In fact, Guangxu's little bit of caution, how could he hide it from Cixi. And Cixi also laughed at Guangxu in her heart for being too naïve. After the five ministers returned from their overseas inspection, Cixi not only read their reports in detail, but also understood the true meaning of the constitutional system from many aspects, such as meeting with the wives of the ministers, as well as the sisters Deling and Rongling, who served as the former female officials of the imperial palace five years ago.

Because the sisters' father Yu Geng Qing Dynasty nobles, diplomats, in 1895 served as the Japanese minister for 3 years, and then served as the French minister for 3 years, during which both of them lived with their father in a foreign country for 6 years, because Yu Geng's personality is more open, support the two daughters to learn foreign culture, so the sisters in these 6 years have opened their eyes, have a considerable understanding of European society, culture, politics, by virtue of the age, but also proficient in eight foreign languages, but also followed the modern dance master Duncan to learn dance.

After the Gengzi Revolution, the Qing court implemented a new policy, Cixi learned from Prince Qing that Yu Geng's daughter was fluent in foreign languages and Western etiquette, so she ordered to summon Mrs. Yu Geng to bring the sisters of De Ling and Rong Ling into the palace for an audience, and then appointed the sisters as the female officials of the palace, on the one hand, she acted as an interpreter for her interactions with the envoys and wives of Western countries, and on the other hand, she was also a consultant to understand the situation abroad. In 1905, Yu Geng died of illness, and the sisters went out of the palace to mourn and keep filial piety, and after the end of the Far Eastern War, Cixi recruited De Ling back to the palace to continue to serve, and was named the lord of Shanshou County, until now.

It can be said that Cixi's understanding of the constitutional system is not completely thorough, but it is far more than the half-baked level of Guangxu, Cixi's understanding of the constitutional system is that although the constitutional system will impose considerable restrictions on the power of the monarch, it will also retain a considerable part of the power, such as Germany, Japan and other constitutional countries, the power of the monarch is actually not too limited, the so-called monarch can not be arbitrary, mainly because there are powerful forces in the country, and the monarch and the powerful forces must reach a balance. However, East China is different from ordinary powerful forces, so once a coalition is formed, it is impossible for East China to cede power to the Qing court, and whether the royal family of the Qing court is dead or alive at that time is really between the thoughts of overseas Chinese.

As for the belief that the constitutional system can protect the status of the imperial family, Cixi did not believe it at all, as the actual power of the Qing court, Cixi would never pin her own security on the system, In the law, but the balance of power, in this sense, Cixi's understanding of power is basically thorough, but Cixi can only understand the meaning of power, but she does not have the ability to make the country strong, so she is also a female politician, Elizabeth I of England, and Catherine I of Russia can go down in history, but Cixi left only notoriety.

But Cixi also knows that although Guangxu's idea is naïve, he is still somewhat sure, the reason is that he is the emperor, even if he is a puppet emperor, but the emperor is the emperor, this is his biggest protective umbrella, if the overseas Chinese want to blackmail the Son of Heaven to order the candidates, it will really not hurt Guangxu's life. But that is Guangxu, and Cixi is not protected by the emperor's name, so who will guarantee Cixi's safety?

Although Cixi didn't read much, she watched a lot of plays, so the story of [Romance of the Three Kingdoms] basically knows that Cao Cao coerced the Son of Heaven to order the candidates, but he didn't move Emperor Han Xian, but Emperor Han Xian's side was killed by Cao Cao, so once the Qing court and East China **formed a union**, Guangxu may be able to protect himself, but it is difficult to say his own safety.

But this does not mean that Cixi agrees with the proposal to move the capital south, and not to mention that Cixi also knows how controversial this proposal is after it is really implemented, even if it is determined by herself, the journey of thousands of miles to the south, all the way upside down, how many variables are dangerous, and even if you go to the south, it does not mean that you can settle down, because the foundation of the Qing court is in the north, and the south has long been the world of the Han peopleFirst, the imperial court did not press too the Han people in the south, and the Han people also needed the banner of the imperial court; second, there was the existence of the great enemy of East China, so now the two sides are at peace with each other, and maintain a superficial relationship between monarchs and ministers, but in fact, the Qing court's binding force on the south is very weak.

Cixi has been in power for many years and knows the importance of power, once the Qing court moves the capital to the south, it is equivalent to losing its own foundation. And East China will never accept the division of the north and the south, as soon as they integrate the north, they will immediately wave the south and take over the land south of the Yangtze River, and they will still not be able to escape at that time, so although Cixi has long been prepared and prepared to run away, this is only intended to be used when it is absolutely necessary, and if you can not run, it is better not to run.

In fact, Cixi's requirements are not high, she is over 70 years old, and she can still have a few days to live, as long as she stays up until she closes her eyes, she can't control the things behind her, but now East China ** obviously won't give herself this time. However, as long as her own safety can be guaranteed, in fact, Cixi still agrees with the merger with East China to form a union**, but what kind of guarantee can make Cixi completely reassured? Even she herself does not know, because the way Cixi can think of protection is unreliable in her opinion.

And if she can ensure that she still holds power, and at the same time can drag it until the day when she breathes, Cixi will of course choose to go south, but whether she can do this, Cixi also has no bottom in her heart, if she goes backwards 2, In 30 years, Cixi dared to try to go south, firstly, she was still young at that time, her energy and courage were there, and there were still a few important ministers in the court that she trusted, with such capital, Cixi was naturally sure to gain a foothold in the south and hold power, but now Cixi does not have that energy and courage, and the important ministers in the court are basically zero, and the new ministers are unreliable.

Yuan Shikai is the best example, it turned out that Cixi appointed Yuan Shikai as the governor of Liangjiang, and also had the intention of paving the way for himself in the south, but after Yuan Shikai arrived in the south, he was obviously a lot bolder, not only openly recruiting troops and horses in the south, expanding the army, but also intercepting the imperial court's annual money and grain.

Cixi pondered for a while, but still didn't understand the point, and suddenly said, "Zhang Zhidong, what is your opinion?"

Zhang Zhidong said: "Back to the Queen Mother, the matter is big, and the ministers dare not make a decision." ”

Cixi snorted and said, "It's because it's a big matter, so I have to listen to the opinions of the audience more, so you can say it if you say it, it doesn't matter if what you say is right or wrong." ”

Zhang Zhidong said: "Yes, according to the minister's opinion, if you arrive first, you may as well test the attitude of East China." ”

In fact, from Zhang Zhidong's heart, he hopes that the Qing court and East China will merge, firstly, China will not fall into the situation of splitting between the north and the south; second, this is also the only way to protect the Qing court, after all, even if the Qing court flees to the south, it is not just a few more years, but in the end it will be destroyed by East China, Zhang Zhidong does not want China to split, and he also does not want the Qing court to be completely destroyed, so the merger is the best choice.

But Zhang Zhidong is also well aware of Cixi's mentality that no one can trust now, and he does not dare to guarantee that Huadong ** will accept the conditions of the merger, or after the merger, will he not attack Cixi or Guangxu, so he deliberately said that the choice of merger was too dangerous before, and said that it was easier to go south, and he believed that Cixi would never make a decision easily because of his words. When Cixi pressed him about his attitude, Zhang Zhidong pushed it to the side of East China, suggesting that the Qing court communicate with East China first to understand East China's attitude towards peace talks between the two sides.

However, Zhang Zhidong's words really reminded Cixi. Now the Qing court is discussing so hotly, but we still don't know what kind of attitude East China ** has! Are they willing to negotiate with the Qing court? And are they willing to accept that kind of plan, after all, the ultimate decision now is not Zhang Zhidong, nor is Cixi the final say, but in the hands of East China, only if East China is willing to negotiate peace with the Qing court, and now the Qing court's discussion is intentional. Therefore, the top priority now is to test the attitude of East China, to see if East China will negotiate peace with the Qing court, and hope to choose which plan for peace, if East China chooses to merge, then it can give the Qing court the royal family, which is Cixi herself, what kind of guarantee, maybe East China ** proposed the guarantee, is not thought of by himself! Choose the division of the north and the south, then the Qing court will not have to talk nonsense, pack up, and prepare to go south, and the content of the discussion is also how to compete for power and profit with the governors of the south after arriving in the south.

Thinking of this, Cixi also nodded and said, "Then let's do it, this matter is still up to you." ”

Zhang Zhidong hurriedly saluted and said, "The minister's decree." ”

And after Zhang Zhidong left the palace, Cixi found that Zhang Zhidong still did not express his attitude, so he couldn't help sighing, he was still old after all, and it was difficult to think about things thoroughly, if he went back 10 years, he would never let Zhang Zhidong fool the past this time.

On the evening of the same day, Zhang Zhidong visited the office of East China ** in Beijing and told the person in charge of the office of East China ** that the Qing court hoped to make peace with East China ** and the two plans for peace, but all the contents were dictated by Zhang Zhidong, and no paper was left. Because Zhang Zhidong knows very well that before this kind of matter is decided, written evidence must not be left.