When all countries are waiting for China and Japan to fight, it is very strange that in the next half a month, the two sides actually maintained a strange calm.

On the Japanese side, the remaining 5,000 soldiers were still stationed around Seoul, and another wing was urgently mobilized to supplement the disabled 11th Wing. However, most of its naval strength was withdrawn at once, especially the capital ships such as "Yoshino" and "Matsushima" could not even see a shadow!

On the Qing side, after a period of public opinion, apart from continuing to collect troops to go to Tianjin, there was no sign of a big move. It seems that the previous outbreak was just an accident. Li Hongzhang even continued to contact the great powers all day long to discuss the possibility of mediation.

July 14, inside the Summer Palace.

Li Lianying bent her waist pole, with the hand of the Empress Dowager Cixi on her arm, carefully moved her steps forward, matching the steps of the woman who was over sixty years old.

Cixi looked like she was in her forties, not only did her hair dye like a crow like a girl, but her skin was also soft and delicate, and she looked refreshed.

She held Li Lianying's arm, her eyes slightly closed, as if she was enjoying the rare coolness in the summer. But the words that came out of his mouth made Eunuch Li sound like thunder: "Little Lizi, didn't you say that you were going to fight before, why haven't you moved in the past few days?" The emperor has issued three holy decrees, and Li Hongzhang has pushed them back? ”

Li Lianying's head quickly guessed her true intentions, and her mouth played a round field: "Xu is Lord Li who is thinking about your honor, and I am afraid that I will make a big move, and it will be difficult to clean up." It's not. It's about pulling the British and the Russians to negotiate. On the Goryeo side, all the Japanese warships withdrew. The minion figured out. Maybe the Japanese people have suffered a loss, and they know how powerful we are. Don't you dare to make a fuss? ”

Cixi laughed a few times, and said nonchalantly: "You old dog, you don't need to fool me with these words." I couldn't hear the movement in the streets, but I could see what the newspapers were talking about. Didn't you mention it just now, saying that the emperor can't eat enough, just to save money to buy a large military ship and fight our Qing Kingdom? ”

Li Lianying's body trembled slightly, her eyes looked at the ground, and she gurgled around. The mouth hurriedly coped: "Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from Lafayette's eyes." That's what the newspaper says, but the real or false minions don't know. Why don't you send Li Zhongtang to tell you about it? ”

Cixi stopped, glanced at him, and said with a smile: "Did you take the benefits of others again and help say good things?" ”

Li Lianying smiled, raised her hand and gently gave herself a small mouth: "Let your eyelids be shallow." Slaves are guilty ....... ”

Cixi waved her hand: "Okay, okay!" They are filial, and they don't let you take it. I just thought, no matter what kind of fuss that one person is. Hurry up and get him a good idea. Otherwise, this day will not be able to live. ”

"Huh! The minions will go back and tell them to go! ”

Li Lianying's heart was a little relaxed, and she agreed without a word. Secretly ruthless. Turning around, he cleaned up the bastard who casually brought newspapers to the palace. Not sensible! There are some layouts, so you shouldn't show it to Lafayette!

What he is worried about is the content of the several issues of the "National News Daily" these days.

Since the end of last month, the slogan of war has been loud. The exclusive news sent by the "National News" is also becoming more and more popular. First of all, he made public the fact that Emperor Muren had reduced his internal money and that officials had collectively donated 10% of their salaries to buy large warships, and incidentally exposed the performance parameters of the "Fuji-class" battleships. This caused a sensation in the government and the opposition!

For the crazy expansion of the Japanese army. People of insight were certainly worried, and they made suggestions and suggestions to expand the Beiyang Naval Division to prepare for a strong enemy. The point is that there are some people who are bold and unfatal. actually poked out the fact that the imperial court spent 30 million taels to repair the garden!

If you poke it out, it's a little ugly at best. But they didn't know where the news came from, and the first few people in the palace colluded with outside suppliers to spread the secret of doubling the price of wood and stone tenfold!

At this moment, she almost pulled Li Lianying into it. If he hadn't reacted quickly and immediately pinched the middleman, Cixi's question today would be enough for him to sleep for three days! Besides, it may not be the intention of beating him just now.

What's more, it is some people of unknown origin who have privately learned to run some illegal newspapers and distribute them everywhere. In these newspapers, they are so daring! openly claimed that it was Cixi who embezzled the purchase fees of the Beiyang Navy Division and went to repair the Three Seas. In addition, the fact that the navy's expenses have been continuously reduced in the past ten years, and the artillery of the guide ships has not been updated for many years, and the whole thing is lagging behind the mainstream of the world, is poked out!

No matter how ruthless it is, simply compare the Japanese imperial family with the Qing Dynasty and belittle their own family from various angles. The words of no king and no father in it, Li Lianying didn't dare to look at it! What are they talking about? The Manchus never considered themselves Chinese. They don't care if they fight to the death outside, and if they lose the land reparations, they will have to pay the people of the whole country when they turn back! The Manchurians, who eat hardcore crops, will only stand aside and say cool words. Big deal, they can also go back to Liaodong to drill the old forest!

…… Listen to what that's all about! I'm going to die!

The yamen of Shuntianfu and Tianjin Province sent out a large number of people to chase down these bastard guys, but only got some blind little thieves. The real rebellion, that's not a single one caught!

Li Lianying arranged for her subordinates to guard it strictly, but in the end, she still didn't plug the door tightly. If you don't pay attention, something will flow into the palace and be seen by Lafayette. Isn't this sincere to add to your own blockage?

Li Hongzhang also felt that his head was big, but now that he was surrounded by enemies, he could hardly find an ally to help. Seeing that the days dragged on day by day, the military expenses that should have been given by the imperial court only reached 180,000 taels, and it was thanks to Yang Hao that he lent him 2 million in advance, so that the second batch of troops could be withdrawn. Seeing that the third batch was ready and about to set off, Old Man Li planned to talk about Cixi's tone.

"Hey! Li Zhongtang's benefit is really hot! ”

Li Lianying sighed secretly, waited for Cixi to settle down, and asked someone to send a letter to Li Hongzhang when she turned around.

When Li Hongzhang got the news, he was sighing with the latest "Guowen Daily". This time, he was really angry, and he didn't know how to make it.

The headline on the front page of the newspaper is still the issue of the Sino-Japanese joint war. The most terrifying. There is nothing more than a half-page table that lists the latest Japanese fleet. The performance of each battleship is the number of jù, and even who the captain is. It's all written clearly. There is even a column at the back of the head, which makes a short comment on each general.

Equally impartial, in the next column appears the information of the Beiyang Naval Division. The number is so detailed that it is shocking to see. is the only one who is kind, but he doesn't give too much criticism.

This alone is better, the key is that the article introduces in detail the tonnage of the battleship, the thickness of the armor, the range of the main gun, the maximum speed, and the various decisive roles played by the old and new guns in naval warfare. Tong guò knows these basic concepts, as long as you are not a fool. Anyone can compare it, the Beiyang Naval Division is backward in an all-round way!

In other words, if you only analyze the number of jù on paper, if you want to win against Japan, the success rate is not more than 50%!

Such a pessimistic revelation not only caused an uproar in public opinion, but those who have been advocating "the Qing Dynasty will win" for two consecutive months, and "small-nosed Japan will have to kowtow to our emperor sooner or later to admit their mistakes" is like a resounding slap in the face!

Problem this slap. It was also slapped in his face, Lord Li!

What's more, the connection between guò and the content of those illegal tabloids can lead to a terrible conclusion by a smarter person! No one in the imperial court cared about the role and construction of the navy at all. Even those in the palace. I don't want to see Beiyang strong at all, so that the director is facing the crisis of the national war today, and he is in the sky. If you don't make a good scene, you will lose the battle!

The last time I lost a battle was against the French. It's because of the constraints up and down. In the end, Vietnam was lost. After that, although Li Hongzhang seized the opportunity to build a navy, he had to suffer a loss to know his mistake. Doesn't it seem that they are too lacking in heart!

Li Hongzhang's old scheming and calculating are keenly aware of the direction of this public opinion, and I am afraid that the big plan will completely turn over the fake appearance of the peaceful and prosperous world that he has been desperately pasting all these years!

"These people should be killed!"

In his mind, Yang Hao's young, unruly face, who never seemed to put himself and the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty, or even the imperial power and dignity in his eyes, suddenly appeared again. Did he do this behind his back?

Seeing Li Hongzhang worried, Zhang Peilun couldn't help but mention: "Fu Xiang, it's really not good, just order someone to ban the Song family firm from selling the mimeograph machine?" Without these convenient machines, they would have no way to make a living. ”

What he said was a mimeograph machine sold by the Songjia Commercial Bank in Pingyao, Shanxi Province in the past half month. A pen, a steel plate, a bucket of wax paper, a roller, a bucket of ink, and a screen-printed box that can be carried away in one hand. The whole set of equipment can be carried by one person and walked casually. If you want to make a flyer, you can just find a corner and do it.

This mimeograph, as well as a more advanced hand-cranked speed press, has become a source of the proliferation of illegal tabloids. In just half a month, various leaflets appeared in Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and even in Guangzhou and other places.

The new department will be opened next spring, and thousands of people from all over the world will gather in the Beijing and Tianjin areas. These young people are especially enthusiastic about current affairs, and often form gangs together to discuss current affairs. The advent of the mimeograph machine has greatly facilitated the publication of articles in the "Guowen Bao" for them to publicize their opinions.

Naturally, all kinds of gossip and rumors about fatherlessness, kinglessness, and bad hearts are also made up.

Zhang Peilun's mention can be said to be a salary draw from the bottom of the kettle.

Li Hongzhang shook his head: "Forget it!" The opening has been torn open, and it can't be blocked even if you want to. For now, the only way to do this is to fight this battle, and then the rumors will naturally disappear. Go and inform Ding Ruchang to sail! ”

At the mouth of Dagu, Tianjin, two steamers sounded their whistles, emitted billowing smoke, and slowly sailed away from the dock. One of them is obviously much more beautiful and well-proportioned, and it is also much larger, it is the 3,000-ton general cargo ship that Yang Hao projected from this world and completed after more than two months of transformation!

Standing on the dock, watching them go away, Yang Hao looked at the vast sea with slightly squinted eyes, and sighed in his heart: "The big drama is finally going to kick off!" (To be continued......)

PS: PS: Keep asking for votes and the first decision!