In July 1882, when Bulgaria was retreating steadily and the Romanian, Serbia and Montenegro coalition forces advanced step by step, the Austro-Hungarian Empire issued an ultimatum in June and officially announced its participation in the war. In accordance with the understanding agreement signed with Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Bulgaria would provide appropriate military support.

At the same time, the South African battlefield was in a stalemate. After China clearly stated its position, the British clearly realized that it would be extremely dangerous to transfer a large number of troops to South Africa, especially the garrisons and minions in India and Australia, as the front line of resistance to possible invasions by the Eastern Empire, would not be missed.

More than 100,000 British troops fought with the Boers in jungle plains and mountains. The war with Transvaal has undoubtedly become a quagmire for the British army. They cannot increase troops in large quantities and completely eliminate the Boers, nor can they retreat and return without success. In the past few months, the Queen and her cabinet have held countless meetings to discuss the war situation in South Africa. It is said that at the meeting of the Privy Council, the Queen called the Chinese "sincere and despicable". Obviously, the Queen and her close friends of the Privy Council were awakened that the war in South Africa has been stalemate like this. It was the conspiracy of the Chinese. They could make the war last for a long time without a single soldier and a small amount of supplies and weapons, thus gradually consuming the national strength of the British Empire, making the British Empire unable to focus their attention elsewhere, and seriously weakening the influence of the British Empire on the global scale.

It is reported that a member of the Privy Council proposed that only by declaring war on China can the Chinese conspiracy be crushed and the death of South Africa can be solved from the root. Although declaring war on China will risk losing India and Australia in a short period of time, when the navy of the British Empire completely destroys the Chinese fleet, the entire Eastern market will once again become a brilliant pearl in the queen's crown. The price paid may be extremely huge, but the rewards available are so generous.

These rumors also spread to the Eastern Empire and Beijing. At this time, the huge empire in the East, the fanatical people were also crazy and paranoid. They took to the streets to protest the British occupation of Hong Kong Island, protested the British's brutal suppression of the Singapore Chinese movement, and protested the British's invasion of the Affiliated Republic of Transvaal. The entire empire was waiting for their emperors to blow the horn of the battle.

...

The Haiyan Hall of the Old Summer Palace is called "the river is clear and the sea is peaceful and the country is peaceful and the people are peaceful." It is the largest European-style garden landscape in the Old Summer Palace. The main building of Haiyan Hall faces west, with eleven rooms up and down. There are stacked water gutters on the left and right sides of the building. There is a large fountain pool at the bottom of the steps. The left and right sides of the pool are arranged in the shape of "eight". The bronze statues of human body and beast heads of the twelve zodiac signs are arranged in the shape of twelve zodiac signs. At twelve hours every day and night, the twelve zodiac signs spray water in turn. At noon, the twelve bronze statues sprayed spring water at the same time, so it is also commonly known as the "hydraulic clock".

After the French missionary who designed the water spray device for Westerners passed away, others did not know the mystery of the "Dragon Tail Car" pumping water. Every time the former Qing emperor stayed here, if he wanted the fountain to spray water out of the fountain, he would have to take the eunuchs to take turns carrying water upstairs. But in Ye Zhao's opinion, the "Dragon Tail Car" that no one could use was naturally not worth laughing about. Now the "Dragon Tail Car" has long become an electric mechanical device, and at any time, the grand occasion of surging springs can be seen.

This European-style building has long been redecorated by Ye Zhao. At this moment, there were two men and four women sitting on the restaurant opposite the fountain on the second floor, but Ye Zhao was entertaining Debin and his two wives. Zhu Qiqi and Qin Wanjun accompanied him. Zhu Qiqi had become a concubine, and Qin Wanjun also restored his status as a noble person. Both of them were given the title, Zhu Qiqi was named "Han", and Qin Wanjun was named "Baohua noble person".

Debin has never remarried for more than 20 years, until the daffodil died of illness a few years ago. Debin missed him very much. Later, Guo Luoluo found a woman who looked like a daffodil for him. He married him and became a side room. The two had just gotten married not long ago.

The new lady changed her name to Narcissus after entering the door. If later generations think that their names are changed to their deceased wife, their personality will naturally be wiped out, without dignity and self-deprecating, which is simply a tragedy in tragedy. But this Narcissus girl doesn't know how happy she lives. Moreover, she is not an ignorant woman. She was originally an employee of a trade ship, but now she has quit her job and is preparing to concentrate on taking care of her husband and children at home.

In today's homes in the empire, few women do things outside after getting married, let alone such prominent family as Debin's family.

It was the first time that Narcissus had seen the emperor. He was so restrained that he had been red and his hands and feet were not allowed to leave.

When Debin got married, Ye Zhao sent someone to send a gift. It was not that he didn't want to go. He had been having fun with him since he was a child. For him, who had no friends at all, this friendship was very precious. But if Debin got married and went to congratulate him personally, it would be a disastrous. What kind of relatives would he still be?

However, the gifts written by the Emperor himself inscribed are already a great honor.

Narcissus knew that her husband had a prominent position, otherwise she would not have been in her 28 years old and married an old man who was almost fifty years old. But this was the first time she knew that the relationship between her husband and the emperor was so special. She secretly was happy with her luck. From then on, her family became a superior person. What else could she ask for?

Guo Luoluo was willing to flatter Zhu Qiqi and Qin Wanjun. He had long heard of several upstarts in the palace, among which Concubine Hui's sisters, Concubine Han and Concubine Fucha, were the most favored. Both of them were promoted to concubines at the same time, and it seemed that Concubine Fucha was happy. In addition, a Mongolian nobleman who was born in a military family was also ordered at that time, and the imperial concubine treated him like a sister. Although the other two have not seen him, it would be worthy of his visit to make a friendship with Concubine Han.

As for this noble Qin, it seems that he is not favored by the emperor. It is rumored that he has been whipped, but the emperor occasionally takes her out for a trip, so he is a person who must not be offended.

As for the three mothers of the empress, the imperial concubine, the imperial concubine, and the imperial concubines who have experienced the ups and downs with the emperor, they are all legendary characters. Since Concubine Yi passed away, Guo Luoluo has never seen them again.

"Master, will we really go to war with Britain?" Debin has long stuttered now, and it seems that because he was not very smart when he was a teenager, his face was very young.

When Debin asked, Guo Luoluo and Narcissus also looked at it. It was obvious that even women of the Narcissus, there were also reports of possible wars between China and Britain.

Ye Zhao said lightly: "Try to avoid it." In addition to not mobilizing all the entire country, the empire has almost been prepared for a full-scale war with Britain. The Royal Navy and Army have also redeployed the war against Britain.

Debin said: "If the war begins, I am afraid that the emperor's investment in Europe will be damaged."

Royal property, nominally managed by Zongren Mansion, banks, factories and other industries, is operated by the "Royal Investment Management Committee" under Zongren Mansion. The committee is similar to the executive board of directors, and the members are all strong people in the business world.

Therefore, Debin, the butler, has a rough understanding of Ye Zhao's huge industry and also knows clearly that Ye Zhao has made large investments in Europe and America.

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "These are all trivial matters, and they are all opportunistic activities. It is easy to withdraw investment, not to mention that even if you suffer a temporary loss, you can always make up for it in the future."

After thinking about it, Ye Zhao said: "I will write a note back and you will bring it to Huang Wenxiu and tell the committee members to resell the Suez Canal shares held by Taihe Bank to the Imperial State-owned Assets Management Agency." After negotiations between Taihe Bank, by the beginning of this year, as the Ottoman Empire's wars were gradually retreating and the eldest empire was seeing a fall apart, Egypt's Pasha finally sold all the Suez Canal shares he had to Taihe Bank.

Although Debin didn't know Ye Zhao's intention, he repeatedly claimed that he was.

"Are you all in your family?" Ye Zhao raised his glass to clink with Debin.

A complicated feeling flashed in Debin's eyes, he paused and said, "My brother is gone."

Brother Ye Zhao was slightly stunned, then he immediately began to relieve himself and said, "Captain De?"

Debin nodded slightly, thinking that at this moment, his heart felt a lot of feelings and pain intertwined. Guo Luoluo's face was slightly unnatural, and he lowered his head without saying a word. This thorn has been in his heart. She has regretted it a thousand times. If she had known today, why should it be the first?

Ye Zhao reached out and patted Debin's hand, and said nothing more.

Next, Ye Zhao talked to them about Princess Yong'an's marriage. Before William returned to China in a mission in the Principal of Petersko, he had already held a grand engagement ceremony with Yong'an. Although the royal family did not issue a press release, the outside world still speculated and reported it, and it was also mentioned in English newspapers in Hong Kong.

...

After Debin's family left, Ye Zhao and Zhu Qiqi and Qin Wanjun had tea and chatted. Although Qin Wanjun was a few years older than Zhu Qiqi, they were both enlightened families and a new generation under the influence of new ideas, so they talked about many topics and were also speculative.

The two charming and modern urban beauties are really a beautiful scenery together.

Ye Zhao stood in front of the window and admired the spring outside. When he turned around, he couldn't help but feel a little drunk. When he lowered his head, he glanced at the two beauties sitting at the round table. Under the court-style skirt on the left, the curved and soft lace stockings were wearing sapphire blue high heels, which were dazzling. This naked sexy of course came from Qin Wanjun; on the right, there was a water-milled blue denim skirt, just to the knees, without wearing stockings, a pair of white legs exposed, and two transparent crystal sandals were shaking on their white and tender feet. They could wear so casually, so naturally it was Zhu Qiqi.

Ye Zhao's heart moved slightly, and then he immediately withdrew his gaze. Sometimes he also thought about men and women, such as hoping that the concubines could be as relaxed as Hua Ji Shawa, but it was just thinking about it.

Lilia, who served various fruit and snacks, secretly looked at Ye Zhao from time to time. She was young, but the poor children were in the family early. She realized the helplessness of life very early. After several months of training, she was able to enter the palace to serve Guiren Qin a few days ago. She still often wondered whether she was dreaming. The palace in the east was really like the legend, and it was built of gold.

The hurried footsteps outside, Baozhu walked in quickly and came to Ye Zhao to present a letter of writing.

Ye Zhao took the reading and his face gradually became solemn.

During the operation to wipe out guerrillas in Afghanistan, several British people were captured when an infantry company of the Imperial Army destroyed a guerrilla nest in the mountainous area of ​​Kandahar.

Obviously, the British were not just as simple as material support for the Afghan rebels.
Chapter completed!