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

"The Queen Mother's ——。" Zaiyuan's voice sounded a little astringent, "Yi Zeng disappeared after patrolling the night at the beginning of the ugly year, and six of his guards ....... disappeared along with him. ”

"What do you think about that?" Ci'an's voice sounded very flat without the slightest mood swing, but the more this was the case, the more apprehensive Zaiyuan was in his heart, he had already figured out Ci'an's temperament in the past few years, and the more indifferent his tone was, the more angry he was in his heart.

After noticing Zaizhao's abnormal behavior, considering Zaizhao's special identity, he suggested that Yizeng persuade Zaizhao to settle in Beijing, after all, Yizeng has worked with Zaizhao for many years and has a very close personal relationship.

Who would have thought that Yi Zeng, who would be strict and neutral, would come to this hand, needless to say, Yi Zeng must have been moved by Zai Zhao's words, he can't wait to slap himself in the mouth now, nothing more than anything? Before a Gong Wang, now there is another Yizeng, he doesn't know how to deal with himself!

took the initiative to take off the top and put it on the ground, and knocked his head heavily before he said: "Back to the Queen Mother, Yizeng should be a temporary intention, and he acted in a hurry, and Weichen thought it was ......., and he should rush back to Tianjin overnight." After hesitating, he continued: "Wechen begs him to be dismissed from his post and questioned, so that even if he returns to the sailor camp, it will be difficult to make waves." ”

Ci'an's face behind the bead curtain is really a little ugly, this can really be said to be pressing the gourd to float the scoop to prevent Zaizhao, but he didn't expect Yizeng to turn against the water, and he left the camp at the beginning of the ugly year, at this time, I was afraid that he had already arrived in Tianjin!

Ordered to be dismissed from his post and asked? Ci'an didn't want to, but he knew that he should calm down at this time, Yizeng and Zaizhao had been operating in the Beiyang Naval Division for many years, and the imperial court had neglected to control the Beiyang Naval Division over the years. Will it take the opportunity to make trouble?

At present, Yixun has led 10,000 troops back to Beijing, and the fleet transported is not clear whether it is the Beiyang Naval Division or Yuanqi's.

After being silent for a long time, she suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart and said slowly: "Yizeng people have said that the army should strictly abide by neutrality and not participate in the government politics, and it is true that they have not been involved in the government over the years. After a pause, she continued: "Call Yixun and go to see Yizeng, it will naturally be better to make him change his mind, and at worst, he must let the Beiyang Navy Master strictly abide by neutrality." ”

Tianjin, Xingang, Beiyang Naval Division.

Several horses galloped to the outside of the camp gate, circled a few times at the gate and then galloped straight into the camp, but the two tea kung fu galloped out again, to a nearby wooded hill, a few riders abandoned their horses and hurried up the hill, and Yizeng, who had been standing on the top of the hill and watching, hurried up to meet him.

Rushing back to Tianjin from the starry night of Beijing, he did not dare to return to the Admiral's Office in Tianjin, but went straight to the camp of the Navy Division.

Several guards trotted up to meet them, and reported: "The military gate, everything in the camp is normal, there is no abnormality, and no one has come." ”

"Back to camp." Yizeng said concisely, all the way down the mountain, he pondered all the way, now it is almost dusk, it is impossible for him to leave the camp without permission has not been detected, and now the imperial court is extremely sensitive to the Beiyang Naval Division, it is impossible that his whereabouts are unknown for most of the day The imperial court has not reacted, and it is very likely that the imperial court does not dare to act rashly at this juncture.

Entering the big camp, seeing that there was indeed no abnormality, Yi Zeng completely relieved his heart, and entered the battalion headquarters, the chief soldier stationed in the big battalion, E Antai, hurriedly greeted him, saw him full of dust, and couldn't help but be secretly surprised, and saluted: "The whole training is over?" Junmen: This is coming back on horseback? ”

No wonder he asked, there is a train from Jingshi to Tianjin, and most of the people who come to Daying from Tianjin are going down the river by boat, and there are very few people riding horses, Yizeng didn't explain, and said straightly: "Go to your office." ”

The Beiyang Naval Division coordinated the dispatch of troops to attack the Japanese, but in order to prevent accidents, about half of the troops were left in Tianjin, and the two general soldiers were left behind, Fuheng presided over the Admiralty of the Navy, and E'antai was in charge of the camp.

Entering the office, E Antai consciously closed the door, and then poured a large cup of cold white and sent it, Yizeng galloped for two or three hundred miles without changing people all the way, and he was indeed tired and thirsty, so he picked up the water cup and poured it violently. Seeing this, E Antai turned around and poured another big cup, thought about it, and then brewed another pot of tea.

Yizeng didn't say a word, he took out a box of cigarettes and lit one, and waited for the tea to be served, before he spoke: "The whole training is not over yet, I left Beijing without permission and rushed back ......in the starry night." ”

Leaving Beijing without permission? Starry Night Gallop? E Antai couldn't help but tighten in his heart, what is the other party going to do? He was a little flustered in his heart, he was one of the few cronies that Yi Zeng had picked up, otherwise Yi Zeng would not let him sit in the camp, if Yi Zeng wanted to rebel or betray the court, what should he do?

Don't allow him to think about it, Yi Zeng has continued: "King Gong's class has returned to Beijing, the imperial court and Yuan Qi are eyeing our Beiyang Naval Division, King Gong may be the same, the current situation, think you can see it clearly, the implementation of constitutional government is the trend of the times, if the preparation for the constitution expires, the court breaks its promise or prevaricates, Yuan Qi will inevitably raise troops to fight." ”

Speaking of this, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, and then continued: "What will be the consequences of Yuanqi's crusade?" Needless to say, I can roughly judge this by looking at Korea, the Japanese and Southeast Asian countries.

The royalists have now completely controlled the New Army of the Eight Banners, and if they control the Beiyang Naval Division again, it is very likely that they will delay the constitution or even openly break their word against it, I don't want to see this situation, I don't want Yuan Qi to go to war with the imperial court, and I don't want the Beiyang Naval Division to become a victim of the royalists. ”

Starting a war with Yuanqi is tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg, for this, E Antai naturally understands it very well, and he also knows his consistent position and attitude, and when he heard this, he has roughly guessed it, and immediately said tentatively: "What does the military gate mean, the Beiyang Naval Division is conservative and neutral?" ”

Yi Zeng said in a deep voice: "Yes, we won't help anyone, strictly abide by neutrality!" As he spoke, he sighed softly, "However, even if you are strictly neutral now, you also need to take a great risk ......." ”

It's just that it strictly adheres to neutrality, this risk is indeed there, but at most it is a charge of self-respect for supporting the army, and E Antai immediately said loudly: "The last general is only the head of the army, obey the order, obey the command!" ”

"Good!" Yi Zeng said simply: "Pass my order, the battalion and the port will enter the first level of security, and no one can enter or leave without permission, and all the officers above the fourth rank in the battalion will be summoned to come to the meeting." ”

"The last will obey." E Antai hurriedly got up and said loudly, he knew very well that Yizeng was in a hurry, and he didn't dare to delay in the slightest, so he turned around and walked out of the office, and then went downstairs, and met Chang Guixiang, the quartermaster, and the relationship between the two was quite good, and he said quite unexpectedly: "What kind of wind is it today, blowing our God of Wealth." ”

Chang Guixiang came in the morning, has been staying in the port, heard the news of Yizeng back to the camp this hurried over, when he saw E'antai, he said with a smile: "Of course it is a good wind, a good wind with strength, send me to the blue sky ......." ”

E Antai had something in his heart, and it was urgent, but he didn't have time to grind his teeth with him, so he immediately said: "Go downstairs first, I'll go to you later......." ”

"In a word, I'm also in a hurry." Chang Guixiang hurriedly said: "There are five new steam gunboats in Yuanqi, ask us if you want them?" 50% discount, but to cash ....... ”

The steam gunboat is a good thing, not to mention a five-fold discount, but when he heard that he wanted cash, E Antai didn't dare to say anything, besides, he really didn't have time to break this matter now, so he immediately said: "The military gate is back, in my office, you go to ask the military gate for this matter." ”

Chang Guixiang pretended to be surprised and said, "The military gate is back?" ”

"I can't lie to you, hurry up." E'antai said and walked away quickly.

Chang Guixiang smiled secretly in his heart, and immediately went upstairs, and when he arrived outside the office, he straightened his military uniform and said loudly: "Report——。 ”

"Come in." Yizeng said casually, it was Chang Guixiang who came in, he was a little surprised, the other party usually stayed in Tianjin City, and after the other party saw the salute, he said: "How do you know that I have returned to the camp?" ”

Chang Guixiang knew that there was not much time for him, so he didn't dare to go around in circles, so he said straightforwardly: "Back to the military gate, my subordinates rushed to Xingang this morning and have been waiting for the military gate to return to the camp." After a pause, he continued: "Yuanqi's subordinates asked their subordinates to bring a message to the military gate, promising five steam gunboats to ....... ”

"Five steam gunboats bought you?" Yi Zeng rolled his eyes angrily and said, "What words?" ”

Chang Guixiang hurriedly said: "The Beiyang Navy Division adheres to the consistent position and strictly abides by it. ”

"Who asked you to bring this?"

"The shopkeeper of Yuanqi Tianjin Branch."

Yuanqi's news is really well-informed! Yi Zeng picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, Yi Zhizhi was content to let the Beiyang Navy Division strictly abide by neutrality, it should be worried about stimulating the imperial court, worried that the imperial court would take risks, which was also in line with his intentions, to be honest, what he was most worried about was that Yuan Qi asked the Beiyang Navy Division to change its flag, which would make him in a dilemma.

After a slight groan, he said: "Reply to Yuan Qi, the Beiyang Navy Master must strictly abide by neutrality!" ”

Hearing this, Chang Guixiang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and said, "My subordinates will send them a telegram immediately." ”

After a little consideration, Yi Zeng said, "No." Call King Zhennan in my name. After a pause, he continued: "Your task is to get me those five steam gunboats." ”

"Rest assured." Chang Guixiang said with a smile: "What Shopkeeper Hu promised in person will never break his promise, and we still owe them a lot of loans." ”

Yuan Qi's attitude made Yi Zeng feel a lot more relaxed, as long as Yuan Qi was not persecuted, King Gong would not be persecuted if he wanted to, and the Queen Mother, as long as he ensured that the Beiyang Naval Division strictly adhered to neutrality, it was estimated that the problem would not be big, so that the Beiyang Naval Division would no longer be the focus of contention between all parties, and there was no need to wade into this troubled water!

In addition, Yuan Qi's attitude is also more conducive to him to convince the officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Naval Division, it seems that this move is the right move, although it will not be left and right, but there is no need to make enemies on both sides!

It was much easier to convince the officers to maintain strict neutrality than Yi Zeng expected, originally he thought that there would be some opposition from some officers, but after he carefully analyzed the current situation, all the officers expressed their support for strict neutrality, the difference was only in the speed of their statements and the degree of resoluteness of their attitudes.

In fact, everyone understands in their hearts that now Yuan Qi is the thigh, the court can only be regarded as an arm, in the matter of constitutionalism, the arm can't resist the thigh after all, the Beiyang Navy Division remains neutral, which is a kind of protection for all officers and soldiers, besides, the officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Navy Division, I'm afraid there will be no few who are willing to be enemies with Yuan Qi.

After the meeting was dismissed, Yi Zeng made a simple deployment, and was about to take a shower and have dinner, when an officer came to report that Prince Yixun's ship had arrived at the dock.

For Yi Xun's arrival, Yi Zeng was not surprised at all, if Yi Xun did not come, it would be called an accident, he immediately asked: "Is there a guard of honor?" ”

"No, Prince Alcohol came in Weifu, and the name sticker was handed over."

"Prince Alcohol, please." As he spoke, Yi Zeng gave the order and glanced at E Antai and several other officers, and said, "Let's go and greet you." ”

"Military Gate." E'antai reminded: "Even if there is no guard of honor, it may have a secret ....... ”

"It doesn't matter." Yi Zeng waved his hand disappreciatively, conniving at Yi Xun with a secret will, what can he do with him on his one-third of an acre of land? has reached this point, can you expect him to be unsuccessful?

Yi Zeng and the others were not far away, just waiting outside the camp gate, when the sky was dark, I saw a team of torches coming slowly, E Antai muttered softly: "There are still a lot of followers, there should be forty or fifty people?" ”

Yi Zeng smiled when he heard this, "The imperial court doesn't understand our attitude, and it is reasonable for Prince Alcohol to come to our camp and bring more followers to strengthen his courage." ”

Chang Guixiang is also among the officers, and he is standing behind Yi Zeng's side, and the one who can be the quartermaster of the Beiyang Navy Division is naturally Yi Zeng, the confidant of the Admiral of the Navy, among the officers, he can be regarded as old and sophisticated, listening to this, he frowned, and said: "This is a military camp, what is the difference between the forty or fifty entourage and the three or five retinue?" ”

Yi Zeng glanced back at him and said, "Don't hide it." ”

"The subordinates feel a little strange." Chang Guixiang pondered and said: "It's better to return to the camp at the military gate, and we can stop Prince Alcohol outside the camp as soon as he entourages." ”

Yi Zeng groaned silently, Prince Alcohol was a noble person, and it was impossible for a group of officers and soldiers to recklessly search his entourage to check whether they were carrying weapons, and if those retinues were carrying pistols, ........

E Antai also thought of this, and hurriedly echoed: "The current situation is special, it is better to be cautious, the military gate will return to the camp first, and the subordinates will wait here." ”

Yizeng is not hypocritical, at this time there is indeed anything possible, he immediately nodded, and ordered: "Then I will go back to the camp first, and say that I am taking a bath." ”