In early February, the spring breeze and drizzle made people lazy and unwilling to go out.

Hangzhou West Lake South Embankment, Zhejiang Admiral's Mansion, Dongyuan.

The imperial edict regarding the establishment of the Qing Dynasty's East China Sea Fleet and the appointment of Chen Tianhua as the admiral of the East China Sea Fleet was issued on the first day of this month. At this time, Li Cunzhi summoned his confidants Sun Yong, Li Xinghong, Zhang Chuan, and his third son Li Pinzhang in Dongyuan.

We were discussing in the west study room, and the atmosphere in the room was depressing and tense.

Logically speaking, this was a great event for the Li family. The new emperor had just ascended the throne, and the court issued an edict to prepare for the establishment of a constitution. The Li family was so powerful that soon the governor, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, and even entering the cabinet would not be a problem.

But Li Cunzhi looked gloomy and very unhappy.

Years ago, Chen Tianhua carried out a series of operations in Chongming, and the Li family knew everything about it. Li Cunzhi neither opposed nor supported it, and just waited to see what happened.

He believed that Chen Tianhua would most likely not go well. Nazan was an easy man to deal with, but the court was not easy to deal with.

The Manchu royal family group headed by Zaifeng obviously rejected Han ministers and favored the Eight Banners disciples. Chen Tianhua's deception was not clever. After a little investigation and analysis, a discerning person will understand what is going on, but he is unable to get the handle and can do nothing.

Chen Tianhua.

Li Cunzhi wanted Chen Tianhua to be disgraced, but the regent would definitely appoint someone else to be the admiral of the East China Sea Fleet.

Then, no one is a fool. Taking advantage of Na Zan's experience, taking up the post in Chongming will undoubtedly be like pulling out a tooth from a tiger's mouth. The final result is that no one is willing to take up the post despite all obstacles.

At this time, Li Cunzhi could take action. He had his biggest backer in the capital, the Prime Minister and Prince Qing Yikuang.

Prince Qing Yikuang was insatiably greedy and would do things as long as he was given money. Everyone in the government and the public knew that he was a royal relative who could be as famous as Heshen back then.

But he has senior qualifications. He is an upright imperial uncle, the biological uncle of Emperor Guangxu and Zaifeng, and the brother-in-law of Empress Dowager Cixi. Even Lafayette can't do anything to him, let alone a junior like Zaifeng.

Li Cunzhi's wishful thinking came true. He used money to bribe Prince Yikuang of Qing and asked the court to hand over the hot potato of the East China Sea Fleet to him, which was better than falling into the hands of Chen Tianhua.

The imperial court asked Chen Tianhua to build the East China Sea Fleet in three years, and Li Cunzhi could do the same, because he in turn asked Chen Tianhua to complete it, and the latter had to obey.

When it comes to the qualifications and loyalty of Li Cunzhi and Chen Tianhua, Zaifeng and his royal family would rather choose the former. After all, he is Li Hongzhang's nephew, and he has learned from his ancestors and does not dare to act rashly.

But Li Cunzhi never expected that before taking office in the first month, Zai Xun would formally propose the East China Sea Fleet, which was only discussed at the court meeting. Due to the support of Tie Liang, Zhang Xiangshuai and others, Zai Feng immediately issued an order to change the Chongming Navy to

East China Sea Fleet, appointed Chen Tianhua as admiral of the East China Sea Fleet.

This caught Li Cunzhi off guard. His people had just arrived at Prince Qing's Mansion and delivered the gifts. The imperial decree had already been issued. Isn't this frustrating?

He lost his wife and lost his troops.

In fact, Li Cunzhi is like a mirror hanging high in his heart, and Chen Tianhua has changed so much in all aspects over the years. The relationship between them has become very subtle.

From a personal perspective, Li Cunzhi is his father-in-law and Chen Tianhua is his son-in-law. There is nothing wrong with their relationship.

From a public perspective, Li Cunzhi and Chen Tianhua were on equal footing in terms of official positions and titles. They were both first-grade military attachés. Moreover, Chen Tianhua also had a civil official position and was a second-grade minister of the Ministry of Industry. They were truly both civil and military.

But the only thing Li Cunzhi could control Chen Tianhua was that the Second Zhenzhen Division of the Zhejiang New Army was still under the jurisdiction of the Zhejiang Provincial Admiral's Office.

But things are completely different now. Once Chen Tianhua becomes the admiral of the East China Sea Fleet, he will be completely separated from the control of the Zhejiang New Army and directly under the control of the Imperial Navy Ministry.

If the Qing Dynasty had been able to transition smoothly, there would have been no conflict of interest between the father-in-law and his son-in-law. However, anyone with a discerning eye can clearly see the reality. It would only be a matter of time before Zaifeng and others aroused public indignation based on their anti-Han ideas.

Things, coupled with the undercurrent of the revolutionaries, are like dry firewood, just needing a kindling to ignite it.

The world is in turmoil and the heroes are divided. This is a historical necessity for thousands of years.

Li Cunzhi has a lot of troops. He is definitely not a loyal and loyal person, nor is he a person without ambition. But the problem is that Chen Tianhua also has a lot of troops. Who will listen to whom and who will obey whom in the future?

Since ancient times, kings have been unlucky, and the most ruthless ones are the emperors.

How could Chen Tianhua be the master of others?

Everyone in the Li family has always believed that Chen Tianhua could not be where he is today without Mr. Li's full support over the years.

Is it so unbearable for the Li family to finally surrender to Chen Tianhua? The key is Young Master Li. Can the Li family be convinced?

Now that Chen Tianhua has obtained the naval control power he dreamed of, he will fully develop the navy. The balance of power between the Li family and him will be completely unbalanced. In the future, although the two sides will maintain harmony on the surface, secretly they have already become a force.

Water and fire.

Seeing that Chen Tianhua's power was rising steadily, and he had powerful men and wealthy people in Meiguang and other places, he would really be able to conquer the Central Plains in the future, and his power would not be second thought in the Qing Dynasty.

Under such circumstances, how can the Li family stay? Unless they surrender!

You need to plan early now to get the upper hand.

"Xinghong, you have been in charge of the Meiguang garrison for several years. Are you sure that within this year and next, you will be able to completely control one or two brigades and use them for my use if necessary?" Li Cunzhi asked.

"Don't worry, Commander, I have started to gradually clean up the more than 6,000 people in the Meiguang garrison. The integration will be completed by the middle of next year. By then, the Meiguang garrison can be used in extraordinary times." Li Xinghong replied.

In his heart, he was very reluctant to do this, but he was a relative of the Li clan and the clan leader's orders could not be violated. He hoped that no accident would happen.

"Well, since then, I have put my mind at ease. This is very important to the Li Mansion's future plans. We cannot let up on the expansion and training of the First Town Division. We must also make every effort to develop the Yangtze River Navy."

"Father, the child understands and is stepping up his training. The chief instructor, Mr. Yosuke Xi and Ichiro Shibuya, are specifically responsible for this," Li Pinzhang said.

"Sun Yong must actively assist and don't let up!" Li Cunzhi gave his old subordinate a sharp look as a warning.

Sun Yong has followed Li Cunzhi for the longest time. He has been a guard, deacon, and guard battalion officer all the way to the current deputy commander of the first town division and lieutenant general. He should be regarded as his absolute confidant.

But Sun Yong has always been close to Chen Tianhua. Sun Yong's wife is also Li Shuzhen's sworn sister, and Sun Yong is the godfather of Chen Tianhua's eldest son, Chen Mingcheng.

It is indeed very painful and embarrassing to ask them to stand in line at a critical moment.

"Please rest assured, Commander, Sun Yong is born for the Commander, and his death is for the Commander. When the time comes, Sun Yong knows what to do!" Sun Yong said solemnly.
Chapter completed!