Before the trip, Yang Hao equipped Li Hongzhang with the top guards in China, all of whom were composed of masters from the National Art Hall and the internal guard.

In addition, the Japanese were also afraid that certain uncalm organizations would take risks, and in particular, a large number of policemen were assigned to the negotiation site, and they did not dare to say that they were impervious to the wind and rain, and at least there would not be a large group of thugs rushing out to spread the wilderness.

It seems to be a foolproof defense, but there are still loopholes! The streets were crowded with a large number of people who were attracted to it, and even if there were guards to open the way, it was still crowded and bustling as far as the eye could see.

Li Hongzhang was impatiently surrounded by many people who hugged him back and forth, and he still had to see the scenery everywhere, and his burly body was so conspicuous in the crowd, like fireflies in the night, how could he not hide from everyone's eyes.

So, in the midst of the noise, the assassin who suddenly jumped out took out his revolver without warning, and was about ten meters away from about-you-you-small-say-more-new-fastest-WWW.UUXS.CC-ten meters away, and there were many tourists in the middle to cover it, and he suddenly pulled out his gun and shot while moving forward, which caught everyone off guard!

The leader of the guards had the sharpest eyes, and he didn't even see the assassin's appearance clearly, but only caught a glimpse of the abnormality of his actions out of the corner of his eye, and immediately shouted: "Everyone be careful! ”

He threw himself forward sideways, and pushed the visitor who was in the way with one palm.

At that moment, the gunshots rang out!

The assassin didn't know if he was well-trained, or if he hit by mistake, and while opening his mouth and howling, his fingers pulled the trigger and threw it straight, and almost at the moment when the muzzle of the gun was flattened, the bullet "banged" out, and pulled one after another, and two more bullets were fired!

This hand. Like a cowboy in an American western. Pull the trigger before shooting. It's hard to prevent!

The well-trained guards inevitably made mistakes in judgment, and the first bullet was fired at a speed of 0/1 second in advance, grazing his arm and flying against Li Hongzhang's scalp, but he successfully tore off a handful of hair, and blood gushed out immediately, dyeing half of the old man's face red, so it's not scary!

The other two rounds were stopped by the guards in body armor. In the next moment, the tourist who was slapped by him slapped by his palm seemed to have been hit by a battering ram, and the two of them took off with their feet and smashed them into the air, smashing the assassin who still wanted to continue firing bullets to the ground!

The plainclothes guards in the crowd swooped down, disarmed them with all their hands and feet, and twisted them fiercely.

Behind, Li Hongzhang's scream frightened the followers to the heart, and when they saw the old man's blood flowing all over his face, he was so frightened that his soul was about to fly!

Li Jingshu is on the side. I was almost hit by that bullet, and I still had the roar of the projectile breaking through the air in my ears. The group of eyes was stained with blood and could no longer tolerate other colors, and screamed and stepped forward to check.

It was just such a second-long gap that the surrounding guards gathered like lightning and surrounded Li Hongzhang. One of them, who knew medical skills, immediately checked and found that there was no fatal injury, so he quickly took out a first-aid kit from the suitcase and covered the wound, and the other people all got up to set up the old man, rushed to the car that followed behind in three or two steps, rolled up a puff of smoke and went straight to the beach!

At the same time, an accompanying communicator pressed the emergency call switch, and the wireless signal, symbolizing the highest level of warning, immediately spread throughout the Chunfan Tower's left-behind negotiation team and the fleet on the sea.

Liu Buyun has been staying with the fleet in the coastal waters of Maguan, and all the ships are in a state of fire readiness, ready to anchor and start at any time. Leng Buding saw the red light in the command center, his face changed suddenly, and he shouted in a deep voice: "Contact the shore immediately and ask what is going on!" Order all ships to enter the first level of red alert! ”

The mournful whistle and the flag rose together, the personnel of the large and small warships scattered on the sea ran away, the orders echoed, the heavy iron anchors were pulled up by the chimney, the billowing black smoke columns came out of the chimneys, and the naval guns uncovered their gun coats and aimed at the shore from a distance, eyeing the tiger!

The communications officer immediately connected the radio, and after a brief inquiry, he changed his face and reported: "Report to the commander, Special Envoy Li has been assassinated and wounded, and is withdrawing towards our fleet!" ”

"What?!" Liu Buyun screamed, and he was full of color!

Li Hongzhang, that is the old chief and old benefactor who single-handedly supported him to today. Although the world has changed over time, there is no domination between them. But whether it is Liu Buyun or the old brother of the Beiyang Naval Division, there are few who do not miss their old feelings. As a Chinese, if you don't know gratitude, then you are unfaithful and unjust.

He never imagined that the Japanese would be so mad that a cloud of anger rose in his chest as if it had exploded, and he smashed his fist on the chart table with a "bang", and resolutely ordered: "Order the escort detachment to immediately move forward to respond!" All ships are loaded with shells and ready to fire for cover! His grandmother's little Japanese, which is not want to live anymore! ”

The warning flag, which had just risen to the top of the mast, was immediately replaced by the battle flag, and the long whistles of the various battleships were in unison, and the turret rotation movement and the swaying hull shook endlessly, and a tense and solemn atmosphere permeated!

Three gunshots rang out, which was exceptionally clear in the small Maguan City, and this place was not far from Chunfan Tower, which was enough for the people inside to hear clearly.

Mutsu Munemitsu and a group of Japanese negotiators are discussing the details of the third round of negotiations, thinking about how to cut down some conditions on the basis of the second round. But because of the party's complete refusal to give in, the gap with the other party's sky-high requirements is too big, no matter how you negotiate, I don't think it's cost-effective. They were also worried that bargaining too hard would arouse Li Hongzhang's disgust, and they would pick on someone to stop the negotiation halfway, which would make it very difficult for them to do it.

The mediators of the nations are also intensively deliberating on countermeasures, hoping to extract huge benefits from them. Both the Americans and the Russians, in particular, wanted to get something from the Japanese that their country craved.

Russia needed an ice-free port in the Far East, and it was originally optimistic about China's Lushun, but now it has no hope, so it retreats to the next best thing, trying to find a bargain from Japan.

The United States was preparing to snatch Spain's colonies, but Yang Hao took the lead, they were keenly aware that the competition in the Pacific Ocean would inevitably rise, and if they didn't do it, the United States would be isolated on the American continent tens of thousands of kilometers away.

Britain, France and other countries have lost their Chinese concessions and garrison privileges, and urgently need a transit point in the Pacific, or a bridgehead for Chinese mercenaries. Persimmon pick up soft pinch. They also have their eyes on Japan's good ports.

Although Japan has opened its doors before. The hands of all nations came in. But after all, there is no complete control. Now, without China's big piece of fat meat in their mouths, they can only retreat to the next best thing, and first take advantage of Japan, a market of 50 million people.

Anyway, it is clear that it is going to be cleaned up by the Chinese, and it is better for the big guys to start together and get a piece of the pie.

While both sides were discussing, they suddenly heard gunshots outside, and they were suddenly taken aback and hurriedly opened the window. Or rush out of the house to check on the situation.

In the distance, I saw chaos in the market, and some people stumbled into Chunfan Tower, shouting in a different tone: "Oh no, the Chinese envoy Li has been assassinated!" ”

"Mud?!"

Mutsu Somitsu felt that it was dark in front of him, and he almost fainted on the spot!

I'm really afraid of something. At the most critical moment of this kind of negotiation, a calm wind and waves are the most important, and suddenly jump out at the moment or something, this kind of thing is the most boring!

He rushed out regardless of decency, and grabbed the messenger. Splitting his head and asking: "What is the situation, make it clear!" ”

The man who came was almost lifted off the ground by his feet. The trachea with the neck collar is not breathing, and he is clucking and holding his breath. But in the end, it was the sense of mission that prevailed, and he desperately squeezed out the words from his throat: "It seems that someone from my country shot and assassinated Lord Li, Lord Li should have been shot, and now he is being carried by the guards to the beach!" ”

Mutsu Otsu's naked body was weak, as if his bones had been sucked away, and he sat on the ground with his ass scattered, his eyes scattered, and he muttered, "It's over!" It's all over! The Chinese will definitely use this as an excuse to make a big offer, and our previous efforts have been wasted! ”

Many people in the delegation reported that they were even more fierce than him, and even lay on the ground and cried.

The pressure on them is just too great these days. The future and fate of the entire empire are pressed on their weak little shoulders, and if they are not careful, they may leave a reputation for eternity. They were terrified, walking on thin ice as if they were on the edge of the abyss, and they did not dare to slack off in the slightest. But I never expected that they didn't drop the chain, but they would be affected by their pig teammates.

At this moment, all the members of the delegation hated the community forces in China who liked to do their own thing, and gritted their teeth and hated that they couldn't go back and cut off all of them without a single one!

Li Hongzhang was assassinated, negotiations were inevitably suspended, and China's retaliation followed, how could the Japanese Empire resist?!

Just when everyone was collectively lost, the public hope of Xiyuan Temple, who had been silent in it, stepped forward and stood in front of everyone and shouted: "Cheer me up!" Things haven't gotten to the point where they can't be cleaned up! Everyone, put away your weak cries at once, take up your responsibilities, and think about how to survive the crisis in front of you! ”

A dejected delegate laughed miserably: "What else can we do? Master Li Hongzhang represents the face of China, and if he is assassinated, the Chinese will surely retaliate mercilessly. The Empire doesn't even have a decent warship right now, and they can hit any city with shells at any time! It's over, it's over! ”

"Rubbish! It's a shame on the Yamato nation! Xiyuan Temple Gongwang rushed up, kicked the man over, turned around and glared at Mutsu Munemitsu, "Your Excellency Foreign Minister, you have always been a decisive person, now you must be strong, don't be a woman!" At the very least, it is not too late to find out the truth about the assassin and find out that Master Li was injured. ”

After all, Mutsu Somitsu is an assertive person, and giving him such a stimulus makes him feel a lot more stable. He struggled to get up holding the arms of others, refocused his eyes, and bowed ninety degrees to Xiyuan Temple: "Hey! Thank you for the reminder! ”

Turning his head, his cheeks twisted, and he gritted his teeth and shouted: "Gentlemen, even if we already have the consciousness of death in our hearts, we must do our best to complete our mission!" Now, I ask everyone to cheer up and do everything possible to retain the Chinese negotiating team! Xiyuan Temple-kun, I ask you to go and find out the truth about the assassins. Rest of you, please follow me and immediately chase after Master Li! Action, hurry up! ”

Regardless of whether they were really strained or pretended to be strong, in short, under the strong impetus of the two leaders, the Japanese delegation regained its strength, rushed out of Chunfan Tower, and rushed to the place of the accident.

At this time, Li Hongzhang had already been sent to the beach by car by the guards, and immediately boarded the speedboat that responded. Transferred to a medical supply ship. The most detailed examination is carried out by the accompanying military doctor. The result was a relief for everyone. The old man was only a little frightened by the fact that he had only scratched his skin.

Li Hongzhang was really frightened, he never expected that the Japanese would be so bold. Regardless of whether the assassin was spontaneous or arranged, in short, he was such a noble and big man who was shot at a critical juncture in the negotiations, and the Japanese in the black pot were determined.

Liu Buyun rushed to visit angrily and asked murderously, "Enxiang." Are we going to immediately launch a punitive blow against Japan? ”

Li Hongzhang waved his hand a little angrily: "Don't act rashly first." If you want to do it, you must first get the approval of Commander-in-Chief Yang, and secondly, the old man must also figure out which one dares to do this! Hehe, my old man has been fighting all his life, but he has never suffered such a loss! ”

During the decades of ups and downs in the Qing court, no matter how fierce the struggle, no one could buy the Assassin to hurt him. I can't imagine that I'm getting old, but I've almost been stuck in this little Japan several times! The former almost ruined his Huai Army and Beiyang Naval Division. The latter almost killed him. New hatred and old hatred accumulate, how can he not be angry!

Liu Buyun immediately understood. The old man was reminding him not to act rashly. Today's navy belongs to the Yang family, and without the permission of Yang Hao or Yang Haiwei, it is a reckless move to find an ugly shame by playing something without permission.

He nodded solemnly: "I have already sent a telegram to the headquarters, and I believe that news will come soon." So now, should we temporarily evacuate Maguan first? ”

Li Hongzhang shook his head: "You are the commander of an army, and you can decide on military affairs by yourself." Besides, I expect the Japanese to come with me to find out what is going on. If it's just a Japanese, let them come. If there are foreigners from all over the world who are traveling with them, they will sternly refuse it! ”

Liu Buyun responded to the order and immediately arranged it.

When the crowd dispersed, Li Jingshu couldn't help but ask: "Father, why do you want to let the Japanese come alone?" It stands to reason that the story of your injury has not been known to all the nations and has a greater impact? ”

Li Hongzhang sneered: "Hehe, it is to separate the Japanese from the foreigners, so that they will be suspicious of each other and it will be difficult to twist into a rope." ”

He was not seriously injured, but in fact did not delay the negotiations. But since something happened and the injury was suffered, it is necessary to maximize the effect.

Li Hongzhang has now seen the Japanese through thoroughly. After returning home, he carefully studied many Japanese materials obtained by Yang Hao, and his heart has changed greatly in all aspects of humanities, politics and economic life. will never be the same as before, and treat the other party as a harmless small state, despise and ignore it.

Sure enough, the Japanese are very shy about it, and the "shame" in their culture makes them reluctant to let outsiders know about the scandals that seem humiliating to the Japanese.

Therefore, Mutsu Munemitsu refused to be accompanied by foreigners from all over the world, and a group of pure negotiators caught up with him in small boats waving white flags, repeatedly asking to visit Li Hongzhang and apologize to him in person. That posture is not ordinarily low.

The people arranged by Liu Buyun blocked for a long time, and finally reluctantly allowed Mutsu Zongguang to go up with an assistant.

Mutsu and the two were "escorted" by the heavily loaded Gao Dawei soldiers along the way, followed up like a thief's nest and went to the barracks of the hospital ship, where they saw that Li Hongzhang's head was tightly bandaged, his face was pale and an ominous gray, and his breath was dying as if he was going to hang up at any time, and he was suddenly frightened like a sieve.

Fortunately, Li Hongzhang didn't pretend to be too much, opened his eyes and glanced at the two of them, and said weakly: "What else is there to say?" Your government and people have made a decision, and it is useless for my old man to stay here, so he will return to his country. Japan, I'm never going to set foot again. ”

No matter how the Japanese bowed or even knelt, Li Jingshu didn't give any face, and ordered the guards to forcibly send off the guests with a black face.

Mutsu Somitsu and the others returned to the shore, and in the face of gossip and inquiry, they replied with a grim face: "The situation is very unoptimistic, we must prepare for the worst!" ”

The identity of the assassin was quickly clarified, but it was the screaming self-destructing family, whose name was Toyotaro Koyama, who was born in a local clan of gatekeepers, and was stubborn since childhood, and joined the right-wing radical organization "Shendaokan" when he grew up. Because he was dissatisfied with Japan's defeat and China's "blackmail" conditions, he brazenly went alone to assassinate.

This situation is well known to all, and it is impossible to hide it. Fortunately, the Chinese side was "reasonable" and handed over the Xiaoshan assassin to the Japanese police, but for the Japanese, this is a hot potato, and they can't hold it or lose it!

Yang Hao had returned to Tianjin at this time, and suddenly received an urgent telegram, and when he saw the content, he couldn't help twitching his cheeks and muttering: "Sure enough, the inertia of history is huge!" Old man Li had to be shot after all. However, this shot today is different from the past, and it is worth 100 million taels of silver, to say the least. Hehe, little Japan, you just obediently wash your necks and wait for grandpa's steel knife to cut down! ”

He immediately addressed the whole country, impassionedly expressing his anger, repeatedly denouncing the shameless acts of the Japanese, and assassinating negotiators in disregard of international conventions, which was a blatant declaration of war against the 430 million Chinese people!

This upset news slapped those "friendly factions" in the face. Look, this is the so-called civilized Japanese who they excused themselves and demanded leniency! Openly assassinated Li Hongzhang on the street in front of the representatives of other countries. This is a blatant provocation that does not take China into account at all!

Li Hongzhang's protégés and former officials were all over the world, and countless people raised their arms and shouted to severely punish the Japanese slaves.

Zhang Zhidong and Liu Kunyi, these political enemies, in addition to secretly gloating, are also related. They are all sixty or seventy-year-old old men, and they don't want to be old and old, and they will also be shot like that and be wronged.

Especially this is an action for the entire Chinese people to grow their faces, and they must also support the general righteousness. As a result, the whole country, almost one-sided, wanted to punish Japan.

Yang Hao "complied with the will of the people" and announced that the Japanese would be given three days, and if a satisfactory explanation could not be given, the Chinese navy would immediately launch an attack, and the four Japanese islands would not be allowed to go to sea! (To be continued......) R1292