In May, the eighth year of Guangxu.

The funeral of Empress Dowager Cixi has been almost done. In fact, there is nothing complicated. Not long after Empress Dowager Ci'an was buried, everyone just took the previous process aside. Like Ci'an, Cixi was buried in the tomb of Emperor Xianfeng and was with the old emperor.

Because of the joint cooperation of the six ministers, Cixi's sudden death did not bring any turmoil to the court. The Military Affairs Office and the Zongli Yamen should report to whom to whom to report to the work, and the ministers of each department also watched, and the governors of each province wrote letters to express their condolences and loyalty to the imperial power, and they should do whatever they should do. Therefore, Guangxu successfully took Cixi's gun.

It is undeniable that although Yi, Yihuan and other full staff, Li Hongzhang, Weng Tonghe and other Han personnel, they all have their own problems, they are indeed rare talents. With them in the court, the little emperor saved a lot of trouble. For example, they read and approve the memorials of each department every day, and then copied a summary to the little emperor. If the little emperor has no objection and uses a seal, they will send it to the next day to execute it. If there are different opinions, or if the matter is serious, the emperor will convene a meeting and come up with the charter. As for other court officials, they can usually report to the emperor in person during the court meeting every five days.

This **** Day.

Minister of Works and Weng Tonghe, who walked on the military plane, wrote: "The Governor of Zhili, Minister of Beiyang, and Li Hongzhang, Governor of Huguang, wrote a letter. Because his mother died of illness, she asked for an order to make him worry again. With the view of his ministers, our dynasty governs the world with filial piety. The two are important ministers of the country and are examples of the world. They should allow the two to worry for three years to be fully filial."

Zaitian knew that Weng Tonghe and Li Hongzhang had always been at odds. The grudges between the two families were too complicated and he was too lazy to reconcile. However, now that Weng Tonghe took advantage of the situation, Guangxu was very disgusted with it.

"It is inappropriate. Now that the contract between North Korea and the United States has not been decided, the Eastern people still regard China as Ryukyu, and the Southern Chinese are also ready to move. When the country is in trouble, the important affairs of the court should be the priority. How can we lose the righteousness if we lose the matter! There is no need to discuss this matter again, so Li Hongqi was ordered to serve as Dingyou and fulfill his filial piety tomb; Li Hongzhang could temporarily remove himself from the position of governor of Zhili and return to his hometown to the director. However, he was still the Minister of Beiyang and served as the Governor of Liangjiang. On the one hand, he was guarding against the trouble of the Southern Chinese, and at the same time rectifying the defense of the Yangtze River to prevent the Japanese from taking advantage of the situation."

Seeing that the emperor made a decision, Weng Tonghe would not be able to argue anymore, otherwise the king would lose his manners and would seem too stingy.

Chen Lanbin was walking on the Zongli Yamen and said, "The North Korean envoy arrived in Beijing in the first month of the year. It has been several months now. A few days ago, American Xue Feier had also arrived in Tianjin. Should we sign the contract now?"

"Since this matter has been agreed, a contract can be signed. Previously, Li Hongzhang recommended the Taoist Ma Jianzhong to handle this matter. I also think that Ma Aiqing is steady and rigorous, so he ordered him to go to Tianjin to sign a contract with North Korea and the United States. Remember that the treaty must be clearly stated in the treaty that North Korea is a Chinese state. When signing the contract, the signature of our ministers should be given to the front, and the signature of the North Korean envoy should be given to the back."

Chen Lanbin received the order. Minister of Military Affairs and Minister of War Zuo Zongtang said: "The court had issued an order to governors of Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan to prepare for defense to prevent legal persons. Although the provinces have made many preparations, in the opinion of the ministers, most of the southern troops were green camps. If they were not trained for a long time, it is difficult to take important tasks. The court should make plans early and draw regiments from Hunan and Huai to respond to the unexpected."

Zaitian thought for a while and shook his head, "Last year, due to the Russian Xinjiang incident, twenty-three battalions were transferred from Hunan and Huai to the north. If they were transferred again, they might be anxious that no one would be available in both places, which would be unfair. I think that the second tutors of Guangxi and Yunnan mentioned Liu Yongfu in the compromise. They said that they were extremely brave and very useful. They could order Liu Yongfu as the envoy of the Beiqi Town, a third-ranked leader, to recruit soldiers on the spot in Guangxi, Vietnam and other places, trained to form troops to control legal persons."

Zuo Zongtang said again: "Liu Yongfu is a rebel. Although he has been interested in the court in recent years, he still has to guard against it. Since he has promised him to be the best person in charge of the escort envoy, it is best to send an operator as his deputy to take charge."

Zaitian smiled and said, "There are many great lords. Can thieves reform themselves and serve the court. Isn't my court tolerate others? The so-called employing people without doubt, and doubting people are not required. Since he has promised him, let him let go and send someone to restrain him, which may be counterproductive. In addition, you might as well show your favor and promise that after the army is formed, the guns, artillery and copper hats will be distributed by the Shenjiying Machinery Bureau of the imperial court. As long as he can guarantee my Southwest Screen, he will not need to worry about anything else. The court will have its own reward."

Speaking of this, Zaitian looked at Yihuan again: "Prince Chun, how is the matter between the Machine Bureau done?"

Yihuan hurriedly stepped out and said, "When you go back to the emperor, the foreign machinery purchased by Li Zhongtang was shipped last month and has been assembled. In the second year of Guangxu, people from overseas were selected and they have been in place and can start production at any time."

"Well, it's very good. I'll go and see it myself in a few days."

Yihuan received the order, and Zai Tian also called Weng Tonghe: "Master Weng."

"I'm here!"

"Have all the students who have returned from studying abroad in the second year of Guangxu?"

"The emperor has all arranged it. According to the emperor's intention, the top ones were selected, including Shenjiying, Tianjin Machinery Bureau, Jinan Machinery Bureau, Qingdao Beiyang Naval Academy, Fujian Nanyang Naval Academy, Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau and other departments. Other personnel were divided into Shanxi, Zhili, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Lianghu, Liangjiang, Fujian Zhejiang, Sichuan, Guangdong and Guangxi, and the schools were sent to teach knowledge. Now all provinces have begun to choose suitable young people to enter. In addition to teaching the Four Books and Five Classics and Arithmetic, the new school also offers Western physics, chemistry and other courses."

"It's so good. You must know that if these people return from their studies, they are only placed in various machine bureaus, but the property of the governor and governor, they only contribute one gun or one cannon. If they can enlighten the people's wisdom, they can benefit the world. With time, they will not only offer millions of guns and cannons."

All the ministers called "The Emperor's Holy and Virtue".

Then the Zongli Yamen reported on the second batch of students who were selected overseas. Zaitian asked the Zongli Yamen to recruit Western envoys to China to teach, and the grand dynasty meeting was dispersed.

After the court was dispersed, Zaitian returned to the palace, changed his clothes, and went out to fight with the guards.

Since Empress Dowager Ci'an's death, the young emperor lamented the impermanence of life and was more and more willing to cherish his life. So he asked his own father to help him, and hired several good men from the world from outside, both inside and outside to teach his boxing skills. Originally, several Manchu princes were not accurate. After all, since entering the pass, the guards in the palace have been children of the Eight Banners. Now, what is the style of a few Han boxers entering the palace? But the young emperor said that practicing martial arts is to strengthen the body. Haven't you seen that the two empress dowagers and the late emperor die young? Do you also hope that you will die soon?

This hat is too big, who dares to agree? So no one objected, but in addition to the Han boxer, there were a few more Manchu and Mongolian Buku warriors.

Although Buku's warriors are powerful, they are all good at wrestling. Zai Tian is the emperor, how can he hold him together with others and fall? Do you think it is writing the Deer and the Cauldron? This arrangement is just for all the princes to find a balance in their hearts.

Nowadays, for physical and mental health, the little emperor's daily routine is very regular. He wakes up in the morning and runs, exercises, and then breakfast. When there is a court meeting or when there is a government affairs that needs to be handled, he goes to court. If he doesn't, he goes to Yuqing Palace to study. After lunch, he takes half an hour to take a nap, and then practices boxing with his master to nourish himself. He looks at the memorials at night and goes to bed before Xu hour.

A few days later, Prince Chun said that the Machinery Bureau had started production. The young emperor had said that he would inspect the work himself, but the ministers were too dangerous to make gunpowder, and they firmly disagreed. Zaitian also felt that life was still important at the moment. He was not afraid of ten thousand, but afraid of one, so he became good and arranged for personnel to come to the palace to report the work. On this day, Prince Chun said that this matter was to bring people to report.

"The Machinery Bureau has selected machines to purchase the latest German machinery. I have been trying to produce these days and calculated that it can produce about 5,000 Western breeched bead guns and about 120,000 spoils per year. If it is produced in the UK's 12-pound breeched guns, it can produce about 70. The range and power of imitation weapons are basically the same as those of Western purchases, but the cost is only half."

A young official knelt on the ground and said loudly. Several other young men crawled around him, not even daring to raise their heads.

Judging from his wardrobe, he was just a sixth-rank assistant. He may have never thought of having the opportunity to play against the emperor in his life, so he looked very excited.

Listening to the report below, Emperor Zaitian suddenly had a thought in his mind. The young official said something later. The little emperor basically didn't listen anymore, just frowned and thoughtful.

The information in my mind kept flashing like a picture, starting from fragments and gradually becoming clear.

"Does anyone among you have very good friends in the West? You must live in a very reliable way. I have something to do."

The little emperor interrupted the young official's report and asked suddenly.

Everyone kneeling below looked at each other, wondering why His Majesty the Emperor suddenly asked this question.

Seeing that everyone was not talking, Zaitian frowned: "What? Isn't it?"

Yi Huan saw the emperor's face unwillingness and hurriedly said, "Report to the emperor, these groups were all selected to study abroad in the second year of Guangxu. During his studies, they were quite self-disciplined, so they were a little weak in communication. If the emperor wanted to hire people, would he pass the order to find the Zongli Yamen?"

Zaitian shook his head: "This is not suitable for people from the Zongli Yamen to do. Go back and write to other machines and ask them to find out if there are any people who go there. If there is really no, there is no way."

At this time, a young official saw that the emperor's tone was depressed, gritted his teeth, as if he had made some great determination, and said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. The guilty minister has the following information."

"Huh? What's the matter? I'll forgive you for being innocent, tell me." Zaitian didn't pay attention to his expression, but just replied casually.

The young official kowtowed three times before saying, "When I was studying chemistry in Germany, I was very fond of the professor because of my excellent grades. Therefore, I was invited by the professor to visit his house. After a while, I fell in love with the professor's daughter and agreed to live for a lifetime. The professor did not object. He just waited for his return to China to report to his parents this time, and then wrote to ask Elephant to come and get married. The minister knew that it was a guilty to privately dating foreigners during his study abroad, but if he could share the worries of the emperor, he would also ask the emperor to be kind and repay the merits."

After saying that, he crawled on the ground, waiting for the emperor's verdict.

After hearing this, the little emperor smiled without being angry: "You are so good at it. I asked you to go abroad to learn Western technology, so you will bring back a Western woman. However, in this way, it will be useful. I forgive you for being innocent. What's your name?"

The young man quickly thanked him, stood up and replied, "My name is Wang Shishou."

"Well. You are smart. I guess your marriage must not be allowed at home, right?"

"Return to the emperor, the emperor is wise and my family is indeed strongly opposed. For this matter, Jia Yan is ready to expel me from the family."

Zaitian nodded. According to people's current thinking, marriage is a matter of the order of their parents. His son found a foreigner as his wife on his back, but he didn't beat him to death.

"Well, I'll solve your family's affairs for you. You are studying chemistry, right? Come up and I have an errand to do."

As he said that, he ordered the eunuch to take the paper and pen and write something. Wang Shishou knelt down a few steps forward, took the emperor's calligraphy from the eunuch, and saw several chemical formulas and some raw material ratios written on it.

"Can you understand?"

"The emperor was a natural saint. I had also been exposed to these raw materials when I was in Germany, but I have never seen these formulas and reaction equations."

"It doesn't matter, this is a new type of gunpowder formula. If you try this formula several times, you will definitely succeed. If you have any needs, just look for Prince Chun. When you try it out, I will let you go to Germany to do another thing."

After Zaitian finished speaking, he stood up and left to end the call.
Chapter completed!