Complex sentence: He studied military science in Germany, and became one of Yuan Shikai's top lieutenants, but later opposed Yuan's bid for monarchy-he expected to succeed Yuan in the presidency, but the imperial gambit was seen as a betrayal.
Split into simpler sentences: He studied military science in Germany and was one of Yuan Shikai's top lieutenants but opposed Yuan's bid for monarchy. He expected to succeed Yuan in the presidency but the imperial gambit was seen as a betrayal.