Li Hongzhang and Khalid slept for two hours, and after dawn, the two went to the headquarters of the coalition forces and the consulates of various countries. At present, the personnel of the coalition headquarters and consulates are being detained in a centralized manner. Entering the headquarters of the coalition forces, the consuls of the embassies of various countries stood in the hall with their heads bowed. With a loud announcement, Li Hongzhang and Khalid strode in in military uniforms. The consuls were taken aback when they saw Li Hongzhang. The British consul widened his eyes and asked, "Lord Li, what are you ······?" ”

Li Hongzhang smiled confidently and said, "Mr. Consul, do you still need me to explain my dress?" Now I announce the decision of the Northern Expeditionary Army: the capital has now been occupied, and you have all become prisoners of the Northern Expeditionary Army. Even consuls do not have diplomatic immunity in times of war. However, according to the order of the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army, your lives and property will be protected. You can only stay in the embassy area and do not act at will, otherwise you will bear the consequences. Khalid said majestically: "If we find that the embassy personnel of various countries fan the flames and spread rumors and other bad behaviors, they will also be punished severely." Remember that this is a time of war, and the decision to kill is in our hands, and besides, Western laws do not apply here, understand? ”

After dawn, the people in the capital, after half a night of torture, took to the streets to inquire and check. Soon everyone knew that the Northern Expeditionary Army had occupied the capital, and the news quickly spread in Sijiu City. Especially when I saw the notice of Anmin, everyone returned to calm from a state of anxiety and chaos. There was a sudden great change in the capital, and naturally there were robbers who took advantage of the fire. Several gangsters were robbing a shop, and a small group of Northern Expeditionary Army arrived, and they were not polite at all, and shot all the gangsters in a random shot.

The soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army quickly put up notices on the streets of the gangsters' corpses to verify their identities and warn those who violated the law. In troubled times, the use of heavy codes cannot be ambiguous, because it should be said that this thunderous move will soon have a deterrent effect. Khalid and Li Hongzhang broke up after shocking the consuls of various countries and came out of the embassy area, Khalid wanted to check the defense of the four gates of the outer city, and Li Hongzhang went to the Forbidden City. A large number of Eight Banner soldiers on the street were escorted to the Rui Wangfu. The Rui Wang's Mansion is known as a lot of houses, and it happens to hold prisoners.

In front of the Rui Wang's Mansion, an officer of the Northern Expeditionary Army crossed his hands on his hips, and saw a group of prisoners coming over and shouting: "It is the gunner of the artillery team who stands up!" Huhula stood up dozens of people. A gunner asked tremblingly: "Official, we are the gunners, we didn't fire a single cannon at the Northern Expeditionary Army, do you have to shoot us?" "Who said that he would shoot you, if he wanted to shoot you, he would have carried it out a long time ago, don't stand in line with words." Hearing that they were not shot, the gunners settled down.

About an hour later, several hundred gunners were selected from among the captives and then divided into four teams and transferred to the four gates. With so many cannons captured, someone had to manipulate them, and these captured Eight Banners gunners were naturally used, of course, forced. At present, the Qing troops stationed around the capital will soon be shocked by the changes in the city, and even if the Qing generals do not receive any orders, they will lead their troops to attack the capital, so they must be prepared.

In the dormitory of the Empress Dowager Cixi, several princes and ministers who were escorted accompanied by Cixi were suffering. At this time, the little emperor Guangxu seemed to be still yang from the initial fright, and his face was immature with a teenager, sitting on the side to observe the actions of the adults. Cixi's face was marked with a lot of paths, and her graceful and luxurious face in the past was extremely embarrassed by the traces of tears. Her hair was messy, her eyes were red and swollen, whether she was overly sad or regretful, in short, all kinds of emotions were intertwined, and even she was confused. ”

Guangxu's father, Prince Chuxian, said with a pale face: "Queen Mother, I didn't expect that Li Hongzhang, a great rebel, would defect to the Northern Expeditionary Army, and the Qing Dynasty was over." Cixi choked up and said: "The Qing Dynasty was destroyed by my hands, so how can I meet the Emperor Taishang and the ancestors, I buried the Qing Dynasty." Cixi choked up again after speaking. What's the use of crying, let's think about our net worth and life, since ancient times, the royal capital will be full of blood! Prince Xiao said sadly.

Normally, how dare Prince Xiao talk to Cixi like this, he doesn't care about this kung fu. Cixi looked at him sadly and didn't know how to answer, "Women are in power, disasters are rampant, this is retribution!" Prince Xiao did not give up, and the spearhead was pointed at Cixi. When the Empress Dowager Cixi heard the grievances, she began to choke again. Prince Xiao spread his anger on Cixi, and several other princes did not deny it, but what was the use of being angry with Cixi at this time. Only Emperor Guangxu was happy, usually this Lafayette was too terrible, and today he finally lost his former majesty.

A little eunuch walked in trembling and reported: "Queen Mother, princes, the sixth prince has arrived." When they heard this, their eyes widened. The sixth prince walked in, looked around at everyone, and said in a hoarse voice: "I just came from the Li Mansion, and the Northern Expeditionary Army has occupied the capital. The Empress Dowager Cixi choked up when she heard this. The alcohol prince asked: "What does Li Hongzhang mean, is he trying to kill us?" Prince Xiao hurriedly said: "Sixth prince, you are usually good with Li Hongzhang, but it is difficult for him to be so cruel?" ”

Yi said: "Li Hongzhang informed that Deng Zixuan, commander-in-chief of the Northern Expeditionary Army, ordered that the Manchu princes and ministers should not be killed. Especially when it comes to the Queen Mother, the Emperor and the Princes, to ensure your net worth and life. At present, all the princes, ministers, Baylor and their families are concentrated in the Forbidden City, and the Northern Expeditionary Army sends soldiers to protect them. The crowd breathed a sigh of relief. Yi continued: "As far as I know, after the Northern Expeditionary Army occupied Jiangnan, as long as the Manchu officials did not commit evil acts themselves, they were basically not killed, nor were they treated inhumanely, which is credible. So I want to warn everyone, don't act rashly, otherwise your life will be at risk. ”

This kung fu Cixi seemed to remember something and asked: "The Eight Banners Army outside the city will definitely launch an attack on the capital when they understand the situation, and the war will start again, how can we be good?" Yi said disdainfully: "There are 20,000 Eight Banner soldiers in the city, and they will be finished overnight, what is the use of those rabble outside the city, expect them not to think about it." Prince Alcohol asked: "There are coalition headquarters and embassies in the capital, and foreigners will not sit idly by?" ”

Yi shook his head and said: "A general of the Northern Expeditionary Army informed that the operation to seize the capital was the unified action of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and the Northern Expeditionary Army launched a large-scale attack in the grassland, Taihang Mountain, Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu at the same time. Foreigners are unable to protect themselves, and they will not take care of us at all. When everyone heard this, they were immediately discouraged. Yi Zuihou said: "Queen Mother, the matter has come to this, the destiny of heaven is difficult to violate, let's accept our fate." At this time, many of the princes and daughters of Baylor entered Cixi's courtyard one after another, and the cries rang out.

Li Hongzhang entered the palace from the noon gate, and he usually entered and exited from the Donghua gate, and the noon gate had not left for a long time. Standing in front of the Jinshui Bridge, he was full of emotion. Overnight, the world was reversed and the vicissitudes of life changed. The trepidation of entering the palace in the past is gone, replaced by the confidence that has never been there. Li Hongzhang closed his eyes, hoping that this feeling would last longer. After a while, Li Hongzhang strode towards the main hall, and a sense of pride rose in the letter.

Walking into Cixi's courtyard, the family members of the princes and Baylor suddenly fell silent and looked at him in horror. Li Hongzhang ignored them and walked straight into Cixi's room, and the princes immediately stood up in a hurry when they saw Li Hongzhang, and Cixi also stood up with the support of the palace maid. Only Yi didn't stand up, because he knew in his heart that Li Hongzhang would not lie, and since he had the edict of Commander-in-Chief Deng of the Northern Expeditionary Army, Li Hongzhang would not do anything to himself.

Li Hongzhang didn't mind and said, "Everyone, please take a seat!" Queen Mother, you also sit down. I'm here with no malice. In the past we were kings and ministers, and in the future we will all be people of the new country. Presumably the sixth prince has already told you, I will say it again in front of the queen mother, as long as you are behaving properly, everyone's net worth and life will be guaranteed. Let all of you live in the Forbidden City to keep you safe. ”

Li Hongzhang continued: "The eunuchs in the palace, considering their livelihood, stay in the palace for the time being, and the palace maids must leave the Forbidden City. The other six princes are temporarily in charge of the daily affairs of the palace, and so many people need someone to manage them. You can deal with the princes and ministers who have violated the rules, and if anyone is disobedient, you can report it to me. There are also three meals a day in the palace to remove luxury, including the Queen Mother's diet is the same as everyone else, and there is no need to be special. ”

Zuihou Li Hongzhang said: "The Northern Expeditionary Army launched a large-scale offensive against the coalition forces, and in their eyes, the Manchu court was no longer an opponent. As for what you will do in the future, Commander-in-Chief Deng will come to the capital to make a decision, and you will live in the Forbidden City during this time, and no one is allowed to go out. The Empress Dowager Cixi whispered: "Lord Li, no matter what, we are a monarch and minister, I hope you will keep your word." "It is the Guangzhou Military Government and Commander-in-Chief Deng who are true to their word!" After Li Hongzhang finished speaking, he walked away.

The occupation of the capital is not all right, Li Hongzhang just walked out of the Forbidden City, a fast horse galloped over, "Report to the commander-in-chief, a large number of Qing troops have been found in the west of the city!" Li Hongzhang hurried to the west of the city and climbed the city wall. At this time, Khalid was looking ahead with a telescope. "It must be the Eight Banners Army in Fengtai, this Eight Banners Army was transferred from the northeast, and it is said that it has been trained by foreigners and has a certain combat effectiveness. Khalid smiled: "Lord Li, don't worry, an army that has not been tested by the fire of war is all fancy. You'll see right away! ”

Khalid shouted: "Artillery fire ready, three rapid fire!" "After a while, artillery fire began to fire. A few shells fell into the enemy formation, and I saw that the Eight Banners Army in front of them immediately became a mess and retreated to the rear like a tide. “haha！ Sure enough, what a rabble! Seeing this, Li Hongzhang couldn't help but daxiao. Khalid said: "The Eight Banners will think that our defensive forces are small and will definitely attack. It seems that their artillery team did not come up. ”

Khalid turned around and ordered the captain of the 1st Assault Brigade to be called, and after a while the captain of the 1st Assault Brigade came running out of breath. Khalid pointed ahead and said, "The artillery team of the Eight Banners Army will definitely come up in a while, you lead two detachments and carry 20 mortars." If the Eighth Banner Army arranges artillery positions, it must destroy its artillery at the first opportunity. "Yes! The subordinates resolutely complete the task! "The commander of the 1st Assault Group was given the order to go.

On the day of the capture of the capital, a defensive battle broke out in the capital.

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