Not to mention the chaos in Nanjing, but also in the capital, due to the news from Li Hongzhang, Liu Hai had returned to the imperial court and accepted the imperial court's reward. The shadow that originally shrouded the Qing court finally dissipated.
Now, the old and young men in Beijing are enjoying tea when they should, singing opera when they should, and singing and dancing have resumed.
But after a few days like this, suddenly one day, a telegram from Nanjing was received at the Beijing Telegraph Office.
When the people at the telegraph office saw it, they were frightened out of their wits.
They did not dare to neglect, and immediately ordered people to ride fast horses and report the news to the Military Aircraft Department.
It was getting late at this time, and several of the main ministers in the military plane were not there. Only a young Zhang Jing was on duty.
The military aircraft Zhang Jing did not dare to neglect the news and immediately reported it to Emperor Guangxu in the Palace of Qianqing according to the rules.
At this time, Emperor Guangxu was hugging his concubine, sleeping soundly there, when he was suddenly woken up by the little eunuch next to him.
Emperor Guangxu was not happy at that time. Although I am a puppet, I am still the emperor after all. What are you trying to do by waking me up in the middle of the night?
The little eunuch didn't even wait for Emperor Guangxu to speak and reported directly, "Long live my Lord, the military aircraft Zhang Jing has urgent military information to report."
Emperor Guangxu was a little frightened after hearing this. In all these years, he had never seen military aircraft Zhang Jing anxiously reporting to the emperor in the middle of the night.
"Tell him to wait outside the palace, and I will go out immediately."
The young eunuch immediately left Emperor Guangxu's palace to make arrangements for Zhang Jing.
Emperor Guangxu also quickly got up, put on his dragon robe under the service of the palace maid, and then hurriedly left the palace and came to the main hall of Qianqing Palace.
As soon as Emperor Guangxu entered the door, he saw a young Zhang Jing standing below him. He didn't have time to let him salute and asked directly: "What's the big deal?"
The military aircraft Zhang Jing did not dare to neglect and hurriedly sent the telegram from Liu Kunyi, the governor of Liangjiang, to Emperor Guangxu.
When Emperor Guangxu received the telegram, he was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat. At the same time, he was very angry. Isn't this Governor of Liangjiang Liu Hai's uncle? How could he turn against him?
If you can catch Liu Hai, it will be a great achievement, but now you have allowed Liu Hai to escape from Nanjing. What if he goes out to rectify the army? It will not be a small fight like the last time.
Now, Emperor Guangxu is still without a master. He stands there not knowing what to do.
Zhang Jing, who was on the side, saw that Emperor Guangxu was confused, and hurriedly stepped forward to offer advice: "What is your Majesty's top priority? You should report it to the Queen Mother of Cining Palace as soon as possible. She has rich experience and will definitely be able to calm the current situation."
When Emperor Guangxu heard this, it seemed as if he was seeing mist from the clouds. In normal times, Emperor Guangxu wished that Cixi would die immediately, but now he is a little lucky to have this old Buddha supporting him.
"Quickly, let's go to Cining Palace."
Emperor Guangxu gave an order, and the eunuchs and maids below were in chaos, but there were still rules in the palace. It didn't take long for eunuchs from outside to report. Luan Jia was already prepared.
Emperor Guangxu immediately tidied up his clothes and walked out anxiously. He walked a few steps and then stopped and said to the military aircraft Zhang Jing: "Send someone immediately to report to several military aircraft ministers and ask them to wait at the military aircraft." Waiting for the decree."
After Emperor Guangxu said these words, he trotted towards Qianqing Palace.
As soon as Emperor Guangxu left the Qianqing Palace, he immediately bumped into the royal chariot and asked people to speed up and rush to the Cining Palace.
When Emperor Guangxu came to the entrance of Cining Palace, the door was closed and locked, and there were eunuchs guarding the door.
When the eunuch saw the emperor's chariot coming, he followed the rules and went forward to help Emperor Guangxu a little, and then asked: "Long live your Majesty, it's so late, what's the important matter?"
Emperor Guangxu hurriedly said to the eunuch: "Hurry up and report to the Queen Mother Lafayette that there is a big trouble in Jiangnan."
The people who worked in front of Cixi were all very smart. As soon as they saw Emperor Guangxu coming in such a hurry, they knew that something big was going on, so they didn't dare to neglect and immediately informed the people inside through the door.
The eunuch on duty inside listened to the announcement from outside and immediately passed it on inside without hesitation. As a result, the reports came one after another and soon arrived outside Cixi's palace.
The person on duty today was Cui Yugui, a popular figure in front of Cixi. He heard from the eunuch below that the emperor had arrived in a hurry and that something big had happened in Jiangnan. He immediately entered Cixi's bedroom and shouted outside Cixi's bedroom: " Wake up, Lafayette, wake up, Lafayette."
At this time, Cixi was already quite old and had not slept well at night. After being called by Cui Yugui, she immediately woke up.
After waking up, Cixi's face was full of clouds. Because Cixi did not sleep well, no one dared to disturb Cixi after she fell asleep. Unexpectedly, she was woken up in the middle of the night.
Although Cixi was angry, she did not immediately criticize the people outside. She thought that if nothing happened when she went out, she would show the color of these slaves.
"Come in and change Aijia's clothes."
Cixi ordered the outside door to be opened immediately, and then a dozen maids came in and began to serve Cixi and dress her.
After Cixi finished dressing and walked out of the dormitory, she saw Cui Yugui kneeling there with his head lowered and not daring to get up.
"What's going on? It's so late at night."
"Back to Lafayette, the emperor personally came to Cining Palace to report to the Queen Mother that there seems to be trouble in Jiangnan."
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager Cixi was a little shocked. Knowing that this was no small matter, she quickly ordered people outside to open the door and let the emperor enter Cining Palace.
When Cixi arrived at the main hall of Cining Palace, Emperor Guangxu had already hurried over.
As soon as Emperor Guangxu entered the main hall, he didn't care about anything else and shouted directly: "My dear father, something serious has happened. Liu Kun, the governor of Liangjiang, sent a telegram. He failed to arrest Liu Hai and let him escape from Nanjing city."
The Empress Dowager Cixi was stunned for a moment after hearing this. She did not order Liu Kunyi to grab his bangs at all. Then Cixi understood something in her heart. I am afraid that Liu Kunyi wanted to kill him first and then report it to the court.
If it succeeds, everyone will be happy, but if it doesn't, he can take over the matter alone, leaving a way out for the court.
At first, Cixi didn't like Liu Kunyi, thinking that he was from the Hunan Army and had ulterior motives. But now that the country is in crisis, she knows who is a loyal minister.
Before Cixi had time to sigh, Emperor Guangxu had already sent the telegram to her.
Cixi took the telegram and read it carefully, her brows getting heavier and tighter. It was really difficult to handle this moment. Is the Qing Dynasty really going to experience another Taiping Rebellion? But the current national strength cannot withstand it. After all this trouble, once turmoil breaks out, I'm afraid it won't be the South's business, and the North won't be able to be quiet either.
Cixi thought for a moment and quickly ordered someone to say: "Go and send the Minister of Military and Aircraft to the Cining Palace for an audience."
The eunuch listened to Cixi's order and quickly went out to deliver the order.
Since Emperor Guangxu had just arrived, he had sent an order in advance for the Minister of Military and Aircraft to have an audience, so the Minister of Military and Aircraft was now waiting at the Military Aircraft Office. As soon as he received Cixi's order, he hurried to Cining Palace.
The five military ministers entered the Cining Palace and first paid Cixi the courtesy of a monarch and minister. Then they stood on both sides and waited for Cixi to lecture.
Cixi coughed and said below, "You already know the matter, right?"
These military aircraft ministers all nodded. When they were at the military aircraft office just now, military aircraft Zhang Jing had already informed them of what had happened.
"Then you decide what to do next, whether you should mobilize troops to attack, or send people to appease him again."
The last time Prince Li Shiduo lost face because of Liu Hai, now he immediately said: "Liu Hai is a man of wolfish ambition. The court just pardoned his crime, but he did not expect that he would repeat it immediately. Please allow the Queen Mother to send troops south immediately to encircle and suppress
Bangs.”
After hearing this, Cixi was noncommittal, and then asked with words: "Where are the other people? What do they think?"
Xu Gengshen stood up at this time and said: "This must not be the case. Although Liu Hai has escaped from Nanjing City, he has not attacked the city. It should be that he does not want to confront the imperial court, so he has left room for it. As long as the imperial court sends people to appease the city again,
Bangs will definitely return again."
Empress Dowager Cixi nodded after hearing this, because this time she might be facing country bumpkins like the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but the Hunan Army organized by the gentry from the Lianghu area. He had already seen the bravery of these armies.
The most important thing is that if Liu Hai rebels, it will not be a class conflict like the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but a duel between two forces within his own class. The gentry below may not necessarily be entirely on the side of the imperial court.
Prince Li Shiduo was a little dissatisfied after hearing Xu Gengshen's words, "You are showing favor to the traitor. Are you related to these bangs?"
Xu Gengchen was also annoyed after hearing what the other party said. In the past, I saw that you were the foreman of the Military Aircraft Department. How did you think that now is the same as when the Qing Dynasty was first established? You didn't look at whose hands the real power of the world is now.
, now it is in the hands of us Han people.
So Xu Geng raised his hands and said angrily: "I am reporting to the Queen Mother that Prince Li Shiduo has framed the minister and asked the Queen Mother to punish him."
Empress Dowager Cixi was also a little angry with Prince Li at this time. She was still angry at this time, saying, "Prince Li Shiduo made lies. After this incident has passed, he will shut up and think about it for seven days."
Seeing the attitude of the Empress Dowager Cixi, the Prince of Li Shiduo knew that he had lost a lot of points in the eyes of the Empress Dowager and that his future career would be in danger, so he did not dare to refute, so he quickly raised his hands and said: "I obey the order."
Empress Dowager Cixi suppressed Prince Li Shiduo, and then asked her ministers, "Do you think Xu Gengshen's strategy can be put to use?"
Several military and aircraft ministers below thought about it for a long time and felt that this was the safest way at present. In order to prevent the Qing Dynasty from invading, this was the only way to do it.
"Report to the Queen Mother, I will reconsider this."