Talk about two ends.

In the Cining Palace, Cixi was in a panic after receiving the protest from the British and Russian ministers early in the morning. When the ministers of the two countries did not see Guangxu, they even proposed to meet the empress dowager to protest, which made Cixi even more at a loss. And sent a slave to find Guangxu to report, and after Guangxu went to the military academy again, he asked people to send a message to the ministers of the two countries to ask them to wait first. While asking Kou Liancai to find Guangxu, he met with the Minister of Military Aircraft.

At this time, all the ministers of military aircraft in the Cining Palace were prostrate on the ground, listening to Cixi's anger.

"How did you do it, why didn't you persuade it before the emperor's decree. This has attracted protests from foreigners, how is this good? ”

"You said that none of you have become an old ruler. None of you can get an idea if something so big happens? ”

"The emperor is still too young, and he is acting too much. If it is not handled well, it will be a dispute between the two countries. I didn't find the emperor. ”

"What, the French minister also came to protest? This is a protest of the three countries. Did you find the emperor? ”

Cixi was angry, and said that she was a little thirsty. I picked up the teacup and took a sip of water. But none of the ministers of this group of military aircraft replied. The angry Cixi put the teacup back on the table heavily: "You ...... Still panting? ”

"Prince Shiduo, you are the foreman of the military aircraft. You say, what should be done about this? ”

Most officials in the officialdom at the end of the Qing Dynasty were still very jealous of foreigners. Since the Qing Dynasty started its war with foreign countries, it has always been a loser. Therefore, the vast majority of officials believe that anything related to foreigners is not a good thing, especially conservatives. Prince Keli Shiduo, as the foreman of the Minister of Military Aircraft, has dealt with foreigners to some extent: "Back to the Empress Dowager Lafayette's words, the emperor's holy decree was originally intended to boost the morale of my Eight Banners. This will is still drawn up by the ministers......"

"Shiduo, Shiduo, you let the mourners say what is good about you." Without waiting for Shiduo to finish speaking, Cixi took over: "How should this situation end?" ”

Shi Duo replied in a low voice, "Why don't you come forward and apologize to the ministers of the two countries?" ”

"It's not right." At this time, Sun Yuwen came out and spoke: "The minister thinks it is better to let the emperor come up to deal with this matter, one is that the emperor has been in charge of the government, and the emperor should have come forward in this matter." Second, if something goes wrong, the Queen Mother will be appeased. It can also reflect the sanctity of the Queen Mother, and it can also leave room for this matter. ”

Cixi thought about it, and it seemed that only this method was the best. It can also reflect the important surname of the Queen Mother: "Look, this is the words of the old city to seek the country." Did the emperor find it?"

"Back to the Queen Mother, I have already asked people to find it. The slave asked Xiao Kouzi to guard the noon gate. As soon as the emperor returns, he will return to Lafayette. Li Lianying replied.

After a while, there was finally an echo outside. The emperor found it, and the emperor went to the military academy early in the morning and then took a detour to the school. It's noon.

That's good, Cixi breathed a sigh of relief. Just waiting to see the emperor's jokes, when will this Qing Dynasty be able to lose the mourning family. At this time, another little eunuch came to report that after the emperor arrived at the noon gate, he asked Kou Liancai and Tang Shaoyi to leave first, and the emperor was still waiting at the noon gate and didn't know what was going on.

What does the emperor want to do? Cixi became more and more confused about what Guangxu had done during this time. After a while, the little eunuch came again, and then he understood. Guangxu asked Tang Shaoyi to go to the military department to get a map. And Kou Liancai actually took the envoys of the Three Kingdoms to the Taihe Palace. And the emperor is rushing over. Cixi was furious in her heart, and this was worth it.

In Cining Palace, it can be said that the person who can best understand Cixi's mind is Sun Yuwen. Sun Yuwen saw that Cixi heard that the envoy of the Three Kingdoms had gone to the Taihe Palace, and his face changed, and he immediately knelt on the ground: "The inner courtyard of the palace, how can it be opened by barbarians." Queen Mother, you have to be the master. The voice was plaintive.

Hearing these words in Cixi's ears was tantamount to adding fuel to the fire. Cixi stood up with a "Teng" and said in a tone that was neither yin nor yang: "Follow the mourning family to the Heart Cultivation Palace, and the mourning family wants to ask our emperor, if this system is still necessary." ”

Just when Cixi took the large and small military planes to the Yangxin Palace, Guangxu had already ended the affairs of the Taihe Palace. When Tang Shaoyi walked out of the palace gate with the three ministers, the French minister Shi Alan pulled Tang Shaoyi and asked, "What is this lord's name?" ”

Tang Shaoyi arched his hand: "The lower official Tang Shaoyi is now the emperor's secretary." Tang Shaoyi is still a little awkward about the title of secretary, because the emperor has not given him a clear official position so far.

The emperor's secretary, who can sway the emperor's opinion. Such important people should be close to each other. Ogner asked respectfully: "May I ask Lord Tang, when did the emperor of your country want to build a railway?" What are the requirements for the construction of this railway? I also hope that Lord Tang will give him advice. ”

Recalling that when the emperor talked about the railway in the Taihe Palace, it was not easy to come and go, and it was inconvenient to trade. It's a matter of fact. It has been up for a long time. The emperor didn't mention it before noon today. Tang Shaoyi shouted in his heart, but he couldn't say this on his face, so he could only follow the emperor's meaning and continue to say: "When the lower officials came to Beijing, they heard that the emperor had this intention, just as the emperor said. The reason for the limited technology and funding of our Qing Dynasty has only been delayed until now, and there has been no result. With the help of the three countries this time, I believe that this railway will soon enter the stage of substantive discussion. As for the requirements, please come up with a detailed plan after you go back, and I believe that the emperor will choose the best plan. Tang Shaoyi's meaning is the same as the original sentence: I wanted to do it for a long time, but I didn't have the money.

"Lord Tang, since His Majesty the Emperor of your country has already had this intention, then I will immediately go back and send a report to the country to come up with a plan as soon as possible. I also ask Lord Tang to say a few kind words in front of His Majesty the Emperor of your country, it is better to repair the northeast section of this railway first. "The Russian minister, Cassini, is probably the most active of them all.

"Lord Tang, please tell His Majesty the Emperor of your country. The British Empire was the most technologically and financially strong. Eugene said tepidly, glancing at Cassini as he spoke. Cassini just glanced up at the sky.

Tang Shaoyi had to admire the emperor in her heart. took an unwarranted railway, not only did the three countries not mention the protest, but also directly let them pinch each other. It's just that he didn't understand why he had to tell the German and American ministers. Is it that the emperor wants to make the water more muddy, or does he really want to build a railway.

"The three ministers, the lower officials must also go to the German and American legations. The emperor is here, and I don't want to accompany him. Leave. ”

"Master Tang walks slowly."

Tang Shaoyi and Cassini left one after another. After the two of them walked away, Shi Alan said: "The construction of the railway by the Qing Dynasty will definitely re-trigger the expansion of Tsarist Russia in the Far East." We need to turn Russia's gaze back to Europe. Mr. Ogne, we must unite. Prevent Russia from getting its hands on the railway. ”

"Mr. Shi Alan, I believe that in this regard, you and I both have the same interests. But what I suspect is that, with the Qing people's habit of doing things, such an important matter must be discussed with their military aircraft department. But why have we never heard of it? If the emperor of the Qing Kingdom did not discuss with the Military Aircraft Department but had a personal idea, then there are still many things we don't know about in the Qing Palace. Ogne was a little worried, because he thought that this matter was not just as simple as the Qing Emperor wanted to build a railway.

"In any case, the Russians must not be involved. Mr. Ogne, I need to inform the country of this. Good bye. ”

After Tang Shaoyi said goodbye to the three ministers, he hurriedly rushed to the German Legation in Dongjiaomin Lane. Unexpectedly, the German Minister Barand had already gone to the US Legation, and Tang Shaoyi hurriedly went to the US Legation. It was precisely because of today's protest in Britain and Russia triggered by Guangxu's decree that the German minister went to discuss with the American minister Tian Bei whether he could benefit from this protest. The two talked about some recent developments in the Qing Dynasty, which was the establishment of a new army school and a new style school in the Qing State. They were also optimistic that the decrepit Qing Kingdom had finally approached the Western civilized world.

"Mr. Tian Bei, I don't know what you think about the protest of the British and Russian envoys against the Qing Kingdom. In my personal opinion, it is beyond reproach that the Qing State issued such a holy decree to stimulate the morale of the country. And Britain and Russia protested in a big way, and I don't know what conditions Qing Guo will agree to this time. Shall we also join forces to fight for some interests? "Baland is so eager to secure a new market for Germany.

"Mr. Barland, I personally think that the protest of Britain and Russia is not for the sake of this decree of the Qing Kingdom, but I think that perhaps it is because the decree only mentions the treaty signed between the British and the Russian States with the Qing State. There is no mention of, for example, the Treaty of Wangxia between China and the United States. Tian Bei put forward a hypothesis: "Of course, if possible, I will do my best to fight for the interests of our country." ”

"I don't know if you know, after the protests of Britain and Russia. The French Minister, Mr. Sachle, also went to protest. ”

"Really? This cunning guy. ”

Tian Bei's adjutant came in from outside the door, and Tian Bei asked, "What is so tense, my adjutant, sir." ”

"Sir, Mr. Tang Shaoyi, the newly appointed secretary of the Qing Emperor, came to pay a visit, hoping that our country can help the railway to be built by the Qing State."

Qing wants to build a railway? After a brief moment of surprise, his face sank, such an important matter could not be said later. There was also a German minister. Tian Bei's adjutant continued: "In addition, he heard that the German minister is in our embassy, so he would like to meet the two of them and inform them at the same time. ”

The two ministers of the United States and Germany looked at each other, and they were quite surprised that the Qing State could take the initiative to build a railway, knowing that the first railway built in China in 1876, the Wusong Railway, was bought back and demolished by the Qing government. In the nearly 20 years that followed, the Qing Dynasty built only about 400 kilometers of railways, and all of them were built locally. This time, the central government of the Qing Dynasty wants to repair it. The two ministers of the United States and Germany were surprised, but also thought that the construction of the railway by the Qing Dynasty was the result of the protests of Britain, Russia and France.

"I think we should meet this Secretary Tang." Tian Bei said: "Then please ask Secretary Tang to come in." ”

"Hello two ministers. I am hereby ordered by the emperor to inform the two of you. In the Qing Dynasty, we want to build two large railways connecting the east, west, north and south, and hope that the two countries will give them some financial and technological support. My emperor means that the two countries will first submit their respective road construction plans, and finally the best will be admitted. ”

Unbelievable. This is the same idea of the ministers of the United States and Germany. You must know that at this time, China still has more than 10 million square kilometers of land, and it is necessary to build two railways connecting the east, west, north and south, which add up to nearly 4,000 kilometers. This is equivalent to ten times the total length of the existing railway. Whether it is true or not, since it was notified in the name of the Emperor of the Qing State, it must not be fake. Tian Bei immediately agreed: "My country can vigorously support the construction of the railway. It's just that this specific issue, should we discuss it first? ”

"Of course, I was only instructed to come and inform the two of you, as for the specifics. I also have to wait for the emperor's order. I think the emperor's intention may be to hope that the two countries can gather the relevant technical personnel first. I have informed you two that you still need to return to the emperor. Leave. Tang Shaoyi turned around to leave, but Tian Bei hurriedly stopped him.

"Lord Tang, I don't know how your country will deal with the protest of Britain, Russia and France today, and I hope to inform you one or two."

"Presumably, the envoy must have misheard, but now it is said that Britain, Russia, and France are going to discuss matters related to the audience. If nothing else, just take your leave. ”

"Master Tang walks slowly."

"Unbelievable." After waiting for Tang Shaoyi to leave, Barland said: "The two railways have changed the original intentions of Britain, Russia and France. I think we should also meet His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Kingdom. ”

"I think so."

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