Beijing, Xiangshan Biyun Temple, in the early sunny meditation room after the summer rainstorm, the most famous generals of the Qingliu Party in the imperial capital of the Qing Dynasty, together with the leader of the Qingliu Dynasty, the prince Shaobao of the Qing Dynasty, the co-organizer of the university scholar, and the minister of military aircraft, Li Hongzao, gathered around to watch a sketch calligraphy and painting written by the Imperial Shi Weng Tonggong in the left capital of the Metropolitan Inspection Academy.

"Cooking tea after the rain, listening to bamboo outside the wind, cleaning a few bright windows, painting a bag of piano on a shaft, and a furnace of incense and a law." Pan Zuyin, who has been the emperor of Tongzhi with Weng Tongyi, and is now the crown prince Shaobao and the secretary of the Criminal Department, read the inscription of this sketch softly, and then nodded slightly, praising it, "Shuping's calligraphy and painting, not to mention, the realm of this word alone is also the elegance of a gentleman!" ”

On the side, Zhang Zhidong, who was in the middle of the Zhan Mansion Zuo Chunfang, reluctantly cushioned his feet, and after a closer look, he also stroked the already large-scale hair under his chin, and said with a smile, "I often hear people say, Lord Weng middle-aged transfer to Yan Ti and Su Shi and Mi Fu, see today, sure enough, the word is like Su Shi, and the word is like Mi Fu, there is a novelty, there is a novelty!" ”

Zhang Peilun, Chen Baochen and Bao Ting, who are also Qingliu warriors of the Northern School, also praised Weng Tongxi's books, paintings, and words. The two factions of the Qingliu north and south in the Qing court were happy for a while in the meditation room of Biyun Temple.

After writing the upper paragraph on the upper right of the sketch "Please Mr. Shisun to testify" and the lower paragraph on the lower left, Weng Tongyi smiled at Pan Zuyin, who was both a township party, a close friend, and the leader of the Qingliu of the Southern School, "Boyin, don't make fun of me, take out your best gold and stone seal, write an inscription together, and don't bother Mr. Shisun to accompany us to Xishan." ”

Li Hongzao, who was the grandson of the word Shi, said with a smile, "What is the work, you can have an excuse to come to Xishan to escape the heat in the hot summer, and you can also get a calligraphy and painting of Shuping, and Boyin's gold and stone inscription, the old man is not only satisfied, this is an unexpected surprise!" ”

After an exchange of calligraphy and painting, gold and stone, and poetry, several people came to the inner room of the Zen room, and the incense mats in the inner room were set up early. Inviting everyone to Biyun Temple to taste incense is the proposal of Lord Weng of Zuodu Yushi, and the person who is responsible for burning incense after the incense case is naturally Lord Weng.

On the incense table, on the right hand side of Weng Tonggong, there is a set of silver seven-piece incense sticks, including incense chopsticks, incense presses, incense brooms, incense spoons, incense shovels, side flat presses and silver leaf clips, and the front is an incense plate carved from pineapple wood in the shape of withered yellow leaves.

On the left-hand side, in a row of incense boxes, incense burners, incense sachets, horizontal stoves and smoked balls, Lord Weng gently took out a Hetian jade, lotus-shaped incense stick, placed it in front of him, and then took out an incense stick from a delicate tin can, lit it and inserted the incense stick, and the smell of agarwood reverberated lightly in the meditation room.

This style of Lord Weng is called the smoke field in the incense road, and the emphasis is on opening with elegant and fragrant agarwood. When the agarwood incense sticks in the smoke field are burned to 2/3, Lord Weng will use incense boxes, incense burners and horizontal stoves to light three different types of agarwood, including pills, blocks, and plates, so that everyone in the Zen room can carefully taste the wonders of these three different combinations of agarwood in terms of aroma changes.

After the three different agarwood are burned out, Lord Weng smokes up a sandalwood and puts it into the smoking ball, after the sandalwood dilutes the residual fragrance of the agarwood, Lord Weng then takes out three agarwood at random, lights them one by one, points to the agarwood in the incense box and says, "This agarwood comes from Nanyang Xingzhou (Singapore), and the fragrance is as quiet as water." ”

Then he pointed to the incense burner and said, "This incense pill comes from Laos (Laos), and what is particular about it is such a sultry fragrance, which is very exotic." The incense in this hearth comes from Ambon (Ambon Island, Indonesia), and is characterized by its freshness and elegance. ”

Emperor Guangxu's full-time talk about the living note Chen Baochen, took a deep breath, closed his eyes and shook his head in admiration, "Xingzhou is quiet, Lao is exotic, and Anwen is fresh, these three agarwoods, good!" Good! Good! ”

The youngest of the people, Zhang Peilun, who is also a full-time living official, looked at Aixin Jueluo Baoting, who kept shaking his right hand to make a writing form, and said with a smile, "Mr. Zhupo, after smelling the incense, is this going to be touched?" ”

Aixin Jueluo-Baoting, who was born in the blue flag of the Qing Dynasty and was the eighth grandson of Prince Jierharang of Heshuo Zhengxian, nodded when he heard the words, "After hearing Mr. Songchan's words, I know that these three agarwoods are all from my former vassal states of the Qing Dynasty, and I can't help but sigh!" ”

Weng Tongyi raised his head and said with a straight face, "Shaoxi, why don't you sing a poem to comfort your heart?" ”

After Bao Ting looked around, he laughed and shouted, "Come on!" And then sprinkled a seven-word poem at your fingertips.

"Men each have a chamber of blood, they don't sprinkle the side court and sprinkle Jingyun, they can't repay the gentleman's kindness with their bare hands, and they have a soft three-inch tongue.... Humen said that it was really dangerous, and Lukang heard that there were heavy soldiers, and tried to look at the Fengtao Pavilion from afar, and Nagasaki was close to Dongying. ”

Chen Baochen clapped his hands and applauded, "Shaoxi writes well, my generation of imperial historians, loyal to the monarch and patriotism should be to use a pen and a three-inch tongue to needle the times, those Westernists always say that we, the Hanlin, Ke, and Taoist officials, do not have a backache when they stand and speak, and although there are ten thousand words in their mouths, there is really no plan in their chests. ”

"But I don't know that the imperial historians are to stand and speak, and the government officials are to do things with their bodies down!"

Zhang Zhidong slapped his thigh and praised Chen Baochen, "What Bo Qian said is extremely true, we are waiting for the officials, and we are on the right and left of the irony, and we will use Kuang Renjun to refute the admonition and refute it, and the edict will be played." This is to prosecute the private morality of hundreds of officials and crack down on corruption and bend the law, if you can't say anything about the official, how can I be clear in the officialdom! Do you just let those followers and cool officials harm the people and the court?! ”

Zhang Peilun, who was on the side, was calm, and after carefully pondering Baoting's poem, he asked, "Mr. Zhupo's last few sentences seem to refer to the uproar here?" ”

"Exactly!" Bao Ting nodded and said loudly, "The Wa Kingdom dares to deceive people so much because of the incompetence of the Prime Minister Yamen and the uselessness of the Minister of Beiyang!" ”

After saying that, after looking around for a week, Bao Ting, who was the nobleman of the clan, said arrogantly, "A mere Japanese country dares to annex Ryukyu so unscrupulously under the nose of my Qing Dynasty, and treat my Qing Dynasty as nothing, all because he misled the country!" Because of him, Li Hongzhang is cowardly! ”

"If you want me to say, Prime Minister Yamen asks all countries to judge justice, which is a crooked and heretical way! It's better to let Beiyang send troops directly, kill the Japanese in Kyoto, tie up the emperor of the Japanese State to Beijing, and ask His Majesty and the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces for guilt, isn't this over! ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, look at the axiomatic judgment that is being carried out now, what is it called, the prime minister Yamen asked the head of the Western legation to come forward to preside over the axioms, that German is also real, and the words are towards my Qing Dynasty, although the imperial court has not seen the actual effect, but this German Beijing, Tianjin and the three places of the Japanese kingdom are running around, so there is also a hard work of rushing!"

"But what is the president of Citigroup invited by Li Hongzhang, not to mention the amount of flat treasury silver, it is not the current president of Citigroup who is invited, but just a stepping down! For such a major event, he Li Hongzhang didn't know to invite the Emperor of Citigroup to come forward to preside over it? ! ”

"Let's go!" The paper fan in Zhang Zhidong's hand fell to the ground, Zhang Zhidong saw everyone's eyes looking at him, hurriedly clenched his fists, and said, "What Brother Shaoxi said is deafening, my generation is a model, a model!" With that, he hurriedly lowered himself to pick up the fan.

Zhang Peilun smashed his mouth, his face showed embarrassment, and he said in his heart, "Sure enough, it is a jade plate, a faction of Tianhuang, dare to say anything, dare to put any cannon, Prince Gong's name is called so directly, that is, because your surname is Aixin Jueluo." However, now that the fire is on Lord Li's body, I have to find a way to protect Lord Li well. ”

Chen Baochen and Baoting have always been friends, as the backbone of the northern Qingliu faction, and the famous green oxtail and green bullwhip in the four admonitions of the Qingliu, talking to Baoting, he has always been outspoken, "Shaoxi, big fallacy!" The United States has only a president, not an emperor, so how can the American emperor be invited to preside over the doctrine of justice! ”

"What, there is no emperor? How can a country without a king and a father become a great thing! Although the Japanese country is unbearable, it is the same as my Qing Dynasty, it is the country of the monarch's father, and it is a great mistake to let Citigroup and other countries without kings and fathers to preside over the axioms between the countries of the monarch's father! He Li Hongzhang misled the country! Bao Ting patted the table in front of him and said angrily, "Wait for me to go back to Beijing to visit him Li Hongzhang!" ”

"Shaoxi, listen to me!" It was Pan Zuyin who interrupted Bao Ting's madness, although Pan was only a second-class official residence, but because he had been a long-term guide to the south study, and was the person in charge of compiling the "Zhiping Baojian", (this book was praised by the Qing Dynasty court as an imperial technique on the same level as Zizhi Tongjian).

Because of this, only the most prestigious in the clear stream in Beijing, the current prince Shaobao, and Pan Zuyin, the secretary of the criminal department, can persuade this only non-Han Qingliu warrior.

"Shaoxi, a few days ago, I received a letter from Lord Li of Beiyang, and the letter was sent by Prince Gong's cronies, Mao Changxi and Master Mao, the Prime Minister's National Affairs Yamen." Pan Zuyin motioned to Baoting to be restless, and at the same time looked at Li Hongzao, the minister of military aircraft, who was known as the leader of the Qingniu (a homonym for Qingliu), and said loudly after getting Li Hongzao's approval.

"In the letter sent by Lord Mao, Lord Li of Zhili said that the matter of the axiomatic judgment between the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese State has been recognized, and the German Minister Baland said, this time the Qing Dynasty axiom judgment, I will take advantage of the Qing Dynasty and win!"

After a pause, after looking around at everyone, he continued, "In addition, Lord Barand has obtained the consent of Prince Henry, the visiting German emperor, and if the judgment is over, the Japanese still blindly prevaricate and refuse to surrender the Ryukyus, Germany is willing to use the German Royal Navy fleet parked in Hong Kong to force the Japanese to hand over the Ryukyus!" ”

"Seriously!" Zhang Zhidong, Bao Ting and Chen Baochen asked in unison with a happy face, Zhang Peilun also looked surprised, but said in his heart, "It seems that the Germans have finally been convinced, but I don't know what price Lord Zhongtang offered to the Germans." ”

"Really!" Zuodu Yushi Weng Tong said, "The excerpts of Prince Gong and Li Hefei have been sent to the imperial front, saying that after the German emperor and grandson arrived in Beijing, they were drummed up together with the Prime Minister Yamen and Beiyang, and the "Qingde Friendship Declaration" was announced together. ”

"Princes, with the help of foreigners, to recapture the Ryukyu domain, is it not detrimental to my face in the Qing Dynasty, should I join him?!" Chen Baochen clenched his fists and asked Li Hongzao, Pan Zuyin and Weng Tongyi, the three Qingliu bigwigs.

"The Germans are willing to help me punish the Japanese people in the Qing Dynasty, which is a good thing, and this matter cannot be involved!" Zhang Zhidong interjected, "Ladies and gentlemen, Boqian, if this thing is done, wouldn't it just reflect that my Qing Dynasty is prosperous, and there is heavenly help in the dark!" ”

"Well, what Brother Xiaoda said is very true, I want my Qing Dynasty to prosper outside the Guan, and I can rely on the help of God to get the world, and now Germany is helping me to recapture the Ryukyu Domain, which is really a blessing." Zhang Peilun nodded and agreed.

Bao Ting, who was sitting on the side, blinked and thought about it, then turned his head to Chen Baochen and asked, "Boqian, there seems to be a German emperor in Germany, but is it?" ”

"There is a grandson of the German emperor who came to meet His Majesty, do you say that there is no German emperor, you, you have done a lot of poetry, and your mind is full of poetry!" Chen Baochen complained to his old friend with a smile.

"Wow, I'll just say, only in the country of the monarch and father, can there be such righteous people!" Bao Ting slapped his thigh and said.

"There are emperors in England, and they are still empresses, but they are not benevolent to me at all!" Chen Baochen said angrily.

"Si Chen, the only way to go..."Bao Ting just spit out the word.

"Shut up!" Li Hongzao reprimanded angrily.

"Bold!" Pan Zuyin slapped the chair handle and shouted.

"Be careful!" Weng Tongyi shook his hand and stopped it.

And Zhang Zhidong, Chen Baochen and Zhang Peilun either bowed their heads, or looked up to the sky, or pondered the folding fan in their hands, looking ignorant and out of the way.

Today, it is the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces who controls the Qing Dynasty government, similar to the British Empress, and in the eyes of the Qing Orthodoxy, she can also be called the real Ji Si Chen. After Bao Ting, who was born Gengjie, opened his mouth, he knew that his words were taboo, and hurriedly slapped himself lightly, blaming himself, "Hit, damn!" ”

Li Hongzao waved his hand and said earnestly, "Zhupo, you are talented, outspoken, and from the clan, these are all advantages, but only in the matter of wild and ruthless, you must be cautious!" ”

Bao Ting got up, gave Li Hongzao a deep look, and said respectfully, "Sir, Zhupo has been taught!" ”

"Zhupo is also a feeling, unintentional, not an example, not an example!" Weng Tongyi smiled and said, and then asked the four admonitions of Qingliu present, "Westerners are profit-seeking by nature, and this German is not exempt from vulgarity, and before sending troops to help me recapture the Ryukyu domain, he also had a lot of good words. Mr. Shi Sun, Mr. Bo Yin, and I would like to ask you what you think on this matter. ”

After hearing this, Zhang Zhidong directly arched his hand to the three bigwigs and asked, "My lord, I don't know what this German wants to benefit from my Daqing?" ”

"As long as you don't cede the land and don't pay compensation, in my opinion, everything can be allowed!" Bolding interjected.

"Ahem!" After glaring at Bao Ting fiercely, Pan Zuyin said dissatisfiedly, "It's not that you lost the battle with the Germans, how can you cede the land and pay compensation?!" ”

"The terms put forward by the Germans are basically the same as those mentioned before, requiring us to open up the right of way for mines in the Qing Dynasty, to set up factories in the Qing Dynasty, to purchase German armaments in the Qing Dynasty, and to name and hope that we will buy German warships in the Qing Dynasty.

"Do you want me to change the national system in the Qing Dynasty?" Zhang Zhidong didn't wait for Pan Zuyin to finish speaking, and asked nervously.

"Nope!" Pan Zuyin shook his head, "What the Germans say is only mercenary, nothing else. ”

"Whew...."Zhang Zhidong let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "In this regard, unlike the British and legal persons, the most hateful thing about the British and legal persons is that they never forget to change my Qing Dynasty system!" I don't want this Germany to be so knowledgeable, if it is based on the theory of the Qing Dynasty and the Changming Religion as the original, supplemented by the art of German prosperity, the cooperation between Qing and Germany is a beautiful thing! ”

"But the Germans want the right of way for the mine, which is tantamount to cutting the land and giving up the land, which violates my ancestral system of the Qing Dynasty, and I want to join him!" Bao Ting shook his head, completely disagreeing with what Zhang Zhidong said, and opened his mouth to say, "The gentleman is still virtuous but not powerful, and the Westerners have learned a lot of strange and obscene skills, if such things are rampant in my Great Qing Dynasty, I am afraid that my ancestors will educate me..."

"Brother Shaoxi, if you can use the Western Law to gain self-improvement skills, and Bo Hanxue thinks that it is a reasonable asset, is the Western Law being used by my Qing Dynasty, and Sinology is being used by Song Studies, isn't it a fast and cheap thing?" Zhang Zhidong knocked on the folding fan in his hand to interrupt Bao Ting's words, and retorted dissatisfiedly.

"Filial piety, I think there is also some truth, I want to enrich the country and strengthen the army, then training, mining, shipbuilding are indispensable, and these three things need to learn from the West, if you can follow what Xiaoda said, you can take the middle school as the body, and the West as the use, it is a good way. Besides, I am seeking self-reliance in the Qing Dynasty, and the Germans are working with me in the Qing Dynasty to open mines and build roads. Pan Zuyin touched the short mustache on his lips and nodded in agreement.

Weng Tongyi blinked, looked at the other pensive and silent people in the room, and said, "The words of filial piety, I also think there is something new, the Qing Dynasty is to innovate, but the foreign affairs should also be based on the imperial court, so this military training, mining and shipbuilding, I think it should be handled by the imperial court, rather than let the feudal officials handle it, what do you mean?" ”

"My lord, the foreign affairs of my Qing Dynasty have always been presided over by Prince Gong during the Xianfeng years, and the prime minister's affairs yamen has always been in Beijing, in the hands of the imperial court, and Beiyang is just a Xiangxiang." Zhang Peilun said lightly, "Besides, Lord Li of Zhili is also a practical person, since the pacification of Changmao, Huai Jun has been dealing with foreigners in Shanghai, Zeng Wenzhenggong praised Master Li by name, and he is a rare talent in foreign affairs in my Qing Dynasty." ”

"He Li Hefei is a talent, he pacified the long hair, twisted bandits, can be described as invincible! And now, his Beiyang not only has the elite of the Huai army, but also the sailors, and his life is in full swing, is it that he is old and rich, and he doesn't even dare to fight a battle? Zhang Zhidong asked with a cold expression.

"Fighting a war is about knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent, so that one can win a hundred battles. But what is going on in the Wa Kingdom now, who can know in my Qing Dynasty? I don't know how the enemy can talk about victory? If he loses the battle, is it his Lord Li's, or is it the court's? Zhang Peilun squinted and glanced down at Zhang Zhidong.

"My victory or defeat depends on planning, but before planning, it is a question of whether I dare to fight, which is a matter of courage! If the military attache loves money and is afraid of death, he doesn't even dare to think about the idea of fighting, such a person who leads the army is still waiting for me Zhang Xiaoda to join him! Zhang Zhidong raised his head and looked at Zhang Peilun, and said without showing weakness.

"Soldiers, the major affairs of the country, the place of death and life, and the way of survival, must not be overlooked. The war with the Japanese will be a national war, just have courage, no planning, and be reckless! Zhang Peilun flicked his sleeves and said coldly, "If you lose the army, you will lose the country!" ”

"When the two armies meet, the brave wins, and the brave will have no courage, and the army without courage and bravery, what is the use of it?!" Zhang Zhidong replied with an angry face.

"Where there are 100,000 teachers, thousands of miles to march, the people's expenses, the public's dedication, the daily expenses of thousands of gold, filial piety, if there is no prior planning, where is the military salary?" Zhang Peilun asked rhetorically, and then said loudly, "Mr. Boyin said that I have to do three things in the Qing Dynasty, train troops, open mines, and build ships, and in my opinion, I have to add one more thing, raising salaries!" ”

"As the saying goes, the soldiers and horses go first before the grain and grass are moved, how can there be military equipment without military salaries, where can there be grain, my Qing Dynasty and the Japanese country face each other across the sea, where does the ship come from?!" Zhang Peilun asked, spreading his hands.

"These things were planned by him Li Hefei, I, Zhang Xiaoda, as the official of the imperial history, just see if he Li Hefei has the courage to raise the prestige of my Qing Dynasty, if the civil official is afraid of death, and the military attache loves money, I Zhang Xiaoda will join him!"

Zhang Zhidong and Zhang Peilun are known as the Qingniu (Qingliu) double horns by Beijing officialdom, but the first-class talents of the Qing Dynasty, Weng Tonggong's original intention to raise the question was to hear how these two cadres were going to attack the local strength of the governor, and to regain the power that had been lost from the imperial court.

Lord Weng picked the topic to encourage people to go to Li Zhongtang's book, but he didn't want Qingniu's double horns to fight by himself first, under such a scene, Weng Tong was a little at a loss.

"Two, two, I heard a message from the palace." Pan Zuyin interrupted the dispute between Zhang Zhidong and Zhang Peilun with a smile, and said, "Lord Li of Zhili has made a plea for guilt, saying that there are some plans in the Ryukyu matter that have not been played to the court in advance, and he wants to ask for punishment. ”

The news that Li Hongzhang asked for punishment successfully settled the dispute between Zhang Zhidong and Zhang Peilun, and such secret news was never heard of by Li Hongzao, who was the Minister of Military Aircraft, and only Pan Zuyin, who walked in the south study, had this kind of secret channel.

Looking at everyone's expectant eyes, Pan Zuyin didn't sell it, and directly told what he had heard.

Li Hongzhang clearly stated in his excerpt of asking for punishment that in fact, as early as April this year, when he asked the imperial court to agree to let the head of the Beijing legation and Minister Barland preside over the judgment of justice between the Qing Dynasty and Japan, the people of Beiyang led by Lord Li had already made preparations to solve the Ryukyu issue with one article and one force, and the text was to let the German minister Barand preside over the judgment of justice, and the military was to wait for the German warships to come to the Qing Dynasty to endorse the Beiyang military force to retake the Ryukyus.

As for asking US President Grant to mediate between Qing and Japan, it was only through the brilliant wisdom and planning of Lord Lee that US President Grant did a trick to deliberately confuse the Japanese government in order to buy time for the arrival of the German fleet, and so on.

Of course, in this matter, Prince Gong should take the first credit, and if it were not for Prince Gong's strong inspiration, the German royal family, who had admired me for a long time, would never agree to this matter, let alone apologize to me on behalf of the foreigners, and so on.

Lord Li assured that when the German fleet went north to Dagukou, it would be the day when the Beiyang Huai Army landed on Ryukyu, and Lord Li would definitely use me in the first battle for the Qing Dynasty, and I would win, and so on.

As soon as Pan Zuyin said Li Hongzhang's plea, Weng Tonggong knew about participating in Beiyang, which was no fun. Zhang Zhidong was a bachelor, stroked his palms and praised, "I don't want Lord Li to be so wise and brave at this age, I, Zhang Xiaoda, have lost my eyes!" When I return to the city today, I will write to the imperial court and ask the imperial court to vigorously commend Prince Gong and Master Li! ”

With Zhang Zhidong taking the lead, for a while, the praise of Prince Gong and Master Li was everywhere.

As for what a few Qingliu are really thinking in their hearts, it is nothing more than Li Hongzhang, the older he gets, the more cunning he becomes, whether he fights or is all up to him, and by the way, he also pulled the now powerful Prince Gong in, and the sedan chair was carried by everyone, but anyone who wants to impeach him Lord Li must first weigh himself, whether he can deal with Prince Gong's power.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there are many things to discuss today, and there is one more thing that the old man thinks is more important than the Qing and Japanese national wars." Weng Tongyi touched his long hair and said with a smile, "It's the etiquette of Emperor Sun to meet His Majesty, how should I advise?!" ”

Confucianism is also often called the religion of etiquette, since it is the religion of etiquette, then the core of this religion is "the major affairs of the country, in the worship and Rong, the heavens, the earth, the ancestors, and the favor of the monarch, is the three books of the rites", so as soon as Weng Tongyi talked about the word "rites", let all the Confucians present here devote themselves to the vigorous discussion of the etiquette of Prince Heinrich's audience.

Starting from Prince Heinrich's costume, to the procedure of the audience, to the title of the audience, and the direction in which he sat during the audience, etc., etc., etc The atmosphere of the discussion was so enthusiastic that it was very dark and the sky was dark, and it was a posture of resting until death.

A few hours passed, but fortunately, the daylight hours in the summer were long, and after a few people were full of enthusiasm to complete the etiquette of Heinrich's visit, the words of the clan's yellow belt treasure court were asked by everyone present.

"I said everyone, this time to entertain the Emperor Sun is the appearance of the Prime Minister's Affairs Yamen, and it has nothing to do with the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Court, are we working in vain?!"

Just when everyone looked at each other, Weng Tonggong spoke first with confidence, "Everyone, don't panic, we can give the article in our hands to the imperial court, if what the Prime Minister's Affairs Yamen and Beiyang do violates the etiquette of my Qing Dynasty, we will have the courage to participate in him, what do you think?" ”

In the face of Lord Weng's clever move, Zhang Zhidong, one of the two horns of the green ox, looked carefully at the folding fan in his hand, as if the landscape on the fan was alive, and Zhang Peilun in the other corner looked up to the sky, and there were words in his mouth, as if he had a good sentence and tasted it there.

Chen Baochen of the green oxtail was full of noncommittality, but he stared at the green bull whip Baoting who was a little eager to try, and did not let him talk nonsense, and Li Hongzao, the minister of military aircraft known as the green ox, had a calm face and an unfathomable expression.

All of you here, if you can sit in today's position, none of them are political idiots, and Germany sent the emperor and grandson to visit the Qing Dynasty, which is the treatment that Western countries have never treated the Qing Dynasty. Now whether it is the empress dowager of the two palaces, the prime minister's affairs yamen, and even the local governors and ministers, they all regard this matter as a sign that the prosperity of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty has reached its peak.

After all, a Western power wants to apologize to the Qing Dynasty on behalf of the Europeans, and this apology also needs to issue a formal written statement, what a big increase in the face of the Qing Dynasty, in case this book goes up, annoys the Germans, the Germans go back, and spoil this important event that the court is looking forward to, who can afford to be offended?

According to the gossip circulating in the palace, the emperor and grandson also wore Qing clothes to meet His Majesty the emperor, such a deep admiration for Chinese culture, coupled with serious reparation to the Qing Dynasty, these two things have made the queen mother of the two palaces Fengyan Dayue can no longer be happy, yellow coat, three-eyed flower feathers, reward court horses, four regiments of dragon supplements, yellow belts, purple bridles and gold coins, these rewards are more like no money, splashed to Prince Gong Yixun and Li Zhongtang.

Considering that the German Emperor Sun Prince Heinrich had a hasty itinerary and had to work part-time to endorse the Qing Dynasty's recapture of the Ryukyus, the two palaces specially asked Emperor Guangxu to issue an edict to Prince Gong Yixun and Li Hongzhang, saying that the German Emperor Sun's itinerary was in a hurry, and everything could be simplified in terms of etiquette.

"The queen mother of the two palaces said that the number of rites should be simple, but you, the emperor of the Guangxu Emperor, want us to admonish, find awkwardness with the two palaces, and go to those who are simple in etiquette, is it nothing more than to participate in Li Hongzhang.... This is, this is when we are the mallet! Basically, everyone here thought that Weng Tong had come up with a rancid and smelly idea.

For a while, the atmosphere in the Zen room was cold, Pan Zuyin saw this situation, and hurriedly came forward to play a round for his old friend and said, "Shuping is a little manipulative, the German emperor and grandson came to me to see me, and it is true that the courtesy is thorough, but now it is a big matter to make amends, and the two powers benefit each other, and we must not lose a big one because of a small one." The ancients said, things are in a hurry, things are in a hurry, haha! ”

"Bo Yin, what you said is extremely true!"

"Mr. Boyin's words, old Cheng is serious!"

"However, the two powers are mutually beneficial, and state affairs should be the priority!"

Just when Lord Weng Tongyi looked embarrassed, and when the voices of praise for Pan Zuyin were everywhere, the voice of the Green Bullwhip Baoting seemed very out of place, "Ladies and gentlemen, today I can't advise on this matter, and I can't advise on that matter, what is it, I and other imperial historians can advise?!" ”