The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 352 Lest Zhang Xiangtao Get the Misunderstanding

Cixi ignored the stunned expressions of Zai Yi and Ronglu. Although her expression remained calm, there was a hint of pride on her face.

"Also, tell Zhang Xiangtao that I don't want to see foreigners invade the capital again under his rule."

"I remember it clearly. Apart from this time against the coalition forces of foreign powers, Zhang Xiangtao has always been the biggest advocate of war in the Qing Dynasty. He is arrogant and always wants to train a first-class strong army in Huguang to compete with the Beiyang army. However, he never had the chance."

"Now, I will give him a chance. Although the Beiyang army is not good enough, Teng Xingfu is also from the Beiyang faction. The Vanguard Army is a role model. It depends on how good Zhang Xiangtao's skills are."

"I will grant his wish this time. I want him to train a new army in Huguang for the court in the shortest possible time, just like the vanguard army, which is capable of fighting against the armies of the great powers."

"Zhonghua, you should also remind Zhang Xiangtao that everyone in the government and the country is watching him."

Cixi took a sip of the water in the teacup, then spoke slowly.

"It is said that our Qing Dynasty now has four famous ministers of rejuvenation. Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang are highly praised by the government and the public, so there is no need to say more. Although Li Shaoquan was slightly lacking in the Jiawu Year, he still deserves this title."

"Zhang Xiangtao's reputation spreads across the court and the country. He should not be outdone by Teng Xingfu. Only then can he truly deserve the title of a famous minister of the restoration."

"If Zhang Xiangtao needs it, I would like Teng Xingfu to provide him with any help he needs without any selfish motives, so as to help him realize his long-cherished wish as soon as possible."

"Zhonghua, you must also remember that in your letter to Zhang Xiangtao, you should try to convey my meaning as verbatim as possible, so that Zhang Xiangtao will not misunderstand me."

Cixi's sudden words surprised Zai Yi and Ronglu. The issue of moving the capital had already been discussed, and Cixi had agreed not to move the capital. Why did she not only suddenly bring up the matter again at this time, but also in a firm tone, as if she wanted to move to Hubei immediately?

Both of them thought that the problem might lie with Teng Yuzhao's secret memorial, but since Cixi had already burned the secret memorial, it was clear that she did not want anyone to know its contents.

But moving the capital is a matter of great importance. At least the money would be spent like water. This almost bottomless pit of expenditure is something that the Qing Dynasty cannot afford.

Moreover, what puzzled the two of them was...

Although the relocation of the capital still depends entirely on Zhang Zhidong, the governor-general of Huguang, Cixi made some sarcastic remarks to Zhang Zhidong. It would not be an exaggeration to say that they were disparaging Zhang Zhidong. Zhang Zhidong was a man who valued his reputation the most. How could he tolerate being treated with such contempt?

Didn't Cixi worry that Zhang Zhidong would get angry and delay the relocation of the capital?

Moreover, after hearing what Cixi said, even if Zhang Zhidong was aloof and arrogant, he might not dare to compete with Teng Yuzhao's vanguard army. In this way, how could the new army in Huguang be trained?
Both of them wanted to stop Cixi from moving the capital, but they felt that they could not figure out Cixi's thoughts. Therefore, neither of them was willing to speak for themselves, but wanted the other to persuade Cixi who had suddenly had an idea.

But after the two looked at each other, they gave up the idea, because they understood each other's thoughts from each other's eyes.

Four days later in the afternoon, at the Huguang Governor's Office in Wuchang.

It was already October, which was the time Wang Bo described in "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng": "It is September, the third autumn."

At this time, the high temperature season in Wuchang has long passed, and the temperature has become very pleasant.

However, despite this, Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang who had just survived the hot summer, was still accustomed to spending the afternoons in the Xiushen Pavilion in the back garden, enjoying the cool air while handling official business.

Whenever Zhang Zhidong had something on his mind, he would come here and sit alone.

Here you can enjoy the gentle breeze in the shade of green trees, which can quickly calm your restless thoughts.

Secondly, Zhang Zhidong believed that gazing at the vast, empty, clear sky and white clouds here would make his mind suddenly open up.

Today, after lunch, Zhang Zhidong came to the Xiushen Hall early. He asked his servants to hang a couplet written by himself in the pavilion, then drove the servants away and stayed in the pavilion alone.

Zhang Zhidong was in the Xiushen Pavilion, and sometimes he would stop and look at the words on the couplets for a long time.

Sometimes, he would go to the desk that had been set up in the pavilion, and search for what he needed among the piles of newspapers from all over the country, and even among the official documents and telegrams packed in wooden boxes, and he would spend a lot of time looking at them.

Occasionally, he would walk to the stone steps in front of the pavilion and look up at the white clouds in the sky, as if he was watching the clouds rolling and unfolding, and this look would last for a long time.

The expression on Zhang Zhidong's face was very changeable. Sometimes his brows were furrowed, sometimes he looked worried, and sometimes he seemed to see some hope and became energetic and excited.

Just as Zhang Zhidong stopped in front of the couplet again, he heard rustling footsteps and turned to look.

Gu Hongming, wearing a blue cap and casual clothes, waving an ivory fan, had already come to the pavilion. Gu Hongming was Zhang Zhidong's chief of staff, so he did not need to inform Zhang Zhidong when he entered or left his office.

However, Gu Hongming's eyes were not directed at Zhang Zhidong, but instead he looked past Zhang Zhidong and towards the couplet hanging in the pavilion.

Zhang Zhidong was about to go out of the pavilion to ask Gu Hongming what he wanted to see him for, but he had no choice but to greet him with an awkward smile, very reluctantly.

"It's Mr. Hongming. Come in quickly and appreciate my calligraphy to see if it has improved."

Although Gu Hongming could see Zhang Zhidong's embarrassment, he still walked into the pavilion with a smile, stopped in front of the couplet, and began to read it carefully.

The couplet hung by Zhang Zhidong in the pavilion has neat yet heavy handwriting, and strong yet agile strokes, which can be regarded as a piece of excellent calligraphy.

The couplet was written by Empress Dowager Cixi herself and was written by Emperor Guangxu to Teng Yuzao. However, this couplet was not written by Emperor Guangxu, but by Zhang Zhidong himself.

Zhang Zhidong laughed at himself and said, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Hongming. I saw in the court bulletin that Teng Xingfu had won this honor, which made people look at him with awe. I also want to understand how Teng Xingfu felt when he saw this couplet, so I wrote a couplet myself."

After Zhang Zhidong finished speaking, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

However, there seemed to be a hint of unwillingness in Zhang Zhidong's laughter.

Gu Hongming knew very well that Zhang Zhidong had always been arrogant. Take the so-called Four Great Ministers of the Restoration for example. It was very difficult for ordinary people to be among them. But Zhang Zhidong was always indignant that he was listed last.

Zhang Zhidong was not good at commenting on Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang, but he was quite dissatisfied with listing him after Li Hongzhang. He even hated it when people mentioned the so-called Four Famous Ministers of the Restoration in front of him.

At this time, how could Zhang Zhidong be in a good mood when he learned that Teng Yuzhao had won this honor!
Although Gu Hongming knew Zhang Zhidong's mood at the time, he still laughed along with Zhang Zhidong. He knew better that Zhang Zhidong was a capable and broad-minded minister.

After laughing, Gu Hongming said, "Marshal Xiang is in a good mood, but I think that being the pillar of the Qing Dynasty is fine, but being the role model of officials is a bit too much. Teng Xingfu is not worthy of this evaluation. Marshal Xiang does not need to take it seriously."

Gu Hongming's calling himself a student does not mean that he was Zhang Zhidong's student. This was a popular name used by staff at the time to refer to their employers.

Zhang Zhidong gestured to Gu Hongming to sit down, then poured him a cup of fragrant tea and asked with a wry smile.

"According to Hongming's opinion, is Teng Xingfu worthy of being called a pillar of the Qing Dynasty?"

Gu Hongming nodded and said, "Marshal Xiang, as the saying goes, heroes are made by the times. In terms of knowledge and governing the people, Teng Xingfu is far inferior to Marshal Xiang, but at present, his ability to lead the army is unmatched. Even the coalition forces of the world's great powers have been repeatedly defeated by him."

"Such a talent is beyond compare even to Zuo Jigao, who is a natural talent. In terms of the broadness of vision, Teng Xingfu can be regarded as the best in the country."

The Zuo Jigao mentioned by Gu Hongming is Zuo Zongtang.

Zuo Zongtang, whose courtesy name was Jigao.

"So, I think Teng Yuzao deserves the comment of being the pillar of the country. But the last sentence is probably just something the empress dowager said to please the situation. Otherwise, since she gave Teng Xingfu the post of governor-general of Zhili, why did she still hold on to the post of minister of Beiyang? This must be because the empress dowager is also worried that he can't bear the burden of governing the country."

After hearing what Gu Hongming said, Zhang Zhidong also sat down slowly with his hands on the desk with a serious expression.

After a long while, Zhang Zhidong sighed and said with a wry smile, "I do agree that Teng Xingfu has received this honor. I have thought about it carefully today, and Teng Xingfu is fully worthy of this sentence."

Seeing Zhang Zhidong's serious expression, which was not a joke at all, Gu Hongming was stunned.

Zhang Zhidong seemed to be truly convinced by Teng Yuzao. This was the only time that Gu Hongming had done so since he had been following Zhang Zhidong as his confidential advisor.

Zhang Zhidong seemed to know exactly what Gu Hongming was thinking, and he smiled bitterly and waved his hands.

"Thinking back on the past, I have really been a frog in a well, too arrogant."

Zhang Zhidong sighed and said, "The reason why I say that Teng Xingfu deserves this comment is because I think that Teng Xingfu is not only a rare military leader, but also a capable minister who can govern the country in due time."

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(End of this chapter)