Early the next morning, under the leadership of King Gong, the whole class of military aircraft handed over the sign, and the two palaces were summoned in the East Warm Pavilion of the Yangxin Palace.

By special order, the five-rank prefect rank Libin accompanied the class to see him.

Libin arrived in Beijing yesterday, and King Gong immediately summoned him. At that time, there were also Wen Xiang, Bao Jun, and Cao Yuying. Therefore, the news first flowed out of Bao Han's mansion.

It was the first time for Libin to enter the palace forbidden, and the first time he saw the face of the sky, he couldn't help but be nervous. The two palaces learned that he had traveled thousands of miles back and forth between Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Beijing for this setback, and they really comforted him.

Cixi felt that Guan Zhuofan's arrangement was really intimate, and without such a person in charge of consultants, there were indeed many things that he didn't understand. The original little bit of hesitation because I didn't get the news at the first time disappeared.

The monarchs and ministers couldn't suppress the smiles on their faces, and the East Warm Pavilion of the Heart Cultivation Hall was filled with a festive atmosphere that had never been seen before, and the monarchs and ministers all had a longing for the future of the country in their hearts.

At this time, the "congratulatory letter" of the US minister arrived, and a "letter of thanks" from the US president was attached. I would like to express my gratitude to the Chinese government for its selfless help and His Excellency Guan Yixuan for his great contribution. It's going to be fun! Icing on the cake!

Actually, it's not a coincidence, it's all designed in advance. The news of the Americans is faster than that of the Xuan army, and this point is made in order to be more happy.

The Empress Dowager Ci'an began to shed tears again, choking up: "If the first emperor is still here, I don't know how happy he will be......"

When she was in Xinuan Pavilion before, Cixi had repeatedly advised Ci'an not to cry anymore, how many important things to discuss, and she couldn't afford to delay time. Now I look at Ci'an and there is an unstoppable jiashi. shouted softly: "Sister! There was a hint of reproach in his tone.

Ci'an smiled embarrassedly. Stopped sobbing.

Cixi turned to Libin: "This lord of the United States. What ...... in turn?"

Libin said: "Back to the words of the Queen Mother, it is 'president', and his name is Lincoln. ”

Ci'an said, "Oh, his surname is Lin. ”

Cixi nodded: "This 'President' Lin, in what 'White House' summoned Guan Zhuofan?" ”

Libin said: "Yes, the 'White House' is the residence of the President of the United States, because the whole body is snow-white, Guan Zhuofan took such a name in the telegram." ”

A smile appeared at the corner of Cixi's mouth: "It turned out that Guan Zhuofan took it...... The summons is over. And a feast? ”

Libin said: "Yes." At that time, the host and guest were three people, sitting around a round table, with President Lincoln in the main seat, Guan Zhuofan in the guest seat, and an important minister of the US government as an accompaniment. ”

People who know American etiquette don't care much about this passage, but when they hear it in the two palaces, they are moved: This American lord, in order to attract people's hearts, actually treats Guan Zhuofan with courtesy. Corporal Knuckle has reached such a point!

Cixi said: "This important minister, I think he is the first assistant of the United States?" ”

Libin said: "Back to the words of the Queen Mother." Not really. This is the 'Minister of War', which is roughly equivalent to our military department secretary. The U.S. government does not have a chief assistant. Most of the presidents do their own work. ”

The speaker was unintentional, the listener was intentional, Cixi's heart moved, glanced at King Gong slightly, and thought: This is why the power cannot be moved down.

Cixi continued: "After the feast, still stay in the 'White House'? ”

Libin said: "Yes." ”

Cixi and Ci'an glanced at each other, and there was a slight sigh of amazement among the ministers of military discipline. In China, this is absolutely impossible, and the inner family may still be kept in the forbidden palace, how can foreign officials be? People who are not familiar with American etiquette feel that the president of the United States has reached the point of unscrupulous means in order to buy people's hearts.

Cixi even had a thought: I wonder if the American lord sent a palace maid to sleep with Guan Zhuofan?

This thought passed by, and of course I couldn't ask it.

Guan Zhuofan's concern about the "famous weapon" issue did not arouse any suspicion among the two palaces and important ministers at all, but they were all very interested in it, and they were all proud of Guan Zhuofan's high position in the American court. This is especially true of the two houses. Cixi was even more reserved and complacent in her heart, with a kind of happiness that others could not experience.

Ci'an asked: "What is the name of this 'Honorary Lieutenant General'?" ”

Libin said: "If you return to the queen mother, the 'military rank' is used to identify the level of the military, but it is not a real position. We don't have a similar system, it's a bit like 'adding the rank of commander' and 'adding the rank of general soldier'. 'Lieutenant General' is the highest military rank of American soldiers, take our previous dynasty story as an analogy, that is, the 'rank of Captain', there is only one person in hundreds of thousands of US troops, this person is named Grant, and he is the commander-in-chief of the US military. The second is the 'Honorary Lieutenant General', which is only about Zhuo Fan. ”

Monarchs and ministers looked at each other and admired: that is "under one person, above ten thousand"!

Cixi asked, "Is the 'commander-in-chief' you just talked about, but 'the generalissimo of the world'?" ”

In the system of the Qing Dynasty, there is no such title, this is a word in the play, Cixi loves to watch the play, blurted out, and understands it very well.

Libin said: "Our Lady Queen Mother Shengming! Exactly. ”

Cixi asked again: "What is the commander of the Western Theater and what is the Western Theater...... What does the Joint Commander-in-Chief say? ”

Libin said: "Back to the Queen Mother, Tennessee is a province in the United States, but Americans call it 'state'. The 'Tennessee Theater Commander' is the soldier and horse who is transferred from the province of Tennessee. The U.S. government divided the country's troops and horses into two major theaters, the eastern theater was led by Grant, and the western theater was led by Guan Zhuofan and another general named Sherman. ”

This time Ci'an also reacted: "Ah, it's like our six departments, one is a Manshangshu and one is a Hanshangshu." ”

Libin said: "The Queen Mother and the Queen Mother Shengming." However, this Sherman's military rank is 'Major General', and Guan Zhuofan's military rank is half a level higher than him, so if the two really have different opinions, they still have to listen to Guan Zhuofan. ”

That is to hand over half of the entire United States to a foreigner! Cixi thought to herself: This President Lin is really courageous!

Ci'an thought of another way: "You say, this 'president' of the United States has given Guan Zhuofan such a high honor, will he want to keep him in the United States?" ”

Libin was stunned for a moment, this sentence can't be answered wrong, and besides, it's not to ask him alone, there are so many people in the palace, he has the smallest grade, and he can't answer casually, so he can't help but be anxious.

Prince Gong coughed lightly and said, "The Queen Mother and Queen Mother are too worried. Guan Zhuofan is deeply gracious and loyal, and he will never have any other thoughts. ”

Ci'an nodded and said, "What the sixth master said is true." But he said, "Libin, what do you say?" ”

Libin kowtowed and said, "The words of the Queen Mother after returning to the mother, what the King of Parliament said is very true. Besides, the Americans are very sensible and will never do such a thing that hinders the friendship between the two countries. ”

Cixi didn't like to listen to Ci'an's words, and said: "The position given to Guan Zhuofan is high, but it can help them win such a big battle, isn't it worth it?" In my opinion, this is the president of the United States who will support people. ”

Ci'an was a little embarrassed, but he also put his mind at ease and explained to himself: "Yes, I just thought, such an outstanding talent, we have to hold on." ”

Cixi thought to herself: You are not wrong in saying this. opened his mouth and said: "What my sister said is very true, we can't call this American president to compare." ”

Then the map was presented, explained by Wen Xiang and Cao Yuying, and Li Bin added that if it was not clear.

Cixi stared at the map and said, "You say that the main forces of the rebels are on the front line, then the rear must be empty. This Yate ...... Landa, since it is an important military town for the rebels, if Guan Zhuofan knocks it down, won't it be a 'salary draw from the bottom of the kettle'? ”

The heroine of the deep palace actually gave birth to such insight in such a short period of time, which is really amazing! Several people, including Libin, were surprised and admired, and said in unison: "Our Lady Queen Mother Shengming!" ”

Cixi was very proud. There was one thing these courtiers didn't know: before that, she was by no means ignorant of American geography.

When Guan Zhuofan was banned from the palace, he took a "shijie map" and repeatedly explained it to her and Ci'an, the focus of which was the United States. Ci'an was confused, she wasn't, especially after the American minister's letter was handed over, she began to study the map seriously.

*(To be continued......)