Chapter 120: The winner is unknown (Part 2)

Feng Guozhang has always kept his distance from the sayings of ghosts and gods. Compared to Duan Qirui who had been eating foreign ink for a few years, he was born and raised and knew better that there were some people in this world with extraordinary power, and these people's principles of right and wrong cannot be judged by common sense. Among the people he knew, Xu Changqing was the only one. Before that day, he also heard some rumors and knew that some people in the court who were the same as Xu Changqing were preparing to do something big, and the court was dispatched by him, including the blockade of the Temple of Heaven and the curfew in the capital some time ago, all of which came from the proposals of these people.

Feng Guozhang was almost 100% sure that the so-called ghost army matter should be related to these people in the court. After that, the imperial edict finally came, but it was not to ask his head, but to order him to face the saint immediately. After entering the court overnight, he saw that most of the important officials in the court except him had arrived, including many people from the Beiyang faction. After the Regent Zaifeng came, he didn't say much and directly asked them to discuss how to solve the current situation in the capital.

During the discussion throughout the night, most of them were Xu Shichang and some of his people giving advice, while others were just echoing from the side. Although there were some people from the Beiyang Sect who were loyal to Yuan Shikai, there were very few ministers who echoed such proposals, and even Feng Guozhang ignored them. Later, these Beiyang Sect people were driven out by Zaifeng, and the entire court discussion was presided over by Xu Shichang. Although Xu Shichang covered up very well, Feng Guozhang could still hear from some of his words that he pointed the blame for what happened at night at some people, and only a few people such as Zaifeng and Xu Shichang knew about them.

After the court's convention ended, Feng Guozhang immediately resigned and returned home on the grounds of being on the occasion of Xiling and sacrifice, falling off a horse and being injured, and other reasons such as the death of his original wife, Mrs. Wu, and his mother, the death of Mrs. Sun. He felt that his days were too sharp and he should calm down a little to avoid any more trouble. Moreover, the capital is too chaotic now, so he should hide for a while.

However, Zaifeng did not agree to Feng Guozhang's resignation. If it were normal, he would agree without hesitation. However, now he still needs to rely on one of the three Beiyang heroes to suppress the arrogance of the Beiyang faction, so he just pretended to scold him and asked him to continue to handle military affairs in the North Korean and Central China.

After coming out of the palace, Feng Guozhang felt a little ups and downs because when he took today's morning report from the butler who was guarding the palace gate, the content in it was shocking to him. Most of the articles in it can be seen as targeting people from the Beiyang Sect. In addition, the last article reprinted from Tianjin revealed almost 80% of his plan to force the palace. Only a few people in the Beiyang Sect knew some of the details, and only he and Xu Shichang knew about some of them. At this moment, he couldn't help but wonder who Xu Shichang was looking for now.

"Brother Huafu, go slowly!" Just as Feng Guozhang returned to his house, a carriage drove quickly to him. Xu Shichang opened the window, poked his head out from the window, and said, "Brother Huafu, come with me, I have something to discuss with you."

Feng Guozhang had listed Xu Shichang as one of the people who needed to be avoided, so he bowed his hand and said coldly: "Master Xu is busy with his work, so Feng dare not disturb him."

Xu Shichang didn't care about Feng Guozhang's attitude, and advised indifferently: "Brother Huafu, I know what you are thinking is that this is not a place to talk, come with me!"

Feng Guozhang sat in the sedan chair and thought it was nothing to follow. He also wanted to explore Xu Shichang's bottom. So he ordered the housekeeper and the sedan chair to carry the sedan back and then he got on Xu Shichang's carriage. Amid the coachman's greeting, the carriage turned around the front of the carriage and turned eastward, heading along the Huancheng Street, and heading towards the Andingmen in the north. Seeing the direction of the carriage, Feng Guozhang couldn't help but frowned and said with a sarcastic feeling: "Mr. Xu is worthy of our Qing Dynasty's money bag. I didn't expect that he had bought a new house shortly after he arrived in the capital. It seems that the oil and water of the Post and Communication Department is really fat. When can Feng be promoted, and Feng will also scratch the oil and water."

Xu Shichang did not refute, his face always smiled and closed his eyes to rest, which made Feng Guozhang feel uncomfortable as if he had punched the air with all his strength. Seeing that no one had responded to his move, he no longer had the interest in fighting. He turned his head and lifted the curtain and placed his eyes outside.

Compared to the relatively calmness at the west end of the city, the east end of the city seemed much more chaotic. The doors of many houses and mansions were filled with incense and candles. You could vaguely hear some gods. Looking west from the car window, you could vaguely see through the high walls and houses. You could see that some places in the imperial city were still rolling in black smoke, and it seemed that the fire had not yet been extinguished.

Seeing this in the imperial city, Feng Guozhang couldn't help but think of the rumors that the servants in his family heard earlier. It's no wonder that the rumors spread so quickly. The houses in the imperial city represent the current emperor and the entire Qing Dynasty. Usually, houses are struck by lightning, which can be regarded as God's punishment for the current imperial court's failure, not to mention that there is a big thing like burning half of the imperial city for no reason.

It can be imagined that after the news of the capital was broadcast, the reputation of the Qing court would plummet, especially Zaifeng, who had just taken charge, was the target of public criticism. If he wanted to firmly hold the position of the regent, he could no longer act as he had before. In this way, in order to appease the court, he would definitely not dare to touch the Beiyang faction again. Today's court meeting is the best example.

The carriage slowly drove into the Bingmasi Hutong beside Shichahai, and finally stopped in front of the mansion of Sheng Xuanhuai, the minister of the Ministry of Posts and Communications. After getting off the car with Xu Shichang, Feng Guozhang frowned and looked at the slightly old house in front of him. He had long been famous for Sheng Xuanhuai, but he had never had the chance to know each other. Although Sheng Xuanhuai was not as famous as those surging ministers, his every move had a great impact on the court.
Chapter completed!