In the face of the pressure of public opinion throughout the country, Cixi certainly did not dare to slack off, although the current situation is settled, but Dachun has not recovered, despite the participation of the traverser, the Qing court did not compensate for a huge amount of silver, lost a large amount of sovereignty, but the impact of the Gengzi State Revolution on the Qing court is still quite huge, first of all, the imperial court is almost completely empty, almost all newspapers except Beijing can blame the imperial court, and secondly, the southeast mutual protection has greatly increased the power of the local governor, although it has not yet reached the state of feudal town separation, but the Qing court can no longer support the envoys as casually as in the past。

The biggest blow to the Qing court was the establishment of the East China government, which was completely dwarfed by its clean and efficient style, its pro-people and civilized governance, its toughness with foreign affairs, and its courage to safeguard national sovereignty. It is precisely because there is no harm without comparison, that the East China government is like a mirror, infinitely magnifying every shortcoming of the Qing court, and this time the action to protect overseas Chinese once again forced the Qing court into a corner.

Cixi, of course, understood that if the imperial court could not do anything more, it would be dangerous. Therefore, in the name of Guangxu, he immediately summoned the Minister of Military Aircraft to discuss countermeasures, how to reward overseas Chinese, and alleviate the current predicament faced by the imperial court.

Except for the death of Rong Lu and Li Hongzhang, who was sick, the other six military ministers all came, but the result of the discussion was somewhat unexpected by Cixi, and the six Manchu and Han military ministers actually spoke in unison, believing that at this time, it was impossible or unnecessary to reward overseas Chinese.

However, although the opinions of the Manchu and Han ministers rarely coincided this time, the perspectives they considered were completely different. Because of the Manchu incident that occurred in Qingzhou, Shandong, the Manchu people did not have a good impression of the East China government, and because they were Manchu nobles, they had great resentment, and this sentiment was naturally reflected in the officials of the DPRK and China, among the Manchu military ministers, Prince Qing has always been tactful and never offended people, so he did not express his opinion, while Rong Qing and Tie Liang were both young and vigorous, and they hated the East China government and could not immediately send troops to exterminate them, but they were helpless and powerless, so they would agree to reward overseas Chinese.

So the two of them spoke one after another, and generally described that the behavior of overseas Chinese was completely ignorant of the imperial court, arrogant and arrogant, and signed contracts with foreign countries without authorization, and the crime was extremely serious, and the imperial court did not ask themselves for being the grace of heaven, how could they be rewarded, and if the overseas Chinese were rewarded for this, and the local governors and governors would imitate it, wouldn't it be a great chaos in the world. Severe punishment should be given to officials who have written letters calling for commendations for overseas Chinese, and it is best to get rid of a few local officials.

However, before the two of them could finish their words, they were interrupted by Cixi, in fact, Cixi understood these great truths, and it is not an exaggeration to exterminate the ten ethnic groups with the words and deeds of overseas Chinese, but is it useful to say these things now? As for the dismissal of a few local officials because of this, maybe they will be forced to rebel, and what Cixi needs now is a practical solution, not an empty truth.

The reason of the Han minister is that the overseas Chinese do not care about the court's awards, and the court has missed the best opportunity, because now the overseas Chinese are rewarded, not even the icing on the cake, so it is better to simply ignore it, as for the officials' demolition, as well as the public opinion of the people, Zhang Zhidong thinks that it is a trend, as long as the court ignores it, it will be over after a while, and there is no need to care too much.

It should be said that what Minister Han said still has a certain amount of truth, Guangxu is noncommittal, but Cixi's heart still has no bottom, because Minister Han's suggestion, to put it bluntly, is to be a turtle with a shrunken head, and then it is to resign to fate. Although it is said that it is true that it is possible to pretend to be a turtle to hide from officials and public opinion, overseas Chinese cannot hide, and the imperial court just wants to be a turtle with a shrunken head, and it must be agreed by overseas Chinese.

At this time, Cixi remembered Li Hongzhang, if there is still one person in the Great Qing Kingdom who can solve the current predicament, then this person can only be Li Hongzhang, it seems that the current Great Qing Kingdom is inseparable from this Li Zhongtang. So Cixi asked the ministers of military aircraft to step down, and then ordered Li Lianying to invite Li Hongzhang into the palace to face the king, and strictly ordered Li Lianying to invite Li Hongzhang.

Of course, Cixi knew that although Li Hongzhang was sick, he was not able to go to the court, he was in the imperial court, in fact, he was dissatisfied with himself, of course, Cixi also understood that if Li Hongzhang's suggestion was adopted, the court would not be so passive now. Therefore, Cixi sent Li Lianying to invite Li Hongzhang, which is equivalent to apologizing to Li Hongzhang, everyone knows that Li Lianying is Cixi's first confidant, every word and deed represents the Empress Dowager Cixi, and only a few princes have enjoyed such treatment if Li Lianying can invite Li Lianying in person, so let Manager Li invite Li Zhongtang, which can be regarded as giving Li Hongzhang enough face. Of course, at the same time, it also forced Li Hongzhang into a corner, if even Li Lianying could not invite Li Hongzhang, then only the emperor or Lafayette personally came to the door to invite him, so what did Li Hongzhang plan to do? And it can also be seen that Cixi's power has indeed reached a high level.

Sure enough, Mr. Li personally went out and immediately succeeded, Li Hongzhang trembled and followed Li Lianying into the palace, but Li Lianying also gave Li Hongzhang enough face, and specially sent two little eunuchs to help Li Hongzhang all the way to Cixi's Kunning Palace, of course, Li Hongzhang gave a reward of 100 taels of silver.

After entering the palace, Li Hongzhang gave Cixi and Guangxu a gift, and Cixi also gave Li Hongzhang a seat.

After Li Hongzhang sat down, Cixi said: "Li Hongzhang, you know everything now, and now I'm waiting for you to get a law." ”

Li Hongzhang was confident, because he had already thought of a way, so he said: "The old minister thinks that the imperial court should immediately reward overseas Chinese, and it should be rewarded heavily, and it should be courteous, and the edict should be issued to the world. ”

When Cixi and Guangxu heard this, they couldn't help but be stunned, because Li Hongzhang's suggestion was really different. While Cixi was still tasting the meaning of Li Hongzhang's suggestion, Guangxu couldn't help it, and said: "Is it useful to reward overseas Chinese now? I'm afraid that they don't look down on the court's commendation." ”

Now Guangxu's attitude towards overseas Chinese is also very contradictory, although he admires the actions of overseas Chinese, but also knows that the ultimate goal of overseas Chinese is to replace the Qing court, which Guangxu can not accept, but there is still a trace of fantasy in Guangxu's heart, that is, now overseas Chinese are not satisfied with the imperial court, because Cixi is in power, and if he is able to govern, he will be able to convince overseas Chinese and really serve the Qing Dynasty, this is not Guangxu arrogant, but Guangxu and overseas Chinese have the same goal, that is, to make the Qing Dynasty really rich and strong。 Therefore, sometimes Guangxu even fantasized that after he took power, he would personally go to Shandong to invite overseas Chinese to preside over state affairs, and he would rather imitate the British king and only be a hypocrite. But now, Guangxu's goal is the same as Cixi's, that is, to appease overseas Chinese and calm public opinion.

Li Hongzhang said: "Back to the emperor, whether you look down on the court's commendation is the business of overseas Chinese, but whether the award is awarded or not is the matter of the imperial court. ”

Cixi said: "If the imperial court ignores it, public opinion may automatically calm down after a while." ”

Li Hongzhang said: "Queen Mother, even though the public opinion of the people can be calmed down, but the people's hearts have been lost, and the imperial court is now rewarding overseas Chinese, although it is a little late, but it should also be especially gracious, in order to show the grace of heaven, the edict to the world, it is better to make up for the dead, than to ignore it." ”

Guangxu now understands what Li Hongzhang meant, since it is too late to award it, then the reward will be heavier to make up for it, so that it can calm the emotions of some officials and public opinion, but overseas Chinese do not eat this set, Guangxu now also knows that overseas Chinese do not care about the official position of the imperial court. So he said: "If the imperial court does this, will it appease the overseas Chinese?"

Li Hongzhang said: "This commendation should also send important ministers of the imperial court who are good friends with overseas Chinese as envoys, which may be successful." ”

Guangxu also nodded, it seems that it is not only to reward heavily, but also to play the emotional card, although it is not sure whether it will succeed, but this is the best way at present, it is much more reliable than the other people who put it aside and be a shrinking turtle.

At this time, Cixi suddenly asked: "Li Hongzhang, then what official position do you think should be given to overseas Chinese?"

Li Hongzhang said: "You can be knighted and build a domain." ”

Cixi nodded slightly, the knighthood is indeed a very high honor in the Qing Dynasty, with Li Hongzhang's high position, but only a first-class earl, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang are all as famous as Li Hongzhang, but the title before his death was only an earl, and he was posthumously named a marquis after his death. If a few marquis were awarded to overseas Chinese, even dukes, it would be regarded as a special reward, and the establishment of a feudal domain was a special case only when the Qing court was founded. However, whether it is a marquis or a duke, the dignity is noble, but they are all fictitious titles, and they have no real power; the establishment of the feudal domain has great power, but now Shandong is actually a separation, and the establishment of the feudal domain is only a short favor for them, but it is indeed able to cope with it. But such a reward is indeed explained to the public opinion of the whole country, and even if the overseas Chinese do not accept this set, they are embarrassed to make any moves in this matter, of course, if the overseas Chinese are not satisfied, then no one can do anything.

Cixi pondered for a while before she said, "Then the minister you said is there a candidate?"

Li Hongzhang said: "The ministers have their own candidates, and Yuan Shikai, the governor of Zhili, can be appointed to this position." ”

Guangxu immediately said: "Yuan Shikai is not the Minister of Military Aircraft, how can he take on this great responsibility." ”

Li Hongzhang said: "Among the ministers of military aircraft, no one can take on this position. ”

Guangxu hesitated for a moment before he said: "If you want to say that you have a relationship with overseas Chinese, I remember that Zhang Zhidong seems to have some friendship with overseas Chinese, can't he serve as a messenger?"

Li Hongzhang said: "Zhang Xiangtao does have some friendship with overseas Chinese, but one is that Zhang Xiangtao is old, and the other is that this trip to Qin is very important, and he should bear the burden of humiliation. Moreover, Yuan Shikai is stationed in Tianjin, has always had contacts with overseas Chinese, and has personal friendships with many overseas Chinese, only Yuan Shikai can take on this responsibility. ”

Guangxu wanted to say something, but he heard Cixi cough lightly, and immediately fell silent.

Cixi said: "Okay, this matter, let me discuss it with the emperor again." ”