After a storm, the dark clouds in the sky began to fade, and the cracks in the clouds revealed ten thousand rays of light. Perhaps this is the zuihou performance at the end of the rainy season, and with the increase and unbridled negative oxygen ions in the air, the air becomes clear and refreshing. At this time, a long carriage appeared at the east gate of the capital. The people who drove the car shouted loudly in military uniforms, and all the women in the car were seated.

Women appear in groups, especially beautiful women, which attract people's attention even more. There were many people around, and they were talking about it. A young woman in one or two carriages was sobbing, and a woman in her thirties next to her was admonishing.

"Sister, if you want to open up, I was 16 years old when I was drafted, and I have been looking forward to being favored by the emperor since I entered the palace. How many nights I have spent in tears. Later, I slowly died, thinking that I would die in the palace in this life. I didn't expect the Northern Expeditionary Army to come and rescue us from the deep palace. I can't go back to that home, and I don't want to find a good man in the Northeast, but I want to really be a woman. It is said that our palace maids have a hard life, you see that these women have passed the age of flowers. Everyone wants to find a good home when they go to the Northeast. Girl, you are so young, you must be able to find a lovely person. ”

"Eldest sister is right, didn't you go to the Northeast voluntarily, why are you sad, are you really homesick?" Another woman said. "Two sisters, I'm not homesick. I cried tears of joy when I was sad, and we were finally freed from the sea of suffering. The young woman burst into tears and laughed, and wiped away her tears in embarrassment. After the liberation of hundreds of palace maids in the Forbidden City, respect their wishes. They could go back to their old homes, but none of them wanted to go back. Therefore, Deng Zixuan decided that all the palace maids would go to the northeast. Uniformly married to older officers.

At this time, Deng Zixuan and Li Hongzhang stood on the tower of the city gate, watching the convoy gradually move away, and their hearts were mixed. "Seeing their bleak looks, I don't know if I'm doing the right thing?" Deng Zixuan broke the silence. Li Hongzhang said: "Commander-in-chief, you have done a great deed. If they had returned home, perhaps the situation would have been even worse. Essentially. They are all the emperor's women, and it is difficult for the emperor's women to remarry. And a woman who is also the king of the dead country will be discriminated against. After all, the traditional concept is strong, otherwise they would voluntarily go to the Northeast without hesitation! ”

"What you say makes sense, many palace maids are getting older, maybe my arbitrariness has fulfilled them." Deng Zixuan's gloomy mood seemed to be getting better. Li Hongzhang took the opportunity to say: "Hanchen of the former Qing Dynasty. Already waiting in the chess and card street. They are eager to see you. At present, most of them are idle and have nothing to do at home, and they all hope to be resettled by the new government. Deng Zixuan nodded, and the two walked down the city tower, got into the carriage and under the guidance of the guards, went straight to the Prime Minister's Yamen on Chess Street.

Sitting in the carriage, Deng Zixuan groaned, if the capital of the city is going to elect a capable mayor in the future, he searched for a long time and thought of a person - Kang Youwei. At present, this kid is serving as the mayor of Changsha. And it's very well done. Kang Youwei is only in his twenties, and Deng Zixuan decided to train him. It's gold that always shines. Suddenly, Deng Zixuan remembered someone again and asked, "Brother Li, what is Guangxu's teacher Weng Tongyi doing now?" Li Hongzhang said with a smile: "He is an old pedant, after the fall of the Manchu Dynasty, he disarmed and returned to the field, and threatened never to do anything for the Northern Expeditionary Army." ”

Deng Zixuan said: "Weng Tongyi is full of poetry and books, and he is talented. He must be brought back. I am going to make him the president of the Beijing Daily, and we need an excellent editor-in-chief of the Central Daily. "Weng Tonggong scolded me for being a traitor, and if I went to ask for it, I wouldn't give me face." Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "I personally wrote a letter to him to give him enough face." I think a boiling era will move him. At present, the face of the Prime Minister's Yamen has been replaced, and the three overall characters of the Government Council are written in black on a white background, and there is no doubt that the Prime Minister's Yamen of the former Qing Dynasty has evolved into the head of the new government.

Deng Zixuan and Li Hongzhang got out of the carriage and saw a group of officers in military uniforms busy in front of the former Qing military aircraft office opposite. The same plaque with black letters on a white background was erected, and the words written on it were written by the General Headquarters of the Chinese National Defense Forces. Deng Zixuan paused and said: "Brother Li, tomorrow Chen Jintang and Pei Gejin will lead the headquarters to arrive, and they will be there to command thousands of troops and horses in the future." I have ordered the engineering troops to lay a cable telegraph on the original foundation, and our communications network must be at the forefront. That is to say, in the future, the battle situation on the front line should be fed back to the capital as soon as possible. ”

"Yes! The ease of communication is crucial, and I know how important this is. Li Hongzhang agreed. Commander-in-Chief Deng said! With the chief of the guard shouting loudly, Deng Zixuan and Li Hongzhang strode in in military uniforms. The hall of the Prime Minister's Yamen was full of civil officials of the former Qing Dynasty, each of whom cut their braids and wore their own civilized uniforms, showing their break with the previous dynasty. Seeing Deng Zixuan come in, everyone knelt on the ground.

"The guilty minister meets Commander-in-Chief Deng!" It's like a pre-rehearsal, and they speak in unison. Deng Zixuan frowned. Li Hongzhang said majestically: "Everyone, get up quickly, the kneeling salute of the previous dynasty has been abolished, and Commander-in-Chief Deng advocates equality and dignity, do you understand?" When they heard this, they stood up. Deng Zixuan's face softened and said: "That's right, although we have different statuses, but the personality is equal, the new country and the new government must have a new atmosphere, everyone please sit down!" ”

Deng Zixuan unceremoniously sat down in the first place, and Li Hongzhang sat aside. Deng Zixuan continued: "I know that everyone is eager to know where they belong, and I can solemnly tell you that the new government in the future will hire all the people. When everyone heard this, their faces suddenly brightened, and they turned their heads to each other. Everyone is silent and listens to the commander-in-chief's teachings! Li Hongzhang scolded loudly, and the lobby was suddenly silent. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "Hiring you does not mean that you have a purpose, you have to go through three months of training, and properly place you according to your strengths." I'm talking about the ugly things in front, the three-month period expires, and if there are unqualified ones, they will be eliminated. ”

Deng Zixuan saw that everyone was not shocked, and knew in his heart that the people present could be officials in the capital, and most of them were full of poetry and books, and things like exams were too simple for them. Deng Zixuan said: "I ask that after the three-month training period expires, you can't write in Bagu Chinese and classical Chinese. Instead, use the vernacular, carefully explain your resume and strengths, and combine your experience with training. After the arrival of the Guangzhou military government in the capital. Government officials have officially started training for you. "It is difficult for you to answer the questionnaire in the vernacular for three months, and Deng Zixuan does not necessarily want to make it difficult for them, but to let them pay close attention to them and quickly integrate into the system of the Guangzhou military government.

Deng Zixuan saw a few old people in the crowd and said, "Those of you who are over 60 years old can not participate in the training. As the saying goes: life is rare for seventy years, and 60 years old is already an old man, and you can retire and go home to recuperate. The government will provide a minimum cost of living. If some people are idle, they can open private schools to educate people and teach. Suddenly, several old men from the crowd said loudly: "Commander-in-Chief Deng's great kindness, we can't repay it." Please bow down to us. In the cheerful atmosphere, everyone left with full ambition, and Deng Zixuan's move to stay as an official of the former dynasty may soon spread in the capital.

After the crowd dispersed. Li Hongzhang sincerely admired: "Simple and bright. Thoughtful and reasonable, your ability to control people is a must, and the problem will be solved in a few words. Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "If you think from another angle, out of human nature and within the scope of harmony, the essence of Confucian benevolence can be reflected." These literati, who are deeply influenced by Confucian culture, will be convinced and accept you in their hearts. ”

Li Hongzhang chewed Deng Zixuan's words, and felt that Deng Zixuan's measures did demonstrate the essence of Confucian culture, benevolence, harmony, tolerance, and acceptance, and immediately said with emotion: "If the old man talks about Confucian culture, he can also be the way." However, you embody Confucian culture in action, which shows the greatness of your personality. The unity of the outer and the inner, the highest state of the Buddha's voice and personality, is nothing more than that. ”

Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "As a superior, benevolence is the minimum moral standard, otherwise you will not have the idea of serving the public in the world." I very much appreciate the calligraphy and painting in your study: be kind and generous! In the future, no matter how talented our government officials are, if they lack a sense of morality, they will not be hired, and those who are found to be morally corrupt will be eliminated from the ranks of officials. After Deng Zixuan finished speaking, he took out his pocket watch and glanced at it and said, "Brother Li, the people take food as the sky, do you think we go there to satisfy our hunger?" ”

Li Hongzhang was familiar with the road and chose a mutton steamed bun with distinctive northern characteristics. After eating, they went to the enclave of foreign consulates according to the prior arrangement. At present, foreign consulates in the capital have formed a scale and formed their own region, as if they have become a country within a country. At present, consuls from all countries are being detained in the former headquarters of the coalition forces in the embassy district. The carriage stopped in front of the headquarters of the coalition forces, Deng Zixuan and Li Hongzhang stepped out of the carriage, and the guards at the door raised their hands to salute, and the two entered in one after another.

Consular personnel are detained at the former coalition headquarters, where they are free to move around but cannot leave. At this time, the consulate personnel of various countries have gathered in the hall to wait, and the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Army is going to come to inspect, and everyone is naturally eager to witness the true face of Deng Zixuan's Lushan, what is the Chinese Julius Caesar who makes Western countries frightened. When Deng Zixuan and Li Hongzhang walked into the hall, the noisy sound suddenly fell silent.

Li Hongzhang and everyone are familiar with it: "This is Deng Zixuan, commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Army, who has come here to inspect. After the translation, Deng Zixuan said in fluent English: "Dear gentlemen, don't be afraid. China is a country of etiquette and will not persecute everyone at will. The British minister said: "According to our Western rules, the warring parties should release the envoys, and you weishenme detain us unreasonably." Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "According to Chinese rules, you do not belong to the envoys, but to the fighters, and you should be punished with capital punishment." The only reason why I treat you well is to demonstrate the civilization of the Chinese nation. ”

Deng Zixuan looked around and continued: "Honorable gentlemen, it is you who wantonly interfere in a sovereign country, and you are ashamed to say that we have brought great danger to Shijie. Gentlemen, this shijie advocates the law of the deep forest, the law of the jungle is the norm of your Western society, naturally I can't find another way, I also have to follow the rules of the game, that is, to defeat you by force, so that you can truly understand what the yellow peril is. If one of you chooses to withdraw, I welcome it. , when the Dharma sword hangs over the head, it will be too late to rein in the precipice.

"Distinguished gentlemen, the Chinese nation has come through the flames of war, and for thousands of years we have no intention of being enemies of you, and it is you who have imposed the flames of war on us. The cowardly and incompetent Manchu dynasty is history, and the Chinese nation will rise again, and no liliang can stop it. Gentlemen, I can only regret to tell you that as long as the war goes on, you will lose one day of freedom. You will not be able to return home until the war is over. ”

The French minister stood up and said: "You claim to be an ancient civilization, and you treat prisoners of war badly. I had heard that our captured soldiers were subjected to heavy hard labor, and I protested against this. "You have no right to protest, besides, hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war need to eat and drink, so they have to feed themselves. If the Western countries are able to provide for their living expenses on humanitarian grounds, I can consider your request, and you can convey it to your respective countries, but it must be settled in gold. ”

After Deng Zixuan finished speaking, there was no sound below. During Deng Zixuan's speech, the interpreter kept translating for Li Hongzhang, and seeing Deng Zixuan's strong momentum and shrewd calculation, Li Hongzhang applauded again in his heart. In the past, he felt three points shorter and lacked confidence in front of Westerners, but suddenly, a wave of pride surged in the depths of Li Hongzhang's soul. Deng Zixuan's following words are even more unique, and they are completely out of common sense.

"Gentlemen, at present, you Western powers have formed a group, and you will not admit defeat. The war may be protracted, and I can assure you that we are very patient. Therefore, those of you who have the skills are free to choose to do things for us, and as long as you are willing to serve the government, you will not only be free, but also richly rewarded. Gentlemen, fate is in your own hands, and I will not force everyone. ”

That night, Li Hongzhang got drunk due to excessive excitement! (To be continued......)

PS: This chapter describes the protagonist's actions in the capital.