Shi Shan, Shi Shui and the others did not expect that this group of Eight Banners dandies were so miserable. Their minds were filled with gossip and rosy news about where the opium cream was cheap and where the spirits were tasty!
No one cares about how the country should change, no one cares about how new technologies overseas develop... not even the magical airship force has much interest!
When they discovered that absinthe could even replace tobacco ointment, everyone's interest was aroused, and no one listened to what other big shots said.
Before the three of them could walk out of the door, several Eight Banners men who claimed to be very respectable quickly stopped them with a smile. "Sir, please don't leave yet. I still have a question to ask you..."
"I will treat you to Tongfuju at noon today. You must give me a favor..."
"That's right, three adults, you have to tell us carefully... Where can I buy that kind of wine? How much does it cost?"
Shi Shan angrily walked away and said before leaving, "You must think clearly, that absinthe is different from the tobacco paste. If you smoke the tobacco paste, you will definitely be full of good things!"
“You have to take a gamble on this absinthe hallucination. Some people hallucinate it’s heaven, and some people hallucinate it’s hell!”
"There are people who drank absinthe and mutilated themselves and killed others! You still want to try..."
Hum...the three of them snorted and walked away!
Everyone in the teahouse looked at the backs of the three people and spat incessantly, "Bah...what kind of bullshit are you? If you follow those two devils in Fuqing, you will be beheaded at the market sooner or later!"
"Brothers... let's do some research. This thing can kill the prince, so it must be a good thing. Why don't we go to a foreign goods shop and ask?"
"Let's go, let's go together!"
In the eyes of these people, it is serious business to be able to find high-quality and low-priced soft drugs to replace opium cream, which saves money and is enjoyable!
As for the airship unit, it has nothing to do with them!
How to reform the imperial court? No matter who comes up or down, there will be no official positions available for them!
Shishan Shishui and others hired a carriage on the street and ran all the way to the Prime Minister's Yamen in Dongcheng. Usually when there was no big event, Fu Qing would work at the Prime Minister's Yamen or the Telegraph Office, both in Dongcheng!
Entering the second side courtyard, the three of them saw Fu Qing who was approving and checking expenses. After bowing and saluting, Shi Shan was the first to speak, "Third Master, haven't you heard the rumors all over the city? Cai Bixia is here. I promoted airships, but ended up knocking out four princes with absinthe..."
Fu Qing's livid face obviously already knew the details, "I already know the matter. Cai Bixia's selling of airships is a fake... Her real purpose is to force the imperial court to lease a special zone to them, and what she wants is land resources!"
Shi Shui said tightly, "Oh, my third master... we can't think so far now, we have to solve the problem now!"
"No matter what the real purpose of the Chinese is, we must get this airship! This is a weapon for war!"
"Put it in the hands of Lord Long Live or in the hands of Prince Gong? You have to think carefully..."
Cheng Huai said thoughtfully, "The relationship between Banzai and Prince Gong is very tense right now. If you say something unlucky, the gun may go off one day... It's not a joke, Banzai has learned the direct and domineering methods of foreigners!"
"Plus being young, you are likely to be impulsive!"
"The combined strength of the Yulin New Army and the Xishan Camp is only 100,000. After all, this conflict is a dojo inside a snail shell, which means fighting in the capital!"
"A war of this scale is all about tactics! A few airships may not play a decisive role on a battlefield with millions of people!"
"But in this small-scale combat, sometimes this is the sharp knife that tears through the defense line!"
"Third Master! For the sake of the Emperor, we also need this airship, and we must let the Emperor control this force!"
Fu Qing shook his head, "It's easier said than done! The day before yesterday, Cai Bixia went to Beiyuan to sell to the Queen Mother and the Emperor, but she was rejected. I heard that the Queen Mother of the West was not interested either!"
"Now the whole government and the public are focusing on the emperor's wedding and pro-government. The two empress dowagers have no intention of thinking about the army at all!"
"No! The Queen Mother doesn't want to, we have to think about it...Prince Gong is sure that Long Live Lord will not be able to make a decision easily, so he has the confidence to slowly negotiate with Cai Bixi!"
"If my guess is correct, Prince Gong is definitely interested..."
Shhh... Shi Shui put his fingers to his lips and made a silent gesture, "This is the Prime Minister's Yamen, be careful that the walls have ears!"
"Now that things have come to this, Third Master must fight for it. We must not let Prince Gong get such a weapon!"
"No...it can't be!" Fu Qing hesitated. "Xiao Letian is the emperor's master after all. If his disciple has a conflict with an important minister, shouldn't he turn against his disciple?"
"Ouch...my dear third master, please wake up! The Chinese are just businessmen of the country, how can they have any favors?"
"Besides, the affection of the head of state and His Majesty can affect hundreds of thousands of businesses, can it also affect tens of millions of businesses?"
"The Chinese nation has a parliamentary system. The head of state has made it clear that his decisions must be unified by the Grand Council before they can be implemented... Have you forgotten? The head of state sent troops to Europe, as well as the strategy for Luzon and Annan, all of which were secretly voted on by the Grand Council. Passed the vote!”
"Isn't that just a formality? How dare the Great Council reject Xiao Letian's proposal?" Mr. Qing shook his head.
"Why not? The head of state has created such a restrictive system, and it will be used! Although the head of state can suppress the parliament, what will he do?"
"Of course they are willing to take risks when the Chinese take advantage. What if they simply suffer a loss? Third Master, you must know that there are many people among the Chinese who hate the Qing Dynasty!"
"If the Great Council sells the airship to Prince Gong...I'm afraid the head of state will not reject it!"
"Hey... Damn it!" Mr. Qing was moved. He grabbed his hat and put it on his head. "You guys should review the funds for this year's telegraph office. I'll go to Beiyuan!"
"Bring me a horse!"
Third Master Qing led his bodyguards on horseback and rode straight to Beiyuan. They entered Dong'an Gate and headed north along Nanchizi Street. When the soldiers on the road saw it was Third Master, they all saluted and no one dared to stop them. !
Entering Beiyuan from the north gate of Jingshan, the eunuch on duty saw that it was the third master who was coming, and immediately smiled flatteringly and said, "Better greetings, sir! Today the Queen Mother is having lunch at Qiwang Tower, and she was talking about the third master in the morning. It's a coincidence that you are here." Already..."
Walking up the stone steps of Jingshan Mountain quickly, the green pines and cypresses along the way are all lush and newly transplanted hundreds of years old trees!
There was still snow that had not melted away under the roots of the trees, and the wind blew a whimpering and desolate sound!
