Beiyang Dream

Chapter 89 Chang Desheng, the Empress Dowager wants to see you!

March 14th, 1888, afternoon.

In Tianjin, the saying goes, "the east is rich and the west is noble." Outside the east gate of the old city, the Haihe River makes a bend, the current slows down, more docks appear, and the houses on both banks become more impressive.

The French Concession was to the north, and the British Concession to the south. Deep in the alleys east of the northern boundary between the two concessions, further east along Hai Avenue, a new house had been built. It was a three-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), with a bright, open gate and a new plaque above the lintel reading "Chang Mansion." The house was constructed of blue bricks and gray tiles, with five ridge beasts perched on the roof ridge—a standard feature. The courtyard walls were a foot higher than the surrounding houses, and the newly applied mortar at the corners was still damp.

This house was a gift from Li Hongzhang.

To be precise, after the sale of the "Changyuan" warship was finalized, Old Li scrambled this house out of the Beiyang government's public property and casually allocated it to Chang Desheng, ostensibly as a "reward for his service," but in reality, it was to tell all of Tianjin: This young man is now one of the Beiyang government's men.

As the carriage came to a stop in front of the door, Chang Desheng was squinting as he did his accounting.

"Three courtyards... with side rooms, at least thirty rooms. As for the location, this place is definitely in the center of Heping District, right? In my previous life, this would have cost at least a hundred million..." He lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the heavy, bright gate, and suddenly five words popped into his mind: Chang Desheng's Former Residence.

At this moment, the door of "Chang Desheng's Former Residence" opened.

Chang Fuhai, Chang Desheng's father, dressed in a brand-new dark brown silk robe, his braid slicked back and grinning broadly as he ran out. Beside him was Zhao, Chang Desheng's mother. The old lady's eyes were slightly red, and she clutched a handkerchief in her hand, her bound feet moving with surprising agility. Following behind was Chang Dequan, Chang Desheng's elder brother, a clerk in the Tianjin government office. He too was smiling as he stepped out, followed by a large group of more than a dozen servants and maids.

That's quite a show of force!

Chang Desheng thought to himself, "When I left two years ago, my family was still living in Guyi Lane. Our house couldn't compare to this place, and we didn't have many servants. Now... we've really moved up!"

As soon as the door of the Western-style carriage opened, Yuan Shikai was the first to climb out.

The gentleman alighted from the carriage with a steady gait, patting the hem of his robe as he landed. He glanced up at the plaque above the door, a slight smile playing on his lips, exuding an air of someone long accustomed to being in a superior position. Xu Shichang followed behind, his demeanor far more gentle than Yuan Shikai's, clearly a scholar.

Chang Desheng was the last to get off the bus. His every move already showed signs of military bearing, with a hint of menacing aura.

"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother." Chang Desheng stepped forward and gestured to the side, "This is Lord Yuan Weiting, the Minister in charge of foreign affairs and trade in Korea. This is Xu Juren, the Hanlin scholar."

A minister, a scholar...

Chang Fuhai quickly bowed: "Lord Yuan, Lord Xu, your presence is an honor to our humble abode..."

"Uncle Chang, you're too kind." Yuan Shikai smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. His Henan accent sounded honest and simple. "Brother Zhenbang has returned in triumph. We're just passing by, so we'll give him a ride. We won't disturb your family reunion any longer."

Xu Shichang nodded slightly.

Chang Desheng thought to himself: On the way? It took eight turns to get here from the dock. You two, your "on the way" is quite a long one.

He smiled and said, "Brother Weiting, Brother Juren, you must be tired from your journey today. Shall we meet again tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Yuan Shikai waved his hand. "Let's do it today. At three-quarters past Shen time, in Shunde, I'll host a welcome dinner for you. There are some things we need to talk about." Something? Chang Desheng thought to himself: What does Old Yuan want with me? He seems to be in a hurry.

Yuan Shikai paused, glanced at the plaque above the Chang residence, and added, "Zhenbang, this house... is quite nice. The head of the main hall put a lot of effort into it."

There's a hidden meaning in his words.

Chang Desheng understood. Li Hongzhang's gift of the house was both a favor and a reminder: your roots are in the Beiyang government, so don't let your ambitions sway! The Beiyang government is not like the Nanyang government... there are rules here!

"Yes, Your Excellency is very kind." Chang Desheng replied readily.

Yuan Shikai and Xu Shichang boarded the carriage and drove off. The wheels clattered over the bluestone slabs, gradually disappearing into the distance.

Outside the Chang residence, all fell silent.

Chang Fuhai then grabbed his son's hand and looked him up and down: "Zhenbang, you...you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao tugged at his sleeve: "What are you doing? Let our son come inside first! There are still people getting off the train!"

The old lady glanced at the two carriages behind her.

Chang Desheng slapped his forehead. He'd forgotten.

He turned and walked toward the first carriage. As soon as the door opened, a hand reached out. The fingers were slender, the skin fair, and a jade bracelet of emerald green adorned the wrist. Chang Desheng grasped it and gently pulled it away.

Luo Jingrou bent down and got out of the car.

Today she wore a pale yellow Western-style dress with a full skirt and a slender waist, topped with a matching soft hat. Her face was lightly powdered, and her lips were dotted with rouge. Standing there, she exuded elegance and poise; she was truly extraordinary!

Chang Fuhai and Zhao's eyes widened in disbelief.

Zhao thought to herself, "Wow, this girl is really stunning! Beautiful face, great figure, clearly from a wealthy family." Chang Dequan's wife also came over. Her surname was Wang, the daughter of a clerk in Tianjin County, and she smiled and stepped forward to greet them. This Wang was much more lively and astute than her mother-in-law Zhao, and she was thinking of getting closer to her future sister-in-law first.

But she only took two steps before her feet stopped in her tracks.

Chang Desheng's side hasn't let up.

He turned around again and reached his hand into the carriage.

Another hand reached out. The fingers were slender, the skin whiter, and there was no bracelet on the wrist, but the nails were neatly trimmed and painted with a light pink nail polish. Then, a girl in a light purple kimono bent down and got off the train.

The kimono was made of silk, with delicate cherry blossom patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem. Her hair was styled in a traditional Shimada bun, adorned with a pearl hairpin. A few strands of hair were left framing her face, making her face appear smaller and her eyes larger.

When she got out of the car, Chang Desheng naturally helped her.

Haruko steadied herself, raised her head, and bowed slightly to Chang Desheng, her eyes soft and a faint smile on her lips.

Then, she looked at Luo Jingrou.

Luo Jingrou was also looking at her. The two exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

Chang Desheng stood in the middle, with a girl in a Western-style dress on his left and a girl in a kimono on his right. One of the girls was currently holding his arm, and the other had previously held his hand. Although they had let go now, they were still standing quite close to Chang Desheng!

This scene is so harmonious, so incredibly harmonious.

It's also...awful...shocking.

Sister-in-law Wang stared wide-eyed, her mouth agape.

One plus two? Holding hands? What... what does this mean? A maidservant? But that one in the kimono, her demeanor, her attire, how could she be a maidservant? Her gaze swept over Qingzi; the kimono was made of the finest silk, the embroidery double-sided, and the pearls on her hairpins were large and white. If this were a maidservant, how rich would the Luo family be?

Chang Desheng was completely unaware of the situation.

He turned his head and waved to the carriage behind him: "Brother Lanfang, come inside!"

"Lanfang" is a homonym for "Lanfang," the courtesy name of Luo Xinglan. The successor to the Pontianak governor had just alighted from the carriage, followed by a tall, thin man dressed as an accountant, a capable-looking follower, and a burly bodyguard. The four of them exuded the air of wealthy young men from Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Chang Desheng had already led the two girls to their parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law.

"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law." He smiled. "This is Jingrou. This is Qingzi, the daughter of the Okura Zaibatsu in Japan, Jingrou's classmate when she studied in England, and she's here to visit Tianjin."

Chang Fuhai's smile froze.

The handkerchief in Zhao's hand fell to the ground.

Chang Dequan's lips twitched.

A sudden "boom" filled Sister Wang's mind, leaving only one thought:

It’s over.

The daughter of a wealthy Southeast Asian tycoon, and the heiress of a Japanese zaibatsu.

Who should be the junior? Who should be the senior?

None of them are fit to be a subordinate!

Chang Desheng looked at his father, then at his mother, then at his elder brother and sister-in-law. The four of them stood there like wooden posts, each with an expression more interesting than the last. "What's wrong?" he wondered, "Are you so happy you've gone mad?"

He turned to look at Luo Jingrou.

Luo Jingrou smiled and glanced at Qingzi.

Qingzi lowered her eyes, bowed deeply to the four members of the Chang family, and said in Mandarin with a soft, sweet accent, "Uncle, Aunt, Brother, Sister-in-law, it's nice to meet you for the first time. Please take good care of me."

Her voice was sweet, and her attitude was respectful.

Chang Fuhai jolted awake and quickly nodded, mumbling, "Okay, okay..."

Zhao also came to her senses and forced a smile: "Come inside, let's talk inside..."

Chang Desheng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: Well, at least I've finally come to my senses.

He was completely unaware that this grand "family reunion" drama had, in the eyes of his own family, already evolved into a prelude to a power struggle within the household, a battle of wits and destiny.

"Hurry up," Chang Desheng ordered the servants, "Move the luggage! Jingrou and Qingzi will stay in the west wing; tidy up the two rooms next to them. Lanfang will stay in the east wing. You there, go boil water, make tea, and heat up the bathtub..."

As he gave the instructions, he was also thinking to himself:

Go to Astor House at 3:45 PM...

What did Yuan Shikai want to talk about?

North Korea's mess?

Or... something else?

He looked up at the sky.

The sun was setting, and it was getting late. After settling Jingrou and Qingzi in, it was time to go to the Astor House to see Lao Yuan...

The riverside private room on the second floor of the Astor Hotel.

Chang Desheng arrived early. He asked the waiter to brew him a pot of strong liquor, and sat by the window, watching the small steamships puffing black smoke on the Haihe River. His inner thoughts started running again: This private room is by the river, with a good view and good privacy. Old Yuan invited me to dinner here and told me to come early. I'm afraid he really has something to say!

At that moment, the door hinge suddenly made a dry, creaking sound, which was particularly jarring.

Yuan Shikai and Xu Shichang entered one after the other, neither of them smiling. Yuan's steps were heavier than usual, and when Xu Shichang closed the door behind him, it looked like they were meeting with underground party members.

The private room fell silent instantly, so quiet that the muffled chugging of the small steamer outside the window could be heard.

"Brother Weiting, Brother Juren." Chang Desheng stood up.

"Please sit down." Yuan Shikai waved his hand and sat down first. Chang Desheng made him a cup of tea. Old Yuan didn't drink it, but just squinted at Chang Desheng.

Old Yuan's silence was truly unsettling.

Xu Shichang stood by the window, hands behind his back, looking at the river as if admiring the scenery, but his scholarly face was tightly taut.

"Zhenbang," Yuan Shikai finally spoke, his voice low and menacing, clearly indicating that something was amiss. "There's something I need to tell you first." Chang Desheng's heart skipped a beat, and the alarm bells in his mind rang: It's coming, it's coming, the big one is coming!

"There's been some rumors circulating in Beijing lately," Yuan Shikai said slowly, carefully choosing his words, his voice even lower, "saying... that the matter of the German Emperor celebrating the Empress Dowager's birthday was orchestrated by you, no, by Li Hongzhang in Germany."

He uttered the last few words softly and slowly, yet with immense weight.

Chang Desheng was stunned. His first thought was, "Damn it, we've been discovered! What do we do?!" Then he realized, "No, it's not just being discovered. If we were truly discovered, it wouldn't just be a rumor. Someone's trying to get rid of Li Hongzhang, and they're just using me as a convenient excuse to eliminate me."

"This whole scheme is..." Xu Shichang turned around, clearly unaware of what Chang Desheng was plotting, and simply said leisurely, "They said that in order to divert funds from the Ministry of Revenue's coastal defense donations, the Grand Secretary assigned you to grease palms in Germany, fabricating the story that 'the German Emperor admires the Empress Dowager,' to please the Empress Dowager and secure large sums of money. Those photos, that play, those birthday gifts... it was all a scheme built on money."

Chang Desheng could only laugh, a bitter laugh, and a mockery of the Qing Dynasty.

Is this even human language? Misappropriating coastal defense funds to fund more coastal defense? How can such talk be spreading everywhere? Do they even have any regard for the country and its people?

He opened his mouth, a surge of anger rising in his throat, but the words of condemnation for the imperial court that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. He couldn't just blurt out the truth in front of Yuan Shikai without reason.

At least not now!

He licked his dry lips, his voice slightly husky: "Rumors? Who spread them?"

"Who spread the rumor...it doesn't matter." Yuan Shikai finally looked up at him, his face grave. "What matters is that...some people believe it. And those who believe it have considerable influence. At least, it's been heard by the Empress Dowager."

Chang Desheng didn't say anything, but he felt a chill on the part of his back that was pressed against the chair back.

Outside the window, a small steamship sounded its horn, a long, hoarse, drawn-out wail, like a funeral procession. It must be a funeral procession for the Qing Dynasty! Didn't such a Qing Dynasty deserve to die?

"However..." Yuan Shikai suddenly changed the subject, and a smile appeared on his face.

He leaned forward slightly and said in a gentle tone:

"There's another piece of news. For you, it's...good news. The Empress Dowager has said she wants to see you in a few days."

"The Empress Dowager... wants to see me?" Chang Desheng heard his own voice falter.

"He named names." Xu Shichang walked back to the table. "He's sending you to the capital as soon as possible for an audience with His Majesty. This is an immense favor."

These last words, spoken lightly, weighed heavily on Chang Desheng's ears.

The private room fell silent again.

Chang Desheng sat there, the famous photo of Empress Dowager Cixi flashing before his eyes, her face long and looking very difficult to please. Well, yet another ultimate client has appeared.

This project is damn difficult.

You could lose your head!

This isn't a blessing; this is downright suicidal!

And it cannot be refused.

"Zhenbang," Yuan Shikai's voice pulled him back to reality, and he leaned forward again, "Whether it's a blessing or a curse, it's up to you. This trip to Beijing... you have to break down your affairs in Southeast Asia and Germany, explain them clearly and thoroughly."

He stared into Chang Desheng's eyes, emphasizing his words:

"Especially that matter concerning the German Emperor."

"We have to convince the Empress Dowager."

"I believe you've truly gained face, and you haven't actually lied."

He leaned back in his chair, his smile fading, and switched to standard Mandarin:

"Your future, the Chang family's wealth, and even the Grand Secretary's reputation... all rest on your shoulders. No matter what method you use, there can be absolutely no mishap! Otherwise, even the Grand Secretary won't be able to protect you! Zhenbang, have you thought about how you're going to handle this?"

Chang Desheng understood that Yuan Shikai and Xu Shichang had come with Li Hongzhang's mission to probe his capabilities. ...Although Li Hongzhang would never abandon him now, the god of wealth who helped him buy the "Changyuan" warship and controlled the supply lines to Southeast Asia.

But whether Chang Desheng will hold a significant place in Li Hongzhang's heart and whether he can truly stand on his own will likely depend on whether he can clean up his mess this time.

The private room fell silent for a few moments.

Chang Desheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

"Brother Weiting, Brother Juren," he said with a confident smile, "to be honest, I had already thought about this plan on the ship." Yuan Shikai looked at him.

Chang Desheng said, "I have a way."