Rebirth of the Northern Giants

Ito Hirobumi stepped into the ward, looked at Komura and shook his head secretly, and said in a low voice: "Mr. Komura, Mr. Mutsu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thinks that you are no longer suitable to continue serving as the imperial ambassador to China. I will call and ask you to return home for treatment."

Although he said it very euphemistically, the fact is that Komura was dismissed. Just because of a swear word, he looked at Hirobumi Ito blankly. Has this world become something I don't recognize?

Ito Hirobumi blamed himself for Komura making this picture of dementia. He took out a small bottle of God's gift from his arms, handed it to Komura, and said, "Mr. Komura, this is all my fault. Please accept the pain."

Hirobumi Ito turned around and left. His body looked a little thin and old. He had already started to think about returning to China. China was so fierce that he could not stay there. Giving Ye Zhikui a few taels of silver, I don't know how I feel in my heart, I guess I have the mood of being killed.

The replacement of the Japanese minister was just a trivial matter, and did not cause much disturbance, because there was even more explosive news after the Qing Dynasty, and it was not easy for Ye Zhikui to do anything in China, so he had to let Xiaocun go.

On April 4th, Zhili Governor Rong Lu used the Boxer Regiment activities to endanger the safety of the capital as an excuse, and dispatched several armies to station around the capital. Anyone with a discerning eye would know that Rong Lu was talking nonsense. Subdue, even if there are a few stubborn ones, you don't need so many troops.

What's more, I didn't see any movement from you before, and you immediately dispatched troops as soon as the emperor summoned Ye Zhikui.Rong Lu is very treacherous. After receiving Cixi's secret order, he quietly launched an operation. It was not until the troops were ready and almost reached the destination that he suddenly announced publicly, which caught the reformers by surprise.

It seems that the struggle between the emperor and the empress has reached a point where fire and water cannot be tolerated, so we must quickly stand in line, and don't stand wrongly, this is related to our wealth and life.

However, Guangxu in the Forbidden City is still enthusiastically carrying out his great cause of abolishing redundant offices. Because of Cixi's secret support, Guangxu really carried it out at once. For a while, no less than dozens of idle yamen in the capital were laid off The joint and several relations caused the unemployment of more than ten thousand people in one fell swoop.

Even in the reform of state-owned enterprises in later generations, so many people were laid off at one time, there were still people sitting in a sit-in to protest, not to mention the officials in today's yamen institutions who have no inkling in their hearts, and some of them have been in the cold yamen for many years. Suddenly being laid off, one can imagine the resentment in his heart, so he ran around spreading news against the reform.Guangxu was completely a scapegoat, pushing some people who were sympathetic or in favor of the reform to the opposite side at once.

Rong Lu was afraid that Ye Zhikui would be instigated by the reformists in the capital, so he sent an urgent telegram from Tianjin to return to Lutai to set up defenses, so that he did not need to participate in the negotiations between China and Germany.

Ye Zhikui could only curse inwardly, shit, you really treat your brother like a brick, you can stuff it wherever you need it, but the situation is stronger than others, Ye Zhikui had to let me go to Prince Shiduo, Prince Qing Yiqiang, Gangyi, Wang Wenshao and others presented generous gifts, and then Shi Shiran slipped back to Tianjin.

The distance from Tianjin to the capital is only two or three hundred miles. If you hurry up, it will take two or three days.

Ye Zhikui got the news on the way that Yuan Shikai's recruits had returned from Shandong to the small station. Rong Lu also transferred the third battalion of the Gan army to Tianjin to protect the governor's mansion. Let's see that Rong Lu's trick is balanced, just like Cixi. Turn, as expected of doing things together.

Ye Zhikui didn't dare to neglect, and as soon as he returned to Tianjin, he went to Zhili Governor's Mansion to meet Rong Lu.

Unexpectedly, when Rong Lu heard the news, he even led a team of more than 100 soldiers to greet him at the gate of the Governor's Mansion. Ye Zhikui couldn't help being surprised when he saw the soldiers armed with live ammunition on both sides. How about his news, he let go of his mind a little, but it seems that Rong Lu has already started to test him.

Ye Zhikui got off the horse in a beautiful posture, stepped forward with excitement, looked at Rong Lu, and said sincerely: "My lord, I will go out to greet you in person, I am really flattered to be an official, I dare not be an official!"

With a smile on his face, Rong Lu stepped forward and took Ye Zhikui's hand and said: "Congyun has returned from victory this time, I will fulfill my promise to drink [-] cups with you, by the way, I will come in with you, and I will serve you Introduce a few people."

Ye Zhikui followed Rong Lu and entered the Governor's Mansion. Seeing that there were already many people sitting on both sides of the hall, he peeked over and couldn't help being secretly surprised. They were all powerful people. Everyone gathered here legally. why?

Rong Lu first pointed to the last man in his thirties with a mustache and piercing eyes, and said, "This is Yuan Weiting, the inspector of Zhili. You two are young talents under my command. You need to move around a lot and get to know each other."

This person is Yuan Shikai. No wonder Ye Zhikui smelled a bloody aura on him. It may be because he killed a lot in Shandong. There is evil in the eyes.

Ye Zhikui thought to himself: If I really walk around with Yuan Shikai a lot, I'm afraid you, the governor of Zhili, will not be able to sleep.

Whether it was to avoid suspicion or Yuan Shikai really had a grudge against Ye Zhikui, he just nodded slightly with no expression, as a greeting to Ye Zhikui.

Ye Zhikui would not lower himself, he put his hot face on his cold ass, he didn't even bother to nod, he looked at Rong Lu, Rong Lu saw that the two were really at odds as rumored, he couldn't help feeling secretly pleased, and then pointed at a full-timer. The veteran with a serious face and a gray beard, who looked like a King Kong glaring at him, said, "This is Mr. Dong, the admiral of Gansu."

Is this Dong Xiangfu? When it comes to him, Ye Zhikui has to admire him. This old man first rebelled against the Qing Dynasty, and then was subdued by Zuo Zongtang. Because it's too tough.

When the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded China, Dong Xiangfu did not prohibit the soldiers of the Gansu Army from joining the Boxers. The Japanese embassy secretary Shan Sanbin was daring tomorrow and drove out to meet the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Dong Fuxiang ordered the battalion officer to stab him to death with a knife; Dong Fuxiang provoked the patrolling Qing army near the archway, and Dong Fuxiang ordered his subordinates to kill him; then he killed Anninkov, the commander of the Tsarist Russian Army, and wounded his general.

It can be said that he was a good general who was patriotic and could carry out the orders of the court without the slightest delay, allowing the Boxers to slowly erode his Gan army.Or he was old and didn't have the mind to fight with the imperial court anymore, allowing the imperial court to incorporate his Gan army.

Ye Zhikui's mind only turned for a moment, then he said with a smile: "Little Ye Zhikui has met Admiral Dong!"

Reaching out his hand not to hit the smiling face, Dong Xiangfu forced a smiling face and said, "General Ye, you are welcome!"

Before Rong Lu could introduce the next one, Ye Zhikui hurried forward to salute and said, "My nephew has met my uncle."

The next one turned out to be his old father-in-law Sheng Huaixuan, who at this time was in charge of Tianjin Customs Road, and wrote a letter to open a school - Beiyang Western Learning School.

Sheng Huaixuan stood up, patted Ye Zhikui on the shoulder, and joked: "My boy, I haven't seen you for a few months, and I've grown stronger again, but are you going to change your name now?"

Ye Zhikui smiled, and had no choice but to change his words: "Meet my father-in-law!"

Sheng Huaixuan was delighted, but he saw all the scene just now, and of course he understood that this was Rong Lu's hint to Ye Zhikui, don't act rashly, there are people around you!In this way, the three groups of people restrain each other, and they dare not make any moves.

Sheng Xuanhuai has been in business for many years, and he is good at adjusting the atmosphere. He smiled and said to everyone: "My lords, how can my son-in-law, He De, keep you all waiting for a long time? Why don't you let my son-in-law be the host at night, how about having a drink?"

Money is a gentleman, and for this "real money faction" figure in Beiyang, everyone gave some thin noodles, laughed and applauded, and the hall was very friendly for a while, and there was no tension at all.

Seeing that the situation was almost over, Rong Lu took Ye Zhikui's hand and said, "Congyun, why don't you talk to everyone about this battle with Germany. I heard that you were in danger and almost killed. I don't know how to escape."

When Rong Lu said this, it aroused everyone's curiosity. Even Yuan Shikai, who had started to close his eyes to rest his mind, opened his eyes and asked Ye Zhikui one after another.

Ye Zhikui sighed secretly, it seems that the spirit of gossip was not lacking in that era.

The second volume of the capital's wind and cloud 1 chapter [-] Rong Lu's differentiation and wooing (seeking support)

Ye Zhikui looked at these old men and uncles stretching their necks like giraffes one by one, listening attentively, and the fire of gossip was burning.

Ye Zhikui had to tell the story of himself hiding in a coffin and escaping a catastrophe. Ye Zhikui spoke in a thrilling and captivating way. Among them, some charming plots with Bai Weiwei are omitted.

After Ye Zhikui finished speaking with joy, everyone had different expressions. Some lamented Ye Zhikui's good luck, while others praised the German army for being strong.

Yuan Shikai's eyes flickered, and he said in a low voice: "It seems that our army of the Qing Dynasty is far behind the army of the great powers."

Rong Lu took Yuan Shikai's words and said: "The reason why the imperial court established the military training office is to train a strong army for our Qing Dynasty. Now Weiting, you and Congyun are the forerunners of the new army. You should do a good job for other places. Set an example, so that the imperial court's military training can be carried out, so why not worry about our Qing army's might not being strong."

Rong Lu then changed the subject, looking into Yuan Shikai's eyes, and suddenly said: "Weiting, I heard that you have joined Kang Youwei's Strong Society? You have close contacts with Kang Youwei and others, is it for the Kang party?"

Yuan Shikai saw that Rong Lu's voice was a little displeased, and his eyes were even more oppressive. He couldn't help sweating, and his back was wet. In fact, he couldn't blame him. Who told him that the former official could not face the saint like Ye Zhikui!I had to find ways everywhere, and Kang Youwei was in the limelight at that time, and he was very favored, so it was nothing surprising that Yuan Shikai and him had a fierce fight.

What does Rong Lu mean by this? Is it because I suspect that Yuan Shikai, who is too close to the reformers, has affected the Empress Dowager?But didn't the Queen Mother also support the reform?Yuan Shikai was full of thoughts, he had just returned from leading the army in Shandong, and the news was not as well-informed as Ye Zhikui's. He never thought that in just over a month, the capital had begun to gather dark clouds, and the empress dowager and the emperor had become a hot water.

Fortunately, Yuan Shikai is not a fuel-efficient lamp after all. He knows that Rong Lu in front of him is neither a diehard nor a reformer, but can be said to be a centrist. Yuan Shikai did not deny that he joined the Strong Society, because anyone who is interested can find out. Since Lu said so, it must be clear.

So he pretended to be angry and said: "Your official is thinking about China for me. I have some thoughts of reform. I joined the Strong Society at first with the intention of serving the country. Later, I was valued by the adults and trained new soldiers. There are few people like Kang Youwei. If there is an idea of ​​reform, it is the Kang party, and there is no escape from the crime of dismissing officials, it is actually the Kang party."

Yuan Shikai's blunt words made Rong Lu embarrassed for a while, and he didn't know how to answer the words. Ye Zhikui smiled and persuaded: "General Yuan, why are you so angry? Master Rong just heard the rumors. According to what you said, isn't it Master Lian Rong? It has also become a Kang party? Master Rong is dedicated to training new soldiers for the country, reforming the military system, and setting up military training schools in various provinces. .”

Yuan Shikai followed Ye Zhikui's words and took the opportunity to make amends: "My lord, it's because I'm too smug. I usually respect my lord, and I'm even more sad about what your lord said. I overreacted. I hope my lord will forgive me."

Rong Lu shook his head, patted Yuan Shikai's shoulder, and said with a smile, "We can't blame Wei Ting for this matter, it's because I'm too aggressive, but there is no wind without waves, Wei Ting should pay more attention not to associate with Kang Youwei and others in the future."

Yuan Shikai agreed naturally, with a calm surface, but he was already panicking in his heart, for fear that Rong Lu would take him to the knife and seize his military power. Now that Dong Xiangfu, Ye Zhikui and others are there, he has no room to resist.

Dong Xiangfu was the oldest, and he was far away from the central government before he entered Tianjin, and he had little connection with the ministers of the imperial court. Others were reluctant to ask Ronglu why he summoned everyone here this time, but he was the only one who had no taboo, coughed, He said: "I don't know why Master Rong hastily recruited us, why?"

Rong Lu brushed his beard slightly, lowered his head, and said unhurriedly: "I think you all know that the recent reforms in the imperial court require money and food everywhere. The Ministry of Households has recently sent news that these have affected the production of guns and ammunition. Therefore, in order to prevent the lack of ammunition, the old man asked the Queen Mother that during this period, all the troops need to obtain the ammunition with the consent of the old man, and the remaining ammunition received before must also be registered in the register, and reported to the old man's flow and use."

Ye Zhikui and the others were shocked. Rong Lu's move was not so old-fashioned. The court cut off the supply of ammunition, and the guns became fire sticks. Fortunately, Ye Zhikui had already prepared before, and he and Jianren Shiwu intercepted a large number of guns. Ammunition, hoarded in secret places, is reported as consumption for training, which is enough for a momentary consumption.

Rong Lu saw that everyone was silent, paused for a moment, and then said: "The troops stationed in the camps are not allowed to be moved arbitrarily unless ordered by the old man, otherwise..."

Rong Lu didn't finish his sentence, but all the generals knew that the consequences would be serious.For a while, everyone thought about each other and didn't speak.

Ye Zhikui also lowered his head to consider, his Wu Yi army has more than [-] soldiers including those who wash dishes and cook vegetables, and he is the strongest in the army.