The war clouds in Tianjin came and went quickly, as King Gong led his troops to go north to Tongzhou, and as Fu Heng led his troops to return to the naval camp, the war clouds over Tianjin City also dissipated, and the gentry and merchants of the city rushed to tell each other, and the city celebrated.

Just when the city was full of gongs and drums and the sound of firecrackers was endless, there was a cry in the rehabilitation hospital - Admiral Yizeng of the Beiyang Navy Division failed to survive after all, and stopped breathing on the sickbed.

The governor of the platform, the governor of Zhili, Wen Yu, stood in front of the window with a melancholy face and smoked a dry cigarette silently, and finally the situation in Tianjin eased up.

As soon as Yi Zeng died, the situation suddenly became confusing again, he didn't know how the mutinous officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Naval Division would react after hearing the news, but he knew one thing that the imperial court and Yuan Qi would inevitably have another dispute because of the Beiyang Naval Division's commander! The situation in Tianjin may be tense again!

Jingshi, Forbidden City, Yangxin Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Looking at the telegram in her hand, Ci'an was silent for a long time, Yizeng died, she first had to give an explanation to the officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Naval Division, and the murderer must be severely punished - Prince Yiyun, another more serious and thorny question is, who will take over the post of Admiral of the Beiyang Naval Division? In view of the current situation of the Beiyang Naval Division, this matter cannot be delayed!

Su Shun and other military ministers all bowed their heads and knelt respectfully in front of the bead curtain, everyone knew in their hearts that this matter was not an ordinary tricky matter, and after a long time, Ci'an spoke: "Flat, sit down." ”

"Empress Dowager Xie." Su Shun and the others, whose knees were already kneeling, were numb, and they immediately got up and thanked them as if they were listening to the words of Lunyin Buddha.

After everyone sat down, Ci'an said slowly: "A wave has not been settled, a wave has risen, the officers and soldiers of the Navy Division mutiny have not yet had time to be appeased, and the Admiral of the Navy Division Yizeng is seriously injured and died, so you can discuss it." ”

"The heart of the sailor army is not stable, and there is bad news, if it cannot be appeased in time, I am afraid that there will be a suspicion of recurrence." Su Shun said slowly: "Wei Chen secretly thinks that the top priority is to set the commander of the sailor division first to stabilize the morale of the army!" ”

This sounds like nonsense, but the meaning of recommending Zaizhao is clear, and as soon as the words fell, Shen Guifen continued: "Weichen recommends Chang Bao as the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division!" ”

"Wechen disagrees." Wen Xiang said without hesitation: "Before, Yuan Qi clearly opposed Chang Bao taking over as the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division!" The officers and men of the Beiyang Naval Division are afraid that they will have great resistance to the permanent protection, which is not conducive to stabilizing the morale of the army. ”

"It was not Chang Bao who hijacked the gunshot wounds and died, so why did the officers and men of the Navy Division resist Chang Bao to take over?" Shen Guifen said in a deep voice: "As for Yuan Qi's opposition, there is no need to ignore it at all, because Yuan Qi does not dare to start a war lightly!" ”

"Joke!" Wen Xiang reprimanded lightly: "Although the war of the Wa Kingdom has not ended, but the war is peace, all in the thought of Yi Guocheng, the new army of Yuanqi is strong and has plenty of money, why don't you dare to start the war lightly?" If you don't dare, you really don't want to! ”

Ci'an nodded slightly, this is to the point, Yuan Qi does not dare to start the war lightly, but he is unwilling to start the war lightly, otherwise Gong Wang Yixun is so tormented, Yuan Qi will not have this reaction!

That is to say, as long as it does not touch the bottom line of the other party, Yuan Qi will not easily turn against the imperial court, the question is, with Chang Bao as the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division, does it touch Yuan Qi's bottom line? Although Yi Guocheng opposed it before, it was only verbally opposed.

"The Queen Mother'——。" Su Shun said slowly: "At present, the main force of the Beiyang Naval Division fleet is still in the Wa Kingdom, and the more than 10,000 officers and soldiers of the naval division battalion are still under the control of Fuheng...... If you are not careful, the situation will be the same again. ”

Shen Guifen said: "Even if the situation is as before, Yuan Qi will also try his best to avoid the outbreak of war!" ”

Seeing a few people arguing, Bao Jun, who had been silent, said: "Wei Chen secretly thinks that in the current situation, it is most appropriate for the Beiyang Naval Division to remain neutral. ”

Hearing this, Ci'an's heart moved, and he asked slowly, "Is there a suitable person to recommend?" ”

Bao Jun was silent when he boarded, he didn't dare to recommend at will, this candidate for the commander of the Beiyang Navy Division can neither be a royalist nor a constitutionalist, but also be familiar with military affairs and have a certain prestige, this is not the most difficult, the most difficult thing is to be satisfied with both the Queen Mother and Yi Guocheng.

Of course, the Queen Mother asked, and it was not okay not to answer, so he had to kowtow and say: "Weichen is not suitable for election recommendation." ”

Su Shun and other military planes also bowed their heads and were silent, this recommender is not a good thing, once something happens, the recommender will not be able to eat and walk around, the possibility of an accident with the commander of the Beiyang Navy Division is too great, and no one wants to have nothing to do.

Seeing that no one was silent, Su Shun had an idea, bowed down and said, "Why doesn't the Queen Mother recommend Yi Guocheng?" ”

This is not a way to retreat, Ci'an nodded slightly, and said: "Proposed purpose, Yizeng has outstanding meritorious service, loyalty, nicknamed Wuxiang, and his eldest son is ...... the lord." Prince Yixun of alcohol, cut off the title, and removed from his position. After a pause, she continued: "Call Yi Guocheng and recommend a suitable candidate." ”

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Yi Zhizhi sat on the chair and stared at a photo on the table for a long time, it was a group photo of the officer's short training class, Yi Zeng was sitting on his right hand, Yi Zeng was only in his early twenties at that time, and he was heroic.

After a long time, he sighed lightly and put away the photo, "It is said that if the crockpot is not broken from Inoue, the general will inevitably die before the battle, and you are afraid that you will never dream that you will die at the muzzle of your own people........" ”

Yan Yangtian was afraid that he would be too sad, so he comforted softly: "The principal has done his best to ....... ”

Zhao Liewen said tentatively: "Do you want to ask for severe punishment for Yiyun?" ”

"There's no need to do anything more." Yi Zhixiang slowly shook his head and said: "In order to stabilize the morale of the army and calm the dissatisfaction of the officers and soldiers of the Navy Division, the Queen Mother will inevitably punish Yi Xun severely." ”

"Prince Alcohol can be said to be the right-hand man of the Queen Mother, and it is estimated that it will only be a matter of cutting the knight at most." Zhao Liewen said softly: "After a few years, a decree has been rewarded again. ”

Yi Zhizhi said quietly: "In two years, it will be time to implement constitutional government." ”

Nodding slightly, Zhao Liewen said: "The position of the Admiral of the Beiyang Navy Division is vacant, what does the big treasurer mean?" Continue to recommend Grandpa Zhao? ”

"The imperial court also wants to completely control the Beiyang Naval Division, and will not agree to Zaizhao to take over." Yi Zhizhi said as he lit a cigarette with a lighter and took a puff of cigarette before he said slowly: "The situation in Tianjin has just eased up, and it is not appropriate to have another dispute, and it is advisable for the sailor to remain neutral." ”

Before the words fell, Cao Gensheng hurriedly came in and reported: "The big shopkeeper, the military aircraft department is calling." ”

After reading the telegram, Yi Zhizu laughed and said: "Huifu guessed well, it was really a dismissal, and by the way, he also rebelled against our army." ”

Rebelled against our army? Zhao Liewen took the telegram with some doubts, glanced at it twice, and then said: "This person is really not good to recommend, the Queen Mother is retreating!" ”

This is indeed to retreat as advance, Yi Zhishu nodded slightly, the court and Yuan Qi, whoever recommends must make concessions, otherwise the other party will not agree, the current situation, they are not allowed to slowly pull the skin, in addition, the people recommended by Yuan Qi The officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Naval Division are also more acceptable, I have to say that Ci'an is indeed a little smart.

After thinking for a while, he spoke: "Call back, recommend Rong Lu, the chief soldier of the left wing of the Shenji Battalion." ”

Zhao Liewen hesitated and said, "The chief soldier of the left wing of the Shenji Battalion? Manchurian? ”

"Yes, Manchurian!" Yi Zhizhi said: "Rong Lu, Guarjia, the former Manchurian Zhengbai Banner, was born in a family of military attachés, his grandfather was the Kashgar deputy minister Tasha, died in the Zhang Ge rebellion, and his father was the chief soldier of Liangzhou Town, Gansu Province, and died at the hands of the Guangxi Taiping Army. ”

Zhao Liewen was a little surprised and said: "What is so special about this Ronglu, the big shopkeeper actually knows so much about it?" ”

"Among the senior generals of the Shenji Battalion, this person can also be regarded as a talent." Yi Zhizhi said succinctly, he didn't want to say more, he found Rong Lu from the list of senior generals of the Shenji Battalion provided by Ren An, and he immediately paid attention to this person, and deliberately asked Ren An to pay careful attention to inquire.

He is too familiar with the name Rong Lu, this guy is not only the culprit of the Wuxu Change, but also an important minister in the late Qing Dynasty, as a general, the power is tilted towards the dynasty, and the national defense of the late Qing Dynasty is in the hands of Li Hongzhang, Rong Lu, and Yuan Shikai.

Rong Lu's ability naturally does not need to be questioned, he can be a general, and he is in power, how can he be a straw bag? Yi Zhizu recommended Rong Lu not only because he was capable, although Rong Lu was the left wing commander of the Shenji Battalion, he was not a hardcore royalist, he was also in favor of developing industry to enrich the country and strengthen the army, and was in favor of innovation, but he hoped to make it step by step.

Although he had a bad reputation in later generations, he was a Western-style faction and a doer, and he built the Western-style national defense force of the Qing Dynasty, the Wuwei Army.

In addition, this person is good at seeing the wind and making the rudder, for Yi Zhicontent, this is an object that can be fought for, let him take over as the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division, Ci'an will not object, he is sure to fight, it can be said that he is the most suitable candidate.

Jingshi, Forbidden City, military aircraft duty room.

Rong Lu, the chief soldier of the left wing of the Shenji Battalion? Su Shun frowned and looked at the telegram in his hand, he had almost no impression of this Rong Lu, he got up and paced to Wen Xiang's desk and handed the telegram over, "This is the candidate recommended by Yi Guocheng for the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division." ”

After a slight groan, Wen Xiangcai sighed lightly, "Knowing each other and knowing oneself, invincible in a hundred battles, people know the generals in the Eight Banners New Army well, how much do we know about the generals in the Yuanqi New Army?" ”

Hearing this, Su Shun couldn't help but feel embarrassed, not to mention understanding the generals of Yuanqi's new army, he didn't seem to know the generals of the imperial court clearly, he said tentatively: "This Ronglu is quite outstanding?" ”

Wen Xiang briefly introduced Rong Lu's situation and said: "Before being promoted to the general army, this person also served as a special minister, with excellent performance and outstanding talents, and Prince Alcohol appreciated him a lot. ”

Prince Alcohol admires him? Su Shun said with some concern: "What kind of name is Yi Guocheng doing?" ”

"Naturally, there is a reason for him, so why should we worry?" Wen Xiang said softly: "If you can pass the queen mother's pass, you can send it quickly." ”

Seeing that Yi Zhishu recommended the left wing general soldier of the Shenji Battalion, Ci'an was also quite surprised, the status of the Shenji Battalion was equivalent to the personal guard of the Son of Heaven, for the left wing general soldier Rong Lu, she naturally had some understanding, and she was also puzzled as to why Yi Zhishu recommended Rong Lu.

This is not a trivial matter, she will naturally not be rash, and immediately sent people to understand from all aspects, Rong Lu can be said to be a good seedling, and he entered the Shenji camp early, and he has never intersected with Yuan Qi, and there is no slightest connection, even with Zaizhao, Yizeng, etc.

Looking at the feedback back, Ci'an became more and more puzzled, why did Yi Zhishu recommend such a person? Could it be that in order to avoid another dispute and trigger a war, he deliberately made concessions? If you want to think about it, this is the only possibility.

The next day, after summoning Rong Lu, Ci'an no longer hesitated, and directly issued an order to promote Rong Lu, the chief soldier of the left wing of the Shenji Battalion, to be the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division.

Tianjin, Xingang, the East China Sea Fleet is stationed.

In the official cabin of the flag ship 'Qingdao', E Antai, who was dismissed on the spot, sat alone at the dining table drinking stuffy wine, Yizeng's death and his dismissal made his mood extremely gloomy, everyone knew that he was in a bad mood, no one was willing to come to him, only Guo Zhongmu occasionally came to enlighten him.

There was a sound of footsteps from far to near, he didn't even raise his head, only the person who came to stand in front of him, he rolled his eyelids, and when he saw clearly who the person was, he fell, quickly stood up, sorted out his military uniform, and saluted: "My subordinates have seen the military gate!" ”

"Yes, I don't seem to have drunk much, and I can still recognize who I am." Zai Zhao said and sat down opposite him, poured himself a glass of wine, stretched out his hand and said, "Sit, I'm not your military gate now." ”

"The Yijun Gate is gone! We're useless, we can't even take revenge! As soon as E Antai said a word, he began to cry, and the five big and three rough men cried so much.

Zaizhao's eyes were red, he tilted his neck and dried the wine, poured another glass straight, threw a few peanuts in his mouth and chewed them slowly, drank three glasses of wine in succession, and saw that E'antai's cry weakened, and he said: "Don't be like a girl, let me ask you, what about the remains of Yijunmen?" ”

"Huh?" E Antai hesitated and said, "Still in Tianjin?" ”

"Not in Tianjin." Zai Zhao said: "Dahai should be Fuling taking a boat down the river to Xingang." ”

"My subordinates will arrange for someone to pick them up immediately." E Antai hurriedly said.

"The road is unstable, what else do you pick up?" With the words, Guo Zhongmu strode in and said, "Don't worry, I have already arranged it and notified the sailor camp." With that, he walked up to Zaizhao and said, "The edict has arrived......." ”

Zaizhao asked in a deep voice, "Who is it?" ”

"Rong Lu, the chief soldier of the left wing of the Shenji Battalion."

"Ronglu?" Zaizhao couldn't help but sigh, this was really too unexpected for him.

"It was recommended by the big treasurer." Guo Zhongmu said softly: "In addition, the big shopkeeper called and said that it was difficult for Grandpa Zhao to leave Beijing, so please go to Shanghai." ”

"No, no." Zaizhao said in a deep voice: "I'll stay in Xingang and won't go anywhere!" ”

Guo Zhongmu knew that he was relieved not to go to the water division camp, nodded and said, "Okay, Rong Lu is in office, it's good for you to see it." ”