Chapter 415 Meeting Yuan Shikai

In the evening, the Presidential Palace sent a specialist to invite Wu Shaoting to the auditorium.

Wu Shaoting has already changed into a cleaned governor's dress. Wang Changling, Secretary-General of the Military Joint Conference of the Guangdong Military Government, Wang Yun, Director of the Secret Service, and Ma Jinchun, and others accompanied him to attend the dinner. Although it was the first time that everyone came to the Supreme Power Center of the Republic of China and the first time they faced so many national leaders, after all, they had experienced the storm of fierce wars in the south and had already understood the foundation of Beiyang, so they did not appear to be restrained or nervous. Even Wang Yun, who could not read a word, stood up and looked full of momentum.

When they arrived at the auditorium, the commissioner did not invite Wu Shaoting and others to enter the auditorium directly, but came from the corridor on the side to the lounge behind the auditorium. At the door of the lounge, the commissioner told Wu Shaoting and others that the President and the Vice President would soon come here to meet Governor Wu first. When the banquet officially announced, the President personally led Governor Wu into the venue.

This reminded Wu Shaoting of the scene of Chairman Jiang and Mr. Mao walking down the stairs together during the Chongqing negotiation press conference of "The Founding of the People's Republic of China". Yuan Shikai and Li Yuanhong came to see him together and led him into the auditorium together. This was really a courtesy and grandeur. He did not fully guess Yuan Shikai's intention to do this for the time being, but Yuan Shikai is a powerful person. No matter what action he does, he will have other intentions, let alone such a swaggering move.

He thought in his heart: Maybe Yuan Shikai really wants to dig himself to the Beiyang Sect, even if it is just nominal.

The specialist opened the door of the lounge and asked Wu Shaoting and others to come in and sit in, and also served refreshments symbolically.

After waiting for about a few minutes, I heard the guard's singing order from outside the side door: "President, Vice President is here."

When the side door opened, Yuan Shikai stepped in steadily. Li Yuanhong was shorter than Yuan Shikai and followed him step by step. He didn't look like a dignified vice president at all, but just a follower of Yuan Shikai. If he hadn't followed the two chiefs and vice presidents and had some companions, he would have been misunderstood.

Wu Shaoting and others stood up and took two steps forward. He showed a respectful attitude of etiquette, saluted Yuan Shikai and Li Yuanhong attentively, and said loudly: "Salute to the President and Vice President of the Republic of China."

This is an ambiguous way of speaking. He deliberately added the "Republic of China" in front of it, emphasizing that his salute was a salute to the two titles of President and Vice President, rather than Yuan Shikai and Li Yuanhong. Of course, it can also be understood as the distinction between the heads of local governments when meeting the heads of central government.

Yuan Shikai and Li Yuanhong looked at each other, and both of them burst into laughter.

"I thought Wu Shaoting, the young governor who had been in a hurry, would not recognize me as the president?" Yuan Shikai said cunningly, as if he was joking, but also implicitly tempted.

Li Yuanhong smiled unanimously, without any words, but glanced at Wu Shaoting with a squint, wanting to see how this young man dealt with it.

"For Shaoting, if the president can take the righteousness of the country as the forefront, even if only Wu Shaoting does not admit it, the people in the world will support and love it. However, although Shaoting is young and frivolous, he still has a righteousness and a clear mind to distinguish right from wrong. Everyone in the world goes there. If I don't go, wouldn't I go against the will of heaven?" Wu Shaoting said calmly. Since Yuan Shikai asked himself whether he would admit it or not, he would simply use Tai Chi and push the question to the people in the world to answer it.

"Hahahaha, it's good to say, Governor Wu is worthy of being a young hero. He is not only eloquent, but also a talented person who is wise and wise. But I still have doubts. Then Governor Wu, what do you want to be like today?" Yuan Shikai asked again with a smile. He knew that Wu Shaoting was playing tricks and deliberately pursued him relentlessly.

"Even if the presidents in the past were unpopular, Shaoting believes that as long as the presidents in the future can take into account the affairs of the whole country, it will be a matter of time before the people will be willing to do so. Even if the people do not know about it, I, Wu Shaoting, will definitely support the president." Wu Shaoting said the previous words in reverse without hesitation.

"So, Governor Wu still disagrees with me as the president today?" Yuan Shikai's lips turned deeper, and his smile was a little creepy.

"The President is a wise man, so Shaoting cannot pretend to be confused. But Shaoting can assure the President that everything Shaoting said just now is true and has no false words. If the President sincerely upholds the Republic of China and guides the Republic of China toward prosperity and strength, Shaoting's life will be the forerunner of the President. If there are still sluts who do evil at that time, Shaoting will attack him." Wu Shaoting said solemnly. He gave Yuan Shikai some hints, saying that they were always in the intersection of cooperation.

"Governor Wu's words are admirable. It is really the Yangtze River's new waves that push the previous waves, and a new generation beats the old ones. We are all old. The world will eventually be handed over to you young people. Only then will you young people understand our difficulties at that time. Hahahaha." Yuan Shikai laughed boldly.

"President, Governor Wu is a guest from afar, why don't we sit and chat first?" At this time, Li Yuanhong, who had been talking on the side, finally spoke.

"Yes, yes. Zhenzhi, come on, sit first." Yuan Shikai pulled Wu Shaoting's arm and enthusiastically welcomed Wu Shaoting to sit down. Even the previous "Governor" changed to "Zhenzhi", which was full of meaning of winning over with one step.

Everyone sat down with the host and the attendant, and the attendants on the side added new refreshments. After that, Li Yuanhong met Yuan Shikai's intention and waved his hand to let all the attendants retreat. Wu Shaoting knew that Yuan Shikai's previous test was just a shallow test. Since he came to the lounge in person to meet, there would inevitably be a conversation that could be serious or light.

Yuan Shikai picked up the tea bowl and tasted it slowly. The habit of drinking big tea cups in northern China is completely different from that in the south. However, Wu Shaoting was not a person who was too particular, so he also picked up the tea cup and took a drink.

After a pleasant voice, Yuan Shikai said, "Zhenzhi, you and I have fought for more than half a year. Today is the first time we met. It makes people laugh. I was a mortal enemy before, but I made up again in the blink of an eye. I'm really ridiculous. To be honest, we didn't fight well in Guangdong. Now, when I think about it carefully, I suddenly feel that this war can be avoided. Everyone knows that Zhenzhi is a great hero of the revolutionary rebellion and an unswerving patriotic youth. The Republic of China has just been established, and it is precisely because your generation needs to carry forward their patriotism. Why do you have to follow the riots to make a fuss?"

Wu Shaoting looked at Yuan Shikai sideways and was surprised and sighed. Is Yuan Shikai possessed ulterior motives or became a master, and he actually said such a sensitive topic so calmly? He took a deep breath and said without emotion: "The President is obviously a sensible person, why do you still pretend to be confused? As long as the revolution has not been successful for one day, the banner of revolution will not fall in one day. As Shaoting said before, the President really wants to become a leader supported by the people, and it is not possible to rely solely on tough measures, because patriotism will never compromise. Even if both soft and hard are used, it is much better than military force."

Before Yuan Shikai could react, Li Yuanhong could see in vain: Wu Shaoting was really rampant, and he dared to say in front of the president that Beiyang was a powerful soldier! Crazy, too crazy... Yuan Shikai narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashed across his face, and then asked with a smile: "You seem to have a lot of insights, so how can you use both soft and hard?"

Wu Shaoting smiled and said, "Is the President teasing Shaoting? The President is naturally more aware of national affairs than me, a younger generation, why do you still have to ask about it? In fact, it has been expressed very clearly in the armistice agreement. There are no opportunities in front of the President at present. Mongolia and ***, this is the first time in nearly a hundred years that China has regained its rights from the great powers. The matter is so serious, the President cannot understand it even more than me, a younger generation!"

Yuan Shikai laughed and said, "You are indeed a sincere person. You have always been thinking about the national affairs of pacifying Mongolia and recovering the country. You are worthy of praise for your kindness, but in this matter, it is not just about having the heart."
Chapter completed!