As Xingzhen expected, on the third day, An Dehai from the imperial kitchen first heard news. Sure enough, someone secretly put saffron in Xu Jia's stew. Xingzhen was very angry when she learned about it. Sure enough, someone wanted to kill two birds with her and Xu Jia's saffron. Moreover, Xu Jia's saffron is about to be born. At this time, even Xu Jia's saffron will be worried about his life.

At this moment, Xingzhen's chant met Cunyou, the chief minister of the Interior Department who stayed in the capital, and informed him of the matter. After Cunyou learned about it, he did not dare to neglect it. At that time, the Interior Department began to investigate it strictly. The seven departments, the Third Court and the Jingshi Room under his jurisdiction, the eunuchs and maids of each palace were investigated one by one, causing chaos. In the end, the eunuchs and maids of Eunuch Fang, the leader of the Jingshi Room, committed suicide due to crimes. More than a dozen eunuchs were implicated. The evidence was indeed mostly killed by sticks, and the rest were sentenced to exile or detained. Unfortunately, as soon as Eunuch Fang died, no one knew who the mastermind was behind the scenes, and the clues were found here and then they were cut off.

Xingzhen didn't have so much energy to guard day and night. She used thunder to shock the people in the palace, so that the people behind the scenes knew that she was in the palace and had already been prepared for her and did not dare to take this murder. Sure enough, the people in the palace were extremely careful. Xu Jia also had full-time imperial physicians around him. Every entry was examined clearly and the three things were strictly investigated before Xu Jia could take them.

After eliminating the plot that was ready to move inside and outside the palace, Xingzhen also received a relatively difficult news these days that two French missionaries were beaten to death by local people in Guangxi for missionary work. Then, a dispute similar to the Yaro incident occurred in Guangzhou. However, the protagonist of this incident was a merchant ship called Nissan.

The memorial of Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi and the Minister of Trade between Wukou, said that the two barbarians of Britain and France were quite angry in this incident. Ye Mingchen had tried his best to deal with Britain and France, but Britain and France changed their normal state and insisted on making a big deal.

Xingzhen naturally knew that this incident was the fuse of the Second Opium War. And the incident was much more serious than in history. Two missionaries in France were killed this time, and Napoleon III, the emperor holding the Catholic thigh, would not give up. The Nissan incident was even more serious. The Qing navy officers and soldiers who inspected the merchant ship were sucking their brains, and they burned the British flag in public. The British Consul Bashali was really furious.

After Prince Gong and Sushun and others discussed, they decided to report to Xianfeng in Chengde. Sushun did not go to Chengde this time. Xianfeng still kept his hand and left Sushun in the capital. Checking and balancing Prince Gong is also a common example.

Xianfeng's edict came back quickly and told the two that, on the basis of the barbarian affairs of Britain and France, the first question was to ask Concubine Yi. He asked the two to negotiate with Concubine Yi and then report it. Prince Gong was naturally secretly happy, but Su Shun was not happy. He said a sarcastic conversation. Yi? He ignored it and ordered him to follow the order. Xingzhen was also mixed with joy and sorrow. What was happy was that Xianfeng trusted him far more than Cixi in history. What was worried was that Xianfeng gave up the job, and it was a sin to do it if he had done it.

Xingzhen was deeply worried about Ye Mingchen's handling methods. Although Ye Mingchen was good at practicing Tai Chi, the incident was very serious. Britain and France could not have such good patience. Moreover, Ye Mingchen refused to compensate and apologize. He just agreed to release the crew of the Nissan arrested crew and handed over the murderer who killed two missionaries in Guangxi. This obviously could not satisfy Britain and France's appetite.

Sure enough, before Yi and Sushun had a quarrel, on the third day, the Humen Fort in Guangzhou was captured by the British army, and the British fleet began to bombard the city of Guangzhou. The news reached the capital. Yi and Sushun argued endlessly, and Sushun advocated a tough treatment. If the barbarians dared to lead troops to attack Guangzhou, they immediately ordered the Hunan Army and Ye Mingchen's troops in Guangdong to start a war with Britain; Yi advocated a peace talks and agreed to the compensation, apology and other demands of Britain and France, and expected that Britain and France would not cause trouble again.

The two could not agree and argued. In the end, Yi proposed to enter the palace to ask Concubine Yi's opinion first. Yi, Sushun first had the decree of Xianfeng, and then there was a situation where several people could not argue, so they had to go into the palace to see Xingzhen.

After Xingzhen received the report, he ordered people to put a screen on the main hall of Lijingxuan. After sitting down on the screen, they let the two of them come in. After saluting, they sat down on both sides. Sushun was in the limelight today, in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and served as the co-organizer of the Grand Secretary. He spoke with a domineering voice: "Empress Yi, the barbarians are too forced to force them, and they dare to raise troops to attack Guangzhou City. There is no need to talk to them. If you ask the emperor to just start a war, it is also considered a shame to Jiangning twelve years ago!"

Xingzhen was slightly unhappy and frowned and asked, "Don't you know how many warships there are in Guangzhou by the Yi people on this trip? How many people are there?"

Su Shun was speechless for a moment, but then said, "I don't know this. Ye Mingchen only mentioned a few ships in his report, but there was no real number. On top of the warships, there were no real number of soldiers from the Yi people. However, the news from the Xiang Yong General Yang Yuebin said that there were about a thousand people from the Yi people."

Xingzhen said softly: "The military saint has words, knowing oneself and knowing oneself and enemy will never be defeated. Now the enemy is unclear, how can we start a war? If the war really starts, with the nature of the barbarians, the coastal areas such as Guangdong, Fujian, Shandong are under the threat of their warships, how can Suzhongtang set up a formation to retreat to the enemy?"

Su Shun's face was stunned and said angrily: "Why are you afraid of your head and tail? Whoever is the woman's opinion? Will you let the barbarians lead their troops to attack?"

As soon as this statement was spoken, Yi? He looked at the domineering Sushun with dissatisfaction. Xingzhen was not angry. He chuckled and said, "Suzhongtang, although I do not understand military affairs, I have read some books. The Sage also has words. Military saints have to pay attention to the great affairs of the country and the way of life and death. In fact, I do not oppose the war. I will teach the barbarians a lesson. But if you don't have the confidence to win, it's better to be cautious. Finally, how can the women in Suzhongtang treat themselves? I'm afraid that Empress Xiaozhuang Wen will be uneasy if you know her."

Su Shun's face looked even more ugly, and she sneered: "Empress is indeed smart. What should I do if I am very optimistic?"

Xingzhen said, "Let me listen to the opinions of Master Liu again."

Yi? Seeing Sushun taking a slack, he felt refreshed in his heart and cleared his throat and said, "Sister-in-law, my brother, can agree to the request of the barbarians. We also sent Xiangyong to confront Guangzhou. There should be no big trouble."

Xingzhen umbled behind the screen and said slowly behind the screen: "I have lived in the palace for a long time and dare not make any judgments on national affairs. But when I think of the passage written in the history books about Lin Xiangru meeting the King of Qin, although Lin Xiangru was on an envoy to tyrant Qin, he never showed any timidity in front of the tyrant Qin. The barbarians have sent troops to bombard Guangzhou this time, but I am afraid that the previous conditions can no longer be met, and we give in all, which will only make Britain and France feel that we are weak and can be bullied."

Su Shun couldn't help but stand up and said, "This is not OK, that is not OK, so what should I do?"

Xingzhen said slowly: "The military book says that if you defeat others without fighting, you will be good. Britain and France are so troubling this time. It is nothing more than for the previous revision of the treaty. After the Jiangning Treaty expired for twelve years, Britain and France wanted to revise the treaty in order to make greater profits. Although the palace has no proper solution, it can be delayed for a while. Ye Mingchen can be ordered to summon the ministers of Britain and France to go north and ask the emperor to negotiate with Britain and France with Prince Gong as the negotiating ambassador. In this way, Britain and France will definitely stop the war and go north to negotiate."

Both of them were surprised when they heard this. Sushun sneered: "Empress, don't do such a thing as attracting wolves into the house. The British, French and other barbarians have always wanted to come to the capital to meet the saint. If they arrive at Dagukou, they will be forced to come to the capital to meet the saint."

Xingzhen smiled slightly and said, "Britain wants to come to Beijing to meet the saints. It is a custom for all countries to submit the letter of nationality in person. Ronglu has many contacts with the people of the barbarians in Guangzhou and has also asked about this matter of saints. The barbarians just want to come to Beijing to submit the letter of nationality to show respect. Let us first let the British and French envoys go north and dispatch elite soldiers and generals to the south to prepare. Thank you for your preparation."

Yi? said: "I understand what the nunny means, that is, we will delay the time when we negotiate with the barbarians first. We have a lot of preparations?"

Xingzhen said slowly: "In front, Ye Mingchen brought a few foreign books to this palace. One of them was written about the biographies of the French emperor. There is a very good saying, the axiom is only within the range of the cannon, which is what the French emperor Napoleon said. It seems that these barbarians are also bullying the weak and afraid of the strong. If we only want to negotiate but not prepare for war, we will definitely suffer in the future. So we must start both sides at the same time. Those barbarians saw the might of the government army, and they dare not act rashly." She paused and continued: "Ye Mingchen only needs to be neither humble nor arrogant, and let the barbarians go north to negotiate and resolve the dispute. Any unreasonable request can be rejected."

Su Shun snorted and said, "It turns out that the empress reads a lot of books, and that's strange that she can understand the world without leaving home. Su Shun admires it. I hope it's good as the empress thinks, but the empress thinks how the British and French congresses put forward the terms for the amendment of the contract this time?"

Xingzhen laughed in her heart. It seemed that Sushun was working hard with her. She asked strangely: "The two are the ministers of the country authorized by the emperor. Haven't they thought of the true intentions of Britain and France yet?"

Sushun, Yi? The two looked at each other awkwardly, and Sushun frowned and continued, "I thought it was just asking for more trading ports to discuss the matter of tariff lijin."

Xingzhen took a sip of tea behind the screen. He couldn't help but feel anxious when he heard this. He choked and coughed a few times. Kang Qi, who was beside him, hurriedly massaged her back. Xingzhen breathed evenly and said anxiously: "Sixth Master, Suzhongtang, you think it's too simple. After reading the records of previous negotiations with the barbarians, I felt that Britain and France had not had so few requirements this time. I expected that they would require the whole country to open up, the envoys were stationed in Beijing, traded in the Yangtze River, legalizing opium trade, and tariff agreements, and land rentals could be carried out in coastal areas."

The two were shocked when they heard this, and stood up together. Sushun and Yi said angrily, "It's so damning!" They both said, and both looked at each other. Yi asked anxiously, "Sister-in-law, if you ask for such a request, you may have any possibility of talking about it in detail. It's better to fight."

Su Shun snorted, "I've said it long ago, I can only talk to the barbarians with a knife."

Xingzhen said slowly when she heard this: "Now our domestic and foreign troubles are concerned. At this time, the national strength is weak and all places need to use silver. Suzhongtang, you are in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. How much money does the Ministry of Revenue have to be enough for us to fight?"

Su Shun gritted his teeth and said, "The Ministry of Revenue does not have much money deposited, but are you just allowed to bully the barbarians?"

Xingzhen said coldly: "For this negotiation, I hope that the two of you will understand that weak countries have no diplomacy, so the troops in the south, the troops in the north, and the new army in the capital, the Shenji Battalion, must prepare for war, especially Dagukou is elected as a good general to defend. When it comes to negotiations, they are asking for prices and paying back the money by land. In any case, the two countries must understand that our country has not yet been bullied. I hope that we can negotiate for a few more years. After the Changmao is pacified, we will not be afraid of them." (To be continued, please search Piaotianwen, the novel is better and faster!
Chapter completed!