Li Hongzhang studied the demands before him, the ink on the treaty draft as damning as a death sentence. He knew the allied powers understood the absurdity of their conditions—300 million taels of silver in reparations, foreign garrisons throughout Beijing, and dismantling all coastal fortifications.
Perhaps they intended to magnanimously reduce the reparations to 250 million to appear generous. Yet no matter the concessions, signing this treaty would reduce the Qing Empire to a vassal state, no better than a nation enslaved.
"I warned her," Li thought bitterly, recalling his arguments with Empress Dowager Cixi. "We needed to crush the Righteous Harmony Society ourselves."
The warnings had gone unheeded, and now he faced the consequences alone. Agreeing to these terms would not only doom the empire but also his own political career. If the Emperor spared his life after this disgrace, it would be a miracle.
After the futile first day of negotiations, Li sought an audience with Emperor Guangxu. Bowing deeply, he spoke with urgency.
"Your Majesty, the treaty they demand would strip this nation of its future."
Guangxu regarded him coolly. "I expected as much. But what do you plan to do about it, Grand Secretary?"
"I believe our only course is taoguang yanghui—to bide our time and strengthen ourselves in secret," Li replied cautiously.
Guangxu's expression hardened. "I did not ask about the strategy for negotiations. I asked about your intentions, Li Hongzhang. What will become of you?"
Li hesitated, caught off guard. "My intentions, Your Majesty?"
"Indeed," Guangxu said, his voice sharp. "The Empress Dowager is gone. What role will you play now that the regency has ended?"
Li straightened, uncertain of the Emperor's true purpose. Why does this matter now?
"I intend to retire, Your Majesty," he said. "Once the treaty is signed, I will return to my hometown to live quietly and teach the next generation."
"Retreating to obscurity, then?" Guangxu's voice carried a note of disdain. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs Nove1Fire.net
"I am old and have served my purpose," Li replied humbly. He understood that his departure would clear the way for the Emperor to appoint Yuan Shikai, the true power behind the Beiyang Army, as his successor.
Guangxu leaned forward, his tone softening yet brimming with conviction. "Let me make you a proposal, Grand Secretary. I am not my mother. I have not diverted military funds to build palaces or indulged in extravagance while the nation crumbles. I am not here to drain this empire further."
Li froze, stunned. Did he just openly denounce Empress Dowager Cixi?
"But in the midst of her excess, there was one man who worked tirelessly to hold this empire together. That man is you, Li Hongzhang. Yes, your hands are not clean. You've committed your share of corruption. But your focus, your purpose—it is clear. And for that, I respect you."
Li bowed deeply, unsure of what else to say. "Your Majesty, your praise humbles me."
"Save your thanks for later," Guangxu said with a faint smile. "Once the treaty is behind us, we will see where your true loyalties lie. For now, return to your duties."
The same evening, the Emperor invited Liu Feng to a private dinner. The gesture was discreet, yet the significance of such an invitation could not be overstated.
Liu Feng arrived at the appointed hour, bowing deeply as Guangxu greeted him with a smirk.
"You dare keep your Emperor waiting?" Guangxu teased.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Liu Feng replied.
"Forgiveness? From you?" Guangxu chuckled, dismissing the formalities with a wave.
Turning to the servants, the Emperor gave a sharp command. "Leave us. I wish to speak alone with my old friend."
The attendants hesitated before departing, leaving only the Emperor and Liu Feng in the dimly lit chamber.
"It is just us now," Guangxu said, pouring wine for them both.
"Your Majesty, it has been too long," Liu Feng said, his tone relaxed.
Both men grinned as they raised their cups, a shared understanding passing between them.
The night stretched on, the wine flowing freely as the Emperor and Liu Feng spoke of plans veiled in shadow and ambition.
As Li Hongzhang left the Emperor's presence, his mind was clouded with doubts. Does he intend to keep me in power, or is he merely using me for this final act?
The Emperor's true intentions remained elusive, but the seeds of a new Qing Empire—one free of Cixi's shadow—were beginning to take root.
The stakes were higher than ever, and for Li Hongzhang, Liu Feng, and Guangxu, the road ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, but it would be paved by their decisions.
"It's the first time someone's accepted the wine I pour myself," the Emperor remarked, his voice calm yet deliberate.
"It's also my first time receiving wine directly from an Emperor," Liu Feng replied, matching the tone.
"Haha, you always have a clever retort."
"Does it displease Your Majesty?"
"Not in the slightest."
The Emperor's banquets were always lavish, the grand table adorned with an abundance of dishes. It was more than mere hospitality—it was a calculated display of distance, a precaution against the unpredictable. Yet, tonight, the Emperor had chosen to sit within arm's reach of Liu Feng, close enough for even a whisper to be heard.
"Do you know why I summoned you here?" the Emperor asked, pouring another glass of wine.
"Do you require my assistance, Your Majesty?"
"Haha," the Emperor chuckled, as if at an absurd jest.
The notion of the Emperor needing help might seem laughable to outsiders. Yet the truth lay bare: this banquet was not merely a show of opulence but a request for aid.
"That is partially correct," the Emperor admitted, his gaze steady. "But before that, I have a question. What do you intend to do now?"
"I'll return to my work. Now that the Dowager Empress has met her end, there's no reason for me to remain."
"Your work? You don't strike me as a farmer."
"I dabble in many things, but my main trade is commerce."