Several days later.
Outside the Winterwarm Pavilion, Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zhongtang, and Zhang Zhidong had been waiting for a long time.
"Xiao Da, what do you mean by the emperor calling us but not summoning us for a long time?”
Li Hongzhang asked Zhang Zhidong. In fact, it was not that his self-control skills were not good enough, but the two cruisers Yang Wei and Chao Yong that he had purchased from Ge Lan a few days ago were about to arrive. Although ships of this level were only cannon fodder in the eyes of Gili Gaul, they were a first-class event for the newly established Northern Navy.
"Jianfu! Calm down! Although our Emperor is young, don't underestimate him. I think he's most likely involved in the fall of the West!”
Zhang Zhidong smiled and said to Li Hongzhang.
"You mean…"
Li Hongzhang was somewhat stunned. He had been focused on the Northern Navy and hadn't paid much attention to this.
"Humph! Didn't you see that the Gong Prince and Chun Prince have almost stopped meddling in politics? Prince Chun had taken in most of the followers in the west and had asked for instructions on everything. The Gong Prince even pretended to be ill at home!”
Zuo Zhongtang and Li Hongzhang didn't get along, but he still reminded them since they were both mainstays of the Han.
The conflict between him and Li Hongzhang mainly stemmed from the struggle between the Chu army and the Huai army, but more importantly, it was the difference in the concept of war and peace.
"You! Sigh!"
Li Hongzhang couldn't help but be furious, but he quickly suppressed it.
Fortunately, Xiao Shunzi just happened to rush in and ended this farce.
"These things! I usually write it casually. Take a look!”
Wang Guangxu couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the restless few of them. Aren't you afraid that I will seize your military power? Was there a need to do this?
Little Shunzi handed the books to the three of them.
"This…"
After reading it, the few of them could not help but break out in cold sweat. Their expressions were different, but they all had a trace of excitement.
Originally, these people did not take it to heart. What could a twelve-year-old child write? It was fine as long as he did not seize power.
However, when they really looked at it, they were deeply immersed in it. They did not reveal a look of confusion and realization.
This was something that Wang Guangxu came up with based on some of his later experiences, especially the so-called solutions pointed out by some eloquent players on the Internet, as well as some western reform experiences.
Although it was a little messy, with the knowledge of these three people, it was enough to extract the essence from the rough.
"Dear ministers! What do you think?"
Seeing that it was almost time, Wang Guangxu asked.
"The emperor is a great talent! If these systems were implemented, it would naturally be able to enrich the country and strengthen the army! If you want to make the country rich, you have to have a strong army first. However, money is the first priority. Now…"
"Li Hongzhang! When can Dingyuan and Zhenyuan return home?”
Wang Guangxu didn't want to listen to Tang Sanzang's recitation and directly interrupted him.
"Dingyuan! Zhenyuan! The second warship is already built, but it needs to be tested. Our navy also needs to undergo training. It will probably take a year before we can return to the country!”
Li Hongzhang wiped the sweat off his forehead and replied.
"Give 300,000 taels to the Willpower Army and let them send people over first. The navy can learn from them on the way back! Then, in addition to the Jiyuan that was under construction, he would add two more ironclads of the same weight!”
Wang Guangxu was more anxious. The Gaul War would break out next year, and this was a great opportunity for him to earn points.
According to the original history, Dingyuan and Zhenyuan did not return to the country at that time, and Jiyuan was scammed by Cixi until they had no money to spend.
"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! The Dingzhen Second Warship needed more than 1.7 million taels of silver. Adding on the artillery shells and maintenance, it would require another 300,000 taels of silver a year. The national treasury was really…”
Li Hongzhang couldn't help but feel anxious. As for the 300,000 taels he needed to return to the country in advance, he was even prepared to complain to Ci An.
"After all, he's still a child! You don't know how expensive rice is if you don't take charge!"
He thought to himself.
"Zhen will send twenty million taels of silver from the palace treasury to the Ministry of Revenue to be used to build a new army and navy! Zhang Zhidong, you will take over the Ministry of Revenue in the future! If he dared to touch this money! Zhen will kill!"
Wang Guangxu still ignored Li Hongzhang and turned his gaze to Zhang Zhidong.
"I accept your orders! However, I'm afraid this military expenditure…"
Zhang Zhidong originally had the empty position of the governor of the two rivers, but now he was only given the same rank. However, among the things that Wang Guangxu had given him, he needed to build a new army with three towns, all of which would be equipped with western weapons, and purchase more than ten ironclad ships. This 20 million was simply not enough.
"You want money! Easy! I support it too! It's just whether you dare to do it or not!"
Seeing that the three of them looked defeated, Wang Guangxu decided not to farm them anymore. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time when he went back and make a mess.
"Emperor, please speak! As long as I can strengthen the army, I, Zuo Zhongtang, will do it even if I have to live my old life!”
This time, Zuo Zhongtang was the first to stand up. He had been fighting with the Russians in Jiangxin for the past few years. Even the firearms of the Russian soldiers and landlord armed forces were better than his, a regular army. He had long been holding back his anger.
"The one in the west has retreated! Rong Lu is still here!"
Wang Guangxu's lips curled up as he nodded lightly.
"But the Imperial Clan Court has always been in charge of this matter. With Sir Rong's relationship…"
The three of them naturally understood and could not help but feel a chill down their spines.
He was going to make an attack on Cixi's number one general and his property.
Moreover, the timing was very good. The Qing Dynasty was corrupt by nature, and the officialdom was chaotic. Even the three of them might not have a clean hand. A large-scale rebound was definitely not possible, but they could make a move on Rong Lu.
"Even if Rong Lu collapses, these assets will be inherited by his descendants!”
The three of them couldn't help but think.
"There's not so much trouble with rebellion! Moreover, there's no need to interrogate a dead person!"
Wang Guangxu stared at the three of them with bright eyes. He was forcing the three of them to board the ship.
[Rebellion: Those who are strong enough to kill him will collect his assets. If they die in the process of capturing him, no one will speak up for him. After all, a dead person has no value anymore.]
"This!"
The three of them couldn't help but be shocked. If these words came out of the mouth of an old fox, they would believe it. A twelve-year-old youth…just thinking about it made them feel terrified.
Framing! Murder! He actually played very well and was even so confident!# Daguan Review Passed: Daguan Time:082420182:56PM
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