Subsequently, Li Hongzhang landed at the mouth of Dagu, and Ren Chao led a group of civil and military officials to Tianjin to meet Li Hongzhang in person.

And Ren Chao didn't come empty-handed this time, and at the same time he also carried the holy decree of Emperor Guangxu, which was naturally given to Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang was officially appointed as the prime minister of the cabinet, promoted to the title of first-class Su Yi Gong, and was rewarded with three dazzling flowers.

After the extermination of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Twist Army, Li Hongzhang was only made an earl. After the First Sino-Japanese War, Ren Chao was named a first-class marquis, while Li Hongzhang had no merit and hard work, and was also promoted to a first-class marquis. And this time, he was promoted to a first-class public title. You must know that this is the first Han official to be awarded the title of duke since the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the customs. The title of this duke was naturally won by Ren Chao for Li Hongzhang. To Ren Chao's surprise, Emperor Guangxu agreed without hesitation, maybe Emperor Guangxu also counted on Li Hongzhang to suppress Ren Chao, a chaotic minister and thief, but Emperor Guangxu was destined to be disappointed this time.

Li Hongzhang was grateful, and knelt on the ground to thank the emperor again and again, until the guards next to him helped Li Hongzhang up, and Li Hongzhang still muttered to himself, "The emperor's grace is mighty!" The old minister has nothing to repay, only by doing his best and dying, can he repay the emperor's grace! ”

Ren Chao couldn't help but roll his eyes, why don't you know thank me, if it weren't for me, even if you died, you would only be posthumously awarded a first-class marquis, and now you are not dead, you will be promoted to duke, this is all the credit of Lao Tzu. Although he complained for a while, Ren Chao was still very happy, after all, after Li Hongzhang, an old thing, came to Beijing, he saved himself a lot of trouble, "Lord Zhongtang has been tired all the way, so let's rest early!" I'll leave first, and it's not too late for us to return to Beijing early tomorrow morning. Ren Chao said respectfully to Li Hongzhang.

"Zifeng! Don't be in a hurry to leave, the old man still has something to tell you. Li Hongzhang waved his hand and said.

"Yes!" Ren Chao responded, and stood aside respectfully and waited.

After everyone left, Li Hongzhang drove everyone out. There were only two people left in the living room, Li Hongzhang and Ren Chao, and Li Hongzhang said slowly, "Zifeng! There are no outsiders here today, and there will never be a third person who knows what you say to me. Can you give me an account here, and what are your plans for in the future? Li Hongzhang looked at Ren Chao with a sincere face, naturally hoping that Ren Chao could give a true answer.

Ren Chao didn't expect this Li Hongzhang to be so direct, he was stunned for a moment, and then asked with a puzzled face, "Humble and stupid." I really don't understand the meaning of Nakado-sama's words. ”

"You don't understand? Do you have to let the old man explain it? Li Hongzhang said with a sneer.

"Then what does Nakado-sama think I should do?" Ren Chao did not answer Li Hongzhang's question, but kicked the question to Li Hongzhang again.

Li Hongzhang sighed and said, "Since ancient times, none of the rebels and thieves who have plotted to usurp the dynasty have ended well, I hope Zifeng can learn from history, and don't make a foolish thing that will become hated for thousands of years!" ”

"Lord Zhongtang is serious, he has always been loyal to the country, and he has never had two hearts. This move can be seen by heaven and earth, and the sun and the moon can be seen. The lowly office has never thought of being a traitorous minister and thief, and although the lowly office is dull, it will not do such a stupid thing. Everything he did before his humble post was for the sake of the country's long-term peace and stability. Be able to prosper and be strong! Ren Chao said sincerely.

After Li Hongzhang looked at Ren Chao for a long time, he sighed helplessly and said, "I'm relieved that you can say that, I hope you can remember today's words." If there is a violation in the future, it will inevitably be indignant, and it will be too late to regret it. ”

"Humble duty, remember the teachings of Lord Zhongtang." Ren Chao said respectfully.

"Yes!" Li Hongzhang shook his head, "It seems that my old bones are really missing." I didn't do anything this day, and I was already exhausted. ”

"Since Lord Nakado is tired, let's rest early! Retire from your duties! Ren Chao hurriedly got up and said. Seeing that Li Hongzhang nodded slightly, Ren Chao turned around and walked out. At the moment of turning around, the corners of Ren Chao's mouth couldn't help but show a smile. I only said that I would not commit treason, but I never said that I would not oppose the Qing Dynasty. When I am referring to the country, I am referring to China, not to the Qing Dynasty. Now is not to overthrow the Qing Dynasty immediately, it is just that the time has not yet come.

Li Hongzhang looked at the back of Ren Chao leaving, and couldn't help sighing again, Li Hongzhang naturally wouldn't be stupid enough to believe Ren Chao because of a sentence, but now that Ren Chao has become a wing, even Li Hongzhang can't compete with him.

Li Hongzhang then returned to Beijing and officially announced his appointment as prime minister. Li Hongzhang's first move after taking office was to reorganize the cabinet, hoping to take this opportunity to seize the central power. This move was naturally supported by Emperor Guangxu, and Li Hongzhang's return to Beijing finally gave Emperor Guangxu a glimmer of hope.

With the strong support of Emperor Guangxu, a new cabinet was soon introduced. Except for Ren Chao, who is still serving as the vice premier of the cabinet and concurrently serving as the secretary of the Ministry of the Army, the rest of the cabinet members have all been replaced by Li Hongzhang's cronies and former ministers. Although these cabinet ministers have been replaced by cronies of Emperor Guangxu and Li Hongzhang, Ren Chao is not inactive, at least among the ten cabinet departments, the War Department naturally needs to be said, this is completely Ren Chao's world. Although the secretary of the Admiralty has been replaced by the former ministers of the Beiyang Naval Division, this is just an empty yamen. The fleets of the Navy are still directly subordinate to Ren Chao.

As for the other ministries, the heads of each ministry have basically changed, but Ren Chao also arranged a group of cronies in important positions in each ministry. In fact, the entire cabinet was overstepped by Ren Chao. Ren Chao's idea is also very simple, you old guys can play as much as you want in the Prime Minister's Yamen, as long as you don't make trouble for me. But out of the prime minister's yamen, Lao Tzu still has the final say.

Therefore, Li Hongzhang and others only nominally controlled the power center of the Beijing government, while the northern provinces were basically firmly controlled by Ren Chao. At best, the decrees of the new cabinet could only reach a few provinces in the south and northwest. Even in provinces where the tiger army did not fully control the provinces, most of the local officials did not buy the accounts of the new cabinet. The reason is very simple, although the new cabinet has been replaced by Li Hongzhang's people, the new policies that were previously implemented have not been abolished. These new policies undoubtedly touched the interests of these local powerful factions, so most of these local powerful factions did not buy the accounts of the new cabinet, which further restricted the rights of the new cabinet, and the new cabinet was basically equivalent to nothing. However, Li Hongzhang was not idle, and secretly developed his strength in these places in an attempt to bring down Ren Chao. (To be continued......)

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