In the fifth year of the Republic of China, the year of Bingchen, the turn of spring and summer. Beijing.

The wind and sand were everywhere for several days, and the streets, alleys, houses, and trees were wrapped in yellow and turbid fog tents. There were fewer pedestrians; the rickshaws passing through the streets and alleys, beating the crisp ringtones, and they appeared in a hurry; there were no birds flying in the sky, and the wind whistles from time to time...

"Hate autumn!"

Someone cursed this way.

Since the reclaiming of Mongolia in the late Qing Dynasty, in recent years, every spring and autumn, the wind blowing from Mongolia will always bring waves of yellow sand. When the wind and sand are rolling up, the world is like a layer of black veil, covering the clouds and the sun, and it looks like a chaotic look that is no longer visible to the sky.

The wind and sand in spring not only cast a layer of gloom on the capital, but also cast a layer of turbid black veil on the inner city's Zhongnanhai, this imperial city that has been for hundreds of years. At this time, this ancient imperial city is now deserted in the Presidential Palace.

Yuan Shikai, who had been the president of the Republic of China for five years, was probably affected by the weather and was listless all day long. Even the fatter body, which had become more and more obese in recent years, has shrunk and low. Although his face is not thin, he can't see any spirit on his face. Even his eyes that seem to be able to see through him have lost their minds. It seems that he has grown older in a few days.

It's only fifty-eight, and it's in its prime!

After getting up early in the morning, Yuan Shikai muttered like this when he looked in the mirror. Originally, he thought of relaxing in the garden in Zhongnanhai, but looking at the turbid weather outside, he suddenly had no thoughts, so he simply closed the door and stopped going out.

In Jurentang's small study, sitting at the table, trying to calm down and do something else, but Yuan Shikai found that his thoughts were in chaos, so messy that he didn't know what to do?

He a little scolded himself for this:

"Today, what's wrong with me?"

It's not just this one. In the past half month, Yuan Shikai found that his strength was getting worse every day. Although he still ate a roast duck every day, he could occasionally eat a roast rabbit or even a few kilograms of beef and mutton. Although his appetite was still there, why did this essence always seem to be a little worse?

Especially the unspeakable pain between the legs is even worse than that of a day. This body is really getting worse every day!

But it's only fifty-eight!

Just when this idea came up again, Yuan Shikai, who had just picked up the imperial chef in the palace to make soup, was lost and broke the white jade cup in his hand. Then, his face, which had no energy, turned pale, and the secret of the Yuan family once again emerged in his mind.

Over the years, although the Yuan clan in Xiangcheng, Henan Province has a prosperous official career, most of them died of short life. Yuan Shikai's great-grandfather Yuan Yaodong died at the age of 40, and his uncle Yuan Jiasan died at the age of 57. His biological father Yuan Baozhong did not live to the age of 51, his successor Yuan Baoqing was 49, and his cousin Yuan Baoheng lived to the age of 52. After four generations, the statement that "the Yuan family lived to the age of 60" has become a secret that many people know.

And now... Yuan Shikai is fifty-eight years old! There are only less than two years left before that limit. This... is related to the recent abnormality of his body, and in an instant, Yuan Shikai's heart became cold. Since he took office as president, his age has gradually become equal to that of 60 years old.

Now, my body is not as good as before...

Thinking of his age, a basin of cold water poured his head down from Yuan Shikai's head, which made him cool from his heart to the soles of his feet, and deeply exhaled the depression that had accumulated in his chest for many days. His worries about life only made him feel upset.

At this time, the wind outside the window stopped and the sand disappeared. The blue sky became a piece of white clouds floating in the sky, but all this was no longer attractive to Yuan Shikai...

The deadline is approaching!

For most people, perhaps the age of 58 is still far away, but for Yuan Shikai, this day is approaching, and he dare not believe it or imagine it when he is close.

"At fifty, you know your destiny"!

He was fifty-eight years old in the blink of an eye. When he was fifty, Yuan Shikai knew that he had followed his way, so he never paniced when encountering trouble. Not only that, in the face of ups and downs of life, he could always be calm and upright. Although he was unwilling to accept it, he could at least endure it. Moreover, he had this ability. He believed that time and time would prove everything. Even if he wanted to "return to home for nurturing illness" due to foot disease, he accepted it safely when he was upset and waited for a comeback.

But now it is different. Now he is no longer the Lord Yuan who relied on the "Qing court" back then. He has long forced the "President Yuan" to abdicate. Now as the president of the Republic of China, he is facing the rise and fall of a major country in the Central Government and treating the life and death of hundreds of millions of people. A mistake is not the personal eternal hatred, but the rise and fall of the country.

Although he is not good at studying, Yuan Shikai is also a person who has read the books of sages. A three-year-old baby knows that "every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the country." Doesn't he, a well-educated person, understand?

He understood, so he wanted to manage this country better than anyone else. After returning from North Korea, Yu Xiaozhan trained a new army to strengthen the country. Therefore, he became the first person to seriously learn the organizational methods and strategies of foreign military forces, and was also the first person to vigorously advocate that the army must achieve modernization.

After the Boxer Emperor, after serving as the Governor of Zhili, Minister of Beiyang, and Minister of Government, Yuan Shikai took the lead in advocating all new policies. Almost all the policies of the Qing court were taken. He also tried his best to seek support and understanding from Western countries for China in order to promote conservative gradual reforms.

Later, he cooperated with the revolutionary party in the south to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, and even suppressed the "Ministry Rebellion 2" and was also for the country. He wanted to run the country well, wanted to build this decaying country, and he kept working so hard. Later, he invited Li Zicheng to Beijing, and continued to try "democracy" that he had already seen through, temporarily gave up "centralization" and accepted Li Zicheng's "slow-up" strategy. Which one was not for the country?

Thinking back on what he has done over the past thirty years, Yuan Shikai found that no matter what he did, he was doing, he was doing it to save the country. Over the years, what has happened to the current situation of this country?

The country seems to be getting on track step by step!

Internationally, the expeditionary forces are now fighting for their country in Europe, and their national status is rising day by day. In the past, the ministers of various countries who were staring at each other were polite and consultative. Sometimes, as long as China shows a tough attitude, they will make appropriate concessions.

In China, domestic economic industry has made rapid progress. Thousands of factories are opened in provinces across the country every month. While recovering tariffs, abolishing liabilities, and reducing and exempting harsh donations, the national taxes are increasing day by day, and the amount of fiscal lenientness is far beyond the imagination of the world, and within two years, the central government can earn tens of millions of dollars.

In addition to the central and local issues of how to restore the authority of the central government, restore the unified domestic political order, and handle the relationship between the central and local governments well, China can be described as national peace and stability. The lives of the people are much better than those of the late Qing Dynasty. This country is moving step by step towards a "peaceful and prosperous era". Although the political parties and politics that have plagued him for several years have not been resolved. But Yuan Shikai believes that all this can always be solved, and in the end he will definitely leave a "peaceful and prosperous era" for the country.

At that time, when historical books mention Yuan Shikai, they will definitely use the right to correct the situation and unify China. The Yuan family’s prosperous era is the Washington of China and the "Taizu" of the Republic of China. The prosperous era of China is built from it...it can...

God didn't give myself enough time!

"Sixty!"

With this sentence, Yuan Shikai's already sturdy figure looked shorter; his eyes were tired, and the wrinkles between his eyebrows and temples seemed to be more and more deeper in this moment.

"Why……"

After sighing, Yuan Shikai's eyes also looked dazed. He didn't even notice when the servant cleaned up the broken white jade cup on the ground. He just savored the bitterness of the coming time there.

"President, Consultant Xu is asking for a meeting!"

At this time, the words of the attendants outside the door interrupted Yuan Shikai's thoughts.

"Oh, please come in!"

Advisor Xu was Xu Shichang. After the restoration of the State Council, the position of Secretary of State was naturally abolished, while Xu Shichang became the "special adviser of the president". His status as the Presidential Office was even above the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, and Xu Shichang did not seem to have much objection to this resettlement.

When Yuan Shikai was waiting for Xu Shichang to come in, Jurentang, which is in the office and bedroom, seemed quiet. When Xu Shichang was led in, Yuan Shikai was sitting in the study. After some troublesome thoughts, Yuan Shikai saw Xu Shichang coming in, and hurriedly stood up and said:

"Brother Ju Ren, why are you here?"

"I heard that the President is not feeling well, I'll see you."

Xu Shichang responded quickly.

"Why take it to heart if you have a little illness?"

"A thousand-mile long dike is destroyed by an ant hole, and even if you are sick, you cannot be underestimated!"

Yuan Shikai smiled and said with a relaxed breath:

"Life cannot be free from diseases, and life and death are not predicted by oneself! I ask myself, although my talent is not enough to look forward to the past, it seems that I have no place to stay. However, I have been in charge of four years and have not fully realized my ambitions. Although I have already claimed the position and kept the name of the person who served on my behalf, my talent is still inferior to me. It is difficult to predict the safety of China later!"

When he said this, Yuan Shikai's consciousness gradually became more and more sluggish, and his eyebrows gradually became locked.

Seeing this, Xu Shichang was shocked:

"I just said it was a minor illness, but why did he suddenly think about his funeral? Does he really know that he is not good?"

At this time, Xu Shichang was about to persuade and comfort him, but Yuan Shikai spoke.

"It makes Brother Ju Ren laugh, just feel sad!"

Yuan Shikai, who waved his hand and was unwilling to continue to get into trouble on this issue, obviously did not want to talk about this issue anymore, and at the same time changed his mind.

"Brother Ju Ren, is there anything wrong with the outside world recently?"

In such a big China, he didn't know what happened. There was, but not much. However, Xu Shichang, who understood his thoughts, changed his mind and quickly replied,

"The President, we can see that the "prosecution case" caused a lot of controversy a few days ago!"

"You mean a young lawyer is going to sue the State Council?"

When he saw this news in the newspaper that day, Yuan Shikai's first thought of "absurdity". Then, there was another scammer. He could even imagine that Li Zicheng, who had been staying in Lianyungang recently, shot himself in the foot after learning the news.

"Why, Zhiyuan hasn't handled this matter yet? Juren, let's see if Long says hello to that male-headed lawyer, so that he should not act rashly..."

"Grand President!"

Xu Shichang said with a smile when he interrupted Yuan Shikai.

"The State Council has decided to respond!"

"Um?"

"Originally, it seemed that the other party had no intention of prosecution. Maybe it was just a verbal statement, but I never thought that when Zhiyuan inspected the shipyard, he publicly stated that the State Council would do his best to respond to the prosecution requested by the dialect! At the same time, he reiterated that the agencies under the State Council must strictly follow the law and must not act erroneously!"

"So. Li Zhiyuan, really..."

Confused!….

Yuan Shikai couldn't say this word. Now, with his understanding of Li Zicheng, he finally understood what "smart is like foolishness". People who shouted "Li Huo" all ended up obediently! Even he...

"absurd!"

Thinking of this, Yuan Shikai still spit out two words.

"There are some sayings to sue the country from ancient times to the present! This young man is ridiculous. Zhiyuan, who is the prime minister of the State, also made a fuss and called him to telegram,"

But before he could say anything, Yuan Shikai took the words back. Even if Li Zhiyuan was willing, he would take care of it. Such a thing... is embarrassing, but the one who lost it was not his President!

"What else is there?"

Looking at Xu Shichang, Yuan Shikai knew. He would never just look at himself as simple as he was, there must be other things.

"President, I heard that the State Council is preparing to rebuild China Railway Company!"

China Railway Company?

Yuan Shikai has heard of this incident, but that was a proposal made by Li Zicheng when he met with industry insiders in Lianyungang.

"So, does Li Zhiyuan want to continue to build the railway?"

After listening to Xu Shichang's report, Yuan Shikai said naturally that Li Zhiyuan started from the railway, and it is natural to build the railway now.

"If this is true, it can promote industry."

Xu Shichang said, shaking his head.

"I'm afraid Li Zhiyuanxin is not here."

"Have things developed other things?"
To be continued...