Master Yuan, start!

"What a trick to divert the blame! Could the President of the Republic be so good at framing others?"

After saying this, Li Jingfang's legs trembled.

He didn't know where he got the courage from. In a trance, he found himself standing in front of Yuan Xiangcheng without knowing when.

Hearing these rebuttals, Yuan Xiangcheng turned his head to look at Li Jingfang with a smile on his face.

He waved his fist and shouted loudly: "Bring the suspected criminal Leng Kaisong, bring the suspected Huang Desangzhai, and bring the suspected Chen Jiongming!"

"Poof"

After hearing the names of these three people, Li Jingfang finally couldn't bear the inner pressure. In front of thousands of people, he collapsed in front of the railing on the top floor of the Yellow Crane Tower.

And Yuan Xiangcheng, who was sitting opposite him, had a cold look in his eyes.

Chapter 383 Marching towards Guangzhou

The summer of the second year of the Republic was particularly hot.

But in this glass room on the top floor of the Yellow Crane Tower, it was like winter, and it became freezing cold in an instant.

Everyone was silent, looking at each other, not daring to say a word.

At this moment, Li Hongzhang felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave.

No one can describe how shocked Li Hongzhang was when he saw Li Jingfang falling on the railing of the Yellow Crane Tower in front of thousands of people.

At this moment, there were only four big words in his heart.

"You don't bring it upon yourself!"

Li Hongzhang's mood at this time was extremely complicated.

Shame, anxiety, hostility, uneasiness

In the end, anger took over his mind.

County 975874 Four 5+

Shuzi!

Li Hongzhang looked at Li Jingfang with his eyes wide open, as if he wanted to eat him alive.

Li Jingfang was Li Hongzhang's adopted son, originally the child of his sixth brother.

Ever since his sixth brother passed away early, he always felt that he owed Li Jingfang something. Even after he had another son, he never reduced his training and investment in Li Jingfang.

But at this time, Li Hongzhang wished he could chop Li Jingfang to pieces with his own hands!

He was angry at first, angry that Li Jingfang dared to send someone to assassinate Liu Bingzhang.

Although he and Liu Bingzhang had some ideological differences in recent years, he could still treat political enemies like Zuo Zongtang as "both enemies and friends"

Now that the emperor was gone, how could he not tolerate a traitor: Liu Bingzhang?

He was angry that his eldest son didn't even take him, his father, seriously!

But after being angry, Li Hongzhang felt a little disgusted with himself for not being able to live up to his expectations.

If you want to assassinate, then do it cleanly!

How could the murderer be caught and secretly escorted to Wuchang?

Why can't you stay in Wanxian and handle such an important matter personally?

You rushed to Wuchang and showed your courtesy to me for two days, so you think everything is fine?

Incompetent bungler!

Li Hongzhang felt a little numb when he thought of Yuan Shikai's tolerance and concessions over the past few days.

Yuan Shikai was truly a heroic figure, yet he was able to hold back for so long, even though he had evidence of a reversal in his hands.

No wonder he was able to maneuver between the emperor and empress more than ten years ago and lay the foundation for his own Korean dynasty.

Moreover, how come Yuan Xiangcheng is so lucky?

Even as far away as Jiangning, one can understand the inside story of the assassination of Liu in the heart of Sichuan!

Could it be that he is really the child of destiny?

And I am just like the King of Chu, Sun Shiwan, and Chen Youliang?

No, that's not the case. Li Hongzhang squinted his eyes and didn't believe in the theory of destiny.

"Liu Bang lost his army at Pengcheng, and Meng De also suffered the disaster of Red Cliff!"

Li Hongzhang was unwilling to accept this. After he started his career in Hefei, he was unwilling to be inferior to others, so he kept climbing up.

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From starting out as a militia leader and being awarded the title of prefect, to being slandered by fellow villagers and living in seclusion in mourning;

From a poor country bumpkin, he joined the Hunan Army and became Zeng Guofan's right-hand man.

From being willing to offend Zeng Guofan and leave the Hunan Army, to becoming a high-ranking official and leader of the Huai Army;

As he walked step by step, all the obstacles that had stood in Li Hongzhang's way in the past, like chasms, had vanished into thin air.

None of the attacks from his fellow villagers, the scorn from the Hunan Army, the threats from the Taiping Army, or the harassment from the Nian Army could defeat him.

Li Jingfang staggered and climbed from the terrace near the railing to Li Hongzhang in the house using his hands and feet.

With tears and snot, he grabbed the corner of Li Hongzhang's clothes and said in a sobbing voice:

"Dad! Give the order. A war is inevitable between the North and the South. If we don't act now, when will we?"

"Dad! We have our army outside the city, and I have sent hidden assassins inside. Gather them all and make sure the Yuan family dies in Wuchang!"

After hearing this, Li Hongzhang had no time to react, but Zhang Zhidong immediately came in nervously!

He made a face to Li Yuanhong beside him, asking him to summon the armed police forces in the city and be on high alert.

On the other side, he slowly approached Li Hongzhang, intending to give him some advice.

His original intention was to stop the North and the South and try to maintain peace.

As long as the two sides have not actually resorted to violence, he will do his best to ease the situation even if there is still a glimmer of hope.

Moreover, even if a fight really breaks out, there will be no swords or guns on the battlefield.

But assassination is absolutely not allowed.

None of the people in the Yellow Crane Tower today can die in Wuchang in front of Zhang Zhidong!

At this time, Li Hongzhang finally digested Li Jingfang's remarks.

He turned around in disbelief and looked at his son, who had been with him the longest and had been by his side the longest.

When did he become like this?

Such a ridiculous and naive idea, do you really think that the guards around Yuan Xiangcheng are vegetarians?

In fact, Li Hongzhang was completely unaware of the negative impact he had on his eldest son Li Jingfang.

Although Li Jingfang was nominally the eldest son, he was actually only an adopted son.

　Everyone understood that the one who would inherit the Li family's title and even property in the future would be the legitimate son Li Jingshu, not his adopted son Li Jingfang.

Li Jingfang became an official because of his father, went abroad because of his father, and was recalled to the country because of his father.

But unfortunately, he did not live through the era when Li Hongzhang fought wars and made military achievements; nor did he get a good job in the Westernization Movement in the early Qing Dynasty.

It can be said that Li Jingfang was unable to realize his ambitions because of his father.

After finally surviving the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Lingnan Military Governor's Office, Li Jingfang found that he could only stay in Guangzhou City and had no chance to govern a region.

For most of his life, he was just an assistant to Li Hongzhang, a staff member who was not a staff member.

Moreover, there is also the concept of being someone else's staff member and then leaving the staff to become independent.

Working as an aide to his father only earned him three years of service as counselor to the UK and the US.

It was not until the establishment of the Huaxing Party that Li Jingfang had the opportunity to get involved in specific affairs and wanted to put his efforts into it and achieve some results.

However, this exertion of force was excessive and directly led to Liu Bingzhang's death.

"Shut up!"

Li Hongzhang sighed deeply, and said nothing else, as if that was all he had to say to Li Jing.

"Director Li is having hysterics and is talking incoherently."

Li Hongzhang pointed at Li Jingfang lying on the ground and said to the guards beside him, "Take him away and calm down."

Taking a deep breath, Li Hongzhang slowly stood up again, trying his best to straighten his hunched back.

At this time, Yuan Xiangcheng had no time to appreciate the lives of the people under the Yellow Crane Tower.

He stepped out of the terrace, away from the railing, looked at everyone, and walked into the house.

"If that's the case, I'd say Brother Shaoquan is such a wicked man, how could he resort to such despicable means?

Now it seems that there is only a bad guy in the family, and Brother Shaoqiquan doesn't seem to know about it.

Zhang Zhidong quickly spoke to ease the situation, speaking very tactfully and putting all the blame on Li Jingfang, as if Li Hongzhang was completely unaware of it.

However, in reality, even if Li Hongzhang was really unaware of the situation, in the late 19th century, which was full of feudal atmosphere, the label of "bad parenting" could still be firmly pinned on Li Hongzhang's head.

"No need to excuse me."

Li Hongzhang looked at Zhang Zhidong with a slight apology, and then faced Yuan Shikai who was slowly walking towards him.

“This assassination was committed by my rebellious son, but I am also not immune from responsibility.

The people of the north already hate me, and when the news gets out, I'm sure there will be countless people criticizing and cursing me."

Li Hongzhang had a clear understanding of himself. He knew that it was impossible for him to be compared with Yuan Shikai in the eyes of the northerners.

Now that the truth about the assassination has been revealed, the situation is bound to get worse.

"However," Li Hongzhang changed the subject, not intending to admit defeat: "The hearts of the people in Lingnan are still in my control."

Li Hongzhang's Lingnan Military Governor's Office cooperated with local gentry in Guangdong and Guangxi, and established a relatively stable ruling order and grassroots situation in the local area over a decade.

Therefore, Li Hongzhang knew that his base was still there.

"In that case, there is no point in saying more."