Jingshi, the Forbidden City, and the Palace of Nourishing the Heart.

Yang Xin Men outside the room, alcohol county Wang Yifang, Forehead Jingshou, Su Shun and other royal ministers, the ministers of the guard and the ministers of the guard with solemn expressions and a group of imperial doctors to review the pulse case and prescriptions, Xianfeng since the night of the Wanshou Day fainted, these two days sometimes coma, sometimes wake up, drowsy, two days in a row did not speak.

Everyone had a premonition that something was wrong, and the imperial doctors were even more nervous, but no one dared to make a judgment about Xianfeng's condition, they were all vague, and the prescriptions prescribed were all tepid, even if everyone was anxious, they were helpless.

The waiting group of imperial doctors left, everyone in the room was silent, the atmosphere was extremely dull and depressing, after a long time, Su Shun spoke: "Everyone, now the emperor's condition is unknown, foolishly think that the news should be tightly sealed at present, in order to prevent turmoil in the capital, one is that all the ministers in front of the imperial palace and the ministers of the guards take turns on duty, and they cannot leave in front of the dragon couch, and then they refuse all visits, all the princes of the clan, relatives and relatives of the clan, and the concubines of the six palaces are not allowed to visit, do you think so?" ”

Although no one dared to say it, everyone had a premonition in their hearts that Xianfeng was afraid that it would be more auspicious this time, and the alternation of imperial power had always been extremely dangerous, not to mention the suddenness of Xianfeng's illness, the emperor's eldest son was only six years old, and there was Yuan Qi in Jiangnan, once the news was leaked, no one knew what kind of changes would be caused.

Forehead Jingshou immediately bowed his head and said: "This is very good, once the news leaks out, it will definitely cause panic." ”

Wang Yifang of Alcohol County is both Xianfeng's brother and brother-in-law, Yi Guifei's sister Yehenala Wanzhen is Yifeng's concubine Fujin, if Xianfeng dies, Xianfeng's only son, Zaichun, the son born to Yi Guifei, is the new monarch, and he doesn't want any mistakes, so he immediately echoed it, and other ministers naturally echoed it.

Although Xianfeng's illness was tightly sealed, it still caused a lot of suspicion in Beijing, because of the cable telegraph, the news spread quickly, and the governors of the provinces also began to pay close attention to the movements of Jingshi after learning the news.

Shanghai, Zhenhai Mansion, Changle Book House.

Zhao Liewen put down the telegram and said slowly: "It's already the fifth day, there is no news in the palace, and there is no movement in the Jingshi, could it be that he has been in a coma today?" ”

"It's not going to be small." Yi Zhicontent said without thinking: "If you really want to be in a coma for five days and not wake up, the palace will already be in chaos, and you won't be able to block the news at all." ”

What do you mean? Zhao Liewen said tentatively: "What does the big shopkeeper mean, he has woken up today, but his condition is still not stable?" Saying that, he himself felt that it was wrong, "This seems impossible, if you are sober today, you will inevitably take measures, it is related to the alternation of imperial power, how can you be so calm?" If Dangjiao is awake and his condition has stabilized, there is no need for the palace to continue to block the news. Speaking of this, he pondered: "It can't be that you are deliberately tempting today, right?" ”

Yi Zhishu couldn't determine what the situation was, so he groaned slightly, and then said, "Let's wait and see for the time being." As he spoke, he instructed the outside world: "Send someone to invite Wang Yunqiu." ”

Wang Kaiyun, the word Xunqiu, Hunan Changsha Xiangtan people, twenty years old, Xianfeng seven years, Xianfeng nine years into Beijing will test, the name of Sun Shan, once entered Sushun Mansion to teach, last year resigned from the museum to Shanghai, was easy to be content to recruit, into the Ministry of Education, Su Shun in the private letter to its strong recommendation, said that he is crazy and humorous, but outstanding talent, extraordinary knowledge.

However, Yi Zhi's content to recruit Wang Kaiyun was not because of Su Shun, one was that Zeng Guofan recommended him, and the other was that he had an impression of this person, but he was a late Qing Confucian, who studied the study of the emperor, and Yang Du and Qi Baishi were his disciples.

After a short time, Wang Kaiyun entered steadily, and after seeing the salute, he said, "I don't know what the lord commands?" ”

"Sit, no formality." Yi Zhizhi said kindly, and when he sat down, he said: "Su Qiu has been in Beijing for two years, what is his opinion on the situation between the DPRK and China? ”

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen was quite surprised, and carefully looked at this man of the same age as him, but Wang Kaiyun was excited, knowing that the other party was testing his talent, for him, this was an extremely rare and extremely important opportunity.

He was conceited by studying the emperor's learning, and was extremely concerned about current affairs, people, and knowledge, and said with a slight sigh: "As far as the imperial court is concerned, it can be roughly divided into two factions, one is conservative and the other is innovative.

The old school is represented by Hua Feng, Nanyang Minister Wu Ren, etc., although it seems to be declining on the surface, but in fact, there are many clan princes, Manchu and Mongolian ministers, and even many Han ministers are strongly opposed to the reform of the law, but now the lord supports the reform, and they have to temporarily give in.

The reformists are actually divided into two factions, which can also be said to be two parties, one is the Su Party headed by Su Zhongtang, whose main figures are Prince Yi Zaiyuan, Prince Zheng Duanhua, Minister of Military Aircraft Mu Yin, Kuang Yuan, Du Han, Jiao Youying and others.

The first is the Gong Party headed by Prince Gong, whose main figures include Prince Yu Yidao, Minister of Military Aircraft Wen Xiang, University Scholar and Governor of Zhili Gui Liang, University Scholar Jia Zhen, Co-organizer University Scholar Zhou Zupei, Ministry of Officials Shangshu Quanqing, Criminal Department Shangshu Zhao Guang, etc. ”

Speaking of this, he paused slightly, glanced at Yi Zhicontentment, and said: "As far as the entire Qing Dynasty is concerned, Yuan Qi not only competes with the imperial court, but can even influence the ...... the imperial court in many ways. ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at him and said slowly: "If you are critically ill today, how will you arrange it?" ”

Critically ill today? Wang Kaiyun couldn't help but be stunned, Xianfeng was only thirty-one years old, how could he be critically ill? However, he immediately reacted that it was impossible for him to speak with the identity of the other party, and this question was the main reason why the other party summoned him.

After thinking for a while, he spoke: "Today's heirs are scarce, there is only one son, the eldest son of the emperor who is only six years old, if he is critically ill today, the most important thing is to support the orphan!" Tuogu, on the other hand, focuses on balancing the power of all parties, so as to avoid the fall of imperial power or even the abolition of the throne.

In this dynasty, the ancestors and saints all succeeded to the throne at an early age, and there was an ancestral system to follow, but now the court situation is a big variable, that is, the ....... of the lords. ”

This guy is indeed a talent, Yi Zhizhi smiled and said, "Don't be in a hurry to answer, think carefully before replying." As he spoke, he looked at Zhao Liewen and ordered, "He knows that the matter is limited, so Huifu might as well mention it." ”

Jingshi, the palace of nourishing the heart, the apse of the dormitory.

Sometimes awake and sometimes unconscious, the dazed Xianfeng finally fully sobered up, not only spoke, but also felt hungry, asked for food, which can make a group of ministers who have been waiting for several days happy, when a call for 'passing the meal' from the palace to the door of Yangxin, all the ministers in front of the palace, the ministers of the guards, concubines, imperial doctors, eunuchs and palace maids all breathed a sigh of relief, and there was a feeling of seeing the sun.

After two days of recuperation, Xianfeng's spirit is like a day, and he can already walk around the room with the support of the eunuchs, and all the imperial doctors also said that the dragon body is fine, and he can fully recover as long as he recuperates for a while.

When the news came out, a group of clan princes, Manchu and Han ministers, civil and military officials were all happy, Xianfeng was seriously ill, they couldn't get any news for seven days, they all pinched a handful of sweat, and they couldn't even sleep well at night, and now they can finally relax and sleep peacefully.

Xianfeng, who came back from the ghost gate, after more than ten days of cultivation, gradually recovered his spirit and complexion, and at the same time gradually regained confidence in his body, after all, he was only past the age of standing, but when he thought that he had been in a state of nightmare for seven days, he was still a little afraid, and after thinking about it, he issued an order to announce Peng Yunzhang's visit.

Peng Yunzhang was originally the chief minister of military aircraft, Yu Xianfeng ten years due to foot disease, need to walk on crutches, inconvenient to enter and exit the palace, Xianfeng decreed, in order to show compassion, ordered him not to walk on the minister of military aircraft, change the Ministry of War, and also sign the imperial history of the left capital.

Peng Yunzhang's foot disease has long been cured, and when he heard the call, he hurried into the palace, and after knocking on the Xinuan Pavilion in the Heart Palace, he listened to Xianfeng and said softly: "Sit, enjoy the tea." ”

After Xie En sat down, Peng Yunzhang glanced at Xianfeng, who was pale and emaciated, and was excited and emotional, Xianfeng said in a gentle tone: "Yong Gu has been serving as a pivotal wall for a long time, and he is aware of the current affairs, how to balance the current situation?" ”

For the forces of the DPRK and China, Peng Yunzhang can be said to know everything about it, and said with a slight sigh: "Back to the emperor, Wei Chen secretly thinks that the biggest disaster at present is Yuan Qi. The two factions in the DPRK and China, whether they are conservative or reformist, are loyal to the country and should be treated well, so as not to cut off their wings and be taken advantage of by Yuan Qi. ”

After a pause, he continued: "For Yuanqi, it should be deliberately enveloped, especially easy to be content, the more prosperous the saint, the heavier the grace, the smaller the possibility of Yuanqi being troubled." ”

Hearing this, Xianfeng didn't say anything for a long time, and after a long time, he spoke: "Yong Gu is interceding for Yi Xun? ”

Hearing that his tone was a little unkind, Peng Yunzhang dared to sit down, so he quickly got up and knelt down, kowtowed, and said: "Your Majesty, Weichen is not interceding for Prince Gong, but just talking about .......things." ”

After a slight groan, Xianfeng said slowly: "But it doesn't hurt to say, I don't offend you." ”

"Yes." Peng Yunzhang secretly complained bitterly, but he had to bite the bullet and said: "The emperor is recovering from a serious illness, and he needs to meditate and cultivate, in this way, it is better for one party to be dominant than for two parties to check and balance, Prince Gong is the emperor's sibling, and he has actively implemented the new policy in recent years, and a group of officials have gathered around him, which is enough to contain Su Shun and others." ”

Xianfeng nodded slightly, this is not unreasonable, he wants to meditate and cultivate, he will inevitably slack off in government affairs, although Su Shun is loyal, only extraordinary, but authoritarian, if there is no one to check and balance, as time goes by, Su Shun will become a generation of powerful ministers, control the government, and have Yi Xun to contain each other, but it is also a good choice.

Shanghai, Zhenhai Mansion, Changle Book House.

Xie Xiuyuan walked into the study quickly with a telegram in his hand, and after bowing his hand, he said: "Big shopkeeper, Hu Xueyan called, the price of cotton in London is still stable, it is reported that the blockade of the southern ports by the Northern Fleet of the United States is useless, and the merchant fleets from Europe to the southern ports are ....... as usual. With that, he handed over the telegram.

After reading the telegram, Yi Zhizhi was silent, he knew that the American Civil War had triggered the cotton crisis in Europe, but he did not know what the specific situation was, whether it was the successful blockade of the Northern Navy that caused the cotton crisis? Or is it a cotton crisis triggered by the South's intention to control cotton exports? Or is it a combination of both?

Although he can't tell what is going on, there is no doubt about the European cotton crisis, because cotton futures during the American Civil War hit a new high, a high that cotton futures have not been able to surpass for more than a hundred years, which he is extremely sure of!

Seeing that he was silent, Xie Xiuyuan slowed down and said: "Big shopkeeper, even if the price of cotton will rise, you can't continue to buy in large quantities, once the amount is too large, England and France may interfere, after all, it is not a domestic ........" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded slightly, and said, "Call Hu Xueyan back, invest the funds in cotton futures and bonds, don't worry, and don't doubt my judgment!" ”

Hearing this, Xie Xiuyuan smiled bitterly, he knew the other party's temperament very well, and knew that persuasion was useless, he turned around and walked out of the room with the prepared message, he really didn't understand where Yi Zhi's content came from, dare to take such a risk, once the eleven southern states of the United States defeated independence, it would inevitably become a supplier of raw materials to Europe, and at that time, the price of cotton would inevitably fall sharply, and the loss would be unimaginable.

Xie Xiuyuan went out on the front foot, and Zhao Liewen entered the study on the back foot, and said with a smile: "July 12 is the queen's birthday - the Thousand Autumn Festival. It seems that it is to eliminate the adverse effects of the longevity festival. ”

"It's called the scar and forget the pain, it's not good yet, and it's a blind toss." Yi Zhishu sneered, after hearing that Xianfeng's condition had improved greatly, he turned his attention to the civil war between the north and the south and the cotton trade, in his opinion, Xianfeng survived this catastrophe, at least it can be delayed until next year or even the year after, tuberculosis is not an emergency after all.

Su Shuncai is in charge of the Wanshou Festival, and then the Qianqiu Festival is naturally easy, and the operation is decent, impeccable, however, the princes of the clan in the Beijing Division, the civil and military officials are all a little worried, for fear of any accidents, after all, the Wanshou Festival really made them frightened for a long time.

There is a way to be afraid of what to come, July 12 Thousand Autumn Festival, hundreds of officials congratulate, six palaces to congratulate, food, feasts, listen to the ....... The whole day was uneventful, but in the middle of the night, Xianfeng fell ill again, coughed violently, coughed up blood, and then fainted.

The ministers of the guards and the ministers of the imperial front were not too panicked this time, and they summoned the imperial doctors to diagnose and treat them and block the Palace of Raising the Heart, but the royal doctors who were waiting to see the veins were pale one by one, as if they were mourning, and everyone realized that something was wrong, and realized that Xianfeng's condition this time might be more serious than that of the Wanshou Festival.