In the early hours of the morning, outside a wall in the city of Harbin, several officers and soldiers of the Royal Guards stood there motionless, although compared to the south, the air in Harbin in March was still thick with a thick chill, and even the snow on the roofs had not completely melted, these officers and soldiers of the Guards stood in the cold wind.

This mansion was once the official residence of General Horvat, the head of the Russian Eastern Railway Administration, and because of Horvat's gray hair, the masses called him "General White-haired", and his mansion was called "General's Mansion of White Hair". Covering an area of 5,000 square meters, with a construction area of 500 square meters and a two-storey building, it is a European-style Russian style building.

After the redemption of the China Eastern Railway by the China Railway Company, this Russian-style official residence was semi-idle, and only after the dignitaries came to Harbin, it was temporarily lively, and after His Majesty the Emperor himself came to Harbin, this official residence naturally became the emperor's residence.

It was another sleepless night, and it seemed that since that nightmare, Chen Moran had never slept peacefully.

Why did you have that nightmare?

Maybe it's because of the revolution that Russia has successfully staged, maybe because of the revolution that Russia is about to usher in, maybe it's ...... Because of the fear of history!

Again, Chen Moran wore pajamas, walked to the window, opened the window, lit a cigar, and watched through the window the sun and the moon, and the sky from darkness to dawn...... The darkest of the long nights is not in the middle of the night, but before the dawn, and there is the darkness before the dawn, and at this time. It is the darkness before the dawn, and the same is generally true of society and life, and the darkest time is the dawn.

"Darkness before dawn!"

Looking at the pitch-black sky, Chen Moran whispered.

Now, isn't it the darkness before the dawn? This is true in Russia. The same is true for China.

Over the past three years, unlike other countries, China's imperial power has not been weakened, but has been further strengthened, and although on the surface it appears that the parliament has more power, in reality, it may have been superficially powerful. But behind all this, the imperial power was quietly strengthened with the help of the "special law in wartime", from the appointment of officials to the dispatch of the army. From the formulation of taxes to the right to declare war, the right to make a treaty, and so on, all problems were strengthened and resolved through the "special law in wartime."

Under the "special law in time of war". Chen Moran really enjoyed the feeling of "being in power" and "reigning over the world", which was certainly intoxicating, but on the other hand, he knew that maybe he was "moving against the tide of history". What will this "counter-current" face in the end?

Nightmare!

When that nightmare resurfaced in front of him again, Chen Moran, who had no reason, trembled suddenly. Even though he knew it was just a nightmare, he knew it. That nightmare may have been a sign of what would happen in China if that day came.

It would be a brutal civil war, in which millions of soldiers, and even hundreds of millions of civilians, would die, and everything they had cherished would be destroyed in a brutal civil war, a civil war that might have happened.

The army that they are most proud of may betray themselves and throw themselves into the camp of the "revolution", like the army of the Russian Empire, who betrayed the emperor, betrayed the oath, betrayed the ......

Is it possible that all this will happen in China?

For the future, for the first time, Chen Moran can't be sure, history has already changed, China's fate is completely different from history, but, what about another history?

If that happens, is it possible to compromise yourself? …,

"As an emperor, you can compromise with the people, but you must not compromise with violence!"

The lessons of history tell Chen Moran that when everything happens, perhaps, he will compromise with everything, perhaps, he will "return the government to the people", if it is a riot instigated by those people, is it possible for him to compromise?

Answer...... There was a very clear answer in Chen Moran's heart, and it was an extremely affirmative answer.

If all that happens, a civil war is inevitable, and in that civil war, there will be only one or only one in the end, either lose the continent yourself, or ......

Can......

Picking up a cigar, lighting a cigar, facing the cold wind, standing by the window, Chen Moran smoked a cigarette while thinking about the future, thinking about the future of the country, and thinking about how to avoid everything.

We must do everything possible to avoid all of that, and we must avoid all of that happening in China!

While Chen was thinking about it, the darkness before dawn finally ended, and the sky slowly began to white, and at this time, he finally got an answer.

"Whips, candy!"

At the moment when the night was torn apart by the dawn, Chen Moran spit out four words in his mouth, perhaps, it is time to raise the leather whip in his hand, and similarly, it is time to give the people a few candies!

"Whip ......"

Muttering, Chen Moran's eyes became cold, he looked out the window, knowing that if he wanted to raise this whip, he needed a motivation.

Guangzhou, after more than ten years of development, the city of Guangzhou has already developed from a port city to an industrial city, especially in the last three years, thanks to the European war, especially compared with the Yangtze River shortened by thousands of kilometers of navigation, the industry here is fully developed, but at the same time of industrial development, the power supply is a little tight. Because of this, in the urban area, the street lights that used to be lit in the sky will be turned off exactly at 12 o'clock, and will not be lit until 6:30 o'clock the next morning, and the reason for this is to save electricity for factory production, and the shortage of power supply may not be really alleviated until the end of the year, after the completion of the new power plant.

It was 5 a.m., but the street lights were still not on. Tonight is the sixth day of the first lunar month, the moonlight is obscured by clouds, it is undoubtedly a dark day, and the streets of the old town. The bluestone slabs that were smoothed by the footsteps of pedestrians were like bronze mirrors all over the ground, although it was dark in the moon, but they still exuded a faint glow.

At this moment, by the street lamp in the dark on the street corner, a man in a top hat stood in the shadows under the lamppost, and even though the patrol officers passed by several times, they did not notice the presence of this person. He was like a shadow, only in this shadow, and no one would notice his presence.

And in a courtyard deep in the alley, with the ringing of an alarm clock. A pair of lotus arms stretched out from inside the tent to press the alarm clock, and then a coquettish shout rang out from inside the tent.

"Master, it's six o'clock!"

"Hmm...... I'm going to get up! ”

There was another old voice in the tent, and in a few minutes the room was busy. But I saw a young woman waiting for an old man to dress. After a while, the old man, after a few words, left the door and departed through the door. If anyone is paying attention, they will see the old man leaving. I deliberately glanced left and right a few times, as if I was guarding against something.

Walk in the alleys. Yi Xueqing, who didn't go home overnight, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh lightly as a little "cautious", since ancient times, is it a beauty, think about it, if it weren't for her talent and appearance, how could she be lost, and if it wasn't for the identity of the speaker, I'm afraid I would have included her in the mansion a long time ago, and it would be like this. …,

But now, the identity of the speaker makes him have to have some scruples, although this concubine is not forbidden by the law, but in the case of the emperor Laozi only has a queen and no harem beauties, those fathers and nobles are often only married to one wife, and only a few people take concubines, although they often raise lovers outside, but there are some superficial efforts that always have to be done. Just like officials, at least during their tenure, they will not take concubines, so as not to fall into the hands of others.

For officials, as the speaker of the provincial council, Yi Xueqing knows that I don't know how many people are staring at him, maybe, they will use this matter to attack him in the parliament, so every time he comes here, he is cautious and careful, and even does not bring his cronies, but just comes alone.

Just as he was walking around the alley, at this time, a house on the side of the alley was lit up, and the light illuminated the originally dark alleyway, although the road was better, but he still hurriedly lowered his head, although he knew that few people got up at this time, but it was better to be careful.

Here it comes......

By the light, the person in the shadow under the lamppost put his hand in his pocket, and then he pretended to be casual, walked in the other direction, and when he walked out dozens of meters away, he turned around and walked back, and at this time, Yi Xueqing had already walked out of the alley, and walked over, just when the two were about to cross by side, Yi Xueqing took the initiative to press the brim of his hat.

"Speaker Yi!"

Just as the two of them were shoulder-to-shoulder, the man suddenly turned around and shouted.

"Huh? What's up? ”

Instinctively, Yi Xueqing turned around and answered, but the moment he turned around, he unexpectedly saw that person was holding a ...... in his hand Flash, perhaps, this is the last thing Yi Xueqing saw, maybe, maybe there is that face without a trace of emotion.

"Bang!"

The crisp sound of gunfire echoed on the streets in the early hours of the morning, followed by several shots, the bullet accurately hit Yi Xueqing's chest, and after firing several shots, the one immediately turned around and quickened his pace and left the scene, and at this time the police whistle sounded in Guangzhou......

On March 29, the sixth day of the second lunar leap month, in the vast sky of northern China, a white four-engine biplane large aircraft was flying quietly at an altitude of 3,000 meters like a big white bird.

According to the emperor's request, this large passenger plane made a special trip to transport Prime Minister Guan Mingtang to Harbin. In the cabin, the bright sunlight shines through the windows. Guan Mingtang, who was dressed in a fur coat to resist the chill in the cabin, leaned on the soft seat, flipping through the various government affairs materials he had just received before boarding the plane, and his calm demeanor revealed a few solemnities on the surface.

As the prime minister, he can be said to be the busiest person in the country, as a minister, he needs to be responsible to the emperor and the parliament, but in fact, everyone knows that he only needs to be responsible for the emperor, and the cabinet ministers are appointed by the emperor, and in terms of wordplay, they need to be responsible for the parliament, but everyone knows that the only person they need to be responsible for is the emperor, but. Since becoming prime minister, Guan Mingtang has been trying to reconcile the relationship between the two, just as he took the initiative to perform his duties in the parliament at the beginning of the year. By performing his duties to the Diet and being questioned by the members of the Diet, he acted as a bridge between the Diet and the Emperor.

It is precisely because of this that in Chinese political circles, Guan Mingtang has always been regarded as the "reformist leader of the royalist party", it can be said that many people are full of expectations for him, and many people believe that the emperor has slowed down his power in recent years. It was Guan Mingtang who tried his best to promote, but only he knew that the emperor's will was unshakable.

Those powers are just the power that His Majesty has released on his own initiative, and he is tightening it as he releases. Your Majesty's political skills are becoming more and more sophisticated. …,

At this time, a female air sergeant with a graceful posture came over and told him with the gentleness characteristic of a Jiangnan girl:

"Your Excellency, the plane is expected to arrive at the Harbin Military Airport at 6 p.m."

"Oh!"

Responding lightly, Guan Mingtang didn't care about the time of arriving in Harbin, for Guan Mingtang. Although this sudden summoning made him curious, now his mind was haunted by the terrible situation, and he could not get rid of it at all.

The revolution in Russia came very suddenly. Suddenly, it almost made Guan Mingtang unbelievable, it seemed that everything that happened in Russia was like God's will. It is irresistible to manpower.

That night, he was on business. Dealing with a seemingly insignificant matter, but in fact a very significant matter - the increase of the lunch allowance for the students of the state elementary and junior high schools by two cents, when the telephone rings - the bell is not hurried and loud, everything is normal.

Then he naturally picked up the telephone receiver, and when the official on duty at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told him that Mikhail had disappeared from the abdication, Guan Mingtang was dumbfounded, and he didn't even know what to say for a long time.

The official told him on the phone that Tsar Mikhail of the Russian Empire had abdicated, and at least according to the announcement of the Provisional Committee, Mikhail, for patriotic reasons, decided to return power to the people and chose to abdicate, what does this mean? This meant that the Russian Empire henceforth ceased to exist.

"Didn't we show any support for Mikhail?"

What patriotic reasons, Guan Mingtang didn't believe it at all, he naturally knew something about the turmoil in Russia, but now Mikhail's abdication is really beyond people's expectations, didn't the embassy say something?

"According to His Majesty's will, we should not get too involved in the internal affairs of Russia!"

"How did I not know about this beforehand?"

The answer of the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only shocked Guan Mingtang, before that, he knew nothing in advance, and it can even be said that it was diametrically opposed to his decision, you know, he supports China in the Russian civil war, and appropriately shows his attitude, especially after Mikhail succeeds to the throne, he should show support for him, and when necessary, the expeditionary force can directly accept Mikhail's command, without considering the attitude of those Russian generals.

But the answer of the Foreign Ministry official made him at a loss.

He wanted to ask His Majesty the reason, but His Majesty took a train to Heilongjiang Province to inspect, saying that he was going to inspect the expeditionary force, which was no longer composed of Japanese troops, but Chinese troops, but the Imperial Guard, as an emperor, as an emperor of soldiers, he naturally needed to see off his own soldiers.

Just as he was pondering the wording and trying to figure out why, news came from Russia that Tsar Mikhail had died at the hands of a mob, and that he had died by such a "chance" - to protect a duchess.

Conspiracy!

Almost immediately, these two words came to Guan Mingtang's mind, this is definitely a conspiracy!

But who is behind the conspiracy?

Maybe it's the Provisional Government, maybe it's ......

However, in the following time, the current situation did not give him much time to think about these issues, and as prime minister, he had to think about how to deal with the new Russia, a Russia without a tsar, after all, China has too many interests in Russia.

On the other hand, he urgently needed to see His Majesty in order to ascertain His Majesty's attitude, and at that moment he received a telegram from the Harbin Palace, asking him to go to Harbin, where the plane was ready for him at the military airport.

At this time, the plane was flying at an even speed above the clouds, and Guan Mingtang was flipping through some documents, and a cloud of chagrin passed through his heart from time to time, as the prime minister, he could clearly feel that His Majesty had left him too many questions.

"Why did His Majesty go over him and give an order directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?"

Until now, sitting on this royal plane to Harbin, he still can't forget the shocked expression he showed when he learned the news.

Is this not trusted?

Closing a document that he had read, Guan Mingtang rested his head on the soft back seat for a while.

Probably not!

He believed that His Majesty could not be, and he would not believe him, but ...... There are always some questions and puzzles, this time I went to Harbin, Your Majesty can ......

Thinking to himself, he opened another document, and the document was a telegram - the assassination of the speaker of the Guangdong Provincial Assembly!

What, this ...... What's going on?

Looking at the telegram in astonishment, this is a telegram sent by the Guangdong Provincial Government, Yi Xueqing, the speaker of the Guangdong Provincial Assembly, was attacked by assassins in the early hours of this morning, and died of several bullets. (To be continued......)