Let the emperor and empress dowager of the Qing State visit Petersburg, in fact, it is house arrest! Gorchakov was really taken aback by this bold idea, Russia's strong support or even the possibility of openly sending troops to support Central Asian independence is in itself in danger of angering the Qing state, and then putting the Qing emperor under house arrest is not forcing the Qing country to completely turn around and openly declare war?

"It's a visit!" Alexander II looked at him and said, "I think this will not only not anger the Qing people, but will win the gratitude of the Qing people." ”

Grateful? Gorchakov said with a suspicious expression: "Your Majesty wants to rescue the Qing Emperor and the Queen Mother from Zhu Shanhai?" ”

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor of the Qing State can now be said to be under house arrest by Zhu Shanhai, but Zhu Shanhai is in urgent need of Russian assistance at the moment, and it should not be difficult to force Zhu Shanhai to send the Qing Emperor to St. Petersburg on this condition, but does it make sense to please the Qing people like this?

Alexander II said: "What our country needs is not Central Asian autonomy, but independence from the Qing State, as long as the Qing Emperor openly recognizes the independence of Central Asia, there is no need to hold it hostage, and another one, the visit of the Qing Emperor is also conducive to easing the relationship between the two countries, isn't it?" ”

"Zhu Shanhai may not easily agree." Gorchakov pondered.

Alexander II said coldly: "I can't help him! ”

Prime Minister's Residence, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Borough, London, England.

Prime Minister Disraeli frowned and muttered, the Qing State had not yet sent troops, and Central Asia actually started infighting by himself, although the situation was not completely out of control, but it made him realize that the situation in Central Asia may be far more complicated than he imagined, but let him withdraw from Central Asia, he was not reconciled, it was really a rare opportunity.

He was not too resistant to Petersburg's proposal to directly send troops to Central Asia, and it was imperative to support Central Asia's independence.

"Your Excellency." Salisbury said in a deep voice: "Central Asia is now only declaring its autonomy to the outside world, and if China sends troops and then interferes in the internal affairs of the Qing Dynasty with armed interference, not only will it be difficult for the parliament to pass the proposal, but it will also damage China's reputation in the world." ”

Disraeli nodded, "Only when Central Asia declares independence can our country justifiably send troops to support it." ”

"It's better to join forces with Russia." Salisbury said: "Russia cannot be allowed to get out. ”

Gongning City, Governor's Palace.

Gongning City changed its owner, and the Governor's Mansion became extremely deserted all of a sudden, although the supply was still the same, and the internal and external guards were still Janissake, but they were full of people, and they returned to the scene when they were under house arrest before, and the officials, gentry, and businessmen were afraid to avoid it.

In the backyard dormitory, the Empress Dowager Ci'an, who got up from a nap in the afternoon, sat in front of the mirror and was dressed by the palace maid and eunuch, although no one came to see her for several days, but she believed that Zhu Shanhai would not always offer her mother and her mother like this.

She is only in her early forties, because of the good maintenance, she looks no more than thirty years old, still beautiful, looking at the face in the mirror, Ci'an couldn't help but sigh secretly, this time the situation is more dangerous than any before, she doesn't even know if her mother and daughter will have a chance to return to Beijing safely.

"The Queen Mother's ——。" A eunuch bowed down at the door and reported: "Zhu Shanhai and Russian envoy Andrei are out asking to see you. ”

Russian envoys? Ci'an was slightly stunned before he said softly: "Lead them to the second hall." ”

Listening to the Russian envoy, the eunuch waiting behind him reminded softly: "Is it to change the regular clothes or——? ”

Ci'an said without thinking: "Change into a bright yellow dress." ”

There are several colors of the dress, the bright yellow dress is the dress when handling important court affairs, one is to consider the Russian envoy, and the other is that Ci'an also uses the dress to hide his weakness, after all, he is now under house arrest.

In the conference hall, Zhu Shanhai was silent with a heavy heart, Britain and Russia proposed to let him declare independence before considering increasing military aid, and he could directly send troops to reinforce, he didn't care too much about this, he had come to this point, independence was only a matter of time, but let the Queen Mother and the Emperor go to Petersburg to visit, he was very resistant in his heart.

Although the Qing Dynasty had implemented constitutional government and the emperor had become a virtual monarch in name only, he was still nominally the supreme leader of the Qing Empire, and it was still a strange commodity for him, and when necessary, it could even be used as a bargaining chip with the imperial court and Yuan Qi.

Once the Empress Dowager and the Emperor go to Petersburg to visit, completely out of his control, not to mention, he will still be angered by the Qing Dynasty and the opposition, and lose the hearts of the people, Feng Renxuan will also attack him, and his situation will become extremely unfavorable, however, people have to bow their heads under the eaves, although he is unwilling, but he also has to swallow his anger, after all, he is now desperately in need of British and Russian military assistance.

"The Queen Mother Arrives ——。" Listen to a long voice outside the door

"When is it, don't forget to set the score." Zhu Shanhai muttered softly before standing up, took off his military uniform, picked up his military hat and put it on, but did not go out to greet him.

The Empress Dowager Ci'an, dressed in a bright yellow dress, looked extraordinarily noble, dignified and elegant, and walked slowly into the conference hall, she walked straight to the main seat without squinting, and then glanced at Zhu Shanhai and the others with an indifferent expression.

Zhu Shanhai looked at her levelly, a smile appeared on his face, and he saluted a military salute, "Zhu Shanhai respectfully invites the Empress Dowager Sheng'an." ”

Andrei took off his hat and bowed, and said in a very fluent Chinese: "The Russian envoy meets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty." ”

"Excuse me, sit down." Ci'an said and sat down slowly.

As soon as he sat down, Andrei spoke first: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Your Majesty the Emperor of our country warmly invites you and His Majesty the Emperor of your country to Petersburg for a state visit. As he spoke, he bowed down and handed over a telegram, "This is the official invitation telegram ...... His Majesty the Emperor of our country. ”

Heading to Petersburg for a state visit? Ci'an's heart couldn't help sinking, this is to transfer her mother and daughter to St. Petersburg, Russia for house arrest? After receiving the telegram forwarded to her, she only looked at it twice, and her heart beat wildly.

The message is in Russian, but there is an interpretation underneath -- I sincerely welcome the Empress Dowager and His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty to visit Petersburg, and in addition to giving the highest level of hospitality and guaranteeing the fullest freedom, I am confident that your navy will soon welcome them home.

Is this how Russia rescued her and her mother? Is this the result of the mediation of the imperial court? Ci An's head was ecstatic, but she quickly calmed down, after all, she could not judge what Russia really thought.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Shanhai glanced at Andre with some suspicion, and there was a formal invitation message, why hadn't he heard it mentioned before? Seeing Ci'an's unfazed expression, he calmed down a little, an emperor of a country visiting another country, he had never heard of this, let alone that her mother and mother were in such a situation right now, it was strange that they could agree!

Slowly folded the message in half, Ci'an had completely calmed down, even if Russia reached an agreement with the imperial court, out of a sincere desire to rescue her and her mother, Zhu Shanhai would not easily let her and her mother leave, not to mention that she knew very well that Russia and Britain were actively supporting Zhu Shanhai's independence, and the purpose of this invitation telegram was probably to trick her and her mother into going to Petersburg.

Putting down the telegram, she asked in a flat tone: "This palace is involuntary now, and some people have the final say on where to go and where to live." ”

Zhu Shanhai smiled and said: "If the Empress Dowager is willing to visit Petersburg, she will naturally not dare to stop her, but I hope that the emperor will issue an order before the trip to recognize the independence of Central Asia and canonize him as the king of Central Asia, or the king of Kokand, who was originally a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty." ”

Ci'an's face turned cold for a moment, "The Qing Dynasty has been implementing constitutionalism for eight years, and the decree of the palace and the emperor's decree must be approved by the Imperial Court before they can take effect, don't you know?" ”

Zhu Shanhaipi said with a smile: "This doesn't worry about the Queen Mother." ”

"Hongu refuses." Ci'an said very simply.

"The Queen Mother will reply after careful consideration." Zhu Shanhai said coldly: "It is a foregone conclusion that the northwest will become a country on its own, and a dispensable holy decree in exchange for the safety of the queen mother, the emperor and thousands of Praetorian Guards, this is a good thing that is difficult to find with a lantern." ”

"If it's dispensable, why be so persecuted?" Ci'an slowed down his tone and said: "You are also a Manchurian, or a political dignitary in the Northwest Army, when you know the situation in the country, once you let Yuan Qi catch the handle and find an excuse, you will inevitably take the opportunity to destroy the Qing Dynasty and exterminate Manchuria, have you considered this consequence?" ”

Zhu Shanhai said disdainfully: "Alarmist, if Yuan Qi has the intention to destroy the Qing Dynasty, why wait until this time?" What's the excuse? ”

Listening to the conversation between the two, Andrei's heart moved, if it can cause civil strife in the Qing Dynasty, wouldn't it be more conducive to Central Asian independence?

Without waiting for him to think about it, Ci'an had already said categorically: "No matter what you think and how you look at it, this palace will definitely not agree to this matter, even if you lose everyone's lives for this, this palace will not waver in the slightest, unless you ......." ”

Unless what? Zhu Shanhai frowned, "If you have any requirements, the Queen Mother will say that it doesn't matter." ”

"This palace wants to get in touch with Kyoshi." Ci'an stared at him and said, "This palace is sure to persuade King Gong to agree. ”

"Good!" Zhu Shanhai agreed, although he knew that the possibility of the imperial court agreeing to the independence of the northwest was extremely small, he was still willing to let Ci'an give it a try, after all, King Gong was a member of the Qing Dynasty, and there were also many princes and nobles of the clan in the Imperial Yuan, and it was impossible for them not to care about the safety of Ci'an Guangxu, in addition, he himself also had someone in Beijing, which would inevitably add fuel to the fire.

Besides, for him, there is no risk at all, if it doesn't work, there is no loss to him, if it does, then he will make a fortune! With the canonization of the Qing Dynasty, he can naturally establish a country and become king, not only does not need to look at the faces of Russians, but can even be left and right.

Andrei agrees that it would undoubtedly be more beneficial for Russia to promote the independence of Central Asia by peaceful means.