On the ninth day of the fifth lunar month in the eleventh year of Guangxu, it was a very hot and sweltering day, but the Empress Dowager Cixi was in a very cheerful mood. On the first day, Li Lianying, the eunuch in charge of the Changchun Palace, ordered to summon King Chun alone.Not only were they summoned alone, but it seemed that their uncle and sister-in-law had a long conversation.This can be seen from the short time of the routine summoning of the military aircraft. Almost before the leader of the military aircraft, Li Wang Shiduo, finished his presentation, she rushed to say: "I know everything. Kneel down!"

The whole class of military ministers knelt down and retreated. As soon as they walked out of the gate of the Palace of Mental Cultivation, they met King Chun, including King Li, and they all stopped, stepped aside, stood with hands down, and let him go first. "Let's go a little late, everyone! I'm afraid there will be a lot to explain later." This means that the Empress Dowager Cixi will have a lot to say.Shi Duo replied: "Yes! We listen to you." King Chun walked forward again, but he didn't count a few steps, when someone shouted from behind: "Your Majesty, please stay, please stay."

Turning around to look, I saw someone rushing towards him panting. When I got close to the front, I saw that it was Fu Kun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, the commander of the infantry, the minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the prime minister.Although sweat was pouring down his face and his expression was in a hurry, he did not waste due courtesy, first asked Chun Wang for a proper greeting, and then handed him an envelope. "What is it?" "A telegram from Beiyang." Fu Kun said, "Not long after I arrived, I specially sent it to the prince."

King Chun opened the envelope, took out the telegram to read, his brows raised with joy, "I've been waiting for this telegram." As he spoke, his steps became more and more brisk. "My lord," Fu Kun hurriedly called him again, "There is another news, which is probably true. Gu Ba died in Penghu." "Oh," Chun Wang asked in surprise, "how did you die?" "He died of illness." Fu Kun said again, "In my opinion, he died of anger. China and France signed a peace treaty, turning hostility into friendship, and fearing that the world will not be chaotic. How can you not be angry?"

King Chun nodded, he didn't have time to talk to Fu Kun in detail, and was anxious to present the telegram in his hand to the imperial court. ※※※ After reading Li Hongzhang's telegram, knowing that the French army will withdraw from Keelung on this day, the Empress Dowager Cixi let out a long sigh of relief. "The dispute between China and France is over. Never forgetting the past is a guide for the future. We have to start from the beginning and do one or two important things." She pointed to the table and said, "This memorial of Li Hongzhang, you seen it already?"

"Yes! I have read it carefully." King Chun replied: "Li Hongzhang plans to set up a military equipment school in Tianjin, hire German military officers as teachers, select soldiers from each battalion, study in the hall, and send them back to each battalion after the expiration of the period. This is the foundation of the Daxing Navy, please allow him to play the Queen Mother." "Of course it must be accurate." The Empress Dowager Cixi said, "I came to you today to discuss with you, how to revitalize the navy? Where is the money and where are the people?There must be a plan in advance. "

"I have talked with Li Hongzhang several times. Naturally, talents must be strengthened. As long as the funds can be effectively rectified in customs affairs and lijin, I am afraid that they will not be raised. I am afraid that the governors of various provinces will not be sincere in serving the public." King Chun paused and said: " This is a big event, and I would like to ask the governors of Beiyang, Nanyang, and coastal provinces to express their views on how to expand the shipyard, how to install fortresses, and how to build more guns. Only by looking like this can I live up to the Queen Mother's expectations."

"That's right." Empress Dowager Cixi said, "The emperor is fifteen years old this year." King Jin didn't know the meaning of her sudden words. He was always cautious, and he didn't dare to be smart to speculate, so he just replied expressionlessly: "Yes." "I'm going to be in charge soon. I have to hand over the inheritance left by my ancestors to the emperor in a good manner, so that I can be worthy of my ancestors and the people of the world." "The empress dowager is so diligent, and all the subjects in the world appreciate it. However, the emperor is still young and has not yet completed his classics. It is too early to say that he will rely on the empress dowager's re-education and personal governance."

"That's not it. After all, hanging the curtain is not a legitimate way. I have worked hard all my life, and I should plan for myself. I can't lose my reputation. When it comes to the age when the emperor should be in charge, I will not let it go. In fact, I am so Worrying, who is it for? Isn’t it just for breathing? When it comes to times of crisis, if I didn’t make a big decision, it really wouldn’t be possible. Now that the Sino-French peace treaty has been concluded, the French soldiers in Keelung have also retreated. China and Japan is making peace with North Korea. Now that Li Hongzhang and Ito Hirobumi have explained it, nothing will happen for a while. In the future, everyone will work together to run the navy well, and naturally we will not let foreigners bully us. The ancients said It's 'Ji Liu bravely retreat', wouldn't it be silly if I didn't take advantage of this moment and just accept it?"

"The Empress Dowager is wise! Although the current situation is settled, the coastal defense must not be slackened. We are about to rely on the empress dowager's virtue to rectify it. I dare not obey the order of pro-government." After finishing speaking, King Chun took off the top of the gemstone and the three-eyed flower feather. Putting the straw hat on the brick floor, he bumped his head heavily. This performance made the Empress Dowager Cixi deeply satisfied, but on the surface there was a look of regret: "Oh!" She sighed, "Get up! I also know that everyone will not spare me."

"The empress dowager said so, and the ministers are left without a place." The honest King Chun really thought that the Empress Dowager Cixi was complaining, so he was very panicked. "Having said that, I will only suffer for another two or three years." Empress Dowager Cixi said again. "I'm fifty-one this year, and I don't know how many years are left? After returning to politics, there should be a place for me to retire!" Someone mentioned this a long time ago, saying that the Empress Dowager Cixi wanted to build Qingyi Garden on the bank of Kunming Lake at the foot of Longevity Hill.King Jin has been noncommittal, but he already has a plan in mind, so at this time, without waiting for her to continue, he hastened to answer: "I have already planned it. Just wait for the funds to be a little more abundant, and the three seas will be well repaired, and it will be used as a place for the emperor to take care of the empress dowager. " The Empress Dowager Cixi nodded calmly: "I'm thinking the same way. Let's issue the edict of Xiu Sanhai and the edict of Daxing Navy together! Let the world know that I should return to politics and enjoy a few days of leisure. " "Yes!" King Chun asked, "The project of repairing Sanhai, please send someone to investigate." "You see!" Empress Dowager Cixi said again: "It's best not to send people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs." It's not that the Empress Dowager Cixi doesn't trust the ministers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, on the contrary, she defends them.Because whenever there is a major project, everyone must look at the Ministry of Internal Affairs with their eyes wide open. Now that there is no minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to participate in the survey and evaluation, it will not be too eye-catching.Moreover, according to the regulations, the carrying out of a large project must first send the Minister of Survey and Evaluation, and then the Minister of Construction. The king of alcohol is only cautious in his decree.Retired from the Hall of Mental Cultivation to the court room of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, invited the whole class of military planes, and issued a decree.There are six ministers of military aircraft, Prince Li Shiduo, Xiang Wuyi, Erle, Bu and Zhang Zhiwan are just eating together, Yan Jingming, Xu Gengshen and Sun Yuwen are the ones who often talk.It's just that Yan Jingming's words, to King Chun's ears, often feel that there are thorns in the words, and it's difficult to let go of his throat. "The construction of the South and North Seas was issued on the first day of August in the thirteenth year of Tongzhi." Yan Jingming closed his eyes and said, "I still remember that the edict at that time was: 'Now the times are difficult, why bother to labor hard? ?For all the three sea projects, the minister should verify the survey and estimate, try to eliminate the risk, and take care of the people.'Looking at the past, the times are getting more and more difficult, not to mention the need to rejuvenate the navy. Since ancient times, the emperor The reason why the emperor loses the vitality of the world is nothing more than three things: great achievements, great military preparations; tours and tours, large-scale construction; worship of gods and Buddha, and prayers in temples. The founding of this dynasty is to punish the mistakes of the previous Ming. Comparable to the rule of Wen Jing, the pure emperor is sage and wise, with great talents and general plans, not different from Han Wu, but the losses are similar to Han Wu. This is the case in the prosperous age, but now? If you want to build a large navy and large-scale construction, I am afraid that you will not wait for foreign enemies to bully you. See you in danger!" Such eloquent talk was very unpleasant to King Chun's ears. Sometimes his temperament was easy-going, and sometimes he was anxious. All in all, what he wanted to say was expressed on his face.Therefore, before Yan Jingming finished speaking, his expression became ugly. On such occasions, Sun Yuwen always listens to others and sees King Chun. Seeing this situation, he takes the lead in defending King Chun. "Dan Weng has lost his word!" Coastal defense is not enough to establish a country. Negotiations between China, France, and Japan, seeking perfection through grievances, are originally a strategy for self-improvement. As for the survey and repair of the three seas, it is a plan for the empress dowager to support her life. It is only natural that this dynasty ruled the world with filial piety. As for the times when the times are difficult, everything should be frugal, and of course it is also in the eyes of the benevolent sage, and there is no talk of any great construction.” "I hope so." Yan Jingming said slowly, "The navy is being revitalized, the household department is doing its best, and building construction is going on. I don't know where the money will come from?" "It's not a large-scale construction project." Xu Geng interjected, "However, although the scale of the project is not large, the regulation of the work must be grand, which is the way of the emperor's filial piety and respect. For the survey, we must invite the Seventh Prince to preside over it." "Yes." King Chun agreed with him, "Imperial, the military plane will go to see it together, so that no one will gossip afterwards." Obviously, the so-called "gossiping" refers to Yan Jingming.It seemed that he was going to let it go, and Li Wang Shiduo was also very disturbed, so he deliberately interrupted, and shouted with a drawn voice: "Come on!" When General Su La was called, Shi Duo ordered Qian Yingpu, the foreman of the military aircraft Zhangjing, to write the decree.This edict is very simple, with the words "Qin Feng Yi Zhi", the three seas should repair the project, send the former imperial ministers, the military ministers, and the "Fengchen Yuanqing" who is in charge of the Ligong Bieyuan, to work together with King Chun to investigate and modify everything. , to find out at any time. The other edict of the Daxing Navy is really a military plan and has a lot to do with it, so it took a whole hour to finalize the draft.King Chun took a look and wrote: "Ministers of military aircraft and others: Although the situation is settled now, the coastal defense must not be relaxed, and it is urgent to make practical preparations for the aftermath, which is a long-term plan. According to Zuo Zongtang's previous play: "Please The purpose is to discuss the expansion of the ship and gun factory. Yesterday, according to Li Hongzhang's play: "Imitate the Western method, create a school of military equipment". The planning is thorough, and it is a top priority. Since the incident at sea, France has relied on its ships and guns, and is invincible in all directions In my planning, I also tried to set up a shipyard and establish a navy, but the shipbuilding was not strong, the equipment was not ready, the selection was not good, and the funding was not wide. Last year, the legal person provoked and fought repeatedly, and the land armies won many victories, which can still show our army's prestige. If the navy is strong and supports each other, why is it hindered everywhere?When this matter is decided, learn from the past and learn from the future, and focus on the master of water governance. " The next step is to designate a group of border officials and generals who will rely on the imperial court as the pillars, "deliberate accurately, and play quickly."The first one was Li Hongzhang, the Minister of Beiyang, the Governor of Zhili, the second was Zuo Zongtang, and the following were Peng Yulin, Mu Tushan, Zeng Guoquan, Zhang Zhidong, and Yang Changjun, a total of seven people. Finally, a solemn warning: "In short, Haiphong has been in preparation for many years, and the extravagance is no longer worth it. So far, there is no real money. Due to poor implementation, things are often forgotten, and it is almost a habit. The governor and others are people who are trusted by the court. It is necessary to make extensive plans and implement them. Take it gradually, and persist for a long time. Don't follow the old routine, pick up the perfunctory words of the past, and play the blame." King Chun read it, changed one or two words with a pen, and then Qian Yingpu wrote another "replay", handed it to the internal replay office, and sent it to the Changchun Palace in a yellow box. After the Empress Dowager Cixi approved it, The "Tingji" was divided into seven places sent by the Ministry of War.