The sky was hot and sultry, and there was a layer of heat halo on the blue bricks and yellow tiles in the Forbidden City, and a few little eunuchs sprinkled water outside the Palace of Cultivating Hearts to cool down, but as soon as the scoop of water spilled out, it fell on the hot ground and there was a burst of mist, only to be cold for a moment and then return to the same place.

In the East Warm Pavilion of the Yangxin Palace, the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces sat behind the curtain. , Prince Hui Mianyu, Prince Alcohol Yiyun and other clan ministers sat upright, and the ministers of military aircraft Gui Liang, Wen Xiang, Bao Jun, Cao Yuying, Shen Zhaolin, etc. also sat down, the sky was hot and stuffy, everyone's face was covered with layers of fine sweat, and from time to time someone secretly wiped it with a sweat towel.

There was no one in the room to speak, save the sound of the chiming bell tinkling and walking, and when the hand pointed to three o'clock, the chiming bell made a loud bell sound.

"Everyone is a minister of the Qing Dynasty, and now that the situation is in crisis, you should have an idea." At this time, Cixi behind the curtain suddenly spoke, and her tone was very dissatisfied: "Could it be that all the princes and ministers just want to watch our mother's jokes?!" ”

These words were a bit heavy, Ci'an sighed lightly and continued: "Sister, don't worry, aren't all the gentlemen thinking about it?" The weather was hot and stuffy, and someone brought a bowl of chilled sour plum soup to the big guys to relieve the heat. ”

Abundant? The others hurriedly got up and thanked them, and after a while, the eunuch in the imperial dining room brought chilled sour plum soup, and ate it one bowl at a time.

Cixi didn't eat a bite, she patiently waited for everyone to finish eating, and said lightly: "How? This summer and summer have also been solved, so it's time to talk about what to do. ”

Abundant? Putting down the dishes, a slight smile curled into the corners of his mouth. But he didn't speak, just looked at Shen Zhaolin, the minister of military aircraft. Shen Zhaolin has served as a servant of the Ministry of Officials, a secretary of the household department, and a secretary of the military department, and when he overthrew the eight ministers of Gu Ming, he was the secretary of the military department who remained in the capital. At that moment, he cleared his throat and said: "The Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces, the sudden landing of the long-haired thief in Guangzhou this time is really very unexpected, most of the soldiers of Guangdong Province are based in the northeast, and they did not expect the long-haired thief to attack from the sea, so there is this defeat." ”

Cixi was a little dissatisfied: "These big guys know about it, and it is important to say it." ”

Shen Zhaolin was a little frightened, wiped his sweat and then said cautiously: "At this moment, the long-haired thief occupies Guangzhou Mansion. The troops raided and plundered Guangdong Province, and Ye Mingchen, the governor of Liangguang, Bai Gui, the governor of Guangdong, and Mukdena, the general of Guangzhou, were killed or captured, and there was no one in Guangdong Province. In the face of such a situation, it is necessary to send capable officials to take over the posts of governor of Liangguang and governor of Guangdong, which may save the trend of erosion in Guangdong. ”

Only then did Cixi pick up the dishes and take a sip lightly, but she was noncommittal. Ci'an said: "It's important to make up for the lack of officials in Guangdong first. But is there a suitable candidate? ”

This question everyone was silent for a while, if it was in normal times, the positions of the governor of Liangguang and the governor of Guangzhou were all fat, but now they are a hot potato, and whoever takes it may have bad luck.

At this time? Only then did he speak: "The younger brother may recommend a few people to use." Ci An said happily: "The sixth master speaks quickly." ”

Abundant? Said slowly: "Huang Zonghan, the squire of the Criminal Department, the cabinet scholar, and the Shuntian Mansion, can take over the post of Governor of Liangguang and Minister of Commerce of Wukou, Huang Zantang, Governor of Donghe River, can be the governor of Guangdong, and Dao Shengbao, the candidate of the Ministry of War, can be the general of Guangzhou. ”

Abundant? Before the words came out, everyone began to talk in low voices. This Huang Zonghan and Huang Zantang are not enough, this Shengbao is not long after the guilty person is released. Is it possible to entrust this important task? But everyone noticed that these people were people who didn't deal with Prince Gong on weekdays, could it be that King Gong was going to borrow a knife to kill people?

Cixi frowned slightly, Ci'an didn't remember the resumes of these people, and asked Cixi in a low voice, Cixi immediately said: "This Huang Zonghan is a Jinshi in the fifteenth year of Daoguang, and he was selected as a Jishi ......" At that moment, Cixi said the resumes of the three like a few family treasures.

Abundant? I have been in contact with Cixi for the longest time, but I also know that this sister-in-law is not ordinary shrewd, and several other ministers are extremely surprised, they didn't expect the queen mother to be so familiar with the resume of her subordinates. Abundant? After listening, he smiled and said: "The Queen Mother is really well-read and strong, I wonder if these people recommended by my brother can still be used?" ”

Cixi hummed lightly and said: "These three people are also a few candidates, but now the situation in Guangdong is erosive, and non-ordinary people are not capable of turning the tide, if the three of them block the long-haired troops in Hubei, Anhui and other places, they will also be usable people, but now Guangdong Province has become a dead end, and it is impossible to fight the fire with these three people." ”

Abundant? Slightly angry, he said: "Since the Queen Mother thinks it is not suitable, then you can propose another suitable candidate." ”

Cixi didn't get angry with him, and said very seriously at the moment: "Jiangxi Governor Jiang Zhongyuan can be promoted to the governor of Liangguang, his subordinate general Liu Changyou can be the general of Guangzhou, and Jiangxi political envoy Qi Ling can be the governor of Guangdong!" ”

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was in an uproar, Jiang Zhongyuan lost his teacher and lost his land in Jiangxi, and struggled to support a corner of southwest Jiangxi, and he did not have an inch of merit but the crime of losing land, and when Xianfeng was impeached, Jiang Zhongyuan's crime was cured, and in the end, Su Shun and others at that time came forward to protect it. It can be said that Jiang Zhongyuan and other Chu Yong's soldiers and horses are suspected of being a member of the Sushun Party, and the Queen Mother actually wants to use these people, and they are also promoted to the rank of knight?

Abundant? Immediately objected: "Although Jiang Zhongyuan can fight well, he has not done much to suppress thieves in Jiangxi for many years, but has lost his teachers and land year after year. Gui Liang also echoed: "That's right, Jiang Zhongyuan has repeatedly defeated the hands of Long Mao, and the punishment of crimes is already the emperor's grace, how can he be so generous?" "At the moment, everyone is opposed by you and me, only Mianyu and Yiyun are silent with their eyes and nose and heart.

After everyone stopped talking for a while, Cixi smiled and said slowly: "All the princes said that Jiang Zhongyuan lost his master and lost his land and was useless, and this palace wants to ask the princes, why did the long-haired thief fail to completely capture Jiangxi today?" As soon as this remark came out, everyone was a little slight, and then Cixi continued: "After Changmao occupied Jinling, the pseudo-king of the West went east and was invincible. The puppet king of the north went north, but fortunately, there were monks and other fierce generals who commanded the soldiers and horses in Jiangbei, so that they could stop him on Huai. The pseudo-wing king marched westward, and Jing Xiang was shaken, and if it weren't for the long-haired civil strife, he would almost lose his ground. Only Jiangxi Province, it lies in the heart of the long-haired pseudo-capital for several years, the long-haired thieves have taken turns to attack nearly hundreds of thousands of troops, after three years, after three battles of Nanchang to be able to repel Jiang Zhongyuan to the southwest corner of Jiangxi, is to ask which famous general in the world can do better than Jiang Zhongyuan? ”

After hearing this, everyone had a little aftertaste, and it was the same when they thought about it, if it weren't for Jiang Zhongyuan's hard support in Jiangxi, the long-haired thief would have already conquered Jiangxi back then.

Cixi continued: "It is precisely because Jiang Zhongyuan has resisted the long-haired in Jiangxi for several years, that Zeng Guofan can train Xiangyong, can send troops to recover Changsha, and can keep the long-haired thieves out of Hunan. ”

Abundant? coughed and said: "Queen Mother, having said that, I am afraid that if Jiang Zhongyuan is to be promoted, I am afraid that some people will not accept it." ”

Cixi said lightly: "Who will be dissatisfied? Who else is left in Guangdong? This time to make up for the official shortage in Guangdong, Jiang Zhongyuan can appoint the old people under his command! Since the situation in Guangdong is incorrigible, we have to use very strong drugs, and we don't have to stick to common practice! ”

Abundant? His face changed slightly, he stood up and saluted: "Since the Queen Mother wants to be arbitrary, the younger brother has nothing to say, and the younger brother occasionally feels unwell, so please retreat!" ”

Ci'an was a little anxious, and was about to stop him, but was stopped by Cixi with a smile, and Cixi said softly: "Since King Gong is sick, then please go back and rest early." "Yi? He snorted, bowed again, and walked away. Cixi watched him leave through the curtain, turned around and whispered a few words to An Dehai, and An Dehai left in a hurry.

At that moment, the two palaces issued an edict, promoted Jiang Zhongyuan to be the governor of Liangjiang, Liu Changyou to be the general of Guangzhou, and Qi Ling to be the governor of Guangdong, leading more than 10,000 elites from Jiangxi to rush to Guangdong Province to rescue the crisis, and the remaining southwest corner of Jiangxi was recommended by Zeng Guofan Guo Songtao as the governor of Jiangxi, which just made Hunan and the remaining states and counties of Jiangxi together, which was more conducive to the Hunan army to defend Hunan.

After the discussion, the ministers retreated, and Cixi let Yiyun stay, turned to Ci'an and said with a smile: "Sister, I have a happy event to talk to you about first." ”

Ci'an was sullen when he brushed his sleeves for Prince Gong just now, and when he heard that there was a happy event, he smiled and asked, "What's the happy event?" ”

Cixi lifted the curtain and walked to Yi Xun, who was a little embarrassed and uneasy, and said, "The seventh master is eighteen years old this year, and he wants to accept a blessing." ”

Ci'an also patted his forehead when he heard this: "Yes, you see that I'm a sister-in-law, and I forgot the seventh master's lifelong events when I was busy with state affairs and family affairs, and my sister reminded me of it." Then he looked at Yi Xun's appearance of wanting to speak and stopped, pursed his lips and smiled: "Seventh Master, there are no outsiders here, what do you have to say, but it doesn't hurt to say it, what?" Is there a girl you like who wants to ask for marriage? ”

Yi Xun glanced at Cixi out of the corner of his eye, took a deep breath and said, "Exactly, what the courtier's brother likes is the Wanzhen of the Yehenara family." ”

Ci'an sighed and looked at Cixi, who smiled slightly and said, "It's my unkind little sister Wanzhen." ”

Ci An said happily: "When Wanzhen visited her sister in the palace, she has seen it a few times in this palace, she is a beautiful and generous woman, she should have seventeen this year, it is the seventh master who is a good match, and she has to get it, and now the sisters-in-law will be the master of the seventh master, and this marriage is decided like this, give marriage to the seventh master, and let the seventh master open the house as soon as possible." ”

Yi Xun was overjoyed, and immediately knelt down to thank him, and Cixi and Ci'an both looked at each other and smiled. And what is even more satisfied is Cixi, she dares to rest assured that handing over the military power of the new army in the capital to Yi Xun is to value this little uncle's obedience, and he has no Yi? Such a big ambition, and at the same time for his sister Wanzhen has been in love for a long time, remembering that when Wanzhen entered the palace to visit her, Cixi intentionally or unintentionally let Yiyun and Wanzhen meet, and sure enough, now the two of them can be regarded as a positive result. With the relationship of in-laws, Yixun's side can make Cixi feel more at ease.

After giving Yi Xun a grace will, Yi Xun went happily, Ci'an was also a little tired and went back to the palace to rest, and Cixi was alone in the Yang Xin Palace to watch the twists and turns. After a while, An Dehai hurriedly came, stepped forward and whispered: "The slave finally persuaded the sixth master to come down, and now he is waiting in the Chuxiu Palace." ”

Cixi smiled slightly, and said, "Then let's go back to Chuxiu Palace first." (To be continued......)