c_t; Yang Shixiang then asked: "Then, Lord Zhongtang, if the Queen Mother and the Emperor really want you to come forward to preside over the reform and reform of the law, what should you do?" ”

Zhang Peilun also looked worried, and said: "Yes, my lord, after all, once Prince Gong dies, no one can have such prestige as you for the reform and reform, not even Master Weng, who is the emperor's master, and it is very likely that the imperial court will appoint you to preside over ......the situation."

Li Hongzhang sighed and said: "This troubled water, we must not wade, if the old man is twenty years younger, it doesn't matter, now the old man is too old, I really don't want to care about such idle things, tossing, tossing, and can't turn out any new tricks, the strength is small, there is no effect, if the strength is large, it will cause a backlash from the old forces, and then together with the Queen Mother Lafayette will blame us, and the emperor has not been very kind to see us, then we can't show our heads, it's really not good, The old man just called the illness and counted it, just a little more leisure, and I will get to the bottom of you, I'm afraid that this change won't last for a year, and I will give up halfway, look at it......"

While a few people were talking about the matter, suddenly a guard burst in from the outside. [ ]

Li Hongzhang's eyes narrowed, a cold light came out of his eyes, and he said coldly: "Presumptuous, didn't you see me discussing with a few adults?" Who let you break in! ”

The guard hurriedly knelt on the ground and said, "My lord, a young scholar dressed as a young scholar came from outside the door, and asked me to give you a piece of jade pendant, saying that you will know the difference when you see the jade pendant, and you will know the difference when you see him, and he is afraid of delaying the affairs of the adult, so he took the liberty to break in." ”

Li Hongzhang frowned slightly, and said, "What about the things, bring them to me to see." ”

The guard handed over a piece of jade pendant.

Li Hongzhang took it in his hand and watched it carefully, and when he saw it, he was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat and shouted: "Dog slave, go down and give orders." All those who have seen this man go to the account room to receive a hundred taels of silver, and if they dare to divulge it, they will be killed! ”

Zhang Peilun hurriedly asked, "Lord Zhongtang, what's wrong?" ”

Li Hongzhang said in a deep voice: "The emperor is here, hurry up, follow me to pick up the car!" ”

All three of them were taken aback and hurriedly packed their clothes. Follow Li Hongzhang to the door of the house.

Li Hongzhang came to the gate of the mansion and saw that it was Emperor Guangxu standing at the door. Next to him stood a little eunuch with a cronie.

Li Hongzhang hurriedly approached Guangxu in the courtyard, picked up his clothes and knelt on the ground, and said urgently: "The minister didn't know that the emperor personally came to the cold house, and he couldn't meet him from afar, capital crime, capital crime!" ”

Sheng Xuanhuai and the other three on the side all knelt on the ground.

Guangxu waved his hand and said, "Shaoquan Gong, this time is really a private patrol of microservices. Come to your mansion and have a look, you don't have to be polite to get up. ”

Li Hongzhang hurriedly got up from the ground and said, "Your Majesty, please come inside." ”

Li Hongzhang took Guangxu into the living room, the servant offered hot tea, and Li Hongzhang ordered: "Everyone, there is no summons." No one is allowed to go near the living room, and it is strictly forbidden to spread today's events! ”

After the monarchs and ministers sat down, Li Hongzhang asked: "Your Majesty, I don't know if you came here late at night, what instructions do you have, if there is a problem." You can directly summon the ministers into the palace, and if you come out like this, I'm afraid it's easy to be honest. ”

Guangxu sighed and said, "Young Quan Gong, now Uncle Liuwang has gone west. Now that the government and the opposition are in the upper and lower circles, the controversy between reform and conservatism is becoming more and more intense, and I really have no idea in my heart. This time, I came to ask Shaoquan Gong for advice, Shaoquan Gong has been in charge of foreign affairs for many years, and he is the Optimus Pillar of the Imperial Court, please teach me. ”

Li Hongzhang muttered: "Your Majesty, I don't know if the emperor supports the change of law in his heart? ”

Emperor Guangxu nodded and said: "From the bottom of my heart, I am inclined to reform and change the law, who doesn't want to become a generation of heroes and work hard?" Do you really not want to become a Kuangdai saint like Kangxi? It's just that the resistance is too great now, and I'm really uneasy. ”

Li Hongzhang replied: "Your Majesty, the minister is already old, his energy is no longer what he used to be, and he is frail and sickly, but since the emperor is interested in reforming the law, then do it according to what you want, this country will be handed over to you sooner or later, and changing the law and reforming is the only way to enrich the country and strengthen the army, but, the emperor, now the country is seriously ill, and there is no need for urgent medicine. ”

Emperor Guangxu replied: "Shaoquan Gong, these words, Uncle Liu Huang also thought that I had said it, I really think so, so in the near future, I will officially launch the reform of the law, I am willing to have you and Master Weng take the lead to preside over this matter, after all, there are very few important ministers in the court and the central government who support the dangerous change, and there is no one with weight, it is really difficult to move an inch." ”

Li Hongzhang hurriedly knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, the minister is grateful to the emperor for his kindness, but now that the minister is over seventy years old, his body is not as good as a day, and he really can't bear such a heavy responsibility......

Emperor Guangxu sighed slightly and replied: "It's just that there are no important ministers like you in charge, but I don't have any confidence in my heart......

Li Hongzhang replied: "Your Majesty, it's not that no one supports your reform and reform of the law now, Zhang Jianzhi of Fengtian, Chen Baozhen of Hunan, and Zhang Zhidong of Hubei are all beneficial to the reform of the law, and they are all people that the emperor can rely on." ”

Guangxu replied: "Now these people are all feudal officials, and they can't move lightly, but there is a lack of people who can do things in the court." ”

Li Hongzhang smiled and said: "Then why doesn't the emperor plan to summon Tan Si and others to Beijing to serve in Beijing, these people are all pillars of the country, everyone is a hidden gully, splendid, let them be called into Beijing, entrusted with important tasks, just so that they can show their strength, at the same time, the emperor can also encircle a group of young talents, and serve the emperor in the future." ”

Emperor Guangxu looked at Li Hongzhang and saw that Li Hongzhang was not moved, so he had to give up and said: "Then please ask Shaoquan Gong, and then I can help more with the new deal, without your sitting, alas, ......"

Li Hongzhang hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty, the old minister dares to ignore state affairs and serve dogs and horses? Although you let go of the implementation of the new policy, once there is something wrong, the old minister will naturally remind the emperor that although the minister is old, he still has a vision. ”

Emperor Guangxu chatted a few more words in Li Hongzhang's mansion, but he didn't dare to stay longer, after all, this was a late night micro-service out of the palace, and the Empress Dowager Cixi knew about it, and it was inevitable to cause some more trouble.

Li Hongzhang, Sheng Xuanhuai and others sent Emperor Guangxu out of the mansion, and when Emperor Guangxu walked away, he breathed a sigh of relief. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly passes, and your support is my biggest motivation. )

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