At the headquarters of the coalition forces in Beijing, McMahon roared at Li Hongzhang: "Liu Mingchuan is simply a bastard, he actually led his troops to retreat without authorization, and he must be punished by military law." "Your Excellency, Marshal, I have ordered Liu Mingchuan to be removed from his post. But I want to ask, where are the reinforcements that Your Excellency Marshal said, seeing that they were surrounded and wiped out by the Northern Expeditionary Army, it is difficult for Your Excellency Marshal to let them act as a shield in front of you? Li Hongzhang fought hard and did not give in.

McMahon softened: "My army is being armed, and it will take time to support. But your men fled without permission, disrupting our military deployments. I said that if I hold out for another half a month, the tide of the battle will change dramatically. "Your Excellency General, Liu Mingchuan retreated in a desperate situation. Since your army is deployed on the front line of Funiu Mountain, I don't understand that Weishenme did not order Liu Mingchuan to withdraw to the front line of Funiu Mountain to assist the British army in defense? Li Hongzhang questioned again.

"General Li, I originally had this plan, hoping that Liu Mingchuan would use the Han River barrier to hold on for a while longer, so as to gain time for the British army to deploy on the front line of Funiu Mountain, and then order a retreat. Okay, if this is the case, I will not hold you responsible, but Liu Mingchuan must be severely punished, and it will be effective. "Please rest assured, Your Excellency, I have already ordered Liu Ming to return to Beijing, and I will give you an explanation."

After Li Hongzhang left, a French general said: "Your Excellency Marshal, Liu Mingchuan is Li Hongzhang's henchman, do you really want to kill this person?" Besides, we are just letting the Qing army act as cannon fodder, and if Li Hongzhang knows the truth, I am afraid it will not be good for us. McMahon said: "What kind of person is Li Hongzhang, this person is scheming and clever. You think he can't see what we mean, you're underestimating him. ”

"Why do you want to kill Liu Mingchuan?" The French general was confused. "Do you know, Liu Mingchuan's retreat is Li Hongzhang's secret order, otherwise Liu Mingchuan would not have the guts. Knowing that it is a capital crime to retreat without authorization, and in desperation, Weishenme did not choose to surrender to the Northern Expeditionary Army? McMahon sneered. Your Excellency Marshal is brilliant! "Killing Liu Mingchuan is to warn Li Hongzhang not to be smart. In addition, it is also to force his subordinates to fight to the death. Although the Qing army is incompetent, it is still cost-effective to serve as cannon fodder! ”

One of his subordinates came in and reported: "Your Excellency Marshal, I have just received news that 20,000 Japanese troops have landed at a certain port in Jiangsu. The Japanese army was divided into three groups, and all 100,000 Japanese troops landed within a month. ”“haha！ That's great news. Our little ally has finally woken up. Since Little Japan wants a piece of the pie, it will inevitably have to pay the price, and there is no free lunch for this shijie. Ordered the Japanese troops to go to Henan. ”

The French general said mysteriously: "I heard that the Japanese government opened its mouth and demanded the interests of the Korean Peninsula. McMahon glanced at the Russian marshal and said, "The Russians also have claims on the Korean Peninsula, so let them fight for it!" When the war is over, it doesn't matter to us what happens to them. At present, the Japanese are willing to send troops on a large scale, but it is impossible to find them, so I naturally want to fulfill the wishes of the Japanese. ”

"Report, the urgent military situation in the direction of Nanjing, signs indicate that the Northern Expeditionary Army is going to launch a river-crossing operation!" A subordinate hurriedly came in to report. McMahon was stunned for a while and said, "Has the Northern Expeditionary Army increased its strength in Nanjing?" "There is no indication that the Northern Expeditionary Army has massively increased its forces on the Nanjing front." An operational staff officer replied. “haha！ The carving insect skill is confusing us again. The Northern Expeditionary Army would not launch an offensive on the Nanjing line, and his goal was still on the Funiu Mountain line. ”

McMahon continued: "There is nothing to be afraid of the old tactics. At present, the Northern Expeditionary Army is still this tactic in Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain, and its real purpose is the defense line of Funiu Mountain. How is the readiness of the Funiu Mountain defensive line? One of his subordinates said: "Your Excellency, according to your order, 450 artillery pieces, 300 French rotary machine guns, and 200,000 new grenades have been put into the defense line of Funiu Mountain. ”

McMahon said confidently: "Gentlemen, after the Russian reinforcements arrive in Zhengzhou, they will reinforce the front line at any time. Next, the Japanese army will be transferred to Henan, and our defense in depth will be more perfect. I want to make Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain the meat grinder of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and I want to fight a classic defensive ······. ”

Li Hongzhang returned to his temporary residence in the capital, and just after entering the room to serve tea, a subordinate hurriedly entered and whispered. "Let him in!" After a while, Liu Mingchuan entered with a tall body and a dusty body. "The sinner meets the lord, please punish him!" Liu Mingchuan knelt on one leg to salute. "What should you be guilty of disobeying military orders without authorization and leading your troops to retreat?" Li Hongzhang couldn't help but shout, and Liu Ming's face suddenly changed when he heard the rumor.

"Come on, take off his top flower feather and put him on death row, and wait for the military law to do it!" As soon as the words fell, two fierce guards came in, and they couldn't help but step forward and take off Liu Mingchuan's hat, and drove his arms left and right to go down, not allowing Liu Mingchuan to distinguish at all. All the staff and subordinates were stunned. Li Hongzhang didn't explain to everyone, turned around and entered the back hall.

A man in his 40s was waiting in the study, "How's the preparation?" Li Hongzhang asked. Your Excellency, you are ready, please rest assured! "Good! There you go! After his subordinates left, a smile appeared on the corner of Li Hongzhang's mouth.

Liu Mingchuan was put on death row in a daze, knowing that he was being used as a scapegoat by Li Hongzhang, and the death penalty was inevitable. That's it, Master Li has his own kindness, and someone must be guilty of this matter, thinking of this, Liu Mingchuan was calm. Originally, he decided to die on the battlefield, both horizontally and vertically, but it was just a day earlier and a day later.

Thinking of his family in the capital, Liu Mingchuan felt a little painful in his heart. After thinking about it, he decided to propose to meet his family tomorrow, and Li Hongzhang would definitely meet his request. Due to the fatigue of the journey, Liu Mingchuan fell asleep. At midnight, the cell door was opened. I saw four figures enter the cell, two black shadows carried one person on the firewood and grass, and one black shadow gently woke up Liu Mingchuan.

Liu Mingchuan woke up, "Lord Liu, don't squeak, please follow me!" "Is it a secret execution? Liu Mingchuan had already put life and death aside, and he did not seem surprised. After leaving the cell, he got into a carriage and about half an hour later, stopped in front of a large compound. The man in the darkness said, "Lord Liu, please come with me!" ”。 Follow the strange man into the courtyard and turn around to a room. "Lord Liu, please come in!" The man was very polite, and his tone was full of respect.

Liu Mingchuan entered the room in confusion, and found Li Hongzhang standing there with a tall body and a smile under the shadow of the lamp. "My lord! It's ······. Liu Mingchuan knelt on the ground. Brothers! Frightened! Li Hongzhang stepped forward and picked up Liu Mingchuan. Liu Mingchuan immediately understood what was going on and said: "The grace of the adult's reinvention will never be forgotten by my subordinates, and I will be your pawn in this life and this life!" ”

"Brother Xian! How can I be willing to kill you, I will not do the things that relatives and enemies are happy. I sent someone to buy a guilty body among the prisoners on death row, with a body and appearance similar to yours, and I will personally supervise and behead him at three o'clock tomorrow at noon at the entrance of the vegetable market. From today onwards, your name is Liu San, and you will be my guard captain for the time being. "The sinners obey the arrangement of the adults!" Liu Mingchuan was very moved.

Li Hongzhang continued: "I can't tell your family for the time being, so as not to leak the news." Tomorrow at the scene to see the family grief-stricken, don't you impulsively understand? "My subordinates understand." "Come to Brother Xian, I'll pick up the wind and wash the dust for you." Entering another room, a table is placed in it, and the wine and food have already been placed on the table, and the aroma of the dishes is mixed with the aroma of the wine, showing a strong friendship.

The next day, news was broadcast in the streets and alleys of the capital that Li Hongzhang wanted to kill the criminal minister Liu Mingchuan with his own hands to uphold the power of the army. At three o'clock in the afternoon, people gathered at the entrance of the vegetable market to witness this shocking scene. A temporary beheading table was set up on the execution ground, and an executioner in red clothes and red hats stood majestically on the platform with a big knife in his hand. On the beheading platform, Li Hongzhang sat at the back of the table, and the beheader stood aside.

At the bottom left of the beheading platform, Liu Mingchuan maintained order as the captain of the guard, and no one paid attention to him. The crowd grew, and Liu Mingchuan saw his wife and two aunts, their children and family. Probably they didn't believe it was true, and it was supposed that they were going to inform their families, but they didn't get any news before they heard bad news.

As the prison officer shouted loudly, the prisoner was tied up and escorted up. The prisoner knelt in the center of the beheading platform, his hair was messy and covered his face, and it should be said that his figure looked very similar to Liu Mingchuan. Liu Mingchuan was secretly surprised when he saw his stand-in, obviously Master Li had been prepared for a long time. Then Li Hongzhang was impassioned, and when three o'clock in the afternoon came, the executioner brandished a big knife and landed on the ground. Liu Mingchuan saw his wife and aunt crying to death, which made him witness his wife's true feelings, and it can be said that he was greatly moved. No one doubts that the death row inmates are fake, and the vivid performances of the family members are the most haode illustration.

"What? Liu Mingchuan was executed! McMahon was surprised to hear the report from his subordinates. Li Hongzhang is too hasty, it is incredible, it should be said that it is too terrible, killing people is like child's play. "Your Excellency Marshal, Li Hongzhang was probably afraid that the secret would be leaked, so he hurriedly killed Liu Mingchuan and sealed it." A subordinate analyzes. "This is the way of the people of the Great Qing Dynasty, the stupid Oriental thinking, they are not bound by any law, it is sad and lamentable." A French general sighed.

"In my name, go and comfort General Li and express my condolences to the families of the deceased!" McMahon did not suspect that Li Hongzhang had played with him to steal beams and change pillars. The generals and commanders also talked about it, after all, Liu Mingchuan was the governor figure, and Li Hongzhang actually made his own claims without going through the Qing court, which seemed to have too much power.

In the palace, the Empress Dowager Cixi said to Yi: "It's a pity that Liu Mingchuan is a tiger general!" "Queen Mother, Master Li can't help it, it is the commander of the coalition forces, McMahon, who demands severe punishment." "Lord Li's resolute killing of his love will be commendable, showing his loyalty to the Qing Dynasty, the prince please comfort and comfort him for me. In addition, in my name, I will send some silver taels to Liu Ming's heirloom family members to show condolences! ”