“Your Majesty, to eliminate Li Hong Zhang and the entire Li family, the first thing we must be wary of is the Huai Army and the Beiyang system. These two armies combined have a total of 70,000 men.
Furthermore, the Huai Army and Beiyang Army are incredibly strong, considered the most powerful armies of the Qing Dynasty.
If Li Hong Zhang truly intends to rebel, then chaos will surely engulf the land!”
Prince Gong, Shi Duo, wore a worried expression.
“Your Majesty, the Huai Army and Beiyang Army are stationed in the surrounding areas of Yanjing, including Zhili, Jiaodong, and Liaodong. If Li Hong Zhang truly rebels, these armies will undoubtedly initiate a siege of Yanjing at the first opportunity.
Relying solely on the Bannermen guarding Yanjing, it will be difficult to resist!”
Elerhebu also reminded her.
Although the Bannermen stationed in Yanjing and its surrounding areas amounted to 126,000 men.
But after two hundred years of the Qing Dynasty’s rule, they knew all too well the nature of these Bannermen.
They have long since lost the valor of their forefathers, only knowing how to fight cocks and walk their birds.
Moreover, the Bannermen regiments are severely understaffed, and their combat capabilities are weak.
If they ever engage in a battle against the Huai Army and Beiyang Army, the outcome will likely be a swift defeat!
Cixi’s expression grew even more solemn.
“You can see this, and I am not unaware of it as well.
But even now, the threat posed by the Huai Army and Beiyang Army to the court is so significant. If we allow them to continue developing, then our Qing Dynasty’s throne will truly be in danger.
Therefore, we must seize this opportunity to eliminate Li Hong Zhang.
Without him, their leader, the Huai Army and Beiyang Army will be nothing more than a pack of scattered wolves, posing no threat to us!”
Cixi said.
Prince Gong, Shi Duo, and Elerhebu all nodded in agreement, recognizing the validity of her statement.
“Moreover, not everyone in the Huai Army and Beiyang Army is willing to join Li Hong Zhang in his betrayal. I believe there will be righteous individuals who remain loyal to the throne.
Furthermore, the Xiang Army, the Chu Army, and the provincial Green Battalions still have many loyalists who will heed the imperial orders.
The Mongolian cavalry from beyond the Great Wall also has many elite forces.
I believe, even if the Huai Army and Beiyang Army truly dare to rebel, with the strength of our Great Qing Dynasty, we will be able to crush them!”
Cixi’s face was filled with determination, as though she had made up her mind.
“Your Majesty, Li Hong Zhang has close ties with the foreigners. What if he truly conspires with them and invades our Great Qing? What then?” Elerhebu worried.
The power of the foreigners was deeply etched in their bones.
Once upon a time, before the Opium War, the Qing Court considered themselves the Celestial Empire, believing the foreigners were merely barbarians from overseas.
However, after several wars, the Qing Dynasty has been repeatedly humiliated by these barbarians from overseas.
The notion that foreigners were invincible had become a common belief among the people of the Qing Dynasty.
They were truly afraid of the foreigners.
“The foreigners are powerful, but if we act swiftly, they will have no chance to intervene. Moreover, the foreigners are not a united front. Li Hong Zhang has befriended some foreigners, but can’t the court also befriend others? As long as we can eliminate Li Hong Zhang, dismantle the Huai Army and the Beiyang Army, and protect our Great Qing throne, even if we have to pay a price, what’s the big deal?” Cixi said casually.
“Your Majesty, in that case, we can simply lure Li Hong Zhang to Yanjing. Then, we can eliminate him. Afterwards, we can send people to appease the other commanders of the Huai Army and Beiyang Army. Even if there are stubborn elements who seek revenge, they will be no match for us!”
Prince Gong, Shi Duo, suggested.
Cixi nodded repeatedly, agreeing that it was a good plan.
As long as they could eliminate Li Hong Zhang and resolve the threat posed by the Huai Army and Beiyang Army with minimal cost.
Even if they had to bear some infamy, it was acceptable.
As for Li Jing Yuan, they never considered him a significant threat.
In the eyes of Cixi and the others, Li Jing Yuan was merely an eighteen-year-old boy, barely a man, so how much of a threat could he truly pose?
After Cixi finished discussing the plan with Prince Gong, Shi Duo, and Elerhebu, they immediately prepared to act.
On June 18th, 1788, Cixi issued an edict, summoning Li Hong Zhang, the Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, to Yanjing for a performance review.
Meanwhile, Prince Gong, Shi Duo, and Elerhebu’s trusted confidants, carrying Cixi’s secret decree, met with some high-ranking officers of the Huai Army and Beiyang Army, promising them rewards if they defected to the Qing Court.
Seng Gelin Qin’s eldest son, Boyan Namo Hu, was also secretly ordered to leave Yanjing and journey to the Mongolian grasslands to assemble troops, preparing to enter the capital for a loyalist campaign.
A large net had been spread for Li Hong Zhang.
Once Li Hong Zhang arrived in Yanjing, his fate would be sealed.
Li Jing Yuan was completely unaware of all this.
The new army under his command was rapidly expanding.
Large numbers of strong and healthy men were selected from among the refugees and commoners to join the army.
The three infantry divisions of the new army were soon filled to capacity.
All the troops were undergoing intense training.
Li Jing Yuan hoped that these troops would develop their combat abilities as soon as possible.