"Xia Guan has seen Li Xiang."

"Excuse me, excuse me." Li Hongzhang said with a smile.

"I've seen Zhang Zhongtang."

"Excuse me, excuse me." Zhang Zhidong said with a smile.

"I've seen Lord XX," XX said happily.

The second-grade and above officials who were released were recalled to the capital by Li Hongzhang with a piece of paper, just because the emperor's wedding was imminent. At the same time, all the adults above the third grade in Beijing also need to participate in the emperor's wedding. The etiquette at the time of the wedding requires that the Ministry of Rites have been distributed in a safe manner, and by then which officials will stand where and when, and what etiquette will be performed, will be explained. This is a major event of the dynasty, and more importantly, the queen is already pregnant with a dragon heir at this time, the inheritance of the dynasty is promising, and the people's hearts are stable, so naturally everyone is full of smiles. As for Japan, it's just a small country.

The whole capital began to wear red and green lanterns, and the emperor's wedding was naturally a gratifying thing. Both foreign embassies and governors from all over the country presented congratulatory gifts to the emperor...... "Guangxu, who was having dinner at home, was very unhappy, and Zhou Fu, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, brought a box-sized shell, which contained some Fujian tea, melons and fruits. Yan Fu, the governor of Liangjiang who came at the same time, was even more hateful, carrying two fish, two ducks and a few broken stones.

The box-sized shells are superb, especially the melons and fruits, which are local specialties. The two look like strange fish is the best in the fish - the finless porpoise, the stone is not even gotten, according to legend, when Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasty, the monk Yunguang Master preached in Shizigang, moved to the sky and rain like flowers. When the rain of flowers enters the ground, it becomes countless gravels as big as chicken eggs, as small as broad beans, and colorful and colorful. Yuhuashi got its name from this, and Shizigang was also renamed Yuhuatai. These stones were transformed by the rain of flowers that came from the sky back then.

"It's a specialty. So it's definitely cheaper locally, and maybe the shipping costs you bring here are more than what you pay to buy things. Bring these rags and be embarrassed to come to the feast. ”

was complained by Guangxu and the two adults were not angry. Zhou Fu said with a smile: "Because it is a specialty, it is not worth much money locally, but it can be transported to other places to sell, especially to foreigners, it is worth a lot of money." ”

"That's right, I heard that my emperor is purchasing for the wedding. Weichen volunteered to donate 1,000 Jiangning osmanthus ducks for the emperor's wedding banquet. ”

"It is said that Liangjiang is a heavy tax place for the imperial court, and Yan Zhongtang, as the governor, is stingy with a few fish and ducks. Wechen had prepared a whole boatload of tea and melons and fruits, and they had already set off to the north. The emperor didn't know, Weichen wanted to buy some local specialties and present them, and wanted to make a name for himself when the emperor got married. In this way, it is easy to sell this thing with fame. I never thought that Wei Chen told the merchants under his rule that if the local specialties of Fujian and Zhejiang were presented to the emperor's wedding banquet, the local fathers and elders not only did not charge money but also prepared a whole boat for Wei Chen, and also said that if the emperor's wedding was not enough, they could also offer another boat. It's a shame to say that these are all local fathers and elders who spontaneously dedicated to the emperor, but the micro-ministers who received the emperor's favor couldn't get the emperor's wedding gift, which is really ashamed to see people. Having said that, Zhou Fu didn't look a little ashamed.

Zhou Zhongtang's words are also wrong. The land of the two rivers is more melon and fruit than Fujian and Zhejiang. But the water network of the two rivers is vertical and horizontal, and the river freshness in the rivers is a rare delicacy, and the finless porpoise is the most of the two rivers, but the number is gradually decreasing. It doesn't deserve this feast. can only be a small amount of sacrifice to the emperor smiled, to this duck and this rain flower stone to really take the opportunity of the emperor's wedding to make a name. As he spoke, Yan Fu and Zhou Fu laughed at the same time.

"Are you here to celebrate my wedding or to sell things? Something left. People can roll. "Eat until your belly is on fire. Guangxu decisively did not eat and switched to fruits. As for the finless porpoise duck, let the kitchen take it and put it away. Tomorrow I will eat to vent my anger.

Because the ministers came to congratulate the emperor on his wedding, it was considered a family matter, so Guangxu met the ministers in the hall of the main building. Although Guangxu didn't want to talk about political affairs in the main building. But as an emperor chatting with ministers, he always unconsciously talks about political affairs. Yan Fu and Zhou Fu were the latest to come among the civil officials, and they happened to take the opportunity to receive congratulatory gifts to chat with the governors of various places for a while, and they could be regarded as having a rough grasp of the situation in various places. In general, the localities are relatively stable, industrial development is taking off, and the construction of roads and infrastructure has also allowed the people to have a full bite to eat. However, there are signs of increasing waste caused by industrial duplication and pre-planning errors. This is also no way, technical schools around the country can only teach skilled technicians, the whole of China can train modern industrial planning talents only in the Beijing Normal University, and not necessarily qualified, this is not just a class of students to have such as Lianyungang planning mistakes.

Under the impetus of Gu Hongming, those who study agriculture are farming in the land reserved for the university hall, and there are also young faces who are studying architecture on the construction site in the capital under construction, those who study industry are managing the university's own manufacturing institutions, those who study business are looking for funds for the university hall everywhere, and they are also sent to dry places to participate in disaster relief, to waterlogged places to help drain water, and the worst ones also have to take care of warehouses...... In short, if you want to graduate from a university course, in addition to theoretical courses, there are corresponding assessment standards for practice, and it is more important than theoretical courses. From the first year onwards, you will be involved in these practical work.

Education is not in a hurry, and although there are conflicts in the redundant construction projects in various places, it is only an inevitable phenomenon in the development of the country, which requires time to adjust and plan. All localities are vigorously developing industry together, this is all for the sake of catching up, who wants the emperor to like to build factories? The local governor originally developed his strength through the Yang Hong Rebellion, but under the coercion of the royal army that won a series of victories, he had to hand over his military power and financial power, and in order to keep his net worth and property, he could only desperately have fun. Fortunately, the vigorous and upward development of the current Qing Dynasty is acceptable at some price.

But mistakes are mistakes, and someone has to be held accountable. Although the emperor did not punish him in this regard, those who had meritorious service were all promoted, and who didn't want to go further in his official position. Therefore, the local governors who took advantage of the emperor's wedding to send congratulatory gifts all entered the stage in person, showing their merits to themselves, and taking the opportunity to listen to the emperor's actions.

But what does it mean that each governor brought a local specialty to pay tribute? This is to sell goods in the capital. The imperial historians also hyped up that in order to give the people an extra income, the emperor deliberately took the opportunity of the wedding to recommend domestic products to foreigners. This is the Holy Lord. The people are boiling, and it is a blessing for the people to be able to get such a bright king. Now the emperor has to borrow money from the bank because he has to pay for education and even get married, how can this work? So the elders of the local big clans didn't say a word. All the tributes are free, not even shipping, as long as you can put your own name on the emperor's wedding banquet. Although the food materials and goods paid tribute from all over the country can save a lot of money for the wedding, although the propaganda words make Guangxu moved, but what does it mean for the grandest wedding of an emperor to be recommended by you governors? No, all these unreasonable demands are rejected.

The emperor does not like luxury, and the emperor likes local delicacies and gadgets with local characteristics. Because when the emperor toured the south, he would taste local delicacies and collect local handicrafts everywhere he went. How do these people know that this is purely a small hobby. But because he is the emperor, he is infinitely expanded.

What Lao Tzu likes is real money! Guangxu wanted to say this to the governors, but he could only shout in his heart, this was all caused by Mingjun's name. Eat these fruits in resentment. Each handicraft left a set, but it still didn't dissipate. So Guangxu beckoned and asked Kou Liancai to send the remaining fruit crafts to the palace guards, which was regarded as a welfare. As for how to distribute it, this is a matter for the new Praetorian Guard battalion commander Qimuge, and this is also a kind of examination of him. Yang Dongzi was transferred back to the special regiment as the head of the special regiment after ending the protection of the queen because of the Huanghuagang incident.

The things were divided, but Guangxu was still angry and angry by Li Hongzhang. Today is the day when the emperor returns to Beijing from his mother's home, and he arrives in the morning. Because the queen has no relatives in the capital. Then it is necessary to choose a boudoir before marriage, so Li Jurong's house, which has a good relationship with the queen, became the place where the queen waited for the boudoir before she got married. This is grace and grace, so Li Hongzhang personally went to the train station to welcome the queen into the newly renovated courtyard of his home. Guangxu came out of the newly built new staff headquarters building at noon, and after learning that Zao'er had returned to Beijing, he went straight to Li's mansion. Li Hongzhang welcomed His Majesty in front of the mansion. Li Hongzhang respectfully served tea to the emperor in the lobby, Li Hongzhang, a bastard, dared to refuse the emperor to see the queen, because men and women were not allowed to meet before marriage. This is a rite of worship.

Etiquette system, this bastard's etiquette system. I heard the laughter in the backyard, but I couldn't see anyone. It's like a cat scratching my heart. But people's backyards are full of female dependents, so you can't force your way in. Guangxu threatened to take back the jade pendant that had just been given to Zhang Peilun's eldest son. I didn't expect Li Hongzhang to really take it out. Looking at the jade pendant that Li Hongzhang was holding in both hands, of course Guangxu would not really take it back, so he could only say resentfully that he wanted Li Hongzhang to look good, and reluctantly returned to the palace empty-handed.

The August sun in Beijing is blazing, and the last rays of the sun still exude huge heat. Although Yingtai is surrounded by the South China Sea, it still cannot withstand the invasion of the scorching sun. On weekdays, there is still some wind, but today's treetops don't move.

"Qimuge, I transferred you to guard the palace ban, I'm still used to it these days." Guangxu walked slowly in the shade of the tree and asked Qimuge, who was following behind him.

"Back to the emperor, Lord Yang has trained the Praetorian Guard Camp very well, and he only needs to move step by step."

"That's good, now that Zhonghai has been included in the jurisdiction of the Praetorian Battalion, Beihai will also be included in the future, it is estimated that the strength of the existing battalion alone should be insufficient, you have to make some preparations in advance."

"The humble post has been reported to Chief Wang and Lord Ouyang Shangshu, and the reply to the humble post is that after the Qing-Japanese battle, personnel will be transferred from the military police from all over the country, and it is expected that it will take a year to expand the Praetorian Guard battalion into a regiment. The specific plan is ......"

"Alright." Guangxu interrupted Qimuge with a wave of his hand: "I don't understand military affairs, so I don't need to tell me about specific plans." Since I have handed over the Praetorian Guard Battalion to you to command, I will let it go as long as I see fit, and I am still relieved of the soldiers who followed me down from the Grange. I'm just curious, why did Utai, the king of Zasak County, who was the front banner of Horqin's right wing, let his only son join the new army? No one knows what life or death will be on the battlefield, but your father has sent his sole heir to the throne to the battlefield. You must know that the Horqin tribe has made immortal contributions to the Qing Dynasty, and the title of the king of Zasak County is hereditary. ”

Qi Muge suddenly blushed and didn't speak, until Guangxu began to stare at him before he spoke: "Actually, I secretly ran out by myself." ”

Guangxu laughed when he heard this: "A good man should be ambitious in all directions, stay at ease in the past few years, and there will always be a time when you will show your strengths in the future." ”

The two of them chatted while walking. After dinner, Guangxu, who was strolling under the shade of the tree, was already sweating profusely. In the South China Sea, there is only a narrow waterway connecting China and the Overseas. The South China Sea is really just a backwater lake. However, it is finally a royal garden, and the water quality is slightly green. Such water quality is really a problem for Guangxu, who likes to swim. In fact, I wanted to build another waterway for the South China Sea, but the treasury was not abundant, and the country was also suffering from internal and external troubles. When the sweaty Guangxu walked to the lake and stopped, looked around and saw that there was no maid around, he immediately began to untie his clothes.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing here?" Qimuge suddenly turned his back to Guangxu and asked.

"What? Of course, it will cool off on such a hot day. Guangxu took off to leave only a pair of pants, stretched his body and said to Qi Muge, who was still carrying the emperor: "What do you mean by being a big man?" Don't worry, I'm not good at being a man. "Finished. Go into the water by yourself. Hey, a foot in the mud.

It is the emperor's freedom to swim in the water, but in case there is always someone around the emperor, Qimuge, who does not go into the water, can only call other guards. The guards were smiling and only wearing pants and going into the water, which was a benefit to them who were on duty.

"I said, the special operations camp is a water training program. What is the situation with your battalion commander? Guangxu asked the guards beside him.

"Your Majesty, don't you know that the battalion commander is a Mongolian and is naturally afraid of water. Therefore, when he was still in the special operations battalion, he deliberately exempted the battalion commander and his three attendants from water training. ”

"No, it won't. The commander of the Royal Praetorian Guard Battalion, who had captured hundreds of Japanese soldiers by four people in Tianzhuangtai back then, was actually afraid of water. You have to teach your battalion commander well. Go, pull down the water. Guangxu finished speaking, and before the guards could come out of the water, Qimuge ran away. This made Guangxu confused. It's really afraid of water.

Also confused was the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Gonbei Yamamoto, who at this time led the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Empire cruising off the coast of Arthur Pass, where the Second Task Force of the Qing Dynasty was docked. As for the Qing State Third Task Force docked in Weihaiwei. Yamamoto is not worried. It's just that he is strange that no matter how provocative he is, he rushed the cruiser into the range of the shore-based batteries. The Qing State also did not fire a shot. Outside of Lushunkou, there was no ship except for one cruiser. As a result, Yamamoto, who had waited for several days, found that Kiyokuni had turned a blind eye to Japan's provocations? Yamamoto really couldn't figure out Kiyokoku's intentions. It stands to reason that at least there should be a confrontation. As for the staff officer's suggestion to let the battleship into the range of the Qing army, he rejected it, what if the Qing State was waiting for his battleship?

The whole Lushun was transformed by the Qing State into a military stronghold, and it was even more difficult for outsiders to sneak in, the Cockscomb Mountain blocked the sight of the inner harbor of Lushun Bay, and the simple city wall on the Huwei Beach also blocked the sight of the outer port of Lushun, and Yamamoto, who was standing on the lookout, could only see the Qing army under martial law on the hilltop fort from the telescope, but he knew nothing about the situation in Port Arthur. This military port, which is said to be the most mysterious in East Asia, which is never approached by foreign merchant ships, still maintains its secrets, but it is enough that there must be workers and officials entering and leaving the port, and some useful information can always be found in it. Yes, despite the sacrifice of a large number of intelligence officers, Japan still collected enough information. For example, after Lushun built the two destroyers of Listening to the Wind and Watching the Sea, he has only maintained the Qing ** ship, and there is no construction task. On the contrary, four warships are being built further north on Huludao, and if it is really the rumored rapid ramming destroyer, then his fleet can only fight under the protection of small ships. Otherwise, once these four ramming destroyers were allowed to rush into the formation, the consequences would be catastrophic.

"Report to Your Excellency Commander, the Fuji has returned." The lookout reported.

Yamamoto turned the telescope, and the Fuji, flying the Japanese naval flag, was turning from the southern tip of Lushun to the main camp. The Fuji with two destroyers went to Huludao to reconnoiter the shipyard, which is why Yamamoto waited in Lushun these days. Yamamoto put down his binoculars and turned back to the bridge.

"Your Excellency, Commander, I regret to report to you. The gates of the Huludao shipyard remained closed, and there was no sign of warships leaving the port. "The Fuji Sea Reconnaissance is still inconclusive. Yamamoto frowned when he heard the report, if it was just four destroyers of more than 100 tons, it should have been built a long time ago. And according to the report of the spies lurking in Huludao, one night a few months ago, it was supposed to be a warship leaving the port. It is a pity that the Huludao Shipyard is still closed, there are still no personnel in and out, and there is still no accurate information about the Huludao Shipyard.

Behind them, a fleet flying the Hawaiian Navy flag slowly sailed towards Dalian Bay due north. The exercise between the Qing and Hawaiian navies has finally ended after more than four months, but they will leave after the decisive battle between Qing and Japan, and they should be on the spot to observe.

"Let's go back." Yamamoto gave the order. This is the last demonstration, and the next time we arrive here, it will be an attack. The Japanese fleet began to turn slowly, heading west in the setting sun.

In Beijing, as the emperor's wedding day approaches, the preparations for the wedding are being made for the final inspection. Governors from all over the country, ministers from various countries, the king of Ryukyu, the king of Joseon, the king of Siam, and even the queen of Hawaii have all arrived in Beijing in person under the pretext of investigation, and the secret representatives of the king of Annam and the king of Burma have gathered in the capital. This was the greatest prosperity in East Asia, and the civilian officials of all countries gathered in Beijing, while the military attachés stayed in Tianjin on their own or other warships. Everyone understands that on the day of the Qing Emperor's wedding, Japan will definitely make a move, and the Qing State will definitely not let the Japanese take face on this day. Therefore, this day will be the day when the ownership of regional hegemony in East Asia will be decided, and everyone is waiting for the final day to come. (To be continued......)