The winter in Beijing is leisurely. The concept of winter leisure has been deeply rooted in China's people for thousands of years. If you don't have to worry about the cold winter, you won't have to worry about it. If you can go to bed early and get up late, you won't have nothing to do. After all, there are two meals a day. It saves food compared to three meals.
And a warm bed not only means comfort, it also means that the home can burn less coal and use less copper coins at home.
The leisure life of citizens does not belong to officials, because officials in the Four-Nine City will be tortured by the court meetings, especially going to court in winter, which is really painful.
According to Qing law, the emperor went to court at the fifth watch, which is Mao hour, which is equivalent to 05:00 to 07:00 Beijing time. Ministers usually wait outside the Meridian Gate at Yin hour, which is 03:00 to 05:00 Beijing time. 00.
In the cold winter, you have to go to the Meridian Gate to wait at three o'clock. This is really a torture for the courtiers. It was relatively good during the Tongzhi period. Since the emperor did not rule personally, the court meeting was usually held only once every ten and a half months. This would have been When the emperors of the three dynasties of Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong were full of energy, they held court meetings every day and all the ministers were miserable.
It's the same today. The Meridian Gate hasn't opened yet at around five o'clock in the morning, but the officials who are going to go to court are already dressed up and ready. After all, this is the largest national court meeting, and 80% of the local governors have arrived. In addition, The agenda of this court meeting made all the officials frown and no one dared to speak nonsense.
"Oh, isn't this the same year as Wang? It's been a while since we, brothers, got together. We've really missed each other since we said goodbye in the examination room..."
"Hello, Tong Liu... I'm looking good lately. Let's meet up another day. Well, I'll wait for my post the day after tomorrow..."
The officials outside the Meridian Gate and the foreign officials took advantage of the rare opportunity of meeting each other to have a relationship with each other. However, no one dared to talk about the chaos in the capital because everyone saw that half of the soldiers guarding the Meridian Gate were Imperial Guards. Half are new troops.
Looking at the new army with shiny bayonets, all the foreign officials felt chills running down their necks. "Brothers, please tell me why Xiao Letian has taken over the imperial guard's rights." When the officer heard that the topic turned to Xiao Letian, he quickly winked and stopped talking.
The foreign officials don't know why, but the officials in the capital know very well that the Forbidden City has been divided into two defense systems with the Qianqing Gate as the dividing line. Behind the Qianqing Gate is the emperor's harem, and the safety of the female family members here is still responsible for the imperial guards.
However, the vicinity of the three main halls to the south of Qianqing Gate has become the security area of the New Army. Today, under Cixi's argument, half of the Imperial Guards were arranged to support the scene. Otherwise, people would have thought that the Qing Dynasty was changing. It’s the country.
Xiao Letian was not waiting outside the Meridian Gate at this time. He was calmly watching the "dressed beasts" below the city from the Meridian Gate Tower. It was these people who controlled the Qing Dynasty.
"If a grenade had been dropped, the Qing Dynasty would have been doomed immediately... Haha, I'm just wondering what the emperors in the past thought. They asked their ministers to wait at three or four in the morning until June or July. If you open the Meridian Gate, you will have to do it after the court meeting is over. If there are too many issues, it will take most of the day..."
"What's going on in your head? People are not made of iron. After working for so long, do you still have the energy to sit in the office and do things? After lunch, you have to catch up on some sleep. The day has passed by in a hurry."
The person standing next to Xiao Letian was Er Mao. This godson laughed and said, "This is not the Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong dynasties. The emperor is actually very lazy in his administration. The officials can still bear it when there is a meeting in ten days... What's more, today It’s still a big court meeting held by Beijing officials and foreign officials under Nian Gen, so it doesn’t hurt to be a little tired..."
Just as the two were chatting casually against the tower, suddenly there was a commotion at the Meridian Gate. It turned out that the sedan chair of the two brothers of the Zeng family had been carried over. As soon as the two marshals showed up, all the disciples and old officials from the court swarmed up and beat them. Thousands, discounts, discounts, sir and master are shouting.
Not only did the Zeng brothers come, Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang actually followed them. The local governors outside the Meridian Gate were immediately shocked. The Manchus and Qingliu who were shocked by the appearance of the Han warlords twitched their eyes.
Prince Gong, Prince Chun, and Prince Qing stood closest to the Meridian Gate. They were all furious as they watched the Han people show off their power. But when they thought about the more hateful Han people above their heads, they couldn't help but hate the Zeng brothers. A bit lighter.
Zeng Guofan had long seen the princes in front of the team, and the courtesy was indispensable. Marshal Zeng quickly walked a few steps and clasped his fists with his hands to salute, "Oh, princes above, I, Zeng Guofan, would like to pay my respects to the princes." After saying this, he was about to salute.
Good guy Yi? No matter how staged they are, they dare not offend this big warlord. Xiao Letian, a small warlord, has tormented the court like this. How dare they offend Zeng Guofan? Yi? He grabbed Zeng Guofan's arm.
"It's necessary. The commander-in-chief has worked hard and achieved great results. He is the anchor of our Qing Dynasty. How can we let the commander-in-chief salute? It should be Xiao Wang who invites the commander-in-chief to have a drink... I don't know what the commander-in-chief brings when he comes to Beijing this time. How many soldiers were there?"
The corners of Zeng Guofan's eyes twitched, and he could hear the hook in the words at that time. This was knocking himself. It seemed that the threat of his half a million Hunan troops was still higher than Xiao Letian.
"This is a troubled time in our country. I have committed too many crimes over the years and have too many enemies. I don't dare to go far without bringing more soldiers. Three thousand tigers and tigers are stationed outside the city... But my lord, don't worry. They will not do anything unless ordered to do so." I don’t dare to go into the city. If something goes wrong, I don’t have enough heads to cut off my nine heads, hahaha..."
Prince Qing Yikuang was impatient, so he slapped his thigh at that time: "Oh, my handsome man, why did you bring only such a little, why didn't you bring a hundred or eighty thousand? We are all counting on you." Woolen cloth……"
Before he finished speaking, he came over with a sudden realization and whispered, "Is the commander hiding an ambush? It must be so. I can't deal with Xiao Letian without tens of thousands of elites..."
Prince Gong went up and gave Yikuang a slap on the instep, then gave him a fierce look, turned around and said with a smile, "The Marshal just returned to Beijing and he should have a good rest. It's not too late to talk about these chores after the court meeting... Ouch , the ministers and ministers from Dongjiaominxiang are here, let’s go to welcome them..."
The smell of gunpowder that had just accumulated dissipated again, but everyone knew that this was just a small warm-up for the big battle.
French Minister Goldmy, Counselor Borronet, British Minister Sir Alley, Counselor Sir Wytoma, American Minister John John, Russian Minister Ulan Geli... More than a dozen carriages appeared at the Meridian Gate. In addition, these China experts jumped off the carriage and immediately chatted with the officials, as harmoniously as if they were at home.
Of course, their key target is still Zeng Guofan. As the most powerful warlord in China, they even believe that the Zeng family may split the Qing Dynasty. Such an important figure is of great concern to all European countries.
"Oh, Marshal Zeng, hello. It's been a long time no see..." Hua Ruohan was the first to step forward and shake hands with Zeng Guofan. "I wonder if Marshal has ever visited Longxugou, a new landscape in the capital. Then The commercial street is very beautifully built, and the food in the restaurant is also very delicious. You must try it when you have time..."
Immediately afterwards, the British Minister Ai Liguo also said, "That's right. There is a roast duck restaurant called Quanjude that has opened a new store somewhere. The decoration style is very high-end. If the commander-in-chief is elegant, I am willing to invite the commander-in-chief to taste it..."
"Hahaha, how can I waste your money on all the ministers? I will be the host, I will be the host, and I will send the invitation to the embassy later..."
Be obedient and listen to your voice. All the veterans present here know the subtext of the Americans and British. This is to show their support for Xiao Letian. Longxugou is the most important political achievement project of Prime Minister Xiao. Praise Longxu Gou secretly reminded Zeng Guofan that we support Xiao Letian.
The Russians and the French snorted in unison as they watched a group of foxes acting, but they looked back at each other and then looked away. After all, the Russians and the French have always had a grudge.
The Meridian Gate had not yet opened, but the secret fighting had already begun. Those officials who knew the ins and outs were wiping their sweat desperately, thinking that something big was going to happen in today's court meeting.
"The hour is up... The Meridian Gate is open... My lords, please proceed as planned..." Amidst the melodious roar of the eunuch, creaking sounds came from both sides of the Meridian Gate, indicating that the time for the great court meeting had finally arrived.
Hundreds of civil and military officials lined up in two long queues according to rank, walked silently into the Meridian Gate, crossed the Jinshui River and the Gate of Supreme Harmony, and arrived at the Square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The officials of both teams were accompanied by little eunuchs holding lanterns and following them with their heads lowered. Xiao Letian stood at the top of the city and looked down like two twisted centipedes.
Er Mao smiled and said, "My godfather is a foreign minister of Ryukyu, so he should kowtow, but the Empress Dowager Dong said that you have an injury on your waist, so you don't need to kowtow. You can just watch the ceremony with the Western ambassadors..."
Xiao Letian knew that this was Ci'an's favor to him. Anyway, everyone in the Manchu royal family knew that Xiao Letian didn't leave his pigtails or kowtow. He didn't care who scolded him, he just wouldn't listen.
Under the threat of a bright bayonet, only a fool would get entangled in such trivial matters. Xiao Letian rubbed Er Mao's forehead and said with a smile, "Sooner or later, I will let you throw away this braid. A good man must keep his braid. It's so ugly." …”
Er Mao said in a very lonely tone, "My son will never be able to be a man in this life..."
"No one can say, why are eunuchs not men? Eunuch Sanbao is worse than that minister... Ermao, please remember, when you lead the fleet to patrol the world, every son I raised will stand up to heaven and earth. Good man."
"Come on, let's go down and watch the excitement. This damn silent day, I have to poke a hole to get some air..." After that, he took Er Mao and walked down the city.
At this time, all the officials were already standing along the steps, and the strong eunuch rounded the whip and whipped it on the ground. This indicated that the emperor was about to enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and all the officials were ready to kneel down and worship.
"The Emperor...the Queen Mother...arrives...kneels...kowtows...kowtows again..."
The entire square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with solemnity. Hundreds of officials kowtowed in unison. On the three-story hall, the emperor's umbrella had already exposed his head, and the young emperor had entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
There are flags and umbrellas everywhere, armors are shining everywhere, coupled with the mighty new army and the feminine eunuchs, the whole ceremony feels like a sudden.
The feudal dynasty played with etiquette, using this kind of aura to prove the majesty of their imperial authority, and the Great Court Meeting was an important ceremony second only to the sacrifice to heaven and earth.
Hua Ruohan, who was hiding next to Zhaodemen and watching the ceremony, said with emotion, "China, this ancient civilization with five thousand years, has fallen behind the world, but the invisible culture they left behind is still shocking." This book was first published From, watch genuine content for the first time!
