When Chen Zhong heard Su Yuanchun's inquiry, his heart was a little sour, and he said: "Master Su, what this king said is true, and it is definitely not a joke!" ”

Su Yuanchun smiled bitterly and said, "The old man still has no heirs, maybe the old man has killed too much in this life!" Ay! - Lord, it doesn't matter if this is true or not. The old man knows, you are comforting me, lord! Well, this official has reached today's ending, and he doesn't have too many extravagant desires, I just hope that my Chinese nation can usher in a strong day. ”

Half an hour later, the people sent by the Governor's Mansion had arrived, and Su Yuanchun received a holy decree from the imperial court to arrest him.

The Qing court dismissed Su Yuanchun from his post and imprisoned him on charges of "recruiting and suppressing the party, being ineffective in traveling bravely, deducting soldiers' salaries, and inscribed poems to rebel".

After being imprisoned, Su Yuanchun tried his best to defend himself, and many people also defended the above book, including Su Yuanchun's old subordinate, Zhang Xun, a general in the army during the anti-French war, who also ran to rescue Su Yuanchun.

However, in the end, the Qing court did not accept the arguments of all parties, and only changed his capital crime to the dispatch of Xinjiang to serve as an army. A generation of famous anti-French generals fell in the long river of history in the form of tragedy.

At the same time, Chen Zhong also received an urgent call from General Zhang Tong in Hainan: The old prince Chen Chuwang is critically ill!

After Chen Zhong learned of this information, he arranged everything here and immediately rushed to Hainan.

After Chen Zhong and his entourage returned to the Hainan Palace, they learned that the old prince had passed away in the early hours of tonight.

In the Hainan Palace, dignitaries from all walks of life in Hainan gathered. General Zhang Tong had already ordered someone to set up a mourning hall in the palace hall. An extreme sadness swelled in Chen's heart.

Chen Zhong remembered that when he first arrived in this palace, he lived with the old prince Chen Chuwang.

What touched Chen Zhong the most was that the old prince treated his only son with all his love.

Even if the little prince at that time was so unsuccessful, this loving father was still doting on his beloved son.

Although everyone thinks that the little prince is a dou who can't be helped, the old prince has always believed that his son is still young and immature, and he will grow up one day.

The old prince waited for his son to grow up with an extremely tolerant heart.

Chen Zhong did not disappoint Chen Chuwang, the old prince finally saw his son become strong before leaving this world, and he had no regrets, and handed over the foundation he had worked hard for all his life to his son.

In the conference hall of the palace, Chen Zhong met with the dignitaries of all parties who came to pay their respects.

In the Hainan Palace, there was a thick atmosphere of sadness.

At noon, General Chen Fangzheng sent an urgent telegram saying that the Japanese West Sea Fleet was already approaching the waters near 115 degrees east longitude, and that according to the current speed of the Japanese ships, it would enter the range radius of the naval guns in two hours.

After handing over this telegram to Zhang Tong and Zhou Zhiguang for circulation, Lieutenant Chen said: "Generals, Hainan dignitaries, Japan's West Sea Fleet is infinitely close to us, and war is about to break out!" This time, Japan's dispatch of the West Sea Fleet is a blatant provocation against our Hainan and the Chinese nation, and this battle is of great significance!

This battle is related to the interests of our Hainan and the interests of our Chinese nation. The battle must be won!! If this battle is lost, our Hainan will become a Japanese colony from now on, and there will be no more peaceful days in Hainan!

Therefore, this king and the generals have already made up their minds to fight to the death! Never back down! I, Hainan, am ready to fight a vicious battle! ”

At this time, there was a small commotion in the hall, and some different voices were heard.

Chen Zhong glanced at the dignitaries of all parties in the hall and continued: "The big war is imminent, and this king will never want to hear any negative remarks!" This king hereby solemnly declares that all those who spread bad remarks before the war and those who spread fear of war will be resolutely punished severely and will not be tolerated!

This king declares that now, Hainan has entered a state of war, and all parties must fully support all supplies at the front! ”

A guard hurriedly ran into the palace hall and came to Chen Zhong's side: "Report to the prince, the situation in the South China Sea!" More than a dozen ships of the British Far East Fleet appeared in the South China Sea area! ”

All the eyes in the palace hall focused on Chen Zhong, and Chen Zhong said lightly: "Got it, continue to monitor the movements of the British fleet!" ”

The representative of the Russian mission, Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov, who was standing in the crowd of condolences, came to Chen Zhong's side and said: "Your Excellency the King of Hainan, you don't have to worry about the movements of the British fleet in the South China Sea situation, our emperor of the Tsarist Russian Empire has already sent a serious explanation to the King of Great Britain that if the British Far East Fleet participates in this naval battle, the Black Sea Fleet of our Tsarist Russian Empire will drive directly to the door of Great Britain!" ”

"I would love to see you coming, and I thank you for your Russian solidarity and help! However, I believe that the war situation in Hainan in the South China Sea will also directly affect the situation of your country in the northeast battlefield! Therefore, in the upcoming battle in the South China Sea, it will be crucial for both sides! Chen Zhong said lightly that he knew that the Russians wanted to sell favors in front of him, so he wanted to let them know that the Russians were not helping Hainan, but helping themselves.

"What His Excellency the King of Hainan said is, therefore, in this battle with Japan in the South China Sea, we all hope to defeat them. I also had a deep discussion with your General Zhang and General Zhou yesterday about this matter. On behalf of His Majesty the Emperor Nicholas II, I have come to Hainan to assist you with military supplies, and I have also brought two military experts in naval warfare to provide you with some military advisers. ”

"Okay. General Zhang Tong, you should immediately arrange for these two Russian military advisers to report to General Chen Fangzheng. After Chen Zhong finished speaking, he turned to the two military advisers of Tsarist Russia and said: "Remember, you only participate in the command as advisers and observers, and all actions must obey General Chen's orders and decisions, and you are never allowed to interfere with General Chen Fangzheng's command!" ”

This was the first time Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov had met Chen Zhong, and Chen Zhong's words were enough to shock the Russian envoy.

Because, among the Qing officials and generals he had contacted before, it was rare to see such a domineering person as the King of Hainan.

However, it was the momentum of the king of Hainan that filled this envoy with the national mission of the Tsarist Russian Empire with confidence.

At this time, the guards of the palace hurriedly came to Chen Zhong's side and said, "Report!" In the area of the Gulf of Tonkin there was a French fleet, the exact number of which is not yet known. ”

In the palace hall, the atmosphere became more and more tense.

Chen Zhong said lightly: "Okay, I know, continue to monitor!" Li Chuang! ”

Li Chuang immediately stood up from the crowd and said, "Lord Wang, the last general!" ”

"This king commands! All the heavy artillery of our army on the southern shore of Hainan was aimed at the British and French fleets. And send a telegram to the British and French fleets, our South China Sea has demarcated the war zone, please pay attention to keep your fleet! Anyone who enters the combat area will not be guaranteed by our army! ”

"Yes!"

"General Zhang Tong and General Zhou Zhiguang, go with me to the South China Sea to supervise the war!"

Chen Zhong slowly knelt down in front of the coffin of the old prince Chen Chuwang and kowtowed three times. Then, he got up and said, "Someone! Lift the coffin of the old prince to the command ship of the Hainan fleet, and I want the old prince to see how the Hainan fleet he built completely wiped out the Japanese fleet! ”