Volume 1 Teacher Chapter 7 Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was evaluated more negatively than positively in later generations. The reason for this was simply because he suppressed the so-called revolutionary forces of Sun Yat-sen's faction and made himself emperor in a desperate move.
As for the humiliating Twenty-One Demands, they are actually a bigger shit pot.
When East Asia fell into an international power vacuum due to the outbreak of the European War, facing the tremendous pressure of Japan's dominance, Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang government actually did their utmost to resist the Twenty-One Demands imposed by Japan on China. However, a weak country has no diplomacy. When Japan issued its ultimatum, no European and American country came out to support it. Even Russia planned to take advantage of the fire. So this was actually a crime that was not caused by war.
As for the two things that Manchu revisionists have always said about the betrayal of the reformists and the murder of Emperor Guangxu in the Wuxu Coup, one was just a scapegoat used by another woman with more political skills to protect her politics, and the other was just a conjecture by people with ulterior motives after finding no real evidence.
Yuan Shikai was talented in handling affairs and managing the army. He was one of the very few pragmatic and capable ministers in the late Qing Dynasty. From training troops in Xiaozhan to taking over the Beiyang government, he also built new schools, advocated abolishing the imperial examination system, introduced Western theories, and established a police force, thus achieving separation between the military and the police.
Yuan Shikai actually made great contributions to China's military and industrialization.
The reason why he wanted to establish a dictatorship in China was, on the one hand, based on his own ambitions, but on the other hand it can also be interpreted as a strategy of concentrating the country's manpower and material resources and following Yuan's path in nation-building. This is actually a system that is consistent with the fascist doctrine and certain authoritarian doctrines that developed in the following years. It is also the path chosen by many third world countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and countries such as Germany, Italy, and Russia in the 20th century.
However, these words could only linger in Dai Jiliang's mind at the moment. If he said them out loud, then what would be waiting for him would naturally be self-evident.
"Director General, Zhixiang is a lowly person with little influence. How can you easily judge the president?"
Dai Jiliang answered Duan Qirui's questions hesitantly. He had been running around these days, and his relationship with the chief was improving rapidly. However, he was still a long way from his own goal. Obviously, as long as Yuan Shikai did not nod, he would not be able to enter the core of the Beiyang for a while.
"However, in Zhixiang's opinion, whether it's Washington or Napoleon, they are all famous figures in European and American history. As long as China can produce one of them, it will be enough for our country to stand tall among the nations of the world."
"Napoleon, Washington?"
Duan Qirui savored the two names and smiled silently.
"Zhixiang, Youzheng talked to me about you. I didn't expect you to be a graduate of Lu Shi. This is your fault for not telling me such a big thing."
"I didn't expect that Senior Xu still remembered a useless junior like me."
Xu Shuzheng was the one who played with the white feather fan beside Duan Qirui. Dai Jiliang naturally noticed this self-willed and narrow-minded guy, so he responded with caution.
"But it was precisely because he realized his shortcomings in the Army Academy that Zhixiang went to Germany to study the most advanced military technology. It's not that he deliberately concealed his experience, it's just that it's not worth mentioning."
"You, you!"
Duan Qirui found what he heard very interesting. He had always believed that what he had learned from Japan was just the basics and that the real knowledge was still in Germany.
"This is a big resume, you will forget it! Well, wait a minute, I will go to see the President. I know what you are thinking. You don't want to be confined in this small temple of the Ministry of War. I will go and talk to him on your behalf."
"Thank you for your cultivation, General Manager. Zhixiang understands your love for me!"
Dai Jiliang suppressed his excitement. He didn't want to leave any seeds of unhappiness in Duan Qirui's heart.
"However, if we want to truly improve the combat effectiveness of our army, we can't just sit in the government office and solve the problem. We still have to be down-to-earth and start from the grassroots."
“You have ambition!”
Duan Qirui rarely smiled.
"It's rare to find someone as modest as you. Don't worry, I'll speak for you, President."
"Zhiquan, you came just in time. I've been so fed up with this president these days!"
Duan Qirui had just stepped into Yuan Shikai's small office when this northern core figure, who was busy working with southern congressmen to turn the provisional president into the official president, began to complain to this trusted minister.
"Tell me, how is the organization of our reserve army going?"
Old Yuan believes that might is right. He is only pretending to be nice to the parliamentarians because he does not have enough power. Therefore, the most important task of the Ministry of the Army at present is to adjust the original organization and train a new army. This is also one of the reasons why Duan Qirui dared to make a promise to Dai Jiliang .
"Mr. President, the Army Department has a lot to do now. In addition to the planned change of the numbers of each department from Town-Association-Brigade-Battalion-Team-Platoon-Tent to Division-Brigade-Regiment-Battalion-Company-Platoon-Squad, and the unification of the national numbers, we also need to replenish the troops and equipment of the Beiyang towns, reorganize the 1st, 20th, and 23rd towns, and upgrade the 27th and 28th divisions from the Northeast Patrol Battalion. All of these will cost a lot of money. Except for the Kuomintang’s army, which we have no control over, everything costs money, and the Ministry of Finance is already complaining bitterly."
According to the Beiyang practice, Duan Qirui complained before getting down to business. Old Yuan just listened with a smile on his face. He didn't say anything and just listened to General Duan continue talking.
"The organization of the reserve army has been finalized. It is currently composed of three mixed brigades, a total of six infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, and several artillery, engineering, and logistics battalions."
As he said this, Duan Qirui handed the document to Yuan Shikai.
“Too little!”
Old Yuan didn't read the document carefully. He smacked his lips and thought about it.
"The military strength of the Southern Democratic Party has not been completely eliminated. We are not completely sure yet, so the reserve army must be at least 20 cavalry and infantry regiments in size."
Old Yuan raised his hand to stop Duan Qirui from speaking.
"I'll figure out the money aspect, but you have to train the soldiers well for me."
"Recruiting soldiers is easy, but we don't have enough cadres!"
Duan Qirui is waiting here.
"Where can we find such a large number of cadres in such a short time, including the battalion commanders of 20 regiments, and the possible brigade commanders of the divisions in the future?"
The Beiyang divisions and regiments were not the small organizations that later formed during the Nationalist Government era, where a thousand people were considered a regiment and three thousand people were considered a division. These were regular divisions and regiments that were modeled after those of Germany and Japan.
Apart from anything else, a division had 54 artillery pieces, a firepower configuration that even the German-equipped divisions in the late 1930s or the American-style reorganized divisions in the late 1940s could not achieve.
It is conceivable that the requirements for commanders at all levels will also be strict.
"Don't say you don't have it in your pocket!"
Old Yuan also used the mentality of an emperor to rule his subordinates, maintaining a balance and sacrificing bones. His old-fashioned approach was also inherited from the Qing Dynasty.
This lack of vitality was probably one of the reasons why the Beiyang government declined in its old age.
"Besides, the people below have suffered a lot under us for a long time, and it's time for them to be promoted and given an explanation."
"That's what the President said."
Duan Qirui nodded. This meant that each party was allowed to nominate a few people, so if he nominated someone, Yuan Shikai would surely agree.
"I was just about to mention someone."
"Oh, which one would Zhiquan recommend?"
Old Yuan was very surprised. Although Wang Pinqing had faded out of the core of the Beiyang army, and Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui each had a group of disciples, it was rare for Duan Qirui to recommend someone so solemnly and privately. He couldn't help but become excited.
"Isn't that your director, Xiao Xu?"
"Zhiquan still cannot do without Youzheng, his right-hand man."
Duan Qirui shook his head.
“I’m going to recommend another one this time.”
Mr. Duan told the German military attaché's resume, the German military attaché's recommendation, and the contents of the inspection and conversations over the past few days in detail, and finally summarized.
"Talents are hard to come by, so please donate to me, President."
Old Yuan frowned. People in Beijing said that Yuan Shikai was the reincarnation of a toad spirit. Sitting on the chair with a frown on his brows, he really looked like that.
"Zhiquan, we don't know anything about this person!"
Old Yuan thought about it and gave the order.
"Ask Langzhai to come over."
After a while, Lu Jianzhang, the commander of the guard army and director of the Beijing Military and Political Law Enforcement Department, also known as "Lu Tu Bo", hurried over. Seeing Duan Qirui was also there, he greeted him first, and then respectfully saluted Yuan Shikai.
"The chief is here too, President. Jianzhang has come here on orders. I wonder what the President wants me to do urgently?"
"Langzhai, please stop doing these empty words in the future."
Old Yuan waved his hand casually. Duan Qirui still had a seat here, but Lu Langzhai could only stand upright.
"Let me ask you, do you know this person called Dai Jiliang?"
Lao Yuan and Lao Duan are the kind of people who can make millions of dollars a minute, so many things require quick decisions.
"I seem to have some impression."
Lu Jianzhang was in charge of the Beiyang's intelligence system, and had a lot of complicated affairs. It was already very remarkable to have such a person's name in his mind.
"President Rong Langzhai, please think about it."
Lu Jianzhang touched his head, went over it in his mind again and again, and finally figured it out.
"The student sent by the Jiangsu government to study in Lu Shi did not return to China, but went directly to study in Germany. Well, it is time for him to return to China this year."
“Not only did he return to his country, but he also became an incredible figure.”
Old Yuan repeated what Duan Qirui had just said to Lu Jianzhang, and Duan Qirui also helped to fill in a few omissions.
“Is there any connection between this person and the Democratic Party?”
At the end, Lao Yuan asked the question that he was most concerned about.
"According to the records left by those who returned to China from the Lu Institute, Dai Jiliang was a typical person who was serious in class but wild after class, but I haven't heard that he had any connection with the Democratic Party."
Once his memory was opened, Lu Jianzhang understood the contents of Dai Jiliang's file more and more clearly.
"It is said that he is a playboy who plays cards well. He has been in and out of bars and gambling houses in Japan and has made a lot of money."
Lu Jianzhang chuckled as he spoke.
"He is a truly romantic figure. By the way, how come ? Not long ago, Jiang Zuobin, the deputy minister of the Kuomintang's Army Department, went to Shanghai. It is said that he tried hard to invite this person to join the Nanjing government, but he failed. Later, several powerful factions in the south also sent people to visit him, but he slipped away. I didn't expect him to come to Beijing."
"Mr. President, it seems this person can be used."
Duan Qirui was relieved that he had not made a mistake in choosing the right person, so he tried to win over Yuan Shikai again.
"It's available, but not necessary. I don't want to sit in the ministry and only want to grab military power."
Old Yuan did not agree directly, but kept repeating it in his mouth.
"Zhiquan, you are a very thoughtful junior brother!"
"Mr. President, Chief of Staff, why don't you give this man to my guards?"
Seeing Old Yuan and Old Duan standing there in a stalemate, Lu Jianzhang couldn't help but roll his eyes. He was also a very versatile person, so he naturally knew how to make a choice.
"My guard army is in charge of this huge city, but I don't even have a decent company under my command. I can't be deployed at the critical moment. It's really unreasonable. Otherwise, the commander-in-chief will give this person to me. I can't be a commander for the time being, but help me train a battalion first and make me a captain. If it works, I will be promoted."
"That's fine."
Duan Qirui looked at Old Yuan, who nodded slightly. Then he agreed and said, "Forget it, Xiao Dai, I have done my best. You can walk the rest of the way by yourself."
