Killed Mu Zhang'a cleanly, Xianfeng's mood was a little low, and he was silent for a long time before he said softly: "Did Mu Zhang'a leave a last word?" ”

"Back to the emperor, Mu Zhang'a did not leave a last word, and from beginning to end, he did not say a word. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info" Su Shun hurriedly said, what he said was the truth, when he killed Mu Zhang'a, the other party was speechless, but his expression was very calm and calm, he didn't let the eunuch do it for him, he drank the poisoned wine by himself, and then closed his eyes and waited for death, without saying a word.

Xianfeng was not concerned about Mu Zhang'a's last words, but worried that Mu Zhang'a would be confused before he died, and the other party who listened to him didn't say a word from beginning to end, so he completely put down his heart, groaned slightly, and then he said: "There is no proof of death, and I can only do it so far." ”

Su Shun bowed down and said, "Your Majesty, did you truthfully tell Yi Zhicontent?" ”

After a little hesitation, Xianfeng said softly: "This case has been hanging for eight years, and he should also be given an explanation, kneel down." ”

Su Shun, who was waiting, bowed and retreated, and the eunuch who had been sent to Mu Mansion to wait for Mu Zhang'a bowed in, presented a copy of the fold and said, "Your Majesty, this is Mu Zhang'a's testament." ”

And the legacy? Xianfeng opened it and took a look, the crooked two lines of words - Western countries, all they want is trade, it is the problem of mustard moss, Yuanqi monopolizes foreign trade, steals the southeast, is the trouble of the henchmen, if you want to break the situation, only open the northern coastal ports, join hands with the West, in order to contain Yuanqi, secondly, focus on the northeast Mongolia.

Xianfeng slowly closed the fold, and when he was dying, Mu Zhang'a dared to say anything, and if he opened the northern coastal ports, he was not afraid of luring wolves into the house? All countries in the West are robber by nature! Besides, can joining forces with Western countries contain Yuanqi? In the face of a possible large-scale invasion by Britain, France, the United States, Spain, the Netherlands and other countries, Yuan Qi only let delay time, without any fear.

However, after all, this is a retreat from Manchuria, and what makes him speechless is that this is precisely Yi Zhi's advice, and Yi Zhi's attitude towards the development of the Northeast seems to be more positive than that of the imperial court.

Let's see, let's see if the expected Anglo-French invasion will take place, and wait for the results to come out.

After the two dynasties, Mu Zhang'a, the chief military aircraft, was suddenly impeached and quickly given to death, for the Qing officialdom, it was no less than a major earthquake, the news spread, the government and the opposition were shocked, there were those who clapped their hands and said that they were happy, there were those who were panicked, and more were wait-and-see, and all kinds of speculations emerged one after another, and many people speculated that a large-scale purge might break out next.

Shanghai, Zhenhai Mansion, Changle Book House.

For this sudden change, Yi Zhizhi is also very concerned, Mu Zhang'a ended up like this, it was really much beyond his expectations, but he wanted to understand the reasons behind this and the next actions of the imperial court, at this time, when the Qing Dynasty was facing a large-scale invasion by Britain and France, he really did not want to have too much change.

"Sir." Wei Yuan, who had been silent for a long time, spoke: "The emperor should be very clear that the Qing Dynasty is currently facing a huge external trouble, and there will be no other members of the Mu Party, let alone a large-scale purge, which can be seen from the edict.

In the edict accusing Mu Zhang'a, it only said that Mu Zhang'a was greedy for honor and greedy for the throne, and hindered the virtuous and sick country. Xiaozhong Xiaoxin, figuring out the welcome, did not mention the friends and the party, nor did he say anything about the abuse of power, and more importantly, although he gave Mu Zhang'a to death, he did not raid the house! ”

Zhao Wenlie said: "Mu Zhang'a has been the first assistant for many years, his crime is very light, but the punishment is heavy, but he didn't raid his home, which is really difficult to figure out ......." ”

Before she finished speaking, Lin Meilian reported at the door: "Big shopkeeper, Prince Hui is here." ”

"Here comes the one who solves the puzzle." Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, and then ordered: "Invite him in." ”

Wei Yuan and Zhao Wenlie hurriedly got up and said, "Let's avoid it." ”

Mianyu knew the habit of being content, and when she entered the room, after greeting and sitting, she didn't go around in circles, and said directly: "Guocheng should be extremely concerned about the disposal of Mu Zhang'a?" As he spoke, he took out a file and handed it over, "This is what Jingshi just delivered." ”

After reading the file carefully, Yi Zhizhi understood the cause and effect of this matter, and his face became gloomy, he took out his cigarette holder and lit a cigarette and smoked silently, without saying a word, and the voice and smile of Yi Yunchang's old couple appeared in front of him.

Although he had long expected that the fire in the Haihou Mansion in Jingshi Town was man-made, and although eight years had passed since the incident, he was still full of anger when he saw this dossier.

Seeing his gloomy expression, Mianyu said with some apprehension: "In this case, Shuntianfu and the Criminal Department have never given up the investigation....... As soon as he heard that there were clues, Su Shun directly participated in the trial ......., but the time interval was longer, the party was already dead, and there was no evidence ...... death, and the emperor could only deal with it like this, and the ...... the city did not have any requirements. ”

After a long time, Yi Zhizhi said: "Mention me to thank the emperor, this matter can't be made public, so I won't go to thank you." ”

Mianyu was overjoyed, but still cautiously said: "There are no other requirements in the national city? ”

What other requirements can there be? Yi Zhishu sighed secretly in his heart, he told Su Shun to investigate this case, and since this case was Su Shun's personal participation, he had nothing to doubt. There is no evidence in this case, according to common sense, Mu Zhang'a cannot be involved at all, but Xianfeng still vigorously and resolutely gave Mu Zhang'a death, what else can he ask for? You can't let Xianfeng give an order to punish Mu Zhang's Amanmen.

Seeing Yi Zhicontent, he shook his head, Mianyu was completely relieved, and the conversation changed, and said, "I heard that Wusong Fort has been renovated?" The Humen Fort is also ready to be renovated? ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at him and said, "Don't hide it, just say it." ”

Mianyu said with a smile: "If you really want a big invasion by Britain and France, shouldn't Tianjin Dagukou Fort also be renovated and add some artillery, what kind of cement is it, it's really a good thing, much stronger than glutinous rice and rice." ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Dagukou Fort, I don't plan to further improve it. ”

Hearing this, Mianyu couldn't help but be stunned, and hurriedly said: "Don't mind, Tianjin is the gateway to Beijing, if Britain and France invade on a large scale, Tianjin will definitely be the main target ........" ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "Yuan Qi has a bad relationship with the imperial court, why should Yuan Qi strengthen the Dagukou Fort?" ”

What does that mean? Mianyu looked at him blankly, what does it mean that Yuan Qi has a bad relationship with the imperial court? Didn't the two sides closely cooperate to send troops to clear and drive away the Taiping Army, the Twist Army, the Tibet Army, and the Northwest Army, why did they suddenly turn their faces all of a sudden, and they were dissatisfied with Mu Zhang'a?

He was really anxious, and said in an almost begging tone: "If the city has any requests, just put it forward......." ”

"I pondered that if Britain and France invaded on a large scale, there would be two battlefields, one south and one north, the southern battlefield was the two provinces of Nanyang, and the northern battlefield was Tianjin and Jingshi." Yi Zhixin said without hurry: "Navy, the difference in strength between the two sides is too great, and we are far from being opponents, so it is the army that decides the victory."

The new army of Yuanqi and the new army of the Eight Banners are not small, and if Britain and France do not invade, if they invade, the scale will inevitably not be small, and they need a large battlefield with open terrain, and the area around Tianjin Jingshi is the most ideal. ”

Hearing this, Mianyu still didn't understand the truth, "Guocheng is going to invite you into the urn?" ”

"We have to sing a play for Western countries." Yi Zhi said with a full jaw: "When the British fleet went deep into the Yangtze River and suffered a big loss, they would not dare to enter the inland river easily, Tianjin is their best choice, if Yuan Qi and the imperial court fall out, they will be more assured." ”

Mianyu said with a solemn expression: "Jingshi can't afford to lose. ”

"It's nature." Yi Zhizhi said in a firm tone: "If the British and French are allowed to attack the Beijing Division, I will be a sinner for the ages!" Of course, if the emperor is not at ease, he can go to Rehe to escape the summer. ”

This is not a trivial matter, how dare Mianyu make the decision without authorization, and hurriedly said: "This matter, this king can't be the master, and the emperor has to decide." ”

Yi Zhizhi nodded and said: "I give the imperial court three guarantees, first, the British and French coalition forces will not be able to enter the capital, second, the Yuanqi new army will not enter the Beijing division, and third, the main combat force, mainly the Yuanqi new army, with the assistance of the Eight Banners New Army." ”

After a pause, he continued: "This battle is related to the national fortune of the Qing Dynasty for a hundred years, Yuan Qi will do whatever it takes, and I also hope that the imperial court will focus on the overall situation!" ”

Mianyu nodded and said, "I'll send a report to Jingshi." ”

"You can't use a telegram." Yi Zhishu hurriedly said: "The telegram is not safe, and now the train is convenient, so you can't miss something." ”

Telegram is not secure? "In the event of a war, won't the telegraph be ineffective at all?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "If the war starts, the password will be changed, and the current password is used for too long to ensure security." ”

Canton House, Hong Kong, Governor's Palace.

The Minister to China and the Governor of Hong Kong, Bao Ling, stood on the balcony and looked at the harbor and the Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon on the other side, his eyes showed undisguised eagerness and envy.

Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon have prospered rapidly in just over a decade, with streets and shops, and crowds, while Hong Kong Island is much more deserted.

Last year, in order to attract more people to Hong Kong Island, he introduced a policy that Chinese merchant ships could be registered in Hong Kong, naturalized in the British, flown the British flag, protected by the British, and obtained the consent of Yi Zhi, but the result was still unsatisfactory.

It is not that there are no ships that come to Hong Kong Island to register, but they are basically smuggling ships, and serious 800 merchant ships are rare, and even if they are smuggling ships, there are not many of them coming to register, because even if they fly the British flag, they will not get additional protection when smuggling, and the Chinese Customs, the Guangdong Navy Division, and the Nanyang Navy will be ruthless when they are smuggling, no matter which country's flag they are flying.

"Your Excellency." An attendant walked up behind him and handed over a telegram, "Your Excellency, secret telegram. ”

When he took the telegram and looked at it, he showed a surprised expression, the telegram was not a few words--Great Britain needed a pretext for war in the Far East.

A pretext for going to war? Is the prime minister determined to wage war against the Qing State? Bao Ling doesn't know whether to be happy or worried, today's Qing State is not the Qing State of more than ten years ago, although the Qing Dynasty has been in turmoil over the years, but the Yuanqi New Army and the Eight Banners New Army have developed, at least more than 100,000 are not inferior to their British Empire's navy and army.

However, he then thought that now the Qing State was using troops everywhere, and the scale of Yuanqi's Nanyang Navy was not mentioned at all in front of the British Imperial Navy, if it was just to force the Qing State to bow its head, open more treaty ports, and revise the customs tariff, then there would be absolutely no problem.

He glanced at Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon on the other side, and it was best to cut off the other side of the strait, so that Hong Kong would inevitably usher in a golden age of rapid development!

However, he soon frowned, the Wusong Fort in Shanghai has been renovated, the fully enclosed and semi-enclosed Fort of Yishi, the Humen Fort has also begun to be renovated, and the military factories in Guangzhou and Shanghai are also constantly expanding their scale and recruiting workers.

After a long time, he spoke: "Call back, Yuan Qi seems to be preparing for the ....... before the war." ”

The next day, Palmerston's call back arrived, "Agreements have been reached with France, Spain, and the Netherlands, and now all that is needed is an excuse." ”

After reading the reply, Bao Ling's eyebrows couldn't help but dance, Britain and France can join forces to defeat Russia, which is known as the hegemon of Europe, in Crimea, can they still defeat the Qing Dynasty? What's more, there are also Spain and the Netherlands participating in the war, it is clear that these two countries are coming for Luzon and Java, and now Luzon and Java are full of rubber plantations, and they must take this opportunity to occupy a number of islands!

Jingshi, South Railway Station.

Mianyu walked out of the special carriage and got into the four-wheeled carriage that was waiting on the platform for a long time, this carriage was half sold and half given to him by Yi Zhi, Yuan Qi did not give it to anyone except for two four-wheeled carriages to the palace, but the princes and ministers of the Beijing division did not have a few real silver, and they all rushed to buy it, after all, this four-wheeled carriage was much more comfortable to sit on, and it was much more magnificent.

However, the road conditions in Beijing are really too poor, most of them are dirt roads and sand roads, there are not many stone roads, the speed is fast, it is inevitable that there is a little bumpy, and the asphalt road in Shanghai is not comparable at all, fortunately, the post road from Beijing to Haidian Old Summer Palace is still wide and smooth, not too bumpy.

Mianyu is Qincha, return to Beijing naturally can not go back to the house first, but to face the saint first, the carriage out of the railway station went straight to the Old Summer Palace, Yi Zhicontent plans to put the battlefield in Tianjin, Beijing area, this is really a bit appalling, Xianfeng after receiving the telegram, let him rush back to Beijing to meet.

Rushed to the gate of the Old Summer Palace, Mianyu got out of the car, and a eunuch greeted a Qian'er of Mali, "The little one asks Prince Hui for peace." After getting up, he bowed down and said with a smile: "The prince can be regarded as coming, the emperor has a decree, and the prince can enter with him, and there is no need to hand over the brand." ”