The news that Shandong held a China Merchants Association, attracted a large number of businessmen from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to Shandong and reached a number of cooperation agreements was reported to Cixi by the newly established Ministry of Commerce.

In the fruit-scented dormitory, Cixi read the folds twice. I wanted to give instructions on something, but in the end I just wrote three words: Zhilu Dao.

It cannot be denied that the three characters written by Cixi at will are strong and reasonable, which can be called a fine calligraphy. However, the Queen Mother Lafayette, who was in no mood to appreciate her handwriting.

There has been a lot of news in Shandong in the past year, and Cixi has always paid attention to it. Since the establishment of the Fifth Town, all kinds of news about Shandong and Long Qian have been overwhelming.

The vast majority of them are the illegal acts of Long Qian: privately forming alliances with foreign countries, buying arms on a large scale to expand their strength; It is easy to obey, despises the ancestral system, and has ill intentions; annex the patrol battalion and reorganize it into its own private army; Wooing Shandong officials, elevating the sky, the plot is very big...... It is even said that Long Qian secretly colluded with the revolutionary party.

There are also those who ask for credit for Long Qian, such as Yixuan, who has repeatedly said that Long Qian is honest and does not live up to his grace. Huguang's Zhang Zhidong is also full of praise for the rise of Shandong industry. There are also those who praise Long Qian for his remarkable achievements in establishing education in Shandong, however. There are not many excerpts of this kind of praise.

Those who can hand the fold to the front of Cixi's imperial case are all ministers of the same level. What she had read and read twice was a report by Yang Shixiang, the governor of Shandong, on the Shandong Merchants Association, in which Yang Shixiang listed all kinds of illegal signs of Long Qian, and suggested that the imperial court should take measures to deprive him of his military power and transfer him out of Shandong, and it was best to arrange for him to serve in the Ministry of Household or Commerce.

Tune Long Qian to Beijing? Cixi fell into deep thought.

Shandong is indeed undergoing great changes. This Empress is clear. To explain the changes in Shandong in recent years, Cixi felt that it was not an easy task after sorting out her thoughts for a while.

Let's talk about bandits first. Shandong's Xiangma is famous, and even the Kanto beard, which is crisscrossing the Kanto region and does not put the government in his eyes at all, can be regarded as the remnant of Shandong's Xiangma. At the beginning, Zhao Shuqiao's concubine was tied up by Shandong's Xiangma, and the case even alarmed the imperial court...... Thinking of Zhao Shuqiao, who died in the year of Gengzi, Cixi felt a palpitation inexplicably. Zhao Shuqiao was actually forced to death by foreigners! He was a capable Hanchen, and he was loyal to himself, and it was not wrong to advocate force against foreigners. But if you lose the battle, you have to coax the foreigners. In fact, he Zhao Zhanru is not the only one who died unjustly...... Cixi thought of the chaos in the year of Gengzi. I couldn't help but think of the panic on my way to escape. Then I thought of Long Qian. She suddenly felt that she was really old, and the sign was that she always liked to remember the things of people in the past.

But Zhou Fu dared to report that Shandong had exterminated the ringing horses! At first, I didn't believe it, but at the beginning of the year, Tie Liang accompanied Yiliang to inspect the fifth town and came back and said that it was indeed a fact that Shandong had made great achievements in suppressing bandits. I don't dare to say that all the ringing horses in the strands were wiped out. But the famous bandit was eliminated. He took this by inspecting the troops of the Fifth Town, which were stationed in various places. By the way, I inquired about the local security situation, and the market was very peaceful, and the merchants traveled from south to north. All the way through without hindrance. Another proof comes from the foreigners, both the British and German ministers praised the security of Shandong in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreigners always want to run to the mainland, but they are afraid of death, and Shandong's extermination of bandits is of course good news for foreigners.

Zhou Fu is a literati, and of course the achievements of the bandit suppression must be recorded on Long Qian's head. For this reason, the imperial court sent a letter to the provinces, asking them to follow the example of Shandong and eradicate the bandits in their territory.

Speaking of finance, Cixi ignored Shandong's clean-up of the gold and the rectification of taxation and other affairs. What she remembered was that Shandong was the only province that took the initiative to ask for more money from the imperial court. Millions of silver are paid to the account department in one year! In Cixi's eyes, this credit is much better than that of bandits. The Treaty of Shimonoseki, the Gengzi indemnity, and the financial problems were pressed on the shoulders of the imperial court like a mountain, that is, on their own shoulders. I don't know how many people are scolding the household department, but who can take the initiative to ask the court for money? Only Shandong! The excerpt that Zhou Fu gave himself at the beginning clearly made it clear that this was Long Qian's suggestion! When Zhou Fu was sent to govern Shandong, many people objected. But Cixi felt that she had chosen the right person. Long Qian knew that it was his kindness to him that he did not forget his kindness to him, but Zhou Fu's unconcealed achievements were even more gentlemanly. Later, the governor of Liangjiang became vacant, and how many people were fighting, and he insisted on ordering Zhou Fu, which had a lot to do with his excerpt.

Long Qian's training of the new army is also not ambiguous. Tie Liang has always been wary of the Han people in charge of the army, and he picked his nose and eyes at Yuan Shikai, and when he was sent to Shandong to inspect the fifth town, Cixi knew that he was going to pick thorns. But Tie Liang came back and said that the fifth town was indeed an elite soldier, but it was not a blessing for the imperial court. Regardless of the latter sentence, according to Tie Liang's opinion, the fifth town was trained by Long Qian by relying on a ringing horse! According to a report by the new governor Yang Shixiang, the patrol battalion in Shandong has a total of 9,200 soldiers, organized into 21 battalion heads, and has been stationed in various localities to assume the responsibility of local public order. According to the original statistics, there were more than 20,000 patrol battalions on military salaries! It was cut by more than half and the place was calm and tranquil, and in any case it could not be said that the commander in charge of the army did not do a good job.

The police? The police in the true sense of the Qing Dynasty came from Yuan Shikai's Beiyang and was first born in Tianjin. But Shandong seems to be doing better, that is, Yang Shixiang also admits that the police system in Shandong Province is very perfect, and because of the establishment of the police force, the local area is much quieter. Recently, Shandong has started to use the police to register their hukou and check the number of people who are hiding. Out of political acumen, Cixi greatly appreciated this. Let the Military Aircraft Department commend Shandong.

It is commendable that the police and the military are divided into two systems. Long Qian, the admiral, can't command the police, which is better than what Beiyang does! Do it above board! Zhao Bingjun, who is now in charge of the police affairs of Zhili, is Yuan Shikai's personal person, and the police force of Zhili is actually another unit of Yuan Shikai. For this, Cixi Cave is like watching fire. But this is not the case in Shandong, where the police force with a total of more than 3,000 people is really in the hands of officials at all levels, and Long Qian, the governor of Shandong, never asks about police affairs. Even Yang Shixiang does not deny this fact.

Shandong is also the first province to propose universal compulsory education. Aside from her understanding of education, Cixi was surprised that Shandong dared to propose such an ambitious plan to the imperial court - to establish a three-level education system of universities, middle schools, and primary schools. Universities. In addition to the Shandong University Hall, it is also necessary to raise a normal university and an industrial university. In the area of secondary education, at least one secondary school will be established in each district within five years, for a total of 150. Within 10 years, no less than 1,000 primary schools will be included in all towns and villages that do not charge fees. Universities and middle schools are just that, and elementary schools don't charge fees? Shandong's financial resources have reached such a point?

The most important thing is, of course, industry, which Shandong always calls it industrial. This huge result surprised even Cixi. Cixi, who was in the deep palace, was not very sensitive to numbers, but most of the novelties that filled the palace and the Summer Palace came from Shandong, from furniture, paper, clothing, and glassware. Numerous. Numerous. A mahogany rocking chair placed in the dormitory is the filial piety of Shandong. This chair was very fond of Cixi, and she had to sit on it and shake it for half an hour almost every day. His brother-in-law, Prince Alcohol, has more such things, and he is more fond of new things in Shandong. Every time King Fujin enters the palace, he will nag for a long time. This sister of mine is too petty. Just noticed the gadgets. It is necessary to know that Shandong is industrial. Ordnance, steel, electricity, and Western medicine are the most powerful. Since Zeng Guofan, he has been doing foreign affairs for decades, always thinking of building strong ships and cannons to avoid being bullied by foreigners. But who knew that Ludao Steel was the most critical of them? How many years has the Hanyang Iron Works in Jang Zhidong been in operation? How much pig iron and steel was made? How many years has the steel mill in Yizhou worked? The production is said to have exceeded 50,000 tons! According to Long Qian's report, this year may not work, but next year will definitely increase the output to 100,000 tons! What is the concept of 100,000 tons? Japan's Yawata Iron Works is the largest steel mill in China, and the raw materials are still bought from Hubei Daye Iron Mine, with an annual output of just over 100,000 yuan! In time, Shandong will be the largest steel base in the Qing Dynasty! However, in terms of conditions, Yizhou is definitely not as good as Daye, at least the iron ore is much worse. However, Sheng Xuanhuai, who has been known as the first person in foreign affairs since Li Hongzhang, has been blowing cowhide for a long time, and has not made any achievements in the matter of steel so far. As for Zhang Zhidong, he is old and has lost his previous sharpness, so I'm afraid he won't be able to do anything.

And Shandong's ordnance is even more remarkable. Needless to say, bullets, shells and even rifles are not big surprises, these things can be made by the Jinling Manufacturing Bureau and the Hanyang Gun Factory, but Shandong can already make cannons! The machines and techniques are all from Germany, so why are the Germans so willing to provide equipment and technology? Cixi was puzzled. For this point, Long Qian has explained, and the root cause is the exchange of techniques. The Shandong side traded the new weapons they designed for German machinery and technology. How could Shandong design something that interested the Germans and was willing to exchange them for machine skills? Cixi didn't believe it. But the guns and bullets in Fifth Town were basically all solved by themselves, which Long Qian didn't brag about. Cixi always remembered Long Qian's promise to herself when His Majesty left the country, and now it seems that he did it, and did more and better than he said.

Long Qian has indeed made a lot of contributions. But for Cixi, it was not enough to be the basis for favoring him. As the ruler of the Qing Dynasty for forty years, Cixi naturally had her own principles for employing people. The core power of the superior is to use human rights, and the rest are subordinate. How to use people? A twenty-four history, as well as the "Zizhi Tongjian" specially written for the emperor, is actually about one thing, how to use people! What virtue and talent are all appearances. Sima Guang said that virtue is a gentleman, and virtue is a villain, rather than using a villain, it is better to use a mediocre person. It's really a scholar's opinion! As far as Cixi's understanding is concerned, the way of employing people is to balance and loyalty. Talent can only be ranked third!

Balance is the key to maintaining dominance. Only when the imperial court is in a state of balance will the supreme ruler be safe and the country will be stable. Since the Hongyang Rebellion, the power of the Manchu ministers has become weaker and weaker, and their authority, especially local authority, has increasingly fallen into the hands of the Hanchens. Now that Beiyang is dominant, Cixi is thinking day and night about restricting Yuan Shikai, the leader of Beiyang. That's why they acquiesced to Tie Liang, Liangbi and others' attacks on Yuan Shikai. There is a gap between Long Qian and Yuan Shikai, okay, it is precisely because of this that Long Qian was allowed to form the fifth town and concurrently serve as the governor of Shandong. A fifth town is not enough to balance the four towns of Beiyang (the first town is the flag soldiers), then two more will be formed, and the plan has been prepared, one for Liangjiang and one for Huguang. Since the Russo-Japanese War, Yuan Shikai reported that Shandong did not need to garrison troops from one town, and suggested that all or one of the fifth towns should be coordinated and stationed at Shanhaiguan just in case. What kind of heart does Ann have? Why didn't he transfer his descendants to the north to strengthen the defense of the Jing Division? Therefore, it must not be agreed.

Now Yang Shixiang is also playing, thinking that Long Qian has a deep power in Shandong. It's not a blessing for the imperial court. It is recommended that Long Qian be transferred to the center, given that he is well versed in the way of economics, talents are rare, and it is extremely appropriate to serve in the household department or the Ministry of Commerce. As for the Fifth Town, Yang Shixiang suggested that the Fifth Town be replaced with a town of the Zhili New Army. Changing guards? Let Yuan Shikai take over the Shandong Ordnance Factory, which has become a climate? It's just ill-intentioned.

Yang Shixiang was Yuan Shikai's person, and the more they were in such a hurry to get rid of Long Qian, the more they couldn't let them get their wish. It is dangerous for Hanchen to lead his troops, but the most threatening Yuan Shikai's military power has not been lifted, so Long Qian should not move lightly.

After Li Hongzhang's death, Hanchen had no obvious leader. The upright Liu Kun died. The leader of the clear stream, Zhang Zhidong, is old. Yuan Shikai became more and more the banner of Hanchen. There was a Long Qian who was in charge of the military stationed in Shandong, which was generally beneficial to the imperial court. That's balance. Of course, Long Qian is a Hanchen, and he is a Hanchen of unknown origin, but he is a lonely minister! Who did he befriend? Before, it was Ronglu. Now it's Yixuan. All are Manchurian magnates. Get rid of both of them. Cixi had not heard of Long Qian's dealings with other powerful factions. That's good, that's what Cixi wants.

Loyal servants are what the royal family needs most. But loyal to whom? Social Enterprise? Country? It is all false, and only those who are loyal to the supreme ruler are loyal subjects. Long Qian only had himself in his eyes. That's right. Although Long Qian has been in Beijing for a long time, he will at least have an excerpt every month to report on his tenure. The first batch of novelties he produces will always be sent to the palace. New Year's Day, especially his birthday, Long Qian's ceremony is relatively heavy, second only to Yuan Shikai. These are all trivial things, and it is the latest secret fold that proves Long Qian's loyalty to himself, in which Long Qian raises concerns about the constitution. He believed that constitutionalism meant delegating power to himself, and suggested that he reject it. It's a pity that the Manchu Dynasty is civil and military, and there are really not many people who see this clearly.

As for ability, what he did in Shandong is enough to prove that he is a capable minister. Yang Shixiang said that talents are rare, which is right. Cixi sometimes talked about Long Qian in court discussions, if all parts of the country wanted to share the worries of the court like Shandong, how good would it be? But there are really not many local officials who can do it, and they always cry about lack of money and food, but they just don't think of a way! Are the conditions in Shandong good? A Yellow River has brought endless disasters to Shandong. But Long Qian actually used the patrol battalion to reinforce the river embankment! According to the local report in Shandong, after large-scale reinforcement, there will definitely be no more rupture this year!

Cixi thought about it and felt that she couldn't move Long Qian for the time being. On the one hand, Shandong's thriving situation is what she wants to see. Long Qian left Shandong, will the fifth town be unstable? Since it is said that the two major industrial groups in Shandong are from Long Qian's hands, will they be affected? On the other hand, the transfer of Long Qian undoubtedly strengthened Yuan Shikai's power again. The latter was even more unsettling to her.

But Long Qian is not without problems. What's the problem? Avarice? Lascivious? Coveting power? None of this is proven. Especially in the first two, all the reports prove that Long Qian is neither greedy for money nor lustful. As for the covetion of power, there is no obvious evidence. In fact, if these things were available, Cixi would feel at ease. Cixi, in turn, was less pleasant. The answer is very simple, what is a young man under the age of thirty, who is not greedy for money, not lustful, and not so obsessed with power? Does he want to be Duke Zhou or Wang Mang? Moreover, he even openly cut the argument, although the report was said to be for the needs of the army's combat effectiveness, but is this an excuse? That braid isn't your average thing.

Cixi was in a trance. Just now I thought of constitutionalism, which is the biggest headache for her right now. Kang Liang, who fled overseas, advocated it desperately, and the literati in the south were even more enthusiastic about it. Even there was a loud voice in the court. It seems that constitutionalism is the solution to all problems. What is the constitution for? Isn't it an eyesore to see yourself? I will never let this nondescript thing appear in my lifetime! Long Qian made it clear that he opposed the constitution, much to the delight of Cixi. Thinking of this, she finally made up her mind not to move Long Qian first. Let's talk about it after Yuan Shikai's military power is resolved.

Cixi's attitude was soon learned by Long Qian. He had already expected that someone would fight his idea, and he had prepared for the worst. He can't leave the army. Although he created the Mengshan Army, prestige alone was not enough until faith was established. If the court dared to come hard, he did not hesitate to create a mutiny to threaten the court. But the consequences of that are unpredictable. If the imperial court is determined to solve itself, Yuan Shikai will definitely be happy to see it. Therefore, he will face the attack of the Beiyang Army in four towns, and the outcome is really unpredictable. Now put up the anti-flag, except for Shandong, especially Lunan, he has no reliable base, and there is no external force to rely on. Relying on the Revolutionary Party? Don't even think about it. Therefore, what Long Qian hopes most is that Cixi will give him a few more years, and it doesn't need more, as long as three years, Shandong will be his strong and stable base. At that time, the court was willing to turn its face, so it would be a good fight!

As soon as the investment promotion was over, Long Qian gave Cixi an excerpt. He did not talk much about the achievements of the China Merchants Association, and he was a commander and commander, so it was not appropriate to talk more about the way of economy. He mainly talked about the issue of constitutionalism, and suggested that Cixi recognize the essence of constitutionalism and reject it.

Who was Cixi? That's a power-hungry woman! She will not give up power no matter what! I hope that this excerpt of my own can dispel the attacks of Yang Shixiang and others. That's not all, Long Qian also sent Jiang Yun to Beijing again, bringing a lot of money to contact Li Lianying and Yixuan, hoping that they would say a word to him.

Soon after, Jiang Yun sent back information through the already established intelligence system that the imperial court had no intention of attacking Shandong. The news came from Li Lianying, not Yixuan. Cixi knew that Dao Yixuan had taken a lot of benefits from Long Qian, but she didn't expect that the chief manager around her also had a stable connection with Shandong.

Long Qian relieved himself and turned his energy back to the army. Training in the fifth town was intensified, especially in the training of artillerymen. The last exercise with the Germans exposed the gap in artillery skills, and it was necessary to catch up. Although the current opponents are not inside or outside, the Mengshan Army, an army created by itself, is not just for the purpose of seizing power. Her real opponents were not the Manchus or the Beiyang, but Japan, Russia, and all the countries that stood in the way of China's revival. Therefore, we must set our eyes on the great powers and the powerful armies in the world.

Long Qian sometimes thinks of the girl who resembles his wife. It's been a long time since I've seen her. If you don't go to Xu's mansion, of course, you won't see Xu Si. The correspondence between the two had been cut off, and Long Qian had hoped to receive another letter from Xu Si, even if it was only to discuss artistic issues. When communicating with Xu Si, there will be a special emotion that makes him recall the happy times he once had. If...... After some ideological struggle, Long Qian suppressed the charming emotions that rose, Xu Si is not her, he will not see her again, why should he break the life he has adapted to because of an accidental similarity? (To be continued......)