A Romantic Detective in the Qing Dynasty [Complete] - 6

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Military Review at Beihai

I laughed: "Shaoquan and Yuting (Ding Ruchang's pen name), don't blame yourselves too much, and don't get stuck in a rut! Our navy's problems are a chronic disease of hundreds of years, not something that happened overnight, and certainly not just your problem! Since the time of our Holy Ancestor, our dynasty has only known how to conquer the world on horseback, unaware of the importance of the ocean to the nation. We adopted a policy of prohibiting maritime trade and closing the country off from the world. After Emperor Kangxi, not a single plank was allowed to go to sea. While this certainly brought peace to the borders and seas for a few years, this self-imposed national policy severed the Qing Dynasty's connection with the outside world, blocked the channels for absorbing external knowledge, and coupled with the large-scale..." Literary inquisitions and the sale of official positions led to economic, cultural, and technological stagnation, a gradual decline in overall national strength, and a near-zero naval power. Meanwhile, Western powers, through the new technological revolution, vigorously developed their navies, rapidly rising in strength. The vast oceans became their new arena of competition, and they quickly expanded into the open seas. Their navies became a crucial force for their foreign aggression and colonial plunder; they regarded them as their lifeline and a measure of their national power. In contrast, we only began to have a navy after our doors were forced open by the Anglo-French forces, and even now, we still primarily use our navy to assist the army in defense. A land-based defensive force, never intended to become an offensive force, how can a navy grow strong under such circumstances? How can it become an invincible force that traverses the world? Recently, the Naval Office has accumulated some funds intended for increasing naval vessels, but the likes of Sun Yuwen, Ronglu, and Li Lianying are doing everything in their power to get the Empress Dowager to use this money to renovate the Summer Palace and squander it, completely disregarding what our navy should do in the face of a formidable enemy! This is also the main reason why I was forced to assume personal rule this time! Foreign enemies are eyeing us covetously, yet they are like "singing courtesans oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still singing 'The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard' across the river," you... "Can I possibly ignore this? Can I possibly let them hand over the great nation of China to others? Alright! Shame is the mother of courage! Now that we know our shortcomings, we should rise up and catch up, building a powerful Chinese navy! I have the confidence, and I hope you have the ambition, to make China's navy the world's strongest!"

Li Hongzhang and Ding Ruchang immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, we are willing to follow you and dedicate ourselves to building the Qing Navy!"

I quickly pulled them up: "Come on, I heard there's a naval academy here? Let's go take a look. I want to transform it into a naval branch of my East Point Military Academy!"

Li Hongzhang quickly said, "Yes, there is! " "Near headquarters! This is the first time I've heard of Your Majesty having an East Point Military Academy!"

I laughed. "Didn't you see those three thousand iron cavalry from his headquarters? Those are all students of my military academy, the cradle for training generals for the Qing Dynasty!"

Li Hongzhang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I don't know which country those guns came from. They're far more powerful than any gun I've ever seen! They're practically like small machine guns!"

I laughed heartily. "Shaoquan, you're quite ignorant. These guns are the first-generation Zhonghua brand automatic rifles produced by the Beijing Arsenal that I received from you!"

Li Hongzhang's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really? That..." " But all they can do is repair firearms!"

I said. "Can't I modify them? How many Martini rifles can your Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau produce every day?"

Li Hongzhang said, "Fifteen, I suppose!"

I said, "That's too slow. My modified Beijing Arsenal is now producing fifty Chinese rifles and one light machine gun every day, and we're currently setting up a Chinese rocket launcher production line! Each of my military academy cadets will be equipped with a Chinese rifle, each squad with a light machine gun, and each regiment with a mortar company and ten mortars. Each division will have a mountain artillery regiment, and we're preparing to equip them with ten rocket launchers. The problem is that Shao Quan is delaying in handing over Jiangnan." " The Manufacturing Bureau and the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau have prevented me from producing automobiles and solving the problem of self-propelled rocket launchers!"

Li Hongzhang said awkwardly, "Your Majesty, I am guilty. I was unaware of Your Majesty's far-sighted arrangements. I have delayed Your Majesty's important affairs, and I apologize! I will immediately hand over several factories to Minister Lin!"

I laughed, "That's right. By concentrating the strength of our factories and reforming them, we will not only produce rifles and cannons, but also automobiles and airplanes—"

Li Hongzhang asked curiously, "Airplanes?"

I knew it was too early to talk about that now, so I said, "Oh, it's a kind of..." "Cars that fly through the air are a weapon of future warfare, but our military academy must begin training soldiers who will fly tomorrow!"

Ding Ruchang said happily. "Then I must be the first student!"

I said regretfully, "Too late. Your Deng Shichang has already taken first place. You'll be second, but Yu Ting will still have to be the principal of the East Point Naval Branch School!"

His naval academy was actually a training camp for the Beiyang Navy, teaching only basic shipboard knowledge such as piloting ships and handling guns. Due to the soldiers' extremely low level of education, learning anything more advanced was very difficult. I shook my head regretfully. Building a military academy on this basis would only result in low-level repetition.

I thought for a moment and said, “This is just a training camp, not a school. Our East Point Naval Branch School must be developed into a cradle for training modern Chinese naval officers! How about this, since there haven’t been any examinations for several years, let’s hold a special examination this year, recruiting all-round talents in both civil and military affairs, and assign them all to your naval academy. After graduation, you can serve in the navy!”

“Ten years of hard study, when you finally pass the imperial examination, most scholars think about becoming officials, but no one wants to shed blood and sacrifice for the country! I’m afraid no one will be willing to come,” Li Hongzhang said worriedly.

I nodded and said, "There are certainly people who want to be officers; which soldier doesn't want to be a general? As for those who are afraid of bloodshed and sacrifice, there are definitely quite a few, but we really can't keep such people in the navy. We can't let a few rotten fish spoil our soup! But there are also many patriotic sons and daughters of China. I believe that patriotic youths will enthusiastically participate in this special examination! Just wait and see what good students you receive!" I wasn't saying this to celebrate. I knew that in the later Korean War and the First Sino-Japanese War, the tenacity and spirit of sacrifice shown by our soldiers were unparalleled. The defeat in the war was due to the corrupt government and social system, not because our soldiers were afraid of death!

Ding Ruchang said happily, "I've been looking forward to that day!"

I laughed and said, "After my personal enthronement ceremony in a few days, I will go to the Jiangnan Arsenal and the Fuzhou Shipyard. We will build large and good ships, large cruisers that we don't have in the world now, so that the Chinese Navy can become the leader of the world's navies! So that the Chinese Navy can sail freely in all the oceans!"

Li Hongzhang said, "Are our technical capabilities up to par?"

I proudly said, "Yes! Haven't the Jiangnan Arsenal and the Fujian Shipyard already started building cruisers? Although they are small, small can lead to big. I have prepared the money and the technical capabilities! Did you see Vice Principal Lin and Vice Principal Huang? Did you notice that they are not men?"

Li Hongzhang laughed, "I noticed, but I dared not say! They seem to be Your Majesty's concubines!"

The careless Ding Ruchang said, "I didn't notice, they are both very imposing! Could they be women?"

I also laughed, "Those are my two empresses. They both studied abroad, and the technology they possess is world-class. Moreover, because they have China in their hearts and study diligently, they are building..." They are already the best in the world in terms of building ships and weapons. The reason why I am eager to take charge is to ensure that what they have learned will not go to waste! Just wait, four years later, I will give you several large cruisers, transform all your current warships into fast ships with new rocket launchers, and I will ask you to take them to wipe out the small Japanese fleet in the sea!

Ding Ruchang was extremely excited and said loudly: "Not only the Japanese army, I want all the foreign warships currently cruising in our territorial waters to get out, let them spit out everything they eat from us, and let them pay us hundreds of millions in compensation!" Let them rebuild the Old Summer Palace for us! Let them never dare to invade the Qing Dynasty's national prestige again! Let them know what China is!

I burst out laughing: "Admiral Ding, now I see that you are really a soldier!" Chinese soldiers and Chinese naval officers should have the courage to despise all enemies! We must regard them as bears in our strategy. Don't be afraid of them, dare to fight them and defeat them! Tactically, we must treat them as real tigers, study them carefully, and find out how to conquer them and defeat them! This is the soldier of the Qing Dynasty that I expect! "

Li Hongzhang and Ding Ruchang replied, "Your Majesty, we remember this well!"

I whispered to Li Hongzhang, "I intend to employ these students of yours who have studied abroad. Does Shaoquan have any objections?" Li Hongzhang quickly replied, "We are all Your Majesty's subjects. Your Majesty can arrange things as you see fit; how could we possibly have any objections!" I laughed, "Then I'll poach them!" Turning around, I called out, "Lin Taizeng and Jiang Chaoying, I appoint you two as vice-principals of the East Point Naval Academy, to assist Principal Ding Ruchang in building the academy into something like the Royal Naval College in England. I'm giving you three years. You must train five thousand modern naval officers and soldiers for me, bringing them to your current level—no, surpassing it! Now, you immediately work with Lin..." Yan and Huang, the two vice principals of the East Point Military Academy, went to study the preparations for the establishment of the academy.

The two men were so happy that they immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, we obey!"

I said unhappily, "You both stand up. The navy is a modern branch of the military; it needs modern management and, more importantly, modern concepts. Therefore, I hereby announce that in the navy, the standard salute will be standing at attention and hands raised, abolishing the outdated kneeling salute! Do you expect soldiers to kneel and salute before issuing orders during battle? I will abolish such outdated and vulgar etiquette throughout the country sooner or later. Now, you two set an example for me!"

The two men were very obedient and immediately gave me a standard military salute: "Yes, Principal Long!"

They happily followed Yan'er and Fei'er away. As we walked, I loudly proclaimed, "With excellent military academies, excellent warships, and excellent sailors, our fleet will surely be invincible!"

Li Hongzhang exclaimed happily, "Your Majesty is truly farsighted!"

I then shouted, "Liu Buchan, Huang Jianxun, Fang Boqian, Yan Zongguang, He Xinchuan, and Lin Yongsheng, I hereby appoint you six to the Qing Navy Office as fourth-rank combat officers. Go back and prepare your belongings; you will return to Beijing with me immediately!"

I wanted to personally lead a few men to secretly build the most advanced warships for them, train them into our dark horses, and then deploy them when the great war begins, catching the Japanese completely off guard and routing them!

The six men immediately saluted and said, "Yes, sir, we will obey Principal Long's orders!"

I then called out, "Ye Zugui, I hereby appoint you as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Beiyang Fleet, with the rank of fourth grade, to assist Admiral Ding in the training and defense of the fleet, and to prepare for attack at any time!"

Ye Zugui immediately saluted and said, "Yes, sir! We will obey Principal Long's arrangements!"

I then called out, "Sa Zhenbing, I hereby appoint you as the Director of the Operations Department of the Beiyang Fleet, to oversee the coordination and cooperation of the fleet, as well as the strategies and formation changes for attacking the enemy, and to be responsible for all operational guidance! You will be granted the rank of fourth grade."

Sa Zhenbing immediately saluted and said, "Yes, sir." , Sa Zhenbing obeys the principal’s arrangements! "

I shouted again: "Jiang Maozhi, I appoint you as Admiral Ding's personal adjutant, with the rank of fourth grade, to assist Admiral Ding in the fleet work, and at the same time, you are specifically responsible for teaching Admiral Ding all the knowledge of modern navy, and to be Admiral Ding's personal instructor! "

Jiang Maozhi happily raised his hands and saluted and said: "I obey the principal's strict orders and will help Admiral Ding reach the level of a graduate of the Royal Naval Academy as soon as possible!

Unexpectedly, Ding Ruchang shouted: "No, I am not a graduate of the Royal Naval Academy, I want to reach the level of a graduate of the Naval Academy at East Point!" "

I said: "Okay, then let our East Point Naval Campus surpass the British Royal Naval College first! "

Back at Guanyi, Zhang Zhidong was waiting for me. He had dismissed Army Admiral Ye Zhichao according to my order, and appointed Hai Bo, commander of the Third Division of the Military Academy, as admiral. But he still didn't understand why this arrangement was made. I can't say that in the later Sino-Japanese War in Korea, because of his fear of the enemy and running away, our army lost all Korea and caused the failure of the entire war. He had to say: "Some officers should go to school to study hard!" "

Jhen'er He asked me, "What are we going to do with that old hag? We've already sent her to Li Hongzhang's room according to His Majesty's orders! I even closed the door for him from the outside with a smile! Li Hongzhang is so angry he's grimacing, but there's nothing he can do! Judging from the looks of it, I doubt Li Hongzhang dares to touch that old hag!"

I laughed, "He might not dare, but he can't resist the old hag's orders!" After saying that, I secretly slipped over, peeked through the window paper, and saw that there was only a bed inside, not even a stool or chair. Cixi was lying on the bed, staring blankly at Li Hongzhang.

Li Hongzhang was pacing around on the floor, muttering, "How can this Guangxu Emperor not know that men and women shouldn't touch each other? How did he send the Empress Dowager here?"

I suppressed my laughter, covered my mouth, and ran back to the room, hugging Zhen'er and bursting into laughter!

Chapter Forty: Fallen Flowers and Flowing

Water. Yan'er and Fei'er had been busy all night and didn't return until dawn, bringing back a plan for the construction of a naval branch school. As soon as they entered the house, they hugged and kissed me. Fei'er said, "Your Majesty, take a good look at the plan for the Royal Naval Academy that your East and West Palaces have devised for you! It must be the best plan in the world, absolutely unique!"

Yan'er also laughed and said, "We've brought you everything we could from 21st-century naval academies. We racked our brains to save you money, shouldn't we give you some compensation?"

As they spoke, the two of them pressed me down and started to pull off my clothes. I quickly waved to them, mysteriously pointed outside, and then quietly slipped out. My four little wives, not knowing what was going on, also followed me to Li Hongzhang's room. They looked at me strangely as I sneaked around, exchanging puzzled glances. I peeked through the paper window and saw that the bed curtains were drawn. I searched for a while but couldn't find Li Hongzhang outside the bed. I secretly chuckled, "Damn it, he's taken the bait! That Li Hongzhang must be in Cixi's bed."

I had the guards quietly open the door, and I tiptoed into the room. Suddenly, I pulled back the bed curtains. Wow, impressive! The two of them were embracing and kissing passionately!

Cixi was actually on top of Li Hongzhang, her face pressed against his, her long hair cascading over his bare chest, her face flushed, and her lips still on his cheek.

I laughed and said, "Hey, men and women shouldn't touch each other!"

Yan'er kicked me angrily and dragged several women out.

Empress Dowager Cixi didn't move, tilting her head to look at me and saying, "Didn't you say you'd find me an old man? I think Shaoquan is fine; your mother quite admires him! You can leave now. Your mother won't compete with you for the throne anymore. Anyway, it's your Aisin Gioro family's empire; you can do whatever you want. Your mother wants to enjoy some family warmth! What are you laughing at? You brought him here, and you didn't even give him a seat, making him wander around on the ground all night. Aren't you practically forcing him into your mother's bed? Do you think I don't know your little tricks? You're trying to make me indulge in pleasure, so I won't compete with you for the throne anymore! Since you forced Shaoquan into this..." "Come here, your mother has thought about it all night and feels it's time to accept him! Now your mother is determined to live with Shaoquan, and your mother wants to be a good wife. She no longer has any thoughts of power struggles. Isn't this in line with your wishes? You can go now. Leave Shaoquan with your mother for now. He's been standing guard outside all night and is exhausted. He hasn't closed his eyes yet. Your mother just called him in. Your mother needs to let him rest properly and enjoy himself. Besides, you need to make sure your mother has someone to take care of her. So please don't bother us anymore!" After saying this, she hugged Li Hongzhang and kissed him again. After

she said that, I really had nothing to say. I could only say, "We have to go back to Beijing today!"

Cixi said, "No matter where you take your aunt, your aunt only asks that you let your aunt and Shaoquan spend their old age together. This is the only thing your aunt asks you for! This probably won't affect your interests, right?"

Li Hongzhang didn't say anything, but just reached out and hugged Cixi even tighter.

I nodded: "I told you before, as long as you stop causing trouble for me, I will still consider you my mother. When I return to Beijing, I will arrange a wedding for you and find a place for you two to live happily together!"

Empress Dowager Cixi said, "I'm afraid those hereditary princes won't agree! Let's just live together like this, in this muddled way. Your mother has been through it all, and she doesn't need any titles or status!"

I said, "Empress Xiaozhuangwen of the time set a precedent, and they know that. Aren't they always saying they want to follow the way of our ancestors? Even if they disagree with my mother's situation, I know they can't give any reason to object, and I will persuade them myself!"

As soon as I finished speaking, Cixi said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life! Thank you for your kindness!"

Li Hongzhang also said, "Your Majesty, if you allow me and Lan'er to be together, I am willing to obey Your Majesty

's orders!" Cixi slapped him, "Don't use me as a tool to influence you! My heart is already as cold as death; now I only have Shaoquan left. I cannot let Shaoquan bow and scrape anymore!"

I knew that she now knew her days of ruling the political arena were over, and all she could seek now was a little happiness and a moment of comfort! She had placed all her hopes for the future on Li Hongzhang!

I waved my hand and said, "But I don't want you to cause me any more trouble. I must keep you under house arrest by my side and prevent you from moving around! So, Minister Li, you have no choice but to give up your position as Governor-General of Zhili and come back to Beijing with me to take up your post! But I will definitely give Minister Li a good job. I don't care about anything else, just the fact that he is my mother's beloved. I should treat Shaoquan as family!"

Cixi said, "I hope you keep your word! According to Han Chinese custom, he should be your uncle! But we don't follow Manchu customs here, because Shaoquan is Han Chinese, and I must follow my husband after marriage!"

I said, "How about calling him uncle-in-law?"

Li Hongzhang said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to listen. " "Arrangements! To be with Lan'er is enough for me, I ask for nothing more!"

I turned and walked out the door, saying as I went, "We won't set off until this afternoon, so you can lie down a little longer. Just call me when it's time to eat! Uncle will have to take on important responsibilities for me when he returns to the capital!"

Li Hongzhang hurriedly said, "As long as Your Majesty trusts me, I am willing to give my all, to serve you with all my heart, even unto death!" I said, "Even if I don't trust you, I can't put my mother in your bed!"

Li Hongzhang said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"

Cixi slapped him: "You dare to use me as a bargaining chip!"

I closed the door, and not far away, I heard Cixi's joyful moans again! Damn it, these two old hags really know how to enjoy themselves!

Back in the dormitory, my two wives stripped me naked. Thinking I was practicing my three cultivations again, I didn't resist. But then, they straddled me and started pinching me hard: "How can you be so useless? How dare you let us watch that scene? You don't find it disgusting, but we find it repulsive!"

My two concubines chimed in, "Husband, that joke went too far! Don't do it again!"

I grabbed Yan'er and thrust into him, saying, "What do you know? I need you to help me completely subdue that old hag Cixi! The day after tomorrow is the grand ceremony of assuming power. I need Cixi to give the speech from behind the curtain. This will prevent those empress dowagers from causing trouble and also prevent foreign powers from taking advantage!"

Yan'er immediately pulled Fei'er into a three cultivation stance, saying while channeling his energy, "That makes sense! What did she say just now?"

I said, "As long as she can be with Li Hongzhang, she won't cause any more trouble!"

Yan'er said, "It seems Cixi is quite satisfied..." "She's after Li Hongzhang!"

I nodded. "Although Li Hongzhang is over sixty, he's in good health and skilled with women. Just now, after I left, the two of them went crazy. It seems Cixi is quite satisfied!"

Yan'er said, "That's good. That day, we'll let her go backstage to talk to us, keep Li Hongzhang at home, and tell her that if she doesn't behave, we'll not only kill her but also execute Li Hongzhang. I think she'll listen!"

Fei'er said happily, "She'll definitely listen. My lover is in someone else's hands. Even if she doesn't think about herself, she has to consider his safety! If someone can control Xiangyu, I wouldn't dare disobey him no matter what he asks me to do!"

Yan'er pinched her angrily, "You foul mouth! Why use your brother as an analogy? You deserve to die!"

Xue'er and Zhen'er also objected, pressing down on Fei'er and pinching her repeatedly, "You foul mouth! Go rinse your mouth!"

After saying that, they stopped the three of them from doing the three-part repair and dragged the naked Fei'er to the bathroom.

Taking advantage of the quiet in the room, I picked up the plan written by my two wives and started reading. Wow, it's fantastic! The teaching content, required equipment, and syllabus are all clearly outlined. It's just that it'll cost a fortune! It really hurts!

But if we build the school this way and the sailors trained aren't up to par, then he'll truly be a fool!

Hmm, we can cut the purchase of training ships. I think we should just decommission some of the old warships in the fleet for them! The school site will be the former naval academy. We'll hire some instructors from Britain, Germany, and the United States, but we'll mainly rely on ourselves. We'll have the few students who stayed in Weihai teach classes and pay them lecture fees—it'll be a second job! Yan'er, Fei'er, and I will also have to take time to teach. Not for any other reason than that these will definitely be our core force in the future!

This is a crucial matter for laying the foundation, and we have to do it no matter how much it costs! I gritted my teeth and signed the plan, requesting Consort Zhen to allocate funds as soon as possible, with Yan'er overseeing its implementation.

Fei'er came back, sobbing as she burrowed into the covers, saying, "Aren't you going to do anything about your three wives? All I did was say one wrong thing! They made me brush my teeth ten times and slap myself! Are they trying to kill me?!"

Her three wives, following behind, laughed so hard they almost fell over. I pulled Fei'er into my arms and said, "Can't you see my West Palace Consort's belly is all big? Are you trying to murder my son?"

Fei'er angrily punched me repeatedly, "Your belly is big! Mine's still flat! Look!" She touched her own belly for a long time, muttering, "It's bigger than yesterday! It's really starting to bulge!"

Her words made everyone in the room burst into laughter—Fei'er hugged me, shyly burying herself in my arms and murmuring, "What are you laughing at? Your bellies aren't big anymore. Zhen'er and Xue'er haven't had their periods this month, they won't last much longer!"

The two wives, embarrassed, scurried into the inner room and didn't come out again!

Yan'er was so happy she pounded the bed and beat the blankets, and it took her a long time to recover!

Fei'er, on the other hand, was fine. She picked up the plan I had approved and exclaimed happily, "My husband is so great! He approved it completely! China's Royal Naval Academy is born!"

Yan'er snatched it away, looked at it, hugged me, and kissed me. After the kiss, she quickly got back together with me, saying as she moved, "I really found a treasure! My husband is so handsome! He has such strategic vision!"

Damn it, are these two wives praising me or praising themselves?

Just then, Li Xianglin shouted from outside, "Long live the Emperor! Lord Weng has sent an urgent telegram!"

Bai Xue, still dressed, ran out and brought in the telegram. It was transmitted in code, and Fei'er quickly got up to translate it. A moment later, she handed it to me, and when I took a look, I broke out in a cold sweat!

Chapter 41 The urgent

telegram from Queen Min was sent by Weng Tonghe. He said that Queen Min Ja-yeong, the leader of the pro-China Yeongseong clique and the wife of King Gojong, had sent someone to Andong to report an emergency. She said that because Yuan Shikai, the Chinese envoy to Korea, had left Korea without permission, the Japanese-backed religious organization "Donghak Do" was plotting an uprising. She asked China to send people to protect her and the palace as soon as possible.

I know that Japan has been trying to weaken China's dominant position in Korea for many years. If the Japanese gain control of the Korean Peninsula, they can directly threaten Northeast China, use Korean military bases to control Chinese waters, and thus threaten Beijing, posing a serious threat to the existence of the Qing Dynasty. Moreover, if Japan gains control of the three thousand miles of Korean territory and establishes a foothold on the mainland, its power will be even greater, making it an even more difficult enemy for China to deal with!

I also know that Korea's national strength has been declining due to its long-term internal strife, and its internal contradictions are very sharp, making it particularly vulnerable to attack! Currently, China, Russia, and Japan, through their respective proxies, are seizing every opportunity to cause trouble, trying to squeeze out the power of other countries, so it has always been a powder keg in the Far East! In

1873, the stubborn and tyrannical Regent King Yi Gang-eung of Korea was defeated in the family struggle and forced to abdicate. Power fell into the hands of the pro-China Iron Lady Queen Min, who began to implement some appeasement policies, resulting in a relatively peaceful development in Korea, which was very popular among the people. However, the Japanese, who had always coveted Korea and were eager to expand westward, repeatedly pressured Queen Min to open Korea to Japanese trade, which she refused. In 1882, the Japanese, supporting a mob, stormed the palace, attempting to depose Queen Min and restore King Gojong's rule. Although King Gojong and Queen Min managed to escape, several pro-China ministers were brutally murdered, putting Queen Min's regime in grave danger. Fortunately, Li Hongzhang reacted quickly, immediately dispatching his protégé Yuan Shikai with 4,000 troops to Seoul to help Queen Min reclaim the palace and suppress the rioters. This prevented Japan, whose national strength was far inferior to China's at the time, from taking any rash action, and the crisis was averted. However, Queen Min's pro-China support had been significantly weakened, and her regime was even more precarious.

To prevent the situation in Korea from escalating into a full-blown military confrontation between China and Japan, Li Hongzhang and Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi signed the Treaty of Withdrawal of Troops from Korea. This treaty acted like a cork, temporarily stopping a powder keg about to explode. But everyone knew that a larger explosion could erupt at any time!

I knew that the Donghak Peasant Revolution was the spark that ignited the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894. This religious organization, supported by the Japanese anti-China group "Ten'yu Kakai," had always been a destabilizing factor in Korea. For many years, they hadn't dared to act rashly because of the Chinese troops stationed there, but their covert collusion and accumulation of power had made the situation even more delicate! Now that they knew Yuan Shikai had returned to China, they started causing trouble again. If they knew that Yuan Shikai had been killed by Zhen'er, wouldn't they cause even more trouble? That could very well ignite the powder keg!

I shuddered. Damn it, could our involvement cause the Sino-Japanese War to start sooner than expected?

No, we absolutely cannot let it happen ahead of schedule. We need more time to sort things out. I want to essentially wipe out the main force of the Japanese army in Korea, crippling them! I don't want to bring the war to China. I need to create a relatively peaceful environment for domestic development and quickly boost the economy!

I decided to return to Beijing that very night. I told Yan'er, "Korea might be in chaos. I must return to Beijing immediately to make arrangements. You, Fei'er, and Zhen'er stay here to help adjust the fleet's training methods. They need to be more practical, not just fancy! You must return the day after tomorrow morning; I need to bestow titles upon you! Fei'er, find out the current status of the warships and come up with a modification plan for all the warships in the fleet."
After making these arrangements, Xue'er, Zhang Zhidong, and I led three thousand cavalrymen to Beijing that very night.

I still arranged for Empress Dowager Cixi and Li Hongzhang to sit in the front of the car. Now, they weren't shyly leaning against each other anymore; Cixi was practically nestled in Li Hongzhang's arms, her hands around his waist, her head resting on his arm, dozing off repeatedly. Li Hongzhang, probably having also slept poorly all night, was also soundly asleep in his chair, but his arms were still tightly around Cixi, as if afraid of bumping or knocking her over!

I couldn't afford to admire the two old men's sleeping posture now; my mind was filled with the Korean issue! No matter what, I couldn't lose Korea, I couldn't let Japan advance any further! So I had to quickly send someone to Korea to stabilize the situation. But who should I send? I pondered this as I drove.

The person sent must be capable of handling things independently and also know how to manage relations with the North Korean authorities. This person must be both scholarly and martial, both resolute and composed. Logically, Zuo Baogui should be suitable because he had been to North Korea, but I know he died in North Korea during the First Sino-Japanese War, and I don't want him to be in any danger. I think it would be better to have him stay away! Who else should I send? I was racking my brains when I suddenly saw the commander of the First Division, Sheng Bao, ride past me on horseback. My mind lit up, and I quickly handed the carriage to Li Xianglin, called over a cavalryman, and had him sit in the carriage. I spurred my horse forward and caught up with Sheng Bao, who was talking to his subordinates, not far away.

Seeing me, Sheng Bao exclaimed with delight, "Principal, come with us!"

I said, "Alright, let's walk! I have something I want to ask you!"

We strolled along, and I asked him, "Do you know why I'm in such a hurry to get back?"

He shook his head and said, "I don't know! But there must be some urgent military situation!"

I said with a heavy heart, "Things aren't peaceful in Korea! Yuan Shikai was leading troops there to suppress those pro-Japanese rioters, but he secretly ran back. We killed him during the Tianjin Mutiny, and now there's no military officer in charge. The Japanese want to take advantage of this opportunity to cause trouble! I urgently need to send a group of generals to Korea to stabilize the complicated situation!"

He immediately understood my intention and said with a smile, "Principal, do you want me to go to Korea to suppress those rioters?"

I smiled too. "Yes, but not entirely! I don't want to solve the Korean problem solely through suppression; that's just a stopgap measure, a clumsy approach. I want to address the root cause! What do you think we should do?"

He immediately became serious: "I've studied the situation in Korea. The Principal has repeatedly said that it could be the trigger for a Sino-Japanese war! I think the crux of the problem lies in the flawed policies implemented by the Korean authorities. They've focused too much on the interests of the upper class, excessively exploiting the people. The people are living in extreme hardship, with frequent cases of starvation and death, causing considerable resentment. Although high pressure has prevented major problems now, it has provided the Japanese with an excuse to incite unrest. The solution is to first channel public resentment, formulate policies that allow the people to recuperate and rebuild, and appease them so the Japanese can't exploit any loopholes!"

I nodded: "That makes sense, continue!"

"Secondly, we must find an opportunity to eliminate the Japanese vassals and deprive them of their proxies in Korea! If we can get the chance to teach the Japanese a lesson in Korea and make them behave, that would be wonderful. But we must be cautious and find the right opportunity. We must be politically justified and militarily advantageous. In short, we must not fight a battle we are not confident of winning. If we fight, we must win, and we must teach them a lesson they will learn! We must make them afraid to move for years or even decades!"

I secretly admired his current composure and decisiveness. I said calmly, "A conflict between Chinese and Japanese troops is very likely to occur in Korea. The mountainous terrain of Korea is complex, and fighting there will be quite difficult!"

"No matter how complex, it can be familiarized! I have studied the data there repeatedly and have a general idea of what it is like. If I go to Korea, I will definitely send people to survey all the mountains and rivers there, and find burial sites for the Japanese in advance, just in case!" Sheng Bao said, reining in his horse and pointing to the surrounding mountains. "To make the terrain work for us, we simply need to be familiar with it, study it, and understand how to utilize it. The principal has explained this very clearly, and even the most foolish student knows how to use it!"

"There is a narrow strip of land between North and South Korea, which is the easiest place for the enemy to land, cut our army in two, and sever our supply lines!" I said.

"The principal once recounted a simulated battle example, saying that Army A advanced rapidly into Seoul, while Army B seized the opportunity to land at Incheon, leaving Army A unable to defend itself from both ends, unable to transport supplies, and suffering heavy losses due to running out of ammunition and food. That example showed that Army A had no rear or base near Seoul; once Incheon was secured, the advance became an isolated force. But we are different. When we go to Korea, we must establish a foothold in both Seoul and Pyongyang. If they dare to land at Incheon, they will face a two-pronged attack from our army, and their defeat will be inevitable!"

I nodded: "Good, I have made up my mind. You will take three thousand cavalry and rush to Korea overnight to reinforce them, firmly control Seoul and Pyongyang, help Queen Min implement enlightened policies, and win over the hearts of the people." "Stabilize the regime. Let me say this again: you'll likely have four years to lay the foundation there. Like me, you should establish a military academy, recruiting and training a group of Korean soldiers. This will expand your power and unite the Koreans, ensuring we're not fighting alone! If possible, set up an armory in Seoul. I'll send you some technicians to produce bullets and repair firearms. After I've settled things at home, I'll visit you when I have time to help you plan on choosing a good burial site for the Japanese in Korea, so they can meet Amaterasu Omikami soon! I'll deliver a letter to Queen Min later, asking her to look after you and make things easier for your next steps!" With that, I whipped my horse, and it galloped forward.

Now I felt much lighter; I was already planning in my mind how to fight a major battle in Korea that would wipe out the main force of the Japanese army!

We stopped in Dalian for half a day. Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and I re-equipped and replenished the First Division of the First Army of China, and simultaneously formulated a secret marching route to Seoul and Pyongyang.

I also wrote a letter to Queen Min, firstly urging her to implement benevolent governance to quell public discontent as soon as possible; secondly, to train a core force to prepare for a potential coup; thirdly, to be careful to reduce the power and influence of Li Kuan, although I couldn't tell Queen Min that Li Kuan was the culprit behind the 1894 Korean political turmoil, I still had to warn her; and fourthly, to have her cooperate well with Sheng Bao to prepare a strong blow against the Japanese. I also mentioned that I would go to Korea if I had the opportunity to help Queen Min smooth over her relationships.

I had Sheng Bao carry the letter, instructing him to deliver it to Queen Min in person.

In Tianjin, Li Hongzhang handed over the position of Governor-General of Zhili to Li Bin. I appointed Li Bin as acting Governor-General temporarily.

That very evening after arriving in Beijing, I held the wedding for Empress Dowager Cixi and Li Hongzhang. Although several of the princes with hereditary titles were not entirely in favor, they had no choice but to attend the wedding with grim faces out of respect for me. However, the unease in the hearts of some of them was obvious to everyone! Especially since Prince Dun had recently passed away, his eight sons, who were known for their restless nature, were now making their own way in the world. Each of them was arrogant, acting as if they were emperors, their eyes practically pointing to the heavens. They all snorted and wouldn't even look directly at Cixi and Li Hongzhang, and after sitting for a while, they made excuses to leave. Only Prince Chun, Yixuan, and Prince Qing, Yikuang, offered a few words of blessing and drank a couple of cups of wine with Li Hongzhang.

Empress Dowager Cixi was beaming today, dressed in her finest attire, looking both young and radiant. Linked arm-in-arm with Li Hongzhang, she went from table to table, toasting guests with a broad smile, repeatedly saying, "Gentlemen, the Emperor is intelligent, wise, and benevolent, and is capable of handling state affairs independently. Therefore, I have decided to marry Shaoquan. After the marriage, I will no longer be involved in court affairs; the Emperor will rule personally and assume the great responsibility! You are all pillars of our Great Qing Dynasty; you must do your utmost to assist the Emperor in governing the country well! From tomorrow onwards, the Emperor will be solely in charge of the government, and I can finally enjoy my retirement in peace! Because I am now married to Shaoquan, I can no longer appear in public, so it will be inconvenient for me to attend court tomorrow. I am informing you all today to avoid any misunderstandings!"

Damn it, she's already mastered Li Hongzhang's political maneuvering skills after just establishing a relationship! It seems she doesn't want to attend my inauguration ceremony tomorrow!

Li Hongzhang also said, "After marrying Lan'er, it's inconvenient for Shaoquan to leave Lan'er alone at home any longer. Therefore, I've already spoken with Your Majesty and will no longer serve as the Governor-General of Zhili. I will also hand over all the foreign affairs I was managing and will remain in the capital to await Your Majesty's arrangements! I hope that all my former colleagues who worked with Shaoquan will continue to perform their duties, contribute to the Qing Dynasty, and serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly!"

Having said this, I went along with it, saying, "But Mother, you still need to help me with many plans! Uncle, you also need to help me govern the Qing Dynasty well!"

Cixi and Li Hongzhang repeatedly said, "Of course, of course!"

Chapter Forty-Two: Iron-fisted Governance and

Personal Decree on Major Policies were carried out under the supervision of my eight hundred elite guards!

Since Cixi didn't cause any trouble, the ceremony proceeded smoothly under the supervision of Weng Tonghe. I formally crowned Cixi as the Holy Mother Empress Dowager and, together with Li Hongzhang, arranged for them to move into Yingxiu Garden.

I hereby appoint Lin Yan as Empress Yan, Huang Fei as Empress Fei, Zhen'er as Imperial Concubine Zhen, and Bai Xue as Imperial Concubine Xue. At the same time, I hereby proclaim to the world that I will not take any more concubines. All concubines selected in the past, who have not yet been married, are hereby declared null and void and returned to their original families to be married to other men. Except for the Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubines, who may retain two maids, all other palace maids will not be married. All existing palace maids will be free to marry. All princesses, empresses, and imperial concubines must be self-reliant and serve themselves.

Four beautiful women, dressed in short outfits designed by Yan'er—Tang-style tops and figure-hugging jeans that accentuated their curves—all with long, flowing hair and light makeup, gracefully emerged from the back hall to receive their titles. Their attire immediately caused a stir, as they were traditionally required to wear Manchu clothing. I emphasized that clothing reform should begin now, abolishing the impractical Manchu attire. Yan'er had designed Tang-style clothing that was both different from 21st-century and distinct from Manchu clothing. This new attire broke with tradition and naturally caused a great uproar, but the four women's composed and virtuous demeanor and stunning beauty gradually calmed the hall.

But then, everything changed dramatically.

I reshuffled all the ministers, abolishing the original six ministries and establishing the State Council to manage all aspects of national administration. Li Hongzhang became Premier, and Zhang Zhidong and Wang Songwei became Vice Premiers.

It comprised nine ministries: Interior, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, National Defense, National Security, Finance, Construction, Machinery Industry, and Culture and Science.

The Ministry of the Interior absorbed the former Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Personnel, and the

Imperial Household Department, with Weng Tonghe concurrently serving as Minister. The Vice Ministers were the former Ministers of Rites and Personnel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took over the affairs of the former Zongli Yamen (Foreign Ministry) and was responsible for all foreign affairs. Its Minister was Zeng Jize, the Minister to Britain. Zeng Jize, son of Zeng Guofan, was a highly talented diplomat, considered one of the greatest diplomats of the late 20th century. In the negotiations with Russia on the Xinjiang issue, he fought for national rights, recovering Ili, which had been occupied by Russia, thus preventing Russian territory from later intersecting central Xinjiang—a strategically significant event. He happened to be back in China for a work report, and I spoke with him last night. I found him very intelligent and insightful, with insightful thoughts on the current state of the country. He particularly emphasized the need to immediately and justly reclaim Ryukyu, preventing the Japanese from occupying our islands, and even more importantly, preventing them from seizing Taiwan and controlling our vital routes to the world!

The Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, expanded from the original Ministry of Works, was responsible for protecting the development of agriculture, industry, and commerce; and for establishing chambers of commerce, trade unions, farmers' associations, and other non-governmental organizations. The Minister was Prince Chun, Yixuan, and the Vice Minister was the former Minister of Works. Last night, I spoke for a long time with two people, and they agreed with my strategy of developing agriculture, industry, and commerce to revitalize the national economy. They also agreed with my vision for the next steps in land reform, so I decided to appoint them.

The Ministry of National Defense was headed by Zhang Zhidong, and the Vice Minister was Li Bingheng, the former Governor of Shandong, who was later known for his "loyalty to the country and concern for the people's suffering," and for "defending the country with his life, knowing only loyalty; sacrificing his life for the country, knowing only integrity." I spoke with him for less than ten minutes, but his mindset and patriotism were deeply moving. Additionally, Li Bin, Ding Baozhen, Ding Ruchang, Liu Kunyi, Chongqi, Jingshou, Song Qing, and Yulu were appointed as members.

The Ministry of State Security will establish national security forces and police forces, with police stations set up in each prefecture, state, and county to be responsible for local security. From now on, the military will only be responsible for external combat missions. The state will completely ban private armies; anyone who maintains a private army must hand them over to the local police station within three days! After three days, the national security forces will begin clearing out private armies; anyone continuing to maintain a private army will be treated as a traitor, and anyone who gathers troops to resist will be executed without exception. Local security will be the responsibility of the state, and the state will protect the life and property of every individual. Because this ministry concerns national security and my own life, I think it's best for my two wives to personally oversee it; therefore, Lin Yan will serve as Minister, and Bai Xue as Deputy Minister.

The Ministry of Finance will remain under the Ministership of Yan Jingming, because I believe his loyalty is invaluable. My head housekeeper, Zhen'er, will serve as Deputy Minister; I need her to manage the revenue of the soon-to-be-opened patent office.

The Ministry of Construction will be responsible for national infrastructure construction (including railways, highways, and bridges) and the management of all construction projects. Prince Qing, Yikuang, will serve as Minister, and Zhan Tianyou as Deputy Minister. I spoke with Zhan Tianyou. He wasn't interested in being an official, but he was extremely excited about China building its own railways. I said, "If you don't become a leader, you'll likely be constrained in every way when building railways." He thought about it and agreed.

The Ministry of Machinery Industry included postal and telecommunications, military production, shipbuilding, and aircraft manufacturing. Huang Fei was appointed Minister, and Xu Jianyin and Zeng Zhaoji were appointed Vice Ministers. These two were recommended by Yan'er, who said that Xu Jianyin's father, Xu Shou, had participated in the establishment of the Anqing and Jiangning Machinery Bureaus. When Xu Jianyin was eighteen, he assisted his father, Xu Shou, in Anqing in developing steam engines and steamships, participating in the development of China's first steamship, the "Huanghe," as well as modern warships such as the "Huiji." Zeng Zhaoji was the first person in China to copy the Martini rifle. The Martini rifle was officially adopted by Britain in 1871. It was a superior breech-loading rifle in the world at the time, and other countries had to pay eight shillings in patent fees for each one manufactured. Zeng Zhaoji worked at the Shandong Machinery Bureau... In 1876, they manufactured their own machines and copied them. In less than two months, they produced over 120 machines, with quality comparable to the British models.

The Ministry of Culture, Education, Science and Technology, which included the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was headed by Weng Tonghe, with Tan Sitong and Xie Changda as vice-ministers. Xie Changda, wife of Wang Songwei, was a leading figure in the abolition of the imperial examination system and the establishment of modern schools in Suzhou during the late Qing Dynasty. In 1906, with the support of several friends enthusiastic about education, Xie Changda raised over a thousand yuan to establish a two-tiered (primary and higher) primary school in Suzhou, named "Zhenhua Girls' Middle School," and personally served as its principal, dedicating herself to education for national salvation and the revitalization of the Chinese nation. In the early days of "Zhenhua," due to insufficient funds, Xie Changda struggled to maintain the school, even donating all the birthday gifts from relatives and friends on his 70th birthday. Year after year, "Zhenhua Girls' Middle School" gained increasing prestige, cultivating generations of pillars of the nation. This, of course, is what I found in later records; it's still untraceable!

The nine ministers, besides Weng Tonghe and Zhang... All those outside the cave were State Councilors, forming the State Council of the State Council.

The previous governor-general system was abolished, and eight military regions were established nationwide.

The Northeast Military Region, encompassing the three northeastern provinces, north of Heilongjiang, the Outer Khingan Mountains region (mostly occupied by Russia, responsible for its eventual recapture at an appropriate time), and Korea, was stationed in Shenyang, comprising three armies. Commander Li Bin was appointed, with Li Gang, Sheng Bao, and Hai Bo as deputy commanders. Li Gang was assigned one army to garrison the Yalu River, Sheng Bao one army to Korea, and Hai Bo one army to garrison the Heilongjiang River.

The Beijing Military Region, encompassing Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Zhili, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, and Ryukyu (responsible for its recapture), was stationed in Beijing, comprising three armies. Commander Li Bingheng concurrently served as commander, with Zuo Baogui and Sheng Yu as deputy commanders.

The Southeast Military Region encompassed the two rivers (Jiangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Taiwan), commanded by Liu Kunyi; the Northwest Military Region encompassed Xinjiang (partly occupied by Russia, responsible for its recapture), commanded by Yu Lu.

The Southwest Military Region encompassed Tibet (partly occupied by Britain) . The Southern Military Region, responsible for the recovery

of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hainan, the South China Sea islands, Vietnam (responsible for recovery), and Myanmar (responsible for recovery), was commanded by Ding Baozhen, with Feng Zicai as deputy commander.

The Central-South Military Region, responsible for Sichuan and Hubei, was commanded by Jing Shou.

The Shaanxi-Gansu Military Region, responsible for the original areas excluding Xinjiang, was commanded by Song Qing.

The commanders of the eight military regions were not allowed to return to their original locations but to take up their posts directly. They were not allowed to bring any attendants, only four guards, and were escorted to their posts by personnel from the Ministry of Security and handed over to their new posts by personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The remaining unassigned personnel were to remain on their original salaries while awaiting their posts. The Ministry of Internal Affairs would compile a list of personnel needed by the nine ministries and provide examination questions. Unassigned personnel could register to participate in the imperial examination, and those who passed the examination would be admitted.

As soon as the list was announced, there was an uproar in the court. Some people were excited, especially since the eight military regions included the lost territories under their jurisdiction, showing the emperor's determination to save the country; but others shouted, "Why let some commoners rise to the top in one step?" "The court has a set rule: commoners cannot be promoted to the fourth rank or above all at once!"

I slammed my hand on the imperial desk: "What's all this fuss about? I will employ people without regard to rank or seniority. These nine ministries and eight military regions are only temporary arrangements. If you don't perform well and achieve results, I may remove you at any time and replace you with someone more capable! Some people may be commoners, but they have the talent to govern the country and the ability to manage their ministries well. I will use them and let them contribute to the rise of China! In short, everything is based on making our Great Qing Dynasty strong! I will not use mediocre or lazy people, much less treacherous or corrupt officials! Don't feel aggrieved. The Qing Dynasty has fallen to the point of ceding territory, paying indemnities, burning down famous gardens, and displacing people. Are you not responsible? I'm already being kind by keeping your original salaries!" If you're so capable, learn some real skills, some real ability to revitalize China, and I will employ you. The nation needs to strengthen itself, and many new undertakings need to be developed. There's a severe shortage of talent. I'm even holding a special imperial examination to select people; how can I bury talent? If you're a golden bell, then ring it out; if you're a clay pot, then stay out of the way and don't cause trouble! What do you mean by "ancestral precedents"? Does that mean we have to follow in the footsteps of our predecessors in everything? That's utter nonsense! The world is progressing, and new things are constantly emerging. If you still cling to the old ways of the past, you will inevitably fall behind the world! That's why our country was attacked! People who say such things shouldn't be employed anymore. If I employ such an inflexible person, wouldn't I be letting him drag the Qing Dynasty into the dustbin of history? Do you think I have to follow the example of our predecessors who paid so much indemnity and lost so much national power? "The reason I've brought the army into this hall today is to demonstrate my resolve to defy the ancients with swift and decisive action, to forge my own path. Anyone with ideas may speak freely, but my actions are my own decision, not someone else's! Those willing to join me in saving the country, stay; those unwilling may seek other avenues. I will not force anyone, but no one can force me!"

The hall fell silent. A moment later, someone shouted, "How can women rule? Isn't this throwing the court into chaos?"

I stood up angrily, walked to the main hall, took a gun from a guard, threw a teacup in one hand, and fired the gun with a swift motion. "Bang!" The teacup shattered. I said, "Do you know where such a fine gun came from? It was made by my Empress Yan and Empress Fei. It's the best gun in the world! Can you, a grown man, make it? The world is made up of men and women; neither can be missing. Why must women be relegated to a lower position?" "I hereby declare that from this day forward, men and women of the Great Qing are equal. Women may hold official positions, serve in the military, and participate in the upcoming special imperial examinations! The past practice of forcing women to bind their feet is hereby abolished. Anyone who forces women to bind their feet is violating the laws of the Great Qing!" I returned the gun to the guard, sat back on the dragon throne, and continued, "I select talent based on ability, not on whether someone is a man or a woman. Anyone who raises this foolish question again will face my wrath!"

After a long pause, the newly appointed Prince Dun, Zailian, stepped forward and began to curse, "Zaitian, do you want to sell the Great Qing to the Han people? Look at the people you employ—it's all Han Chinese, how many are Manchus? You dare to abandon the legacy of our ancestors! I think you want to destroy the Great Qing and learn from the Western devils!"

I slammed my hand on the dragon table: "Shut up! The Great Qing belongs to the Chinese nation, not just the Manchus. All peoples of all ethnicities are equal, and no ethnicity is superior! The Great Qing selects officials based on their talent for governing the country, not on who you were born from! If you, Zailian, are truly capable, you can participate in the selection examinations for high-ranking officials in various ministries, but let me make this clear: everyone is equal before the examination papers. I will not give you an extra point, nor will I deduct one! What's wrong with learning Western methods? Many countries in the world have their strengths. Shouldn't we learn from their strengths to make up for our own weaknesses? Should we forever remain the old-fashioned heroes who conquered the world on horseback? Should we forever be bullied by foreign barbarians?"

Zailian arrogantly replied: "You want to hand over the Great Qing to the Han people? How many heads do you have? Get the hell out of here! This empire should have been ours long ago!"

With that, he drew his sword and charged at me. The princes, all bearing hereditary titles, exchanged glances. Only his brother, Prince Duan, Zaiyi, drew his sword, but dared not step forward.

I sneered, "Zailian, do you want to die? Can't you see my eight hundred elite guards are ready for battle? Is your sword faster than a spear?"

Zailian shouted, "What kind of skill is it to rely on others for protection? If you're so capable, let's duel one-on-one. If I don't cleave you into ten thousand pieces, then I'm just not skilled enough! What can they do to me? I am a prince with hereditary titles; do they dare to touch a single hair on my head?"

I sneered, "Since you want to kill me, I can't care about your hereditary titles. Prime Minister Li, look at the commotion in the palace, the threatening and insulting of the emperor with swords, the instigation of national unity—what should be the punishment?"

Li Hongzhang immediately said, "Lord Lin, this is a matter for the State Security Department. You speak!"

Damn it, that old fox, he's passing the buck to my wife!

Yan'er stepped forward and said, "The new law is not yet finalized; according to the old law, he should be executed!"

Zailian immediately cursed, "Does this court even have a place for a stinking woman like you to speak? Look at what you're wearing! You who don't even respect ancestral rules, I'll kill this sickly brat, and then I'll wipe you out!"

I calmly stepped out from behind the dragon throne, stopping the guards who were about to step forward. When Zailian's sword was right in front of him, I suddenly dodged, caught the sword with one hand, and kicked it away. The sword was already in my hand, and Zailian flew several feet, crashing down in front of the hall, stunned. Chapter Eleven.

Seeing my skill, everyone in the hall was dumbfounded. Only the old fox Li Hongzhang stroked his goatee and smiled slightly, saying, "You don't know that His Majesty usually hides his true abilities!"

Then I shouted, "Seize him!"

Instantly, two warriors stepped forward, grabbed his arms, and twisted him!

I shouted, "Take him out of the Meridian Gate for execution!"

Several princes with iron caps immediately knelt on the ground, pleading, "Your Majesty, please spare his life, for he was ignorant!"

I was eager to establish my authority and quell the evil spirits; how could I let things fall apart like this? I waved my hand and said, "I have nothing to hide. From this day forward, I am determined to implement new policies. I want to test whether the swords of those heroes who uphold the old order are faster, or my spear! Take him out and test the spear!"

Several guards rushed out with Zailian on their backs, and the court immediately erupted in commotion. My eight hundred elite guards immediately raised their guns, and the court fell silent. Just then, a gunshot rang out outside, and the arrogant Zailian died, spitting blood. Several of Zailian's brothers inside the room immediately fainted.

When the coroner returned to report, the court was completely silent.

I said, “My lords, foreign warships are pressing in on our borders, forcing us to open our gates and pay taxes, killing our sons and daughters, plundering our great wealth, and leaving our people homeless, forced to sell their children, and begging in vain. At this critical moment when our great Qing is on the verge of collapse, I, Zaitian, disregard making enemies and risking my own life, have implemented new policies to save the nation from this peril and relieve the people from their dire straits. I hope you, my lords, will understand my good intentions and join me in navigating this turbulent sea, so that China can regain its former glory and foreign powers will never dare to discriminate against us again! Let us recover what we have lost, make up for what we lack, and let China once again stand proudly among the nations of the world!”

Immediately, more than half of the ministers in the court knelt down and said, “We are willing to follow Your Majesty and sacrifice our lives for the revitalization of China!”

I looked at the twenty-odd officials still standing there, and I knew that the struggle had only just begun!

Chapter Forty-Three: Bloodshed in the Capital.

Li Hongzhang was truly an old fox. As soon as I left, he hurriedly spent half a day appeasing the ministers who had lost their positions and been dismissed, repeatedly saying, "Don't worry, His Majesty will definitely use you. He wants to discipline you so that he can prepare to fight with foreigners for our national rights! Now that we have a formidable enemy at hand, and you are still being paid, don't be stubborn. Go back and prepare for the palace examination!"

Hearing this, they all rushed back, searching for books and studying, hoping to secure a good position!

Li Hongzhang then quickly led his men to handle the handover of various ministries, arranging official offices for each ministry outside the front gate and having each ministry hang up its own sign. He also hung up the sign for the State Council of the Great Qing outside Xinhua Gate. At the same time, he immediately convened a State Council meeting to discuss and study His Majesty's draft proposals for convening a parliament, drafting a constitution, and implementing a constitutional monarchy.

Except for Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and Weng Tonghe, who had discussed the matter with me repeatedly and were mentally prepared, everyone else was stunned upon hearing the news. However, after reading the points I made in my opinion letter, they began to understand my good intentions and began to study it seriously. Yan'er did not attend the State Council meeting. After the court session ended, she immediately led three thousand armored soldiers from the military academy to search and confiscate Prince Dun's mansion. She then bought a small house for him on the outskirts of the city, settled his family there, and took all of his more than one thousand private soldiers to the military academy. After being investigated by Long'an, more than eight hundred of them were incorporated into the Beijing Military Region. Some problematic individuals were investigated, and seven were found to be notorious tyrants with blood on their hands. The police station suppressed them on the spot, while the rest were given some living expenses and sent back to their hometowns.

Next, she renovated Prince Dun's mansion, hung up signs for "Ministry of State Security of the Great Qing Dynasty" and "Beijing Police Station," and began working with the three thousand armored soldiers

that day . She then established police stations in several districts of the city and began patrolling the entire city.

Starting the next day, the police stations began receiving princes and nobles who had surrendered their private armies. Prince Qing Yikuang, Prince Chun Yixuan, the Eighth Prince, and the Ninth Prince, among others, all handed over their private troops, but they were also worried about the safety of their homes, fearing robbery by rioters.

The Empress told them that her police force was already patrolling the streets and asked them to trust that the Qing police would definitely be able to control public order in Beijing!

Easier said than done, some petty thieves, upon hearing that the princes' palaces had surrendered their troops and guns, gathered dozens of men and actually went to the palaces at night. Just as they were about to break down the doors and rush in, they were blocked by the patrolling police. Taking advantage of the police's small numbers, they brandished their knives and charged at them, but to little avail; more than forty men were riddled with bullets and none of them could breathe! The next day, the corpses were displayed at Caishikou for a day. A notice from the Beijing Police Bureau was posted on the wall next to them, warning those who dared to break the law not to follow in their footsteps. Immediately, the city fell silent; no one dared to challenge the guns anymore!

But by the evening of the third day, none of Prince Dun's sons had come to the police station to confront them.

I told Yan'er to be vigilant against a potential backlash from Prince Dun's family!

Yan'er smiled: "I'm afraid they won't dare come. If they do, I can use this opportunity to eliminate these evil forces and restore a bright and peaceful Beijing to the people!"

I knew that Prince Dun's sons, relying on their family's power, robbed men and women in Beijing. If they saw a nice house, they'd throw down a few coins and consider it a purchase. If the tenants weren't allowed out, they'd smash up the door and accuse you of stealing their treasures, getting you sentenced to immediate execution by the Shuntian Prefecture! If they see a pretty girl, they'll come knocking and snatch her, accusing you of abducting their daughter, throwing you in jail, and threatening you with execution in the autumn. If they see your shop is doing well, they'll come to buy it, and if you refuse, a group of men in black will come at night, smashing and robbing you, causing trouble for ten days or so, forcing you to close down and sell your property!

These living devils were a group of men the common people hated to the core, but who could afford to offend them? Yan'er had heard about it long ago and was now looking for an opportunity to eliminate them.

I was worried about angering those bastards from the Eight Banners and Green Standard Army, but Yan'er said, "Those soldiers have been under my surveillance for a long time. If they dare to make a move, I'll wipe them all out, and you'll save a lot of money!"

I knew that her troops weren't just the three thousand student soldiers from the military academy; she had also transferred Cao Futian's three thousand boxers, training them at the academy while keeping them on standby for any emergencies. Her six thousand elite soldiers were not to be trifled with by those ten thousand mediocre troops. Her soldiers were not only well-equipped and skilled in martial arts, but they were also incredibly ruthless in battle, hitting every vital point with every shot, not wasting a single bullet! Who had a few heads to risk against these devilish soldiers?

Moreover, after the military academy transferred 10,000 soldiers, it quickly replenished the ranks with over 10,000 more from various regions. Although these soldiers had only recently arrived, Long'an inherited Yan'er's military discipline, winning their hearts within just a few days and turning them into my personal guard, a formidable force in Beijing!

Night quietly fell, and the tranquil city of Beijing was already ablaze with lights.

Suddenly, an army of nearly two thousand men dressed in black appeared near Babaoshan. They all wore masks, carried broadswords, and held Mauser rifles, stealthily making their way into the city.

Unimpeded, the black-clad group reached the gates of the Beijing Police Bureau.

The burly leader, seeing the open gates, roared, "Brothers, the chance to avenge our master has come! Charge! Slaughter them all!"

He was the first to rush towards the gates, but a burst of light machine gun fire erupted, and he collapsed to the ground, not even having time to convulse before rushing off to chase after his master.

The bandits immediately opened fire and charged towards the gate, but these incompetent soldiers were truly pathetic. After charging for a long time, the corpses piled up high, and not a single one of them managed to get through the open gate.

As soon as the gunfire erupted, the seven princes immediately led their troops out, howling as they charged towards the police station.

But instead of a response from the front, the relentless machine gun fire from behind forced the seven princes' soldiers to be chased by death, desperately rushing towards the police station.

Prince Duan ran for a while before realizing the situation was dire. It seemed his home had already been raided. Judging from the gunfire, he knew that few people in his house were likely still alive!

His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, trembling as he cried out, "Don't rush towards the police station! Run away! They've set a trap for us!"

But was it easy to change course now? Machine guns blocked off all sides. Every road led to hell; they had to go, whether they wanted to or not, without even a chance to negotiate!

Having just finished ransacking Prince Duan's house, leaving the cartloads of gold and silver to Zhen'er to collect, Fei'er led her men to the second prince's residence. Because of the precedent of Prince Duan's residence being ransacked, the second residence resisted fiercely. Even the women took up arms, desperately firing their guns outwards, making the soldiers hesitant to rush in. They could only continuously bombard the interior with grenades. Once the inside was quiet, the soldiers stormed in, only to find not a single survivor, some having committed suicide! The resistance from these several residences was intense, but before the Iron Army, it all seemed futile. The time spent fighting at each residence was less than the time spent running away! Fortunately, the seven residences were all adjacent; otherwise, the wasted time would have long since made Fei'er impatient!

Yan'er stood on the rooftop opposite the police station, watching the hordes of men in black being gunned down. She ordered a halt to the firing and had her soldiers shout, "Surrender and you will not be killed! Kneel down immediately and raise your guns above your heads!"

The bandits had lost all the bravado they had shown when they first entered the city; their legs were already so weak they could barely stand. Hearing this, they immediately knelt down, raising their guns and furtively glancing at those around them, afraid of raising them incorrectly and inviting another round of terrifying machine gun fire.

The soldiers of the Seven Princes arrived at the police station just in time for the scene and immediately followed suit, kneeling down and raising their Mauser rifles.

Yan'er saw that there were no more people standing below, so she waved her hand and ordered another shout. Immediately, a new shout rang out from all sides: "Throw your guns on the ground, stand up, form a line and march east! Hurry!"

The kneeling men immediately threw away their unfortunate fire pokers, stood up, and, helping the wounded soldiers who were still alive, automatically formed a line and marched east.

On the east side of the main street, Yan'er was leading a group of prisoners to be recruited. She had Xiao Fuzi scout for the restless princes.

Bai Xue and her men rushed out of the police station, herding the bandits eastward like sheep, throwing the dead onto carts, carrying the wounded into the police station for treatment, and searching for the princes inside.

At that moment, I was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation discussing the establishment of a party with Li Hongzhang, Weng Tonghe, Zhang Zhidong, Li Bingheng, Zuo Baogui, Sheng Yu, Ding Baozhen, Ding Ruchang, Wang Songwei, Zeng Jize, Yan Jingming, Zhan Tianyou, Xu Jianyin, Zeng Zhaoji, Tan Sitong, Xie Changda, Long An, and others.

Everyone agreed to name the party the Chinese Democratic Revolutionary Party. However, when discussing the statement that "the party's program is to oppose imperialism and feudalism, build a democratic bourgeois republic, and enable all the people of the country to achieve food security, housing security, and equality and mutual love among all nationalities in this century," everyone hesitated.

I knew they were worried about what would happen to my imperial throne.

I laughed: "I am just like everyone else, an ordinary Chinese. Since we are going to have a revolution, we can no longer preserve this corrupt feudal system. I can run for president of the Democratic Republic of China! What, you don't have confidence in my election? I have our party as my backing, our army as my support, and I believe I will have the support of hundreds of millions of people. How could I not win? Isn't it better for me to be a president who can revitalize the country than to be an emperor whose country is bullied by foreign barbarians and whose people are starving and freezing?"

Only then did everyone agree with this statement.

When the discussion turned to "the army must always unconditionally accept the leadership of the Party," Zhang Zhidong sighed and said, "I was thinking of handing the army over to parliament, but that would be chaos! Different factions would be arguing, the army would be fighting here and there, unable to even fight a civil war, let alone the enemy!"

I said, "Foreign bourgeois constitutions stipulate that the army is separate from the party, but our national conditions don't allow it. We can't let the country descend into chaos; we must control the army ourselves!"

Li Bingheng laughed, "Can those parties govern well without the support of the army?"

I said, "Only..." "We must not take the wrong path. As long as we always put the interests of the people first, we cannot step down. If the people oppose us, the army certainly will not support us anymore. At that time, the opposition party will also control the army!"

Li Hongzhang nodded: "Emperor Taizong of Tang repeatedly said that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. That's the principle! Every monarch knows this principle, but it's just difficult to implement!"

In the end, everyone decided to first establish the Party in the army, setting up branches at the company level, with a Party branch secretary in each company, and also to take charge of the ideological work of the soldiers.

Everyone unanimously decided that I would serve as the chairman of the Party, and elected Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, Weng Tonghe, Li Bingheng, Ding Baozhen, Yan Jingming, Empress Yan, Empress Fei and I to form a standing committee, and tasked Zhang Zhidong, Li Bingheng, Zuo Baogui, Sheng Yu, Ding Baozhen, Ding Ruchang and Long An with the work of establishing the Party in the army.

After the meeting, Li Hongzhang, Weng Tonghe, and Zhang Zhidong reported on the State Council's discussion of my proposal to establish a parliament, draft a constitution, and establish a constitutional monarchy. I listened to it and thought it was quite good, and that it should be announced to the whole country at an appropriate time.

As soon as everyone left, my four wives returned in a car with their entourage. Zhen'er directed the unloading of boxes into the room at Yanxi Hall. The two first wives pulled me inside, embracing and kissing me passionately. After they'd had their fill, Yan'er said, "Your head steward is really rich now! Just from confiscating their property, they got 18 million taels of silver notes and six large boxes of jewels. That's enough to build warships!"

I shook my head and said, "What's so hard about it? We can't rely solely on imports for steel plates; we have to smelt and process them ourselves. The car production line needs to be set up, and aircraft manufacturing has started. The oil extraction problem needs to be solved immediately, and land reform needs to begin right away. Everything costs money; the situation isn't optimistic!"

The two first wives didn't care about any of that. Fei'er said, "It's freezing cold outside; we've caught a lot of chills. You should at least warm us up, right? Don't just leave us without a word of comfort!" With that, the two of them started tearing and ripping me apart, turning me into a white-skinned chicken. The three of them then began a three-way lovemaking session!

The "Three Refinements" are really something else. Since arriving in the Qing Dynasty, we've rarely slept more than four hours a night, but our energy levels are exceptionally high. To ensure Zhen'er's Longhua Company can open as soon as possible, my two "Empresses" have been working tirelessly on blueprints for dozens of nights. During the day, they also have to fight those reactionaries with swords and guns, and find time to go to the Beijing military factory to guide production and teach at the military academy. They're truly busy with countless affairs every day! Sometimes I really feel sorry for them, but there's nothing I can do. Who told us to come to this era of so much suffering! Fortunately, the "Three Refinements" can replenish their energy, which gives me the opportunity to comfort them. So every time I practice the "Three Refinements," I do it with boundless tenderness, which deeply moves them. Therefore, when we practice the "Three Refinements," the three of us move in perfect harmony, and wave after wave of climaxes bring us into a state of boundless passion. Two of us often shout and yell with excitement.

But this left room for discussion. When Yan'er teased the two concubines, they retorted, "We learned from our two older sisters! Although our shouts aren't loud enough or our cries aren't seductive enough, that's because we haven't studied long enough and haven't fully mastered your skills. Sisters, give us some more guidance when you have time, and we'll be fine. Sisters, you don't need to laugh at us! Next time you perform, we'll definitely study hard, carefully observe your submissive expressions, and listen to your seductive moans. Next time, our skills will definitely improve!"

Yan'er and Fei'er, annoyed, could only mutter, "You little huss, you've grown quite bold!" and run away.

Before our first round of three rounds of cultivation was even finished, we attracted the two concubines. They watched our rolling around while stripping naked. The two older wives had barely left my body when the two little ones took over! Sigh, I have to keep fighting; what can I do, I'm just unlucky!

The two older wives, wearing fur coats, went into the small hut next door to draw up plans.

In fact, they had already accumulated dozens of projects, but Yan'er still felt it wasn't enough. She said, "As soon as the match factory opens, Zhenmei's company will have to register a batch of patents with the Qing Dynasty Patent Office, and then she'll have to start selling them. If we don't prepare more now, we'll be too busy later!"

The two of them had so many creative ideas: soap, perfumed soap, pens, pencils, Tang suits, jeans, even Baijiahei (a Chinese cold medicine), and the discovery of penicillin by the young British scientist Fleming in 1928, and streptomycin by the American microbiologist Waksman in 1939. Moreover, the patent prices were all in the tens of millions of taels of silver. Even more impressive was their glass production technology, which they decided to price at twenty million taels of silver. Even toothpaste and toothbrushes were priced at three hundred thousand taels of silver.

Now they had prepared more than sixty patents for Zhen'er. If they sold them all, they would definitely make a fortune. However, I was always worried that the Chinese people had a problem with their understanding, so I asked Yan'er to set the price lower. But Yan'er was unyielding. She said, "This is its intrinsic value. It's fine if no one buys it, but it can't be lowered. That would be a desecration of it! A desecration of science!"

After going on a crazy run with the two little lunatics, I finally asked about the seven princes. I learned that six of them had already kicked the bucket, and the remaining one was like a fool, only saying, "We've been tricked! We've been tricked! That sickly fellow was faking it! He was acting! He was acting!"

I knew that the big storm in Beijing had subsided, but what about the rest of the country?

Chapter 44 Southern Expedition and Northern Advance

Regarding my determination to hand over the imperial power in the future, Yan'er and Zhen'er didn't say anything, but Fei'er and Xue'er were very confused. They said that it was hard-won, so why give it up? Fei'er even said, "You're so proactive! You're so progressive! Are you so noble and powerful?"

I held a family meeting and decided to reach a consensus. At the meeting, I said, "I am also an ordinary person. Of course, I have a desire for power, and I hope my children can live a life free from worries about food and clothing for generations. But you have forgotten Mencius's saying, 'The blessings of a virtuous man last only five generations.' He was referring to the relatively frequent flow of wealth, status, power, and prestige within Chinese society. It is rare to see aristocratic families that have lasted for hundreds or even dozens of generations. 'No noble family can last a hundred years' has become a fixed pattern. Why? Because no family can produce exceptionally talented individuals generation after generation. Once a mediocre person emerges, they are extremely vulnerable to the power coveted by millions." They might not even be able to save their own lives! Chongzhen's lament before hanging himself, "Why was I born into an imperial family?"—isn't that something to awaken us? Conversely, the Ford and Nobel Groups have maintained their dominance for generations, even dozens of generations. Isn't this something we should reflect on and learn from? I think this illustrates that in the chain of knowledge transmission and in the business chain, the influence of a virtuous person can be continuously amplified and infinitely extended! The reason I didn't arrange for Zhen'er this time is precisely to let her manage our family company well, to make our Longhua Company a large multinational corporation. Isn't that better than forcing our children and grandchildren to become incapable of managing it? Is it really so powerful to risk having no descendants to secure the throne? That's considering it from a private perspective. If we consider it from a national perspective, why do so many dynasties flourish at their founding but decline after only a few generations? It's because a monarch who relies on bloodline succession isn't necessarily a wise ruler of his time; he can't lead the people to new heights! Since we want to forge a path for the nation to last forever, why must we cling to power for our own sake? Besides, feudal society has shackled China for thousands of years. If we don't smash it, how can China's productive forces be liberated? If we preserve the imperial system and let the people rebel against feudalism, can the revolution be thorough? Can the people trust us? I've already decided: investigate corrupt officials. "We won't touch a single penny of the money; it will all go to the country. The money from selling patents, the money we got from Li Lianying, and the money Zhen'er discovered will all be used to start our company. We'll use our wisdom to create a large multinational corporation for the Long family, making the Long family's descendants among the wealthiest in the world! We'll also create a world-leading technological and economic environment for the country! Besides, my current arrangements are all long-term plans. Right now, the priority is still constitutional monarchy. As for when to implement a republic, that's still a long way off. What's the rush?"

My words were eventually accepted happily by my four wives, and my two first wives worked even harder to come up with ideas for the patents.

Of the eight military region commanders, only Ding Baozhen departed five days later; the others took up their posts on the third day. Before they left, I held a day and a half of military meetings with them. Together, we analyzed the international situation. I pointed out that the rapid expansion of capital in international imperialist countries and their greed for resource plunder made it inevitable that they would extend their clutches to the weak and impoverished Qing Dynasty. I also analyzed the domestic situation, pointing out that this major reform would certainly attract opposition. My advice was twofold: first, persuade them, explaining that this reform was a last resort, forced by foreign powers to rapidly strengthen ourselves so that the nation could survive and the people could live in peace; second, suppress them, even if they refused to listen, to temporarily subdue them. Once the nation embarked on the path of revitalization, they would naturally understand. I also analyzed the local military and political situation and formulated countermeasures for them. Finally, I pointed out that we must focus on three things: First, training our troops. We must train strong troops, capable of fighting ten or even a hundred men each. Even if we can't reach that level, we must at least be able to fight one against one. We cannot allow a situation where a few thousand enemy soldiers can rout our tens of thousands of troops! Second, building a lean and efficient force. We must streamline and reduce the number of mediocre soldiers. The number of troops in each military region should ideally be kept at 80,000. Any excess should be quickly reduced, especially the old, weak, sick, and disabled. They should be properly resettled, with each person provided with ten acres of land and twenty taels of silver as resettlement allowance so they can support themselves back home. This matter must be handled well, as it affects the morale of the remaining soldiers. We must ensure they have no worries about their future and not let their spirits be dampened! We will issue the opinions on the resettlement of demobilized officers and soldiers through the State Council; you just need to pay attention to their implementation. Third, we must redeploy our defenses. We must redeploy our troops with the goal of resisting foreign invaders. We must occupy advantageous terrain, consider the convenience of national defense, and, more importantly, consider logistical support and supplies. Any provocation from foreign barbarians must be taken seriously. We must resolutely retaliate, but also ensure that our actions are advantageous, justified, and restrained, avoiding battles we cannot win. This requires us to anticipate any potential risks and prepare for unforeseen events. In the event of a foreign invasion, we must swiftly organize a counterattack and immediately report to the central government! Regarding areas occupied by foreign barbarians, we should not blindly attempt to reclaim them now. We must be well-informed and prepared in all aspects. When to fight and when to reclaim them will depend on the central government's unified plan. I also want to reveal that our current focus is on the Northeast and the South. I plan to fight two major battles each in the Northeast and the South to reclaim the Outer Manchuria, Vietnam, and Burma, and to defeat the powerful enemies threatening us. However, we must seize the opportunity, press our advantage, and win the war in one fell swoop, driving the foreign barbarians out of those areas and restoring our rule there!

Because I needed to keep Ding Baozhen for further discussion, I summoned the veteran general Feng Zicai and talked with him for a long time. I first asked him about the situation of the anti-French war. After he finished reporting, I said, "The court is corrupt, and the blood of our soldiers will be shed in vain. I will remember this lesson and take it as a warning! Because I have a few important matters to discuss with Commander Ding in detail, he will arrive in Guangzhou a few days later. You need to quickly take over everything there. Other matters can be handled after Commander Ding arrives!"

After seeing off several commanders from other regions, I summoned Ding Baozhen to the Hall of Mental Cultivation for a long talk for a day. I talked about the importance of Vietnam and Burma to China. Vietnam is involved in the overall situation of China's access to the sea in the south and the defense of the islands in the South China Sea. It must be taken back as soon as possible. This time, we should not leave any loose ends. We should take it all in one go, establish provinces and counties there, and move your headquarters directly to Saigon. We should no longer have the awkward situation of being separated by a kitchen stove and a heated brick bed! Myanmar is crucial to China's access to the Indian Ocean. The Strait of Malacca is narrow and easily controlled by foreign powers. In the long run, if China wants to advance westward into the Indian Ocean, it must find another route. If we take back Myanmar, we can build a railway from Yunnan directly to the Indian Ocean coast, thus gaining control of the Indian Ocean! This is a long-term plan for China, a plan that will last for millennia! It concerns the fate of the nation and must be taken back! I said, "I greatly admire your diligence, love for the people, and integrity in your official conduct. I originally intended to leave you in the capital to shoulder more risks for me, but the security of the southern border is too important. I have no choice but to send you there to take charge independently. I hope you will lay a solid foundation there, and once the time is right, I will join you in leading the army to drive the French devils into the sea!"

Ding Baozhen excitedly replied, "Your Majesty's trust is immense. I will certainly lay a solid foundation in the southern border for our country to reclaim Vietnam and Burma. I await Your Majesty's arrival and the day we march south!"

I said, "Military and political affairs are normally separate, but in the Southern Military Region, I have already discussed with the Ministry of the Interior that you will be in charge of both military and political affairs. This is so that you can effectively manage both there. " "With a unified command, we can concentrate our efforts and solve the problems of the people's poverty and the army's weakness. Except for a few governors who go to investigate and then report to me for approval, you can appoint and dismiss county and prefectural officials on my behalf, and report to the Ministry of the Interior!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Baozhen knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "I dare not act arbitrarily. It is still better for the Ministry of the Interior to assess and appoint officials!"

I smiled, "Since I have sent you there, I trust you. I did not give you power so that you could amass military power. I have entrusted you with laying the foundation for a counterattack against the French devils. Do not fail my expectations!"

After seeing Ding Baozhen off, I drove to Tianjin with Empress Fei and Consort Zhen. I saw Li Bin preparing to move to Fengtian (Shenyang). Fei and Zhen had gone to the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau to take over the factory, so I had a long talk with Li Bin. First, I appointed Sheng Bao as the first deputy commander, who would lead an army commander to be stationed in Korea. Due to the special nature of the mission, he would now be directly under my command. This is a decision I made after much deliberation. Originally, I didn't plan to incorporate Sheng Bao's unit into the Northeast Military Region. However, considering that the main force to be deployed once the war breaks out will be from the Northeast Military Region, it's better to include them for better future coordination! Then I talked about the preparations for establishing the Chinese Democratic Revolutionary Party. Li Bin immediately said, "That's great! We can all join forces with His Majesty! After the last incident, I disbanded the Buyi Society. I said, now we're all His Majesty's soldiers, don't bother with any societies. Everyone is His Majesty's person. But I always thought, we need a handle for everything we do, we need to distinguish between what's important and what's not. With the Party, I'll have a handle. I'll trust our Party members to handle important matters more than others!"

I smiled, "Your consideration is really correct!"

Li Bin said, "Whether it's right or wrong, I have to be one. Now that I've told His Majesty, I'm a Party member! I'll be His Majesty's person for life, I'm determined to follow His Majesty!"

I said, "Your Majesty... " When appointing the heads of the eight military regions, it was already considered that you all must enter the Party's leadership and that the Party must command the gun. This meeting was originally supposed to be held in Beijing, but I feared that if high-ranking officials were away for too long, the local areas would become unstable, so I was in a hurry to get you to your posts. I didn't let you participate in the discussions, but you must all be members of the Party's Central Committee and high-ranking Party leaders!"

Li Bin said happily, "Your subject will certainly be a good Party member!"

I smiled and said, "You're not getting any younger; you can't always be single. I'll choose a woman for you, a former close maid of the Empress Dowager, named Bing'er, to be your wife!"

With that, I waved my hand, and a woman wearing a tight-fitting Tang suit and high-waisted jeans, with long, flowing hair, entered from outside. The pretty young woman (let me mention here that ever since my four little wives' attire was revealed, a craze for the Empress Yan's clothing immediately swept through the Qing Dynasty, with even the palace maids following suit, imitating her style) made Li Gang's eyes widen. He immediately pulled the young woman to his knees and kowtowed to me, saying, "Your Majesty, we thank you for your great kindness!"

I then found Li Gang, who was very excited about the troops stationed at the Yalu River. As soon as he sat down, he asked me, "Your Majesty, are we going to teach the Japanese a lesson? Can my troops serve as the main force?"

I smiled, "Yes, but not quite! Yes, because the purpose of sending you here is to deal with the Japanese, to have you escort the Japanese army to their funerals, helping them get to Amaterasu Omikami's reward sooner! No, no..." "It's because now is not the time to attack them. We are not prepared enough, and we don't yet have the absolute means to defeat them! I sent you here to cultivate the land and train your troops. In four years, you must forge your soldiers into an iron army, ensure their basic needs are met, and secretly expand them into three corps, forming a single army group, ready to cross the river for battle! At the same time, you must lull the enemy into a false sense of security, making them believe you are just farmers, soldiers without combat capabilities, so they will dare to come and die! This is also to allow you to familiarize yourselves with the climate and terrain of Korea, preparing for a bloody winter battle with the Japanese!"

Li Gang immediately replied, "Farming is no problem; I grew up in a farm! But where will we get this land?"

I said seriously, "There's no ready-made land; we'll have to cultivate it ourselves. There are plenty of vast wastelands there. Let the soldiers pick up their hoes and cultivate the land while training. It'll be tiring for everyone, but as long as you improve the soldiers' rations, we'll have enough! I'll see if I can get you some iron plows, and you can buy some livestock. The cost of cultivating the land will be high, so I'll have Consort Zhen lend you some money. But make it clear that it's a loan. Once your crops are harvested, you'll be a major grain producer

. I won't allocate any grain to you, nor will I lend you any money. You'll have more than enough to pay me back!" Li Gang laughed, "That's no problem. Anyway, I don't want to be a major grain producer or a rich man. If I become a little rich, I'll buy some good weapons and equip the army well so we can fight those foreign devils more fiercely!"

I gave Li Gang three pieces of advice: conceal your ruthlessness and hide your true nature; secretly train your troops without neglecting military preparedness; familiarize yourself with the terrain and remember to cross the river.

Li Gang laughed and said, "Your Majesty wants us to appear as nothing, just farming like fools, while secretly familiarizing ourselves with the terrain of Korea. Once the order comes, I will immediately lead my troops south!"

I nodded, "Smart!"

But he immediately said with difficulty, "It's easy to familiarize myself with the terrain here, but how am I supposed to be familiar with the terrain over there in Korea?"

I kicked him, and he was taken aback. I said, "Can't you kick him secretly? What are your scouts for? Just give Sheng Bao a heads-up and you'll have everything. Send ten or twenty of them on sightseeing and vacations at a time; I don't believe they can't figure out such a small area!"

Li Gang immediately laughed, "Okay, I understand! I guarantee to complete the task Your Majesty has given me diligently!"

I said, "Don't forget to keep a low profile, especially in front of foreign reporters. You must pretend to be a foolish general who only knows farming and not fighting!"

Li Gang answered loudly, "I understand!"

I gave him Cixi's Qing'er, and he was so happy that he hugged the little girl tightly, grinning like an idiot. It took him a while to remember to pull the girl to kowtow to me in gratitude.

Then I called Haibo in. As soon as he entered, he said, "Is the principal going to take back Jiangdong?"

I said, "If I weren't taking back Jiangdong, what would I be sending you for!"

Haibo jumped up excitedly, and I quickly said, "Don't be too happy yet. I can't let you fight them now, nor do I agree to you provoking them. You'll go to the Heilongjiang River, and your headquarters will be set up in Heihe Town on the Heilongjiang River. But all your soldiers must be hidden in the mountains for me. I'm giving you an army now; ten years later, you'll bring out six armies from the mountains for me. You'll be the commander of the First Army Group of China. You'll cross the river and drive the Russian army out of the Ural Mountains and the Ural River, making them go back to Europe and be their Grand Duchy of Moscow!"

Haibo was still jumping around: "Great! Now I can finally vent my anger!"

I said, "But now you have to honestly work as a lumberjack, a gold miner, and a farmer in the mountains, using your income to support your increased troops, and let them be..." "The workers, the farmers, are actually your soldiers. Train them all to be elite troops like those in our military academy. Every three years, I will come to your camp to inspect their training. I will provide you with all the weapons I need, and the most advanced ones at that! I don't want you to be ascetics. Build good camps in the mountains, ensure the food is plentiful, and make sure the soldiers are in great shape. They'll have the strength to fight the Russians! Let them chase the Russians across the Ural Mountains in one fell swoop!"

Haibo quickly replied, "No problem! As long as we raise pigs, grow vegetables, harvest wheat, and eat as much pork stew with vermicelli and steamed buns as we want, I don't believe they won't get fat!"

I bestowed Yu'er, who was by Cixi's side, upon him. He said shyly, "Your Majesty, I want to endure hardship and bide my time—is this woman—" But when he saw Yu'er's beautiful appearance, he swallowed his saliva, cut off his words, and pulled the girl down to kneel on the ground.

As for that Miss Li, I didn't intend to give her to my beloved general. She was, after all, Li Lianying's sister, and too flirtatious. I was afraid she'd corrupt my beloved maids, so I sent her to a wealthy countryman to keep her out of my sight.

This time, I brought four "pure and innocent" maids from Empress Dowager Cixi's entourage. These four girls were all beautiful, and being Han Chinese from Northeast China, they were familiar with and could adapt to life there. After giving away three, I specifically reserved the most beautiful, Jie'er, for Sheng Bao. I planned to personally go to Korea to take her with me later. I had consulted with the four maids a couple of days ago, and they were overjoyed, tears streaming down their faces, kneeling and thanking me profusely. They knew, of course, that these were my beloved maids, with limitless futures; marrying such a man would be a meteoric rise!

As dusk fell, Fei'er and Zhen'er returned. Seeing their smiling faces, I knew they were fairly satisfied with the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau. But what I never expected was that Fei'er would propose a bold idea!

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