Chapter 177 North-South Earthquake

"Extra, the five cities in Hunan are righteous! "A day of restoration in Hunan Province!"

"Extra! Xiang Province was rebellious on the first day. The world is shocked..."

In the early morning, the newspaper boy who sold newspapers in the forty-nine cities waved his hand and shouted loudly. Last night, the five cities in Changsha were flooded by the whole country, shocking the world. The same is true of these forty-nine cities. Whether it is the ordinary people holding a bird cage and drinking tea and doing nothing, or the Lord who is worried about the country and the people, it will be like He grabbed a copper-yuan newspaper like crazy.

"Don't pinch, don't count, Guangxu can't live for 30 years!"

Although there are more than a million flag people in these forty-nine cities, the beggar Yi is still begging for food on the Allegro. "Hunan has turned upside down, all the prisoners are out of prison, red clothes are all over the street, and the long hair is in front of you!"

"Hey, boy, what are you talking about..."

As soon as he mentioned the bird cage owner, he just shouted that the beggar was not afraid, but continued to talk about it with the allegro.

"Uncle Flag, angry uncle, riding old man angry, old man angry, angry kill, kill the flag man, Xing Dahan, Dahan Xing..."

The beggar who was not afraid of anti-plenap was rapping on the allegro. On the contrary, the flag man was shocked, white-faced and afraid. He hurriedly turned around and left. The fear of the flag master made those beggars more happy. He waved the allegro and rushed to the forty-nine cities and hummed... In the Yangxin Hall, a group of princes and ministers, no matter how old or young, no In terms of official positions, they all stand there. Look at me, I look at you, and I don't say a word. Guangxu, who was sitting next to the empress dowager with a tired face, her beautiful face was pale, and her eyes were dark around her eyes. The empress dowager sitting behind the imperial table looked the same, as if she had a little difficult to open her eyes and glanced at the slaves in the hall.

"... The barbarians outside the original fortress of the Manchu Qing Dynasty were not the virtue of order, nor did they have any contribution to China. They took advantage of the decline of the emperor and Ming and violently robbed them. For a time, they were full of opportunities and cleverly killed the world. At that time, the hero was defeated by force, and he swallowed hatred and anger to this day. It is said that the so-called victory of the people is the sky. Today is also the time when the day will prevail. ......"

When he read the "Wu Man'sweeping Text" of the Hunan governor's axe of the Han Dynasty, the eunuch's heart trembled, and the bean's big sweat slid down his cheeks, and his hands holding the thighs were also trembling there.

"Anyone who is forced to be threatened in the Han Hu, but has surrendered, please don't ask anything about amnesty. If it is a prisoner, if it is deformed, it is willing to return to agriculture and animal husbandry, and there is no amnesty. It has blackmail the public, slightly resisting Yanxing, killing without mercy; for being a spy, killing without mercy; so against the military law, killing without mercy!"

Not far away, another eunuch came in with a piece of paper, took the paper and continued to read.

"According to the news of the embassies, the traitors of Hunan Province reported to the embassies and consulates, and counted the top ten crimes of the Qing Dynasty..."

What... The coaxed ministers were stunned by the news, and Cixi, who was pale and spiritless, then struggled to open her eyes and stared at the slave who read the top ten crimes.

"Please order the Empress Dowager and the emperor to immediately dispatch troops to attack Hunan and eliminate the riot party..."

"Please the Empress Dowager, the emperor..."

With a bang, everyone knelt down and kept kowtowing, while the bloodless light was just standing like a rope puppet.

"I asked the Empress Dowager of the Virgin Mary to make an order. The three provinces of Hubei, Jiangxi and Jiangsu quickly send powerful troops, and the speed will suppress the chaos of the party!"

"Please transfer the navy to Jiujiang and Wuhu to strengthen your courage."

"Please..."

For a while, a loyal and brave prince and ministers began to talk about it. They all asked the empress dowager to order to eliminate the chaotic party, and Cixi Cixi nodded.

"Let's do this first!"

After drafting the decree, Cixi raised her eyes and looked at the prince and minister standing in front of her, but asked again.

"What's the situation in the market now?"

"Family to the Buddha, the turbulent party spread rumors in the capital. Now people in the capital are panicked. The price of rice has soared, and people have rushed to the bank to cash out, so that the market must be bought and sold in cash."

"Oh!"

Cixi was silent for a while before she said to the minister.

"Immediately telegram to Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, and Ruifang, the governor of the two rivers, to adjust the elites of Huguang and the two rivers, and go to Hunan to suppress the chaotic party..."

In the middle of the words, Cixi pondered for a while before adding.

"Zhen Chunxuan, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, made an elite in the south to suppress the chaos in Hunan! At the same time, strictly investigate the land route to prevent the turbulent party in all provinces from taking over the chaos in Hunan Province!"

Cen Chunxuan was the hero of the escort in Gengzi's time. It was with the merit of this escort that he became the governor of Liangguang from the inspector. Listening to the orders of the empress dowager, Qu Hongzhen and Yi Qian sighed in their hearts, "the holy family is here." Since then, after he was favored by escort, he went out to Shaanxi, Shanxi and the two masses, because of the support of Cixi, he was not afraid of the powerful during his time as an official in various places, and impeached and punished a large number of officials who bought officials, especially the two cases of forcing the Netherlands to extradite Pei Jingfu and the investigation and handling of Zhou Rongyao, the secretary of the Guangzhou Customs Office and the minister in Belgium. Attention, it naturally offended Prince Yiqi in the backstage of these officials, and naturally became a thorn in Yiqi's side.

"Hmm! Let them quickly eliminate the rebellion in Hunan, and it must not be a procrastination!"

When the Empress Dowager Cixi spoke, she glanced at the ministers. These people only looked at the face, not the inside. If the rebellion in Hunan Province could not be subjuvenated quickly, I was afraid that the rivers and mountains of the Qing Dynasty... "It took time and effort to dispatch troops and generals, and we didn't build a few railways in the Qing Dynasty!"

At this time, she said that she was upset but happy to get on the train after Xin Chou's Eve. She seemed to feel a little headache. Cixi frowned again, pondered for a while, and then looked at it.

"The previous days, don't say that there is a Yangzijiang company, right? It is said that the business of foreigners in the Yangtze River is not easy to do. There are many ships. This Hunan Tongshui Road, rents the Yangzi River Company's ships to transport troops. I think it will be faster!"

Although Cixi is nearly 70 years old, she can be in this palace with the harem. Although she will do some confused things, she is careful and can't be compared with ordinary people. However, with just a few breaths, everything has been arranged.

"Tell them not to worry about the money. Don't give less money to the people who should be given it. Even the boatman should remember to give the reward, so as not to spend less money to delay big things!"

When the court meeting was made in the Yangxin Hall, in the embassy area of Dongjiaomin Lane, the minister of various countries gathered in the conference room of the British legation. The seats in the conference room were according to the past practice. The highest-level core personnel of the minister of each country sat in the innermost circle, while the outer circle sat in the minister, compared with the meeting of the minister of various countries. With a smile, when the Russian envoy to the Qing Dynasty, Resar, and the Japanese envoy to the Qing Dynasty, Yasuya Uchida, met, everyone could see the smell of gunpowder between them.

British Minister Sa Daoyi, the head of this year's envoy, sat in the first seat. Unexpectedly, Russian Minister Resar sat on his side, while the U.S. Minister to China, Rou Keyi, sat on his side, followed by French Minister Bowo, German Minister Mu Mo, Austria-Hung Minister Qi Gan, and Italian Minister. Salvagar, the Dutch minister Krober, and the Japanese envoy Yasuya Uchida are respectfully accompanying the last seat.

However, for Yasuya Uchida, he knew that this sitting arrangement just reflected the shrewdness of Sa Daoyi, a professional diplomat, which took care of Resar's emotions and avoided unnecessary disputes at the mission meeting. Thinking of taking care of Resar's emotions, Yasuya Uchida couldn't help but be happy in his heart, which just proved. Ming said that the current advantage. At this time, the Japanese army has an advantage on the Kanto Peninsula and is attacking Jinzhou. As soon as Jinzhou falls, then Lushun... "I believe you have known the large-scale rebellion in Hunan!"

Sa Daoyi first asked a question, and then took a report from the minister Zhu Erdian.

"An hour ago, I received a telegram from a British [***] ship passing through Yuezhou from the Yangtze River,"

With that, he picked up the telegram and read it.

"In Yuezhou Mancheng, an extremely unfortunate thing happened. There were only two ways for the flagmen in the city to escape. One was to climb over the city wall when the rebels were unprepared, and the other was to escape into the church to be protected by foreigners. Since last night, after the Yuezhou initiators blew up the gate of the city, the residents of the city scrambled to escape when they saw that there were no enemies in the East Gate. Unexpectedly, The insitors set up a machine gun position at the Dongcheng Gate of Yuezhou, and there were thousands of corpses in the Dongcheng Gate..."

Listening to Zhu Erdian's words, the minister of various countries couldn't help frowning. In fact, for this result, you can guess one or two from the text sent by the temporary political axe in Hunan.

"This is the news from the rescued American missionaries..."

"What a bunch of thugs!"

Bob Wo said a word softly, and then specially added another sentence.

"Just like the group of thugs that appeared in the south of the Qing Dynasty half a century ago! I think we should..."

"I don't think so!"

Interrupting Bao Wo's words, Rou Keyi added a little.

"I think the envoy of Sa Daoyi forgot to mention that even in Yuezhou, the initiators protected foreign churches and foreigners, and according to what we got from the priest Marley, although the initiators were mixed with a large number of gang members, they maintained relatively strict military discipline. He was leaving When I was in Yuezhou, I saw the rebel army beheaded for serious military discipline!"

"What a bunch of barbarians!"

Crober, the Dutch minister, said that it doesn't matter to him what decision the mission makes. The important thing is that the interests of the Netherlands are based on the protection of the countries of the communicatories, so the process is not important, but the result.

"Now Qing Zheng Axe is eager to get our answer. I want to remind you that our interests have not been harmed now!"

"But it doesn't mean that it won't be damaged in the future, does it?"

The German minister Mu Mo smiled and sang a rebellious tune with Sa Daoyi.

Uchida Yasuya, who had never said a word, suddenly said.

"Mr. minister, I personally think this may be a prelude to a large-scale uprising!"

"Convoy Uchida, please tell me your opinion!"

Sa Daoyi stretched out his hand and made a request.

"The uprising has happened, but why did it happen? In fact, in the past few years, with the resumption of speech and the spread of nationalism, today's uprising is expected. For us, I don't think we should discuss our position here, but should discuss the future direction of this uprising. Whether it will be successfully suppressed by the Qing Dynasty or continue to expand. At the same time, we also need to consider... Well, as Mu Ran said, it's just that the current interests have not been harmed, but it doesn't mean the future!"

Uchida Yasuya said something, and he had got the attitude of the uprising from China. However, when discussing the Xinchou Treaty three years ago, there was a tacit agreement that countries could not act alone, so he needed to first explore the attitude of the envoys of various countries.

After seeing that his opinion was supported, Mu Mo smiled at Yasuya Uchida.

"I personally think that temporary protection is not equal to permanent protection, which may even be the resurreation of the Boxers. You should know that what we currently know is that this uprising was launched by the party. Of course, a few Qing [***] teams were involved in it..."

When Mu Mo expressed his views there, Sa Daoyi was meditating. Britain is the country with the greatest economic interests in China. If, as Mu Mo and Yasuya Uchida said, the future uprising will sweep the whole Yangtze River, and with the spread of the uprising, it will eventually get out of control... The Yangtze River is the power of Britain. The scope is also the center of Britain's economic interests in China.

"I think we should wait!"

Suddenly, a voice sounded behind Sa Daoyi. He followed the voice and saw that it was Zhu Erdian, the minister of the British Embassy. Zhu Erdian, who stood up, saw everyone looking at him and said with a straight look.

"Now this is just a rebellion in Hunan. Similar rebellions have occurred in the past few years. For this rebellion, the information we have at present is very limited. Premature expression of the attitude of the mission or premature action may put us at a disadvantage."

When he was about to sit down, Zhu Erdian deliberately aggravated his voice and said a sentence.

"Unfavorable position!"

"Maybe this is a Boxer Rebellion, maybe it's a political reform, at least for now we don't know what's going on there!"

Rou Keyi, the U.S. minister in China, took a look at Juerdian and said, and the French minister Bowwood also agreed with his significance. In the end, under many lack of consensus, the meeting of the mission decided not to respond for the time being, waiting for further development.

Chen Moran, who is far away from Shanghai Goji Island, did not know what happened in the conference room of the British Embassy in Dongjiaomin Lane of the capital. If he knew, he would definitely say thank you to Zhu Erdian, Rou Keyi and Bao Wo, but Chen Moran did not know what happened there.

In the headquarters of the Wolfberry Island Restoration Army, the staff officers walked back and forth. More than a dozen radio stations sent and received telegrams from time to time, and the phone rang constantly, and the phone was transferred from Shanghai to here.

"Marshal, there are changes in the Qing army in Jiangning, Shanghai and Zhenjiang..."

"Hubei's self-improvement army also has changes"

... When the news came from the war room one by one, smiles piled up on Chen Moran's face. Everything was as planned, and the Qing army was being mobilized.

"Silently, in addition to Fujian and Zhejiang, the elites of the armies of Liangguang, Huguang and Liangjiang have been mobilized by us. It is expected that in five days..."

Before Jiang Fangzhen finished his words, his words were interrupted by a report by a staff officer.

"Marshal, a message came from the Yangtze River Shipping Company. The governor of the two rivers issued an official document to the company, chartered 45 ships, and the three days of which were equipped in Jiangning, Zhenjiang and Shanghai!"

"Help me!"

Chen Moran smiled and turned his head to the side.

"Ask the Wuchang office of Yangzijiang Company immediately, and the governor of Huguang can be the official of the company!"

Although Yangzijiang Company was established for more than a year, it has become the largest inland river shipping company in the Yangtze River Basin with its financial resources. In just 23 months, it has bought 287 ships, built ships, more than 4,600 tons, and more than 7,000 employees. Relying on the mouth of "Chinese people do not take foreign ships, Chinese goods do not take foreign ships" It competes with the Yangtze River Shipping Company of the Three Kingdoms, Japan and the United States, from the mouth of the Yangtze River to the Sichuan River, and then to the tributaries of the Yangtze River such as the Huai River, the Xiangjiang River and the Gan River, covering almost the entire Yangtze River Basin.

This company was originally prepared for Ma'anshan, but later became the key to the success or failure of the uprising, not just the transportation of troops and materials.

"Well... the transferred ship, try to focus on cement boats!"

Chen Moran added another sentence, but this addition surprised Cai E.

"Marshal, are you going to blow up the ship?"

"You can do this if necessary!"

Chen Moran nodded affirmatively. He had this idea in his heart for a long time. If necessary, he could directly blow up the troop carrier.

"Marshal, the Qing army rents a ship to transport troops, which is intended to be fast. As a military routine, it will certainly be escorted by a sailor, even if it blows up the troop transport ship..."

"Sui Shi... Bai Li, I remember that Cheng Yaozhang seems to be the son of Cheng Wenbing, Admiral of the Yangtze River Water Division. Can you..."

"Marshal, there are only a few ships in the Yangtze River Marine Division. You don't know when you are in Dangtu. The only concern is whether the Qing Dynasty mobilizes the Beiyang Marine Division. If the Beiyang, although the sea and the sky are sinking, there are also Haiqi and Hairong ships in the Beiyang. If the fleet arrives at the Yangtze River, I'm afraid that the route will change during the uprising. After all, the benefit of naval ships and guns is far from land. The cannon can be compared.

"Anti-water master!"

Cai E spat out four words, and then pointed to a few points on the map.

"If it is transferred to the Yangtze River, it must be suitable for the line from Wuhu to Wuchang. It can be mined in the Yangtze River as planned, and then convince the sailors with good candidates."

"The mine blocking of the Yangtze River is to deal with the interference of the great powers. The Yangtze River is the interest of the great powers of all countries. Will it..."

"If the sailors do not rebel, the Yangtze River will be controlled by the Qing court. At the time of the boundary, the Beiyang army will be transferred to attack by land, and the sailors will cover the Yangtze River. The restoration can be said to be a failure! What's the use of even if the powers don't interfere?"

Listening to their opinions, Chen Moran just frowned and thought. He looked at the map for a while and nodded.

"In the sense of Songpo, as long as the ships of the Beiyang Marine Division arrive at the Yangtze River, we will break the river and close the door! At that time, I will negotiate with the consuls of various countries!"

Holding the map table, Chen Moran's expression became a little complicated, but a few warships were forward-looking. If the artillery ships of the great powers interfered... "Send a telegram to the shipyard and ask them to speed up the repair of the cruiser Haitian. Aren's more than 400 sailors of the Haitian in Shanghai? Think of a way to reverse them. As long as Haitian is repaired, it is best to put it into use immediately.

(to be continued)