Chapter 33: The Flag Bearer of the Emperor's Constitution (Part 2)

  Yuan Shikai recounted a scene from within the Forbidden City, sighing as he spoke, with an expression of deep sorrow.

  Yang Du was taken aback for a moment, then sneered: "So to speak, the banner people are indeed suspicious of General Yuan. General Yuan, you have been through many battles and should understand that once the imperial court starts to suspect you, no matter how powerful you are, your days will be numbered. Since the imperial court has already begun to suspect you, do you still have a way out? Rather than waiting for death with your hands tied, it's better to fight a desperate battle and perhaps find a glimmer of hope."

  Yuan Shikai's face turned gloomy, and he said: "Hui Zi, what you're saying is all treasonous nonsense. If it were someone else, I would have driven him out long ago. Even if the imperial court doesn't want me, I still have a way out - I can go to the concessions, or even go abroad. I don't believe that with my connections all over the world, there's nowhere for me, Yuan Shikai, to settle!"

  Yang Du stood up and said: "General Yuan, you are a Chinese, how can you go to a foreign country? Fallen leaves do not leave their roots, people drifting abroad, after a hundred years, where should they settle? If buried in a foreign country, what face will you have to meet your ancestors in the underworld? General Yuan, life is like sailing against the current, if you don't move forward, you'll fall back. If you insist on retiring, where will you put these subordinates who have followed you all these years? Can you run to a foreign country, can they?"

  "Enough!" Yuan Shikai waved his hand impatiently. "My mind is made up, and I will be going abroad soon. As for you all, those who are willing to follow me, I won't treat unfairly; those who don't want to follow me, can start planning their own retreat."

  Yang Du walked up to Yuan Shikai, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt down on one knee. He said word by word: "Mr. Yuan, even if you don't think about the people, you should think about yourself. The hundreds of members of the Yuan family are all relying on you. Your sons have grown up and become successful, can you bear to watch them wander around foreign countries with you? With a big family and business, it's not easy to just pick up and leave. For years, your sons have been dependent on you, never suffering, wearing fine clothes and eating well, they are used to being flattered and catered to. If they suddenly fall from their position and become ordinary people, where will they go?"

  "I, Yuan, was originally a commoner from a farming family. I consider this glory to be fleeting like a cloud in the sky. The noble's good fortune will be cut off after five generations - I understand this principle, there is no need for you to say it."

  "It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality. After getting used to a life of prosperity and glory, who would be willing to go back to being an ordinary person? The nobles have enjoyed blessings for over 200 years, but they don't seem willing to give up their wealth and honor. In these years, Governor Yuan has offended many people, many powerful officials. Governor Yuan, I'm afraid you want to be a commoner but can't! In the past, the imperial court could send someone to England to kidnap Sun Wen, so why can't they now send someone abroad to cause trouble for you?" Yang Du took a few steps forward on his knees, looked up with tears in his eyes.

  "Looking around the world, who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Yuan today? Implementing new policies and advocating for a constitution, Mr. Yuan's achievements are outstanding, and the hearts of the people are returning to him. The Beiyang Army is also forged by Mr. Yuan's own hands. When Mr. Yuan raises his arm and calls out, who in the world would not respond?

  Now that the revolutionary army in the south is rising, the Qing court is stubbornly clinging to its power, and foreign powers are watching from the sidelines. If we do not quickly determine a national policy and eliminate war, I fear it will be another crisis of division.

  Mr. Yuan, whether China prospers or perishes depends on this one move. If you succeed, then China will prosper; if you fail, then China will perish. Mr. Yuan, even if you took the throne from the Aisin Gioro clan, I'm afraid no one would dare say a single word of dissent!"

  "How dare you!" Yuan Shikai was frightened by Yang Du, and if the last few words of rebuke were to reach the imperial court, he would certainly be doomed.

  "You... you dare! You're outrageous!" Yuan Shikai stood up, trembling with rage, and kicked Yang Du away. He walked to the screen and his face was changing between sunny and cloudy. "Guards, take this rebel out! Take him out!"

  "Lord Yuan! Yang's words are heartfelt, Lord Yuan, think thrice, think thrice!"

  "Drag him out! Drag him out! Come on, people! Come on, people!"

  Yuan Shikai was so angry that he jumped up and down, shouting for half a day before the door was finally pushed open from outside. A person rushed in, closed the door behind him, and ran to Yuan Shikai's side. With a "thud", he knelt down, hugged Yuan Shikai's legs, and whispered: "Father, father don't be angry! Mr. Yang is sincere, absolutely not two-hearted! Although his words are contrary, they may not be false. The imperial court has been looking at our Yuan family with disfavor for a long time, confiscating property and investigating crimes is only a matter of time!"

  "Ke Ding? Is that you? When did you come back?" Yuan Shikai looked at the person clearly. "Were you eavesdropping outside just now? What did you hear? Was anyone else listening?"

  This man was none other than Yuan Shikai's eldest son, Yuan Keding.

  Yuan Kedding knocked his head and said: "My son just came back, he heard it for a moment outside, except for my son, there is no one else outside, the words just now were only heard by my son."

  Yuan Shikai's expression changed, and he asked: "What did the British say? Have they agreed to let us take refuge?"

  Yuan Keding nodded and said, "My son has been waiting at the British Embassy. Ambassador Zhu Juetian sent a telegram back to China, and the British Foreign Minister replied, agreeing to our request for asylum. The Japanese ambassador also guaranteed that if we hide on a Japanese warship, the Japanese Empire will ensure our safety. However, Ambassador Zhu Juetian also said that going into exile in Britain is an absolute last resort. If the imperial court does not kill us, it's better to stay in the country with the protection of their embassy. The imperial court will have to consider diplomatic relations. Moreover, when we returned, there were several suspicious people lurking outside the mansion, seemingly scouts from the Ministry of War, and the imperial court is keeping an eye on us."

  Yuan Shikai sighed, glanced at Yang Dulin who was kneeling beside him in a daze, and said with a bitter smile: "Xizhong, if you force me again, I'll pack my bags now and take refuge in the British embassy."

  Yang Du was speechless, stunned for a moment. He really hadn't thought that Yuan Shikai would actually find a way out for himself and seek refuge abroad. Who could have imagined? The Qing dynasty's first heavy minister, who held powerful troops and had followers all over the world, was frightened by a telegram from the revolutionary party and lost his composure.

  Yes, most revolutionaries are poor devils. If their revolution succeeds, they may not necessarily become emperors themselves. But what kind of person is Yuan Shikai? He's a high-ranking official with power, wealth, and beautiful women all within his grasp. Should he remain loyal or turn traitor? How will history books portray him?... Yuan Shikai has too many concerns to worry about, so naturally he can't act as freely as Yang Xiangjie.

  "Father, you can't go abroad! If we go abroad, we'll have to curry favor with others and lower our heads when walking on the road." Yuan Keding wailed for a few sentences. "It's easy for us to go abroad, but what about our uncles in the countryside? Who will protect them if we leave? Second Uncle has already coughed up blood from exhaustion just to find us a place to settle down. We can betray the imperial court, but we cannot betray our own kin!"

  "How dare you!" Yuan Shikai kicked him to the ground, walked to one side, and gazed at the two kneeling men with a cold smile. "What a rebellious son, what a treacherous minister! Did you two conspire together to coerce me?"

  Yang Du looked at Yuan Keding, sighed a few times, stood up, shook his robe, and bowed to Yuan Shikai, saying: "If Mr. Yuan wants to be a loyal minister of the Qing dynasty, Yang will not force him. Alas, national affairs are like this, Yang has the heart but not the power, unfortunately, he is just a scholar with no ability to bind chickens, and he has never agreed with the revolutionary theory, otherwise, at this moment, he would have gone south to the city of Jiujiang to point out the mountains and rivers with those rebel troops."

  Having finished speaking, he picked up his cloak, threw it over his shoulder and strode out of the door.

  Yuan Shikai paused for a moment, walked to Yuan Keding's side, bent down and asked in a low voice: "Just now, did anyone else really hear Yang Duan's words?"

  Yuan Keding shook his head and said, "Who dares to break Father's rules?"

  Yuan Shikai smiled faintly and straightened his waist, saying: "That's not necessarily the case. You still have this kind of courage."

  "This..."

  "No need to say more, get up. Your father has something to tell you." Yuan Shikai closed the door and glanced at the sky. "It's snowing again, a auspicious sign for a prosperous year. But this winter in the imperial court is likely to be unbearable."