Qu Tian asked the eunuch carefully about the time when Emperor Su He summoned him.
He understood that it was after the imperial meeting, which was still more than an hour away.
Qu Tian raised his fists and said apologetically: "My father-in-law, I am tired from the journey and my body smells bad. This will offend Your Majesty.
We have plenty of time now, so I will go home to bathe and change clothes, and then go to the palace to wait."
Seeing the anxious look on the little eunuch's face, he said in a tone that could not be refused: "I have a strong sense of time and will never let Your Majesty wait for me.
You go back to the palace first, and if His Majesty really punishes you, he will not look for a little eunuch like you."
Qu Tian said a few words and sent the little eunuch away.
The eunuchs of the Dahua Empire had almost no real power, and the power gap between them and the eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty was too big.
Qu Tian is a second-rank official, so he doesn't have to be afraid of this little eunuch.
Before he came back, he had already sent home the train's arrival information.
As soon as he walked out of the platform, the housekeeper at home came over with someone.
"Sir, sir, the car has been prepared and the steam engine is being preheated at any time. May I ask where you are going, sir?"
Qu Tian took a car to go home. He got out of the car and looked at this familiar door, his eyes were slightly red.
"Butler, don't turn off the car. I'll use it later."
Qu Tian approached the house and said hello to his family members whom he had not seen for a long time.
He hurried to the bathroom, washed away the dirt on his body, and changed into a new military uniform.
Qu Tian wiped off the water on his body, walked out of the bathroom and asked, "Is anyone here to visit?"
He sent the young eunuch away because he really wanted to take a bath and change clothes.
He also had another purpose, which was to fish for Jiang Taigong, and those who wished would take the bait.
He has been away from the capital for too long, and what he knows about some matters in the capital from newspapers and telegrams from friends is only vague.
Emperor Su He summoned him, but it was unclear whether he had any other purpose.
He made an excuse to go home. If there was really an undercurrent in the city, all forces would definitely send lobbyists.
When the time comes, Qu Tian will be able to make a judgment that is more biased towards his own interests.
The most critical point is that he can learn from the lobbyists about the whirlpool hidden under the water.
This allowed him to respond calmly to His Majesty the Emperor's inquiries.
His own meager interests are not as important as the interests of His Majesty the Emperor and the Great China Empire.
As long as it can be valued by His Majesty the Emperor, this will be the greatest benefit.
When the butler heard this question, he respectfully replied: "Sir, your good friend Marquis Tao Guifan is here to visit."
Qu Tian glared at the housekeeper and said loudly: "Brother Tao came to my mansion, why didn't you inform me in advance and kept Brother Tao waiting for so long?"
He immediately walked quickly to the yard and saw a strong man with a centipede-shaped scar on his right cheek.
Qu Tian immediately stepped forward, held Tao Guifan's hand, and said excitedly: "Old leader, you came back from Wusizang to report on your work.
We haven't seen each other for nearly three years.
It’s really not easy to come back from Wu Si Zang.”
Tao Guifan was his superior when he first joined the company, and they have worked together for many years.
Qu Tian knew Tao Guifan's character very well. He was an introvert who would go to the Three Treasures Palace for everything.
Coming today, there must be something that touches his interests.
Tao Guifan smiled when he saw Qu Tian's attitude.
"I have served as the governor of Wusizang for too long. This time I will be transferred to another place. I will come to the capital to report on my duties before taking office."
Tao Guifan briefly explained his current situation.
Qu Tian saw that Tao Guifan was still chatting. Tao Guifan had plenty of time, but he didn't have much time.
It would be extremely rude to ask Emperor Su He to wait for him in Qianqing Palace.
Because of delays in official matters, Emperor Su He should not care. Because of delays in personal affairs, what would Emperor Su He think of him?
Qu Tian clasped his hands in his fists, hesitated for a few seconds, and wanted to speak but made an embarrassed expression.
"Brother Tao, what a coincidence today, His Majesty is still waiting to summon me in Qianqing Palace.
As ministers, we cannot let His Majesty wait for us in the Qianqing Palace.
I want to leave for the palace immediately. If Brother Tao has anything to do, we can discuss it in detail when I return from the palace."
Tao Guifan's expression did not change at all. He hurried to Qutian's house just because he knew this situation.
Tao Guifan also raised his hand and returned the greeting: "Brother Qu, the situation is urgent. As a brother, I really shouldn't waste my time.
But there are some things that I need to ask Brother Qu for help.
Brother Qu is in a hurry, so let's discuss it in the car.
Brother, I will try my best to explain the cause and effect of the matter in concise language."
Qu Tian nodded, his goal had been achieved, so there was no need to continue acting.
They rode together in Qufu's car.
This kind of high-end car has very good airtightness.
When the steam engine is running, it will emit a large amount of energy.
When discussing things in the car, no one else can hear it except the driver.
The driver is the most trusted candidate, and no one will discuss the real secrets in such a semi-public place.
Tao Guifan was a little confused, he sighed, and then said: "Brother, I am living a good life in Wusizang.
We hold a gun in one hand and a silver coin in the other.
The chieftains and living Buddhas of Wusizang dare not not listen to our words.
The past few years I have lived in Wusizang have been the most comfortable I have ever experienced.
After returning to the capital, I realized that things were not going well in the Governor's Mansion now.
Those civil servants are looking for trouble everywhere, saying that the military expenditure of the Metropolitan Governor's Office exceeds the standard, and they need to cut off many weapons to replace them, and gradually reduce military expenditures."
When Qu Tian heard Tao Guifan's complaints, he was not surprised at all.
He has worked in the Metropolitan Governor's Office for many years and has a clearer understanding of the faces of civil servants in the imperial court.
Civil servants have been doing the same thing tirelessly.
That is to weaken the strength of the military, especially military expenditures, which have always accounted for a slightly higher proportion.
Cut a large amount of military spending to spend on various projects and affairs.
Only by turning military expenditures into government expenditures can these civilian officials have the opportunity to use their hands to make money through seemingly legal means.
The Great China Empire was divided into civil and military divisions, and civil servants and military generals were constantly fighting.
Except for some major issues, choosing a side team will affect the emperor's views on it, and civil and military forces can reach an agreement.
In most cases involving the interests of both civil and military parties, civil officials and military generals will argue endlessly.
When Qu Tian heard this sentence, it was basically of no help to him.
It is very normal for civil servants and military generals to have disputes.
Now that the Metropolitan Governor's Office is powerful, as long as he is not caught, he is not afraid of accusations from civilian officials.
This is not the Ming Dynasty, military generals need to be slaves to civilian officials.
"Brother Tao, this situation is very common. You haven't been in the capital long.
As long as you stay here for a long time, you won't be surprised by this kind of thing."
Qu Tian had an indifferent attitude.
Tao Guifan was very unhappy and the car was very fast.
Without explaining anything, the car entered the palace.
Tao Guifan had to get off the bus at the palace and would not even have a chance to speak.
"Brother Qu is not interested in civil and military disputes, so let me talk about the internal disputes in the Governor's Mansion."
Tao Guifan exchanged a few pleasantries at first, then changed the subject and turned the matter to the struggle within the Governor's Mansion.
When Qu Tian heard this, he was shocked.
He had a premonition that there was a big whirlpool in the capital, but he didn't expect it to be a dispute within the governor.
He pretended to be listening and waited for Tao Guifan to tell him the specific situation.
Tao Guifan involuntarily lowered his voice and said: "Now within the Metropolitan Governor's Office, there are two factions regarding the empire's next strategy.
One group believes that we should march westward and take advantage of the victory in the Central Asian battlefield and the Siberian battlefield.
The empire must continue to expand its advantages and completely open up the Silk Road.
Let the large amount of industrial products produced by the empire be consumed through the countries along the Silk Road.
The other group believed that we should go south, and the empire captured Nanyang and other areas, which brought huge benefits to the empire.
The northern grasslands have very little income. They can neither grow cash crops nor food, have few mineral resources, and have poor living conditions.
Not only is there no output, in some places the court also needs to invest heavily to stabilize the grassland situation.
The Nanyang region is completely different. They have a sufficient market for raw materials and can digest a large number of industrial products manufactured by the empire.
We should use our limited military power to expand southward instead of occupying a large area of grassland and desert westward."
Qu Tian listened to Tao Guifan's story. Most of the things were matters involving overt and covert struggles between the two forces.
From some of Tao Guifan's words, he could tell that Tao Guifan supported the move south.
When Qu Tian was in Tumu Mansion, he felt the various overt and covert struggles between the infantry and cavalry divisions in order to gain military glory.
At first, he thought that the dispute in the capital was just a continuation of the previous dispute, but on a larger scale.
After Qu Tian learned more details, he saw the essence of this dispute clearly.
That was the navy and the army fighting for the right to speak.
Going south will inevitably use navy ships, and the navy can deeply intervene in the war.
Prove the weapon power of naval equipment through war.
If the imperial court chooses the westward strategy, then the pure army will be the main force.
The navy can't let warships run on the prairie.
It doesn’t mean that the group going south didn’t have the army involved at all.
The navy alone cannot conquer cities and territories.
The fact that his good friend Tao Guifan became a lobbyist is the best proof.
Qu Tian smiled and said: "Brother Tao, your transfer order should come down, I guess it is the Governor's Palace of East India."
Tao Guifan was suddenly startled and said in surprise: "Brother Qu, did I show it so obviously?
I do have selfish motives, but more importantly, I have public motives.
Only if the land conquered by our military can produce more resources can a virtuous cycle be formed and continuously provide more troop support to the empire.
The territory seized by the military was just a desert or a grassland with little output.
Relying entirely on imperial funding for military expansion.
The civil servants who are a thorn in our side will mobilize their best public opinion and use various methods to prevent the Metropolitan Governor's Office from receiving more military expenditures.
Brother Qu is a smart man, I just want to remind you.
The best way to expand must consider input and output."
After Qu Tian listened, he did not agree to anything.
He just smiled and said: "Thank you, Brother Tao, for the tip. I have already figured out some things."
At this moment, the car suddenly stopped.
"Sir, we have arrived outside the palace.
You must get off the bus at this point and take the car driven by the Qilin Guards in the palace."
Qu Tian got out of the car and glanced at the big clock in the distance to confirm that there was still plenty of time.
He bid farewell to Tao Guifan and walked into the palace.
He saw outside the palace gate, the Tsar's envoy Karl Novikov, waiting anxiously.
Qu Tian met Karl Novikov, a Russian, a few months ago.
At that time, a group of them came to the Great China Empire in high spirits.
Unexpectedly, he had changed so much now that he could hardly recognize it.
When the troops on the front line are defeated, they don't just lose the war.
Fortunately, the Royal Army of Great China was strong and won the final victory.
Otherwise, it will be the turn of all citizens of the Great China Empire to look miserable.
Qu Tian had no sympathy for Karl Novikov, a Russian.
You must know that the Russians started this war first.
He knew that His Majesty the Emperor would never allow the Russians to end the war so easily.
Qu Tian walked into the palace and met the young eunuch who had just greeted him.
The young eunuch bowed respectfully and said, "Master Qu, please let me wait.
Let's take the bus quickly, we can't keep His Majesty waiting."
Qu Tian quickly came to the side hall next to the Qianqing Palace and waited for the emperor Su He's summons.
The imperial meeting ended quickly, and Emperor Su He was a little tired after going through a quarrelsome previous meeting.
Civil officials and military generals began to quarrel over military spending.
The war between the Great China Empire and Russia in the northwest.
The entire empire of Great China achieved glorious victory.
The expeditionary force sent by Russia was basically wiped out.
With Russia's strength, it will not be able to send another army of this size in a short time.
With the excuse that the large-scale war was over, civilian officials proposed cutting military spending.
The military cooperated tacitly and used various excuses to block the excuses of civilian officials.
Internal strife ensued among various forces in the military, and they proposed different strategic directions for the Great China Empire.
Every force had their own reasons, and Emperor Su He couldn't find a better way for a while.
He learned that Qu Tian, deputy chief of staff, had returned to Beijing from the northwest front.
People who handle documents in the capital certainly don’t have the same experience as those who are on the front lines.
Emperor Su He thought that the opinions of the frontline generals should be listened to.
Qu Tian walked into the Qianqing Palace and bowed to Emperor Su He according to etiquette.
He was granted a throne by Emperor Su He and sent a large number of memorials to let him know the situation.
Emperor Su He asked: "Chief of Staff Qu, you have been to the front line in person and have a better understanding of various situations on the front line.
After reading these memorials, what do you think?
Speak boldly and I won’t blame you.”
Qu Tian knew about this issue in advance, and after reading the memorial, he knew the general situation in the capital.
He looked very calm and expressed his summarized opinions.
"Your Majesty, the generals in the northwest battlefield have basically reached a consensus that it is not appropriate to continue attacking westward until the railway is completed.
It is very difficult for the empire to transport supplies to the frontline troops in the area it currently controls.
If the empire further expands to the west, without the support of railways, it will waste a lot of resources and the combat effectiveness of the army will be sharply reduced.
The places we have now captured or are about to capture, I believe we must never give up.
Only railways can be built to the Black Sea and the Ural Mountains.
Only in this way can Russia feel the pain.
As for the strategy of going south, I won’t show my shame because I don’t know the specific situation.”
Emperor Su He listened to Qu Tian's detailed account.
The empire's occupation of vast areas in Central Asia and Siberia does take time to digest.
He also thought that this period was still in the Age of Discovery, and the role of the navy could not be replaced.
The strategic expansion direction of the Great China Empire should take care of the navy.
To prevent the now powerful navy from deteriorating its combat effectiveness because the court cannot continue to invest.
