Chapter 6: Outside the Imperial Court

  In the morning, he would attend court and in the evening, he would go to the Yiheyuan (Summer Palace) to have dinner with Empress Dowager Cixi. The people in the palace had all gotten used to this routine. Who dared say otherwise when the Old Buddha was happy? This was how Guangxu spent his days. But outside the imperial court, rumors were already spreading like wildfire. Some said that the Emperor's temperament had changed and he had made amends with Empress Dowager Cixi, which would be a blessing for the country. Others said that the Emperor was just biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to strike. In any case, there were all sorts of rumors going around. Guangxu did not know how much impact his actions had on the imperial court.

  But for Sun Yiweng, things were not so simple. He was the most trusted person of Cixi and also a sworn brother with Li Lianying. He knew everything that happened in the palace. With Cixi's favor, Guangxu was nothing but a puppet in his eyes, viewed as a useless thing. But this move by the Emperor really made him lose his composure.

  In Beijing, Sun Yuwen's study, Zai Yu and Sun Yuwen sat facing each other. They naturally didn't lack a few casual conversations about everyday life.

  "Sun Zhong Tang, today all the high-ranking officials have submitted their memorials. Why did Your Majesty not express any opinion on the matter of the military academy? Not even a question was asked when meeting with the ministers this afternoon. What does Your Majesty mean?"

  Sun Yuwen also submitted a memorial, but he was not very confident. This time the emperor is training new troops, who doesn't want to take control of the new army? The governors of various provinces dare to disobey the imperial court because they have troops in their hands. Today, Prince Duan came, and it just so happens that I wanted to find an ally.

  "Put your mind at ease, Your Highness. Without the Empress Dowager's consent, nothing can be done." Sun Yuwen sneered: "Just watch, this afternoon the Emperor will go to ask for the Empress Dowager's instructions again."

  "This time all the ministers in the court have submitted their memorials. With so many memorials, how does Your Majesty plan to deal with them? Please enlighten me, Minister."

  "Ba Ye, why don't you go ask Guizi Liu, he's a man who knows what's deep and what's shallow."

  "It's useless to go, the Emperor has just mentioned the military academy and someone has already gone. But Prince Gong is not seeing anyone." Zai Yu said with a helpless expression: "It's strange to say, since the Emperor recovered from his illness, he seems to have become a different person. In the past, he was always distant from the Empress Dowager, but now he goes to the garden every day, even bringing memorials to be approved there. I'm really worried."

  "To be honest, I don't understand it either. It's said to be hiding one's light and nurturing obscurity. And there aren't any other actions either."

  It's not entirely true that news came out from the palace, Emperor's personal bodyguard Qi Yide left Beijing with a few people six days ago and it is said they went to Tianjin.

  "Tianjin? What's going on there?" Sun Yuwen lowered his head in contemplation, but still couldn't figure it out after a long time.

  Zai Yi took a look and said anxiously: "Nowadays, there are all kinds of rumors in the streets. This morning, another rumor came out from the palace that the emperor's personal eunuch Kou Liancai is searching for a female seamstress throughout the imperial palace. It's not clear what she will do, only that she will also serve the emperor in his study and take care of his food and lodging."

  "Is it a female tailor? Is the Emperor going to open a clothing store? What does this have to do with going to Tianjin?" Sun Yuwen stroked his mustache: "Has the Emperor made any other unusual moves?"

  "Nothing else." Zai Yu thought for a moment: "Oh, there's one more thing. Since the Emperor recovered from his illness, he has been staying overnight in the imperial study, and hasn't even gone to see Consort Zhen."

  "It's interesting, it seems our emperor is not simple after all."

  "Master Zhongtang, if the Emperor is really hiding his light and waiting for an opportunity, then on that day, you and I will probably..."

  "With Old Lady Buddha around, nothing can escape her grasp. Whatever she says goes."

  "So we just wait like this? Shouldn't we find some personal connections to play together?"

  "He is the emperor's teacher. Playing the Wen Ting style can test the emperor's attitude."

  Spring breeze blows, the grass inside and outside the Jie Tai Temple is long and the oriole flies, it has been a spring scene. In an empty space in the North Palace Courtyard, an old man with a spirited appearance was leisurely tasting tea and enjoying the view.

  "Your Highness..."

  It was Prince Gong who waved his hand: "I've said it before, no one has seen these days. As for the current situation in the court, I don't understand it anymore." As a staunch supporter of the Qing dynasty's foreign affairs, he advocated for learning from foreign technology to strengthen China's military power, and diplomatically advocated for maintaining peace with European and American powers. He supported the establishment of China's early modern military industry during his tenure as head of government, successively suppressing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement, the Nian Army, and the Hui people's rebellion in the western provinces. He promoted industrialization, education, and modernized diplomacy. The past ambitions, the past passion, have long since become a fleeting cloud. Now he can only hide in this place far from the imperial court to spend his days.

  "This time it's Li Hongzhang and Li Zhongtang, isn't the prince seeing them either?"

  Surrounded by red walls and green tiles, the long stone steps outside the Shanmen Gate of Jingtai Temple finally came to an end. Li Hongzhang stopped his tired footsteps. The Emperor had summoned him to come to Beijing to discuss the new army. It was originally a good thing. At that time, the Huai Army was in disarray, and he knew it well. Now, it is said that the Emperor and Empress Dowager have reconciled, and the Emperor sends all memorials to the Empress Dowager every day to listen to her teachings. His own memorial had been presented long ago, but it was left pending without being issued. Such changes in the court, even high-ranking officials in Beijing did not understand, and various rumors arose, he really could not make a decision. Today, he came to see Prince Gong, also to seek a strategy for tomorrow's audience with the Emperor.

  "Your Highness is indeed elegant and refined, cultivating one's nature in solitude." Li Hongzhang composed his unsettled emotions and bowed.

  "What gust of wind has blown the First Minister of the Great Qing to my humble abode, Lord Shao? Please, take a seat and let us speak." Yi Xin's face was filled with smiles: "I heard you're entering the capital tomorrow, how do you have the leisure to find a idle prince like me?"

  "Your Excellency, why must you mock me? This time I have come to ask a favor of Your Excellency." Li Hongzhang's face was bitter with a smile: "The Emperor wants to build a new army, but how much silver is left in the treasury. I originally wanted to ask the Emperor for this year's military salary, now it seems that there is no hope. What I fear is that the Emperor has taken a liking to my subordinate's Merchant Bureau."

  "What's the use of being so worried? If the Emperor really wants your Zhaoshang Bureau, can you as a subject not give it to him?"

  "The king said with a smile, since the Beiyang Army was established, the court's allocation of grain and salary has been delayed more and more, and the amount is always insufficient. In recent years, if it weren't for the support of companies like the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company, I'm afraid we would have difficulty even making ends meet."

  "The Emperor is young and vigorous, and it's inevitable that he has some unconsidered thoughts when trying to accomplish great things. My elder sister-in-law is a wise and understanding person. In recent days, hasn't the Emperor been going to the Cining Palace to seek guidance every time he reviews memorials?" Yixin gently waved his hand: "Shaoyuan worries too much."

  "Your Highness, do you know about the various rumors circulating in the capital these days? I'm really worried. I heard that this time the Emperor's new army training was agreed upon by the Empress Dowager, but the location, rations, and personnel have not been clearly stated. Just because of the selection of the commander for this new army, the entire capital is now on high alert."

  Yi Xin just smiled slightly: "This old aunt of mine is quite formidable."

  The Summer Palace, inside Cining Palace, Guangxu reported here every day as usual, and in more than half a month, he didn't miss a single day.

  "Dear Father Emperor, this is today's memorial to the Grand Council regarding the military academy." Guangxu respectfully handed the memorial to Cixi.

  "I won't watch anymore, you tell me, Emperor."

  "Ah, I've carefully reviewed these memorials. The vast majority are recommendations from various ministers for new army commanders, and only two concern how military schools should be built." Guangxu took out the two documents and set them aside. Seeing that Cixi didn't seem interested in reading them, he said: "One is 'A Memorial on Building Military Schools in Imitation of Western Methods', written by Zhou Qin, styled Fangliang, currently a compiler at the Hanlin Academy. He's a student of Rong Hong and also one of the students sent to study in America. His memorial is quite detailed; the other is 'A Memorial Requesting the Establishment of New Military Schools for the Qing Dynasty', written by Ouyang Zhenhua, styled Zi'an, currently a secretary at the Grand Council. He wrote about various regulations for military schools, such as recruitment and training. He studied at a military school in Germany when he was younger, but now he's already 45 years old... These are the only two memorials from all the officials in the imperial court..."

  "What does the Emperor think?" Cixi said lightly, but what Guangxu had just said was actually reported to her after the imperial court meeting. She only wanted to see if the Emperor had any other intentions these past few days. The more obedient Guangxu appeared on the surface, the more uneasy she felt in her heart. Who knows whether he would turn against her once he took control of the military? Her own son had also quarreled with her before, and now this was just a nephew.

  "I think Zhou Qin and Ouyang Zhenhua can be assistants to the military school, one in charge of building the campus and the other in charge of recruitment and training, as well as drafting the rules. I suggest that Cen Chunxuan take overall responsibility for the establishment of the military school. Cen Chunxuan is a straightforward person and is currently serving as the Minister of Justice, so he can be trusted with handling the financial matters of the school. However, this is a matter of great importance regarding the new army's organization, and I still wish to request your wise decision, Father Emperor.

  With utmost respect, I am being as respectful as possible. If anyone says that my words are not respectful enough, I will argue with them. The Guangxu Emperor thought to himself, praying silently in his heart. At this critical moment, he must not make any mistakes."

  "Isn't it unified under the new military system and managed by the General Affairs Office?"

  "Dear father, the new army has specialized departments for fighting and logistics. In the West, this is called professionalism." If he were to ask further, Guangxu wouldn't know how long he would have to explain, fortunately Cixi wasn't thinking about that.

  "Oh! To whom does the new military system belong to?" During this time, Cixi was also hesitant. Deep down, she still agreed with the emperor's decision to establish a new army school. Since the imperial court had made up its mind to do it, they must do it well. This is also a matter of face for the imperial court. The only thing is that she didn't quite understand what kind of system this new army school would be built on.

  At the time of Kangxi's pacification of the Three Feudatories, it was precisely the Green Standard Army that played a crucial role. The Eight Banners had long since lost their former bravery and were no longer capable of entering the passes. Now, with the Taiping Rebellion, both the Eight Banners and the Green Standard Army have completely rotted from the roots, not only are they unable to fight, but they have also become a burden on the imperial court. The national military system is unable to fight, while it is actually Zeng Guofan's Xiang Army, Zuo Zongtang's Chu Army and Li Hongzhang's Huai Army, these Han people-led militias that have preserved the Manchu Qing dynasty. Today, this situation has led to Western learning spreading eastward. The court and the countryside have long had signs of rebellion against the Qing. When Zeng Guofan captured Nanjing, someone asked him "The Jiangnan region is half-ownerless, do you have any intentions?" Fortunately, these old ministers are still loyal to the Great Qing. But with the military power in the hands of Han people, how can one be at ease? As the Emperor said, all these individuals are now old. If they were to be usurped by those with ulterior motives, the consequences would be unthinkable.

  Whenever she thought of these things, Empress Dowager Cixi felt unspeakable anxiety and worry. The scenes of her and the Tongzhi Emperor being orphans in the imperial court, suffering all kinds of hardships, reappeared before her eyes, making it hard for her to breathe. Therefore, not only did she not oppose the emperor's idea of building a new army school, but she also intended to take this opportunity to cultivate some capable and brave young men from among the Manchu people.

  However, Cixi was having a hard time selecting some usable people from the Banner people. At this moment, one by one, they jumped out, not for the sake of the court and the country, but to find a shortcut to promotion and wealth. Thinking of this, Cixi was both angry and hateful. Why are these people so unambitious!

  Cixi was having a hard time finding the right person. Guangxu's heart was also in a state of anxiety. He had been pretending to be filial for almost a month, and had made ninety-nine bows, but what if something went wrong at the last moment?

  "All the memorials from various ministers recommended different people. There were Jiangsu Governor Zhang Zhidong, Grand Councilor E Linqing and others like Zhao Erfeng. Some even recommended Zaiyi. I think these individuals are not suitable for important positions. My intention is...". After a moment of hesitation, Guangxu decided to take a gamble: "General of Shaanxi Ronglu."