The Empire will continue to win

Chapter 100 Mother and Son Turn Against Each Other in the Forbidden City

For the past few months, Shen Moqing has maintained a firm grip on the initiative in the hunting game at Yangxin Hall, managing to lure the six-year-old widow, Empress Dowager Cixi, into becoming a lover.

But just now, when he said, "Empress Dowager, I think it would be better to do it now~", the positions of hunter and prey were reversed.

On the kang (heated brick bed).

Empress Dowager Cixi was like a knight.

"Wang Mama, come in." She suddenly called out, then straightened up.

"Master?" Granny Wang entered, her head bowed and eyes lowered, as if she were blind.

"Find a pair of guillotine guards."

"Yes."

Before long, two young Blood Drop Guards stood inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation; the man was tall and handsome, and the woman was gentle and beautiful.

"Mo Qing, I'm not the kind of woman who holds grudges. Pick one you like?"

"Never mind, never mind."

Professor Shen waved his hand repeatedly, saying it was just a joke; whether it's a swallow or a crow, keep your distance.

Looking at the disheartened warrant officer, Empress Dowager Cixi reached up and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, bent down to pick up the small revolver with its short barrel, and smiled gently.

"This will not be repeated."

Then, with a twist of her slender waist, she walked gracefully to the dressing mirror, picked up a piece of bright red rouge, and gently pursed it between her lips.

She pouted and looked in the mirror.

A rosy and full complexion gives the impression of abundant and regular blood and energy.

"Sir, wipe it."

Shen Moqing reached out and took the brocade handkerchief handed to her by Wang Qianniang. While wiping the rouge smeared on her cheeks, she murmured to herself: This woman is not simple.

Forbidden City.

A clock tower about five stories high stands in the Imperial Garden.

More than fifty years ago, a global Confucian conference was held in Beijing, attended by more than 1500 Confucian scholars from all over the world.

.

These foreign Confucian scholars donated a batch of copper materials they had brought from their home countries.

(Please remember the website 20 ...

Later, the skilled craftsmen of the Ministry of Works cast a large bell, named "The Bell of All Nations," which means: to cast the alarm bell of an ideal country with the bronze of all nations.

In the cold wind.

Ding ding ding~

The Great Bell suddenly began to play, its sound like celestial music, deep and resonant. The imperial city was shocked, and the entire capital was shocked.

Need to know:

The last time the Cello Club played was twenty-three years ago.

It never rang again.

Even three years ago, when the two empress dowagers launched a coup and arrested eight ministers led by Su Shun, a major court meeting was not convened.

To use an inappropriate analogy:

The Grand Council was similar to the Estates-General of the Frankish Kingdom, allowing participation from all social classes to discuss state affairs. For the monarch, the benefits of convening the Estates-General outweighed the drawbacks, and it was only convened when absolutely necessary.

So~

When the bells rang throughout Beijing, most people were bewildered, while only a very few were overwhelmed with excitement and tears welled up in their eyes.

Our Emperor is wise and virtuous, and the court is filled with upright officials.

Five minutes later~

The first to arrive, Empress Dowager An, was furious and looked like a madwoman, her finger almost poking her forehead: "Jiang Yilan, have you gone mad?"

Shen Moqing deftly stepped into the middle with a graceful movement.

Empress Dowager An was Emperor Xianning's second empress, holding a position of great prestige, above Empress Dowager Yi of the Western Palace. Seeing Shen Moqing's obstruction, she flew into a rage and raised her hand to strike him.

Too slow, Tiger Pose~

Shen Moqing grabbed her wrist.

"Fine, the adulterer has come forward himself. Guards, beat him to death! Beat this man who has defiled the harem to death!" Empress Dowager An, whose wrist was throbbing from being pinched, lost control of her emotions.

Her anger is understandable.

As a member of the royal family, do you, Jiang Yilan, have some misunderstanding about your reactionary identity?

Meetings should not be held unless absolutely necessary.

Every member of the royal family in the world knows that the so-called Estates-General of the Frankish Kingdom was a system established out of necessity, a compromise between the weak royal power and the people's rights at the time.

Later, as royal power continued to strengthen, the Bourbon dynasty no longer needed to consult with ordinary people, and for a full 175 years, it did not convene the Estates-General.

175 years later, our beloved King Louis XVI suddenly decided to convene the Estates-General to discuss national finances and taxation.

After the meeting, Louis XVI's head was cut off.

In fact, not to mention Empress Dowager An, even the instigator Shen Moqing couldn't help but admire her. "I graduated from Dan University, so it's normal for me to be bold. Empress Dowager, which school did you graduate from?"

Jiaotong University?

In the distance~

Emperor Xuanwu, dressed in plain clothes, hurried over, his face unusually pale, followed by Weng Tonghe, the Minister of Rites.

-

"Who rang the bell?"

"She...she's gone mad! She actually listened to love—" Empress Dowager An forcibly stopped herself, changing her words to, "She listened to the advice of the treacherous villain Shen Moqing and convened a grand court meeting. I can't understand it no matter how hard I try, Jiang Yilan, what are you after?"

"Mother, is that so?"

"My son, why don't you ask why first?"

Why?

"Article Three of the Imperial Charter stipulates that the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager all have the power to convene grand court assemblies. What, my son, are you going to criticize your mother too?"

The young emperor's face was deathly pale, and his eyes twitched.

After standing there for five seconds, he turned and left.

Empress Dowager An sneered twice and then turned and left.

In the distance, Prince Gong, who had rushed into the palace, watched this scene, stood there hesitating for a long time, and finally stamped his foot and left.

Shen Moqing and the Empress Dowager looked at each other.

"Mo Qing, I cannot lose."

"Your Majesty, rest assured, starting today, we will keep winning, with news of victories every day, until you can't take it anymore."

"My main purpose is for the country and the nation. I am willing to relinquish part of my imperial power to the people. I hope they will not be ungrateful."

Shen Moqing didn't see the Empress Dowager's expression at that moment; she was definitely gritting her teeth and heartbroken.

The imperial power, pure and simple, was handed over to the common people.

What a tragedy!

However, this may be a good start.

The professor pondered for a moment: "Your Majesty, I have heard that it is precisely because one does not contend that no one in the world can contend with him. I have also heard that the use of the useless is of great use."

The methods used in the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties are outdated and can't keep up with the times. Now is a new era, with new struggles and new methods. This humble servant is willing to do everything in my power to support the Empress Dowager.

"Do you think I am Wu Zetian?"

-

"How can Wu Zetian be compared to the Empress Dowager? She was good at internal strife but not good at external strife. In my humble opinion, the Empress Dowager is superior to Catherine, both in terms of achievements and appearance."

As he spoke, he grabbed her soft hand and kneaded it repeatedly.

Empress Dowager Cixi did not struggle. She simply looked up at the swirling snowflakes and sighed almost imperceptibly. She knew that from this moment on, the gears of fate had begun to turn.

Within an hour, the news spread throughout Beijing.

Within two hours, the message reached Tianjin, Zhili (Hebei), Nanjing (Nanjing), Suzhou, and Hangzhou.

Within eight hours, the people of Guangzhou knew about it.

Inside Nanjing, on the banks of the Qinhuai River.

"Newspapers for sale! Newspapers for sale! After 23 years, the imperial court has convened a grand court meeting again. What does this reflect?" The newsboy waved his newspaper and shouted along the street.

It sells well!

It sells extremely well!

-

"Hey newspaper vendor, come here."

By the side.

A luxurious carriage suddenly came to a stop, and Sheng Xuanhuai, who was on his way to visit Hu Xueyan, the president of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce, who was recuperating at home after being assassinated, poked his head out. "Any entertainment newspapers?"

"My lord, there is no entertainment today, only a grand court meeting."

"Why don't you sell some other newspapers?"

"Everyone has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation; lately, people haven't been paying much attention to 'crotch entertainment'."

"Go to hell!" Sheng Xuanhuai suddenly flew into a rage and cursed, "What are you pretending to be, a newspaper vendor? Beat him up!"

""

So, the inexplicably beaten by Sheng Xuanhuai's coachman, his nose bled profusely, his eyes were bruised, and he went home crying.

In short~

The newspaper office has been extremely busy these past few days.

This is a major news story, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will generate buzz for at least a month, with new stories constantly being unearthed and reprinted from various angles.

"Unveiling the Secrets of the Grand Court Meeting"

"Who is really afraid of the Grand Council?"

"The Untold Secrets Behind the Grand Council!"

"A Brief Analysis of the Grand Council and the Three-Level Conference"

"What impact might the Grand Council have on the lives of ordinary people in Jiangnan?"

"Every successful businessman should pay attention to the Grand Council."

"A renowned Confucian scholar from Southeast China announces his support for the Grand Council"

"This is a victory for democracy, this is the fragrance of freedom"

"A Cantonese Chef's Exclusive Perspective: What Did the Gentlemen Attending the Grand Council Eat and Drink?"

"Qinhuai River proudly presents its latest project – a simulated grand court assembly."

Wait ~

For a small group of businessmen, everything else is meaningless; making money is the only real goal. They can always turn any hot topic into business, and as for politics, it's none of their concern.

I don't want to care about you.

You'd better not bother with me.

On December 20th, Empress Dowager Cixi struck the Universal Bell.

On December 25th, the imperial court held a grand court assembly as scheduled.

In accordance with ancestral rules and to demonstrate equality among all social classes, the Grand Council was not held in the Forbidden City, but at the Grand Theater near the Legation Quarter.

The Beijing Grand Theatre has four floors, and its unique starry sky dome has set a world record for its span.

The design requirement was that the building could be used normally for 300 years after completion. Therefore, no cost was spared in terms of materials and labor during construction.

As a landmark building of the empire, the Grand Theatre was operated under a government-supervised, privately-run model, maintaining normal operations, upkeep, and repairs.

In addition to labor costs and reasonable profits, there is even a surplus.

It has been established for a century, around the same time as the formation of the Grand Council system.

The Grand Council originated during the tenure of Newton, a mild-mannered and kind-hearted man who believed in collective wisdom and would convene many people to discuss any difficult or important matters.

After the discussion, everyone raised their hands to vote.

-

Over time, this became a system.

When the head of state is unable or unwilling to make a decision, he "can" ring the bell to convene a grand council composed of representatives from all levels of society.

From a certain perspective, the current United Empire is like a huge basket, containing all sorts of tools, but not necessarily something that will be used.

But it is still relatively advanced.

Because having something that you don't need is still much more advanced than not having it at all.

The atmosphere in Beijing has become increasingly strange these past few days.

Forbidden City.

The Imperial Guards split into two groups.

A small group of enlightened thinkers openly supported convening a grand court assembly, believing the empire needed a fresh start. The majority, however, held that imperial power was supreme and should be absolute.

Opposing factions emerged in various government offices and schools.

-

Colleagues turning against each other, old friends severing ties, fathers and sons becoming enemies, and mutual attacks and accusations are commonplace.

Regarding the various factions, we can broadly categorize them into two types: the establishment and the democrats. The former absolutely support imperial power, while the latter advocate for the separation of power from the monarchy.

It's much better than the South.

After all, there are only two factions in the north, while the south can be further divided into thirty-six factions.

The fragile balance could not withstand any external impact, which precisely proved Shen Moqing and Zeng Guofan's judgment: the united empire was like a steel plate that had never been heat-treated, with enormous internal stress.

In just a few days, the audacious Shen Moqing took an X-ray of the steel plate.

Under X-ray, it was covered in scars.

It's not all bad news; there's good news too.

On the morning of December 2, under the urging of Army Minister Sheng Bao and with the assistance of dozens of armored trains, officers and soldiers from three army divisions and twelve reserve infantry battalions joined forces to recapture Fengtian.

By this day, the Northern Fleet had sunk a total of twenty-one East Asian transport ships in the Yellow Sea using cruiser wolfpack tactics.

December 24th.

4:00.

The Meridian Gate was heavily guarded.

After entering the inner city through Zhengyang Gate, Shen Moqing and Yuan Weiting rode slowly along the road.

Patrols were frequent along the way.

Those wearing blue uniforms are newly recruited militiamen from the gun factory; those wearing khaki uniforms are newly recruited recruits from the Zhili Army; and those wearing black uniforms are new students from the Naval Petty Officer School.

These three parties jointly undertook the defense of the capital.

"Weiting, what did you figure out?"

"Your Excellency, the capital is currently facing a turbulent period, fraught with danger."

"A crisis can also be an opportunity; it all depends on whether we can seize it."

"This humble servant will follow your lead without question."

What are your thoughts on the Grand Council?

"Whatever you think, I will think."

Yuan Weiting's round eyes gleamed with cunning. In his mind, all the rules and regulations were just tools and means; the key was winning or losing.

Even if he lost, Washington was still a slave owner.

They won; Washington was also the slave owner.

Shen Moqing said meaningfully, "Weiting, the conflict between the two palaces is sharp right now, and with the Emperor and Prince Gong involved, the situation in the court is very complicated. I would like to recommend you to join the Imperial Guard to protect the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

"This humble servant will always be loyal to you, sir." Yuan Weiting was overjoyed and quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Keep up the good work, I believe in you."

Meridian Gate.

Like an enemy.

-

The pre-entry inspection was exceptionally thorough, with a meticulous body search.

As Yuan Weiting walked into the majestic and solemn Forbidden City, he nervously sweated and looked around. Seeing Shen Moqing calm and composed, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll, he felt even more admiration for him.

"Weiting, what are you thinking about?"

"I'm wondering if there will be internal strife within the Forbidden City, like the mutiny three years ago."

"Won't."

"Please give your instructions, sir."

"There were no foreign enemies invading then, but there are now. The eight ministers were not on guard then, but now everyone is on guard. A coup is a case of the prepared attacking the unprepared; once one side is on guard, it is very difficult for the other side to succeed."

Shen Moqing suddenly paused.

"Also, the most elite 1st Army Division is gone, leaving behind a bunch of greenhorns, a makeshift team. It's relatively balanced at the moment."

"You're right, sir."

"However, one should always be wary of others. From now on, even when you're sleeping at night, you must remain vigilant and prepared."

"Your humble servant obeys."

"Internal strife is rampant, contradictions are prominent, and the future is bleak. You and I still need to cooperate sincerely. Even if the world collapses, we brothers will still have a place to live and make a living."

"Thank you for your guidance, sir. From this day forward, I will serve you as I would my father." Looking at Yuan Weiting, whose eyes were red-rimmed, Shen Moqing patted his shoulder and smiled meaningfully.

Longzong Gate.

The Gate of Nourishing the Mind.

Upon entering the main hall, Yuan Weiting saw a richly dressed woman sitting atop the imperial steps. He immediately knelt on one knee and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

"Your Majesty, this man is Yuan Weiting. He graduated from the Baoding Military Academy. He is loyal and brave, and can be of great use."

"Raise your head."

"Yes."

After a brief inquiry into his personal circumstances, the opportunist Yuan Weiting was immediately appointed captain of the Imperial Guard by the Empress Dowager Cixi, commanding 50...

The man, having received his sword, pistol, and uniform, went down happily.

It was the emperor and his ministers' turn to speak to each other alone.

Empress Dowager Cixi was still wearing military uniform and boots, but not a peaked cap, which made her look quite interesting.

"How's it going outside?"

"Your Majesty, everything is normal, and the capital will not be in chaos. The militia all listen to me, and I can also speak on the side of the seaman. However, I have no say in the new recruits of Zhili."

"If the first town were still here~"

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear. If the First Town were still in Nanyuan, they could have massacred the Eastern Palace.

Shen Moqing remained silent. I had anticipated your prediction.

Suddenly~

An Dehai came in.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived."

next second.

Emperor Xuanwu entered, his eyes filled with vigilance. Eight imperial guards, armed with spears and swords, stood guard on either side of the hall.

"What is it, my son?"

Coincidentally, both the mother and son were wearing military uniforms.

"Jingren Palace asked me to pass on a message to you—Mother, everything must be for the sake of the country. Do not defy the world and do not become a traitor to the nation."

"Tell the same thing to your sister."

"I have another question I'd like to ask Mother in person."

"Ask away."

"Mother, what exactly do you intend to achieve through the Grand Council?"