third chance

Once the power is in hand, the order will be carried out, and the three armies, big and small, will obey my orders.

……

When Yikuang Xingye heard the news of Cixi's death, he immediately returned with a bumpy road and dusty journey.Entering the palace, but hearing that the emperor was summoned in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he was terrified: Didn't it mean that the emperor can't survive for four days at most, how can he manage politics?My stomach is full of question marks, but I still can't find someone to ask.

"The slave sees the emperor, long live my emperor, long live, long live, long live."

"Prince Qing please get up quickly and give me a seat." Lin Guangyu asked without waiting for the other party to sit still, "How is Dongling?"

"If you go back to the emperor, this is why the slaves rushed back from Dongling overnight. The Putuo Valley is an auspicious place for thousands of years, and the project has been repaired very well and has reached perfection. The Buddha statue presented by the ** Lama, the slaves also obeyed the order. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enshrining it in the underground palace."

"Lord Qing has worked hard." Lin Guangyu raised his brows, "After discussing with all the ministers last night, I decided that Lord Qing will take care of the Queen Mother's aftermath. Only Lord Qing can handle this matter personally so that I can rest assured."

"My servant complies with the order. When I heard that there was a fire in the palace just now when I came here, I was extremely terrified. Now that the emperor is in good health, this servant is relieved."

"In troubled times, I can't stop for a moment." Lin Guangyu sighed, "Last night, the fire spread all over the place, harming innocent people... I have withdrawn the job of Shixu Military Minister and fined him half a year's salary. What does Prince Qing think?"

"The slave has no objection."

"Master Zhang worked hard last night to drive out Yigao, please take a look at it first."

Little Sula read out the will in court, and everyone nodded their heads in agreement, and it was formally approved amidst the voices of seconding, and it can be promulgated to the world after it is signed with a seal.Yikuang was not in the mood to listen to what little Sula read because he found that Yuan Shikai was not there.What about Yuan Shikai?Consulting eyes turned to Na Tong, only to see that the latter was sweating profusely, trying to signal with his eyes, but it was difficult to express the meaning.The two of them didn't notice at all that although Lin Guangyu, who was sitting on the dragon chair, seemed to be listening carefully on the surface, he actually had a panoramic view of Yikuang and Natong's small movements.

"National affairs are embarrassing, government affairs are busy, and we must not stop for a day. Since the Minister of Military Aircraft and Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are vacant, I invite you to nominate someone."

Hearing this, Yikuang, who was busy making eye contact with Natong just now, was shocked, almost fell off the stool, Yuan Shikai?What happened to Yuan Shikai?Tie Liang told him: "Yuan Weiting died in a fire in the palace last night..."

"Ah!" Yikuang felt that his whole body was going to collapse, how could it be?

Lin Guangyu said in a tone of great regret: "The empress dowager has become very unfortunate, and I am busy with everything. I should have gone to Yuan Qing's house to express my condolences, but now I am afraid I can't leave. I heard that Prince Qing and Yuan Qing are very good friends. You are a member of the royal family, so how about taking my place?" Anyway, you will go if you don't, so I'll let you do another favor.

"Slave...lead the decree." Yi Kuang, who had been hit so hard, was speechless, and he was only obedient.

"In addition, please ask Xiaoda to write a memorial essay for me, expressing my feelings for Yuan Qing."

"emperor……"

Lin Guangyu waved his hand: "Everyone may have misunderstood that I have a prejudice against Yuan Qing. Now that I think about it, who is the queen mother and my favorite first? Yuan Shikai also. I have worked tirelessly to reform the law and strengthen the country with the New Deal. In the past 10 years, the implementation of the New Deal has been the most effective and reform. Yuan Shikai is the one who has spared no effort in the reformation! I hope Master Zhang's writings are a good example of Yuan Qing's talent and contribution, as well as my condolences."

"The minister obeys the order and will live up to the holy hope."

"Your majesty is holy!" Amidst the sound of the holy light, the expressions on the faces of the people were still full of strangeness.Lu Chuanlin was old and hard of hearing, and he still looked in a daze; Shixu and Zhang Zhidong were shocked by Lin Guangyu's performance, thinking that he was not the emperor they were familiar with, such tone and scheming were really too deep, In particular, Zhang Zhidong was fully aware of the whole process of Lin Guangyu leaving Yuan Shikai behind. Compared with what he said just now, the two of them trembled with coldness. Kui and Natong hadn't turned the corner from Yuan Shikai's sudden death, and they heard the emperor's words from one ear to the other. I wonder how the emperor's evaluation of Yuan Shikai has changed?All these years, it was the emperor who desperately said that he wanted to kill Yuan Shikai. He made a paper turtle and wrote Yuan Shikai's name on his back, but he was also the emperor's elder brother. Why did he suddenly take a 180-degree turn?Tie Liang was vaguely pondering the truth behind the incident, planning what to do in the future, but at least he was very satisfied with the emperor's answer—a joke, if you don't say good things, can you still speak ill?Everyone is dead, why don't they make trouble?

"There is a shortage of military aircraft, what do you think?"

"My minister recommends Prince Su Shanqi. Prince Su is old enough to seek the country and is an elder of the clan, so he is good enough to take on this role." Zaifeng was the first to express his position, and the emperor had already hinted at him.

"My minister agrees."

"The minister waits for the second opinion!"

Yikuang was not happy at first, so now there are three princes in the military plane, Prince Qing, Prince Su, and Prince Jin. Zaifeng is promoted by Cixi and is the emperor's younger brother. Naturally, he has nothing to say. Qi also joined the military plane, wouldn't he want to fight against himself?But everyone has already expressed their opinion, and he can only nod his head.

"There is still a vacancy. Who do you think is more appropriate?" Lin Guangyu turned his attention to Zhang Zhidong. This is the position left by Yuan Shikai. Of course, Han people should be nominated-this is an unwritten rule, which is tacitly understood by each other. .

"My Majesty, I have two candidates. One is Xu Shichang, governor of the three eastern provinces, and the other is..." Zhang Zhidong paused, and everyone listened to what he said, "Cen-chun-xuan, who was vacant last year, .”

Xu Shichang's name made Yikuang, Natong and others all have a bright spot. Everyone in the court knows that Xu Shichang and Yuan Shikai have an extraordinary relationship. They are brothers who can't be more iron. , it shows that the emperor still basically accepts the Beiyang faction, and at worst it is the result of a compromise; if the emperor cannot accept Xu Shichang, then no matter how much he praises Yuan Shikai on the surface, he is still preparing to use a knife, so he has to guard against it .

Although Zaifeng had heard a little about the relationship between Xu Shichang and Yuan Shikai, he didn't take it too seriously and was ready to act according to the emperor's wishes.Yikuang and Natong couldn't wait to express their opinions: "The minister (slave) thinks Xu Shichang can do it!" They didn't want to hear Cen Chunxuan's name. In the sensational big case last year, Yuan Shikai and Yikuang spent a lot of money on it. Cixi, who was full of doubts, made a vacancy for Cen Chunxuan and Qu Hongqi. If he invited Cen Chunxuan back now, wouldn't it be "not an enemy? Get together?"

Lin Guangyu naturally understood the careful thinking of the two, but he had a good impression of Xu Shichang to a certain extent.Xu Shichang was indeed Yuan Shikai's right-hand man and the head of the civil servants of the Beiyang system, but he was also an administrative bureaucrat with superb political skills, and he was the promoter and forerunner of the New Deal.The various changes and progress of the three eastern provinces after the establishment of the province all showed his talent. How could such a talent be shelved?Moreover, under the established strategy of dividing and suppressing the Beiyang sector, blindly belittling and suppressing the application of Beiyang talents will not only fail to achieve this effect, but will further encourage the centrifugal tendency of the Beiyang Group.The tricks of Yikuang and Natong are really not worth mentioning.

"Xu Shichang?" Lin Guangyu paused for a moment, and Yikuang and Natong stared nervously at the emperor's brows, for fear that he would disagree, but in the end they waited for such a sentence—"Xu Qing is currently the governor of the three eastern provinces. Can you take over?" Lin Guangyu didn't say whether he agreed or disagreed, and just continued to ask the latter question.

"This..." Yikuang was overjoyed. The emperor had clearly agreed, but he had to reserve the position of governor of the three eastern provinces. He immediately said, "Your majesty, I think..." He was about to expose a private person. The candidate, suddenly the corner of his clothes was held by Natong, who snatched it up and said: "The power of employing people belongs to the emperor, the emperor must have been calculating in his heart, and the minister dare not speak rashly."

Being pulled by him like this, Yikuang suddenly understood, and secretly scolded himself for being overwhelmed by Cen Chunxuan's words, without even the most basic taboo and political sense.Now the emperor is in charge, and he is the one who holds the power of employing people. Does it mean that it is his turn to dictate who is used and who is not?If the Empress Dowager is still there, it's okay for someone to use money to clear the way and go their own way, now?Difficult!

Looking at Yikuang's old face full of flesh and decadence due to too much indulgence in sex and wealth, Lin Guangyu felt sick in his heart.Regarding Na Tong's robbing just now, he responded with a cold smile, saying, "You still have a little self-knowledge..."

"Xu Shichang went to Beijing and was given the military aircraft. The governor of the three eastern provinces was succeeded by the governor of Sichuan, Zhao Erxun, and the governor of Sichuan was taken care of by the chief envoy of Sichuan, Wang Renwen... Do you have any objections?"

"Your Majesty is wise."

Only the Shangshu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet been determined. Although Natong also bears the title of the Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is at the same level as Yuan Shikai in terms of rank, but because Yuan Shikai has always held the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has taken over all The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has great power, and Natong cannot intervene in the actual affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Seeing the vacancy, he was eager to try and wanted this position very much, but after waiting for a long time, no one recommended it.Zaifeng, Tieliang, and Zhang Zhidong stood there motionless like dead people. Yikuang was somewhat embarrassed because he was pulled by him just now, not to mention that he couldn't understand the emperor's mind, and it was even more inconvenient to speak out. This remark, to Na Tong's repeated gestures deliberately pretending not to know, the latter was so anxious that he scratched his ears and scratched his cheeks, his heart was itchy.

"How about Liang Dunyan?" Lin Guangyu turned his gaze to Zhang Zhidong and asked.Liang is currently the minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a child studying abroad. He is a top student of Yale University and an outstanding diplomatic expert. In history, he was the first foreign minister of the Qing government.

"I don't dare to speculate on the holy will..." Zhang Zhidong's answer was somewhat unexpected, but it was reasonable.Before Liang Dunyan met Zhang Zhidong, he was so poor that he could hardly survive, but the latter discovered him and recommended him to Cixi. It can be said that he knew him well. Engage in cronies.

Lin Guangyu was taken aback, remembered that there was still such a section, and smiled: "Could it be that Master Zhang has even forgotten the rule of not avoiding relatives when recruiting talents?"

"I don't dare. Since the emperor said so, then I will make a bold comment. Liang Songsheng (Liang Dunyan's character) is both excellent in character and talent, and he is worthy of a heavy responsibility."

"Master Zhang is always accurate in judging people. Since he recommends it like this, he must be a good candidate." Lin Guangyu smiled slightly, and sold Zhang Zhidong a favor, "I am busy with state affairs these days, so I won't call him alone to comfort him. I beg Master Zhang to give me some advice and let him do a good job, as I am watching, I hope that I can become a minister like Master Zhang in the future."

"I thank God on his behalf." Lin Guangyu's words reached Zhang Zhidong's heart. It not only showed that he knew people well, but also pointed out that he was a minister of the imperial court. He praised two aspects so much that the old minister was so happy that he almost raised his beard-Xiang Shuai doesn't love money, but only loves fame!

Natong felt disappointed for a while, but his face was indifferent, the rest of them saw Zhang Zhidong's strong recommendation, and the emperor had already agreed, why bother to make fun of themselves, they all replied: "The emperor is wise."

Emperor Shengming?Why wasn't I enlightened when I was in Yingtai?Lin Guangyu couldn't help but slander...