The head gradually moved west, but the gunfire around him had not yet stopped.

Chu Wanli, they had already hung out seven or eight white flags, large and small. But every time the white flag was hoisted, the gunfire on the other three sides eased for a while, and the head of the camp in the south was still pouring bullets regardless of it. They didn't stop firing, and the other three sides fought again after a while.

After fighting for so long, Yanqingbiao was already full of gunpowder smoke, and even the wind could not easily blow away.

Chu Wanli and Yuan Shikai leaned against the trench and smiled bitterly.

Old Man Han bought off a battalion head and forced them to move. This old fox is quite a set, and he understands too well the mentality of these Hunan soldiers left behind by Liu Kunyi who are now trapped in the north.

With more than 10,000 lonely soldiers in Yanjing City. Outside is the smoke of the Zhili Xiangjiao, and inside is surrounded by tens of thousands of hard-working recruits, and now it has become a powder keg of the new army of the Xiangjiao. The spirit has long been tense. As soon as the gunshots rang out, it was even more amazing to see that they actually had foreign guns in their hands in Yanqingbiao. As long as the gunfire does not stop, the guns will continue to be released. Anyway, as long as the bullet doesn't see the bottom, there is no time to stop.

Now it's just such a mess, completely isolating them, and nothing can be done. I can't even inform Tianjin Jiangning of the news here!

Yuan Shikai lay on the top of the ditch, and rarely laughed in front of Chu Wanli: "My lord, how is this good?" How long do you think they're going to finish? I know that this court has not been around for a few days, and the bullets sent are not distressed, and they are pulled down after the fight? ”

Chu Wanli glanced at him angrily. But as long as Yuan Shikai has a way, he is definitely ambitious and rushes forward. Now he is smiling and saying cool words, which shows that this always positive old Yuan is also tied up for a while.

"Either the bullets are gone, or someone who can call the shots comes. Can subdue the battalions to stop firing, get in touch with us, and come up with an explanation............ These guys don't necessarily have the courage to fight an offensive field battle with us. ”

"Tan Sitong?" Yuan Shikai named a person.

Chu Wanli shook his head: "I'd rather they fight like this than Tan Si come over." Persuade the lesser of two evils............ What I am most afraid of is that the soldiers have been transferred, but Tan Sitong has not come to guard the city............ Fuck, the surname Han is moving too fast! Thirty years of calculation, not in vain! Everything was taken into account! ”

Ge Qitai ran from the other end of the trench, but he was bold and strong. At first, I was a little scared of the sound of bullets skimming the air, but now I am almost running straight in the trench, looking like I don't hesitate.

From a distance, I heard him tear open his voice and shout: "My lord, the brothers are stuffed there to eat soil, and the clay people have also come out, why don't we call them?" ”

Chu Wanli snorted, didn't bother to pay attention to him, turned over and climbed on top of the trench again, raised the telescope and looked out. The fight with the old fox was deflated at the beginning, and he was now in a very unhappy mood.

The wind was strong, blowing away some of the heavy gunpowder smoke. Through the binoculars, you can see the flags in the distance, the figures come and go, dozens of horses rushing to the front, and the knights crouching on their horses and desperately pumping their horses' buttocks. Behind these knights, there was even greater smoke, and there seemed to be a procession heading towards them.

Chu Wanli's heart sank down first, gritted his teeth and did not speak, and carefully observed for a while. Retracted. He looked at Yuan Shikai: "The head of the city has transferred troops out............

"Why is Tan Sitong so stupid? One password from others, one action from him? Yuan Shikai's face also changed. Since it has been decided to cooperate with Xu Yifan to go north, the situation in the whole north. Then Tan Sitong can't hold on, and his future achievements of Yuan Shikai will also be discounted. It's really hard for him to understand, Tan Sitong is not a stupid person, why can't he see that this soldier can't be transferred?

Chu Wanli remained silent and frowned deeply: "This may be our opportunity............ No matter who is coming, you must always consider the overall situation. You can always see the fucking white flag hanging up here! This opportunity cannot be missed, we have to fight for this time with the old man surnamed Han! ”

Yuan Shikai immediately understood what Chu Wanli meant, and stepped forward in the trench: "My lord, I'll go!" ”

Chu Wanli smiled faintly at him: "Xiang Cheng, since you came under the command of the Great Shuai, you have done well enough. What we are doing now is a choice that I insist on, not your opinion -- I'm not saying that your proposal is not for the sake of the marshal, but the marshal finally chose my side, which makes me feel that the marshal is sometimes as stupid as I am............ Since it's my choice, if I don't go, Dashuai will probably have to scold my bastard surnamed Chu for being too lazy............ Last time he said what was wrong with me? Salary thief? Okay, that's it! Xiangcheng, you have a bright future ahead of you! In the last word, sometimes don't be too eager! ”

It is extremely rare for Chu Wanli to be able to say such heartfelt words to people. What's more, it's Yuan Shikai, a person who came halfway and was still working hard to squeeze into the most descendant circle!

Yuan Shikai was also slightly moved, leaning on the edge of the trench and nodding lightly.

The two of them were far away from each other, and they all quieted down, only Ge Qitai looked left and right, not knowing what the two big men were talking about.

As the clock ticked by, the sun gradually set to the west. Chu Wanli just looked at the sky quietly, calculating the time in his heart. But no matter how he calculates, he also knows that many things depend on luck in the end. Especially in the current situation, the power of the Xiangjiao is unfathomable, but the strength at hand is only such an unworthy Yanqing standard, and Xu Yifan is still thousands of miles away, I don't know when I will be able to come!

The gunfire had stopped imperceptibly. Only the southern barracks, with the occasional gunshot or two, weakly pierced the sun's westward sky.

Chu Wanli and Yuan Shikai glanced at each other.

The two of them turned over and lay on top of the trench almost at the same time, and the thick smoke around them had almost dispersed by this time. You can see that in the barracks due north, there are already people climbing on the fence, also holding various telescopes to look here, some are still dressed in civilian court uniforms, pointing to the fluttering white flags here.

Chu Wanli laughed hesitantly and patted Yuan Shikai on the shoulder beside him: "Look at Chu Laozi!" ”

Yuan Shikai's body moved, and he wanted to say something but didn't move in the end. Chu Wanli jumped up and reached out to pull out a white flag planted behind him. When the children of the Praetorian Guards lying in wait in the trench saw the movement here, they all straightened up and rushed over: "My lord! ”

Chu Wanli glared at them: "Stay honest with Lao Tzu!" Is there a way to lie here? Chu Laozi will take you out! ”

The soldiers seemed to understand what Chu Wanli was going to do, and immediately a few people stepped forward: "My lord, I'll go!" ”

Chu Wanli waved his hand with a cold face: "You guys?" Who knows you? Can you call the shots? Passing back and forth, how much time can we waste? Get out of the way! ”

As he spoke, he had already pulled out the white flag in his hand, and smiled bitterly: "Lao Tzu also has this day to play the white flag!" ”

Ge Qitai had already jumped up from the side and snatched the white flag: "Please let the flag be held under the mark!" ”

Chu Wanli was stunned at first, and then smiled: "Then let's go!" ”

Everyone in the trench straightened up and watched Chu Wanli stride across the trench and walk straight outside. When he arrived at the wide road outside, Ge Qitai jumped down first and took Chu Wanli down. When it comes to climbing, it's also the first to go. Yuan Shikai just grabbed the telescope and stared at the opposite side. The man on the other side was also motionless, and all the guns were raised.

There was another gunshot, followed by another, from the south. The two bullets hit quite accurately, and Chu Wanli stood still outside with Ge Qitai's support, and two puffs of dirt smoke splashed at his feet!

Everyone in the trench jumped, dozens of Russian rifles turned to the south, and the bolts were pulled to the ground, and they were about to fire!

Yuan Shikai jumped out of the trench violently, no one expected that he had such a short and fat body, and he actually had such a strong explosive power! The green tendons on his forehead bloomed, and he opened his arms and shouted loudly with all his vitality: "Don't shoot!" ”

At that end, Chu Wanli also turned around and shouted, "Don't shoot!" ”

No one had ever seen that Chu Wanli's always lazy face could be distorted so hideously!

Everyone held their breath, clutched the rifle in their hands, and saw Chu Wanli turn around and walk towards the opposite side step by step. Ge Qitai's tall body blocked Chu Wanli's direction to the south and followed him closely.

In the barracks opposite, several flags were waving desperately, as if to convey an order not to shoot there. But there were always some gunshots that rang out sporadically, and bullets fell on Chu Wanli's feet and the two of them.

But Chu Wanli and Ge Qitai didn't even bend their waists.

The other side seemed to be stupid, except for waving the flag and giving orders, there was no other action at all. In the end, he reacted, pushed open two fences, and greeted a team of men and horses who seemed to be facing a great enemy.

Seeing the people there come out, the sporadic gunfire in the southern barracks gradually fell silent.

Chu Wanli was still walking step by step, and a bullet bounced off the stone and burrowed into his calf, and the blood immediately flowed from a boot. Ge Qitai glanced at his bleeding leg and didn't say anything, just followed him.

When did the gunfire stop, Chu Wanli didn't pay attention anymore. He just looked at the few civilian-looking people who were protecting the team on the opposite side.

There is no Tan Sitong.

The worst happened.

How much time do you have left?

Several civil officials on the opposite side had already begun to speak loudly, perhaps for the first time to experience this kind of scene, and their voices trembled slightly.

"Who is this coming? What are your intentions in making trouble? ”

Chu Wanli took a deep breath and shouted: "Lao Tzu is Chu Wanli, Chief of the General Staff of the Praetorian Guard Staff Headquarters!" Xu Dashuai's heavy general! Lao Tzu is a fart mess, if you have any plans, you also plan to save you people and save this city! You foolish bastards, how did you bring this last bit of fucking soldiers out! ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Summer palace.

The garden, since the gunshots rang out and the city was in chaos, it has become a hornet's nest of water. This turmoil is even worse than the last time Tan Sitong led troops into Beijing!

Tan Sitong is a minister after all, even if he really wants to be Cao Ying, there is still a bottom line. At least he won't be upset by the people below. But once the Xiangjiao team up with Xu Yifan to enter the city, who knows what the result will be!

The number of guards in the Summer Palace is more than 1,200, and no one in the Qing Dynasty has this so-called army. There are too many children of the banner people, and the emperor gives money to the messenger, and it is one who comes in alone. The real number may be almost as small as two thousand, and the capital is in chaos, and now the rest does not know if there are eight hundred!

The eunuchs and palace maids staged the same tragic scene again, and everywhere in the garden, I don't know how many ropes were hung in advance. No one had any trouble with running errands anymore, just scurrying around like flies.

There are rumors at the bottom, saying that when Tan Sitong entered Beijing, Lafayette was quite able to hold it, and now even Lafayette is panicked, hearing the news and sitting on the couch for a long time speechless, Li Lianying and Li Daguan everywhere to catch the sturdy Tai Guardian Army, to prepare a sedan chair carriage and horses, ready to escort Lafayette to escape! This rumor came out, and how many people watched Li Lianying and Manager Li run around in the garden in a hurry, looking for this and that, how could it not make people even more distracted!

In the Summer Palace, there are messy things thrown on the road everywhere, tattered clothes, palace maids' heads, honor guards, and even old foreign guns dropped by the guards. Some of the warehouses were smashed open, and the guards and eunuchs could be seen going in and out, carrying things and running. A few loyal secretaries of the Ministry of Internal Affairs jumped to their feet and cried and cursed there, who would pay attention to him?

Inside the Le Shou Hall, it was also as silent as death.

From the beginning of the gunshots and the chaos in the capital, Cixi sat on her couch, sent food and did not eat, and did not listen to any news in return. Just sitting there in a daze, the eunuchs and palace maids who are still serving here, although they have not escaped, but there is no longer the law that has always been quiet and strict beside Cixi, sitting and standing, gathering together and whispering with frightened faces, Cixi just leaned on the couch with a pale face and did not say a word.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and then I saw Li Lianying running in sweating profusely, the chief eunuch had already lost his hat, his face was gray, his braids were almost scattered, and he didn't care about cleaning up. With a sharp voice, he replied to Cixi: "Lafayette, the carriages and horses are all packed!" I can't catch the big ones, and I can't get together so many people who drive, just a small cart pulled by a mule -- fortunately, it's inconspicuous! also prepared a sliding rod carried by two people, and the guards also selected those who were not loyal to the family, there were always about a hundred, and there were some strong eunuchs............ Galeries Lafayette, or let's get started! No one knows, wait a little longer, how many of these people will be left! ”

Cixi looked at Li Lianying, didn't answer this stubble, just asked, "Yanjing City Gate, is it open?" ”

Li Lianying just sweated: "The people sent out to find out the news reported that the city gate was closed tightly!" This Tan Sitong is not well-intentioned, and wants to stew us with a spoonful! But as soon as Galeries Lafayette's car arrived, did they dare to open the city? Go to the west gate, there is still a little peace there...... Lafayette, there's chaos in the city! It is rumored that Xu Yifan followed the Xiangjiao into Beijing together, and Nanyuan became a pot of porridge! The minions escorted Lafayette to the west, at least the governors and governors of Gansu and Shaanxi are still our bannermen, and Dong Fuxiang's Gan army may be able to count on it! If it weren't for the fact that the surname Tan said that he was not paid, and he had transferred Gan Jun earlier, could there be such a thing? ”

Cixi actually showed a little relief on her face, softened her body, and muttered to the Buddha: "Amitabha, it's good that the city gate hasn't opened yet............ As long as Tan Sitong doesn't go out of the city, this pass will always be able to pass............"

The old woman stiffened her waist again, and looked at Li Lianying deadly: "The person sent to contact Master Tan, is there any news coming back?" ”

Li Lianying was so anxious that she just stomped her feet: "Lafayette, why are you still taking care of that white-faced minister?" Lafayette's safety is important, this time is no better than before, Xu Yifan came to the door! ”

Cixi patted the armrest of the couch and said angrily: "Talk back!" ”

Under Cixi's prestige, Li Lianying subconsciously knelt down: "Back to Lafayette, the people sent have returned, and the prime minister's yamen outside Longzongmen is already crowded, and he can't crowd it, so he turned around...... When I turned around, I saw that Kang Youwei with a few guards and eunuchs, holding a yellow box, went in, saying that he was preaching something......"

Cixi was stunned when she heard this, and when she figured it out, the last bit of majesty that the old woman had strong on disappeared: "It's over!" This bastard emperor! This mess is caused by their gang! ”

Her emotions could no longer be contained, and she stood up like crazy and waved her long fake nails: "Why didn't you strangle this bastard in the first place?" It must be that the gang of imperial bastards under his hand want to contact the Xiangjiao to enter the city to replace Tan Sitong, and then force me, the old woman's palace! Are those people up to the task? If you want to contact the Xiangjiao and get Tan Sitong down, you have to take the position of power first, divide them little by little, and you can't make such a fuss, just get up when you talk about it, let Tan Sitong lose his guard first, go out of the city to do his own things, and then let them come in all of a sudden, so that things can be done! At that time, they didn't deal with it themselves, they wanted higher officials, more power, didn't they come to beg us? Hula copied it all of a sudden, and the incense sect hasn't really grasped it in his hands, and when he comes in, everything is really over! ”

The more Cixi spoke, the faster she spoke, the more anxious she became, and the puff on her old face fell straight down, revealing the thousands of furrows on her face. It looks so terrifying, so that the palace maids and eunuchs who are still in the Le Shou Tang are still supporting the messenger to serve the messenger, quietly sneak out, once they get out of the Le Shou Tang like a madhouse, they don't look back, they don't care about the direction, they just run away!

I don't know how long it took for Cixi to calm down, in the deathly silent Le Shou Hall, I could only hear the sound of the old woman snorting and panting, Li Lianying was already in a cold sweat, kneeling there, only to feel that there was a burst of blackness in front of her, and her body was shaky.

“………… There's no way, now I count on God to bless, Tan Sitong can hold on for a while............ Lianying, you have to take care of the carriages and horses, but let's not go west, let's go to the eastern suburbs! ”

Cixi's voice calmed down a little, and she coldly ordered her decision. Li Lianying raised her head fiercely: "Go to the foreigners?" ”

Cixi glared at him: "Where else can I go?" Zhili has become like this, we can catch a team of 100 people, there is not a single top-use soldier, and there is not a single minister who comes to the king of Qin! If Xu Yifan hadn't been there, most of them would have been able to come over a lot and escort us to escape, in such a big world, there must be someone who can clean up the situation! But now that Xu Yifan is counting on this, who still cares about us? Now most of these guys are trembling, and they are still running the door, thinking about how to go to the telegram to welcome Xu Yifan's driver, so that he can go north as soon as possible! Just our lonely family ran to the west, the wolf pulled or the dog gnawed, no one will care! Lianying, let's finish! ”

When it came to the last sentence, Cixi's figure was also crumbling, showing an extremely depressed old state, and she repeated it in a low voice.

"Lianying, let's finish............ It's over! ”

Li Lianying has completely lost his mind, he has always been by Cixi's side, thinking that Cixi controls the entire world and the entire court. Whether it is Guangxu or Li Hongzhang, they are not Cixi's opponents. Now, although there is a big trouble of Xu Yifan in the south, Tan Sitong led troops to force the palace again. But he always subconsciously felt that Cixi had eased up and could always deal with it. Anyway, I'm in my fifties, so it's over as long as I close my eyes...... No one expected that this would come so quickly! And the tiger skin that Cixi has been holding on to was so easily pierced!

This weather, the day is still very short, the sun has gradually touched the mountain, and the boundless darkness is about to envelop this crazy Yanjing City. Inside the Le Shou Hall, it has already darkened. Only this lost master and a servant remained. All sorts of voices from the garden came into the hall, mingling together, like the cries of a dying man dragging out his voice.

It's all over.

Li Lianying slowly raised her head and asked in despair: "Lafayette, should we go to the Eastern Suburbs Alley immediately?" ”

Cixi's deathly eyes, after hearing this, suddenly appeared resentful: "Without the emperor, how much capital can we have to go to the eastern suburbs?" Send an emperor to the foreign devils, they will have the capital to use it, and they will be able to add disgust to Xu Yifan in the future! Let's go, take the people, let's go and cook the unsuccessful emperor first, and take him with us! Whoever makes me unhappy, I will make him unhappy for the rest of his life! Whether it's the emperor or Xu Yifan! ………… Is the emperor's favorite concubine Zhen's fox? Could it be that these people are studying behind closed doors, and the emperor is still guarding the little vixen? I'm going to sink his most beloved into the well and let him know that he will never be able to pick out the palm of my hand! ”

Li Lianying's body was already washed with water, and he couldn't say a word, only kowtowed deeply.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ sky had already darkened, and the sun had already set behind the western mountains. The chaos in the capital, although Yang Rui and they tried their best to maintain it, had an increasingly fierce posture. The fires were already sporadically popping up in all directions, flashing ominous blood light all over the capital. More and more people are gathering here at the Prime Minister's Yamen, outside the Longzong Gate, and it seems that this is the safest place in the capital. People were lying or leaning under the houses on the streets, looking at everything in front of them.

The gunfire at the other end of Nanyuan has gradually stopped. However, on the east, west, and north sides of the capital, sporadic gunshots began to sound again, and in either direction, it was no longer peaceful.

Tan Sitong still had the last few hundred soldiers on hand, and even Goshha beside him, there were no more than four hundred people at most. Most of these soldiers were sent out by him to guard the outer circle of refugees gathered here to prevent people from coming in and taking advantage of the fire to loot.

With only a dozen goshkha with him, plus Wang Wu, who was not leaving him, he hesitated among the refugees, helping to distribute a little cooked food and warm clothing.

Occasionally looking up, I only saw black heads in all directions. Piles of people sat together, waiting in fear for the darkness to come.

From time to time, he looked up to the south, and by the end it became more and more frequent. Wang Wu, who was behind him, approached and asked in a low voice, "Brother, what are you thinking?" ”

Tan Sitong shook his head, looking a little dazed: "The gunfire at the other end of Nanyuan has stopped, but the news has not been reported yet, I am wondering what happened............ If Brother Chuanqing's team is really there, according to his resolute actions, no matter what happens to the capital, it should be reported now, right? ”

Wang Wu smiled: "If it's really my Brother Xu's team there, you can relax, this city will be saved...... Behind the scenes, if you make this northern land such a bastard, you can't run away! ”

Tan Sitong smiled reluctantly and looked at Wang Wu with a frank face: "Fifth brother, you are convinced of Brother Chuanqing............"

Wang Wu said excitedly: "Are you all my brothers!" I don't believe you, who do you believe? ”

Tan Sitong stopped talking, closed his eyes and prayed silently.

If it's really you Xu Yifan who came over, then hurry up and enter the city! It's not a pity for me Tan Si to be the same, but this situation, I don't know when it will collapse! I really can't hold on anymore!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ in the house where Han Zhongping was hiding not far from the Prime Minister's Yamen, Han Zhongping and Zhang Yu stood on a high place in the night, and they also looked around silently. The circle of refugees has approached their house, and people are constantly pouring here. Although Tan Sitong no longer has a few soldiers around him, the more refugees there are, the more trouble he will have. The gunfire on Nanyuan's side has subsided, I'm afraid it's been an hour, after all, Yanqingbiao is just a target, and the commander in the center is a wise general like Chu Wanli, and no one knows if there will be any variables.

Both of them were expressionless, but their hearts were turning over the river.

This kind of opportunity is the result of 30 years of hard work and dismal preparation, and once it is missed, it may not come back!

Han Zhongping's breathing gradually became heavier, and he had been able to endure it better than anyone else in the past few decades. But now, he can't take it anymore!

In the sky north of the capital, suddenly far away, there were several small meteors rising upward, exploding fireworks in the sky. Han Zhongping involuntarily grabbed Zhang Yu's arm beside him, and asked in a trembling voice, "Have you seen it?" Am I not mistaken? Is it a signal, isn't it? ”

At this time, on all sides of the capital, from far to near, there are also small meteors rising into the sky, exploding colorful fireworks. Every time this firework goes on and off, the clouds hanging low overhead can be faintly reflected.

Zhang Yu's eyes were full of sharp light, at this moment, the gloomy and low-key image of the subordinate housekeeper could no longer be found in him, as if he was still recognized as a young inner boxing genius of the Song family twenty years ago! A peerless master who fights all over the Northland!

"Venerable Yan, they have been launched as promised! It's up to us now! ”

Cixi, who was sitting in the Leshou Hall, with two people raising their shoulders and rushing to the Yulan Hall with the guards and the stout eunuchs, also saw the fireworks exploding in the sky.

Chu Wanli, who was welcomed into his military camp by Lin Xu and others, and who slapped the table with them and argued loudly, also saw the fireworks in the sky.

Yuan Shikai, who was still waiting for news from Chu Wanli in the trench, and the children of the Praetorian Guard under the command of Yanqing Biao also saw the fireworks in the sky.

Tan Sitong, who was in front of the Prime Minister's Yamen, also looked up at the fireworks that were rising from all sides.

Millions of living beings in the entire Yanjing City also saw the fireworks in the sky.

Han Zhongping turned around sharply, stood on a high place and carried a foreign gun at the bottom of the stairs, full of bullets, and two revolvers in his waist, and the two hundred children who had been waiting quietly waved their hands hard.

"Kill!"

(To be continued)