Chapter 30 Chapter Twenty Seven

Concubine Zhen heard this, and knelt down with a "plop", and said sadly: "Lafayette, it is precisely because the emperor is the lord of a country that he cannot escape. When the country is in crisis, the emperor fled, leaving the people in the city behind, leaving the city behind." What is the order of the country? The emperor should stay and deal with foreigners in the capital, so that he can turn the tide..." Just after dawn, the Empress Dowager Cixi was already dressed as a peasant woman and was about to flee, when the sound of cannons sounded in the distance... She knew that Emperor Guangxu was busy directing the burial of treasures in Ningshou Palace, so she walked towards Ningshou Palace. Emperor Guangxu was the first person she had to take away, so she went to call him in person.She then ordered Cui Yugui to escort Concubine Zhen here.

When they arrived outside Ningshou Palace, Concubine Zhen had already been escorted. Concubine Zhen, who has been imprisoned for two years, has a pale complexion, blue eyes, a bony body in shabby blue clothes, and long hair pulled back. If it weren't for those naturally charming eyes, she would It's hard to believe that this is the emperor's favorite concubine. Cixi met her eyes, and couldn't help trembling in her heart. Not only did the concubine who had been imprisoned for two years show no pleading, but an air of arrogance, and the eyes that shot out were clearly hatred and ridicule.

Cixi suppressed her anger and said: "The foreigners have invaded the capital, and now we are going to take refuge for a while. You are young and beautiful, and you are an imperial concubine. If something happens, won't you insult my royal family? You should make it as soon as possible!" " The gunfire is getting closer... At this time, Concubine Zhen couldn't care about her own safety. She searched her eyes, but she couldn't see Emperor Guangxu, so she asked the Queen Mother: "Where is the Emperor? Did the Emperor also escape?" Cixi said impatiently: "The emperor is the king of a country, of course we have to avoid it temporarily. Are you going to let the emperor fall into the hands of foreigners?"

Concubine Zhen heard this, and knelt down with a "plop", and said sadly: "Lafayette, it is precisely because the emperor is the lord of a country that he cannot escape. When the country is in crisis, the emperor fled, leaving the people in the city behind, leaving the city behind." What is the order of the country? The emperor should stay and deal with foreigners in the capital, so that he can turn the tide..." Concubine Zhen became more and more excited as she spoke, Cixi gritted her teeth and listened, she never imagined that two years of torture would not wear off her vigor at all.

Concubine Zhen saw that the Empress Dowager did not interrupt her, so she went on to say: "When the war subsides, the emperor will naturally pick up Lafayette, please don't force the emperor to flee." Before Concubine Zhen finished speaking, Empress Dowager Cixi was already so angry that her seven orifices were filled with smoke, and her forehead muscles were bruised.I saw Cixi sneered, her eyes shot fiercely, she forced her towards Concubine Zhen, and said coldly: "It's up to you whether the emperor walks or not, and you don't have to worry about it, you'd better hurry up and get on your way! "

"Lafayette, the emperor cannot escape, the emperor must stay!" Concubine Zhen knelt down and begged again. Cixi sneered again: "Okay, you didn't forget to incite when you were about to die. The emperor was bewitched by you and wanted to punish you a long time ago. Come, send me away this vixen!" How can Cixi be lenient when the emperor fights with her for power? The eunuchs were all stunned, and no one dared to step forward. "Cui Yugui, what are you still doing in a daze? Do you want Aijia to send her away in person?" "yes." Cui Yugui strode out and said: "Master Zhen, the servant is rude." After saying that, he dragged Concubine Zhen away with his thick arms.

"Let go of me, let me go..." Concubine Zhen shouted desperately... Concubine Zhen cried and struggled desperately... In desperation, Cui Yugui suddenly saw a well in the corner of the courtyard, dragged Concubine Zhen to the well, knelt down and said to Concubine Zhen, "Master Zhen, this slave is following orders, please master Zhen, otherwise don't blame this slave for being ruthless. " Concubine Zhen took the opportunity to run back and cried, "I want to see the emperor, let me see the emperor once, and die without regret." "No, Lafayette didn't order." After Cui Yugui said, he ran over in two big strides, hugged Concubine Zhen by the waist like a chicken, and stuffed it into the well. Although Concubine Zhen was carried upside down, her two hands Holding onto the well rail tightly, he cried out, "I will not die, I am not guilty..."

Cui Yugui became anxious, so he flew up and kicked Concubine Zhen in the heart. Concubine Zhen passed out with a scream, and let go of the hand holding the fence, Cui Yugui threw Concubine Zhen into the well with a "plop". inside.He was afraid that Concubine Zhen would not die, so he hurriedly found a big rock and smashed it down with all his strength, only to hear a scream from down the well and then the sound fell silent, then he tremblingly pressed the well cover on the well mouth, Only then did he stumble and report to Lafayette. Emperor Guangxu followed Li Lianying, and so did Empress Longyu and Concubine Jin.

Cixi said to Emperor Guangxu: "Your Majesty, change your clothes quickly and prepare to avoid it for a while, and you will return soon." "No, Father Emperor, I beg you to stay, I really don't want to run away, as long as I let you stay, I am willing to resist against all odds." "As long as you come with me, I will definitely let you return to the government when you come back, and the emperor's father will return to the Summer Palace to spend his days." "Father Emperor, please let the minister stay. If the minister does not leave, someone must sit in the capital." Emperor Guangxu knelt down and begged Cixi.

"No! Li Hongzhang is enough to resist in the capital, so don't say any more. Li Lianying, help the emperor change quickly, or it will be too late." Emperor Guangxu glanced around and saw Empress Longyu and Concubine Jin, but not Concubine Zhen. He shrank and knelt down to Cixi and begged, "Abba Emperor, where is Concubine Zhen? I beg Abba Emperor to take Concubine Zhen along with me." The only confidant in my life is Zhen'er, and without Zhen'er, my minister will not be able to live. I hope that the emperor's father will take pity on you and agree to this only request!" Emperor Guangxu begged sadly.

Guangxu raised his tearful eyes to beg the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager Cixi remained unmoved, and said coldly: "Concubine Zhen, she doesn't want to go, she has already stayed. I heard that the owl will peck mother's eyes when its feathers are plump." , do I dare to take such a person with me?" "Then she... where is she?" Guangxu followed the avoiding eyes of the Empress Dowager Cixi, and saw Cui Yugui walking over with a pale face, trembling all over, and reported to the Empress Dowager: "Report to the Empress Dowager, Master Zhen has gone to heaven." "Ah! You killed her, you bloody slave!" Emperor Guangxu stood up and slapped Cui Yugui. "How dare a slave kill his master, it is Master Zhen who left in the well by himself." "Ah, Concubine Ai..." Emperor Guangxu fainted immediately after hearing this. "Hurry up and save the emperor," Cixi ordered. Wang Shang hurriedly pinched Emperor Guangxu's people, and then stroked his heart. After a while, Emperor Guangxu opened his eyes. He stood up crying, and abandoned Cui Yugui's direction desperately. "Zhen'er..." he cried mournfully. "Pull the emperor back quickly." Cixi yelled anxiously. At this time, the sound of guns and shouts intertwined, as if playing a historical elegy. well…… A gloomy and icy well lay across the corner of the courtyard. Emperor Guangxu rushed forward, desperately uncovering the manhole cover... Wang Shang and several eunuchs who caught up hugged him tightly. "Let go of me, let me go, I don't want to live anymore, my concubine... let me die with you too!... Concubine Zhen, you died a terrible death!" Emperor Guangxu burst into tears, and the eunuch beside him All shed tears. "Boom" sounded again, and Li Lianying ran over and grabbed the emperor and dragged him back. "Your Majesty, go quickly, or it will be too late, Lafayette is in a hurry!" "My concubine..." Emperor Guangxu was in so much pain that he passed out again. Li Lianying and several eunuchs stuffed the fainted Emperor Guangxu into a soft sedan chair, carried them away... Outside the Shenwu Gate, a line of chariots and horses were already waiting, and Cixi got into a car. Guangxu ointment was stuffed into a car belonging to Queen Longyu, Concubine Jin, and elder brother... The carriage galloped westward at high speed. "Boom..." The sound of cannons drowned out the sound of horseshoes, and the empress dowager of the Qing Dynasty fled in a panic holding the emperor hostage. This day is July 21st in the twenty-sixth year of Guangxu (August 14th, 1900). The autumn wind is miserable, blood is splashed, and the city of Beijing has suffered a catastrophe... Nearly 100,000 Allied Forces from Eight Nations marched on the bloodstains of the Boxers and the bodies of Nie Shicheng, Li Bingheng and other troops from Tianjin to Beijing, and the Qing army defending Gyeonggi was wiped out one by one... The enemy's cannons finally broke through the walls of the Boxers from Guangqumen and rushed into the city of Beijing. Dong Fuxiang, the leader of the Gan army, fled. The heroic Boxers, with their flesh and blood, failed to stop the foreign guns and cannons of the foreigners. They shouted the slogan "Invulnerable!" and rushed to the invading enemy bravely. Boxer fell in a pool of blood. Empress Dowager Cixi, who was on the way to flee west, ordered Li Hongzhang and Yikuang to kill the Boxers in order to please foreigners and avoid future troubles. As a result, a large number of loyal and brave Boxers died tragically in the massacre from both sides. After several days and nights of fierce street fighting, the Boxers died and scattered, and a few returned to the village. Although the Boxers were used and failed, their spirit of resisting the aggression of foreign powers wrote an unforgettable page in the history of China's anti-imperialist struggle. The Eight-Power Allied Forces occupied Beijing. The Eight-Power Allied Forces burned, killed, and raped all kinds of crimes in Beijing. The commander of the Eight-Power Allied Forces, Vadsi, blatantly ordered the burning and looting in Beijing for three days. As a result, a large number of residences and official residences were looted, and everyone who had anything to do with the Boxers was killed... Shouts, cries, and curses resounded through the streets and alleys... The ancient city is trembling and crying... The mansions of the princes, ministers, and relatives of the emperor who had not escaped in time did not escape the catastrophe. The coalition forces often broke down the doors and killed people. Not to mention their family treasures were robbed, and men were humiliated and women were defiled... Whoever dares to resist will be in vain The knife went in and the red knife came out. For a moment, the city of Beijing was ablaze, and blood flowed like a river... There are countless subjects who committed suicide unwilling to be humiliated... Jing Shan, a scholar of the Imperial Academy and Minister of Internal Affairs (author of "Jing Shan's Diary"), after the Eight-Power Allied Forces broke through the city, his wife, concubine and daughter-in-law all committed suicide. He himself was pushed into a well by his son. People were shot and killed by the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Many places of interest such as the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City were damaged to varying degrees, the "Yongle Canon" was robbed, and the earliest ancient astronomical instruments in my country were also robbed by Waldsee to Berlin... Vadsi, the commander of the eight-nation invading army, lived in the palace... The ancient city of Beijing suffered the worst catastrophe in history. The ancient city of Xi'an has finally arrived, and it is already late autumn. Although many decorations have been made in the city to welcome Cixi and his party under the orders of the governor and the governor, the sky does not welcome them. The autumn wind is sweeping the fallen leaves on the street, as if to It's like sweeping out the royal refugees of Gangren City. The Shaanxi Governor's Office became the temporary residence of the Empress Dowager Cixi and her party.The main hall of this palace is the place where Cixi summoned ministers to discuss affairs. The temporary offices of the imperial court are set up in the halls on both sides.The rest of the officials live in the Shaanxi Supervision Office. In order to avoid the illusion of moving the capital, the Empress Dowager Cixi and her party had to make do with the Shaanxi Governor's Office and the Supervisory Office. In Cixi's bedroom, Cixi was sitting at the kang table, and Rong Lu was sitting on a chair under the kang. Li Lianying lit cigarettes for Cixi, handed the cigarette bottle to Cixi, and then left. Exit and wait in the outer room. Cixi started a secret talk with Ronglu again. Rong Lu is the first decision-maker of Empress Dowager Cixi. Although his status cannot be compared with that of Emperor Guangxu, he is a very important figure in Cixi's heart. Meeting.Today, Ronglu was called to the secret business precisely to decide the major event of negotiating peace terms with the Eight-Power Allied Forces. As usual, Rong Lu drank tea first, and waited for Empress Dowager Cixi to smoke enough.The Empress Dowager Cixi was too addicted to cigarettes. The maid did not bring a glass of water. Cixi cleared her mouth and drank a few sips of Longjing tea before saying, "How is the negotiation between Li Hongzhang and the Eight-Power Allied Forces?" Rong Lu said: "I want to report to the Queen Mother that the conditions for foreigners are very harsh. They will erect a monument to the German Klind who was beaten to death." "Just set it up right away, it's fine to dismantle it after a while." Rong Lu also said: "The Eight-Nation Allied Forces have now increased to the Eleven-Nation Allied Forces, and I am required to pay huge sums of money." Cixi lowered her voice and said, "If you want foreigners not to oppose me, what do you think should be done?" "Give them what they want." Cixi nodded, and said without thinking: "I passed the decree to Li Hongzhang, asking him to devote the material resources of China to satisfy the favor of all countries." "Yes." Rong Lu nodded. Rong Lu added: "The Eight-Power Allied Forces also demanded that the culprit be severely punished." Cixi thought, as long as I am not severely punished, anyone else is fine, so she said: "Then take Duan Wang Zaiyi and Fu Guogong Zailan to Xinjiang for life imprisonment, and they will never return to Beijing. Zhuang Wang Zaixun ordered them to commit suicide. Are you happy?" Rong Lu understands. While the two were talking, a eunuch came to report: "I would like to report to Lafayette, the elder brother Pu Jun went to visit Yaojie again." "Got it, go down and let me know when he comes back." Cixi scolded angrily: "This elder brother is not a good son. If he is really allowed to be the emperor, I am afraid that all the general etiquette of my Qing Dynasty will be broken by him." Rong Lu took the opportunity to say: "Then the elder brother..." "Depose." Empress Dowager Cixi said firmly. Rong Lu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he finally didn't have to worry about competing for new power anymore. Cixi ordered him again: "You draw up the decree I just made, and let the emperor have a look." "yes." "There are two more things. One is to ensure the peace talks with foreigners. The Boxers and those who belong to the Boxers must be killed. Don't let them escape back to their hometowns, otherwise there will be future troubles in the future. The other is that Li Hongzhang is unwell. I don’t know if this old elf’s illness is real or not, anyway, you hurry up and go to Beijing to participate in the peace talks with foreigners, so don’t delay.” "The minister obeys the order." Rong Lu bowed deeply to Cixi knowingly.Cixi looked at this confidant who was as deep as the sea with him and shared weal and woe with a charming smile in return. Rong Lu retreated contentedly. "Rong Zhongtang, let's go after eating." Cixi reluctantly persuaded him to stay. "Thank you, Queen Mother, for the banquet." "Pass the meal." Li Lianying gave an order. Twenty eunuchs filed up with vegetable boxes in their hands, and four of the eunuchs swiftly brought two dining tables together in the outer room. Cixi got off the kang, went to the outer room and sat down on the dining table from west to east, expressing her heartfelt wishes. Oriental Beijing. Rong Lu stands on the right. A hundred dishes filled the two tables of the Eight Immortals, and there were all kinds of delicious food and wine. Her favorite dishes, such as bird's nest and shark's fin, stewed fat duck, steamed fetal lamb, wolfberry and deer tendon, roasted suckling pig, mushroom chicken slices, and lotus meat. Feng...even if you escape in Xi'an, you can't do without it. As usual, Li Lianying tasted it first, and it was non-toxic, and then Cixi began to taste it, and Cixi rewarded Ronglu if she found it delicious.Although the Empress Dowager Cixi was fleeing from a national calamity, her good fortune must never be simple. Rong Lu was naturally overjoyed at being given the honor of giving a banquet. You must know that Emperor Guangxu was the only one who could dine at the same table as the Queen Mother.So how can we not let Ronglu be endlessly grateful, and make him more determined, in this life, he will just lean on this big tree with all his heart.