"Mr. Yan, I have a matter I'd like to ask you to go see Yuan Shikai for," Chen Ke said as he invited Yan Fu to take a seat.

Entering November, the temperature dropped sharply. Yan Fu wore a military cotton overcoat but still felt cold. He warmed his hands over the coal stove for a while before feeling much better. Unlike Beijing and Tianjin, Anhui was very damp and cold. Chen Ke had considered establishing heating supply, but there was no large thermal power station, no boilers. Steel was also insufficient, and there were no galvanized heating ducts or chimneys, so they had to use coal stoves for heating.

"Wenqing, just give the order." Yan Fu didn't quite understand Chen Ke's words, so his answer was full of probing. After the cooperation between the two sides was reached, Yan Fu really developed a kind of admiration for Chen Ke. If it were an ordinary person, facing the flood of information, they should have been indecisive and in a dilemma. Chen Ke seemed to see the situation in the North with his own eyes, able to find the most critical parts quickly from countless intelligence reports. So Yan Fu couldn't guess what exactly Chen Ke wanted him to talk to Yuan Shikai about.

Chen Ke handed a plan to Yan Fu. Yan Fu's expression became more and more solemn as he read it. After flipping through it several times, he nodded, "This matter indeed requires me to go talk to Yuan Shikai."

"Mr. Yan, the Manchu Qing stole China. Let's not talk about destroying books and tampering with history. But when we overthrow the Manchu Qing, we absolutely cannot let the documents and materials handed down to the present be destroyed. But Yuan Shikai doesn't look like someone who would pay attention to such details no matter how you look at him. If I emphasize this matter, Yuan Shikai won't take it to heart either. I'm afraid he might even think I either have improper motives or am making trouble out of nothing. I thought about it, and only if Mr. Yan goes to mention this matter, Yuan Shikai might listen. Although compared to those materials, Mr. Yan is more..."

Yan Fu interrupted Chen Ke's words rarely. In his solemn expression was an excitement hard to suppress, "Chairman Chen, I truly admire you for having this thought. You said before that the faith of my China is our detailed history recorded for thousands of years. Going to see Yuan Shikai for this matter, my personal safety is not worth mentioning. If I die for this, I, Yan Fu, obtain benevolence as I sought it; how happy that would be. I'll go back to arrange work and set off immediately."

"This matter involves a lot; please, Mr. Yan, tell Yuan Shikai that my People's Party attaches extreme importance to this matter!" Even though Yan Fu's attitude was firm, Chen Ke couldn't help urging repeatedly.

Yan Fu felt empathy for Chen Ke's anxiety. He nodded repeatedly, "Since Chairman Chen mentioned this matter, my heart is also burning with anxiety. If there is nothing else, I will go back now."

Three days later, Yuan Shikai was stunned to hear that Yan Fu came to visit. These two old brothers both served under Li Hongzhang in the former Beiyang. When in Tianjin, they and some other people of insight often discussed current politics and explored various ways to strengthen the country together. At that time, Old Master He, that is, the father of Chen Ke's father-in-law He Ruming, was still alive. They had also gathered at Old Master He's house a few times. In a blink of an eye, ten years had passed without seeing each other. Since Yan Fu became a rebel, Yuan Shikai also remembered Yan Fu often. Although the matters at hand were piled up like a mountain, Yuan Shikai still put down all current matters. He stood up and said: "Please let Mr. Yan come in."

Yuan Shikai's etiquette was very heavy; he descended the steps in the central courtyard to welcome him. Originally, the host's status was higher than the guest's, and the Manchu Qing had particularly many stinking rules. With Yuan Shikai's status, waiting in the living room would be an extremely polite attitude. Generally, when a guest with extremely high status came to visit, they were only ushered into the living room to wait for the host Yuan Shikai to come out and meet them. Being able to wait for Yan Fu under the steps of the central courtyard, the face Yuan Shikai gave was huge.

Since before the Boxer Rebellion, they had been busy separately. Not seeing each other for ten years, the two generals of the former Beiyang were much older than the image of the other in their respective memories. Yan Fu was born in 1854, Yuan Shikai in 1859. When they were together, Yan Fu was less than forty, and Yuan Shikai was a young man in his early thirties then. These years Yuan Shikai's official career had been smooth sailing, so the change wasn't big, only fatter. Yan Fu had experienced hardships these years, but still maintained the same well-proportioned physique as when he was the Chief Instructor of the Beiyang Naval Academy. But both felt the vicissitudes of years accumulated on the other person. The once high-spirited middle-aged men were now inevitably beginning to step into old age.

"Brother Jidao, I finally see you." Yuan Shikai smiled and welcomed him. Among the old brothers of the former Beiyang, in terms of learning, Yan Fu was the well-deserved number one. Yuan Shikai had always admired this point.

"Brother Xiangcheng, I missed you very much too." Yan Fu also admired Yuan Shikai's resourcefulness, capability, and vigorous and resolute style. Because he engaged in military education work for a long time, Yan Fu's vision was extremely high. Although Yuan Shikai had outstanding achievements, pacifying Korea and promoting Westernization, Yan Fu always felt Yuan Shikai cared too much about power. While admitting Yuan Shikai's ability, he felt somewhat disapproving. Looking back now, Yan Fu felt he was still too bookish back then.

Both were top figures in China today, and time was precious, so there weren't so many empty courtesies. Yuan Shikai pulled Yan Fu into the living room. He said while walking: "Brother Jidao, why did that good disciple of yours let you come? How big must this matter be?"

"It is really a matter as big as the sky. This time I came to ask for orders from Brother Xiangcheng!" Yan Fu answered straightforwardly.

Sitting side by side on the guest seats next to each other, Yuan Shikai frowned slightly. Yan Fu never engaged in alarmist talk; how big must the matter be to make Yan Fu anxious like this?

"Those people in the capital feel their lives are precarious now; I'm afraid documents and books will suffer a great disaster. Brother Xiangcheng, I am here to beg you. My China is China precisely because these documentary records have not been interrupted for thousands of years. So under Wenqing's order, I come to beg you, Xiangcheng, to save China." After Yan Fu finished speaking, he stood up and bowed deeply to Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai looked Yan Fu up and down; that sincere expression and voice were really not faking. Moreover, everyone knew Yan Fu's character; a true scholar. For him to be anxious about such things... wasn't surprising.

"Brother Jidao, I will care about such matters." Yuan Shikai replied.

"Not just care about it; I come to beg Brother Xiangcheng to treat it as the most important of important tasks to handle." Yan Fu immediately emphasized his position.

"This..." Protecting classics and documents, Yuan Shikai really hadn't thought about it originally. Reminded by Yan Fu, Yuan Shikai also felt doing so was correct, but he didn't feel at all that this importance needed to rise to the height mentioned by Yan Fu.

"This is Wenqing's letter." Yan Fu handed Chen Ke's letter to Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai couldn't help laughing loudly after reading only half of it, and laughed heartily after reading it all. Ever since deciding to cooperate with Chen Ke, Yuan Shikai himself found that the number of times he laughed loudly was much more than before. Both were people who did practical things and loved doing things. After reading various plans, they could understand them in their hearts. Thinking of the subtleties therein, Yuan Shikai felt a great sense of finding a soulmate.

"Brother Jidao, do you know what is written in this letter?" Yuan Shikai asked.

"I read this letter several times."

"But the things mentioned in this letter are clearly not for classics and documents." Yuan Shikai was very surprised.

"We don't care about those properties at all. Falling into Beiyang's hands naturally means falling into our China's hands. The National Archives, the National Grand Library, must be established. We want to send people to participate. The library director must be designated by us." Yan Fu spoke extremely seriously.

Yuan Shikai thought for another while and had already comprehended the essence, "Brother Jidao, doing this matter really requires a lot of manpower."

"We know how much effort and heart this will take. That's why I came personally to beg Brother Xiangcheng. If someone else came, no matter what he said, Brother Xiangcheng probably wouldn't believe the intention of protecting documents and classics, right." Yan Fu looked at Yuan Shikai seriously.

Yuan Shikai really wanted to agree to Yan Fu, but the words couldn't come out of his mouth no matter what. Yuan Shikai was a person with extreme responsibility and never deceived people with big words. Saying words was easy, but doing it was difficult. Thinking over and over, Yuan Shikai lost the joy of the beginning. He sighed, "Brother Jidao, your good disciple Chen Wenqing really knows how to find trouble."

"China is so big; wanting to do some practical things for China is definitely incomparable trouble. That's why I ran here to beg Brother Xiangcheng." Yan Fu's attitude remained consistent.

Yuan Shikai didn't respond. He picked up Chen Ke's letter and read it carefully again. This plan was extremely clever and dignified; it didn't damage moral integrity at all, publicly or privately. But to really execute it, even Yuan Shikai felt it was quite detailed, requiring very meticulous skills and operations. Looking at the entire court, only Yuan Shikai alone could do it. This didn't look like something a young man in his twenties could come up with no matter how one looked at it.

"Brother Jidao, this matter... I can't agree to all of this matter. I can do the big parts, but for the details mentioned in this letter, I can only do my best. You also know what those dog slaves below are like. If you don't take classics seriously, those rough fellows know shit; they won't even think of targeting classics. But if you take classics seriously, this bunch will rack their brains to steal them. After stealing, they have no use for them, just pasting walls. But in the end, I'm the one carrying the black pot." Speaking of that group of bastards below, Yuan Shikai was both angry and annoyed.

Yan Fu replied: "That's why Wenqing specially wrote a letter and entrusted me to bring it. This isn't ordering Xiangcheng around. It's also that Wenqing knows how hard it is to get things done and wants to offer plans and strategies to Xiangcheng. Brother Xiangcheng, people say leaving a good name for eternity; this is a major event that will leave a good name for eternity. The First Emperor burning books, Xiang Yu burning Xianyang; mentioning it now is still infamy. If you can handle this matter, let alone hundreds of years, even thousands of years later, when our bones have turned to ash, which person of later generations mentioning this matter won't praise Brother Xiangcheng's achievement."

Yuan Shikai reached out and touched his bald forehead, "Brother Jidao, no need to say these words anymore. If this matter can be done, I naturally know what evaluation I will have after I die. Wenqing doing this is also out of good intentions; I know very clearly. I thank you here."

Speaking of this, Yuan Shikai suddenly sighed, "Brother Jidao, you really accepted a good disciple. As long as this matter can be recorded in history books, Brother Jidao's merit of advocating it will be immortal for a thousand years. I can also benefit from your light. Speaking of understanding scholars, Brother Jidao is much stronger than me."

Yan Fu was just about to explain that this wasn't thought of by him first. But seeing a personal soldier come in from outside, stepping forward to hand over a visiting card. After Yuan Shikai read it, he couldn't help laughing: "Speak of scholars, and a scholar arrives. Brother Jidao, Cai Yuanpei asks for an audience; this identity is actually the President of the Guangfu Society."

Of course, Yan Fu knew Cai Yuanpei was the President of the Guangfu Society. Cai Yuanpei's philosophy wasn't quite the same as Tao Chengzhang and others. Although he started the Guangfu Society initially, Cai Yuanpei later walked very close to the Tongmenghui. After the rise of the People's Party, the Tongmenghui's power was greatly affected. First, the Anhui Yue Wang Society rose for a time, then vanished in a few days. The remnants either merged into the People's Party or ran to Hunan. Then the Guangfu Society broke away from the Tongmenghui. Then Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren took the revolutionaries of the Huaxinghui back to Hunan to start a situation. Under several blows of splitting, the Tongmenghui slumped and almost lost its voice. Yan Fu, who was in the Central Committee of the People's Party, hadn't heard news of Cai Yuanpei for a long time. Unexpectedly, after Chen Ke passed the news that Yuan Shikai wanted the Guangfu Society to see him to Tao Chengzhang, Cai Yuanpei actually came out personally.

"Since Brother Xiangcheng has agreed, I will go back first." Yan Fu stood up to bid farewell.

"Eh?" Yuan Shikai hurriedly stopped Yan Fu, "Why is Brother Jidao in such a hurry? I know you are also extremely busy over there. But you always have time to see Cai Yuanpei, right? And after seeing him, we brothers will have a meal. Haven't seen you for so long, I really miss Brother Jidao."

Yan Fu knew Yuan Shikai doing this was also to prove to the Guangfu Society that even the People's Party decided to submit to Beiyang, so the Guangfu Society shouldn't think about borrowing the power of the People's Party to oppose Beiyang. However, Chen Ke had already stated this matter clearly to Tao Chengzhang, so showing his face now wasn't leaking secrets. Most importantly, Yan Fu was also very interested in Cai Yuanpei's attitude. So he stayed.

Yuan Shikai wasn't so polite to Cai Yuanpei. He and Yan Fu originally didn't sit as host and guest; to facilitate conversation, the two sat side by side on two guest chairs close together. Now the two sat as host and guest again. Yuan Shikai naturally sat in the center on the main seat, and the first guest seat was given to Yan Fu. Cai Yuanpei was ushered into the living room and greeted Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai didn't say a word, didn't move.

Cai Yuanpei was surprised to see Yan Fu there. The two had quite a lot of contact in Shanghai because of Ma Xiangbo. Cai Yuanpei knew Yan Fu came from Beiyang, so it was no problem for Yuan Shikai to treat Yan Fu with courtesy. But now Yan Fu was already a leader of the People's Party; the two armies fought several times, killing and wounding many of each other. Now seeing the seating arrangement of the two, they seemed to be wearing one pair of pants again. Because of the rise of the People's Party, Cai Yuanpei had paid quite a bit of attention to Chen Ke in the past two years. Recalling when he first met Chen Ke, Chen Ke visited him alone. At that time, he was full of desire to work for the Guangfu Society. Once the Guangfu Society didn't give Chen Ke a chance, Chen Ke immediately gathered men and horses to work on his own. In a few years, the People's Party had implicitly rivaled the Beiyang group. Thinking of this, Cai Yuanpei felt quite bitter in his heart.

But even if it was bitter, he could only endure it. Cai Yuanpei bowed deeply, "Lord Yuan, I came in response to Lord Yuan's call."

Yuan Shikai himself also came from a scholar background, just failed to obtain any academic degree. So in his heart, Yuan Shikai was always unwilling to offend literati. He ordered someone to lead Cai Yuanpei to a seat further down opposite Yan Fu.

After all, Cai Yuanpei didn't have the long experience of doing things like Chen Ke or Yan Fu. The conversation between the two sides immediately appeared very difficult. Yuan Shikai's intention wasn't to do anything to the Guangfu Society at all. Facing the current complex situation, the purpose of Duan Qirui's Third Division was to guard Zhejiang from trouble. Since the Guangfu Society was the local snake in Zhejiang, Yuan Shikai knew he couldn't exterminate the Guangfu Society at all. So originally he even prepared to offer extremely generous conditions to quell the dispute.

But the principle in this world was "Better to fight a clear-headed person than speak a sentence to a muddled egg". As a learned scholar, Cai Yuanpei spoke without reflecting his status at all. Cai Yuanpei could certainly think Yuan Shikai was a "powerful figure who only cared about his own interests". But Yuan Shikai, perhaps having dealt too much with the People's Party in both politics and war, didn't adapt to Cai Yuanpei's thinking at all for a while.

Yuan Shikai asked what Cai Yuanpei came for. Cai Yuanpei talked to Yuan Shikai about revolution.

Yuan Shikai said Cai Yuanpei's revolution was pure nonsense; Cai Yuanpei said we had ideals.

Yuan Shikai said Cai Yuanpei's ideals had problems; Cai Yuanpei said we had facts.

Yuan Shikai said Cai Yuanpei's facts were unclear and principles unknown; Cai Yuanpei said the Guangfu Society system was advanced.

Mixed in were many exchanges.

Yuan Shikai said, Guangfu Society don't cause trouble for me. Cai Yuanpei responded, our Guangfu Society is not afraid of death.

Yuan Shikai advised, dying in vain is meaningless. Cai Yuanpei responded with, we dedicate ourselves to the country, never bowing to the Manchu Qing.

When Yuan Shikai was strongly unhappy and asked what exactly Cai Yuanpei came for. Cai Yuanpei actually hinted that Yuan Shikai should recognize the situation; the great righteousness was on the Guangfu Society's side.

Yuan Shikai hinted to Cai Yuanpei that "many things can be discussed". Cai Yuanpei immediately demanded the Beiyang Army withdraw from Zhejiang before talking.

Synthesizing Cai Yuanpei's elegant and beating-around-the-bush words, and then listening to Yuan Shikai's answers suppressing anger and maintaining rationality. Yan Fu really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This was also because Yan Fu had a lot of work experience and had seen much; finally, he could see the clues. But neither of the two talking parties was willing to show their bottom cards. A negotiation that should have been hearty and drippy turned into a torture.

Yan Fu had always thought Yuan Shikai was an honest person, and now he was more certain of his judgment of Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai also had difficulties he couldn't mention. Cooperating with the People's Party, this kind of thing might not be hidden. But in any case, the specific content of cooperation couldn't be exposed. So facing the Guangfu Society, Yuan Shikai wanted to make peace, but the tree wanted calm while the wind didn't stop. The Guangfu Society completely didn't know how to place their position, still holding a mentality of confrontation as the main focus. Yuan Shikai's heartfelt intention of reconciliation was treated as donkey liver and lungs (bad intentions).

But Yan Fu knew he couldn't say a word at this time. Better to offend the Guangfu Society than to offend Yuan Shikai. But listening dryly, he was also anxious.

The negotiation naturally had no result. Cai Yuanpei finally expressed "Visit again tomorrow." Yuan Shikai told Cai Yuanpei "Come again after thinking it through."

After the two sides parted unhappily, Yuan Shikai's anger hadn't subsided. He patted the table and said: "Both are revolutionary parties; how can they differ so much?"

Yan Fu couldn't say anything else; he just wanted to get rid of this trouble. Instead, Yuan Shikai felt that talking like this would definitely have no good result. He asked: "Can Wenqing come forward?"

How could Yan Fu accept such a big trouble? He advised: "Brother Xiangcheng, the Guangfu Society is considered not bad. You haven't seen the Yue Wang Society in Anhui; that was truly unreasonable at all."

Yuan Shikai knew a little about the destruction of the Yue Wang Society. Seeing Yan Fu like this, he couldn't forcibly press this responsibility onto the People's Party. At the banquet, Yuan Shikai couldn't help pouring out his bitterness, "Brother Jidao, although you didn't understand being an official back then. But you have seen these things in officialdom. I am really miserable too. If you don't take them seriously, they hate you. If you take them seriously, they don't know who they are themselves, just causing you trouble. On the contrary, Wenqing acts with courtesy and restraint. Doing things, considering others first. Presumably, Wenqing's days are not easy either."

"Young people have more drive than us old men." Yan Fu advised. He and Yuan Shikai were both over forty; in 1908, they were indeed genuine old men.

"That's also because Brother Jidao, you have a good disciple who can already support this situation. Look at the bunch under me; although not young, I haven't seen any drive in them. Causing trouble, however, one beats another. Makes my heart break with worry." After saying this, Yuan Shikai raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing Yan Fu accompany him with a cup of wine, Yuan Shikai then asked: "Brother Jidao, tell the truth. Wenqing let you come this time, besides this matter, does he have other plans? If Brother Xiangcheng handles this matter, he can preside over the center; what other plans can there be."

"Hehe. Does Brother Jidao still want to hide it from me? I saw the map Feng Xu brought last time. After I lead troops north, what do you plan to do about northern Jiangsu? Pinqing is the Jiangbei Commander-in-Chief stationed in Xuzhou; what do you plan to do?" Yuan Shikai pointed out the biggest conflict point between the People's Party and Beiyang directly.

Yan Fu was startled in his heart; this was the problem Chen Ke discussed with him before leaving. Once Yuan Shikai went north, the People's Party would immediately seize northern Jiangsu. Since Yuan Shikai asked this, Yan Fu quickly discovered the problem. He asked back: "Is Brother Xiangcheng going north recently?"

"Is Chen Wenqing prepared to coerce me once before I go north?" Yuan Shikai laughed, "Brother Jidao, you are too dishonest."

Yan Fu couldn't help feeling that Chen Ke simply had the ability of foresight. Before leaving, Chen Ke specially talked about this matter with Yan Fu. The conversation at that time could be used to answer Yuan Shikai exactly, "Brother Xiangcheng, this Subei is actually irrelevant. Our two families must talk clearly about the matter in Shandong. It is impossible for us to spit out the southern part of Shandong we occupied."

Yuan Shikai didn't speak either, but ordered someone to bring the map Feng Xu brought last time. After spreading it out, he asked Yan Fu, "Then tell me clearly where exactly you want. Since Wenqing sold me such a big face on the matter of classics, we might as well talk about this matter. Let me say this first, the fertile land of Shandong, you don't even think about touching a bit."

Yan Fu received the mandate for the Shandong issue negotiation from Chen Ke, but this had to be raised by Yuan Shikai first; Yan Fu couldn't mention it actively. Since the situation developed to this extent, Yan Fu took out a map of Shandong from his carry-on bag. This was a topographic map of Shandong. Mountains and rivers were the key display contents on it. Yuan Shikai stared at this map, fire almost coming out of his eyes.

Yan Fu's finger drew a line on it, which was a large southern area dominated by mountains.

"Rizhao absolutely cannot be given up. Even if you want to guard Lianyungang, you can't take my Rizhao." Yuan Shikai objected immediately.

"Rizhao can be left out, but we want the side of Liangshan and Weishan Lake."

"Why don't you just fight directly into Tai'an and take Jinan? Don't think about occupying the mountains and rivers (strategic locations)."

Two old brothers nitpicked bit by bit, talked bit by bit. They argued until nearly midnight before barely reaching an agreement.

The only reason an agreement could be reached was that Yan Fu stated the People's Party could fund the construction of the southern section of the Jin-Pu (Tianjin-Pukou) Railway within the territory leading directly to Shanghai. Yuan Shikai knew the People's Party would deal with foreigners eventually; this couldn't be stopped. He demanded that the People's Party customs must have future central tax personnel, and the tariffs due to the center shouldn't be less by a penny. In 1908, China's tariffs were extremely low, only about 5%. Yan Fu demanded that this approx 5% tariff must also be divided into local and central shares. The future Yuan Shikai Central Government couldn't take it all. Everyone started bargaining again. Finally, it was settled that the center took 40% of the tariff, and the local took 30%.

After finishing talking about this series of key issues, it was the turn of the Subei issue. Both sides agreed that the People's Party could enter Subei to fight only after Yuan Shikai's talks with the Jiangsu Parliament collapsed. And completely annexing Jiangsu was not allowed. Only the area north of the Baoying to Yancheng line could be seized.

"This let you take a big advantage." Although it was just negotiation, Yuan Shikai was already a bit out of breath.

"Brother Xiangcheng, rest assured. Wenqing is not a person who goes back on his word. Since we sincerely talk with you, we will definitely keep the agreement." Yan Fu was fifty by nominal age; after this tossing about, he was also tired enough.

"What if he doesn't keep the agreement? Could Wenqing fight into Beijing for me?" Yuan Shikai drank a mouthful of tea and slowed down.

After resting for a good while, Yuan Shikai said: "Don't know why, I just trust Wenqing. When he returned my Beiyang Army, I still felt extorted by Wenqing at that time. But seeing so many injured officers and soldiers received treatment, and very dedicatedly. I lost the thought of revenge at that time. Although I don't understand Wenqing as a person, I see he is a person who clearly distinguishes public and private interests. He will absolutely not forget righteousness for profit. However, Brother Jidao, I hope you watch this child well; never let him do anything stupid."

"As long as the Manchu Qing abdicates, what benefit does great chaos in the world have for China? Our two families are already guarding against each other; accidental clashes are meaningless. Serious business can't be finished; for that little petty profit, playing some clever tricks, haven't we suffered enough losses?" Yan Fu fully supported Yuan Shikai's view.

Hearing this, Yuan Shikai suddenly thought of Cai Yuanpei. He cursed: "The Guangfu Society obviously hasn't suffered enough losses. Plotting for Nanjing and hitting a nose of ash; if not for Wenqing sending troops to bring up the rear for them, these people probably couldn't even return to Zhejiang. As a result, they still don't understand now, thinking they can still run rampant in Zhejiang. Brother Jidao, can you find Cai Yuanpei and talk to him, let them stop for a while. Look at him putting on a look of dying generously for a just cause during the day; whom is he showing it to? If I wanted to kill him, would I need him to deliver himself to my door to be killed?"

Yan Fu refused immediately, "Brother Xiangcheng, I think so. The Guangfu Society thinks they lost all territory in Zhejiang; they refuse to swallow this breath no matter what. We can't say too much. How to persuade, I can't persuade."

"Brother Jidao, you don't need to say too much to Cai Yuanpei. You just tell him, bow his head and beg at my door, everything is easy to say, everything can be talked about. If he refuses to lower this head, I won't kill him, nor make it difficult for him; let him roll back to Zhejiang himself." Speaking of this, Yuan Shikai became angry again, "Why don't this bunch of people understand rules now? Reading books into dogs' bellies?"

Yan Fu had to help with this favor. He went to see Cai Yuanpei early the next morning. Surprisingly, Tao Chengzhang also came along. Seeing Yan Fu, the two had expressions of regarding death as returning home. "Mr. Yan, you are passing a message for Yuan Shikai, right. Kill or scrap as he pleases; since we came, we want to hear what exactly he invited us here to do."

Obviously, the Guangfu Society from top to bottom believed the People's Party reached some secret agreement with Beiyang and sold out the interests of the Guangfu Society.

Yan Fu had no choice either. He let the Guangfu Society people insult him with hidden sarcasm in their words, and only then barely made Cai Yuanpei agree to bow his head to Yuan Shikai temporarily for the sake of the hundreds of captured Guangfu Society comrades. Even so, before Cai Yuanpei went to visit Yuan Shikai again, Tao Chengzhang kept Yan Fu at the Guangfu Society station.

Don't know if the Guangfu Society was preparing to use him as a hostage or had other plans. Anyway, Yan Fu made up his mind that after this matter of the Guangfu Society was settled, he would never bring messages to anyone again in this life. He, a fifty-year-old man, worked and taught innocently all his life. If working for the country or for sensible people, that was fine. Why should he be mixed into these boring disputes of spirit? Yuan Shikai said the Guangfu Society didn't understand rules; he really didn't say it wrong.

If the Guangfu Society had any redeeming qualities, perhaps it was that they really had the guts to come to Henan to see Yuan Shikai.

Cai Yuanpei didn't leave for very long before returning. Obviously, there was a mixture of joy and suspicion on Cai Yuanpei's face. The Guangfu Society immediately held a meeting, but excluded Yan Fu from the meeting. Yan Fu wanted to leave, but their subordinates stopped him. Yan Fu waited outside with the mentality of "let them be". After waiting for a long time, Tao Chengzhang came out with an excited face. Seeing Yan Fu, he immediately bowed and saluted, "Mr. Yan, brothers didn't handle things well and wronged you."

Yan Fu really didn't want to care about what agreement the Guangfu Society reached with Yuan Shikai. He wasn't good at social intercourse originally. Chen Ke sent him this time entirely because of Yan Fu's old friendship with Yuan Shikai. So Yan Fu didn't care so much either. After Tao Chengzhang finished polite remarks, Yan Fu took his leave.