Chapter 155 North-South Difficult

In the early morning, outside a wall in Harbin, several officers and soldiers of the Royal Guards stood there motionless. Although compared with the south, the air in Harbin in March was still full of cold, and even the snow on the roof had not completely melted, these guards stood in the cold wind. Yes.

This mansion was once the official residence of General Horvat, the director of the Russian Middle East Railway Administration. Because Horvat's hair was gray, the public called him "White-haired General", and his mansion was called "White-haired General's Mansion". It covers an area of 5,000 square meters, a construction area of 500 square meters, and a two-storey building. This is a European-style Russian-style building.

After the Middle East Railway was redeemed by the China Railway Company, the Russian-style residence was semi-idle. Only after the VIPs came to Harbin, it would be temporarily lively. After the emperor himself came to Harbin, the official residence naturally became the emperor's place to stay.

Another sleepless night, it seems that Chen Moran has never fallen asleep peacefully since that nightmare.

Why did you have that nightmare?

Maybe it's because of Russia's successful revolution, maybe it's because of Russia's upcoming revolution that will shock the whole world, maybe it's... because of the fear of history!

Once again, Chen Moran, dressed in his pajamas, walked to the window, opened the window, lighted a cigar, and looked through the window at the alternation of the moon, the sky from darkness to enlightenment... In the long night, the darkest night is not late at night, but before dawn, there is also the darkness before dawn, and at this time, it is the darkness before dawn. The same is true of society and life. The darkest time is dawn.

"Darkness before dawn!"

Looking at the dark sky, Chen Moran whispered so softly.

Now, isn't it the darkness before dawn? The same is true of Russia, and so is China.

In the past three years, unlike other [***] countries, China's imperial power has not been weakened, but further strengthened. Although on the surface, the parliament seems to have more power, in fact, the parliament may have power on the surface, but behind all this, the imperial power is in Silently, it was strengthened with the help of the "Wartime Special Act". From the appointment of officials, to the dispatch of the army, to the formulation of taxes, to the right to declare war, direct contract, etc., all the problems have been strengthened through the "Wartime Special Law" and solved through that problem.

Under the "wartime special law", Chen Moran really enjoyed the feeling of "power in hand" and "king over the world". This feeling was certainly intoxicating, but on the other hand, he knew that maybe he was moving against the tide of history. What will this "countercurrent" eventually face?

Nightmare!

When the nightmare appeared in front of him again, Chen Moran, who had no reason, trembled all over. Although he knew that it was just a nightmare, he still knew that the nightmare might be a sign to remind him what would happen in China if that day really came.

It will be an extremely cruel civil war. Millions of soldiers and even hundreds of millions of civilians will die in a cruel civil war. Everything they once cherished will be destroyed in a cruel civil war, in that possible civil war.

The army they are most proud of may betray themselves and join the "revolution" camp, just like the army of the Russian Empire. They betrayed the emperor, betrayed their former vows, betrayed... Is it possible for all this to happen in China?

For the future, for the first time, Chen Moran is not sure that history has long changed, and China's fate has been completely different from history, but what about another history?

If everything happens, is it possible for you to compromise?

"As an emperor, you can compromise with the people, but you must not compromise with violence!"

The lesson of history tells Chen Moran that when everything happens, maybe he will compromise with everything, and maybe he will "return the political axe to the people", but if it is a riot instigated by those people, is it still possible for him to compromise?

Answer... There is a very clear answer in Chen Moran's heart, which is an extremely positive answer.

If everything happens, the civil war is inevitable. In that civil war, there was only one final winner, and there can only be one. Either he lost the mainland, or... But... Pick up a cigar, light the cigar, and stand by the window in the cold wind, Chen Moran smoked. Yan, while thinking about the future, thinking about the future of this country, thinking about how to avoid all that.

We must do everything we can to avoid all that, and we must avoid all that from happening in China!

While Chen was thinking about it, the darkness before dawn finally ended, and the sky slowly began to whiten. At this time, he finally got an answer.

"Whipping, candy!"

At the moment when the night was torn by the dawn, Chen Moran spit out four words. Maybe it's time to raise the whip in his hand. Similarly, it's time to give the people a few pieces of candy!

"Whip..."

muttered, and Chen Moran's eyes became cold. He looked out of the window and knew that he needed a motivation to raise this whip.

Guangzhou, after more than ten years of development, the city of Guangzhou has already developed from a port city to an industrial city, especially in the past three years, due to the benefit of the European war, especially compared with the shortening of thousands of kilometers of navigation on the Yangtze River, the industry here has been fully developed, but in the industrial development At the same time, the power supply seems to be a little tight. Because of this, in urban areas, the street lights that used to be lit in the sky will be accurately extinguished every 12 o'clock, and will not light up until 6:30 a.m. the next morning. The reason for this is to save electricity and use it for factory production, and the tight power supply may have to wait until the end of the year after the new power plant is completed. Only then can it be truly alleviated.

Although it is five o'clock in the morning, the street lights are still not on. Tonight, on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the moonlight is blocked by clouds, which is undoubtedly the day of the moon, and on the streets of the old city, the bluestone slabs that are flattened by pedestrians are like bronze mirrors all over the ground. Although the moon is dark, it still emits a little faint light.

At this time, by the street lamp in the dark of the corner of the street, a man wearing a top hat stood in the shadow under the lamppost. Even if several patrolmen passed by, he did not notice the existence of this person. He was like a shadow, which only existed in this shadow, and no one would notice his existence.

In a courtyard deep in the alley, with the sound of the alarm clock, a pair of lotus arms stretched out in the tent to press the alarm clock, and then there was a charming shout in the tent.

"Sir, it's already six o'clock!"

"Well... I'm going to get up now!"

There was another old response in the tent. A few minutes later, the room was busy, but a young woman was waiting for an old man to dress. After a while, after a few words, the old man left the door and left the door. If someone paid attention, he would see that the old man deliberately looked left and right when he left, as if he was guarding something.

Yi Xueqing, who walked in the alley and didn't go home all night, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh when he thought that he was "cautious". Since ancient times, the hero has been like this. If it weren't for her talent and appearance, how would she have been lost in the middle? And if it's not because of the identity of the speaker, I'm afraid I would have taken her long time. If it is incorporated into the house, it will be like this.

But now, the identity of the speaker makes him have to have some scruples. Although this concubine is not forbidden by law, but in the case that the emperor has only one queen and no harem beauties, those fathers and nobles often only marry one wife, and only a few people take concubines, although they are often outside. To raise a lover, but there is always some superficial work to do. Just like officials, at least during their tenure, they will not take concubines, so as not to fall behind.

For officials, as the president of the provincial parliament, Yi Xueqing knows very well that how many people are staring at him. Maybe they will use this matter to attack him in the parliament, so every time he comes here, he is cautious and careful, even without his cronies. He just comes alone.

Just as he was walking around the alley, a house by the alley turned on, and the light lit up the originally dark alleyway. Although the road was easier, he still hurriedly lowered his head. Although he knew that few people got up at this time, it was better to be careful.

Coming... With the light, the person in the shadow under the street lamppost put his hand in his pocket. Then he pretended to be nothing and walked in the other direction. When he walked dozens of meters away, he turned around and walked back. At this time, Yi Xueqing had already walked out of the alley and came over, just the two of them. When he was about to pass by, Yi Xueqing took the initiative to press the brim of his hat.

"Ease Speaker!"

Just at the moment when the two of them passed by, the man suddenly turned around and shouted.

"Huh? What's the matter?"

Instinctively, Yi Xueqing turned around and answered, and the moment he turned around, he unexpectedly saw a... flash in that person's hand. Perhaps, this was the last thing Yi Xueqing saw, and maybe there was that face without a trace of emotion.

"Ban!"

The crisp sound of gunfire echoed on the street in the early morning, and then several shots in succession. The bullet accurately hit Yi Xueqing's chest. After several shots, the one immediately turned around and accelerated his pace and left the scene. At this time, the police whistle sounded in Guangzhou... On March 29, the sixth day of the second month of the lunar month. Above the vast sky of northern China, a white four-engine double-winged large aircraft is like a big white bird, quietly flying at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

This large passenger plane specially transported Prime Minister Guan Mingtang to Harbin at the request of the emperor. In the cabin, the bright sunlight passed through the window. Guan Mingtang, dressed in a fur coat to resist the chill in the cabin, leaned against the soft seat and looked through the various government information just received before getting on the plane, with a few solemn expressions on the surface.

As a prime minister, he can be said to be the busiest person in the country. As a minister, he needs to be responsible to the emperor and the parliament, but in fact, everyone knows that he only needs to be responsible to the emperor. Cabinet ministers are appointed by the emperor. In the word game, they need to be responsible to the parliament, but everyone They know that the only person they need to be responsible for is the emperor. However, since he became the prime minister, Guan Mingtang has been trying to reconcile the relationship between the two. Just as at the beginning of the year, he took the initiative to perform his duties in the Diet to serve as a bridge between the Diet and the emperor.

That's why Guan Mingtang has always been regarded as the "reformist leader in the royalist party" in Chinese politics. It can be said that many people are full of expectations for it. Many people believe that the emperor's action to slow down power in recent years was promoted by Guan Mingtang, but only he knows that the emperor's will is impossible. Shaking.

Those powers are just released by your majesty's initiative. While releasing them, your majesty's political skills are becoming more and more skillful.

At this time, a graceful female air force sergeant came and told him with the unique gentleness of a girl from Jiangnan:

"Sir, the plane is expected to arrive at Harbin Military Airport at 6 p.m."

"Oh!"

With a gentle answer, Guan Mingtang did not care about the time of arrival in Harbin. For Guan Mingtang, although this sudden summoning made him curious, now his mind is entangled by the bad world situation, and he can't be relieved.

The Russian revolution came very suddenly, which made Guan Mingtang almost unbelievable. It seemed that what happened in Russia was like the will of God and irresistible.

That night, when he was dealing with official business, he was dealing with a seemingly worthless little thing, but in fact it had a great impact - he increased the lunch subsidy for national primary and secondary school students by 2 cents, and the phone rang - the bell was not loud, and everything was normal.

Then he naturally picked up the phone receiver. When the official on duty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told him that Mikhail had abdicated and disappeared, Guan Mingtang was stunned and didn't even know what to say for a long time.

The official told him on the phone that Tsar Mikhail of the Russian Empire had abdicate. At least according to the announcement of the interim committee, Mikhail decided to return power to the people for patriotic reasons and chose to abdicate. What does this mean? This means that the Russian Empire will no longer exist.

"Didn't we show any support for Mikhail?"

What is the reason for patriotism? Guan Mingtang didn't believe it at all. He naturally knew something about the turmoil in Russia. However, now Mikhail's abdication is really beyond people's expectations. Didn't the embassy say anything?

"According to His Majesty's will, we should not interfere too much in the internal affairs of Russia!"

"Why didn't I know this in advance?"

The answer of the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only stunned Guan Mingtang. Before that, he really knew nothing in advance. It can even be said that his decision was the opposite. You know, he supported China's appropriate attitude in the Russian civil war, especially after Mikhail's succession to the throne. With his support, when necessary, the expeditionary force can directly accept Mikhail's command without considering the attitude of the Russian generals.

But the answer of the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made him confused.

He wanted to ask His Majesty why, but those His Majesty had taken the train to Heilongjiang Province to inspect, saying that they were going to review the expeditionary force. This expeditionary force to Russia is no longer composed of the Japanese army, but the Chinese army, but the Royal Guards. As the emperor and the emperor of a soldier, he naturally You need to see your soldiers off.

Just as he was thinking about the wording and trying to figure out the reason, another news came from Russia that Tsar Mikhail died at the hands of the mob, and he died so "accidentally" - to protect a duchess.

Conspiracy!

Almost at the first time, these two words came to Guan Mingtang's mind. This is definitely a conspiracy!

But who is the messenger behind the conspiracy?

Maybe it's a temporary political axe, maybe... But in the following time, the current situation did not give him too much time to consider these issues. As a prime minister, he must consider how to deal with the new Russia, a Russia without a tsar. After all, China has too much in Russia. The interests of.

On the other hand, he urgently needed to see His Majesty to understand His Majesty's attitude. At this time, he received a telegram from the Harbin Palace. His Majesty asked him to go to Harbin. In the military airport, the plane was ready for him.

At this time, the plane was flying at a constant speed above the clouds, and Guan Mingtang was looking through some documents. From time to time, there were clouds of chagrin in his heart. As a prime minister, he could clearly feel that His Majesty left him too many questions.

"Why did Your Majesty go over him and give orders directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?"

Up to now, until now, sitting on the royal plane to Harbin, he still can't forget the stunned expression he showed when he learned the news.

Is this not trusted?

After closing a document that had been read, Guan Mingtang put his head on the soft back seat and rested for a while.

I don't think so!

He believes that His Majesty is impossible, and he will not believe him, but... there are always some doubts and puzzles. He hopes that this time in Harbin, His Majesty can... Thinking about it, he opened another document, which was a telegram - the assassination of the President of the Guangdong Provincial Assembly!

What, this...what's going on?

Looking at the telegram in astonishment, this was a telegram sent by the political axe of Guangdong Province. Yi Xueqing, the chairman of the conference in Guangdong Province, was attacked by an assassin on the way to the morning exercise in the early morning and was killed by several bullets.

(to be continued)