In 1902, Dalian, like the Northeast, was already like a volcano erupting with flames, noisy and boiling, the burning air melting everything in the world, and the frenzy that had never been seen before permeated the sky over this area. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

Overnight, the strange and familiar term "national" spread to every corner of the Northeast, and more importantly, people experienced the strange pride that only exists in the history books.

In the face of Russia, the world's largest country, which can be called a "Western powerhouse", the Northeast, which is regarded as a weak country and is not even a country, has taken the initiative to challenge with its own meager strength. In the Chinese, there is no chance of winning this time anyway.

Even when the war broke out, many people thought that the governor was crazy, but regardless of the three seven twenty-one rushing over and a dozen, they actually won many battles, and the 36 million people in the northeast suddenly got carried away, and were suddenly a little confused by the impact of this victory, and the Chinese experienced unprecedented national excitement.

How could this not be.

Before this, Chinese had never had the experience of being "national", and there was no concept of a country in their lives. They are just residents of a certain village at most a region, and for them, they don't even know that the so-called "emperor" is just a "colonial ruler", for them, whether it is a Han emperor or a Manchu emperor, it is just a master who pays taxes and pays grain, as for who is the emperor What does it matter to them?

As the saying goes, "the country does not know that there are people, and the people do not know that there is a country". But long before the establishment of the Governor's Palace, the Governors of the Three Eastern Provinces had purposefully introduced the very modern concept of what was called "state" in Europe. At the same time, it also draws on the European "national view" and introduces the "Huayi debate" to establish the national view of the Chinese people.

The Governor's Offices of the three eastern provinces took great pains to instill in the people the concept of the state and the people. Therefore, I want to cultivate --- Chinese citizens. And this notion. In fact, it is to inculcate the "concept of loyalty". This is based on the traditional thinking of traditional Chinese culture, but compared with the old "loyalty", the "concept of loyalty" at this time is more involved in the country, nationality and other things, and of course, the indoctrination of "behavioral shame", all of which is either active or passive indoctrination, affecting the people in Northeast China little by little.

Unlike any province in the interior, the Northeast has a limited number of residents, with more than 30 million mainlanders moving to the Northeast over the past decade. Their immigration training camps and settlements are systematically "rehabilitated", and those who have received national education are in the prime of life.

And now this war is to send these people to the battlefield, and what is even more amazing is probably the continuous victory. This kind of national excitement is to show the Chinese what the concept of the country and the people really is in the form of physical objects.

Although it is a war, it is not like the war in the old history books that will plunge the people's lives into misery. Although the government bears huge war expenditures, the people do not feel the pressure of taxation, of course, this is due to the economic control of the northeast and the many hidden taxes collected by hundreds of millions of acres of public cultivated land -- the "invisible tax" of more than 1 billion yuan a year not only supports the industrial construction of the northeast, but also supports the war.

In the aftermath of the outbreak of war, hundreds of journalists sent the most direct reports from the front, in the ice and snow, as if the brave and fearless soldiers were nibbling on cookies like soap. Fight in the snow and ice, but also in the bitter cold of the Far East. How they endured the cold wind of the piercing wind marched and fought, no different from the ancient wars.

In the eyes of people in China, such a victory scene is also imagined as the legend of those heroes and heroes in the Han and Tang dynasties, just like the sages and martyrs of the past dynasties, this kind of martial arts awakens the hidden sense of honor in people's hearts, and the people are willing to go crazy about it. And, of course, the premise of madness is victory

In the summer, when nearly 600,000 Russian troops were heavily surrounded, the army's major victory in the capture of Irkutsk had spread throughout Dalian, northeast China, and all corners of China. Crazy people poured into the streets, dancing and shouting. Streets, squares, parks, crowds, colorful flags fluttering, full of paper with the deafening sound of firecrackers flying everywhere, everywhere is the figure of the sun and moon flags.

At this time, the consciousness of superiority of race and country, which had been silent for more than 200 years, was once again permeated in the hearts of the people, and it had caused the entire Northeast and even the entire nation to fall into a kind of frenzied admiration for war. Although the casualties on the front line continued to increase, and despite the fact that the war expenditure was as high as more than a billion yuan, the war propaganda in the newspapers and the worship of heroes made them devote an astonishing enthusiasm to this war.

An American reporter in Dalian could not help but be amazed when he witnessed this scene, and it was difficult for him to even imagine that these people were Chinese, and even wrote in the report he sent back to China:

"Once, we all thought that Chinese was numb, but the Northeast has cast another kind of Chinese, they use strict laws and punishments to turn that numbness into dull and mechanical, the current Northeast people are different from the loose Kannai people, you can hardly believe that they are actually the same kind of people, the current Northeast people only know obedience, they have a strong sense of country, self-esteem, and their sense of honor is also unprecedented...... It is believed that such a country is the most dangerous, and after passing the change, they will do unexpected things anywhere at any time, and the United States must not take China lightly......"

Of course, the perception of the outside world does not prevent the people here from cheering for the victory, nor does it prevent the region from enjoying the impact of the victory, the impact of the victory is huge, and it has caused an unprecedented impact in all walks of life in the northeast, and this shock wave not only affects the northeast, but also affects the Kannai.

In a suite of the East Asia Hotel in Dalian, two guests from the mainland sat on the sofa, as if they were discussing something, the reason why it can be seen that the two are mainlanders, the reason is simple, nothing more than the horse coat and braids on the body, in the current Northeast, almost no braids, many people shave short hair, of course, there are many old people who regrow their hair, tie up the Han-style bun, and tie the hair into a bun on the top of the head. As for the costumes. You can't see Manchu-style horse coats either. In addition to Western-style clothing, there is also Chinese-style clothing, which has changed many things in ten years, and has also changed many customs.

Only those "mainlanders" wear horse coats, and it is not surprising that in the eyes of many radical Chinese, the "horse coat" symbolizes slavery as much as braids, and it is not surprising that they are ostracized.

"Nakado-sama's body is getting worse day by day......"

Sheng Xuanhuai looked at Zhang Peilun and sighed, since the adults in the middle hall were infected with the wind cold before the Spring Festival, his body has not been light. When the time is light and sometimes heavy, it also makes the entire Beiyang realize that there is not much time left for Lord Zhongtang.

"Hmmm......"

As Li Hongzhang's son-in-law, Zhang Peilun naturally knows his physical condition, which is even worse than the outside world imagines. Life is eighty years old, and Zhongtang is already eighty years old...... Thinking of this, Zhang Peilun couldn't help but sigh in his heart,

"Youqiao, do you think the eldest prince can hold up the façade of Beiyang?"

Sheng Xuanhuai asked tentatively, and he deliberately observed Zhang Peilun during the temptation.

"I heard. Zhongtang admires Yuan Weiting in Zhejiang, and the eldest prince is quite close to him for a while......"

Sheng Xuanhuai's temptation made Zhang Peilun's brows jump. The eldest son in his mouth refers to Li Jingfang, although he is the eldest son of Li Hongzhang in the clear sense, everyone knows that he is the son of Li Hongzhang's sixth brother Li Zhaoqing, and he was later succeeded as the eldest son. The real eldest son of Zhongtang is Li Jingshu.

Now as Zhongtang's body is getting worse day by day, there is a strange smell in the mansion that originally seemed to be a group of harmony, especially the eldest prince, who has made friends with the generals of the Zhulu Navy, and has a great intention of waiting for Zhongtang to take over Beiyang after a hundred years.

"I heard that the Northeast side is more inclined to the second son......"

Sheng Xuanhuai tried again, Lord Zhongtang's body is not as good as day by day, so he will plan very early, he knows better than anyone that Beiyang is no longer the opponent of the Northeast, as for the eldest prince, he is far from Tang Haoran's opponent, and the young man who seems to be a little restrained in the mansion for ten years, who would have thought that in just ten years, it will be difficult for Lord Zhongtang to shoot, and even this Chinese ......

"Xingsun, what about you?"

Zhang Peilun did not speak, but asked directly.

"Who do you think is more qualified to take charge of Beiyang?"

This rhetorical question seems a bit cursing, if you don't understand Zhang Peilun, you will definitely think that he is angry, but everyone who understands him can get Sheng Xuanhuai but he knows that he is also not at ease with those two sons, in fact, few people are at ease when they are sober.

"Son, hmm...... Nakado-sama seems to have said eight characters. ”

Sheng Xuanhuai did not evaluate, but quoted Li Hongzhang's evaluation, which was just a simple eight-character - "My son's scripture is overwhelmed", but this just shows that Lord Zhongtang is not optimistic about it,

"As for the second son, his temperament is too filial, and the person who is filial, ...... filial"

With a sigh, Sheng Xuanhuai cast his gaze into the distance and sighed.

"It's not a blessing to be born in this world and preside over one party!"

Born in this world...... Sheng Xuanhuai didn't use troubled times to describe this era, but Zhang Peilun didn't know that now it's just that troubled times are coming.

"Then in your opinion, who can be in charge of Beiyang?"

"Youqiao, you know, I know ......"

Squinting, looking at the friend in front of him who came to Dalian with him, the corners of Sheng Xuanhuai's lips lifted slightly.

"The question now is not who will be in charge of Beiyang, but what if...... When the time comes, who can stop Tang Ziran's ambition......"

With his chin slightly in the other direction, Sheng Xuanhuai said with a sigh.

"Tang Ziran is a person who doesn't make a hit, it's just a blockbuster, ten years ago, who would have thought that he would have today? Now he has more than one million strong troops, and after he defeats Russia, he will definitely wave his army south, Youqiao, do you think the eldest prince and the second prince are Tang Ziran's opponents? The middle hall is in the ......."

The words sank slightly, and Sheng Xuanhuai looked at Zhang Peilun thoughtfully.

"Tang Ziran will remember the old feelings, but if he goes to the middle hall...... When the time comes......"

At that time, no one will be able to stop Tang Ziran anymore!

"Ten years ago, everyone in the world knew that Tang Ziran was a rebel, but now, no one in this world knows Tang Dashuai, who doesn't know that Tang Dashuai is not a loyal minister of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, but he is a loyal minister of China......

Troubled times are coming!

For the sober people, they will not cheer because of the victory of the Northeast, every victory in the Northeast, in their opinion, is a reminder, are the signal of the coming troubled times, if the hall is to leave, when the time comes, if the big China, who can stop the Northeast? Even the current middle hall...... And by what strength is it to rely on?

"Troubled times, ......"

sighed, Zhang Peiqiao's expression looked very solemn, maybe other people don't know why Zhongtang still goes to be the "loyal minister" until now, but he knows very well that Zhongtang is not unable to be a "chaotic minister and thief", nor does he dare, but he does not want to see the world in misery, but who has experienced the turmoil of twisting, and has experienced the catastrophe of the four to the world, how many people are willing to come to the troubled times again?

And now...... This troubled world is coming.

"Maybe ...... then"

"What about then?"

His eyes opened slightly, Sheng Xuanhuai stared at Zhang Peilun and said.

"When the time comes, when the army moves south, how can the big guy be willing to let the horse go to Nanshan and be a foot valley man? Others don't say it, the eldest prince ......"

The corners of his lips raised slightly, and Sheng Xuanhuai said in a tone full of mockery,

"I really don't believe that the eldest prince will be willing to change his name and become a minister at that time, and then he will ......"

When the time comes, we have to fight, and what will be destroyed at that time? It is not only the hard work of Lord Zhongtang who has been ruined all his life, not only the glory and wealth of the Li family, but also the glory and wealth of the big guy, and the future of the big guy.

Unlike others, maybe Sheng Xuanhuai's wealth is tied to Beiyang, but he is a businessman after all, he will never hang himself on a tree, Beiyang is just a tree, deep down in his heart, he knows better than anyone else, maybe Tang Haoran is far inferior to others in terms of qualifications, but Tang Haoran is young, he has already survived several governors, whether it is Lord Zhongtang or Zhang Nanpi, they are all old, who among the children and grandchildren can compete with Tang Haoran, that is, Zhang Peilun in front of him, the son-in-law of the Li family, how can he compete with Tang Haoran? Besides, how could he allow others to ruin the hard work of Lord Zhongtang, even the eldest prince!

Because of this, in fact, after realizing that Lord Zhongtang's time was running out, he had already made up his mind, and now he was taking a few people to handle this matter together.

"Brother, let's come to Dalian this time, first, to discuss and buy things, and second, ......"

After a slight pause, Sheng Xuanhuai said in a very slight voice.

"There are a few friends, brother, you have also met, in short, whether the brother wants it or not, the old middle hall ...... The era of Beiyang is over! Brother, now you and I can only take advantage of the opportunity to try to preserve Lao Zhongtang's life's hard work! Don't let people be cheap for nothing......" (To be continued.) )