Late at night, in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Guangxu was pacing alone in the palace, and the recent Sino-Japanese war situation always affected his nerves, and his heart was full of anxiety and uneasiness. Although he was determined to revive the power of the Manchu Dynasty, all the power of the imperial court was controlled by Cixi, and any plan was tied and difficult to carry out. In this Sino-Japanese dispute, he fought with one force, but the old queen mother said that she didn't agree to anything, and finally agreed, but she had missed the best preparation period, and rushed to respond to the battle, and the military rations, weapons, and troops were all missing.

Guangxu was anxious, and the eunuch on duty stood outside the door and shouted softly: "Long live Lord, Long live Lord, Master Weng is waiting in the south study to ask for a meeting, there is something urgent." ”

Guangxu frowned and sighed, "Please let him in." ”

Not long after, Weng Tong ran in happily, shouting as he ran: "Your Majesty, great joy, great joy!" ”

When Guangxu heard this, his spirits perked up, and he asked urgently: "What?" Master Weng, there is news from the former enemy? ”

Weng Tongyi ran in a hurry, slightly panting, and said excitedly: "Your Majesty, I am very happy." Lao Chen has just received a telegram from Nie Shicheng of North Korea, Nie Shicheng's troops launched a fierce battle with the Japanese army in Kaesong, won the battle, killed and captured thousands of Japanese bandits, captured the Japanese bandit brigade commander Oshima Yoshimasa and the wing commander Komoto Yamaichi, successfully repelled the Japanese attack, and the Japanese army has now retreated to the Seoul area! It's a big victory, it's an unprecedented victory! “”

Guangxu was overjoyed when he heard this, and said hurriedly: "What about the electric fold?" Show me! “

Weng Tongyi took out the folded book from his sleeve, handed it over, and said: "Nie Shicheng reported that the army retreated to Kaecheng after the battle of Asan, and according to the plan of his subordinate Zhang Yi, the troops were stationed in the strategic place of Maoershan, and as a result, the Japanese army attacked the Maoershan Heights after arriving, Zhang Yi led his troops to defend it, with 600 to 5,000, insisted on more than three days, consumed the combat strength of the Japanese army, attacked the Japanese army twice in a row, sent his right-hand men to lead the new army to raid the Japanese command post, and captured the six main generals of the Japanese thief Oshima Yoshimasa in one fell swoop, the Japanese army was in chaos, and Nie Shicheng took the opportunity to wave his troops to attack, Attacking from both sides, annihilating the Japanese army, but unfortunately Nie Shicheng's troops were too small, only less than 3,000 people, and it was difficult to completely annihilate the Japanese invaders, but this battle also caused the main force of the Japanese army to be damaged, and I am afraid that the Japanese army will not attack Kaesong again in a short time. On the day of Nie Shicheng's victory, Zuo Guigui, Ma Yukun and others led their troops to arrive, and they are currently stationed together in Kaecheng. ”

Guangxu did not answer, carefully read the twists and turns, Nie Shicheng played in detail the current Sino-Japanese war situation in Korea, and now our army has won a great victory, and the ministers are willing to escort Oshima Yoshimasa and other prisoners of war back to the DPRK, in order to show the majesty of the kingdom of heaven and frustrate the rampant heart of the Japanese people. There is a young talent Zhang Yi, who manages Bao Liangcai, the sky and the Qing Dynasty, every time he makes a strange plan, he will make miraculous achievements. I hope that His Majesty will reuse it, and he will be reincarnated as a pillar of the Qing Dynasty such as Wen Zhenggong and Wen Xianggong in the future. Although today's army has suffered defeats, the number of troops in the DPRK has exceeded 30,000, and the number of troops has been repeatedly increased, and in two months, the number of troops will exceed 50,000. Our army has only more than 10,000 people in Korea, and there is a huge disparity in strength, although the ministers have the heart to fight to the death, they are afraid of disappointing His Majesty's ardent hopes and are terrified. I hope that the imperial court will urgently send reinforcements into the court, otherwise once the city is broken, the Japanese army will drive straight in, and the land of Longxing in the Qing Dynasty will be in danger......

After Guangxu was overjoyed, he gradually calmed down, Nie Shicheng's victory is certainly gratifying, and he should be rewarded and praised, but looking at what Nie Shicheng said, the Korean war situation is not optimistic, the Japanese garrison has exceeded 30,000, and the number of troops is constantly increasing, and the disparity between the Qing and Japanese forces is huge, I am afraid that no matter how resourceful Nie Shicheng is, it is difficult to have a chance of winning.

"Your Majesty." Weng Tongyi, who was excited, saw that Emperor Guangxu's face was still excited, and slowly became a little gloomy, and he asked softly.

Guangxu asked, "Master Weng, have you finished reading this book?" ”

"Uh" "Your Majesty, when the old minister got this recital, he just scribbled it at it, and hurriedly came over to congratulate the emperor, but he didn't have time to read it in detail......"

Emperor Guangxu sighed and said, "Master Weng, this matter is a mixed blessing. Nie Shicheng said in his recital that although our army has won a great victory, the Japanese army in Korea has more than 30,000 troops, and it is still increasing, and the number of troops will reach 50,000 within two months, and if the situation continues like this, it will be possible for the Japanese army in Korea to exceed 100,000 at the beginning of next year. Nie Shicheng's troops, plus all the troops of Zuo Guigui and other troops, were only more than 16,000 people, how could they withstand such a large army. But if you want to send reinforcements, where are my elite soldiers? How to raise money? ”

Weng Tongyi's face changed, and he asked: "Your Majesty, is the disaster in North Korea really so serious?" How could Japan suddenly have so many troops? ”

Guangxu said irritably: "How do I know? Master Weng, you tried your best to lead the battle at the beginning, but now that the war is open, you can't stop, the Japanese army is pressing, how do we deal with it, do you have a plan in your heart? Tomorrow's court meeting, the Queen Mother Lafayette, must be asked, how do you answer correctly? ”

"This ......" Weng Tonggong had a layer of cold sweat on his head, he didn't expect that Japan, a small country, would have such a strong army and well-equipped, and now the imperial court armament is abandoned, the older generation of generals are gradually withering, and the finances are stretched, how to deal with it? How did he know what to do? Let him write a poem, it's okay to be a pair, how can he understand military affairs? He opened his mouth and stammered.

Guangxu said angrily: "Master Weng, you have an idea." ”

Weng Tongyi replied helplessly: "Your Majesty, the old minister is a civil official, and he doesn't know anything about the military, and the soldiers are also the major affairs of the country. How dare the old minister talk nonsense? Nowadays, in the Qing Dynasty, there is no one who is involved in foreign affairs and foreign affairs, but he is far away in Tianjin, sitting in Beiyang, and it is difficult to distract himself from the remote control of the sailor. People such as Liu Kunyi, Zhang Zhidong and others are even far away in the south of the Yangtze River, and they are beyond the reach of the whip. Now in the court, I am afraid that there is only one sixth master who is deeply connected with foreign affairs. ”

What is the Sixth Master? Prince Gong? Ear. Prince Gong? He is quite talented, and he is a rare talent in the Qing imperial family, but after Tongzhi, Cixi suspected that Prince Gong was powerful, and repeatedly degraded him.

Guangxu was depressed for a while, he also knew that Uncle Wang was talented, but he caused the Queen Mother to be suspicious and not to use it, so what can he do? Guangxu paced a few steps in the palace in an irritable mood, and said categorically: "Immediately order someone to draw up a decree, ride a fast horse, and go to Tianjin to announce Li Hongzhang's entry into the court and ask the right question!" ”

Weng Tongyi hurriedly responded, hurried down to draw up the order, and rode a fast horse to Tianjin.

When it was in trouble, the Qing Dynasty had to rely on this gangster, Anhui Li Zhongtang!