Early summer, dusk

In the majestic Forbidden City, the palaces and pavilions are stretched and are always so solemn and magnificent. From the Bluestone Avenue leading to the Yangxin Pavilion, 16 large sedan chairs are slowly walking along the straight path; under the bright purple-gold umbrella, a young figure can be seen sitting upright. On both sides of the sedan chair, more than ten eunuchs in blue clothes are trotting along the way. It was May, and the capital was filled with summer waves, and the heat was even more tormenting for these people with weak constitutions. Although they were as hot as soup, no one dared to stretch out his hand to wipe the sweat beads on their heads.

The young man has a medium figure, his cheeks slightly sunken. Although his facial features are quite correct, his face is a bit sickly pale. He helped Jinguan, who had become distorted due to the vibration, and said, "There is nothing unusual in the Yangxin Palace, right?"

The young man heard the speech. An old eunuch with an embroidered auspicious beast with a distinct clothing that was obviously different from the people around him. There was no need for any pretentiousness. A sincere flattering smile appeared on his wrinkled face: "Reply to my master's words. Master Weng is already waiting for you in the Yangxin Hall, just waiting for you." The sharp voice like a duck man immediately made the first-class actors in the Celestial Dynasty who played eunuchs in later generations feel ashamed of themselves.

"Huh?" The young man was stunned, his brows gradually frowned, and he remained silent. It was almost sunset, and he did not expect that there would be important officials waiting for him in the Hall of Peace. The words just now were just the preparation for the spread of mite seeds. Seeing that the young man's face was not kind, the old eunuch knew that it was his reply that touched his bad head. After a while of anxiety, he finally heard the voice of the young man slowly ringing in his ears: "Master Weng came to see me at this time, and I must have discussed important matters. I am determined to imitate the Holy Ancestor. How can I ignore my Qing Dynasty's destiny because of my children's personal affair? I will send an order to set up the Hall of Caring for Hearts and let Concubine Zhen wait first."

The old eunuch fell to the ground and shouted: "The emperor is honest and tough, and the wise candle shines, like the reincarnation of the Holy Ancestor, I am the blessing of the world!"

The young man shook his head slightly, indicating that he could not reach the height he had mentioned in the old eunuch, but his face, which was brighter than the chrysanthemum, and his red cheeks all showed that he was very fond of flattery: "This old man deserves to have lived for so long, but he actually has this vision, ah haha, ah hahahaha..." The young man was filled with joy.

Just when the Qing Dynasty reappeared under its wise rule, and beat Yingjili to the French, the sedan chair had already arrived in front of the Palace Hall of the Heart. Emperor Guangxu of Miqing reluctantly ended his beautiful fantasy and stood up and walked out of the sedan chair. Not far away, an old man with white beard in first-class court robes stood quietly on the plush carpet in front of the Dragon Case. Seeing Guangxu enter the palace of Miqing's supreme power, Master Weng, who was energetic, knelt on his knees and gave a big gift to the supreme ruler of Miqing.

"Master Weng quickly invite me, come and see Master Weng." As Guangxu's slightly hoarse voice echoed in the palace, a little eunuch held a brocade pun in front of the old man with a white beard. The old man with white beard thanked, put half of his butt on the brocade pun, and said, "Your Majesty, Xue Fucheng, who is in the Western Yi, has sent back the news."

Somehow, after hearing the word "Western Yi", Guangxu's neck suddenly shrank slightly back. A complex look appeared on his face, envy, fear, nervousness, expectation, and everything went on. After a long time, he slowly straightened his back, leaned forward, and asked in a low voice: "What position does the Thai powers have against Japan's provocation in North Korea?"

This is not the first time Weng Tonghe has seen Guangxu like this. As the Emperor of Miqing, Guangxu lacked confidence in his country, but instead yearned for and worshipped Western powers, fearing him like a lion and a tiger. However, Guangxu's character of respect for the foreign and fearfulness was created by his growth experience and the exhaustion of the country. Although Weng Tonghe felt very uncomfortable, he could only accept it silently. Facing Guangxu's inquiry, Weng Tonghe said in a deep voice: "According to the message sent by Xue Fucheng, France, Italy, Russia and the United States only verbally condemned Japan's wolf ambitions, and Britain did not argue, and directly found an excuse to send our envoys out of the door. According to my opinion, most of these barbarians wanted to watch from the wall and had no intention of intervening in mediation.

Although he had guessed that this might be the result, when his teacher said it in person, Guangxu could not hide his disappointment and anger on his pale face. After a while of silence, Guangxu suddenly realized that a country seemed to be missing in Weng Tonghe's words, and said in confusion: "Isn't Xue Fucheng in Germany? Why not explain Germany's attitude in the telegram?"

Xue Fucheng was a capable minister under Li Hongzhang, and naturally Master Weng's mortal enemy. The reason why he left Germany at the end was to give Guangxu some eye drops and make him angry preconceived. Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Master Weng immediately showed a sudden enlightenment and paused and said, "The old minister was confused and forgot this. I hope the emperor would forgive me. Although Germany also said a few words like other barbarians, he sent a new large warship to visit our Qing Dynasty, and the prince of their country was accompanied by."

"Large warship? Visit?" Guangxu murmured several times, suddenly remembering the painful history of the British and French coalition forces burning the Old Summer Palace, and asked subconsciously: "They aren't here to take advantage of the situation, are they?"

In order to find out some faults in the telegram and toppled Li Hongzhang's right-hand assistant, Master Weng whispered to the telegram sent back by Xue Fucheng, and summoned his staff to discuss it many times. At this moment, Guangxu asked, Master Weng recalled the words on the telegram and slowly said: "It shouldn't be. There is only a medical supply ship with that large warship, which is not the composition of the wartime fleet. In addition, their prince is also on the ship, which is also a message of peaceful visit!"

Guangxu patted his chest with lingering fear, nodded repeatedly, "It's not just taking advantage of the situation, it's not just taking advantage of the situation. I'm really afraid that the Taixi powers will go against the Qing Dynasty with the Japanese Yidao. Even though the Beiyang Fleet has two iron-armored giant ships, it's still far from each other!" He looked at Weng Tonghe carefully and praised, "Master Weng can predict that the enemy is thousands of miles away with just a few words in the telegram. He is really a pillar of the Qing Dynasty!"

"If I hadn't discussed it with the staff, how could I appear in front of you?" Weng Tonghe was secretly proud, with a look of justification and a look of contempt on his face, and said seriously: "Your Majesty is too proud. As a minister, how can you not do your best to share your worries?"

Guangxu was moved. Compared to Li Hongzhang, who colluded with Cixi, he was indeed his teacher reliable. He sighed softly and said, "Does it be necessary to start a war between the Qing Dynasty and Japan this time? I don't understand, the courage that was borrowed from Japan's Fusang, and actually dared to stroke the scales that I have ever experienced in the Heavenly Kingdom?"

Although Master Weng was not in dealing with Li Hongzhang, as the leader of the whole country, he was a rare similarity to Li Hongzhang in hating Japan. He heard Guangxu whispering, and his words were full of disdain and contempt for Japan: "The Japanese pirates Dongyi attacked at this time, just to make a fortune from my Qing Dynasty when the Empress Dowager's 60th birthday and celebrated the whole world. His ambition was obvious. But how can we let them do what they want?"

Guangxu asked tentatively: "What does Master Weng mean?"

"Fight!" Weng Tonghe replied firmly, "The rivers, fish and shrimps, don't know how big the world is. Even if our Qing Dynasty is not as good as the British and French barbarians, it is not a small Japanese country that can threaten! When the Holy Master faced the harassment of Tsarist Russia and the rebellion of Junggar, he used the power of thunder to kill them; for these evil dogs and jackals, the roar of cannons was the best way to talk to them!"

Guangxu actually wanted to fight a battle in his heart. Weng Tonghe used Kang Mazi, whom he admired the most, to greatly touch his heart. But when he thought of the man in Cining Palace, the fierce flames that finally burned in Guangxu's heart were immediately like a piece of carbon that was flooded by the sea, and it could not be extinguished anymore. Seeing that Weng Tonghe was still talking there, he asked weakly: "What should I do on the Empress Dowager's birthday?"

Words are like arrows, and every word is used to kill the heart.

Looking at the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty and Minister of Revenue, who was wilted like a frost-beaten eggplant, Guangxu smiled bitterly, and was about to comfort the angry young teacher, but suddenly thought of a question in his heart and couldn't help but speak: "Master Weng, what is the purpose of the Germans sending a warship to visit? Do they have the possibility of mediating this imminent war?"

Regarding this, Master Weng made some preparations when hesitated for a while and said slowly: "The ultimate goal of the German visit should be to sell equipment to our Qing Dynasty. Since the Beiyang Navy was established in the 14th year of Guangxu, he has not purchased any more boards from Deyi. The purchase of daily ammunition obviously cannot satisfy the appetite of Deyi. Therefore, they sent the best warships in their country to take advantage of this time to make it true and pay for the ship. If Deyi really wants to mediate, he will send a fleet instead of a warship!"

Guangxu rubbed his temples in pain, his already pale face, and his face was a little less bloody. He said weakly: "These Germans are really thinking too much. I am so poor that I have no money to buy their warships? At present, the Queen Mother's birthday is the top priority of my Qing Dynasty. The Ministry of Revenue needs to give priority to ensuring supply, and we should not let the Queen Mother's birthday celebration have a half-point difference. Let Li Hefei stabilize the Japanese no matter how he is, and then settle the score with them after the Queen Mother's birthday."

Weng Tonghe was very clear in his heart. Japan was provoking a lot when the Qing Dynasty was weakest, and it had already drawn its bow and had no turning back. How could it be possible to retreat? But he did not point it out in front of Guangxu. Why not take this opportunity to attack Li Hongzhang?

"By the way, there is the German prince." Guangxu picked up the jade water cup on the table and took a sip, and said, "Even if Germany has no intention of intervening in the dispute between the Qing Dynasty and Japan, we can still use him as a breakthrough to promote the relationship between the Qing Dynasty and Germany to shock the slut. That is a country that will defeat France on the front battlefield! What should be used specifically? Master Weng should know better than me, right?"

"The old minister understands, your Majesty should rest assured. Li Hefei is the most capable of doing this. You might as well let him do it." Weng Tonghe nodded and replied, with a rough outline in his heart.

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Chapter completed!