In 1916, in the turbulent situation, Yuan Shikai intended to become emperor, which plunged the whole country into a quagmire of chaos. However, he did not willingly choose this path of self-destruction.
Although he suffered from a variety of diseases, this did not diminish his sense of responsibility and ambition for the country. Yuan Shikai has always dreamed of realizing China's reunification and prosperity, and he has worked hard for many years to achieve this. However, the decision to claim the emperor drew opposition and anger from the entire population, who saw it as an act of betrayal of revolutionary ideals.
In the middle of the night, Yuan Shikai paced alone in the palace, his heart full of sorrow and unwillingness. He could not accept the deviation between his ideals and reality, nor could he tolerate the country falling apart by his actions. The qi in his stomach burned his body like a flame, and he knew that he had reached a desperate situation from which he could not turn back.
Tired of it, Yuan Shikai returned to his bedroom. He lay in bed, thinking about his life and the dreams he had fought for. He knew that his body had reached its limit, and the pendulum of life was slowly swinging.
On that silent night, Yuan Shikai felt his life passing, and he sighed deeply. He realized that the country needed a unified leader, not an isolated emperor. He understood that the unity and prosperity he sought could not be achieved through the power of the individual.
Finally, Yuan Shikai closed his eyes, and his heart was full of regret and endless thinking. He embarked on the path of self-destruction, not out of personal selfish desires and ambitions, but out of painful choices for the country and the people. He will always become a complex and contradictory figure in history, and his dreams and efforts will also be eternally commemorated in the long river of history.
Yuan Shikai's last words to his son on his deathbed were moving
The dying Yuan Shikai lay on the bed, breathing weakly and rapidly. He realized that his death was imminent, so he called his son Yuan Keding. Yuan Shikai specially instructed about the aftermath, which made his son feel puzzled and confused.
"You don't have to come out to send each other when you come out of the funeral, I have already set up a team to send spirits, you help me stabilize the rear at home, if you encounter someone in red, shoot and kill directly." This will made Yuan Keding fall into a fog, and he couldn't understand why his father would give such instructions.
Thinking about this puzzling will, Yuan began to recall his relationship with his father. Although Yuan Shikai is his biological father, Yuan Keding has felt his father's alienation and coldness towards him since he was a child. Yuan Shikai always focused more attention and expectations on other people, especially the man named Duan Zhigui.
Duan Zhigui is no one else, he is Yuan Shikai's godson. When Yuan Shikai was stationed at the small station, Duan Zhigui was a junior officer under him. However, Duan Zhigui is not satisfied with his current situation, he is ambitious and eager to achieve higher status and power. In order to achieve his goals, he resorted to all means, including lies and betrayal.
Yuan Keding knew these things, and he had witnessed Duan Zhigui unscrupulous in order to achieve his goals. He had seen Duan Zhigui colluding with some outlaws, and had even heard about his conspiracy to usurp the throne. Although Yuan Keding did not receive a complete explanation from his father, he began to understand that his father's will was closely related to Duan Zhigui.
At the small station where Yuan Shikai was stationed, Duan Zhigui was dissatisfied with his identity and status, and longed for higher power and status. To achieve his goals, he resorted to a variety of means, including the use of personal relationships and pimping.
When he learned that Yuan Shikai was his greatest leader, Duan Zhigui ran hard to ask Yuan Shikai for peace. He showed great enthusiasm and courtesy, regarded Yuan Shikai as his rebirth parent, and respectfully saluted and asked for peace. Yuan Shikai was puzzled by Duan Zhigui's actions, after all, there was no direct kinship between them. However, under Duan Zhigui's explanation, Yuan Shikai could only push the boat along the water to accept this favor.
After becoming Yuan Shikai's godson, Duan Zhigui enjoyed higher treatment than other officers. He quickly rose to the rank of Beiyang Patrol Police General Office, relying on his personal connections and wisdom to achieve success in the official arena. He knows how to be courteous, can speak well, and always shows a respectful and diligent attitude towards dignitaries. For peers or subordinates, he puts on an arrogant posture and squeezes the other party to meet his own interests.
Although Duan Zhigui was a villain in the eyes of ordinary people, he gained great benefits in the officialdom with his pimping skills. He knew that Yuan Shikai was as as him, and in order to cater to his tastes, Duan Zhigui constantly looked for young and beautiful women and offered them to Yuan Shikai. He didn't care about the origin of these women, as long as they were outstanding, they could get Yuan Shikai's favor.
Yuan Shikai was pleased with his godson's filial piety, and he satisfied Duan Zhigui's request and constantly granted him higher official titles and knighthoods. Duan Zhigui's ambitions began to be satisfied, and he went further and further on the road of power by pimping and exploiting Yuan Shikai's lecherous heart.
Betrayal and Intrigue: Yuan Shikai's decisive duel against his godson Duan Zhigui
Yuan Shikai sat in the study, pondering the past and his godson Duan Zhigui. He recalled Duan Zhigui's initial enthusiasm and loyalty, when he admired the young and promising officer, saw his ambition and determination, and decided to take him as his godson.
However, as time passed, Yuan Shikai began to perceive Duan Zhigui's apparent flattery and flattery, but behind it was his own interest calculation. Yuan Shikai is not an easy fool, he sees everything from the perspective of political struggle, understanding that the game of power is often accompanied by betrayal and deception.
Yuan Shikai noticed Duan Zhigui's cunning and ruthlessness. He heard that Duan Zhigui was domineering among the people, robbing people and women, and rushing people's lives. These crimes aroused Yuan Shikai's anger and alarm, and he understood that Duan Zhigui was far beyond his control.
At the same time, Yuan Shikai also discovered Duan Zhigui's political ambitions for himself. He realized that if he was alive, Duan Zhigui would have been trying to usurp his power and family property. Yuan Shikai did not want to see his son subjected to Duan Zhigui's treachery and persecution.
In order to protect his family property and protect his son's future, Yuan Shikai made up his mind. He decided to eliminate Duan Zhigui and erase him from the political scene forever.
Yuan Shikai orchestrated an elaborate trap. He pretended to be ignorant of Duan Zhigui and continued to give him trust and treatment, while secretly trying in every possible way to collect evidence to reveal Duan Zhigui's criminal deeds. Yuan Shikai knew that only with enough evidence could everyone understand Duan Zhigui's true face.
Finally, Yuan Shikai prepared a grand banquet and invited many high-ranking officials and cronies. This was Duan Zhigui's last chance, and he wanted to show loyalty and allegiance to Yuan Shikai.
However, when Duan Zhigui came solemnly to see him off wearing a bright red robe, Yuan Shikai's plan had an accident. Duan Zhigui and Yuan Keding, Yuan Shikai's son, had a fierce firefight. Although Duan Zhigui managed to escape Yuan Keding's pursuit, his body suffered great damage from his indulgent lifestyle.
epilogue
Duan Zhigui's lifestyle did not escape his fate after all. Although he once fought through the bureaucracy, chasing power and wealth, his path was full of indulgence and moral turpitude.
As he grew older, Duan Zhigui's body gradually began to have problems. He indulges in the entertainment of playing mahjong all night, promiscuous with women, and completely indulges his desires. This debauched lifestyle caused serious damage to his body, causing his health to gradually deteriorate.
In the end, the gears of fate stopped in Tianjin in 1925. In that year, Duan Zhigui fell ill due to long-term indulgence and bad habits, and eventually died at the age of 56.
His death did not cause much sadness and regret. In people's eyes, Duan Zhigui was a morally corrupt and conscientious figure, who brought misfortune and destruction to himself with his actions.
Duan Zhigui's life is a cautionary tale to make careful choices about their lifestyle. Indulgence and depravity can only lead to destruction and tragedy, while true happiness and success come from moral adherence and conscience guidance.
Although Duan Zhigui's life is not hard to look back on, his story also brings us enlightenment. It is hoped that people will learn from his tragedy, pursue true happiness and achievement, and pave a path of life full of meaning and justice guided by integrity and goodness.
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