Chapter 19 Chapter Sixteen Earth Shattering

Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Tan Sitong and others crowded in the crowd excitedly, looking at the Tiananmen Gate tower with colorful flags flying, looking forward to this thrilling moment... In the Renshou Hall of the Summer Palace, the Empress Dowager Cixi sat on the Kowloon throne with a serious face, with Yikuang, Ronglu, Gangyi, and Xu Tong standing on both sides. The Empress Dowager Cixi glanced at these cronies, and said: "Prince Gong has left, and you are the only ones left in the Qing court who are loyal to Ai's family..." Her voice became choked up. "Today, someone is instigating the emperor to carry out some reforms, and wants to abolish the family law of the ancestors. If this continues, I'm afraid people like us will not pay attention to it. Tell me, what should you do? ?”

University scholar Xu Tongbing said: "The emperor's nature, no one dares to stop him." Cixi glared at him, thinking what use is there in wanting a wimp like you.Then he said: "What kind of instinct? No one dares to stop you, and you have to stop me when it's important." Gang Yi fell to his knees with a "plop", and cried: "Qi Empress Dowager, we are not unstoppable, the emperor always scolds us, and doesn't listen to what the door says." After hearing this, the Empress Dowager Cixi asked knowingly: "Could it be that he was the only one who planned it? I know the emperor, he doesn't have that much ability. Could it be that he doesn't discuss with you about such a big matter as the reform?"

Rong Lu said: "Only Weng Tonghe can inherit the emperor's will." Gang Yi added: "Empress Dowager, the culprit is Weng Tonghe, the emperor listened to him, Kang Youwei was recommended by him, and he also presented Kang Youwei's book to the emperor." Rong Lu nodded and said, "It is Weng Tonghe, the hypocrite, who is bewitching people's hearts." Gang Yi cried again and begged: "Queen Dowager, you are the supreme empress dowager, the emperor should have listened to you, please intervene in consideration of the safety of the Qing Dynasty." The Empress Dowager Cixi heard a sinister smile, thinking that I want you to say this today, I don't care who cares?Then he said, "don't worry, all lovers. When the time comes, the Ai family will have their own way." Then he called out, "Li Lianying."

"The slave is here." "Pass down my decree: confer Ronglu University Bachelor and manage the affairs of the Ministry of Households, and grant Fortitude Co-organizer University Bachelor to be transferred to the Minister of the Ministry of War." Finally, a contest between the reform and the anti-reform was made public, and Cixi stepped from the background to the front stage again... Before dawn, the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City opened, and Emperor Guangxu’s sedan chair rushed to the Summer Palace. As usual, there were eunuchs, attendants, and guards in charge of the book...

Emperor Guangxu is excited and nervous today. If the Empress Dowager Cixi does not object today, there is hope for the reform.He leaned on the back of the sedan chair and thought about what Concubine Zhen asked him before leaving: "Your Majesty, do you think the Empress Dowager will agree to promulgate the reform? I always feel in suspense." "Not long ago, Yikuang told me the Empress Dowager Cixi's intentions. The Empress Dowager said I wanted to do something, but he didn't stop her. Anyway, no matter what her attitude is, I have made up my mind to reform, so I don't care too much about it."

Thinking of this, Emperor Guangxu opened the car curtain and looked at it. It was almost dawn... He took a breath of fresh air excitedly, and then put down the car curtain. It was just dawn, and the Summer Palace was still quiet.Emperor Guangxu rushed to Le Shoutang, and after the eunuch greeted him, Empress Dowager Bingdao hadn't gotten up yet. Emperor Guangxu had to kneel in the courtyard and wait to see him.This is the power of the Empress Dowager Cixi, even the emperor had to kneel outside the gate to beg to see her.It can be as short as a few minutes, as long as half an hour, or even an hour or two.

Finally, the Empress Dowager Cixi got up, and the two maids on duty turned on the lights. After turning on the lampshades, they kowtowed on the ground and shouted: "Auspicious ancestors." Then they waited for Lafayette to dress and put on shoes.All the maids outside the house and the queen master who listened to the signal all knelt down in unison to pay respects to the bedroom, and then the door curtain raised half of the curtain, so the maid Siqin who was in charge of folding the quilts, and the maid holding a silver basin filled with hot water Then, eunuchs carrying white fungus soup filed in.

After drinking the tremella soup, the Empress Dowager Cixi began to soak her hands with a hot towel, and then began to apply heat to her face until the wrinkles on her face were relaxed before she began to sit in front of the dressing table and put on makeup.A maid who specializes in make-up puts pearl beauty powder on her face, smears a special royal rouge made of top-quality red roses, and then Li Lianying or a eunuch who specializes in combing her hair combs her hair. After dressing up, he sat on the dragon chair and smoked. Naturally, there was a palace maid waiting for him. After smoking, the eunuch who specializes in making milk tea presented the milk tea.After drinking the milk tea, take a short break and start breakfast.

The breakfast meal is specially prepared by the imperial dining room. As usual, it consists of more than ten kinds of porridge and twenty kinds of breakfast, such as various special tribute rice porridge, pulp, milk, tea, and marrow soup.All kinds of delicacies and delicious ingredients are actually nothing more than chicken, duck and fish. The chef is a famous chef elected by the whole country, so the taste is naturally extraordinary. After breakfast, the Empress Dowager Cixi drank half a cup of green tea as usual, and then smoked a pipe of cigarettes before putting on her court clothes and began to greet and see her.

Li Lianying saw that the queen mother had finished eating and drinking, so she leaned over and said softly: "Queen Bing, the emperor has been kneeling in the courtyard for a long time." Li Lianying, who had won a red envelope from Emperor Guangxu, said so. "Let him in." Cixi said lightly. "yes." Cixi still half-closed her eyes, is she here to honor me?He doesn't have such a good conscience, of course he came here for reform. This unconscionable thing actually asked Yikuang to tell me that he wanted to seize power from me. Cixi gritted her teeth thinking, I will let you seize power, seize it, and see to the end Who will win the deer, hmph...

"I send my respects to Abba Huang, and the auspiciousness of Abba Huang." "Forget it." Cixi opened her eyes and looked at the young emperor who was kneeling in front of her. His eyes were shining brightly, and his forehead and cheeks began to turn red. This surprised Cixi. What made him so excited? ?After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the emperor whose face had been gloomy all the time suddenly changed.Hmph, the reform must be stimulating him... What is the ultimate goal of the change? It is obviously to seize power from me. Well, I will give you the power. You are full-fledged and want to fly, then fly. Aijia will let you live first Addiction to power... "Imperial Father, I have received the order from the Prince of Li, Yikuang, to allow my son to handle affairs, and I am very grateful." "What does the emperor want to do, why did the emperor stop you? The emperor wanted to fight in the Sino-Japanese War, but the emperor didn't stop you. It was you who couldn't beat him, so the emperor came out to clean up the defeat. Now you want to do it again What reform, change it, Father Huang still won't stop you, tell me, what trick do you want me to agree to?" "Imperial father, I have come to ask you for instructions today. Yang Shenxiu and Xu Zhijing, whom I have told you about last time, are now requesting the promulgation of the imperial edict, and I have already given permission, so I am here to report to the emperor... " "Okay, this is a good thing, learn the West, and clearly declare, the emperor will not stop you." Empress Dowager Cixi interrupted him. "Father Emperor." Emperor Guangxu was relieved when he heard this. He never expected that Empress Dowager Cixi would suddenly become so happy.Just as he was wondering, the Queen Mother said unhurriedly: "However, Weng Tonghe is getting old, so he should be allowed to rest." Guangxu was taken aback when he heard that, what a vicious queen mother, you have promoted Ronglu and Yikuang, two cronies, and cut off my right arm. The issue of the edict should be implemented as soon as possible, and this opportunity should not be lost.As for the matter of Weng Tonghe, we will discuss it with her after the edict is issued. After thinking about it, Emperor Guangxu bid farewell to the Queen Mother and rushed back to the palace. He wanted to issue an edict at Tiananmen Square that day, and let him cook raw rice to see what the Queen Mother could do. "Quick, quick, go back to the palace." Back in the palace, Concubine Zhen was already waiting for the result. "How is it, Your Majesty? Has the Empress Dowager agreed to issue an imperial edict?" "She agreed, and I will hold an edict ceremony today." "Your Majesty, you are so great..." In the eyes of Concubine Zhen, Emperor Guangxu seemed to be a wise emperor riding on a tall horse, like Peter the Great of Russia, who wanted to send his troops to China to catch up with the countries of the world... June 11, 1898 (April 23rd in the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu), was a memorable day in modern Chinese history and the most prominent day in the life of Emperor Guangxu.Emperor Guangxu promulgated the "Ming Dingguo Shizhao" on the Tiananmen Gate Tower, officially announcing to the world that China's Qing Dynasty will carry out reform and reform, thus opening the prelude to reform and reform in modern Chinese history. On this day, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. Flags and flags were fluttering on the Tiananmen Rostrum, and red lights were hanging high.The incense pavilions and dragon pavilions placed on both sides of the tower, smoke and mist, and the purple air rises, and the Xuanzhao Taihuang case is placed in the middle of the tower.To the south of the Jinshui Bridge stood thousands of civil and military officials, and tens of thousands of people in the square were waiting eagerly. Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Tan Sitong, and others crowded in the crowd excitedly, looking up to the Tiananmen Gate, looking forward to this earth-shattering moment... In the middle of the Tiananmen Gate tower stands a huge golden phoenix draped in imperial colors. This golden phoenix holds in its mouth a huge emperor's edict wrapped in a golden ribbon. When the time came, drums and music played together, and behind the majestic guard of honor was Emperor Guangxu's Golden Luan carried from the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the downstairs of Tiananmen Gate.Followed by Li Hongzhang, Weng Tonghe and other important officials of the court, they all wore court uniforms and stood in front of the officials under the Jinshui Bridge. Under the guidance of two officials from the Ministry of Rites, Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty ascended the Tiananmen Rostrum to the sound of drum music. "Long live the emperor, long live!" The voice resounded through the sky. All civil and military officials fell to their knees like a mountain falling. After the second ceremony, Emperor Guangxu walked up to the golden phoenix, untied the golden ribbon tied around the phoenix's mouth, and handed the reel of the imperial edict to two kneeling officials of the Ministry of Rites. The huge imperial edict hung down from the middle of the Tiananmen Gate, and the people cheered again. After the third round of ceremonies and music, an official from the Ministry of Rites came out with an official document on a gold plate and knelt down to present to the emperor. Emperor Guangxu took the imperial edict from the plate, turned around and read it out to his subjects: The imperial edict of the great emperor of the Qing Empire.Over the past few years, Chinese and foreign ministers and workers have paid attention to current affairs, and have advocated reforms and self-improvement. There have been several edicts, such as opening special departments, cutting redundant soldiers, changing the martial arts system, and establishing large and small schools. Proposals and implementation... If the state of the country is like this, if you still use untrained soldiers, limited pay, soldiers without practical learning, workers without good teachers, strong and weak, and rich and poor hanging in the balance, how can it really control the strength of the army?However, if the country is uncertain, orders will not work... In terms of the Chinese Great Classics and Dafa, the five emperors and three kings do not attack each other.Express it clearly.Afterwards, all ministers, big and small, both at home and abroad, from the princes to the common people, should work hard to make progress, become a hero with anger, and plant their roots with the knowledge of sages, sages, righteousness, and principles, and they must learn from Western learning and focus on current affairs. cons.The University of the Imperial Palace is advocated by all provinces, and it should be held first. The Minister of Military Aircraft, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of State Affairs Wang will discuss and discuss it promptly. ...To help each other in difficult times, we should not perfunctorily follow the rules and quote for personal gain...inform this encyclical.This is it. The imperial edict clearly states: I specially ordered the country to be established, to reform and reform, and to declare clearly. After the reading, the subjects cheered thunderously. Today's Emperor Guangxu is full of heroism, with a rare red light on his delicate face, piercing eyes, and a handsome smile, which shows that his inner excitement is overflowing. Looking at the thronging subjects, Emperor Guangxu was full of emotions. Yes, since he became emperor for twenty years, only today he looks like a real emperor. Looking at the cheering subjects, he deeply felt that only reforms can win the hearts of the people. Restoration of China has hope. Emperor Guangxu secretly vowed that he would carry out the imperial edict and promulgate it to all provinces, prefectures, prefectures, and counties across the country, so that all the people in the world would know about it. After returning to the palace, Emperor Guangxu went straight to Jingren Palace, and he shouted loudly: "My concubine, hurry up, and accompany me to Duixiu Mountain. I want to prove that I will never go the way of Chongzhen." Seeing the emperor's excited face, Concubine Zhen knew that today's imperial edict ceremony must be a success, so she happily took the emperor's arm and said, "Okay, Zhen'er will accompany the emperor to climb Duixiu Mountain." When they arrived at the Imperial Garden, Emperor Guangxu took Concubine Zhen and climbed up the hill. Wang Shang and Xiaomei trotted behind. The two climbed to the top of the mountain panting. Under the Yujing Pavilion, Emperor Guangxu panted and pulled Concubine Zhen to lean on the white jade railing and look out.At this time, the sun had already set in the west, and the western sky was reflected in bright red, and the Forbidden City under the afterglow became more and more golden. Concubine Zhen sighed, "The sunset is so beautiful." Emperor Guangxu yelled: "Xiyang, you go slowly! I want to make the sunset red again in the Qing Dynasty." "My concubine, I feel that I am a real emperor today. Concubine love, it's hard to come by!" "Yes, Your Majesty, it's hard to come by. After the hard work of Weng Tonghe, Wen Tingshi, and Kang Youwei, Your Majesty has today's power." "Zhen'er, in order to realize reform and reform, I must take real power, otherwise I would rather abdicate." "Ah, Your Majesty, you can't give up your seat. You have to fight with them and take back the imperial power that should belong to you." Concubine Zhen said excitedly: "Your Majesty, if you want to save China, you must implement reforms, and if you want to carry out reforms, you must have real power. Therefore, Your Majesty, you must no longer be controlled by others. You must regain power for the sake of the country." "Yes, I must take real power." "Oh, Your Majesty, have you told the Queen Mother today that you want to establish the Maoqin Hall?" "I haven't said anything yet. I'm going to do the same thing. I'm afraid it will irritate her too much and prevent us from issuing an edict." "That's good, because the establishment of the Maoqin Temple is obviously to seize power from him." "Oh, Zhen'er, the queen mother said that her agreement to issue the imperial edict is conditional on the expulsion of Weng Tonghe." "Ah!" Concubine Zhen was shocked, "Isn't this going to cut off your arm? It's too vicious. This is the old man's conspiracy to seize power." "Yes, but Mr. Weng is a teacher of two generations of emperors. He has great achievements and is an important minister of the court. He has not made any mistakes. She dare not dismiss him casually. I will go to see the queen mother to protect him in two days." "Your majesty is wise." Concubine Zhen finally felt relieved. Concubine Zhen looked at the sunset in the sky, and the beautiful sunset red suddenly became dim, so she took Emperor Guangxu's arm and said, "Your Majesty, let's go back. After the sunset, there will be darkness. I always have an ominous premonition." .” "Ah, why?" Emperor Guangxu stopped and asked. "I always feel that Lafayette will never delegate power easily, and maybe a bigger seizure of power is just around the corner." Emperor Guangxu's expression darkened when he heard this, and Concubine Zhen couldn't bear it, so she said: "However, Your Majesty, it's all right, there are so many subjects in the world who support your reform, why are you afraid of it?" "Yes, Concubine Ai is right, why be afraid?" "My concubine, let's stay for a while." Emperor Guangxu said with his arms around Concubine Zhen. "Zhen'er obeys the order." Concubine Zhen raised her beautiful eyes and replied. Guangxu bent down to kiss Concubine Zhen, but suddenly found that there was sadness hidden in her eyes. "Aifei...you..." Concubine Zhen concealed and said, "Your Majesty, it's nothing...it's nothing." Concubine Zhen couldn't bear to disturb the emperor's rare happiness, so she had to say this, but she was already aware of the ominous situation, and she didn't want to make the emperor worry anymore, so she buried her head in Emperor Guangxu's arms, holding back the tears she wanted to shed...