Inside the Cining Palace

Cixi stared expressionlessly at the tea bowl she was fiddling with, and kneeling below her were the trembling ministers of the military aircraft.

This year is her 60th birthday, and what should have been a celebration was turned upside down by herself. The garden that should have been repaired was not repaired, and the people who should have come to celebrate the birthday did not come. What's even more infuriating is that on the day of the tenth birthday of October, there were no festive firecrackers. Just because the Qingliu led by Weng Tonggong said: The emperor is now in the midst of a bloody battle in Tianzhuangtai, but the palace wants to fire a festive cannon, which is inappropriate.

Cixi couldn't help but glance at Weng Tongxiao, who was kneeling below. Weng Tongyi didn't look up, just knelt there quietly, not knowing what he was thinking.

recalled that since the rebellion of Yang Hong, it was he who single-handedly stabilized the situation in front of him, and then trained the elite Huai army and established the Beiyang Naval Division. It's hard to get a little bit of a boom, and I also want to take this opportunity to hold a birthday ceremony to show all directions. never thought that the little devil would come and make a mess of her birthday ceremony, and she didn't even set off firecrackers. I also thought about using the Beiyang Navy Division to fight a beautiful victory with the Huai Army, and also add some joy to my own birthday ceremony. Unexpectedly, the Qing Dynasty was defeated. Since then, I haven't slept a single night, tossing and turning all night. At that time, I wanted to be able to win a big battle, not only to save the face of the Qing Dynasty, but also to let the foreign ministers who attended their birthday ceremony see who had the final say. But the result was defeat after defeat, until the emperor went out to fight against Haicheng. When she lost, she wanted to win, and the news of victory really came, but Cixi's heart became more and more uncomfortable.

The emperor only arrived at the Liaohe River, first Liujiahe and then Majiagou, until he received the news of the victory of the Liaohe River, and the Liaodong army was defeated on all fronts. No matter who wins this battle, how can it become the emperor's victory? On the other hand, his Huai army in Shandong retreated all the way. Today's street talk, government and opposition remarks, have lifted the emperor to the sky. It is said that only the emperor of the Qing Dynasty has the ability to turn the tide, and the emperor is the holy lord of the Qing Dynasty for hundreds of years, which is comparable to Kangqian, and only the emperor can resist the enemy, and the defeat of Shandong is because there is no emperor to command...... The emperor's prestige is already like Zhongtian, and if it continues to develop like this, the Qing Dynasty will not be the queen mother of his own. So Cangzhou can't be defeated again.

"Shiduo, have the reinforcements from Liaodong arrived in Tianjin?" Thinking of this, Cixi suddenly raised her head, looked at Shi Duo and asked expressionlessly.

"Empress Dowager Qi, the emperor personally ordered the first division to reinforce Tianjin, and the first regiment of the vanguard has arrived. The main forces will also follow one after another. It's just that Li Zhongtang kept urging the First Division to stay on the front line in Cangzhou, but General Ouyang is still staying in Tianjin on the grounds that the imperial court and the emperor's will are to defend Tianjin. Hearing Cixi's question, Shi Duo replied with a respectful face.

Cixi nodded and asked, "How is the war in Cangzhou now?" ”

"Back to the Queen Mother, now Cangzhou has gathered more than 70,000 Qing troops to wait for work. The army is less than 20,000, and the army is on an expedition. Please rest assured that the Empress Dowager has four times the enemy's strength, and Li Zhongtang is sitting in Tianjin, and there will be good news soon. It was Sun Yuwen who replied.

When Cixi heard this, it was the same reason. He said with great satisfaction: "Tell this first regiment that the front-line troops are enough." It was very important for them to come to Tianjin just in case. If you don't have a will, you can't go to the front line. "I can't let the emperor win the battle anymore, and now we should take advantage of the good situation to win a big battle, so that the people of the world also know that it is not only the emperor who can win the battle in our Qing Dynasty, but also the queen mother.

Thinking of this, Cixi asked with some anxiety: "Who is in charge of the Cangzhou front?" ”

"Back to the Queen Mother, it's Dong Fuxiang, the commander of the Gan Army."

Dong Fuxiang is a person Cixi knows, so Cixi is also very relieved to say: "Tell Dong Fuxiang, let him give the mourning family a good fight, and give the mourning family a long face if he wins a big victory, and the mourning family will definitely be rewarded." ”

"Then the slave thanked the Queen Mother for Dong Fuxiang first." Sun Yuwen said happily.

"Maybe everyone thinks Cangzhou has won. But the minions don't see it that way. "The one who spoke was Yi Xin, who had just come out of the mountain and re-led the Prime Minister's National Affairs Yamen.

"What do you think of the six princes?" Cixi took a sip of tea with disdain.

"Back to the Queen Mother, Cangzhou seems to have a strong army, but it is not. During this period, the 30,000 troops led by Wu Dawei, the governor of Hunan, were all recruits, which were hastily formed in front of Shanhaiguan, and had no combat power at all. The other divisions are all the divisions of the Qin kings in various places, although they can fight a war, but they have no commander, and they cannot be arranged in an orderly manner in wartime, and their combat power is questionable. Finally, the Huai army units that returned from Shandong. Although it can be fought in one battle, the defeat along the way has long been demoralized and unusable. Yixin's face was full of melancholy: "Please also ask the Queen Mother to order the first division to live in Cangzhou as soon as possible, so that it can command all departments in Cangzhou, so as to ensure that nothing goes wrong." ”

"What does the sixth prince mean that if there is no new army to lead Cangzhou this time, it will be defeated?" Cixi asked in a strange voice. Four to fight one or to wait for work, no matter how you fight, you have a chance to win, but when you come to your Yixin, you are going to lose?

Yi Xin hurriedly kowtowed in fright: "The slave didn't mean that, but if the first division is present, my Qing Dynasty will win." ”

"Then you mean that if the first division is not there, it may not be able to win?" Cixi glared at Yi Xin angrily: "The mourning family is not allowed to go up to the first division." Tell Dong Fuxiang and let him win the battle and show it to our six princes. ”

"The sixth prince is too worried." Sun Yuwen came out to speak: "Actually, the sixth prince doesn't have to think so badly about the new army, you may not want to ask people to go to war." It was inevitable that Ouyang Zhenhua, the commander of the new army who had just arrived in Tianjin, complained privately that the emperor was worried about the sky, how could a four-to-one force not win. It is also said that 70,000 pigs arched to death Xiao Yue himself. Now this person is taking his subordinates around Tianjin. The entire First Regiment did not look like it was going to be defended at all. Even Li Zhongtang's repeated advice, this person ignored it. There is a sense of pampering and pride. ”

In fact, no one in the imperial court knew that all the battalion-level commanders of the First Division had arrived in Tianjin ahead of schedule, and after every "tour of the mountains and rivers," the commanders at all levels in the barracks headquarters were busy in front of the map until midnight. Only Li Hongzhang guessed a rough idea, because all the battalion-level officers of the First Division only went to the direction of Cangzhou to "play in the mountains and rivers", but the more beautiful north had never been there, and the follow-up troops did not enter Tianjin. Li Hongzhang believes that this is not a game with this, but a preparation for a big plan, but he Li Hongzhang does not know what the plan is.

As he spoke, Sun Yuwen took out an excerpt from his arms: "Empress Dowager Qi, the slave participates in the new army to control Ouyang Zhenhua." He is a supreme official and does not abide by the law. The war on the front line was in full swing, and he didn't think about the strategy of resisting the enemy, but he traveled all the way to the mountains and rivers, ignoring the country's French and military regulations. In vain was the court and the emperor's reliance on him. The servant asked the court to order Ouyang Zhenhua to be taken back to Beijing for interrogation. ”

As soon as Sun Yuwen's words came out, everyone was shocked, and everyone whispered. This change of generals before the battle is a taboo in the art of war, and it is also a general who has just set up a thousand miles to rescue the emperor.

However, these people are all experienced in officialdom for a long time, although they are not clear for a while, but after careful consideration, they all understand. The battle of Cangzhou will be won, and it is said that it is like a turtle in an urn that can no longer be answered. At this time, the arrest of the emperor's important generals is to reduce the emperor's military power, and this is also the best opportunity to cut power. At this time, the emperor was still far away in Liaodong, and at this time, Ouyang Zhenhua was captured by the will of the imperial court, and the entire first division was immediately leaderless. The ministers of military aircraft who understood it agreed one after another.

Only Weng Tongyi frowned and did not speak. Since the emperor personally conquered Tianzhuangtai, in order to transport various military supplies to the front line, he put all his thoughts on it, especially when the silver of the 100,000 taels of labor troops who were released to Tianzhuangtai was detained at Shanhaiguan, he did his best. In the meantime, there are still people who can't look past him, and ask him about the emperor smashing him before the war, and he forgot about it? He just laughed and didn't answer, because afterwards the emperor wrote a secret letter to him, which made him understand that the most important thing in this country is strength and the army. So not only did he use all the relationships he could use, but even the emperor's biological mother was also moved out by him in a different way, and she stayed at the military plane every day. Lian Lao was worried that something would happen to the emperor on the front line, and his old body was supported by gritting his teeth. Now that he has finally waited for the news of the emperor's victory in Grange, although he told himself to be steady, the joy from his heart can be seen on his face, and the relaxed laughter between his words has already spread throughout the military aircraft department. Even with the chatter and laughter of the imperial party.

Now Sun Yuwen's excerpt, how can Weng Tongyi not understand the meaning. Ouyang Zhenhua is the core figure of the imperial party, if he can't keep it, once the army is taken by the rear party, the situation that the emperor has fought hard for may disappear. It is related to the future situation of the dynasty, and it is related to the rise and fall of the imperial party, and at this time, he has to fight for the emperor no matter what.

"Lord Sun's opinion is not in agreement." Weng Tongyi pondered for a moment, and said calmly: "General Ouyang doesn't think about the strategy of defending against the enemy, but Lord Sun swears that Cangzhou will win. The enemy was defeated, and General Ouyang was already invincible, how to think of a strategy to resist the enemy. ”

Not only Sun Yuwen, but everyone present and Cixi were also the same. Sun Yuwen was still active: "Then Ouyang Zhenhua was transferred to defend Tianjin, and the court and the emperor had a will to let Li Hongzhang have full authority to control the war in Shandong." Now Ouyang Zhenhua regards Shangguan as nothing, this matter is serious! ”

"No, but I think that General Ouyang should not only not be punished, but he should be rewarded." Weng Tongrong stroked his beard leisurely.

"I really want to know when I go down, how does Master Weng think that he should be rewarded?" Sun Yuwen was a little dismissive.

"Everyone knows that the first division arrived in Tianjin at the behest of the imperial court and the emperor, and the will is very clear that Tianjin will be defended. However, Li Zhongtang, who controlled the war in Shandong, lived in Cangzhou before transferring the first division. Excuse me, is the governor of a place still bigger than the court and the emperor? In this way, General Ouyang came to see the supreme official's words. ”

"Then why did he travel around and not think about arranging defenses?"

"That's why General Ouyang should be rewarded. It is said that the army is about to be defeated in Cangzhou, and there is no need to deploy defenses. Moreover, the movement of the army means a large amount of appropriation fees, and General Ouyang is not moving to save the appropriation fee for the imperial court, so it is not a reward? ”

fought a war of words with the literati, and nine times out of ten, he was defeated. Now Weng Tongyi is biting Sun Yuwen and saying that Cangzhou will win, the first division is invincible, and Sun Yuwen can't say that Cangzhou will be defeated.

"You ......" Sun Yuwen was angry, and as soon as he retorted, he was interrupted by Cixi above.

"Alright, noisy yelling into the system."

As soon as Cixi spoke, it was okay now, it was no longer noisy. They all fell to their knees, and the mountain shouted: "Please Holy Mother and Queen Mother." ”

Cixi was also annoyed. If you don't invite yourself, the emperor will not mention that the emperor will take the second division of the new army to conquer Tianzhuangtai in person. However, the siege of Tianzhuangtai has been lifted, the Liaodong army has been defeated, and the imperial court ordered the Liaodong troops to go south to reinforce the Shandong war, which has been eroded, but the Liaodong departments could not move a single soldier on the grounds that there was no emperor's will. If it's just two divisions of the New Army, it's okay to endure it, anyway, the New Army is already the emperor's henchman. But even the various departments of the Huai Army in Liaodong also began to listen to the propaganda and did not listen to the tune, Cixi would be furious, and summoned Shi Duo, Sun Yuwen and others to scold them, but it was useless. Now I finally found an opportunity, but I was pushed back by Weng Tongyi's words. How this did not upset Cixi.

"The war in the country is still in peace, so don't mention this matter again." Cixi paused: "After this battle is fought, everyone is also watching it." What do you mean by training the army and defending the army, that is, it has always been said that all the departments of Qingrui Beiyang are already useless, and only the new army is the mainstay. Therefore, the imperial court still has to organize and train a new army. In my opinion, let Rong Lu pick up the burden of organizing and training the new army. Isn't the Fengtai battalion still the strength of a battalion leader? It is also a blessing for the country to draw a scoop according to the gourd and then organize and train a new army to come out. ”

"Queen Mother Shengming......"

Weng Tong shouted the Queen Mother Shengming on his lips, but he was thinking about the Emperor Shengming in his heart. The emperor held a big knife and fought for his life in the Tianzhuang Terrace, which was worthy of a victory in exchange for a place, but the court couldn't wait for the final victory to stumble and use means. But today's emperor is no longer the emperor who was only a promise, and 20 years of Taoguang and obscurity have been exchanged for today's blockbuster. At this moment, the emperor is already the desire of the people, and the three armies are in the heart, and on the day when the war is completely over, the fledgling emperor can still be at the mercy of your queen mother?

Walking on the way out of the palace, a relaxed smile hung on Weng Tongyi's face. If you want to hold the power in your hands, how can you rely on conspiracy to do it, and now that the emperor has a strong master by his side and righteousness in his hands, how can a few conspiracies stop it. It's just that when will the emperor return victorious?

Back home, Weng Tongyi thought left and right. He immediately wrote two letters, one of which was handed over to the loyal and reliable servant to be sent to Ouyang Zhenhua in Tianjin, repeating the words of Yixin in the court, reminding him of the possible defeat of Cangzhou and asking him to prepare in advance. The other letter he personally took with him and came to the Yanjing headquarters of Shunfeng Logistics, and sent a telegram from here to Sun Jianai, who was far away in Shanghai, asking him to praise the 70,000 troops of Cangzhou in the "Business Times", and how to explain to the people of the world after they were completely defeated. This is not counting, Weng Tongyi used the power in his hands, just as the imperial court cut the supply of Tianzhuangtai at the beginning, and began to reduce the supply of various departments in Cangzhou.

The war between the Qing Dynasty has just ended, and the struggle for power between the Queen Mother and the Emperor has begun, and open guns and hidden arrows have begun to appear. is Li Hongzhang, who is still struggling to support the war in Cangzhou.

With the war between the Qing Dynasty was not conducive to the Qing Dynasty, after the emperor personally conquered Tianzhuangtai, in the name of the defeat of the front-line departments all the way, the Liao River killed the generals and established the prestige, drastically rectified the military, and incorporated the various departments into the temporary one, temporary two or two divisions, nominally still the Huai Army units, through a series of wars, the emperor has actually mastered the ownership of the two armies. After the victory of the Liaohe River, the emperor's practice of taking the lead made all the departments in Liaodong respect the emperor. The only ones that have not been adapted are Iktanga and Nie Shicheng. Iktanga is a general of Mukden and is not under his Li Hongzhang's dispatch, but Nie Shicheng went to North Korea at the moment. Li Hongzhang believes that when Nie Shicheng returns from North Korea, he will no longer be restrained by him. And Ding Ruchang's marines, the only one to rely on in Shandong, were transferred to Ryukyu by the emperor. And what surprised Li Hongzhang was the Pacific Fleet that suddenly appeared, if it was really purchased secretly by the emperor, then the emperor's city was also deeply terrifying. Where did such a huge amount of money come from? Speaking of the war in Shandong, the Huai army was defeated at the first touch. Finally, when reinforcements came from all over the country, although there were 70,000 people, Li Hongzhang understood that these 70,000 people were unreliable. finally waited for the emperor's first division, but he didn't want to listen to the tune or the announcement.

Beiyang is over, the Liaodong Huai Army has been absorbed by the emperor, and the Shandong Huai Army will be reorganized after the war, only the Beiyang Fleet still exists, but the sudden Pacific Fleet will definitely take the place of the Beiyang Fleet. Now, if you want to keep the last hope of Beiyang, you can only pin your trust on the Battle of Tianjin. Originally, there were not many supplies from the imperial court, in order to keep the last foundation of Beiyang, Li Hongzhang gritted his teeth and padd a lot by himself, the emperor did not give weapons, and now the imperial court still has to delay the payment of food and salary, forcing Li Hongzhang, who was helpless, to drag the sick body to the door to find Ouyang Zhenhua.

Inside the barracks, it was orderly. Inside the headquarters, the lights are bright. On the sand table, the flag is displayed. Seeing that everything had been prepared for the first division, Li Hongzhang was relieved. Li Hongzhang and Ouyang Zhenhua talked, and Li Hongzhang finally relaxed his tense nerves. It turned out that the emperor meant to let the first division be transferred directly to Cangzhou, but the court did not allow it. If the braving-type defense is pulled out with great fanfare, the emperor is worried that it will affect the morale of the front-line soldiers. Therefore, it can only be arranged in secret. At the same time, Ouyang Zhenhua proposed: Because the first division is insufficient, ask Li Hongzhang to send troops to assist in the deployment. The 1st Division could provide weapons and assist in training.

The first thing Li Hongzhang did when he returned home was to transfer the Huai army from Cangzhou back to Tianjin and hand over the command to Ouyang Zhenhua.

The battle of the Qing Dynasty has reached the final stage, and both sides of the Qing Dynasty against Cangzhou are making their last efforts, the only difference is that under the cover of Li Hongzhang, a huge pocket of the Third Army of the Qing Dynasty has been laid out. (To be continued.) )