Chapter 4 fourth quarter

On the eighth day of the third lunar month, at Yinshi when the sky was twilight, the emperor offered sacrifices to Xiannongtan.After the ceremony was over, they turned to the station. Soon after, the Empress Dowager Cixi arrived, and the emperor knelt down to receive her. The following were a group of princes and ministers led by King Qing. Only Rong Lu had not arrived. He was very ill and could no longer get out of bed. The Empress Dowager Cixi was still as happy as she was in the car back then, and she stepped onto the platform with a smile on her face. Cui Yugui was courteous and wanted to step forward to help, but the Empress Dowager Cixi waved her hand to indicate that there was no need. car.

The throne in the carriage is a "happy chair" covered with yellow velvet. When she takes her seat, the Queen, Princess Rongshou, and Si Gege have also boarded the carriage.Finally, Princess Rongshou spoke. "This Sheng Xuanhuai really knows how to handle errands!" "It's hard for him." Empress Dowager Cixi shouted: "Lianying!" Li Lianying hadn't come up yet, she was taking care of Empress Dowager Cixi's luggage loading into the car, when he was found, he passed Yi's decree and summoned Sheng Xuanhuai. As a result, the queen and all the palace transcripts retreated into another section as a float for the "bedroom" of the Empress Dowager Cixi.Sheng Xuanhuai was brought by Li Lianying to meet him.He was wearing plain clothes, and the top was a famous national utensil, which couldn't be changed, but the red top was made of very light coral, slightly pink, which had a little meaning.

After he saluted, the Empress Dowager Cixi first pointed to the yellow label on the curio and said, "You are too wasteful! How can you be like this?" "Returning to the Empress Dowager," Sheng Xuanhuai said, "The furnishings in the car are all small objects in the collection of the minister's family, and they were not purchased at a special price. I beg the Empress Dowager to learn from the ignorance of the minister, and I will reward you." "Excuse me." "I have received a lot of kindness, and it is rare to have the opportunity to honor the Empress Dowager. The things are not good, but they are sincere." .”

"That's true. I deserve it." Empress Dowager Cixi asked again: "On which day did you arrive in Beijing?" "I arrived in Tianjin on the 22nd of the first month of the first lunar month, and met with the governor Yuan Shikai to understand all the details of the mission. When I arrived in Beijing on the eighth day of the second month, the supervisor arranged the floats and prepared for the supply." Sheng Xuanhuai said: "The minister is short of talent. Do your best, I'm afraid there are still some omissions, I beg the Empress Dowager to forgive me."

"You are very capable, and there is nothing to praise or criticize." The Empress Dowager Cixi asked again: "Is the revolutionary party in the south making trouble?" "It was very fierce at first, but since Zhang Zhidong took the acting role, it has become much better." "Oh," Empress Dowager Cixi leaned forward, "what's the reason?" "Zhang Zhidong has a very harmonious public opinion and is good at dissolving and guiding. The local gentry are willing to listen to him and restrain the children of the township party, so he can eliminate the troubles invisible."

"Who are the local gentry?" This question, somewhat out of Sheng Xuanhuai's accident, found it difficult to answer.Because some people are not known to the Empress Dowager Cixi, so what they say is in vain, and some people are hated by the Empress Dowager Cixi, so what they say is inappropriate.But in a hurry, with no time to think about it, he thought of one and said it: "Like Nantong Zhang Jian...." When he was still thinking about the second one, the Empress Dowager Cixi was already asking, "Is it Zhang Jian, the number one scholar in the Jiawu period?"

"yes!" "Isn't he Weng Tonghe's favorite student?" Sheng Xuan thought badly!But I had to bite the bullet and answer again: "Yes!" "Does he have frequent contacts with Weng Tonghe?" Hearing that Empress Dowager Cixi's tone was quite relaxed, Sheng Xuanhuai was more at ease. "Not much contact!" He said, "Zhang Jian is very busy developing land in his hometown and running a business. Besides, Weng Tonghe shuts himself up and thinks about his mistakes, so he doesn't have many guests." "Weng Tonghe is your fellow countryman, isn't he?"

"yes." "So, you always have contact with him?" "The minister's family lives in Shanghai, and they communicate with Weng Tonghe during the New Year and holidays, and have no other contacts." "Weng Tonghe is restless?" "Very peaceful." "What about him and Kang Youwei?" "No relationship at all!" Sheng Xuanhuai's voice sounded resolute, "As far as I know, Weng Tonghe has a deep hatred for Kang Liang's master and apprentice." "That's all!" Empress Dowager Cixi said coldly: "You have to send a message to Weng Tonghe, please be safe! I will take extra care of him!"

Sheng Xuanhuai was frightened into a cold sweat. When he knelt down and exited, his expression was green and yellow. Everyone who saw it was surprised. They all thought that he had hit a big nail, but they couldn't figure out why? On March 10, after visiting the mausoleum, I returned to Baoding.Xiling is in Yizhou, and Baoding is in the south of Yizhou, which is not passed by the Yiling Road, so there is no permanent palace.This time, the Empress Dowager Cixi had already decided to visit Baoding on the way, so she chose Lianchi Academy as her residence. Lianchi Academy was built in the 11th year of Yongzheng. It was originally the former site of Zhangrou's lotus pond in the Yuan Dynasty, so the academy was named Lianchi.There is Linyi Pavilion on the pool, and there are Junzi Pavilion, Liutang, Xixi, Beitan and other names. It was originally a scenic spot in Baoding. , the queen mother lives in the west, the word "mountain" or three big houses, coming to the extremely dull palace, it is natural to linger around.

Yuan Shikai was able to beat Sheng Xuanhuai on business, and it was in this palace.Two capable officers were specially appointed to be in charge. One was Yang Shixiang, who was very close to Yuan Shikai before Li Hongzhang was alive. Now he is an official in Zhili, and the other is Wang Ruigao, the Changlu Salt Transport Envoy.Wang Ruigao went to Changlu salt merchants to ask for money, and Yang Shixiang knew how to spend it. His grandfather Yang Dianbang was the governor of water transportation. "The third generation is an official, so you know how to dress and eat." Yang Shixiang is good at drinking and food, so serving the imperial meal can win the great favor of the Empress Dowager Cixi.

After staying for three days, at dawn on March 14, Yuan Shikai received a confidential telegram sent by a special messenger from the Telegraph Bureau. After translating it, it was revealed that Rong Lu had passed away suddenly in the middle of the night. This is the long-awaited news, and Yuan Shikai's spirit is lifted!But my heart is very confused, because there are many things to be done immediately from the bottom of my heart.After concentrating on thinking carefully, he found the first thing to do, and informed the Telegraph Bureau that if there was a secret message to the Military Aircraft Department, he would not send it until it was bright, because he wanted to take advantage of Rong Lu's bad news before it spread. layout. So he immediately sent someone to invite the think tank Yang Shixiang.During this period of waiting, he has already done two things. One is to send secret telegrams to the Beiyang Office to go to Rongfu to attend the funeral immediately; , and want a bank note. That is to say, just after these two things were done, Yang Shixiang had been called to come, until the signing room came to see him.Yuan Shikai showed him the telegram and said, "Rong Zhongtang has passed." After reading the telegram, Yang Shixiang asked, "The military plane doesn't know about this news yet?" "I have told the Telegraph Bureau to suppress it." Yuan Shikai asked: "Do you think there will be any changes?" "No!" Yang Shixiang said confidently: "The most important thing now is that the eldest brother must calm down and avoid impetuousness." Yuan Shikai nodded and asked again: "The superior summoned me, what do you think I should say?" "You don't have to make it too obvious." Yang Shixiang thought for a while and then said, "I don't even participate in the discussion at all." "If you must ask, must you tell?" "Let's just say that today's big politics are nothing more than two ends. One is the New Deal and the other is foreign affairs. The New Deal is being carried out in sequence. If the foreign affairs can be further developed, the overall situation will be more promising. The way the empress dowager and the emperor employ people must be suspenseful. Both shall prevail.” Yuan Shikai nodded deeply, "That's very appropriate." He said, "Don't pass on this news from me, lest someone on the military plane talk. But, please go there immediately, don't mention it. to this news." "Then what are you going to do?" "Please sit down for a while, and I will tell you again." Yuan Shikai called his confidants, "Go and urge, why hasn't anyone from the treasury come yet?" "Lianfu," King Qing Yikuang asked, "There must be something wrong for coming so early." "Yes! Marshal Yuan Wei sent me to greet the prince. There is something for the prince." As he spoke, Yang Shixiang took out a red envelope and held it in both hands respectfully. Yikuang took out a bank note from the envelope, saw that it was two hundred thousand taels, and couldn't help but opened his eyes wide and asked, "What is this for?" "It's Yuan Weishuai who respects the prince." "This..." Yikuang overwhelmed with joy, his mouth became very stupid, "Is it too much? It seems unbearable, but it seems disrespectful." "Prince Bei often uses it." Yang Shixiang said: "My lord will soon have a lot of expenses, especially in the palace." There are sounds outside the strings, so you might as well identify them yourself.Yikuang then said: "Since I said that, I am ashamed. If there is any news from Beijing, please write to me as soon as possible." "Yes!" Yang Shixiang paused and replied: "Once the prince enters the palace, I'm afraid there will be news." This said Yikuang guessed seven or eight points.After sending Yang Shixiang away, he immediately went to the palace in a sedan chair.He is the Minister of State Supervision and the Prime Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has his own "Zhilu" and is connected to the Zhilu of the Military Aircraft Department.As soon as he arrived, Zhang Jing, a very familiar military plane, slipped in quietly, asked for "Shuang An", and said softly, "It's time to congratulate the prince." "Where does joy come from?" "The officer is going to wait on the prince again soon. The telegram I received just now said that Rongzhong Hall passed by last night. The prince is not the foreman of the military plane, but who should it be?" "Don't say that!" Yi Kuang waved his hands again and again, "Grace comes from above, and there is no such thing as who should or shouldn't. I accept that you came to report the letter, and I appreciate it. But please don't make it public." "Yes, yes! The officer knows the seriousness of the matter." After saying that, he greeted him again, and still slipped away quietly. The news confirmed.Yikuang thought of Yuan Shikai's 200,000 silver and the words Yang Shixiang said, and knew how to spend this huge sum of money.At that time, he sent a trusted guard to find Li Lianying and invite him to meet him soon.