: Keep a close eye

The *** on the sixth day of the first lunar month is still filled with the New Year atmosphere. There are occasionally children setting off firecrackers in the streets and alleys, and big shops are starting to open one after another. People with New Year’s money can’t help but reward themselves at the beginning of the New Year, especially those yellow-haired children, who can finally taste fresh candies and meat skewers. Even the embassies of various countries in Dongjiaomin Lane have integrated into the New Year atmosphere according to local customs. The festival decorations arranged before New Year’s Eve are still so new today.

During the entire first month of the year, the ground was not thick snow at most, but the broken skin of firecrackers covered with snow.

I believe that in the south where wars continue, the situation in the *** situation is much better. Although the lives of ordinary people have not improved much, at least they can have a stable home and work, and live a life without seeking merits and demerits.

Yuan Shikai was in a good mood during the days around New Year's Eve, because the war report sent from the front line made him see the sudden conclusion of Guangdong. Nothing made him feel more at ease than the heavy blow to the southern rebels. Since the president naturally had to unify the north and the south, the great changes that had not been seen in China in 5,000 years were put into his hands. If he could pacify the warlords of various southern provinces and complete the unification of the Republic of China in just a few years, this great merit would be worthy of all time.

It was just past eight o'clock that morning, and the servant hurriedly knocked on the door of Yuan Shikai's bedroom, awakening him from his lingering dream. It was rare that he stayed up late last night to check the southern war report that he had sent for nearly five days. The news reported at all levels of the front line was as always, and there was no difference.

Of course, he had no idea that the third-level generals on the front line had been reporting good news but not bad news, especially the news of Xiao Yaonan being kidnapped, which Hunan has already given all the ******.

"What's the matter?" Yuan Shikai has gained a lot of weight recently. The chill in the north made him increasingly dependent on the warm bed. After waking up, he asked at the door impatiently, and there was still a little anger in his heart. If it wasn't a big deal, he must dismiss this ignorant servant.

"President, please see if you have important matters in the General Staff Headquarters." The attendant at the door replied tremblingly.

"What's the matter? Is it urgent?" Yuan Shikai was still reluctant, but when he spoke, he pushed the fourth concubine away from the big bed and sat up straight.

"Mr. Xu said it was about the mission from the south."

Yuan Shikai was slightly stunned. He didn't care about his habit of being afraid of the cold, so he lifted the quilt and urged the fourth concubine beside him to quickly change her clothes. Just ten minutes later, Yuan Shikai wiped his face with warm water, and even rinsed his mouth. He went directly to the living room to see Xu Shuzheng who had been waiting for a long time.

Xu Shuzheng has now been promoted to a second-class staff officer in the General Staff Headquarters, responsible for handling conventional military affairs in the Shanxi-Suizhou area. Of course, under the guidance of his mentor Duan Qirui, he has been trying his best to assist the President in handling some official affairs during his stay. It is like sending someone to monitor Cen Chunxuan last night.

Among the entire Beiyang group, Feng Guozhang is approaching his twilight years, and Wang Shizhen is arrogant and alone, and only Duan Qirui is the person that Yuan Shikai truly favors and relies on. And Xu Shuzheng, as Duan Qirui's disciple, naturally gained this honor.

Seeing the President walking quickly, Xu Shuzheng immediately stood up from the sofa in the living room outside and saluted.

Yuan Shikai waved his hand impatiently, and then ordered someone to get a cup of hot milk, and then asked directly: "Did you find anything last night?"

Xu Shuzheng lowered his voice and replied: "Go back to the President, there was nothing unusual last night. It was just that at 7 o'clock this morning, Cen Chunxuan sent several entourages out, and he himself left the residence in a quarter of an hour."

Yuan Shikai frowned and immediately asked: "Don't Cen Chunxuan's schedule be visited by the State Council of Xinhuamen today? What did he run around early this morning?"

Xu Shuzheng said: "The State Council visits in the afternoon, and he will also visit the cabinet ministers in the evening." Last night, he had already begun to investigate Cen Chunxuan's schedule to facilitate his own deployment of surveillance operations.

Yuan Shikai thought for a moment and asked again: "Have you sent someone to stare?"

Xu Shuzheng nodded and said, "That's right, my subordinates have sent someone to follow everyone separately. But what I unexpectedly thought was that a phone call was just received half an hour ago, and Cen Chunxuan's deputy Yuzi County actually went to Tieshizi Hutong."

Yuan Shikai felt a chill. He was very familiar with Tieshizi Hutong. When he was opened as a minister of the Ministry of Military Affairs and Prime Minister of the Cabinet from his hometown in Henan, the Prime Minister's residence was inside Tieshizi Hutong. He lived in this hutong compound for almost five years. It was not until the Qing emperor abdicated and the north and south that he moved out of Tieshizi Hutong and came to the current Xinhuamen Presidential Palace.

Now the Prime Minister's residence is no longer in Tieshizi Hutong. At the beginning of the establishment of the *** government, he took out his former residence and converted it into the Office of the Grand Marshal of the Land, Sea and Air, and specially arranged some of his old subordinates. The name of the organization "Land, Sea and Air Marshal of the Grand Marshal of the Land, Sea and Air" sounds very loud, but the real military power is still in the Army Department and the General Staff Headquarters within the Xinhua Gate. The so-called office is to raise some idle people.

He felt something was wrong, because he had just placed Wang Shizhen in the Grand Marshal's office not long ago, which was considered to have undermined Wang Shizhen's military power. Not only that, Cai E, who had been staying in the capital, was also nominally named the Grand Marshal's office, but the other party did not often go to Tieshizi Hutong, but lingered in the eight alleys.

Cen Chunxuan sent someone to Tieshizi Hutong early in the morning. The person he was looking for was definitely not those idle people. Although Wang Shizhen lost his military power, he could still have some real power. Then Yuzi County is very likely to contact Wang Shizhen.

"Are you really going to find Wang Shizhen?" he murmured to himself.

"President, for the sake of subordinates, Lord Wang may not pay attention to the revolutionary party in the south. You should know that Lord Wang is loyal to the former Qing Dynasty. The misunderstanding between Lord Wang and President..." Xu Shuzheng said this, deliberately slowed down his speech and observed the change in Yuan Shikai's face.

Yuan Shikai's expression indeed changed for a moment, but he did not mean to blame Xu Shuzheng. Although the conflict between him and Wang Shizhen was a topic that was fearful, he did not think that he was wrong from beginning to end. The Qing Dynasty had already perished, and no one in this country would feel sorry for the Qing Dynasty except those old people in the Qing Dynasty. Wang Shizhen was loyal to the Qing court, and to put it nicely, that was pedantic. Even if Wang Shizhen was separated from him by this matter, it was just the idea of ​​this old man being stubborn, and he would never feel guilty.

"You keep talking." He reminded calmly.

"Although Lord Wang has disagreement with the President, no matter what, he is thinking about our Beiyang group. No matter how powerful it is, it is our own business within Beiyang. He cannot turn his elbow outward." Xu Shuzheng analyzed.

"What you said makes sense, but what I am worried about is that Guan Ru made a wrong decision in a mess. No matter what, you must keep an eye on this matter and report it immediately if there is any trouble." Yuan Shikai said firmly.

"I understand," said Xu Shuzheng.

"Then, where did the other people go?" Yuan Shikai asked again.

"One person went to Xizhimen, but it is not clear what to do for the time being. There is no news for the other person. As for Cen Chunxuan himself, according to the person sent by his subordinates to monitor, he only went to Nanfangzijiaobin Teahouse for tea after leaving his residence. I kept keeping an eye on there, and reported it as soon as possible if there is any new movement." Xu Shuzheng said calmly.
Chapter completed!