Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 220 Imperial Medal
Guan Xuqing went to Yonghe Palace to see Concubine De, and heard from Wang Shang that Feng Xianghua was in the study to wait for orders. "I summoned you to know what role the Russians played in this northwest rebellion?"

"According to what the rebels told before their death, they had reached an agreement with the Russians in advance. Once a war broke out in the country, the Russians would immediately send an army from Vladivok into the three northeastern provinces to control the Shanhaiguan area and the gates outside the customs. Locked up. But later the Russians saw that the limelight was wrong, and they didn’t even dare to send a single soldier.” Feng Xianghua, as in the past, obtained real information from Zhao Bingjun before this performance.

It is unbearable for the Russians to covet our territory again and again.Guan Xuqing knew very well that among Western countries, Russia was the most barbaric and greedy, and the Tsarist Russian royal family who controlled him also had an almost crazy desire to expand its territory.The border between China and Russia is long and narrow. Russian expeditions and Cossack cavalry came in and out of the border as if they had crossed the threshold of their own homes, trying to encroach on China's land bit by bit.Such a long border cannot be defended by stationing one or two divisions, but both the Northeast and Mongolia are far away from Beijing, and deploying too many troops there will definitely take up a lot of manpower and material resources.The contradictions between China and Russia are accumulating little by little. When they reach a certain level, the contradictions will inevitably turn into wars. But now that the domestic rebellion has just been put down, it is not the time to fight big sticks.

"Note to Vasiliev, I know all about what they have done on the border. If they don't stop immediately, I will immediately close all trade with the Russians on the border."

"China and Russia have signed a peace agreement. I don't think they dare to tear up this contract rashly." Feng Xianghua asked cautiously.

"The so-called agreement is nothing more than a blank sheet of paper. When the turmoil really gets too serious, anyone may find thousands of reasons to tear up the agreement. As the minister of the Ministry of War, you must understand one truth. All the big powers are wolves. Their nature is greed, when have you ever seen wolves not eat meat?"

"Your majesty is wise, I will remember it."

"The military affairs in the Northwest have just been pacified, and it is best to focus on deterrence for Russia. Recently, you have transferred four artillery regiments and one cavalry division to the northeast border to conduct a small-scale military exercise, which can be regarded as a warning to the Russians. I thought about it for a few days, and now the most important thing is the support of the people in the country. The implementation of the new policy will definitely hit the interests of some people, so I will let Prince Li, Wu Guang and others take advantage of it. Therefore, I plan to To hold a national award ceremony, on the one hand, it is to reward those who have meritorious service, and on the other hand, it is also necessary to win over those who are dissatisfied with me, or even those who are against me. , you can start making preparations tomorrow." Guan Xuqing stared at the world map on the wall, China and Russia, two countries with serious land plots, are closely connected, and sooner or later there will be a big battle between bears and elephants.

Two days later, a grand awarding ceremony was held in front of Zhengda Guangming Hall. Minister Zaifu who made outstanding contributions in the Sino-French War and the Sino-Japanese War was naturally commended by the emperor, and Guan Xuqing personally awarded Zuo Zongtang (already Therefore), Li Hongzhang, Feng Xianghua, and Zeng Guofan (deceased) are the first-class imperial medals. Although Peng Yulin is a famous minister of ZTE, he provoked two rebellions, so naturally he will not get this medal.In order to win over the elders and children of the Eight Banners, Guan Xuqing also awarded Yizheng, Zailian, and the eight imperial first-class medals who were originally executed.The remaining two or three princes of the Manchu Qing Dynasty are powerless now, and the prestige of the past has long since disappeared. I didn't expect the emperor to be sympathetic to the old feelings, and awarded him the supreme honor. Naturally, he was very grateful.

The Imperial Second Class Medal is awarded to generals who have made outstanding military exploits on the battlefield. On the one hand, veterans Nie Shicheng (returning to his hometown), Liu Mingchuan, Liu Buchan, Deng Shichang, Liu Yongfu, etc.; Lu Yiwei, Dong Liang, Wang Feng, Luo Ming, Zhao Bingjun and so on.

The third class of the Imperial Medal is for Korean and Chinese officials and young generals at the lower level, such as Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Yan Fu, Yuan Shikai, Duan Zhigui, Pan Dongmin, Wan Tianjie, Lu Rongting, Fang Shizhen, Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang, Zhang Yu, etc. .

In order to strengthen ethnic integration, Guan Xuqing also specially awarded the Medal of Protecting the Nation to honor the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama, the leader of the Turghute Tribe, the Mongolian county king and other ethnic minority leaders.

This move by Guan Xuqing has greatly strengthened the integration of different interest groups in the country, using a small gold medal to win the hearts of civil and military officials across the country together.Officials from all over the world praised and respected the emperor to an unprecedented level. Even the princes of the Qing Dynasty, who had always been critical of the New Deal, said that the emperor was able to sympathize with his subjects and not forget his own roots.

Of course, there are also some young military officers who are worried about not getting the first-class or second-class medals, and they are gearing up to make new achievements in the future wars. This is exactly what Guan Xuqing hopes to see.

Standing in front of the 1:2000000 world map, Guan Xuqing said to Feng Xianghua and Li Hongzhang behind him: "What I want to know most now is what has changed in the world in the past two months. Especially here." Guan Xuqing put his hand on the on the Straits of Malacca.

"British people have been active here recently." Feng Xianghua looked at Li Hongzhang, and the two of them were like mirrors in their hearts, and the emperor's restless heart was about to become agitated again.

"Some people say that whoever controls the Indian Ocean controls the whole of Asia, but all my military ports in the south are in Southeast Asia, but Malacca is China's only exit to the world." Guan Xuqing stared at the Strait of Malacca on the map, his eyes Very deep. "The British want to block this exit, what do you think I should do?"

"The emperor means to break the British blockade?" Li Hongzhang asked tentatively.

"As long as the Chinese fleet rushes out of Malacca, the whole world will come into our view." Guan Xuqing's eyes flickered, and his tone was filled with incomparable confidence.

Feng Xianghua and Li Hongzhang glanced at each other. They knew that the emperor was an ambitious and wise monarch, but they did not expect that the whole world was pretending to be in the emperor's heart. Although China has achieved rapid development, there is still a certain gap compared with the powerful Britain and France. No one can change what the emperor has decided.

"Call me Zhang Yu." Wang Shang led the order to go out.

Time is not long, Zhang Yu came to see the emperor, and when Peng Yulin plotted rebellion, Guan Xuqing transferred Zhang Yu's army to Tongzhou, ready to respond at any time. Zhang Yu conveyed some kind of signal, and the emperor will soon be able to reuse him.

Although Zhang Yu is young, he does things calmly, especially in front of major events, he is not impatient or impatient, and has the demeanor of a general. He listens carefully to Feng Xianghua's recounting of the Strait of Malacca, and looks at the emperor from time to time.

"I want to ask you something, do you dare to fight a big battle with the British and take Malacca back to me?" Guan Xuqing stared at Zhang Yu with a half-smile, and he used this matter to test the young man.

"Dare! Your Majesty will do whatever you want to do as a minister." Zhang Yu said firmly, without any hesitation.

"If you win this battle, I will give you the Imperial Second Class Medal!" The medal only represents a symbolic meaning, and Guan Xuqing's meaning is obvious. If you win, you will be promoted to a senior officer at the military region level. general.

(End of this chapter)