Chapter 46: Xu Shichang says Yuan Shikai

  In the capital, at Xu Shichang's residence. Just as Ye's family was busy preparing to send a betrothal gift to the Sheng family for Ye Zhiyu, Yuan Shikai and his sworn brother Xu Shichang were secretly plotting at home.

  Xu Shichang, also known as Bo Wu, received assistance from Yuan Shikai to go north and take the imperial examination. He first passed the provincial examination and later became a jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). He is currently a compiler of the Hanlin Academy and has sworn brotherhood with Yuan Shikai.

  Hanlin Academy Compiler is a small seventh-grade official, with many things and little silver. Moreover, Xu Shichang was not even seen by his superior Li Hongmao, so he sat on the cold bench all the time, wondering when it would be his turn to go on stage. If this official were not a Beijing official who could make connections with some high-ranking officials, Xu Shichang, who was approaching middle age, would have long since requested an external transfer.

  Now this uncle-less and aunt-less Xu Shichang is listening seriously to Yuan Shikai telling his own story of blood and tears.

  "Brother, you don't know, it's not easy for me now. Nowadays, the Premier doesn't want to see me, I think I'd better find another way."

  Why doesn't Li Hongzhang want to see Yuan Shikai now? The reason is that Yuan Shikai brought it upon himself. After Yuan Shikai pretended to be ill and escaped from Korea, Li Hongzhang gave him a menial task: managing logistics, rushing to deliver food, pay, and weapons. Yuan Shikai was unwilling, and proudly said to Li Hongzhang, "Brother is not someone who manages eating, drinking, and defecating. If brother doesn't get his own troops, he won't go to the front lines."

  This young Yuan also has a deep understanding of the phrase "power grows out of the barrel of a gun". Zeng Guofan had the Xiang Army, Li Hongzhang had the Huai Army, and they were called "heroes of the restoration" only because they had troops in their hands. Even his uncle, Yuan Sanhe, was able to build his career only because he had soldiers under his command. So, what he has always dreamed of is having a few "guns" in his hands. A long time ago, when he was in Korea, young Yuan secretly plotted to seize the Qing army from Wu Changqing, but unfortunately, he failed and became enemies with his former superior, Wu Changqing.

  After the Donghak Peasant Revolution in Korea, he, as the "Korean Taeshanghuang", was secretly delighted, thinking that an opportunity had come, but did not know that he was being tricked by the Japanese. The Japanese told him: Don't worry, let the Qing dynasty send troops, my Great Japanese Empire guarantees that it will not send troops over.

  To gain personal power, Yuan Shikai actively contacted the imperial court to advocate for the Qing government to send troops to Korea. Unfortunately, as soon as the Qing army arrived, the Japanese army also arrived, and Yuan saw that this situation was not good, with fewer Chinese soldiers than Japanese. He quickly feigned illness and asked Li Hongzhang to return home. Li Hongzhang heard that he was saying that he was almost dying in Korea and couldn't handle affairs, so he softened his heart and let him return home. However, after Yuan returned home, not only did he recover from his illness, but he also ate well and jumped around everywhere, telling everyone that the Japanese power in Korea was strong, and that the Qing country should retreat to the Yalu River. If it weren't for his quick thinking in Korea, he would have been finished off by the Japanese. At the same time, to show that he wasn't a coward who ran away with his tail between his legs, and also to take advantage of the opportunity to lead troops, he repeatedly asked Li Hongzhang to give him an army to go to the front lines to resist Japan.

  Li Hongzhang had already been deceived once, thinking that this little comrade was not honest, and decided to put him aside for the time being. So he kicked him to the logistics department, and when Yuan heard this order, his heart felt a chill! He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! If I'm not needed here, there's another place where I'll be needed!" He used his connections to find a way out, finding Military Minister Weng Tonghe and Li Hongzao, who had a relationship with Yuan's uncle Yuan Baohe. Yuan also sent them a large amount of silver, so they petitioned for him to lead an army to the front lines.

  Li Hongzhang received the news and got angry, daring to go to my political enemy Weng Tonghe's little kid, you are also from Beiyang, how can you forget your gratitude and betray me? He firmly opposed Yuan Shikai leading the army, you should continue to take care of logistics for me! Because Li Hongzhang's master (Cixi) is more powerful than Weng Tonghe's master (Guangxu), seeing Li Hongzhang's firm attitude, Li Hongzao was helpless and said he couldn't do anything. Yuan Shikai had tears in his eyes and could only run back to take care of logistics again.

  Seeing that the war was over, Little Yuan had not yet received a new appointment and couldn't help but feel anxious. Upon hearing that the imperial court's "Military Affairs Bureau" intended to reorganize the old army and train new troops, his heart began to stir with excitement. Opportunities still had to be created by himself! He pulled strings, sought connections, and first went to visit Li Hongzhang to discuss his intentions. However, Li Hongzhang had already recommended Ye Zhiwei, so he ignored him. After another visit, Li Hongzhang refused to see him, leaving no choice but to seek advice from his own good brother while also venting his frustrations.

  The newly established Military Affairs Department, with Prince Gong Yi and Prince Qing Yi as co-directors, Li Hongzhang, Li Hongzao, Weng Tonghe, and Ronglu jointly managed.

  Xu Shichang was always paying attention to the major events of the imperial court, and as soon as he heard his plan, he carefully analyzed it for Yuan Shikai: The six princes had been suppressed by Cixi for over a decade and only came out this year, their sharp edges had long been worn off, they were useless and didn't need to be considered; Prince Zaifeng was not very talented but greedy for money and could be bought off; the remaining few were those with real power and some ability, unfortunately Li Hongzhang and Weng Tonghe knew nothing about military affairs, using them to gain fame was fine, but they weren't crucial figures; this left only Li Hongzhang and Ronglu as the two key players.

  Yuan Shikai listened to Xu Shichang's analysis, which was perfectly logical, and looked at him with shining eyes. He couldn't help but praise: "Big brother is indeed a great talent! Listening to your words is better than reading books for ten years."

  Xu Shichang didn't think much of it and continued, "Cui Ting, it's not that I'm saying you're wrong, but from the start, you shouldn't have disobeyed Zhong Tang's appointment. Now that Zhong Tang has risen to a higher position in the military, if this relationship were to be severed, it would be a great pity."

  Yuan Shikai was somewhat annoyed and said: "Today I went to Xianliang Temple, but Zhong Tang avoided seeing me. What's going on!"

  Xu Shichang made a suggestion, saying: "On the side of Zhong Tang, you can go there several times to show your sincerity. However, what you need to do now is two things: Firstly, make a name for yourself by socializing with officials and gathering friends, which would be a good opportunity to translate some Western military books in Songyun Caotang, vigorously promoting the use of Western methods to train troops, so that others know you are a 'military strategist'. Secondly, find someone reliable to rely on in the court again. Ronglu is an old trusted aide of the Empress Dowager, with high status and power. You can go to present your military book, call yourself his student and ask for guidance, and become his disciple. In this way, you will have both internal and external support in the imperial court, and the matter of training troops will be easily accomplished."

  Yuan Shikai couldn't help but sigh: "My brother's talent is something I, his younger brother, can only admire and feel inferior to. One day, when I rise to greatness, I will surely repay my brother's kindness."

  Xu Shichang smiled and said, "Comforting Pavilion, why must you be like this? You and I are brothers, not outsiders. If it weren't for your help in the past, how could I have reached my current position? Don't mention such things again."

  Yuan Shikai said as he spoke, "Today I met someone outside Xianliang Temple. Guess who it was?"

  Xu Shichang shook his head and replied, "In front of the Zhong Tang gate, carriages and horses are coming and going like arrows, there is no idle person around. It's better for Cui Ting not to trouble Big Brother, just tell me directly."

  Yuan Shikai joked: "There is still something in this world that elder brother doesn't know, it's Ye Zhiwei, the one who was personally praised by Empress Dowager Cixi as a blessing to the country. I originally wanted to go forward and make friends with him, but unfortunately, seeing him coming and going hastily, I didn't go forward to disturb him."

  Xu Shichang hummed and said, "It's him. This Ye Zhikui is indeed a young and famous man, but it's unknown whether he'll bring fortune or disaster. However, judging from his behavior since entering the capital, he seems to be a person who knows when to advance and retreat, and understands the doctrine of moderation."

  Yuan Shikai asked in puzzlement: "What does this mean?"

  Xu Shichang replied: "This person has been ruining his reputation since entering the capital, and sometimes a minister's reputation is too great, which is not a good thing. Look at Li Zhongtang now, isn't he being transferred to the Military Council to remove his position as Beiyang Minister? Whether Ye Zhiqi is really foolish or pretending to be foolish, at least he has damaged his own reputation. There are reports that Ye Zhiqi will soon be promoted to Zhili Tidu and will go to Tianjin Lutai to train the new army."

  Yuan Shikai said with a sigh: "It's really true that people can be jealous to death, we both came from Beiyang, but now I have to ask for help everywhere, while Ye Zhiqiu has already become powerful and prestigious. Alas! Some things just can't be compared."

  Xu Shichang muttered to himself, "Cui Ting, if you had persisted in staying in Korea back then, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Who could have predicted that the Sino-Japanese War would end so quickly? From this perspective, Ye Zhikui's contributions are indeed undeniable, and not something you can compare to."

  ………

  First of all, thank "Jingqiao Bi" brother for his reward. Secondly, it's the weekend again, I hope brothers can collect this book. Finally, wish you a happy weekend!