"Great King Pang, we got a chick back this time, specially to honor Great King Pang." This was the first sentence Miss Nalan Neruo heard after waking up. Her head was dizzy, as if she had had a long dream; Nalan Neruo couldn't recall what happened at all. She turned a deaf ear to this sentence. She wanted to get up, only to find she was tied up. She wanted to scream, only to realize her mouth was also gagged.

"What bullshit woman. In this freezing weather, who has this mood." Another man laughed.

I was kidnapped by mounted bandits? Miss Nalan's reason synthesized several past and present facts and finally confirmed this "absurd" status quo. A great fear suddenly arose in her heart. She had no understanding of matters between men and women. She just instinctively felt whether her clothes had changed. Fortunately, the clothes all over her body felt familiar. Only the tight binding made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Great King Pang, brothers know your loyalty. Last time Big Brother Xu said, Great King Pang hadn't had a turn with the fujins and ge-ges of the Prince's Mansions for so long; he felt very sorry in his heart. This time introducing brothers to follow Great King Pang, we must let brothers find a good one for Great King Pang. Brothers haven't touched this chick at all. Waiting for Great King Pang to use first."

The bandit's shameless voice and the unmistakable meaning in the voice made Nalan Neruo want to faint but also afraid to faint.

"Sigh! Commit less sin, accumulate more virtue." Great King Pang said such a very conscientious sentence.

Nalan Neruo was just pleasantly surprised when she heard Great King Pang continue: "Seeing you guys are so loyal, just this once."

Great King Pang exposed his true colors, almost scaring Miss Nalan into fainting again.

Footsteps sounded; several men came in from outside. Two dragged Nalan Neruo up and sat her on a chair. While struggling desperately, Miss Nalan's mind flashed like a revolving lantern, thinking of her father, mother, relatives, and friends. How could she see people in the future after being insulted by this group of mounted bandits? In this chaos, the last and most vivid image floating in her mind was Chen Ke's appearance. Thinking of this "Great Rebel" from a literati background, a kind of longing and courage suddenly surged in Nalan Neruo's heart. Although her mouth was gagged, she shook her head, trying to speak.

Seeing the captured chick moving so violently, the bandits laughed loudly. Pang Zi didn't intend to mess around originally; he thought this might be a good chance to get out of it. "Untie her mouth, see what she says." Pang Zi ordered.

Because she was gagged for too long, Nalan Neruo tried several times before barely recovering the ability to speak, "Do you know Chen Ke of the Anhui People's Party?" Nalan Neruo shouted.

Pang Zi's face changed greatly. Although other mounted bandits didn't know Pang Zi was from the People's Party, they also knew the People's Party with unparalleled momentum now and their party leader Chen Ke.

"I am Chen Ke's cousin; heroes, don't accidentally hurt your own people!" Miss Nalan's nondescript Jianghu slang made Pang Zi feel the matter was both serious and funny.

Miss Nalan completely didn't understand Jianghu rules, nor did she know these words were seeking her own death. Although Chen Ke's fame was big, Anhui was a thousand li away from Beijing. The mounted bandits in front of her had never dealt with Chen Ke; there was originally no reason to give face to someone they had never met. And even if they were afraid of Chen Ke's future retaliation, instead of letting Nalan Neruo run to Chen Ke to complain, killing Nalan Neruo with one knife would be the best choice to end future trouble.

Fortunately, Nalan Neruo met Pang Zi, "Then tell me what exactly is going on?" Pang Zi asked.

Miss Nalan was a scholar after all. The Nalan family once befriended many literati, and there were quite a few boring books. Miss Nalan also fantasized many times about how to be with Chen Ke. According to previous imagination, Miss Nalan told a very mediocre story. In this story, Miss Nalan called herself Li Nana, Chen Ke's cousin. Chen Ke's mother's family name was Li, but she passed away early. After Chen Ke went to revolution, the Li family went into hiding. This time they took the opportunity to escape from the capital.

The mounted bandits had absolutely no interest in this story, but seeing Pang Zi listening seriously, they didn't interrupt. When the story was finished, a bandit asked: "Great King Pang, do you know this guy named Chen?"

"Hmm, a friend of mine knows him. Brothers, wait for me to ask a few more questions." After Pang Zi finished speaking, he asked about Chen Ke's appearance.

Miss Nalan Neruo, now renamed Li Nana, described Chen Ke's height, appearance, what books he wrote, and when he got married.

Pang Zi also knew this real intelligence of "Li Nana". If Pang Zi had richer family experience, for example, raising several daughters with hardships, he would naturally be able to discover some problems in these words. But Pang Zi's life so far was mostly spent getting along with the Grim Reaper on the battlefield day and night; asking him to understand stuff like a maiden's heart was really too hard for him. Most importantly, Pang Zi was originally looking for an excuse not to rape the girl. So he actually believed it.

"Brothers, this is really that Chen Ke. Can I..."

Words just reached here, several mounted bandits interrupted Pang Zi, "Great King Pang, we all know you are a loyal person. We won't make it difficult for you; you have the final say on what to do with this chick. But when Great King Pang sees that friend of yours, hope you don't mention us few."

"This is of course." Pang Zi answered hurriedly.

Hearing these words, Nalan Neruo, now named Li Nana, reddened her eyes and suddenly shed tears. Getting rid of the terrible fate was one reason, but being saved relying on the name of the person she admired and favored, Li Nana wanted most at this moment to grab Chen Ke, who was far away in Anhui, and cry out her grievances.

Untying Li Nana, Pang Zi asked: "Miss Li, what do you plan to do now? Do you want me to send someone to escort you home?"

Nalan Neruo, now named Li Nana, wanted to say yes, but she instinctively felt that if she went back like this, not only could she never lift her head in front of her parents and relatives again, but she would also lose an important opportunity. Thinking for a long time, Li Nana finally said a sentence, "I... I want to go to Anhui to find my cousin Chen Ke."

Arranging people to send Li Nana to the Shandong Base Area first, then transferring to the Anhui Base Area. Pang Zi continued to lead those heroes to ravage Beijing. The ravaging soon came to an end. On December 22, 1908, Pang Zi received the news. Beiyang's Yuan Shikai had already moved troops north. Telling the several groups of mounted bandits following him that the wind was not good recently and to run quickly. Pang Zi himself joined the remaining comrades and retreated all the way to the Shandong Base Area.

Since the annihilation of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army, Regent Zaifeng collapsed completely. His decision to seek help from far away and order the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army to save the Emperor was once understood by the ministers in the court. Without needing to reach Zhang Zhidong's political ability, the act of seeking help from far away itself represented the court openly saying to Yuan Shikai, "We don't trust you!" Officials with IQ above average knew this was the last resort. No one was willing to express their attitude at this time; expressing attitude at this time was openly going against the Regent. The Regent might not be able to deal with Yuan Shikai, but dealing with them was more than enough.

Until those hundreds of captives wearing only jackets, with human heads, seals, and military flags tied around their necks, were released by thousands of mounted bandits under the capital city. The capital verified carefully; these poor guys with bare bottoms and bare feet were indeed the remnants of the Gansu-Shaanxi Green Standard Army who came to save the Emperor. The attitude inside the court towards the Regent immediately took a 180-degree turn. Prince Qing didn't make a sound on the surface but instigated behind the scenes. Memorials demanding the immediate transfer of Yuan Shikai to the capital piled up several feet high on the Regent's desk. The foreign diplomatic corps also demanded the Qing court recall Yuan Shikai to restore order with a tougher attitude again.

Ten thousand mounted bandits could toss the capital into such a state; most of the officials in the court accustomed to obeying the Qing court were disheartened. They remembered one thing: when Xuantong ascended the throne, he sat on the Dragon Throne crying and making a fuss. Xuantong's father Zaifeng couldn't help going up to advise, "Don't cry, it will be over soon." At that time, many ministers frowned.

"It will be over soon!" Yes, looking at the appearance now, the world of the Great Qing really would be over soon. With the attitude Zaifeng showed towards Yuan Shikai, there were countless subjects in history who raised troops to rebel for this. Waiting for death without rebelling?

Beiyang originally started in Jianghuai. Li Hongzhang first followed Zeng Guofan to raise troops, then created the Huai Army himself. After destroying the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Huai Army pacified the Nian Army. Starting from the grassroots, these two rose to be central ministers. At that time, borrowing the power of these two and Zuo Zongtang, there was a situation where half of the viceroys and governors in the world were Han Chinese. Although officials didn't dare to collect the original copy of "This Life of Cixi", handwritten copies with the final prophecy deleted were definitely not just one or two. Officials had personally experienced or heard of many things; after comparing with "This Life of Cixi", everyone saw clearly that Empress Dowager Cixi played the two like dogs through tricks, and finally forcibly weakened the former Beiyang and the Nanyang New Army of Xiang Army origin to such a degree.

But hitting one faction required borrowing another faction; the rise of the later Beiyang Yuan Shikai and Zhang Zhidong was the price that had to be paid. How could Yuan Shikai not know the end of the two predecessors? So Yuan Shikai held on to military power tightly, fearing that one day he would also end up with the fate of the hound being cooked after the hare is caught.

The Yuan Shikai Beiyang Group dedicated itself to seizing the leadership of the constitution, aiming to push the constitution to a "Responsible Cabinet System" to achieve the situation where Beiyang controlled power in the center to suppress the Imperial Clan. While the southern Cen Chunxuan contacted Qingliu and gentry celebrities, trying to lead the constitution to the path of "Parliamentary System" by defeating Yuan Shikai, to achieve the situation where "Qingliu-dominated gentry" controlled power.

Cixi calmed this struggle with clever tricks, hitting the Qingliu gentry on one hand and excluding the Beiyang central faction on the other. The old lady promulgated the "Imperially Chartered Constitution Outline" establishing absolute imperial power, telling the world in this way, "Want to seize power? Don't even think about it!" If Cixi could really live another ten years, she might really have been able to complete this layout arrangement.

But man proposes, God disposes. Three years ago, a group of People's Party rebels suddenly popped up in the heartland of Anhui. Led by the young Beiyang junior Chen Ke, the People's Party captured cities and seized land, invincible. Many New Armies were either completely wiped out, almost completely wiped out, or suffered heavy losses. Even the famous Beiyang New Army and Hubei New Army were not spared. Yuan Shikai dared not act rashly even sitting on three New Army divisions.

People inside the court knew very clearly that Zaifeng had cut off the supplies of the Beiyang Army in Henan. Now wanting to extinguish the Anhui rebels, it was extremely difficult for the court to be united, let alone such a situation of hatred between monarch and subjects. Yuan Shikai not entering the capital could still maintain a temporary stability. When Yuan Shikai entered the capital, it would also be the time when the contradiction became completely public. Today, when the court even lost the last "suspected army" in its hands, the Beiyang three divisions could completely use force to solve political problems. Moreover, Yuan Shikai even had quite legitimate political reasons to resolve this contradiction.

When Yuan Shikai held power... this Great Qing would also change from "will be over soon" to "should be over".

Therefore, when Regent Zaifeng publicly announced in the court meeting on December 20 that he would recall Yuan Shikai to the capital, the ministers looked at Zaifeng's face, wanting to see some clues from Zaifeng's face. Surprisingly, apart from a resignation-like calmness, Zaifeng had no reaction at all. That calmness was very much like the calmness of someone who had seen through life and death. Since the Regent had such an attitude, the officials below naturally didn't say much anymore. What else could they say?

The news ordering Yuan Shikai to return to Hebei reached Henan, and a wave of excitement immediately arose among Yuan Shikai's subordinates. These generals who had decided to be loyal only to Yuan Shikai knew this was the Qing court softening. Returning to the capital would definitely have another dragon and tiger struggle, but returning to the capital now must be the court's order, not Yuan Shikai acting on his own.

Yuan Shikai's Beiyang didn't have overwhelming military power. All civil officials in Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Group would support Yuan Shikai seizing dominance, but might not necessarily support Yuan Shikai openly usurping the throne. Entering the capital backed by military force would give Yuan Shikai the name of a rebel; the current Yuan Shikai couldn't afford this hat yet.

Actually, asking themselves honestly, this bunch of generals who decided to bet their lives and fortunes on Yuan Shikai's side weren't prepared to be rebels either.

Yuan Shikai wasn't excited; the People's Party's military power really made him feel great pressure. This little time was completely insufficient to contact the viceroys and governors of various places. The Federation of Autonomous Provinces was easy to say, but it might not be so easy for the viceroys and governors to accept. Viceroys and governors were not local emperors; Cixi racked her brains and used all her tricks for the purpose of breaking up the power of frontier officials.

However, politics was like a seesaw; effectively weakening the power of local competent officials allowed the power of local gentry to rise. In the final analysis, everyone had to live their lives. Officials came today and left tomorrow; who had the mind to really bury their heads in local affairs. In the case where the upper power couldn't be maintained, the gentry quickly obtained a great say in various places.

Viceroys and governors certainly wanted local autonomy, and even more wanted to possess a province for generations. Throwing away this "idea" everyone desired, the realistic situation faced by viceroys and governors was that their power was far from taking root in the territory they were currently in. Unless Yuan Shikai could make the viceroys and governors truly believe that they could absolutely get this province, the viceroys and governors had no reason to support Yuan Shikai's struggle with Regent Zaifeng. If the viceroys and governors supported Yuan Shikai, and ended up being thrown away after use... rather than doing such a stupid thing as "helping someone count money while being sold in a sack", it was better to maintain the status quo.

This formed a very marvelous situation. If Yuan Shikai didn't enter the center, his words carried no weight. But without the support of viceroys and governors, Yuan Shikai's effort to enter the center would easily suffer setbacks. In case the viceroys and governors joined hands to accuse Yuan Shikai of being Cao Cao, that would really be hard to handle. The viceroys and governors could swallow their own spit and say afterwards, "I was deceived at the time and wronged Lord Yuan." Anyway, to fulfill the promise, Yuan Shikai had to give them territory. Yuan Shikai being disgusted was a small matter; ruining his action plan was a big matter.

At this time, Yuan Shikai sincerely hoped there was a guy like Chen Ke by his side to give advice. Then Yuan Shikai could hand these tasks to Chen Ke and concentrate on doing more important things himself. However, although Chen Ke didn't come, a guy named Yang Du defected to Yuan Shikai's door. Yuan Shikai thought although Yang Du's ability was inferior to Chen Ke, in the current situation, Yang Du was a very useful person.

Before the work of contacting viceroys and governors was completed, Yuan Shikai first sent the Fourth Division Wu Fengling to lead troops "North to suppress bandits, restore order in Zhili". And ordered the Fifth Division in Shandong to "exterminate Shandong rebel bandits".

Both armies progressed rapidly. The Fifth Division in Shandong "restored order" easily. The Fourth Division Wu Fengling in Zhili Hebei was slightly slower. He first sent people to guard the main roads entering the Taihang Mountains, then used Beiyang infantry as local nodes and cavalry as mobile forces. Conducting a dragnet search in various places. The Imperial Estates had long been robbed almost completely. Except for the People's Party disguised as mounted bandits, the real mounted bandits had neither strength nor guts to harass Beijing city. The mounted bandits all entered southern Hebei, which hadn't been looted yet, for mobile looting. This happened to be caught by the Fourth Division and beaten fiercely.

Yuan Shikai had strict orders; absolutely no private embezzlement of recovered property was allowed; violators would be beheaded. Wu Fengling of the Fourth Division knew this order absolutely couldn't be disobeyed. Every time the Beiyang Army annihilated a group of mounted bandits, they first tortured them for confessions. After the confession, according to the mounted bandits' confession, the property was returned to the looted places. Finally, the mounted bandits were beheaded in the places they looted to prove the Beiyang Army's achievements to the local people.

Local landlords and gentry naturally presented Wanmin Umbrellas (Umbrellas of Ten Thousand People - symbol of gratitude) with gratitude, and official documents reporting good news were sent up continuously. Yuan Shikai didn't force the center but used factual achievements to prove his usefulness. As cages of mounted bandit heads were sent into the capital, as mounted bandits disappeared outside Beijing city. The destroyed railways and telegraphs began to be restored, and the capital soon returned to its old appearance. Voices praising Yuan Xiangcheng from top to bottom rose wave after wave.

By January 20, 1909, Yuan Shikai finally completed the final territory negotiation with the People's Party, and the viceroys and governors needing contact were also contacted. He set off with the Beiyang Sixth Division to Beijing. The Second Division stayed in Henan to "guard against Anhui rebels".

Yuan Shikai's marching speed wasn't fast. The closer the Beiyang Army got to Beijing, the more the Imperial Clan in the capital were like ants on a hot pot. They all firmly believed that as soon as Yuan Shikai entered the capital, he would start liquidating them. To avoid this almost unchangeable ending, the Imperial Clan lobbied Zaifeng desperately. Zaifeng had actually figured it out long ago; in the current situation, he dared not and was unwilling to use any violent means anymore. Before, Zaifeng at least had some useless but existing "suspected armies" in hand. Now even this capital was consumed cleanly in the mounted bandit rampage.

Killing Yuan Shikai was completely possible. Inviting Yuan Shikai into the Forbidden City, poison or whatever. Even a group of eunuchs and palace maids holding weapons could kill Yuan Shikai. But what was the point? After doing it, Zaifeng would have to face the bloody revenge of the Beiyang generals. Although the Imperial Clan was a bit silly (Er), Zaifeng could still understand such a simple truth. If the Imperial Clan killed Yuan Shikai, the Beiyang generals would absolutely not think the Imperial Clan would "let bygones be bygones and then reuse them"; the Beiyang generals would unanimously think they were the next ones to suffer.

But unable to withstand the crying and begging of the Imperial Clan crowd and the persistent persuasion of his two brothers, Zaifeng finally agreed to the Imperial Clan's request. Zaifeng also rarely put forward his firm opinion. That was "I can do the thing. But you are absolutely not allowed to create bloodshed. If bloodshed occurs, I will resign from this Regent position immediately. Others can do whatever they love to do."

Yuan Shikai originally couldn't get intelligence of this level, but the newly defected people soon tipped Yuan Shikai off. "Zaifeng actually has such insight?" Yuan Shikai couldn't help sighing.

Zaifeng wasn't afraid of Beiyang people dying, or even purely planning for himself. He was also thinking for his son, the Little Emperor Xuantong, and all the Manchu Imperial Clan. Once the Imperial Clan provoked a bloody conflict against Beiyang, the Imperial Clan as wealthy households would definitely suffer retaliatory comprehensive bloodwashing.

"Chen Ke really did this thing right." Yuan Shikai praised secretly. Without pushing the Imperial Clan to this extent, what use would it be even if Yuan Shikai returned to the capital? As Beiyang's old opponent for so long, the Imperial Clan had undoubtedly reached the end of the road. Completely gaining the upper hand for the first time in so many years, Yuan Shikai only felt high-spirited. If Yuan Shikai didn't always care about decency, he would very much want to laugh out loud now.

But just in this high spirit, another doubt suddenly popped up again, "Is the alliance with Chen Ke right or wrong?" Just thinking of this question, Yuan Shikai couldn't help shuddering.

The People's Party's mounted bandit force ravaging Hebei and Shandong could completely be used strategically to cut off Yuan Shikai's retreat. The People's Party occupying Hubei and Anhui attacking from the south again, Yuan Shikai and the three Beiyang divisions would become turtles in a jar. Where would he retreat then? If going towards Northern Jiangsu, the Beiyang Army still couldn't escape the fate of being attacked from two sides. Southern Shandong was in the hands of the People's Party; being ready to deal with thousands of cavalry on the road at any time was simply a nightmare.

This cavalry from Shandong could give the Manchu Qing the final blow and could also give Yuan Shikai fatal damage. Chen Ke revealed the card of cooperation only after the layout. To pursue efficiency, Chen Ke even projected tens of thousands of troops from Anhui to Hubei. The result of this projection yielded huge returns; after the People's Party seized the three towns of Wuhan, it ensured its own weapons and ammunition supply. Long before Yuan Shikai harvested the fruits of victory, the People's Party had already begun to taste the deliciousness of victory.

Even if Yuan Shikai seized the central power in the future, what then? In the stage of just seizing power, Yuan Shikai's position was extremely unstable. Calling on viceroys and governors of all routes to suppress Chen Ke was completely exposing his own weakness and inviting disaster. After seizing the Beijing regime, Yuan Shikai dared not leave Beijing at all. Ironically, the Beiyang Army at this time actually had to truly fulfill the purpose of its establishment, "guarding the safety of the capital". The Beiyang Second Division now hanging alone in Henan was less guarding against Chen Ke than being a hostage threatened by Chen Ke against Yuan Shikai. Annihilating three Beiyang divisions might break Chen Ke's front teeth, but annihilating the Beiyang New Army Second Division was much easier. Chen Ke might not be able to overthrow the Manchu Qing, but he had the ability to thoroughly ruin the strategy Yuan Shikai invested so much energy in.

Even if the two sides cooperated sincerely now, Chen Ke wanted to control the land of four provinces, but Yuan Shikai also wanted to integrate the North and even the whole country. Waiting for Yuan Shikai to integrate the national power would take more than ten years. Leaving aside whether Yuan Shikai would be alive then, it was hard to say to what extent Chen Ke's power would expand. To solve Chen Ke, there was only one way: contact foreigners and ask foreigners to send troops.

However, this plan also had a fatal flaw. One of the crimes of the Manchu Qing was "selling the country for glory". If Yuan Shikai didn't want to bear the same infamy, he had to be cautious; not only could he not invite foreigners into China to fight, but he also had to take back many of their rights in China from foreigners.

Even if Yuan Shikai disregarded everything and tore his face immediately after seizing the Beijing regime to invite foreigners to send troops to suppress the People's Party together. But in recent years, the Manchu Qing's fiscal revenue was 80 million taels a year, while expenditure was as high as 100 million taels. This huge fiscal hole wouldn't change this year either. Foreigners always had a huge appetite; asking foreigners to send troops to help, Yuan Shikai didn't have confidence to change this fiscal problem within three or four years. He didn't have confidence to possess the financial power to reassure foreigners. The Manchu Qing's customs duties were now held in the hands of foreigners; what was Yuan Shikai preparing to use as collateral? Using national territory as collateral? Let alone the whole country wouldn't agree. I'm afraid inside Beiyang they would also resolutely disagree.

Thinking over and over, Yuan Shikai found that within the next three to five years, the strategic basis for a decisive battle between Beiyang and the People's Party was not mature. Not only military strategy; once Yuan Shikai usurped the Manchu Qing's power, he didn't even have a reason to unite viceroys to crusade against the revolutionary party. To put it bluntly, the mutual trust between Yuan Shikai and the viceroys was probably not as good as the mutual trust between him and Chen Ke. Even if Beiyang and the People's Party fought to the death, Yuan Shikai still felt he could believe Chen Ke's words. Although he didn't know the reason, Yuan Shikai just felt this intuitively.

Chen Ke came to request cooperation actively, without shyness, without affectation, and even more without asking for an exorbitant price. It was on this time point that he firmly grasped Yuan Shikai's lifeline. On one side was the splendid future of Beiyang entering the center; on the other side was the tragic ending after mutual destruction with the People's Party. Now Yuan Shikai couldn't even fully control the attitude of the Beiyang Army from top to bottom. It might have been wrong for him to let Feng Xu speak in public at that time, but looking at it now, even if he didn't let Feng Xu speak in public, did the People's Party have no way to incite the Beiyang Army privately?

The People's Party didn't engage in conspiracies and tricks; they just told the truth, and pointed out a path most beneficial to Beiyang and also most beneficial to the People's Party in the complex future.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai finally saw the light. All his dissatisfaction was actually not dissatisfaction with what was happening now. It was his extreme dissatisfaction with Chen Ke dominating the situation. In the long-term vision of the future, Yuan Shikai already knew clearly that he was inferior to Chen Ke. In 1909, Chen Ke was only 29 years old. Compared with the status obtained and the strength mastered now, Chen Ke was even young to an excessive degree. Yuan Shikai's grandfather, father, and uncles, none had been able to live past 60. Yuan Shikai wasn't superstitious, but he cared very much about this 60-year-old curse. He was born in 1859, exactly 50 years old this year. In another ten years, Yuan Shikai would face the 60-year-old barrier. At that time, Chen Ke would be only a 39-year-old strong man...

"This is fate!" Yuan Shikai closed his eyes and muttered. Chen Ke's appearance put Yuan Shikai only one step away from the supreme throne. Before this, Yuan Shikai even thought he might not be able to realize this dream in his life. But just before achieving the goal, Yuan Shikai discovered he actually wanted more. What he wanted was to become the unique leader of China; he wanted to become the supreme power holder. Others could only get power under Yuan Shikai's power, instead of like Chen Ke, seemingly attached to Yuan Shikai on the surface, but actually possessing real power equal to Yuan Shikai.

Under the torment of this emotion, Yuan Shikai suddenly reflected on himself, "Am I too greedy?"

This doubt didn't last too long; Yuan Shikai answered his own question, "Yes, I am indeed too greedy." When Yuan Shikai was young, reading about emperors refining pills to seek the Dao for longevity, he laughed at those people for being insatiable in his heart. At that time, Yuan Shikai was still young; the future was far greater than the past. When he faced the imminent realization of his lifelong dream, Yuan Shikai found he might not be much better than those emperors.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai got up and went to the table, ground ink and dipped the brush, thought for a while, and wrote a poem: "A hundred years of worries are always leisurely, ambitions back then were painfully unfulfilled. The old rustic carries soldiers and armor in his chest, the old fisherman sees small princes and marquises in his eyes. Considering the world has no rock-solid stability, sighing that the Divine Land becomes a broken pot. Disheveled hair to the ends of the earth from now on, misty rain cape and hat, a fishing boat."

A year ago, when Yuan Shikai was hit hardest by Cixi, he was even mentally prepared to be kicked home at any time. At that time, Yuan Shikai was disheartened, fantasizing about being a fisherman, riding a small boat, fishing in the uninhabited wild. Recalling the state of mind at that time now, this poem could still be written.

After reading this poem several times, Yuan Shikai's state of mind gradually calmed down. Removing this impetuous thought, Yuan Shikai gradually recovered his past calmness. So what if Chen Ke calculated without error? Heaven's Will is Heaven's Will; Yuan Shikai seemed glorious now, but in fact, the future was still full of risks. Regent Zaifeng said no bloodshed conflict allowed by the Imperial Clan, but who could guarantee some guy in the Imperial Clan wouldn't act stupidly? In the Forbidden City, in many places, killing people could be done if one wanted. Facing this risk, Yuan Shikai didn't care. Martial Lord Zhuge (Liang) said "Do one's best and leave the rest to Heaven's Will". No matter how Chen Ke could predict the future, there was Heaven's Will above both him and Yuan Shikai. And it was hard to say whom Heaven's Will favored more.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai threw the written poem into the brazier and burned it, turned his head and called the personal soldier in, "Pass the order, North!"

Just in the southern suburbs of Beijing, Regent Zaifeng tried to use the power of the Manchu Qing to save the fate of the Manchu Qing for the last time. Yuan Shikai received Regent Zaifeng's edict. After being bestowed with many official positions and honorary titles, Regent Zaifeng forcibly stripped Yuan Shikai of his power on the grounds that Yuan Shikai had a "foot disease". Ordered Yuan Shikai to return to his hometown to retire immediately.

Zaifeng himself didn't think this edict could really be effective. He knew that as long as Yuan Shikai returned to the center, with the support of forces in the court and foreign support, Zaifeng couldn't fight Yuan Shikai.

Although this edict was unreasonable, in a sense, it was also the last possible way to solve the problem peacefully. Zaifeng showed he was willing to accept the bad name of not treating ministers well. But he wouldn't make more unreasonable demands. There were countless things in Manchu Qing history worse than this mistreatment of subordinates. If the imperial power remained as before, Zaifeng's approach might not be considered excessive.

But the Manchu Qing imperial power was no longer as before.

Amidst everyone's astonishment, Yuan Shikai respectfully bowed and accepted this edict. This news spread throughout Beijing at extremely fast speed.

It wasn't the army that rose up to resist first, but the police in the capital. Since Yuan Shikai knew Zaifeng's arrangement, he naturally refused to bear the bad name of mutiny. The only ones who could effectively deter but were not the army were the police. The police system built by Yuan Shikai single-handedly undertook the task of guarding the capital during this mounted bandit rampage. They went through hardships and finally maintained the capital without large-scale internal chaos. Unexpectedly, Lord Yuan who pacified the mounted bandits suffered such treatment. Once people who had discussed secretly took the lead, the indignant police abandoned their duties and took to the streets to start marching and protesting.

Usually, it was the police who managed the capital. When they marched and protested personally, who else could stop them? Wherever the team went, various yamen closed their doors one after another. The angry police had nowhere to protest, so they simply went to the gate of the Forbidden City to protest. The gate of the Forbidden City was tightly closed. Although the guards didn't allow the police to enter, they didn't dare to disperse them either.

With police protests as the forerunner, followed by various industries organizing to protest together. Beiyang had strong power in the capital. As long as someone took the lead, all circles "grateful" to Yuan Shikai protested and petitioned one after another. Demanding the court withdraw the order and continue to employ Yuan Shikai.

Zaifeng simply hid in the Forbidden City and didn't come out. He was prepared to see how long this bunch of people could hold out.

This bunch of people was indeed prepared to hold out. They not only blocked the Forbidden City but also blocked the homes of Imperial Clan members. The Imperial Clan knew they had provoked public anger and dared not go out.

In the following days, two divisions of the Beiyang New Army surrounded Beijing but didn't enter the city at all. Zaifeng was blocked; anyone trying to send news out was stopped by the "masses of all walks of life" and not allowed to leave. In the past, they would naturally use violence against obstructers when encountering this, but now they could only accompany with smiles and explain to the "masses of all walks of life", "Masters, make way, please. I am also acting on orders, acting on orders."

Acting on orders wouldn't work either! The masses asked these people to hand over the edict. If it was a chaotic order, the masses would absolutely not let these people out. The Manchu Qing rule in Beijing finally became pitiful isolated islands in the "ocean of the masses" organized by Beiyang.

Not only was Beijing city paralyzed, but the bureaucratic system was also paralyzed. All departments were deserted. In this venue where the Imperial Clan hoped to use the Manchu Qing prestige to gamble on the future for the last time, no Beijing officials supported Regent Zaifeng.

When the diplomatic corps of various countries demanded Zaifeng end this "anarchic" situation again, the masses actually made way for the foreigners. Because they knew the purpose of the foreigners' action long ago, the "masses" even cheered and supported the foreign devils for the first time.

Zaifeng still ignored this. This was also within his expectation. Beiyang had strong strength in the center; Zaifeng couldn't win. Now Zaifeng had to look at the opinions of the viceroys and governors of various provinces. If the viceroys and governors united to oppose Yuan Shikai, Yuan Shikai would eventually yield.

After this great siege of Beijing persisted for 15 days, the viceroys and governors who had remained silent on this finally sent telegrams to Beijing. The first to send a telegram was actually the Viceroy of Liangguang Zhang Renjun. Zhang Renjun wasn't of the Beiyang lineage; the old man was still quite loyal to the Manchu Qing. But this time, Zhang Renjun believed the court stripping Yuan Shikai of his official position was a "chaotic order". Yuan Shikai had merit and no fault; he shouldn't suffer such treatment.

Once this telegram was sent, other provinces responded one after another. Except for Anhui and Hubei controlled by the People's Party, most viceroys and governors supported Yuan Shikai. Those who didn't support Yuan Shikai just remained silent.

Zaifeng was also straightforward. Seeing the situation where three-quarters of the viceroys and governors in the world supported Yuan Shikai, he said frankly to Empress Dowager Longyu: "I have done my best."

Zaifeng immediately issued an edict as Regent, "Restore all duties of Yuan Shikai."

Yuan Shikai had already returned to his home in Tianjin at this time, waiting for the final ending of this story he planned single-handedly under heavy guard.

This order reached Tianjin; Yuan Shikai immediately expressed willingness to do his utmost for the Manchu Qing.

Zaifeng immediately issued the last edict as Regent, "Zaifeng resigns as Regent, returning government to the Empress Dowager."

Although not a competent politician, Zaifeng wasn't a person who didn't understand the general situation. Since Yuan Shikai had obtained a comprehensive victory in this struggle, Zaifeng knew there was no point in continuing the struggle. If Zaifeng still held onto the position of Regent, this seemingly glorious title would destroy Zaifeng while also dragging the Imperial Clan into a terrible abyss.

On February 10, 1909, Yuan Shikai returned to Beijing as the victor.

On February 15, with the support of Prince Qing Yikuang, Yuan Shikai abolished the Grand Council (Junji Chu).

On February 18, the establishment of a Transitional Responsible Cabinet was announced.

On February 22, the cabinet list was published. Prince Qing Yikuang served as Prime Minister of the Cabinet, Yuan Shikai was elected as Vice Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Cabinet members included Minister of Foreign Affairs Liang Dunyan, Minister of Civil Affairs Zhao Bingjun, Minister of Finance Yan Xiu, Minister of Education Tang Jingchong, Minister of Army Wang Shizhen, Minister of Navy Sa Zhenbing, Minister of Justice Shen Jiaben, Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce Zhang Jian, Minister of Posts and Communications Yang Shiqi, Minister of Lifan (Colonial Affairs) Dashou. And Hu Weide, Wu Zhen, Chen Jintao, Yang Du, Tian Wenlie, Tan Xueheng, Liang Qichao, Xiyan, Liang Ruhao, Rong Xun served as vice ministers of various ministries.

From 1861 when Li Hongzhang, then a subordinate of Zeng Guofan, first recruited the tuanlian (militia) of Sanshan in Hefei West Township through Zhang Shusheng, to 1909 when Beiyang formally grasped central power. In 48 years, the Beiyang Group experienced the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Westernization Movement, the Sino-Japanese War, the Boxer Rebellion, the People's Party rebellion, mounted bandits ravaging Zhili and Shandong, and the counterattack of the Manchu Qing Die-hard Faction.

Despite experiencing changes, Beiyang was also divided into two major strata: Li Hongzhang's former Beiyang and Yuan Shikai's later Beiyang. The capable generals in this group finally controlled the power of various ministries in 1909, suppressed the Manchu Qing Imperial Clan forces, and the Manchu Qing Center had become the Beiyang Center.

At this time, some were jubilant, some stamped their feet and beat their chests, some raised cups to celebrate, some wailed loudly. Beiyang ended the history of Manchu Qing imperial power supremacy, but where the situation created by Beiyang would lead China, no one could guess.