England remains neutral? Gorchakov couldn't help but be stunned, maintaining neutrality is just a high-sounding statement, in fact, it is to leave it alone, and it may even be a coalition with Germany!

If this is the case, Germany will be even more unscrupulous, and it is possible that it will not be to attack and weaken France, but to destroy it completely!

Moreover, once the war starts, it is impossible for Russia to mediate through diplomatic channels, and if it wants to prevent Germany from annexing France, it can only send troops, but Germany is not isolated, and it is possible to unite Austria-Hungary and Italy.

If the situation really develops to this point, it will become England sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight!

However, Gorchakov immediately reacted that England could not and did not dare to let go, once Germany became strong, it would also be a huge threat to England, which is why England has always pursued a policy of continental equilibrium, because England did not allow a strong empire to appear on the European continent!

Disraeli seemed to be able to see through his thoughts, and continued: "For the sake of our own interests, we have never wanted a strong country on the European continent, but when the equilibrium is destined to be upset, and there is a great threat to our country itself. Choosing neutrality and preserving strength would be more in line with China's interests. ”

This is not a lie, Gorchakov nodded slightly, if the Qing State sells torpedoes, submarines and new mines and other naval weapons to Germany, the German Navy is completely likely to defeat the British Navy. In this case, it is indeed a great possibility that England chooses neutrality to preserve its strength!

After thinking for a while, he said slowly: "Again, my country has just signed a defense treaty with Germany, and it will not break its promise, and of course, our country will not interfere with your country's choice." ”

Seeing that he threw out a killer move, the other party was still indifferent, and Disraeli was silent for a while, but he was naturally unwilling, and muttered for a while before he said: "Can I meet His Majesty the Emperor of your country?" ”

"Naturally." Gorchakov said without hesitation, he believed that Alexander II would not agree to intervene, and that the war provoked by Germany was an extremely rare opportunity for Russia.

He figured it out, although the Qing State would support Germany to provoke war, but it absolutely did not want to see Germany unify Europe, even if there was a trend towards unification!

The reason is simple, a united Europe is not in the interests of the Qing State!

Since this is the case, as long as Germany provokes a war, it is possible that the Qing State will vigorously support Russia and let Russia contain Germany from becoming the hegemon of Europe! For Russia, this is undoubtedly a rare opportunity - an opportunity for the rise of the Russian Navy!

Daqing, Shaanxi, Fengxiang Mansion.

In the county government of Baoji County, Zhang Changyu, the prefect in his early forties, frowned and turned back and forth in the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

The matter is obvious, Yi Zhizu got rid of the county officials, and he must be conducting a private visit to Weifu, he is worried that Yi Zhishu will have an accident in his own jurisdiction, and he is worried about what will go wrong in the investigation.

In the past few years, there has been a great drought in the north, Fengxiang Mansion is one of the main resettlement points, the immigrants are as high as one million, and there are a large number of immigrants in the seven counties and one scattered prefecture in the jurisdiction.

"Your Excellency." Chen Qingsheng, the magistrate of Baoji County, hurriedly greeted him and said: "Several resettlement areas have been investigated, and no trace of the prince has been found. Saying that, he hesitated, "Will the prince have already returned to Xi'an?" ”

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor are still in Xi'an, what are you doing when you go back to Xi'an? Zhang Changyu frowned, and scolded: "Hugh's nonsense! ”

After a pause, he muttered: "As expected, the prince should have gone to other counties to make secret visits, so that the counties should do their part!" ”

Hearing this, Chen Qingsheng said tentatively: "Does the prince believe in Buddhism?" ”

Where did Zhang Changyu know if Yi Zhishu believed in Buddhism, but he immediately reacted, the Famen Temple in Fufeng County used to be a royal temple, and it was really possible, and he groaned slightly, and then he said: "The telegram ordered Fufeng Zhixian to send someone to Famen Temple to secretly investigate ......." ”

Famen Temple is not far from Fufeng County, although it was a royal temple in the Tang and Song dynasties, but since the Ming and Qing dynasties, it has gradually decayed, and the incense is not as prosperous as in previous years, however, the emaciated camel is bigger than the horse, after all, it is a thousand-year-old temple and it is still a royal temple in the Tang and Song dynasties, although it is decaying, it is not comparable to the general temple, and there are not many pilgrims who come.

Outside the mountain gate, Yi Zhi, who was dressed as a gentleman, climbed up the stairs and asked in a casual voice, "Huifu, believe the Buddha?" “

After a slight sigh, Zhao Liewen smiled and said: "I don't usually worship the Buddha, but if there is something, I will temporarily hold the Buddha's feet." ”

Hearing this, Huang Dianyuan smiled: "Huifu is sincere. ”

Zhao Liewen didn't say anything, he knew that Yi Zhishu didn't believe in Buddhism, why did he come to Famen Temple this time? After hesitating, he still asked, "The big shopkeeper doesn't seem to believe in Buddhism either?" ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled: "I don't believe it, but since I have arrived at the ground, I might as well come and hug the Buddha's feet." ”

For this, Zhao Liewen obviously didn't believe it, this Famen Temple is nearly two hundred miles away from Baoji, and there is a lot of delay for a round trip, after all, the traffic here is very inconvenient, and he is sure that Yi Zhixin is a special trip.

Walking all the way, Yi Zhishu casually asked, "Why is the temple gate called the mountain gate?" ”

"I want to come because the Buddhist temples live in the mountains and forests, so it is called "Mountain Gate". Huang Dianyuan said slowly: "The mountain gate is generally three gates, the middle is large and the two sides are small, symbolizing the "three liberation gates", that is, "empty door", "no phase door", "no door", so "mountain gate" is also called "three gates", and also uses the mountain gate as another name for the temple. ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Empty door, no phase door, no door, so which door do we enter from?" ”

Zhao Liewen said: "Enter from the letter gate." Ordinary saints and sages are equal. ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "In other words, even if you enter the mountain gate, you are all believers." ”

Among the pilgrims, the three of them are not eye-catching, chatting all the way into the mountain gate, going straight to the towering brick tower in the temple, easy to know that the Buddha is not respectful, but for the Famen Temple, the famous temple in the Guanzhong, it has a very deep impression, because the underground palace of the Famen Temple hides the Buddha Shakyamuni's true finger bone relics and thousands of pieces of the Tang Dynasty for the Buddha's heavy treasures, just a dungeon has the reputation of half of the Tang Dynasty.

Yi Zhifen circled around the brick tower, Zhao Liewen led a middle-aged monk to greet him, the monk bowed, and then introduced: "This tower is the former Ming Dynasty Wanli period, by the local gentleman Yang Yuchen, Dang Wanliang and other donations to repair the tower, it took 30 years to build, eight edges and thirteen levels, forty-seven meters high. ”

Yi Zhicontent asked, "What about the original tower?" ”

"Back to the donor, the original four-level wooden tower of the Tang Dynasty has collapsed in the third year of Longqing in the former Ming Dynasty."

Collapsed? Yi Zhishu was a little puzzled, since the tower collapsed, didn't he find the underground palace? Or in the Ming Dynasty, the underground palace had already been discovered? After a while, he said, "I want to meet your host." ”

As the saying goes, the body is moved by the qi, and it is easy to be content to stay in the upper position for a long time, and the bearing is naturally extraordinary, and the monk also has a little eyesight, and immediately bowed with his palms together, "A few donors, please come with the little monk." ”

Entering the abbot's meditation room, Yi Zhizhi asked Zhao Liewen and the two to wait outside, only for a moment, an old monk with a slightly thin beard and white eyebrows slowly walked in, clasped his palms together and saluted: "The poor monk is Taoran, I have seen the donor." ”

Yi Zhizu paused slightly, and said straightly: "Down, Yuan Qi, Yi Zhicontent." ”

Yuan Qi is easy to be content? Dao Ran was shocked, he didn't ask about the world, the news of the queen mother, the emperor, and the king of Zhennan inspecting the northwest had already spread, and the special train of Yi Zhi's content was in Baoji, he naturally knew these news, and hurriedly gave another salute at the moment, "I don't know that the king of Zhennan is coming, and he is disappointed, and I hope that the prince will atone for his sins." ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled, stretched out his hand to give up his seat, and asked directly: "The wooden tower of the Tang Dynasty collapsed, didn't you find the underground palace?" ”

The underground palace of Famen Temple hides the relics of the true body of Buddha Shakyamuni, which is the biggest secret of Famen Temple. Thinking of the identity of the other party, he didn't dare to hide it, and said: "If the wooden tower collapses, how can the underground palace not appear, but it is unscrewed and closed, and a new tower is built on top of the underground palace." ”

It turned out that it had already been discovered, but it was not opened, Yi Zhizu secretly sighed, groaned slightly, and then he said: "Famen Temple thousand-year-old temple, the Tang and Song dynasties were very prosperous, but now they are dilapidated, it is really emotional, I donated 100,000 yuan, repair it well, the secret of the underground palace, must be strictly guarded." ”

This is simply joy descending from the sky, Dao Ran didn't react for a while, could it be that the Buddha appeared?

After showing his traces in Famen Temple, Yi Zhizhi did not stay in Fufeng County, returned to Baoji directly, lived in Baoji County, washed and rested slightly, he asked people to invite the prefect of Fengxiang Mansion, visited two counties, and he was quite satisfied with the resettlement of Fengxiang Mansion.

Zhang Changyu, the prefect of Fengxiang, came in to greet him, and after listening to the other party's concise report, he first affirmed the achievements of Fengxiang Mansion in recent years, and then said: "Move the government to Baoji." ”

Receiving the praise of Yi Zhicontentment, Zhang Changyu was secretly happy, and couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, for no reason, why did he move Fucheng to Baoji? He hesitated, "But because of the traffic?" ”

"Not bad." Yi Zhizhi nodded, "Baoji has been a transportation fortress since ancient times, and it is also one of the four major gateways in Guanzhong, according to the railway plan, Baoji will become a railway hub connecting the northwest and southwest, and the industrial development of Fengxiang Mansion will also be centered on Baoji." ”

Is this to vigorously develop Baoji? Zhang Changyu couldn't help but be overjoyed, and hurriedly said: "Xiaguan immediately started to prepare for the move. ”

"And ——。" Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Local officials must properly protect the monuments in their jurisdiction, which is also a resource, and I have allocated 100,000 yuan to repair and ....... Famen Temple." ”

A Famen temple allocated 100,000 yuan? How important it is! Zhang Changyu couldn't help but be stunned, didn't he hear that King Zhennan was a believer in Buddhism?

Zhang Changyu, who was waiting, retreated, Zhao Liewen came in slowly with a few telegrams, and said with a smile: "England can't hold its breath, the Prime Minister visited Russia, the Foreign Minister defended France, and sold a batch of warships to Chile ....... ”

After reading the telegram slightly, Yi Zhizhi lit a cigarette and said slowly: "England wants to unite Russia and France to contain Germany and prevent Germany from provoking a war." ”

Zhao Liewen said: "If there are enough interests, will Russia unite with Britain and France to contain Germany?" ”

"Don't worry, England can't come up with conditions that will tempt Russia." Yi Zhizhi said nonchalantly: "Even the Balkans can't impress Russia, besides, once Germany provokes a war, Russia itself has the ability to seize the Balkans, and it can't offend our country and Germany for this."

Besides, once the Eurasian Railway is opened, it will bring unimaginable benefits to Russia. ”

After a pause, he said, "I'm a little worried about the German ....... ”

"Worried that Germany would not provoke a war?"

"Not really." Yi Zhizhi said: "Germany's current situation can be described as sailing against the current, and if it does not advance, it will retreat!" The contradictions between Germany and France are irreconcilable and inevitable, and Germany will never be stable unless France is further weakened.

Sensing the rapid regain of France's strength, Germany has been looking for opportunities to weaken France even further, but it has not succeeded because of the intervention of England and Russia.

Now that the opportunity has come, how can Germany miss it? And don't dare to miss this opportunity! Germany should be well aware of its intentions, and if this opportunity is missed, it will inevitably turn to Russia, which is intolerable for Germany! ”

After a pause, he continued: "I fear that Bismarck will use diplomacy to stabilize England, as in the Franco-Prussian War. ”

Zhao Liewen said: "England won't sit idly by and watch Germany destroy France, right?" ”

"It's hard to say." Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "Our country regards England as its biggest enemy, and England naturally regards our country as its biggest enemy. ”

After a pause, he continued: "If Germany really wants to annex France, it will be endless troubles, and Germany has the ambition and ability to unify Europe. ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen sighed lightly, "This game of chess in Europe is really not easy to play." ”

This game of chess is really not easy to play, and Yi Zhixiang himself also feels a little headache, whether it is England, Germany or Russia, it is not easy to control, so I can only take a look at it first.

Immediately, he turned his thinking to South America, "England sells warships to Chile, is this trying to disrupt South America?" Or do you want to use South America to divert attention from our country? Also, it stands to reason that this shouldn't have been found out so quickly....... ”

Zhao Liewen pondered: "Will England think that my country's military industry must rely on copper ore imported from South America? ”

"The amount of copper that my country imports from South America is indeed not small, and it is not excluded that England has this idea." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Don't worry, let's take a look first." ”