Shanghai, Zhennan Prince's Mansion, West Chamber of Inter-city.

Yixin sat alone in the living room with tea and sat alone. He rushed over at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, but was arranged to wait here for more than three hours. He knew very well that the other party expressed his dissatisfaction with him.

He was indeed a bit unauthorized in instigating the Beiyang Navy's mutiny, but he did not regret it. After all, the opportunity was rare. If he didn't try it, he would not be at ease. Even if he had to endure the anger of contentment for this, he thought it was worth it!

The sky gradually darkened, but the Zhennan Prince's Mansion seemed to be becoming more and more lively. He had heard several footsteps and conversations, including foreign languages. He was a little confused. Is there any happy event in Zhennan Prince's Mansion today? Then he felt something was wrong. How could someone come at this time if there was a happy event?

After drinking a stomach of tea, he felt a little hungry. He immediately got up and walked out of the living room. A servant who was waiting outside the door hurriedly came up and said, "What do you need for the prince?"

Yi Xin waved her hand and said, "It seems that there are many guests coming to your mansion?"

"Did the prince notice it?" The servant seemed to have no awe of him and said with a smile: "There are indeed many guests coming, all of whom are here to watch the lights."

"Electric light?" Yixin was a little curious. This was the first time he heard the word, "Is it better than a gas lamp?"

"Of course!" said the servant laughing: "Shanghai's first thermal power plant is built to provide lighting power for Shanghai. Our royal palace is the first to use electricity lighting."

Thermal power plant? What is this novel thing? Electric lighting? What is electricity? Yixin was confused when she heard it, but she didn't ask much. He didn't want to be too ignorant in front of the servant. After pondering for a moment, he said, "It sounds like there are many foreigners?"

"Yes." The servant smiled and said, "Those foreigners are scientists and inventors from major research institutes..." Before he finished speaking, Yixin's stomach sounded "gurgling" and couldn't help but smile, "Young Master is hungry, can you bring you some snacks? There are a lot of Western snacks today."

Yi Xin was indeed a little hungry, so she nodded immediately, nodded and said, "I'm so tired." The waiter left, and he couldn't help but worry again. Seeing that this attitude was easy to be content, I'm afraid I don't have time to see him today. Tongzhou Camp is an urgent task and can't afford to delay. Just as he was worried, he looked up and saw Yan Shikuan walking into the yard quickly. He was happy, but he was waiting in place with a reserve.

Yan Shikuan came to him and bowed and smiled, "King Gong has been waiting for a long time, so the shopkeeper is welcome."

Yi Zhizu was finally willing to see him? Yi Xin immediately smiled and said, "Please buyer Yan, please—."

"Please ask---" Yan Shikuan gave in and led the way.

Yixin asked without saying a word: "A thermal power plant is built in Shanghai?"

"Shanghai's thermal power plant should be the world's first thermal power plant." Yan Shikuan's tone could not hide his compliment, "Providing lighting electricity to Shanghai is just an accompanying place, mainly for experimental research... In the words of the shopkeeper, this is a new chapter in the electrical era, and its significance is no less than the invention of a steam engine."

In the Electrical Age, Yixin said in confusion: "Isn't it just used for lighting?"

"If it is limited to lighting, it is not comparable to a steam engine." Yan Shikuan smiled and said: "The application of electricity is very widespread. Lighting is only one aspect. Electricity can be converted into mechanical energy. Electric motors have been invented to replace steam engine driving machines. A series of new machines and new technologies will come into being and be widely used and promoted."

Speaking of this, he lowered his voice and said, "The shopkeeper said that whoever can lead the electrical era can replace England and become the new world overlord! Our Qing Dynasty now has this condition!"

Are they really planning to let the Qing Dynasty replace English and Geely become the new world overlord? Yixin felt nervous. Will they all be just a piece of chess piece that Yixiu competes with the West?

Turning around the Yimen Gate, Yi Xin found that there were quite a few people coming to Zhennan Prince's Mansion today. There were crowds of well-dressed and wine glasses holding wine glasses and talking in a low voice. Officials, gentry, military officers and foreigners were all laughing and laughing. The servants and maids carrying wine were shuttled back and forth among the crowd. There was a desk every distance, with various Chinese and foreign snacks and fruits piled up for guests to pick them up.

This way of banqueting guests is really strange. Yixin secretly said she was strange all the way and asked softly: "Is this the Westerner's way of banqueting guests?"

"I don't know." Yan Shikuan smiled and said, "It was the order given by the shopkeeper."

At the entrance of Changle Bookstore, Yi Zhizu shook hands with Lin Meilian wearing a well-fitting cheongsam with several foreigners and looked up and saw Yan Shikuan and Yixin coming quickly. He pretended not to see it and turned around and entered the yard.

Seeing this, Yi Xin smiled bitterly and said, "It seems that the shopkeeper has not yet calmed down."

This was difficult to answer, Yan Shikuan simply pretended not to hear it. Fortunately, Lin Meilian came up and said with a smile: "Prince Gong is here."

Yixin had long noticed her outfit. Nowadays, women's clothes are very generous and cover their figure tightly, making it impossible to expose half of their arms. However, Lin Meilian's clothes are very well integrated, perfectly outlining the lines of the woman. He dared not look at it anymore, and retracted his eyes and praised: "Miss Lin is really dazzling and dazzling today."

Lin Meilian smiled and said, "Thank you, King Gong, for your praise. This was designed by the shopkeeper."

Yi Xin couldn't help but be stunned. Yi Zhizu can still design women's clothing? He still has this hobby? Lin Meilian smiled and stretched out her hand openly, "Please, Prince Gong—."

Yi Xin walked into the study with a nervous mood. Seeing Yi Shizuo sitting upright, he curled his smile and bowed and said, "I ignore the overall situation and for my own selfishness, I almost triggered a war to destroy the current situation. Today I came to the door to apologize."

Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "Did you come to the door to apologize? Didn't you come to ask for help?"

Seeing him acting unyielding, Yixin complained secretly, and had to put down her figure and apologize with a shy face, saying, "Apologize first, apologize first. If Brother Guocheng does not forgive me, I dare not expect Brother Guocheng to help me."

"Sit." Yi Zhizu said slowly and lit a cigarette. Yi Xin was not even concerned about the other party's attitude at this time. She quickly bowed and explained: "Since the preparation for constitutionalization, the Empress Dowager has vigorously cultivated the power of the royal family in the court and the army, and her intention to resist constitutionalization is very obvious..."

Yi Zhizu waved his hand and stopped him and said, "I'm not interested in such an explanation."

"Of course, I really have selfish intentions, but this is also true." Yi Xin said with a smirk: "If we can defeat the Eight Banners New Army controlled by the emperor and empress, it will be conducive to the smooth implementation of constitutionalism as soon as possible. Besides, it will also have many benefits to provoke the battle......"

Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "The imperial court has been pursuing the Northeast over the years, expanding Shengjing, and retreating to the Northeast. Once the war is unfavorable, retreating to the Northeast will not be said to last for a long time, but Western countries will also give Western countries the opportunity to get involved in our internal affairs.

Our steady expansion to the outside world over the years has long attracted fear from Britain, France and other countries. Once we have the opportunity, they will inevitably get involved. Do you know that the court has secretly ordered enough arms from England to Geely with 50,000 troops?"

Yi Xin was shocked and asked, "There is still this?"

"It's what happened after you left the capital." Yi Zhizu said a little, and then said: "We snatched the two provinces of Nanyang from Spain and the Netherlands, and expelled the British in Myanmar and occupied Bangladesh. France had long coveted Annan, as well as Tsarist Russia and the United States...

Although we are now forming an alliance with the United States and Russia, once major national interests are involved, the contract concluded is nothing more than a piece of paper. No country is willing to sit idly by and watch our country rise strongly. As long as we have the opportunity, we will take advantage of the situation and try every means to weaken our country's strength.

As long as a large-scale civil war breaks out in our country, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Northwest, Northeast China and Japan may have a war breaking out. With the current industrial and economic strength of the Qing Dynasty, it will be difficult to support even if it is a two-line battle, let alone a multi-line battle or a full-scale war!"

After hearing this, Yi Xin's expression suddenly became a little unnatural. He never expected the interference and interference of foreign forces. He knew very well that this was not alarmist. During the Civil War in the United States, Britain, France and other countries invaded Mexico on a large scale. Once the Qing Dynasty had civil strife, Britain, France, the United States, Russia, West and Netherlands would never miss the opportunity. Yuan Qi expanded frequently in recent years, and it was indeed a huge enemy.

After pondering for a moment, he said sincerely: "I am obsessed with the desire to be vigilant, and a leaf is obstructed, and almost caused a disaster!"

"Not that serious." Yi Zhizu said unceremoniously: "If you really want to provoke the battle, Yuan Qi has the ability to quickly extinguish the war!"

Quickly extinguish the war! It is clear who it is to extinguish! Yi Xin suddenly felt a chill behind her. Senggelinqin's judgment was indeed good, but fortunately he didn't dare to take a gamble.

As the sky gradually became dark, Yi Zhizu glanced out the window and said actively: "The Empress Dowager took off the firewood from the cauldron this time and deprived you of military power on the grounds of disarmament. What are your plans?"

This time during this trip to Shanghai, Yi Xin lowered her posture and said quickly: "It depends on Brother Guocheng."

"Okay!" Yi Zhizu said simply: "It is not appropriate to rebel against the court at the moment, and we cannot start a war. The court will disarmament, and we will recruit troops, on the grounds that the Japanese army is not strong enough to launch another army on the war, and transport the troops directly to Japan to participate in the war. You, the general who attacked the Japanese, will return to Japan for the time being."

Yi Xin showed a smile on her face, "For this severance and recruitment, these more than 10,000 troops will no longer be the imperial court's economic and institutional troops, but will be a sequence belonging to the Yuanqi New Army."

"It's not ten thousand, it's twenty thousand." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "We are all reorganized and reorganized into an army according to the organization of the Yuanqi New Army, and are still led by Senggelinqin, and all treatments are treated equally."

Yi Xin was overjoyed when she heard this and hurriedly bowed: "Brother Xie Guocheng."

Yi Zhizu smiled distractedly and said, "Do you know why you are eager to get your team back to Beijing?"

Yixin said tentatively: "Is it to restrain the court?"

After nodding slightly, Yi Zhizu said: "The Queen Mother secretly ordered a large batch of arms from England. The intention was very obvious. You were indeed going back to Beijing to restrain checks and balances, but now you have been forced back to Japan..."

Yi Xin tentatively said with concern: "Brother Guocheng is planning to transfer the Northwest Army?"

"I am unwilling to mobilize the Northwest Army unless I have to." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The opportunity for Northwest expansion comes at any time. I don't want to miss the opportunity again. It is best to end the war in Japan as soon as possible..."

Before he finished speaking, the lights in the room flashed for a moment and then lit up. In an instant, the lights inside and outside of the yard were brightly lit. Lin Meilian quickly walked to the door and said with excitement: "Big shopkeeper--."

"Called!" Yi Zhizu smiled and stood up, "Let's go and see, today's Zhennan Prince's Mansion will definitely cause a sensation in the whole of Shanghai."

The entire Zhennan Prince's Mansion has become a sea of ​​lamps. Hundreds of various electric lights inside and outside have shone brightly on the vast palace, and the brightness is so bright that the guests in the palace immediately burst into a burst of awesome sounds. Passers-by outside the palace and the carriages passing by also stopped to enjoy this strange scene that they had never seen in their lives.

Compared with gas lamps, the lights are brighter. The eight 2,000-light large electric lights on the high flagpole outside the gate of the palace are like a small sun shining around like daylight, and can be seen from a distance. It is far from comparable to gas lamps. What is more conspicuous is that the lights of the palace are constantly wandering and changing colors, like dreams and fantasy, making people feel excited.

The news spread quickly, and countless people flocked to watch this rare wonder. The palace was crowded with people, and the crowd was a little more lively than a temple fair.

Looking at the various electric lights of all sizes, Yi Zhizu was also very happy. Whether it was the construction of power plants or the research and development of electric lights, he devoted a lot of effort, especially the light bulb factory. He put forward a lot of ideas and suggestions. It is no exaggeration to say that Shanghai Yuanqi Light bulb Factory is far ahead of this era!

Seeing Yi Quasi came out, Yan Shikuan greeted him with an excited look on his face and said excitedly: "That amazing! So amazing! This electric light must replace the gas lamp!"

"That's natural. Electric lights are not only brighter than gas lights, but also safer than gas lights. Replacing gas lights is the general trend." Yi Zhizu said and lowered his voice: "Have you transferred your shares in Zilaihuo Factory?"

"It's been a long time since we changed hands!" Yan Shikuan said with a smile: "How dare we not listen to the big shopkeeper?" As he said, he said with concern: "Will the Zilai Fire Factory go bankrupt?"

"Don't worry." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Gas is a clean energy source that can not only be used for lighting, but also for home cooking and heating. It is much stronger than coal stoves. It can develop in this aspect in the future. Yuanqi will strongly support it."

"Ah?" Yan Shikuan was stunned. Since that's the case, why should he take the shares of Zilaihuo Factory? He hesitated and said, "Wouldn't they be blessed in disguise?"

"Whether it is a blessing in disguise depends on their choice." Yi Zhizu said softly: "The existing fire plants in Shanghai are too small in scale, but their coal-to-gas distillation technology is still mature, so I have already taken it." nt

:.:
Chapter completed!