All the ministers also understood the emperor's current situation, so after the next dynasty, Li Hongzhang recruited eight Shangshu to discuss this matter, but none of the ministers had any way.

"If killing the old minister can calm the emperor's anger, the old minister would rather be beaten to death by the emperor than see the emperor sink like this-" Weng Tonggong, who was climbing on the stretcher, wept bitterly.

Li Hongzhang lamented: "The emperor's anger is getting deeper and deeper, and now the emperor's reason can still be restrained." One day, the emperor can no longer restrain the violent anger in his heart, and once the long-suppressed anger is vented, the road to a strong country and a strong country that has been finally stable will be wiped out. Where to go, now we need to come up with a way. ”

But all the ministers were silent, and there was no word for a long time.

"The emperor is benevolent and always reluctant to kill his own people. It is always okay to kill the foreigners. Wang Shizhen, chief of staff, said: "As early as after the war between Qing and Russia, the emperor ordered the General Staff Headquarters to have two sets of plans for advancing north and south, and one of them can be carried out in advance. Although acting ahead of time will increase the difficulty and uncertainty, it is better than watching the emperor sink and we do nothing. The two sets of plans belong to land and sea, and it is really not possible to carry out the two sets of plans at the same time, and the killing of Tao can always vent the anger in the emperor's heart. Even if it can't, the emperor can always maintain the greatest energy and strongest attention after the start of the military operation, and the emperor is at peace at this time. Even if you can't vent again, it will take a long time for a military operation to begin, so you can always buy more time to figure it out. ”

Li Hongzhang was shocked, he didn't expect that the emperor's guess that he was going to do something to Mongolia turned out to be true, and the emperor's vision had even seen abroad. After Wang Shizhen's explanation. Li Hongzhang and others already knew the entire strategic concept.

The strategy of northward expansion refers to the so-called living Buddha Jebtsundan Bahutuktu in Outer Mongolia, who tried to use the power of the Russians to seek the possibility of splitting the land and becoming king. The 2nd, 3rd, and 6th divisions will be the main forces participating in the operation. Cooperate with other land forces in ground operations. The southward movement refers to China's attempt to control Luzon. Because the Strait of Malacca was in the hands of the British, in order to ensure that China could have the strength to confront the British. To achieve complete control of the passage from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The southern part of the country was slightly dominated by the navy, and the only army involved in the operation was Liu Hengfu's Ninth Division, which was hidden in Luzon. These two sets of plans are the most recent military action plans of the imperial court, which are top secret to the outside world, but they are already being carried out in the military department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but Lin Qizhao, who is also the emperor's starting team, knows nothing.

This may be a solution, but both of these plans are still only in the preparation stage, and no specific actions have yet to be carried out, and many personnel have not yet arrived. The action is carried out when the preparations are not complete, and the emperor will not agree. And once the action begins, the price to be paid for the dynasty will be exponential growth.

Li Hongzhang shook his head with difficulty and denied Wang Shizhen's idea: "There is no better way?" ”

Of course, there is also the woman, that is, relying on women to vent the emperor's anger. But the Empress Dowager of the two palaces has already started to do this, and she is more anxious than them. Other than that, there's really no way.

The prime minister couldn't discuss a way with the eight Shangshu, so he called the emperor's close attendant Kou Liancai. Ten people discussed it all night, but they couldn't figure it out. So when the sky lit up again, Li Hongzhang made a decision: "The military headquarters and the military command departments have notified all combat units to be ready to be ready to be deployed at any time, and the household department has begun to allocate grain, grass, weapons and other materials to the front line. The Ministry of Industry ordered all military factories to speed up the production of weapons and ammunition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began to select officials to take over the localities and do a good job of propaganda work, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately assessed the possible reactions of the powers and how to deal with them once the military operation was launched, and the General Staff Headquarters began to deduce military operations. Within three. I want to see your report. ”

The ministers who hadn't slept all night walked out of the conference room one after another, and now it was a day off, so they went home.

Li Hongzhang dragged his tired body back home, and with a gloomy look, his concubines all served Li Hongzhang with a clean face, washed his hands, and prepared breakfast. Li Hongzhang wiped his hands and handed the towel to his concubine. But I heard happy laughter in the back hall. It was the laughter of her daughter Li Jurong, and her son-in-law, Zhang Peilun, the governor of Taiwan, had already gone to Taiwan to take up his post. What makes her smile so happily? Li Hongzhang walked towards Li Jurong's room.

Li Hongzhang came to Li Jurong's door, and the happy laughter of two women came from inside the door. Li Hongzhang knocked on the door. Daughter Li Jurong opened the door, and her friend Yang Zaoer, who she met in the University Hall and is now in the University Hall, helped Li Jurong to stand aside.

"Father should rest early after working all night on state affairs, so as not to get tired." Li Jurong stepped forward to salute with her already pregnant belly, and Yang Zaoer also saluted the prime minister.

"You don't have to be polite at home, but you have to be mental and physical when it comes to chrysanthemum." Li Hongzhang looked at his daughter's bulging belly and smiled happily.

Since graduating from the university hall in September last year, Li Jurong has gone to her husband-in-law Zhang Peilun in Taiwan. In less than three months, the news came that Li Jurong was pregnant. During the Chinese New Year, after Zhang Peilun and his wife returned to Beijing to pay New Year's greetings to his father-in-law, Li Hongzhang took pity on his daughter and was afraid of being tired from a long journey, and left her at home to have a safe baby despite his daughter's objections. Now Li Ju is more than four months pregnant.

"Father, please take a seat." Li Jurong hurriedly asked his subordinates to serve tea.

Li Hongzhang took a sip of tea and said: "I was tired from discussing with the ministers for my father all night, but when I came home, I heard my daughter laughing, so I came to ask my daughter why she was so happy." It's better to let your father know, and let your father be happy with the chrysanthemum. ”

Li Jurong's face turned red, and she said shyly: "It's all private talk between daughters, so don't listen to it." ”

Li Hongzhang laughed: "Even if it is a private conversation between daughters, then the father will not inquire." The chrysanthemum root can be so happy, and the father is relieved. After turning to Yang Zao'er: "Is Miss Zao'er still used to teaching in the University Hall?" ”

"Xie Li is concerned. It's just that the first time I was a gentleman, I am not familiar with it, and everything else is fine. Yang Zao'er replied respectfully.

"If you are not familiar with it, you can learn it slowly, the old man is not born to be the prime minister, and he has not learned it all the way. No hurry, no hurry. You're good friends with chico. I hope you can come and walk around often and talk to her. ”

"Respect Prime Minister Li's orders."

"Father. The daughter saw that her father's face was not good, but she worried her father in state affairs? Li Jurong saw that her father's face always showed a little worry. said worriedly: "Now that the Queen Mother of the West has reconciled with the emperor, the government should be in no way." ”

"The government is fine, but the emperor is in big trouble." Li Hongzhang told them everything that happened in the court yesterday, and then said worriedly: "If it goes on like this, there will always be a time when the emperor's reason can't suppress his anger." The emperor is already in power, and no one can control the emperor, and that is the most dangerous time for the dynasty. ”

Li Hongzhang didn't speak, Li Jurong didn't speak, and Yang Zaoer didn't know anything. Li Hongzhang couldn't see his daughter worried. He comforted: "The daughter doesn't have to worry, the father has already prepared, but it will take time to prepare." The two of you are good friends with the emperor, and you can also talk. In these days when the old man is preparing, you go into the palace to talk to the emperor and explain it. ”

"My daughter knows."

Li Hongzhang nodded and went out, and Li Yang and the two daughters were closing the door to continue the topic they hadn't finished just now.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Li and Miss Yang Zao'er ask to see you." Kou Liancai came to report.

"Oh. How did the chrysanthemum root and jujube remember to come to see me today? Hurry up and please. Guangxu stopped the Zhu pen that was replying to the fold and went downstairs.

"The concubine Zhang Li (Yang Zaoer) has seen the emperor."

"Flat. Now the chicous root is pregnant. No need to be polite, please take a seat. Xingxu put the second daughter on the sofa, sat on the side and said, "How did the two of you remember me here, is there something wrong?" When it comes to the chrysanthemum root, she is pregnant, but she can't run around. ”

"Emperor Xie cares. Just can't come if it's okay? Li Jurong asked with a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes. I'm always welcome here. Then again, you are pregnant, so Zhang Perlun didn't laugh and fell into the sea? ”

"As a wife, it is common for her to get pregnant and have children. The husband rejoiced. But it won't fall into the sea like the emperor. Li Jurong extremely despised the emperor's gloating attitude.

Guangxu laughed, and Guangxu and Li Jurong gave a lecture. Yang Zao'er interjected a few sentences from time to time. The three of them chatted casually, and the atmosphere was relaxed and happy. To the happy place, the three of them were full of laughter. This made Kou Liancai, who was waiting on the side and always saw the emperor frowning, extremely comfortable.

Regarding the emperor's attitude of making all kinds of metaphors when it comes to Zhang Peilun, Yang Zao'er asked incomprehensibly: "Sister Ju's husband, Lord Zhang, is also very knowledgeable and martial. Since the independence of Taiwan, he has also made outstanding political achievements, and the emperor has also praised him. But why since the first time he saw the emperor, the emperor has ridiculed Lord Zhang in every way. Why is that? ”

Guangxu spread his hands and made a sad gesture: "No way, this is the common heart of men when they see a good cabbage being arched by a pig." ”

Yang Zao'er laughed heartily, and Li Ju was angry. So Li Jurong decided to fight back: "Although the husband looks ordinary, he is good at learning. is even more of a concubine who treats her very well, and never messes with flowers and grass. With this husband, the chrysanthemum root is already satisfied. But the emperor is still single now, and the emperor belittles his husband so much, he is too envious. Li Jurong had just finished speaking, and Xingxu's face instantly darkened.

Li Jurong knew that she was wrong and mentioned the emperor's sadness. hurriedly explained: "The emperor is the king of a country, and the beauties can be selected by the emperor, and I heard that the queen mother of the two palaces is worried about the harem for the emperor." Why do you still have nostalgia for the past, I don't know if the emperor has an intention? ”

"Where there is no fragrant grass, why bother to love a flower. Even if I am reluctant, the beauty is long gone, and I have already seen it. It's you, now that you are pregnant, and the husband and wife are separated, do you want me to transfer Zhang Peilun back to the capital to accompany you? ”

"The concubine has her father to take care of at home, so let him work for the emperor's great cause in Taiwan. It's because my father always rises up in front of his concubines, and the harem is empty, which makes people uneasy. ”

"The Queen Mother is anxious, and my marriage is still in the past. I don't understand, Lao Tzu has a wife, these ministers are anxious fart. "I can't mention this matter, as soon as I mention Guangxu, I am in a hurry.

"How can you not be in a hurry, which minister does not want the stability of the dynasty, and the person who has no successor to the dynasty is the biggest hidden danger of the dynasty. When it comes to what kind of woman the emperor wants to find, it is better to come and listen, maybe the concubines can also keep a big medium for the emperor. ”

"Well, I don't think I really have any opinion. But it must be a Han woman. ”

"Your Majesty, why do you have to be a Han girl? Is there any way to do this? ”

"Absolutely. It's just me, you two don't go out. After Guangxu saw that the second daughter nodded and agreed, he waved all the waiters including Kou Liancai back and whispered: "Since the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the customs, the defense of the Manchu and Han Dynasty is the biggest thing at the bottom." In the past, the country was strong and there were no foreign enemies, so it was natural to do so. But now that foreigners are bullying China, if you want to make the country rich and strong, you must concentrate all your efforts internally, and the people at home can no longer be estranged. But the defense of the Manchu and Han dynasties has been more than 200 years, and if you want to let the people see that the court is determined to make real changes, the best way is to marry the Han girl into the palace as the queen, and make her son the crown prince. In this way, the defense of the Manchu and Han dynasties can no longer be restored, and the dynasty can be stable. ”

"The emperor is far-sighted, but what about the Queen Mother?"

"I had this matter with the Empress Dowager Yu, and although they did not agree, it was a tacit attitude. I'm going to go around the university hall in the next few days. ”

Li Jurong smiled: "I don't know what the emperor likes?" ”

"Don't look like the Queen Mother is looking for, I think it's almost the same with your level. It's good that your temperament is similar to yours. ”

Yang Zao'er covered her mouth and smiled: "The emperor might as well have you seen Sister Ju." ”

"That's right." Guangxu said as if he had suddenly realized: "Actually, you Li Jurong is the best candidate to be the queen, but it's a pity that I'm late, let that Zhang Perun take the lead." Do you want me to kill Zhang Peilun and snatch you over to be the queen, presumably Li Xiang should not object. Every time I mentioned Zhang Peilun, I had the urge to beat him up. ”

"The emperor Chrysostom opened and landed with a sound. It's good for you to joke with your concubines. Otherwise, the concubine knows that you are joking, and if you let this word go, it won't scare my husband to death. Li Jurong smiled and said intentionally: "The concubine is already pregnant with her husband's flesh and blood, so the emperor should not fight the idea of the concubine." is a concubine and a sister, who is a little more beautiful than my sister. ”

Guangxu's eyes lit up: "It's completely okay to consider, but won't it be too much." "Guangxu doesn't want to be a salty uncle.

"Wherever it will be, they are already engaged."

Guangxu's face immediately fell: "Don't you just make a joke about you, but you're waiting for me here." Can you give some constructive advice? ”

"If you want constructive advice, there is." Li Jurong finished winking.

Guangxu was shocked, why did he never find out? Guangxu stood up and paced back and forth restlessly, and suddenly stopped, as if he had made a great determination. Then he rushed to Yang Zao'er and stared at her eyes, saying something she would never forget: "Why don't you be my queen." "To be continued