The Empire will continue to win

The Hall of Mental Cultivation.

It was first built in 1537.

Initially, it was just a side hall where Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty would drink tea when he was practicing immortality. Due to its proximity to the core of the empire, it gradually became the highest office of the empire.

Contemporaries said: Within a small space, he ruled the country for a hundred years.

It is not a single palace, but consists of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Rear Hall, the East Side Hall, the West Side Hall, the East Enclosure, the West Enclosure, the Yanxi Hall, the Tishun Hall, and several wooden guardhouses.

You could say it's equivalent to an extra-large canopy bed.

.........

Li Lianying led the way, with Shen Moqing following behind. They passed through Longzong Gate and Yangxin Gate, and circled around a huge jade screen wall.

"The Empress Dowager is in Yanxi Hall. Lord Shen may have an audience with her alone," a maidservant said, blocking his way.

"Yes."

Shen Moqing straightened his clothes again, and stepped across the threshold with his head held high.

Passing through the main hall, we entered the rear hall.

Just right~

The female telegraph operator came out.

The two met face to face and their eyes met.

The woman's attire was quite novel; her hunting clothes were tight-fitting, her riding boots clattered, her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, her figure was upright, her abdomen was flat, and a leather belt accentuated her slender waist. Every move she made exuded a heroic air.

Surprisingly, the front is even more beautiful than the back!

How could the Telegraph Office have such a beautiful telegraph operator?

Shen Moqing felt a mix of emotions, but his expression remained unchanged. He didn't look to the side and brushed past her, their shoulders barely touching.

A fragrant breeze wafts towards you.

In just a few seconds, the boot-wearing telegraph operator had been thoroughly vilified in the professor's mind.

.........

Yanxi Hall is located on the west side of the rear hall and was, in principle, the office of the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Ti Shun Tang is located on the east side of the rear hall and was, in principle, the office of the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Since she began ruling from behind the curtain, the Western Empress Dowager has resided here year-round. The Eastern Empress Dowager, however, who was indifferent to state affairs, lived in Jingren Palace most of the year, only visiting when necessary.

Arrive at Yanxi Hall~

The light in the room suddenly dimmed. The chief eunuch, An Dehai, glared at himself and then slipped past him with his head down.

Dead eunuch~

Neurotic~

Why are you jealous of me?

I'm not going to steal your position as head steward~

Shen Moqing didn't have time to think much, and took two more steps inside, like a mountain of gold and a jade pillar collapsing.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty eternal youth."

"There's no one else here, so find somewhere to sit down."

"Yes."

Shen Moqing looked around.

The room was quite small, with only a kang (heated brick bed), a small square table, a round table, two chairs, and a rosewood chaise lounge.

Looking at Empress Dowager Cixi again, her brows were furrowed and the corners of her mouth were downturned.

This is a typical sign of depression, usually caused by severe endocrine imbalance due to excessive psychological stress, with depression as the main symptom.

Above the Empress Dowager's head hung a wooden plaque that read "A broad mind and a plump body."

.........

Shen Moqing pulled up a chair and sat down.

As always, he sat upright with thick eyebrows and big eyes, his peaked cap resting on his arm, looking every bit the tough soldier.

What it resembles is more important than what it is.

Because most people prefer to believe what they see. What they see must be real, and what they can't see must be fake.

"I summoned you to the front hall before, but today I summoned you to the back hall. Do you know why?" Although she was anxious, the Empress Dowager did not forget the art of managing people.

Political creatures are like this; they've been pickled to perfection.

"I believe this action fully demonstrates the Empress Dowager's trust in me."

"Here are two top-secret telegrams. Take them and read them first."

"Yes."

Shen Moqing stood up decisively, took the telegram with both hands, and casually glanced at the jade-like wrist opposite him. It was as white as snow and as tender as a bud. Indeed, imperial power nurtures people.

.........

There were two telegrams in total.

The pen strokes were sharp and the pen holder strong. Wow, it seems that the telegraph operator who loved wearing riding boots was actually a strong-willed woman.

The latest telegram is:

Your subject Ronglu reports with tears in his eyes: On August 20th, Motianling fell, the enemy suffered 2300 casualties, and our army suffered 1500 casualties. Fengtian will become an isolated city, but no matter what, your subject will vow to defend the city to the death, fighting to the last man.

The following is:

Your subject, Ronglu, the military governor of Fengtian, submits this memorial with tears in his eyes: On August 17th, Jiuliancheng fell, with the enemy suffering 2500 casualties and our army suffering 1200 casualties.

To be honest, it's not surprising.

But there was also a slight surprise. At this time, winter had arrived in Liaodong, with wind and snow raging and temperatures plummeting. Were all the soldiers in the Sendai Division made of iron?

What a bunch of hard-working animals!

Shen Moqing suddenly looked up: "Your Majesty, there's no major problem. This humble servant is certain that we will ultimately win!"

Like a spring breeze on the face, like timely rain after a long drought.

Empress Dowager Cixi instantly felt much lighter and slowly exhaled a breath of pent-up frustration!

.........

Why?

"This humble servant knows very well that the Empress Dowager could have won, but she was just not in a hurry to win. She didn't care about small victories; what she wanted was a resounding and decisive victory."

"Yes, that's right, I can win." The Empress Dowager nodded vigorously, her eyes shining.

That's right, I can win, but I don't want to win right now.

"As long as we fight, we can win!" Shen Moqing repeated.

"You're right."

The Empress Dowager Cixi, whose face had been ashen, was now radiant, as if she could wipe out the tens of thousands of enemy soldiers gathered in Liaodong with a wave of her hand.

That's confidence!

Injection from a distance!

In this situation, Shen Moqing couldn't help but think of her superior in the National Political Theory Office of Dan University, who was full of energy and wisdom, enough for her to learn from for a lifetime.

The emperor and his minister looked at each other.

Empress Dowager Cixi found Shen Moqing handsome and pleasing to the eye, while Shen Moqing found Empress Dowager Cixi quite attractive, mature and voluptuous.

However, this is, after all, the highest office of the empire.

.........

"I don't want to wait any longer, let's win quickly!" said the Empress Dowager Cixi.

"How does the Empress Dowager intend to win?"

"The military's plan is to immediately dispatch Senggelinqin's Second Army Division to rush to Fengtian's aid. In any case, Fengtian cannot be lost."

Shen Moqing remained silent, but lowered his head, pretending to be deep in thought with furrowed brows.

"What's wrong?"

"This subordinate believes that we should deploy the First Army Division!"

Why?

The Second Army Division, stationed in Zhangjiakou, was one of only two cavalry divisions in the empire. Sending cavalry to reinforce Liaodong was certainly a reasonable course of action.

But Shen Moqing had his own plans.

Li Shaoquan's First Army Division was stationed in Nanyuan, which was his neighbor. The neighbor's power was too great, which was detrimental to his own development.

After the first town departs, Nanyuan will be exceptionally empty.

Establish a large-scale militia!

3000 workers and 3000 soldiers, no guns, no cannons, but we can always make our own. Just thinking about that kind of life is exciting.

A professor's future is bright enough, but becoming a warlord offers even greater possibilities.

.........

"Shen Qing, what are you thinking about?"

"Ah, Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have been overworked lately and have been momentarily distracted. I believe the First Division is superior to the Second Division for two reasons. First, in the Liaodong region, the snow is two feet deep in winter, making it difficult for cavalry to maneuver, but the infantry of the First Division can march by train without any problems. Second, the First Division of the Army is a fierce garrison for the capital region, which is of a different significance and can fully demonstrate Your Majesty's confidence to the world."

"What you said makes some sense."

Empress Dowager Cixi pondered and struggled with her decision.

Throughout history, only a very few extraordinary women have ruled vast empires. Their thinking was often closer to that of men, characterized by high rationality and extreme calmness.

But this was limited to government affairs.

Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Wu Zetian shared the same problem in foreign wars: a lack of self-confidence!

Both of these older sisters rose to power through mutinies, so they were very distrustful of the generals in command, fearing that someone would imitate them. They had something to hide, and when making decisions, they often overlooked certain aspects.

We need to continue to instill confidence!