I can't die

The queen mothers of the two palaces were actually a little surprised when they learned that Zai Chun wanted to discuss state affairs with them, especially military affairs.Because the Ministry of War has always been controlled by Zai Chun, and the soldiers are the country's powerful weapons, even if Cixi Ci'an wants to seize power, she dare not touch the military power at will, for fear of stepping on Zai Chun's bottom line.

These two women are well aware of how sensitive an emperor is to military power, even if the emperor is only a child.

At present, Cixi and Ci'an have their own thoughts and have arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Because they were not listening to the government with the ministers, the empress dowagers of the two palaces did not sit behind the curtain. Instead, under the reception of Zai Chun, they chatted around a stove like a real mother and child.

"You two ladies, take a look at Li Hongzhang's memorial."

Zai Chun handed over to Cixi Ci'an the two secret letters that Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan had submitted during their meeting with Charles.Since these two secret letters were sent directly to the Ministry of War, neither the Military Aircraft Department nor the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces knew the specific contents.

Zai Chun was brought up under the watchful eye of the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces, so he knew Zai Chun's temperament, and would never expose the power of the Ministry of War unless it was a major event, so he began to read carefully.

From these two memorials, it is not difficult to see that Zai Chun wanted to use the power of foreigners to pacify the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and also wanted to stir up conflicts between the United States and Britain to fight for the interests of the Qing Dynasty. . . .

"Your Majesty, although the foreigners have their own ideas, you also know how powerful Britain is. If the British find out about the Emperor's plans, they will inevitably feel uncomfortable. What's more, the foreign gun team has obtained so many weapons for nothing. Once you fire, you can't hide it."

Ci'an is a representative of worry before joy. When considering things, he has always considered the worst side before taking action.This is very different from Cixi Zaichun, and it may also be caused by Ci'an being the East Palace as soon as she came up, and she has never been inferior.

Cixi is different. She has always been a woman who is restless and likes to gamble. As long as there is a winning rate and the profit is large enough, she dares to fight even if she dances on the tip of a knife. It became the Queen Mother of the West.

"My sister's words are reasonable, but the Taiping Army has become a serious problem in my heart. It is because of the strength of the foreigners that our chances of winning are greater. As for the rest, if the British pursue it, it will be nothing more than some money. , can always bribe these greedy ghosts."

"But buying artillery from an American businessman is smuggling. I went to the country in the Qing Dynasty, and the imperial court took the lead in starting such a business. It is really a shame to talk about it."

Ci'an's words are correct. Now that the United States is in civil strife and there is no unified government, it is impossible to buy firearms based on the foreign trade situation between countries. What's more, the Qing Dynasty's customs rights are not in its own hands.An inadvertent move can easily lead to a storm of international public opinion.

Zai Chun didn't think of this, he just wanted to equip himself with artillery, which was really ill-considered.

"You two mothers, but it is obvious to all that my Qing's firearms lag behind the foreign devils. If I am not equipped with advanced weapons, I am afraid that the British and French will never be able to turn around. Why don't we try the water with the foreign gun team first? See British reaction?"

After all, Zai Chun was sure that the British were focusing on the United States at this time, and had no time to pay attention to the Qing court.

"What about after that? Even if the foreign gun team is established, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will be wiped out smoothly. After that? Has the emperor thought that we can't always do smuggling for a lifetime? You have also seen the matter of Prince Gong buying warships before. After all, those foreign devils are harboring evil intentions."

In fact, Ci'an was a bit afraid of well ropes after being bitten by a snake for ten years, but what he said was not unreasonable.

Hearing Ci'an's words, Zai Chun knew that this finally hit the point, and immediately glanced at the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces, and said solemnly: "So, this is also the reason why I called the two Empress Dowagers this time, I want to organize Our craftsmen in the Qing Dynasty studied Westernization, learned from the barbarians to control the barbarians, made firearms independently, imitated first, and then made them ourselves, so that one day we will not be controlled by others."

Learn from the barbarians to control the barbarians?

This was the famous slogan of the Westernization Movement in the late Qing Dynasty.

Cixi Ci'an was stunned and looked at each other, seeing the same word in each other's eyes: "Reform!"

Reform refers to making major changes to the country's legal system.Throughout the ages, the word reform often has a unique meaning in the eyes of rulers.Shang Yang’s reform in the Qin Dynasty, Wang Anshi’s reform in the Song Dynasty, and Zhang Juzheng’s reform in the early Ming Dynasty. While these reforms brought progress to the country, they were often accompanied by huge risks and changes.Every time there is almost inevitably a trace of blood.

"The emperor wants to start the construction department first?"

There is no doubt that learning Western technology will bring about a series of changes in officials of the Ministry of Industry.

"In addition to the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Household Affairs must also be moved. Nowadays, there are too many officials in the Qing Dynasty, too much expenditure, and the treasury is difficult to mobilize due to the constraints of the Military Aircraft Department. If we can use this to install our own people, we will be able to get twice the result with half the effort."

Nothing can be done without money and people, but now the Minister of the Ministry of Officials and the Minister of the Household are both members of the Military Aircraft Department. Although these people are all relatives of the Eight Banners who support the rule of Zaichun, they also have their own clans behind them. , everyone has their own thoughts, and looking at Prince Gong, he knows that he can swallow so much money by copying the homes of the eight ministers.

"The Ministry of Industry can move, but the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Officials must not."

Cixi thought for a while, but this time she resolutely objected, and actually stood by Ci'an's side.Zai Chun originally thought that Cixi would also want to take advantage of this matter to install personnel in the two most important departments of the six departments, but he never thought about it. . .

"Auntie?"

"The Ministry of Industry has always been ignored among the six ministries. The emperor can do whatever he wants, but the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Officials, and the nobles of the Eight Banners are intertwined and complicated. If something goes wrong, the clan will definitely be the first to retaliate. Your Majesty, you Remember, we relied on them to bring down Sushun."

"This..."

Cixi's words are very reasonable.

Ci'an also said at this time: "Furthermore, the internal troubles of the Qing Dynasty are still undetermined, and it is time to make a concerted effort. Now that these two departments are activated, not to mention other things, will the emperor's military department be able to survive?"

Isn't it?Once the group of people in the household department were offended, and the Hunan army's salary was cut off, Zai Chun would not have time to cry.

"But with the help of foreign weapons, our Qing Dynasty can save many generals from being sacrificed."

This is all a matter of the public saying that the public is right and the woman saying that the woman is reasonable. It is like a double-edged sword, and how to handle it is the most important thing.

"Let's do what the foreign gun team does, but the others must do their best. Didn't the emperor study the warship at Dagukou? Why don't you ask them to write a letter, counting the strength of the foreign equipment, and then find military planes Check out their reactions."

The author has something to say: Hey, each chapter is getting shorter and shorter, and I have to hold back the word count for an hour, and there will be another progress, surprise, high or not?