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Text Volume 3: Repairing the Sky Cracks Section 33: Undercurrent

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    The first of two updates, call for monthly tickets!

    Tianjin, Zhili Governor¡¯s Office

    "When we return to the central hall" Zhang Peilun's face was already gloomy, almost indistinguishable from the dark clouds outside. "The message sent back a few days before the Ming Dynasty, of course, has already purchased cutting-edge iron armor for the Beiyang from the South American country of Chile.  News, but this second telegram"

    He raised his head and looked directly into Li Hongzhang's eyes, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice: "This Wen Tingshi is certainly a new figure in the Qing Dynasty. If you look at him, he usually relies on his talents and acts wildly, but he strictly adheres to the way of a saint.  His reputation says that he would commit suicide by crossing the sea because he did not want to go abroad, but it may not be entirely believable"

    Li Hongzhang¡¯s eyebrows moved slightly, but he did not interrupt. Instead, he listened quietly to Zhang Peilun¡¯s continued speech.

    "But" Zhang Peilun changed the topic, "If Wen knew that there was no excuse for this matter, so he had the intention of sacrificing himself, then why didn't he die on the day he received the order? But it happened  Do you want to wait until you go to sea to die? If you want to attach this matter to the idea that Wen committed suicide and then falsely accused Zhiming of murder in order to repay the humiliation of Zhiming that day, it would barely make sense. However,  If Wen had this intentionthen he would not leave any more suicide notes and relics as Zhiming said in the telegram!"

    "Zhongtang!", Zhang Peilun's face was full of worry, and he said coldly with a deep voice: "If you make a careless move, you must be careful and you will lose the whole game! Please note Qingyi can kill people!"

    Li Hongzhang has already left the recliner.  He walked leisurely to the window, looked at the gloomy sky outside with his hands behind his hands, and said after a long time: "The clear stream today is no longer the green cow when Gaoyang was the head of the cow in the past!"

    Seeing that Zhang Peilun was about to argue, he immediately waved his hand to the latter.

    Seeing Zhang Peilun stop talking, he continued: "That day I heard that Master Weng recommended Wen as Zhi Ming's deputy. I was surprised, but also a little more contemptuous and a little worried!"  Li Hongzhang frowned slightly.  He continued to talk: "And when Zhiming told me what he had done, I suddenly felt that the anxiety I had felt for the past few days had disappeared in an instant"

    "Youqiao, it's not me and Zhiming who want to hide it from you." Li Hongzhang turned around and looked at Zhang Peilun, his tone had turned gentle, "It's just that the matter happened suddenly, so I made a quick decision, and since I have decided to make a quick decision,  The idea of ????cutting the mess must be kept secret This is not a glorious thing after all. Besides, even if you knew it at the time, could you have any better way?"

    Zhang Peilun was immediately suffocated.  He was so angry at the moment.  But it was really because most of it was because the master-disciple pair Li Hongzhang and Ren Lingyu were going to assassinate Wen Tingshi, who was a member of the Beiyang Qing Dynasty.  Now that Li Hongzhang has spoken to this extent.  Naturally, he couldn't help but express something.  So he lowered his eyelids.  After a while, he said: "Master Zhongtang is right. The student really doesn't have any good ideas." "That's right."  Li Hongzhang returned to the recliner.  Half lying down and looking at the ceiling above his head.  He continued: "Keep Wen. He will definitely repay the country with jealousy for his actions in Zhiming. Then the so-called Nanqing Liuran will swarm up and attack him! If Wen is not left".  His voice lowered slightly.  "Of course there are unavoidable censorship and clamoring. But as long as Zhi Ming closes the gap on his own side, then no matter how dissatisfied these officials are, in the end I'm afraid they can only aim at nothing!"

    "Speaking in the middle hall. Of course it makes sense."  The expression on Zhang Peilun's face softened slightly.  But there was still a hint of worry in his eyes.  "It's just. Zhiming acts like this. Doesn't it seem too murderous?"

    "Too murderous?"  Li Hongzhang sat upright all of a sudden.  He forgot about Zhang Peilun for a moment.  Suddenly burst out laughing.

    "Youqiao, youqiao. You are such a person".  Li Hongzhang shook his head.  Pointing at Zhang Peilun.  After thinking for a while, he smiled and said: "After so many years, I am still a scholar at heart!"

    No need to wait for Zhang Peilun¡¯s explanation.  He continued talking to himself: "It is too murderous. In the twelfth lunar month of the second year of Tongzhi, I was in Suzhou. I chopped off the heads of tens of thousands of people at one time. Such murderous intent. But Ren Zhiming can't compare with it, right? Youqiao  ¡­¡±

    Zhang Peilun looked over after hearing the words.  I saw Li Hongzhang's eyes filled with a rare murderous intent.  I couldn't help but feel a chill on my back.  Cold sweat broke out.  But I heard Li Hongzhang continue coldly: "As the saying goes, if you break, you will break. If you break without stopping, you will be disturbed. He was born at the age of Ren Zhiming. To be able to become a fifth-rank official is an exception. But from my perspective.  Just dealing with the matter of Wen Tingshi shows that in addition to being experienced and thoughtful, my student also has an extra layer of ruthlessness and determination! It is only because of this that I feel particularly relieved these days. I am a Beiyang man.  ¡­¡±

    There was a hint of frustration in Li Hongzhang's eyes: "The stall is too big, there are too many people and things, the so-called boat is so shallow that it is difficult to turn around Some things??, even if I want to straighten things out, I am unable to do anything.  But this Beiyang property must be handed over to someone who is talented, knowledgeable and courageous.  "

    "That's what Zhongtang said." Zhang Peilun nodded, but still couldn't help but said: "But this Wenting style is, after all, a disciple of Weng Changshu, and the teacher of the former master of Jingren Palace. After all,  He is also a disciple of the Emperor. Where is the Emperor"

    "Don't worry!" Li Hongzhang's eyes were full of mockery, "I've been dealing with Master Weng for half my life. Just watch, he will be too busy to take care of himself in a few days! As for the Emperor,  There, Youqiao, the Emperor may be younger, but the Queen Mother has never been confused"

    "Okay, let's stop talking about this first. You still have a telegram in your hand. Where does it come from?" Li Hongzhang pointed at another telegram in Zhang Peilun's hand and asked casually.

    "This is one." After hearing this, Zhang Peilun picked up the telegram, glanced at it briefly and said, "It was sent by Yuan Xiangcheng back from Seoul."

    "Yuan Shikai?".  Li Hongzhang's pupils shrank slightly and he said solemnly: "What did he say again?"

    "Back in the middle hall, Yuan Xiangcheng said in the telegram that in recent days, traces of the remnants of the Kaihua Party that launched the palace coup in the 10th year of Guangxu's reign have repeatedly appeared in North Korea, and there are also cults running rampant among the people. If things go on like this, there may be big changes!  Moreover, according to the "Tianjin Treaty" in the eleventh year of Guangxu's reign, once changes occur in Korea, both the Japanese pirates and the Qing Dynasty will have the power to deal with it. Therefore, Yuan Xiangcheng suggested that Zhongtang make early plans. All matters such as the Kanto Railway should be arranged as soon as possible.  Prepare for a rainy day"

    "Japanese pirates?" Li Hongzhang murmured to himself. He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes and continued: "In the eleventh year of Guangxu's reign, when I first met Ito Hirobumi in Tianjin City, I told the imperial court  He said, Ito has been in Europe and the United States for a long time, and he is really a rare talent for governing the country. With him in Japan, the country will become rich and powerful within ten years! It has been six years now. Mr. Ito, you are no longer satisfied.  Are you in room yet?"

    "Youqiao!" Li Hongzhang closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, he was filled with anger: "You must prepare a telegram for me as soon as possible and ask Yuan Shikai to keep an eye on me in Seoul from the day he receives the telegram.  The King of Korea and the Minister of Japan! Korea at least until our new Beiyang Navy ships are ready, there must be no chaos in the three Koreas."

    "Yes!" Before Zhang Peilun could finish his words, he heard a roar of thunder from the clouds, and several bolts of lightning pierced the sky. But in the blink of an eye, the whole sky was filled with the sound of thunder one after another, and lightning was accompanied by thunder.  Light up the dark sky.  The clouds in the sky resemble chaotic and turbulent waves.  Rolling over the Tianjin sky.

    The capital, the Forbidden City.  Yangxin Hall

    As soon as Guangxu came out of Dongnuan Pavilion with Weng Tong, he saw Li Lianying, who was wearing a fourth-grade flower feather crown, holding a tray covered with yellow silk.  Already waiting respectfully beside the magnificent Xumizuo.

    Seeing the emperor leaving the Dongnuan Pavilion, Li Lianying immediately bent his knees, and his grown body knelt down. He put the tray in his hand in front of him, then kowtowed and said: "Slave Li Lianying.  master!"

    "It's Li Shuda." As soon as he saw Li Lianying, Guangxu seemed to have put aside his anger in an instant. He took a few steps to sit on the Xumi Seat, then raised his hand to Li Lianying and said with a smile.  : "Get up."

    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Lianying respectfully picked up the tray on the ground and stood up from the golden brick floor. Then she turned sideways to Weng Tong, who was standing beside the throne, and still said with a respectful expression: "Give it to Weng Zhongtang  Please greet me."

    "Yeah." Weng Tong's face was as heavy as water, and he just squeezed out a sound from his nose and barely responded.  Seeing him being so pretentious, Li Lianying looked respectful as usual on her face, but she was secretly sneering in her heart - Master Weng usually regarded himself as a moral gentleman, and it was rare for people like eunuchs to be respected in other places.  , What's more, Li Lianying also had an acquaintance with Sun Yuwen, his long-standing enemy in the Military Aircraft Department at this time, which made the director of the Chuxiu Palace even more wrong in front of him.

    "Come here, give Master Weng a seat." After sitting down on the Xumi throne, Guangxu first called two young eunuchs over, moved the dragon-embroidered porcelain pier where Weng Tong had just sat, and asked Weng Tong to sit down.  Then he turned to Li Lianying, smiled and asked, "Where did Li Shuda come from?"

    "Replying to the emperor, this servant came from Jingqingzhai." Li Lianying leaned down slightly while holding the tray, and said respectfully to Guangxu. As he spoke, he raised his eyes slightly and looked at the emperor on the throne¡ª¡ª  It's still the camel-colored river silk shirt that he usually wears, with an azurite gold dragon jacket on top.

    Li Lianying knows it - since the Jiajing period, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty have been making fuss about the word "frugality" one by one. Emperor Daoguang even wore a patched dragon robe to go to court., for a time it was also a good story among scholars.  Although the emperor in front of him could not reach the level of Emperor Daoguang, he was no longer much better than the Emperor Tongzhi who clamored to rebuild the Old Summer Palace!

    "Oh?" Guangxu raised his eyebrows slightly, looking past Li Lianying to look at the rising dusk in the sky outside Yangxin Hall, and then took out a gold watch with a coiled dragon pattern on the cover from his arms and looked at it.  , Ru Mengfang woke up and said: "In the blink of an eye, it's already time for lunch"

    "Li Shuda", he turned to Li Lianying again and asked with concern: "Does Lafayette have a good appetite? What did you eat for lunch?"

    Since the date of moving to Xiyuan.  The Empress Dowager Cixi used the Yiluan Hall as her sleeping quarters and the Qinzheng Hall where she discussed government affairs. The Jingqingzhai in Beihai became the villa where the Empress Dowager visited for lunch every day. Since Li Lianying came from Jingqingzhai, then  He must have just served the Empress Dowager Cixi to the dining room

    "Back to the Emperor, Lafayette always emphasizes eating less to maintain health. The Emperor also knows that. I had 20 taels of rice porridge at noon. I also had a little bit of my favorite braised duck strips, and some seasonal ones.  Melons and fruitsexcept for this. Nothing else."  Li Lianying responded carefully.

    "Huh?" Guangxu's slender beauties were frowning at one point. He said coldly with a cold face: "Is this all you've got? How do you servants serve me?"

    Seeing the emperor's sudden change of expression, Li Lianying's knees softened and she knelt down again: "Replying to the emperor, Lafayette has not had a good appetite these days. Even at lunch today, Lafayette took a few bites and then put down his chopsticks.  , saying that he has not had a meal with the emperor for more than ten days".  Speaking of this, Li Lianying's eyes were already red, and he continued: "Lafayette shed tears as he spoke, and my servant felt uncomfortable watching"

    As he spoke, he began to wipe his tears with his sleeves.  Guangxu's face on the throne also had a sad look.

    "I have been busy with government affairs these days and have too many chores. In addition to taking care of myself at dawn and dusk every day, I have indeed not gone to have meals with the Queen Mother for some time Li Shuda, you get up first." After Li Lianying stood up again  , Guangxu thought for a moment, and then said: "When you go back, report to the Queen Mother and tell her that I will go to serve her elderly family for dinner tomorrow."

    "This slave obeys your order, Your Majesty."  Li Lianying's eyes have moved to the emperor's face.  Then he couldn't help but sigh in his heart - compared with the last time they met, the emperor seemed to be thinner.  The sunken cheeks were tinged with an unhealthy blue-grey color, which could also be heard from the previous performance.  Although the emperor was furious because of Empress Dowager Cixi's poor appetite, the emperor himself had even forgotten about lunch

    With this in mind, Li Lianying kept saying: "Your Majesty, I have a few words to convey to Your Majesty, following the instructions from the Queen Mother."

    "Oh?" Guangxu was startled and stood up from the throne. His eyes flashed with uncertainty and he said to Li Lianying: "Li Shuda, what does the Queen Mother have to say to me?"

    "Back to the Emperor, the Queen Mother said that state affairs are of paramount importance and the Emperor must fulfill his filial piety. There is no rush at this moment. When Wen Baotian comes back from visiting his relatives in three days, the imperial kitchen will be able to cook decent duck again. It will not be too late for the Emperor to go there again.  .", Li Lianying said.

    "Well, I understand." Guangxu felt relieved, sat back slowly, and asked, "Does the Queen Mother have anything else to say?"

    "The Queen Mother also said that it is good for the Emperor to be diligent in his work, but he must not neglect his diet because he is busy with political affairs. Therefore, he specially ordered his servant to bring a Western clock to the Emperor to remind him not to delay his stay in the bedroom."  He raised the tray above his head and said loudly.

    "Bring it up!" Guangxu immediately raised his hand to summon an eunuch from the Yangxin Hall, took the tray and placed it in front of him. He stretched out his hand and pulled off the yellow silk covering it, and a unique gold-plated small Western alarm clock followed.  Revealed.

    "I am really touched that Lafayette cares about me so much" Guangxu's pupils shrank suddenly, but he continued to speak, "Wunei!"

    "Li Shuda, you go back and tell Lafayette for me that I will definitely go to Jingqingzhai to serve her old man for dinner in three days." Guangxu was talking, but his hands kept rubbing his hands.  That alarm clock - as soon as he saw the clock, he discovered that the hour hand of the clock was obviously nearly three hours ahead of the real time.

    And the emperor's thoughts suddenly became confused and uncertain following this discovery

    Egypt, Port Said

    The carriage had stopped right in front of the group of coal unloaders, and Yang Licheng led Ren Lingyu, who was walking at the end of the crowd, and the coal unloaders with long braids on the back of their heads ran over.

    As soon as Fang approached these coal unloaders, Ren Lingyu immediately frowned slightly.  Most of these workers had been working on the docks all night. In the early morning sun,Under the light, everyone looked a little sluggish. Most of them were wearing dark-colored work clothes, tattered and dirty, and their faces were covered with black coal dust, making it almost impossible to see their faces and faces.  He was old, and his hair was matted and covered in black mud, sticky like a felt cover.

    Ren Lingyu is not a person who cannot bear to be dirty, he just doesn't like the death energy in these people

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because they worked too long at night. The eyes of these workers were dull and empty. Even when they saw Ren Lingyu and Yang Licheng walking over, most of them just stood there in a daze.  If it wasn't already early in the morning, Ren Lingyu would almost wonder if he was walking among a group of zombies

    Since time traveling, Ren Lingyu has seen too many eyes from his own countrymen that are as lifeless as these coal unloaders during his few trips!

    Yang Licheng had already rushed in front of the coal unloader, and the man was visibly shaken when he saw Yang Licheng's face clearly, and then turned around, seemingly planning to flee the scene.

    Yang Licheng grabbed the man's arm. He suppressed his inner excitement and asked in a low voice: "Liao Mingcheng?" He seemed a little unsure, so he added: "I recognize you."

    The Chinese coal unloader froze, and finally turned around with difficulty, and asked in a low voice: "Yang Shouzheng?"

    PS: One last little question, what was Cixi¡¯s purpose of giving an alarm clock to Guangxu?  Those who answer correctly will be given the essence of the book review.
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