Rebirth of the Northern Giants

"My lord, what is in that black box? This subordinate sees that you are more important than pearls." Wang Xiaosheng asked curiously.

Ye Zhikui smiled a bit wickedly, and pretended to be mysterious and said: "Don't ask too many questions, children, you will understand when you get married someday."

Ye Zhikui made another trip to the Summer Palace that night to show his loyalty to Cixi, so he casually presented this gift.

After Cixi left Ye Zhikui, she couldn't wait to order: "Come here, show this new movie to Ai's family."

Ever since Ye Zhikui presented such a novelty as the projector, Cixi couldn’t put it down, and watched the only one, The Birthday of All Nations, no less than ten times. It’s a pity that there are only a few scenes that come and go, which is not enjoyable. This time, Ye Zhikui presented it again. Can she not look forward to a new movie?

The projection equipment has been moved to the bedroom by Cixi. The eunuchs and maids are very skilled in putting the film in place. Cixi lies on the iron bed, covered with mattresses and pillows, holding a stick of opium. This iron bed is the special bed for Cixi when she smokes opium. , can adjust the angle arbitrarily, the little eunuch next to him lit opium, adjusted the angle of the bed, facing the curtain in front.

In the anticipation of everyone, the movie began to be screened slowly, and the first thing that came out was the title—Girl Huaichun.Undoubtedly, this is the first three-pole film since the film came out. Ye Zhikui spent a lot of money to invite foreign Yin people to shoot it. Although it is not as exciting as the meat futons of later generations, it is many times better than erotic paintings.

Cixi was half lying down smoking opium, but as the plot progressed, Cixi completely forgot about opium, opened her mouth wide, and watched the movie intently. Close your eyes, but can't help but peek through your fingers, it seems that some things will never go out of style.

For Cixi, an old Yin citizen who likes to listen to yin tunes, how could Ye Zhikui forget about this and not follow his liking? Cixi just watched the girl Huaichun for more than forty minutes without blinking. With a long sigh of relief, he sighed: "It turns out that the gadgets of foreigners are similar to those of Chinese."

The movie finally ended in a climax, and Cixi also went through a climax journey. Seeing Cixi's winking eyes, Li Gonggong couldn't help but said beside him: "Lafayette, why don't you go to bed and try the skills of a slave."

No wonder Xiao Lizi was so favored. No one in the world could match Cixi's thoughts. When Cixi heard this, she glanced at him appreciatively, and waved her hand: "You all go down, Ai's family is going to bed."

The court ladies and eunuchs retreated quietly one by one, and Xiao Lizi and Cixi then dubbed the silent film and finally made it perfect, but unfortunately no one appreciated it.

In Xianliang Temple, Li Hongzhang sat at the head, and Ye Zhikui sat at the side with no serious appearance.

Ye Zhikui took a sip of tea, asked with a wry smile, "Zhongtang, you are in a difficult situation now, what should you do? I hope old Zhongtang will teach me."

Li Hongzhang smiled while stroking his beard, and said, "You little bastard just doesn't listen to the old man's advice and likes to show off, now you know it's difficult?"

Ye Zhikui blinked innocently, smacked his mouth and said: "The boy has always acted in a low-key manner, but gold always shines. There is nothing you can do about it, boy, what do you think the empress dowager and the emperor have to say? No way to reconcile and reconcile."

Li Hongzhang sighed, and said helplessly: "Everything is not that simple. The old man is getting old now, and he won't live for a few years. I don't want to get involved in these nonsense anymore."

Ye Zhikui said with a bitter face: "You are an old fairy with a strong character, but you can't just let your life die. Fighting with gods hurts mortals. The kid is already in a situation, and I don't know how to resolve it."

"I can only send you four words, keep your duty, don't say what you shouldn't say, don't do what you shouldn't do, the emperor is too hasty and willful, listen to Kang Youwei and other empty talk children, the end can be imagined. "

Ye Zhikui tentatively said: "The Reform Reform is really the foundation of a strong country, why can't it be implemented in our Qing Dynasty?"

Li Hongzhang frowned and replied: "The affairs of the world are nothing more than heaven, earth, people, and harmony. Originally, the western powers insulted China and reformed at the right time, so Kang and Liang were able to rise rapidly. People and people are not on our side. I have been engaged in Westernization for many years, and I know that there are many obstacles to the reform. It needs a person with talent, character, and willpower to carry it out. The current emperor, let alone talk about it, now the reform is out of order , no means, no foundation, no strategy, Kang Youwei, etc., and lack of struggle and compromise, if the party fights against differences, it will inevitably be wishful thinking and willful."

Li Hongzhang went on to say: "Actually, I also know that reforms can become stronger. If the old laws can strengthen China, our country will be strong by now. How can the Queen Mother not know that it is really unwise to use reforms to fight for power and profit."

Although Ye Zhikui did not dare to fully agree with Li Hongzhang's point of view, and some even disapproved of it, the reform will certainly affect the interests of some people, but Li Hongzhang can have this understanding, how many people can there be in the Qing Dynasty now, and he can't help but sincerely sigh: " It’s still the old Zhongtang who stands tall and can see clearly, Congyun just needs to train the new recruits carefully, now that the imperial court has set up a military training office, the boy and Zhongtang are both added as ministers, and Zhongtang needs to take care of the boy more.”

Li Hongzhang curled his lips and said: "Congyun, you seem rough, but you are really cunning, and you need to be taken care of by the old man. I will talk about the military training later. Now the German Minister Hai Jing has urged the court to release the German prisoners several times. I don't know what you think of Congyun. ?”

Ye Zhikui didn't want to let Dietrich and other German troops go for nothing, and he already had a plan in mind, and immediately replied after hearing this: "Zhongtang, in Western countries, captives usually need to be redeemed with gold and silver. The boy thinks, Although we don't need the gold and silver of the Germans, we can exchange them for other things of the German army. In this battle, the boy realized that the only way to win is to have a sharp armor. The Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau has a steel factory and a Mauser rifle The production line can produce guns by itself. The boy heard that Paul &226; Mauser, the German Mauser weapons factory, is constantly improving the Mauser rifle. Can the Germans help us upgrade our Mauser production line."

Ye Zhikui has always been coveted for the historically powerful Mauser rifle. The German army is now using the Type Commission rifle. Paul &226; Mauser is doing his best to improve his Mauser rifle. The knock-out rifle adopts the new Mauser. The military named this new rifle as this rifle. It was still used in Germany during World War II, which shows its power.

However, Germany does not pay much attention to it now, and Paul Mauser definitely hopes that his rifle can be used in actual combat first, which will attract the attention of the German military. In addition, the Mauser Weapons Factory has always cooperated well with Beiyang. It should be a great opportunity to propose to purchase several machine production lines and upgrade the original production lines.

Li Hongzhang did not expect that Ye Zhikui would put forward this condition, and he said in surprise: "It is good to produce guns by ourselves, but every time our Qing Dynasty produces a rifle, it is enough to buy two rifles from Western countries. After all, it is really not good." Good deal."

Ye Zhikui was both helpless and speechless about Li Hongzhang's argument that self-produced is not as good as imported, whether it is guns or ships, he is tirelessly importing. I hope you will buy more, but on the other hand, you can't rely entirely on imports. How can your country's military enterprises be in the hands of outsiders all the time.

Ye Zhikui organized his language, determined to reverse Li Hongzhang's ideas, and persuaded him, "I really don't agree with Zhongtang's words. From the perspective of business, buying from Western countries is not bad. It's a good deal, but like this time, the boy and The German army is fighting, if the Germans become angry from embarrassment, unite with the Western countries, and stop selling us guns, wouldn’t our Qing Dynasty want to cry and have no guns to use.”

Ye Zhikui peddled his theory: "My Qing Dynasty and the Western countries are like two ponds, and money is like the water in the pond. If it is produced by itself, the water will eventually remain in the pond of the Qing Dynasty, and it will be imported from foreigners. If water is put into a foreigner's pond, over time, the water in the foreigner's pond will become more and more, but we will become more and more dry. At that time, we will be controlled by others."

Li Hongzhang heard it, thought about it carefully, and felt that it made some sense, but how can his long-term concept be changed in a short while, so he said: "Although what Congyun said is reasonable, but why do you buy the guns produced by the Machinery Bureau?" don't want?"

Ye Zhikui was left speechless by the question. He was like a person in later generations who clamored to use domestic products, but at the same time felt that the domestic products were too bad to look at and used imported products. Wu Yijun used all imported products.

"This, boy."

Li Hongzhang saw that Ye Zhikui was so deflated that he couldn't say a word for a while, so he couldn't help but smiled secretly, and said, "Okay, don't want this or that. It's not a big deal to buy equipment and introduce the production of Mauser rifles. I guess the Germans will gladly accept it and wish for it."

Ye Zhikui smiled sheepishly, and Li Hongzhang saw that the business was almost finished, so he said, "Congyun, I am still waiting to drink your wedding wine. I wonder when you and Xingsun's little girl will get married?"

Ye Zhikui blushed, thinking of the cunning and beautiful Miss Sheng San, he couldn't help but reply: "Young man is busy with military affairs, so I have time to think so much."

"That can't be done. Xingsun has reminded this matchmaker several times. You have to quickly pick an auspicious day to marry the young lady of the Sheng family, or the young lady of the Sheng family will soon become an old lady."

Ye Zhikui rubbed his nose and had no choice but to reply, "Boy, how dare you disobey Mr. Zhongtang's words."

The two talked for a while, and Ye Zhikui left. During this time, he will stay in the capital to participate in the negotiations and meet with Ito Hirobumi.

Chapter 99 The tragedy of the small village has arrived

Ito Hirobumi is known as the "Father of the Meiji Constitution". He entered China in April and has visited and interviewed Rong Lu, Zhang Yinheng, Minister Wang of the General Administration, Kang Youwei and other reformers or diehards. He has a general understanding of China's reform cause learn.

In the Japanese embassy in the capital, Ito Hirobumi is conspiring with his attache Taisen Jiro and the Japanese ambassador to China Komura Shoutaro.

Ito Hirobumi, smoking a cigar, knelt and sat in the main seat contentedly.

Komura Kotaro asked with a smile: "Ito-kun, do the geisha in China's Eight Great Hutongs suit your taste?"

Ito Hirobumi's eyes lit up, he put down his cigar, and praised: "It's not bad, but it's still a bit worse than the snow I brought from the empire."

The first thing this old man entered the capital was not to visit Li Hongzhang and other powerful officials of the Qing Dynasty, but first to go to the Eight Great Hutongs in Beijing to learn a lot. Whatever happens on a whim will become the target of his hunting.

Of course, he also has some other special hobbies. For example, he used to like his classmate's sister, Cheng Zi, and got it and confirmed the marriage contract. But soon he met a geisha Mei Zi in a brothel, kicked Cheng Zi away, and personally acted as a matchmaker. Betrothing Chengzi to others, Ito Hirobumi profoundly interpreted the saying that women are like clothes.

Komura Jutaro's eyes lit up when he heard the words, and he praised sincerely: "Miss Yukiko is as beautiful as a flower, Ito-kun is blessed."

"Ito-kun, which faction should I support for the reform movement of the Qing Dynasty?" Because Ito is an evergreen tree in Japanese politics and has just come to China from Japan, of course he understands Japan's China policy better than Komura. There are many, that's why Komura Kotaro asked this question.

Ito Hirobumi, an old fox, is lustful, but his eyes are bright. He stroked his goatee, and a gleam of light flashed in his cloudy old eyes, and said slowly: "The emperor of the Qing Dynasty has no real power, only the right to formulate the system. But without the means to implement the system, reform may be difficult to implement.”

"Ito-kun means that the Japanese Empire supports Cixi and opposes the reform of the Qing Dynasty?" Komura Kotaro asked a little puzzled.

Ito Hirobumi took a sip of the wine, waved his two fingers like dead trees, and said: "That's not what I said, the more turmoil the Qing Dynasty is, the more it will be for me. The more beneficial. Kang Youwei and other reformers are weak, and I will try my best to support them. Once something happens to them, our Great Japanese Empire should accept protection as much as possible and let them go to Japan for political asylum. These people are the seeds that will cause turmoil in China in the future , then the empire can take the opportunity..."

It is undeniable that from the perspective of future generations, Japan has cultivated many Chinese profiteers, and the United States has cultivated Chinese moderate reformers. Sun Yat-sen and some students studying in Japan have more or less supported and sponsored by the Japanese government. From a subjective point of view, there is nothing wrong with it. After all You also need to eat and drink, but from an objective point of view, the Japanese government really has such good intentions. If you spend money and effort to let you do it in China, it will make China rich and powerful?So these people will inevitably be used by the Japanese government.

But fortunately, due to China's victory in the Sino-Japanese War of [-]-[-], Japan is still the younger brother of Asia and cannot attract too many progressive young people to go there. Most of them are foreign students from Western countries.

"Then the emperor of the Qing Dynasty hired Ito-kun as a reform adviser, will your Excellency agree?" After a little thought, Komura Kotaro realized how to do what is best for Japan, and then talked about other things.

Hirobumi Ito pondered for a moment, and finally gave up on the tempting idea of ​​being a political reform adviser. After many days of observation, although he wanted to participate in it and stir up troubles, but not to mention that Guangxu has no strength, Empress Dowager Cixi will not be good to him Face, he can't influence China's political situation, but will expose Japan's political goals.

The three were thinking about each other, and Hirobumi Ito was about to answer, but a member of the Japanese embassy knocked on the door to ask for an interview.

Seeing Ito Hirobumi's displeasure, Komura Shoutaro couldn't help shouting: "It's late today, what can we talk about tomorrow?"

The embassy staff outside the door replied loudly: "Your Excellency, it is about Ye Zhikui."