Chapter 225 The Queen Mother of the Celestial Palace is not as good as the Queen Mother of the East

What was the situation in China at the end of the 19th century? External concerns and internal troubles... This is certain. Foreigners will never die of their desire to perish. This is something that any knowledgeable and visionary Chinese have already realized. But the question is, how to deal with those foreigners?

Benevolence, righteousness and morality? Even the Chinese people themselves do not believe this thing. Although everyone always holds this thing on their lips and claims to be a "country of etiquette", it seems that except for the Chinese, others are all barbarians. Even if these barbarians are very powerful, they are still barbarians. They are almost the same as those of the ancient and ancient times, Khitans, etc. in the past? Jin? That cannot be said that they are the ancestors of NV real people, and the current Qing court is exactly the descendants of NV real people. When Emperor Taizong did not change his country's name, the country's name was still the Later Jin.

However, in addition to benevolence, righteousness and morality that even he did not believe in himself, why should the Chinese resist those blonde and blue-eyed foreign devils? So, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and others began to carry out the Westernization Movement, hoping to realize the great ideal of "learning from the barbarians to control the barbarians", but they forgot that the current international order was actually formulated according to the will of those "barbarians". Faced with these "barbarians" who are both referees and athletes, what qualifications does the Qing court have and what ability does it have to counter "control" them?

However, no matter what, the Westernization Movement began, and the Westernization Movement also achieved certain results. At least on the surface, they injected a trace of fresh blood into the old China... However, China is still facing an extremely severe situation at this time.

The British fought against the Yangtze River Basin with great interests. The French were exercising their efforts toward Vietnam, intending to embezzle Vietnam from China's vassals and turn it into its own colony...

However, these are nothing, because the guys of the Qing Dynasty didn't care about these things at all. Perhaps they didn't know at all and were unwilling to pay attention to their own country. They only knew that they were still the great Qing Dynasty. Their ancestors once seized the current country from the Han people with their scimitars. They knew that they had the Kangxi and Qianlong era where they could eat rice and sweet potatoes, and knew that maintaining their rule required continuing to promote benevolence, righteousness and morality...

"Look, I'll say that our Qing Dynasty is not even comparable to those barbarians. The barbarians rely on their strong ships and powerful guns. Once the Qing Dynasty has such things, the barbarians will become my defeated generals. How dare they commit another crime?"

In the Qianqing Palace, a group of Manchu and Han ministers gathered together to wait for Guangxu to attend court. Before that, they couldn't help but talk about what happened far away from the Pacific Ocean... It has to be said that the actions of Chinese workers in the United States not only showed their own prestige, making American politics no longer dared to underestimate the Chinese, but also forced political parties in various parts of the United States to blatantly support anti-China activities. They also let people in other parts of the world know that the Chinese people are not easy to mess with, and the Chinese are even more proud. Among them, the ministers of the Qing court are the most proud... Look, the Qing Dynasty does not even need to send officers and soldiers, and only a few common people can beat you to vomit blood. Do you dare to cause trouble again?

"I heard that when Zeng Jie first negotiated with the Rakshasa Kingdom, he was just because he heard about this. He was an angry young wife and immediately became so arrogant..." An official shook his head and mentioned that Zeng Jie Gang, who had just returned to Beijing a few months ago, was Zeng Guofan's own son, and Zeng Jize, a famous foreign family member in Chinese history.

"What's that? Zuo Zongtang won the battle, but he actually huddled five million taels of silver before he wanted to return to the Nine City of Yili. If I could tell those Rakshasa ghosts directly that if I dare to come, I would dare to fight. I wouldn't believe that they could compete with that American."

"That's right, I heard that the Americans defeated even the British. That English is the most powerful country in Thailand."

"A mere few grass people who splashed down can defeat one of the great powers, which shows how prosperous my Qing Dynasty is... This is a sign of the arrival of prosperity."

“A reasonable and reasonable…”

...

"Look, look, this is the officials of our court... A group of grass-roots people who went out to work fought a few small battles, and they were so happy that they couldn't find the north, as if they were about to be in the prosperous era of Kanggan and Sheng" that all countries were coming to court."

In a corner of the Ganqing Palace, watching the boasting appearances of the Manchu and Han officials, Zeng Jize, who had just returned from Xinjiang for a few months, helped China get back to the Nine Cities of Yili from Tsarist Russia, couldn't help but sneer. He didn't know that he had just been mentioned, and not only was he mentioned, but he was criticized for having money when he was about to return to the Nine Cities of Yili. Otherwise, he would not have been sneered.

"Why should I do this in Ji Gang? I'm ignoring this with such people and I'm in vain to make myself angry. First posting text}" Li Hongzhang was very high. At this time, he was already the governor of Zhili and the leader of the Qing court's border politicians. Although he lost a move a few years ago because of the "border defense" and "maritime defense" dispute with Zuo Zongtang, he was swept back and even turned his face with Zuo Zongtang, but this does not mean that he needs to be jealous of Zuo Zongtang... Although Lao Zuo has made a lifetime of reputation, he may have been famous for his war in Xinjiang for generations, but isn't he still eating sand in Shaanxi and Gansu now? There is finally no strong man in the matter of coastal defense and he has fought with him in the court, and he has much more convenient to do anything.

"I'm not calculating, I'm ashamed." Zeng Jize smiled bitterly, "You Li Heféi have not talked to those foreigners... How powerful are the countries in the Thais? In their eyes, the country of the Qing Dynasty is a big féirou. They want to eat, eat as much as they want to bite... Russia, however, is the bottom corner of the European countries, is also greedy and treats the Qing Dynasty as nothing... In comparison, we are not as good as a group of grass-roots people."

"So what? Guo Jinzhang, Li Asheng and others are amazing, Hong Yang, and the United States is especially stronger than Russia, so will they still be rampant?" Li Hongzhang snorted coldly. As the governor of Zhili and the real leader of the Westernization faction, he is not like those Manchu and Han officials who only know how to eat, drink, play and talk big. Through Chen Lanbin, the ambassador to the United States, he had already learned the ins and outs of the Chinese workers' riots in the United States, and even the names of several Chinese workers' leaders were clear. However, as an official, especially Chinese officials, he instinctively rejected those people from the grass-roots family. In his opinion, Guo Jinzhang, Li Asheng and others were simply a group of traitors. Although they won a few battles and made the Chinese people look up to the face, if such a person was placed in the Qing Dynasty, he would definitely be Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing's traitor would sooner or later become a disaster.

"What, is it that you, Li Shaoquan, still thinking about those people being killed by the Americans?" Zeng Jize turned his eyes. Although Li Hongzhang was the governor of Zhili, the Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace, with a high position and a powerful position, he was the best minister of Han, except for the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu and the Grand Secretary of Dongge, he was simply incomparable. Zeng Jize was just a small Zuoshilang of the Ministry of Revenue, and he was not comparable to Li Hongzhang. But he was not afraid of the other party. Just by his son of Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang had to give him three points.

"Don't talk about this." Li Hongzhang didn't want to talk about this matter with Zeng Jize. To be honest, although he hated Guo Jinzhang and others, he was indeed quite proud. A group of grass people who were unable to live in the Qing Dynasty could dominate abroad. They rely on this huge empire and stood at the top of the world sooner or later to reappear the style of the central empire? However, when Guo Jinzhang and others made trouble, he sent overseas students abroad and purchased advanced equipment from abroad to hinder... Foreigners were worried that he would become stronger with these things, and they were worried that recruiting students from the past would cause riots. Especially those countries where a large number of Chinese gathered were even more worried. Although they had learned lessons and restricted anti-Chinese actions, no matter what, it would be better to prevent them. But this caused Li Hongzhang a lot of trouble.

"Jing's first time, you are familiar with foreign affairs. How long can Guo Jinzhang and others make trouble?"

"How long will it take?" Zeng Jize sighed, "Is it not long enough for the trouble? After all, it is someone else's country. Although those grass-roots people have shown some prestige, they are rootless duckweed and water without a source, so how can they last forever?"

"So that..."

"The Emperor arrived-"

...

The eunuch's shouts calmed the originally noisy Qianqing Palace. The Manchu and Han officials immediately divided into several rows and stood according to the rules. Then, the ten-year-old Emperor Guangxu sat on the dragon throne, and a roll of bead curtain fell down behind him.

"I heard recently that there was a group of Qing people in the land of Taixi, but this is the case?"

There was no prelude to "releasing something for the time being, leaving the court without any matter". As soon as I sat down, Cixi's inquiry came from behind the bead curtain.

"this……"

Many Manchu and Han officials look at me, I look at you... They almost all know about the riots of Chinese workers in the United States, but no matter who it is, no matter how happy it is, how much I think a group of people can do it. The Qing Dynasty must be even better. In their hearts, they didn't take it seriously... They were in the United States. I heard that America was far away, and the matter there was nothing to do with our Qing Dynasty? Why did the Queen Mother suddenly ask about this? And it was in the Qianqing Palace, during this grand dynasty meeting? Shouldn't this be said as a nostalgic thing?

"What, no one knows?" The voice behind the pearl curtain was a little dissatisfied.

"Qi Zhuan," Zeng Jize looked around and walked out, "As far as I know, there is indeed a group of Qing people in the United States, but they are so because they cannot bear the oppression of the people of that country..."

"That's how violent it is?" A Manchu official with a big belly sneered, "It's just a civilian, why should Lord Zeng defend them?"

"you……"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, these people are not ordinary. Hongzhang saw that Zeng Jize was choked and slowly walked out of the queue. Although he did not have the prestige and momentum he later, the governor of Zhili, who held the Huai Army, was not comparable to Zuoshilang of the Ministry of Revenue. Although the Manchu officials were arrogant, they also knew who could provoke and who could provoke, but it was best not to provoke, so they did not make any more noise.

"Isn't it ordinary people?" Cixi was obviously dissatisfied behind the bead curtain. "Of course, the Ai family knew that they were not ordinary people. If they were ordinary, how could they dare to make trouble in that foreign country?"

"I received the news that not long ago, these people had just defeated tens of thousands of Americans, and it was the former President of the United States who led the tens of thousands of foreigners. "

"Former President..."

"It's almost the same as the Supreme Emperor of our Qing Dynasty."

"So... this foreigner actually led the army in person?"

The title of "former president" shocked a group of people. After all, for decades, everyone has more or less aware of the Western system. Although there are many officials, especially Manchu officials, at the beginning, they regarded the president as a position similar to the "master" they usually called, but after explanations from others, they also understood the weight of this word... Of course, they did not know that if the term "former president" was placed in the United States, it would be just a celebrity, and his identity was still an ordinary civilian, which was a hundred and eight thousand miles away from the "Supreme Emperor" they imagined.

"I met Grant. Two years ago, when Grant traveled around the world, he came to our Qing Dynasty and had a conversation with her..." Li Hongzhang was also a little proud. Although he knew that in European and American countries, the president or prime minister would become a commoner if he quit his post, his deep-rooted concept still made him proud of the past he had talked with the former president of the United States. In any case, he was also the head of state. In terms of status, he was equal to the emperor of the Qing Dynasty... Amitabha, how can he compare a foreigner with the emperor? You must not say this, otherwise it would be troublesome.

"As far as I know, Grant was re-elected for two terms of US president. Before that, he was the first general in the United States, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops to eliminate the rebellion in the south, and made outstanding achievements." He gave himself a little wake-up call, and Li Hongzhang continued.

"Oh? That's the American Zeng Wenzheng?" Cixi said in surprise.

"This...is almost the same." He is much better than my teacher. He only has a governor of Liangjiang in his life. He is in charge of the whole United States, although he doesn't seem to be very good... Li Hongzhang said secretly.

"In this way, the number one American general was defeated by a group of people from the Qing Dynasty?" Cixi said again.

"It was indeed a war." Zeng Jize stepped forward and said, "I learned from Chen Lanbin, the ambassador to the United States that in that battle, the group of grass-roots people fought from the northwest corner of the United States to the southwest, chasing the US troops for thousands of miles, and continuing to the three states. Oh, the land of the United States uses states to replace provinces, and the three states are the three provinces."

"Si..."

"Good, have you actually captured three provinces?"

There was a breath of breath in the Qianqing Palace, and then it started to make a noise. The Manchu and Han officials present remembered the past when the Qing Dynasty fought with foreigners... It was when the foreigners were the most powerful, and thousands of people conquered Beijing. Now, a group of grass-roots people have defeated tens of thousands of foreigners and have taken advantage of the victory to pursue thousands of miles...

"Not right?" Manchu officials were all fools, "Thousands of miles? What a big country in America, three provinces, there are thousands of miles?"

"I have asked someone to check before," Li Hongzhang followed up, "The territory of the United States is not lower than that of our Qing Dynasty. There are three states in the western part of it, namely Columbia (Washington State), Oregon, and California... These three states are the largest in California, with a length of nearly two thousand miles from north to south, and are as big as three Shandong."

"Si..."

Another sound of gasping in the air.

"Three Shandongs? Isn't that equivalent to conquering five provinces in one go?"

"This is like a long rebirth. No wonder those foreigners are staring at each one..."

"Those grass-roots people defeated the American army in the northwest Columbia region. Then they rushed forward and surrendered to the three states, and then went from west to east. Now they have entered central America. All the states in the middle are frightened and no one dares to stop them," Li Hongzhang said again.

"Hmph, that's a group of traitors. They actually let a group of people run rampant. If this is in our Qing Dynasty, all the governors and governors in various places will have to behead them." Some officials snorted coldly.

"Beheading? Humph, such an official should at least beheaded in half"

"Lingchi's execution"

"A group of idiots" Zeng Jize stood aside and rolled his eyes. He wanted to popularize foreign administrative knowledge for these officials, but after thinking about it, he gave up this unrealistic idea. Because if he did that, it would definitely be more difficult than playing the piano against a cow, and he might even have to lose it.

"Prince Gong, Prince Qing, Li Hongzhang, Zeng Jize stayed, and the rest of the people will all be dispersed," said suddenly behind Zhuliang.

...

Cining Palace.

After the court meeting, Cixi returned to her bedroom, and Prince Gong Yixin, Prince Qing Yixin, Li Hongzhang, and Zeng Jize were also ordered to come.

"The Ai family has been staying in the palace. Today, I suddenly mentioned the Thai West. Do you all find it strange?" Seeing the lord and ministers, Cixi gave everyone a seat and asked again.

"The Empress Dowager's wise illumination candles, and naturally she knows everything." Prince Qing County, Yi Li, bowed with a flattering smile.

"What kind of wise candlelight? It was told by the British Minister's wife Sixia to the Ai family..." Cixi smiled and waved her hand, "She also asked the Ai family if they were interested in helping those people..."

"What happened?"

Li Hongzhang and Zeng Jize were both shocked, but they were both humans. When they glanced at Yi Xin's expressionless face, Yi Li had a proud face, and immediately knew that the two must have known about this. So, why did Cixi call the two of them again?

"I heard from the British Minister's wife that the Ai family seemed to have some skills. Not only did they beat America and complain, but they also said that they wanted to build another country... I wonder if you have heard of it?" Cixi said again.

"The Queen Mother, the British are cunning and will definitely not have good intentions. This matter... is better to ignore it." Zeng Jize bowed and said.

"Li Qing, what do you think?" Cixi remained unchanged and looked at Li Hongzhang again.

"This..." Li Hongzhang fell into deep thought. He knew that Cixi, a harem man, suddenly asked about these foreign affairs, must have a purpose. Now, in the court, he and Prince Gong Yixin, still have some of his own power. His power is in the local area, and he has a military force that is enough to shock the whole country, even Zuo Zongtang's Chu army cannot compare; while Yixin was the biggest enemy in Xianfeng's struggle for imperial power, with a high prestige among the nobles of the Qing Dynasty, and he also helped the two palaces to remove the eight ministers of the regent... As for Zeng Jize and Yixin, they called over because one of them had experience in fighting with foreigners, and the other was probably a nurseryman. But, what exactly did the Empress Dowager in Xi want to do? Li Hongzhang was a little unsure.

"Hey, it would be great if Empress Dowager Ci'an was still there, at least there was no need to be such trouble." Li Hongzhang couldn't help but think of the NV man who had just died for more than half a year, Empress Dowager Dong, who had never been very popular.

"The Empress Dowager Cixi is ambitious, but unfortunately it is only a small matter. In big matters, it is still far from the Empress Dowager Geum."
Chapter completed!