The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 347: How to Legally Replace the Qing Dynasty and Become the Emperor (Please Vote, Please Subscribe)

The carriage sped through the bumpy and smelly streets in the center of Paris. After turning a few corners, it came onto a stone bridge across a large, somewhat dirty-looking river.

Mathilde sat next to Li Hongzhang, holding his arm, and introduced him to the famous buildings in Paris from time to time: "My dear, that is Notre Dame de Paris, which was built in 1163. That was the Conciergerie during the French Revolution. It was once a revolutionary court and prison, and it held more than people, including nobles, including the then French Queen Marie Antoinette!"

Li Hongzhang turned his head and looked at the spire of the Paris Conciergerie outside the window. He did not show much surprise. When he was in England, he had heard about the French Revolution from his two teachers, Moore and Friedrich. He also knew that Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antoinette were beheaded. This seemed to be a big deal in Europe, but it was normal in China.

The last few emperors of the Ming Dynasty all died for their country!
Li Hongzhang thought: If I really rebuild the Tang Dynasty in the future, Xianfeng will probably die for his country! I don't know if it's me who is being dignified, or if others are helping him to be dignified?

Thinking of this, he felt a little uneasy, so he asked the French princess beside him: "Marty, where are we going now?"

"To the Luxembourg Palace," said Mathilde.

"Luxembourg Palace? Whose palace is that?" Li Hongzhang asked.

"That is the seat of the French Imperial Parliament," Mathilde replied, "By the way, Shaoquan, do you know what the parliament is?
"Of course I know! Doesn't the UK have a parliament? I've even visited it!"

How could the students of Moore and Friedrich not know about parliament? Li Hongzhang asked: "Marty, is the parliament of the French Empire also noisy like the British Parliament?"

"Oh? Have you ever visited the British Parliament?" Mathilde asked with a smile.

"I've been there a few times," Li Hongzhang said, "with two friends. But every time I saw a group of gentlemen from the British Parliament quarreling. Once I even saw them throwing things at each other!"

This is the busiest time in the British Parliament!
"Marty, is it the same in the French Parliament?" Li Hongzhang became curious.

"No, no," Mathilde said, "Before Napoleon III came to power, the French parliament was also in chaos for a while, but now it's better and there are more rules."

"So why are we going to the parliament today?" Li Hongzhang asked.

"It's to let you know how Napoleon III legally obtained the throne!" Mathilde laughed, "I don't know how people in China who aspire to be emperor and succeed do it? But in Europe, the practices of my cousin Napoleon III and uncle Napoleon I are obviously worth referring to."

"Legal. To obtain the throne?"

Li Hongzhang thought to himself, "Aren't those two people in your family plotting to usurp the throne? How come they are legitimate in your mouth? Oh, by the way, you are also a Bonaparte!"

He quickly changed his expression to one of humbly asking for advice: "Marty, how did they do it?"

"The first thing, of course, is to control the army!" said Mathilde.

"Well, it's the same over there!" Li Hongzhang said, "Is there any kind of emperor? The one with the strongest soldiers and horses can be the emperor!"

Mathilde added: "The second is to launch a coup and then take control of the parliament."

"Control the parliament?" Li Hongzhang asked. "What's the use?"

"Of course it is granted legitimacy!" Mathilde said, "The parliament can amend the constitution, grant the president or consul enormous powers, and organize a referendum to change the state system and elect an emperor!"

Li Hongzhang narrowed his eyes and thought: "The Bonaparte family's method seems to be good. It is more reasonable than abdication. I will do the same if I have the chance! It is not that I want to usurp the throne, but that the parliament representing the will of the people wants to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the Tang Dynasty! Well, we should not restore the Ming Dynasty, but restore the Tang Dynasty. This is the will of the people!"

At this time, the carriage had stopped in front of a magnificent palace.

Matilda pulled the arm of Li Hongzhang, who was thinking about how to legally usurp the throne, and whispered, "We have arrived at the Luxembourg Palace! Today, Napoleon III will give two speeches in the Legislative Council and the Senate, criticizing the atrocities of the Russian Empire. This is to create public opinion for France to declare war on Russia!
And this war is also our opportunity!"

"Our chance?" Li Hongzhang looked at Mathilde.

Mathilde whispered, "You have to convince Prince Sushun to agree to Qing's participation in the war against Russia! Only if Qing joins the war can the French emperor use the resources of the French government to provide you with assistance. At that time, you can accept the assistance of the French government in the name of organizing a war army and build an army of tens of thousands of people. I will invest several million francs for you to use to win over the hearts of the army!" This is a virtuous wife, no, a virtuous queen!
Li Hongzhang pinched the back of Mathilde's hand and nodded gratefully: "Marty, as long as I become emperor and king, I will definitely make you my queen!"

"Let's go," Mathilde said with a smile, "let's go and listen to how the French emperor makes a speech to the parliamentarians!"

"Okay, I'll learn a little bit from you," Li Hongzhang said. "When I get the chance, I'll set up a parliament in the Qing Dynasty."

"Shaoquan, you're back! Where have you been all day?"

When Li Hongzhang returned to the Elysee Palace, it was already dark outside. He had no intention of showing up at Sushun's place, but Mathilde told him that Walewski had come to the Elysee Palace this afternoon to discuss the Qing Dynasty's participation in the war against Russia with Sushun and others, so he should go and find out.

So Li Hongzhang temporarily parted with Mathilde and came to the suite where Sushun was.

When he arrived, Sushun, Yuanbao and Bai Siwen were enjoying a French meal in the suite's dining room while discussing whether they should agree to participate in the war against Russia.

When the three people were arguing with each other and could not reach a conclusion, Li Hongzhang arrived.

"I am here to accompany the French princess. This is also a serious matter! Now our Qing Dynasty is counting on her support for foreign guns, foreign cannons, foreign soldiers and foreign generals! This Mathilde Magog is a hot figure in the French Bonaparte Dynasty! You probably don't know it yet? When Napoleon III came to power, he received 500,000 gold francs of funding from her! She has a share in the French Empire."

Li Hongzhang did not hide anything and spoke frankly about it.

Sushun originally wanted to give this seventh-rank official a lecture, but now seeing Li Hongzhang mentioning the French princess with confidence, he lost his confidence.

If the French princess really married him, he would be the French prince consort. I don't know whether he would be an official in France or in the Qing Dynasty. But no matter where he is, he is an official with a backer.

"Okay, be polite, tell Shaoquan everything that Shvavsky mentioned today!"

"twitter!"

Bai Siwen responded, and then told Li Hongzhang again what Walewski and Sushun had said that afternoon.

"This is great news!" Li Hongzhang immediately slapped his thigh and said with a smile, "Agree! Agree quickly! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we must seize it firmly!"

"Is it a good thing?"

Sushun frowned and said, "Shaoquan, we can't even get rid of the long-haired people now, and we are going to provoke the Luosha Kingdom. Aren't you thinking that death is not fast enough?"

"Hey, Lord Su, why are you so honest?" Li Hongzhang waved his hand, "Does this participating army have to go to fight against Luosha Kingdom? Can't we use the participating army to fight against Taimao?"

"Use the participating troops to fight against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom?" Sushun was stunned. "Will the French and British agree? Will they get angry with us and turn around to support the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom?"

"No," Li Hongzhang smiled and waved his hands, "I have already asked Mathilde and the French Emperor will not recognize Hong Xiuquan, the second son of God! If he does, won't he have to kowtow to that long-haired leader?"

"Really?" Sushun turned around and looked at Bai Siwen.

Bai Siwen also worshipped God, although he worshipped the Orthodox God, but he also knew something about Catholicism and Protestantism.

"Shao Quan is right." Bai Siwen nodded, then frowned slightly, "But it seems that some foreigners also want to figure out the prophet, devil, angel, etc."

"Those people are not important. What's important is what the French emperor thinks? Mathilde knows this best. You are right to trust me. We must seize this opportunity!" Li Hongzhang patted his chest and said, "Sir Su, if you are worried about being left behind, I will take charge of organizing the troops to participate in the war!"

(End of this chapter)