"The Beiyang government will solve these problems!" Gu Weijun suppressed his intense sense of shame and spoke with a stern expression.

The Japanese Minister replied coldly, "When? When the People's Party is at the city gates?"

Gu Weijun could no longer endure the Japanese Minister's aggressive pressure. He first loosened his tie, then said loudly, "Minister, China's internal affairs are not for you to interfere with. And after Rizhao, didn't Japan also withdraw its troops?"

The Japanese Minister truly hadn't expected Gu Weijun to actually bring up the Rizhao Campaign. His emotions couldn't help but become agitated. "Mr. Gu, what we are discussing now is the issue of Beiyang repaying its debts. Even if we withdrew from Rizhao, it won't be long before I have to suspect where Beiyang will be able to withdraw to!"

Gu Weijun could bear it no longer; his face flushed red and his breathing became rapid. As the Foreign Minister of a weak regime, Gu Weijun felt a deep sense of humiliation, but he still did his best to counterattack, "Even if Beiyang falls, China will not fall! You lost a division in Qingdao. If you invade China again, those invaders will also be completely wiped out just like the Kyushu Division in Qingdao."

The Japanese Minister was stunned upon hearing these almost desperate words. He had originally thought that Gu Weijun, being a young man, would yield under pressure, but he hadn't expected Gu Weijun to choose such a desperate method of counterattack. The Japanese side was all too clear about the People's Party's toughness. Japan could threaten Beiyang, but if they sent someone to threaten the People's Party, they would likely only be met with the People's Party's ridicule. Even after suffering such ridicule, Japan would still be helpless against the People's Party.

The British Minister raised a hand. "Why argue? Mr. Gu, our purpose in coming here this time is to ask how exactly Beiyang guarantees that it can determine the repayment of the 'Reorganization Loan'. For us, this is the most important thing. We have trusted Beiyang, but listening to your words, it seems you are telling us that our trust was a huge mistake."

"Then does your side wish to tell us that Britain is going to send troops to China?" At this point, Gu Weijun threw caution to the wind, although he didn't wish for Beiyang to agree to foreign military interference in China's internal affairs while he was in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Gu Weijun now only hoped that the foreign armies would suffer a crushing defeat when they engaged the People's Party.

"We have an obligation to protect British expatriates in China, so we hope to be able to set up defenses in Beijing," the British Minister replied extremely crisply.

"Is your side preparing to defend Beijing for us?" Gu Weijun sneered.

"If your side agrees, we can defend Tianjin," the British Minister replied tit-for-tat. "Even if we evacuate our expatriates, we also need a seaport."

"That is absolutely impossible!" Gu Weijun replied with a firm attitude.

"You cannot make the decision. I hope you can inform President Yuan Shikai of this news. We British also have our own interests!" The British Minister coldly dropped this sentence, then stood up to take his leave.

After the ministers of the three countries left the office, Gu Weijun felt as if all the strength in his body had suddenly been drained. He slumped back into his chair, unable to move even a finger. Unknown to him when it started, he suddenly realized that his face was already covered in tear stains.

Yuan Shikai did not seem too surprised by this diplomatic result. His oily, fat face had lost its luster, looking as if he had aged ten years. After listening to Gu Weijun's report, Yuan Shikai waited a long time before replying, "Shaochuan, tell the British that we Beiyang will absolutely not surrender to the People's Party! We will absolutely fight to the bloody end. As for the matter of Tianjin, if the British want to evacuate their expatriates, let them evacuate."

"President!" Gu Weijun became anxious right then. "President, this is absolutely impermissible. If we let foreign armies enter China again, how will we explain it to the outside world?"

Yuan Shikai replied calmly, "Explain to the outside world? The People's Party is about to fight their way to the the foot of Beijing's city walls; how do we explain that? Moreover, if foreign armies intervene, it will also cause trouble for the People's Party. We can't control this matter anymore."

Gu Weijun fell silent. For the first time, he discovered that he might have misjudged Yuan Shikai. This President of the Republic of China, this iron-fisted ruler of the Beiyang Army, was actually far less backbone than Gu Weijun had imagined. Especially when facing internal trouble and foreign aggression, all Yuan Shikai displayed was weakness.

"Shaochuan, you go on then," Yuan Shikai said.

Gu Weijun did not move. Accusing Yuan Shikai now was useless. Gu Weijun just looked at Yuan Shikai with expectant eyes, hoping Yuan Shikai could rescind the order. But Yuan Shikai had no intention of considering the matter further. He waved his hand, "Go, Shaochuan."

"President..." Gu Weijun's voice was as dry as sandpaper. "I now resign from the position of Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs."

Hearing these words, Yuan Shikai's eyes narrowed, a sharp gaze shooting straight at Gu Weijun's eyes. Gu Weijun shuddered all over, but he forcefully gritted his teeth and held on. Even though he was terrified inside, he still didn't flinch in the slightest.

"Shaochuan, national affairs are in such a state, what are you still making a fuss about!" Yuan Shikai shouted. Even though his body was weak, this voice was still full of majesty.

Gu Weijun's voice trembled. In front of Yuan Shikai, Gu Weijun felt true fear, but his words still came out. "President, can Britain, France, and Japan really help us? Even if they make military preparations now, it will take at least a week for Japan to send troops. Even if Japan comes, what can they do? Can they defeat the People's Party? It will take at least half a year for Britain and France to send troops. By then, if we can hold out, we naturally will have held out. If we can't hold out, their arrival will be in vain. But once we agree to this request, we really won't be able to explain it to the outside world."

The anger on Yuan Shikai's face dissipated. The whole person looked very calm, one could even say somewhat unfathomable. Just as Gu Weijun thought Yuan Shikai had accepted his opinion to some extent, he didn't expect Yuan Shikai to suddenly pick up a stack of papers and slam them forcefully onto Gu Weijun's face. Smashed in the head by the thick stack of papers, Gu Weijun felt a wave of dizziness, and then heard Yuan Shikai cursing loudly, "What do you, a wet-behind-the-ears brat, know?! You dare to interrupt in such national affairs? Get out! If you don't want to be the Foreign Minister, then don't be it now!"

Jiang Baili was attending nearby. Seeing Yuan Shikai suddenly fly into a rage, he grabbed Gu Weijun's arm with an ashen face and dragged him outside. Gu Weijun stumbled as he was dragged out of the room by Jiang Baili. He only heard Yuan Shikai cursing loudly, "You bunch of wolf cubs! At a time like this, apart from running away on me, what else can you do!..."

Jiang Baili was of military background after all, and his hand strength was extremely great. Gu Weijun was dragged swaying from side to side. Until he was dragged out of the Presidential Palace, Jiang Baili remained silent throughout. When he let go, Jiang Baili suddenly leaned close to Gu Weijun's ear and whispered, "Shaochuan, you should leave quickly."

After speaking, Jiang Baili kicked Gu Weijun to the ground, then strode away.

Not knowing exactly what had happened, Gu Weijun walked towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a dizzy head. Just as he returned to his office, he saw his father-in-law Tang Shaoyi rushing in. Seeing Gu Weijun, he said nothing and dragged Gu Weijun outside. After the two entered the carriage, the coachman immediately urged the horses to start moving.

"Shaochuan! You leave now!" There was no anger in Tang Shaoyi's voice, only anxiety.

"Father-in-law..." Gu Weijun couldn't figure out exactly what had happened.

"The People's Party has already conquered Cangzhou. I'm afraid they will attack Tianjin in these next two days. If Tianjin falls, Beijing won't be held either. You must leave Beijing immediately for me," Tang Shaoyi said.

"Ah?..." The successive setbacks Gu Weijun had received made him lose some of his judgment. He actually didn't understand this news for a moment.

"Shaochuan, not only Cangzhou. As far as I know, the Beiyang Army in Xingtai was ineffective in their attack and suffered heavy casualties. Just a short while ago, they requested reinforcements from the President, otherwise they wouldn't be able to continue fighting. Xingtai still doesn't know the news of the defeat in Shandong. If they find out, it will be huge chaos. You leave immediately."

Only then did Gu Weijun know what had happened. He hurriedly said, "Father-in-law, then what about you?"

"Me?" Tang Shaoyi smiled bitterly. "What else can I do? With the situation like this, where can I go? Shaochuan, don't go to Tianjin now either. Go south, take the land route to Jiangsu. I heard that under the People's Party's rule, it is considered peaceful. You haven't been in Beiyang for long, and the People's Party presumably won't make things difficult for you. If Jiangsu isn't safe either, just hide in Henan or other places for a while. Definitely do not go to your ancestral home in Jiangsu and Zhejiang; I'm afraid something big is going to happen there."

"I want to stay in Beijing!" Gu Weijun finally said.

"Shaochuan, don't mention that you have already offended the President. If the People's Party really attacks to the foot of Beijing city, do you think that with that bunch of soldier ruffians, what will they be capable of doing at the final moment? Even if you don't think for yourself, you must think for Baoyue!" Tang Shaoyi's voice was full of anxiety and dissatisfaction.

In 1912, after Gu Weijun received his Ph.D. in Law at Columbia University and returned to China, not long after he returned, he was introduced by his father-in-law Zhang Hengshan to go north to see Tang Shaoyi. Tang Shaoyi was serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time. With his qualifications as a Ph.D. from the United States, Gu Weijun worked as a third-secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Tang. He was a dapper young man and frequented the entertainment venues of high officials and noble lords at the Beijing Hotel ballroom. By chance, he encountered Tang Shaoyi's daughter, Tang Baoyue. Tang Baoyue had not been abroad but had long yearned for foreign lands, so she usually wouldn't associate with anyone who wasn't an overseas student. Gu Weijun's good looks touched her heart even more. Since then, the two were inseparable. With this relationship, Gu Weijun began to rise step by step, simply like taking a helicopter. Every time he made a request, Tang Baoyue would pester Tang Shaoyi, not fearing that her old man wouldn't agree.

Far away in Shanghai, Zhang Hengshan was very happy, thinking that obtaining this ideal son-in-law proved his physiognomy skills had reached mastery. So he sent letters and telegrams for Gu Weijun to return to Shanghai to hold the wedding. Gu ignored them and did not reply. Later, Zhang Hengshan finally learned of his romantic history with Miss Tang. He was so angry his old face turned yellow, and he wrote a letter to Tang Shaoyi severely criticizing Gu Weijun and asking Tang to send Gu back to Shanghai. After Tang Shaoyi read the letter, he flew into a rage. He immediately called Gu over, reprimanded him, and ordered him to return to Shanghai immediately. Although Gu did not want to leave Beijing, he couldn't stand the condemnation of his conscience and the persuasion of friends and relatives, so he had to pack his bags and prepare to go south. The matter immediately became known to Tang's daughter. She ran crying to her father and said, "If your child cannot unite with Weijun, I will definitely shave my hair and become a nun!" She insisted that her father intervene in this matter. At that time, Tang Shaoyi had already been promoted to Premier of the State Council. He felt that he shouldn't use his power to forcibly snatch someone else's son-in-law, so he didn't agree. Miss Tang still wouldn't let it go. In order to demonstrate and threaten, she ran to the White Cloud Nunnery in the suburbs of Beijing and had someone notify her father saying: she had selected a date to shave her hair. Tang Shaoyi still paid no heed. Seeing this plan failed, the young lady came up with another plan. She returned to the city and had someone notify her father, saying that if he didn't agree to her request, she would have to go to the Bada Hutong (the old red-light district of Beijing) to do business, and moreover hang up a gold signboard saying "Current Premier's Daughter Rose". This闷棍 (heavy blow) really knocked Tang Shaoyi senseless. He immediately invited his daughter back and announced "unconditional surrender".

As a result, Tang Shaoyi used his power and indeed forced Gu Weijun's father-in-law Zhang Hengshan to break off the engagement. Gu Weijun then became Tang Shaoyi's son-in-law. Now that Tang Shaoyi mentioned Tang Baoyue, it was enough to show that Tang Shaoyi was truly anxious.

Gu Weijun understood Tang Shaoyi's thoughts, but he still felt that this idea of Tang Shaoyi's was a bit too hasty. Just at this moment, a pile of papers suddenly flew down like snowflakes outside the carriage window. The coachman was also stunned by this, and the carriage speed slowed down.

This was a main road, and there were no tall buildings on either side. Who threw these papers? Inside the carriage, Gu Weijun and Tang Shaoyi hadn't figured it out yet when they heard people outside shouting excitedly, "Papers are falling from the sky! Papers are falling from the sky!"

Tang Shaoyi saw the coachman stretching out his hand and grabbing a few papers that were still dancing in the air. He opened the front window and said, "Hand them to me!"

The coachman hurriedly handed two papers inside. Gu Weijun leaned over to Tang Shaoyi's side to look, only to see that these were leaflets, using the People's Party's standard simplified characters. He saw the large headline was "This Life of Yuan Shikai".