"Smack", Zuo Zongtang threw the teacup off the ground.

Since the Russian artillery positions were attacked by surprise, more than 1,000 Russian riflemen and artillery soldiers were killed, and everything did not go well in the first battle of Jiangjiawan.

It was said that the men and horses who went to Huaihug to sneak attack the supply depot in the south were ambushed by others, and fled back in embarrassment after leaving hundreds of corpses.

Yesterday morning, the Pingyuan army in the direction of Yancheng came to help, and just happened to meet the Chuzhou militia group, and more than 1,000 people were wrapped in dumplings, and I heard that most of them surrendered.

Last night, Ding Youxi relied on the strong reinforcements on the right flank, and suddenly led three infantry battalions to attack Xuzhuang, and even broke through the defense line of the Wuyi Army in a row, forcing Zuo Zongtang's battalion to retreat into Baoying City.

Ding Youxi, really fierce, I saw it in the clairvoyant mirror, shirtless, charging in front of the battle with a machete in his hand, his body was dripping with blood, it was really like killing a god, and everywhere the T-shaped flag went, the officers and soldiers were brave and invincible.

Just now, I heard that the county magistrate of Funing County and the local squire led the militia to surrender to the enemy.

The heart of the army, Zuo Zongtang felt a little chilled in his heart. The Pingyuan army and the Yancheng reinforcements numbered about 10,000 people, in fact, it was a few big battles, and the losses of the Pingyuan army were not small, but they were able to organize an effective attack and win a victory that hit the morale of the northern country locally.

Hanjiawan is really like a chicken rib now, and he can't retreat and retreat, and if he wants to eat Nan Wei in one go, he can't get it.

Looking at the map silently, Zuo Zongtang fell into deep thought.

Inside the tent, none of the generals dared to say anything. Ilyich is more like a defeated rooster, although he is not convinced from his heart, he was just attacked by the Chinese, if he had enough infantry, he would definitely wash away this shame with a big victory, but now, he can only put away his arrogance and wait for orders from Yanjing and Rostock.

…… In fact, although there are coffee table sofa chairs in the east side hall, the bright yellow throne of the main seat is obviously higher than the sofa chairs on both sides, and sitting on the sofa chair to watch the regent is naturally a feeling of looking up.

"That's not a good idea." Ye Zhao waved his hand.

Li Xiaocun had just proposed that when the girls who had been spoiled by the Russian devils arrived in Jinling, they would take pictures of them and publish articles in newspapers around the country, condemning the Northern Dynasty and Tsarist Russia, and winning the sympathy and support of Britain and France, and at the same time making the people in the north and south recognize the essence of the northern country as a thief as their father.

The regent vetoed, Li Xiaocun was stunned, but he still bowed slightly, and he couldn't ask.

Ye Zhao said: "This matter can be reported in the newspaper, but any photography and the like, are exempted, when they come to the south, I will help them arrange it, and go to a stable place incognito, but the compensation must be compensated by Russia, write it down first, and then settle the general account with it." ”

Li Xiaocun said cautiously: "I'm afraid that just writing articles is not credible." ”

Ye Zhao said: "Don't worry about it, what does it matter if Europeans believe it or not?" It is your responsibility not to protect our people, and it has nothing to do with Europeans. In this world, interests are the main thing, Europeans, just want to make some benefits from us, he Russians are beasts, the whole of Europe knows about it, but what's the matter? ”

Li Xiaocun nodded silently.

Ye Zhao said coldly: "It's Yixin, it's getting worse and worse, even if he keeps this matter in the dark, he can't escape the blame." Go back and help me draft a letter, ask him if he wants to sell his ancestors, the letter told him that if he continues like this, he will wait to be bruised and scattered, and his ashes, I will personally bury him in Moscow, and he will be buried there! ”

He said: "Zuo Zongtang, I used to look up to him." He casually threw the green tea cup on a few places, and the lid of the bowl rang chaotically.

sighed, in fact, I can't complain about Zuo Zongtang about this, but in my heart, I am very aggrieved.

Li Xiaocun did not dare to speak, and it was rare to see the regent lose his temper.

After a while, Ye Zhao's tone gradually calmed down, and said: "Ruoxuan, everyone is born equal, and everyone is born unequal, tell me, what kind of world will we build in the future?" ”

In fact, a group of literati such as Li Jianchen, Zheng Zhen, and Li Xiaocun have begun to write books and theories, and have sorted out various articles of the regent to systematize them.

If Ye Zhao wants to change the dynasty, Li Xiaocun is the first pioneer, and he has already begun to prepare, laying the ideological foundation for the regent to be justified in the world in the future, and obtaining the name of righteousness.

At the beginning, Zheng Zhen proposed to replace the Qing Dynasty with the theory of five virtues, but after discussing with Li Jianchen, he felt that it was inappropriate, and it was obviously far from the regent's thoughts. And Li Xiaocun and the others don't know the true thoughts in the regent's heart at all, the regent has a splendid chest, far beyond everyone's eyes, and after following the regent for a long time, everyone has benefited a lot, but does the regent want to change the dynasty? No one knows about this, and no one dares to ask, and only those who are particularly close to them in private will occasionally talk about it vaguely, and no one will find out.

Li Xiaocun is not Harich, not Han Jinchun, not Zhao Sanbao, if these generals with heavy troops, they have their own way to force the regent to sit in the world, as a civil official, he can only look for opportunities to act.

At this time, when he suddenly heard the regent talking about the political affairs of the world, Li Xiaocun's body was shocked, and he didn't intervene, but only listened silently.

Ye Zhao continued: "Although all people are not created equal, I hope that in the future, China will have a relatively fair competitive environment, a fair political system and an economic system, and every citizen can be respected in this system. It's like these poor women, you have to protect their **, don't expose their bloody wounds all the time to serve the national system. This is to respect them. ”

Li Xiaocun nodded silently, chewing on the regent's words.

At this time, the guards hurried in and sent a telegram, and now the Soviet Union, southern Anhui, and Jingbei are full of beacons, and the battle reports are frequent.

Zhao Sanbao said in the telegram that the 20,000 men of the Western Expeditionary Corps to be formed had been recruited, and that they were now undergoing simple training to cross the Jinsha River from Yunnan and attack Ningyuan and insert themselves into Sichuan.

Ye Zhao pondered for a while and asked Li Xiaocun: "After receiving the banknotes, is it convenient to spend them?" "This month, the salaries of the various ministries of the Southern Dynasties, including Li Xiaocun and other ministers, all received banknotes.

Li Xiaocun said: "Listen to the people below, the restaurants and teahouses that I often go to do not refuse to accept paper money, but only small stalls, which often recognize copper coins and do not recognize paper money. ”

Ye Zhao snorted, it was a good start, but now a small part of the banknotes have just been dispersed, and I can only hear feedback from the big cities, and when all the 100 million banknotes are scattered, I am afraid it will not be so smooth.

However, 10 million silver dollars, even if all of them are exchanged for the Southern Dynasty and paid, there will be no big turmoil, in fact, now the banknotes are bankrupt for fear that after the issuance is large, there will be an exchange frenzy under the influence of rumors and the like, and the season will be really dangerous, so the issuance of this banknote must be controlled, and the efficiency of wealth creation must also keep up.

"Is Yuan Jiasan still sick?" Ye Zhao asked lightly.

"Yes." Li Xiaocun's expression was solemn, since Yuan Jiasan heard the news that the regent asked him to hand in his resignation, he immediately couldn't afford to be sick, it seems that he is not willing to retreat like this.

"If you are sick, you must take care of it even more." Ye Zhao picked up the tea bowl and took a sip.

Li Xiaocun said: "Yes, the minister will go to investigate Lord Yuan's condition in the afternoon." ”

Glancing at the chiming bell, Ye Zhao said: "You just go down, I will go to Shanghai to see the Queen Mother." ”

Going to Shanghai? Li Xiaocun was stunned for a while, after all, it can't be completely said that in the control of the southern kingdom, the prince insisted on removing Yuan Jiasan, and the relationship with the two palaces fell to the freezing point, and the battle between the palace was really bloody, no matter how high the regent prestige, but he couldn't be careless, there was nothing wrong with going to Shanghai.

But this matter is not something he can intervene in, so he can only bow down and leave.

Almost as soon as Ye Zhao said that he wanted Yuan Jiasan to retreat, Lan Guiren sent a telegram, saying that he was coming to Jinling to see Rong'er. However, when the steamer arrived in Shanghai, Lan Guiren took a telegram again, it turned out that yesterday it was said that explosives were found on the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway, and it was thought that the northerners intended to sabotage it, and this time Lan Guiren took the steamer very much and suffered some crimes, and did not want to enter the river ship to bump again. Lan Guiren's entourage was even more worried about his safety, and persuaded him to stay in Shanghai for two days and wait for the situation to stabilize before coming to Jinling.

With a basket of excuses, Ye Zhao didn't care what he was thinking, but he was waiting for her to come over.

Before leaving for Shanghai, Ye Zhao received a telegram from Su Zhong, because Zheng Zewu suddenly attacked southern Anhui, Miao Peilin's troops retreated very quickly, and Peng Yulin's left flank was completely exposed to the Pingyuan army.

Ye Zhao looked at the message and smiled, Miao Peilin has always been a mouse-eyed, and it seems that he can't change it in this life.

…… Lan Guiren stayed at the Hengdeli Hotel on Haige Road in Shanghai, so he naturally chartered the entire hotel. The Hengdeli Hotel is located in the public concession, Ye Zhao doesn't know if Lan Guiren's entourage really doesn't understand or deliberately has other plans, how can he live in the concession?

Ye Zhao came to Shanghai by ship, and it was already five watches when he arrived in Shanghai, so he took a short rest, and as soon as it was dark, Ye Zhao drove straight to the Hengdeli Hotel.

The three-storey Hengdeli Hotel looks resembling a small red palace from the outside.

Lan Guiren had just gotten up and was about to have breakfast, when Ye Zhao arrived.

Although Ye Zhao brought a lot of guards to Shanghai, but when he saw Lan Guiren, he only followed a dozen personal guards, compared to the heavily guarded Ouchi guards in the hotel, they were really overwhelmed.

Met Ye Zhao in the living room outside the luxury suite, Xiao Anzi and the two palace maids waited around, the fragrance in the house was pleasant, and it had already been smoked.

"Imperial sister-in-law, I can't imagine that you are used to living in this foreigner's house now." Sitting across the coffee table with Lan Guiren, Ye Zhao smiled slightly, to be honest, Lan Guiren sat on the sofa in a graceful manner, the small flag shoes, the gorgeous and honorable cheongsam, really had a different style, especially for Ye Zhao, it felt fresh. After all, the woman opposite is one of the most powerful women in history who has ruled most of China and is known for her stubbornness.

"Didn't eat, did you?" Lan Guiren asked lightly, with a snow-white face, and he couldn't see joy, anger and sorrow.

"Yes." As soon as Ye Zhao's words fell, a silver bowl and silver chopsticks were placed in front of him.

Glancing at An Dehai, Ye Zhao smiled and said, "Xiao Anzi, you are a powerful person." ”

Xiao Anzi's face turned pale, he didn't dare to answer, and bowed to the side.

Lan Guiren glanced at Ye Zhao a few times and said, "As a slave, what is not powerful, if he offends you somewhere, I will slap his mouth." ”

Ye Zhao smiled, didn't squeak, he knew, listening to his own words, it was like coming to a showdown, and Lan Guiren naturally couldn't see through what he was going to do.

I took a sip of fish porridge, which was light and slightly delicious, and tasted excellent. Ye Zhao said: "It's the first time for my brother to have breakfast with the imperial sister-in-law. ”

Lan Guidao: "When will you be free, it's time to have your own." ”

Ye Zhao nodded and said: "What the imperial sister-in-law said is that the younger brother also wants to be free, but the affairs of the court really make it difficult for the younger brother to worry, the battle of the Northern Expedition today, life and death, but Yuan Jiasan, who is keen on party strife and frames his colleagues, although the younger brother is sad, he knows that he is the imperial sister-in-law, but he can only slash the horse with tears." ”

Lan Guiren stared at Ye Zhao with a pretty eye and asked, "What you said in the telegram is not clear, who is Yuan Jiasan fighting with, and how is he fighting for the law?" Framing a colleague, who did he hurt? Is there a basis for this? ”

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "Isn't there any weight in the words of the minister?" ”

Lan Guiren glanced at him, and slowly scooped the porridge with a spoon.

Both of them stopped talking, and after breakfast, the palace maid removed the dishes and chopsticks, served the fragrant tea and withdrew.

Ye Zhao picked up the teacup several times and put it down again, Lan Guiren slowly tasted the tea, and said, "How is Rong'er doing?" I haven't seen her for a long time, but I really miss her, are you still so noisy? ”

Ye Zhao slowly put down the teacup in his hand and sighed: "Imperial sister-in-law, it turns out that family affection is just a floating cloud in your eyes. ”

Lan Guiren said quietly: "What do you mean by this? ”

Ye Zhao let out a long breath and said, "The imperial sister-in-law saw that I didn't move the teacup for a long time, and she asked her brother to slack off with Rong'er, just because she wanted her brother to drink this cup of tea." ”

Lan Guiren said: "I don't understand this. ”

Ye Zhao smiled: "Doesn't the imperial sister-in-law think that there is really a soft tendon in the world? ”

Although Ye Zhao's laughter was soft, it was like a thunderbolt in the ears of Lan Guiren, and the small white jade tea bowl in his hand shook, splashing a little tea.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Xiao Anzi hurriedly clapped his hands, and slapped a few times with force, but there was no one outside, and he immediately pounced on Ye Zhao, but was kicked in the chest by Ye Zhao, and he retreated and sat on the ground.

Ye Zhao frowned and said, "In front of the imperial sister-in-law, I really don't want to see blood. He shouted, "Someone! ”

The door was pushed open, and two female guards came in and dragged Xiao Anzi out.

Ye Zhao said lightly: "Imperial sister-in-law, this fang sows discord, makes you and my uncle and sister-in-law centrifuge, and intends to design to harm me, but I can't keep it." ”

Lan Guiren finally turned pale and said, "Don't hurt him, everything is easy to discuss." ”

As he spoke, he heard the voice of the guards outside: "Master, An Dehai has been corrected. ”

Lan Guiren was stunned, his body shook, and he leaned softly on the sofa.

Ye Zhao slowly tasted the tea, and saw that he was poor, where should he go?

If it is said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs cannot fully control the intelligence of the northern country, but the two palaces are first-class surveillance objects, An Dehai hooked up with the Englishman Hendry, how could Ye Zhao not know?

After the failure to buy An Dehai, the real inside line of the Internal Affairs Office had already changed, and Rui Si later threatened An Dehai, which was just a smoke bomb.

Xiao Anzi has been in contact with Hendry for more than a day or two, and I think it is also the instruction of Lan Guiren. She wanted to take down Yuan Jiasan, which made Lan Guiren feel a real danger, even if she didn't mean to see the truth with herself before coming to Shanghai, but she suddenly ran to the realm under her control, how could she let go of such a God-given opportunity?

Hendry, who had the background of India's new viceroy Bao Ling, had already promised Xiao Anzi that the British would be willing to help the Southern Dynasties stabilize the situation if the Chinese regent died violently. In fact, Hengdeli also has a very close relationship with the northern kingdom, and he wants to harm himself, but it may not be the intention of Bao Ling.

In the Lan nobles, with the support of the British, needless to say, the civil officials, the admirals and the regent died violently, as long as the high-ranking officials are generous, they will not turn back, as for the matchmaker, in the Soviet Union and the north of the hard battle, even if the south is against the south, it is just to fend for itself, there is no need to worry at all, it is best to fight with the north to lose both.

And it is more prudent to first use soft tendons to make yourself incapacitated, force yourself to write a few suicide notes, and then cut off your own head.

However, how did Lan Guiren and Hengdeli know that this Hengdeli Hotel Xiangli had already been bought by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the miscellaneous servants recruited by them yesterday were all from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Having personally experienced the bloody court, Ye Zhao also sighed, sometimes, it is really either you die or I die, in fact, the current battle between the north and the south does not seem to be the time for the two sides to fight, but Lan Guiren's eyes are extremely poisonous, so he chose this unguardable opportunity.

Of course, he forced Yuan Jiasan to the palace and sent it to the door with a greater swagger, where would Lan Guiren be willing to let go of the God-given opportunity?

Ye Zhao looked at Lan Guiren and said lightly: "Imperial sister-in-law, is it possible that Rong'er is a widow, can you bear it?" ”

Lan Guiren suddenly smiled, slowly sat up straight, and said, "What's so big about being a widow? He picked up the teacup, took a sip slowly, and said, "If we don't kill you, we will die after all." ”

Ye Zhao shook his head and said: "You are wrong, I told you, keep you safe for a lifetime, no matter what happens in the future, you and the Queen Mother will eventually enjoy the honor of a lifetime." I keep these words in my heart all the time. ”

Lan Guiren sneered: "You still dare to say that you don't have the intention of usurping the throne? ”

Ye Zhao nodded and said, "Yes, sister-in-law, the ninety-five position, who doesn't want to sit down?" "You don't have to declare your ambitions in your heart. He also said: "But the two imperial sisters-in-law and Zailian, I will never harm your surname, and the imperial sister-in-law can enjoy the throne of the queen mother forever." Zailian, if you can Zen the best, but the worst is only to confine it, maybe, there will be a day to marry a wife and have children. ”

Lan Guiren was silent and said, "What are you going to do with me?" ”

Ye Zhao said lightly: "If the imperial sister-in-law is willing to help me, after Jingxiang sits in the Dragon Court, the imperial sister-in-law still enjoys the glory of the queen mother, if the imperial sister-in-law is not willing to help me, I haven't figured out how to deal with the imperial sister-in-law for a while." He said: "Imperial sister-in-law, I really can't figure it out, even if Zailian becomes the emperor, he is not your own child, and I heard that the relationship with you is not good, what do you want?" ”

Thinking about it, I want to make the transition smooth for Little Brother Chan, and if I can help the nobles of Lalan, I naturally hope to increase greatly.

To create an opportunity for Lan Guiren to get rid of herself, is to completely subdue this woman, she has to harm herself first, even if she kills her, then she can't complain.

Now she is in a difficult situation, life and death are in her own thoughts, and cutting off the head of Xiao Anzi, a confidant, certainly makes her hate herself, but it is also a great shock, making her feel isolated and helpless immediately, and she will clearly understand that it may be a life and death choice in front of her.

Since he was determined to take down Yuan Jiasan, Ye Zhao knew that the matter of the Hou Party could no longer be delayed, and he could not let it swell and flourish, pulling Lan Guiren into his camp, in fact, he had this idea for a long time, when he wanted to marry Rong Er, he had a vague idea of borrowing his power, but the world is unpredictable, and he didn't expect it to get to this point, but Lan Guiren's position in his chessboard is still important.

Lan Guiren was silent for a while, and said: "Jing Xiang, I have been thinking about it seven years ago, what is going on in your head, if my expectations are right, your ambition is not a day or two. ”

Ye Zhao laughed: "Our sisters are half a catty, no one should laugh at anyone." "In fact, if you want to say that Lan Guiren may not have much ambition now, but there is nothing wrong with being scheming and liking power.

Lan Guiren didn't answer his words, stared at him with a pretty eye, and said, "I said I would help you, do you believe it?" ”

Ye Zhao said with a smile: "Letter, and the younger brother will immediately send the imperial sister-in-law back to Guangzhou, if the imperial sister-in-law goes back on her word, it will never be Jingxiang who will regret it." ”

Listening to Ye Zhao's naked threat, Lan Guiren stayed for a while, how many years, how could a man dare to talk nonsense in front of her? Not to mention such a strong threat to her.

"Okay, I'll help you!" Lan Guiren said quietly.

Ye Zhao smiled and said: "Imperial sister-in-law, you are the queen mother, Rong'er is the queen, how glorious is our family, how glorious are you Yehenara?" I will never fail you. ”

Lan Guiren's eyes flashed, he didn't know what to think, and said: "I'll go back to Jinling with you, and I'll help you do Yuan Jiasan's affairs." ”

Ye Zhao glanced at her a few times and bowed slightly.

On the train back to Jinling, Lan Guiren sat beside Ye Zhao, but what surprised Ye Zhao was that Lan Guiren actually picked up a small teapot and poured him a cup of tea, and there were only a few female guards at the front and back of the carriage, and they would not look this way.

Lan Guiren didn't speak, and poured himself another glass.

Ye Zhao took a sip of the teacup, since she had come to this point, she hoped that she would stop scheming and cooperate with herself obediently, otherwise, she could only find a way to get rid of her, Rong'er, she really couldn't explain.

In fact, with her intelligence, she should be able to understand that it is the best choice to cooperate with herself and get on her own boat now.

Tasting tea, Ye Zhao asked, "Sister-in-law, what did the Queen Mother say about me?" ”

Lan Guidao: "Every time she teaches Zailian, she doesn't pay much attention to these. ”

This woman is loving and upright, patiently doing her duty, and waiting for the little brother to govern herself. Ye Zhao sighed softly, feeling sorry for Niu Colu's family, how can he feel no different from the white-faced King of Annihilation now?

However, if this country continues to sit down by Aixin Jueluo's family, what will it look like?

Ye Zhao slowly tasted tea, thinking about all kinds of possibilities, and his heart gradually became firm.

(To be continued)