Master Yuan, start!

You can also turn loess into gunpowder, or into matches that ignite with a single strike."

Yuan Xiangcheng paused and said to everyone:

“So the only way for China to become rich and strong is to promote industrialization.

In the time it takes a craftsman to build one cannon, a foreigner's machine can build ten; in the time it takes a wife at home to spin one layer of yarn, a foreigner's machine has already spun ten layers.

So, please remember, it is not because China can become strong by manufacturing some guns and cannons, but because it has these industrialized machines, China can become strong.

The scholar clenched his fist towards Yuan Xiangcheng and bowed deeply.

"Students, I've learned a lesson!"

This was an academic exchange meeting of a discussion nature, so even if Yuan Xiangcheng was the governor, the scholars did not need to kneel down like Yuan Xiangcheng.

A bow of almost ninety degrees is already a great etiquette.

Seeing this, Yuan Xiangcheng also said: "Today's Western industries are closely connected and no longer fight alone. Guns, railways, and shipbuilding are not three isolated industries, but are closely connected.

I hope that after you know the ways to strengthen a nation, those who are interested in steel will learn how to make steel; those who are interested in sightseeing will learn how to prospect for minerals; and those who are interested in spinning will open a spinning mill.

Yuan Shikai first proposed what industrialization is in China at the end of 1889.

Compared with the theory of the Westernization Movement, Yuan Shikai's statement undoubtedly goes a step further and can help solve some confusions for contemporary scholars.

"Hahahaha, what a great industrialization! Yuan Xiangcheng is truly the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang!"

In a carriage in the distance, Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang, Bian Baodi, smiled and said to Li Hongzhang in front of him.

""

Chapter 118: 18 years old, about to become the emperor

The industrialization theory promoted by Yuan Shikai at Caishikou made Cixi very happy. For some reason, she called all the wives of the Aisin-Gioro family into the palace.

It is said that the New Year is approaching, and the adults in the family bring their children to reminisce about family ties and let the younger generations get to know their relatives to avoid feeling estranged.

It was not uncommon to summon royal relatives for a gathering.

But this kind of thing is usually done during festivals and holidays. Now we are in the middle of nowhere and the New Year is only a dozen days away. Why did this suddenly happen?

When a group of close relatives of the royal family entered the palace with their children for the banquet, they discovered that the only person sitting at the main seat was Cixi.

There was no emperor!

Cixi explained, "Only women and children are invited to this family dinner. Let's talk about brotherly love among our sisters-in-law."

The banquet was held in front of the Cining Palace on the west side of the Forbidden City. It was attended by female relatives and children, so there were not many formalities.

The wives of the princes, dukes, beile and beizi did not have much political sensitivity. They ate the food provided by the Three Rivers and Five Seas, listened to the newly-written plays of the Hechun Troupe, and were happy and comfortable.

After the performances ended, everyone moved to the Cining Garden south of the Cining Palace for a walk.

"Look at these kids, they are running so happily." Cixi smiled as she watched the children chasing and playing in the wild.

"I have to thank the old Buddha for his grace, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to have such a happy life in the mansion on weekdays."

"That's right, I should thank you, Mr. Buddha. My husband always forces his children to study hard and beats and scolds them if they don't obey. It hurts me so much when I see it."

Others echoed her, but Cixi did not respond, but just stared at the dozens of children.

After a while, Cixi asked again: "What generation name do most of these little princesses and princes have?"

The genealogy of the Manchu royal family had been established since the Kangxi period and was used starting from his son Yongzheng.

There are a total of 14 generation names, including Yin, Hong, Yong, Mian, Yi, Zai, Pu, Yu, Heng, and Qi. Unfortunately, the generation name died out at the Pu level.

However, after Puyi ascended the throne again in Changchun and became Emperor Kangde, he added 12 more generation names, expanding the generation names of the Qing imperial family to 26.

This led to the Aisin-Gioro generation name being rotten in later generations, and many descendants of the royal family changed their names.

For example, Qi Gong, a well-known painter and expert in document and cultural relic appraisal in the original time and space, was from the Qi generation.

However, he refused to take the surname Aisin-Gioro and insisted more than once that his surname was Qi and his given name was Gong.

Li Lianying took the banquet list and replied, "To answer Your Majesty, most of the people are from the Zai and Pu generations, but there are also a few from the Yi and Yu generations."

Cixi was surprised and said, "Oh, there are people with the surname Yi. How rare."

The Yi generation means that he is of the same generation as Emperor Xianfeng in terms of clan law, but the little princes in front of him are only in their teens at most.

It is almost a decade later than the normal generation with the surname Yi!

"Which family is it from?" Cixi asked lazily.

"In reply to the Empress Dowager, he is the posthumous son of the late Prince Huiduan, named Yibu."

Prince Huiduan was the youngest son of Jiaqing, the youngest brother of Daoguang, and the youngest uncle of Xianfeng.

"Is that so? That's a bit far away." Cixi murmured in a low voice.

Li Lianying thought he hadn't heard clearly, so he stretched his head and asked, "What?"

Cixi waved her hand to indicate that nothing was wrong, and then went to her bedroom on the pretext of being tired.

On the second day, Cixi allowed the wives to bring their children into the palace again, but this time only the Zai generation and the two generations after them, Pu and Yu.

The same thing happened on the third day, and this time only those with the Zai and Pu generations were left.

Cixi hosted banquets for the women of the royal family outside the palace for three consecutive days. Even though she did not make a big fuss about it, the husbands of these women knew the news.

The first day was just an ordinary family dinner, and we went again on the second day. Why did we go again on the third day?

Upon further inquiry, I found out that children of the Yi generation would not go on the second day, and children of the Yu generation would not go on the third day.

What does Karl Lagerfeld want to do?

Therefore, on the fourth day, after Cixi said she had caught a cold and postponed the banquet, Yiliao, the Minister of the Zongli Yamen, came to Cixi's rescue.

Yi Yi Lianmu was also invited to the family dinner, but she was just there to join in the fun and only went for one day.

He didn't want to be punished, but he still kowtowed three times respectfully.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he was repeatedly questioned by foreigners, who asked him whether he understood what Westernization was. This made him no longer want to be the Prime Minister.

7. But Cixi did not care about the accusations of foreigners, nor did she pay attention to the memorials and impeachments in the court.

In order to marry the male model, he even promoted her from a duke to a prince.

Jiu originally was a descendant of Duke Yi, and based on the degree of their relationship, they could not be promoted to the title of prince.

Many foreigners who had dealings with him thought that Prince Yiliang and Prince Chun were both brothers of Emperor Xianfeng, but this was not true.

Si Yi's family was completely wiped out because his father was not Xianfeng, and his grandfather was not Daoguang. If he went back several generations, his great-grandfather was Qianlong.

Shan had already left the royal family as early as his father's generation, and Yilin also got the name of Luo by force.

6. Logically speaking, only the son of Emperor Daoguang could be named with the character "Yi". It was his father who insisted on giving him a name with the character "Yi".

Generally, only the emperor's sons could be granted the title of prince, so this is enough to show that Cixi had great favor towards him.

"Old Buddha." Yiliang Naihui did not raise his head after parting.

"Well...what's the matter? Why is Yili performing such a grand ceremony today?" Cixi was a little confused.

Normally, except for major festivals, a kowtow would be enough for a private meeting. Why is there a double bow?

"I would like to ask, Your Majesty, if you still remember the time during the Xianfeng era when I replied to a letter on behalf of Master Guixiang."

When she first entered the palace, she was out of favor, so she was bored and lonely, so she often corresponded with her younger brother Guixiang outside the palace.

966?7?9125$zhaoshu skirt,

Guixiang couldn't read a single word, so he found a Yilian pen and after a few practice, he became proficient in calligraphy.

This is also why Yi Liao, a member of the imperial clan, was able to be promoted step by step to become a prince and even a prince.

The two of them had a good relationship when they were still in humble positions!

"Of course I will remember this. I will remember anyone who has been kind to me, and I will repay them tenfold or a hundredfold."

Yi Liannaifang started to panic, "I know that the Empress Dowager is a man who cherishes the past; otherwise, she wouldn't have made me a prince last year. Therefore, regarding the next matter, I hope that the Empress Dowager will dismiss her attendants and let me alone listen to her."

"Is this necessary?" Cixi sat up straighter, but still did not let the eunuchs and palace maids leave.

Yi Lian Na Yin suddenly became louder: "I beg you, Master Buddha, to do as I say!"

Cixi looked at Yilie lie deeply, then pointed at the palace maid and said to Li Lianying beside her: "Okay, Li Lianying, you take them and wait outside the door."

"!"

Seeing that everyone had left, Yilin started to criticize, not avoiding Cixi's gaze, and asked with determination:

"May I ask, Lord Buddha, if you wish to appoint a new ruler?"

"Hmm?" Cixi sat up straight. She didn't expect that she would be stopped by Yi Liao just by a slight idea.

Lin had not yet made up her mind whether to depose Guangxu in public, but at least she did not plan to return power after Guangxu's wedding.

Especially after listening to Yuan Shikai's theory of industrialization, she felt that even if she continued to rule behind the scenes, industrialization could be promoted, and it was not necessarily necessary for the emperor to take power and establish constitutional reforms.

Seven "My Lord, I am your confidant, why do you have to hide things from me?"

Almost all of Lu's glory in this life was tied to Cixi. He didn't want Cixi to lose everything because of a wrong step, so after realizing Cixi's plan, he immediately went to the palace to get to the bottom of it.

"That's true, but I haven't figured out a plan yet. I just want to see which princes in the royal family are suitable."

How does the old Buddha intend to deal with this?" Yi Liaoshi

"After the wedding, how about choosing another member of the royal family as the crown prince under the pretext that the emperor has difficulty in having an heir?" Cixi asked tentatively.

20. "Does the Empress Dowager want the Emperor to become the Grand Emperor before he's ?"

Killing is not impossible

Yiliang went on to say, "If that's the case, I suggest that we don't hold the wedding, depose the emperor as soon as possible, and choose a crown prince as soon as possible."

Cixi hesitated: "It's too urgent. I only have an idea now, but the emperor's wedding is coming soon, and it's impossible to choose a prince right away."

"The situation is indeed urgent, but it is Manchu custom for the Emperor to rule the country personally after his wedding. Your Majesty, can you delay it for three to five years, or even ten to eight years?

If the emperor is fully grown in ten years, and then wants to depose him, I'm afraid all the officials will object."

There was no need to hesitate too much. Since he had already made up his mind to depose the emperor, he should seize the opportunity to do it.

Being too cautious will often ruin good opportunities.

Cixi was silent for a moment, kept looking at Yili, and finally put down the ring in her hand, with a decision in her eyes.