Introduction: In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu Qing government was incompetent, and the people of Li were poor and destitute, not only that, but they were often invaded by Western powers and Japan, which made the Qing Dynasty, which was already in turmoil, even worse. Despite this, Cixi, as the empress dowager of the Qing Dynasty, did not worry about this at all, and still lived an arrogant and lascivious life, with improper upward movements, crooked downwards, unhealthy atmosphere in the DPRK and China, and corruption.
Cixi saw that her 60th birthday was coming, and her heart was very happy. However, it was not a coincidence that in the process of preparing for the birthday feast, the Battle of Jiawu broke out, and this Empress Dowager Cixi originally thought that since it was the 60th birthday, she would have to do a special office with beautiful scenery, not only embezzling the silver in the national treasury, but also taking out the military expenses of the Beiyang Marine Division to celebrate her birthday, which made people very angry. Fortunately, there was still a little conscience in his heart, and he finally reduced the scale of his birthday feast.
One day on the eve of the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese Naval Battle, Li Hongzhang was working in the camp of the Beiyang Marine Division. Recently, the sea has not been peaceful, which has also caused Li Hongzhang's brows to frown, because the Japanese Navy has constantly provoked the Qing army, and with an aggressive posture, the officers and men from top to bottom are not angry. Li Hongzhang was worried about this matter, when a soldier under his command sent a military report, and Li Hongzhang had a headache after reading it.
As we all know, the Beiyang Water Division was founded by Li Hongzhang, and he is also the actual ruler of the Beiyang Water Division. However, in the face of such clamor from the Japanese army, he could not directly issue orders to fire at the Japanese army, because this matter was very widely involved, and he himself could not be the master, so he could only ask Empress Dowager Cixi, who had been listening to the government for many years, to sort out his own clothes and thoughts, and he would enter the palace to ask the empress dowager.
Li Hongzhang quickly stepped up his whip, and a fiery fire reached the door of Cixi's palace, and he was immediately stopped by the eunuch. Li Hongzhang was told that he could not enter now and would need to wait a moment. Li Hongzhang was a little angry in his heart, but it was not easy to show it. He asked the eunuch, what was the empress dowager doing inside? The eunuch said that the empress dowager was changing clothes in the palace, and if there was no notice inside, no one outside was allowed to enter. Hearing this, Li Hongzhang's anger came up, and he changed his clothes when it was time.
In fact, Cixi was now full of joy, the birthday feast was approaching, she was trying on her new birthday robe, and only the grand eunuch Li Lianying was accompanying her in the palace. After a while, the palace door was finally opened, and Li Lianying invited Li Hongzhang in. As soon as Li Hongzhang entered the door, he saw the clothes that Cixi was wearing, and his heart couldn't help but giggle, it turned out that this Cixi was wearing a dragon robe. Li Hongzhang's facial expression was somewhat distorted, and he thought: Isn't this dragon robe only worn by the emperor? How did this Cixi put on the dragon robe, and there were many thoughts in her heart, could it be that this Cixi wanted to emulate the predecessor Wu Zetian. However, now Cixi's power is big enough, and she has been listening to the government for so long, and the government is all in control, and the majesty is even worse than that of the emperor.
Li Hongzhang tried his best to behave normally, and presented his written recital to Cixi, who could not help but sigh after reading it: This thief has actually bullied us, and if we do not fight, I am afraid that it will damage my face. If I fight, I am afraid it will affect my mood of celebrating my 60th birthday, and I must know that I have to wait for the 60th birthday, and I wanted to celebrate a birthday feast with good scenery, which is good. Li Hongzhang listened to Cixi's words, and his heart was a little anxious, empress Dowager Cixi neither said to fight, nor did she say not to fight, and played word games here.
However, Cixi then said: "Oh, I have always wanted to go, but I can't make up my mind, you might as well go to the emperor to report it, it is really not possible to consult with Prince Gong again, and you will make a good decision." But there is one point, I must remember clearly, no matter whether the final result is to fight or not to fight, it can not affect the mourning family's big birthday, Li Hongzhang heard this, the stone in his heart was put down, and he quickly knelt down to thank and bid farewell.
When he was about to exit the door, Cixi stopped him again, and coldly asked: "Li Zhongtang, how do you see my shou robe, is it fit", Li Hongzhang listened to 100 secret scoldings in his heart, this dragon robe is not something you Cixi can wear, now ask me this question, that is not pushing me into the pit. But since the empress dowager asked, he couldn't help but answer, so he cleverly replied with three words, "a little big", which seemed simple, but helped him escape the disaster. The three words "a little big" do not only mean that the clothes are a little big, but the insinuation means that Cixi can also understand it, although Cixi is displeased in her heart and does not say anything, Li Hongzhang also breathed a long sigh of relief.