The small passenger ferry passed Tianjin, and Deng Zixuan's whereabouts were exposed. Li Hongzhang was taken aback when he heard that Deng Zixuan had come north from the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. In Li Hongzhang's dictionary, who is Deng Zixuan? actually traveled alone without any warning, just like a private visit to Weifu. Know that this is a state of war, and anything can happen. Li Hongzhang quickly ordered the garrison cavalry troops to dispatch to meet them.

At present, Li Hongzhang is temporarily in charge of the affairs of the capital. After the decisive battle in the Central Plains, Liu Mingchuan's headquarters was reorganized and became a border guard force, and was ordered to be transferred to the southeast coast by sea. The original Western Route Corps served as the Northern Expeditionary Army's raid brigade with the task of seizing the capital, and on the basis of the original team, a total of three brigades of the Beijing garrison, two infantry guard units, and one cavalry guard unit, with a total strength of 3,000 people.

Not long after the small passenger ferry passed through Tianjin, the cavalry guards searched all the way along both sides of the canal and met the small passenger ferry that Deng Zixuan was riding. The cavalry dismounted and raised their hands in salute, and the whistles of the small passenger liners and gunboats sounded in return. Then the cavalry mounted and covered the march with the speed of the small passenger liner. In front of the capital Chaotianmen Wharf in the distance, there are many people gathered on the wharf, but at first glance are people in military uniforms, obviously the wharf has been under martial law.

Deng Zixuan suddenly remembered something and explained to Wan Chuan: "Wan Chuan, the marriage between the captain of the guard and Lian'er was facilitated by me, and you will buy a mansion in the city immediately after you get off the boat, and then plan for the wedding." I promised them to officiate the wedding myself. Wan Chuan nodded, and out of professional habit, his eyes were aimed at the crowd on the dock. The small passenger ferry slowly approached the dock, and Deng Zixuan took a step.

In the oncoming crowd. The first tall man in military uniform, with a pious smile on his face, Deng Zixuan recognized the person in front of him as Li Hongzhang at the first time. Although I haven't seen Li Hongzhang, his physical characteristics are obvious. Li Hongzhang quickly stepped forward and clasped his fists with both hands and said: "Commander-in-Chief Deng, you have worked hard all the way, and Li Hongzhang is below, and I made a special trip to welcome Commander-in-Chief Deng!" Deng Zixuan took the initiative to step forward and hold Li Hongzhang's hand and said enthusiastically: "Brother Li, the capture of the capital has advantageously cooperated with the quick victory of the decisive battle in the Central Plains. The duration of the campaign was greatly shortened. In particular, the capital is intact and preserved, and you have a lot to do. On behalf of the Guangzhou Military Government and individuals, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for your righteous deeds. ”

Li Hongzhang said worriedly: "Commander-in-chief." I am very ashamed that I didn't wake up earlier. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "Brother Li, the revolution is in no particular order, and your timing is just right." Don't blame yourself. After all, it takes time to choose. Although you are a capable minister of the Qing court, you cannot erase your outstanding contributions to the Chinese nation. I've always thought so, even if you're my opponent, you have to be objective. Frankly speaking, I admire Zuo Zongtang very much, because he is a national hero, I set up a monument for him in his hometown, and I want future generations to remember him. ”

Li Hongzhang was greatly moved and said: "Commander-in-Chief Deng, your tolerance and wisdom are the first people in the ages, and blood has flowed like rivers since the change of dynasties in ancient times. And you're doing the opposite. Since ancient times, those who have won the hearts of the people have won the world, which is easier said than done. Commander-in-Chief Deng is the Emperor of the Ages. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Taizu of the Tang Dynasty were inferior to them. Deng Zixuan's face turned a little red when he heard this, and said: "Brother Li has spoken, we are not familiar with each other, and after a long time, I know that I am an ordinary person, not so evil." Deng Zixuan's peace made Li Hongzhang even more shocked, such a humble and open-minded person, no wonder Zhang Zhidong and others followed without hesitation.

Li Hongzhang changed the topic and said: "Commander-in-Chief Deng, your house in the capital is being renovated, do you want to settle for a while in my humble house?" Deng Zixuan said briskly: "Then I'll bother!" Li Hongzhang was overjoyed when he heard this. He instructed his subordinates to go back to their homes to deliver the word. The two got into a carriage and went straight to the Li Mansion, and the people along the way heard the news and drove to watch, the news of Deng Zixuan's arrival in the capital had spread, and everyone wanted to witness the dignity of this strange man through the ages. The guards arranged by Li Hongzhang can be said to be negligent but not leaky, and the soldiers stand on both sides of the street, all of them with their faces on high alert.

The Li Mansion was shocked and confused for a while, and Zuihou finally kept an order under the eldest lady Zhang Luo. Except for the servants and maids of the Li family, everyone stood in front of the door, the eldest wife stood in the front, the aunt and the aunt were in the back, and the grandmen and women were arranged in order. The carriage stopped in front of the house, Deng Zixuan got out of the car and nodded to everyone with a smile, without any domineering. His every move was amiable and quickly reassured everyone's nervousness.

Li Hongzhang briefly introduced his family, and Deng Zixuan asked with a smile: "Brother Li, your lovely princess, she is one of the protagonists of the operation in the capital." Li Hongzhang beckoned, and Li Qing happily ran up from behind and said a blessing: "Commander-in-Chief Deng Wan'an." Deng Zixuan still smiled and said: "Brother Li, your children are the heroes who make you repent!" Li Hongzhang nodded in approval with a smile on his face. "Commander-in-Chief Deng, the little girl has something to ask for?" Li Qing suddenly spoke boldly.

Li Hongzhang's face changed suddenly. "Whatever I can, I will do it." Deng Zixuan stopped. "I want to join the army, and I ask to work at the headquarters of the Central Army." Deng Zixuan didn't think much about it and continued: "I think it's a big thing, the National Defense Force needs heroines, there is no problem, I approve it!" "Thank you, Commander-in-Chief, for your love!" Li Qing was overjoyed. Li Hongzhang glared at his daughter angrily, and hurriedly invited Deng Zixuan into the mansion. The mansion where Li Hongzhang lives, although it is not a pomp in the capital, is not small in the eyes of Deng Zixuan.

Entering Li Hongzhang's study, the four treasures of the study on the table and the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the surrounding walls show the atmosphere of the literati. After all, Deng Zixuan was born as a scholar, and Li Hongzhang did it intentionally. The servant set up a table in the study, and only two pairs of dishes and chopsticks were placed on it. Deng Zixuan guessed that it seemed that there were only two people eating in the study, and it was obvious that Li Hongzhang didn't want his family to hear some words. There is a pair of calligraphy and painting that attracted Deng Zixuan's attention, and the words on the calligraphy and painting are written in plum blossom seal characters: Virtuous and generous! ”

The dishes were all over the table, and Li Hongzhang personally opened a small jar of treasured cellars, and the room was suddenly filled with the aroma of wine. "Commander-in-chief, thin wine and vegetarian dishes are not a tribute." Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "Actually, I don't have high requirements for food, as long as it is distinctive." After a few simple bites of food, Deng Zixuan picked up the bull's eye cup and drank it all. Li Hongzhang took a sip. Probably a matter of habit. Seeing Deng Zixuan do it, he hurriedly did it too.

"Brother Li, let you see the smile, is it undecent?" Deng Zixuan asked with a smile. Li Hongzhang hurriedly explained: "The commander-in-chief is a hero in the world. Drinking has the hero's pride, and I admire it below. You are a scholar's temperament on the outside, and the essence of a hero on the inside, which is beyond the ordinary. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "I haven't mixed in officialdom, and there are a lot of rules, maybe it's out of place." "The rules are made by people. The benevolent see the benevolent, and the wise see the wise. Deng Zixuan was secretly surprised, Li Hongzhang was a little inky and very good at talking.

Li Hongzhang flattered: "Originally, I wanted to use Prince Gong's Mansion as your residence, but you instructed the Beijing Intelligence Bureau to insist on buying a three-entry courtyard. That mansion doesn't fit your identity. Moreover, the Manchu aristocracy should not be enjoying a luxurious life. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "I understand your good intentions, the palace in the capital is the property of the Qing court, and it should be confiscated, and the palace can be used as government property in the future." Properly protect it. My wife and I are just two people. The three-entry courtyard is enough. ”

Li Hongzhang sighed: "The commander-in-chief is rich and rivals the country, I didn't expect it to be so simple and admirable. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "Whether people live or die, it is nothing more than a world 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, why bother with luxury." As the saying goes, there are gods three feet on the head, people are watching the sky, and money has no meaning to me personally now. Serving the well-being of all living beings in the world is my greatest joy, so I have to be strict with myself. Iron must also be hard, that's the reason. ”

Li Hongzhang was deeply affected and said emotionally: "Commander-in-chief, I can shout to the universe, the land of China will give birth to an emperor through the ages!" "An emperor through the ages? Why do I have to be an emperor and overthrow the Manchu Dynasty, why should I continue to follow the old path. A new chapter has been opened in the history of mankind, and we will establish a republic in the future. "It's so hard that you want to follow the political system of the United States of America, but it doesn't fit China's national conditions!" You must know that China's imperial society has lasted for thousands of years, and a Chinese land without an emperor will be torn apart. Li Hongzhang denied it.

Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "It is man-made, I believe that the political system of New China will be successful, and I am very confident in this." How to manage the country and make it more efficient is the most powerful proof of this in the past few years as evidenced by the practice of the military government in Guangzhou. At present, the ministers and officials of the military government have completely accepted the political atmosphere without an emperor, and I think that after you enter the role, you will soon be able to understand what brainstorming is, or collective wisdom. Frankly, I can't manage a country of this size, and it's up to you political elites to go forward. ”

"Commander-in-Chief Deng is too modest!" "Brother Li, I am going to make you the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government Council and concurrently serve as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and my energy in the next few years will be focused on military and scientific inventions. I will provide you with a platform to display your wisdom and be a logistics minister wholeheartedly. If you don't treat me, I won't treat anyone, just throw off your arms and do it. The hot words made Li Hongzhang very excited. Commander-in-chief, please rest assured that you will do your best and die. ”

The conversation ended after dark, and Deng Zixuan's erudition, speculation, knowledge of ancient and modern times, especially his understanding of Shijie history, and his incisive insights opened Li Hongzhang's eyes. If it weren't for Deng Zixuan's tiring journey, I'm afraid Li Hongzhang wouldn't stop staying up all night. Back in the house, Li Hongzhang was still silent in the atmosphere, constantly reminiscing about Deng Zixuan's witty words and noble character. Li Hongzhang was sipping tea while his eyebrows fluttering.

"Master, what's wrong with you, why are you so excited!" The third aunt was too confused. "Alas, I lived for more than 60 years, and finally met a generation of masters, the sky has eyes, old man, I don't know how to express my feelings at this moment. It's really a vicissitudes of life, and I have lived in vain for 60 years. "Master, it's the first time in so many years that I've seen you so happy, and I'm happy from the inside out?" The third aunt was too infected and said happily.

Li Hongzhang stood up and walked a few steps and said: "Commander-in-Chief Deng wants to live in our mansion for a few days, you tell the eldest lady that you must carefully adjust your diet, and you must let the commander-in-chief eat well. "Sir, we will be careful without your orders. What an honor it is for Lord Deng to live in our house, I discussed with my eldest wife and second aunt, and the diet is strictly controlled these days. ”

It was late at night, Li Hongzhang tossed and turned and couldn't sleep, and the third aunt didn't sleep well. Deng Zixuan fell asleep early, and soon after dawn, he woke up from his sleep and began to welcome a new day. (To be continued......)

PS: This chapter describes the scene when the protagonist arrives in the capital and meets Li Hongzhang. I wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Happy and happy, spend a good full moon.