Chapter 27 Section 27 shocked the top

The west in Prince Gong's mouth refers to the Queen Mother of the two palaces.The Empress Dowager West, also known as Empress Dowager Cixi or Empress Nara, is a native of Zhenghuang Banner in Manchuria, Yehenala family, and is the daughter of Huizheng, Guangtai Dao, Ningchi, Anhui.Fluent in Manchu and Chinese characters, she is a strange woman. The Empress Dowager, whose real name is Lan'er, was elected to the palace in the second year of Xianfeng (AD 1852) and was granted the title of nobleman of Lan.In the fifth year of Xianfeng (1855 A.D.), Lan'er was lucky enough to conceive a dragon species by Emperor Xianfeng. The next year, she gave birth to a son, Zaichun, who was named Concubine Yi;In the eleventh year of Xianfeng (AD 1861), Emperor Xianfeng died of illness in the Rehe Palace. His son Zaichun, who was six years old, came to the throne with the reign name Qixiang.When Lan'er was in mourning in Rehe, she lived in the Xinuang Pavilion of Yanbo Zhishuang Palace, so she was also called West Side or West Queen Mother.

Before Emperor Xianfeng died, considering that his son was still young, he sent Prince Yi Zaiyuan and Prince Zheng Duanhua, who were deeply trusted by him, Sushun, Shangshu Sushun, Efu Jingshou, and Minister Mu of the Ministry of Military Affairs, who were deeply trusted by him. Yin, the left servant Kuang Yuan of the Ministry of Officials, the right servant Du Han of the Ministry of Rites, and Jiao Youying, the minister of Taipusi, were established as "Ministers of Zanxiang Government Affairs" to assist Youjun and exercise the power of regent. They were known as the Eight Ministers of Gu Ming. The Empress Dowager was excluded from the government.

The Empress Dowager was not reconciled, and even took advantage of the opportunity of returning to Luan to join forces with Prince Gong Yixin who lived in Beijing. With the support of British Minister Bruce and other foreign forces, she returned to Beijing and launched a palace coup that shocked the world, killing Sushun. , Zaiyuan and Duanhua were bestowed with death, dismissed or exiled other Chancellor ministers, changed the reign name to Tongzhi, and the empress dowagers of the two palaces jointly listened to the government behind the curtain. Empress Niu Hulu, also known as the Eastern Empress Dowager or Ci'an Empress Dowager, was originally cowardly and ignorant of political and state affairs, so the decision-making power was often in the hands of the Western Empress Dowager; After all, the Queen Mother is just a foil.Long before Xianfeng's death, the Yehenala family had already intervened in political affairs, reviewing papers for Xianfeng, and recommending minister candidates to Xianfeng, which is even more common.

Facts have proved that the Queen Mother is a woman who is particularly enthusiastic about state affairs and has a strong desire for power. After Xue Huan's booklet came in, the Empress Dowager Cixi looked at it, and as usual, she took the booklet and brought the maid, eunuch, and chief of the inner chamber An Dehai, and rushed to the Empress Dowager Ci'an to discuss the solution. The Empress Dowager Ci'an didn't even look at the booklet, and said, "My sister can handle these things according to her own needs! I don't know Chinese characters either." The Empress Dowager Cixi hurriedly said, "Sister, let me tell you?"

The Empress Dowager Ci'an hurriedly waved her hands: "My sister can figure it out for herself." Empress Dowager Cixi got this sentence, so she took the booklet and went back to her residence, and summoned several military ministers and university scholars in Beijing to discuss the solution together.Before making a decision, one must listen to the opinions of the ministers. This is the usual method used by the Empress Dowager Cixi since she took office. She is a more intelligent woman, but also a scheming woman. Prince Gong brought Wenxiang, Li Tangjie, Cao Yuying, Jia Zhi from the Military Division of Wuyingdian University, Zhou Zupei from the Division of Criminal Affairs of Tirenge University, and Woren from the Department of Civil Affairs of Wenyuange University, and soon came to the Empress Dowager Cixi.The Empress Dowager Cixi was sitting in the warm pavilion, with a silk curtain hanging in front of her as usual.

The princes and ministers paid their respects as usual, and stood on both sides with their heads bowed.Empress Dowager Cixi said slowly: "Prince Gong, tell them about Xue Huan's booklet and see what to do." Yixin hurriedly agreed, then took the people back a few steps, and whispered about Bai Qiwen's dispute over salary, and the ministers soon began to discuss in a low voice. Woren was the first to say: "Your Majesty, I have already said that foreigners are all ignorant beasts. They cannot be used, they cannot be used! Xue Huan still organized this foreign gun team. What happened? If you don’t fight, you will fight with us! Is Yang Fang a long-haired? Is Yang Fang a twisted party? Bai Qiwen beat him until his nose and mouth are bleeding! What’s the matter?”

Prince Gong smiled and said: "Wo Zhongtang, don't talk about the past, let's talk about it, what should we do now, should the foreign gun team be established or disbanded?" Wo Ren said angrily: "Your Majesty, if the foreign gun team has become like this, is it okay if you don't disband it? Disband the foreign gun team first, and then execute that Bai Qiwen Lingchi. Only by doing this can the situation in Shanghai be stabilized." Li Tangjie said at this time: "Wozhongtang, I have a different opinion." Wu Ren followed the prestige and saw that it was Li Tangjie, so he stroked his beard with his hand and said, "Let's talk about Li Zongxian!"

Li Tangjie said: "My lord, Wu Zhongtang, my lords, I think that regardless of how Xue Huan is, it is not wrong for him to advocate the establishment of the foreign gun team. The foreign gun team is indeed a murderer. Otherwise, how could it be called the Ever Victorious Army? This is an indisputable fact." Woren raised his voice and said: "President Li is really forgetful. Could it be that Bai Qiwen beat Yang Fang until his nose and mouth bleed, is he also among the brave?" Li Tangjie argued: "Wozhongtang, I think that Chang Shengjun has the ability to kill the enemy and Bai Qiwen beat Yang Fang. There is no reason. Why did Bai Qiwen beat Yang Fang? Why didn't he come and beat the lower official?" ?”

Wen Xiang frowned and said, "You two should stop talking about these things. Let's discuss what to do in Jiangsu. Li Hongzhang's time in Shanghai was too short, and he didn't have enough contacts with foreigners. Chang Shengjun didn't accept his discipline very much. ,This is the truth. "What about Xue Huan, no matter what, he has been with foreigners for several years, and he is the founder of the Changsheng Army. Not to mention Bai Qiwen, even Huaer was obedient to Xue Huan before his death. Han, at this time in Shanghai, there can be no more accidents. Wo Zhongtang, you have been advising the Queen Mother for a while, Jiangsu cannot be stable without Xue Huan as the governor! The Changsheng Army cannot be dispatched without Xue Huan!"

Wo Ren shook his head and said, "I study Neo Confucianism. No matter who is the governor of Jiangsu, I think disbanding the foreign gun team and executing Bai Qiwen is the most urgent task." Empress Dowager Cixi said in the curtain at this time: "Okay, don't quarrel. It is not easy to form the Changsheng Army, and it is not easy to disband. Let's discuss who is suitable for the governor of Jiangsu. Shanghai is It is a place where businessmen from all over the world gather, and it is really impossible to let someone who has no experience go there!" When Wen Xiang heard this, he hurriedly took a step forward, plopped down on his knees, and said, "The empress dowager is wise! Li Hongzhang is a scholar who doesn't know anything about military affairs. He ruined everything about the Ever Victorious Army! This servant dares to speak to the empress dowager. The governor of Jiangsu must release Xue Huan, a veteran who has deep knowledge of barbarian affairs!"

Empress Dowager Cixi smiled and said, "Wen Xiang, get up and talk!" Wen Xiang said: "Thank you, Queen Mother." As he said, he got up. Li Tang took a step forward and said in a loud voice: "The Empress Dowager, I dare to think that there are many things wrong with what Mr. Wen said." Empress Dowager Cixi said: "Li Tangjie, tell me about it?" "The empress dowager said, I boldly believe that the matter of Chang Shengjun is not in the hands of Li Hongzhang, but in the hands of Xue Huan, Wu Xu, and Yang Fang. Think about it, the empress dowager, Wu Xu is the governor of Jiangsu. , is in charge of the money and food of the whole province of Jiangsu, and Yang Fang is the Jiangsu Standard Division, who is also the supervisor of the Ever Victory Army, and has been in charge of the money and food of the Ever Victory Army. Since the establishment of the Ever Victory Army, the dispatch has been quite smooth But ever since Li Hongzhang became the acting governor of Jiangsu, Wu Xu and Yang Fang began to maliciously default on the pay of the Changsheng Army, which caused discord between Bai Qiwen and Li Hongzhang. "When Bai Qiwen was arguing about salary, Huai Yong, who was under Li Hongzhang's administration, was fighting fiercely with Changmao in Qingpu, while Xue Huan was in Shanghai. Bai Qiwen closed the gate of Songjiang City privately to ask Wu Xu for money, and then chased into Shanghai City and injured Yang Fang. Xue Huan died As the minister of trade and commerce, not only did he not come forward to solve the problem, but instead watched the situation quietly and let it worsen. I would like to ask Xue Huan here, is he still the minister of trade and commerce of the Qing Dynasty? Shi Caiwen has already said it before, and Bai Qiwen only listens to Xue Huan's words . "Then I thought, if Xue Huan persuaded Bai Qiwen a little bit, not only would Bai Qiwen not close Songjiang City privately, but he would not injure Yang Fang! Please be careful with the Queen Mother." Li Tangjie's words were reasonable and reasonable, and they were heard together. In an instant, the thoughts in Empress Dowager Cixi's mind changed unexpectedly. She pondered for a while, and said slowly: "Bai Qiwen's trouble with wages, let's talk about it after Li Hongzhang's book arrives. How is Jiangning going? Can it be recovered in the near future?" Prince Gong shyly approached and replied: "Returning to the Queen Mother, according to Zeng Guofan's report, most of the officers and soldiers who besieged Jiangning were sick because of the unacceptable climate. Zeng Guofan has sent his capable subordinates back to the village to recruit new soldiers, and they will be able to form an army by the end of the year. .” The Empress Dowager Cixi finally said: "Prince Gong, you can ask Zeng Guofan more about Jiangsu matters. Zeng Guofan has trained for us for so many years and has suffered a lot. Some things cannot be taken for granted!" These words are clearly referring to Prince Chong Gong, but they are actually talking about Wen Xiang.Wen Xiang's face became hot.Later facts proved that Li Tangjie's words in defense of Li Hongzhang not only changed the fate of Li Hongzhang, Xue Huan, Wu Xu, Yang Fang and others, but actually rewrote the history of the precarious late Qing Dynasty.