The gunshots crackled, and for a while, they shook the mountains and valleys. The shouting of killing also sounded at the same time, shaking the snow and wind, and the mountains and valleys roaring. The remnants of the Sheng army, who were cold and hungry in the valley, looked at each other, but none of them moved, and none of them wanted to move. Ten days later, people are already half dead, what else is there to care about, many people instead grab the food they have worked so hard to hide, and fill their mouths with the snow, and they will die as a full ghost.

Ye Zhongjun and Yang Shixiang were sitting together, Ye Zhongjun's face was blue, and he couldn't stop trembling. He's a martial artist, but he really doesn't have any martial arts integrity, and now he is really scared, muttering to himself, and he doesn't know what he is talking about, and the gods and Buddhas in the sky are estimated to have begged for it. Yang Shixiang was strange at this time, picked up the snow and wiped his face carefully, straightened his tangled beard, tidied up his tattered clothes, felt a little weak, turned his head and yelled at the few subordinates who shrank far away: "What are you doing there?" Why don't you help me sort it out? ”

Those subordinates have been living worse than hell in the past few days, freezing and starving, their minds are blank, they didn't even pay attention to the sound of gunfire and killing, hugging each other just to warm up and shivering, to be honest, they don't understand whether they are dead or alive now, the gunfire shook and the snow fell, and they covered their heads and faces, and when they heard Yang Shixiang shouting at them, they subconsciously came over to help them get dressed up.

The gunshots got louder and louder, the sound of running, shouting of killing, and screams converged on the louder and louder, more and more alarming. Looking out from the valley mouth, I saw a figure longing, crazy scattered in all directions, there was a horse team in the distance, whistling, shouting, a big flag under the arch guard of dozens of knights, hunting and moving, immediately knights, all extremely chic one hand pulling the reins, one hand holding a horse pistol shooting———— galloping at high speed, the bullets do not know where to hit, day by day and earth are sloppy everywhere.

Several knights took the lead, rushed to the mouth of the valley, raised their hands and planted a big flag in the snow, the cold wind rolled, in the snow and fog, the flag was unfolded, and there were several big characters on it.

"Janissary Commander Xu of the Commander of the Guard"!

The knight exhaled and shouted, "Lord Xu personally led the guards and came to the rescue of the Sheng army, are there any alive?" Come out to greet Lord Xu! ”

The first knight was Pu Yang, a yellow belt was tied around his waist, and his nose was almost raised to the sky. He can be regarded as dead set on Xu Yifan, what Xu Yifan did was nothing more than fighting for power and profit. The banner people themselves have done a lot, not to mention, just during the Hongyang Rebellion, the banner minister Shengbao is a guy who is even more domineering than Xu Yifan, slaughtering the city, killing his own magistrate, the family of the retired gentry can rob him of a fine light, and those children in the house can bring his own soldiers to an uncovered meeting. Any angel who gave him an edict that did not suit his wishes, he could really lead the team to rob and kill, and then deduce that he did not receive it. Such a good man has long been talked about among the banner gangsters.

The Praetorian Guard is like Fangzhong, he also found a home here, and he is a guy who is not afraid of heaven and earth, who else is he thinking about if he doesn't think about his own group? In these children of the banner people who have enjoyed the blessings of more than 200 years, the Qing Dynasty has been a deep-rooted thought for thousands of years, and no one has ever thought that anyone can replace the banner people in the world. Zeng Guofan Li Hongzhang has such a strong ability, so many talents, and such a thick strength, and he can only be loyal to the Qing Dynasty. No matter how bold Xu Yifan is, it is also to stabilize his position, what else can he do?

Pu Yang shouted loudly, and there were dull echoes in the valley road, but no one answered. He froze there, and the scene outside was almost the same - those Praetorian Guard soldiers, maybe they were too strictly trained, and they naturally ran away, as if they were forced to march with guns and salaries, and they didn't even look like a fucking act!

Xu Yifan had already urged the horse to come over, and hesitated slightly at the valley mouth. Dozens of iron horsemen were clustered, and the war horses were spewing white gas, neighing and jumping forward, each of them in a straight military uniform, wearing a Western-style cavalry cloak and carrying a rifle on their backs. The horses were tall and the men were majestic, and the murderous ones rushed in.

As soon as he entered the valley road, Xu Yifan saw the miserable situation in his eyes, as if he had entered the camp called Huazi. Everyone was dumbfounded, and they would just stare blankly at the cavalry team that came in. Many people's hands, feet and faces are covered with chilblains, bleeding pus, sitting in the snow, and their eyes may move occasionally before they know that they are alive. The ground was littered with the corpses of dead horses, cut to pieces and frozen. In tattered tents, set up everywhere, on the other side of the valley road, rows of corpses were stacked, covering the snow with a thick layer of snow, and only a few pairs of feet were exposed.

This is not the time to be soft-hearted...... On this path, there is no mercy in the first place. Xu Yifan also had a stiff face, just like those Goshha under his command, just stepping on ice and snow, passing past these half-dead people, and saw that on a clearing in the middle of the valley road, the unkempt Yang Shixiang slowly stood up and looked at him coldly. His embarrassed appearance is no better than others, but when he straightens his waist together, he still has a rare appearance when Jinghua first met.

Xu Yifan had already turned over and dismounted, threw the reins of the horse to his subordinates, and rushed forward quickly. grabbed Yang Shixiang's hand and looked at his face full of chilblains: "Brother Lianfang, I'm late!" It's all the sins of brothers! Let Brother Lianfang suffer this catastrophe, it is my brother who is not effective in pacifying North Korea! Brother is going to plead guilty! ”

After saying that, he already turned around and beckoned: "Bring the cloak to Lord Yang!" Boil hot water to prepare meals, and bring the carriages and horses over! Brothers who have been killed and wounded, hurry up and start treatment! ”

Pu Yang also jumped off the horse, took off his cloak and looked at Yang Shixiang's body. Yang Shixiang glanced at the yellow belt around Pu Yang's waist, slapped the clothes off his hands hard, and sneered: "Even the clan has been subdued? Lord Xu really has good means...... In this valley, Yang didn't want to leave, he wanted to cut and kill, and follow the adult's respect. Anyway, the tiger under the command of the lord trapped this valley tightly, and no one escaped...... I'm afraid that the chaos in North Korea has already risen, right? Kill us, and hope that the so-called North Korean rebels will be pushed...... I don't know if the adults are causing trouble in North Korea again this time, is it the banner of the old party in exile, or the banner of the remnants of the Donghak Party? ”

In the ten days here, Yang Shixiang has thought everything through!

Xu Yifan was suddenly shocked, turned around and bowed in the direction of Yanjing in the southwest: "Xu Mou's failure to pacify North Korea has made Lord Yang suffer this catastrophe, and let the people of North Korea and our vassal country encounter this catastrophe again, and Xu has taken off this top by himself." North Korea is in turmoil, Xu swears that he is not willing to give up, once he can redeem his sins a little, Xu becomes Yanjing, to the queen mother, to the emperor to ask for guilt! Knife chopping and axe chopping, no resignation! ”

The play was a little disgusting, and Chu Wanli, who was quietly hiding behind Xu Yifan, made a vomiting expression. The other Goshkhas did not dare to move with a straight face. Yang Shixiang smiled, picked up the cloak on the ground, and several subordinates waited to tie it for him, and those subordinates all looked at the bulging bags of dry food on the horses that the Goshkhas were riding. Just watch when these goshkha will put the grain.

"Master Xu, don't talk nonsense, come and pick me up at the end. I am full of gratitude, what am I here for, you should also understand, this will, will I not declare it now? ”

Xu Yifan dusted his sleeves and said with a wry smile: "Brother is in Pyongyang, all telegrams are not working." The brother's office in Seoul is now not even news! North Korea is in turmoil again, the north and the south are isolated, what can the brothers know? What is your lord's will, just declare it...... There is no incense case here, and the dynasty has not made such a face-to-face announcement for many years, and the brothers don't know much about the rules...... Minister Xu Yifan listens to the holy oracle! ”

After that, he pushed the golden mountain, poured the jade pillar and fell down, dozens of Goshha also dismounted, the riding boots creaked in the snow, and no one gave an order, and he fell down neatly with a loud praise, in the snow, his back was straight, his head was heavily knocked in the snow, splashing a lot of snow and dust, and shrouded these dozens of people!

Yang Shixiang's eyes shrank, and he also faced the southwest, and he also tried to stand up straighter: "In accordance with the holy decree, the imperial court has approved the Sino-Chinese Tianjin Renewal Treaty, the Minister of Military Training of the Janissary Army, the Minister of Nanyang Xuanfu, and the Minister of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries, in order to seek a banquet in Heqinghai, and Bengu Bangning...... Yang Shixiang, the alternate of the special Zhili Dao, went to Pyongyang to urge the officer to set off, and there was no slight delay. Chin this! ”

Dozens of Goshha remained motionless, just slowly tensing their muscles. They are all the closest people to Xu Yifan, although they have been following Xu Yifan everywhere, but what medicine does this young boss sell in the gourd. Why do you have to set off chaos in North Korea, why do you have to separate the north and the south, why do you have to block Yang Shixiang here, and why do you ...... Now I finally understand that Beiyang and the imperial court are together, to seize the power of adults, and to eliminate the Praetorian Guard!

When the Nanyang Chinese ran and cried out, shedding blood in the hands of the indigenous mob, where were the Beiyang and the imperial court?

When the Korean Chinese were massacred by the Donghak Party, where were Beiyang and the imperial court?

When the diplomatic institutions of the Qing Dynasty in Seoul were emptied, the foreign affairs personnel of Huanghuang were shot and burned, and the last bit of dignity of the Qing Dynasty was insulted and trampled on, where were Beiyang and the imperial court?

When Xu Yifan led dozens of people and drowned in the Nanyang indigenous mob, dozens of people rushed out of a few bloody paths against tens of thousands of people...... Where are Beiyang and the imperial court?

When their Praetorian Guards underwent the most severe training, they trekked through the mountain roads and torrential rains of Korea, and ran for 800 miles in five days, charging forward with bayonets and death under the dense bullets of the Japanese army. When I have been alone in a foreign country with my flesh and blood and surname, I am fighting to the death for the pride of the soldiers, for the dignity of the nation, and for the last honor of this country————

Where are Beiyang and the imperial court?

Where exactly are you?

If Yang Shixiang goes straight to the barracks with this will, read it out. Everyone is an official of the Qing Dynasty, and the soldiers are from the common people of the Qing Dynasty, and their number is the Praetorian Guard of the Qing Dynasty...... Perhaps there can only be indignation. Watching such a Lord Xu who led them through all the obstacles and all the way to the sea of blood leave, watching such a powerful Janissary Army that shook the reputation of the Great Qing Dynasty disintegrate.

They have felt the pride of being a soldier, the dignity of being a soldier, the full honor of a group that has gone from nowhere to thriving!

But Lord Xu has now cut off the north-south traffic, which has already caused North Korea to be in chaos, and he has worked hard to act on such a scene, as long as Yang Shixiang dies, they have a lot of reasons to shirk and not accept the will———— is not Lord Xu in this mind?

The Goshkhas were wheezing heavily, and some of them were already quietly touching the foreign guns they were carrying behind their backs. Just waiting for Xu Yifan to give an order!

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

In the inner courtyard of the Beiyang minister's yamen, music is now ringing.

The music came out of the foreigner's gramophone, babbling, and I didn't know what was playing. It seems like a serenade or something.

In the study, Li Hongzhang was lying stiffly in the recliner with leather armrests, motionless.

He had a blanket on his lap and an urgent paperwork resting on it. Beside him, standing was Li Hongzhang's son-in-law Zhang Peilun, after Yang Shixiang left, he who had always been idle could only reluctantly help Li Hongzhang do some things about text exchanges. Now Zhang Dacai just tilted his head to look at the wax cylinder phonograph sent by the British minister, and watched the bakelite turntable turn around in circles, as if he was fascinated.

I don't know how long it took before I heard Li Hongzhang say faintly: "What does he want to do?" ”

No one answered, and Li Hongzhang didn't seem to want others to answer, so he slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the newspaper in front of him, and waved the piece of paper on the ground with a look of disgust on his face.

"This is my Huaijun! Incompetent, shameless! More than 20,000 people, so many years of salary, so many veterans of a hundred battles. The little North Korea was in turmoil, and they thought about shrinking back one by one and didn't dare to move...... Can't you rush forward? Foreign guns and explosives, millions of dollars have been invested over the years, and they dare not move forward to deal with some rabble, and they want to send a telegram asking for instructions? ”

Zhang Peilun smiled: "The emperor is not bad for hungry soldiers...... It wasn't meant to go abroad to fight. If there is a war, the officials must borrow salaries, settle down with silver, soldiers must be paid, and pensions must be negotiated. The officers have families in the battalion, the men receive salaries at the front, and the families have to pay the same salary, these are not agreed, how can the big guys fight? Even if the chaos is quelled, it will be counted as an edict from the imperial court, and the silver in Beiyang will be piled up...... Who would start the army for no reason, make a bunch of dead and wounded, and the mother-in-law cried and screamed, isn't that the truth? ”

"Then how can Xu Yifan wave his troops to quell the Korean rebellion?"

"He's two hundred and five!" Li Hongzhang asked quickly, and Zhang Peilun answered quickly, with a smile on his face.

"What the hell is this guy trying to do? There is no ...... in the lotus room."

Zhang Peilun smiled: "You still don't understand? Xu Yifan made such a big move just to blackmail the imperial court. As soon as the chaos in North Korea was not settled, he said that he could not leave North Korea. Only then did the Sino-Chinese renewal treaty be signed, and Lafayette's longevity was just around the corner...... Lafayette may also regret making such a big move at this time, spending so much money and pushing Xu Yifan too hard. As soon as he comes out with an excuse, he will wait for North Korea to calm down before he can go on the road, and he will only be comforted by good words...... Lianfang doesn't have to worry, Xu Yifan won't touch him again. hurt Lianfang, Beiyang is a group after all, and when the time comes, he will have the same hatred and hatred, and he will really risk his life to force Pyongyang, what can he do? To get to this point now, it's just right. ”

"I can't see through it!" Li Hongzhang let out a sigh of relief, pressed his forehead and just sighed: "Xu Yifan can pass the threshold in front of him, but he has already attracted the attention of the whole world, so everyone knows that he is an ambitious figure." It is even more difficult to control, sooner or later the chaos in North Korea will subside, and Galeries Lafayette's longevity will be over sooner or later, when the time comes, what will he do? ”

Zhang Peilun said with a smile: "Zhongtang, it's none of our business." Beiyang can do everything for the Queen Mother Lafayette, and the imperial party has also hit it, as long as the lotus room is safe, everyone will look at it! Now write back to Ye Shuqing, let him wait for the aftermath to be finished, but the combat strength of the Huai army must be worried. I haven't heard of a master who can grow up to be a winner. The main force of Beiyang is trapped in North Korea, the road to pay is long, and North Korea is now full of internal friction and foreign enemies, if the eastern neighbor who has a heart does anything else...... Zhongtang, you have to make plans early! ”

He said solemnly, but Li Hongzhang waved his hand: "As long as the Beiyang Naval Division is still there, there is no choice but to deal with North Korea!" This time, the Sino-Chinese renewal treaty was signed, and it was not against the power of the Beiyang Naval Division? Although Dingzhen is a little older, it is still the first in East Asia, and when Lafayette's longevity is over and loosens a little, I still have to add ships to the sailors and put fast guns...... Youqiao, just follow your wishes, return to Shuqing, and tell him to find out the news of the lotus room and report it to me quickly! Tell him a word, if it is found out that Lianfang was killed, I, Li Hongzhang, will have to meet Xu Yifan! Whatever he is! ”

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

This weather, the surface of the Bohai Sea, is already a little dark and heavy. The drift ice had not yet risen, but the sea breeze above the bridge was as sharp as a knife.

Several ironclad ships spitting black smoke swayed slowly on the surface of the ocean. The course is tortuous, and I don't know where to run.

Liu Buyun, the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Army of the Water Division, was on the Dingyuan Flying Bridge, following behind Ding Ruchang, and his body was so cold that he was wooden. But the old military family is not very good, and he doesn't dare to say anything.

Ye Zhichao's subordinates, the naval division wanted the main force of the troops to come out, loaded with the Lushun mine battalion, and the Weihai naval battalion pressed Xu Yifan from the waterway. However, this time to send troops to North Korea, several large military ships have already passed the repair period, and the bottom of the ship has not been scraped, and the coal is even more insufficient. It's really embarrassing to move, and the sailor goes out and gives the land division territory? What benefits can they have?

If the land division does not arrive, the two battalions of the sailor division will go ashore, what can Xu Yifan do? Originally, Ye Zhichao was determined to be successful, and he actually dispatched their sailors, but Ding Ruchang was very unhappy with the generals of the sailors. If it weren't for Yang Shixiang coming with the will of Zhongtang, Ding Ruchang might not have moved, although he had to send a ship now, but it was only half coal and half water, and he didn't bring a few shells.

After a few days, I have already received news from the land, North Korea is in turmoil, isolating the north and the south, and Yang Shixiang is missing! Xu Yifan really has two hands! There is no reason for the water master to go to the fire for Lu Shi to take chestnuts, and then wander around casually twice, turn around and leave.

In the distance, a steamer appeared on the sea antenna, not with the national flag, it was an old-style paddle steamer bulk carrier, a wisp of smoke, scattered as it rose, the draft of the steamer was very deep, flashed in the sight, and then disappeared to the other side of the sea level.

Ding Ruchang suddenly asked in a low voice: "How many freighters have you counted towards North Korea?" ”

Liu Buyun took the opportunity to move his body and said with a smile: "It's really not young and old, in the past few days, I have counted four or five, this sea area has never been a cargo route, how can there be so many people running towards North Korea?" Isn't it interesting to stop the ship and check it at the military gate? ”

Ding Ruchang said slowly: "This is for Xu Yifan to transport things......

"How so? How did Xu Yifan have such huge financial resources? He's ......."

Ding Ruchang turned around and instructed the Chinese army around him: "Pass Deng Shichang up." ”

After a while, Deng Shichang had already gotten on the bridge, pressing his waist knife, still the same seven unhappy and eight unhappy, everyone looked at it and felt that his grandmother was not in pain, and his uncle was not in love. Seeing Ding Ruchang and Liu Buyun saluting stiffly, they didn't speak.

Ding Ruchang said lightly: "I heard that you said a few days ago that you made a lot of nonsense, saying that now it is Zhongtang who forgets the righteousness for small profits, and puts the essence of Beiyang water and land in North Korea. When the time comes, the sea frontier will be shaken? ”

Liu Buyun pinched the sweat for Deng Shichang, who spread this word to Ding Junmen's ears? Deng Shichang is really, he has been transferred to the Chinese army to be sent to discipline him by the side of the military gate, but this broken mouth still can't be controlled!

Deng Shichang replied proudly: "Yes!" Now more than 20,000 of the most elite land divisions of the Huai Army are in North Korea, North Korea is cut off by Xu Yifan, and the supplies are all transported along the coastal road. But what about the current situation of the sailors? The repair period has passed, the coal reserves are almost exhausted, not to mention the ammunition. has been out for a long time, and for some inexplicable reason, he is going to circle around the ocean to show off his might, and he is going to fucking copy Lord Xu's nest! The machine is worn, the personnel are tired, and they can't go back to their home port for repairs! How is this situation not dangerous?

The Lu division is now the most dangerous military science above the so-called hanging shape, and the sailor division is like this, as soon as people do it, what should we do? I can see it, others can see it, others don't say it, I say!

Junmen, now that the old foundation of our northern Chinese hinterland has been taken out, once the matter is defeated, it will not be a matter of Haijiang shaking, but the entire Gyeonggi will be shaken! ”

Liu Buyun immediately shouted: "Nonsense, get out!" ”

Ding Ruchang stretched out his hand to stop Liu Buyun's words, and asked in a deep voice, "Is it really so dangerous?" ”

Deng Shichang looked solemn, looked into the distance, and only spoke in a low voice after a while, his voice was full of suppressed pain: "...... When the time comes, it's just death...... The military gate, it is not easy for us to build this navy alone, and it is not easy to cultivate some talents, and I also ask the military gate to report to the middle hall, and prepare for the ideas, so that we can leave some seeds for the navy when the time comes! ”

"Zhongtang...... Zhongtang ......" Ding Ruchang smiled faintly and turned to the distance. On the sea antenna, the freighter just now was no longer visible, only a long column of smoke remained.

He didn't look back, and asked in a low voice: "Zhengqing, I heard that you and Xu Yifan are very familiar?" ”

He didn't listen to Deng Shichang's answer, but just looked around slowly, the 7,300-ton ironclad giant ship, every wave that hit, seemed to be smashed by the golden dragon on the bow of the ship, splashing ten thousand points of snow. The triangular yellow dragon flag on his head hunted and moved, and he Ding Ruchang's admiral flag.

This sailor has devoted the rest of his life to it, and he fully understands that this sailor is the reliance of North China!

People in the navy are the few people who open their eyes to the world. They also have a clearer understanding of the current situation, and they dare to send troops to Taiwan after only three years of the reform of the law in the eastern neighborhood. The North Korean incident, wave after wave, has the shadow of this country behind it. Now that this small country is desperately adding ships and artillery, is it satisfied with a treaty renewed by Tianjin? Seeing Daqing's soft abdomen exposed like this, can you really resist not taking a bite?

He didn't dare to think about the worst, because the more he thought about it, the more chilling he became!

Zhongtang is now content with his diplomatic achievements, and will never listen to contrary advice. I won't be bored with talking about this...... Seeing that it is Lafayette's long life, it seems that all singing and dancing are leveling, except for this small twist and turn in North Korea......

The more he thought about it, the farther he thought, he had already thought of the current situation in North Korea and Xu Yifan's means, and he didn't understand why Xu Yifan was struggling to support it......

The current situation of the Beiyang Naval Division, the arrogance and cowardice of the Lu Division, the frivolity of Ye Zhichao, the complacent nature of Zhongtang, and Xu Yifan's turbulent wrists, the freighters that delivered supplies to North Korea......

Suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed through Ding Ruchang's mind, as if splitting all the fog.

Could it be that he is holding on to wait for the great changes to arise again, Beiyang is in danger, the imperial court is in danger, he is desperately reorganizing the army and accumulating strength, just waiting to become the mainstay at that juncture?

Cao Ying!

But at that time, I'm afraid he is still looking forward to the emergence of such a deep-hearted mainstay!

Under the cold wind, Ding Ruchang was sweating profusely, and turned his head to just look at Deng Shichang.

Would you like to meet the young guy?

(To be continued)