In the study room of Prince Gong's Mansion in Beijing, Li Ningyu looked at the prince in front of him. He first saluted and said hello, and then at Prince Gong's signal, Li Ningyu sat down aside. Then he heard Prince Gong say: "In just a short moment,
I haven’t seen you for a year. Now you are also a third-grade candidate, and you have also received the title of Prince Shaobao. How do you feel?"
Li Ningyu was not surprised by Prince Gong's question, because he already knew that his being sent to the southwest was the result of his struggle with Cixi Lafayette. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he had a favor for Li Ningyu.
, and since he would have to lean on a big tree like him in the future, Li Ningyu naturally did not dare to make a mistake, and then he stood up in panic and said: "Everything was suggested by the prince. Without the prince, Ning Yu would not be where he is today."
Regarding Li Ningyu's words, Prince Gong naturally accepted them all and said with an easy-going smile: "Haha, it's not as exaggerated as you said. I'm just recommending talents to the court. The main thing is your own dedication and efforts.
Others can’t help you with this.”
Li Ningyu already had a deep understanding of the prince known as Guiziliu, so naturally he did not dare to make excuses. He continued to say modestly: "Yes, remember the prince's teachings!".
Afterwards, Prince Gong mainly asked about the details of the war in the southwest, and Li Ningyu also answered carefully and tactfully. In fact, Prince Gong didn't care much about the affairs in the southwest, because he knew that the southwest was already a comprehensive victory.
The army's land strength has been greatly damaged, and it is impossible to organize a stronger force in a short period of time. What he is really worried about is the navy.
Unknowingly, the two of them chatted for several hours. Regarding the future situation, Li Ningyu naturally knew everything and he was also investing in it intentionally or unintentionally. As for the issues Li Ningyu said, Prince Gong didn't care much because
At this time, the late Qing Dynasty did not have a real navy, and the subsequent Beiyang Navy would not be established until 1888.
In addition to the problems in the southwest, what he was most concerned about was the North Korean issue. In 1882, the eighth year of Guangxu's reign before Li Ningyu came, after the Renwu coup in North Korea was put down, Wu Changqing's troops of the Qing army temporarily stayed in North Korea, and Wu Changqing sent a camp.
Yuan Shikai, a colleague of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others trained thousands of troops for North Korea. However, even if it calmed down a little, there were still many rebellious parties in North Korea, and these rebellious parties were all supported by Japan. At the same time, there were constant provocations by French warships along the coast.
Li Ningyu didn't have much personal opinion on these matters, but before leaving, Li Ningyu still expressed his determination: "Li Ningyu is a sword in the hands of the prince. Wherever the prince needs Ning Yu to go, Ning Yu will wield it."
Go there with your sword!".
After hearing Li Ningyu's reply, Prince Gong was very happy. He had been angry for a while because of Li Ningyu's defeat of the French army in the southwest these days. With Li Ningyu's words, Prince Gong suddenly thought of something.
He asked, "If I ask you to lead troops to North Korea, do you know what to do?"
Li Ningyu immediately understood Prince Gong's double entendre as soon as he said it, but he still said implicitly: "North Korea is a vassal state of our Celestial Empire, how can we allow Japanese pirates to get involved! I will send my troops to strangle them completely!".
Prince Gong was not very satisfied with Li Ningyu's answer, but after thinking about it, Li Ningyu definitely belonged to his own faction. If he was sent to North Korea, he would not only have the opportunity to control North Korea in his own hands, but also would be able to control North Korea.
You can also create a state within a state in North Korea.
Then Prince Gong stopped talking much, but thought of one more thing, and asked: "When you returned to Beijing, did you pass by Liangjiang?".
"Back to Prince Gong, I passed by Jiangning and paid a visit to Mr. Zuo!" Seeing Prince Gong's sudden question, Li Ningyu naturally answered honestly and did not dare to make any mistakes.
Then Prince Gong didn't ask further questions, just waved his hand and said to Li Ningyu: "You haven't returned to the capital for a year, so just stay at home and be filial to your parents!" After that, Li Ningyu left. After leaving,
Prince Gong took out a secret letter and read it, and then wrote a reply. He then gave it to his messenger and arranged for him to hand-deliver the letter to Zuo Zongtang, the Governor of Liangjiang.
The next night, Li Ningyu came to the Li Mansion in the capital for a banquet. During the banquet, Li Hongzhang continued to praise Li Ningyu for defeating the French army in the southwest. Li Ningyu also answered a series of questions from Li Zhongtang politely and respectfully.
The banquet did not last too long, because Li Ningyu has always been Prince Gong's person.
After the dinner, Li Hongzhang naturally did not stay long. Originally he was just a little surprised and puzzled by this 11-year-old boy. Then Li Ningyu started his busy life again, but all the secret things continued to happen.
It's just that as the new year approaches, Li Ningyu gradually stops doing some things.
On New Year's Eve in 1883, Li Ningyu took a fair-faced boy walking on the streets of Beijing in the morning. While wandering along the way, the fair-faced boy kept looking at the things around him curiously, while asking questions in Li Ningyu's ear.
There seemed to be a hundred thousand white-faced boys asking questions, but Li Ningyu answered them one by one in a perfunctory manner.
But no matter where you are, there are some people who are short-sighted, many of whom are descendants of princes, nobles and ministers. Naturally, Li Ningyu will not be polite to such small people, because all eras are Yanei, and Li Ningyu is the ancestor of Yanei.
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Today, Li Ningyu took the white-faced boy around for a walk, and then came to the north of the city. At this time, he saw a young man wearing silk and satin clothes. He was teasing a civilian girl and looking at the civilians who were surrounded by several people.
The girl looked like she was about to cry but had no tears. The fair-faced young man at the side said to Li Ningyu: "Brother Yu, how good and bad are those people!".
Li Ningyu's anger suddenly rose when he saw this scene. After the white-faced boy finished speaking, Li Ningyu immediately signaled to the soldiers who were following him, strode forward a few steps and shouted: "That family's
You dare to run wild in this land of Gyeonggi!"
Li Ningyu suddenly stood up, which startled several young men who were about ten years old. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the civilian girls who had been surrounded immediately escaped, and the few young men who reacted immediately became angry.
Looking at Li Ningyu, one of the leaders shouted loudly: "The bumpkin from there dares to yell at Mr. Zhang San."
As soon as he heard these words, Li Ningyu was immediately offended, but at this time the white-faced boy who followed Li Ningyu whispered in his ear: "His Ama is Lord Zhang, the governor of Shanxi."
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