Regarding his son's performance, Yuan Shikai found it difficult to be truly angry for once. Aside from feeling that his son was hopelessly dim-witted, he had no other thoughts. Were the foreign ministers easy to deal with? When those people spoke of supporting Yuan Shikai's ascension to the throne, it was only to secure more benefits for themselves. Who would be so bored as to help another man become Emperor for nothing?

Yuan Shikai suddenly recalled his meeting with Chen Ke. Chen Ke had been straightforward about it: as long as Yuan Shikai did not declare himself Emperor, Chen Ke would support him as President for life. His foolish son was actually two years older than Chen Ke, yet in terms of ability, Yuan Keding was likely more than twenty years behind.

Seeing that his father hadn't immediately exploded in rage, Yuan Keding thought the news he brought back had moved him. He immediately continued excitedly, "Father, the current situation is excellent. The foreign ministers all stated that as long as we, Beiyang, can defeat the People's Party, they will support you alone. Yesterday, the British minister came to see me and talked a great deal of nonsense, but eventually, he brought up the unification of military command. He said they are willing to grant the government a loan at five percent annual interest, paid in full. The French minister indicated that if we need munitions, France is willing to lend us a batch first..."

"You scoundrel, shut your mouth!" Yuan Shikai could no longer bear to listen. It was truly a case of the thief confessing before the beating even began. Yuan Keding had started by saying the ministers firmly supported Yuan Shikai's enthronement, but now he had completely lost his composure and revealed his entire hand. Yuan Shikai's anger was twofold. On one hand, Yuan Keding had failed entirely to see the heart of the matter—this wasn't support for his father becoming Emperor, but rather an incitement for war between Beiyang and the People's Party. On the other hand, Yuan Keding was simply too disappointing; he couldn't handle proper business, and he couldn't even manage a lie properly. This could not help but make Yuan Shikai feel exceptionally let down. Both were young men; how could Yuan Keding be so vastly different from Chen Ke?

However, Yuan Shikai's anger only lasted a moment. After thinking of Chen Ke, a sense of dissatisfaction suddenly rose in his heart. No matter how much of a scoundrel Yuan Keding was, he was at least considering Yuan Shikai's interests. No matter how brilliant and capable Chen Ke was, he would never act for Yuan Shikai's benefit. To punish his own son for the sake of an outsider was a bitter pill Yuan Shikai could not swallow.

"Someone!" Yuan Shikai shouted. When the guards outside entered, he ordered, "Send him back to his room to reflect. Without my order, no one is allowed to let him out!"

"Father?!" Yuan Keding was utterly bewildered.

Yuan Shikai suppressed his rage. "Take him away now!"

Seeing the guards hesitate, Yuan Shikai roared, "I told you to take him away! Didn't you hear me?"

The guards naturally would not listen to Yuan Keding. Seeing that Yuan Shikai was truly furious, the two guards grabbed Yuan Keding from both sides and, half-coaxing and half-dragging, took him out. They were even clever enough to close the door behind them.

Yuan Shikai's anger had not yet subsided, and he paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. In truth, the news Yuan Keding brought back was indeed important. The diplomatic corps had made their stance clear: they were now extremely wary of the People's Party. However, it hadn't been long since the German military defeat. If the various nations were to launch an armed attack on the People's Party, with their current strength, the People's Party's army would likely be nearing the Legation Quarter in Beijing shortly after the news got out. If even the Qingdao fortress couldn't stop them, the defense system of Beijing certainly wouldn't stand a chance.

"President, I think we might as well perform a 'two-man show.' If we, the People's Party, used this military victory as a bargaining chip, it would only intensify the conflict. Therefore, I believe the President might as well make good use of our victory. What the Great Powers want most is to find an agent for their interests in China. This is why I was so reluctant to see the provinces fall into chaos and warlordism. It's impossible to prevent them from seeking interest-proxies. Thus, the President should fully exploit this situation to give those foreign devils some hope, and reap as many benefits as possible." Yuan Shikai could clearly remember Chen Ke saying those words matter-of-factly as they watched the three jets of water bubbling from Baotu Spring.

At that time, the rain had been pouring down outside, the dense droplets creating ripples on the water's surface, yet failing to suppress the three high-spouting jets of Baotu Spring. From time to time, a few stray raindrops would fly into the pavilion and hit Yuan Shikai's skin. If the topic hadn't been so unexpected, the sensation would have been quite pleasant.

"Isn't Wenqing afraid?" Yuan Shikai had asked seriously.

"Afraid of what? Everyone acts on interest. The foreign devils naturally have their own interests, and as long as China does not splinter and fall into warlordism, that is the interest of our People's Party. And since the President is already in this game, if the Beiyang clique led by the President doesn't get a share of the benefits, wouldn't that be too much?" Chen Ke had said with a smile, his gaze drifting into the distance.

Yuan Shikai hadn't been in a hurry to answer. He noticed that Chen Ke's gaze frequently turned in a certain direction. Changing the subject, Yuan Shikai asked, "What is over there?"

"Currently, nothing. But when I came last time, there were seals there," Chen Ke said nostalgically. Why the staff at Baotu Spring had decided to keep two seals in the spring starting in the early 21st century was something Chen Ke never understood. Since having a daughter, he truly wanted to find time to take her traveling. It would be quite nice to take his little angel here to see the round seals swimming happily and easily in the water. At least back in the 21st century, he had seen many adorable children trying to feed the plump seals with various snacks—or rather, pelt them with snacks—while parents scolded them, saying, "It's wrong to feed the seals recklessly."

Yuan Shikai had no idea what "seals" were. A man of his status naturally wouldn't press the issue; if Chen Ke wanted to explain, he would. If not, no amount of asking would help. So Yuan Shikai had smiled and said, "There are none this time, but perhaps you'll encounter them on your next visit."

"Perhaps," Chen Ke said, liking those words. He turned back. "President, I have always believed you to be a man of great responsibility. Whatever your subordinates do, whether it was your intention or not, you are willing to take the blame. In this regard, Vice Minister Duan Qirui truly takes after his teacher. Since the foreign devils are certain to seek an agent, I would rather those benefits fall into the President's hands. As the saying goes, 'It's easy to see the King of Hell, but hard to deal with the little devils.' One can at least reason with you, President."

At that time, Yuan Shikai had thought Chen Ke was being somewhat boastful, but now events had proven that he wasn't lying. The reaction of the foreign devils was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface; they had already begun trying to find a "thug" to restrain the People's Party. Chen Ke not only had conjectures about the domestic situation but also about the international one.

"The President need not worry about any misunderstandings between us. The foreign devils will not only seek agents within China; they will likely prepare on multiple fronts. Japan is currently a pauper; they'll do anything if given money. In the Russo-Japanese War, it was Britain and America who supported Japan behind the scenes. Thus, the so-called 'white unity' is all nonsense. Since the Roman era, the white skins of Europe have been slaughtering one another for thousands of years; how could there be any sincere unity among them? If they were united, why would Britain support the yellow-skinned Japanese to fight the Russians? They have just as many contradictions among themselves. Even when they try to suppress China, they remain full of conflicts. As long as we throw out the concept of 'Economic Development Zones'—especially making Qingdao one and welcoming investment and factories from all nations—those foreign devils will certainly not stick together. Thus, even if there is a war, the foreign devils will let Japan step forward. If they win, countries like Britain and France will reap the spoils; if they lose, at most Japan loses its interests in China while Britain and France can still profit. If the war ends in a stalemate, Britain and France can use international mediation to reap even greater rewards."

If only his own son were like Chen Ke! Yuan Shikai couldn't help but let out a long sigh. With such a son, what would there be to fear even if Yuan Shikai became Emperor? Even if he didn't, he would feel no regret with such a son. But in reality, although Chen Ke fully considered Yuan Shikai's interests, he was essentially Yuan's greatest rival—an rival who was perhaps impossible to defeat.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became. Yuan Shikai could no longer stay at home. He ordered his carriage prepared for the office and summoned Xu Shichang, Wang Shizhen, and Duan Qirui.

When the four met in Yuan Shikai's office, he related the matter of the foreign devils seeking agents to his three stalwarts. Finally, he had to mention the cooperation he had discussed with Chen Ke.

The three Beiyang generals remained silent for a long time. Eventually, Xu Shichang spoke. "President, did that Chen Ke truly agree to this?"

"At least to my face, he vowed that there would be no problem," Yuan Shikai described Chen Ke's attitude at the time.

"I see that Chen Ke's calculations are clever," Duan Qirui replied.

The gazes of the other three focused on Duan Qirui's face. He continued with a normal expression, "Regardless of the perspective, the entanglement between our central government and the foreign devils will buy the People's Party ample time. That is where Chen Ke's interest lies. The People's Party is expanding rapidly; what they need now is time to consolidate their gains. Once they are fully prepared, they will no longer need to be polite to anyone."

The explanation was simple and clear, and the other three agreed completely. But the next question was how to respond.

Yuan Shikai knew that the British and French representatives had already lobbied Yuan Keding, likely hoping he would pass on their message. According to his discussion with Chen Ke, Yuan Shikai could "scam" the foreign devils by expanding the army in name only; there was no reason not to take the benefits offered. Yuan Shikai also knew what Chen Ke had left unsaid: after expansion, Beiyang would feel a false sense of security. Through expansion, Yuan Shikai could also strengthen his control over the clique. But expansion was a double-edged sword; while a larger army strengthened the central government's power, it had significant side effects. Supporting such an army would consume immense resources. Britain and France's support was aimed at eventually forcing a clash between Beiyang and the People's Party, so their support could not be free, let alone indefinite.

If Yuan Shikai invested the money in production, the foreign devils would surely find out. Furthermore, if Beiyang expanded but did not fight the People's Party, the foreign devils would likewise abandon Yuan Shikai and look for other pawns within the government—or, as Chen Ke predicted, incite Japan to invade China.

To defeat the People's Party, force was necessary, but the Beiyang central government currently lacked the military strength to win. To expand, they needed foreign support. If they couldn't win the war, then "colluding with foreigners" would be a major crime for Yuan Shikai's government. Chen Ke could rightfully play that card and pin the Beiyang government to the pillar of eternal shame.

If Beiyang didn't take the money, once the People's Party was ready, they could also use force to eliminate Beiyang. In any case, the People's Party was still essentially an anti-government organization; they weren't betraying the Republic, but rather starting their own house. From any angle, the People's Party could claim the moral high ground of "righteousness." This put Beiyang in an extremely disadvantageous position.

All contradictions pointed to one thing: the People's Party was simply too powerful.

"President, I think we might as well invite Chen Ke to Beijing to serve as an official. I am currently still the Vice Premier, and Prince Qing is insisting on resigning from the Premiership. Why not give the position of Premier to Chen Ke?" Xu Shichang proposed.

"What if he insists on refusing? This is clearly an attempt to bring him to Beijing as a hostage. Chen Ke is so cunning; he won't agree," Wang Shizhen said.

"Whether he comes or not, we must make such a gesture. Otherwise, the world will think our Beiyang clique has no faith toward the People's Party," Xu Shichang replied. This proposal was truly a last resort because, under the system, the President as the highest authority could appoint the Premier. However, the cabinet ministers were submitted by the Premier to the President for approval. Although the President held great power and final personnel authority, he had no right to appoint cabinet members directly. Theoretically, Chen Ke could appoint People's Party members to all positions, leading to a protracted struggle for personnel control between the President and the Premier.

This proposal was a bit too bureaucratic. Wang Shizhen and Duan Qirui, being military men, were not supportive of such things.

Yuan Shikai didn't immediately comment, but Xu Shichang's suggestion gave him a new train of thought. After a moment of silence, he said, "What if I appoint Yan Fu as Premier?"

The other three were startled. The name Yan Fu hadn't appeared in Beiyang discussions for a long time. At first, they were surprised, but upon reflection, they couldn't help but admire the choice.

Yan Fu was a veteran Beiyang cadre. Since the pre-Beiyang era of Li Hongzhang, he had been famous as the Superintendent of the Beiyang Naval Academy. After the Gengzi Incident (Boxer Rebellion), the Naval Academy and the Tianjin Machine Bureau were destroyed by war, but Yan Fu became famous as a translator and thinker. The phrase "natural selection, survival of the fittest" from his translation of *Evolution and Ethics* was widely quoted by scholars.

Currently, Yan Fu was also Chen Ke's teacher and a high-ranking member of the People's Party. If inviting Chen Ke to be Premier was too "blatant," then Yan Fu was an excellent political choice. He was a combination of a famous military man, a famous man of letters, and a famous educator, with deep connections in both the Beiyang and People's Party camps.

For the Beiyang government, given Yan Fu's seniority in the clique, even without his People's Party background, if Yuan Shikai forced him into the Premiership, everyone would just have to hold their noses and accept it. While his People's Party background brought many inconveniences, it also neutralized his lack of personal troops or a physical power base.

"The President is wise! This would be perfect! But will Yan Jidao agree?" Xu Shichang asked. He had originally proposed an unreliable plan, only for Yuan Shikai to provide an incredibly reliable choice within it. Xu Shichang felt a bit sour; if Yan Fu became Premier, even he wouldn't be able to find fault with it.

Wang Shizhen and Duan Qirui nodded slightly, their admiration for Yuan Shikai's intelligence growing. Furthermore, although they never said it aloud, both privately hoped the Premier would be a military man. After all, both the Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai cliques were essentially military groups. Rule by literati was not a Beiyang tradition.

"Whether Yan Jidao is willing to serve as Premier will depend on the People's Party's intentions. If they have no intention of peace, they naturally won't agree. If Yan Fu is willing to serve, it shows the People's Party has no plan for war within the next five years," Wang Shizhen said.

Yuan Shikai nodded; Wang Shizhen's judgment was very sound. Most importantly, Yan Fu was, after all, a veteran Beiyang stalwart. If he served as Premier, many things could be discussed more openly. Chen Ke was blunt enough, but Yuan Shikai truly didn't want to have such "frank" conversations with him. Such talks were too damaging to one's self-esteem. Facing a brilliant and capable young man, Yuan Shikai's greatest feeling was that he was truly getting old.

***

While Yuan Shikai discussed affairs of state, Yuan Keding was confined to his courtyard, nursing his resentment. He truly hadn't expected his father to treat him this way. After the many recent events, his way of thinking had begun to solidify. For him, to secure his position as Crown Prince, his father must become Emperor. The external problems of enthronement—namely, international recognition and support—had been "solved by Yuan Keding himself." All that remained was how to defeat their greatest enemy, the People's Party.

The representative of the People's Party was Chen Ke. Just as Yuan Shikai represented Beiyang—if Yuan Shikai died, Beiyang would be finished—if Chen Ke died, the People's Party would likewise collapse.

Thus, a direct logic formed in Yuan Keding's mind: "Kill Chen Ke" equals "Become Crown Prince."