Chapter 63 The Confrontation Between Emperors and Empresses
On March 1, 1895, Guangxu promulgated the "Decision of the Kingdom" drafted by Weng Tongxiu, which kicked off the reform and reform. The reformists from all over the country were ecstatic. Liang Qichao said: "It is probably a major move to pull out the old and open the new for four thousand years! All reforms, based on this edict, and the new policy will be held on this day."
The young Guangxu was planning his grand blueprint in the Forbidden City with ambition, looking forward to the tomorrow of the Qing Empire with bright eyes. Yesterday, the empress dowager said to him: "I will not stop the emperor from doing things." Therefore, he was confident!
Wishes are beautiful, but reality is cruel. A simple and cute child does not know that the mouth of a politician is like a public toilet. The words he says are the people coming and going in the toilet, and will never be the same.
Guangxu only had three days of dreams, and after only three days, the confidants of Cixi such as Ronglu, Yili, and Gangyi instructed officials who were willing to be used as gun envoys to write letters to impeach his teacher Weng Tongxi, saying that Weng Tongxi was incompetent in the country, formed gangs and chaos in politics, and conquered power, which led to the corruption of the Ministry of Revenue.
So, a decree was issued from Cixi, who was sitting in the pavilion beside Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace and admired the lotus flowers-
The co-organizer Weng Tonghe has been working hard recently, and many people have not agreed to the affairs, which has caused the public to be dissatisfied and has been reported by people. And when the call is held, they will consult the incident and ask for any questions. The joys and angers are seen in the words of the words, and gradually reveal the situation of being in a state of unsuccessful situation, and the cardinal responsibility is difficult to defeat. We should have investigated and punished severely. I remember that he had been walking in Yuqing Palace for many years, but he couldn't bear to issue a condemnation, so he immediately opened the vacancies to return to his hometown to show his protection.
On a sunny day, Guangxu felt cold all over his body. Weng Shi, who was on his right hand, was kicked out of the capital in shame. Li Hongzao was already old and sick, and who else could trust the Military Affairs Office?
While the emperor's teacher Weng Tonghe Kaique, Cixi transferred Wang Wenshao to Beijing, and served as the governor of Zhili as his confidant Ronglu, to control the security of the capital. She ordered that any ministers above the second rank and above should be given a new position to her to thank her.
The old minister Guangxu did not trust him, and the young minister Guangxu could only be promoted to the third or fourth rank at most. Guangxu's think tank was gone. He could only watch the memorandums handed over by his ministers all day long, and then he made the decision. If he thought it was good, he would pass it. If he thought it was not possible, he would let it go. In this way, he would only rely on his temporary preferences, just like a child playing house, he would determine the national affairs.
In Tianjin, news from all over the capital flew into Ye Zhikui's room like snowflakes. Ye Zhikui, Li Hongzhang, Nie Shicheng, Ye Zhichao and others kept letters. Among them, Nie Shicheng's letter made Ye Zhikui very alert. Nie Shicheng said that an organization called Yihequan appeared in some places in Shandong. Fortunately, he responded properly and extinguished it in time. But Ye Zhikui knew that the Boxer Rebellion was about to rise.
Fortunately, Ye Zhikui had a gun in his hand and was not panicked. After a marching training, the soldiers' perseverance, endurance and combat effectiveness of the soldiers were significantly improved, which surprised Ye Zhikui. He was really unintentionally planting willows and willows. After discussing with the staff, he asked to decide the strategy of Wuyi's army to implement marching training every half month.
Ye Zhikui intentionally or unintentionally gradually expanded the scope of training and gradually approached from Tianjin to the capital. Because marching training became a routine military activity, the people and officials in the Beijing-Tianjin area gradually became accustomed to it, and there was no initial surprise!
The Wuyi army was praised by Ronglu, and the court also tried to build such a model army, so all supplies of weapons and ammunition were given priority. The General Office of the Ordnance Bureau was a matter of Ren Shigo. He carried forward Ye Zhikui's method of crying poverty. From time to time, he asked the Ministry of War or the Governor's Office for weapons and ammunition, and proposed to Ye Zhikui's policy of using half of ammunition and half of it, quietly stocking up a large number of guns and ammunition.
In view of the increasingly tense situation in the capital, Ye Zhikui suggested to Wang Wenshao, who had not yet stepped down: "Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau is an important military base, and its original military strength is too weak, so heavy troops should be sent to protect it."
Wang Wenshao deeply agreed, so Ye Zhikui drew two teams of about 500 soldiers from the new army to take turns to guard.
The Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, which can produce guns and ammunition, fell under Ye Zhikui's "protection".
On the 5th, Kang Youwei came to Tianjin from the capital to learn from the spiritual leader of the reformist Timothy Li, who was a genuine British man. He actively acted among the upper class and repeatedly suggested that China be placed under the "protection" of Britain and hired foreigners to participate in the government in an attempt to influence the development of China's political situation. Unfortunately, he met old foxes such as Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and Zuo Zongtang at that time, so they failed to do so.
This time, he met Kang Youwei. As soon as he met, Timothy Li enthusiastically covered Kang Youwei's hand and said, "Kang, you are Hirobuki from China!"
Kang Youwei was flattered and replied: "You are too rewarding. I am a loyal reader of the "Gumorbha of All Nations". The reform ideas you published on it deeply attracted me. You are my teacher."
Timothy Li smiled faintly and said, "I have lived in China for many years and have deeply studied the Meiji Restoration of Japan. I believe that if you want to be prosperous and strong, you should not only focus on "Western art" but also on "Western politics". I think your government's reforms are too conservative. You should learn from our Western countries and hire us Westerners as consultants to help make decisions and reforms." Timothy Li didn't know that taking too big steps would make you feel hurt.
Kang Youwei said happily: "If you can help us, it will be a blessing for our Qing Dynasty. I will write to His Majesty to invite you to be our reform consultant. I heard that Japan's Hirobuki Ito had just resigned from the position of Prime Minister (actually, he had to resign because of the ineffective suppression of bandits). Ito and Brother Youling (Yan Fu) are British classmates. Brother Youling and I want to invite him to travel to China, so please tell me."
Timothy Li agreed immediately, "No problem, I often contact Ito Jun. I will definitely give it to you."
Kang Youwei and Timothy Li had a happy conversation. Kang Youwei made friends with two powerful foreign players, and he was happy and took big steps. Thinking that he had to go to another place, he couldn't help but look forward to it.
Ye Zhikui received a message from Kang Youwei the day before yesterday. Yan came to visit today, so he had to stay in Ye's house and wait for Kang Youwei.
Fortunately, not long after, a servant came to report that Kang Youwei was coming, and Ye Zhikui did not go out to greet him. He was not very familiar with Kang Youwei, so he just asked the servant to lead him in.
As soon as Kang Youwei entered the door, he opened his mouth and said, "I have heard that General Ye has a long time ago, but I didn't expect it to be younger than I expected. Congyun is really young and promising." Kang Youwei's natural speaker is not bad at flattering.
Unfortunately, Ye Zhikui didn't eat his trick. Kang Youwei was like a bamboo, looking stubborn and spurious, but in fact his belly was empty. Be careful not to be fooled by him.
Ye Zhikui replied without comment: "I wonder what kind of expensive Mr. Nanhai is coming to our mansion?"
Kang Youwei said seriously: "Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, not to mention that General Ye, you have a high position and power, and you should consider me, the Qing Dynasty. Now the emperor works hard to govern and seek reform and strengthening. We ministers should support us, General Ye, you have also studied in Germany to understand the gap between our Qing Dynasty and the Western countries. If the Qing Dynasty does not seek reform and strengthening, you will eventually be swallowed up by these tiger and wolf countries in many years."
Ye Zhikui said in a rough voice: "Nanhai is overstatement. Now that my Qing Dynasty is in peace, who dares to offend me? Even if a villain peeps at me, I have to ask about the knife in my hand first! Besides, Ye Zhikui has been under the command of the admiral and only needs to concentrate on training soldiers for my Qing Dynasty, but no one else can care about too much."
Kang Youwei was depressed when he heard this. He had been under the rank of the admiral. You are young and a first-rank official. I am just a little sixth-rank official. I had to ask again: "I wonder what General Ye thinks about the reform? General Ye is so young that he will not have the same knowledge as those stubborn and conservative ministers in the court. He thinks that the laws of his ancestors are unchangeable, right?"
Ye Zhikui said in a muffled voice: "I, Ye, have the final say. If the court wants me to change, I will change. If the court doesn't let me change, I will remain unchanged." Ye Zhikui didn't say anything to death.
Kang Youwei was not satisfied with the answer and continued to ask: "General Ye was born in Beiyang, and now the Lord of the Central Hall is the confidant of the empress dowager. I just don't know if General Ye is the empress dowager or the emperor."
Ye Zhikui was secretly annoyed, "You're done, have you done it?" Why did you insist on forcing your brother to express your opinion? He had to pretend to be stupid and asked curiously: "Aren't the emperor and the empress dowager a family?"
Kang Youwei was speechless for a moment, and could not openly provoke the relationship between the emperor and the empress dowager. He had to take a step back and say, "General Ye can see clearly, but it's a pity that you may not be able to help yourself at that time."
Ye Zhikui said slowly: "The court asked me to train a new army, and it was connected with the word "new".
Kang Youwei's eyes lit up, and he thought that Ye Zhikui was a comrade who could unite. However, he was too brave to say it clearly, and he became enthusiastic again. Finally, Kang Youwei fooled Ye Zhikui a thousand taels of silver to contribute to the reform cause, and then left Ye's mansion.
After Kang Youwei left, Ye Zhikui woke up and secretly annoyed that he had not taken care of Ren Shigo today, otherwise he would never have been fooled away.
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Chapter completed!