Volume 2: China, The Beginning of Spring Chapter 9 Fame! Fortune! (Seeking Bookmarks, Seeking Recommendations)

  On April 15, 1912, the Qianmen Railway Station in Beijing was filled with a heavily guarded atmosphere. Everywhere inside and outside the station, people could be seen holding small national flags, as if they were preparing to welcome someone. From the front of the railway station to both sides of the city streets, there were crowds of people standing, and slogans could be seen everywhere on both sides of the street.

  "Carry forward the spirit of the Republic and build a great China!"

  At this time, as the interim president, Yuan Shikai humbly came to the train station, occasionally glancing at his pocket watch with a look of anxiety.

  "The Grand President, the train will arrive at the station in a little while!"

  Perhaps seeing the president's anxiety, Tang Shaoyi said repeatedly.

  Although since becoming the Premier, Tang Shaoyi has not been comfortable, and even showed signs of a split with Yuan, this was one of the rare times that he agreed with Yuan Shikai after becoming the Premier, after all, the cabinet now needs money more than ever, without silver, the first to collapse would be the cabinet, not the President.

  "Shaokuan, why do you think Lizi Cheng is unwilling to get on the flower cart?"

  Yuan Shikai hesitated, then brought up something that had been worrying him. Originally, according to plan, under his careful arrangement, Minister of Finance Xu Xilin and Minister of Communications Liang Ruohu were supposed to come from Beijing to Tianjin to welcome him, and a special train was arranged in Tianjin so he could go straight to Beijing, but unexpectedly he refused.

  "The president, he also wants to save some money for the government!"

  Tang Shaoyi's answer made Yuan Shikai fall silent and mutter to himself.

  "I'm not afraid of him wasting money, I'm just afraid he's a stingy person!"

  Perhaps noticing the unusual color on the face of the Grand President, Tang Shaoyi continued.

  "After the welcome banquet, the President can have a face-to-face talk with him, to enlighten him on the current interests and benefits. As for other things, why not just let the President tell him directly that the government is willing to support his business ventures in various places, even offering tax exemptions for 10 or 20 years for his factories? This way, he will also be grateful to the President."

  Yuan Shikai smiled as he listened to Tang Shaoyi's words.

  "Shao Chuan, you're so cunning! Don't think of using your premiership to scheme against me in the future!"

  If there was any implication, it only made Tang Shaoyi's heart skip a beat, but he immediately returned to normal.

  "What's the harm? If it doesn't meet your expectations at that time, can't you just fire me with a single sentence?"

  Although Tang Shaoyi said something different from the Provisional Constitution, Yuan Shikai put away his smile and said.

  "Alright, no more idle talk, I'll do as you say."

  Yuan Shikai stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment, but ultimately said nothing.

  The Grand President did not say a word, and Tang Shaoyi hastily flattered him.

  "The Grand President's arrangement this time is indeed a clever move. I think that Li Zichen will be very grateful when he sees the welcome party prepared by the Grand President."

  In the face of Tang Shaoyi's flattery, Yuan Shikai didn't say anything, but just smiled slightly, and had already invited all the ministers and famous officials in Beijing. If it were Li Zicheng...

  "The train has arrived!"

  Suddenly a shout came from the platform, as soon as they heard the train was coming, people on the platform immediately looked in the direction of the approaching train. Among them, a group of young girls wearing Western-style dresses were shy and expectant, most of whom had come for "blind dates", although they could only catch a glimpse from afar, but it also attracted some people to flock to see.

  At one o'clock in the afternoon, when the train entered the Qianmen Railway Station in Beijing, representatives of Yuan Shikai and the Secretary-General of the Presidential Palace had already been waiting at the station with various ministers. In addition to the members of the Senate, nearly 10,000 people from the business community, academia, education sector, press, foreign guests, and a majestic military band welcomed him.

  As soon as the train stopped, Li Zichen was completely stunned by the scene he saw through the window. On the ground, a long red carpet was laid out, and on both sides of the carpet stood fully armed army soldiers, while more were military officers with Western-style command knives at their waists.

  In the midst of that group of military officers, however, was a man with a shaven head, not very tall and rather stout - it was Yuan Shikai!

  At this moment, Yang Du looked at Li Zichen by the window. He seemed to be so moved that he couldn't speak. He even thought that this "Li Caishen" was so touched that his eyes were moist. But how could he know that there was a hint of gratitude in Li Zichen's heart, but more was panic and confusion.

  Yuan Shikai surprisingly used such a grand occasion to welcome Li Zicheng, which was beyond Yang Du's expectations and made him realize that Li Zicheng, or rather his silver, had a certain weight in Yuan Shikai's heart, and this further solidified his previous decision. Seeing that the train had been stopped for a while, he still stood there with an absent-minded expression, so he reminded him by speaking up:

  "Time to get off, Zhì Yuǎn!"

  "Oh... oh, okay... okay! Get off... get off the bus!"

  Taking a deep breath, as I walked to the side of the train car door, the military band immediately played "The General's Inspection Song", and the welcoming crowd immediately erupted in cheers, waving small national flags in their hands.

  This scene almost scared Li Zichen back into the carriage, he swallowed hard and felt his palms sweating, having never seen such a scene before, this...this scene was just too big.

  Money!

  It's all because of Xīnzi!

  Li Zichen composed himself, took a deep breath again, and imitated the leader's demeanor when accompanying him to inspect the mine. He tried his best to walk off the train with a serious expression and steady footsteps. As soon as he stepped out of the train, a deafening cannon shot suddenly rang out from the other side.

  The sudden burst of gunfire made Li Zichen's heart skip a beat, this gunshot...

  Just as he was about to look at the cannon over there, Yang Du suddenly said softly behind him.

  "That is President Yuan, he never goes out to greet guests, today for Zhì Yuǎn you are an exception."

  Along Yang Du's line of sight, Li Zichen only saw that a person walked out on the red carpet. This person had a big head and short legs, broad shoulders and a round waist, with a ruddy complexion and bright eyes. He was wearing a German-style military coat from top to bottom, but despite this rough look, he looked like the big bell in the Dazhong Temple.

  Looking at the figure that only existed in "Yuan Da Tou" and historical pictures, until he walked closer, Li Zichen finally saw clearly the face that no one in China did not know, this "thief of the country", "treacherous hero" looked just like...

  "Long live! The great president has arrived!"

  When Yang Du's reminder sounded in his ear, Li Zichen saw that Yuan Shikai had actually extended his right hand to him, and he hastily stepped forward, calling out.

  "I've seen the great president!"

  Yuan Shikai stretched out both hands and grasped Li Zicheng's hand, his eyes sizing him up from head to toe.

  Today, Li Zicheng wore a black Western-style suit, with a red and black striped silk tie around his neck, and black patent leather shoes on his feet. His elegant appearance, combined with this brand new Western-style outfit, made Yuan Shikai feel as if a crane had appeared among a flock of chickens in their dull, old-fashioned long gowns.

  Looking at the young man in front of him, Yuan Shikai couldn't help but praise from the bottom of his heart.

  "I've long heard that Mr. Li has the beauty of Pan An and He Yan, but I've always had my doubts. A scholar like yourself, how could you have such a beautiful appearance? Today, seeing you in person, it's indeed true to your reputation. In front of you, even the most handsome young men become unsightly."

  Well said! With Yuan Shikai's endorsement, Li Zicheng continued to speak.

  "The Great President is overpraising, indeed it's an overpraise!"

  Li Zichen noticed that Yuan Shikai did not let go of his hand, but instead held it tightly and said with passion and sincerity.

  "Zhiyuan, I, Yuan, really want to see you soon! At first, when the Japanese newspaper mentioned that you got off the ship at Shanghai, I thought those reports scared you back to New York!"

  Yuan Shikai's words made Li Zicheng hastily speak up.

  "America is not my country, New York is not my home, so no matter what I will return to my own country and home!"

  A sentence entered his ears, and Yuan Shikai stared at the young man in front of him, scrutinizing him for a while before nodding heavily.

  "Great! Great sentence America is not my country, New York is not my home! This..."

  With Li Zongren's hand in his, he turned around and pointed at the welcoming crowd.

  "You've finally arrived home!"

  Yuan Shikai welcomed himself with such grand ceremony, which was beyond Li Zichen's expectation. What happened after they left the train station was even more unexpected. Under Yuan Shikai's escort, Li Zichen and his entourage left the train station, boarded a luxurious four-horse carriage specially prepared by Yuan Shikai, and proceeded to the hotel under the protection of soldiers and police without any obstruction.

  Along the way, despite the presence of armed police maintaining order, the crowds on both sides of the street were still packed like a tide, and everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of this person who had been talked about nationwide for his wealth earned from patents.

  Sitting in this luxurious carriage, looking at the crowd staring at himself, Li Zicheng couldn't help but stick his head out from time to time, imitating the leader's gestures on TV, waving his top hat to the crowd with a flourish. Every time he waved, the onlookers responded with thunderous applause. Facing the sea of people, facing the thunderous applause, facing the supreme treatment given by Yuan Shikai.

  For the first time, Li Zicheng changed from being uncomfortable and embarrassed to being somewhat complacent. In this complacency, he began to enjoy the enthusiasm of the people along the road, and every time the luxurious carriage traveled a certain distance, he would stick his head out to wave at the crowd.

  "Good name! Good profit!"

  Feeling the gaze of others, Li Zichen's face wore a faint smile, until today he finally understood why those people said what they did - A great man pursues wealth and power!

  "Haha, the protagonist has started fighting against China's first modern man! Is it Yuan Shikai who will be defeated or the protagonist who will be crushed? Let's wait and see how it develops! New book is not easy to write! Thanks!"