(TV series "Towards the Republic")
A contradiction arose between Li Yuanhong and Duan Qirui, and Li Yuanhong's staff took the opportunity to suggest that he take control of the military, on the grounds that although the government practiced a responsible cabinet system, it only referred to politics, and in terms of military affairs, since the president was nominally the grand marshal of the national navy and army, he could not ignore the military - "The grand marshal has no military power, what is the value of the president?" ”
Thinking that he was also the great president and that there was such a huge difference between his actual status and Yuan Shikai, Li Yuanhong took pity on himself and listened to the words of his staff.
Li Yuanhong wanted military power, but Duan Qirui did not give it. Duan Qirui believes that Yuan Shikai's biggest mistake in those years was to set up a command office to concentrate military power, and the reason why he can now control the Beiyang department and stabilize the political situation is that he has military power.
If Xu Shuzheng's appointment as secretary general of the State Council opened the prelude to the Li Duan controversy, the dispute over the authority of the government (the Presidential Office and the State Council) became the first round of the Li Duan struggle.
The fundamental reason why Li Duan has been fighting endlessly and has overly acted fiercely is that there have always been difficult differences between them on the point of who should control the political dominance in Beijing. In Duan Qirui's view, since the government implements a responsible cabinet system, the fuehrer should consciously be a "stamped president" who does not ask questions, and completely hand over political dominance to the cabinet.
In fact, judging from Li Yuanhong's political ability and the resources he possesses, the position of "Emperor Taishang" is indeed more suitable for him. However, the problem is that Li Yuanhong is not very capable, and since taking over as president, he has "asked from not asking, and asked more from asking", and he is increasingly unwilling to do nothing.
If Li Yuanhong, in order to take care of the president's dignity, only picks up some small things like sesame green beans to ask about, it is enough, but he still thinks that small things can not be asked, and big things must be asked!
When Duan Qirui first formed the cabinet, he originally thought that the most difficult thing to deal with in the future would be the Congress, but he did not expect that the first obstacle he encountered was not the Congress, but he fully supported the "President Li Da" who came to power, and the president was even more difficult than the Congress, which made him bear it.
Sometimes annoyed by Li Yuanhong's "to ask" and "ask more", Duan Qirui couldn't help but get angry at the people around him, saying: "I asked him (referring to Li Yuanhong) to sign and seal, not to ask him to press on my head!" ”
(Excerpt from Guanhe Fifty Prefectures "Duan Qirui, Prime Minister of the Republic of China")
The physical book "Duan Qirui, Prime Minister of the Republic of China" has been published and listed.