"Lin Yizhe's wife Chen Wan is the righteous daughter of Zeng Wenzhenggong, a teacher of the minister, and the minister is a protégé of Zeng Wenzhenggong, who is an acquaintance. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info Zeng Wenzhenggong is quite able to understand people, and he greatly appreciates Lin Yizhe, saying that he will become a great tool in the future. Li Hongzhang continued, "The minister and Lin Yizhe don't see each other much, and they can be said very well, and they often correspond on weekdays. ”

"Oh, in this way, Lin Yizhe and you are also relatives. Naturally, the relationship is closer than the average person. Empress Dowager Cixi nodded.

"Although Lin Yizhe is young, he has learned both Chinese and Western, has extraordinary knowledge, and his ministers correspond with him, and he often has experience." Li Hongzhang said, "It is really a rare ability among my young and handsome people in the Qing Dynasty." ”

"This time, the official of Kedao Yan participated in the impeachment of Lin Yizhe, I think you also know about it." Empress Dowager Cixi looked at Li Hongzhang and said with a smile, "Since you have a good relationship with Lin Yizhe, why don't you see you arguing for it?" ”

"The Empress Dowager, the Emperor Shengming, how Lin Yizhe is a person, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor already know, why do you need to say more?" Li Hongzhang replied with a smile, "No matter what the outside world is talking about, the Empress Dowager has her own holy judgment. ”

Listening to Li Hongzhang's words, Empress Dowager Cixi smiled and turned her head to look at the Empress Dowager Ci'an, who also nodded with a smile.

"I still want to hear what Li Zhengtai has to say about this matter." Empress Dowager Cixi said with a smile.

"The minister doesn't dare to speak up." Li Hongzhang replied respectfully, but he had already figured out the rhetoric in his mind.

"Li Zhengtai said it's okay, I want to see if you think the same idea as the emperor." Empress Dowager Cixi said.

"Back to the Queen Mother's words, the minister thought that Lin Yizhe was filial by nature and did not guard his aunt's system, because he was afraid of misleading state affairs. And now that there are many bullets, and the word is reproached to him, he will inevitably go to the table to ask for his aunt to keep the system. Li Hongzhang said.

"But if he really wants to abide by the system, if the court allows it, he will inevitably go to all errands, and the important affairs of the shipyard in Fujian and Taiwan will have to be entrusted to others, but I am afraid that he will not be as effective as him." Empress Dowager Cixi sighed and said.

Li Hongzhang was so smart that he immediately judged the Empress Dowager Cixi's intentions from this sentence, and he hurriedly took out the words that had been prepared for a long time on the snake stick.

"The queen mother forgot that Lin Yizhe was originally from Fujian, and he was the supervisor, not to win affection. Building the shipyard and the opening of the platform are both important tasks, and they cannot change hands suddenly, and the Empress Dowager can make them handle it in their registration, which can be described as a plan for both. Li Hongzhang said, "At the beginning of the establishment of the shipyard in the past, Zuo Zongtang recommended Shen Baozhen as the prime minister of the ship, and when Shen Baozhen passed away, Zuo Zongtang asked the imperial court to keep Shen Baozhen 'in the register to supervise the construction, not to win affection, and to serve the relatives for a long time'." There is a precedent to follow, and such a disposal can also calm down the external discussions. ”

"I see, I remember, there is such a thing." The Empress Dowager Cixi nodded, and then ordered, "Liu Chengyin, you should send someone to the military aircraft to pass on my message, and go and turn out this fold of Zuo Zongtang." ”

"Huh!" Liu Chengyin said, nodded at Li Lianying, Li Lianying understood, and hurriedly took a few people out of the hall.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager Cixi immediately wanted to see Zuo Zongtang's excerpt, Li Hongzhang's heart was full of pleasure for Zuo Zongtang's revenge.

He endured Zuo Zongtang for so long, and today he finally let out a good breath of evil.

In January 1868, Li Hongzhang's horse team wiped out the main force of Lai Wenguang and Ren Zhu's Eastern Twist Army in Shandong, Ren Zhu was killed, and Lai Wenguang fled to Yangzhou and was captured. In August 1868, Zhang Zongyu's department of the Western Twist Army fell into Li Hongzhang's heavy encirclement in northwest Shandong, and the whole army was annihilated. The Twist Army, which was ravaging the north, was thus completely pacified. After the war, the Huai Army led the way, and Li Hongzhang was promoted to a co-organizer of the university. Zuo Zongtang, who was originally not very energetic and had long been "envious, jealous and hateful" of his political opponents, obviously did not want to see Li Hongzhang in such a limelight, so he had nothing to do without reason to doubt Li Hongzhang's statement that Zhang Zongyu committed suicide by committing suicide in the river, thinking that Zhang Zongyu was still on the run, so he led the army to search and arrest everywhere, but of course he found nothing. But Zuo Zongtang's groundless and provocative behavior made Li Hongzhang, who had repeatedly tolerated him before, unbearable. As a student of Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang has always followed Zeng Guofan's teachings as a guideline, and because Zuo Zongtang is eleven years older than Li Hongzhang, even if he does not speculate with Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang is less impulsive and does not care about Zuo Zongtang. For this reason, Zeng Guofan once wrote a special letter to praise Li Hongzhang: "Your Excellency does not compete with Zuo Shuai, and Qin Qi from far and near", but that time, Li Hongzhang was really angry in his heart, and he unceremoniously called Zuo Zongtang "a concealed true color, which is revealed here".

Although Li Hongzhang has always followed the teachings of his mentor Zeng Guofan, he has never taken the initiative to find trouble with Zuo Zongtang before, but now that this opportunity is in vain, he still can't help but take a hand to scare Zuo Zongtang.

After all, he is not a saint like his mentor Zeng Guofan!

Thinking of Lin Yizhe, who has always had a tacit understanding with him, Li Hongzhang secretly thought in his heart: As a brother, I can only help you get here. However, with your cleverness, I think you will get this excerpt as soon as possible, right?

At this time, Li Hongzhang didn't know that the "Flying Thunder" notification ship had already sent Lin Yizhe's plea to Tianjin to defend the system, and at this time it had been taken over by the post delivery and was on the way to Beijing to transfer it!

After ending today's audience, His Majesty Li Hongzhang resigned from the palace, and at this moment, Li Lianying, who was sent by Liu Chengyin to find Zuo Zongtang's excerpt at the military aircraft, came back with the eunuchs, and took Zuo Zongtang's request for Shen Baozhen to "make it in the register, not to win love", and presented it to the Empress Dowager Cixi. The Empress Dowager Cixi immediately opened the fold and looked at it, and soon found the words "The registered supervisor is not for the sake of winning affection, and the shipmaster for a long time can serve the relatives", and she was sure in her heart.

"Sister, please see, if there is such a precedent to follow, this matter will be easy to do." Cixi got up, took the fold to Ci'an, and showed it to her.

"That's it. Let's all don't worry. Ci'an also let out a long breath.

She had already learned from the Empress Dowager Cixi that the "Heaven and Earth Family Spring" and her "Jixi Hall" project lacked Jinsi Nan wood, and Lin Yizhe needed to help with the procurement from Taiwan. Although she has always been very frugal, she has always been very concerned about it since Cixi opened this future retirement resting place for her. In the matter of Lin Yizhe, she did not hesitate to choose to support the Empress Dowager Cixi and Prince Gong.

"For the sake of keeping this matter safe, let's discuss with the sixth master again, and ask the sixth master to come up with a perfect plan." The Empress Dowager Ci'an looked at this book of Zuo Zongtang's previous folds, sneered, and said to the Empress Dowager Cixi, "This matter has been making trouble for some time, there are unjust debts and owners, and it is necessary to settle the material discussion, and it is good that those people can't find fault." ”

"That's what my sister said." Empress Dowager Cixi said, the two sisters looked at each other and nodded tacitly.

As for the "storm of defense" that impeached Lin Yizhe, who is the mastermind behind it, and what is the purpose of all this, their sisters are actually very clear!

The Empress Dowager Cixi immediately turned around and said, "Liu Chengyin, go and invite the sixth master to come over." ”

"Huh!"

Three days later, Kenryōji Temple.

This morning, Ding Baozhen got up very early, only used a few pastries, and then went into the palace to hand over the sign.

The last time he failed to "force the palace" (his behavior was forced in the eyes of the two palaces, but he didn't realize it) was successful, Ding Baozhen did not give up, and today, he decided to enter the palace again to meet and ask the queen mother of the two palaces for an explanation in person.

Although he knew that Lin Yizhe sent an envoy to Europe to claim back the national treasures hidden in the Old Summer Palace, which was very appreciated by the Empress Dowager Cixi.

For the Empress Dowager Cixi, he didn't pay attention to it.

That time, taking advantage of the Empress Dowager Cixi's illness, he was ordered by the Empress Dowager Ci'an, Prince Gong and Emperor Tongzhi to kill the Empress Dowager Cixi's confidant eunuch An Dehai, and afterwards he was ready to wait for the Empress Dowager Cixi's revenge, but to his surprise, the Empress Dowager Cixi did not make the slightest move.

From that day on, he despised the Empress Dowager Cixi.

The reason why he dared to go to the court this time was that the confidence in his heart came from Zuo Zongtang, and the "inside" came from the Empress Dowager Ci'an, Emperor Tongzhi and Prince Gong!

He wishfully believed that in this "downfall" incident, the Empress Dowager Ci'an, Emperor Tongzhi and Prince Gong, who had had a "good cooperation", would properly stand on his side, but what he didn't expect was that in the last meeting, the Empress Dowager Ci'an and the Tongzhi Emperor were silent.

Ding Baozhen believes that the reason why this is the case must be that the Empress Dowager Cixi has done their work, so this time, he is determined to directly target the Empress Dowager Cixi!

The last time An Dehai was killed by himself, the Empress Dowager Cixi didn't dare to do anything to herself, and this time it must be the same!

Soon, the eunuch in the palace came out to deliver the decree and ordered Ding Baozhen to meet him. Ding Baozhen tidied up his clothes and followed the eunuch to the Heart Cultivation Palace.

As soon as he entered the main hall, Ding Baozhen noticed that the dragon seat of Emperor Tongzhi was empty.

As last time, Ding Baozhen stepped forward to salute the Empress Dowager of the two palaces, and then the Empress Dowager Cixi gave him a flat body. Unlike last time, after Ding Baozhen got up, the Empress Dowager Cixi ordered someone to show him a seat.

After Ding Baozhen sat down, the Empress Dowager Cixi was silent for a while, and then said to Ding Baozhen: "Ding Futai is still here for Lin Yizhe's business?" ”

"Back to the Queen Mother, the minister is here for this matter." Ding Baozhen bowed and replied, "I don't know if the Queen Mother and the Emperor have a holy judgment?" ”

"This is Lin Yizhe's self-invited excerpt for his aunt's system, and he only arrived yesterday." The Empress Dowager Cixi said and nodded at Liu Chengyin, and Liu Chengyin stepped forward and sent Lin Yizhe's fold to Ding Baozhen.

Hearing the Empress Dowager Cixi say that Lin Yizhe asked for the system, Ding Baozhen's eyes widened in surprise, and he almost wondered if he had heard it wrong, so he was stunned there, and when Liu Chengyin sent the fold to him, he came back to his senses and quickly took the fold and looked at it.

After reading the excerpt, he was sure that Lin Yizhe really asked to guard for his aunt.

"Lin Yizhe has already asked for the system, Ding Futai should be satisfied now, right?" The Empress Dowager Cixi looked at Ding Baozhen, her face was still gentle, but there was impatience in her words.

"The minister thinks that it is not enough to just keep the system!" Ding Baozhen threw Lin Yizhe's fold back to Liu Chengyin, got up and came to the front of the steps, and knelt down.

"Lin Yizhe not only needs to be abided by, but also be a concubine!" Ding Baozhen said loudly.

"Concubine? But why? The Empress Dowager Cixi was surprised, "Lin Yizhe has already explained before that marrying a girl is for the sake of the imperial court, and he was ordered by his uncle Shen Baozhen to be happy for his sick aunt, but why should he take a break?" Do you have to be like this, can you say that you have a grudge against Lin Yizhe? ”

"The minister and Lin Yizhe have no personal grudges, the minister is for the righteousness of the world! No matter what the reason for Lin Yizhe, marrying a girl is to change summer with Yi! This woman has to take a break! Ding Baozhen said loudly, "Lin Yizhe should be a retired daughter to thank the world!" ”

What Ding Baozhen said is actually good, he himself has no personal grudges with Lin Yizhe. He chased Lin Yizhe so fiercely this time, and he wanted to get rid of him quickly, because Ding Baozhen was a staunch defender of the old order, and Lin Yizhe was precisely the destroyer of the old order in his opinion!

The conflict between the two is actually the embodiment of the struggle between the old and the new order!

As a staunch defender of traditional moral culture and the old order, Ding Baozhen opposes all those who undermine the existing order. And he dared to ask Prince Gong and Empress Dowager Ci'an and Emperor Tongzhi to execute the arrogant and ostentatious eunuch An Dehai by the pretext of the order, one of the main reasons is that An Dehai, who was arrogant and arrogant because of his pampering, destroyed the ancestral system of the imperial court "internal supervisors are not allowed to leave the imperial city privately", and he was also the destroyer of the old order!

And Lin Yizhe's previous series of behaviors, such as "fornicating with the law chief", "clever tricks", "advocating Western studies to disrupt the holy religion", etc., are a hundred times more hateful than An Dehai!

He demanded the dismissal of Lin Yizhe in a fierce way of "forcing the palace" twice in succession, which was also to maintain the traditional order in his mind!

In the minds of Ding Baozhen and many Qingliu, the old order of Chinese tradition, which has lasted for thousands of years, is the most ideal! It was flawless!

And now the country is not prosperous, and it is repeatedly bullied by Western countries, not because there is something wrong with the old order, but because the world is treacherous and treacherous, and there is no real practice of abiding by the perfect system left by these ancestors in accordance with the teachings of the saints!

In Ding Baozhen's view, Lin Yizhe was also born as a scholar and read the books of sages, but instead of abiding by the old traditional order, he even destroyed the "ideal country" in the hearts of these traditional Chinese scholars and doctors, and became a rebellion against the old order. That's why he is an enemy of Lin Yizhe everywhere, because he can't tolerate the existence of an order breaker like Lin Yizhe!

But now, in a hurry, he is destined to pay the price for his recklessness!

"Ding Baozhen! You're so presumptuous! The Empress Dowager Cixi got up angrily, "Do you want to be Sushun?" ”

"Don't dare!" Ding Baozhen said proudly, "The minister is a traitor for the country!" What is maintained is the discipline of the imperial court! Huayi's great defense! This is the foundation of the Qing Dynasty, and the minister has to fight for it! I hope that the Queen Mother will be fulfilled! ”

The Empress Dowager Cixi was so angry that she trembled all over, pointed at Ding Baozhen with her halberd, and said angrily: "You roar in the palace, and you have no king, this is also maintaining the discipline of the imperial court?" ”

Ding Baozhen bowed to the ground and said: "The minister speaks with such a loud voice, he was born like this, he can't change it!" If the queen mother wants to cure the sins of the ministers, the ministers are willing to accept it! It's just that Lin Yizhe is a small courtier, and he still hopes that the queen mother will abandon it, if not, let it destroy the summer, and the Qing Dynasty will die at the hands of this generation! ”

"Shut up! How dare you curse the court! Do you want to punish the Nine Clans? The Empress Dowager Cixi was furious, she stared at Ding Baozhen who was prostrate on the ground, and a pair of phoenix eyes seemed to be about to erupt fire.

Ding Baozhen was taken aback, he realized that his last sentence just now was a bit excessive, but now he couldn't take it back, and he couldn't help but regret it secretly in his heart.

"That's it! My sister didn't get angry, sat down and talked. Seeing that the Empress Dowager Cixi was very angry, the Empress Dowager Ci'an was worried that she would be angry and hurt her body, so she stepped forward and grabbed her arm and gave her a look.

The Empress Dowager Cixi glared at Ding Baozhen, who was kneeling down hatefully, and the Empress Dowager Ci'an returned to their seats and sat down, and the Empress Dowager Ci'an said calmly: "Lin Yizhe's matter of keeping the system is so decided. Ding Futai doesn't need to say much. As for whether Lin Yizhe is a concubine, he should be consulted himself, and then he will be dealt with. ”

Hearing that the Empress Dowager Ci'an had made a decision on the matter and did not explicitly order Lin Yizhe to take a concubine, Ding Baozhen was extremely dissatisfied, he got up and wanted to argue again, but the Empress Dowager Ci'an said: "Let's stop here today." Ding Futai left Beijing on the same day and returned to Shandong, so as not to stay in the capital for a long time and delay the political affairs of the province. ”

Hearing the words of the Empress Dowager Ci'an, Ding Baozhen was secretly shocked in his heart, and hurriedly said: "The minister's decree!" ”

Without waiting for him to get up, the Empress Dowager Cixi and the Empress Dowager Ci'an both got up, and did not look at him again, but left the main hall with the support of the eunuchs and went on their own.

"Ding Futai, please come here." The eunuch who was in charge of leading the way glanced at him with a smile and said to him.

Ding Baozhen got up slowly, because he had been kneeling for a long time, his legs were a little sore, and as soon as he took a step, he stumbled.

But the eunuch who led the way ignored him and walked straight forward. Ding Baozhen's heart was churning with anger, and he secretly scolded in his heart, "Emasculation!" Trying to move his footsteps, he followed him.

Ding Baozhen's stubborn figure has brought the curtain down on this "defensive storm".

Behind the impeachment turmoil in 1873 was the ancient ideological inertia of the Qing Empire!

Because Ding Baozhen is not alone!

In such a stubborn era, it is never as simple as the so-called "a handful of diehards". Rather, it is the choice of a large group of people who are very representative. In the course of China's history in the future, this point will continue to be confirmed very clearly.

In this ancient land of China, there are still too many such people.

Lin Yizhe's journey through is still full of thorns.