President Meng did not wear a military uniform, but wore a small landlord's horse coat, holding the hand of Princess Katrina Kaf, standing at the door of the banquet hall on the second floor of the Beijing Hotel, and said with a smile: "Welcome Lord Zuo and Li Zhongtang." Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang, as well as Hu Xueyan behind the two people, hurriedly bowed their hands, today's identity of President Meng is very different, every time I see Xuan Yuemeng, after a period of time, Li Hongzhang can feel this change in President Meng, and it can't be said that it is official authority, how to say it specifically, it's really hard to say, maybe it's the spirit of the king.

Li Hongzhang felt that Xuan Yuemeng changed into a dragon robe, and he really looked like an emperor.

President Meng held a wine glass, but the cup was filled with a drink of grape water, President Meng smiled: "Come, in order to welcome Li Zhongtang and Lord Zuo, as well as our officials from all walks of life in China, and representatives from all walks of life in Zhili, let's celebrate the Lantern Festival." ”

Everyone stood up together and said kind words to the president, and President Meng didn't hear a word, but the atmosphere was very good.

"I heard that the foreigner's newspaper said that I was sick, and I was not lightly ill, and I was dying, no, am I fine?" President Meng drank the drink in the cup and smiled self-deprecatingly, causing everyone to laugh.

"Today, the whole Zhili, half of Shandong, half of Anhui, are already in the territory of our country, in two months, Shandong, Anhui, northern Jiangsu, will be connected with Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi, this year, our economy of China will begin to stabilize, and, to drive the entire land of China to stabilize! My goal is that within five years, the whole of China will be lifted out of poverty, everyone will be fed and clothed, what do the people need most? Clothing! Whoever can give them food and clothing is this! President Meng said, giving a thumbs up.

Everyone applauded at the same time.

Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang and Hu Xueyan were embarrassed for a while, applause is appropriate, not applause is not appropriate, Xuan Yuemeng's words, clearly expressed two messages, one is to aim at the whole country, overthrow the Qing court, it is a matter of time, if Xuan Yuemeng's complete speech is published, tomorrow will be a bloody storm, second, Xuan Yuemeng clearly expressed the development plan, to let everyone have food and clothing, this point, is the Qing court is the strongest, and I dare not say this kind of thing, the strongest time must be the middle of Qianlong, the country's stability and more than half a century, money and grain are abundant, but just like that, a big agricultural country, it cannot be said that everyone has food and clothing. Is it easy to do this if at least everyone has a job, and farmers have their own land?

Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang and Hu Xueyan don't know why President Meng has this confidence.

Zuo Zongtang said softly to Hu Xueyan: "What is he talking about?" ”

Hu Xueyan couldn't help but say: "It's a bit big to brag, but Huaguo seems to be like this, don't you see that the whole city of Beijing is full of slogans?" ”

The slogan is the new trick made by President Meng, the bunting slogan, two magic weapons, and there are black and red five-pointed star flags and portraits of President Meng everywhere.

Li Hongzhang heard the content of the whispered conversation between the two people, and just smiled faintly, Zuo Zongtang couldn't understand Xuan Yuemeng's approach, Li Hongzhang appreciated it very much, because Li Hongzhang and Xuan Yuemeng were more familiar, you know, two years ago, Xuan Yuemeng would be besieged by a group of students even if he took the exam for a show.

Although there are still students who are constantly criticizing President Moe, however, time has passed, and whoever dares to say bad things about President Meng on the street will be taken away immediately.

President Meng smiled and said to Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang: "Two teachers, how are they?" What do you think about the situation in Shandong, Anhui, and northern Jiangsu? ”

Everyone held their breath and didn't speak, looking at Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang together, this is President Meng in the general, I didn't expect that at such a grand banquet, President Meng would speak like this to Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang in public, the most important thing, Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang have just entered Beijing, everyone knows that it is impossible to meet in advance, everyone is sweating, especially Wang Zhankui and a group of high-ranking military officials, they are afraid that Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang will suddenly say something to offend President Meng, and they are ready to scold when they have something.

On such occasions, officers are not allowed to carry guns, but only the President's Guard.

Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang glanced at each other, the two of them didn't speak, and they didn't know how to answer, their faces were embarrassed, their hearts were very depressed, I don't know why Xuan Yuemeng became so domineering, Xuan Yuemeng's policies were very gentle before, and it has only been a few days since he entered the customs? Could it be that the fox's tail has been exposed?

President Meng didn't mean to embarrass them, and when he saw that the two of them didn't speak, he laughed: "Two adults, after drinking this glass of wine, I'm happy today, I won't say it in advance, I'll talk about it in two months." ”

Li Hongzhang was stunned and didn't speak, Zuo Zongtang's temper was stubborn, and he couldn't help but stand up: "President, do you want to attack Anhui, Shandong and Northern Jiangsu by force?" What are you going to do with the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces and the Hundred Officials? ”

Zuo Zongtang has a nickname, called Zuo Mule, which is definitely not a good nickname. Don't say it to President Meng, it's to the Empress Dowager Cixi, what he wants to say is still the same.

"Didn't I make it clear? The telegram has been sent to the whole country, and it has also been sent to you, as long as you agree to my request, what should the palace do, should you go to the court, or should you go to the court, why do you ask so? President Meng smiled faintly.

Zuo Zongtang stopped talking, and secretly said that Xuan Yuemeng's trick was ruthless enough, while he had already started to do it, he was electrifying the whole country, as if he was waiting for the Qing court to reply, but in fact, no matter whether the Qing court replied or not, Shandong, Anhui and northern Jiangsu, it was impossible to pass the two divisions of the Chinese army! Two divisions, more than 40,000 well-equipped regular troops, is this more than half of the Qing army with broadswords and spears?

Li Hongzhang pulled Zuo Zongtang and said in a deep voice: "Don't talk about this first, I will talk to the president alone later, and try to see the Queen Mother first." ”

Zuo Zongtang sighed, knowing that if he continued to talk about it, he would treat himself for a crime, and he would close himself up, but it would be cheaper for Li Hongzhang, no matter who went out of the two of them, they would be the supreme commanders of the Qing army, and now only Li Hongzhang and him have this prestige, so they are silent.

Everyone continued to drink and feast, the stage was very gorgeous, the famous Peking Opera actors sang on the stage, President Meng and Li Hongzhang, and Zuo Zongtang sang offstage.

"I think that the northwest, it has to be caught by Lord Zuo, whether it is Tsarist Russia or bandits, all of them will be wiped out. As long as they dare to come to China, they cannot be allowed to go back alive. President Meng smiled at Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang. In the central and southwestern regions, Li Zhongtang should still preside, since they want to engage in foreign affairs, they should take a step forward, do not engage in new studies, do not cultivate their own talents, and just send a few students every year will not work. Moreover, Li Zhongtang personally presided over the Midwest, and I was also relieved. ”

Zuo Zongtang was surprised and delighted, although Zuo Zongtang, like Li Hongzhang, was also a little stupid and loyal, his heart was towards the Qing court, and he couldn't stand the rise of President Meng, but he really wanted to solve the problem in the northwest.

President Meng has thought many times that if you want to develop, you really can't fight your own people anymore, and if you want to forcibly destroy the Huai Army and the Chu Army, how much energy will it take? Not to mention, the key is that if you are not familiar with the place, driving the elite of the Chinese army to the northwest and southwest is not necessarily better than the Qing army! If Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang can join forces with him, he doesn't mind the development of an iron triangle style, and simply sets aside the Qing court.

Li Hongzhang was also surprised, and President Meng spoke in a tone that seemed to have regarded the two of them as his subordinates.

Neither of them spoke, and they were both calculating in their hearts.

After the banquet, President Meng invited the two to meet alone, there is a presidential suite, which is the place where President Meng receives people close to him, President Meng receives people, either in the President's Mansion, or in the Beijing Hotel, because President Meng loves to play, sometimes he has a good time, so he will be placed in the Beijing Hotel to meet the VIP temporarily.

"President, what do you want to do with the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces? Can you get to the bottom of it? As soon as he took his seat, Xuan Yuemeng, Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang were three people at this time, and Wang Zhankui and Hu Xueyan were standing next to him, so Li Hongzhang simply went straight in, which was also a matter of concern to Zuo Zongtang. (To be continued.) )