize to you first.
.”
Yuan Su pretended to be confused and said quickly: "Why did Mr. Fourth say this? I would never dare."
Today, Zhang Jian is the president of the National Water Conservancy Administration. Although this position is not a high-level position in the central government and is even under the Ministry of Communications. However, Zhang Jian himself served as Yuan Shikai's clerk and teacher in his early years, and he was the top imperial examination candidate in the former Qing Dynasty.
, his subordinates also run many businesses in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Guangxi. Perhaps the total assets are still not as good as Liang Shiyi, the director-general of the Ministry of Transportation, who is known as the "Beiyang God of Wealth", but when Liang Shiyi saw Zhang Jian, he still had to call him polite
A "Mr. Four".
For such a big shot to suddenly say "I'm sorry", doesn't it mean that he still doesn't know what happened? Even if there were some bumps in the road, Yuan Su would definitely not care about it with Zhang Jian.
"Before, I had some prejudice against Mr. Yuan. You should know that although I was the number one scholar in the former Qing Dynasty, and I was very close to your uncle in the past. But in terms of some political strategies for the overall situation of the country, I have my own opinions.
A set of ideas. Regarding Xiang Cheng's proclaiming himself emperor, I have been very entangled in my thoughts. How should I put it? The republican system was originally intended to broaden the people's wisdom. Everything was going in an orderly manner before. However, Xiang Cheng suddenly wanted to change to an imperial system.
, No matter how high-sounding and upright the reasons are, it is inevitable that people will suspect that they are taking advantage of the people's wisdom that has not yet been fully developed." Zhang Jian is not a mother-in-law person, or in other words, he also knows very well who he is in front of.
How to speak, so there is no secret.
"It turns out that Mr. Fourth has this kind of intention. However, this does not seem to have any direct connection with me, and I can't see how there could be some misunderstanding with Mr. Four in this matter." Yuan Su said calmly.
Of course he knew the reason why Zhang Jian and Yuan Shikai parted ways in history. In fact, Zhang Jian did not have much objection to the imperial system. Even if he did not support it, he did not strongly resist it. In the end, it was because Yuan Shikai could not wait to get Japan's support and signed the "Second Order" with Japan.
"Eleven Articles", this matter is really difficult for Zhang Jian to accept. "Twenty-one Articles" not only directly harmed the interests of China's national capitalism, but also contained a great element of losing power and humiliating the country, which of course harmed both public and private interests.
But now history has changed. Yuan Shikai did not sign the "Twenty-One Articles" and also took some constructive actions on national sovereignty. In theory, Zhang Jian should no longer have any objection. But why would the other party pick it now?
Do you understand what it means to question the imperial system?
"The reason why I say that you have a misunderstanding about Young Master Yuan is precisely because Young Master Yuan seemed to support your uncle in proclaiming himself emperor. Until some time ago, I was still worried about this matter. But recently, suddenly
I heard some news and said that Mr. Yuan, you don’t really support the monarchy, so I feel sorry for the previous misunderstanding.” Zhang Jian continued.
"Oh? May I ask where Mr. Fourth got this news?" Yuan Su asked, feeling increasingly puzzled. He was very vague about the imperial system from beginning to end, and it could be said that he meant the same thing at the same time, but in the end he still had the same idea.
Maintain a balance point, neither supporting the monarchy nor opposing it.
Because of this, why did Zhang Jian assert that he "did not sincerely support the monarchy"? What was his intention?
Just from the fact that Zhang Jian said something about questioning the imperial system, Yuan Su can already determine that Zhang Jian himself is one of the members within Beiyang who wants to rebel against Yuan. In other words, not only are he and Zhang Jian not on the same side, they should even have a hostile relationship
.
"Haha, now that we have reached this time, I am not afraid to tell the truth to Mr. Yuan. In fact, many people in Beiyang have always been uncomfortable with Xiang Cheng's implementation of the imperial system. Not to mention that everyone is not prepared in their hearts. Xiang Cheng
He didn't even say hello, he just insisted on going his own way. The constitution is the foundation of the country. Although it is said to be a constitutional monarch to the outside world, no one can tell when the authority of the constitution will be truly universalized." Zhang Jian sighed.
said.
"Mr. Fourth, are you worried that my uncle will always act arbitrarily?" Yuan Su directly said what Zhang Jian had not said.
"Yes, that's right. Young Master Yuan, you are a smart man. Although you have always advocated centralization of power, your purpose is nothing more than to hope that China will be unified and complete as soon as possible. However, a complete country needs true internal unity. Xiang Cheng insisted on going his own way.
How many people can you agree with? How can those who don't agree really unite?" Zhang Jian further said.
"Mr. Fourth's words are not unreasonable..." Yuan Su said deeply. He did not finish his words. On the one hand, he did not know how to answer the words. On the other hand, he had to carefully consider what Zhang Jian meant. In his opinion, Zhang Jian
Obviously he is not a rash person. Although he had dealt with him before in Beijing and Shanghai, he was not familiar enough to get straight to the point. At this moment, Zhang Jian's words were so explicit. Was it his true intention or something else?
A test?
"I have said before that things have reached this point. I hope that Young Master Yuan can understand his position. Whether it is for Beiyang or for our entire Chinese nation, Young Master Yuan must put the overall situation first. The real overall situation.
." Zhang Jian repeated what he said before, and said in an emphatic tone.
"I understand what Mr. Fourth means, but I don't understand when things have reached this point...when exactly?" Yuan Su asked deliberately and tentatively. He could see that the reason why Zhang Jian said these words must be...
There is a meaning in it.
Zhang Jian first looked around to make sure there was really no wall behind him, and then he adjusted his serious attitude again.
"We heard that Young Master Yuan seems to have some dealings with the southern revolutionaries..."
Before Zhang Jian could finish what he said, Yuan Su immediately jumped up as a result of his instinctive reaction. He did not hide his anger and said to Zhang Jian: "Mr. Fourth, what do you mean by this? Are you slandering me? These rumors are months old.
It has happened before. Whether it is my uncle or others, they already know that this is just a rumor deliberately spread by nefarious people. Mr. Fourth, I respect you as a senior, but you have trapped me in this injustice.
What on earth does it mean!”
In fact, at this time, Yuan Su could completely deduce that Zhang Jian was not here to test him, but to win over him on behalf of the anti-Yuan forces within the Beiyang Group. If Zhang Jian was really just testing, he would not use such an obvious topic to talk about the matter.
, on the contrary, only those Beiyang bureaucrats who intend to overthrow Yuan Shikai's regime will regard this incident as an introduction and an opportunity.
The reason why he showed such an excited reaction was to make Zhang Jian think that he was guilty of being a thief, so that Zhang Jian and others behind Zhang Jian would think that he really had contacts with the Revolutionary Party. Not only that, before the situation was completely settled,
, he still has to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of the anti-Yuan and pro-Yuan factions.
Zhang Jian was stunned for a moment, then quickly changed his expression and said pleasantly: "Haha, misunderstanding, this is a misunderstanding. Young Master Yuan, please sit down first, otherwise I will have to stand and talk to Young Master Yuan."
Yuan Su still looked bad, but he still sat down again without saying a word.