Zeng Jize arrived in St. Petersburg, the capital of Russia, on 24 June, and sent three telegrams one after another, the third of which was a report on his meeting with Gers, the Russian "secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Gerth said, "The treaty is still in foreign countries, and the crime has never been done in ancient times." The attitude is "cold-faced". Therefore, Zeng Jize asked for "the forgiveness of lofty charges as the first step to turn around", saying that "although he did not dare to resign".

This sentence refers to Li Hongzao and that class of Qingliu. The main battle faction was instigated by the impetuous Zhang Zhidong, and it was full of tricks.

Bao Ting just put on an excerpt, saying that "the external trouble is gradually pressing, please summon the important minister Zuo Zongtang into the court, plan the strategy, in order to help the crisis", so that Prince Gong is quite a headache, and now he received a telegram from Zeng Jize, although he has the courage to "do the discussion but dare not resign", Prince Gong is unwilling to rashly beg for grace, only take Zeng Jize's telegram to play the decree.

The Empress Dowager Ci'an can't be the master. So Prince Gong suggested that the queen mother of the two palaces be invited to "call the right one". In fact, there was only this method, and the Empress Dowager Ci'an went to Changchun Palace to discuss with the Empress Dowager Cixi.

"There's nothing else, I'm afraid I'll tire you, and I'm afraid you'll be angry." Empress Dowager Ci'an said, "You can do it yourself, you can support it, and it's good to meet everyone." ”

"It doesn't matter!" The Empress Dowager Cixi replied without hesitation: "The medicine I have taken in the past two days seems to be very right, how can I not support the work of that moment?" ”

This is the second time in half a year that the Empress Dowager Cixi has met with the Minister of Military Aircraft, and it has been two months since the last time she visited the court. Looking at the royal appearance, the emaciation was surprising, but in the weather at the beginning of July, she was wearing a satin robe, and the palace maid helped her on the throne, panting, and it took a long time to answer the greetings of the ministers.

"The doctors recommended by Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guoquan are good." In a very weak voice, she said, "People are still very weak, but they are much more comfortable." ”

"The country's eventful autumn depends on the two queen mothers to make big doubts and make big plans, and the ministers can follow them." Prince Gong said very reverently: "Relying on the spirit of the ancestors in heaven to protect the holy bow and recover as soon as possible is the blessing of the subjects of the sect." ”

"You are anxious, and the mourning family is also anxious! It's not a disease that can be cured by one medicine or two medicines. When you do things, you must always be like a mourner who meets you every day, with solid strength and harmony, so that the overall situation can be dealt with. ”

The voice is very light, and the weight in the words is very heavy, especially the sentence "I see you every day", as if accusing, seeing that the Empress Dowager Ci'an is honest and easy to speak, there is something to deceive.

However, there is no way to defend this, so he can only reply: "State affairs are like this, and the ministers will never dare to have the slightest intention of being idle and perfunctory." ”

"That's how it should be." Empress Dowager Cixi then referred to Zeng Jize's request:

"Chonghou convicted, and originally said that it would be discussed after Zeng Jize arrived in Russia. Since Russia received our envoys, and said that the treaty could be renegotiated, so it didn't matter if Chonghou killed or not. If you don't kill Chonghou and let him out, can he still escape to a foreign country? Just let him out! ”

Hearing this, Prince Gong was relieved, but it was not appropriate to say any more words, and only calmly replied yes.

"The mourning family doesn't want to fight, but they have to get along. Let go of the sublime, it is a trivial matter, once the sublime is released, everyone thinks that the court can be wronged no matter what, and the plan can't be fought, so the defense of all places is left behind, and they are busy for a long time, once there is something, they are still bullied, which is a big deal. ”

"Naturally, defense affairs should be stepped up." Prince Gong replied.

"The envoys of various countries and the newsprint all said that the Russian warships planned to seal our Liaohai in August and September, and in addition to the order to send Zeng Guoquan to supervise the coastal defense affairs around Shanhaiguan, the ministers and others discussed that they wanted to send Bao Chao to lead 10,000 brave men recruited in the two lakes, and Keri took a boat to the north, and chose to be stationed between Shanhaiguan and the capital, one to prepare the border, and the other to protect Gyeonggi. Is this the right thing to do? I would like to ask the two Queen Mothers to make up their minds today. ”

"Bao Chao is a brave general. He and Zeng Guoquan naturally get along, but I am afraid that he and Li Hongzhang will not be in harmony. ”

"This layer, don't worry about the saints. They are old brothers who were born and died, not to mention that state affairs are like this, so they will not be angry. ”

"That's good!" The Empress Dowager Cixi said, "The salary should be sufficient for Bao Chao." ”

"Yes." Prince Gong replied, "Before the new army is recruited, Hubei will allocate it under the border defense funds allocated by the ministry, and after the defense is completed, the household department will raise another salary for him." ”

"What about Zuo Zongtang?" The Empress Dowager Cixi asked about the Baoting's recital.

"He has been in the northwest for many years, and let him come to Beijing on an errand; It's a good idea either. But what did he do when he came? In the northwest, who will he find to replace him? Have you thought about any of this? ”

Prince Gong naturally thought about it and talked to everyone. The main battle faction strongly agreed with this proposal, thinking that Zuo Zongtang's participation in the plan was enough to increase the momentum. And the Lord and the faction actually said that Bao Ting's idea was very high, and this is another article.

Zuo Zongtang was in the northwest, although he did not "accept the orders of the monarch abroad", but he sent troops and dispatched generals with a special message, which made the situation tense, and the military aircraft department had no way to control it, and he also had a headache.

Now that he has been transferred to Beijing, he is clearly respected, but in fact, he is restrained and war-oriented, but it is easy to control. As for Zuo Zongtang's arrival in Beijing, what envoys will be sent, and who will take over the military affairs in the northwest? Of course, there are also arrangements.

"Back to the Queen Mother, Zuo Zongtang was originally a scholar of Dongge University, and he will come to Beijing, is he sent to walk on a military plane? Please note otherwise. As for Xinjiang's military affairs, it is advisable to be sponsored by Zuo Zongtang. ”

"Hmm." The Empress Dowager Cixi nodded, feeling a little unsupportive, so she immediately asked, "What else do you want to talk about?" ”

"Zhang Zhidong has an excerpt on coastal defense, which involves a lot of matters." Speaking of this, Prince Gong deliberately stopped, to see what the Empress Dowager Cixi said, and then reasoned.

"Then let's talk about it!" The Empress Dowager Cixi said, "Zhang Zhidong is a person who is willing to work hard and contribute to the imperial court. ”

This sentence is tantamount to a ruling, and it should be adopted as far as possible if it is played.

Therefore, Prince Gong agreed and said: "The ministers will look up to the holy will, take the original fold and discuss it one by one, and take the decree." Please return to the official first! ”

So the Empress Dowager Cixi left her seat first and returned to Changchun Palace.

A few days later, the Empress Dowager Cixi was diagnosed and treated by Li and Zhuang, and her condition improved greatly. With great interest, he planned to have fun in the bitterness and have a good Mid-Autumn Festival.

It's the end of the year. Because Zeng Jize's negotiations with Russia were done very well, not only could they be settled peacefully, but also won back a lot of rights, and the Empress Dowager Cixi's illness was also alleviating day by day, so everyone from top to bottom felt that this year should be very energetic.

Early in the morning of Chinese New Year's Eve, the princes and ministers left the emperor, finished their salutes at the Bohol Hall, and dispersed. (To be continued.) )