The soldiers recruited in the first phase of the new army have all arrived in the capital one after another. But I really didn't think that in just a few months, there were more than 20,000 qualified soldiers selected from all over the country. Although the selection requirements are relatively high, although it has been repeatedly stated that when the emperor's soldiers are to be killed on the battlefield at any time, although it has been repeatedly emphasized that leaving this time may mean that they will never be able to return to their hometown alive. However, there were still so many people who signed up and passed the selection. Not for anything else, just for eating, drinking, and wearing, and two taels of silver per month. This reason is sufficient. Besides, if you die, you will have a pension of ten taels, maybe you will become an official if you don't die. Who will tell what will happen in the future? In this way, a group of peasants put down their hoes and took up their burdens.

As a result, the place of the military school is already significantly smaller. Tents are now set up every night, and all of them are dismantled during the day so as not to affect training. In the evening, it was all set up again. In this way, this group of peasants who had just put down their hoes watched the performances of the former military academy students every day. Most of the young people also participated, and many of them had better training results than the former cadets. It's a windfall. But that's not the way to go. After discussion, we arrived at Cining Palace that night.

In the Cining Palace at night, Cixi had finished dinner and was talking to Li Lianying. Outside came to report: The emperor has arrived.

After reviewing the etiquette, Guangxu bluntly stated the main purpose of coming to Cining Palace this time: the recruitment of the new army has ended, and the recruits who have arrived in Beijing have entered the military academy for temporary residence, and the number of more than 17,000 people is enough. Nearly 2,000 others are still on their way to Beijing. The purpose of the establishment of the military academy is to train military command talents for the army, so at the beginning of the construction, when planning, only the scale of accommodating 1,000 people was prepared, and this is still the need for Guangxu to consider future development. After all, 300 commanders and staff officers above the company level needed for the three divisions were sufficient.

"So the military school is too small, and we need to choose another new barracks. After Ouyang Zhenhua and the others discussed, they gave their sons a lesson and asked their father to give instructions. Guangxu handed over the recital.

Guangxu, who thought that he would be satisfied if he could recruit 35,000 soldiers, was surprised that he had recruited nearly 20,000 qualified soldiers at once this time. The recruitment requirements are strict, even the three chief officers Duan, Feng, and Wang, who are often in the military, are difficult to complete for the first time, and the first-time pass rate of the long-trained Beiyang Martial Arts School is only seventy percent. For this reason, Guangxu sighed: The Qing Dynasty has been weak for a hundred years, but the country's 5,000-year-old heritage is still alive. What Guangxu didn't know was that the detailed publication of the recruitment in the "Shi Ji Bao" made countless poor people start their own practice for the rich salary in the military camp.

Cixi didn't take the fold handed over by Guangxu, but just said lightly: "Where does the emperor like it." ”

"Fengtai Battalion."

Fengtai camp? Cixi was a little surprised when she heard this, and turned her head to look at Guangxu. There are three large camps around the capital in a triangular shape to protect the security of the capital, among which the Fengtai camp is the most important. Therefore, the Fengtai camp is naturally familiar with Cixi, an important surname for the defense of the capital. Now that Guangxu proposed to use the Fengtai camp as the camp of the new army, how could Cixi be indifferent. In her heart, Cixi disagreed. Fengtai is too close to the capital, and the Eight Banners cannot be used, Cixi understands that the Huai army is far away in Tianjin, but if something happens, it will be too late.

Cixi has long known about the military academy, although these 20,000 people keep the military academy at the moment, the military academy is so big, and they will always have to find a place to settle down in the future. Cixi had already chosen a place in her heart, that is, the capital was in the middle of Tianjin, a place called Xiaozhan, no matter what happened to the emperor in the future, there were three large camps on this side of the capital, and there were Huai troops behind it. This is the best place, and now the emperor has grown up. It's just that the emperor has been asking for a decree in the future, and Cixi has never said it. Unable to say it explicitly, Cixi asked, "What about the others?" ”

According to Ouyang Zhenhua's performance, in addition to the Fengtai camp, the other two camps in the suburbs of Beijing are slightly deficient in terms of terrain and size. Moreover, the facilities of the Fengtai camp are also relatively perfect, and the silver taels used to rebuild the new army camp on the basis of the Fengtai camp are also the least. ”

Cixi smiled faintly, thinking that your emperor only saw the three camps on the outskirts of Beijing. was about to bring out the small station, but Guangxu still didn't stop as if there was no one else.

Erchen also thought about simply putting the new army outside the Guan, which was more conducive to military training due to the sparse population outside the Guan. Keerchen thought about it, and the new army was far away from the pass, regardless of whether it would disturb the place. Once there is no one to supervise it, the new army is slacking off from top to bottom, and I am afraid that it will repeat itself like a green battalion, then the words of the Qing court to build a strong army will not be like a joke, which will make the subjects of the world laugh, and the majesty of the court will not exist. So Erchen thought that if his father thought that the Fengtai camp was inappropriate, Erchen would simply expand the military academy. Put the new army in the spot, and let the ministers of the DPRK and China supervise it diligently. To show the determination of my court. What does Daddy think? ”

Cixi raised her eyebrows, you have thought about it and asked the mourning family what to do. Cixi wanted to take it and take a closer look, but she didn't think that Guangxu had already put it away. I think it's similar to what Guangxu said, so don't read it. I'm afraid it's hard to talk about this small station. Didn't the emperor say that if you go away, you are afraid of repeating it, like the green camp? Although Fengtai is a foot away from the capital, the military academy is right under the nose, and Fengtai is Fengtai.

"The emperor thinks it is appropriate for this senior member of the court to supervise it?"

"Naturally, it is Prince Shiduo, he is the foreman and minister of military aircraft, so he is naturally responsible."

Guangxu saw that Cixi nodded in agreement, and then said: "Most of the guns and ammunition used by the new army have arrived, and the last batch has also been shipped from Shanghai. In addition, Germany agreed to sell an ammunition production line to our country in the Qing Dynasty to meet the needs of our new army for peacetime training......"

Cixi waved her hand: "The mourning family knows." You are the emperor, and the emperor can make his own decisions about this new army, and there is no need to ask the mourning family anymore. ”

"Daddy, please see." Guangxu took an excerpt: "This is the excerpt on Prince Li, now the disaster relief in Shanxi has been basically completed, and most of the victims have been settled." Shiduo and his entourage will also return to Beijing in the near future. In addition to the grain allocated from various places, the imperial court only spent this amount on disaster relief. Guangxu stretched out five fingers.

"Spent five million taels?"

"No, it only cost 500,000 taels. The whole of the work of building the railway, Prince Li Shiduo is also a great contribution. Dear Daddy, please see. Guangxu opened the fold and handed it to Cixi.

At this time, the flood in Shanxi has passed, and the Yuelai Inn in Taiyuan Mansion.

Prince Li Shiduo raised his wine glass: "Lord Tang, Lord Cen." This time, the king was ordered by the emperor to provide disaster relief, and now he has done his best, thanks to the great assistance of the two adults. Come on, come on, this king respects the two adults with a cup. ”

"The prince is polite." Tang Shaoyi hurriedly stood up and picked up his wine glass: "This disaster relief, many affairs, all depend on the central dispatch of the prince. I just waited for the prince to run his feet, how dare I take credit. When it came to the prince, the hard work was somewhat reduced. When I wait for the juniors to toast the prince, a cup. ”

After Tang Shaoyi finished speaking, Cen Chunxuan filled the wine in the cup with him.

"Sit down, sit down." Prince Li Shiduo waved his hand: "This king is just doing his best to be loyal to the king and doing his best for the Qing Dynasty." The total amount of silver spent on this disaster relief was only more than 2 million taels, which was the lowest since the founding of the Qing Dynasty. And the imperial court only gave 500,000 taels of silver, and the extra part was all the credit of Lord Cen. ”

"I don't dare to take credit for my humble position. Before leaving, the emperor repeatedly instructed that the flood was unprecedented. The money and food that the imperial court used for disaster relief was already insufficient, but this was the life-saving money and food of the common people. Then there are officials who are in the middle of it, and the people cannot be relieved due to the disaster, and once there is chaos, I am afraid that it will be another Yang Hong rebellion. Foreigners have coveted my Daqing for a long time, and the external troubles have not been eliminated from regeneration and internal worries. At that time, I will have a century-old foundation of the Qing Dynasty, and I am afraid that it will be in danger. ”

"The emperor's words are true. If these foolish people are in chaos because of the disaster, once they are bewitched by those who have a heart, the consequences will be unimaginable. And these local officials are really not like it, because they are the governor of Shanxi. The victims of the disaster did not think of disaster relief methods, but did not care about the benefits of wantonly reaping the benefits, and ignored the country's social welfare. If it weren't for Lord Shum and found out, it would have become a big disaster. After the king returned to Beijing, he was set to be the excerpt of Lord Cen to ask for merit. ”

"I have thanked the prince for his grace in advance, and I invite the prince to drink this cup."

Sedor put down his glass and gently wiped the corners of his mouth. Thoughtfully asked: "There is something that makes this king puzzled by this disaster relief. This will be the United States and Germany foreigners who take the initiative to help us in disaster relief, you see that the foreigners' energy is more active than ours, and they are contributing money and food. I didn't expect to build such a railway and have this effect, Shaochuan, you have to talk carefully to this king, how did you come up with this move to repair the railway? ”

"Let the prince smile." Tang Shaoyi held up the wine glass with both hands: "Lord Wang, please." ”

After sorting out his thoughts a little, Tang Shaoyi said slowly: "This move to build the railway is actually not something that I came up with in my later life. As early as the emperor had just received the flood in Shanxi, he was worried about the lack of financial resources of the imperial court, so he had the idea of cashing in for work. The late birth was just a reminder to the emperor. The manpower required to build the railway was huge enough to accommodate the many victims. The emperor lured the United States and Germany to not only finance the construction of the railway, but also let the two countries compete with each other in order to recruit enough manpower. As Lord Li Zhongtang said, it is just to raze and regulate, and it also solves problems for my Qing Dynasty. ”

Shi Duo clenched his hands into fists and arched his hand towards the side of the capital: "The emperor is Shengming, since I am beyond the reach of my minions. If there are any more natural disasters in the Qing Dynasty in the future, we can do this law again. These foreigners are not yet flocking to it. ”

"The prince can't." Tang Shaoyi dissuaded repeatedly: "This method is originally to drink doves to quench thirst, but it can not be used again." The greed of foreigners is not enough to spit out elephants, and the ambition of wolves is obvious. The emperor promised the interests of Northeast China and Shandong in order to attract the United States and Germany to help in this disaster relief. But once the foreigners took root, they continued to suck the blood of my Qing Dynasty like locusts, and earned the silver of my Qing Dynasty. Wansheng thought that now the emperor is afraid that he is thinking of inviting these foreigners out again. ”

Shiduo laughed: "It's easy to please God, but it's hard to send God." This kind of major matter has its own emperor's decision, and the emperor's saint and my servants just obey the orders and do errands. Shaochuan is also a rare talent, no wonder the Queen Mother Lafayette also praises you. There are not many people who can go to the eyes of the Queen Mother Lafayette. ”

"This is not thanks to your blessing, the prince, you can only have this opportunity when you transfer your late life from North Korea back to the capital. The prince is like a late birth and rebirth of parents. Bow down to the late birth. After that, he prayed.

Shi Duo helped Tang Shaoyi up with both hands, and said with a smile: "What is Shaochuan doing. Transferring you back to this king is also by the emperor's order, so why bother. To the vacancy of the Shanxi Governor's Mansion this time, if Shaochuan is interested, this king will protect you as the Shanxi Governor's Office. ”

"I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you, Lord Wang. Growing up late, he was dealing with foreign affairs, and he didn't know anything about governing the local government. If the late life makes a mistake in office, it will not fall into the reputation of the prince. You can't afford to be late. ”

"Shaochuan is too modest." Shiduo still laughed: "Don't talk about political affairs, come and come, everyone drinks this cup together." ”

Pushing the cup and changing the lamp, everyone also has their own fun. The night was already dark, and in Cen Chunxuan's room, the old servant who was changing Cen Chunxuan's clothes was a little puzzled: "Master, now the post of Shanxi Governor is vacant, and Lord Tang is not willing to accept it." Why is the lord not subject to this position? ”

"You don't understand, the water in the imperial court is too deep. Where is this to let us take office, it is obvious that the Queen Mother saw that we were too close to the emperor and wanted to win us over. In the battle between the emperor and the queen, it is still unknown who will win or lose. We can still not participate in it. Otherwise, I don't even know how I drowned. ”

The old servant was even more puzzled: "The old man went to the Shanxi Governor's Office, didn't he just leave this court, the place where the emperor and queen were fighting?" ”

"You are wrong, my lord and I can gain a foothold between the emperor and the queen, it is precisely because of my lord that I have the name of 'official slaughter', and the two cannot be offended if they don't help each other. can easily navigate between the emperor and the queen. Now the officialdom [***], if the emperor wants to govern the officialdom, he will be inseparable from the 'official slaughter' of the master. If I go to the Shanxi Governor's Office, no matter the emperor or queen, I will be abandoned. Only by continuing to do a good job in this 'official slaughter' can we advance and retreat freely. Cen Chunxuan sighed: "Why did I fall to such a point?" Let's stop talking, let's rest early. ”

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