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Volume 2 Beijing Story Chapter 55 Please take care of me when we meet for the first time

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    Update time: 2012-06-27

    Among the Three Heroes of Beiyang, Duan Qirui is known as the Tiger of Beiyang, but he is actually the most powerful and prestige among the three heroes. At that time, compared with Li Yuanhong, Feng Guozhang, Wu Peifu and Cao Kun, Lao Duan was much stronger.  If Feng Guozhang was not so greedy for money, he might have a chance to compete with Duan Qirui. In fact, Lao Duan's Anhui clique did lose to Cao Kun, Wu Peifu and others after Feng Guozhang.

    Wang Geng chose Duan Qirui instead of Feng Guozhang. On the one hand, he came for Duan Qirui, and on the other hand, he came for the time of 1917. 1917 was exactly the time of two government disputes and China's break with Germany and its announcement to join the Allied Powers.  The critical years were interspersed with the farce of Zhang Xun's restoration.

    The first day of April 1917 happened to be a weekend. Duan Qirui, the Prime Minister and Army Chief who had just been invited back from Tianjin by Feng Guozhang in the name of mediation at the end of March, was reviewing documents in his study. Since he moved into this big house in Cangnan Hutong,  After his son, Lao Duan's state affairs meetings were held in Lao Duan's house for more than half of the time. Only a few close cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Chen Jintao, Transportation Minister Xu Shiying, Army Undersecretary and State Council Secretary-General Xu Shuzheng, were present.

    Duan Qirui's character and integrity are good in all aspects. The only shortcoming is that he employs people who are nepotistic and untrustworthy. His favorite general Xu Shuzheng is a typical example. Of course, Xu Shuzheng is talented and talented, and he is loyal to Duan.  He is excellent in military and political affairs, and is good at conspiracy and diplomacy. His shortcoming is that he is narrow-minded and can't tolerate others. No one except Lao Duan takes him seriously.

    Xu Shuzheng and Duan Qirui had a long discussion in the study last night. The problem now facing the Prime Minister is still the battle between the government and the imperial court that has lasted for more than half a year, between Li Yuanhong's presidential palace and Duan Qirui's State Council, and Duan Qirui's cabinet.  When it comes to breaking off diplomatic relations and declaring war with Germany, President Li Yuanhong refuses to affix his seal and signature.

    And what about Congress?  The current Congress is still the Congress of the Republic of China, and the southern revolutionaries are the largest party in Congress. Although the Congress of the Republic of China was dissolved by Yuan Shikai, it was restored after Li Yuanhong came to power last year, and it echoed the great president Li Yuanhong, and expressed his views on Beiyang and Beiyang.  Duan Qirui's cabinet has many constraints.

    In early March, Duan Qirui did not hesitate to threaten to resign as prime minister and return to Tianjin to abandon his career. In the end, Li Yuanhong moved out of Feng Guozhang's mediation and used the Congress to pass the severance of diplomatic relations with Germany as a concession, and invited Duan Qirui back to Beijing. However, after returning, he originally  After breaking off diplomatic relations with Germany, the matter of declaring war on Germany should have been passed naturally, but Li Yuanhong suppressed it.

    Duan Qirui was so angry that he almost went crazy!  Feng Guozhang, who was the mediator, saw that the situation was not going well and fled directly back to Nanjing. Seeing that the dispute between the government and the court was at a deadlock again, so although yesterday was Saturday, Duan Qirui, Xu Shuzheng and other confidants were playing mahjong and discussing.  After thinking about countermeasures, he and Xu Shuzheng discussed secretly in the study alone for a long time before leaving at midnight.

    "Uncle, there is a visitor coming to visit outside the gate. Did you see it?" The person who knocked on the door was Duan Honggang, the eldest son of Duan Qirui's second brother Duan Biqing. He is the second eldest son among his peers in the Duan family and has grown up with Duan Qirui since childhood.  , currently serving as Duan Qirui's personal assistant, he is only in his mid-twenties, looks to be of medium height, and has a capable look.

    "Huh?" Duan Qirui stopped writing and raised his head, looking at his nephew with sharp eyes. Obviously, under normal circumstances, visitors must make reservations in advance, especially on Sundays. Except for Xu Shuzheng and the others, who can come and go at any time, other gifts are generally given.  Visitors who came or asked to come were basically out of the way. My nephew grew up around me, so he would not be unaware of this habit of his.

    "He is a young man who has returned from studying abroad. He is carrying a suitcase that is dusty with travel. He said that he came to our house as soon as he got off the train. He will not leave until he sees you. He has a bit of heroism in his appearance!"

    Duan Honggang's face turned slightly red. The young man at the concierge just stuffed a brand-new twenty-dollar bill into his hand without saying a word. Of course he didn't dare to let the old man know about it.

    "My nephew is thinking that he just came back from the United States. Maybe he knows some news from the United States?" Duan Honggang added in a mumble.

    "Oh? He came back from studying in the United States? What's his name and what school did he go to? Did you say who introduced him?" Duan Qirui lowered his head and continued to approve documents, while asking casually.

    The old friends, fathers and disciples who come to my old Duan Mansion every day to do favors have never been broken. Generally, people from my hometown can name them. Duan Honggang just paid a few money here and didn't need to report to Duan Qi.  On Rui's side, there were quite a few young students who had returned from studying abroad to apply, but most of them submitted their names first with invitations from their elders or relatives and friends.

    "This man's name is Wang Geng. He graduated from Tsinghua University in 1911 and was sent to study in the United States by the government. He received an undergraduate diploma from Princeton University and graduated from West Point Military Academy this summer! I didn't say who introduced him."

    Duan Honggang is obviously a careful person. He remembered something that the concierge Wang Geng said just now.Damn it, Duan Qirui always answers every question.

    "Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University U.S. Military Academy at West Point? Doesn't West Point Military Academy not graduate until June? He can get two diplomas after studying abroad for 6 years? I dare say!" Duan Qirui stopped writing and said  I wondered in my mind whether there was a figure like Wang Geng among the Chinese government-sponsored students studying abroad, but I couldn't remember it for a moment.

    "You said he is still traveling with his luggage. Why, he wants to come to my house to stay with relatives and friends as a servant? In this case, you can ask him to go find Youzheng with my post. Since Wang Geng wants to  After passing West Point, I can arrange an errand for him at the War Department to see what he is capable of, and I won¡¯t see him.¡±

    Duan Qirui couldn't think of this Wang Genglai at the moment, but since he was a student who had returned from studying abroad and had studied Western pastry, he didn't want to just send it away casually. Then people would say that he, the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, looked down on overseas students, which chilled the hearts of the international students.  .

    "Hey! Okay! I'll tell him right now!" Duan Hong just saw that the old man was in a good mood today and did not refuse people thousands of miles away as usual. A stone fell in his heart and he went out happily.

    Duan Qirui thought for a while. These days, most first-rate talents go to study in Britain, France and Germany, second-rate talents go to the United States, and third-rate talents hang out in Japan. Since this Wang Geng was sent to the United States by the government after graduating from Tsinghua Academy in 1911, there should be some  He's capable, not to mention getting two degrees in 6 years, it's rare to graduate from West Point.  .  .  Talents are rare these days, so let¡¯s recruit Youzheng¡¯s subordinates first to inspect and gain experience.

    Unexpectedly, not long after that, Duan Honggang came again with a bitter look on his face.

    "Uncle, that Wang Geng is ignorant. I took your post and asked him to find Brother Youzheng, but this Wang Geng said that he was not here to vote for Xu Shuzheng. He came all the way back from the United States and didn't go anywhere but to vote for you.  Come on, if you don't see him, he will go to Feng Guozhang! Then you and our Anhui clan will have no place to buy medicine that you will regret!"

    "Huh?! That's not a small tone. You came all the way to vote for me? If you don't vote for me, why don't you vote for Feng Guozhang? What kind of relationship does he have with Hua Fu? Could it be that Hua Fu can tolerate him but I can't? This is simply unreasonable! Just blast me!  Go out!¡±

    Duan Honggang grimaced, nodded in agreement and was about to leave.

    "Wait a minute! Just bring him here, I want to see who he is!"

    Duan Qirui, Prime Minister of the country, has always been from Beiyang Orthodoxy and the best successor to Yuan Shikai. The character of the money-grubbing Feng Guozhang has never been in his eyes. If he is really a talent, he came all the way to join him but was pushed to the bottom.  How about going over there to Feng Guozhang!

    Duan Honggang originally did not dare to spread such lies for Wang Geng. In the past, when the old man had a hot temper, he might have kicked himself out of the study, and then asked someone to throw Wang Geng out of the Duan Mansion.

    But that Wang Geng had an awe-inspiring aura, his eyes were bright and upright, his voice was quiet when he spoke, and his handshake was strong. Through some strange combination of circumstances, he actually ran a second leg for him, and the old man actually agreed to meet him.  Duan Honggang went out with joy.

    After a while, a slender and handsome young man followed Duan Honggang into the study. Duan Qirui waved to his nephew. Duan Honggang nodded and left, leaving an old man and a young man in the study looking at each other.

    "Wang Geng, a junior student, has met Premier Duan! Wang Geng has returned from studying abroad and is here to report his service!" Wang Geng bowed and saluted, raised his head and looked at Duan Qirui, the Prime Minister of the Republic of China in front of him, with a calm and composed expression.  .

    "Are you Wang Geng? Didn't you ask me to use my post to find Xu Shuzheng to find a job in the Ministry of War? Why do you still insist on meeting me? You kid, do you know how many things a prime minister of a country has to do? Just  Not enough time to batch files!¡±

    Duan Qirui's eyes couldn't help but light up when he looked at the young man in front of him, but his face deliberately became stern and he said in a deep voice.

    "Prime Minister Duan, I came all the way back from the United States to join you. Xu Shuzheng is not in my consideration at all. If you were unwilling to see me just now, then I am already on the train to Nanjing. I can sit down.  Are you talking?" Wang Geng looked at Duan Qirui and said in a calm tone.

    "Well, if I don't invite you to sit down, are you going to turn around and go to Huafu? Young people are too impatient! If you come to vote for me, I will definitely accept you? If you can't tell Ziwu  Come Yinmao, there may not be a seat for you in front of Old Duan." Duan Qirui shook his head and put down the pen in his hand.

    Wang Geng cursed in his heart, you seem to have a more stubborn temper than me, or whatever, for the sake of letting me come in and see you, let me talk to you.

    "Prime Minister, the United States is about to enter the war. China must not lose this opportunity in front of it, and you are my first choice to return from school to serve the motherland! If you dare to use me, I can help you deal with the president and Congress.  The resolution to allow the cabinet to enter the war was passed!¡±

     Wang Geng in front of Duan Qirui looked confident, with a humble and calm expression, but the words he spoke were loud and boundless!
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