On November 19, 1865, with the announcement of the abdication of Tongzhi, it marked the official end of the Qing Empire, which had ruled China for more than 200 years.

The Qing emperor abdicated, so who will control the new empire?

Although Li Hongzhang was the gravedigger of the Qing Dynasty, his strength could not be the founder of the next empire.

There is no doubt that Li Weiguo, His Royal Highness King Wu, who is only twenty-six years old, will be the founder of the new empire.

The Qing Emperor abdicated, and all the members of the entire Nanyang Group were excited to learn the news, because they knew that their leader Li Weiguo would rule the new empire, and all those who followed Li Weiguo would witness the arrival of this historical moment, and all those who gave their lives to Li Weiguo would receive the greatest reward in their lives.

Of course, all the enemies who were Li Weiguo in the first place will also regret it for the rest of their lives.

Some of the wall grasses also began to liven up, and they all used various networks to show favor to Li Weiguo or his subordinates.

The common people hoped that the new empire would bring them a better life, the businessmen hoped that the new empire would bring them more business opportunities and profits, and the enlightened gentry and bureaucrats hoped that the new empire would reappear in the glory of the Celestial Empire and the take-off of the Chinese nation.

Only the children of the Eight Banners and the old feudal forces who were once high in power were uneasy, and even many people hated Li Hongzhang to death, not only because Li Hongzhang rebelled and forced the palace to bury the Qing Dynasty, but also because Li Hongzhang's Beiyang Army looted the royal family and the children of the banner people everywhere after entering Beijing, and the latter was even more hateful.

Only Li Hongzhang himself knows best that this Nima is clearly carrying the black pot for Li Weiguo and pulling hatred for others.

It wasn't until Li Hongzhang led his army into Beijing that he knew that there were not only lurkers Xu Ting and Wang Kaitai around him, but also more than 200 people in the entire staff group, and 20 of them were spies sent by Li Weiguo, and they directly set up Li Hongzhang. Under the banner of the Beiyang Army, forcing the palace, robbing the royal family members and the children of the Eight Banners, the good things were secretly left to Li Weiguo, but the hatred value was left to Lao Li.

Lao Li is sad, this Nima is too pitiful, no wonder he has no problem at all when he fights the Taiping Army, when it comes to fighting Li Weiguo, when he has never won the battle, there are so many spies lurking around, how can he win the battle.

These people have been lurking for seven or eight years, more than ten years at every turn, and Lao Li thought of it. is full of fear of Li Weiguo, this Nima Li Weiguo more than ten years ago was still a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, he had such a scheming, and he started to lay out more than ten years in advance, he knew this, Lao Li would not choose to go against Li Weiguo at all, and he was scared to death.

Lao Li Ming knew the truth, but he didn't dare to say it, for the sake of his life and his family's life. He can only carry this black cauldron on his back.

Of course, Lao Li is also a person who can see openly, and when he completely let go of everything, he suddenly discovered what it means to take a step back and open the sky. It's not entirely a bad thing to give Li Weiguo the black pot, at least Li Weiguo won't embarrass Lao Li in the future, maybe he will be promoted exceptionally in the future. Because when Lao Li released Xu Ting and Wang Kaitai, these two people once said to Lao Li with a smile.

"His Royal Highness King Wu actually admires you very much, he has said it more than once. You are a rare enlightened official in modern Chinese history, a capable minister who governs the world, and if possible, His Royal Highness King Wu will consider reactivating you! ”

"Of course, provided that you don't have the idea of being an emperor again!"

Lao Li is also an understanding person, and he was surprised by Li Weiguo's open-mindedness, sighed to himself, and a glimmer of hope rose in his heart, since he couldn't be the emperor, then he would be a generation of famous ministers.

"Since His Royal Highness King Wu said that our Lao Li is a capable minister who rules the world, then our Lao Li will give it a try, if he can really achieve the merits of a generation of famous ministers, he can be regarded as worthy of his ancestors, and our Lao Li will be grateful to King Wu for a lifetime!"

Li Hongzhang wanted to open it, he was originally a person who could see it, but he was too young at the time, and he suddenly sat on the throne of King Yan, and it was inevitable that he would not be arrogant and wanted to be the emperor. Now that Huangliang's dream is shattered, Lao Li returns to reality, and suddenly finds that his road ahead is bright and indescribably happy.

People are like that, when you find yourself hitting the tip of the bull's horns, you might as well take a step back and look again, there must be a different world waiting for you.

Li Weiguo set off, took his four princesses and six children, surrounded by the honor guard of Wu Wangfu, and escorted 30,000 troops all the way to Beijing.

Along the way, provincial officials mobilized the people to welcome them, which was very lively.

Li Weiguo was also high-profile all the way, meeting with officials from all over the country along the way, and cordially waving to the people, and even personally took his four princesses to help refugees along the way, giving the people rice, noodles, and clothes, and taking group photos, leaving a glorious image of being close to the people and loving the people.

The common people were cheering, and even shouted long live in advance, indicating that Li Weiguo's approach won the support of the people and achieved success.

Li Weiguo was very happy, at the moment when he waved to the people, and at the moment when he saw tens of thousands of people cheering for him and paying tribute to him, his heart was boiling, as if his soul had been poured and sublimated.

It was an incomparably pleasant mood, completely entering the leader's world view, outlook on life and values, and the whole person instantly felt fluttering, as if he was about to ascend to immortal in the next moment.

When he arrived in Beijing, Li Weiguo's prestige and popular voice had reached an unprecedented level, and everything fell into place.

Li Hongzhang personally led the civil and military officials of the capital out of the city for ten miles to greet them, and those die-hard loyalists of the Manchu court either resigned or were imprisoned, and the more fierce ones had already crashed into the wall and died when the Qing emperor abdicated.

For Li Weiguo, he wished that all the officials in the imperial court would die, so that he could all be replaced by the diehards he had cultivated. Now there are still many Beijing officials who have taken the initiative to surrender, so Li Weiguo can't take them out directly, at least there must be a plausible excuse.

There are pros and cons, and killing all these officials is extremely happy, but it is equivalent to blocking the way of all Manchu officials, forcing them to fight to the end with Li Weiguo, and ending up together will cause more casualties and losses. Although Li Weiguo is not afraid of them to the death, as a superior, he has to consider the problem from the overall situation, and don't lose unnecessary losses.

"The criminal minister Li Hongzhang led a hundred civil and military officials to greet His Royal Highness King Wu!"

"Li Qing, please get up quickly!"

Li Weiguo hurriedly stepped forward to help Li Hongzhang and said: "Li Qing understands the righteousness, and at the last moment, he stood on the national righteousness and destroyed the corrupt court of the Manchu Dynasty. This is a meritorious work, what is the sin? ”

Lao Li smiled bitterly, standing on the national righteousness, this is really ashamed, it is really embarrassing to think that he is a dignified Han elite, and he is willing to be a slave to the banner people.

"I dare not be ashamed! The minister knows that he is guilty of a deep sin, and he implores him to return to his hometown! ”

Lao Li wants to sue the old man to return to his hometown, is it really fake?

Obviously fake!

Li Weiguo saw from Lao Li's eyes that he didn't want to return to his hometown, so he said: "Li Qing must not." This king is short of people, Li Qing is the king values the ability to govern the world, if you don't dislike it, why don't you continue to serve as the minister of Beiyang trade? ”

What the?

Not only Li Hongzhang was shocked, but even other civil and military officials were equally surprised.

Minister of Beiyang International Trade and Commerce, that is the hottest position of the real power faction, but Li Hongzhang was still Li Weiguo's enemy before, and it is really incredible to give such an important position to the enemy.

Lao Li's heart was surging. Regardless of whether Li Weiguo is sincere or false, being able to say such things shows that he is open-minded, how much courage does this have to dare to use the biggest hostile leader?

"Please take back your fate!" Lao Li excused himself: "The Minister of Beiyang Trade is a matter of the rise and fall of the country. Don't dare to be a minister! ”

Li Weiguo smiled, if the position of the Minister of Beiyang Trade is not sat by you, Lao Li, then I really can't think of anyone else's choice.

You must know that Lao Li's ability is still very strong, and he is not scheming enough to be an emperor. But being a generation of famous ministers is definitely enough, if it weren't for Lao Li supporting the Great Qing Kingdom, I am afraid that the Great Qing Kingdom would have perished in the nineteenth century. It is impossible to survive into the twentieth century.

Li Hongzhang has the ability, and Li Weiguo wants to use him, regardless of personal enmity, for the sake of this country and the Chinese nation.

"Benwang believes you can do it and even do better! This king does not bury and suppress you because you were once an enemy of this king, the Chinese nation has suffered for hundreds of years, for the strength of this country, for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, this king needs your help, this is not an order, just a request from this king! ”

"The soldier dies for his confidant, since the prince trusts Weichen so much, Weichen is willing to serve the country and the prince!" Lao Li's excited heart was about to jump out, and he wanted to hold back the emotion in his heart, but he couldn't do anything, and suddenly burst into tears and bowed down to thank him.

"Our surname Li is a capable person, why be humble!" Li Weiguo laughed and hurriedly helped Li Hongzhang up.

Li Hongzhang also laughed, it is true that they are all surnamed Li, from now on Li Weiguo will be called the emperor, and the family surnamed Li will also become the national surname.

Under Li Hongzhang's introduction, Li Weiguo got to know all kinds of ghosts, snakes, and gods one by one.

If it had been before, Li Weiguo would definitely have beaten them to death with a rod, after all, they represented the two poles of the late Qing Dynasty, one was too conservative and the other was too radical xenophobia, both of which were not conducive to the development of the country.

But now, as Li Weiguo's imperial mind matures, he gradually discovers that the stubborn Qing school and the radical xenophobia can play an unexpected role in a specific period, and as long as it is properly controlled, the benefits still outweigh the disadvantages. Even if it is a corrupt official, there are also uses of corrupt officials, for example, some shady things cannot be done without corrupt officials, there is a way to earn fame and accumulate wealth called killing corrupt officials, different people have different roles, this is what Li Weiguo, as the future emperor, must learn.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the capital welcomed Li Weiguo into the city, and they were extremely enthusiastic, but none of the members of the royal family and the children of the Eight Banners were there, because they were still remembering the deceased Qing Empire at the moment, and they didn't want to see Li Weiguo happy, because the happier Li Weiguo was, the more sad they were.

Of course, there is another factor, that is, to prevent someone from assassinating Li Weiguo or making trouble, after all, there are not a few people who hate Li Weiguo.

Soon, Li Weiguo and his entourage arrived at the Forbidden City.

Revisiting the old place, Li Weiguo still feels very good.

"Where are the royals?"

Li Hongzhang explained: "Except for the empress dowager of the two palaces of the previous dynasty and the little emperor of the previous dynasty, the other members of the royal family were all confined in the Zongren Mansion, and the children of the Eight Banners were all imprisoned in the Nanyuan camp, waiting for the prince to fall. ”

Li Weiguo nodded, this kind of disposal is quite satisfactory.

"Then let's go in and have a look!"

Li Hongzhang said with a smile: "The prince himself went in, and from now on this Forbidden City is the prince's, the prince and the princesses have been tired all the way, and they should rest early, and it is inconvenient for the ministers to go in!" ”

"It's okay, tomorrow in the Taihe Palace!"

"Your Ministers obey!"

Li Hongzhang and others retired, and Li Weiguo entered the Forbidden City with his wife, concubines and children.

The Imperial Forest Army in the Forbidden City has been replaced with the first town of the Nanyang Army Women's Army, completely taking over the defense of the Forbidden City.

As for the eunuchs and maids in the palace, they are all restricted from walking, and they can not decide whether to continue to use them until they pass the political examination.

Of course, for Li Weiguo, he does not need eunuchs to serve, so these eunuchs will all be paid severance pay. As for the palace maids, they can leave some of them, after all, the huge Forbidden City, as well as the Old Summer Palace and other royal gardens in the western suburbs, also need daily maintenance and care.

Fu Shanxiang and Shen Ziyan both came to the Forbidden City for the first time, and they immediately cheered and excited. And Su Sanniang accompanied Li Weiguo to live in the Forbidden City for a period of time last time, and as for the fourth Yilan, he often enters the palace, so he is also familiar with the road.

Su Sanniang is very cautious, she is the commander of the first town of the female army, so she personally led the female army to conduct inspections inside and outside the palace of the Forbidden City, arrange sentry posts and guards, and ensure the absolute safety of Li Weiguo and their family.

So Yilan became a guide and took Fu Shanxiang and Shen Ziyan around for sightseeing.

Li Weiguo saw that all the women ignored him, and he suddenly felt bored, and wanted to deal with the official documents in the imperial study, but for some reason he suddenly remembered the two queen mothers, Ci'an and Cixi.

In Cining Palace, two women, Ci'an and Cixi, sat cross-legged on the kang and played Go silently.

The second daughter looked very calm, but her eyebrows were gloomy, and her eyes were lonely.

Yesterday, she was still a high-ranking queen mother, and her status was extremely noble, but now she has become an ordinary woman.

"Sister, what do you say Li Weiguo will do with us?"

"Find a remote place to trap them, or kill them directly!"

"As long as he can keep Chun'er alive, he can do whatever I want!"

Cixi and Ci'an glanced at each other, and they both sighed, the phoenix in distress was not as good as a chicken, and the two daughters knew very well in their hearts what fate awaited them.

"Yes, you are willing to do whatever this king asks you to do?"

The door opened, Li Weiguo walked in, and when he saw these two high-ranking queen queens again, he couldn't help but smile evilly.

Two young and beautiful ownerless women, hehe! (To be continued.) )