Zaitao led the troops stationed in the Summer Palace back to Beijing and immediately came to see Zhang Zhidong and told Zhang Zhidong the outcome of the battle at Dinghui Temple. Fortunately, Zhang Zhidong had experienced countless storms, but after learning that Cixi and Guangxu were all captured by the People's Army, he was shocked and stunned. Because in Zhang Zhidong's expectation, Cixi and Guangxu should be able to escape from Beijing, and he would certainly not fight the People's Army if he stayed in Beijing. After the People's Army captured Beijing, he would wait at home. With his friendship with the East China Government, he would not make things too difficult for him. No matter what deal he reached with the East China Government, he could be considered as worthy of the Qing court.

I knew that the People's Army had bypassed most of Beijing and intercepted Cixi and Guangxu and his party on the way to the Summer Palace. It was only more than 20 miles from Beijing to the Summer Palace. Even if Cixi and Guangxu walked slowly, it would only take half a day at most. The People's Army had to attack from Sifang Railway Station and bypass Beijing. The distance of the action was more than twice that of Cixi and Guangxu and his party, but they accurately stopped Cixi and Guangxu and their team halfway and successfully captured Cixi and Guangxu. Such ability to move really surprised Zhang Zhidong.

But now is not the time to be sensible. This move by the East China Government also disrupted Zhang Zhidong's plan, because it was obviously inappropriate to do it according to the original plan. Cixi and Guangxu have become prisoners of the East China Government. If they have any transactions with the East China Government, they cannot be said to be worthy of the Qing court. Only by dying for death in the city can they fulfill their responsibilities as a minister. However, although Zhang Zhidong is an old man over 80 years old, he is not willing to be loyal to the Qing court.

However, Zhang Zhidong was a person who had been through storms after all, so he quickly calmed down from his shock. Of course, Zhang Zhidong could not make the decision alone for such a major matter. Although he was the highest official of the Qing court at present, he immediately ordered to recruit ministers and royal family members to discuss.

The military ministers who are now staying in Beijing include Zhang Zhidong, Natong, Yulang and Xu Shichang, as well as Han ministers Lu Chuanlin, Liang Dunyan, Zou Jia, Tang Jingchong, Manchu ministers Gui Chun, Shaochang, Rongqing and others. In addition to Zaitao, there are Yuan Su Prince Shanqi, Prince Gong Puwei, Beile Zaixun, Pulun, Yulang, Duke Zhenguo Zaize and others.

Although Shanqi was dismissed from the royal family, he had a high reputation in the royal family, so other members of the royal family still called him the royal family, and the Qing court also turned a blind eye to it. Prince Gong Puwei was the second generation Prince Gong and the lowest-class prince in the royal family. Of course, he was the first royal family in the Pu generation to be awarded the title of king. The first generation Prince Gong was the famous Japanese devil Liu Yixin. Puwei was his legitimate grandson. Yixin had three sons, and his eldest son Zaicheng died long ago without a descendant. The second son Zaiying came out to succeed Prince Zhong Yixiang as his heir. Puwei was the eldest son of Zaiying and adopted him as the son of Zaicheng, and he inherited Prince Gong.

Yi Xin was one of the few capable talents in the Qing Dynasty royal family. Cixi was quite jealous of him. Pu Wei was taught by Yi Xin by words and deeds. He was known as clever when he was a child, and he also had the style of Yi Xin when he became an adult. Now he is also a recognized talent in the royal family.

Although the Military Affairs Office was the center of the Qing court, the place was not large. Therefore, after all the ministers arrived, there were more than 20 people, and the Military Affairs Office was full of them. Zaitao retelled the battle of Dinghui Temple to everyone again. After hearing this, everyone was shocked, and many people even cried, and the scene was quite chaotic for a while.

Zhang Zhidong said: "Everyone, now is not the time to cry. The pseudo-rebel army is approaching, and the capital is in danger. The emperor and the queen mother are trapped in the hands of the pseudo-rebel. It is really a time of danger. How can we retreat to the enemy and protect the capital and rescue the emperor and the queen mother, please think of a solution."

But after Zhang Zhidong finished speaking, the Military Affairs Office became quiet. Not only did no one cry anymore, but no one spoke. After the competition reached this point, who could think of any way? Besides, Cixi and Guangxu fled Beijing, the ministers and royal families were also in panic. Many people were packing their luggage at home, intending to follow the footsteps of Cixi and Guangxu, and were preparing to escape. Then they knew that they had received news that Cixi and Guangxu were captured by the People's Army. Many people secretly felt fortunate, but fortunately they did not escape first, and there were a few people who were gloating, and of course they did not show it on their faces.

After a while, Xu Shichang said: "Everyone, from the perspective of the following, it is difficult to fight against the trend now. This is the only way to go for peace talks."

Shanqi glanced at Xu Shichang and said, "What else is there to say about peace talks? Isn't it just surrendering to the pseudo-revolutionary?"

Xu Shichang smiled faintly and said, "I am so foolish. Now the pseudo-rebel soldiers are at the city, and the city of Beijing is in danger. But I don't know what tricks the prince has to retreat the pseudo-rebel soldiers, rescue the two palaces, and ensure that our Qing Dynasty will not be lost!"

Shanqi couldn't answer for a moment. Pu Wei said: "Tongzhou and Baoding have tens of thousands of powerful soldiers, and there are still envoys from various countries in Beijing. How can we allow false rebellions to cover the sky with one hand? As long as we are united, fight against the city and make good friends with all countries as support, the outcome is still unknown, so why bother surrender."

Xu Shichang sneered and said, "The army of Tongzhou and Baoding are all defeated soldiers, so why should we say that we will fight again? As for all countries who are not reliable, how can we use it as aid? What's more, in the Far East, the soldiers of Britain, France, Russia, Japan and the Netherlands are not opponents of pseudo-rebellion?"

Pu Wei couldn't say that Xu Shichang was a little embarrassed and angry, saying, "I think you are clearly a pseudo-rebellious accomplice."

Xu Shichang was not willing to be outdone and said, "Prince, now the emperor and the empress dowager are all caught in the hands of false rebellion, and it is difficult to protect you day and night. You don't think about how to rescue you, but you just want to fight and trap the emperor. The empress dowager will be punished in danger."

This sentence is indeed too heavy. Shanqi and Pu Wei couldn't help but be shocked and angry. Shanqi pointed at Xu Shichang and said, "Xu Shichang, you... you are slandering."

Pu Wei simply rolled up his sleeves and rushed to tear Xu Shichang. Fortunately, he was stopped by everyone, but the entire military office was in chaos. Zhang Zhidong was so anxious that he was about to vomit blood. He even said, "Stop, stop, what is this? What is it like."

In fact, many people present agreed with Xu Shichang's suggestion. Because they were Han ministers, they had to raise their hands to agree, because they were unwilling to accompany the Qing court to bury them for their lives. Therefore, it is of course no matter how good it is to surrender now. At least everyone can save their lives, including some of the ministers. They also think so, but no one dares to say it. Only the royal family is unwilling to accept the Qing court's destruction and wants to rescue them. Of course, this is also in line with human nature. For the royal family, the Qing Dynasty is their own property. Now that their own property is stolen by others, they will naturally not be willing to do so.

Of course, Xu Shichang did this intentionally. First, it was the current trend and could not be changed; second, Xu Shichang was not Zhang Zhidong, and he did not have much deep feelings for the Qing court. Since changing dynasties is inevitable, he naturally had to plan for himself. Therefore, first proposed to surrender to the East China Government, which may be an important qualification for him.

Finally, everyone persuaded Pu Wei to stop him. Pu Wei pointed at Xu Shichang and said, "As long as I, Pu Wei, will never perish." As he said that, he shook his sleeves and walked out of the Military Affairs Office angrily. Shanqi, Pu Lun, Yulang, Zai Ze and others also followed him away, only Zai Tao and Zai Xun did not leave.

It turned out that the royal family of the Qing court was not a single piece, and they were also divided into factions. Among them, Prince Chun Zaifeng was the group. The main members were Zaitao and Zaixun. They were all brothers, and their wise nature was not high, but they were highly valued by Cixi because the concubine Yehenara Wanzhen of Prince Chun Yihuan, the concubine Yehenara Wanzhen, was the younger sister of Cixi. Although Zaifeng, Zaitao and Zaixun were not Wanzhen's biological children, they were also considered Wanzhen's children. Moreover, Zaifeng's concubine Guarjia was the daughter of Ronglu, the most trusted minister of Cixi. Therefore, Cixi loved the house and the Wu, so she looked at the Zaifeng brothers differently, focused on cultivating them, and entrusted them with important tasks. Of course, this also had an important relationship with Zaifeng's weak personality and easy control.

The other is headed by Prince Su Shanqi and Prince Gong Puwei, including Yulang, Zaize, Tieliang, Liangbi, Yinchang and others. Among them, they are some capable people, but they are also quite jealous of Cixi. Shanqi and Puwei are basically not valued. Although Yulang, Tieliang, Liangbi, and Yinchang also have important responsibilities, they are mostly to balance the Manchus and Han dynasties, and to be more precautions, and often change their positions to prevent them from supporting their own power. However, this group of people are all royal families after all, so they have a great influence.

Another series is Prince Rui Zaiyi and Prince Zhuang Zaixun. This series was highly valued by Cixi during the Gengzi Rebellion. Zaiyi's son Puyi was even made the eldest prince and became the heir of Guangxu. However, the Eight-Nation Alliance captured Beijing, and Cixi and Guangxu fled in panic. Although Zaiyi and Zaixun were not liquidated as in the history of another time and space, they also lost Cixi's trust from then on. Puyi was also removed from the front street of the eldest prince. Therefore, this series has lost its power and no one has paid attention to it.

The last series is Prince Qing Yili. Although this series is single and lonely, Yili is good at management and pleases Cixi internally. She is also a Han minister like Li Hongzhang and Yuan Shikai externally, so she has become an alternative among the royal family. When Cixi was in power, Yili's status was naturally important and should not be underestimated. Once Cixi lost power, the weakness of this group of people was exposed. What's more, Yili, like Cixi and Guangxu, has become a prisoner of the East China Government, so now Yili has disappeared and destroyed the traces, which is not as good as Zaiyi and Zaixun.

After Shanqi and Pu Wei took the people away, Xu Shichang turned to Zhang Zhidong and said, "Xiangshuai, now you still want to make an idea, but don't mislead yourself!"

Zhang Zhidong smiled bitterly and said, "Just, you are putting me on the fire and roasting me."
Chapter completed!