Chapter 227: The final decision (Part 1)

With the fall of Jiangnan, Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces revolted one after another, the Qing court felt unprecedented panic, and it felt like the sky was falling and the earth was sinking. They didn't know why the originally stable country would become like this overnight, but now they naturally need to find someone to be responsible. So Sheng Xuanhuai, who was framed by the Beiyang faction, became a scapegoat. Not only did he dismiss all his official positions, but he was also under house arrest in Shandong. All of this was predicted by Xu Shichang and Yuan Shikai, otherwise they would not have temporarily transferred the Beiyang army back to Tianjin and deliberately created the illusion of empty military forces in Jiangnan, because in their opinion, the only person in the Qing court who can support the overall situation was Sheng Xuanhuai. With Sheng Xuanhuai's ability and prestige, he could completely stabilize the Qing court's position. If Sheng Xuanhuai was not eliminated, it would be difficult for Yuan Shikai to come out. Even if he came out, he would not be able to grasp all the real power of the Qing court.

The subsequent development of things went on as Xu Shichang expected. Although the Qing court sent the new army stationed in Beijing to Jiangnan, it was still unable to hold back the momentum of the revolutionary army. So the Qing court put his attention on the elite Beiyang Army. At this time, Xu Shichang submitted a memorial, demanding that Yuan Shikai be restored, and Zaifeng and Yikuang were not fools, so they naturally did not want a powerful figure like Yuan Shikai to come back, and rejected Xu Shichang's memorial without hesitation.

So Xu Shichang, Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang and other Beiyang generals immediately refused to go south to suppress the rebellion on the grounds that the Qing court did not provide military salaries. The Beiyang Army's excuse was very subtle. If the Qing treasury was rich, why should the railway state-owned policy be implemented? However, in order to block the Beiyang Army's excuse, Zaifeng and Longyu forced the gold and silver utensils in the palace to turn them into gold and silver ingots for military salaries. Although they were rich, the real purpose of the Beiyang faction had not been achieved, so they simply acted on the blame and claimed that the military salaries were insufficient and they were still unwilling to send troops.

The Qing court was forced to obey the Beiyang faction and asked Yuan Shikai to come out, let his official position be restored, and to continue to serve as a cabinet minister and imperial envoy. However, Yuan Shikai knew very well that these were all empty positions, which were far from what he thought, so he continued to politely refuse to come out on the grounds of recuperation. Seeing that the revolutionary army became more and more powerful, the Qing Dynasty was about to fall into the country, Zaifeng and Yikuang finally helped to agree to Yuan Shikai's request, let him serve as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, and to control the army and navy. At this moment, Yuan Shikai officially grasped the military and political power of the Qing court and became the uncrowned king of the Qing Dynasty.

After Yuan Shikai returned to Beijing, the first thing he did was not to send troops south, but to drive Zaifeng, who had been tired of officialdom, off the throne of the regent on the grounds of guarding the Qing court, and then put Yikuan under house arrest in the prince's mansion, causing a major change of blood to officials at all levels of the court. Until he felt that the capital had stabilized, he immediately transferred Duan Qirui from the position of governor of Jiangbei, led the Beiyang First Army to march south, and cooperated with Feng Guozhang, who had been waiting in the south, to attack the Southern Revolutionary Army. The third town of Beiyang led by Cao Kun and the first town of Beiyang, which was already controlled by Long Jinbao, were respectively sent to Shaanxi and Shanxi to suppress the Revolutionary Army.

Duan Qirui and Feng Guozhang are worthy of being famous generals, Cao Kun and Long Jinbao are also worthy of being the name of a powerful general, and the Beiyang Army is worthy of being the first army of China. In just over ten days, the revolutionary army in Shanxi and Shaanxi were completely suppressed, and most of the Anhui, Jiangsu and other places were recaptured. The revolutionary army can be said to be defeated step by step. Even Wuhan, which was the strongest military strength and was controlled by Huang Xing, was quickly captured after the arrival of the Beiyang Army.

However, when everyone thought that Yuan Shikai would cross the river and conquered the entire Jiangnan area, telegrams fell into the hands of the commanders of each army, with only eight words on it: "Stop the attack and stand by on the spot." This move of the Beiyang Army not only surprised the Qing court, but also the Revolutionary Army was confused. The excuse given by Yuan Shikai was that the Revolutionary Army was too strong, and the Beiyang Army suffered heavy losses and needed the court to increase its military expenditure.

Everyone knows that this is just an excuse, but the Qing court had to take it seriously officially and immediately issue patriotic government bonds in order to get the money needed by Yuan Shikai as soon as possible. On the other hand, the Revolutionary Army also felt that this was a negotiation signal from Yuan Shikai. In view of the strength of the Beiyang Army, the Tongmenghui also expressed that it should negotiate with Yuan Shikai. However, the Revolutionary Army had never had any intersection with Yuan Shikai and did not know how to start. In this regard, the Extraordinary Alliance did not

There is a way. Although the Heretic Alliance also tried to develop disciples in the Beiyang Army, it had little effect. In addition to Yuan Shikai's grasp of the Beiyang Army was too strict, Xu Shichang, a person who was well versed in the lower nine-story methods, assisted him, so that all the people in the Heretic Alliance in the Beiyang Army were minions and could not reach the top leaders of the general level. When the forces from the north and south were looking for a suitable negotiation intermediary, their eyes were all focused on the Chen family in the Shanghai.

Since the Chen family split up, the influence on the Chinese political and business circles has become increasingly weak. However, the lean camel is bigger than a horse. Even though he has lost his ancestral property in the south, the Chen family's direct line is still the most powerful businessman in China. The relationship between the Chen family and foreigners from various countries is enough to affect the entire political situation of China. It is precisely because of the Chen family that the consuls of various countries have agreed to the uprising of the Revolutionary Army and the establishment of military governments. At this moment, the Chen family, which is in contact with the senior management of both sides, naturally became the first choice intermediary of both sides.

Yuan Shikai also attaches great importance to the attitude of the Chen family. Regardless of the Chen family's financial resources and prestige, the relationship between the Chen family and foreigners alone is enough to move Yuan Shikai. What's more, behind the Chen family is Xu Changqing who makes him care about it. Long Jinbao is Xu Changqing's registered disciple. It is not a secret among the top leaders of the Beiyang Army. He can become a prince in the left and right dynasties in a short period of time and can also annex the first town of Beiyang, which is enough to make Yuan Shikai

He was moved by it. Moreover, another registered disciple of Xu Changqing, Jiang Sanbao, also served under Wang Shizhen and was trained by Wang Shizhen as his successor. In just a few months, he had mastered the 20,000 Beiyang Army under Wang Shizhen. With two such people in the Beiyang Army, even if Yuan Shikai knew that the practitioners could not interfere in secular affairs too much, he had to pay special attention to it. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, he finally chose the secret place of the negotiation in Chen Jiachong.
Chapter completed!