The Eight-Nation Alliance attacked China, and the Qing court urgently summoned Li Hongzhang to the north to negotiate peace, and Li Jingfang was always waiting for him. However, when his father arrived in Shanghai, the north was already in chaos and could not go, so he could only stay in Shanghai and wait for the changes. He and the Qing court's Southeast Governor and Governors promoted the mutual protection of the Southeast, which was to ensure the balanced situation in southern China.

The situation was chaotic at this time, and there were also many forces who wanted to take advantage of the situation. After the establishment of Southeast Mutual Protection, the Qing court's Southeast Governor and Governor were secretly discussing that if Cixi and Guangxu died in war, the Southeast Governor and Governor would work together to elect Li Hongzhang as the president to maintain the situation in the south. This suggestion also received support from many foreigners.

If the Qing court's Southeast Governor-General elected Li Hongzhang as the president, it would be a stopgap solution. Some people even urged Li Hongzhang to take advantage of the chaos to get rid of the Qing court, support troops and re-establish their own troops, and restore the Han family's world? The British Hong Kong Governor Buli even sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang, urging him not to lose this thousand-year-old opportunity to support troops and support himself, and expressed that he could help Li Hongzhang to engage in activities and win the full support of Britain. Li Hongzhang ignored this and burned the telegram after reading it, and no longer mentioned it.

Li Jingfang is naturally clear about these things. He has repeatedly discussed secretly with Li Hongzhang, suggesting that Li Hongzhang first support in Guangdong and Guangxi, strive for British support, and then he can win the world. He retreated and could hold Guangdong and Guangxi, and seize the same party. However, Li Hongzhang always ignored Li Jingfang's suggestions, neither expressed nor denied them, nor received Li Hongzhang's clear answer. Of course, Li Jingfang did not dare to act rashly, so he froze.

Li Jingfang also knew that the old man did not want to take action, but was worried too much. After all, the old man now has no soldiers. Although the British have expressed his intention to support Li Hongzhang, it was only verbally and individually. Whether it represents the British government and can get the support of the British government is not good, let alone foreigners are always unreliable.

This group of overseas Chinese gave Li Jingfang another hope. This group of overseas Chinese had strong military power, which was no less than the Beiyang Navy at that time. Moreover, they were new to the country. No matter what their purpose was, they had to rely on a powerful member of the Qing Dynasty. Li Hongzhang was such an object. Therefore, if they could use their bodies to subdue this group of overseas Chinese for their own use or exchange interests, then the chance of accomplishing things would be much greater. Li Jingfang took the initiative to ask to go to Tianjin, of course, not just to test the tone of overseas Chinese, but to find opportunities to move overseas Chinese and support Li Hongzhang.

Li Hongzhang naturally knew Li Jingfang's thoughts, and it was unrealistic to ask Li Hongzhang to really have no betrayal to the Qing court. The current court is so stupid and the political situation is so chaotic. Thoughts like the independence of Guangdong and Guangxi are like the dream of becoming an emperor, it is not without the passing of Li Hongzhang's heart.

However, Li Hongzhang also knew in his heart that a centipede worm would die without being stiff. Although the Qing Dynasty was a towering tree that was about to wither, it had nearly 300 foundations and would not fall down so easily. It would be easy to replace it. Moreover, he was not the one who was in charge of Beiyang and Zhili. The failure of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 made his reputation plummet and he was once scolded as a traitor. In this case, he rashly raised his flag and was only seeking death. Even with the support of foreigners, he might not be able to accomplish things easily. Moreover, foreigners would not have to get up early without profit. If he really accomplished things with the help of foreigners, he still didn't know how much the price he would pay. Therefore, he was not sure that he could act rashly, and he could not even reveal the storm.

Before coming to Shanghai, Li Hongzhang stayed in Hong Kong for a day and had a secret talk with Hong Kong Governor Buli. This time, Li Jingfang did not participate in the secret talk. It was just that from some signs later, Li Jingfang guessed that Buli should persuade Li Hongzhang to be independent in Guangdong and Guangxi. In fact, Buli introduced Li Hongzhang to Li Hongzhang at that time, named Sun Wen. His other name is more familiar, which is Sun Yat-sen.

In fact, Li Hongzhang was not unfamiliar with Sun Yat-sen. As early as before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Sun Yat-sen wrote a letter to Li Hongzhang through Sheng Xuanhuai. The book was more than 8,000 words, suggesting that the Qing government imitate the Western social system and carry out reforms. However, Sun Yat-sen was still an unknown doctor at that time, so Li Hongzhang was very cold to Sun Yat-sen and did not receive him.

Now Sun Yat-sen formed the Xingzhonghui with the classics, which was a well-known revolutionary party in Nanyang. He no longer had any illusions about the reform and saving the country at that time, but advocated overthrowing the Qing court by force and establishing a republic. He was listed on the wanted list by the Qing court. When the news of the Boxer Movement broke overseas, Sun Yat-sen believed that this was a great opportunity. If an uprising was launched in the south at this time and echoing the Boxer Rebellion in the north, it would have a great opportunity. So Sun Yat-sen came to Hong Kong in July 1900 to prepare for the armed uprising in the south.

Members of Xingzhong Association, He Qi, Chen Shaobai and Yang Quyun, wrote a letter to Hong Kong Governor Buli in the name of Sun Yat-sen, hoping to get Buli's support. At this time, Li Hongzhang arrived in Hong Kong. Therefore, Buli suggested to Li Hongzhang to establish a republic government in Guangdong and Guangxi, with Li Hongzhang as the commander and Sun as Li's adviser to be protected by Britain. The British's purpose of course was not to help China, and they believed that the current situation in China was unclear. In the event of a civil war in China or the Qing court fell, Britain could at least ensure that its power in Guangdong and Guangxi could cover the entire southern region, and then depend on the situation in China.

However, the situation in the north was not clear at this time. Li Hongzhang did not comment on Buli's proposal, nor did he meet Sun Yat-sen, but he did not clearly refuse. After Li Hongzhang arrived in Shanghai, he did not continue to go north. On the one hand, this was indeed because the situation in the north was chaotic, and on the other hand, he was also waiting for an opportunity. For Li Hongzhang, the best result was that both Cixi and Guangxu died in war. At this time, he could come forward to clean up the mess with justice, whether it was a president or an emperor.

At the suggestion of Buli, Sun Yat-sen arrived in Shanghai with members of the Xingzhonghui and other members of the Xingzhonghui in the evening of the 9th. The Qing Dynasty officials had already received news in advance and were preparing to capture Sun Yat-sen, but Sun Yat-sen still ventured to move into a Japanese hotel in the concession. Under the arrangement of his friend Liu Xuexun, he contacted Li Hongzhang again and proposed to invade in Guangdong, establish a regime independent of the Qing Dynasty, elect Li Hongzhang as the "maintaining power", and Liu Xuexun was responsible for raising military expenses and other matters.

However, although Beijing was broken at this time, Cixi and Guangxu fled to Taiyuan safely. The differences between the countries were serious. Russia expressed support for Li Hongzhang, but Britain, the United States, Japan, and Germany did not recognize Li Hongzhang as a minister of peace. Moreover, after receiving the news that Cixi and Guangxu were still alive, the governors of various provinces represented by Liu Kunyi and Zhang Zhidong also expressed their loyalty to each country, either openly or secretly that they were still loyal to Cixi and Guangxu. Therefore, all countries did not propose to choose a new emperor to replace the Qing Dynasty. Li Hongzhang gradually gave up his plan of independence and acted wholeheartedly as the minister of peacekeeping of the Qing Dynasty, and did his best to protect the Qing Dynasty.

Under such circumstances, Li Hongzhang naturally could not agree to Sun Yat-sen's suggestion, but he did not arrest Sun Yat-sen and sent him to the officials for punishment. He also implied that Sun Yat-sen leave Shang-Hai as soon as possible. As a result, Sun Yat-sen left Shanghai on September 1, and then accelerated the preparations for the armed uprising. In the old time and space, in early October, Li Hongzhang was still running around in Shanghai. Originally, the countries gradually reached a consensus and prepared to negotiate peace with the Qing court. At this moment, a group of overseas Chinese seemed to have fallen from the sky, causing chaos in the situation of Kuai-minglang. Li Jingfang saw another opportunity.

Li Hongzhang has not considered using the power of this group of overseas Chinese, but he knew nothing about the situation of this group of overseas Chinese and did not dare to implement it rashly. He sent people to Tianjin to contact overseas Chinese and test the attitude of overseas Chinese. However, Li Hongzhang was not sure whether Li Jingfang could do this well. Although Li Jingfang had no lack of diplomatic skills, he did not stand alone after all, and Li Jingfang was still calm enough. It would be best if overseas Chinese sent people to Shanghai to meet with Li Hongzhang in person. However, Li Jingfang could be allowed to go to Tianjin, but don’t be too conscious and try his best to motivate overseas Chinese to send someone with a strong position to Shanghai.

However, this group of overseas Chinese sent Zhao Weizhong to Tianjin, but did not give Li Hongzhang any letters. It was obvious that they did not take Li Zhongtang seriously. It seemed that Jeremy wanted foreigners to propose peace on their own initiative. It was indeed a bit arrogant, and I am afraid that it might not be easy to cooperate with them.

If I rashly send Li Jingfang to Tianjin, it would be too expensive. It would be as if I was a dignified Li Zhongtang and begged for this group of overseas Chinese. Therefore, it would be better not to send someone to Tianjin first, but to send Zhao Weizhong back and bring him a message and ask overseas Chinese to send someone to Shanghai. Even if they only send one role, at least they will send someone here first and keep their faces.

Thinking of this, Li Hongzhang waved his hand and said, "Sending people to Tianjin is of great importance, so you should not make a decision rashly. Moreover, foreigners are still waiting for our reply. Therefore, tomorrow morning, I will go to the British Consulate to have an interview with British Consul Huo Bilan, and then make a decision."

Seeing that Li Hongzhang made the decision, Li Jingfang did not dare to object, so he could only turn his head and said, "Yes, father."

Li Hongzhang turned to Zhang Peilun again and said, "Draw the telegram to the court as soon as possible, read it for me, and then send it to Taiyuan overnight."
Chapter completed!