Forbidden City, Chuxiu Palace.

Early in the morning, excerpts and telegrams from the Prime Minister's Yamen were sent in a hurry, and without even breathing, they rushed to the Xinuan Pavilion.

Xiao Dezhang, who had just been promoted to become a harem eunuch, personally held it in, and when he handed it to Li Lianying, he quietly made a look. Manager Li's eyes were slightly pinched, and he nodded imperceptibly, Xiao Dezhang bowed his head very intelligently and retreated to the door, and covered the door and went out. As soon as he turned around, he waited on the edge of the porch, listening attentively to the movement inside.

It has only been five years since he entered the palace, and Xiao Dezhang has struggled all the way from a low-level imperial tea shop to the position where he can often see the Queen Mother Lafayette, and the price of his hard work is indescribable. But the main thing is that he is naturally smart and clever, and he has a vision that is far beyond ordinary people.

Recently, there have been rumors in the palace and outside the palace, and rumors have spread everywhere in the capital, and the dignitaries, nobles, businessmen, and big families are panicking, and no one can tell when the Yang Reverse Revolutionary Army will come over. The masters in the palace are becoming more and more moody, and they are difficult to serve.

The more times like this, the more great opportunities for talents to emerge. Xiao Dezhang decisively hugged Li Lianying's thighs, trying to ensure that he did not forget to pay attention to the outside news at any time in addition to the frequency of his appearance in front of the Queen Mother.

If something really happens, if the two palaces flee out of Beijing again, he must fight for a place to accompany him. Maybe serving along the way will be able to earn a reputation that is not inferior to Li Lianying. If you want to get ahead, you have to dare to gamble.

Therefore, on the way to the interior with the excerpt telegram, I never forgot to take the opportunity to inquire. Whether it's good news or bad news has to be clarified first. Then let Li Lianying be mentally prepared in advance. Be prepared.

Don't look at it, it is just a few minutes and ten minutes of buffer from the transfer to the review, but it is enough for Li Lianying to figure out the words of flattery and comfort, and promise not to say anything wrong. Just because of this cleverness, Manager Li will not forget to carry him.

In turn, Xiao Dezhang also has to pay attention to the movements inside at any time, and after getting the letter, he will pass it on to the people outside to know, and make good money in two clicks.

But that's not good news today. You don't have to get angry. It is more likely to trigger a series of earth-shattering changes, which must be carefully watched.

I all know that Lafayette's temper is not good in recent days, and people inside and outside Chuxiu Palace are all careful, if they touch the moldy head, they will be beaten to death with a stick, and there is no place to cry injustice. The eunuchs and palace maids who came and went were all lightly legged, and they didn't dare to breathe out of the atmosphere.

In the silence, the voice in the Xinuan Pavilion was exceptionally clear.

"Smack!"

The sound of porcelain smashing on the ground and exploding to pieces suddenly came, and some pieces of shards flew up and fell on the door. There was a crackling sound of smashing.

Xiao Dezhang's neck shrank suddenly, and the appearance of an enamel porcelain vase subconsciously appeared in his head. At the same time, another thought involuntarily popped up: "This should be the nine-colored enamel bottle, which can be sold for a hundred yuan when it is taken to the glaze factory, or changed to a 'permanent' bicycle." ”

Then he came to his senses, patted his head gently, and secretly said, "Phew, what kind of mess is going on in this dog's head." It's all about what is going on, and I still care about those ones. But this can't rely on me, who made the big guys prepare to break up and desperately save money to buy belongings. ”

Since the appearance of Yang Hao's foreign goods, the business of the antique industry in the capital has skyrocketed countless times, calligraphy, painting, porcelain, agate, jade, jade, etc., as long as it is genuine, it is what to catch. In particular, the objects flowing out of the palace are highly sought after. For example, the incomplete "Yongle Canon", one can be exchanged for a bicycle, or a large set of silver and steel tableware.

If it is placed in a peaceful and prosperous era, only a very few people dare to steal and sell it. But now people are panicking, whether it is the queen mother or the emperor, no one has the heart to pay attention to this, and the internal affairs government can't figure out the accounts, who cares about other things.

If Xiao Dezhang wants to climb up in the palace, he must continue to honor Li Lianying and other big names, it is not enough to rely on the pocket flowers given from outside, and he also takes advantage of his position to go out with some things every once in a while. Coming and going, the price of what is and how much is marked, is marked in his heart. Usually there is nothing to go in and out, and he has marked the objects he touches with his eyes.

Recently, the Queen Mother Lafayette has a strong liver and a bad temper, beating people and smashing things at every turn, banging, and all that is money! Xiao Dezhang couldn't help but feel distressed.

But now is not the time to worry about that. The telegram sent in today is very bad, I'm afraid it's going to cause a big mess, he has to find out the inside story as soon as possible, this is related to his own net worth comfort.

Energetic, I heard the rough voice shouted inside: "Waste! It's all rice buckets! Birthdays and birthdays are not allowed to pass, what's the matter, this is not even a year to let people stop? The Sixth Prince? Rong Lu? How did their prime minister's yamen get on an errand?! Didn't those foreigners say that they smashed stones to build roads in Tianjin, why did they run into the navy? Is there still a letter on point? ”

Xiaode Zhang Xin said: "Well, the matter involves foreigners, and it must be trivial." ”

Don't look at him young, his brain is not stupid at all. The wind and grass outside are moving, and he is clear. A few days ago, the navy defeated the multinational coalition forces, captured a large number of prisoners and returned them, and let them work as coolies. Countless people in and outside Beijing talked about this matter, and shouted loudly.

The two houses also secretly rejoiced. Originally, they were afraid that the revolutionary army surnamed Yang would come to the capital, but now they have offended the foreigners fiercely, and then wait to see how many powerful countries join forces to clean up that arrogant boy!

The prime minister's yamen was full of spirits, and he discussed with a group of foreign diplomatic envoys all day and night to raise how to cooperate to destroy the surname Yang. It's been a month, and Zhun Xin'er hasn't come down yet, and the group of foreigners who are cold suddenly helped the navy?

"What kind of singing is this! That kind of person suffered such a big loss and didn't retaliate, and went up to help, is this still an arrogant and unreasonable foreigner? ”

Xiao Dezhang understands a little why Lafayette is so angry. What the two palaces are most afraid of is that the foreigners will turn to support the Yang Wei Revolutionary Army and partner to carve up the Great Qing Kingdom. So come on. But there's really no hope at all. Here's what happened. Isn't it a sign that things are going bad?

He continued to keep an eye on it. I listened to Li Hongzhang's shy old face and comforted: "Lafayette, don't be angry!" It's just that, and there's a lot of bends going around it. The foreigner never refused to suffer, and the man surnamed Yang sank dozens of his large warships, and tens of thousands of people died, so he must be returned! ”

Cixi sighed faintly: "Alas, it's all useless!" As soon as Li Hongzhang's old thing left, he couldn't even find out a quasi-letter, who else could I count on? Go. Call Rong Lu a few times. ”

Li Lianying secretly breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly agreed, and came out to instruct Xiao Dezhang: "Little monkey cub, don't patronize and listen to the movement, how can you say the words?" ”

Xiao Dezhang bowed his head humbly: "Whatever you always command, the little one will say." ”

Li Lianying sneered, didn't say anything, and gave him a few names dryly, flicked her sleeves and went back.

Xiao De opened his face down, his eyes purring. But he refused to show a strange expression. He knew very well that he was on an errand in the palace. No one can believe that if you are not careful, you may be in a different place.

Although he hugged Li Lianying's thigh, Manager Li was very wary of him, for fear that this young and handsome little rabbit cub would rob Lafayette's heart. So on the bright side, the two of them have a posture of humility and humility, and their cooperation is also decent. But when it comes to doing practical things, they still dig holes and stumble with each other.

For example, in today's work of spreading the word, what is the content, how to say, and the specific ones, there are all particulars. One is wrong, it is an offending person inside and out, so it is not so easy to be a slave of close ministers.

Although Xiao Dezhang's qualifications are shallow, he is smart and clever. Compared with Li Lianying's flattery and domineering and arrogantness, he is more sleek and soft, and his ability to serve people and say good things is first-class. This is also the main reason why she was able to quickly win the favor of the Empress Dowager Cixi.

He didn't dare to slack off when he was assigned, and trotted all the way forward to find someone to pass the word.

Rong Lu and the others played in front of the emperor of the Qianqing Palace, and they didn't dare to slack off when they heard the call of Lafayette. Seeing Xiao Dezhang's silent silver ticket stuffed over, he asked in a low voice: "Grandpa Zhang, is Lafayette in a good mood over there?" ”

Xiao Dezhang reminded him carefully, it's all for the sake of foreigners, so you adults should be careful to reply.

Rong Lu understood, and hurriedly went to the back with his trouser legs.

When she arrived at Chuxiu Palace, the Empress Dowager Cixi listened to the greetings of several ministers with a cold face, and said sickly: "It's okay, I'm not angry!" I said Rong Lu wow, your tens of millions of silver have also been spent, but is the new army trained wow? Just watching those chaotic ministers and thieves toss and turn, can't even have a peaceful birthday? ”

Rong Lu is most afraid of Cixi's tone of not yin and yang, that is really angry. hurriedly replied with a careful smile: "Back to Lafayette, the training time of the new army is still short, and the guns and equipment have not yet been fully delivered, so it will take three or five months to fight back against Yang Yi." But don't worry, they are now making that 'land reform' is making all parts of Zhili Shandong angry and resentful, and they may not wait for the imperial army to conquer, and they will collapse the righteous people below! ”

Being prepared is different, and a slight turn of the tone attracted Cixi's attention.

"Land reform? Is it the thing that is rumored outside to 'fight local tyrants and divide the land'? Do they really want to toss all those mud legs to eat big households? This is not like Yang Dingshi's actions! ”

The revolutionary army's land reform in the occupied areas could not be concealed, and some landlords who had been heavily indebted fled when they heard the news, and many of them had already fled to the capital of Zhili. However, after a few hands and then passed to Cixi's ears, it has actually changed its taste. Originally, the punishment of some bullies and lawbreakers who had great public resentment has become the "killing the rich and helping the poor" and "equalizing the rich and the poor" of the rebel army since ancient times.

The people of Beijing are not stupid, Tianjin is in front of them, and you can see clearly the truth and falsehood. Therefore, although the news is evil, because of the clear explanation in the "Guowen Daily" and what I have seen with my own eyes in Tianjin, people will be suspicious and not very panicked.

Yang Hao's first "land reform" in southwest and northern Shandong was relatively mild and controllable. While liquidating those local tyrants and shoddy gentry with conclusive evidence, the hooligans and scoundrels who pretended to be the revolutionary army took advantage of the fire to rob were even more painfully killed, and their heads were cut off and blood flowed like a river. This is undoubtedly offending people at both ends, and the landlord Lao Cai's gang demonizes them with false rumors; The hooligans and scoundrels criticized them for not paying attention to morality in the rivers and lakes, and gradually gathered in the northern part of Lubei, and connected them everywhere in the name of practicing boxing, and there was a faint tendency to form "Yihe Boxing".

Cixi and Manchu officials thought that Yang Hao was not strong enough to control the revolutionary army, and there was already a mountaineering doctrine at the bottom, and he came to chaos in order to grab land and interests. Since ancient times, as long as the rebel army reaches this point, it basically begins to decline. Even if it can temporarily sweep the ground in several provinces, it is easy to collapse because it has lost the support of the people.

Of course, if everything is as they have heard.

Rong Lu's gang of talents don't care, they typically report good news but not bad news, patting their chests and packing tickets: "Please Lafayette be relieved, Yang is not forgiving for his perverse crimes, and now the foreign governments of all countries are actively discussing how to levy them." It's just that it has to cross tens of thousands of miles of oceans, and the stakes are big, and Yang Cheng has thousands of hostages in his hands, and he can't make decisions for a while. However, the British, the French, the Russians, and the Germans all made a package ticket, and when the spring of the following year was warm, their army would come east to suppress the bandits. ”

It sounds like good news! Cixi's gloomy heart shone again, the corners of her drooping eyes lifted up, and she asked slowly, "Oh? What do you mean? But how can you say that those foreigners have gone to help them drive troop ships? ”

Rong Lu hurriedly explained: "Go back to Lafayette." Yang is treacherous and sneaky, deliberately making people induce foreigners to incur large debts with fine wine and food, and then use this to hold hostage and persecute. In desperation, they had to get on the boat on an errand. The ministers of various countries also said this, promising that they would never help Yang Yi to oppose the imperial court. ”

Cixi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded: "No wonder. You say that those foreigners are also strange, the guns and artillery ships are exquisitely built, but they can't cook, they eat raw meat and drink cold water one by one. When I arrived at our Daqing realm, I was reluctant to let go when I met a delicious person, but let the kid surnamed Yang steal the opportunity. Rong Lu, find someone to talk to them, if you want to eat and drink well, you have to look at our capital. I really like it, and the imperial chefs in the palace can lend them a long insight. ”

Rong Lu's face was full of joy: "Lafayette Shengming, presumably those foreigners heard it, and they must be grateful and try their best to repay!" ”

A group of masters and minions laughed when they thought they had a plan.

Rong Lu secretly wiped his sweat in private, but Nima coped with it.

With a relieved kind word, I really heard that foreigners would not be in cahoots with Yang Hao's wolf, and both the Hou Party and the Imperial Party were all overjoyed, thinking that this winter would probably be able to pass well.

Yang Hao seemed to be expected by them, and there was no sign of attack in the following days, and everyone up and down was busy laughing at the large number of Qing troops who came in and training recruits. But it is impossible to say that he did not move at all.

From Shandong to Shanhaiguan in Zhili, countless working groups took advantage of the gap between the winter farming slack and under the escort of the army, steadily promoted the "land reform" operation in every village step by step with the momentum of mercury pouring out the land. We have continuously consolidated the foundation of the masses, and the cable broadcasting, literacy classes, and science popularization propaganda teams have been promoted simultaneously, and the nails have been pulled out one by one. Accompanied by an unlimited number of printed materials, every crime of the bully and gentry who was sentenced in public trial was made public.

It was not until the Spring Festival passed, in March 1896, that the ice and snow melted, the earth warmed up, and the revolutionary army quietly pulled up a huge scale of 100,000 field troops, 200,000 regular troops, and 500,000 reserves within the jurisdiction of the revolutionary army.

At the same time, the revolutionary army also quietly completed the encirclement of the capital, from Kaifeng Prefecture in the south to Yongping Mansion in the north, and the naval fleet cut off the Yangtze River, cutting the northern land and forming a steady imminent deployment.

On March 13, the revolutionary army landed from Liaodong without warning, and the long-planned spring offensive of Song Qing's Yi army surrounded the north and south, and officially broke out! (To be continued......)