Chapter Thirty-Six: The Decision of Old Buddha

  The bravery of the Qing army in the Battle of Tokyo Bay, once again defeated the French army, and the expansion of the Qing army made the Qing government feel very frightened and uneasy.

  In the imperial court of the Qing dynasty, Cixi's old face was covered with a thick layer of rouge.

  Our great Qing dynasty spends a huge amount of money every year to build an army, but it's not even comparable to a group of abandoned slaves. The Black Flag Army has been defeating France repeatedly, while our Qing soldiers are no match for the French Navy. Is there really no one capable in our Qing dynasty? Are you all just a bunch of useless people? Is this how you govern the country and bring peace to the world?

  All the ministers under the hall were trembling with fear and dared not utter a word.

  In the imperial court, Cixi was a woman with a dual personality of gentleness and firmness, and an empress whose power surpassed her family ties by a hundred times.

  It was her gentleness and ruthlessness that formed a complete, real, and brand new woman - Cixi. She was a living, breathing woman who shook the heavens, with a frail body harboring an ambition to conquer all four seas, a woman who could give and take at will, using both kindness and intimidation, making all men tremble before her as their empress.

  At this time, who among the ministers dared to speak out, it was better to ask for blessings, there was no way, Cixi's usual feminine power had a profound impact on them, deeply ingrained! Moreover, she was now in a rage.

  Xiao Lizi! Cixi looked at the group of ministers below who didn't even dare to breathe, and became more and more angry. Her face was increasingly gloomy and terrifying. She called out Li Lianying in a low voice.

  Li Lianying hastily bowed: Old Buddha! Your humble servant is here!

  You go ahead and read it! Let them hear it! How did those Black Flag Army deserters manage to do it? The Empress Dowager said, weakly waving her hand.

  Hiss!

  Li Lianying cleared her throat: The old Buddha just now, in order to avoid frightening everyone and not knowing the historical situation, called the Zhongyong Army the Black Flag Army. Because the predecessor of the Zhongyong Army was actually the Black Flag Army branch of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

  Li Lianying served Cixi for decades and had a deep understanding of her personality and preferences. He was afraid that if he read the military report and mentioned the "Loyal and Brave Army", the old lady would be displeased, so he corrected Cixi's mistake in advance with tact.

  When Cixi heard Li Lianying say this, her powdered face, which had been gloomy for a long time, slightly curled up at the corners of her mouth.

  The Battle of Tokyo Bay, the Viet Bac loyal and brave army successfully ambushed the powerful French expeditionary fleet at a very small cost. In this ambush operation, the loyal and brave army was almost intact, capturing 9 French naval warships, capturing thousands of French naval officers and soldiers, and countless military supplies, money, and machinery.

  The loyalist army also sent troops to take over some areas in southern Vietnam.

  According to intelligence, the Viet Bac Trung Uong army is now well-disciplined and equipped with advanced weapons, possessing nearly 20 iron-clad warships. What's even more frightening is that up until now, our great Qing dynasty still doesn't know the true nature of the Trung Uong army, nor does it know whether they harbor any malicious intentions towards us.

  After Li Lianying briefed the Zongyong Army's intelligence reports, Cixi stared at everyone with a cold face.

  What are your thoughts and what methods do you have, let's discuss them! At present, the Zhongyong Army has dozens of gunboats and countless soldiers, and there are many disloyal remarks about our great Qing. In your opinion, how should we deal with this hidden danger?

  For a moment, the court was filled with murmurs of discussion, some saying they should be appeased, others advocating for punishment, some suggesting buying them off, and others proposing to unite with the Western countries to exterminate them. However, not one person stepped forward to express their opinion.

  Isn't this nonsense! At this time, who will take the lead and get scolded? Everyone present is a master of dark arts, so no one wants to be the first to stick their head out.

  Cixi's face was frosty as she looked down, this group of officials with too many bad ideas, who always faltered at critical moments, the more she saw them, the angrier she became, and the more she listened to them, the more melancholy and resentful she felt.

  She could no longer hold back her towering rage and scolded the group of chattering civil and military officials below, even abandoning her usual elegant and refined image as a dignified lady.

  Shut up! You bunch of good-for-nothings, useless people, and dog slaves. Don't you know what it means to eat the king's salary and share the king's worries? Don't you know the etiquette of the imperial court? Are you going to torment me to death before you're satisfied?

  The whole hall knelt down with a thud: The Old Buddha is wise and discerning, I dare not (I do not dare)! I should die (I deserve to die)!

  Faced with Cixi's overwhelming momentum, a group of ministers were instantly terrified, their faces as white as paper, kowtowing and begging for mercy, like a flock of sheep, repeatedly apologizing.

  Cixi took a look and said, "This won't do! If we go on like this, no one will pay attention. She then exerted her authority and kindness, saying, "All of you get up! Don't kneel anymore. Get up and think carefully!" Her tone had returned to being gentle and mild.

  A group of ministers thanked one after another, their two trembling legs almost unable to stand still, like weak and withered tree branches. They were tense in the depths of their souls for Cixi's unpredictable joy and anger, fearing that they would lose their heads if they were not careful.

  Cixi looked at Guangxu Emperor who was as pale as paper on the dragon chair and asked: "Imperial son, what are your thoughts?"

  Guangxu immediately replied to Cixi with a humble and fearful tone: The emperor respectfully listens to the holy judgment of his mother! Guangxu himself was timid by nature, rich in fantasy, and not at all talented for governing the country. He had a deep-seated fear of Cixi.

  Li Aiqing, do you have a countermeasure? Cixi took a look and it wasn't that simple, so she started to mention the name of Li Hongzhang.

  I report to the Emperor, in my humble opinion, we should use fame and profit to persuade them. If they do not comply, we can threaten them with the Western countries. However, from my observation, the loyal and brave army has no intention of rebelling against our great Qing dynasty. With their advanced weapons and strong navy, if they were to unite and attack our coastal areas, it would be as easy as turning over one's hand. Yet, they have never done anything to harm our great Qing dynasty.

  Only to denounce the great Qing, and yet with the French troops they are fighting to the death, never yielding. Therefore, your humble servant concludes that it is not that their leader has no ambition, but rather that they think of their old country and kin, and thus have no desire to covet the vast and fertile land of our great Qing.

  Hmm, that makes sense! Yi? Ah, you say something too!

  It is the Old Buddha, in my humble opinion, it is the Old Buddha who has received the heavenly mandate and whose prestige and power have intimidated the loyal and brave army into not daring to make any rash moves!

  The Prince Gong's flattering words made Cixi feel pleased, and she smiled with a hint of annoyance, saying: "You only know how to please me, but I want you to come up with ideas, not just say pleasant things!"

  The old Buddha is wise and bright, these are all the words in the heart of the old slave, the old slave really wants to be true!

  Alright, stop being so mushy, you're all in your several tens already.

  At this time, Empress Dowager Ci'an had already passed away. Prince Gong Yi Xin was under deliberate suppression by Cixi and had been stripped of all his duties, leaving him with an empty title and increasingly isolated.

  Repetitive ups and downs have ground away the sharp edges of his former self, blunting his spirit. When faced with major events, he can't come up with a suitable strategy, nor does he dare to offer his own opinions.

  Is Ronglu there?

  Old Master, your humble servant is here. Your humble servant pays his respects to the Old Master! Rong Lu retreated with both hands in his sleeves and knelt down on the ground.

  Forget it! What's your take on this?

  I humbly report to the Old Buddha, in my humble opinion: although our Great Qing is not afraid of the Loyal and Brave Army, regardless of whether the Loyal and Brave Army has any intention of rebelling or not, our Great Qing must strengthen its defenses along the coast and create a naval force that can rival theirs, to prevent unexpected events! As he spoke, Ronglu stood up in agreement.

  Our great Qing dynasty must dispatch a large number of spies to gather intelligence on the Zhongyong Army in order to monitor their troops. As the saying goes: "Don't have a mind that harms others, but don't lack a mind that guards against others!"

  At this time, Ronglu was still relatively low-key. His words were all-encompassing and did not offend anyone, while also making Cixi aware of his abilities. It can be seen that in history, he did not accidentally climb to a high position in the late Qing dynasty.

  Yes! That makes sense. The Empress Dowager looked at him with satisfaction and continued: Alright, let's discuss it further, everyone!

  I humbly memorialize the venerable Buddha, your humble servant has a petition to present! Zhang Zhidong took a step forward, knelt on one knee and made a deep bow.

  Your Excellency has arrived! The Empress Dowager Cixi deeply understood that Zhang Zhidong's abilities were exceptional, but he had always been ambitious. Therefore, the Empress Dowager never gave Zhang Zhidong a substantive appointment, only an acting one. The Empress Dowager was often self-satisfied with her ability to identify and use people, as well as her way of ruling subordinates, thinking that she was invincible in the world.

  Thank you, old Buddha! I think we should take the lead in pacifying them and not make enemies of them. According to reports, the Zhongyong Army has an army of over a million men, with countless ironclad warships, including two 9,000-ton giant ironclads, and most of the others are also ironclad warships above 1,000 tons. The officers and soldiers are mostly elite troops, with advanced weapons. The French army is no match for the Zhongyong Army.

  Our Qing and French troops have clashed many times, and we deeply feel the strength of France's military power. Therefore, from the side, it can reflect the great strength of the Zhongyong Army.

  In my humble opinion: Our great Qing dynasty should learn from Western technology and implement new policies to strengthen itself, build a strong army and secure the country.

  Yes, you are right, but as for the new policies of the Western affairs, let's not mention it again. The children who were sent to study in America, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, did not learn anything and do not have the virtues of loyalty and filial piety. In the 8th year of Guangxu, five people were not summoned back, this is truly a shame to our country's dignity and a loss to our cultural heritage.

  An imperial edict! The Empress Dowager has made a decision.

  Hush! Li Lianying drew near and bowed her head in wait.

  Secret Order: Recruit and pacify the loyal and brave army generals, grant them honors and titles, disband the Loyal and Brave Army on the spot, and retain only 3,000 people.

  The decree reads: Each coastal area strengthens its defense, hastens the purchase of ironclad warships, and Li Hongzhang is responsible for expanding the scale of the Beiyang Fleet. Send secret agents to spy on the movements of the Zhongyong Army.

  Your slaves obey your orders!

  Withdraw! Li Lianying shouted in his shrill, duck-like voice.

  Cixi was supported by Li Lianying, and with a light step, she swept her sleeves and left. As soon as Cixi and Guangxu were gone, everyone found their respective allies and left in pairs.

  This time, the Qing government really made a big fuss, inviting all the high-ranking officials to Beijing for discussion, showing Cixi's emphasis on this imperial court meeting, but in the end, it was still Cixi who made the decision.

  The secret edict arrived in Vietnam, and the Trung Nghia army refused to surrender. The Qing government could only close its eyes and had no way to deal with it.

  So, where did those five young children who were sent to study in America by Cixi go?