The stationing of the Mengshan Army in Yizhou and Yanzhou was a great change for Lunan. Those who are happy, those who are worried, those who wait and see, and so on. The vast number of poor peasants were happy, especially in the surrounding areas of the base areas. It has long been rumored that the Mengshan Army has carried out a change in land policy in the base area, and even if the landlord's land is not confiscated, at least there will be measures to reduce rent and interest. Even a reduction of half of the rent can give a sigh of relief to the poor tenant farmers living below the subsistence line. And the landlords are worried, and the reason is the same. Some wealthy people who feared the fate of Zheng Jing began to "emigrate", reluctantly selling their land in exchange for hard currency such as gold and silver, and running north to Jinan and south to Jiangsu, or to become public servants or should do business, resulting in a slow but steady decline in land transaction prices in Lunan and southern Luzhou. More landlords and businessmen are waiting, Lunan is considered to have changed, the prefect has changed, the town guard has also changed, and the imperial court is implementing a new policy, no one knows what it will be like in the future.

At most, the changes in southern Lunan affected Shandong and northern Jiangsu, and they were insignificant to those who thought they could manipulate the empire, even to Yuan Shikai, the former governor of Shandong, who had a direct relationship with him. There have been so many major events in the imperial court recently that they are dizzying, and the attention of the officials has been attracted to Jingshi.

The first was the signing of the Treaty of Xincho. 300 million taels of silver, to be paid in 39 years, a total of nearly 600 million taels of war reparations and the transfer of military garrison rights in the core area, finally ended the occupation of Beijing by foreign coalition forces. From April 1901 in the Gregorian calendar, the Allied forces began to withdraw from Beijing. Retreated to Tianjin. Some of them will be stationed at the key points from Tianjin to Shanhaiguan, and many more will return to their countries, and the pockets of the officers and soldiers will be stuffed with looted gold, silver and jade antiques, and they will leave with pleasant memories of the occupation of Beijing, leaving infinite humiliation to Beijing and to China.

The second major event was that Li Hongzhang, an important minister of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, finally ran out of oil and swallowed the last breath in Xianliang Temple. It is said that Li Hongzhang's death was very uncomfortable, and he couldn't swallow his most breath, which made Zhou Fu, the secretary of the Zhili Domain, who rushed from Baoding, heartbroken. Sixty-four-year-old Zhou Fu has been doing foreign affairs with Li Hongzhang for 30 years, and he is deeply valued by Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang was ordered to be in danger. Ran from Guangzhou to wipe the ass again for the Qing Dynasty to clean up the aftermath. Zhou Fu, who was transferred from the post of political envoy of Sichuan, served as the secretary of the Zhili domain, responsible for handling the compensation for the foreigners killed in the territory of Zhili in the Gengzi State Rebellion, and participated in the negotiation with the coalition forces from beginning to end. Zhou Fu looked at Li Hongzhang who was dying, and said loudly with tears. "Old master. What's on your mind that you can't let go? Can't bear to go? The office has not done anything. I can do it. Please feel free to go. Li Hongzhang stared at Zhou Fu, as if he had the most embarrassing explanation, but he was speechless. After listening to Zhou Fu's words, he finally swallowed his breath and finished his magnificent and humiliating legendary life.

Li Hongzhang did not reach the peak of power when he was alive, and the people often called him Li Zhongtang, but in fact, Li Hongzhang never entered the military aircraft department for the rest of his life. Everyone knows that since the Yongzheng Dynasty, entering the military aircraft is the real prime minister. It's not that Li Hongzhang is deficient, and it's not that Li Hongzhang is not qualified enough. It's ridiculous and sad to say, the reason why he can't enter the military discipline is that Cixi thinks he can't understand Hefei dialect! This is the epitome of late Qing politics, and how contemptible the ruler's understanding of talent is. A good gentleman like Wang Wenshao can stay in the military for a long time, even if he doesn't offer a strategy to save the country for several years, it doesn't matter, but a senior minister like Li Hongzhang, who is capable of both military and political affairs, can't. It is only when the country is in danger that it is dragged out to perform. This is true of Jiawu, and so is Gengzi.

The day after Li Hongzhang's death, the official articles of the Manchu court were quite decent. In the name of Guangxu, the puppet emperor, he issued an edict and praised Li Hongzhang. Before Li Hongzhang's title was a first-class uncle, which was obtained by his military exploits in pacifying and twisting, this time he was promoted to a first-class marquis, and he was posthumously awarded the first-class marquis, Zhen Wenzhong. In the edict, Li Hongzhang's efforts in dealing with the aftermath of the Gengzi national disaster were fully affirmed. Li Hongzhang has knowledge, and it can be regarded as an explanation.

It must be inevitable. Cixi didn't care how much she had lost, nor did she care about the garrison of the foreign powers on the coastal arteries. Anyway, since the Daoguang Dynasty, China's coastal areas have become a paradise for the great powers, and now it is just a change in numbers, and she probably doesn't think that the foreigners will send troops to overthrow her. Li Hongzhang mediated with the great powers and did not let the great powers hold her accountable for the culprit who caused the Gengzi national disaster, and Cixi was already very satisfied. Therefore, according to the people around her, on the way back to Beijing, when she heard that Li Hongzhang had died of illness, Cixi choked up.

The third major event is that the exiled court, which has been hiding in Taiyuan for more than half a year, can finally return to Beijing. Cixi was reluctant to take the northern route, probably the road she walked last year would evoke her bitter memories, so despite the opposition of the important ministers, she insisted on taking the southern route and was imprisoned in Zhili from her mother.

Welcoming the Empress Dowager and the emperor back to the palace is the overriding political task at present. The courtiers who were qualified to welcome the imperial court gathered in Baoding, the new residence of the governor of Zhili, waiting for the arrival of Cixi Luan.

Now, Yuan Shikai, the new governor of short stature, is standing solemnly in front of the Baoding railway station, waiting to welcome the two palaces returning to Beijing from Taiyuan.

Rong Lu only acted as the governor of Zhili for one month, as judged by Yang Shiqi, the younger brother of Yang Shixiang, the political envoy of Zhili, Rong Lu resigned from the throne of the head of the Xinjiang ministers who were originally looked up to by everyone but now full of traps and crises in the name of "overwhelmed and tired", and recommended the young and vigorous Yuan Shikai to take over, and it was a practical award.

This result made Yuan Shikai overjoyed. A large sum of money was spent, and the fruits were finally reaped. This marked his final entry into the center of power. But things were not perfect, and the post of governor of Shandong did not fall on the head of Yang Shixiang, who he highly recommended, let alone Xu Shichang, a candidate for preparation.

The imperial court gave Shandong to Zhou Fu, who had made great contributions in dealing with the Gengzi national disaster. This disappointed Yuan Shikai, Zhou Fu, an old minister, has a lot of qualifications, and he is in charge of Shandong, and his layout in Shandong does not count. It's hard to imagine that Zhou Fu would be his own puppet. A group of ambitious civil and military officers are afraid that they will be relocated.

Yuan Shikai has not had time to consider these at present. Xu Shichang's telegram from Jinan reported the Lunan Incident. Li Chun and Cao Kun's troops have shrunk back, and in the next step, Yuan Shikai will bring the main force of Wuwei's right army back to Zhili. Lu Nan definitely wanted to give up, but the scene of Long Qian's siege of Yizhou once again proved that this queen mother's favorite minister did not take herself seriously at all. Repression is a must, but not now. Xu Shichang handled it very well, and any movement in Shandong at the moment would do more harm than good to himself.

Cixi's Luan drove finally to Baoding Mansion, the western gate of Jingshi.

It was also the seat of the Governor of Zhili, and the new Governor of Zhili, Yuan Shikai, made the most elaborate preparations to welcome Cixi's return to Beijing: the platform was crowded with officials in new uniforms, all of whom carried carefully selected gifts for Lafayette. Yuan Shikai's gift to Cixi was a pair of talking parrots: one called Lafayette Auspicious Ruyi. The other will only say that Galeries Lafayette is safe.

The pair of parrots immediately won the affection of Galeries Lafayette. "Hey, the little things are cute."

Cixi, who was anxious to return to Beijing, did not plan to stay in Baoding, a small city with a lot of dirt. After a meal, it's time to leave. When he went back, he no longer sat in a sedan chair, and Yuan Shikai had prepared a "dragon car" for Cixi - a lavishly decorated train car. It is said that this was the first time Cixi took the train, and Cixi was very curious when she boarded the dragon car. Keep looking around. And the music played on the platform was also unusual. It was played with a full set of Western instruments.

The music is high and loud. No one knows the name of the song. Actually, this piece is the national anthem of France, and its name is Marseillaise.

All this made Cixi deeply satisfied. Yuan Shikai's impression in her mind was further deepened. I think the person recommended by Rong Lu is really good. Cixi loves novelties, but few people can understand her psychology.

Yuan Shikai couldn't send Cixi to Beijing anymore, and when he said goodbye to Cixi, he didn't expect Cixi to ask about Long Qian.

"Yuan Shikai, Long Qian returned to Lunan, have you seen you?"

"Back to the Queen Mother, Weichen has not seen Long Qian." Yuan Shikai wanted to play a copy of this, but he thought of some rumors and didn't say it.

As soon as he went back, he flattened the calf, which can be regarded as a solid job. If it weren't for escorting the palace all the way last year, how could there be today? Li Hongzhang and King Qing worked hard to maintain it, and the credit was not great, but if it wasn't for Long Qian capturing Seymour, the foreigners wouldn't know how much money they wanted. It can be seen that there are talents in the recklessness, recruit An Longqian, you have done a good job. Cixi sighed with emotion, "Long Qian should be sent to Baoding." ”

Li Lianying, who was following Cixi, said in a low voice, "That's not easy? The next will will do. ”

"That's it. Let him train well in Shandong. Cixi turned her gaze back to Yuan Shikai, "I've handed over the Zhili to you, do it well, don't disappoint the palace!" ”

Yuan Shikai immediately knelt down in the aisle of the carriage, "Weichen will definitely smear his liver and brain on the ground to repay the grace of God!" ”

"Okay, you go back." Cixi waved her hand, and Li Lianying helped her to her seat.

Yuan Shikai, who sent Cixi away, was proud, but there was a thorn in his heart.

Long Qian, who was disgraced in Shandong, became famous all over the world with the Battle of Tianjin, and became the only bright spot in the great changes in Gengzi. Because of Long Qian's record and the prisoners of war of the coalition forces in his hands, Li Hongzhang had an extra bargaining chip in the negotiations with the coalition forces, which made the foreigners reluctantly make concessions on the issue of reparations. Yuan Shikai wanted to take the opportunity to report the changes in Yizhou to Cixi, but it seemed that Cixi was very fond of him, and Yuan Shikai, who had always been good at observing words and feelings, swallowed all the words that were ready. As the governor has just become a governor, it is better not to talk about unpleasant things on this occasion that makes the queen mother happy. He was just a town guard trapped in a barren mountainous area, and as long as he was tied there, within two years, Cixi would definitely forget who Long Qian was.

Leaving Baoding, Cixi and her entourage arrived at Majiabao in a comfortable dragon car, where the gold lacquer throne and altar supplies had already been prepared for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. The royal honor guards in the Forbidden City were all dispatched, and all the Beijing officials knelt down at the station to receive them. The first to get off the train was Li Lianying, whose task was to monitor the safe transport of all the things back to the Forbidden City or the Summer Palace, which were gifts from the officials to honor the Empress Dowager, and the emperor, who was still a prisoner, was not blessed to enjoy. The big bags and small bags of things are piled up, which makes Li Lianying extremely nervous and tired.

Guangxu got out of the dragon car after Li Lianying, hurriedly glanced at the official who took the driver, and got into the sedan chair belonging to him without saying a word. Cixi, who got off the train at the last time, was about to say a few words to the officials, but when she saw a large number of foreigners on the platform, she immediately changed her mind.

The foreigners brought their families in fancy clothes to greet the emperor and empress dowager of the Qing Empire and take off their hats to salute them.

Cixi heard the subordinate officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs whispering to the foreigners: take off your hat, take off your hat. Cixi stood expressionlessly in front of the kneeling officials and the standing foreigners, speechless for a long time. Let foreigners kneel down to the royal family with Chinese etiquette is not to think about it, if there are still people in the land of the Qing Dynasty who are not afraid of her, it is undoubtedly these blonde and blue-eyed aliens in front of them.

Cixi stood for a long time, she needed to show her presence in front of courtiers and foreigners, she was still alive, and she was alive and well.

"I'm back! The world of the Qing Dynasty is still in my control! (To be continued......)