Wang Simiao was the only one in the Beijing Party Group without a substantive post. His father was a *Jinshi* (metropolitan graduate) in the Tongzhi era. Wang Simiao studied under his father's strict orders since childhood, but by the time the court abolished the imperial examination, he had only passed the *Xiucai* (county level) exam. It wasn't that Wang Simiao's studies were much worse than others, but because he didn't like practicing calligraphy. The imperial examination in the late Qing Dynasty didn't pay much attention to articles anymore; whether the handwriting was good or not was a key factor. Wang Simiao was beaten a lot since childhood for practicing calligraphy. Under such high pressure, Wang Simiao's disgust for the Manchu Qing system was deep-rooted. So failing the imperial examination, Wang Simiao was unwilling to be an official, just relying on connections in officialdom to do some quick speculative business.

These days, as the political situation of the court entered a stalemate, Wang Simiao was full of thoughts about how to benefit from this situation. Thinking left and right but finding no way, he had to swallow his pride and ask Zheng Wenjie for advice. After all, the two had reached a preliminary small alliance relationship. As an exchange of interests for sharing the intelligence system, Zheng Wenjie had to give Wang Simiao advice.

After listening to Wang Simiao's ideas, Zheng Wenjie asked with a smile, "Brother Wang, how do you want to make a profit?"

Hearing this, Wang Simiao felt unhappy in his heart. If he already knew how to make a profit, why would he come to ask Zheng Wenjie for a way? Zheng Wenjie's condescending habitual attitude had always been unlikable. In everyone's eyes, Zheng Wenjie was a person who loved to grasp power. Since joining the Beijing Party Group, Zheng Wenjie had been committed to obtaining leadership status. He squeezed out Chen Ke and drove away Chai Qingguo. After Chen Ke and Shang Yuan left, Zheng Wenjie acted even more freely. Everyone came from officialdom; how could they not understand Zheng Wenjie's thoughts? Many people, including Wang Simiao, instinctively resisted Zheng Wenjie.

But Wang Simiao had to admit that Zheng Wenjie had real talent. Talking about politics, Wang Simiao never thought he was worse than others. He firmly believed that he didn't pass the *Juren* exam only because of the system. At least in the Beijing Party Group, Wang Simiao felt he could definitely rank in the top three. Until seeing Zheng Wenjie's performance with his own eyes, Wang Simiao had to admit that he was not as excellent as he imagined.

After receiving the news of Chen Ke's success, the Beijing Party Group didn't form a unified view at all. Even Wang Simiao himself only thought of establishing an "intelligence traffic line" with Chen Ke because of business reasons. At this time, Zheng Wenjie didn't waver at all. After discussing with Wang Simiao privately, he almost forced Wang Simiao to agree not to make the traffic line public for the time being. The two temporarily monopolized the intelligence exchanges with Chen Ke. This resolute and decisive approach really compelled admiration.

"Brother Zheng, do you have any good plan?" Wang Simiao endured the unhappiness in his heart and said with an expression of seeking advice.

Seeing Wang Simiao so keen on making a profit, Zheng Wenjie had to advise with good intentions, "Brother Wang, it's not that I refuse to help you. Now the situation is chaotic and unclear. Unless you are willing to stand on the cusp of the storm, where is the opportunity? Seeking wealth in danger is correct, but one side must be able to win. I see neither side can win now. Why are you anxious?"

Zheng Wenjie's words were truly from the bottom of his heart. He had already made a plan to exclude Wang Simiao from the "intelligence line." As soon as an intelligence agreement was reached with Chen Ke, the plan to monopolize the intelligence line could begin. So at this stage, he had to keep Wang Simiao in check no matter what and not let him get into trouble.

Wang Simiao had prejudice against Zheng Wenjie. Zheng Wenjie said not to get involved in the recent chaotic political situation easily; Wang Simiao's understanding was that Zheng Wenjie prepared to monopolize the benefits. He couldn't help tapping, "Brother Zheng, the benefits in front of us are so big now; can you monopolize them alone? Since we are cooperating, why not treat each other frankly?"

These words startled Zheng Wenjie. He thought Wang Simiao had figured out the vast future benefits of cooperating with Chen Ke. At this time, Zheng Wenjie had to deal with it with ambiguous words first. "People say the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Betting must be placed on the oriole. But where is this oriole so easy to find?"

Wang Simiao stared at Zheng Wenjie. Since acknowledging Zheng Wenjie's political vision, Wang Simiao believed that Zheng Wenjie had already chosen the final winner. Hearing Zheng Wenjie say this, Wang Simiao couldn't help asking, "If neither Beiyang nor the Pure Stream can win, then who is the final winner? Please explain to me, Brother Zheng."

Seeing Wang Simiao's look so serious, Zheng Wenjie immediately figured out what Wang Simiao's tapping words just now meant. It turned out that Wang Simiao didn't count Chen Ke in the category of the oriole at all; his mind was full of thoughts about how to benefit from the immediate court situation. Having figured this out, Zheng Wenjie couldn't help making a judgment on Wang Simiao in his heart: "Short-sighted."

Even within Beiyang, Zheng Wenjie was considered a radical. Zheng Wenjie was also a *Xiucai*. The reason he didn't continue to take the *Juren* exam was that he felt he couldn't pass, so he didn't even have this thought. After obtaining the title of *Xiucai*, Zheng Wenjie defected to Beiyang cleanly. Although the Beiyang clique relied heavily on Prince Qing, the struggle between the Beiyang clique and the Manchu stubborn faction was quite fierce. After the south had shown limited disobedience to the court through "Mutual Protection of Southeast China," the Beiyang clique, with Zhili as its core foundation, hoped to eventually gain dominance in court administration by suppressing the Manchu group.

Zheng Wenjie followed Wang Shizhen around and saw many things with his own eyes. Zheng Wenjie was more radical than most people in Beiyang. He firmly believed that the Manchu Qing couldn't hold on. The Manchu ruling class actually allowed the Beiyang clique to expand to this extent. From a historical perspective, it was only a matter of time before the Beiyang clique replaced the Manchu Qing.

The reason Zheng Wenjie bet on Chen Ke was that he had seen clearly that the Beiyang clique didn't recognize the situation clearly at all. The idea of most high-level officials was to seize the dominance of court administration, not to replace it. Chen Ke, like Zheng Wenjie, firmly believed that the demise of the Manchu Qing was imminent. So when Chen Ke had few people in his hands, he dared to make up his mind to overthrow the Manchu Qing. In contrast, the Beiyang clique already showed obvious lethargy.

Seeing Wang Simiao was like the people of Beiyang, with his mind full of struggles within the court, Zheng Wenjie felt relieved instead. Wang Simiao would absolutely not compete with him for cooperation opportunities with Chen Ke. Since Wang Simiao was so disappointing, Zheng Wenjie thought there was no need to save Wang Simiao anymore. He laughed, "Brother Wang, think about it. Beiyang is no longer favored by the Empress Dowager, and Cen Chunxuan won't win either. The Empress Dowager is advanced in years and must always consider matters after her death. Brother Wang has read history books; how was it done in history at this time?"

Wang Simiao didn't read books very well; he got a headache looking at big history books. After hearing Zheng Wenjie finish, Wang Simiao simply asked directly, "Brother Zheng might as well speak frankly."

"Brother Wang, if you want to find that oriole, ignore how the stage sings. Just find the person the Empress Dowager will ultimately trust after the dust settles."

"The person the Empress Dowager trusts?" Wang Simiao didn't quite understand.

"Not the person the Empress Dowager trusts, but the person the Empress Dowager will *ultimately* trust." Zheng Wenjie laughed.

Zheng Wenjie's words were very mysterious; Wang Simiao didn't understand at all. The people in the court, whether Yuan Shikai or Cen Chunxuan, looked like they were trusted and relied upon by Cixi. And among other powerful people, who wasn't trusted by Cixi? If he wanted to find the person Cixi ultimately trusted from among them, it was really hard to judge.

"Please speak more clearly, Brother Zheng." Wang Simiao asked urgently.

"The one the Empress Dowager ultimately trusts is neither the Constitutionalists nor the Royalists. Those who can only gain power by relying on the Empress Dowager's support are the ones the Empress Dowager ultimately trusts." Zheng Wenjie simply made it completely clear. "These people on stage now all want the Empress Dowager's support. They are actually not the Empress Dowager's people. If the Empress Dowager passes away and the Emperor rules personally, this group of people can still stand on the court without the Empress Dowager. Do you think the Empress Dowager can really trust this group of people? Now some people in the court are unwilling to create waves anymore, so Cen Chunxuan, who caused such a big thing, definitely has no chance. And since the Empress Dowager can attack Lord Yuan, she naturally won't let Lord Yuan continue to be so glorious. So, since Brother Wang wants to bet, then defect to the Empress's Party (Hou Dang)."

This analysis was very reasonable. The problem was that Zheng Wenjie overestimated Wang Simiao's ability. After thinking for a long time, Wang Simiao still asked the question he cared about most, "Brother Zheng, which lord do you think I should follow?"

If someone else asked this, Zheng Wenjie would have said unpleasant words long ago. Wang Simiao now held the initial intelligence line, so Zheng Wenjie really couldn't do this. He laughed, "Brother Wang might as well try Prince Chun Zai Feng. Investigating the Yang Cuixi case this time, the Empress Dowager personally appointed Zai Feng. It can be seen that the Empress Dowager thinks this person can be entrusted with heavy responsibilities. And although Zai Feng doesn't understand government affairs, he knows when to advance and retreat. After investigating the Yang Cuixi case, he jointly signed the document and then resigned. He can be considered daring to take responsibility and knowing the general situation. Plus Zai Feng is young and has no wings of his own. If Brother Wang takes his path, there will definitely be gains."

Wang Simiao never expected Zheng Wenjie to recommend Zai Feng. Zai Feng was only twenty-four this year and had no popularity at all. Defecting to Zai Feng, when would there be a future? "Brother Zheng, do you have other recommendations?" Wang Simiao was very unhappy with this recommendation.

"Brother Wang, you came to me because you trust me. I am very grateful for this high regard. Since you trust me, why should I deceive you, Brother Wang? Think about it, other people are high-ranking and powerful; even if you go, Brother Wang, you won't be taken seriously. Zai Feng is so young; suddenly getting someone to defect to him, how do you think he will treat you?"

Wang Simiao was still reluctant and kept asking Zheng Wenjie to give another suggestion. But Zheng Wenjie insisted on Zai Feng. He simply didn't recommend anyone else. Seeing he really couldn't twist it, Wang Simiao had to give up.

And the change of events proved Zheng Wenjie's foresight once again. Wang Simiao focused on Zai Feng's connections starting from the end of May. At this time, Zai Feng had already taken office as the Commander-in-Chief of the Plain Red Banner Manchu, responsible for the Jianrui Camp affairs. Although this position was high, it was just the internal affairs of the Manchus themselves. In this era when the court was building the New Army, adjusting the official system, and preparing for constitutionalism, everyone thought the power of the Manchus was destined to be greatly limited. Although these official positions and powers looked high, they were just embroidered pillows.

After Wang Simiao defected to Zai Feng, he received considerable courtesy. Not long after the subordinate relationship between the two sides was confirmed, on June 19, Cixi suddenly appointed Zai Feng to "walk in the Grand Council." This young man of only twenty-four suddenly intervened in the power center of the Manchu Qing and became a hot new noble. Consequently, Wang Simiao's political speculation also achieved great success.

Because he followed the right master, Wang Simiao immediately became busy. Zheng Wenjie also got peace and quiet. At this time, his cousin had brought back Chen Ke's message. Chen Ke sent someone to Beijing to establish a liaison station. In the future, Zheng Wenjie only needed to hand over the latest collected news directly to the Beijing liaison. Without Chen Ke specifically explaining, Zheng Wenjie already understood that the intelligence line reached between Chen Ke and Wang Simiao had become a less important line. Zheng Wenjie was very satisfied in his heart. He not only reached a tacit agreement with Chen Ke but also could obtain intelligence he couldn't access before through Wang Simiao's line.

Wang Simiao had a handle in Zheng Wenjie's hands, so he dared not touch Zheng Wenjie. As long as Chen Ke's forces were not destroyed devastatingly, Zheng Wenjie himself already possessed an unbreakable position.

The Beijing Party Group was no longer the organization when Chen Ke was there. Chen Ke wanted to gather comrades willing to practice revolution personally back then. He had long stated, "Without the consciousness of tying one's head to the belt and starting from farming, that is not really wanting revolution." This was also the real reason for Zheng Wenjie's dissatisfaction with Chen Ke. Zheng Wenjie didn't want to practice personally in this era at all; Zheng Wenjie knew clearly that this was not what he was good at.

Seemingly operating an intelligence organization in obscurity, although not famous, but hiding high behind the curtain of history, manipulating the progress of history—this was the position Zheng Wenjie hoped to possess in this era. Whether Manchu Qing, Beiyang, Chen Ke, or whatever forces in the future. What Zheng Wenjie hoped for was to witness them running under his intelligence manipulation. This feeling, this self-recognition was what Zheng Wenjie needed.

After Chen Ke established the People's Party's specialized intelligence line, news from inside the Beijing court was transmitted to Anhui unimpeded. These materials presented a large part of the "Dingwei Political Tide" that would decide the fate of the Manchu Qing to Chen Ke. Chen Ke didn't know about such a political struggle originally. Now the time he got this news was only two days later than Beijing.

Since the dismissal of Censor Zhao Qilin, the reaction of the Censorate aspect of the Beijing court was the strongest. The *Peking Gazette* hosted by Wang Kangnian, a disciple of Qu Hongji, published a special issue: "Officials gathered at Songshan Thatched Cottage to plan a joint petition to support Censor Zhao." On May 19, Censor Zhao Binglin submitted a memorial stating that censors should not be punished, and speech paths should not be blocked, and protested by resigning. Censor Yun Yuding also drafted a memorial "Censors should not be punished for retaliation," opposing Zhao's dismissal. On May 23, Jiang Chunlin submitted another memorial, detailing various doubts in the reply of Zai Feng and Sun Jianai, demanding the court overthrow the case and reinvestigate.

But these attacks were already a spent arrow. The position of Yikuang and others stabilized again. In the turning political tide, Yikuang and others were able to escape adversity. besides Sun Jianai, Xu Shichang, Cheng Xun, and others pleading for them, there were two key people. One was Grand Secretary and Grand Councilor Shi Xu. His relationship with Yi and Yuan was originally close, and he worried that Qu and Cen would be used, "suffering Old Qing and Yi in vain, which is not beneficial to Manchus." So, during a solo audience one day after the "Yang Cuixi Case" broke out, he pointed out with hidden meaning that Yikuang and Chunxuan "have long had grievances," making "Cixi's mind slightly relieved." The other was Yikuang's daughter, the Fourth Princess. She was Cixi's pet, "crying and stating grievances for her father and brother day and night." Of course, more importantly, the strength of the Beiyang clique far exceeded the Incorruptible Faction, and Cixi hadn't finally made up her mind to abandon Beiyang.

May 27 to August 21 was the third stage. After disintegrating the offensive of the Incorruptible Faction, the Beiyang clique began to organize a counterattack.

When Cen Chunxuan first arrived in Beijing, Cixi allowed him to enter for an audience at any time. Cen didn't decline either, repeatedly asking for an audience or submitting memorials, speaking without restraint, causing frequent waves in the court and the public. Cixi thus gradually had "intentions of weariness." Yi and Yuan took the opportunity to use strategies, letting Liangguang Governor-General Zhou Fu and Min-Zhe Governor-General Song Shou send telegraphs one after another reporting that the Triads in Raoping, Huanggang, Qinlian, and other places "combined to loot," difficult to pacify. On May 27, Yikuang had a "solo audience" with Cixi, vigorously exaggerating the military situation in Liangguang, claiming that no one but Cen Chunxuan could pacify it, and proposing to let Cen serve as Governor-General of Liangguang again, which was agreed by Cixi. Cen and Qu didn't know the content and couldn't take countermeasures. Soon, the edict for Cen Chunxuan to take office as Governor of Guangdong was issued clearly. Cen Chunxuan, who had been Minister of Posts and Communications for only 25 days, was squeezed out of Beijing. Cen was surprised and angry, shouting: "The court employs people like this! Since there is today, why move me from Dian and Shu back then?" Immediately submitted a memorial, pleading illness and unwillingness to take office. On the 23rd, the Qing court ordered him to take office again. Cen wanted to meet the Two Palaces to redeem the situation, but was also dismissed hurriedly by Cixi with a few words. Cen knew that the capital could no longer tolerate him, and was unwilling to go to Guangdong angrily, so he had to use his old trick again, returning to Shanghai under the name of recuperating.

One of the two commanders of the Incorruptible Faction was gone, and their strength was greatly reduced. The Beiyang clique made persistent efforts and aimed at Qu Hongji again. On May 23, Censor Yun Yuding, who had once tended towards the Incorruptible Faction in the political tide, went to Tianjin to discuss Beijing-Tianjin railway matters with Yuan Shikai. During this period, he was won over by Yuan and accepted a bribe of 18,000 gold, willing to be a hired gun. On June 16, Yun submitted the memorial impeaching Qu Hongji drafted by Yang Shiqi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce. The next day, Qu was dismissed. Yun's impeachment memorial pinned four crimes on Qu: 1. Secretly communicating with newspapers; 2. Instructing censors; 3. Secretly connecting with external aid; 4. Distributing partisans. A prominent Grand Councilor was dismissed quickly without investigation, causing widespread suspicion among people. Another important figure of the Incorruptible Faction, Grand Councilor Lin Shaonian, publicly protested after the decree was issued, "How is this enough to convince people?" When entering for duty with the shift, he strongly requested an investigation. Cixi couldn't shirk, so she had to let Sun Jianai and Tie Liang investigate this matter, but declared, "Lin wants to investigate; I don't know how to investigate?" Sun Jianai asked for the original impeachment memorial. Cixi actually replied: "You just investigate; why need the original memorial?" Sun and Tie naturally wouldn't ask for a snub; the Qu case ended up with nothing definite.

The Incorruptible Faction lost power, but Cen Chunxuan still held the title of Governor of Guangdong. Moreover, this gentleman was quite unwilling to be lonely. Before leaving Beijing, he submitted more than ten memorials in a row, discussing court politics everywhere. To eliminate future trouble thoroughly, Beiyang hit Cen when he was down again. On June 1, a partisan of Beiyang detected that Cen was going to Shanghai and sent a secret telegram to Liangjiang Governor-General Duan Fang: "Xilin Cen Chunxuan leaves Beijing as soon as his leave expires. No other intention, but no tolerance for him looking elsewhere." On July 8, Censor Chen Qinggui impeached Cen for "repeatedly transferring but not going, arrogant and lawless, rare in more than two hundred years." The attachment listed Cen's four major crimes of "greed, violence, arrogance, deception," and there were many implications of Sheng Xuanhuai, saying Cen and Sheng relied on power to operate enterprises jointly. The memorial also mentioned that Cen had relationships with the "rebel party" Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Mai Menghua, etc., and repeatedly "courteously invited" Mai Menghua to "assist the shogunate (staff)." But after the memorial was submitted, Cixi only extracted the two articles implicating Sheng Xuanhuai and handed them to Duan Fang to secretly investigate Sheng Xuanhuai who was in Shanghai at the time, while keeping the content impeaching Cen in the palace. Seeing that they couldn't fundamentally shake Cixi's trust in Cen, Beiyang adopted a more powerful killer move. Regarding the specific details of this "killer move," contemporaries and later generations have considerable accounts, but opinions vary and no one agrees. The more popular version is planning the so-called "fake photo incident," that is, Liangjiang Governor-General Duan Fang forged a group photo of Cen with Kang, Liang, Mai Menghua, and others in front of the *Shi Bao* (The Eastern Times) office through Yuan's partisan Cai Naihuang, gave it to Yi and Yuan, and Yikuang presented it to Cixi face to face during a solo audience. Cixi was shocked and terrified after seeing it and dismissed Cen from his post immediately.

Seeing that Beiyang actually provided "composite photos," Chen Ke couldn't help shaking his head repeatedly. He regretted very much why he didn't bring a laptop when he went shopping before time traveling. Using PS software to synthesize photos would definitely be much more realistic than the composite photos of 1907.

But not long after, new news came. Chen Ke was like a butterfly suddenly flying into this era, and the butterfly effect would eventually show up. Suddenly someone made Chen Ke's relationship with Yuan Shikai public, and the "court was shaken."