"The New Year will be celebrated on the 15th day, which is the festival that our Chinese nation has inherited for 4,000 years. This is a day to worship heaven and earth, pray for the New Year, this is a day for family reunion, worship ancestors, and it is also a day to visit relatives and friends, and rejoice. But the next four years from now on have nothing to do with you. Guangxu's tone was deep and resolute.

When the sky was bright, the officials of the Guozijian took thousands of students into the palace to listen to the emperor's instructions. Outside the Taihe Palace, there are nearly 2,000 people standing in a crowd, which is the second batch of students who are about to be sent to study in Western countries since Guangxu was in power. Unlike the previous batch, this group of people is more engaged in scientific research and industrial production technicians, which are carefully selected from major factories during the year, especially in the steel industry. In order to win more study places in the steel industry, the cost is indeed quite large.

Why do you want to watch others cross, ask for money for money, and ask for guns and cannons. But when it came to me, the development of artillery was delayed and there were problems in shipbuilding...... The traverser is one who can guide the direction and come up with concepts. But when it comes to turning a concept into a real thing, it requires real industrial power. This kind of thing cannot be brought or grabbed, and no matter how much talent is plundered abroad, it can only play an accelerating role. Every steel plate and every steel bar has to be hammered out by China's own workers. There is no golden finger here, there is no magic power here, we can have the direction of contention, we can have a faster method than others, but the improvement of industrial capacity can only be little by little accumulation, little by little precipitation, no tricks. Therefore, these thousands of outstanding technicians have been carefully selected and let them study and further their studies, in order to better serve the country in the future.

They were originally scheduled to go abroad in Shanghai on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, but due to changes in domestic conditions, they moved to Beijing. Because of the struggle for Cixi's discipline, he chose the fifteen days before the Chinese New Year. Because the Western powers demanded it in advance, because the emperor wanted to entrust it personally, but the workers and students could only accept it if they were reluctant. For ordinary people, them. The imperial banquet that can walk into the Forbidden City, see the emperor with your own eyes, and be rewarded by the emperor may be more important than the Chinese New Year. After all, there must be a year every year, but to see the emperor, maybe this is only this time in this life. So they all came, and Guozijian arranged for them to eat and lodging, and then walked into the Forbidden City under the leadership of the Guozijian officials and stood in front of the Taihe Palace. In front of the Taihe Palace, standing is the emperor of the Great Qing Kingdom.

"In the past, China was rich in land and treasures, with exquisite art that amazed the world, and four great inventions that changed history. Looking around the world, I am the only one. We have passed the iron hoof to the north, and we have gone seven times to the south to the South Sea. Crossing Japan to the east and the Silk Road to the west. Even if there was civil strife, it was never conquered. However, the day when civil strife is calmed down is the time when the Chinese nation is united. We have built a powerful Han dynasty. We have built a glorious Tang Dynasty. All the countries in the world surrendered, and all the nations in the world came to the court. This is the Chinese nation. This is the Magnificent China. We are a well-deserved kingdom of the Celestial Empire. We are rightfully the big empire. To this day, we are still proud of the legacy of our ancestors. ”

Guangxu slowly walked down the high platform, walking slowly but firmly. Guangxu slowly walked into the crowd, and the words in his mouth were strong and powerful.

"When pride slowly turned into pride, the Chinese nation began to indulge in pride and arrogance. Start resting on your laurels. I always thought that Lao Tzu was the first in the world, and I always thought that the kingdom of heaven would always belong to us. But they forget that time is still moving forward and the world is changing. The once boss empire began to grow old slowly in pride and complacency. ”

"When the artillery of the Western powers opens the country. The roar of the cannonballs woke up the world, and we suddenly looked up to find that someone had overtaken us. The former boss of the empire is furious, and he rises up to fight back to regain his former pride. However, the swords, guns, swords, and halberds that once made the Chinese nation powerful in the world are so weak and powerless in the face of the rifles and cannons of the Western powers. The repeated revolts and failures have made us disheartened, and at the same time, they have also been accompanied by the signing of unequal treaties. Finally, the once boss empire went from being accustomed to glory to being accustomed to humiliation. The country began to sink, and the Chinese nation went into decline. ”

"Fortunately, not all of them have sunk. Some people of insight wanted to catch up, and they put down the rebellion internally and introduced advanced weapons externally. They want to 'learn from their skills to improve themselves'. Because of them, chimneys were erected and factories were built. Their decades of hard work finally bore fruit, the state tax increased, the Qing Dynasty also had the first fleet in Asia, and it was they who created Tongzhi Zhongxing. They are Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Hu Linyi, and Li Hongzhang. ”

"When we thought that Tongzhi was starting to ZTE, when we were already starting to catch up with the world. The guns of the Yellow Sea rang out, and the First Asian Fleet, which cherished Japan, sank under Japanese artillery fire. With the defeat of Asan and the loss of Pyongyang, the Huai army, which we thought was the most elite in the Qing Dynasty, was defeated on the Korean battlefield. Japan, a small country that studied Chinese writing, culture, and institutions, and was once behind China's thousand-year-old brother, slapped China in the face with two slaps as soon as he came up, and China was blinded. The Tongzhi Zhongxing that we were excited to think was like a joke, but it was just a laugh. China is beginning to ask: What is wrong with the world? ”

"But who knows, before the Sino-Japanese war began, some people concluded that the Qing Dynasty would be defeated. He was Bismarck, Germany's iron-blooded chancellor. He said: 'In the competition between China and Japan, Japan will win, and China will lose. This is because the people who came to Europe from Japan discussed all kinds of scholarship and paid attention to political principles, and sought to return to China to make fundamental changes. And when the Chinese came to Europe, they only asked how the guns of a certain factory were built and what was their value. If you buy it back, forget it. Just when we were still self-righteous and thought that Tongzhi was in the middle of the war, they in Germany in Europe had already seen the reason for China's failure: they only had its tools, and they did not know its reason. ”

"Yes, in the end we won. Because by the Liao River, from the emperor to the soldiers, we are united and hold on to it; In the rear of the battlefield, from the officials to the common people, we were united and helped each other. The warriors were brave and did not retreat in the face of enemy fire; The people worked hard to deliver grain to the front. At sea, the battered Beiyang Fleet not only escorted the Marines to recapture the Ryukyus, a former vassal, but also annihilated a division in Yeongseong Bay. Because of unity, they fought to the death in the naval battle in which Japan had the upper hand, and finally waited for the Pacific Fleet. The united Chinese are strong people. From ancient times to the present day, we have not been conquered. Because of unity, there is a great victory in the Liaohe River. Because of unity, there is a great victory in Rongcheng Bay. So remember, no matter when and where, we have to unite, and only a united China can be invincible. ”

For today's speech, Guangxu has been preparing for three days. The script of the speech was changed and changed, and finally it became today's passionate speech. The subdued words and the powerful waving of his arms shocked the hearts of everyone present. The students deeply felt the passion of the emperor. The adrenaline that is being induced at the command of the central nervous system is increasing exponentially, blood pressure is rising, and the heart is beating faster. The emperor described the victory as so exciting that the blood-soaked and flushed students had forgotten that they were being blown by the cold winds of winter.

Just when the students of Guozijian entered the Forbidden City, at the same time as Guangxu gave a passionate speech. The ministers in the imperial city are washing and changing their clothes. Prepare to meet the emperor for the first time since the government. Far away in the Fengtai camp and the Xishan Jianrui camp, the soldiers began to assemble with hazy eyes. And in the Yamen of the Admiralty of the Nine Gates. Rong Lu has long been seated.

When the sun rises. The nine gates of the capital were opened at the same time, and the Gyeonggi garrisons of Fengtai and Xishan began to enter the city intermittently. The chaotic footsteps and whispered scolding disturbed the people of the capital who got up early to beg for a living, and the people complained incomprehensibly: These Qiu Bada don't sleep early in the morning, and what are they messing with?

But none of this affected Guangxu who gave a speech in front of the Taihe Palace.

"Yes, in the end we won. Regardless of naval or land battles, we defeated Japan. But who ever thought. The weapons and warships that we used to defeat Japan did not, the same domestically produced. This is very similar to what the German Chancellor said before the war: 'Only the instrument, not the reason'. Some people will say, "It's okay to buy it." Yes. We can buy it, but we will always be at the mercy of others. What if one day people don't buy it from us anymore? Do you want to do it again and sign another treaty? No, never. ”

"The ancestors passed down a sentence thousands of years ago: It is better to ask for someone than to ask for it. So here you are, I have selected you elites from among the 45,000,000 people in the country and sent you abroad to study. You are the hope of the country and the future of the country. We don't want to make the same jokes as Zhizhongxing, I am waiting for you to come back and work with me to rejuvenate China. ”

"Living abroad with different languages and customs is hard, but I have prepared translators and arranged officials for you, and they will take care of your life. Your only task abroad is to study, study, and re-study. Be humble and cautious, be humble and specialize in research, learn all the knowledge that we do not have and lack in China, and put it into your brain. Put all your mind down and study, and there are officials abroad who will take care of your life. At home, I will also take care of your family and make them feel free to eat and drink. You have to bring back the advanced knowledge of the Western powers, and then let it go little by little, and turn it into mines and factories. Let the boiling molten steel in your hands be like a tame river, turning into pieces of steel, and then into rifles and warships to defend your homeland. ”

"Not all of you are studying steel manufacturing, but also military affairs, management, and economics. It doesn't matter what you learn, just remember that we've been too far behind. Step by step, step by step, if we don't catch up, the future of the country will be even more bleak. ”

"You can study with confidence. I will not be idle in the time you are away. I will work hard to make money, so that when you return to China to display your talents, you will not fall into the embarrassment of having no money to use; I will work hard to recruit soldiers and give them the best training possible, so that the generals can return home and lead the elite soldiers to guard the frontier; We will strive to be honest and honest, and build an environment for you to give full play to your strengths. I will strive to build a more reasonable economic structure, so that the national economy will move towards a virtuous circle......" Guangxu let out a long breath: "If the country wants to rejuvenate and the nation to rejuvenate, it is not up to the emperor. Nor does it depend on a few ministers, he needs every Chinese to work together. It is my responsibility for the rise and fall of the country. This sentence is not only useful for Shu, but also for every Chinese. ”

"Go, go. I have arranged a luncheon for you to see you off, and after your last meal in your home country, it will be three and a half years of studying abroad. You have a long way to go, and I hope you will take care of your health. I'm still waiting for you to come back......"

Before Guangxu's words fell, a crisp gunfire rang out in the west.

What happened? Listening to Guangxu's speech, the students who were boiling with enthusiasm all frowned. Then there's the north, the south, and the west. For a time, the entire Forbidden City was surrounded by gunfire.

"Report-" A blood-stained guard rushed in: "Emperor Qi, the Fengtai battalion has mutinied and is attacking Xihuamen, and the minions and other troops are not enough to defend, and there are no reinforcements to be sent at each gate." Please also ask the emperor to make a decision as soon as possible. After saying that, he gave a military salute and left quickly.

Then the north, south, and west came to report. The students understood that the Fengtai battalion, the Xishan Ruijian battalion, the Jiumen Admiral Yamen, and the generals of the defeated army in Nacang Prefecture launched a rebellion together. The students were at a loss for a moment and panicked. The emperor in the crowd was steady, although he didn't say a word, but his calm expression quickly calmed down the students who had just started the riot, and looked at their emperor quietly.

Guangxu Fu walked back to the stage and said loudly: "What should come is always coming." Let's make the storm more violent. (To be continued......) (To be continued......)