Chapter 49 Section 48

Before Yuan Shikai made arrangements to enter Beijing, the first major event was to press for the birthday gift of Empress Dowager Cixi.This gift has been prepared two months ago, mainly to serve the emperor, two big wool robes and coats, one black fox and one white fox; a jade hairpin with flag makeup and beam head; Phoenix; there is another six-foot coral tree with a mahogany base, which is taller than a person. This birthday gift is comparable to Cen Chunxuan's eight glazed screens, but Sheng Xuanhuai's one came from behind.Since the Empress Dowager Cixi was very interested in writing and painting with Miao Suyun, the "female Qing guest" in the palace every day, Sheng Xuanhuai did what she liked, and found hand scrolls of nine famous artists from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, headed by Qian Shunju, with the prince The nine fan albums written by Yongxing are both precious and elegant.But it looks light and light, and it seems that the weight is not enough, so I used a thousand taels of pure gold to create nine Ruyi handles, using a single piece of mahogany as the frame, and adding a glass cover outside.There is a famous name for this nine handles, which is called "Tianbao Jiuru".

At the same time, Sheng Xuanhuai sent another important gift, and Shi Xu, the minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who held the key, took special care of it.After Shixu made special checks, he took care of the messenger and prepared a glass cover. Sure enough, when it was carried into the Ningshou Palace, the glass cover was broken on one side. Fortunately, Shi Xu had the foresight to replace it with a new cover when it was installed. Otherwise, it would be too inferior without the cover. The Empress Dowager Cixi had seen countless rare treasures, but it was the first time she had seen such a golden nine-handled ruyi in her life. She thought it was so vulgar and interesting, so she casually asked, "Is it real gold?"

"It's pure gold." Li Lianying replied, "There is a brand name for building a shop underneath." "It's hard for him!" Empress Dowager Cixi said: "The officials should also be rewarded." The officials who deliver the tribute will give a table of banquets in each place, and reward two hundred taels.In addition, there are other rewards for the three ministers. Yuan Shikai is a gold headband with double pink tourmalines, Cen Chunxuan is a jade pendant, and Sheng Xuanhuai is a spring gold watch, all of which were used by Emperor Wenzong during his lifetime.

Before Yuan Shikai entered Beijing, Yikuang had made careful arrangements for him, directly and indirectly advocating a view in front of Empress Dowager Cixi: Yuan Shikai's Westernization in Beiyang was no worse than Li Hongzhang.Just looking at the Russo-Japanese War, he was able to win over Japan without being resented by Russia, which shows his means.It is also said that today's talented people in foreign affairs, such as Tang Shaoyi, Liang Shiyi, etc., all admire Yuan Shikai. If he is appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he will be handy. This is too much to say, and it can naturally divert the thoughts of Empress Dowager Cixi.Originally, she felt that Lu Haihuan's qualifications were a little low, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the head of all the ministries, and an important minister should be the minister, so as to show respect for all countries and strive for peace.Therefore, Yuan Shikai went to Beijing on July 22, and after summoning him twice, the Empress Dowager Cixi made a decision to transfer Yuan Shikai to be Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lu Haihuan, the former minister, to be Minister of Taxation.On the same day, there was another edict: "Write Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai to walk on the Minister of Military Aircraft."

The two governors called internally at the same time, and even the ministers of the border also had a big mobilization.The governor of Zhili was appointed by Yang Shixiang, the governor of Shandong; the governor of Huguang transferred Zhao Erxun to take over. He was appointed the governor of Sichuan as early as March, but he refused to take up the post. Acting.Now that he is transferred to Huguang, the governor of Jiangsu, Chen Kuilong, will be promoted to the post. In this way, Zhao Erfeng doesn't have to avoid it, it is a very appropriate arrangement. In August, Zhang Zhidong handed over the Governor of Hubei and took over in Beijing.Greetings from the palace gate, the Empress Dowager Cixi sent an order immediately, and summoned him early the next morning.

"Zhang Zhidong is the flower of the second year of Tongzhi." Empress Dowager Cixi said to Li Lianying: "He is the one I took!" Li Lianying put on a smile and said: "So, Zhang Zhongtang is simply Lafayette's disciple!" "You can also say that!" Empress Dowager Cixi's memories jumped to 40 years ago, "The No. 1 pick on that list was Weng Tonghe's nephew, named Weng Zengyuan. Very, it is strange that he won the first prize." "That's the protection of Lafayette. Otherwise, when a person with shofar wind arrives at the Palace of Preserving Harmony, how can there be a reason not to get sick from fright?"

"Yes! However, he is the No. 1 scholar, and he cannot be an official. Zhang Zhidong is still the top one in mathematics." The Empress Dowager Cixi blinked and smiled, "I remember the day when Sanding Jia was summoned, Zhang Zhidong entered Dian almost fell down. He is thin and small, he doesn't pay attention to his appearance, he walks and jumps, some people say he has the appearance of a monkey, which is not bad." Because of this nostalgia, when summoning Zhang Zhidong, Empress Dowager Cixi had a special feeling of cordiality and joy.But seeing Zhang Zhidong's hair as white as silver, recalling his "monkey face" back then, he couldn't help feeling deeply: "You are really old!"

"The Merciful Sage is busy with state affairs, how can I dare to say that I am old?" Zhang Zhidong replied. "how old are you?" "Chen Daoguang was born in the seventeenth year, and this year is seventy one." "That's two years younger than me." Empress Dowager Cixi asked, "Are your eyes and ears okay?" "My eyesight is slightly worse, and my hearing is as good as before." "You are much better than Wang Wenshao and Lu Chuanlin." The Empress Dowager Cixi said, "Wang Wenshao is very cautious in his duties. I didn't want to let him withdraw from the military plane, just because his ears are so deaf. He's old. Have you seen him often?"

"Wang Wenshao's family lives in Hangzhou. During the seasons, we often exchange letters." "It's better to have new clothes, but it's better to have old ones. This transfer of you to Beijing is not to let you retire! Fortunately, your spirit is still good, and you have to do your best for the country." "Yes! As long as it is beneficial to the country, I dare not make excuses for being old." "Now the external troubles have finally calmed down, but the internal troubles are still there. The revolutionaries are making trouble everywhere. What do you think should be done?"

"It's a big matter, and it can't be answered clearly in a moment." Zhang Zhidong continued, "However, there is a sentence that I can't say out loud like a bone stuck in my throat." "you say!" "The gap between the Manchus and the Han must be resolved. I remember that I played with the former governor Liu Kun to rectify the 12 measures for state affairs. Among them, the section 'Creating the Livelihood of the Eight Banners' is intended to dissolve the gap between the Manchus and the Han." Zhang Zhidong paused for a moment. For a moment, read aloud the aphorism in his memorial: "'China has been sanctified for more than two hundred years. Nine states and four seas are the same people who eat hair and practice the soil. Manchu, Mongolian, and Han people have married each other for a long time, and they love the same family. Today, both Chinese and foreign The Dao is when the Son of Heaven guards the four descendants, regardless of the Banner and the Han, there is a friendship of suffering and happiness together.'So we are so closely related, and we share weal and woe, how can we separate ourselves?"

"The imperial court has no prejudice." The Empress Dowager Cixi said calmly: "I remember you said this when you went to Beijing to summon you four years ago. Therefore, in the future, a new official system will be established, regardless of full vacancies and Han vacancies. Another example is the army official system, The Dutong and the participating leaders are not exclusively assigned by bannermen, like the new army generals Duan Qirui and Wang Shizhen, they all added the title of Dutong. Is this not evidence that the court has no prejudices?" The Empress Dowager Cixi spoke eloquently, not intending to refute, but Zhang Zhidong was so angry with her!He said in his heart: The imperial court has eliminated the Manchu-Han boundary in this way, which is actually a further exclusion of Han.In the past, when the six parts were full and Han was short, it was still an equal situation, but now there are more Han and fewer, and it is still said that there is no "prejudgment". This is too unconvincing! The Empress Dowager Cixi saw that he was only panting and had nothing else to say. When he was tired, she said compassionately: "Go down and rest! We will meet every day in the future. If you have anything to say, talk slowly." Zhang Zhidong still wanted to say something, but the Empress Dowager Cixi had ordered the eunuchs, so he knelt down and left.The Military Aircraft Department has dispatched the second class of "Dalami" Yi Zhen to meet him at the palace gate, and please go to the Military Aircraft Department to pick up the matter. "No!" Zhang Zhidong said, "I have to go to the cabinet first." Yi Zhen didn't want to hit a snag when they met for the first time, but she could only apologize, and asked again: "Then, please ask Zhongtang to take over tomorrow?" "we'll see!" This surprised Yi Zhen even more!Joining the military plane is something that many people dream about day and night, but Zhang Zhidong seems to regard it as a tasteless thing that is "tasteless to chew and a pity to discard". What is the reason?I have to inquire about it. Zhang Jing of the military plane often had contacts with the eunuchs of the inner court, so Yi Zhen quickly found out that Zuo and Empress Dowager Cixi seemed to be not very speculative in their words because of the view of the Manchu and Han, so they seemed to be in a waning mood. Yi Zhen was from Shangcheng, Henan, and she was from the same hometown as Yuan Shikai, so she was quite close because of their relationship, so she returned to the military plane and quietly told her about it. Yuan Shikai was also very surprised, feeling that Zhang Zhidong's temper was unreasonable. "What does he mean? Could it be that he is dissatisfied with the two kings?" he asked. "I'm afraid it's not dissatisfaction, but a slight contempt." "This is not good!" Yuan Shikai said in a low voice: "You don't have to mention this matter anymore. It will only be heard in the ears of the two kings, and it will only give rise to opinions. Do you understand what I mean?" "Yes, I understand!" "Zhang Zhongtang still lives in Baimixie Street?" "yes." "I'll pay homage to him later." Yuan Shikai called Yi Zhen's alias and said, "Chengwu, please take care of my colleagues. After Zhang Zhongtang takes over, don't mention how useless your friends are." "Actually," Yi Zhen said with a smile, "Don't tell me, Zhang Zhongtang also knows." "That's another matter. You just take my word for it!"