Qing Dynasty Secret History

Chapter 83
It is said that Zaiyuan suddenly heard Jiao Youying say that the news about the curtain was obtained from An Dehai, and he was so frightened that he froze.Duan Hua was careful, and asked: "Did An Dehai say this sentence himself?"

Jiao Youying said: "The family member of An's family said to our family member: "Our master is about to be in time. After the queen mother draws the curtain, what our master says is more effective than anything else. Almost the ministers of military aircraft and ministers of the king are not as close as our master. You If you don't believe me, just read on.'" Su Shun said with a smile: "What am I supposed to be? It turns out that it's such a trivial statement, but it's just a long-standing habit of people ostentatiously. Thanks to you, you also believe him."

Zaiyuan said: "The Empress Dowager came to the court, which has never been in this dynasty. At the beginning of the country, the ancestors came to the throne, and only the prince was regent."

Discuss for a while, each dispersed.

Unexpectedly, in the morning of the next day, Dong Yuanchun, the censor, made a bow, saying to the effect that the emperor was too old to be in charge of the government, and temporarily asked the empress dowager to listen to the government behind the curtain, and implored one or two close princes to assist in the government.After the empress dowagers of the two palaces read it, they immediately summoned the minister of King Zanxiang.Zaiyuan and Duanhua were surprised when they heard that the Empress Dowager had summoned them.Zaiyuan said: "The empress dowagers of the two palaces never foretell political affairs, why did they summon us?"

Duanhua said: "Maybe it's because of Zigong's transfer."

Stepping into the court room, Sushun, Jingshou and other six people have all arrived.Su Shun said: "What's going on today is very strange, I don't know what kind of medicine is sold in the boring gourd?

Zaiyuan said, "I was just talking to your brother." "

Jiao Youying said: "I'm afraid it's the matter of hanging the curtain that started?"

Just as he was talking, he suddenly saw a eunuch rushing out and said, "The empress dowager of the two palaces has been promoted to the palace."

The eight ministers of King Zanxiang rushed in and saluted, Empress Dowager Cixi said: "The censor Dong Yuanchun wrote an excerpt, and what he said was very relevant to the current situation.

Calling you to come, let's discuss and discuss, whether it is feasible or not? "

Speaking of this, looking back at the eunuch An Dehai, An Dehai understood, and hurriedly took the booklet and handed it to Prince Yi Zaiyuan.When Zaiyuan received it, he read it with Duanhua and the others.After reading two or three lines, I saw him frowning and shaking his head, showing otherwise, and finished reading it in an instant.Empress Dowager Cixi asked again: "According to the current situation, is it still possible?"

Zaiyuan said: "From my servant's point of view, it's not very appropriate."

Empress Cixi said: "Why is it not appropriate?"

Zaiyuan said: "The empress dowager's reign was not a prosperous one, and the ancestral system never existed."

Empress Dowager Cixi said: "Hanging curtains to listen to politics, Han, Tang, Song, and Ming, there were some. Although this dynasty has never had it, it is okay to adapt to the current situation, not to mention that there has never been a Ming instruction in the ancestral system to prohibit hanging curtains. According to me, it is very good and can be held.

" Zaiyuan met and said: "The ancestral system is observed by all generations, and the slaves are ignorant, so they dare not add or lose. "

Empress Dowager Cixi said: "This is none of your business, it's our opinion.

"The eight people said in unison: "For things that violate the ancestral system, the Queen Mother has an edict, and slaves dare not obey it. "

Empress Cixi said displeasedly: "From what you said, it is obvious that we have no talents and are not good enough to manage state affairs?"

Zaiyuan met and said: "The Empress Dowager is a saintly genius, how dare a slave dare to forgive her! Only slaves are ignorant, they only know to abide by the ancestral system, what the ancestral system has, they dare not reduce it at all, and what the ancestral system has, they dare not increase it at all."

After hearing this, Empress Cixi looked at Ci'an empress with a yingying look, without saying a word.Ci'an said afterwards: "Since they don't agree to this matter, let's discuss it slowly."

Follow the edict to retreat.

Seeing that the two palaces retreated, Zaiyuan stuck out his tongue to the crowd and said, "It's very dangerous, very dangerous."

Duanhua said: "Thank you for fighting hard, otherwise, things will go wrong."

Zaiyuan said: "This is a matter of our lives, why not fight hard?"

Su Shun said: "The Military Aircraft Department should be asked to draw up an order to refute Dong Yuanchun's melody vigorously, so that people who don't know the meaning will come back to babble!"

Zaiyuan said: "This is a once-and-for-all deal, thank you for reminding me."

Zhang Jing followed the military plane and ordered him to draw up an order to refute and return it as he wanted.From then on, I felt at ease, thinking that nothing happened.Press momentarily.

But it is said that Cixi retreated into the bedroom, feeling unhappy in her heart, and the maids in the palace were all trembling and frightened when they saw Ci's face was not happy.Eunuch An Dehai packed a bag of dry tobacco and offered it on his knees. Empress Dowager Cixi smoked it next.

An Dehai hurriedly used paper coal to make fire on Gongxiang, knelt down and lit again.Empress Cixi raised her eyes and saw that it was An Dehai, so she didn't speak.After smoking, he stood up and said, "Follow me to the East Palace."

An Dehai knew that Empress Cixi was going to see Empress Ci'an, so he brought a pipe with him and followed closely.Arrived in no time.After seeing Ci'an, he was reading a book there. After seeing Cixi, he came in and stood up early. After the ceremony, the two palaces returned to sit.When Cixi talked about the matter of hanging the curtain, Ci'an said afterwards: "If the Minister of King Zanxiang refuses to agree, I'm afraid it will not be easy."

Empress Cixi said: "It's not a happy event for me to seize power. The emperor is young, but which one of them is loyal and courageous? If they continue to be disturbed like this, Jinxiu Shanhe may not be reliable."

Empress Ci'an was startled and said, "Is the world going to be disrupted?"

Empress Cixi said: "That's a certain thing. Don't talk about anything else. Just look at the actions just now. How can there be two of us in their eyes? Relying on the three or five sentences given by the late emperor before his death, we can't be monopolized." On the one hand, if you act arbitrarily and act arbitrarily, after a long period of time, it is bound to become a tail, and it will not be easy to take over his power at that time."

Ci'an said afterwards: "Could it be that we have to suffer the disaster of Mingzhu and Oboi ourselves?"

Empress Cixi said: "In my opinion, Zaiyuan and other eight people are better than Ming and Ao."

Ci'an said afterwards: "It's a pity that they are all ministers of Gu Ming, otherwise, it would be easy to suppress."

Empress Cixi said: "You can't talk about caring for your life or disregarding your life. The king and minister of this dynasty has the highest merit and authority, and there is no one like Prince Rui in the early days of the country. He was born as the emperor's father and regent. After he died, he was honored as Maode To cultivate Taoism, make great achievements, secure the people, set up government, and sincerely respect the emperor. His posthumous title is Chengzong, and he is enshrined in the Taimiao. Enrong is considered a privilege. That's why his close servant Su Kesa and others reported that he privately made imperial clothes and hid royal jewels. Toss away the temple rewards, chase after the seals, confiscate the family property, and cut off the Qijue. Although Zaiyuan and others are clan relatives, compared with Prince Rui, they may not be as good in the end, right?"

Ci'an said afterwards: "This matter is very important, we should discuss it with the Minister of Attendance before proceeding."

Empress Cixi said: "Except for Yixin who was secretly summoned, everyone here is their minions."

Empress Ci'an nodded, Empress Cixi had already agreed after seeing Ci'an, and asked for a pen and inkstone, personally drew up a secret decree, handed it to Ci'an for review, and sealed it together with the invitation.Ci'an said: "The jade seal that the former emperor gave us two a day before Da Jian is now in use."

Cixi said: "That is Tongdaotang Yuxi.

"

At present, the empress dowagers of the two palaces then used the seal of the secret decree and issued it quietly.But in January, Prince Gong Yixin rushed over.The thunder was too fast to cover their ears, and Zai Yuan and others were all taken aback.Unexpectedly, Yixin's mansion was deep, and after meeting, he was humble and kind, and said to Zaiyuan and the others: "A certain person is here just to attend a funeral and cry, all government affairs, I think I'm young and short-sighted, and I'm definitely not competent, so I don't want to hear about it."

Everyone believed it, so they didn't take him seriously.

Yixin begged to be admitted to the empress dowagers of the two palaces, but Sushun just sneered and didn't answer.Suddenly, a person boldly said in public: "Prince Gong and the Empress Dowagers of the Two Palaces are uncles and sisters-in-law, so they should avoid suspicion, and the Empress Dowager is in funeral, let alone summon the Prince."

Yi Xin hurriedly asked: "Who is speaking?

Su Shun said, "Don't you know this man, my lord?"He is also the Minister of Zanxiang, surnamed Du Minghan. "

When Yi Xin heard about it, she raised her eyelids and stared at him twice.At this time, Zaiyuan and the others had already agreed in unison, and Yixin knew that it was not a matter of words, so she simply kept silent and did not say a word.Then I went back to my apartment, turning around and thinking about it, unable to do anything.Suddenly, the eunuch An Dehai was reported to ask to see him, Yixin called into An Dehai to make a secret report, and said in a low voice: "The queen mother asked the prince to come in in disguise."

Yixin said, "What are you pretending to be?"

An Dehai said: "The guards on the left and right of the palace gate are the confidantes of Zaiyuan and Duanhua. They all know the behavior in the palace in a flash. The prince wants to sneak into the palace, except for disguised as a woman. Women come in and out, they don't Pay attention."

Yi Xin was stunned for a while, then said, "A woman? How do you dress up?"

An Dehai said: "You don't have to be embarrassed about this, the slaves will take care of you."

Yixin said: "If they see through, I'll be ashamed to death."

An Dehai said: "This is the Queen Mother's order. Clothes, shoes and socks, all the servants brought here."

Yixin said: "Since it's the order from above, I have no choice but to pretend to be Qiao."

But it is said that on this day, the sunset is on the mountain, and the breeze is blowing the trees.Outside the palace gate of the Summer Resort, a car with oil and green fragrance came suddenly.Four beautiful maidservants were busy pulling the curtain to help a beautiful woman.

Although it is full of beauty and hair, there is no emerald feather or pearl pendant.Lightly dressed, surprised by Goddess Lingbo; Shanshan Yugu, suspicious of Gushexian's family.All the guards were surprised when they suddenly saw the little eunuch saying: "The Empress Dowager has an order, please come to see Fujin immediately."

The beauty responded slightly, supported the beautiful servant girl, and walked in like a lotus flower in the wind.The judge naturally understands that this is the closest family member, the current emperor's uncle Gong and Prince Yixin.Yixin followed the little eunuch to the bedroom, where the two empress dowagers were together.Yixin stepped forward, first to the East Queen Mother, then to the West Queen Mother, and each invited two Shuang An.Empress Cixi slanted her phoenix eyes, and said to all the eunuchs and eunuchs: "You don't need to serve me now, so get out."

Everyone took the order and all withdrew, even eunuch an.Yixin was included, and there was no way to listen to what he had to say because of the tight security.However, when Yixin came out of the Summer Resort this day, she immediately passed the military plan Zhang Jing Cao Yuying to the apartment, and they talked closely all night.The next day, I went to Zaiyuan and Duanhua to bid farewell, saying that I would return to Beijing the next day, coming and going in a flash.People with a little experience would always have doubts, but these ministers of King Zanxiang were arrogant and did not take people seriously, so they did not doubt it.

After Yi Xin left, the Empress Dowagers of the two palaces followed Yi's decree and ordered the palace staff to prepare carriages and horses, and return to Beijing today.When Zaiyuan and the others saw this Yizhi, they jumped up and immediately entered the palace, begging to take it back.Ci'an said afterwards: "You stop Huiluan, do you want us to live here for the rest of your life? As for us, it's fine, the former emperor's Zigong, dare not to worship Anshan Mausoleum far away. You are all former emperors and former ministers. How much grace was the previous emperor?

Ask yourself, can you be more right than the former emperor, but not the former emperor?Furthermore, the emperor is the ruler of the world, and if the emperor does not return to Beijing, the hearts of the people of the world will be unstable for a day, and you are no match for the people of the world! "

Everyone bowed down to Ci'an's benevolent words, and they were strict without evil; looking up at Ci'an's benevolent face, they were not angry but majestic.To refute a few sentences, the three of them couldn't make up an argument, and they didn't even have half a word.I had no choice but to obey the order and exit the palace gate.Everyone discussed the plan to return to Beijing, and Duanhua said: "Let's go in two groups. Prince Yi and I will follow the two palaces and luanjia, and return to Beijing by Jiandao first, leaving Sushun and Mu Yin to escort Zigong. Once you get angry, you will have calculations, and you will not be afraid of them anymore.

"Everyone praised the wonderful plan. The plan has been decided, so they ordered the deployment of chariots and horses.

On this day, the empress dowagers of the two palaces, the emperor, and the civil and military officials of the retinue, with thousands of horses and horses, headed straight for Beijing in a mighty manner, and the journey was safe and sound.The ministers staying in the capital got the news, and they all came out of the capital early to welcome them.The benevolent face of the two rich empress dowagers was delighted.On this day, before entering the city, Ci Wei was temporarily stationed outside the city. Unexpectedly, the post-horse passed two memorials, one was a joint performance by the scholar Jia Zhen and others, imploring the empress dowagers of the two palaces to listen to the government behind the curtain; the other was an imperial envoy. The minister Sheng Baozuo begged Jian to send the close prince to assist the government.The empress dowagers of the two palaces read the play, but they did not publish it.

The next day, Qiju entered the capital.As soon as he returned to Da Nei, he issued two edicts to Song Dynasty, one for the crimes of disposing of violence against Zaiyuan and Duan Hua, and the other for the decree of taking questions. These two decrees were that Yixin first called Junji Zhangjing Cao Yuyingcao when he was in Rehe. Just.

After the decree was issued, Prince Gong Yixin held the decree in his hand, led the guards, and went straight to Prince Yi's mansion, just so Duanhua was there.The gate official entered the newspaper: "Prince Gong came here to issue an order."

Zaiyuan was overwhelmed with astonishment, and hurriedly asked Duanhua, "What's the matter? Do you know?"

Duanhua said: "I don't know."

Before the words were finished, the servant on the second gate flew forward to report: "Prince Gong has already entered the second gate!"

Zaiyuan got up to greet him, and seeing Yixin leading the bodyguards to serve sixty or seventy, walking like a tiger, he looked very energetic.Step forward, please meet each other.

Yixin was stingy and ignored people. When he walked into the middle hall, Duanhua had no choice but to stand up to meet each other.Yi Xin smiled and said: "Prince Zheng is also here, it's a coincidence that it saves me a trip to my residence.

Sui Dao: "I don't dare to make light work if there is nothing wrong with this mansion. I have a decree to invite Yi and Zheng Erwang to kneel down and listen to the reading."

"Duanhua said: "The upper edict is general, please announce it first, and I will kneel down rashly to accept it.

"Yi Xin said: "The purpose is nothing more than to say that the two of you are engaging in personal fraud, ignoring power, forming cliques, obstructing great plans, courtiers looking sideways, people's grievances boiling, and saying that this mansion will arrest you. "

Zaiyuan and Duanhua suddenly said: "My generation has not entered, where did the purpose come from? This edict was obviously passed down by you."

Yixin said: "Are you two unwilling to accept the order?"

Zaiyuan said: "The Shangyu came from my hand, what kind of Shangyu is this? We also want to accept it!"

Yixin said: "This mansion has sent me an assignment, since the two of you are not willing to follow the order, you have no choice but to act presumptuously."

After finishing speaking, he lowered his face and said to the guards: "I am hereby enjoining you to lock up Prince Yi Zaiyuan and Prince Zheng Duanhua."

All the guards acted together, and captured Zaiyuan and Duanhua as if they were catching pigs and dogs.He was captured out of the mansion, rushed to the ancestral mansion, handed over to the zongling to take care of it, and entered the palace to play again.

The empress dowagers of the two palaces sent special imperial envoys to Rehe to arrest Sushun and Mu Yin.The imperial envoy received the secret decree, traveled day and night, arrived at Miyun, and met Sushun just in time.Sushun was still lying on the ground in the shaft, and the imperial envoy led the guards to destroy the door and enter. He dragged him off the bed, put on the lock, and escorted him to Beijing.The two palaces issued an order to order the courtiers to discuss the crime.At a meeting, Zaiyuan and Duanhua planned to commit suicide; Sushun planned to cut him off; Mu Yin planned to be dismissed and sent to the military station; Chen Fu'en and Huang Zonghan, the servants, all planned to be dismissed and sent to the garrison because they were attached to the treacherous party.When Zhu approved it, it was naturally the five words "as requested, hereby".The minister of King Zanxiang, who is so full of flames, can be wiped out by these five Zhu characters. Do you think it's amazing?

Since then, the political situation has been refurbished, and the characters of another dynasty have been changed.Prince Gong Yixin became the king of political affairs and walked in the Military Aircraft Office; the Grand Scholar Guiliang, Shangshu Shen Zhaolin, Minister Wenxiang, and Bao Jun all walked on the Military Aircraft Minister; Cao Yuying, the young minister of Honglu Temple, learned to walk on the Military Aircraft Minister.The empress dowagers of the two palaces issued a decree, ordering to discuss the rituals of the empress dowagers hanging curtains.He also ordered Qin Tianjian to choose an auspicious day, and the emperor repeated the enthronement ceremony.So he chose the day on the first day of October to repeat the enthronement ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.On this day, Mu Zong's public service came to the palace, and all civil and military officials came to congratulate him.A special red edict was issued, and the reign name of Qixiang was changed to Tongzhi, that is, next year will be the first year of Tongzhi.This year name implies that the two palaces govern the country together.The next day, Mu Zong issued a decree: "Now all government affairs are personally adjudicated by the empress dowagers of the two palaces. However, the drafting of the edict should still be my will. Afterwards, the king of the king and the minister of military affairs will write the edict and write it in my words."

On the first day of November, Mu Zong honored the empress dowagers of the two palaces, listened to the government behind the curtain in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and issued orders. .

In the middle of the night, the two palaces were sealed, and Yuxi personally sealed Tongdaotang.

The empress dowagers of the two palaces face the court in the same hall, which is called a referendum on the government.In fact, Empress Ci'an was loyal and loyal, and the employment of people and administration, and everything, were all decided by Empress Cixi alone.Empress Dowager Cixi was really shrewd and capable, and did not criticize her for doing political affairs with ideas.That is to say, in terms of military affairs in the southeast, Feng Zicai was ordered to supervise the military affairs in Zhenjiang; Tang is the governor of Zhejiang.Knowing people and being good at their duties is what Wenzong did when he was in charge of the country.Empress Cixi is not only talented, but her blessings are three to five times better than others.The military affairs in the southeast, since the curtains of the two palaces, are improving day by day. Su, Anhui, Jin, and Hubei are gradually flattened. The fierce chieftains of the Taiping army, such as the British king Chen Yucheng, were captured by Miao Peilin to solve the Shengbao barracks; Yi Wang Shi Dakai was captured by the chieftain. Soldied Luo Bingzhang's barracks; the bandits and congregations were gradually wiped out.In June of the third year of Tongzhi, Zeng Guoquan broke through Nanjing, closed the city to search and kill, caught turtles in urns, fished in nets, Li Xiucheng, Hong Renda and others were all arrested.Once the great troubles accumulated over the years are eradicated, they will disturb the Central Plains and return to a peaceful world.

When the good news arrived in Beijing, the Empress Dowagers of the two palaces beamed with joy, and issued an edict: Today, the official Zeng Guofan stepped up the red flag to win the victory from six hundred miles away, and defeated Jiangning's provincial capital.This time, Hong Ni advocated chaos in Guangdong and Shaanxi. It has been 12 years now, and Jiangning has been stolen for [-] years. He has ravaged dozens of provinces and captured several cities.

The pawns can be leveled for the first time, and the original evil is temporarily eliminated. The minister who leads the army waits for the wind and rain, prepares for hardships, promises special favors, and rewards with rewards.Zeng Guofan, the imperial envoy and co-organizer of the university, the governor of Liangjiang, initiated group training in Hunan in the third year of Xianfeng, founded the boat division, and made great achievements with Taqibu and Luo Zenan.Preserve the counties and counties in Hunan, conquer the prefectural city of Wuhan, and clear the entire territory of Jiangxi.Since the Eastern Expedition, Susong Ke buried the mountains and Taihu Lake, entered Qimen, restored Huizhou prefectures and counties, and then pulled out the provincial capital of Anqing as the foundation.I am lucky to be able to pay the land and water soldiers and return to the downstream states and counties.In fact, it was the minister's plan to go against the head and punish the hoe. He had both courage and courage, knew people well, and dispatched them appropriately.Zeng Guofan wrote Jia En Award, added the title of Prince and Tai Bao, tin sealed the first-class Marquis, and hereditary did not replace him, and he was rewarded with double-eyed feathers.Zeng Guoquan, the governor of Zhejiang Province, joined the army with all his students, and accompanied Zeng Guofan to suppress bandits in several provinces, and made great achievements.In the tenth year of Xianfeng, Hunan recruited brave men to conquer the provincial capital of Anqing.In the second year of Tongzhi, Lian Kechao County, Sheshan, Hezhou and other places.

He led the land and water battalions to advance to Jinling, stationed in Yuhuatai, and attacked the puppet city.The thieves surrounded the camp, held on for several months, and fought back hard.In the first month of this year, the Zhongshan stone fortress was conquered, and then the siege of Jiangning was closed. The governor led the soldiers to fight fiercely, opened the tunnel, bowed and shot the stone, and for half a month, the whole city was conquered without withdrawing the troops.Eliminate the chief evil, the nobles are persevering and hardworking, and the public is loyal to the country.Zeng Guoquan rewarded and added the title of Prince Shaobao, tin sealed the first-class earl, and rewarded him with double-eyed feathers.This is it.

He also decreed that the first-class son of Zeng Guoquan Department, Li Chendian, should be rewarded for being the first to ascend the city; Xiao Fusi, the first-class man, should be rewarded for capturing Li Xiucheng; Yueni has occupied Jiangning for a long time and resisted in the corner. He is indeed a fierce bandit that has never been seen before.This time, the land and water armies attacked the surrounding area vigorously during the scorching heat, quickly conquered the fortified city, wiped out the ruthless party, and bound the leader. Be brave and climb first, not by building this miraculous feat, but by achieving success.It is hard to describe the joyful feelings of the imperial court.In addition to Zeng Guofan and others who have been entrusted with entitlements, those who have made great contributions have been brave in soldiers, and they have investigated Baozuo and waited for orders to grant them kindness. Four hundred silver medals will be awarded. To encourage the army to give.This is it.

The soldiers of Zeng Ying were very happy to follow this decree, and all the officers and soldiers from all walks of life received this letter, and their courage increased tenfold.Searching east and west, killing the remaining members of the Taiping Army with nowhere to hide.Fu Wang Chen Decai committed suicide by taking poison on the border of Chu and Henan; Duan Lan, Cheng Chun and others released their armor and surrendered, and Hong Fuzhen, the son of Hong Xiuquan, fled to Huzhou with the blocking king Huang Wenjin.Li Hongzhang pressed on tightly and changed to Ningguo.Bao Chao fought desperately again, but he had nothing to do, so he had to go to Chun'an, Zhejiang.Unexpectedly, Huang Shaochun, the Zhejiang general, was waiting there, and after a while, Huang Wenjin died in a fierce battle.Hong Futian ran around all by himself and fled to the border of Guangxin, but was pursued by Jiangxi general Baotian Qingbing. He suffered another big defeat in Shicheng and fled to Huangguli.Xi Baotian guarded the mouth of the valley, sent troops to search out, captured Hong Fuzhen alive, and sent him to Nanchang.Governor Shen Baozhen Feizhang filed a complaint, and ordered Hong Fuyu to be in Nanchang for Fa-rectification together with the brother of the Heavenly King, Xie Wang Hongrenzheng, the younger brother of the Heavenly King, Qianwang Hongrengan, and the younger brother of Huang Wenjin, Zhaowang Huang Wenying.

He also issued a decree to reward Shen Baozhen, the first-class captain of the Qing Army, Xi Baotian Yunqi, and Bao Chao, the first-class noble.There is another Yi decree: to award Shen Baozhen's wife, Lin Shi, and four precious ornaments.

The special grace is different, and all the people in the office are amazed.If you want to know more, let's listen to the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)