The emperor was furious, ordered to cut off the road of donation, the donation system in the Xianfeng years because of the Empress Dowager Cixi's suggestion, under the implementation of Sushun, there have been a lot of changes, the poison is not too much, the military aircraft department agreed, since the eleventh year of Tongzhi, the donation of officials can not be used for eunuch journey, can only be used for the purpose of reducing or reducing tolls, plus Zhu Xueqin presided over the rectification of the rule of officials, a large number of incompetent officials, and then the alternate officials left over from history will be unified for the examination, those who pass will be issued to the poor places in the northwest and other places, and those who do not passIn this way, on the one hand, redundant staff are reduced, and on the other hand, posts are created, such as Qinghai, Xinjiang, Mongolia, Yungui, and other Tusi vassal kings, all of whom are liuguan, most of which are academic and political officials from all over the country. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info This has finally greatly reduced the redundancy.

But since then, the money has been much more than before, the previous alternate officials, there is no real shortage, there is no need to pay the money, now there is a real shortage, the silver is going out in an uproar, even though Bao Jun has presided over the household department for many years, accustomed to seeing the silver in the sea water, seeing this kind of flow out, it is inevitable that he is also a little distressed, so there is the intention of reopening the donation of officials.

Zhu Xueqin also disagreed, "Today's donors, just businessmen buy more, one is decent, Hu Xueyan in Hangzhou bought a four-grade platform, if he goes to the Yamen of Hangzhou Mansion, Hangzhou Mansion will also open the middle door to greet him, and when he sees the political envoy, he just bows down, such glory, starting from the businessman, since the beginning of the world, there is no such glory; The second is affordability, which is silver again," Zhu Xueqin said with a smile, "For a businessman like him who is rich and rivals the country, as long as it is his industry, the gold in transit will be discounted by 20%, and the silver saved in a year can be estimated to buy a warship." ”

"Although there are many officials who donate like this, it's a big deal that there are fewer people in the officials to bow down, and the businessmen have gained dignity, and nothing else, it is okay with the country," Zhu Xueqin continued, "But this has already made the government and the opposition boiling, saying that what has lost the dignity of the scholars, and has declared that it will be abolished, and the Ministry of Rites is very disgusted by this, and has already folded the bullet and impeached several times, Baogong, you still have to make another regular donation, are you afraid that there are not enough bullet medals on this body?" ”

Bao Jun said with a smile, "What are you afraid of the bullet seal, no matter how many you are, can there be more of those governors who have titles, military merits and prestige?" ”

Zhu Xueqin smiled and said nothing, what he meant was that the main targets of the Qingliu people today were Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, and Peng Yulin, who were known as the "Four Masters of Zhongxing". "Without this cheekiness, how can you be an errand."

Bao Jun just said this, seeing that Prince Gong didn't allow it, he just said, "Then I have to think again, it's really not good, I have to send a lot of coins, when will I send the wealth of the two iron hat kings again." ”

The three of them were talking, Belle Yixuan came in to say goodbye, made a full salute, and bowed to Zhu Xueqin, Zhu Xueqin also returned the salute, not daring to be proud of the Minister of Military Aircraft, "Lord, Okubo Ritsu came to the Prime Minister's Yamen and asked to see the prince urgently." ”

"Although he is the Minister of the Interior of Japan, it doesn't mean that he will see me when he sees me," Prince Gong regained his graceful bearing, "You ask him what he wants to do, if he still wants any compensation, what two Ryukyu, then ask him to return to China immediately, and don't talk about the establishment of diplomatic relations. "Prince Gong knows what the emperor means, and he can only act according to orders, Yixuan is now the assistant minister of the Prime Minister's Yamen, and he is very capable of doing errands, and Prince Gong is also very dependent on him, "You and the negotiation is, if you ask about the whereabouts of Beiyang," Prince Gong smiled bitterly, "The emperor said that it was the trade wind that caused the Beiyang sailors to deviate from the course, so the answer is, but please rest assured that they will not enter the Japanese waters." ”

Yiliang hung his hands and obeyed the order, went out of the Old Summer Palace, and told Prince Gong and Okubo Ritsu at the Prime Minister's Yamen, Okubo Ritsu was a small and thin young man, with slender eyes that easily reminded people of the characters in ukiyo-e, with a very strange beard similar to the cheeks, wearing a Westerner's tuxedo, wearing a bow tie, standing politely in the lobby of the Prime Minister's Yamen, hearing Yikubo's reply, Okubo Ritsu spoke kindly and reasonably, and the meaning of the words was not very kind." Did your country not hesitate to clash with the Japanese Empire? ”

"It doesn't mean that," Yi Xuan said patiently, "your country and China are friendly neighbors, and the harmony between the two countries is related to the stability of East Asia. Moreover, Ryukyu is a vassal of the Celestial Empire, and your country is disrespectful to the king of the Ryukyus, and the Celestial Empire is lenient and generous, and does not want to pursue it, but it is impossible for the Ryukyu to be incorporated into your country. ”

The flag man pays the most attention to etiquette, so Yixuan's attitude is very good, although he is also very disdainful of this little Japanese in his heart, Okubo Ritsu pondered for a long time, "When will the sailors of your country be able to return?" ”

"Then I don't know." Yi Xuan spread his hands, "The trade winds are unpredictable, the training of Beiyang sailors is not yet familiar, and it is possible to be lost for a long time." Just rest assured that your country will not enter your waters, and the Celestial Empire will never do such a thing. Yixuan stabbed the shameless behavior of the Japanese, and Okubo Ritsu was indifferent, but he also knew that he couldn't say anything meaningful today, so he bowed deeply and turned around and left the Prime Minister's Yamen.

Okubo Ritsu didn't have time to look at the beautiful scenery of the Old Summer Palace, got into the carriage, pondered, and reported the news he heard to Okubo Ritsu, "China's Prince Gong originally agreed, but I don't know why there was news that the Beiyang Naval Division was suddenly lost!" Mr. Oko! What do we do now? ”

Okubo Ritsu squinted, his temper was far from being as good as it appeared, but in foreign countries, he had to restrain his temper, especially in such a situation, not only was there no hope for compensation, but even the return of the Ryukyus was very difficult, he had to be calm, and calm, "China's cabinet, it's not that it can be counted if it is said, there are higher rulers who can veto the decisions of the cabinet, which is the same as in Japan," although Okubo Toshitsu has won the trust of the emperor, it is not to the point of monopolizing power, to the point of a word. "The Chinese militants have the upper hand, which is definitely not a good thing for Japan, and we hope that the Chinese will continue to be amiable and generous until the day when Japan can defeat China!" (To be continued.) )