Chapter 176 Xiao Cui

Once the new army in the small station is as strong as Zhang Jun, the Empress Dowager Cixi can only act on Yuan Shikai's face. How dare she attack the new army!

Yuan Shikai doesn't want to be Zeng Guofan!

To be a slave of the Qing Dynasty, it depends on your strength!

If you are not strong enough, be a slave! If you have enough strength, then you should be the master!

Therefore, he and Ronglu came to the Summer Palace and spoke to the Empress Dowager Cixi to expand the small station new army and monopolize 10 million taels of silver military expenses originally shared by the small station new army and the Dingwu army. With this money, Yuan Shikai can expand the new army of Xiaozhan into ten towns. In the Qing Dynasty, no one can compete with the new army of Xiaozhan except Zhang Jun.

He succeeded!

Cixi faced the crowd and said slowly, "Let's see, what else needs to be done besides stepping up the training of the new army?"

Gangyi said, "Empress dowager, will Ding Ruchang's matter be solved immediately? This has been delayed for half a year, and there will always be a result."

"Resolute, what do you mean?"

He took a resolute look at Yuan Shikai and stopped talking.

Yuan Shikai's heart is bright. The Beiyang Marine Division is Li Hongzhang's subordinate, which is the army led by the Han people. This is to remind the Empress Dowager Cixi that the Beiyang Marine Division, like Zhou Charter, has anti-bones in the back of its brain. Cai Ting, the deputy admiral of the Beiyang Marine Division, has openly defected to Zhou Charter, and the officers and soldiers left in Weihaiwei are also very different. Reliable. At this time, it must be solved!

Yuan Shikai bowed and said, "I thought that in the Battle of the Yellow Sea, Ding Ruchang lied about the war, and later disobeyed the order of the dynasty. After the armistice agreement came into effect, he fought with the Japanese army privately. That's all, but he later sank Zhou Charter's ship and assassinated Zhou Charter. In any case, there must be an explanation for this matter. The Beiyang Marine Division has always been arrogant. If you don't pay attention to the imperial court, you should immediately prove Ding Ruchang's code. One can deter the proud soldiers of the Beiyang Marine Division, and second, you can also make a friendly gesture to Zhou Charter to paralyze Zhou Charter. Now, Weihaiwei Beiyang sailors have no leader, but they can order Lord Ronglu to temporarily take over the Beiyang sailors.

Yuan Shikai's words, one was loyal to the Empress Dowager Cixi, and the other was to propose that Ronglu take over the Beiyang Marine Division, which was a reward for Ronglu.

Empress Dowager Cixi nodded: "Yuan Shikai is right. Ding Ruchang's matter must be done immediately! However, Ronglu is not suitable for this matter. I think it's better to let Zaiyi go there. Zaiyi, the Beiyang sailor will be handed over to you!"

The Empress Dowager Cixi's heart was bright. Yuan Shikai's new army was actually Ronglu's. Then he handed over the Beiyang Marine Division to Ronglu, and Ronglu became the number one powerful minister in the Qing Dynasty! The Empress Dowager Cixi is worried about anyone, even if she is full of relatives and nobles!

"I thank the empress dowager for her kindness, and I am willing to serve the empress dowager, although I will not hesitate!" Zai Yi was so excited that he trembled all over! The Empress Dowager Cixi gave the military expenses of the Dingwu army to the new army, but handed over the Beiyang Marine Division to Zaiyi. Between the gains and losses, the gains outweighed the losses!

Yuan Shikai was secretly shocked, and the Empress Dowager Cixi was not dizzy! She was very shrewd and let Zaiyi lead the Beiyang Marine Division, that is, to let the Beiyang Marine Division check and balance with the new army of Xiaozhan - the Empress Dowager Buddha was not worried about Yuan Shikai! Even if she and Yuan Shikai are in-laws.

In the Qing Dynasty, when it comes to playing power, no one can beat the Empress Dowager Buddha!

Cixi looked at the crawling on the ground and said slowly, "As the Minister of the Navy, you presided over the military affairs of the Beiyang Marine Division, and the treasury managed to raise 50 million taels of silver for the use of the Beiyang Marine Division."

"Thank you!" Zaiyi was ecstatic. Yuan Shikai got 10 million taels of silver, but he got 50 million taels, five times that of Yuan Shikai!

"As for the admiral of Beiyang Marine, there are new candidates," Cixi said, "You go to Xuzhou first, finish Ding Ruchang's business, and then go to Weihaiwei to announce the new admiral."

"I obey the order!"

Ding Ruchang was imprisoned in the Dingwu military camp in Xuzhou. Empress Dowager Cixi wanted to send Ding Ruchang to the west sky first!

The Empress Dowager Cixi paused and said, "Zhaiyi, you still have to do one more thing."

"Please make it clear!"

"Go to the nine-door admiral's office and ask them to arrest all the people in Zhongyong's house! Contain it secretly. Be careful about this matter and don't leak any news!"

Before Zhou Charter went to Taiwan, Empress Dowager Cixi allowed Zhao Qiaoer's family of three to leave the Summer Palace and return to Zhongyong's House, which was for Zhou Charter. Now, especially Park Yonglie's Zhangjun's fourth division by the Yalu River, which has caused great pressure on Beijing. In this case, the Empress Dowager Buddha wants to hold Zhou Charter's family firmly in her hands - this is the only card she can play at present!

Hearing this, Rong Lu hurriedly said, "Empress dowager, we have stepped up the training of troops and rectifying the Beiyang Marine Division in order to guard against the Zhou Charter. However, I'm afraid it's not the time to have a complete showdown with Zhou Charter, and we have to maintain our face. After all, he is still the Admiral Huguang of the Qing Dynasty.

Ronglu's brain is the clearest. He knows that if Zhou Charter really defeats the Japanese army, he will become the king of Taiwan, so the court can't turn against him, but only a false commission.

The Empress Dowager Cixi ignored Ronglu and stretched out: "I'm tired."

Ronglu also wants to argue: "The Empress Dowager..."

Zaiyi scolded, "Lord Rong, you have said too much!"

After the Sino-Japanese War, Prince Gong Yixin's health was getting worse day by day. Basically, he withdrew from politics. For example, in today's court, Zaiyi and Ronglu were two powerful people. Ronglu got the new army of the small station with the help of Yuan Shikai, and Ye Zhichao's armed forces with Yi lost power. Zai Yi was originally at a disadvantage, but now he has it. Beiyang sailor can challenge Ronglu again.

Ronglu saw that the Empress Dowager Cixi's face was gloomy, so he had to keep silent.

Everyone withdrew from the Foxiang Pavilion.

The Empress Dowager Cixi watched the crowd withdraw and shouted, "Cui Yugui!"

"I'm there!" Cui Yugui turned out from behind the curtain and knelt in front of Cixi.

"How's the preparation for that?"

"Please don't worry, the Empress Dowager, it's all ready."

"How about the people arranged?"

"Please rest assured that the Empress Dowager are all fine people selected by slaves, and they will not miss the great events of the Empress Dowager!"

"Then go and do it." Empress Dowager Cixi said, "Remember, this trip needs to be handled carefully."

"Oh!"

......

The night is dim and the moon shines high.

Zhao Qiaoer walked to an old elm tree in the yard, took out a mahogany box from her arms, and sighed gently: "Charter, why do you need it? I know what you think better than yourself!"

In the box is Zhou Charter's broken finger. Three days ago, Zhao Han came to Zhongyongbo's House and handed over Zhou Charter's broken finger to Zhao Qiaoer. Zhao Qiaoer spent 20 taels of silver to make this mahogany box and hid her broken finger in the box.

Liu Yingshu also shook her head and sighed, "Sister Qiaoer, our husband owes a romantic debt. If it goes on like this, I'm afraid his ten fingers will not be enough!"

"The charter is a decisive determination, and he hasn't forgotten us." Zhao Qiaoer handed the box to Liu Yingshu: "bury it."

Liu Yingshu took the wooden box, squatted under the elm tree, carefully put the box in the dug pit, covered the soil, stood up and said, "Sister Qiaoer, I said, if we want him to stop cutting his fingers, we have to go to Taiwan quickly. As long as you stay by his side, he doesn't have to be cruel."

Zhao Qiaoer smiled and said, "That's right, but the Empress Dowager Buddha won't let us go."

There were footsteps behind her. Liu Yingshu hurriedly pulled Zhao Qiaoer's sleeve, but saw the maid Xiao Cui and hurried over.

Liu Yingshu said coldly, "Xiao Cui, we didn't let you come to serve. We don't have the right to serve you!"

Everyone in the house knows that Xiao Cui is next to the Empress Dowager Buddha, and Liu Yingshu never gives Xiao Cui a good look.

Xiao Cui faced Zhao Qiaoer and knelt down and said, "I'm a slave..."

"You are not a slave, you are a young lady!" Liu Yingshu said coldly.

Zhao Qiaoer said slowly, "Yingshu, don't talk like that, Xiao Cui, what's the matter?"

Xiao Cui bowed her head and said, "Madam, tonight, the Empress Dowager Buddha ordered the nine-door admiral to arrest you. The matter is urgent. Please leave here quickly!"

Zhao Qiaoer was shocked: "How do you know?"

Xiao Cui said, "This afternoon, someone from the garden asked me to watch you, and they will come to pick you up in the evening. General Zhou is a loyal minister of the country. The Empress Dowager mistakenly believed the slander and made no distinction between right and wrong. She heard that General Zhou had won the battle in Taiwan and embarrass General Zhou. Although Xiao Cui is the maid beside the Empress Dowager Buddha, Xiao Cui is also a reasonable person. The Empress Dowager has not done a good job. Xiao Cui's words are true and she dare not hide it.

Liu Yingshu scolded: "Xiao Cui, what kind of heart do you have? How dare you disobey the Empress Dowager and reveal the news to us? Don't want to hurt us, do you? This black light is blind. If we run out, who knows who we will meet? Sister Qiaoer, don't believe him!"

Xiao Cui burst into tears: "Two ladies, this time, the Empress Dowager Buddha is determined to arrest you. If you don't run, it will be too late! Xiao Cui worked beside the Empress Dowager and knew that you didn't believe me. Xiao Cui could not prove herself and could only plead with the two ladies to get up quickly!"

Zhao Qiaoer saw Xiao Cui's earnest words, not like a lie. This Xiaocui is usually honest. Everyone in Zhongyong's mansion knows that she is around the Empress Dowager, but Xiaocui is not proud at all. She serves Zhao Qiaoer and Liu Yingshu carefully, polite and decent.

"Xiao Cui, where can we go if we run out now?" Zhao Qiaoer sighed, "Since the Empress Dowager Buddha won't let us go, we can't escape from Beijing even if we run out of Zhongyongbo Mansion!" At that time, it will hurt you. I think we'll just wait for them to come here."

Xiao Cui said, "Madam, I have a brother who lives in Fangzhuang. Let's go there first and then try to escape from Beijing."

Zhao Qiaoer shook his head: "In this way, won't it involve your brother again?"