Chairman Chen Ke seemed to have something on his mind recently. Ever since writing "This Life of Cixi", Chairman Chen was often lost in thought every day. Even if he wrote something, he would burn it after writing. Although Chairman Chen always looked similar before planning big events usually, the planning time this time was a bit too long. For a whole week, Chairman Chen was like this. Since most of the central cadres had gone to work in other provinces, and the remaining few were also in local areas, while those remaining in Fengtai County were office staff, this situation didn't arouse more suspicion.

When Chen Ke began to summon the main leading cadres in Anhui Province back to Fengtai County, the staff saw the clues. Something big was definitely going to happen in the Base Area.

This was indeed the case. After Qi Huishen, Yan Fu, Yuwen Badu, these Central Committee members who were just enough for a vote gathered, everyone was surprised to find that Feng Xu, a middle-level cadre currently in the civil service system, also attended the meeting as a non-voting delegate. After everyone sat down, Chen Ke dropped a big bomb in front of the comrades directly. "I plan to talk to Beiyang again."

This wasn't very strange. The effect of the first cooperation between the People's Party and Beiyang was very good. More than a hundred thousand tons of steel, as well as metal products from Hanyang Iron Works, greatly satisfied the massive needs of the Base Area. But after Chen Ke's subsequent narration, a brief silence appeared in the venue. Three minutes of silence made the guards couldn't help turning their heads to look into the venue. Everyone wanted to say something, but couldn't say anything.

After a long time, Zhang Yu asked in a voice that could be said to be ill-intentioned: "Chairman Chen, do you mean we spent so much effort just to support Yuan Shikai onto the stage?"

"Not supporting Yuan Shikai onto the stage, but letting Yuan Shikai face reality." Chen Ke immediately gave Zhang Yu a forceful counterattack.

"But this result is obviously that Yuan Shikai becomes the top leader." Zhang Yu emphasized this result again.

"Not only now, if this plan succeeds, in the future, Yuan Shikai's Beiyang will still occupy the central position." Chen Ke didn't avoid this question at all.

"Then we work hard, risking our lives, and in the end cook a pot of food for Yuan Shikai?" Zhang Yu's antagonistic emotion became higher and higher.

Chen Ke also rarely engaged in tit-for-tat confrontation, "We are engaging in revolution now; engaging in revolution is the process of overthrowing reactionaries. But reactionaries are just a general term; each group of reactionaries has its own characteristics and stance. In different historical periods, our main enemies are also different. The material world is dynamic, not static and unchanging. In different periods, there is not only one way to promote revolution. It is not that our People's Party holding political power from beginning to end proves the revolutionary path is correct. Moreover, our People's Party hasn't controlled China's national power until now."

This meeting lasted for three days. Feng Xu, as an auditor, had no right to speak. But even listening exhausted the old man. He originally thought the People's Party was just a group of vigorous young lads rising up to rebel. After these three days, Feng Xu finally understood what was called "temple calculation" (grand strategy planning). Compared with this group of young lads, Feng Xu thought all the policy designs he had done in the government in his life were as simple and childish as children playing house.

On the last day of the meeting, the voting process was extremely difficult. Feng Xu could see that all the People's Party comrades participating in the voting had no confidence in the content of the discussion. Feng Xu imagined that if he had the right to vote, his feelings would probably be exactly the same as these people. Chen Ke's plan was reasonable to an incredible degree. So no one really believed that this kind of thing would really proceed according to Chen Ke's prediction.

Before voting, Zhang Yu spoke with mental exhaustion and a solemn expression, "Chairman Chen, I vote this time not because I support your plan. I just believe that you have never predicted wrong before. I will obey the decision of the party organization, but I personally reserve my opinion."

Chen Ke's energy looked more abundant than other comrades. He replied calmly: "Even if this plan is passed at the Party Committee meeting, it still depends on whether Yuan Shikai accepts it. If Yuan Shikai doesn't accept it, then there is no need to execute this plan. At that time, we will continue to revolutionize according to the current method."

Perhaps this statement finally persuaded the extremely exhausted comrades; they breathed a sigh of relief and began to vote one after another. Beyond Feng Xu's expectation, Chen Ke's suggestion actually passed unanimously.

Chen Ke didn't let Feng Xu audit for the purpose of winning him over. After the voting ended, the resolution of Feng Xu as an envoy was also passed by vote. After the meeting adjourned, Chen Ke began to talk with the exhausted Feng Xu.

"Mr. Feng, how likely do you think Yuan Shikai is to accept this content?"

After all, he was old, and fatigue was hard to eliminate in a short time. Feng Xu spoke with some panting, "Don't know. I can only tell Yuan Shikai what can be told to him according to the regulations. However, there is already too much stuff to talk about."

Chen Ke let out a slight breath. Feng Xu could see that Chen Ke wasn't disappointed; this was a movement mixed with helplessness and self-relaxation. Feng Xu asked: "Chairman Chen, there is one thing I don't understand. Why choose such a strategy at this time?"

"Although we are revolutionizing, and the process of revolution is certainly to overthrow all reactionaries. But for China's vitality (Yuan Qi), preserve a point if we can." Chen Ke replied.

Feng Xu nodded with deep feeling. In this meeting, Chen Ke emphasized this issue more than once. Revolutionary war could certainly destroy the enemy, but reconstruction required too much and too great power, and destruction inevitably made reconstruction more difficult.

Seeing Feng Xu accept his explanation, Chen Ke felt somewhat relieved on one hand, and felt he was really helpless on the other. The Party's history was arduous and outstanding; Chen Ke admired it very much. But admiration didn't equal being able to copy it. The current revolutionary situation could absolutely not push the People's Party to that extent. If he wanted the People's Party members to possess the brilliant standard of the Party members back then, he must utilize the characteristics of this current era.

Chen Ke spent several days thinking hard, just trying to apply the methods taught by Grandpa Mao to find such a way. Although Chen Ke felt he found it, like other comrades, Chen Ke's rationality was persuaded by Chen Ke himself, but his sensibility was completely not persuaded.

"Chairman Chen, do you want me to be an envoy, or be a lobbyist?" Feng Xu asked.

"What is the difference?" Chen Ke heard the difference between the two words.

Feng Xu replied: "Envoy, tell Yuan Shikai there is such a thing, and try hard to persuade Yuan Shikai. Lobbyist, make Beiyang accept this matter."

Chen Ke didn't propose his own judgment on Feng Xu's statement. He asked: "Why is Mr. Feng so enthusiastic about this matter?"

"It is best if the common people of the world can suffer less from the pain of war." Feng Xu replied with full emotion.

Let the people suffer less? Chen Ke felt alert almost instinctively. Historically, whenever the Qingliu (High-minded critics) who claimed to take the world as their responsibility tried to "let the people suffer less", the days of rivers of blood were probably imminent. A person of Yuan Shikai's nature was even less likely to buy this rhetoric.

Chen Ke paused before replying: "Mr. Feng also listened to our meeting. I hope, or rather I fantasize, that Yuan Shikai can see the facts clearly, see the situation clearly, and make the correct choice. Only if our two sides can reach a consensus is there a possibility for the people to suffer less. But if everyone feels their own interests are not satisfied, everything else is out of the question. Our People's Party naturally will struggle to the end. Yuan Shikai is known as the butcher of the people. Mr. Feng, your aspirations are lofty; I trust you. But using the idea of letting the people suffer less to persuade both sides, I'm afraid it won't be of much use."

Hearing this, Feng Xu not only wasn't annoyed but nodded repeatedly. "Well said. It was my rash speech."

Chen Ke didn't know if Feng Xu was sincere or had other thoughts, but heard Feng Xu say: "At the meeting, Chairman Chen said, seeking peace through struggle, peace survives; seeking peace through compromise, peace dies. I will keep this attitude firmly in mind."

Hearing Feng Xu had such understanding, Chen Ke felt reassured. After a few days of preparation by Chen Ke, Yan Fu, and Feng Xu, Feng Xu finally embarked on the road north.

Henan Governor Yuan Shikai was relatively annoyed recently. He once thought Chen Ke would put on a facade of fighting to the death but actually hold his troops still. So Yuan Shikai sent some troubles he wanted to get rid of to the front line, hoping Chen Ke would catch this bunch of guys in one net.

The result was a series of news proving Yuan Shikai's predictions all failed. The People's Party changed its previous combat style; this time the Party didn't appear in front of the Beiyang Army at all. That bunch of people sent to the front line were already trembling with fear, fearing the enemy like a tiger. No matter how Yuan Shikai urged, they refused to go deep into the People's Party's controlled area. So they were all still surviving until now.

If it were only these things, it would be fine; maybe it could be explained that the People's Party held an attitude of making peace. As a result, at the end of September, news came that large groups of People's Party troops entered the Hubei Wuhan area and began disaster relief. Yuan Shikai knew the People's Party started by disaster relief in Anhui; with the flood in Hubei, the People's Party's purpose of intervening in Hubei was already beyond doubt.

Just wondering where the People's Party got such courage facing tens of thousands of Beiyang troops, the news of Duan Qirui conquering Hangzhou and capturing the female bandit leader Qiu Jin made Yuan Shikai very happy.

But following closely behind this news was that large groups of bandits appeared in Hebei. They didn't attack cities or seize land, but wantonly looted the Imperial Estates in Zhili, as well as the manors of princes and ministers. The vanguard of the bandits even arrived under Beijing city and began looting. At the same time, several groups of mounted bandits in Shandong wantonly broke into military camps and looted arsenals. Because many Beiyang troops stationed in Shandong moved south, the barracks were empty at this time.

Without any verification, Yuan Shikai knew this was definitely a trick played by the People's Party. The Beiyang Army killed bandits in Shandong until heads rolled; Shandong bandits dared not approach Beiyang barracks at all. Lending them a few guts, they wouldn't dare to loot Beiyang barracks. As for looting successfully, Yuan Shikai knew there were no such heroes in Shandong at all.

Chen Ke advancing troops to Hubei on one hand, was this engaging in "Besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" in Zhili on the other hand? Or rather, the People's Party had no troops in Anhui at all, just singing an Empty City Strategy? What was hateful was, heaven knew what the situation in Anhui was now; once Beiyang Army spies entered Anhui, it was like clay oxen entering the sea, with no information. Yuan Shikai completely couldn't find out the actual situation in Anhui.

Inside Beiyang, there was already a quarrel about this. There were those advocating returning troops to Zhili, and those advocating moving south to attack Anhui. There were even some weirdos who thought they could secretly take a train straight to Hankou and raid the People's Party troops in Hubei. If the People's Party were so easily raided, a strategist as cautious and meticulous as Wang Shizhen, and a general as decisive as Duan Qirui, would have destroyed the People's Party long ago.

Just at this time, someone reported that Feng Xu came to visit. Yuan Shikai felt he had some clue. Chen Ke must have planned some huge conspiracy, letting this old captive Feng Xu trick him.

"Chen Wenqing, your uncle I will take a good look at what tricks you have!" Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai ordered, "Bring Feng Xu in."

Feng Xu's attitude was calm, having the style of a lobbyist. He first handed Chen Ke's letter to Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai didn't open it either, asking: "Mr. Feng, what advice does Chen Wenqing have sending you here."

Looking at the room full of Beiyang generals, Feng Xu asked: "Lord Yuan, can these people listen together?"

"Speak without worry." Yuan Shikai said frankly. Those in the room were Yuan Shikai's diehards; Yuan Shikai had confidence in these people.

Seeing Yuan Shikai behave like this, Feng Xu frankly narrated Chen Ke's suggestion.

Chen Ke believed the world could now be divided into three types of people: Revolutionaries, Reformists, and Die-hard Extreme Royalists. The characteristic of the die-hard royalists was demanding the maintenance of the Manchu Qing's monarchical dictatorship system; they were already rats crossing the street, spat upon by revolutionaries and reformists. Although Yuan Shikai was loyal to the Manchu Qing, Yuan Shikai himself was a representative of the reformists. Chen Ke believed that in this period, the People's Party as the biggest force of the revolutionary party and the Beiyang clique representing the reformists joining hands to get rid of the die-hard royalist party would have major practical interests for both sides.

Regarding operational methods, Chen Ke suggested that the People's Party fiercely attack the Imperial Estates outside the capital in Zhili, forcing the last military power of the die-hard conservatives to attack. Then destroy them in field battles. And send troops to attack the construction site of Cixi's tomb. Fully exposing the reality of the die-hard conservatives' weak strength.

And at this time, Yuan Shikai could unite with the governors of various provinces to reach a consensus on "Constitutional Federation of Autonomous Provinces". The die-hard conservatives had no foundation in various provinces originally, plus with the capital harassed like this, it was even less possible to cause any real trouble for Yuan Shikai. Once Yuan Shikai reached an agreement with the governors of various provinces, the People's Party would cooperate with Yuan Shikai returning to Beijing and withdraw all troops in Zhili. Originally, this little Emperor Xuantong coming to power was unclear. Yuan Shikai, with the support or acquiescence of the governors of various provinces, plus military force as backing, could naturally adopt a constitutional system and establish Yuan Shikai's political dominance.

Whether sitting on a grand tutor chair, a sofa, or other places, Yuan Shikai always sat upright, with strict character. Moreover, Yuan Shikai wasn't petty-minded; normal talk could hardly anger him. Listening to Feng Xu speaking the suggestion clearly and logically with simple words, Yuan Shikai only felt that this grand tutor chair seemed to have grown teeth, making him want to stand up immediately and order someone to beat this old knave Feng Xu out.

No wonder Chen Ke wrote a book and Cixi died after reading it. If an enemy pointed out the most beneficial path for oneself so clearly and logically, no one could stand it. The most important thing was that the People's Party acted first and spoke later. Attacking the arsenals and Imperial Estates in Zhili, the People's Party was already doing it in full swing. Presumably, Cixi's tomb construction site had also been attacked now.

The Old Empress Dowager was angered to death by Chen Ke when alive, and after death, she was messed with by Chen Ke so that she couldn't even be buried on time. The face of these die-hard royalists had probably been shaved until nothing was left, right? But... why thinking of the panicked and anxious faces of those bastards of the Imperial Clan in the capital, did Yuan Shikai feel a kind of pleasure in his heart?

Because of sufficient preparation, Feng Xu was concise. Soon he talked about "Constitutional Federation of Autonomous Provinces". To put it bluntly, this system was establishing the reality of the Manchu Qing in the form of law. Each province established a parliament, established its own provincial constitution, and the laws of the province. As for the center, the parliament would meet every year to discuss the financial amount each province paid to the center. The MPs would discuss legislation, and then they could piss off home. The parliament had no substantial control over the center.

"Lord Yuan, because of provincial autonomy. As long as Beiyang doesn't enter our People's Party's territory, wherever your Beiyang fights to, which provinces you control, our People's Party won't say a word and will turn a blind eye. As long as Beiyang controls many provinces, whether you become President or Prime Minister, it will naturally be logical. At that time, these generals of Beiyang becoming Military Governors (Dudu) in various provinces, holding great power, and Lord Yuan commanding in the center, it is a good thing for Beiyang." Feng Xu threw out the promise Chen Ke gave to Yuan Shikai.

Hearing this key content, the eyes of the Beiyang generals lit up one by one. If there really could be such a situation, this bunch of generals loyal to Yuan Shikai could definitely each lead a province. At that time, everyone wouldn't just have a military post, but grasp both military and government affairs. The future prospects were beautiful enough to dazzle the eyes.

"Mr. Feng, have you finished your nonsense?" Yuan Shikai finally opened his mouth to ask.

Feng Xu laughed: "This is not nonsense. The general trend of the world today is set. Whether government, gentry, or scholars, everyone wants reform and constitution. Compared with so many people, those who thoroughly oppose reform and constitution are just that extremely small handful of people. Lord Yuan is loyal to the Empress Dowager; everyone knows. Now the Empress Dowager is gone. The work of striking that small handful of people, our People's Party will do. Lord Yuan only needs to conform to the general trend. How can this be called nonsense?"

Seeing Yuan Shikai still had an unmoved expression, Feng Xu said: "Lord Yuan, if Heaven gives and you don't take, you will suffer the blame instead. Even if for your own reputation you are unwilling to bear this responsibility, you should also think for these people of the Beiyang lineage who follow Lord Yuan."

Hearing this, Yuan Shikai's expression finally changed a bit.