Chapter Thirty: The Coup of Longri

  February 2nd, the dragon raises its head. Although we've already passed the first month and Chinese New Year is over, for us ordinary people, it's still a somewhat significant holiday. As I woke up early in the morning, I could hear the distant sounds of firecrackers popping sporadically. I feel both nostalgia and sadness, thinking of my parents and friends in that other world, my heart aching with sorrow, and I just want to burst into tears!

  It snowed a bit at night, and the sky cleared after the snow. The air was exceptionally fresh and clean. The tree tops were covered with frost, like blooming ice flowers. Yanyu and Feier, both southern girls, were delighted by this beautiful scene and jumped up and down excitedly. The two of them couldn't help but recite a poem: "Northern scenery, thousands of miles of icy landscape, tens of thousands of miles of snowflakes..."

  But I didn't have the mood to appreciate this beautiful scenery, I was waiting for Xiaofuzi and Xiaocai's response, because today I'm going to force the palace, this is a major turning point in my life, it's the beginning of me formally entering the political stage.

  I and four concubines practiced a set of Xuan Yuan sword on the snowy ground, before seeing Xiao Fu Zi and Xiao Cai Zi hurrying over. I put away my sword moves and asked: "How's it going? Are all arrangements done?"

  Xiao Fu Zi said: "The people have already been brought into the Qianqing Palace, and they are all set! There are a total of 3,000 people, all with double sabers! One team has 800 people, controlling the Qianqing Palace, the rest control each passageway, and the imperial guards in front have also been arranged, there will be no misunderstanding!"

  Xiao Caizi said, "It's quiet over there. The old lady asked what Wan Cai was busy with. I replied that he was holding a book all day and said that the book had its own beauty! The old lady laughed and said you've read books until you're silly!"

  I laughed: "Alright, I'll have my horse brought over, it's time for me to go to court!"

  The morning court of Long Day began with Xiao Fuzi's shout, "Those who have a memorial, present it! Those who don't, withdraw!" As soon as Xiao Fuzi's voice fell, Sun Yuwen hastily jumped out: "I have one!"

  I'm delighted in secret, and the one who's going to die has jumped out!

  Cixi smiled and said: "Xiao Fuzi, bring over the memorial, let Sun Aiqing read it slowly!"

  Just as he was about to speak, I snatched the letter from Xiao Fuzi's hand and stepped forward, kicking Sun Yiweng to the ground. In a stern voice, I asked: "Sun Yiweng, did you intercept an urgent letter sent by our ambassador to Japan?"

  Cixi was taken aback and stood up from her seat: "Imperial son, what are you doing?"

  I let out a cold laugh and said: "Empress Dowager, you can ask him yourself, he's done a great job!"

  Sun Yuwen was taken aback and said: "I'll just leave a copy for your review, I don't think it's a big deal..."

  "What's the meaning of 'nothing big'? The Japanese Chief of Staff, Yamagata Aritomo, ordered his second-in-command, Ogawa Shigejiro, to secretly conduct a military survey in China. After returning, he wrote 'A Plan for Invading China', which said: 'Although China has many soldiers, they are weak and ineffective. To prepare for the future, we should take advantage of their weakness, break their limbs, wound their body, and make them unable to move. We will divide China into several countries, ensuring Japan's independence.' Listen, the Japanese have already prepared to invade our country! Is this not a big deal? Ogawa proposed sending 8 divisions to attack China, with 5 divisions landing at Shanhai Pass and Luan River, directly attacking Beijing; another 2 divisions would attack the Yangtze River, blocking southern reinforcements from going north. At the same time, they are building 30 small warships to enter the Yangtze under the guise of trade. He proposed that Japan take over all land west of Shanhai Pass, including Zhili, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Taiwan. They would establish a Manchu state in the three northeastern provinces and the area east of the Great Wall; they would establish a kingdom south of the Yangtze River, welcoming back the descendants of the Ming dynasty; and they would establish a Lama kingdom in Tibet, Qinghai, and the southern route of Tian Shan. His book was praised by the Japanese Emperor! Is this not a big deal? The Japanese are so clearly intent on destroying us, shouldn't we immediately mobilize our entire nation to prepare for war? Must we wait until the Eastern barbarians have torn our great Qing dynasty apart before it's considered a big deal? To obtain this intelligence, several brave men from my embassy were injured, and one lost his life. I thought that when the imperial court received this urgent report, they would immediately wake up, intensify preparations for war, and defend our great Qing. But instead, you not only suppressed the report for several months, misleading our great Qing, but also repeatedly submitted memorials advising the Emperor to move the naval military funds to engage in extravagant construction projects, indulging in pleasure and luxury. What is your intention? Have you been bought off by the Japanese? Are you carrying out some mission to anesthetize our great Qing dynasty? Are you a Japanese spy? Is this map of Yiheyuan intended to deceive the Empress Dowager? Do you want to use the pretext of building Yiheyuan to destroy my Beiyang Navy?"

  My words, like a string of pearls, left the officials in the imperial court and Empress Dowager Cixi speechless. They were used to seeing Guangxu as weak and timid, but now they saw him full of vigor and righteousness, and they were all bewildered!

  Sun Yuwen even made me so confused that I couldn't tell east, south, west or north. Lying there, I didn't know what to say. My mouth just kept repeating: "No, no, I'm not a mole!"

  I mustn't relax in the slightest, I have to muster the spirit of "pursuing the defeated enemy with remaining courage" and strike down the fallen dog! Put that treacherous official Sun Yuwen to death.

  "I continued: 'The little Eastern barbarians have already begun to recruit soldiers, mobilize the people to donate money for shipbuilding, and their naval expenditures are increasing year by year. Military spending accounts for 30% of the total budget. Japan has launched a massive plan to build 54 warships and issued naval bonds domestically. The Meiji Emperor of Japan allocated one-tenth of his internal funds for shipbuilding purposes and called on Japanese nobles and wealthy people to generously contribute to the construction of a strong navy. And you, at this time, propose to embezzle naval funds to repair the 'Three Seas' and the Yiheyuan Garden? What is your intention? You are clearly helping Japan undermine our Qing Navy! What use is such a traitor?' As I spoke, I grabbed Sun Yowen and gave him a big slap in the face, beating him until his soul was gone, unconscious!"

  I haven't finished speaking, standing in front of the hall and asking loudly: "I heard that everyone has prepared, as soon as Sun Yuwen mentions it, they immediately agree. Who wants to agree? Come out quickly, let me see who wants to betray our country, who wants to betray their ancestors? Who wants to be a Japanese running dog? Stand up, why hasn't anyone stood up yet? Where is your heroic spirit? Why are you holding back and not speaking now? I know you can't come up with anything good, are you thinking of secretly plotting against me?! Ronglu, didn't you say that whoever opposes would be killed? Today I oppose, let's see how the Nine Gate Commander dares to deal with me!"

  Rong Lu hastily knelt on the ground: "I never said such a thing!"

  I said: "Get up, didn't I tell you? I will investigate! Go back and take care of your public security, don't let Japanese spies get intelligence from Sun Yuwen's house!"

  Rong Lu hastily said: "Yes, I understand! I will make arrangements immediately!"

  Cixi was so angry that she rolled her eyes, and for once, she abandoned her usual slow and deliberate speech, saying hastily: "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance and cannot be handled rashly!"

  "Yes, in obedience to the imperial edict, investigate thoroughly before discussing! Come, take people to Sun Yuwen's house immediately to search for the urgent report he detained!"

  Yeh Tzu-ping, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards recommended by Jung Lu, immediately came forward and knelt down to receive the edict, saying: "I will go at once!" Before Empress Dowager Cixi could even react, he had already rushed out with his men.

  Taking advantage of the situation, twenty high-ranking officials including Weng Tonghe, Zhang Zhidong, Yan Jingming, Lin Yan, Huang Fei, Sheng Yu and Xi Jun jointly requested that Empress Dowager Cixi respect the ancestral system, immediately return power to the Emperor, let the Emperor personally handle major policies, and make preparations for resisting Japan.

  At this point, Cixi was so shocked that she immediately let Xiaofuzi take over the memorial and said: "I had no intention of interfering in politics, but today's events have made me frightened and my heart is broken. The Empress Dowager has been in poor health recently and cannot ask about state affairs, which gives treacherous officials an opportunity to make our great Qing dynasty precarious. Now that I think about it, as a descendant of the Aixinjueluo clan, I should take on the heavy responsibility of thinking for the livelihood of the 400 million people of the Great Qing and for the stability of the country. Therefore, if all of you officials truly wish me to personally manage the government, I will unhesitatingly take on this responsibility!"

  As soon as I finished speaking, several iron-hat princes and more than twenty ministers who supported me immediately knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, we hope you will personally take charge of the government!"

  I walked down the Danbi, staring at the officials standing there with Yu, and those few people immediately knelt down: "The minister hopes that the emperor will personally govern the country.

  Whoever my eyes stare at will kneel down, they are as terrifying as Sun Yuwen becoming a dead dog.

  In an instant, only a dozen or so people were left standing in the imperial court. I immediately said: "Since that's the case, I'll take on the responsibility! Empress Dowager, according to the ancestral rules of the Great Qing, please step aside from the dragon throne, your son is taking charge now!"

  Cixi suddenly jumped up: "No way, my son is still..."

  Before she could finish speaking, the eight hundred elite soldiers of our military academy, led by Long An, charged into the great hall in two columns, pushing the palace guards to one side. The ministers looked at the soldiers carrying precision-made weapons and were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and trembled with fear. Empress Dowager Cixi also saw that the situation was not good, and immediately said: "The emperor will personally preside over the discussion of important matters tomorrow, I have a headache now, I must retire from court!"

  At this time, Ye Zibin led his men back, and he handed over the materials I had searched from Kangxi Dictionary yesterday. I didn't even look at it and handed it to Cixi, saying: "Empress Dowager, don't go yet, take a look at what kind of thing your trusted minister is! Don't think that the emperor's son is being too nosy!"

  Cixi flipped through the materials and slammed them onto the dragon case, furious and scolding: "Sun Yuwen, you treacherous thing, I won't forgive you! Guards, take him to the death prison! Alright, that's it for today. We'll discuss my son's ascension to the throne tomorrow!"

  "I hereby declare: 'Very well, four days from now is an auspicious day on the imperial calendar. I will hold the grand ceremony of assuming personal rule on that day. The Ministry of Rites shall make arrangements immediately! All officials shall attend to their duties and assist in making thorough preparations. The Grand Council shall issue a decree at once, ordering Huang Fei, Minister of War, to urgently telegram all provincial governors to hasten back to the capital to attend my grand ceremony of assuming personal rule!'"

  The Grand Minister Prince Gong immediately responded: "Your subject obeys!"

  The Minister of Rites immediately said: "I have received your orders!"

  All the officials hurriedly knelt down and shouted: "Your Majesty, we will do our best!"

  Cixi was so angry that she rolled her eyes, and she hurriedly went to grab the imperial seal in front of her, but I grabbed it with one hand. I said: "These few people have to do things with your will? You go back first, let me use this thing for now!" After finishing speaking, I waved my hand, and several small maids dragged her away!

  I looked at Ronglu and said: "Rong, I've heard that you're busy building a house and might not be able to take care of the security situation. I'm considering your difficulties and relieving you of your duties as Commander of the Nine Gates Infantry Patrol and the Five Camps. Go back and focus on building your house! Shengyu, I'm appointing you as the new Commander of the Nine Gates Infantry Patrol and the Five Camps, take office immediately and hand over the duties at once! Weng Tonghe, bring my one hundred imperial guards to supervise the handover!"

  Xiao Fu immediately drafted the imperial edict, stamped it with the seal, and handed it over to Sheng Yu.

  Sheng Yu and Weng Tonghe brought 100 armed soldiers to escort Ronglu for the handover.

  I said: "When these Japanese people want to spy on our rivers and mountains, the Qing government should strengthen its military preparations. For this reason, I have decided to follow the example of the Western countries, abolish the Ministry of War, establish a Ministry of National Defense, and command all the naval and land forces across the country. I appoint Zhang Zhidong as the Minister of Military Affairs and concurrently as the Minister of National Defense, Xi Jun as the Commander-in-Chief of Fengtai Garrison, Zuo Baogui as the Commander-in-Chief of Malanyu Garrison, and Wei Rugui as the Commander-in-Chief of Miyun Garrison. The original commanders will be reassigned.

  I order Prince Gong Yixin to lead my 400 imperial guards on horseback to supervise the handover of the Ministry of War, Fengtai Garrison, Malanyu Garrison, and Miyun Garrison's defense affairs, and immediately seal off all transportation routes leading out of Beijing, control personnel from leaving, until I personally preside over the grand ceremony!"

  Prince Gong Yixin and Zhang Zhidong took away the original Minister of War and 400 soldiers.

  After the memorial ceremony, I did not return home and instead took Yan'er and Fei'er to the military school to deploy troops to Tianjin to take over as the Governor of Zhili and commander-in-chief of the Beiyang Army.

  I know that handling Li Hongzhang well is the key to seizing power.