After the Summer Palace came back, the scenery was the same as before, but Xu Yifan, who was waiting for the introduction, had a very different mentality.

In this era, he is a figure that can never be bypassed, that is, in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, Cixi Duanyou Kang Yi Zhaoyu Zhuang Chengshou Gongqin Chongxi Empress Dowager.

Before the three seas, the weeping willows are still there, and the smoke waves are refreshing. Inside the longest corridor in Asia, palace maids and eunuchs shuttled endlessly. On the periphery, you can also see that there are places where construction is still underway. The Three Seas Project, seeing that it was almost finished, had doubled its investment.

Xu Yifan, under the guidance of the guards, didn't know how many portals he had crossed, and then he came to a large mansion in a daze. At the door of the house, there were three or two delicate little eunuchs standing there with their chests and bellies protruding. There were also a few guards at the door, looking at those guards, they were already the top of the second-class shrimp, but they were salivating and smiling beside those little eunuchs. looks like a flattering child.

Xu Yifan came all the way, first the horse and then the sedan chair, got off the sedan chair at the gate of the Summer Palace, and ran up and down the mountain with his clothes from Wanshou Mountain, Buddha Xiang Pavilion, and Paiyun Palace. I was so tired that my legs were weak and my heart was beating, so I calmed down and distinguished it. The atmosphere of the house in front of him is like that, but it is neither the Renshou Hall where the ministers met in the Summer Palace, nor the Cixi Pavilion Le Shou Hall. Where the hell have these guards taken them?

The guard who introduced him was originally a first-class shrimp, still wearing a red belt, and took Xu Yifan all the way over, with the corners of his mouth twitching. The arrogant appearance that I can't describe. looked at these little eunuchs, but immediately laughed like a flower, bent over and leaned over: "A few fathers-in-law! The Queen Mother's Xu Division, a few brothers have already brought it over, are a few fathers-in-law a little tired......

A little eunuch was knocking melon seeds, and he glanced at the guard with ignorance, and scolded with a smile: "Fuck you, are you doing it for me?" Are there any vain afflictions? ”

The guard retreated with a smile, and turned his face to Xu Yifan: "You are also a member of the department, and you don't know the rules of this bag?" Shall we do it for you? ”

Xu Yifan's face also changed, he came to Qingji, he has been dealing with him, and the officials who are older than him have also heard of his reputation, needless to say, the officials are younger than him. Everyone was polite and respectful at least on the face. I didn't expect to be humiliated by these eunuchs who smelled of urine!

Thinking about the fact that so many ministers with higher official positions than him came here to introduce them, it was the same experience. National events are regarded as child's play by these tiny people...... Here, you can smell the shroud! Even if I have read about these things in books, when I have experienced them myself, I still feel sad.

He took a breath, but the smile on his face didn't diminish in the slightest. Touching the inside of his sleeve, Lord Xu has always admired the education of the sage Luding Duke Wei, and he also carried a lot of silver tickets in his sleeve ready to smash people. Not to mention that this time I entered Beijing, I was going to sprinkle some money to make a good fate...... The pity is that they are all recruited in Nanyang, risking their lives!

He picked it out for a while, and when he took it out again, it was already five or six silver tickets of two hundred and fifty taels. According to the Qing example, the introduction of the door bag is such a scale. Handed it to the first-class shrimp guard, the guard took a look, counted the number of people, and happened to face the guard with him and the little eunuch at the door, and then looked at Siheng's end of the world, and immediately laughed: "Lord Xu, you know something!" ”

Those little eunuchs took the silver ticket, and their attitudes were suddenly different, and they all smiled and said, "Lord Xu, please!" The steward is waiting! ”

Xu Yifan was stunned: "Didn't you see Lafayette?" ”

A little eunuch sneered: "How can you see Lafayette without going through the general manager?" The prince can't be in charge of us! Lord Xu, meet our manager and drink a cup of tea, this heart of thank you tea is ready to be prepared. Although our manager has a good temper, but this rule is still a rule, isn't it? ”

Speaking of which, it's bad luck for money again. Xu Yifan has already given up and doesn't think about it, after meeting Cixi as soon as possible, see what tricks they are playing, and then go to North Korea quickly! In Yanjing City, from the moment you set foot in Shuiguan, there is only depression left!

didn't talk much at the moment, under the leadership of a few little eunuchs, he ran inside with his placket and went inside, crooked until he walked to the inner courtyard, his eyes looked at it, and there were people waiting everywhere shuttling back and forth. The furnishings of the court are all rich and graceful, and the guards stand straight at the entrances of each courtyard. Xu Yifan knew it in his heart, and the first thing he saw was the first favored eunuch under Cixi, known as the internal minister, in this strange era, as a eunuch, Li Lianying, who had a great influence on state affairs and Cixi, was the chief eunuch of Li Lianying!

When the little eunuch who led the way arrived at the entrance of the inner hall, he didn't dare to take a breath, bent down and walked to the door of the curtain, and made a silent gesture towards Xu Yifan, before he bent his waist and whispered inside: "Master Steward, Master Xu asks to see ......."

Xu Yifan stood there, looking at his nose and his nose at his heart. Thinking in my heart, this manager Li didn't know if he was lying high or what he was doing. No matter how arrogant it is, anyway, Lao Tzu endured it, and the overall situation of going to North Korea cannot be corrupted!

Unexpectedly, the little eunuch's gentle report fell, and the curtain was lifted. A figure wearing a coral flowering crown, dressed in the chief eunuch's uniform, of medium stature, with a dark face and beard, and drooping eyes, had walked out. The little eunuch fell to his knees with a plop, and when the character's eyes swept away, he saw Xu Yifan standing there, and he just smiled and greeted: "Lord Xu, please, sit inside!" ”

This is Li Lianying?

Seeing that Li Lianying was still smiling, she lifted the curtain for him, and stretched out her hand to make a gesture of being a guest. This powerful eunuch is so approachable at this time!

Xu Yifan thought about it, and he had to bow down when he hit the horseshoe sleeve. Li Lianying walked over quickly and grabbed him. The eunuch's hands were wet and cold, Xu Yifan wanted to shake it, but he didn't dare.

"What we admire are heroes, Guan Erye, and Yue Shaobao. Isn't Lord Xu also a good man in my country? The salute is exempt, and you will kowtow in front of Lafayette later, so we don't need it here, you kowtow again, do you want me to kowtow back? ”

Xu Yifan just smiled bitterly: "Don't dare, don't dare!" ”

Saying that, Li Lianying let Xu Yifan into his inner hall, and the little eunuch who introduced him saw Li Lianying being so polite to Xu Yifan, and his face turned white with fright when he stood next to him.

When the two entered the house, Li Lianying was about to pull the kang. Xu Yifan refused to die this time, and in the end, Li Lianying sat on the kang, Xu Yifan dipped a little butt in the chair opposite, and waited for Li Lianying to speak with his hands and face raised.

The footsteps sounded softly, but it was a little palace maid who sent two fragrant teas, and the green tea leaves rose and fell in the cups, exuding a faint fragrance.

Li Lianying fiddled with the tea cup and said with a smile: "Lord Xu, Lafayette has taken care of your training in North Korea this time. When you reply, pay more attention, we don't understand state affairs, this is just a vain instruction. ”

Xu Yifan just responded: "Tsk!" "No more respectful.

Li Lianying seemed to be very satisfied with Xu Yifan's attitude, and her smile did not decrease: "Now that Lafayette has returned to politics and is honored, he doesn't care about state affairs, anyway, let them do it." But this Praetorian Guard, but the banner man is not at all! Even if Lafayette doesn't hang the curtains, he is still a flag man! So it's a little more concerning, and it's also doing your best. We all know those ministers of the military aircraft, you said things in the last excerpt, they pushed back and forth, who dares to be responsible? All of them are oil-soaked loaches, they can only meet their heads, and they can't speak. You are in Korea with thousands of soldiers, you have to recruit and train, and you have to deal with the foreigners of the vassal countries, and if you hand over anything to them, it will be over. What about Lafayette, I'm going to take care of it a little more, what do you have in the future, what is the matter, just seal the box and hand it over to me, I'll pass it on to Lafayette, okay? Our own brothers, let's not talk about the two families. ”

Xu Yifan sneered in his heart, this is really a scene that can't be avoided during the trip to the capital! With dozens of lonely troops, he can shock Surabaya and subdue foreigners in the extreme edge of the South Seas. Everyone thinks that he is an outstanding military and foreign talent, and those who originally had no hope for the Praetorian Guard also began to feel that in his hands, they might be able to train it. This is the unseen force in decades, and the bannermen have rebuilt it! Guangxu and Cixi, of course, both want to grasp it in their hands, where are they on the side?

His mind was racing, but his mouth was generous: "What does the chief say?" The lower officials should respect Lafayette's orders, and whatever Lafayette says, the lower officials will do. No two words! When I returned to Beijing this time, the official didn't even go to the military plane to worship, took the customs defense, and immediately went on the road! ”

Li Lianying smiled all over her face, stood up from the kang and patted him on the shoulder: "Good boy, wait for the promotion and make a fortune!" Let's go, let's take you to Lafayette! ”

Xu Yifan also stood up with a smile, and when his hand was taken out of his sleeve, it was already a 10,000 taels of leading tickets: "Mr. Xie is in charge of tea......"

Li Lianying's face was stiff, and she forced him back: "My brother, are you still making trouble?" Brought here to see you this time, it is also a few fewer doors, so that you can send fewer door bags, we can't abolish the rules in the palace, but we don't want it ourselves, can you still force it? …… Someone! ”

As soon as the words fell, a little eunuch had already walked in quickly, waiting with his head bowed and shoulders down. Li Lianying raised her voice and ordered: "In the future, Lord Xu's subordinates will not be able to come to us to deliver the concert box, and they are not allowed to ask people for doors and bags all the way, and they will see them whenever they go, there should be a common practice, we will supply you!" ”

Hearing the little eunuch chirp and leave, Xu Yifan smiled lightly and stuffed the silver ticket back into his sleeve. If they want to pay for it, let them do it......

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The place where Cixi summoned Xu Yifan was very formally placed in the Renshou Palace. Li Lianying brought him all the way over, and also used the courtesy of the shoulder to get off the sedan chair at the gate of Renshou Palace, and there were already many guards and eunuchs at the entrance of the palace. They all stood with their backs bowed, looking solemn.

The spring sun shines from the shade of the trees, shining on the two stones of pigs and monkeys at the entrance of the palace, and the light and shadow are mottled.

Li Lianying entered the pass first, leaving Xu Yifan to stand there with his bow. Xu Yifan relaxed, just looked at the two stones at the entrance of the hall, a pig and a monkey. Let Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong guard the door, the level of this old lady who is in power can also be imagined. None of the guards and eunuchs dared to speak, they all looked at Xu Yifan secretly with their eyes, and Xu Yifan just smiled.

While waiting for Cixi to receive him, he didn't have the slightest nervousness. He can control all the scheming of these people. The level of these people is nothing more than that, since they are no longer suitable for this era, then what is there to fear them? The royal majesty was nothing more than a joke for him.

Maybe next time I go back to the capital, I won't have to look at anyone's face.

In the Renshou Palace, there was a sudden summoning voice, one after another: "Chuan Qin Mission, the rank of political envoy, the assistant of the Praetorian Guard, the Minister of Military Training, Xu Yifan is here!" ”

Xu Yifan straightened his clothes and stepped into the Renshou Palace. As soon as he entered the empty hall where the light was not very good, he blinked vigorously to adjust to the light inside. When I recovered, I saw an old lady sitting on the throne of Sumeru, with a face like a full moon and a thick palace powder on her face, sitting there, full of pearls and emeralds, and her bearing was serene. Who else could it be but Cixi Lafayette?

Next to her lower head, there was actually sitting Emperor Guangxu, who had a one-sided edge, a bloodless face, and was as thin as a bean sprout! He didn't wear court clothes, only a small [***] hat with a red hat knot, and his eyes just flickered at the old man Cixi who was high up.

Cixi's gaze came over and met Xu Yifan's. I don't know why, I just feel cold.

This pair of mother and son files are summoned together, and their face is not small!

The thought secretly turned, and Xu Yifan was already dancing and worshiping: "Minister Xu Yifan, knock on the Holy Mother and Queen Mother Lafayette, the emperor is blessed with Jin'an!" ”

Bang bang bang three kneels and nine knocks, Xu Yifan is really ruthless, he really hit his head to the ground!

Lao Tzu is still worshipping the dead!

After the worship, he lay on the ground and did not dare to move. After a long while, I heard Cixi's voice: "Get up...... It's so hard to bump into it, it's no wonder it's pitiful. You are a hero, we can't succumb to the heroes, so let's sit down. ”

Xu Yifan shouted thank you again, got up and sat down in the seat next to him, and sat down with a little buttocks. looked at it and touched Guangxu, but the emperor quietly turned over.

Cixi's attitude seemed to be gossiping: "The envoy of Nanyang, can you do it easily?" ”

Xu Yifan bowed down and replied, no matter how respectful he was: "Thanks to Lafayette and the emperor Hongfu, although there was a Surabaya cannon case, it was quite handy, and overseas righteous people enthusiastically donated." In addition to the 1 million taels of funds for the establishment of the Praetorian Guard, everyone also reported 500,000 taels of silver for the Lafayette Longevity Ceremony, and the ministers brought them with them. Lafayette and the emperor's grace spread overseas, and the righteous people trickle down to serve their hearts, and hope that Lafayette and the emperor will take pity on them. ”

Li Lianying stood behind Cixi and quietly picked up Brother Da Mu with Xu Yifan, so it was right! This Xu Yifan is really an official!

Cixi smiled and looked at Guangxu: "This kid is not very old, can he really do things?" The salary was also raised for him, and he also taught the foreigners a lesson, you look at those military planes, there are not many comparisons, right? Your Majesty, how much money can the household department allocate for our flag people to train their troops? ”

Guangxu twisted his body uneasily, and said: "Xu Si is extremely capable, as for the salary of the Praetorian Guard's training, Beiyang Li Hongzhang has already agreed, and the salary of 3,000 people in advance will be paid by them first." The Praetorian Guard will be expanded again, and the household department will raise more money......"

Cixi sneered and chuckled: "Your Majesty, I didn't say you, what can those people in the military plane discuss?" The Praetorian Guard is the foundation of our bannermen's training! is the first 3,000 people, who are paid by Li Hongzhang, is there any reason for this? This cannot be delayed! If it weren't for the fact that this kid had raised one million from Nanyang, would the military plane be ready to catch the blind? At the beginning, it was said that they were the ones who were the most energetic in training the Praetorian Guards, and it was they who did their best to touch this child. Pick a prince to be the minister of military training, all of them are pushed, I am honored, you can't bother me, right? ”

Guangxu just lowered his head: "Lafayette is right." ”

Cixi waved her hand lightly: "The fundamental matter of the flag people, I don't think we can let Beiyang manage it, nor can we let the military aircraft manage it." Let's take care of it ourselves! Tianjin Customs, allocate some silver every year, you can't watch them starving, Li Hongzhang, you can't say it, I'll fight with him in the ring. What do you see? ”

Guangxu is still the old saying: "Lafayette is ......"

Cixi smiled, turned her head and looked at Xu Yifan, who was sitting straight, and said in a gentle voice: "That's it, in the future, I will solve the salary of the Praetorian Guard for you, and then I will pick a good boss for you, and you will do all the work of the messengers...... As for the money that those overseas volunteers have served...... Lianying, our Sanhai Dagong, is there still a shortage of silver? ”

Li Lianying sighed: "If you go back to Lafayette, Sanhai probably won't lack these 500,000 taels." ”

Cixi nodded: "Overseas righteous people, see what title you can reward them, you Nanyang Xuanfu minister's title, I don't need to solve it, you can do this." 500,000 taels, I will collect it, and then use it as domestic currency and allocate it to the Praetorian Guard for military training...... Xu Yifan, how many soldiers are you going to train? ”

Xu Yifan left his seat and knelt down again: "Thank you Lafayette and the emperor's grace!" Overseas righteous people, also grateful to Dade! The minister was going to train 20,000 soldiers first, and immediately began to recruit soldiers into the camp. As for the generals, one is to practice by themselves, and the other is to send to the imperial court, and they must train a tiger and wolf division for the imperial court! ”

"Twenty thousand?" Cixi and Guangxu were surprised, how much do 20,000 soldiers get a year! For Cixi, half of her efforts were actually directed at Guangxu. As long as her old lady is still there, Guangxu will not be allowed to get involved! As for what the Praetorian Guards really trained, to be honest, the old lady really didn't care. If she has a little impression of modern military affairs, it is really difficult for her. A Praetorian Guard in her hands, which can divide the power of Beiyang and deter Guangxu by the way, is what she wants.

But Xu Yifan opened his mouth and said that 20,000 soldiers should be trained!

Xu Yifan knelt on the ground and said: "Back to Lafayette and the emperor, the role of these 20,000 soldiers is to defend the land of Longxing in the Qing Dynasty, and live in a beautiful place separately from the Beiyang Huai Army, and cross-guard the key points of Dagukou." He said that the country now has six divisions and 80,000 strong soldiers trained by foreigners, and it is eyeing the DPRK. In North Korea and Kisuke, we can only fight more than 100 battalions and 50,000 soldiers. In the north, there are 40,000 or 50,000 Far Eastern soldiers of the Rakshasa Kingdom, which is also the place where we covet Longxing. Dagukou is the gateway of Tianjin and Beijing! The minister trained 20,000 soldiers first, which is already very few. But as long as the minister can practice it, he will defend my Daqing Portal to the death! And it's the Praetorian Guard of our people! The more soldiers, the safer my Daqing Society will be! ”

Cixi and Guangxu didn't speak, and listened carefully.

Xu Yifan peeked at their faces and continued: "The minister also knows that the imperial court's finances are exhausted, and the longevity ceremony of Lafayette is even more related to the meteorology of our country. Therefore, the soldiers of the Praetorian Guard were paid, and the ministers tried their best to raise their own funds. Where the overseas righteous people of Nanyang gather, please Lafayette and the emperor's ministers to set up a permanent yamen in Nanyang, and the ministers can guarantee that there are millions every year, which will be used by me to train the Praetorian Guard! A little blood sincerity, I hope Lafayette and the emperor will accept it! ”

Guangxu didn't dare to speak, but his chest rose and fell. He is weak on the outside, but in fact, he is the most desperate in his heart, and he is also easily moved. But he didn't dare to express his opinion in front of Cixi, just looked at Xu Yifan.

How can such talents be used for themselves?

Cixi remained silent and nodded lightly: "...... You have this conscience, and it is naturally the best. It is not a big deal to set up a fund-raising bureau in Nanyang. Your Nanyang Qincha Xuanfu Minister title has this right, just do it. How to train the soldiers, how to make them, all of them are folded, and the emperor and I will look at it carefully. It's ...... that will approve you."

Before the words fell, Xu Yifan met again: "Lafayette and the emperor are gracious!" ”

Cixi smiled and turned her head to look at Guangxu: "After finishing the matter, the emperor, see how to reward him for his meritorious work in Nanyang this time?" We have raised salaries for the Praetorian Guard, taught foreigners a lesson, and maintained the dignity of the country, so we can't help but reward it! This is a matter for the court, and I can't take care of it. Your Majesty, you can do it. ”

Guangxu coughed, looked at Xu Yifan and said gently: "Lord Xu, meritorious service will be rewarded, that is the constitution of the imperial court." But you're too young to give you a little room to make progress. This time, I gave you the title of political envoy, which is the official third-grade member of my dynasty, and the top is empty, and the head product can't run away from you. Reward the dazzling eyes again, and pick a good Baturu Yong for you. Admire the purple reins, ride a horse in the Forbidden City...... This is a dignity that ordinary governors can't handle, do it well, the court has high hopes for you......"

Cixi listened quietly, and suddenly interjected: "Didn't the emperor say last time that he was also a field meritorious service?" Reward a viscount, with the title of world, it is good to be the same as our Qing Dynasty, right? ”

Guangxu choked for a moment, just now he was pulling the relationship with Xu Yifan, who was extremely sincere, desperately exuding the aura of a king. These rewards were all nodded by Cixi. He wanted to use his attitude to influence Xu Yifan's little blood courage towards Emperor Laozi. Unexpectedly, with a gentle word from Cixi's side, Shi En surpassed him, the emperor!

“…… Respect Lafayette's decree and reward Xu Yifan's third-class viscount! ”

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At the gate of the Summer Palace, Xu Yifan's entourage was waiting, Tang Shaoyi, Zhan Tianyou, Chu Wanli, and Li Yunzong were all neatly dressed and gathered together. Cixi hurriedly summoned, and they were all worried about Xu Yifan. Everyone knows how deep the water in the palace is, and there is a great chance that one is not prepared and has no top.

Hearing the loud footsteps inside, Xu Yifan was sent out surrounded by a group of guards, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They all greeted Xu Yifan and connected him to the sedan chair like a phoenix.

Tang Shaoyi stood next to Xu Yifan's sedan bar and asked in a low voice, "How is it?" ”

Xu Yifan sneered and glanced at Wanshoushan lightly: "They are all rushing to show grace to us, our market is good, my lord and I are both third-class viscounts...... As soon as the training of the troops is carried out, it will be approved, and then we will leave and go to North Korea! ”

Tang Shaoyi's voice did not move: "Lafayette, or the emperor?" ”

Xu Yifan looked at him and just smiled faintly: "Let's just rely on ourselves, can't we?" After that, he closed the sedan curtain and stomped on the bottom of the sedan hard: "Get up the sedan car!" ”

In the Le Shou Hall, Cixi, who had been taking a peaceful nap inside, suddenly turned over, and Li Lianying, who had been bending down in front of the couch and waiting to serve, took a step forward and looked at Cixi, the old lady's eyes were wide open, and she didn't feel sleepy at all.

Li Lianying asked in a low voice, "Lafayette, what's wrong?" ”

Cixi muttered to herself: "Twenty thousand soldiers...... He raised the salary himself...... Lianying, Chacha, Ronglu came back from Xi'an, have you arrived? This Maljia clan, even I have resisted, and I can control Xu Yifan! ”

(To be continued)