Tearing off the calendar page for September 22nd, revealing the new page for September 23rd, Yang Du picked up *Ta Kung Pao* and *Shen Bao*, flipped two pages to the front, and then walked out of his office.

During the Hundred Days' Reform, Yang Du accepted the reformist ideas of Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao and opposed imperialism. In the 32nd year of Guangxu (1906), he served as editor-in-chief of *China New News* and published "The Theory of Gold and Iron," advocating for a constitutional monarchy. In the same year, Yang Du wrote two articles, "The Outline of China's Constitution Should Absorb the Strengths of Eastern and Western Countries" and "Procedures for Implementing Constitutional Government," which were presented to the Emperor along with Liang Qichao's "Comparison of Constitutional Governments in Eastern and Western Countries."

Yang Du strongly supported Yuan Shikai's proclamation as Emperor, gaining Yuan's recognition and promotion to a post in the President's Office.

Yang Du's office was located in a complex of brick and wood structures in a pseudo-European classical style. This was the site of the Qing court's highest military command, the Ministry of the Army and the Ministry of the Navy. Designed in 1906 by Shen Qi, a Chinese architect who studied in the UK, the construction funds came from the surplus of Empress Dowager Cixi's renovation of the Summer Palace.

After the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912, this became Yuan Shikai's Presidential Palace and State Council. Of the 13 talks he held with Sun Yat-sen, 12 were held here.

It was a Western-style building in the Victorian Eclectic style, covered with exquisite brick carvings, very beautiful. Yang Du walked through the main building to a row of small western-style houses in the back.

The second floor of one of the small houses was Yuan Shikai's study. Yang Du stood outside the door. Just as he was about to ask the attendant to report, Yuan Shikai's voice came from inside, "Xizi [Yang Du's courtesy name], come in."

Although it was a Western-style building, the interior decoration was completely Chinese. Master calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, and the four treasures of the study were placed on the desk. Apart from these, contrary to what the outside world imagined, Yuan Shikai's study was very elegant and simple. Bookshelves full of books stood against the snow-white walls. Except for a table and four chairs for entertaining guests, there was no other furniture.

At this time, Yuan Shikai's hair and beard were already gray, but his gaze remained sharp and focused. Seeing the newspaper in Yang Du's hand, he snorted contemptuously. "Besides articles flattering me and cursing me, is there actually news that even Xizi cares about?"

Yang Du hurriedly replied, "Yuan Gong, two newspapers published a joint exclusive interview with Siping Governor He Rui."

"He Rui? Is that the kid who made Japan withdraw from Changchun?" As Yuan Shikai spoke, he took the newspaper.

Yuan Shikai's expression was initially somewhat disdainful. When he read, *"...Yuan Gong might have a question. Back then, the Manchu Qing could afford to support the Beiyang Fleet, train the Beiyang New Army, and even build a garden for Cixi simultaneously. The finances could bear it. But when Yuan Gong became the Great President, he couldn't even afford to support the Beiyang Army. Isn't this strange..."*, his expression became solemn.

By the time he finished reading the report, Yuan Shikai's face was full of anger, and he slammed the table and stood up. Yang Du wanted to say something but didn't speak because Yuan Shikai had no intention of speaking, let alone communicating with Yang Du.

Yuan Shikai paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back. The anger in his expression quickly dissipated, becoming resolute again. Yang Du seized the opportunity to say, "Yuan Gong, what He Rui said about the status quo of national division hits the nail on the head. Although He Rui clearly stated that he does not support the President proclaiming himself Emperor, this person indeed has talent and vision. Why not summon him to Beijing?"

"No need!" Yuan Shikai answered decisively. Walking a few more steps with his hands behind his back, Yuan Shikai sat back in his seat and said coldly, "What can he do alone? Even if I give him a brigade commander position in a mixed brigade now and let him lead troops into Beijing, it will be of no use to the political situation. It would only add variables."

Yang Du wanted to persuade him further, but Yuan Shikai waved his hand. "You step down first."

Seeing Yuan Shikai's firm attitude, Yang Du could only withdraw.

After Yang Du left, Yuan Shikai picked up the newspaper again. After reading for a while, sudden sorrow rose from within him. He never expected that the one who truly understood him in the Beiyang clique would be such a junior.

When signing the "Twenty-One Demands" [Sino-Japanese Treaty of 1915], Yuan Shikai had said that as long as a unified country could be rebuilt, Japan was not worth mentioning. However, no one cared about these words; instead, they became an excuse for others to attack Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai had long discovered He Rui's views on national division and the politicization of the Beiyang Army mentioned in the exclusive interview. But Yuan Shikai couldn't say it out loud. Everyone tacitly understood and could still get along; if he said it, it would definitely trigger a bloody storm within Beiyang.

Even though He Rui explicitly stated the attitude of "opposing the President proclaiming himself Emperor," Yuan Shikai had no intention of punishing this small Siping Governor because He Rui frankly spoke Yuan Shikai's heart. In contrast, those old Beiyang brothers either harbored evil intentions or were muddle-headed and incompetent. No matter how Yuan Shikai explained the reasons and necessity of proclaiming himself Emperor, these people didn't believe a word in their hearts.

In this moment, the depression turned into anger. Yuan Shikai couldn't help cursing in his heart: *Feng Guozhang, detestable! Wang Shizhen, detestable! Duan Qirui, especially detestable!*

At this crucial juncture where they should be exerting themselves for Beiyang, none of these people were reliable. Truly detestable!

Just then, with the sound of footsteps, Cao Kun's voice came from outside the door. "Please report to the Great President, Cao Kun requests an audience."

Cao Kun entered the study holding a newspaper. Seeing the same newspaper on Yuan Shikai's desk, he shouted loudly, "Great President, I don't know how He Rui got lard blinding his heart [lost his mind], pushing his luck to dare provoke the Beiyang brothers! I ask the Great President to order Zhang Xiluan to suppress this bastard!"

Yuan Shikai stared at Cao Kun with sharp eyes for a good while, making Cao Kun feel a little creeped out. Just as he wanted to say something, he heard Yuan Shikai say indifferently, "Zhongshan [Cao Kun's courtesy name], why get angry with a child?"

***

At this critical moment, people asking for news were everywhere. Duan Qirui had already requested to see Yuan Shikai five times. The first three meetings were extremely unpleasant. For the last two requests, Yuan Shikai didn't see Duan Qirui at all. Duan Qirui also resigned directly.

But Duan Qirui's resignation didn't mean he withdrew from the center of power. Less than half a day after the event, Duan Qirui's aide came to report. Cao Kun saw He Rui's exclusive interview in the newspaper and angrily went to ask Yuan Shikai to order He Rui's death. In the end, it came to nothing.

Cao Kun often said, "I'm just a roughneck; I don't understand anything."

Cao Kun only said this himself; no one in the Beiyang upper echelon believed it. A roughneck could never sit in Cao Kun's current position. But Duan Qirui knew that when Cao Kun did things, he really had the style of a "roughneck" and would never give up easily.

Since Cao Kun said nothing about killing He Rui after coming out from Yuan Shikai, there was only one possibility: Yuan Shikai stopped Cao Kun.

At this time, Duan Qirui had already carefully read the exclusive interview in the newspaper. Since Yuan Shikai didn't let Cao Kun act, it proved that Yuan Shikai wanted to use this report to beat the Beiyang governors. To let these people understand that Yuan Shikai knew their thoughts very well.

Closing the newspaper, Duan Qirui stood up and ordered the orderly, "Grind the ink."

The aide was the one who had been ordered to help He Rui with the procedures. He asked, "Director-General, is He Rui in trouble?"

Duan Qirui chuckled lightly. "He Rui is indeed the kid who could get ten thousand silver dollars from me. I'm afraid he won't die this time."

After writing the letter, Duan Qirui ordered, "Send it to Zhang Xiluan."

At the same time, Yang Du was chatting with the British journalist George Ernest Morrison about He Rui. Yang Du naturally knew about Cao Kun going to Yuan Shikai to kill He Rui; he didn't think it had anything to do with him. He was just exchanging ideas about He Rui's exclusive interview with George Morrison, Yuan Shikai's foreign aide.

George Morrison was a journalist for *The Times* sent by the British government. He had circulated among scholar-officials known for Westernization, such as Zhang Zhidong, Li Hongzhang, and Yuan Shikai, and was now an advisor in Yuan Shikai's camp. Because he was proficient in international politics and skilled in manipulating news, he was valued by Yuan Shikai.

Hearing Yang Du, a former peer with experience in running newspapers, ask if this exclusive interview would cause a sensation, Morrison didn't answer immediately. After thinking for a while, Morrison replied, "Since Mr. Yang pays such attention to this person, I want to go outside the pass to meet this Governor He."