June 28, the fourth year of A.D., is also the end of May of the twentieth year of Guangxu.

There have been no rains for many days in a row, and this spring, this spring rain was also insufficient. The North Korean farmers looked at the sky with sad faces. Originally, the left side of Seoul was full of Qing soldiers on a rampage, and last year, the king's palace was said to have fought against the army, and most of the people in Seoul fled to the countryside! It is said that it is already difficult, and the soldiers are fighting, but can you stand up to God's disgrace and look out for food from the rice bowl?

When will this be a head? North Korea is such a mountainous and poor place, how can the Qing Dynasty master of the Shangguo Kingdom and the little man on the other side of the sea have such great interest?

It didn't rain for a long time, and Seoul was as dry as a sun-dried haystack. The dust kicked up in the air was dry and stuffed into people's throats. It was almost the second half of the night, and the inexplicable heat in this weather had not subsided, and the air pressure was getting lower and lower. The streets were deserted, and the Huai army was stationed, and the curfew was never lifted. The North Korean and Huai military guards haunted the streets and alleys of Seoul like ghosts, and there was only a little light in the piled garrison room of Zaka at a few intersections, and there was a small tune that did not say a word.

"Speaking of Zhang Laosan, the two of them smoke a lot......"

"Coarse, coarse! Rough fucking you! Lao Tzu hit the black god today? It's not wrong to chop your hands! ”

"There were a lot of people who died in Seoul last year, and I want to transfer it, go burn a Mo Shunyo paper, and then fucking roll over!"

"With his pockets up, he burned his grandmother's paper, and only paid one month's salary for three months, and he couldn't afford to buy shoes, and he burned paper...... Burn to myself? ”

"Ming'er is hiding from the sentry officer, this brother-in-law is from a fucking battalion officer Goshha! Let's go to the countryside and find some extra ......."

The sound of discussion, one without a sound, wafted in the silent night sky of Seoul.

In the northeastern corner of the city, a street is divided in two by wooden fence shelves. Huai Jun will never shake it that way, and there is no sound in the wooden cage.

This is the legation and the overseas Chinese settlement area, after the change of the Seoul Palace, the overseas Chinese in the DPRK are mostly concentrated here. Even the rice and vegetables eaten with water were purchased by the DPRK and sent over under the escort of the Huai army. These expatriates, in addition to the indispensable urgent tasks, will never step out of this wooden cage. The 25,000 or 6,000 Huai army masters were densely distributed in Seoul and the provinces to the left and near Seoul. These Huaijun uncles are not as fearful of the Oriental little ones as they are for the Western white devils. Who wants to go out alone and find themselves uncomfortable?

These people simply shut themselves up.

Originally, at the opening of the wooden fence shelf, there was a guard of the minister's guard. That night, as usual, they slowly swam around the neighborhood with Murata-style rifles. But tonight it was not their military cao who was leading the way, but a nervous-looking second lieutenant officer. The second lieutenant swallowed and foamed, and his hand was always pressed on the holster of the Colt revolver at his waist, and beads of sweat rolled down his military cap. Every few minutes, he took out his wall watch and looked at the time.

It is visible that the pointer has reached the specified time scale. The soft sound of military boots was heard, and a dozen figures turned out of the darkness. The face of the officer in front was gloomy and cold under the lamplight, it was the Shigang Zhengchen Shaozuo who secretly rushed to the legation this time!

The second lieutenant who led the team saluted him with a snap, but Shi Gang looked at him with a blue face: "Move lightly, fool!" ”

The second lieutenant blushed: "Your Excellency, are you starting to act?" ”

Shi Gang didn't speak, just waved his hand. In the darkness, four or five teams carefully selected the most obedient soldiers, all of whom acted stiffly one by one, carrying oil cylinders in their hands, carefully spilling the foreign oil on the roof at the foot of the house. Some Huaijun clothes, utensils, belts and shoes were also thrown around.

When passing by a house, perhaps the owner of the house was startled by something, lit a candle and pushed open the sliding door, and walked out sleepy-eyed. Before he could speak, two hands were already pressed against his mouth, and a bayonet was held on the soldier he paid for and stabbed into the heart between the ribs!

However, in 20 minutes, the soldiers of each team had completed their tasks and returned to standby, and Shaozuo, who had been guarding the wooden fence to watch the movements of the Huai army, turned around. The physical activity was not heavy, but it made every soldier involved in the operation panting and sweating like rain. A soldier with blood on his uniform, a bayonet in one hand and the candle in the other! The soldier gasped for breath, as if he had forgotten where he was.

Minister Sugimura, who was hiding behind Shigang, twitched the muscles on his face. Namaste bowed deeply to the quiet, crowded dwellings in the dark.

Shi Gang gently took the candle, and the fire flickered, big and small.

"Gentlemen, the heroic spirits of the Meiji era, you have a seat...... The contemptible people will inevitably follow you in this battle of national fortunes, and when the time comes, I will apologize to you. ”

The sky suddenly lit up in the distance, and on this cloudless night of early summer in North Korea, a thunderbolt sounded in the sky!

The sympathy between heaven and man seems to have sensed the bloody wind that will sweep East Asia in the future that will begin from this onward!

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"Listen! What was that? ”

The Huai soldiers who were gambling in the card room heard the sound of crackling flames bursting, and the smoke drifted from afar. With the smoke came, there was a faint crying sound, and in the blink of an eye, this cry became higher and higher, mixed together!

"Don't be on the water, right? If something happens to our battalion's defense area, I'll calculate it for everyone, an eighty military stick, and everyone will give a tooth sacrifice! A small leader of the foreign commission of the management shed scolded and put on his military uniform, and strode towards the outside of the card room, and the brothers who were gambling behind him also buzzed and followed.

As soon as he went out, the foreign officer jumped to his feet: "Fuck, it's Xiao Yue'er's envoy area, close to the territory we have set up!" How did these little books burn themselves? ”

All the Huai soldiers watched with their mouths wide open, watching the flames rise from several places at the same time, straight into the air. In the firelight, there were people running wildly, inside and outside the wooden fence that separated the street. The sound of cries and shouts rang out. The houses of the North Koreans were also run out, all disheveled, and crashed into the streets. The sparks splashed in all directions, and when they reached the thatched roof, there was a small fire. Men and women, all crying and screaming, hurriedly slapped. Some of the big girls are naked on the upper body, and there are two white balls in the firelight!

The foreign officer was still in a daze, and several veterans below had already shouted: "My lord, let's go and grab the fire!" A few handsome pro-soldiers came over, and they couldn't get anything! ”

At this time, the foreign officer also reacted, ordered loudly, and a group of people rushed back to the card room. There are fire-proof tools in the card room, which is part of the old-style urban fire protection. A group of people with hooks, fire sticks, buckets and water dragons rushed straight out, and many brothers were also aspiring to join them.

To grab a fire is to pull down the house, clear out the fire barrier, and enter the house through the door in a chaotic manner, and anything can be easily taken by the sheep. The Qing Dynasty fire prevention regulations, taking advantage of the fire to rob, that is to correct the law on the spot. When a few marshal's personal soldiers came over, the fire field was on guard and marched, and the hair could not be fished. Why don't you take advantage of this earliest opportunity to grab the fire? There is also credit for firefighting, and there are benefits, who is still behind, who is a fool.

A group of people approached the fire near the left side of the wooden fence, and they were gearing up to make a move. A burst of bullets hit, and the crowd of people who collided on the street, regardless of military and civilian, was immediately knocked down.

Shouts in various languages were heard from inside the fire: "Qing soldiers set fire!" Qing soldiers set fires! Attack on diplomatic embassies! "There is Mandarin, there is Korean, and of course, Mandarin is indispensable!

The fire is already chaotic, and can you still stand up to the guns again? The North Korean people who are trapped in the whirlpool of madness have been dazed and do not know where to flee.

The junior officer of the foreign commission who led the team rushed to the front just now, received a foreign fire on his arm, and lay on the ground crying for his father and mother. Several soldiers dragged him down: "My lord, the little devil is moving towards us, what should we do?" ”

The little officer snorted and cried: "How many times have we been afraid of little devils?" dragged a foreign gun up and beat his grandmother, Lao Tzu has to avenge his arm! Fuck the little devil's hand first! ”

In the darkness of the night, the rifles on both sides rang out in a short time! Bullets whizzed everywhere, people who ran around fell in groups, and the flames rushed higher and higher, almost illuminating the entire Seoul!

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There was a burst of gunfire, and those Huai soldiers lying on the ground were scolding and scolding. Anyway, through the fire, both sides were not accurate, and no one launched a charge, just shooting. Then he heard the thunder of hooves behind him, and a great crowd of people rushed over. First Ma Yukun, then Nie Shicheng appeared on the other end, and in the end, even Ye Zhichao came over!

Several admirals were all disheveled, and some of them wore one less boot on their horses. The braid and fluffy hair shouted at the horse to cease fire, but in such a chaotic scene, who listened to them? At this time, the wind was strong, the fire was rolling, and the Huai army in front could not stand and forced them down one after another. The shooting on the opposite side also relaxed, and probably began to be busy fighting fires. There was also the sound of a house collapsing, which was also cleaning the fire belt.

Several military gates gathered together in an embarrassed manner, and the pro-soldiers surrounded to protect them. When they looked at each other on the horse, their faces were pale. The legation was set on fire and there were shootings. At this time, there is no need to blame who will do it first. It's a bad book anyway! I am afraid that there are more than 10,000 Huai troops in Seoul alone, and there are only more than 2,000 guards in this legation plus overseas Chinese, and the basin can easily be buckled on their heads.

The Queen Mother is longevity, and she is striving for a river banquet and a clear sea, and even Xu Yifan has temporarily put her hands away. Can North Korea suddenly make such a big mess?

Ye Zhichao turned over and dismounted, watching a team of Huai troops retreating in a chaotic manner, looking at the color of the uniform, it was the sheng army of the boss of his military gate. At that time, he shouted: "Tie up! Cut off for the head! Robbing while the fire is burning and shooting without authorization is his crime! ”

The soldiers behind him rushed up, and a few of them were tied down. Nie Shicheng pulled Ye Zhichao's hand: "Ye Junmen, you still have to put out the fire first!" We have to save it, and we have to save it, we can't afford this crime! ”

Ye Zhichao reacted at this time, and no longer bothered to give orders to cut people, and loudly ordered his own soldiers to start fighting the fire. Hundreds of people were in a mess with the North Korean people, pounced, beat and demolished houses. Several admirals were circling in circles there, all with sad faces. Nie Shicheng's expression was even darker, his brows were tightly locked, he couldn't say a word, and he didn't know what he thought!

After turning around for a while, Ye Zhichao suddenly thought that he couldn't ignore the legation there! If you can talk, help them put out the fire. If you send a gift with good words, you may be able to cover it up. When Lafayette's longevity is over, who will not transfer out of this short-lived North Korea, who will be raised by a girl! What South Road will suppress the minister, it is not uncommon!

Although the fire was a little smaller, Ye Zhichao didn't dare to force the front, and if he fired another shot, the bullet didn't distinguish between official ranks! He commanded his soldiers to set up a platform, held a foreign iron thorn, and asked several high-voiced soldiers to shout together: "The Great Qing Dynasty Qinchaye Army Gate is here!" There was a fire in the middle of the night, Ye Junmen was worried about His Excellency Minister Sugimura, please don't get me wrong, we are also here to help put out the fire! ”

After shouting for a while, the blood in his throat was shouted out, and there was no response at all except the sound of crying and the sound of the fire crackling. Ye Zhichao waited blankly at the bottom, and said angrily: "Get the fuck out of here!" Find a few people who can speak Oriental and shout! ”

Several pro-soldiers were rolling down at the order, but the voice of the answer sounded in the fire on the opposite side, but it was in Chinese: "The Huai army set fire to the foreign embassy of the Great Empire, which violated the public law of all countries, and the only way for the empire to make solemn representations!" Minister Sugimura is the Lord Yiye, personal friendship can be felt, and justice cannot be abolished! The legation belongs to the territory of the Great Empire, and no outsider can infringe on it! ”

Ma Yukun whispered anxiously behind Ye Zhichao: "If you burn a few more people, then there will really be something to see...... My lord, do you want to ask Park to come over, he is the Minister of Parliament, and he also has a relationship with Yue himself, so he can say a few good words in the middle? ”

Ye Zhichao stomped his feet, waved his hand and let the soldiers roll up, stabilize the end first, and send someone to ride to invite Park Yongxiao.

I don't know how long it took, but when the fire was gradually under control, Park Yong-hyo's car rushed over. Although all forces look down on him, his status is as stable as Mount Tai, and he is also recognized as a real villain. Ye Zhichao usually said that he was arrogant to him, but now it is like seeing his own brother. stepped forward to help him dismount: "Lord Park, our clan and domain are one, this incident is sudden, it is best to solve it on the spot!" You can talk to Minister Sugimura, and you are a landlord, so it's better to be accommodating, and now it's important to put out the fire first! What losses do I have, let's discuss them, and never let them suffer? ”

Today's Park Yong-hyo looks less attentive than before, although he still accepts the order with a smile. But the minister's single eyelid didn't know what kind of light was flashing behind him, and the abacus of the change in the situation in his mind was probably crackling.

Seeing Park Yong-hyo talking to Minister Sugimura through the fire, Sugimura refused to give in. Ye Zhichao and Ma Yukun Baba watched below.

Nie Shicheng was far away, just watching all this coldly. The sound of horses' hooves sounded, but it was Zuo Guigui who rushed over. The Huai army is in the four major towns of North Korea. Ye Zhichao led the Sheng Army as the main force, and Ma Yukun led the Fourth Battalion Yi Army to be completely dependent on the Sheng Army system, basically wearing the same pants as Ye Zhichao. And there are already thirteen battalions before and after the Fengjun horse step, saying that it is the president of Zuo Guigui and the Nie Shi division, but in fact, the two have the same qualifications, and each leader and battalion are not subordinate to each other, which is regarded as two towns. Although they both belonged to the Huai Army, Zuo Guigui and Nie Shicheng were secretly excluded by Ye Zhichao. Zuo Guigui commanded his own personal barracks, and he didn't even live in Seoul, which was the farthest away. Seeing the fire and hearing the gunshots, he rushed over with his own soldiers at this time.

Seeing Ye Zhichao there, he was about to rush over to inquire, but was stopped by Nie Shicheng from the side. Zuo Guigui dismounted suspiciously: "Gongting, what's wrong?" ”

Nie Shicheng smiled bitterly: "Brother Guanting, don't join in this fun." Our elite Huai army has been hanging in North Korea for a long time, and I can't wait, today this is an excuse, they made one by themselves! It's really good, more than 2,000 expatriates are on fire...... I don't know how many burned! This Ye Junmen, we can't count on it, go back and order troops, ask for food, arms, and salary, and prepare for war! ”

Zuo Guigui was stunned, these two people can still talk in North Korea. They are also known as brave generals, and the two have discussed the current situation many times in private. That time, Nie Shicheng made a mistake and gave Li Hongzhang an excerpt, and he also had a lot of valuable opinions. However, Nie Shicheng was straightforward, and signed his title and sent it to him.

At this time, looking at this chaotic scene, looking at the second fire preparation in just one year, looking at the raging flames in this dark night, the corpses all over the ground, the Huai army of the brigade, what else does Zuo Guigui not understand?

"Do you have to fight?"

"Do your best and obey the destiny of heaven! See how Nakado conducts...... But I can't believe Yang Shixiang's little Zhuge ! If the sailor is not there, the safety of North Korea and even the mainland depends on ......"

After that, Nie Shicheng sighed heavily, ignored Ye Zhichao and Ma Yukun, who were still jumping in a hurry, turned over and got on the horse, and was about to leave with Goshha.

Zuo Guigui looked blankly: "...... What to see? ”

"It depends on whether the guy in the north who carefully watched the waves and clouds disappear really has the ability to help the crisis and overcome difficulties! Guanting, if you're lucky, we'll see you on the tablet of the martyrs of our court! ”

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There was a boom, and on the banks of the Taedong River in North Korea, a dry thunder sounded.

Xu Yifan suddenly turned over and sat up from his marching bed.

These people are really tired of directing the evacuation and mobilization. Originally, he was still half leaning on the marching bed in the signing room, looking at the information transmitted by Yuan Shikai, and unconsciously tilted over.

In the nap, it was full of fragmented dreams. It's as if you've returned to the place where you've crossed over, trekking across the grasslands. Thunder and lightning couldn't stop exploding above his head, and when he crossed over, he vaguely heard the voice: "I'll give you this chance!" ”

"Demon dreams are in your arms......"

Xu Yifan got up in his clothes and walked out of the signing room. Pu Yang has been guarding the door of the signing room, fully armed and double-draped, watching Xu Yifan go out for a walk, and hurriedly took a few Goshha to follow.

The moon is very big and round tonight, and looking out from Xu Yifan's office, not far away is their newly built wharf on the bank of the Datong River. The river wooden boat steamboats, so late, still converge on the pier. A group of people, carrying uniform-style wrapped backpacks, waited to get on the boat with panicked expressions. Everyone probably knows where they're going. Or go to the concessions in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou, where they have already rented a house and can continue their studies. Or go to Suiyuan Pass to settle outside, and have Da Shengkui to take care of it, you can survey the minerals and explore the possible surnames of factories and mines in those places. Or you will go to Nanyang, where you can take care of the Nanyang Li family, you can learn business operations, and you can enter the new factory invested by the Nanyang Li family!

They were coaxed and tricked by Xu Yifan from all over the world to come to such a barren place in North Korea. I have experienced so many twists and turns with the Praetorian Guard, learned so many things, and was being fooled by Zhan Tianyou's ideal of industrializing and saving the country by Mr. Zhan, and was ready to throw off his arms and do a great job, and now he is bidding farewell to North Korea and relocating.

Someone in the crowd whimpered quietly, remembering the death of a friend in the North Korean riots. Many apprentice technicians, while investigating, building, and exploring, bumped into the Dongxue Party riot. There are also sacrifices in construction!

If you look at their dormitories and schools, many of them were built by these students in the winter. I'm going to leave now, and the road ahead is boundless, and I don't know what to say again. The world has just opened a window for them, do they want to go back to that dead dark room?

I don't know who shouted in a low voice: "Don't go!" Don't go! Who dares to touch us and take a gun and them! ”

The crowd stirred, and Zhan Tianyou, who had been directing the evacuation at the dock, hurriedly walked over. His eye sockets were deep, his eyes were bloodshot, and his beard was deep. Every time a group of students is sent away and every time a batch of equipment is evacuated, Zhan Tianyou has to cry! These are all seeds of industrialization! Although it was an evacuation and resettlement, Xu Yifan's status was shaky, and the invasion was imminent. Without Xu Yifan, can I see these students again?

Looking at the students' indignant expressions, they just refused to get on the boat, Zhan Tianyou's lips trembled, and he couldn't say a word. When he was relatively speechless, there was a slight twitch behind the team, and a low voice sounded: "Lord Xu is here, Lord Xu is here!" ”

When the crowd parted, I saw Xu Yifan wearing a military uniform and slowly coming followed by a few Goshha. His appearance is not much better than Zhan Tianyou's spirit.

Walking to the front of the pier trestle, looking at the wooden boat parked on the side of the trestle, the two small steamers had already finished the fire, ready to tow, and went to the mouth of the sea to barge to the big ship. But none of the student technicians got on board.

"Daren, why don't you move?"

Before Zhan Tianyou could answer, a student had already shouted: "My lord! Let's not go! Without you, we wouldn't have learned so much and understood what the world is like now! Doesn't it mean that there is a possibility of war? We'll stay here, shoot us, and we'll do it with the Praetorian Guard!" After leaving North Korea, who knows if you can come back, who knows if you can see Teacher Zhan and Master Xu! ”

"No evacuation, no resettlement! To die together! So many storms have come. When it comes to the end, they still treat us as outsiders! ”

"Say nothing and leave!"

Xu Yifan's face was pale, and he strode to the top of a pile of goods on the trestle, standing on a high place, his eyes sweeping around.

"Who says you can't come back? Who says you'll never see me again? ”

"What are you going to do here? It is to go back and build the place where our ancestors and gods are located, the land of Yao, the soil of Shun, and the seal of Yu! Don't you want to die in North Korea, but really think this is a paradise? Now that we have opened our eyes and seen the world, we know what we should do when we go back...... You are the construction seeds of my Xu Yifan!

My brother and I of the Praetorian Guard are here to shield you from the wind and rain and to put down all foreign enemies who try to invade and destroy our homeland in China. We are your shield, your Great Wall! Now, I command, stand upright! Embarkation! When I finish fighting, I will give an order, and you will gather under my banner again!

Wait for me! ”

Under the moonlight, by the waves. Hundreds of students stood in silence, but they were like another Praetorian Guard. Don't wait for someone to command, silently get on the ship in order. The whistle whimpered, and two small steamers took the group of students to the ends of the earth temporarily.

The bright moon by the river was standing on the forked legs, watching Xu Yifan who was far away.

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I don't know how long it took for Xu Yifan to jump off. It's also very tiring to stand up straight and perform the spirit of a king...... was about to go back, but saw Zhan Tianyou coming over, and he was silent and took a deep look. Xu Yifan was stunned: "Daren, what's wrong with you?" ”

Zhan Tianyou looked a little excited, but he didn't know how to express it, he was picked up by Xu Yifan, and it took a long time to squeeze out a sentence: "My lord, I, Zhan Tianyou, am really convinced...... You really want to build such a country! Don't say much else, I, Zhan Tianyou, will be half-hearted, and if I look forward and backward, I won't die well! ”

Looking at this nerd scholar swearing, Xu Yifan wanted to laugh a little, and was a little moved, and finally patted him on the shoulder: "Don't be tired, there are still many storms ahead...... Before he finished speaking, he heard someone behind him whispering: "Adult, adult!" ”

turned his head to look, but it was Yuan Shikai. He looked a little nervous, but he did his best to control it.

When did this kid arrive? Why didn't you hear any movement?

As if hearing Xu Yifan's heart, Yuan Shikai said in a low voice: "When the adults are talking to the students, the lower officials will arrive...... Adult demeanor, the lower officials are on the ground...... There is urgent news from Seoul......"

"What's wrong?"

"I said I did it."

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On the night of June 28, 14 A.D., the burning and shooting of the Yueben Legation in Seoul broke out, killing and wounding more than 900 overseas Chinese diplomats and more than 40 casualties among the Huai army. Except for part of the legation building, other places were empty.

The situation in North Korea suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse!

(To be continued)