An autumn rain and a cold.

The autumn rain has been falling intermittently for more than ten days, and it is still raining now. The sky is like a brush of gray paint, and it is extremely overcast, and the weather is getting colder and colder, but this continuous autumn rain is forcing the prosperity of the capital city.

A little depressed.

A soft autumn rain floated in the sky. Once the rain melted into the water, it became silent. The crystal-clear raindrops weaved into a bead net on the heads of some passers-by without umbrellas. A few water drops hung on the eyebrows of some girls.

Tears of longing are as touching as tears of longing.

Beijing, Zhongnanhai.

Autumn wind, autumn rain, pattering non-stop.

However, the misty rain did not add luster to this royal garden with its palaces, pavilions and pavilions arranged in an orderly manner; the autumn wind that turned into rain did not make this "big inner" forbidden garden look new. Not only that, in recent times, even Xinda University

Jurentang, where the president is stationed, is also deserted.

Originally, now, shouldn't it be a time when I feel happy?

Yes, no matter how you look at it, it seems that the five years of the Republic of China should be a very pleasant year. In this year, China's industrial and commercial economy achieved unprecedented development. While the country's economic strength was steadily advancing, its military strength was also further improved.

Development, especially the achievements of the expeditionary force in Europe, although it caused heavy losses, the battle established the prestige of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and incidentally also established the prestige of China.

In the past few months, the French and British have all been eager for China to send more troops to Europe. Even the British, those "upper-class people" who once discriminated against the Chinese, have also been at the coalition headquarters.

When it was formed, it agreed that the Chinese military would join the coalition command as a "strong and powerful ally".

"In the next two years, China will send no less than two million expeditionary troops! Contribute its strength to the just cause of the Allies!"

When he learned the news, Yuan Shikai, as the president, once swore to the outside world that as the president, he knew very well that after the expeditionary force was dispatched, the provincial army would no longer exist in China in the future.

There is only one Central Army, one national army, to be precise, the national army loyal to him, the great president.

And privately, there is another point. The Jiangsu Army, which had caused a lot of trouble, was finally dispatched at the end of October. Only one division of the Army was left in Jiangsu. In less than two years, the Jiangsu Army would have only one division.

China's once strongest military has disappeared from the battlefields of Europe.

Two years. At most, Yuan Shikai only needs to wait two more years. But for Yuan Shikai, what he hopes is to remove Li Zicheng's minions and then use them for his own purposes. In his opinion, this is for the good of the country.

!Only two years left!

People feel refreshed when happy events happen!

It should be like this, but why do people feel so depressed when there is a happy event?

Since March this year, Yuan Shikai's health has been getting worse day by day, and after July, his body seems to be more unwell than before. He almost never "wakes up" a day, and his physical and mental fatigue are obvious.

, too lazy to say anything. Although sometimes, when faced with some happy things, he seemed to have taken some "stimulants", but they just disappeared like drifting clouds.

Body!

For Yuan Shikai, his physical condition now weighs on his mind more than other things. It is even very difficult to breathe - after entering October, Yuan Shikai is sick!

And he was very sick.

In his room in Jurentang, apart from the fifth concubine Yang, there was only one person, his secretary-general Liang Shiyi. Yang took care of his daily life and food, and Liang Shiyi took care of his documents.

"Yansun!"

Yuan Shikai, who looked blue and black, even a little bloated, still called him by his nickname as before.

"Is there any news from the State Council recently?"

Obviously, for Yuan Shikai, even when he was seriously ill, he could not rest assured that it was still the State Council and Li Zhiyuan. He felt pressured by the State Council, especially Li Zhiyuan's youth and health, which all made him

I feel stressed, but what can I do about the pressure?

Although the president's physical condition is now strictly kept secret, Liang Shiyi knows that with Li Zhiyuan's ability, he has probably known about the president's physical condition for a long time, but why is there no movement from him? The more so, the more difficult it is to see.

This made Liang Shiyi feel more vigilant. He was always thinking:

"What exactly is Li Zhiyuan planning to do?"

However, he just thought about it secretly and said he didn't dare to say it. Now, when Yuan Shikai asked him what he thought of Li Zhiyuan, he still said in the same old tone:

"President, please rest assured. Now Li Zhiyuan is entangled in his industry all day long, and he can't get involved with the Ministry of War!"

After listening to Liang Shiyi's words, Yuan Shikai only smiled faintly and thought:

"With your literati's temperament, the situation is as simple as you think!"

Xinchen thought so, but then he changed the topic and said:

"How are the arrangements for the Expeditionary Force Military Affairs Office going?"

The Military Affairs Office of the Expeditionary Force was the position he prepared for Keding, a position that required him to go to Paris. At this point, he learned from Li Zhiyuan's "liaison office". The reason why he wanted to send his son to Europe was

This is because the future expeditionary force will integrate China's elite, and a former "Deputy Commander of the Model Regiment" like Keding will naturally be able to easily collude with military officers at all levels and use various possibilities to win people's hearts.

"Everything is ready."

Liang Shiyi nodded and said:

"Now the Ministry of War has agreed, and the expeditionary force is making preparations. It is estimated that the eldest son will be able to set off next month at the latest."

"Um……"

Yuan Shikai nodded and agreed, then thought for a moment and then said:

"There are still three urgent matters. Look at who you should go with to get them done. The sooner the better. One is to try to get in touch with our people at the Constitutional Committee and tell them that no matter what, we must take care of the matter of constitution-making.

If things are delayed, we can't let the other side get what they want..."

The reason why Yuan Shikai attached great importance to the constitution-making issue was mainly because he was worried that Li Zhiyuan would use the constitution to "force the palace", so he had to delay it. Moreover, the matter would occupy part of Li Zhiyuan's energy, which would allow him to arrange some things calmly.

"One more thing is: The Presidential Palace will issue an order to promote Han Wu, director of the Expeditionary Force Liaison Office, to Army General. Well, he will enter the General's Palace and be awarded... General Xu Lian..."

When mentioning this promotion, Yuan Shikai's eyes just flashed with a cold light. This is the first step to differentiate the relationship between Li and South Korea. Han Wu is Li Zhiyuan's confidant in the expeditionary force. As long as the relationship between South Korea and Lee can be differentiated, he can

Reduce his influence in the army. As for General Xu Lian, what does this mean? The former is Xuzhou and the latter is Lianyun. The meaning of "disloyalty" between them is that no matter how generous Li Zhiyuan is, I'm afraid...

... Yuan Shikai, who feels his body is becoming more and more unfit, has been trying to make some arrangements in advance to undermine Li Zhiyuan's strength.

Finally, he thought for a moment and realized that there was only one person left...

"Finally, there is one more thing, the National Suppression Bandit Command of the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"

When mentioning the National Bandit Suppression Headquarters, Yuan Shikai felt a little admiration in his heart. Li Zhiyuan used hundreds of thousands of internal affairs troops to almost wipe out the Chinese bandits, which cannot but be called a success. And more importantly, with the help of

When he dispatched the Jiangsu Army to the establishment of the Internal Affairs Force, he still had an armed force in his hands that could not be underestimated.

Although the internal affairs troops were dispersed into dozens of corps of varying sizes, with brigades and squadrons stationed in various provinces. Although the strength was dispersed, there was nothing to fear. However, Yuan Shikai still vaguely regarded it as a threat. Perhaps those dispersed in various places

The internal affairs troops are unable to stop the army from attacking when necessary, but after all, they are troops that Li Zhiyuan can mobilize at any time, so we should still be cautious.

"The National Bandit Suppression Headquarters, the suppression of bandits in the past year has become world-renowned, well... Xiao Xiao was promoted to Lieutenant General of the Internal Affairs Force, entered the General's Mansion, and was awarded the title of General Zhenxuan."

"Yes yes..."

Listening to these three orders issued by the president, Liang Shiyi's heart couldn't help but tighten. Just these three seemingly simple arrangements revealed the president's eagerness - he had already begun to attack Li Zhiyuan.

Now, this is no longer the preparation in the past, but the real start!

Especially the latter two, the purpose is to divide Li Zhiyuan's power and use this promotion to destroy Li Zhiyuan's trust in these two people. Once the trust between them is gone, the president can naturally take advantage of it, but...

…

In response, when Liang Shiyi was about to withdraw, Yuan Shikai said again:

"Li Zhiyuan is a young man. But everyone knows that if his talent is used by the country, it will be of great benefit to the country. For the sake of the country, we have to express our attitude in other aspects and let him know that I, Yuan Shikai, trust me

For him, if the State Council needs anything in terms of government affairs, as long as we can help, we will assist and help. Do you understand? "

Liang Shiyi listened and responded.

"Yes, yes,"

Later, Liang Shiyi just went out, but when he walked out of Jurentang and left in a hurry, he was thinking as he walked:

"Now, on the one hand, he is dividing other people's teams, and on the other hand, he is trying to win them over. No matter how stupid Li Zhiyuan is, he is sincere for the country. After doing these actions, even if people don't say anything on the surface, they still feel a little bit wrong with you in their hearts.

Opinion, you say you trust it, but in your heart you can't tolerate others. If you cut off your claws and claws, you may still put them in the cold palace in the future. If things go on like this, will they be willing?"

Thinking about this in his heart, and thinking about Li Zhiyuan, Liang Shiyi still admired his magnanimity more or less, or to be precise, his magnanimity. No matter how the undercurrent among the government and the court was surging, Li Zhiyuan's loyalty to state affairs was still there.

It has never changed. Whenever the government has needs, as long as it is a state matter, it will never delay even half a minute.

Take this thing seriously...

Li Zhiyuan!

If so...don't blame me then, if you do, blame your own hands for not being black enough!

Thinking about the possibility that these tricks would be followed by one after another, Liang Shiyi couldn't help but sigh in his heart. It has always been like this in officialdom for thousands of years. Those who harm the country and the people are evil, but those who want to benefit the people are unlucky.

It needs to be darker, but everything about Li Zhiyuan is good, except that his hands... are so clean!

It's so clean that it makes others feel uncomfortable and even feel sympathy.

"If in the future..."

While shaking his head and sighing, another thought appeared in Liang Shiyi's mind.

"Yansun must save your life no matter what!"
To be continued...