"May I ask who the buyer is?" Lawrence asked bitterly. He didn't think Hu Xiaoyan would tell the truth. Just asked unwillingly. Now he has two choices, one is to refuse, leave quickly, and let his boss send another person to investigate Hu Xiaoyan. The other option is, of course, to continue, as long as it continues, then there is still a chance to find out everything behind Hu Xiaoyan.

"Who else in Tianjin would need such a large number of rifles?" Hu Xiaoyan didn't care at all. Because Lawrence is already on his plate, there is no escape.

Lawrence was stunned. Tianjin has only one combat unit, the Wuyi Army, which was also organized as the front army of the Wuwei Army this year. Lawrence, as an elite intelligence officer stationed in China, certainly knows very well. But it's because I know that I'm confused.

Wu Yijun is a private army from beginning to end. Its soldiers and officers, including Nie Shicheng, are all from Anhui. In other words, Wu Yijun is Li Hongzhang's Huai Army! It is also the last Huai army in Chinese history to be formed. Although there are still some Huai army establishments in various localities, in fact, these establishments are either incomplete or have long been devoid of any combat effectiveness.

After the annihilation of the Beiyang Naval Division, Wu Yijun can be said to be the last hole card that Li Hongzhang can stand on. Although Yuan Shikai claimed to be Li Hongzhang's disciple, in fact, he was no longer Li Hongzhang's Huaijun lineage. This can be seen from the fact that Yuan Shikai's army was called the Beiyang Army. In addition, Yuan Shikai is not from Anhui.

Li Hongzhang is still alive, in order to take care of his face, Yuan Shikai may still listen to Li Hongzhang's military orders, but as soon as Li Hongzhang died, the Beiyang Army officially opened a separate department. If it weren't for the fact that Yuan Shikai, like Cao Cao, was unwilling to leave unfavorable remarks that threatened the royal family. After the Gengzi Incident, the Beiyang Army could essentially solve Cixi by force. The remaining Zhang Zhidong, Liu Yikun and others were not known for their military strategy at all, and no one could stop Yuan Shikai from killing Cixi. But Yuan Shikai is a man with great ambitions. If he kills Cixi and destroys the Manchus, then he will become the target of public criticism. He's not going to do such a thankless job. It's ridiculous that Cixi also thought that she could rely on Yuan Shikai to confront Zhang Zhidong, and Zhang Zhidong to confront Yuan Shikai, such a balance could continue the fate of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. What she didn't know was that the Manchu lifespan was in fact her lifespan.

Lawrence thought a lot, but just couldn't figure out why!

"Why?" Lawrence didn't understand. The intelligence of the intelligence agency headquarters will only be omitted and cannot be mistaken, which is exactly what Lawrence does not understand. Hu Xiaoyan had no reason to help Wu Yijun buy armaments. And this Wu Yi army has no good relationship with Hu Xiaoyan either in the open or behind the scenes.

"No, why, because my surname is Hu." Hu Xiaoyan replied with a smile.

"Decide."

Hu Xiaoyan also has no way, buy a number of rifles within 1,000, and the Russian foreign bank can handle it, but the 10,000 guns are still traded, and the foreign bank can't be the master. The only one who calls the shots is the Russian embassy. But the problem is that Hu Xiaoyan can't call the shots. Because the identities are not equal. If the Russian embassy comes forward, Hu Xiaoyan will at least have someone like Sheng Xuanhuai, or Li Hongzhang himself.

Hu Xiaoyan has no such identity. What's more, Russia may not be willing to sell.

Historically, Russia has hardly ever sold weapons to the Manchus, with the exception of early arquebuses and flintlock pistols. Because Russia had intentions against the Manchus. The Russian ambassador would never do such a thing as an enemy. Not to mention artillery.

At the same time, Hu Xiaoyan also saw that Lawrence must have a collaborator in Russia. And this collaborator must have bad intentions towards Russia. Because of the smuggling of standard equipment, this kind of thing is absolutely ordinary Russian ** officials can come out. Maybe this collaborator was the Bolsheviks?

Hu Xiaoyan is not very sure, but he is happy to see it. Very interested in anything that could add to the Russians' blockage.

Lawrence pondered for a long time and finally nodded. "I need to go back and talk about it. The morning after tomorrow, you reply before you go. ”

"Good. Then happy to work together. Hu Xiaoyan stood up, turned around and left. Liu Min followed. He didn't have the idea of talking deeply. Anyway, as long as Lawrence agrees to come down, he can't run. He's got to deal with some hand tails. I have to leave the day after tomorrow, and the time is still very tight.

Hu Xiaoyan walked out of the café, turned around and said with a smile: "Liu Min, remember." Whoever it is can be an ally, as long as it is beneficial to China. Our generation is unfortunate because we are in a bad environment, and we are also fortunate because we are in a good time. ”

Liu Min smiled and nodded. Liu Min is sensitive, and he knows very well what kind of changes his teacher's actions will bring to China. Such a change has been carefully described by the teacher in the series of speeches and the rise of great powers. Others may not be aware of it. But he was taught by his teacher every night, and he understood it very well.

Hu Xiaoyan looked at the street. Suddenly, a pedestrian not far from the left-hand side threw a black object in this direction. At the same time, there was a tingling pain in the center of the eyebrows.

Worst! Bomb!

Hu Xiaoyan understood what had happened in an instant, and he also knew what would happen in the next few seconds. His brain teaser was spinning.

At the same time, he hugged Liu Min, lay down on the ground, quickly crawled inside, and soon got under the table in the café. When he turned around, he saw Lawrence looking at him in surprise, his hand touching the revolver on his waist.

Colt revolver, six rounds. Hu Xiaoyan actually still has the heart to think about this. Then there was a loud bang.

Vibrations, shards of glass and so on were heard. The sound is huge. But it's not very powerful.

"Fortunately, it's **, if you change to smokeless gunpowder, then you will die." Hu Xiaoyan thought to himself.

A bomb the size of half a watermelon exploded at close range. The door exploded, and the heavy door fell just on Hu Xiaoyan's legs. It also happened to be half of the door that blocked the subsequent glass rubble and so on, and did not cause him more serious damage.

Hu Xiaoyan tried to get up, when he heard the rapid sound of gunfire again. He knew it must have been Lawrence's revolver firing. The ears rumbled, and there was nothing but the sound of the revolver. I don't know if Lawrence hit the target.

"How's it going, are there any injuries?" Hu Xiaoyan was holding Liu Min, and patted Liu Min's arm at this time.

"Teacher, I'm fine." Liu Min replied in a muffled voice. He tried to get up, but without success. Because Hu Xiaoyan was lying on top of him.

"Teacher, how are you?" Liu is not good.

Hu Xiaoyan coughed and replied with a smile: "I can't die." ”

He laboriously pulled his two legs from Liu Min's legs, only to feel a hot pain.

At this time, Lawrence rushed in from the door, looked out vigilantly with a gun in his right hand, and pulled Hu Xiaoyan up with his left hand. Hu Xiaoyan grabbed Lawrence's shoulder hard to make himself stand firm. On the other side, Liu Min also supported Hu Xiaoyan.

"Are you okay?" Lawrence asked, stepping back.

"You can't die until you complete your mission." Hu Xiaoyan replied with a pun. It's just that Lawrence clearly didn't listen.

Hu Xiaoyan finally sat down in a chair. Liu Min accompanied him. Lawrence went out again to investigate the situation. After a while, he walked in with a gloomy face.

"It's a gang. Such a guy can recruit hundreds of taels of silver in Shanghai. Lawrence said angrily.

Gangsters? Which thug can make his own **? This is not hundreds of years from now. The best production knowledge of this era is only available to military schools or people who study chemistry. Don't mention the military cadets, there are no military schools in China at present, but those who study chemistry? Well, only a small number of international students have it. Maybe some of the people who study medicine will too. In short, there are not many people who can.

Such a person is also an intellectual. Why did they assassinate me? If the bomb attack is correct, it also started with Wang Jingwei's assassination of the regent Zaifeng. I'm not the regent Zaifeng! Hu Xiaoyan didn't understand. Fortunately, it is **, after 20 years, someone will make homemade smokeless gunpowder. When the time comes, come all at once. I'm really dead.

After a while, the patrol room came, but they were all blocked by Lawrence. To be honest, Lawrence didn't want to come forward. But Hu Xiaoyan was stabbed right in front of his eyes. He just couldn't get out. You can't just walk away.

Subsequently, after the inspector asked a few questions, Hu Xiaoyan was sent to a nearby church hospital.

Liu Min returned to the newspaper office to report his safety, and Lawrence kept watch all night. Early the next morning, Hu Xiaoyan was lying in bed reading the newspaper and saw the headline on the front page: "Mr. Li Yan, the author of the Rise of Great Powers series, was assassinated last night!" Although there are no photos of Hu Xiaoyan, photos of the damage caused by the bomb to the café were taken.

The patrol room also gave an answer.

The gangster who threw the bomb was bought, fifty taels. He was shot twice. One shot hit the right arm and one shot in the thigh. Another shot flew away. That's what Lawrence said.

It was an unexpected situation, and Lawrence pulled out his gun and fired directly without aiming for the first shot, which could have been hit. But the bombardier ran away after dropping the bomb, and luckily dodged the shot. Two shots remaining. The shot to the thigh was a long-range hit, and the gunshot wound to the arm, it was Lawrence who chased after him and shot at close range. Lawrence was aiming to capture him alive in the first place.

But it didn't turn out well. Because the suspect's sketching technique has not yet been popularized in China in this era. I don't know if there is such technology abroad. And if it's just based on that guy's dictation, then the ghost knows what kind of drawing will be made in the end!

The bomb-throwing thug said he knew the person who gave the money, but he didn't know the name or how to find the person. You can't take him to try your luck with everyone. The patrol room was at a loss, so he could only cast a net to track down, and it happened that the robbery of Dayan some time ago was not over. Lend-lease has officially started a round of investigation activities.

The Ye family's father and son, Zhu Baosan and others came to visit for the first time. At the hospital, Hu Xiaoyan reluctantly discussed some opinions on the construction of the school with everyone. Then the second master, Wu Jinxiu, also came, and said that he would definitely investigate to the end.

The magistrate of Shanghai and the patrol house of the French Concession have all come to see it, and they have always said that they will cooperate to solve the case as soon as possible.

After that, a variety of characters appeared, including the representatives of the Gezhi Academy, the hot-blooded trio and teachers, and the counselors of several embassies. The ambassador did not come. Because the identities are not equal, there is no friendship. The counselors were only able to come because of the book on the rise of great powers, and they just wanted to meet the legendary figure Li Yan.

Lawrence avoided going out early, but returned in the evening to accept the terms. He also said that there seemed to be clues in this case, but he couldn't find the mastermind behind it. For every crime is generally for a reason. That is, there are traces to follow. But this case is an exception.

Lawrence knows very well that if Hu Xiaoyan has an enmity with anyone, then there is no doubt that it is the British Empire and the Teochew Gang. But Lawrence already knew through his own channels that it was definitely not Britain who attacked, nor could it be the Teochew Gang. Because the Chaozhou Gang didn't know that Hu Xiaoyan had participated in the robbery. Only Lawrence himself and the captain of the embassy knew about it, as well as a limited number of people in the London headquarters.

So whether he is Hu Xiaoyan or Li Yan, no one seems to have a grudge against him to the point of having to kill.

In the end, the person behind the scenes was not found. The clueless case was dubbed the "Assassination of Lee Case" by the newspapers. A few decades later, it was called one of the three strange cases of the late Qing Dynasty.