Chapter 44 Section 43

Zhou Fu, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, sent a telegram saying that the "rebellious parties" are causing troubles and they are becoming more and more rampant. At present, in addition to doing our best to prevent them, we must also try our best to appease the parties, so as not to collude with each other and spread to an uncontrollable disaster.Between the tone of the words, there is also a slight hint of energy decline and powerlessness. When the Empress Dowager Cixi saw this memorial, she couldn't help thinking about it again.Princess Rongshou observed the words and expressions, and knew that the conspiracy between Yikuang and Yuan Shikai had already started, so she insinuated with concern, and quickly made the Empress Dowager Cixi confide in her troubles.

"It's not a 'rebellious party'! Why do 'rebellious parties' always come out of Guangdong?" Li, the Boxers didn’t dare to enter Texas.” "That's Yuan Shikai." "Isn't Zhou Fu Yuan Shikai's relative?" "Yes! But, Yuan Shikai is Yuan Shikai, and Zhou Fu is Zhou Fu!" Princess Rongshou fell silent.The Empress Dowager Cixi didn't talk about it any further, and waited for the military plane to discuss it.Unexpectedly, at this time, another urgent telegram came from Guangdong, saying that Liu Siyu, a local tycoon in Qinzhou, had assembled a crowd to plunder and wanted to attack the city.

It was time for the telegram to arrive in Beijing.It was sent to the military plane just after ten o'clock in the morning.The military aircraft Zhang Jing translated it and sent it to the Minister of Military Aircraft. Qu Hongji looked at it briefly, and then ordered to send it to the internal affairs office in a yellow box, and forward it to the imperial court. It was the time when the Empress Dowager Cixi passed on the meal. Seeing this telegram, the abbot had no place to put his chopsticks in front of the banquet, and the Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly lost her appetite, shook her head and put down the chopsticks.

Seeing this scene, Li Lianying winked at Princess Rongshou, and then brought up another dining table. Princess Rongshou stretched out her hand to lift the silver lid on the big bowl, and said, "This year's shad came in early. I don't know Is it fresh?" "No need!" Empress Dowager Cixi shook her hand, got up and left. Princess Rongshou hurriedly stepped forward to help her, and when she arrived at the side hall where she had tea and rest after meals, she asked with concern: "What's wrong with Lafayette? You didn't eat well today." "Oh!" The Empress Dowager Cixi sighed, "I'm so bored!"

Princess Rongshou seized the opportunity and said calmly: "I think Lafayette is tired! What Cen Chunxuan played is good, and it is all for the prosperity of the country and the prosperity of the people. The words are very good, but this cannot be done overnight. It's useless to talk about it. Now every time I summon Cen Chunxuan, it takes an hour or two. The servant is really anxious, Lafayette is too tired, so it's not suitable." "Cen Chunxuan is too impatient." "It's useless to be impatient! It depends on the matter. You should be in a hurry, and you should be slow. And it's up to everyone to handle things, and you shouldn't just force them."

At this time, Li Lianying came to ask for instructions. It turned out that Yikuang had handed over a sign, asking to be called up for this year's Wanshou celebration, and Cixi had ordered to be summoned after dinner.Whether to "withdraw" at this time, come and go. The Empress Dowager Cixi was pondering, but Princess Rongshou urged her, "Let's shout!" She said, "Talk to King Qing, and relax." "Okay! Call!" So, at Sanyouxuan in the west of Le Shoutang, I summoned Prince Qing Yikuang.He first explained the things that should be prepared for the Longevity Ceremony, and mentioned the fireworks and other things that Guangdong should pay tribute to.

This reminded Cixi of the telegram she had just received, and immediately called someone to fetch the original telegram, read it together, and asked how to deal with it. "This situation is very bad. The 'Three O'Clock Meeting' just caused trouble in Chaozhou and killed the magistrate, and now there are bandits in Qinzhou. If we don't do it, collusion with the revolutionary 'disruptive party' is a serious matter. " Yikuang went on to say: "Zhou Fu is diligent and cautious. After all, he is exhausted and timid. I'm afraid he won't be able to handle it. Last time Yuan Shikai went to Beijing, he also talked with his servants, saying that his in-laws' abilities are limited and they are getting old. It is not suitable to be in Guangdong and Guangxi, the servant is really afraid of his misfortune."

"So Yuan Shikai also said that?" "yes!" "Then, who do you think will be transferred?" "This..." Yi Kuang pondered for a moment, and said with a solemn face: "I dare not harm the public with my own interests. Cen Chunxuan is at odds with this slave, and this slave cannot bury his strengths. When it comes to leading troops to suppress bandits, he is the only one in front of us." Two with Yuan Shikai. But when it comes to prestige, Yuan Shikai has lost to him again!" "Yeah, yum!" Empress Dowager Cixi nodded deeply, "Leading troops depends on prestige! Cen Chunxuan is good, and besides, he is the most familiar with Guangdong and Guangxi, and he is really suitable for people and places. But there is one level, just transferred internally, I am afraid that he will find it hard. willing to go again."

"I don't agree with this. The king's destiny is like the destiny. If you want to go or not, where can you be happy with your subordinates? What's more, Cen Chunxuan has been greatly favored, so he shouldn't be afraid of hard work!" Empress Dowager Cixi pondered for a while and said: "That's it! He is very loyal, and I will never refuse." "Yes!" Yikuang agreed, talked about some other matters, knelt down and withdrew. After leaving the palace, he returned to the mansion, and he didn't reveal a word about the decision made by Zhao Dui, even to his cronies.When the foreman came to see him the next day, he first mentioned Zhou Fu's telegram, saying that the situation in Guangdong was dangerous. Zhou Fu asked to send troops, and he agreed to the performance and handed it over to Beiyang as soon as possible.

"Soldiers must be sent, but if there are soldiers, someone must be able to lead them." Empress Dowager Cixi said: "Zhou Fu is not the one who leads soldiers, and besides, he is too old. I think it is better to ask Cen Chunxuan to go to Guangdong!" "yes!" Just a few words in this way, the game is settled.In Qu Hongji's eyes, he really felt that the lightning was too fast to cover his ears. Cen Chunxuan himself was even more shocked and angry, and he was inexplicably stunned. Needless to say, of course, Wen Zhi stayed here, and said in the edict: "Cen Chunxuan played, I beg you to take back your order, and give a discount to Jianxian officials. Cen Chunxuan's illness has not yet recovered, and the court is also very concerned. Only Guangdong is an important place. Now Lianqin and other places There are bandits causing trouble. In Raoping County, which belongs to Chaozhou Prefecture, there is a serious case of gathering people to kill officials. Zhou Fu is afraid that he will not be competent. He has to be famous. People who are familiar with the situation are not enough to deter them. The governor has always been serious in his work. I don't hesitate to work hard to prepare and prevent everything in the province. It is very suitable for the opportunity, so I will send you a special briefing, and you should go to the post quickly, make arrangements, make peace and eliminate the violence, and eliminate the troubles. The current situation is difficult, so I should try to report that the Vice-Court is encouraging Nanfu to appease Yanjiang, so I don't have to say anything."

In addition, he was given another ten days off. To Cen Chunxuan, it was full of face, and it was inconvenient to get angry, otherwise it would be boring.But of course he was not willing to leave Beijing just like that. He wrote a book every day, lamenting the current affairs, between the lines, sneering at those who disliked him with a gun and a stick, Fang took Tian Zhongyu, the general of the new Beiyang army, from Tianjin to the south by sea. First to Shanghai, then to Guangzhou.