Chapter 125 Second History of the Palace Outside the Qing Dynasty (1-1)

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, 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 quickly answered: "I have already planned it. I just wait for the funds to be a little more abundant, and I will repair the three seas. As the place where the emperor takes 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. Saving. As for the difficult times, frugality in everything is of course also within the understanding of the compassionate sage, and there is no talk of any major 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.Chun Wang took a look and wrote: "Order to the ministers of military and aircraft: Although the situation is settled now, the coastal defense should not be relaxed. It is urgent to make practical preparations for the aftermath. It is a long-term plan. According to Zuo Zongtang's play: "Please order to expand the ship gun factory", Yesterday, according to Li Hongzhang's play: "Imitate the Western method, create a school of military equipment" and plan carefully, all of which are urgent. Since the incident at sea, France relies on its strong ships and powerful guns, and is invincible vertically and horizontally. In my plan, I also tried to open a shipyard. , established a navy, but the shipbuilding was not strong, the equipment was not ready, the selection was not good, and the funds were not raised. Last year, the legal person provoked and fought repeatedly. The land and land armies won repeated victories. The navy is capable and supports each other, so why is it hindered everywhere? When the matter is settled, learn from the past and learn from the past, and focus on the great governance of the navy.” 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 all 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. ※ ※ ※ That night, Fukun specially arranged a feast for Sun Yuwen, and between the cups and plates, there was a secret order from the palace to discuss. "The Shangyu has come down." Fu Kun said in a low voice: "You know the meaning of the superiors. How to proceed from now on, Mr. Li has a word to ask you for advice." Sun Yuwen knew the "meaning from above" a long time ago, that repairing Sanhai was just a cover-up, in fact, he wanted to build Qingyi Garden.How to raise funds and how to carry out the project are generally agreed upon.But empty words are easy, but it is not so simple to put empty words into practice.So Sun Yuwen fell silent, just drinking one cup after another. Sun Yuwen is a good drinker, the more he drinks, the sharper his thinking will be, so Fu Kun doesn't rush him. Sun Yuwen didn't speak until he had drunk a dozen or so glasses of wine. "There is a key person in it. If this person is done well, the big deal is half done." "You mean Chaoyi?" Yan Jingming was from Chaoyi, Shaanxi. Of course, he was also a key figure, but, "he's next." Sun Yuwen said, "it's Li Xiang." "Hmm." Fu Kun nodded deeply, "Why are you perfunctory?" "Naturally, it is extra pretentious to let them know that they love Tron, and then repay the gratitude, and the decree must be obeyed." "Zhongtang!" Sun Yuwen suddenly asked suspiciously, "How do you see the way of speaking recently?" "In the battle of Majiang, Qingliu was defeated, and he was much more depressed than before." Fu Kun raised his glass to respect, "Laishan, this is your meritorious service!" Sun Yuwen accepted his toast without hesitation.If attacking Qingliu is considered a meritorious service, then what Sun Yuwen built is truly extraordinary.At that time, he made a plan to send Zhang Peilun, Chen Baochen, and Wu Dacheng, among the four remonstrances of the Imperial Academy, to the military affairs associations of Fujian and the North and South Oceans, so that the scholars who talked loudly and talked about wars on paper, went to the commander-in-chief, which was like sending them into the clouds. , and wait to see them fall to pieces.Sure enough, Ma Jiang was defeated, and then pursued the responsibility of sponsoring Tang Jiong and Xu Yanxu, who had humiliated the country by bereaved teachers. Both Zhang and Chen were severely condemned.Qingliu was tongue-tied and silent like cicadas, and those who had suffered from Qingliu all clapped their hands and applauded, so there was a harsh pairing. When he was dismissed, Zhang Peilun used the words "let's see first" in the army, which meant that he had to wait to see Wu Dachen's "good-looking". The second couplet is to use Zhang Zhidong, the most proud of Qingliu, as a foil.Zhang Zhidong was released from the cabinet to be the governor of Shanxi. Xie Zhezhong said, "Dare to forget the eight-face management", which has become a topic for a long time, and here is a sarcasm: "Eight-face management, but Shanxi bans smoking, and Guangdong opens gambling." Smoking is prohibited. It is a good thing, the re-opening of the "surname" in Guangdong is to raise wages, and it is a last resort in Zhang Zhidong, and the three characters "no more" are used, which has a humble meaning, which is very obvious. However, after more than a year, Hanlin Sijian cleaned up half of Sun Yuwen's affairs.Then there is Deng Chengxiu, Sun Yuwen imitated the way that King Gong dealt with Woren's objection to the establishment of Tongwenguan, and persuaded King Chun to ask for an order to send Deng Chengxiu to the prime minister's office of national affairs, so that he could no longer criticize Western affairs.But having said that, as long as the "Iron Man" is in Beijing, he has to be guarded everywhere. "Naturally, the way of speaking is not as arrogant as before. However, half of it is because there is no topic. Although you can issue a decree in the dark about the garden repair, you can't cover the eyes and ears of the world with one hand. Zhongtang," Sun Yuwen asked: "If someone As in the thirteenth year of Tongzhi, there was a quarrel with each other, and one after another, the papers asking for the suspension of work were posted one after another, how should I deal with it?" "That's what I'm worried about. Sheng Boxi can be regarded as a rising leader in Qingliu, but his sharpness is not as good as before. With the kindness and preferential treatment, Weng Shuping can win him over, so he probably won't talk too much. It's hard to say anything else." Fu Kun went on to say Said: "I think Deng Tiexiang will never be silent." "Deng Tiexiang's affairs are easy to handle. There is an errand waiting for him in heaven." Sun Yuwen said, "You might as well mention it to Master Qi sometime." "Oh!" Fu Kun asked very attentively, "You mean you want me to sponsor Deng Tiexiang for an errand. What is it?" "China and France are about to survey the border between China and Vietnam. Deng Tiexiang can go there." "Here!" Fu Kun praised, "he is both a prime minister and a Cantonese. He is a man and a place. He is really a mission made by nature. Laishan, you really want to get it. However, going deep into the wild and smoky land is better than serving as an army." It's still hard outside Shanhaiguan, I'm afraid he won't go." "What kind of talk is this!" Sun Yuwen replied in a serious manner: "How can you allow him to evade the matter of being loyal to the emperor? This level, don't worry, there are quite a few ignorant people in the Imperial Academy who want to kill chickens and frighten them." Monkey, find one or two to do the surgery." Fu Kun was gentle and easy-going, knowing Sun Yuwen's sinister and vicious methods, he couldn't bear it, so he persuaded him: "I can find someone to clear it up, and teach them to understand the pros and cons, that's all." "This generation is young and arrogant, who do you want to listen to?" Sun Yuwen drank a glass of wine and said thoughtfully, "There is someone who just happened to use him to make a happy Shunqi pill for Li Xiang." "Lai Shan, who are you thinking of?" "Liang Xinghai." ※ ※ ※ Liang Xinghai's name is Dingfen, from Guangzhou.He lost his mother at the age of seven and his father at the age of twelve, and was raised by his aunt.He was born with a big head and a short body, with a beard and eyebrows like a halberd, and his appearance is not delicate at all, but his writing is extraordinary. He studied in the "Dongshu" of Chen Lanfu, a great scholar in central Guangdong. At that time, the general in Guangzhou was named Chang Shan, and his family was regarded as a scholarly family among the big families of the Eight Banners.The back garden of the General Administration in Guangzhou, named Pot Garden, has extremely beautiful pavilions. The hospitable Changshan opened the mansion and invited young celebrities to study with his nephews Zhirui and Zhigou.Among them, Liang Dingfen is the youngest, followed by Yu Shimei from He County, Guangxi, and Wen Tingshi from Pingxiang, Jiangxi.These two are also senior disciples of the Dongshu School, so they are classmates and colleagues with Liang Dingfen, and because they are similar in age, their friendship is even closer. Liang Dingfen's family name came out early, and he ordered Hanlin at the age of 22 in the sixth year of Guangxu, the same year as Li Ciming.This year's housing examiners are Guozijian Jijiu Wang Xianqian and the head of the clan's mansion Gong Zhenxiang. Gong Zhenxiang is the tutor of Liang Dingfen's rural examination, and Wang Jijiu is his tutor for this time. Wang and Gong are close relatives.Liang Dingfen traveled with his father in Hunan since he was a child, and his many connections contributed to Liang Dingfen's marriage. Gong Zhenxiang has a niece who is the niece of Wang Xianqian's direct relative.Ms. Gong's parents died when she was a child, and she was brought up by her aunt. At this time, she looks slim, beautiful and capable of poetry. No matter if she is an uncle or an uncle, of course everyone hopes that she will marry a Hanlin.It is rare that Liang Dingfen has not yet married a wife, and a ready-made good marriage is readily available.So the spring breeze was proud of the big admission, and the autumn wind was proud of the small admission. In August of this year, they got married in Beijing. Of course Liang Dingfen seemed very satisfied, and named his new residence "Xifengyuan".But when the amphibious life was short, he asked for leave for burial, and returned to Beijing in the spring of the following year.Before leaving to swear to the tomb, I am determined to be a loyal minister. After three years, the library was disbanded, and Liang Dingfen stayed in the library to serve as an editor.With his literary talent, he is naturally one of the famous Hanlin, and most of the people who come and go are celebrities, among whom the most frequent ones are his seniors from the same township, the family of Li Wentian, the Hanlin of Nanshufang. One day Li Wentian made a horoscope for Liang Dingfen, saying that he would not live to be twenty-seven.Li Wentian's study of astrology is famous, and many people believe that he can really tell the difference between life and death, so Liang Dingfen was terrified, and hurriedly asked for advice if there is a way to resolve it. Li Wentian studied for a long time, and answered him that only by encountering a strange disaster can one avoid death.But what is a strange misfortune, and where does the misfortune come from?That's a lot of thinking. At that time, when Sino-French negotiations were about to break down, Qing Yi attacked Li Hongzhang with great impassionedness and fierceness, but all of them were limited to words. There were not many impeachment memorials, but there were some, and the wording was relatively gentle and reserved.Only the son of Yi Peishen, the governor of Sichuan Province, wrote a memorial for Yi Shunding, whom Wang Xiangqi called "the fairy boy", saying that Li Hongzhang had "ten things to kill".In fact, this is Yi Shunding's verbal criticism, chatting and pleasant game pen and ink, because Yi Shunding has no words to blame, and he can't offend Li Hongzhang, who is so powerful for no reason.However, Liang Dingfen, who had ulterior motives, saw that he was inspired, so he asked for this manuscript, and immediately transcribed it, and asked the head of the Imperial Academy to play it. When the Empress Dowager Cixi saw the memorial, she was furious, and summoned military planes to punish Liang Dingfen severely. Yan Jingming tried his best to intercede for him, so that nothing happened. ※ ※ ※ Sun Yuwen made an idea on Liang Dingfen to make a "Happy Shunqi Pill" specially for Li Hongzhang, in order to overturn this case.The Empress Dowager Cixi was already tired of Qingliu, and she was also afraid that when Qingyi Garden was built in the future, the officials would take the liberty to dissuade her. She felt that "killing chickens and scaring monkeys" was a clever way, so she agreed with King Chun's request. An encyclical was issued: "The country is open to speak out, and everyone expresses their loyalty in the original period, so that they can gather ideas, benefit the national economy, and benefit the people's livelihood. Zou, it is common sense, and words must be done. Since the army was used last year, there have been not many chapters. Among them, the words are appropriate, whether they are implemented immediately, or taken as a measure, all of which are adopted with sincerity, and they are known one by one, so that they can be used at any time.As far as the wording is inappropriate, it is never demanding, even if the Chen Zou is absurd and the language is vulgar, it is not reprimanded.If you play it privately and sneer at it, you will lose the meaning of respect and open up a style of criticism, which has a lot to do with people's politics. Respectfully read Emperor Gaozongchun's sacred edict: "Ministers at home and abroad are all used by me, and they don't do anything violent, even if I don't rush to reprimand them; although the imperial censor wants to use his own power to slander, is it okay?" "I also respectfully read the imperial edict of Emperor Renzongrui, "From the princes and ministers inside, from the governors and vassals outside, and even the ministers with hundreds of jobs, if there is any self-serving game, those who are innocent and obsessed with their duties, the officials will correct them according to the facts, that is, they will be severely punished. punish.If you slander people's names with talk that has no influence, there is no escape from heaven, and the laws of the country are there. 'Etc. Qin hereby, admonishes Huanghuang, and it is advisable to abide by it. For example, Wu Xun, the censor of the previous year, participated in the impeachment of Yan Jingming, and was regarded as a traitor; the editor Liang Dingfen participated in the impeachment of Li Hongzhang, and picked up a variety of items.As far as this extreme is concerned, the Minister of slandering pounds must be punished as an example.Both Wu Xun and Liang Dingfen were strictly discussed by the Ministry of Communications. In short, the imperial court listened to the words of the administration, upholding the principles of justice, and visited Zhou Zi extensively, but only hoped to seek truth from facts, not in the name of Bona's advice.All the ministers should be sincere in their affairs, wholeheartedly offer their replacements, and don't bear the meaning of earnestly admonishing them, encourage them!Be careful! " The Ministry of Officials received the imperial edict and immediately discussed that Wu Xun and Liang Dingfen should be demoted to five ranks.This is a "private crime", so if there were rewards such as "leveling up" and "recording" in the past, they cannot be offset. This result caused an uproar in Qing Yi.It is definitely not a good thing to judge crimes by officials, which is suspected of blocking the way of speech. What's more, the law ignores the past. It is not only unfair to those who have suffered, but also sets a bad example. If those in power want to incriminate others, they can reverse the case at any time. Wouldn't it put everyone in danger? Having said that, at this time the character of the official is not as good as before. Seeing that the two big hats of Gaozong and Renzong are pressed there in the Shangyu, they are too scared to move.At the same time, he believed that Wu Xun and Liang Dingfen's opinions were too extreme at that time, and they also blamed themselves. It was difficult to write for them, so they became more and more hesitant. However, many people went to condolences to Wu and Liang in private.Wu Xun couldn't help but look sad, but Liang Dingfen's expression was quite different, quite like "no official is light on one's body".Because he was twenty-seven years old this year, thinking of Li Wentian's thesis, his heart twisted in pain, and now a hot chestnut burst out of the cold wok, and he was suddenly severely condemned. Bao, why don't you like it? It's just that life can be saved and livelihood is in danger.The edited official ranks are seven ranks, lowered to five ranks, so I have to be a junior official who is only better than "not entering the stream". In this yamen, the only waiting edict with a job similar to that of a copyist is Cong Jiupin, and there has never been one Hanlin has done such an official.Therefore, the punishment of downgrading to five grades, to Liang Dingfen, was equivalent to ordering him to retire, which was heavier than dismissal.As for the punishment of dismissal, as soon as the limelight is over, a powerful person will come forward and find a reason for his merits or military merits, and he can be dismissed at once.If you are demoted and transferred, you have to climb up the ranks. Therefore, on the day of receiving the strict decree, after dealing with the annoying visitors who came to the door, Liang Dingfen had to discuss the future with a close friend when he came in the evening.This person is Wen Tingshi. This is Wen Tingshi's fourth visit to the capital.The last time he entered the capital was in the eighth year of Guangxu, and he stayed in Xifengyuan. He was proud of Beiwei and won the third place in the Shuntian Township Examination.But in the winter, Ding You went back to Guangdong for the funeral. Now that the service system is full, he went to Beijing early to prepare for the Bingxu Branch Examination next year, and still lived in Qifengyuan.In the eyes of the Liang family's servants, maids, and old ladies, he is like an uncle, because even Mrs. Gong doesn't have to shy away from entering the house through the house. It was such a friendship, so when Liang Dingfen handed over the matter, Wen Tingshi sweated for him, and when he severely reprimanded him, it was like being the first Jiao Lei, shaking him out of his wits.Although Liang Dingfen himself felt that it was a "happy event", but his wife Gong's face suddenly looked haggard and she was crying. During the day, he had to help Liang Dingfen to put on a carefree look in front of the guests, and now he would eat under the lamp, so he no longer had to hide it, "Xinghai!" He asked depressedly, "The coming day will be difficult, so we need to make plans early. " "Exactly. I just want to discuss it with you. Naturally, I can't live in Beijing." "Then," Wen Tingshi said, "back to Guangdong." Liang Dingfen was silent.If you don't want to wait in Beijing to be called, you will naturally bring your family back to your hometown. These are the two inevitable paths.However, Liang Dingfen has other difficulties. She was lonely and lonely since she was a child, and she had no foundation in her hometown. Of course Wen Tingshi knew about these difficulties. He suggested Liang Dingfen to return to Guangdong, and of course he had figured out a way for him.Although Changshan has dismissed and returned to Beijing, Zhang Zhidong is the governor there, so he can ask for help. "Sheng Boxi has a very strong friendship with Zhang Xiangtao, so please ask him to write a practical letter, and Zhang Xiangshuai will naturally recruit you into the shogunate." Wen Tingshi said, "I think this is the only way you can do it, and this is the only way out." Liang Dingfen shook his head, "How can you beg for food from the big mansion?" He asked, "Going to his shogunate to look up to him, wouldn't you be wronging me?" How many ministers came from the governor's shogunate, even if they were dismissed, it would not necessarily humiliate his Hanlin status.However, Liang Dingfen has always been a little hypocritical, especially at this moment, it sounds a bit extreme.Wen Tingshi knew each other well, so he felt that it was not appropriate to argue with him, because the more he debated, the more rigid he would become. At this time, two regular customers came to visit, one is Yu Shimei and the other is Zhirui. They both ordered the Imperial Academy in the same year as Liang Dingfen in the Gengchen Examination. Now Zhirui is still in the Imperial Academy, and Yu Shimei After the disbandment, he became the head of the Ministry of War.They had already been here during the day, and they came here unexpectedly at this time. They were also concerned about Liang Dingfen's origin and wanted to talk to him. Wen Tingshi told them his suggestion and Liang Dingfen's attitude. Both Yu Shimei and Zhirui believed that returning to Guangzhou first was the right thing to do, and dealing with Zhang Zhidong was the best policy. "If Xinghai doesn't want to enter the shogunate, he can teach." Yu Shimei said, "It's as if Wang Xiangqi was hired by Ding Zhishuai to enter Sichuan and leave the Changzunchang Academy, so Xinghai's nobility will not be hindered."