"Your Majesty, this Li Hongzhang is really pushing his limits. The imperial court has just allowed his Beiyang Navy to purchase new ships, and the Land Division is about to expand again. The Ministry of Revenue cannot afford so much money." Weng Tonghe pointed to the two memorials and said.

"Master Weng, Li Zhongtang did not say that the imperial court should pay for the maintenance of these militia groups and military training. He only said that Beiyang's annual 7 million taels of silver would be paid in full. Could it be that Master Weng still plans to default on the arrears?" King Chun looked dissatisfied. He glanced at Weng Tonghe.

"The Beiyang Army Division already has 50,000 troops in Liaodong, Zhili. If it continues to increase, I'm afraid it will be too big." Weng Tonghe said while changing directions.

"Back then, when the Hunan and Huai armies were dominating the world, there was no trouble. The imperial court later ordered them to be disbanded. Didn't both Zeng Gong and Li Gong disband? What's more, now that the enemy is facing a formidable enemy, it is normal for Beiyang to expand its armaments. ." King Chun decided not to talk nonsense with Weng Tonghe this time and spoke directly to Guangxu.

"Japan is a small country, not as big as our Qing Dynasty. How can it become a strong enemy of our Qing Dynasty? Is it possible that some people are alarmist? The emperor must be on guard against the evil intentions hidden in it." Weng Tonghe turned to Guangxu and said.

"At that time, the ministers of the DPRK and China thought that England was not something to be afraid of. What was the result? The first time they attacked Nanjing, the second time they directly burned down the Old Summer Palace. Even an unheard-of Italian country had warships more powerful than Dingzhen. I think so. Knowing how Master Weng concluded that Japan would not become a serious problem for me? How much do you know about the Japanese Navy and Land Division? Isn’t it right to criticize others here?" King Chun said angrily.

Speaking of the burning of the Old Summer Palace, Guangxu's heart couldn't help but tighten, "What a shame and humiliation." Guangxu said in his heart, did Japan pose a threat to the Qing Dynasty? Guangxu didn't know much about it. He only got some fragmented things from Xu Jie. But the burning of the Old Summer Palace is probably something that everyone in the Qing Dynasty has a deep memory of. Although Guang Xun has never experienced it, the ruins of the garden of ten thousand gardens are still piled there. I really want to be sad all over again.

"Let me think about it carefully at this time." Guangxu, who was upset by the mutual attacks between King Chun and Weng Tonghe, was really impatient. After saying this, he left the room. Only King Chun and Weng Tonghe were left. glare.

Just when Guangxu was weighing the pros and cons of whether he was right with Li Hongzhang and Hannagan, Guangxu's biological father, the actual ruler of the Qing Dynasty, appeared again.

"Your Majesty, compared with Hannagan's excerpts, you have already seen this Li Hongzhang." Cixi said calmly.

"Go back to my father, I have already seen it." Guangxu replied.

"What do you think, Your Majesty?" Cixi continued to ask.

"King Chun agreed, but Master Weng suspected that Li Hongzhang had second thoughts, and believed that it would cost too much to get it right," Guangxu said.

"I'm asking the emperor what he thinks, not the ministers." Cixi snorted coldly.

"My minister thinks that Li Hongzhang has gone too far. Resisting the Japanese is not his family's business in Beiyang. We have millions of soldiers in the Qing Dynasty, but we still need to expand the army?" Guangxu said dissatisfied.

"A million soldiers? Yes, a million soldiers. Not only can these millions of soldiers not be able to stop the foreign devils, they can't even stop the long-haired Nian army. Otherwise, how could the Hunan Army and the Huai Army come to be?" Cixi's words were full of emotion. Irony. "Your Majesty, remember, although Li Hongzhang has become a little more domineering recently, he is still loyal to me, the Qing Dynasty. And his views on military affairs are stronger than those of you, me and the ministers in the Manchu Dynasty who only know how to fight. It has been many years since the Huai Army was dismantled. This time, Li Hongzhang asked for an expansion of the army. It seems that he felt something. Moreover, the report made it very clear that the garrisons in Liaodong and Shandong were to be increased, but there was no mention of Zhili. This is obviously to take care of his precious Beiyang Navy."

"Then the Qing Dynasty will let Li Hongzhang expand the army at will? Li Hongzhang expands the army, Liu Kun expands the army, and Zhang Zhidong expands the army again, the military strength of the Qing Dynasty will all fall into the hands of those feudal officials!!" Guangxu said excitedly.

"It would be great if Liu Kunyi, Zhang Zhidong and others did the same. Check and balance. Only with similar strength can balance be achieved. Besides, besides these Han ministers, we Manchus also want to control the army." Cixi said with a smile.

"Our Manchu army?" In Guangxu's eyes, there seemed to be no one except the Eight Banners.

"I wonder if the emperor still remembers Zuo Zongtang's Chu army?" Cixi asked.

"Most of the Chu army should be in Gansu and Shaanxi. After Zuo Gong, it will be controlled by the governor of Gansu and Shaanxi." Guangxu replied.

"Well, this Chu army is also quite powerful in combat. In the past, it defeated the Changmao Army and quelled the Nian Army. Later, it suppressed the rebellion in Xinjiang. If this army can be captured in the hands of the imperial court, Li Hongzhang will not dare to do harm to the imperial court.

." A hint of pride flowed from the corner of Cixi's mouth.

"Who does my father want to control the Chu army?" Guangxu asked with his eyes shining.

"Ronglu." Cixi answered simply.

"This Ronglu seems to have a bad official reputation and is very greedy for money." Guangxu said with some disappointment.

"Lord of money? How many officials in the Qing Dynasty are not greedy of money? It is not wrong to be greedy for money, but it is wrong to be greedy for money and have no ability and spine. Back then, Zeng Guoquan was more than just a money-grubber? Doesn't the court still have to use it? Anyone who achieves great things will not stick to trivial matters. Then

Master Weng flaunts his integrity, could it be that

Is he really incorruptible?" Cixi's face was full of contempt when she said this. "I wanted to rely on him to contain Li Hongzhang, but as a result, before Li Hongzhang took action, he messed up the matter himself! Li Hongzhang's disciples scolded him like crazy on the spot. This

What's the use of raising people?"

"Master Weng is not familiar with Western affairs, so he made such a mistake." Guangxu said with an embarrassed look.

"Forget it, let's not talk about these unlucky things for now. In addition to Ronglu taking charge of the Chu army, the court wants to feel at ease and maintain a strong force in the Northeast. After all, the Northeast is the place where our Manchu people thrive.

"Cixi said earnestly.

"The most important position in the Northeast should be General Shengjing. I wonder if my father has a candidate for the position of General Shengjing?" Guangxu asked.

"General Shengjing has a high position. I have found this person to lead the army, but I cannot be General Shengjing for the time being. Both this man and Li Hongzhang are interested in Westernization, and they advocate making guns, building railways, and developing minerals." Cixi did not directly.

By naming this person, he is selling the truth.

"Dad, are you talking about Iketang'a, who was just promoted to General of Heilongjiang last year?" Guangxu asked.

"It's him. With him forming a new army in the northeast and Ronglu training in the northwest, Li Hongzhang's Huai clique will definitely not be able to do anything. Although Li Hongzhang made some money on his trip to Nanyang, this time

Is raising an army child's play? Without the imperial court's funding, his new army would not be able to do much. However, these are just in case preparations. The imperial court still has to respect Li Hongzhang, use it and take precautions against it. This Beiyang Water

The Second Lu Division, as well as the Tianjin Machinery Bureau, Kailuan Coal Mine and other Beiyang industries, without him, there really would be no one to take care of them. In addition, the Huaihe system is now spread all over the country. Can the emperor tolerate it or not?" Cixi was proposing a solution.

At that time, she did not forget to remind Guangxu that Li Hongzhang could not be easily moved. Cixi's attitude towards Li Hongzhang was just like the six words in her words: respect him, use him, guard against him. The most important thing is to use his talents.

"What's my father's decision about the manpower coming to pick up the ship from Beiyang this time?" Guangxu also said with relief.

"Of course it's Li Zhongtang's new disciple who went. He designed the battleship and has a good relationship with the Italians. If he doesn't go, who will?" A sneer appeared on Cixi's lips.

"Is it not just because of his talent that my father asked Xu Jie to pick up the ship?" Guangxu asked.

"This Xu Jie does have some skills. If he is allowed to stay in Beiyang, I don't know how much trouble he will cause. However, the court still needs to use this person's talent. He is proficient in guns and weaponry, so let him do this exclusively. If Beiyang does not return it,

Do you want to import a batch of artillery from Germany? Let him do it. Let him stay abroad for a few years first." Cixi smiled.
Chapter completed!