Rebirth of the Northern Giants

Before Ye Zhikui could speak, the soldiers guarding the city gate recognized him and hurried forward to clear the way.

Ye Zhikui saw that the little soldier was doing things neatly, and when he passed by him, he took out a few coins from his pocket, threw them to the soldier, and said aloud: "Brothers have worked hard, the weather is cold, brothers, take this money to keep warm." .”

The soldiers guarding the city gate did not expect Ye Zhikui to be so polite. Unlike other city gates, Andingmen has nothing to gain. Those who pass by this gate are all high-ranking and powerful people. If you don’t scold them, these soldiers are already going to burn incense and worship Buddha. After Ye Zhikui left, Xiaobing couldn't help being secretly grateful in his heart.

Ye Zhikui was admired by Guangxu for riding a horse in the Forbidden City, so he rode his horse straight into the inner city without stopping. The news that Ye Zhikui had been summoned by the Emperor of the Capital soon spread like the wind, which aroused some speculation.

In the Summer Palace, just after the morning court ended, Xu Tong, Gang Yi, Rong Lu and other Cixi's confidantes came to the Summer Palace early to pay their respects.

Gangyi first cried to Cixi about the imperial edict issued by Guangxu in the early dynasty to abolish the privileges of the bannermen, and then asked: "Queen Mother, where does the emperor put our bannermen? Is it really going to be the same as those Han slaves? Our Qing Dynasty is Who owns the world? We are full of people. If the emperor succeeds in this move, when the Han people gain power, what place will we have for the banner people? Do we have to go back to the bitter cold outside the customs? Lafayette, slaves, etc. I implore you Come out and retrain the government."

Rong Lu also persuaded beside him: "Lafayette, the emperor acted too hastily and abolished the redundant bureau, and the unemployed will affect thousands of people. When the time comes, the government and the public will shake, and it will be a big event."

Cixi half-closed her eyes and said: "If the emperor wants to abolish the redundant department, you can help him to ax it. Aijia will be behind to see what tricks he can play. It's so stupid. Ye Zhikui was summoned by the emperor. Today You have already entered the capital, do you know?"

Rong Lu replied puzzled, "Your servant knows about this?"

"Then what do you think the emperor wants to see him for?"

Rong Lu's forehead was sweating, and he replied unclearly: "I don't know."

Cixi snorted coldly, then asked Ronglu, "How are your recruits doing?"

Hearing this, Rong Lu couldn't help saying triumphantly: "As for Lafayette, the slaves recruited more than 27 soldiers from the [-]th Battalion of Bannermen, and trained them personally in Nanyuan, and now they have achieved initial results."

Cixi asked coldly: "How about Wu Yijun, the leader of Ye?"

Rong Lu's face couldn't help but collapsed, and he replied awkwardly: "Well, this slave's army is still young, so I'm afraid it's not Wu Yi's opponent."

Cixi said in an unhurried manner: "If the emperor finds the old woman of the Ai family not pleasing to the eye, what should I do if she refuses to let the Ai family teach politics?"

Rong Lu was taken aback, he really hadn't thought about it, Huang has always been cowardly, does he have the guts to do this?But Xu Tong said from the side: "The emperor has no queen, why don't Lafayette establish a elder brother first, so that he can be prepared in case the emperor has unexpected events?"

Xu Tong's words were simply rebellious, but Cixi was silent when she heard it, and did not reprimand Rong Lu. If you change another emperor, youdao is the son of the emperor and the courtiers, and his honor and salary may not be so well received, so he advised Cixi: "Lafayette, you are in good health, and your blessings are like the East China Sea. Why worry, the emperor is just Lafayette, the grand monkey in your palm, no matter how much you jump, it won't be able to jump out of your palm."

Cixi rubbed her forehead, feeling a little headache, she was not sure yet, but she had such an idea, so she had to wait for a while to see.

Cixi thought about it and said to Rong Lu: "No matter what, the strength of the capital is too weak now, and the Shandong boxers have begun to flee into Zhili. The various ministries are stationed around the capital to prevent the Boxers from causing disaster."

Rong Lu suddenly realized that Cixi was going to seize military power firmly. Cixi, who had experienced several political turmoil, was old and cunning, and understood that in times of coups or turmoil, the most important thing is to have an army loyal to him, so that everything will be fine and safe. Worry free.

After Rong Lu figured it out, he was no longer ambiguous, and replied: "Report to the Queen Mother, Dong Fuxiang, the admiral of Gansu Province, has rich experience, and the officers and men under his command are strong and brave. Qingsuo's Yi army has been stationed in Lushun for many years, and its combat power should not be underestimated. It can be transferred to Shanhaiguan. After the Sino-German war ended, Shandong governor Nie Shicheng asked Yuan Shikai's new army to return to the station. The Nanyuan army and the five armies will protect the capital together, so they will be safe."

Cixi felt relieved secretly when she heard this, and said with a long sigh of relief: "The Ai family is a little tired, you go down first, Rong Lu, the Ai family has something to discuss with you, you can leave later."

"Yes, Empress Dowager," Rong Lu replied with a gleam in his eyes.

While Ronglu and Cixi were enjoying themselves, Guangxu summoned Ye Zhikui in the Qianqing Palace. It was the first time Ye Zhikui saw the lord. The Qianqing Palace is the main hall of the inner court. There is a throne in the palace. When Ye Zhikui entered, Guangxu was sitting on the throne. Review memorials face to face and deal with government affairs.

Ye Zhikui looked at the plaque of "Uprightness and Brightness" hanging beside Guangxu, and couldn't help thinking in his heart: How could the affairs of this world be resolved with just a few words.

Guangxu heard the sound of footsteps and knew that it was Ye Zhikui who came in, so he put down the memorial in his hand, raised his head, and saw a young man in his twenties, dressed in a yellow mandarin jacket and the uniform of a first-rank general in the dynasty, walking like a tiger.Two sword eyebrows stood up into the sky, probably because he had killed too many people, and there was an evil spirit in his body, Guangxu couldn't help but praised from the bottom of his heart: what a bloody man.

When Guangxu looked at Ye Zhikui, Ye Zhikui was not idle, and Guangxu's baby was not bad in appearance. If he was in later generations, he would be regarded as a little boy. If he sells the front and back, he might become a popular niche, but Guangxu has always been weak and sick. , After the reform, I have been restless, and I have lost a lot of weight. It seems that I can fall when the wind blows.

Ye Zhikui went forward to salute and said: "My humble minister Ye Zhikui kowtowed to my emperor, long live my emperor, long live, long live, long live."

Guangxu nodded with a smile and said: "General Ye quickly flattened his body. General Ye has made great achievements for my Qing Dynasty. I am really very happy."

Ye Zhikui replied solemnly: "Your Majesty, I dare not take the credit alone. This is all due to the Emperor. Without the Emperor behind to coordinate the overall situation, how could I make such a remarkable contribution? The Emperor is a unique talent."

Although Guangxu knew that Ye Zhikui was flattering, but everyone loves to hear good words, he couldn't help being happy, walked down from the throne, helped Ye Zhikui up and said: "Qing is the blessed general of my country in the Qing Dynasty. What reward do you want?"

Ye Zhikui took advantage of the situation to get up, looked at Guangxu who was close at hand, and couldn't help but have an idea, if I kill Guangxu now, I don't know what will happen to the Qing Dynasty, but one thing is certain, that is, I, Ye Zhikui, will die, Ye Zhikui Taking a few steps back, he said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I really want to get something from you all this time."

"Oh, whatever General Ye wants, in the Forbidden City, as long as Ai Qing sees it, just take it." Guangxu spared no effort to win over Ye Zhikui.

Ye Zhikui thought to himself: If I said I want your concubine Zhen, I don't know what you would think.Of course Ye Zhikui wouldn't be that stupid, just think about it.

Ye Zhikui smiled slightly, and replied: "Your Majesty, I have heard that the Emperor's law is wonderful before, and I couldn't ask for it. Today, I am bold, and I hope that the Emperor can give me a copybook as a reward."

Guangxu thought that Ye Zhikui would want some kind of rare treasure, and he couldn't help being stunned when he heard this, before replying after a while: "What's so difficult about it, I'm just going to write a picture for Aiqing."

Guangxu picked up the pen and was about to write, Ye Zhikui hurried forward to grind the ink, and said softly: "Huang, your time is precious, just write the big characters 'I am Brother Sharp' for me."

Hearing this, Guangxu wrote his own name in a flash. Ye Zhikui took a look and saw: "I am Brother Sharp" written in large characters, with flying and phoenix characters, and Guangxu's signature on the back: Aixinjueluo&226; Zai Tian.Ye Zhikui felt secretly refreshed.

"By the way, General Ye, what does this sharp brother mean? I've only heard of Huang elder brother, big elder brother and so on." Guangxu asked a little puzzled.

Ye Zhikui explained unhurriedly: "Huang, sharp means powerful, which means that Huang is the most powerful of all elder brothers."

Guangxu couldn't help laughing and said: "It seems that my sharp brother is doing his part."

After finishing speaking, Ye Zhikui's expression changed, and Ye Zhikui's heart skipped a beat. The spanking was over, and it seemed that he was going to talk about business.

Sure enough, Guangxu asked pointedly: "General Ye, what do you think of the implementation of reforms?"

Ye Zhikui quickly answered, "Emperor, this is a good thing. The emperor can do what the emperors of all dynasties could not do, and he is dedicated to improving himself. I admire you so much."

Guangxu sighed, and then said: "It would be great if everyone could think like Aiqing, but unfortunately there are people in the court who want to oppose me and obstruct my reform and reform. It's really hateful. What do you think should I do?" ?”

Ye Zhikui had no choice but to persuade him: "Huang, this is just a small grudge, don't worry about it, so don't worry about it."

Guangxu glanced at him, and replied indifferently: "However, there are some stubborn guys in the court. I plan to hire the Westerner Timothy Lee and the Japanese Ito Hirobumi as consultants for the reform. How about it?"

Ye Zhikui was silent. After thinking for a while, he felt that it would be better to directly object. Guangxu never liked talking in a roundabout way, and the other one was too deep, for fear that Guangxu would not understand him. He said: "Although these two have great talents, they After all, I am an outsider, and I am afraid that they will take the opportunity to seek benefits for their own country, instead of sincerely helping my Qing Dynasty to reform and strengthen itself."

Guangxu frowned slightly. Although the words were not pleasant, there was a reason anyway. Guangxu felt that Ye Zhikui was a righteous minister, and he spoke directly, unlike other people who played tricks on him behind his back. However, the question raised by Ye Zhikui , He thought it was not a problem, and replied: "As you said, I have thought about it a long time ago. On the one hand, I paid a lot of money to hire, and on the other hand, I let Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao follow these people. Why worry about them not being willing to contribute."

Ye Zhikui was stunned, this Guangxu was too naive, but he stopped persuading, but said: "Huang Yingming, since the emperor has countermeasures, I will not speak out against it anymore, it's just that I don't care about the reform. I don’t know much, the only way for me to be a humble minister is to train good recruits for the emperor, and die after doing my best.”

Guangxu was overjoyed when he heard that, he just waited for your words, and then the monarch and his ministers chatted for more than half an hour, during which Ye Zhikui would offer one or two pertinent opinions from time to time, which may be due to the age difference between the two Soon, Guangxu saw Ye Zhikui becoming more and more pleasing to the eye.But Ye Zhikui was miserable, he had been face to face with the Holy Spirit for so long, and he didn't know what Cixi would think.

In Ye Zhikui's eyes, Guangxu is actually a canary just released from the cage. Although he has been longing for the sky, he has long forgotten how to fly, how can he fly, not to mention the owner of the cage is still tied to his feet Hemp rope, once Guangxu wants to break free from control, he will be put into the birdcage again.

Ye Zhikui doesn't want to be another bird, but who knows what's going on in the world? Some things happen slowly and unintentionally.

Chapter 98: What Can the German Army Replace?

Ye Zhikui finally got rid of the enthusiastic Guangxu, and after he escaped from the Forbidden City, the sun has set and night is about to fall.

Wang Xiao asked before his death: "Ye Shuai, it's getting late, shall we go back and rest?"

Ye Zhikui shook his head and replied, "There is one more place I have to go, otherwise I won't be able to sleep today, have you brought what I want?"

Wang Xiaosheng handed over a bag of things with a bit of heartache, and said, "Ye Shuai, the things just came from the mansion."

Ye Zhikui took it and opened it. Yes, there are more than a dozen pearls and a special gift. When you meet Guangxu, you can be empty-handed. When you see Cixi, you have to spend a little time paying tribute, and ordinary things are not in their eyes. .