Lu Province, Dengzhou Prefecture, Penglai.
The Dengzhou Garrison Commander's Mansion was located here.
Lu Province had no provincial military governor, and its military defense was divided into three garrisons: Dengzhou Garrison, Yanzhou Garrison, and Caozhou Garrison.
Dengzhou Garrison Commander Zhang Gaoyuan was over fifty years old and had a sturdy build.
“Commander, we have received confirmed information that the Lai Prefecture militia is recruiting soldiers again. Moreover, this time, their actions are very large-scale, and the number of recruits is quite significant.” A trusted subordinate reported.
“What is that little brat Li Jingyuan trying to do? Is he plotting to rebel? His father, Li Hongzhang, already holds the highest official position. How could he have such an idea?” Zhang Gaoyuan was quite puzzled.
“Commander, regardless, this is an opportunity for us. Li Hongzhang controls a large army and has long aroused the suspicion of the court. There are countless people who are unhappy with him. It is said that the Empress Dowager, in private, also refers to Li Hongzhang as a living Cao Cao.
If you report Li Jingyuan’s rebellion to the court, you will surely be able to eliminate the entire Li family, as well as the entire high-ranking officials of the Huai Army.
With your accomplishments, it is not a problem to become the provincial military governor of a province, or even be transferred to the position of provincial governor!”
The subordinate continued.
Zhang Gaoyuan nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with longing.
He was not a member of the Huai Army, even though he was a commander. He was deeply ostracized and had only been able to stay in Dengzhou Prefecture, with no room for advancement.
If he could seize this opportunity, take down Li Hongzhang, and eliminate the entire upper echelon of the Huai Army.
Wouldn’t this be his chance?
“Good! As they say, fortune favors the bold! I’ll take a gamble this time!” Zhang Gaoyuan made up his mind.
Immediately, Zhang Gaoyuan began writing a secret report, preparing to report Li Jingyuan’s rebellion to the Qing government.
In the secret report, Zhang Gaoyuan listed a series of Li Jingyuan’s charges.
Private manufacturing of firearms, private accumulation of troops, collusion with foreigners, plotting rebellion, etc.
Zhang Gaoyuan knew that Zhang Yao, the Lu Province governor, had a close relationship with Li Hongzhang. If he reported it directly to Zhang Yao, it would likely be of no use. Instead, he would face a ferocious counterattack from Li Hongzhang.
Therefore, Zhang Gaoyuan directly sent a trusted subordinate to the capital, to report Li Jingyuan to Grand Secretary E’erhebu.
Only in this way could the secret report truly reach the hands of Empress Dowager Cixi.
Zhang Gaoyuan specifically instructed that he must be cautious and careful along the way, and under no circumstances could he leak any information.
Otherwise, they would all face a deadly fate.
In June 1788, Zhang Gaoyuan’s trusted subordinate arrived in Yanjing and delivered his secret report to Grand Secretary E’erhebu.
After reading the secret report, E’erhebu was greatly shocked and immediately rushed to the residence of Li Prince Shiduo, the Grand Secretary leader.
“Prince, Zhang Gaoyuan has reported that Lai Prefecture Magistrate Li Jingyuan is plotting rebellion. How should we handle this?” E’erhebu was full of anxiety.
If it were just a magistrate plotting rebellion, it would be very easy to handle. Just dispatch troops to suppress them, then arrest and convict them, and execute their entire family.
The problem was that Li Jingyuan was not just a magistrate. His father, Li Hongzhang, was the governor of Zhili Province, the Northyang Minister, the founder of the Northyang Army, the leader of the Huai Army, and a leading figure in the Self-Strengthening Movement.
Li Prince Shiduo’s brows also furrowed tightly.
He had little personal connection with Li Hongzhang.
However, Li Hongzhang was very good at getting along with people, and his annual tributes were quite generous.
Of course, what really made Li Prince Shiduo feel apprehensive was Li Hongzhang’s power.
If they forced Li Hongzhang to rebel, wouldn’t it lead to chaos in the entire country?
“Let’s immediately report to the Empress Dowager. Such a major event needs to be decided by the Empress Dowager!” Shiduo thought for a moment and decided not to continue racking his brains.
He became the Grand Secretary leader not because of his great ability.
But because he was absolutely loyal to Empress Dowager Cixi.
Therefore, after Prince Gong Yixin’s fall from power, he was promoted to the position of Grand Secretary leader by Empress Dowager Cixi.
But in reality, he was just a puppet of Empress Dowager Cixi.
Li Prince Shiduo and E’erhebu rushed to the Summer Palace and reported the matter to Empress Dowager Cixi.
The current Empress Dowager Cixi, although she was over fifty years old, was well-nourished and pampered, making her look quite plump.
But no one in the Qing government dared to defy her orders.
Everyone knew she was a woman with a heart like a viper.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to control the government for so many years.
After reading the secret report in her hand, the expression on Empress Dowager Cixi’s face kept changing.
Empress Dowager Cixi was naturally incredibly wary of Li Hongzhang.
But at the same time, Empress Dowager Cixi also knew that this was an opportunity to deal with Li Hongzhang.
If Li Hongzhang continued to grow in power, he might become too powerful and become a true ‘living Cao Cao.’
“Li Hongzhang has received great imperial favor, yet he doesn’t think of repaying the court, instead allowing his son to plot rebellion. This is simply a betrayal of my and the Emperor’s expectations. I’ve decided, for the sake of the Qing Dynasty, to eliminate Li Hongzhang!” Empress Dowager Cixi’s face was filled with murderous intent.
No one among the Qing government’s high-ranking officials dared to object.