Chapter 7: The Palace Inspects the Troops

  After the house quieted down, we three people held an emergency meeting. The three of us were both excited and nervous. Exciting was that I had successfully become the Guangxu Emperor, which had a good start, and our arrival in this world had laid the foundation for making great strides! Nervous was that Cixi was still in power, and it was also the key moment when the old thing was about to use the naval budget to build the Yiheyuan, and the day of the First Sino-Japanese War was approaching. If we didn't seize the opportunity, even if we stood firm, we would be the sinners of the times! Now Japan, which had been opened up by American soldiers, had become powerful through the Meiji Restoration and was eager to devour China. Time waits for no man, and we must also quickly end this corrupt Manchu Qing dynasty and start reforms to enrich the country and strengthen the military, in order to avoid the danger of national subjugation! But how could we manipulate these major changes when we ourselves were not yet stable and might face disaster at any moment?

  Swallow said: "Now we have to stand firm, so for the time being, we can't turn against Cixi. Whether it's extending the deadline or choosing a marriage for you, we can't go against her orders directly. We can take other measures to resist! After all, we are three college students in the 21st century, I think with our IQ, we can completely control that old witch!"

  "I said: 'Now the time left for us is not much, I think small things can be tolerated, big things must be withstood. Especially stopping the construction of the Summer Palace and improving the equipment of the navy are all urgent matters that cannot be delayed. If necessary, even a palace coup should be launched to stop the old thing's recklessness!'"

  Fei Er said: "We must now establish our own strength, isn't there an oil tank AK gun on the car? We'll use it to start a business and fight for a share of the world!"

  Her words made the three of us extremely excited, that Russian-made AK rifle in this world must be a first-class weapon, with such a new army, controlling a small imperial palace is not easy to capture!

  But then comes the problem, we are short of people, short of trustworthy people!

  Three people deliberated for half a day and decided to first stabilize Cixi, let her choose the marriage, anyway it's still a year before the grand wedding, by then our power will be strong enough, what are we afraid of not turning things around? Let her extend the period of mourning first, think of ways to give her trouble during the extension, force her to roll away! As for forming a new army, now it must be done secretly, since that little Fu Zi is getting close to me, let's test if he's reliable or not.

  After finishing the discussion, I slowly walked back to the Yangxin Hall and called over Xiaofuzi. Smiling, I said: "You just said that there are people from Empress Dowager's side here, tell me who they are?"

  Xiao Fu's face turned pale with fright and he didn't utter a word for half a day.

  I glared at him: "Since there's no such person, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

  Xiao Fu Zi hastily said: "No no, it's definitely not an exaggeration or rumor, there really are people from the Western Buddha here!"

  I slammed my hand on the table and said sternly, "If you have something to say, why don't you speak up? Are you trying to cover for them? What's your intention? Are you also one of Empress Dowager's people? Are you not in harmony with me? Do you also want to betray me?"

  Xiao Fu's son was so frightened that he kept kowtowing: "Long live the master, Xiao Fu's son will always be with you in heart and will never betray you! I wanted to tell you earlier, but I was afraid you wouldn't believe me! I carefully observed, there are eleven people here who are Old Buddha's men. Here is a list of names, take a look!" As he spoke, he handed over a small notebook to me.

  I took a rough look around and found some were close to me, some were on the periphery, and some were even in charge.

  "Alright, I trust you! Today I drove a car in and none of you knew, it seems the palace needs to strengthen its power. I want to select some reliable guards again, who do you think can handle this matter?" I asked him gently.

  He hastily knelt down and said: "The deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, Long An, is a person of the Empress Dowager Ci Xi. After the Empress Dowager left, he was not convinced in his heart and often said that the Eastern Buddha (the Guangxu Emperor) was harmed by the Western Empress Dowager (Cixi). This man's loyalty is commendable, Your Majesty can select people through him!"

  "I said: 'Alright, you go and call him now, remember to do it secretly, don't let outsiders know! You be careful, I will not treat you unfairly in the future!'"

  Xiao Fu Zi repeatedly said "Ah!" and was about to retreat, I said: "Earlier I brought these two people, in the future they will be my two empresses, but for now we have to keep it a secret from the Empress Dowager, what do you think is the best way to handle this?"

  Xiao Fu was overjoyed and hastily knelt down, saying: "We can dress them up as your personal attendants, but this must be kept secret from Li Lianying and Li the general manager. I think we can tell Li that you don't have enough personal attendants and need to add two more, and we'll take care of assigning people ourselves. We'll just hang a number on it at his place! Your personal attendants, I'll arrange for you in a moment, I'll pick a few who are loyal to you, and they'll keep everything from you. You and the two masters can be close in private, but in public, you must maintain a master-servant relationship and not show any affection. It's just that...". He stopped mid-sentence again.

  I glared at him: "Speak!"

  "I'm afraid Old Master will suddenly arrive and trap the two masters in the house!"

  I nodded: "But she doesn't come often!" Actually, I didn't know how many times that old thing came, I was just probing him to speak out.

  "It's not less, this month alone has come three times."

  "My goodness, this old thing is too worried about Guangxu! I said: 'Let them always dress as young servants, so they won't get into trouble when they meet!'"

  He hastily said: "Then it's nothing, there are other little servants inside stirring things up, she won't be able to find out anything!"

  I nodded happily: "Good, let's do it as you said. After I take over the throne, you will be in charge of the overall management of this palace!"

  Xiao Fu's son knelt on the ground and knocked his head more than a dozen times, still saying: "Thank you for your great kindness!"

  I returned to the palace, and Yan'er said: "I remember that it was just now that Empress Dowager Cian suddenly passed away. Ci Xi has already dismissed a group of ministers with an imperial edict that doesn't match the situation, including Prince Gong Yixin, Grand Scholar Baojun, Assistant Grand Scholar Li Hongzhang, Minister of War Jinglian, and Minister of Works Weng Tonghe. These people should be our current objects of reliance; shouldn't we put in some effort on them first?"

  I think it's reasonable that an enemy of our enemy should be our friend! If they can't be friends, at least they should be allies.

  Fei thought for a moment and said: "Those Li Hongzhang, Li Lianying, Ronglu, and that Sun Yudang who is the grandson of Prince Gong are all Empress Dowager Cixi's loyal followers. I think we should also make use of them!"

  I said: "Well, let them be used for us!"

  Swallow said: "Our stuff is still on the bus, my laptop has downloaded a lot of scientific and technological information about smelting, weapon manufacturing, and equipment requirements, it must be useful, don't lose it!"

  Fei'er burst out laughing: "There isn't even electricity here, your computer is already a useless piece of junk, what can you do with it?"

  The swallow tapped her forehead: "Do you think so little of your sister? I brought a computer up the mountain, can't bring a power source?"

  Feier said discontentedly: "It's that small battery of yours again. That little electricity will be used up in a few days and can only solve the problem for a few days."

  The swallow said: "I'm so stupid, I'll tell you, I brought a small wind turbine generator, set it up and use it! Otherwise, why would I carry such a big bag of things?"

  I happily patted the swallow's little buttocks: "It's still the swallow who has a plan, bringing modernization with it! In a while, I'll let Xiaofuzi accompany you two to pick it up. Just now he said that old thing often comes this way too. I think you'd better not wear women's clothes anymore. Usually, it's just a small servant's attire, so as not to reveal your true identity!"

  Fei pursed her lips: "Don't twist it to death!"

  Swallow comforted her: "It's also temporary, once we stand firm on our feet, everything will be fine!"

  Just then, Xiao Fuzi outside said in a low voice: "Wan Sui Ye, Long An has arrived!"

  "I said: 'Bring him to the Nurturing Heart Palace, I will go there immediately!' This Nurturing Heart Palace was originally Kangxi's study, after Yongzheng moved here, all the Qing emperors used this place as a bedroom and a place to handle daily government affairs. The emperor handled mundane affairs in the front hall, summoning and meeting with people. I walked through the corridor and entered the Nurturing Heart Palace, seeing a robust big man kneeling there, I smiled and said: 'Is it General Long'an?'"

  Dahan knocked his head and said: "Long'an pays respects to Your Majesty, may my master live forever!"

  I slapped the dragon case and said: "The Queen Mother of the East Palace has passed away. I heard that you have a lot of complaints, what's the reason?"

  Dahuan was taken aback, but immediately said: "On that morning, the Eastern Buddha summoned Gongqin Wang and Zuoxueshi, Wang Shangshu, and Li Xieban Daxueshi. According to them, the Eastern Buddha's expression was kind and calm, without any sign of illness. How could he have suddenly fallen ill?

  And she fell ill after eating the butter cake sent by Xi Fu Ye, and at that time, she was in so much pain that she rolled around on the bed. If it wasn't poisoning, what else could it be? Wan Si can control the slaves' mouths, but can he control all the people's mouths under heaven?"

  "I shouted: 'How dare you, a lowly slave, to rashly discuss Master Xi Fu? Don't you want to live anymore?'"

  "The little people want to live, but now the Western Buddha is acting arbitrarily and tyrannically, the Great Qing is about to be destroyed in his hands. Who can still survive for a few more days? It's better to die now than to see the country broken and the family ruined, which would be even more heart-wrenching!"

  I burst out laughing, stepped forward to help him up, and said: "Director Long is indeed a loyal and honest man, it seems that Xiaofuzi was right. He's someone I can trust! Come on, give Director Long a seat!"

  Long An looked at me in surprise, then suddenly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, saying: "Long An is willing to serve the master!"

  I pulled him up and took a closer look. He had broad shoulders, a slender waist, a full beard, a pair of sword-like eyebrows that flew into his temples, big eyes that shone brightly with spirit. At a glance, I knew he was an unyielding man. I secretly rejoiced: "Good! The Empress Dowager has left me a loyal minister who can be used!"

  Look at him sitting on the stool. I sternly said: "One must know how to adapt to changing circumstances, you're always speaking ill of Empress Dowager Cixi everywhere, don't you want to invite trouble for yourself? Moreover, what can this do to Emperor Xianfeng?"

  Long An's face turned red as he said, "I didn't go around telling everyone, I only mentioned it to a few close friends while drinking. Long An will remember the teachings of Wan Cai and not speak lightly again!"

  I nodded and said, "That's right, we must learn to be strategic and know how to protect ourselves! I think the palace guards are not enough, I want to add some more guards in my palace, can you, General Long, select some for me immediately?"

  Long An was taken aback, but immediately asked: "I don't know how much the Emperor wants to increase?"

  "My place isn't very big, if there are too many I'm afraid it won't fit, so just arrange for 300 people first!" I said casually.

  Long An hesitated again, speaking cautiously: "Master Xi Fu is quite strict about this place. Suddenly increasing so many people will likely arouse suspicion! As for the master's residence here, I can first add a few names for you. The rest of the personnel, I'll find a larger house outside the palace to accommodate them and intensify their training. Whenever the master needs them, I'll immediately lead them into the palace!"

  I thought for a moment and said: "It's still better to consider General Long's consideration, let's do it according to General Long's opinion! However, the person must be selected well, he must be clever, reliable, have a good martial arts foundation, and also have some literary talent, understand array and tactics!"

  Long An nodded and said: "Master, rest assured, I have a few brothers who are good at both literary and martial arts. I'll arrange for them to come over immediately. As for the outside matters, I'll go select a house first, but with so many people, the cost is quite high, Master must think of a solution quickly!" His words stunned me on the spot.