The next day was the New Year's Day of the seventh year of Guangxu. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 The info emperor was congratulated by the ministers, and led the ministers to the Cining Palace to congratulate the Empress Dowager.

After the routine ceremony, the empress dowager of the two palaces did things as usual, but only summoned the three kings Chun, Gong, and alcohol to discuss the telegram sent back by Zeng Jize from Russia. This is good news, for Russia has formally agreed to the long-awaited abrogation of the treaty established by Chonghou and the establishment of a new one.

Zeng Jize and Russia agreed on a draft of 20 articles, as well as 17 articles of the land trade charter.

Prince Gong pointed out Chen for the empress dowager of the two palaces, and Zeng Jize fought for a total of seven benefits, the most important of which was to return the important pass south of Ili, the area of the Turks River Valley, a large territory with a width of more than 200 li and a length of 400 li, to return to the territory, and the western boundary of Ili.

In addition, there are three trade outlets, only one place in Jiayuguan is opened, and Xi'an and Hanzhong are canceled.

The Russian consul only set up one place in Turbon, and the Russian merchant trade on the north and south roads of the Tianshan Mountains was originally "not taxed" but was changed to "no tax for the time being."

In the more noble original covenant, the rights of the state have indeed been greatly restored.

"However, the reparations are going to be increased. It turned out to be five million silver rubles, now it will add four million. The reason of the Russians was that the southern border of Ili was guarded on their behalf, which cost a lot of money. This is also true. ”

"Nine million silver rubles, or our money, how much should it be?" Empress Dowager Ci'an asked.

"It's around five million pieces of silver."

"Alas, five million silver!" Empress Dowager Ci'an sighed and said, "Where did you come from?" ”

"That's good enough." The Empress Dowager Cixi hurriedly said, "The rights to be regained are more than ten and five million." If there is a war, the military budget will be huge, and it will be even more unbelievable. ”

These words surprised Prince Gong and Prince Alcohol.

The Empress Dowager Cixi has always been determined to fight at any cost, but at this moment she fully expressed her unwillingness to meet each other.

Prince Gong felt that it was a great comfort, so he immediately said: "Queen Mother Shengming." Zeng Jize did not disgrace his orders, and after he was worthy of the famous minister, when the matter was decided, the minister asked for the decree and gave him a reward. ”

Sino-Russian negotiations, peace ended, Ili returned to the map, and the DPRK and China saw a peaceful atmosphere again, but the Empress Dowager Ci'an was exhausted and tired of looking at the DPRK.

"For more than a year, the mourning family is really tired." She coughed slightly and said to Prince Gong and the Minister of Military Aircraft, "Now that it is finally safe and secure, it is all thanks to everyone's concerted efforts to achieve such a result." It's really not easy! ”

"This is the kindness of the two queen mothers." Prince Gong replied, "Although the Russian affairs have been concluded, the aftermath of Xinjiang is still very troublesome, and the ministers can only plan carefully and ask for the implementation of the decree."

The Queen Mother of the Virgin is still recuperating, and the major politics of the court and the central government are all presided over by the Queen Mother, and the ministers can inherit it. The Holy Bow is very important and must be cherished. ”

"The mourners know." Empress Dowager Ci'an paused for a moment, beat her spirits, and inquired about the aftermath of Xinjiang, "The mourning family is not worried about anything else now, only worried about the Russians repeatedly, and Ili will be handed back in the future, how will we receive it?" ”

"Naturally, it is to Zhenbing to receive it, and when the new treaty is concluded, there are many details, and the prime minister's yamen will consult with the Russian envoys."

"Send troops to receive it, but I am afraid that there will be another accident, and the regulations must be made clear, so that the Russians have nothing to say."

The Empress Dowager Ci'an said, "Let's see, are you looking for Liu Jintang to come to Beijing and ask them, but what are the difficulties?" Think of it for them in advance. Also, Zuo Zongtang played in the past, Xinjiang should be set up as a province, and the mourning family remembered the rules at that time, and waited for Yili to take it back and then discuss it. What now? ”

"Yes." Prince Gong replied, "It's still early. When Ili is recovered, it is not too late to discuss. ”

"Then you have to ask Liu Jintang about them." Empress Dowager Ci'an instructed, "You go to discuss, do you want to find Liu Jintang, or do you want Zhang Yao to come to Beijing to talk?" ”

After returning to the Military Aircraft Department to discuss, it was decided to summon Liu Jintang's deputy, Zhang Yao, who was in charge of Xinjiang military affairs as the land commander of Guangdong, to enter Beijing, which was Zuo Zongtang's suggestion.

Because in the future, it will be Zhang Yao who will lead the army to receive Ili, and on the one hand, he should ask him what his "difficulties" are, and on the other hand, he should instruct him on the other hand, and it is also appropriate to tell Zhang Yao directly.

At the time of the first shift, the close relatives and nobles, the ministers of the imperial front, the ministers of military aircraft, the scholars, the six scholars, the ministers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the masters of the Yuqing Palace, the ministers of the Yuqing Palace, the ministers of the South Study and the Hanlin Ministers of the South Study, all had errands in the palace, and the guards who were familiar with them knocked on the door and sent a message: "There is a big incident in the palace." ”

Is the "big event" in Zhongcui Palace or Changchun Palace? According to the news of Zhang Guard, it seems to be the Empress Dowager Ci'an, but logically speaking, it is absolutely impossible.

Why? The Empress Dowager Ci'an is only forty-five years old this year, she is calm and quiet on weekdays, she knows her fate and is happy, and she is enjoying the New Year, and she will never have an unforeseen disaster due to a small wind and cold disease.

It seems that it is still the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Ten days ago, I heard Li Hongzao talk that Zhang Zhidong once suggested that he recommend doctors, one was Fei Boxiong from Menghe, Changzhou, and the other was Cheng Chunzao, an alternate Daoist from Hebei and from Anhui.

With this move, it can be seen that the Empress Dowager Cixi's illness is not light, and the major event must be in Changchun Palace, not Zhongcui Palace.

Entering the Jingyun Gate, they all wandered outside the Qianqing Gate, looking at each other in astonishment, I don't know where to start? asked the guards of Qianqingmen, only to say that they had vaguely heard that there was such a thing, and the Empress Dowager Ci'an was very ill, whether something had happened or not, but he didn't know.

Everyone is thinking: the palace gate has not been opened yet, or it doesn't matter. Therefore, the mood is all contradictory, hoping that the palace door will be opened early and inquiring about the exact news, but he is afraid that the palace door will be opened early, which confirms that the big event has come out.

At two o'clock, except for Prince Gong, all the princes and ministers arrived, and they kept looking at their watches one by one, and saw that at two o'clock and three quarters, the inner left door and the inner right door next to the Qianqing Gate were opened at the same time, so King Chun led the way, passed through the inner right gate, and went straight to the inner office in the south of the Yuehua Gate.

There are a total of eighteen eunuchs in the internal affairs office, the chief eunuch surnamed Zhu, although the official rank is only eight grades, the authority is very great, as soon as he saw the princes and ministers coming, he stood up, personally held a white gauze lamp, and announced loudly in front of the steps: "The Empress Dowager Ci'an has died!" ”

This sound was like a thunderstorm, and everyone involuntarily stood still, and then as if they suddenly woke up, they made a buzzing sound, looking at each other in surprise, as if they couldn't believe that it was really happening.

"Yes, when did you die?" King Chun asked.

"Whisk."

It was seven o'clock the night before, and it was almost three o'clock in the morning, seven hours apart, and even if the time had been notified to the princes and ministers, four hours had passed.

Such a big event, why can the palace be so calm? A deep mystery arose in everyone's mind.

"That's weird!" Zuo Zongtang suddenly opened his mouth and said loudly in Hunan dialect, "There must be ghosts!" ”

"Lord, Lord!" Wang Wenshao hurriedly said to him, "Please go in and see the recipe!" (To be continued.) )