Britain has already given Japan a free loan, and it is useless to wrestle with Japan's payment for shipbuilding. The only thing that can be done now is to use the "Treaty of Tientsin" to impose sanctions on Japan, and resolutely not allow Japan to obtain these two battleships.

For those old ladies in the imperial court, in addition to greedy for money and walking birds, there are few who can really look out, and Liu Jun, who is not at ease, can only ask Zhong Lin to send a telegram to Li Hongzhang immediately, hoping that he can persuade the court to solve this matter.

Tianjin Governor's Mansion, although the autumn breeze is bleak and masculine and bright, Li Hongzhang in the study frowned, looking at the yellow leaves of the falling cypress trees outside the window in a daze.

"Strange, why did Japan enter Beijing?" Li Hongzhang pondered for a long time before muttering to himself.

Just yesterday, he approved the official document of the Japanese minister entering Beijing, and three days ago, the Japanese minister wrote a letter, saying that he would enter the capital to pay tribute, for this kind of thing, Li Hongzhang did not dare to stop it, so he had to approve the Japanese official document, but the problem that he has not been able to understand is that Japan is neither a subject country of the Great Qing Dynasty, nor does it have a relationship of submission, and this sudden thought of paying tribute is definitely not good news.

Even if he knew in his heart that this was a conspiracy, Li Hongzhang was helpless.

The relationship between the imperial court and itself has now been long-cherished, and if he blocks Japan from entering the capital at this time, then the imperial court will definitely think that it is deliberately opposing the imperial court.

For the imperial court, although Li Hongchang has lost hope, there is still a little bit of luck in his heart, so the imperial court is just a momentary confusion.

Although he had already told Yang Shixiang that he had lost confidence in the imperial court and asked the Zhili area to follow the imperial court in the future, he still held on to a glimmer of hope and did not give up completely.

Letting go of the doubts about Japan in his heart, Li Hongzhang turned around and wanted to go to the courtyard for a walk, but before he could get out of the study, he saw Yang Shixiang walking in with a telegram in his hand.

"My lord, Lushun is urgent."

It was Lushun's urgent telegram again, and after Li Hongzhang frowned, he took the telegram from Yang Shixiang's hand.

"I'm afraid, it's too late." After reading the telegram, Li Hongzhang's face suddenly turned pale, and he looked at the telegram in his hand in surprise, he finally understood that the purpose of Japan's entry into the capital was not to pay tribute, but to get the imperial court to agree that Japan would return the two battleships to Japan as soon as possible.

Yang Shixiang also understood, and stepped forward: "My lord, do you want to send someone to kill him immediately?" ”

Li Hongzhang shook his head weakly.

Since Japan intends to hide itself, it proves that they have been prepared for a long time, and at this time they are sending people to kill, I am afraid that it is already too late, at this time, I am afraid that the Japanese have already arrived at the Prime Minister's Yamen to meet Yi.

Now, everything is in vain? Okay, yes? Refusal, not good? Agree.

Beijing City, Prince Gong's Mansion, Yi? With a sad face, he looked at the official document on his desk and couldn't decide for a long time, this official document was sent by the Japanese minister, and the meaning of it was very simple, that is, he hoped that the Great Qing Kingdom would agree that Japan would revise some of the contents of the "Tianjin Treaty" while the battleships ordered by the British were returned.

The modification mentioned by Japan is mainly a change in the development of the Japanese Combined Fleet, that is, there is no restriction on the tonnage of the Japanese Navy, and Japan's remuneration is to give the Qing Kingdom one million taels of silver every year.

Weasels give New Year's greetings to chickens, what kind of intentions can they press, Yi? I know too well in my heart that once I agree, then there will be a hidden danger next to the Great Qing Kingdom again.

Even so, he was still a little moved, of course, this is top secret, the Japanese minister and Yi? The top secret of the conversation, that is, once the imperial court uses troops against Liu Jun at that time, Japan will assist the Qing Dynasty and jointly exterminate Liu Jun, and Japan's request seems very simple, only North Korea is needed.

It's a huge cake. Japan and themselves jointly take Liu Jun, then Japan only gained Korea, and did not endanger the territory of its own country.

Liu Jun is now the enemy of the Aixin Jueluo family, and even the enemy of the entire Eight Banners, as long as he exists, the Eight Banners will live in fear for many years, and he will always worry that Liu Jun will raise troops to go south.

Walking back and forth, eh? I still don't know what to do, and I've been thinking about it for a long time. I think it's better to ask Cixi's opinion, after all, the final decision on this matter is Cixi, not him.

After asking the housekeeper to prepare the sedan chair, Yi? He changed into court clothes again, picked up the official document handed over by Japan, entered the sedan chair, and went to the Forbidden City to meet Cixi.

When she came to the Forbidden City, Cixi obviously hadn't rested yet, because Li Lianying was still waiting outside.

Li Lianying saw the lantern of Prince Gong's mansion from afar, and trotted up with a smiling face: "The prince is here to see Lafayette, right?" ”

Abundant? nodded: "Yes, I will also report to Mr. Li." ”

Li Lianying knows the current Yi? It's not what it used to be, inside and outside the court, they have to rely on him for support, and smiled slightly: "Lord, Lafayette once told me to wait, if it's a prince, you can go in directly, you don't need to report." ”

Abundant? Smiling slightly, he asked his entourage to hand Li Lianying a large silver ticket, then tidied up his clothes and walked into Chuxiu Palace.

In Chuxiu Palace, when Cixi saw it, was Yi? Come in, you know? And the thing, after all, there is no urgency, Yi? It is impossible to come to yourself at night.

Signal to let the palace maid give Yi? Bring the chair, see Yi? After sitting down, Cixi asked lightly: "What is the matter with the prince?" ”

Abundant? I couldn't say more, stood up, handed the document written by the Japanese minister to Li Lianying, and said: "The Japanese minister has come to ask for permission for Japan to take back the two ironclad ships purchased in Britain and request for a revision of the Treaty of Tianjin"

Japan, Cixi frowned, took the document from Li Lianying's hand, looked through it, closed it lightly, put it aside, and took a faint look at Yi who was sitting below. "What do you mean, Prince?" ”

"The minions think that they can agree to Japan to take back the two ironclad ships, but they cannot modify the Treaty of Tianjin." Abundant? After that, start expressing your opinion.

In his view, agreeing to Japan is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger, and after Japan gets these two warships, it will certainly become a great trouble for the imperial court in the future, and now that the imperial court has just improved, if it encourages Japan, it will be a disaster.

Abundant? Smart, he didn't say what Japan said to himself at noon, that is, to unite to eliminate Liu Jun.

Abundant? Although I always want Liu Jun to disappear, I know that the imperial court needs Liu Jun, without Liu Jun, in the past two years, the imperial court will not have a quiet development, without Liu Jun, Russia will take risks, and the Western powers will demand greater benefits here in the imperial court, it is precisely because Liu Jun has hundreds of thousands of troops and Beiyang naval divisions in Liaodong that these countries that are ready to move are deterred, and at the same time, he also knows very well that Liu Jun is not a good thing if there is no one to contain him.

Cixi listened lightly? After bowing his head and pondering for a while: "Just do it with your will." ”

Although Cixi is a woman, she has been in the political arena for decades, and she understands the truth of insulting her lips and teeth, and she makes Japan think that development, which is a bad thing, so that Japan has no navy, then Liu Jun has no one to contain, and he will not be able to fight quietly and train troops to fight against Liu Jun.

In the office of the Lushun Headquarters, Zhong Lin looked at Liu Jun who was sitting on the chair with a puzzled expression, waiting for Liu Jun's answer, just now, he asked a question, that is, what would Liaodong do if the imperial court promised Japan to take back the two battleships. Will it immediately attack the imperial court.

For this, Liu Jun has already considered it in his heart, and he has already received the news, that is, the purpose of Japan's trip to Beijing.

For this, Liu Jun had two preparations, that is, the imperial court promised Japan to receive two battleships and did not agree to revise the "Tianjin Treaty", and he would not act against the imperial court. However, once the imperial court agrees with both sides. Then he will not wait, but will immediately mobilize troops to attack the imperial court, after all, there is no need for the government to keep the tiger and not know the country, and he will not let him exist.

Raising his eyes and looking at Zhong Lin standing beside him, Liu Jun lowered his head and pondered: "Let's make a decision after waiting for news from Beijing." ”