Republic of China: My great warlord, many children, many blessings.

After sitting for a while, Duan Zhigui's mahjong addiction kicked in, so he said goodbye to Shen Hao.

No sooner had Duan Zhigui left than Cao Yuanzheng, the mayor of the capital (prefect of Shuntian Prefecture), arrived.

He was still holding the snuff bottle that Shen Hao had given him.

233. Commander Cao, you're not dead yet!

Time has passed, and when Cao Yuanzheng saw Shen Hao again, his feelings were very complicated.

The young patrolman who once needed to give him gifts has now grown to the point where he has to look up to him.

At this moment, Shen Hao is a behemoth in China, a man who can roam freely across the country.

It really proves the old saying: fortunes change every thirty years, and one should never underestimate the young.

Life is like a play.

With a sigh in his heart, Cao Yuanzheng, led by the guards, entered the living room.

Upon seeing Shen Hao sitting there, Cao Yuanzheng showed no displeasure, but walked over with a smile, hurriedly putting down the gift in his hand and saying, "Governor Shen, it's been a long time! You still look as radiant as ever!"

Shen Hao, seated, shook hands with him and said with a smile, "Mayor Cao, it's been a long time. I should be the one taking the initiative to visit you; you're my former superior."

Cao Yuanzheng hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Governor Shen, please don't say that."

That won't do.

Forget about being a former boss; we were just colleagues before.

Besides, times have changed. I, Old Cao, have a favor to ask of Governor Shen, so naturally I am the one who has come to pay my respects to you.”

As he spoke, Cao Yuanzheng opened the box, which was filled with silver notes and a snuff bottle.

Upon seeing the familiar snuff bottle, Shen Hao coughed.

This thing, it's true, whoever Shen Hao gives it to will be unlucky.

So he smiled and said, "Mayor Cao, please speak frankly. We've worked together before, no need to be so polite."

Cao Yuanzheng sighed and said, "Last time, I attended the hearing in place of General Zhao, but I offended the President because I said the wrong thing."

Because of this incident, General Manager Zhao was forced to step down, and my current position is also precarious.

Nowadays, my former colleagues and friends avoid me as if I were a plague.

I had no other choice but to seek help from Governor Shen.

Shen Hao nodded and said, "Mayor Cao, how would you like me to help you?"

Cao Yuanzheng said, "I have no other ambitions to compete. I just want to land safely and retire peacefully."

Shen Hao said, "I will plead for you on your behalf with the President during the Governors' Meeting."

Cao Yuanzheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you so much, Governor Shen. A safe landing is the greatest favor I can ask for. I dare not ask for more."

After saying that, he sighed, and his body became much more hunched over.

The domineering and arrogant demeanor he displayed when they first met Shen Hao was gone.

All that's left is the end and humiliation; all the energy and spirit have been drained away.

Shen Hao pushed the money towards Cao Yuanzheng, saying, "We've been colleagues, and Mayor Cao is my old superior, so let's forget about this money."

Cao Yuanzheng hurriedly said, "You must take this money, Governor Shen."

These days, you can't get anything done without spending money; otherwise, who would do anything for you?

Even pleading for mercy from Governor Shen cost money.

You are using my money to do things for me.

You must take this money.

Shen Hao laughed and said, "Since that's the case, then fine, I'll use your money to do your thing."

"Yes, yes, that makes sense."

After Cao Yuanzheng left, Shen Hao did not rush to plead for leniency, but instead planned to investigate the matter first.

What if I accidentally offend Yuan Shikai's silver dollar? Wouldn't that bring me bad luck?

Only a fool would do something like that.

I looked at the silver notes; they were worth about 50,000 silver dollars, plus the snuff bottle from before.

Three days later, the Governor-General's Conference was convened.

The purpose of this meeting is obvious to everyone.

That is, Yuan Shikai wanted to remove the title of Provisional President and become the official president.

Yuan Shikai's regime relied on the support of the Beiyang Army. However, with the establishment of the Republic of China, it was no longer the Qing Dynasty, and relying on force was insufficient to win over the people.

Everything must be discussed legitimately and openly.

Under a democratic republic, if Yuan Shikai wanted to go from provisional president to formal president and seize power, he had to go through the process of popular election.

The biggest obstacle was the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China.

One provision in the Provisional Constitution stipulated that "within ten months of the implementation of this Constitution, the Provisional President shall convene a National Assembly."

"The constitution is drafted by a vote of Congress," and the official president should be elected in accordance with the law after the constitution is promulgated.

In other words, the constitution should be drafted first, and then a president should be elected.

The presence of a treaty in the constitution that limits the president's power displeased Yuan Shikai.

This path to democratic politics was completely contrary to Yuan Shikai's will.

To change this rule, one must control Congress and manipulate elections.

Fortunately, the Second Revolution provided Yuan Shikai with an excellent opportunity.

Due to the "Second Revolution," some Kuomintang members of parliament were arrested and killed, while others were won over, divided, and bought off, leading to the gradual disintegration of the National Assembly.

Yuan Shikai's power also reached its peak.

No one can stop it anymore, so convening Congress is necessary.

10 month 3 day.

Shen Hao and other governors and ministers all arrived at the National Assembly Hall.

There are guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, the security is very tight.

Three Maxim machine guns and a mortar stood guard at the entrance.

Obviously, this is to prevent anyone from causing trouble.

Amid the terrifying atmosphere of heavily armed military and police personnel, the members of parliament who attended the meeting all wore solemn expressions.

In the Capitol Hall, Shen Hao sat in the first row.

In front of him were Vice President and Governor of Jiangxi, Li Yuanhong, and General Jin Quan, among others.

Those sitting in the same row as Shen Hao were all governors, and they were all old acquaintances.

Governor-General of Sichuan: Hu Jingyi; Governor-General of Shaanxi: Zhang Fenghui; Governor-General of Hubei: Duan Zhigui; Governor-General of Yunnan: Tang Jirao; Governor-General of Hunan: Tang Xiangming.

Following them were two of the three heroes of Beiyang: Duan Qirui, the Chief of the Army, and Feng Guozhang, the Governor-General of Zhili.

Below are Zhang Xun, the governor of Jiangsu, who commands the "Pigtail Army"; Long Jiguang, the newly appointed governor of Guangxi; Zhou Ziqi, the governor of Shandong; Zhu Rui, the governor of Zhejiang; and Yan Laoxi, the governor of Shanxi.

In addition, there were the Fengtian Military Governor, Jilin Military Governor Chen Zhaochang, Heilongjiang Military Governor, Fujian Military Governor, and so on.

There were more than twenty governors alone, and these were all powerful figures.

The following officials were mostly civil servants, such as the Minister of Education and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as provincial governors (civil administration officials).

Following them were the division commanders, such as Cao Kun, Zhang Zuolin, and Feng Delin.

There were several hundred people in the hall, and those at the back had no seats.

It can be said that Shen Hao's current status has surpassed that of his teachers.

When Cao Kun saw Shen Hao, his face darkened and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

The hatred for my seventh brother, Cao Ying, is irreconcilable.

Shen Hao also held a grudge; he hadn't forgotten what happened in the outskirts of Beijing last time.

These division commanders and governors all harbored ulterior motives.

Shen Hao smiled slightly and greeted him, "Commander Cao, how have you been? Still alive?"

····Requesting flowers·· ···

"Governor Shen is so young and bears such heavy responsibilities, isn't he afraid of being crushed by the weight?"

Shen Hao laughed and said, "Commander Cao, don't worry. I'm young and healthy. With your physique, you'll definitely die before me."

Seeing the two men exchanging heated words, everyone was enjoying the spectacle.

I couldn't be happier if the two of them started fighting.

Tang Jirao, Duan Zhigui, and others all helped Shen Hao.