As the saying goes, laymen watch the excitement, while experts watch the knack. Therefore, experts refer to figures who have made certain achievements in relevant industries, and laymen refer to figures who have participated in relevant industries. Those who have never participated in relevant industries at all can understand neither the knack nor the excitement.

In politics and military affairs, Duan Qirui was an expert. He could tell where the knack was with just one look. There was no need to mention overly straightforward issues like the People's Party's request to reorganize the Beiyang Army. The People's Party demanded to take over the roads entering Xinjiang and other places. Once the roads were clear, the People's Party could finish off the Beiyang Army at any time. If he accepted the People's Party's suggestions, it would basically be no different from surrendering.

"Mr. Jidao, aren't you underestimating me by proposing these conditions?" Duan Qirui managed to find a wording that was relatively appropriate for the current situation.

Yan Fu smiled and shook his head, "Brother Zhiquan, if I really underestimated you, I could have just promised you official positions and played some tricks behind your back. Although our People's Party absolutely does not allow these things within the party, it doesn't mean we don't know how to use these means ourselves. Brother Zhiquan, you are a smart person; why bother?"

"Then what exactly does the People's Party want to do with me?" Duan Qirui could understand Yan Fu's words. There were plenty of means to stab in the back, but the more one wanted to stab in the back, the better one had to cover up on the surface.

Yan Fu replied: "We don't want to do anything to you now; we just want to solve the problem of recovering the old lands. In this process, what path you choose is your business. You can refuse us now, then we will go through Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia. It's just a matter of shedding more blood and sweat. When we turn back to talk about your matter then, that will be another matter."

Duan Qirui shook his head slightly, "Mr. Jidao, after all is said and done, you still want us to surrender."

"Brother Zhiquan, recovering the old lands is a matter for the whole of China. Whether you want to surrender to us is your business. These two things were not the same thing originally; why do you confuse them?" Yan Fu questioned Duan Qirui.

Standing at the height of the country, Yan Fu's words put immense pressure on Duan Qirui. Chen Ke threatened Duan Qirui that he would make Duan Qirui "Shi Jingtang the Second." Duan Qirui originally took it as a joke, but as the conversation went deeper, Duan Qirui increasingly felt that Chen Ke's threat really couldn't be taken as a joke.

The fact now was that it was absolutely impossible for Duan Qirui to win against the People's Party. The only thing he could do now was to add some trouble to the People's Party when they recovered the old lands. The People's Party had clearly stated that there would absolutely be retaliation for this. Of course, Duan Qirui had another way, which was to surrender obediently and then completely withdraw from the historical stage. But Duan Qirui was only 53 years old this year, which was the golden age for a big figure in politics. To ask him to withdraw from the historical stage obediently, Duan Qirui felt it would be better to die.

Various entanglements made Duan Qirui unable to decide what to do. Finally, after agreeing with Yan Fu to continue negotiations the next day and settling Yan Fu down first, Duan Qirui found Wang Shizhen. "Old brother, the People's Party is determined to destroy our Beiyang. I wonder what advice you have."

Wang Shizhen replied frankly: "I think you should surrender."

"What?!" Duan Qirui immediately became agitated, "Just surrender like this?"

Wang Shizhen knew long ago that Duan Qirui would have such a reaction. He frowned and said to Duan Qirui: "Zhiquan, I know you value me, your brother. But you only ask me to come forward to help you solve things when the situation is out of control every time. As long as the situation improves, tell me when you have ever listened to my words?"

Duan Qirui knew that Wang Shizhen was right. In fact, not only Duan Qirui, but all Beiyang generals were like this to Wang Shizhen. Duan Qirui said somewhat embarrassedly: "Old brother, are you angry?"

Wang Shizhen laughed: "I'm not angry. You are all like this. What should I be angry about? Zhiquan, everyone thinks I am very capable and smart. But I never think so. In terms of capability and smartness, you and others are much better than me."

Duan Qirui didn't know whether Wang Shizhen's words were praise or ridicule. He said somewhat hesitantly: "Old brother, you'd better say it straight. At this time, why are you still speaking in riddles?"

Wang Shizhen wasn't prepared to be polite either. He said: "You and everyone else just want that result. Because you just want that result, you try every means to run towards that result. Regarding the troop training methods set down when Duke Yuan was alive, you people all contributed greatly. What killing those who talk together, killing those who violate orders. Thinking of these methods is your ability. But I want to ask one question: without the military pay issued on time every month, could the Beiyang New Army be trained solely relying on your methods?"

For the matter of military pay, Duan Qirui was almost worried to death. Hearing Wang Shizhen ask this, he simply said nothing.

Regardless of whether Duan Qirui spoke or not, Wang Shizhen continued: "Zhiquan, do you still remember when Rong Lu came to Xiaozhan for the second troop review twenty years ago?"

Duan Qirui nodded slightly. In February 1898, Rong Lu came to Xiaozhan for inspection again. Passing the Haihe River, the river surface was not wide and still frozen. Wang Shizhen used specially made canvas to make a bridge and laid it on the ice. Rong Lu's infantry, cavalry, and artillery passed over the bridge as if walking on a smooth road. This canvas bridge could be turned into a small boat for crossing with a little arrangement, and if disassembled and folded, it was extremely easy to store and carry. Rong Lu was even happier after seeing it. When the inspection was over and he went back across the Haihe River again, Wang Shizhen still set up the canvas bridge for him. Rong Lu was worried that the weather was getting warmer and the frozen river was thawing, which might be dangerous. Wang Shizhen reported: "Don't worry, the ice will only thaw after three days." Later it turned out to be so. Rong Lu was deeply convinced by Wang Shizhen's accurate prediction.

Wang Shizhen sneered: "Rong Lu thought I predicted things like a god. In fact, every time the Haihe River froze, I ordered people to record it, generally when it froze, how thick the ice was, and when it thawed. I can't divine; where do I have the ability to predict things like a god? Seeing more, remembering more, walking on ice more, falling into water more times, drinking too much water and not wanting to drink anymore, so I had to learn how not to fall into water. I know you usually say I like to walk around everywhere and look very leisurely. How am I leisurely? If I can't see things and learn things, when I need to use them, I will definitely be completely in the dark!"

Duan Qirui was not a fool either. Hearing Wang Shizhen say this, he already secretly felt that what Wang Shizhen said was actually quite similar to the problems Duan Qirui usually encountered.

Wang Shizhen continued: "What are you people thinking? You think that usually you don't need to walk or look, at most walk a few steps casually. Or read a few books casually after recognizing a few characters, and then when someone asks you, you can immediately say when it freezes and when it thaws. This is where I am different from you. If Rong Lu asked me, I would do this. If Rong Lu didn't ask me, I would still do this. If it were up to me, I wouldn't want Rong Lu to ask me at all. That's just trouble."

Duan Qirui suddenly understood that when he usually looked for Wang Shizhen to do things, he saw Wang Shizhen always having that calm look of "immortal demeanor," and the "calmness and composure" when doing things after agreeing. Wang Shizhen was called the Dragon of Beiyang because of the feeling that one could see the head but not the tail of the dragon when he did things. Unexpectedly, hearing Wang Shizhen pour out his heart, it turned out not to be the case at all.

Blushing slightly, Duan Qirui said somewhat hesitantly: "Old brother, are you saying that I do things without following rules and am too eager for quick success and instant benefits?"

"No! I'm saying you are too much of a busybody! I'm saying Zhiquan, you are just a busybody." Wang Shizhen was angry, which was extremely rare.

Being criticized so fiercely by Wang Shizhen, Duan Qirui even stammered a bit, "Old brother... where do these words come from?"

Wang Shizhen said frankly: "Back then, Duke Yuan was a minister of the Great Qing, yet he thought about going up a higher level and overthrowing the Great Qing. I was extremely opposed to it. But at that time, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired. If Duke Yuan didn't act, others would act, which was also unavoidable. After Duke Yuan became the Great President, he didn't do well what he should do himself. Let's not say the People's Party is treacherous and cunning, harboring evil intentions. When did we not think about destroying the People's Party? But the People's Party devoted itself to people's livelihood and became strong soldiers and sturdy horses. Did it fall from the sky? Which item of the countless money they earned was not done by them bit by bit? Fighting Germany, fighting Japan, did Germany and Japan lose to the People's Party on purpose? Duke Yuan didn't seek to do his own things well through hard work, but thought about borrowing help from foreign countries, borrowing a large sum of money from foreign countries to fight the People's Party. Isn't this neglecting proper duties?"

Duan Qirui had never heard Wang Shizhen criticize Yuan Shikai so fiercely, and he was completely stunned.

Wang Shizhen continued: "You took the brothers to the northwest. If you tried hard to rectify the people's livelihood, there would be much to do now. I also heard about Xu Shuzheng's matter. He devoted himself to recovering Outer Mongolia, so after surrendering to the People's Party, the People's Party also entrusted him with heavy responsibilities. If you could have worked hard earlier and recovered Outer Mongolia first, the People's Party would probably have negotiated peace with you long ago. As a person who has made great contributions to the country, the People's Party would not dare to disrespect you."

Regarding the hypothesis proposed by Wang Shizhen about recovering Outer Mongolia, ever since Xu Shuzheng defected to the People's Party, Duan Qirui had also thought of it many times. Every time he thought of it, he couldn't help sighing and regretting deeply why he didn't act earlier. The People's Party didn't use troops against Beiyang for more than two years; Duan Qirui actually had plenty of time. After listening to Wang Shizhen's scolding, Duan Qirui said after a long time: "Old brother, then what does this have to do with me being a busybody?"

Now Wang Shizhen was completely disappointed. He actually didn't want to speak so bluntly, but even after speaking so bluntly, Duan Qirui still didn't understand where the problem was. This couldn't help but make Wang Shizhen feel a kind of despair. He sighed deeply, "Zhiquan, what is a busybody? It is not considering one's own duty, but always thinking about things outside one's duty. The divine tool (throne/power) has no master originally; those with virtue and power occupy it..."

Now Duan Qirui felt that Wang Shizhen looked down on him too much. His face also changed, "Old brother, are you saying I have no virtue and no talent?"

"If I say you have virtue and talent, you will have virtue and talent, then of course I can say you have virtue and talent! But in this current situation, how do you want me to describe you?" Wang Shizhen also refused to give an inch, tit for tat.

Duan Qirui was almost confused with anger. He said almost subconsciously: "Isn't it just that I lost to the People's Party?"

Wang Shizhen's face turned pale with anger, "How many people did the People's Party have in Anhui thirteen years ago? Ten years ago when we attacked the People's Party and lost to them that time, how many people did they already have? How many people did you take to the northwest, and how many years have you been in the northwest? The People's Party didn't even use full strength and beat you like this. What else do you want to say?"

Being rebuked like this, Duan Qirui was so ashamed and angry that he couldn't speak.

Wang Shizhen was actually a person who valued feelings. Usually, when old brothers from Beiyang came to Wang Shizhen's door to ask him to do things, as long as it wasn't looking for trouble for no reason, Wang Shizhen would consider it. Even if these troublemakers poked the hole themselves first, but when things forced these guys to the wall and left them with no way out, Wang Shizhen still couldn't help helping them if he could. But this time he really had enough. At present, when the People's Party was struggling for national interests, Duan Qirui was still full of his own little calculations, wanting to get the maximum benefit for himself in every word. Wang Shizhen really didn't want to wipe Duan Qirui's ass anymore.

"Zhiquan, what is being a busybody? That is leaving one's own path unwalked and insisting on walking someone else's path. As long as this step is taken, trouble will happen sooner or later; there is absolutely no reason for trouble not to happen. Now the People's Party has laid out the path; you can figure out how to go yourself."

Hearing that Wang Shizhen meant to give up completely in these words, Duan Qirui also felt a little flustered. At this time, he was exactly at the end of his rope. No matter how unhappy he was, Duan Qirui couldn't accept severing ties with Wang Shizhen. He hurriedly stood up and said: "Old brother, don't be angry. I, your brother, just feel it's fine now. What if the People's Party finishes fighting in the north and immediately turns hostile and denies people?"

"If you walk the same path with the People's Party, why are you afraid of the People's Party turning hostile?" Wang Shizhen asked.

"When did the People's Party ever walk the same path with us people from Beiyang?" Duan Qirui still tried to quibble for his actions.

"Is Yan Fu a Beiyang person? Is Pu Guanshui a Beiyang person? Is Shang Yuan from the Beiyang faction? Xu Dian, Qin Tongren, which of them is not from Beiyang? Even if you think they are not, is Xu Shuzheng not from Beiyang? If you yourself don't want to walk the same path with the People's Party, then don't say no one is of one mind with you." After speaking, Wang Shizhen stood up, "Zhiquan, I'm tired today. You go back first."

"Old brother..." Duan Qirui wanted to say something more, but saw Wang Shizhen turn around with his hands behind his back. Standing behind Wang Shizhen with clenched fists, Duan Qirui struggled in his heart for a good while, and finally turned and left.

After Duan Qirui left, Wang Shizhen still stood there without moving for a long time. He found that deep in his heart, he still didn't want to ignore Duan Qirui. However, the People's Party, which usually could always seize the opportunity in the domestic situation, seemed not so keen in this foreign war. Since they were already slow strategically, they could only make up for the time in other links.

Duan Qirui was hesitant now, quite like waiting for the highest bid. But the People's Party was burning with anxiety and would not give Duan Qirui too much opportunity at all. Wang Shizhen was almost certain that if Yan Fu failed to persuade Duan Qirui this time, as soon as Yan Fu returned to Shan County where the People's Party gathered troops, they would immediately launch an attack on Duan Qirui. That would be the real end of the rope.

Therefore, even if he couldn't make Duan Qirui understand his painstaking efforts, Wang Shizhen believed that he still had to force Duan Qirui to make a decision as soon as possible.