Feng publicly challenged Yuan Shikai.

When Feng suppressed Wuchang Uprising a few years ago, even Hankou and Hanyang were ready to win Wuchang in one fell swoop, but Yuan Shikai blocked them. On that occasion, he had the idea of replacing Yuan Shikai. This time, this idea is even stronger. With the experience of the last failure, Feng acted more cautiously. Feng certainly felt extremely unhappy about Yuan Shikai's Xiahou _ proclaimed himself emperor. Yuan Shikai claims to be the emperor, and he is even more angry. After complaining in front of the servants, they didn't talk about it again, but sent several cronies to pay close attention to the trend and progress of this matter. At the same time, he kept secret contact with Zhang Xun in Xuzhou, Zhu Jiabao in Zhili and Lu Rongting in Guangxi. When Yuan Shikai claimed to be the most capable lieutenant in the army, Duan secretly sent a telegram to provincial generals and governors, urging them to express their views on constitutional monarchy. Fearing the arrogance of Yuan Shikai's era, most provincial generals expressed their support for Yuan Shikai as emperor. But Yuan Shikai scrutinized the names of these generals, only to find that there were no names such as Feng, Zhang Xun, Zhu Jiabao and Lu Rongting. This greatly annoyed Yuan Shikai and reprimanded Duan, making him continue to persuade these generals. Duan racked his brains and finally came up with a way. He signed autographs with 65,438+00 dignitaries such as Liang Shiyi and Zhu Qiling, and sent telegrams to provincial generals urging them to express their views on constitutional monarchy again. As early as the first time when Feng refused to comment, he had a premonition that the matter was endless, and immediately colluded with Zhang Xun and others to discuss countermeasures. When they received the second batch of 10 dignitaries and urged them to express their secret information, they also joined the army. In addition to several generals, they also signed telegrams from various ministries and the office of the commander-in-chief with Qi Yaolin, governor of Jiangsu Province. Feng led the planning of this joint defense, which was very clever. On the question of the monarchy, it didn't say anything at all, but questioned the paragraph, which pointed out that it was inappropriate to do so. He believes that the Secretary of State should lead the final draft of such an important event, while hundreds of foreign officials should be invited by name and propose that the Senate be the legislative yuan for public discussion, so as to justify and avoid unevenness. When Duan saw this call back, he didn't know what to do. When Yuan Shikai saw this call back, he cursed Duan for incompetence. He is no match for Feng and others at all. This joint reply is reasonable. The problem is that Xu Shichang, the Secretary of State at this time, is the one who opposes the monarchy. He can't lead Chen to ask Yuan Shikai to be emperor. Feng grasped these situations in advance, so he pushed the problem to Xu Shichang, who could not offend himself and the monarchy could not be restored. To be on the safe side, Feng sent this joint secret telegram to all provinces for comments at the same time. Therefore, Tang of Yunnan and Lu Rongting of Guangxi came forward to express their support. Yuan Shikai is not an idle person. What he should do, naturally. Just because he had to be very worried about the attitude of these local government officials, he publicly announced that the change of the state system has a bearing on the overall situation and should solicit the opinions of more citizens. In fact, this is just a gesture, but it is only to temporarily stop the imperial process and make it more perfect. At the same time of this public announcement, Yuan Shikai sent his confidant Ruan Zhongshu south to persuade the generals. First of all, of course, I went to Nanjing to see Feng. I didn't say I wanted to be emperor. I only said that Beiyang Group should unite, even if a few people don't unite, they should take the overall situation into consideration. I don't agree, so it's best not to be tit for tat, or outsiders will laugh. When this was said, Feng, who has always been eloquent, was speechless. Ruan Zhongshu saw this and struck while the iron was hot. He said that the president specifically asked me to tell you that if you can still think of it, you won't. I don't need to express your approval, but neither do you. Don't be tit for tat, it will embarrass the president. Ruan Zhongshu said that speaking of which, he knew that Feng could cook without rice.

When Yuan Shikai saw Feng's secret telegram, he knew that Feng would not be powerless to claim the throne. Although dissatisfied with him, I still feel at ease. 19151211,the Senate held a meeting and passed the book for the second time. The next day, Yuan Shikai reluctantly accepted the throne. Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor, and in February of 18, he appointed Feng as his staff. Three days later, he telegraphed twice and awarded the title of Private Feng. Feng not only opposed Yuan Shikai's claim to be the emperor, but also sincerely believed that it was only suicide and would not last long. With this in mind, Feng rejected all appointments, titles and promotions after Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor. When Yuan Shikai saw Feng so, he became more suspicious of him. In the process of Yuan Shikai's proclaimed himself emperor, his two favorite generals, Feng Heduan, met with opposition. Duan has long been deprived of military power, but Feng is still in power. Yuan Shikai had to guard against this, so he secretly observed Feng. Find an excuse, Yuan Shikai sent Jiang Yanxing and Ruan Zhongshu to Nanjing in the name of inspecting defense and visiting the sick. In addition to monitoring, he secretly shared the spoils with Feng's men. The medical officer arranged by Jiang Yanxing was stationed in Nanjing to treat Feng, in fact, in order to better monitor Feng's condition. Feng obviously saw Yuan Shikai's movements, but he didn't wear them. He just pretended to be in a daze and bided his time. Seeing Jiang Yanxing coming, Feng sat on the bed, grabbed his hand and said with tears on his face that the president was bewitched by the villain. Some people shouldn't believe me. If so, I can go to him as a guard to show my loyalty. In a word, Jiang Yanxing cried foul for Feng in his heart. Send Jiang Yanxing away, get out of bed and send someone to Shanghai. He invited members of the Kuomintang European Affairs Research Association to discuss with Ning. At the moment, I am more convinced that Feng's imperial system won't work. If he did a good job in opposing the imperial system, only when Yuan Shikai's political capital collapsed could he come out and take its place. Therefore, Feng should contact all powerful parties and individuals who oppose absolute monarchy. In addition to the Kuomintang, on June 5438+09 15 18 February 18, Feng also sent someone to meet Liang Qichao, who had just arrived in Shanghai, urging Yunnan to rise up as soon as possible, denouncing the monarchy, and promising strong support, expressing his determination to force Yuan Shikai to abdicate. After Xuan Tong abdicated, the monarchy disappeared from people's minds. Yuan Shikai wants to bring the dead back to life, and the whole country opposes it. 19 15 12.25, Cai E and Tang took the lead, declared Yunnan independence, organized national guards and sent troops to crusade against Yuan Shikai. When the national defense war broke out, as an ally of the national defense army, Feng strongly supported the Yuan War and said to Yunnan: At least, his troops would never aim their guns at the national defense army. Once again, he declared that he fully agreed to overthrow the imperial system and restore peace, and promised to be responsible for making the ministries of Beiyang Army in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River absolutely neutral. When necessary, he will also contact the governor of the Yangtze River to send a telegram asking Yuan Shikai to cancel the imperial system. Feng's statements and commitments have greatly increased the momentum of the National Guard, and various forces have supported it. First Lu Rongting declared Guangxi independence, and then some Beiyang generals have it both ways moved closer to Feng. When Yunnan declared independence, Yuan Shikai appointed Duan as commander-in-chief of Yunnan, and went to Yunnan to crusade against garde nationale in Cai E. After being rejected, he asked Feng to come out as commander-in-chief of Yunnan Army several times in a row. Feng refused to obey. On March 10, Feng suddenly announced in Nanjing that his political status has been gradually determined and he will take a de facto vacation from now on. Feng came out of the mountain at this time in the hope of becoming the third force besides Yuan Shikai and the National Guard at this critical moment and becoming the core of the current situation.

After a period of observation, Feng felt that with the support of so many generals, the time was ripe to form a third force and even obey him, so he boldly and openly challenged Yuan Shikai.