After Zhang Zhidong finished speaking, Cixi and Guangxu had not yet spoken, and Shi continued to say: "How can this be reasonable, I am a dignified Qing Dynasty, how can I negotiate with the pseudo-rebels? Let alone live in peace, Lord Zhang, what do you mean by this?"

Zhang Zhidong said lightly: "The time is also, the momentum is also." Non-human beings can defy it. He owed himself to Cixi and Guangxu again, and said: "The minister has only these two strategies, please ask the emperor and the queen mother to adjudicate." ”

Guangxu was still thinking about Zhang Zhidong's words, and Cixi said: "Zhang Zhidong, who do you think should be sent to the south to preside over the overall situation!"

Zhang Zhidong glanced to the side and said, "The minister thinks it must be Yuan Shikai." ”

When Guangxu heard this, his body couldn't help but be shocked, and he looked at Yuan Shikai. However, Cixi pondered, in fact, aside from Zhang Zhidong's second suggestion, the first suggestion is actually not new, when a critical event occurs in the local area, it is a common practice in all dynasties to send ministers from the center to the local area to preside over the overall situation, because the ministers sent by the center generally understand the intentions of the imperial court better, and often have a higher status than other local officials, so it is easier to command and dispatch local affairs, so Zhang Zhidong's suggestion is not unexpected.

And Zhang Zhidong recommended Yuan Shikai, also quite Cixi's heart, by heart, now among the officials of the Qing court, Yuan Shikai is the most capable, and also quite Cixi's trust, although Cixi often beats Yuan Shikai, but this is a very normal imperial technique, and it cannot be said that Cixi is guarding against Yuan Shikai, of course, it is not wrong to say that prevention, because Cixi will guard against anyone, whether it is the former Zeng Guofan, or the later Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang and Cixi can't be completely assured, they will guard against it, but when it should be used, they still have to let it go, and when it is time to support, they must fully support it.

If this time the imperial court wants to send people to the south to preside over the overall situation, Cixi also tends to send Yuan Shikai, and only Yuan Shikai can reassure Cixi, firstly, over the years, although Yuan Shikai has not served in the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office, he has not dealt with foreigners, and he can basically handle it well, and Yuan Shikai also has a certain relationship with East China, so he is indeed the most suitable person to deal with this crisis.

But Cixi has to consider how much of a role it can play by sending Yuan Shikai to go, if East China is determined to occupy the provinces in the Yangtze River Basin, then it is useless for Yuan Shikai to go, Cixi does not think that Yuan Shikai has the ability to fight against the army of East China, it is better to leave Yuan Shikai behind, after all, the imperial court also needs a capable minister like Yuan Shikai now; another thing to consider is whether Yuan Shikai will collude with East China, or even surrender East China , but this possibility is not big, after all, an important minister like Yuan Shikai will not surrender easily until the last moment, and Yuan Shikai is already a minister in the Qing court, but in East China, the main positions are basically held by overseas Chinese or people trained by themselves, so far, it seems that there are no officials who surrendered in the Qing court to hold important positions, so even if Yuan Shikai surrenders, it is difficult to grasp the power again. Yuan Shikai is a smart person and will not fail to see through a little.

And just when Cixi was thinking, Guangxu suddenly said: "Yuan Shikai, are you willing to go to the south?"

Yuan Shikai heard this, and hurriedly said: "As long as the court makes an order, the minister will never give up." ”

At this time, Cixi glared at Guangxu fiercely, obviously quite dissatisfied with Guangxu's question, because Guangxu's sentence was basically a foregone conclusion, and he hadn't completely thought about it, but Guangxu pretended not to see it, and he was still a little proud in his heart. He didn't think about it as thoughtfully as Cixi, but purely aimed at Yuan Shikai, it turned out that during the Wuxu coup, Yuan Shikai told Rong Lu and told Kang Liang and his party, Guangxu has hated Yuan Shikai since then, but Yuan Shikai is very important in front of Cixi, and after Wuxu, Guangxu has been under house arrest, and after the Gengzi State Change, Guangxu's situation is a little better, no longer completely house arrested, you can attend and participate in the political affairs of the court, of course, the power of the court is still in the hands of Cixi, but it is still okay to occasionally express personal opinions, but it is still impossible to move Yuan Shikai。

And this time let Guangxu see the opportunity, let Yuan Shikai go to the south to negotiate with East China, if East China sends troops to attack the Yangtze River provinces, then Yuan Shikai will be sent to death, even if East China does not plan to attack the Yangtze River provinces, Yuan Shikai will not be able to finish it in a year and a half, anyway, out of sight, not upset, you can also make yourself quiet for a few days.

Of course, the words have already been spoken, and Cixi has no way to take it back, but she was originally inclined to let Yuan Shikai go to the south to deal with this incident, so it was determined, so she said: "Yuan Shikai, you went to the south, what are you going to do?"

Yuan Shikai said: "Now the pseudo-contrarian trend is great, and you can't compete with it in the short term. ”

Guangxu frowned and said, "Yuan Shikai, the pseudo-rebel has always been arrogant and unreasonable, and he is insatiable and greedy, how can he stop the army and make a truce?"

Yuan Shikai said: "Although the hypocrisy is arrogant and unreasonable, but the act is hypocritical, like to make a false name, this time the army is in the name of disaster relief, in order to collect people's hearts, the court should be able to the spear of the other, attack its shield, the minister in the name of disaster relief to go south, and the pseudo-rebellion to deal with, in order to force its troops to stop the truce, in addition to the countries will not sit idly by and watch the pseudo-rebel wanton war, will help the court, put pressure on the pseudo-rebel, force it to stop the army truce, the minister thinks that there is still a lot to do." After a pause, he said: "But the preparation of the military revolution must not be unprepared, the minister went south this time, although the army was called to seek peace, but the military preparation must not be guarded, when the elite soldiers and strong generals go, show the military might, it is more hopeful to stabilize the situation." If the pseudo-rebel completely ignores and insists on invading the borders of our Qing Dynasty, the minister should bear the brunt of the battle and fight to the death with the pseudo-rebel to repay the court. ”

At this time, Cixi said: "Yuan Shikai, how many troops do you want to take south?"

Yuan Shikai said: "If you can transfer some troops from the Hubei New Army to the ministers, you only need to transfer two towns from the Beiyang New Army, if not, then you need three towns." ”

Cixi nodded, after the failure of the attack on Henan, the Beiyang New Army was reorganized, Yuan Shikai was able to control only three towns, and the other three towns were controlled by the personnel arranged by the Qing court, although Yuan Shikai was dissatisfied, but there was no way. Now Yuan Shikai's request to bring the troops of the two towns to the south is not excessive, but it is somewhat interesting to ask for control of the Hubei New Army, and it is estimated that Yuan Shikai wants to find a little compensation from the Hubei New Army.

And Guangxu said: "Yuan Shikai, the Beiyang New Army has the responsibility of defending Beijing, and it cannot be moved lightly, not to mention that now Henan has been occupied by the pseudo-rebels, how can the army cross the border to the south, it is better to hand over the Hubei New Army to your command, and there is no need to transfer the army to the south." Saying that, he glanced at Cixi, thinking that this was a great opportunity to relieve Yuan Shikai of his military power, and Bi Jing of the Hubei New Army was not Yuan Shikai's team, so he would be overstretched in command, and if he really started a war, he would definitely mess up.

Yuan Shikai hadn't spoken yet, Zhang Zhidong had already spoken: "Your Majesty, this is not to be said, the Beiyang New Army has the responsibility of defending Beijing, but the six towns take two, it is harmless, not to mention that the Beiyang New Army is still trained by Yuan Shikai, knows the roots, and the command is naturally handy, and the Hubei New Army was originally insufficient in scale, and has the responsibility of garrisoning the two lakes, if they are all under the command of Yuan Shikai, the two lakes have changed, and it should be helpless, so it is better to transfer the Beiyang New Army to the south. As for not being able to go south from Henan, you might as well take Xing'an Mansion in Shaanxi Province to Hubei, and then go down the east side of the river. ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Zhidong glanced up at Cixi, and sure enough, he saw Cixi's eyelids move, knowing that his words touched Cixi.

Sure enough, Guangxu was about to speak again, but Cixi rushed to say: "Transfer the Beiyang New Army to the south, and it's decided." ”

Guangxu was stunned, although he was a little unwilling in his heart, but Cixi had already decided, and he couldn't say anything, so he had to say: "According to the Queen Mother's opinion." ”

It turned out that Zhang Zhidong's words really reminded Cixi, although at this time Cixi had already paved a back road for herself, and sent Wu Huai to serve as the governor of Shanxi and Cen Chunxuan as the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, just to prepare for her escape again, but this time it was not the Eight-Nation Alliance Army in the year of Gengzi, even if she successfully escaped to Xi'an, it may not be safe, because the People's Army can completely chase Xi'an, so you still need to find another way back. Then it can only enter Hubei from Shaanxi and reach the south, so that there will be a large space for activities, and even if the People's Army wants to chase after it, it will delay for a while. And this time, Yuan Shikai took the Beiyang New Army to the south of Hubei via Xing'an Mansion in Shaanxi, just in time for Cixi to explore the road and make arrangements in advance. In addition, when Yuan Shikai arrived in the south, he could also prepare various matters for himself in advance, and when the time was irreversible, he fled to the south, and someone else responded.

Cixi also ignored Guangxu and said: "Then the matter of going south is so decided, Yuan Shikai, you go back and prepare well, and the holy decree will come down in the afternoon." ”

Yuan Shikai hurriedly said: "The minister's will." ”

Cixi said again: "Zhang Zhidong, it's up to you to negotiate with the pseudo-rebel, first see if the pseudo-rebel has the sincerity to negotiate with the imperial court, and then report it." ”

Zhang Zhidong also owed: "The minister's will." ”

Shi Xu and Na Tong listened, opened their mouths, and wanted to fight a few more words, but after looking at Cixi's appearance, they all endured it again.

Cixi nodded and said, "Okay, let's all kneel." ”

Only then did the ministers salute Cixi and Guangxu together, and then exited the room.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Qing court officially issued an order appointing Yuan Shikai as the governor of Liangjiang and the minister of disaster relief, and he went south to take office from now on to preside over disaster relief. Of course, disaster relief is just a name, and it can't be said that Yuan Shikai is going to East China, in fact, the peak of the flood has passed at this time, and when Yuan Shikai takes office, the flood is almost over. The original governor of Liangjiang Duanfang was reappointed as the governor of Sichuan, and he took office after the friendship with Yuan Shikai, and the demotion from governor to governor was also a punishment for Duanfang, and at the same time it was also a warning to the governors and ministers of the Yangtze River provinces.