The Empire will continue to win

West side of the Forbidden City.

North Sea.

The two empress dowagers and Emperor Xuanwu were the first to board the ship.

Afterwards boarding the ship were Prince Gong, Minister of the Army Sheng Bao, Minister of the Navy Yan Fu, Grand Secretary Wen Xiang, Minister of the Imperial Household Department Gui Liang, Minister of Revenue Shen Zhaolin, and Minister of Justice Yu Xian.

"Wasn't this supposed to be an imperial meeting? Why are we on the ship?" Gui Liang asked in a low voice.

"How would I know?" Sheng Bao shrugged.

The ship slowly set sail.

The eunuchs rowing at the stern were all deaf and mute. Around the age of five, their eardrums were deliberately punctured, rendering their vocal cords mute.

The lake surface rippled, and a cool breeze swept by.

"My lords, there are no servants today, so please make your own tea and help yourselves," the Empress Dowager said.

"I'll make tea for the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and all the other officials." Gui Liang, the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, quickly stood up, his smile as warm as a spring breeze. He was originally an ordinary person, and his high position was entirely due to his loyalty.

"You are seated, without any servants, to ensure the confidentiality of the meeting's content."

"Yes." Gui Liang sat down awkwardly.

"Sister, how did you come up with this idea?" Empress Dowager An looked around at the lake, feeling quite intrigued.

"A few days ago, I happened to flip through 'Chiang Kai-shek's Memoirs in His Later Years,' and I was just rehashing what others had said. My ministers, before we begin the meeting, you should take a look at the telegrams from the front."

After speaking, Empress Dowager Cixi stood up, turned her back to everyone, and looked at the lake.

.........

When everyone read the telegram, they were all greatly alarmed.

Navy Minister Yan Fu was the first to ask: "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, I don't understand. Didn't our Goryeo garrison just annihilate 50,000 enemy troops in Busan two months ago?"

Prince Gong gave a wry smile.

Emperor Xuanwu blushed.

Empress Dowager Cixi turned around and said, "That was false information spread to reassure the public. However, the casualties of the Eastern Sang expeditionary force were no less than those of our garrison. In all seriousness, we didn't lose."

Sheng Bao: "Yes, we didn't lose."

Navy Minister Yan Fu was dumbfounded.

You didn't lose?

But they lost the entire peninsula colony.

Such logic is simply absurd. Although he tried to hold back, his face still betrayed his dissatisfaction.

Empress Dowager Cixi observed all of this, but remained silent.

严复

He graduated first in his class from the Imperial Naval Academy and later studied at naval academies in several European countries, exchanging experiences with his colleagues.

After returning to China, he successively served as captain of armored cruisers and battleships, commander of a fleet, and commander of the Weihaiwei naval base. He enjoyed studying naval warfare theory and ship equipment, and had little ambition, which is why the two empress dowagers trusted him.

In the fourth year of the Xuanwu reign, he was promoted to the position of naval captain, a promotion that was exceptional.

Yan Fu was neither a traditional politician nor a military man in the strict sense, but rather an academic.

.........

It was very quiet on the ship.

The ministers attending the imperial council remained silent, waiting for someone else to speak first.

It's better to stay still than to act rashly.

People in officialdom are mostly those who are wise enough to protect themselves.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty, I am willing to personally lead a fast fleet to cut off the enemy's sea supply lines. By first disrupting their logistics, we can then proceed with our land operations gradually."

It was Yan Fu who volunteered.

"Coincidentally, there is someone who thinks similarly to you."

"May I ask, Your Majesty, who is this person?"

"Shen Moqing from the Naval Petty Officer School."

"It's him!"

"You know him too?"

"Your Majesty, I do not know this person. There are rumors circulating that he fled from Goryeo—cough, cough, he was evacuated back?"

Emperor Xuanwu could no longer contain himself and took the initiative to continue the conversation:

"Mother, on the day I returned from inspecting Yanshan Heavy Industry, I also spoke with Shen Moqing in person. He has excellent judgment and may be of great use."

Everyone marveled.

For a mere warrant officer to be appreciated by both the Emperor and Empress, his future is limitless.

Yu Xian thought to himself, "I knew I was right. Nowadays, there aren't many young people in the capital who are as shrewd and meticulous as him."

.........

Sudden.

A small boat sped towards them, with two Blood Droplets guards standing at the bow.

Everyone was shocked. Something terrible must have happened, otherwise these bloodthirsty bats wouldn't be active in broad daylight.

The Flying Guillotine were the imperial guards, who rarely operated in the open. Instead, they moved through the shadows as tentacles of imperial power, spying and observing.

After the ship was unloaded.

A guard in black climbed onto the large ship using a rope, knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and presented the intelligence.

"Let's go back."

"Yes."

"Sister?" Empress Dowager Cixi offered it to her.

"Sister, you can take it apart. It doesn't matter who takes it apart." Empress Dowager An was pleased, but waved her hand.

Upon removing the sealing wax and pulling out the paper strip, Empress Dowager Cixi's expression instantly changed.

"The latest intelligence from Kyoto indicates that 10 days ago, Emperor Higashiyama Bunji secretly ordered the Imperial Guard to be placed under the command of the Expeditionary Army Commander-in-Chief, Yamagata Aritomo."

Everyone gasped in unison.

The fact that the Imperial Guard Corps was also deployed to the Liaodong battlefield indicates what?

Nation War!!

Everyone thought of this word without prior arrangement.

Now, it can't be hidden anymore.

Empress Dowager Cixi's chest heaved.

Why don't those damned Japanese devils stay home and enjoy their rich lives? A few years ago, you sent troops to annex Ryukyu, and I didn't hold it against you, did I?

Suddenly, Shen Moqing came to mind. Basically, this kid had guessed everything! Could it be that I really intend to appoint a 17-year-old cadet to lead the national war?

It's ridiculous!

The world will surely think this kid is Xue Huaiyi, Zhang Changzong, or Zhang Yizhi.

But ~

If we don't retaliate soon, the imperial palace may be in jeopardy.

Emperor Xuanwu fell silent. That day, Shen Moqing had told him face-to-face in the carriage: "It won't be long before all the major powers intervene. The war will last at least ten years."

In other words, this is just the appetizer?

.........

"What do you all think?" Emperor Xuanwu asked, taking the initiative to speak.

"Your Majesty, I believe that Dong Sang's geographical location is unique, surrounded by the sea on all sides. It is not very useful for the Imperial Guard to defend the country. It is the right decision to transfer them to overseas operations. Dong Sang can rest easy as long as it patrols with its navy."

"Continue."

"In the war against East Sang, control of the sea is key. If our army can achieve a decisive victory in the naval battle, we can impose an armed blockade on the East Sang Islands. Even without a landing, East Sang will find it difficult to sustain itself in two or three years."

"Very well, I will send out the navy to teach this wretched little country a lesson."

Looking at the flushed young emperor, everyone remained silent, instead turning their questioning gazes to the two empress dowagers, who were in charge of the empire.

"Little sister, what do you say?"

"Let's talk over there."

The two women walked to the bow of the boat, whispered among themselves, and finally decided—to fight!

Now that the two empress dowagers have made the decision, the people below can discuss how to fight.

Wenxiang: "Your subject will follow the Empress Dowager's lead."

Gui Liang: "Your subject agrees."

Minister of Revenue Shen Zhaolin could not pretend to be stupid. When the cannons roared, gold would flow in. The problem was that the Ministry of Revenue was currently broke.

"Your Majesty, I report to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor that the Ministry of Revenue has been running a deficit every year, mainly due to the arrears in taxes from the wealthy provinces in the southeast."

"I am worried that some petty villains in the south might take this opportunity to cause trouble," Yu Xian said, expressing his concerns.

"Actually, in my opinion, this is an opportunity! We can fight external threats while pacifying internal strife, combining the two into one grand strategy. Under the guise of a national war, we can strike a blow against those disobedient local gentry. Anyone who dares to disobey will be branded a traitor and condemned to eternal infamy."

Xi Taiguo decisively quoted Shen Moqing's original words.

Winning Scripture is amazing!

marvelous!!!

.........

really.

After a moment's thought, everyone marveled.

Prince Gong's expression turned solemn: "The Empress Dowager has great foresight."

Sheng Bao's tiger-like eyes widened: "One hand to repel external threats, the other to pacify internal strife, Your Majesty, your words are profound."

[Dear readers, today is the first day of May, and it's time to scramble for monthly votes again! I earnestly request that you all cast your votes for this humble author, Xiaoxiaosheng, so that the empire can quickly spread its power throughout the land.]