Big shots were never that easy to meet. It wasn't necessarily that those people were arrogant and rude, but rather that too many people wanted to meet them. Big shots were busy with affairs; where would they have so much time to meet irrelevant idlers? Chen Ke was somewhat undecided about what reason to use to meet Yuan Shikai (Big Head Yuan). Meeting Yuan Shikai as Yan Fu's disciple was clearly going to ask for an official position or express Yan Fu's goodwill towards Yuan Shikai. If he went in the name of doing honeycomb briquette business, the gatekeeper at Yuan Shikai's door would probably beat Chen Ke back.

Moreover, historically, Yuan Shikai had been very busy these years, training the Beiyang New Army and establishing the police system. Yuan Shikai went all out on these two things and did them impressively. He shouldn't have time to receive a nobody like Chen Ke.

Shang Yuan basically agreed with Chen Ke's view, but he thought Yuan Shikai might not refuse to meet Chen Ke. If Yuan Shikai saw Yan Fu's letter and still didn't meet Chen Ke, then given Yan Fu's character, he would absolutely not have given Chen Ke this letter. Adopting the attitude of treating a dead horse as a living horse (trying a desperate measure), Chen Ke simply took Xie Mingxian and Chai Qingguo to Xiaozhan together.

Yuan Shikai's Beiyang New Army was stationed and training in Xiaozhan. The Beiyang Army was not recorded much in the history textbooks Chen Ke had studied. In the warlord wars before the Northern Expedition, those famous figures were mostly senior generals of the Beiyang New Army. Wu Peifu and Duan Qirui were also famous figures in China. However, they were figures of the older generation. The Manchu Qing fell in 1912, and in 1927, Chiang Kai-shek launched the April 12 Counter-revolutionary Coup. The contradiction between the KMT and the CPC became the sharpest and main contradiction in China. In just 15 years, the Beiyang faction went from being insufferably arrogant to being nobodies. The speed of withering was also considered rapid.

It was winter, and the weather was quite cold. Chen Ke wanted style, not temperature. On his feet was a pair of leather boots purchased in this era. Outside his long underwear were dark blue fine corduroy trousers, a blue-gray woolen sweater, and a gray coat. This was the thickest among the sets of clothes he brought. Outside this set of clothes, Chen Ke put on knee pads and a wool cloak. This heavy clothing often appeared in movies about Northwest swordsmen; actually, this was necessary clothing for riding horses in winter. Any rider who could afford it would have one. At this time, he, Chai Qingguo, and Xie Mingxian all wore such wool cloaks and rode side by side.

"Mr. Chen, I heard you discuss rebellion with those gentlemen. Why is it different from the rebellion discussed among us brothers?" Chai Qingguo had been attending meetings but never spoke. Only when acting alone with Chen Ke, after leaving the city and seeing no one around, did he voice his doubts. Luckily he had such patience. For a *Jianghu* person, such self-control appeared extremely rare.

"Brother Wu explained to everyone how to change from sitting bandits to roving bandits, right?" Chen Ke laughed.

Mentioning the course hosted by Wu Xingchen, Chai Qingguo immediately became interested. "That's right. I really didn't expect there are so many tricks in fighting wars. But Big Brother Wu said it well; if the subordinates are still a group of bandits, this so-called guerrilla warfare won't have a chance to be displayed."

"So we must have a base area, have our own territory. What we are talking about now is base area construction."

Chai Qingguo suddenly realized, "I said it sounded like being an official! From farming to business, and what industry; I really didn't know there were so many tricks."

Chen Ke was very satisfied with Chai Qingguo's comprehension, especially Chai Qingguo's modest attitude. He laughed, "Why is the Beiyang Army more formidable than us? Because they have large tracts of territory, can conscript soldiers, provide money and grain, and manufacture weapons. If we want to fight them, we must also have such territory."

Hearing Chen Ke's words, Chai Qingguo couldn't help laughing. "Doesn't that mean sitting on the throne (ruling the country)? I can't do that. I don't know many characters. Listening to those gentlemen talk about rebellion, presumably, it won't work without being literate. Mr. Chen, Mr. Tianhua and Big Brother Wu are both learned; they went to Brother Pang's place. You also have to recommend a few people to me. If it really doesn't work, let this Mr. Xie go with me."

Chen Ke couldn't find the way to recruit grassroots heroes. Under Pang Zi's absolute resistance to him, the other few heroes also deliberately avoided Chen Ke. Only Chai Qingguo respected him relatively. He couldn't help asking, "Brother Chai, Brother Pang hates scholars very much. Presumably, you also suffered losses from scholars back then..."

"Brother Pang looks rough, but his family is full of scholars. Uncle Jing was not an ordinary big household in Nangong County; that was a big, big, big household. He doesn't like scholars because his family has plenty of scholars. I can't; I don't know a few scholars. Mr. Chen must help me."

These words were penetrating, making Chen Ke feel enlightened. He had always been puzzled why the Revolutionary Party always sent someone to be a military advisor when contacting local heroes back then. In Chen Ke's thought, what could a military advisor relying on lip service do? After listening to Chai Qingguo's words, he suddenly understood. He had just projected himself onto those grassroots heroes. If there was such a "military advisor" beside him, Chen Ke would definitely get rid of him. But grassroots heroes might be okay at looting houses, but definitely not at construction. They must have their own "private advisor" (*Shier*), that is, a cultured person who could understand accounting and have some means. Pang Zi's own family could provide these people, so Pang Zi's resistance to him was simply certain.

Then should he send someone to go with Chai Qingguo? This idea was denied by Chen Ke as soon as it appeared. The person sent must have strong abilities. At this stage, Chen Ke himself lacked such people around him; where was the extra manpower to send out for development?

Looking at Chai Qingguo's eager eyes, Chen Ke laughed, "Brother Chai, I don't have such people around me. Brother Xie is very important to me; I really can't send him to you."

Hearing this, Chai Qingguo's disappointment overflowed in his words and expressions. Chen Ke knew explaining further would only hurt harmony. He turned the topic to the situation in Shandong.

There was an official road from Beijing to Xiaozhan. Neither Xie Mingxian nor Chen Ke was good at riding horses. Everyone ran for a while and let the horses walk for a while. There wasn't much time to talk on the road. Starting early in the morning, by the afternoon, they saw the camp of the New Army from afar. The closer to the military camp, the more soldiers came and went on the road. Patrol soldiers in groups of five, and scouts in teams of three horses, came and went constantly, giving people a feeling of strict laws. Chai Qingguo and Chen Ke had watched the Hejian Autumn Maneuvers together and seen the ten-thousand-man formation, so they were better off. Where had Xie Mingxian seen such a posture? His face became tense immediately. "We haven't done anything bad; don't show cowardice. The more nervous you look, the more people will make things difficult for you," Chen Ke said quickly to Xie Mingxian.

Xie Mingxian wasn't a young man ignorant of affairs either. At any rate, he had participated in the provincial examination and seen the world. Since what Chen Ke said was correct, Xie Mingxian relaxed his mentality, and his expression also relaxed.

The area of the New Army's barracks was huge, but there were no multi-story buildings inside. The roofs of the military camp could be seen over the walls and fences. There were quite a few of these roofs. Chen Ke suddenly felt that if he really promoted honeycomb briquettes, the sales here should be very good.

When patrol infantry and cavalry passed by Chen Ke, they looked at the three one after another. They saw the three looked calm and maintained composure. Moreover, Chen Ke, a short-haired young man, was in the center, and two people with queues followed on the left and right, which confused them instead. After all, it wasn't wartime now, and patrolling was just routine. Seeing the three heading towards the gate, actually no one stopped them.

"Strong on the outside, weak on the inside. No vigilance at all," Chen Ke laughed in a low voice. Hearing this, Xie Mingxian nodded slightly. Chai Qingguo gave a somewhat exaggerated "En." It seemed he very much wanted to occupy a psychological advantage over the Beiyang Army.

Less than one hundred meters from the gate, Chen Ke asked everyone to dismount and walked over leading the horses. Seeing the three had no hostility, the sentry just stared at them. Arriving at the gate, Chen Ke cupped his hands to the sentry and said loudly, "I am Chen Ke. Entrusted by Mr. Yan Fu, the former Chief Instructor of the Beiyang Naval Academy, I come to pay a visit to Lord Yuan Weiting, the Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang. I have a letter to present."

Official announcements had to be formal. This was most bluffing. Although knowing Chen Ke came to handle this matter, hearing Chen Ke say it loudly like this, Xie Mingxian and Chai Qingguo felt their own status seemed to have risen a lot after hearing it. They felt inexplicably excited and couldn't help straightening their chests a bit.

Seeing Chen Ke's attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and he spoke so confidently, plus the figure mentioned was definitely not someone small soldiers like them could reach, the sentry dared not slight him. Asking Chen Ke to wait at the door, a sentry ran into the guard post to report. A moment later, a person came out. Chen Ke hadn't studied Beiyang shoulder badges, but he looked like a low-level officer. The officer asked Chen Ke's origin. Hearing Chen Ke was sent by Mr. Yan Fu, his attitude immediately became much more respectful. "Mr. Chen, military orders do not allow you to enter the camp. Please wait outside for a moment." After speaking, he went to the side of the guard post, mounted a horse, and galloped into the military camp.

At the door, it wasn't convenient for Chen Ke to speak. It was a cloudy day today. The military camp terrain was flat, and the small wind blowing was really cold enough. Chen Ke always liked to stand straight, looking majestic, but such a posture wasn't conducive to maintaining temperature. Xie Mingxian and Chai Qingguo were already behind the horses, using the horses to block the wind. Chen Ke remained stuck in place motionless. The sentry next to him also leaned back against the camp gate, but this was a wind gap. After blowing for a while, the sentry's face was a bit pale. Chen Ke smiled at him slightly. The sentry forced a smile back and then tucked his hands into his sleeves.

After a good while, two horses ran over. The leader was that low-level officer, and the person behind had the same shoulder badge as Pu Guanshui. After galloping close, everyone could see their faces clearly. Chen Ke saw that person had a long, thin face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, with a few just-healed scars on his face, looking quite fierce. After seeing Chen Ke clearly, that person was obviously surprised. The fierce expression peculiar to soldiers originally softened a lot.

This officer asked Chen Ke's purpose and origin again. Then he asked for that letter. Chen Ke thought this person shouldn't embezzle the letter, so he handed the letter over. The person looked at the letter, sized up Chen Ke again, and then rode in. Chen Ke felt a missing important link, which was asking for a bribe. In these times, asking for bribes was a convention. Was the Beiyang Army relatively special? Or what? Since that mid-level officer went in, Chen Ke simply took out the gift money prepared long ago from his pocket, smiling and talking to the sentry and that low-level officer while handing it up. Both accepted it grinningly without the slightest refusal.

The low-level officer even suggested Chen Ke enter the guard post to avoid the wind. Chen Ke quickly said, "Brother, you reported for me; you have suffered fatigue. There are rules in the military camp. I can't let your kindness to me be seen by the superiors and get you reprimanded. I'll just wait here." The officer didn't force Chen Ke and went into the guard post grinning with the money.

After waiting for another good while, that mid-level officer returned. "Lord Yuan wants to see you," he said simply.

Hearing this news, Chen Ke felt very surprised. Originally, he estimated that after the letter was sent up, he would wait for Yuan Shikai's reception. He was ready to queue and wait here for a few days. Leaving aside Yuan Shikai's own good and evil, Chen Ke could imagine how busy Yuan Shikai's daily work must be. Unexpectedly, he, a nobody, could get a reception from Yuan Shikai, the Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, so quickly relying on a letter. What face this was! Chen Ke felt it incredible instead.

But since Yuan Shikai wanted to see Chen Ke, Chen Ke had to go even if there was a dragon's pool and tiger's den ahead. Chen Ke turned to the two behind him and said, "You go back first. It's inconvenient for me to take you in."

Xie Mingxian and Chai Qingguo looked disappointed hearing this, but this was understandable. Before coming, no one thought Chen Ke could get a reception so quickly. Since it was different from the original plan, everyone just let nature take its course. The two cupped their hands and took their leave.

Chen Ke followed that officer inside. He tried to get close, but that officer remained silent. Chen Ke offered "ceremonial gold" (*yijin*), and the officer accepted it unceremoniously. Taking Chen Ke to a place in the military camp built like a government office (*Yamen*), the two dismounted. The officer took Chen Ke in. Those coming in and out were mid-to-high-level officers. Chen Ke had already taken off the sheepskin coat and put it on the saddle when entering. At this time, this outfit was quite eye-catching. From time to time, someone asked the officer in front who Chen Ke was. In the conversation, he only knew this officer's surname was Wu.

Entering the *Yamen*, turning left and right, they arrived at the door of an office. Officer Wu went in to report first, then came out to take Chen Ke in. As soon as he entered the door, he saw a person sitting behind the desk. Chen Ke had an impression of this face; it was indeed Yuan Shikai's appearance. There was another person standing beside him whom Chen Ke didn't know. This person was quite thin, with a calm expression. Although wearing a military uniform, he looked like a scholar, only without the faint affectation of a scholar; he should be a character. But Chen Ke couldn't care about that much. He bowed deeply and said in Henan dialect, "Greetings to Lord Yuan."

"You are Chen Ke, Chen Wenqing, who wrote that book, right?" Yuan Shikai's Henan dialect made Chen Ke feel quite intimate. But the content of these words surprised Chen Ke quite a bit. *Could it be that Mr. Yan Fu even sent my book to Yuan Shikai?*

"This lowly commoner is exactly Chen Ke." Chen Ke dared not mention the book matter; he could only adopt a simple self-introduction.

The spirit of a big shot was indeed different. Yuan Shikai didn't have so many polite formulas completely. After letting Chen Ke sit down, watching Chen Ke sit steadily on the chair, he couldn't help laughing. "When Brother Jidao (Yan Fu) sent Wenqing's book to me, he also wrote a letter. The letter was very polite, saying Wenqing, you are Brother Jidao's disciple, and hoping I would take care of you in Beijing. As a result, I waited for so long before Wenqing came to see me."

These words were spoken quite cleverly. The core meaning was to ask Chen Ke: *What do you mean? It took you so long to come see me after arriving in Beijing. I gave Yan Fu enough face; how are you going to round out my face?*

Chen Ke absolutely wouldn't reject Yuan Shikai's face, but Chen Ke absolutely couldn't lose Yan Fu's dignity either. Although he didn't know exactly what Yan Fu wrote, he thought it was absolutely not as polite as Yuan Shikai said. He pondered for a moment and said:

"My Lord, before coming to Beijing, my teacher repeatedly instructed that coming to Beijing was for me to travel and learn, not to seek a path of advancement through my teacher's old friends. My teacher knows deeply that Your Lordship cherishes old friendships most and mentioned it many times, so I dared not come to visit Your Lordship rashly."

Hearing this, Yuan Shikai laughed. "Brother Jidao is still so self-disciplined. Since Wenqing says so, presumably you have gained something from traveling in Beijing."

"I once met Pu Guanshui by chance and composed a tune 'The Beiyang New Army is Advancing' together with Pu Guanshui," Chen Ke replied.

Hearing this, Yuan Shikai was slightly surprised. He liked that tune very much. He heard the composer was Pu Guanshui, an officer transferred to the Anhui New Army. Yuan Shikai knew a little about this person; he was a foreign student but shouldn't have any musical foundation. He thought he found someone to do it. But he never expected it was actually composed by Chen Ke. However, since Chen Ke dared to say so, he shouldn't be deceiving him.

"That tune is well done," Yuan Shikai laughed.

"Your Lordship trained a tiger and wolf army; only by composing a majestic tune can I be worthy of such an army." Chen Ke quickly complimented.

Now Yuan Shikai was truly happy. "It seems Wenqing has a lot of fate with my Beiyang. Is Pu Guanshui your friend?"

"No, I only met him in Beijing." Chen Ke simply narrated the process of meeting Pu Guanshui. Then Chen Ke said, "Coming here this time, I really didn't expect Your Lordship to praise this junior so much. I originally planned to present the special medicine when Your Lordship summoned this junior. This time I only came to pay a visit and deliver the letter; the medicine is not with me. I didn't think thoroughly; I hope Your Lordship forgives me."

Yuan Shikai just smiled upon hearing this. Since he was clear about Chen Ke's experience, there was nothing else. "That will trouble Wenqing. Wenqing has drive. If someone else composed that tune, they would have found us long ago. Wenqing only came now; I wonder if there is anything I can help with?"

"I opened a factory in Beijing and made something." Chen Ke briefly stated the matter of honeycomb briquettes. Yuan Shikai just nodded slightly upon hearing the detailed data Chen Ke spoke. After Chen Ke finished the introduction, he then said, "Those with this junior are mostly colleagues from the former Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau. Now that this thing has been made, I am worried about encountering some trouble. So I want to entrust this factory under Beiyang. But knowing no way at all, I boldly came to beg Your Lordship."

Hearing Chen Ke's words, Yuan Shikai just nodded but didn't speak immediately. After a while, this leader of Beiyang said, "I know. This matter need not be rushed. How about this: Wenqing, leave your address, and I will send someone to find you."

Although Yuan Shikai didn't say it explicitly, saying this was equivalent to having made some promises to Chen Ke. Chen Ke naturally thanked him hurriedly. After the business was discussed, everyone chatted idly about Yan Fu's recent situation. Then Yuan Shikai served tea to see the guest off.

After all, it was the *Yamen* of the military camp. When Chen Ke came out, the sheepskin coat and knee pads were still on the saddle. That Officer Wu accompanied Chen Ke out of the military camp, just cupped his hands, and took his leave. Chen Ke looked at this taciturn officer but didn't quite understand his attitude. The conversation time wasn't long. Chen Ke urged the horse to return the way he came. Xie Mingxian's riding skills were poor, so he definitely couldn't walk fast. Thinking about this meeting with Yuan Shikai all the way, Chen Ke felt like he had dreamed a dream. Some details actually couldn't be recalled. Of course, Chen Ke didn't have the guts to stare at Yuan Shikai's face incessantly.

While recalling this meeting and considering the future, he didn't know how far he had run when he saw the familiar figures of two riders in front. Chen Ke shouted to the two while urging his horse to catch up.