Based on Wang Shizhen's understanding of Yuan Shikai, he didn't think Yuan Shikai was essentially a treacherous person. Although Yuan Shikai's methods were tough, Yuan Shikai was a man of action. In this respect, he exceeded other Manchu Qing officials a hundredfold. As for the tricks he had to adopt, that was because the other party only understood such tricks, or rather, the other party only bought such tricks. As Yuan Shikai's "Dragon Eye", Wang Shizhen bore most of the work of proposing various political maneuvers.

"Lord Yuan, if Chen Ke doesn't fight to the death with our Beiyang, they will undoubtedly die." Wang Shizhen hoped to understand Yuan Shikai's true thoughts. These days, Wang Shizhen had been striving to study the defects of the People's Party. The training and coordination of the People's Party troops were superior to the Beiyang Army; Wang Shizhen was certain of this. Then the only weakness was that compared to the entire national power of the Manchu Qing, Anhui was at a disadvantage. However, Wang Shizhen absolutely didn't believe the Manchu Qing really had the ability to gather the power of the whole country to deal with Anhui. The only one capable of a decisive battle with Chen Ke was Beiyang. And the only one capable of commanding the Beiyang Army was Yuan Shikai. So Wang Shizhen wasn't optimistic about this military action. He continued:

"Lord Yuan, it is called encirclement and suppression, but actually, it's just our Beiyang family. If Chen Ke fights to the death (fish dies and net breaks), I'm afraid the Beiyang Army will also suffer heavy casualties."

Although Yuan Shikai hadn't participated in actual combat, this didn't mean Yuan Shikai didn't know Beiyang's own affairs. He laughed, "Pinqing, can we advance troops into Anhui in the short term?"

"Absolutely not," Wang Shizhen replied immediately.

Yuan Shikai continued to ask, "If Chen Ke wants to fight me desperately, he has to send troops out. Do you think Chen Ke will take the initiative to send troops?"

"Of course not," Wang Shizhen answered decisively as before.

Wang Shizhen's serious attitude made Yuan Shikai smile, "So, I say it's not that I want to fight Chen Ke to the death, but Chen Ke wants to fight me to the death. We just need to be prepared to fight Chen Ke to the death. If Chen Ke shrinks back like a turtle and doesn't come out, we listen for intelligence and advance gradually, leaving Chen Ke no opportunity to take advantage of."

"This person Chen Ke is treacherous and cunning; he will certainly come up with various schemes." Wang Shizhen thought Yuan Shikai was being a bit too overconfident. Even if the troop strength of the Beiyang Army exceeded the People's Party by a lot, this might not have reached the quantity to guarantee victory.

Seeing Wang Shizhen still confining his gaze to the military battlefield, Yuan Shikai felt slightly regretful. "Pinqing, if Chen Ke were a man who only knew how to fight wars, he wouldn't have lived till now."

Wang Shizhen didn't agree with Yuan Shikai's hint, "Lord Yuan, apart from being able to call the wind and summon the rain in Anhui, Chen Ke can hardly move a single step in other places."

"Pinqing, we have all underestimated Chen Ke; this kid is cunning. If dealing with our Beiyang, he might only be able to fight hard, but dealing with the court, I really don't think highly of those people in the court." Speaking of this, Yuan Shikai laughed: "Since things have come to this, letting Chen Ke give us a surprise isn't bad either."

Before Chen Ke returned from Lu'an with the large force, the comrades thought they would see a jubilant Chen Ke. But when they really saw Chen Ke, quite a few felt somewhat disappointed. Chen Ke had obviously changed, but the Chen Ke who used to have some "airs" had become more ordinary. Even walking at the front of the team, Chen Ke no longer stood out at a glance like before. Because they had been apart for several months, the contrast effect was very obvious. The previous faint arrogance, as well as the indifference and sharpness from the bottom of his heart, had disappeared a lot from Chen Ke. The current Chen Ke gave people more tolerance and sincerity, even making people feel a kind of warmth. A bit like a big brother next door. Although possessing this warmth and tolerance, Chen Ke's originally young appearance looked even younger.

Military aspects no longer needed Chen Ke to arrange every detail. After reorganization, the troops left were all outstanding officers and soldiers, working more effectively. After assigning work, Chen Ke first went home to see his wife who was about to give birth. This kind of action was something Chen Ke would never have done so naturally before. In a sense, humanity seemed to have revived in Chen Ke. That sharp and tough young man seemed to have suddenly turned into an adult.

However, the comrades' anxiety couldn't possibly disappear because of Chen Ke's change. No one could treat the attack of fifty thousand Beiyang troops as a joke. According to the last military plan, "Strengthen the walls and clear the fields, lure the enemy deep". The Military Commission produced a simulated plan.

When Chen Ke finished reading the plan, he raised his head and replied with a clear voice: "Let's try using political methods to solve this problem first."

"Political methods?" The comrades very much doubted if they heard wrong. Did the People's Party still have any means of political solution to the conflict with the Manchu Qing?

"Who is the driving force behind the Beiyang Army this time?" Chen Ke asked.

"Cixi." "Yuan Shikai." Two answers were issued almost simultaneously. However, the comrades who proposed "Yuan Shikai" quickly realized their consideration was ill-conceived and hurriedly corrected themselves one after another, "It's Cixi."

"What if Cixi dies? With Yuan Shikai holding heavy troops outside, the end of the Manchu Qing will arrive," Chen Ke answered simply.

The Party Committee had discussed negotiations with Yuan Shikai last time. Cixi and the Imperial Clan were the biggest rivals for Yuan Shikai. If Cixi died, Yuan Shikai indeed had no reason to continue attacking the Base Area. But could political means kill Cixi? In the current Manchu Qing, no person or political faction had the ability to execute Cixi.

Seeing the astonished looks of the comrades, Chen Ke smiled, "I can only try. Write a notice first, then write a pamphlet. Maybe Cixi will die after reading it?"

Is Chairman Chen sick? Comrades exchanged looks with each other. Hua Xiongmao had confidence in Chen Ke, "Chairman Chen, are you preparing to imitate Zhuge Liang cursing Wang Lang to death?"

"Wang Lang still had a sense of shame; would Cixi feel ashamed?" Chen Ke asked strangely. "This old lady didn't die of shame when she fled to Xi'an to eat mutton soup with bread while the Eight-Nation Alliance fought into Beijing. Do you expect her to have such a thing as a sense of shame?"

"Then how to write this notice and pamphlet?" Yan Fu asked. He worried Chen Ke would make an issue of dirty palace scandals. The old handsome man Yan Fu made up his mind; if Chen Ke wanted to write like that, he would stop it no matter what.

"Tell the truth, of course," seeing Yan Fu's serious look, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing out loud. "I see that comrades in our People's Party are not good at telling lies; let's play to our strengths and tell the truth."

Qi Huishen frowned and asked, "Chairman Chen, that means during war preparations, you won't participate in military affairs but lead the formation of a writing team?"

Chen Ke nodded, "Regarding military training, I think comrades can definitely do very well. In terms of politics, the new comrades from Dabie Mountain joined the army and came outside the mountains to defend the fruits of the revolution; we must lead them on the right path. Don't blindly emphasize the significance of the revolution to the whole country; first explain clearly how the revolution can save everyone themselves. Absolutely, absolutely don't engage in grand ideals. I think, seeking truth from facts, grand ideals can easily be misled into becoming high officials and getting rich for these simple comrades living hard lives. Our People's Party doesn't preach this anyway."

Comrades nodded one after another. Everyone felt a bit strange in their hearts. In the past, when Chen Ke talked about these slightly dark things, he usually carried sharp sarcasm. But this time, he used an open and earnest teaching attitude. Although comrades weren't quite used to it, it was obviously easier to accept Chen Ke's attitude. At least Chen Ke admitted that selfishness and wrong attitudes were common mistakes, instead of demanding all comrades resolutely not have such mistakes with a nitpicking attitude.

"Chairman Chen, if we want to politically solve Cixi, is it possible to politically solve Yuan Shikai? For example, spreading some theories about Yuan Shikai being a threat?" Hua Xiongmao asked.

"Cixi is not petty-minded. Since she dared to release Yuan Shikai, someone must have mentioned this Yuan Shikai threat theory long ago. We don't need to waste this useless effort," Chen Ke replied.

Quite a few comrades looked at Hua Xiongmao with teasing eyes. Hua Xiongmao stuck out his tongue and made a nonchalant grimace, then sat back in his seat.

Since the division of labor was decided, Chen Ke, Yan Fu, Feng Xu, and Shen Zengzhi formed a writing group and began the work of "politically solving" Cixi.

Cixi indeed didn't have any suspicion about the "Yuan Shikai threat theory". Countless people publicly cursed Yuan Shikai as a living Cao Cao. If Cixi really believed this, she would have eliminated Yuan Shikai long ago. For a person proficient in political power tactics like her, subordinates must have ability and loyalty. If an official didn't have much ability nor was loyal, Cixi wouldn't say she couldn't tolerate this person. As long as this guy could be a shit-stirrer at critical moments, Cixi would also give opportunities and policies.

A prime minister's belly can hold a boat; if one cannot tolerate all kinds of people, it won't work. A poisonous snake also has the use of guarding treasures. There are no unusable people in the world, only people who cannot use others. Cixi firmly believed this.

But Cixi wasn't a nice person without a bottom line. For her bottom line, subjects absolutely couldn't have the ability to complete political operations independently; the monarch must be the leader and controller. Once politics could operate smoothly without the monarch's interference, what was the use of the monarch? Being a woman in the palace, Cixi couldn't leave the palace at will. Naturally, she couldn't have a huge range of activities like a male monarch. So mixing sand (diluting power) and using factional conflicts were Cixi's masterpieces. Personnel power meant she could make things operate un-smoothly; pulling one faction to hit another faction was to balance the two factions fighting for interests, not to let one faction become dominant.

Now Cixi was very clear that the current priority was to destroy the Manchu Qing's greatest enemy, the People's Party. Regarding the various slanders of the Imperial Clan Party, Cixi cleverly kept them without acting. But she didn't believe a word of the bullshit that "a general in the field may refuse orders from the sovereign". If it were the old times without rapid communication capability thousands of li away, it would be one thing. Telegraph offices could easily deliver military intelligence to all parts of the telegraph network. Cixi asked Minister of the Army Tie Liang to maintain close contact with Yuan Shikai. Once there was military intelligence, report immediately.

In the final analysis, Cixi knew she had made a very dangerous move this time. Yuan Shikai was indeed very loyal to Cixi, but Yuan Shikai's loyalty was only directed at Cixi. Cixi knew she would die eventually, and this day was getting closer and closer. If Yuan Shikai won, that would be fine. If Yuan Shikai failed, the entire Great Qing would immediately encounter the biggest crisis. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebellion back then, even though the South was beaten into a pulp, there were actually officials in the North who didn't know the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebelled.

Now the People's Party's rebellion seemed nothing, but with information so smooth now, every failure was a huge blow. The Great Qing Dynasty was now swaying in the midst of a storm, far from the Xianfeng era where the country could still hold up even with great chaos sweeping the South. Continuous blows made the Manchu Qing tottering. Cixi recalled Yuan Shikai saying that the Anhui rebels fought desperately because one failure could make the Anhui rebels completely destroyed. But how much of a blow could the Great Qing withstand?

September 2, 1908.

"Empress Dowager, Old Buddha, Zaifeng requests an audience." Li Lianying bowed cautiously and said with a suitable volume that Cixi could hear clearly but wouldn't startle her.

Without listening to Zaifeng's report, Cixi knew what Zaifeng wanted to say. This group of men from the Imperial Clan had no existence that could be presented. Every one of them was either greedy for money or greedy for power, or both greedy for money and power. And without exception, this group of people were incompetent. Cixi waved her hand in disgust, "I'm tired today, not seeing him."

Watching Li Lianying go out to pass the word, Cixi closed her eyes slightly. These people simply didn't know what she was thinking. Cixi would absolutely not let Guangxu regain power, so who would inherit the Manchu Qing throne after Cixi died was a huge problem for Cixi. In such a chaotic period, she definitely had to pick a general from among dwarfs; according to common sense, an older monarch should be established.

Although Guangxu was also an extremely unbearable one, Guangxu ascended the throne from childhood after all. He was Cixi's own nephew (sister's son), and by blood, Guangxu was also Cixi's husband's own nephew (brother's son). This strong blood relationship and long reign at least ensured that everyone accepted the existence of such an emperor. But among the Imperial Clan, this bunch of crooked melons and cracked dates, not one could convince the public. Even if they were given great power, none of this bunch could keep their own authority and position. This bunch always thought Cixi protected Yuan Shikai; actually, if Cixi didn't help either side, Yuan Shikai would have probably made this group of Imperial Clan members wish they were dead long ago.

Cixi wasn't worried about Yuan Shikai; actually, whether she was worried or not wasn't important essentially. Cixi knew very well that no one's loyalty was without a price; the key lay in whether they were given enough temptation, so there must be checks and balances. The Imperial Clan was theoretically the best check and balance against Yuan Shikai, but now Cixi had to use Yuan Shikai to check and balance the Imperial Clan in reverse. This was the reason why Cixi felt nauseous seeing the Imperial Clan.

It was already September, more than half a month since Yuan Shikai left Beijing. Cixi didn't understand military affairs but had to care about a field she was completely unfamiliar with. For this old lady over seventy, it was really a burden too heavy to bear.

Closing her eyes to rest for a while, Cixi felt short of breath and guilty instead. She opened her eyes and glanced at the table; Li Lianying hurriedly served the tea bowl. Cixi drank a few mouthfuls and felt a bit more comfortable.

"Is there any news?" Cixi asked Li Lianying.

This was a specific inquiry designated by Cixi, referring to the hateful notices of the People's Party. Although the announcements brought bad news to Cixi every time, the People's Party's news wasn't exaggerated or fake. It could be considered a rare source of intelligence. Li Lianying replied with a calm face: "Replying to Old Buddha, no news."

Cixi saw some clues from this calmness. Li Lianying pretended too well; if it were in the past, no matter what, Li Lianying's expression wouldn't be so calm. If Cixi didn't know Li Lianying too well, others would definitely be deceived by Li Lianying. Associating with Li Lianying passing the word to let Zaifeng go back so obediently and readily, Cixi was even more certain of her judgment.

"Little Li, take the thing out," Cixi said gently. Li Lianying wouldn't deceive her deliberately; Cixi knew this. But something that made Li Lianying keep a secret like this definitely had great weight.

"Replying to Empress Dowager, Old Buddha, this slave indeed didn't receive anything." Li Lianying's voice could still maintain calm, but the expression on his face could no longer be disguised.

"Little Li, it's already this time. What else do we have to fear?" Cixi smiled bitterly, "Take it out let me see, what did the People's Party say again."

"Empress Dowager..." Li Lianying's voice contained a feeling of considerable pain.

"Little Li, if you don't give it to me now, sooner or later someone will show it to me. A few days earlier or later, what difference can there be. Eunuchs cannot interfere in politics; can you make those ministers hide this news together?"

"Yes, Empress Dowager." Li Lianying retreated.

Cixi drank another mouthful of tea; this was very abnormal. Usually, she was an extremely noble person and had great discipline in everything she did. But at this time, Cixi needed more courage and energy to face the impending blow.

Li Lianying handed over two items, one was a notice, the other was a small pamphlet. One look at the paper and binding showed they were things from the People's Party rebel bandits. Cixi even noticed Li Lianying's hand trembling slightly.

Could it be that Yuan Shikai was annihilated? Cixi couldn't help thinking.

Li Lianying watched Cixi take the two items; he retreated to the side, his attention focused on Cixi's face.

Just reading the beginning of the notice, Li Lianying saw Cixi's expression relax. Li Lianying had read these two items; the notice title was "This Life of Cixi". Anhui called Cixi the female bandit chieftain of the Manchu Qing bandit gang; from the angle of rebels, the title of this article wasn't that shocking.

But Li Lianying wasn't relieved in the slightest because Cixi's face was relaxed. Although he wanted to lower his head, he couldn't help but pay attention to Cixi's expression at all times.

Sure enough, as Li Lianying expected, Cixi's expression became more and more dignified. After finishing the notice, Cixi didn't speak for a long time. When putting down the notice to pick up the pamphlet, Cixi rarely had a trace of pause and hesitation due to fear.

"Empress Dowager, Old Buddha, the rebels are talking nonsense; no need to read it at all!" Li Lianying wanted to shout this, but these words couldn't come out of his mouth no matter what. Li Lianying watched helplessly as Cixi picked up that pamphlet with a rare panic, and then began to flip through it.

Reading and reading, Cixi's eyes turned red. She blinked a few times as if wanting to relieve fatigue, but tears actually rolled down her cheeks.

"Empress Dowager!" Li Lianying choked with sobs.

"...Leave," Cixi replied.

"Old..." Li Lianying wanted to continue saying something.

"Leave!" Cixi shouted, "Everyone get out!"

The palace maids and eunuchs in the palace hall dared not disobey Cixi's will. Under Li Lianying's signal, everyone quietly retreated from the main hall.

When these people were all gone, Cixi wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. As a woman, Cixi had experience crying many times. Cixi cried when her father died in her youth; Cixi cried when her husband Xianfeng died in her youth; Cixi cried when her biological son Tongzhi died in her middle age. Cixi cried when made difficult by the East Empress Dowager Ci'an. Cixi cried when talking about the political situation with ministers. But the pain at those times was partly because of others, or Cixi simply had to cry.

This shedding of tears was a very fresh or very distant feeling for Cixi. Cixi shed tears of self-pity for herself; Cixi had completely forgotten when was the last time she had this emotion. Cixi couldn't even determine if she had ever cried for herself.

"This Life of Cixi" didn't contain any abusive content. Because it used the vernacular, Cixi could read the faint feeling of sympathy in the text. The notice was equivalent to a comment, and the pamphlet was the main text. Cixi had never seen such truth-telling stuff. Although this kind of thing should be written after a person died, the People's Party wrote Cixi's life from the perspective of giving a final verdict on Cixi.

Don't know who the writer was, but obviously, they knew Cixi's life quite well. Various major historical events were narrated clearly, and the records of Cixi's various actions were also quite clear. What Cixi never expected was that this pamphlet made many analyses and evaluations of Cixi's actions throughout her life. Not criticism, not approval, not cursing, and naturally not singing praises. Cixi's education, the established concepts, things learned in various experiences, and some characteristics. The pamphlet narrated them extremely reasonably.

If the pamphlet was nonsense or blind criticism, Cixi would absolutely not have such agitation. But precisely because there was a meaning of sympathy inside, it touched Cixi instead.

For so many years, for the first time, someone truly treated Cixi as a person, especially as a woman. Cixi was also once a lovely child, once a young woman hoping to be a good wife, and also a mother who truly loved her son. Also a royal family member hoping to save the Great Qing. This pamphlet didn't avoid these things at all but stated them frankly.

Therefore, the conclusion drawn by this pamphlet, Cixi couldn't completely ignore or laugh off.

"Cixi's failure is not only her personal failure but also the failure of the old system. Cixi's sin is not only Cixi's personal sin, but the sin of the Manchu Qing's decaying system. If a definition must be given to Cixi, Cixi, that is Yehenara Xingzhen, is the most stubborn adherent of the Manchu Qing's old system, and also one of the most steadfast and powerful defenders of the Manchu Qing's old system. If she dies, she can say to the Manchu Qing emperors in the underworld without shame: I did my best."

Reading this, Cixi couldn't help weeping. As a woman, when someone, especially an enemy, could give such an upright evaluation, recalling the hardships of her life, how could Cixi not feel self-pity?

But a rebel was a rebel. Besides giving Cixi a relatively fair evaluation, they also analyzed the various tricks implemented by Cixi. The text clearly described the characteristics, operation methods, and effects of these tricks. It criticized these tricks adopted purely based on the leader's personal interests and incompetence, and attributed their evil to the Manchu Qing's decaying system. However, seeing these reasonable evaluations, these things that must be hidden in the deepest depths being exposed clearly in broad daylight, Cixi felt inexplicably panicked.

Especially the last part was a description of Cixi's future. It stated clearly that Cixi must now support the stubborn conservatives onto the stage. Because if other factions were in power, Cixi might not even be buried seriously. The article mocked the incompetence of the Imperial Clan and talked about the uselessness of the conservatives. Because of Cixi's long-term playing of political tricks, it was simply impossible to let the country embark on any truly reasonable road. Once Cixi died, following the road opened by Cixi, the Manchu Qing would plunge headlong into the abyss of death.

Of course, the text also explained Cixi's strategy of "establishing a young monarch" and "killing Guangxu" clearly.

At the end, the pamphlet concluded with these words, "Today, when the Manchu Qing court and the people are full of demands for constitutional reform and modernization, Cixi has to act against history to continue maintaining the Manchu Qing's decaying old system. Cixi naturally won't see it after she dies, but this reaction is destined to be smashed. In a few years, everything Cixi tried to maintain will be smashed. This is a situation that cannot be reversed by Cixi's personal will. Our purpose in writing this article is to hope Cixi and the Chinese people can see this general trend clearly."

Like being possessed, no matter how much Cixi wanted to put down this book, this seventy-four-year-old lady couldn't help reading the pamphlet about herself over and over again. Until Cixi suddenly felt a burst of dizziness, and then knew nothing.

On September 3, 1908, Cixi ordered the imprisoned He family to be thrown into death row. On the 4th, the Sun family was implicated, but because He Qian was already dead, the Sun family escaped a disaster.

On the 5th, Guangxu and Cixi died successively.