In the Cining Palace in the Forbidden City, the atmosphere is now very solemn. Empress Dowager Cixi is sitting in the center with her brows furrowed and her face ashen.
The several military ministers standing below were all silent with their eyes and noses closed.
In the end, Empress Dowager Cixi herself felt that the atmosphere was too solemn, so she spoke first: "Tell me, how should we deal with the traitor Liu Hai next?"
What else can the military minister below do now? They looked at each other and continued to lower their heads without saying a word.
"You are all mute. Now is the time for the imperial court to hire people, but you are pretending to be deaf and dumb. What use do I need from you people?"
The Minister of Military and Aircraft Qian Yingpu hesitated for a while, but finally stood up and said: "Going back to the Queen Mother, I found that the bangs are strong and the capital is empty. Please ask the Queen Mother to take the Emperor Xi Mu."
When the Empress Dowager Cixi heard this, her face finally looked a little better.
However, another military minister, Yu Lu, stood up and objected, "The capital is the capital and the place where the ancestors' tombs are located. Once it is abandoned and Liu Hai, the rebellious minister and traitor, takes over, the world will change."
Yulu's words resonated with other military ministers, so they all spoke out against it.
"Your Majesty, once we leave the capital and have no defense, we have only a few soldiers. If there are rebellious ministers and traitors who want to contribute to the rebellion, we will die without a burial place."
"Yes, let's talk about the bitter cold land in the northwest. The people there are few and the wealth is weak. How can we organize a large army to fight against Liu Hai?"
After passing several military aircraft, the minister said this, and the Empress Dowager Cixi was a little undecided, so he looked at the foreman of the Military Aircraft Department, Prince Li Shiduo, and said, "Prince Li, please say a few words."
Prince Li Shiduo thought for a while, stood up and said: "In the opinion of a humble minister, it is better to take refuge in the northwest."
Several other ministers were a little unhappy when they heard Prince Li Shiduo say this, and began to attack him together.
"Abandoning the capital and abandoning the foundation of our ancestors, how can we have a chance to make a comeback?"
"Are you thinking about your wealth and life, so you bewitched the Queen Mother?"
"You are not a son of a man, but you are still a Manchu. Are you pissed off by your bangs now?"
Prince Li Shiduo has been in power for so many years. This is the first time he has been besieged by so many military ministers. He now opened his mouth to argue, but how could he get past four or five people with his words? In the end, he could only turn red with anger.
When the Empress Dowager Cixi saw that her confidants were under siege, she was a little unhappy. She patted the seat and said, "Shut up, everyone. If you have something to say, don't mess with the court's laws."
The other military ministers saw that the Empress Dowager Cixi was angry, so they went back to work and kept silent.
Empress Dowager Cixi was sitting in the center, closing her eyes and thinking again. The capital was really in danger now. Liu Hai's army on land was already threatening Jinan, and it looked like Jinan wouldn't be able to hold on for long.
The sea is even more dangerous. Now Li Hongzhang's Beiyang Navy has been completely wiped out. There is no time to regroup again, so the capital can be said to be undefended.
When the Empress Dowager Cixi was in trouble, the Minister of Military Aircraft spoke resolutely, "Empress Dowager, Li Hongzhang, the governor of Zhili, is knowledgeable and has some friendship with Liu Hai. Why not invite him to the capital to help the Empress Dowager with her worries?"
The Empress Dowager Cixi's eyes lit up when she heard this. How could she forget this capable person?
"It is best to send an order to Li Hongzhang immediately and rush to Beijing to discuss state affairs."
As a decree from the Empress Dowager Cixi was passed down, a telegram was sent to the Zhili Governor's Mansion in Tianjin.
After receiving the telegram from the capital, Li Hongzhang also recruited his staff son-in-law Zhang Peilun.
"This is a telegram from the capital. Take a look at it. What do you think?"
After Zhang Peilun read the telegram, he thought for a long time, and finally said with a sad face: "The world is about to change hands."
"It's not that serious, right? Although Liu Hai has a strong army and strong horses, the court and people have not lost heart. If they cheer up, they can still survive."
"Sir, you are too optimistic. Liu Hai has now sent hundreds of thousands of troops from two directions to threaten the capital. The imperial court has no money or food. They are robbing the capital near the capital. The people's support has been lost. Now I am afraid there is no way to recover."
Li Hongzhang thought for a while, then stood up with a sad look on his face, "Is there no other way?"
"If it were an ordinary warlord, we would probably be able to calm down the trouble by contacting the foreigners and putting pressure together. However, Liu Hai defeated the Gili Kingdom not long ago and became a powerful country in the world. Now I am afraid that no country dares to wade into this muddy water."
Li Hongzhang let out a long sigh when he heard this. He didn't expect that his decades of hard work would not be as exciting as a boy's ten years of hard work.
Zhang Peilun saw Li Hongzhang's face full of disappointment and felt depressed, so he gave him an idea?
"I have a way to temporarily appease my bangs. Maybe things will turn around as time goes by."
"Oh, my dear son-in-law, if you have any clever ideas, tell me quickly."
Zhang Peilun glanced at Li Hongzhang secretly, and finally lowered his head and said: "Liu Hai went north to publicize that the emperor was imprisoned and the queen mother was intervening in politics. It is better to petition the court, the queen mother retreats to the harem, and the emperor resumes personal rule. Then you will come out to lobby Liu Hai."
, maybe there can be a glimmer of hope."
After hearing this, Li Hongzhang shook his head like a rattle, "No, no, this is simply drinking poison to quench thirst. Liu Hai is so ambitious now, how can he just retreat to Liangjiang like this?"
"If Sir Liu Hai does not retreat to Liangjiang, the worst we can do is give him the position of Minister of Military and Aircraft and tie him back to the capital. Then we can better control him."
After hearing Zhang Peilun's innocent words, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but laugh. At this point, Li Hongzhang had almost grasped Liu Hai's thoughts. How could he give up the foundation of Liangjiang just for the position of Minister of Military and Aircraft, let alone
He is now one step away from ascending to that supreme position.
"You think too simply. Liu Hai's hundreds of thousands of soldiers are about to arrive in the capital. You want him to withdraw his troops and return to Liangjiang with his position as Minister of Military and Aircraft. I'm afraid it's a fantasy."
"I know it's not easy, but the imperial court still has some leverage. What would my father-in-law think if Liu Hai was appointed as the foreman of military aircraft and in charge of the military aircraft department?"
Li Hongzhang raised his eyebrows when he heard this. He glared at Zhang Peilun and said, "What do you mean?"
Zhang Peilun was already annoyed when he saw Li Hongzhang, but he was not worried at all. Instead, he said to Li Hongzhang calmly: "The Manchus have been doing evil in the Chinese territory for hundreds of years. Now they have lost their hearts. It is better to follow the example of Geely."
In our country, the emperor takes refuge in the palace and governs the country, leaving all major affairs of the world to the Han people. What do you think, sir?"
Li Hongzhang was silent for a long time after hearing this, and then nodded silently. This was a solution.
In this way, Liu Hai could benefit from ruling the world, and the emperor and the Qing court could continue.
"This is a way, but do you think bangs can give in?"
After all, in Li Hongzhang's view, Liu Hai is only one step away from the throne. Will he really give up the throne?
Zhang Peilun already understood what Li Hongzhang meant. He smiled slightly and said: "Liu Hai's current strength is mainly in Liangjiang. In the Qing Dynasty, he did not have much say in other places. Now he is forcing his troops to go north, although he may sit on the throne.
But that will cause chaos in the world, and it will take a lot of time for him to clean up the mess."
When Li Hongzhang was reminded by him, he clapped the table and immediately stood up and said excitedly: "Well said, this is the truth. I think Liu Hai also has ambitions. He will not let the world be turbulent. In this way, he can only
He is temporarily relegated to the position of chief assistant."
Zhang Peilun continued what Li Hongzhang said: "When Liu Hai accepts this position, we can unite with other people in the world to slowly wear down Liu Hai's strength. Maybe after more than ten or twenty years, Liu Hai's energy will not be as strong as it is now, and we can slowly
To bring him down."
After hearing this, Li Hongzhang excitedly walked back and forth in the room for a few steps, then raised his head and looked at his son-in-law, feeling very satisfied.
In terms of resourcefulness, his son-in-law can be said to be the first in the Qing Dynasty.
It was not until this critical moment that he showed his ability. Now his words have helped the Qing Dynasty continue for decades.
However, he will not be able to see the day Liu Hai falls, but he can pave the way for his son-in-law, who may also become the best minister in the world in the future.
"Okay, that's it. I will set off for Beijing immediately to propose this good plan to the Queen Mother and the Emperor."
"My father-in-law, it would be better to bring some troops with him when he comes to Beijing. I'm afraid the Queen Mother will not agree to this plan. Then we may have to use weapons."
After hearing this, Li Hongzhang shook his head and said: "Don't think about using weapons. I am going to the capital this time. If the Queen Mother can agree to my suggestion, I will fight to the death to ensure the continuation of the Emperor and the Qing Dynasty. If the Queen Mother denies my proposal
opinion, then I can only leave it to fate."
Zhang Peilun also shook his head after hearing this. His father-in-law seemed to be very flexible on the surface, but in fact he was still a bit pedantic.
After Li Hongzhang found a way, he immediately took the train from Tianjin to the capital without any delay.
Li Hongzhang set off at noon, and by one or two o'clock in the afternoon, he had already got off the train at the Beijing Railway Station.
As soon as Li Hongzhang got out of the car, Minister of Military and Aircraft Gangyi was waiting there.
When Li Hongzhang saw the Minister of Military and Aircraft, he resolutely came to greet him. He hurriedly stepped forward and raised his hands and said: "I am so virtuous and capable, but Sir Lao came to greet me."
"Master Li is ashamed to kill me. Li Daren is the pillar of the country. It is my duty to come to greet you, junior."
After the two exchanged a few polite words, Gang Yi personally helped Li Hongzhang get into the carriage and headed straight to the capital.
On the carriage, I hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "My lord, the situation is in crisis now. Is there any way you can turn the tide in another place?"
Li Hongzhang smiled, then looked at him meaningfully, and said, "That depends on whether you want to go to the Qing Dynasty or protect the Queen Mother?"