There was a scheming in the Yangxin Palace, and the outside of the Forbidden City was not peaceful. Yuan Shikai returned to his apartment in Xila Hutong in a cold sweat. Before he could even change his soaked clothes, he summoned two confidants to discuss the situation.

These two confidants are not ordinary people, but old people who have followed Yuan Shikai for many years. One is Ruan Zhongshu, whose courtesy name is Douzhan, and he was a juren. The memorial was written in a colorful way. He is Yuan Mu's general copywriting. The other is Yin Mingshou, whose courtesy name is Peizhi. The grandson-in-law of the former governor of Guangdong and Guangxi Tan Zhonglin, and an editor of the Hanlin Academy. Although he has never joined the Yuan Mansion of Mu, he is close friends with Yuan Shikai and his think tank.

Yuan Shikai sat in the study, picked up a cup of hot tea and put it to his mouth. Then he realized that his hands were still shaking. He sighed and put the teacup back to the desk. He looked at the two people in front of him, and his face was also gloomy.

Everyone's anxiety is understandable. As soon as the Jiujiang telegram was released, even the British envoy sent someone to inquire about it, wanting to find out Yuan Shikai's tone and see what his relationship with the "Commander-General Zhao". Even foreigners became suspicious, let alone the imperial prince who was full of Han dynasties. Even Ruan Zhongshu and Yin Mingshou were a little suspicious, always thinking that Yuan Shikai had something to hide from them. No wonder Yuan Shikai's first thing after receiving the telegram was to flee, and even his family entrusted to the British to protect him.

If it weren't for the British Minister and Prince Qing who rushed to stop him, Yuan Shikai would have fled to the Tianjin Concession, so there wouldn't be a play in the Forbidden City.

The play was not Yuan Shikai's own idea, but Ruan Zhongshu's plan. With the support of the British, Yuan Shikai had the courage to act in the Forbidden City. But even so, after this play, Yuan Shikai was exhausted, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

"Sir, do you really don't know that Zhao Bei?" Yin Mingshou couldn't help asking again.

"How many more times do you have to ask me?" Yuan Shikai sighed. "Not even if I don't recognize it, no one of my assistants can recognize it. That person is like jumping out of a stone. Not to mention that we have never heard of his name, even the imperial court has never heard of it. The leader of the rebellion who has been presented over the years is vividly on the case, but after rummaging, one can't find a person named 'Zhao Bei'."

"In this way, the person sending out all the electricity must be of ulterior motives." Ruan Zhongshu set his tone.

"Then you need to say? He sent the power to kill me! This is called 'praise'!" Yuan Shikai snorted coldly. "The most taboo thing in the court is that there are ministers who are too high in their expectations and overshadow the court. This power to be clearly aroused suspicion of the court. This revolutionary is insidious and cunning, so you must be careful! Zhao Bei, Zhao Bei, I remember this name. This time it was powered on, but I don't know what it was next. Their revolutionaries are best at inciting and inciting, and then taking advantage of the troubled waters. They incited them before.

They are rioters. Now, they are inciting the bannermen, provoking discord, and making trouble. I figured it out. Now that the world is rampant in this world, no matter how loyal we Han people are, they are their slaves. We can do things, but we have to hand over the power to us. That is the pursuit of fish. As soon as we entered Beijing last year, I knew that the saints had lost their relatives. Now I have decided. When this matter is over, I will resign and return to my hometown and be my fishing man and fisherman. Whoever wants to protect this Qing Dynasty will protect him, I will not worry about that."

"Don't be discouraged." Yin Mingshou shook his head. "Since the new court policy was launched, Duke Yuan swore to help the government diligently, abolish the imperial examinations, develop industry, train new troops, and advocate constitutionalism. The new policy is booming, and the achievements are obvious to all. Who in the world knows the reputation of Duke Yuan? Even foreign newspapers say that Duke Yuan is a 'enlightened giant'. Now the trend of constitutional establishment is getting more and more urgent. Duke Yuan has always advocated constitutional monarchy. It is the time when the world returns to its heart. Maybe the Jiujiang rebels are interested in this point and support Duke Yuan. They may not be really supporting Duke Yuan."

"Brother Yin has read more gentlemen's books and doesn't understand the sinister hearts clearly." Ruan Zhongshu smiled bitterly. "Since the rebellious party has the courage to rebel, why don't they have the courage to be the 'big commander' by themselves? Isn't it for their own rebellion? The reason why they elected Mr. Yuan as the commander was to hit the weak point of the court. Today's court has become more suspicious of the Han people. Yuan Gong has been in charge of the government over time, and his disciples have been in the world. The new policy has been very popular, and the initiative to establish a constitution has been pushed to the forefront.

If you are not careful on the verge of words, you will be in a desperate situation. Since ancient times, there have been too many examples of ministers who have made great contributions but are not rewarded. Nowadays, Duke Yuan can also be regarded as the four words "high merits shock the master". Duke Yuan volunteered to go to war, but was blocked back by neither soft nor hard. This means that the court emphasized the use of it, but in fact he was guarding against Duke Yuan everywhere, fearing that he would be unfavorable to the court. Now he asked Duke Yuan to act as the Army Department. That was a forced one. When the rebels were put down in the future, it would be time to kill the donkey."

Speaking of this, the three of them were sighing, and Yuan Shikai's heart was even more ups and downs, and all kinds of feelings came one by one. He was certainly doing his own thing according to the order, but it was also full of selfishness. If the constitutional monarchy was truly realized, with Yuan Shikai's contribution and hard work for so many years, the position of the Prime Minister of the Cabinet was not prepared for him? Besides, once the constitution was established, it would not be a matter of one word for the emperor to kill him Yuan Shikai again, so he had to follow the law. But what Yuan Shikai never expected was that he was busy and in the end he was stealing.

The chicken was not enough to lose rice. The relatives and nobles of the bannermen agreed with the "new policy", but their purpose of presiding over the new policy was not to make him Yuan Shikai take over, nor to restrict the monarchy. Therefore, after the official system was changed, Yuan Shikai immediately lost several official hats and was dismissed several times in succession. In the end, even the Beiyang Army was asked to take over the bannermen, leaving only the title of Minister of Military Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Although the status was respectable, the real power had been gone. If it were not for the restructuring of the three northeastern provinces two years ago, the two towns and one Beiyang Army were regained in their own hands, then today, Yuan Shikai might have really been on the front line of the country.

The career is dangerous, and the motto of people in the officialdom is.

"The officialdom is like a theater." Yuan Shikai remembered the secret of being an official that his uncle told him in his early years. Over the years, he has mastered his acting skills to perfection. If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have passed so easily in the Forbidden City today.

Of course, strength is always the first priority. Without strength, no matter how good the acting is, it is useless. Yuan Shikai believes in this regard. The bannerman does not move him now because he is concerned about the soldiers in his hands. Therefore, not only should he hold the Beiyang army in the two towns and one alliance tightly in his hands, but also the Beiyang army in the other towns. This is not only the capital for his promotion, but also the capital for his life to save his life. He cannot be neglected.

Just as Yuan Shikai was thinking about how to deal with the crisis in front of him, he heard someone outside the window shouting in a low voice: "Master, Master Yang Du, Master Yang is asking for a meeting."

"Yang Xizi?" Yuan Shikai looked at the two people in front of him. Ruan Zhongshu was fine, but Yin Mingshou was a little uncomfortable. This is understandable. Now Yuan Shikai is a ship in the vortex of the chaos in the Qing Dynasty, and there is a danger of being unsheathed at any time. Therefore, it is indeed not a wise move to sit with Yuan Shikai now. Yin Mingshou ran over quietly last night, and no one knew that if someone came to see him sitting in Yuan Shikai's study and conspiring with this "traitor", I am afraid that he would not have to wait until the next day, Yin Mingshou's top dress would fly. Yuan Shikai had British protection, but Yin was not assured as the great powers, and he had no Beiyang Army.

"Please sit in the east wing for a while, and I will change my clothes." Yuan Shikai said to the servant outside, and raised tea cups to the two of them in front of him. "You can leave from the back door. If you are worried that others will see it, you can take a carriage from the British Embassy in the backyard."

The two stood up and said goodbye, hurriedly left the study. Yuan Shikai called a servant and took the heavy filial piety outfit, put on a green hat, and wrapped it in a white cloth strip around the hat, and rushed to the east wing to meet guests.
Chapter completed!