On the same day that the Dagukou Fort fell, on June 17, Cixi urgently convened the second imperial council. Before this meeting, Rong Lu asked to see Cixi alone, and when Rong Lu left, Cixi's close attendant came out with a shocking news: the Empress Dowager was crying. This was rare news, and it made the attendants, who had always feared Cixi like a tiger, realize that the Empress Dowager was a woman.

Rong Lu came to see Cixi early in the morning to send her a diplomatic note. The note did not address any ongoing fighting, but made four demands:

1. Designate a place where the Emperor of China should live;

2. Collect money and grain from various provinces;

3. Take charge of the world's military power;

4. Order the Queen Mother to return to power.

This is a very "excessive" diplomatic document. Its origins are very strange, and it was not delivered through normal diplomatic channels. According to Rong Lu, he got it through a secret relationship. How did you get it? It was a grain channel named Luo Jiajie who got it through personal connections. The grain road is the official responsible for transporting grain, and it has nothing to do with diplomacy, and it is really strange that the official who transports grain actually forwards a diplomatic note.

Before Cixi's attitude towards foreigners was not decided, this "note" was nothing less than adding fuel to the fire.

Cixi was furious and decided to go to war with the foreigners.

Undoubtedly, this is a fake document. Even if it was not the opinion of the diplomatic corps still trapped in Beijing, but from the hands of the generals of the allied forces outside Dagukou, the normal channel should have been to have Yulu, the governor of Zhili, who was stationed in Tianjin and had not yet engaged in a land war with the allied forces, to transfer it. How could such an important document fall into the hands of a grain road official? So it can only be fake, who fakes? Rong Lu immediately concluded that this document that misled the imperial government was written by Zai Yi.

Zaiyi, who has gone completely crazy, is afraid that the world will not be chaotic. He knew it. If she had handed over this document, Cixi would not have believed herself. The shrewd old lady can see through her tricks at a glance. But if it's Ronglu, it's completely different. He knew that Ronglu didn't look down on him, but Ronglu's words were the only minister Cixi believed in. Therefore, Zai Yi tried his best to pass this fake document with serious consequences to Rong Lu.

Rong Lu did not hesitate to hand over the "note" to Cixi at the first time.

What did Rong Lu do for Lu? The answer is self-preservation. This is a double-edged sword, Rong Lu knows that if he presses down this document, he will leave a great hidden danger to himself. If it is handed over to Cixi as soon as possible, not only will it be innocent, but it will also be favored. Cixi would think. It's still with her that way. Other than that. If the imperial court defeats the foreigners, Guangxu will leave the throne with ironclad, and he will score points when he becomes the emperor Zaiyi. Take a step back. If the empire is defeated. Rong Lu still has good cards to play. He could have turned back and uncovered the origin of this document to clear his name. As Minister of War and Aircraft, I reported such an important document to the highest authorities as soon as I received it. Isn't that how it should be?

Rong Lu knew exactly what the consequences of this document would be. In his heart, he only has his own glory and wealth, and he doesn't care about the safety of the country at all.

Sure enough, when Cixi rediscussed her policy toward foreigners, the anti-war voice was still strong. However, after Cixi revealed the contents of the "note", the ministers became angry.

Those four requirements, aside from the first and fourth, are simply the death clause. And the fourth one, undoubtedly taking the life of the Queen Mother, who dares to approve? Isn't that looking for death? The best thing is that the Guangxu Emperor, who was still calm and dared to speak his voice, was still angrily reprimanding the ministers who were in charge of the war, and when the four notes demanded it, he could no longer be angry.

After the meeting, Cixi sent three anti-war ministers to the embassy to explain to the foreigners the position of the Qing Empire, and if the foreigners "want to provoke", they should be asked to lower the flag and return to China.

After the meeting, Cixi left Ronglu again and asked him to prepare for the fight. Rong Lu finally decided to transfer Yuan Shikai's troops to Beijing.

Rong Lu had already planned to transfer Yuan Shikai's troops to Beijing. As far as the Wuwei Fifth Army under his command is concerned, it is needless to say that the combat effectiveness of the Wuwei Central Army under his personal command is proof that one of the sub-commanders was killed by the Boxers. It was not a sniper, but a head-on battle, and it was really enough to say that the general with a heavy army was killed by a group of mud legs. Such troops are fighting with foreigners? Stop dreaming.

Aside from the Chinese army, Song Qing's left army was still in Shanhaiguan and could not be counted on. Only the front army of Nie Shicheng on the front line of Tianjin and the rear army of Dong Fuxiang, who was currently transferred to Beijing and were eager to attack Dongjiaomin Lane, were left. The imperial court was generally called the Gan Army, because its soldiers were basically from the Hui region of Gansu. Rong Lu believes that the danger mainly comes from the direction of Tianjin, the Seymour coalition and possible follow-up reinforcements - who knows how many Lu Dao there are? Relying only on Nie Shicheng's army is a bit mysterious. And the Gan army that Cixi trusted, although equipped with imported foreign guns and artillery, may not be as good as Nie Shicheng's troops.

If additional reinforcements are deployed, the most suitable one is the Wuwei Right Army of Yuan Shikai in Shandong. The distance is close, the equipment is good, and the training is beyond the comparison of Nie and Dong's department. But Yuan Shikai's gang was defeated by a gang of bandits in Lunan in a row! This made Rong Lu angry and deeply puzzled, will the transfer of Yuan Qinwang lead to the erosion of the situation in Shandong? This is also what Rong Lu must consider, although he has stepped down as the governor of Zhili, the military of Shandong, in theory, is still under the responsibility of him, the minister of military aircraft and the secretary of the Ministry of War, and he can't help but consider it comprehensively.

The reason why Rong Lu did not immediately order Yuan Shikai's army to go north was that he hoped that this trouble, which had spread, could be stopped, at least not to use force against the embassy. In that case, there is no need to transfer Yuan Shikai. Therefore, at the end of the imperial meeting convened by Cixi, the four stunned Qingtou bumped into Cixi, and Rong Lu on the side really had the meaning of protection. Since it was said, when the four of them retreated, Rong Lu still secretly discussed with Cixi about Yuan Shikai's entry into Beijing, Rong Lu believed that Yuan Shikai should be given an order, at least he should be prepared for King Qin, the army is not a story in the play, it is a big thing that costs money and time.

Now that Cixi will be completely enraged because of a fake photo, Ronglu must act. He immediately sent a telegram to Yuan Shikai in the name of the Ministry of War, asking Yuan Shikai to mobilize troops and assemble near Dezhou in the name of military exercises, so as to prepare for entering Beijing. After the most eluconian message. Rong Lu pointed out that this is your best chance to make meritorious contributions to your crimes.

What is the sin of wearing? Yuan Shikai knew it at a glance.

As soon as this telegram was sent, the situation in Gyeonggi took a sharp turn for the worse.

The next day, June 18, 1900, Cixi convened another imperial council to study the war and the issue.

After thinking all night, Emperor Guangxu decided to let go of his mind, perhaps the saddest man in China really had worries about the future of the country and the nation. At the beginning of the meeting, Guangxu clearly opposed the war, and the reason was very good, during the Korean War. The court unanimously fought the main battle. The result was an unprecedented failure. Now that the great powers are ten times stronger than Japan, how can we fight them?

Both the Hubu Shangshu Lishan and the university scholar Lianyuan made generous statements, supporting the emperor's opinion, and they must not fight! First Sino-Japanese War. The Beiyang Naval Division has been completely lost. If the end of the battle together. North-south transportation (mainly referring to the Grand Canal, on which the most scarce grain in Beijing has always depended to transport north) was cut off, and military salaries and equipment could not be replenished. Relying on a bunch of ignorant boxers, how to resist?

Of course, this remark annoyed Zaiyi, who insisted on taking revenge on the foreigners, who accused Lianyuan and Tateyama of collaborating with the enemy (he had just returned from negotiating with the foreigners at the embassy), considered them guilty and deserved to be punished, and asked Cixi to order their execution.

Lianyuan was the son-in-law of Prince Zhuang Zaixun, and the prince, who was a fanatical supporter of the Boxers, immediately knelt down and pleaded, and Cixi waved her hand with a blushing face, which was regarded as bypassing the two.

The meeting was inconclusive. Cixi, sulking in the palace, drove back to her favorite Summer Palace. She began to care about the news of Tianjin and Dagukou. Because she knew that people's hearts and fanaticism were not enough to bring about victory in the war, and if it really fought, it would still rely on the army.

At this time, Dagukou had fallen for two days. Cixi received an official report from the Supreme Commander of the front, Governor Yulu, and the title of the recital turned out to be "Winning the Battle and Winning the Fold"!

Yulu's excerpt describes how the imperial army bravely faced the foreigners, how the foreigners were killed, and how Luo Rongguang calmly commanded and damaged many foreign warships. This good news made Cixi unexpected, and then came the report of the great victory in Langfang, which won by sea and land, so that Cixi's sorrowful face for several days was swept away.

No one can tell why Yulu wrote such an excerpt for Lu. Doesn't he know that he can't contain fire in the paper? Or do you judge that the foreigners who have already occupied the Dagu Fort will take the initiative to retreat?

Encouraged by the good news, Cixi convened the Imperial Council again the next day and decided to go to war against the foreigners.

Cixi ordered Xu Jingcheng, the minister of the Prime Minister's Yamen, to go to the embassy to convey the order of the imperial court to leave Beijing within twenty-four hours.

The reason why Xu Jingcheng was transferred to the prime minister's yamen office was because he had served as the Qing court's minister to France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy and other countries. For this decision, he is very helpless with his knowledge of international relations beyond that of the ministers. At this time, an unexpected scene happened, Emperor Guangxu suddenly stepped down from the throne, stepped forward and grabbed Xu Jingcheng's hand, choked and said, "It's not a pity for me to die alone, like the world?" Xu Jingcheng also cried.

Cixi was furious and scolded Xu Jingcheng for being rude. If it was a normal time, Cixi would definitely punish him, but now that he is employing people, he has to endure it.

At this time, Wang Wenshao, minister of military aircraft, who has always taken a sideline view, actually spoke, saying that since the first afternoon, the people have been exhausted in wealth and the people have been poor, and their armaments have been insufficient. Now that the war with the eleven countries is going to war, the disparity between the numbers is huge, how to deal with the aftermath, I hope the Queen Mother will think twice!

It's a real rarity. Even Wang Wenshao, who has always been sleek and wise to protect himself, even expressed his opinion.

Cixi suppressed the fire and asked Wang Wenshao, are you speaking for foreigners?

No one dared to object anymore.

Xu Jingcheng went to the embassy district with a note and conveyed the final opinion of the highest decision-making level of the empire. Naturally, the envoys would not follow, and they were helpless. Because the embassy had already been attacked by the Boxers mixed with the regular army of the Qing court, if they left the embassy district with their families, they would undoubtedly be sent to death.

On June 20, the Qing court convened the Imperial Council again, completed the most difficult war formalities, and the edict declaring war had been prepared and was just waiting to be issued.

On this day, the German minister Klinder was shot dead and killed by the soldiers of the Shenji Battalion near the Dongdan archway. The occurrence of this incident has in fact cut off any possibility of a peaceful settlement.

Shandong.

On this day, the reorganization of the Mengshan Army, which had already completed its training plan, officially ended. In the last period, the recruits were added to the company, and each battalion was newly incorporated into the company, becoming a large battalion with a four-company system. In addition, each battalion also has a logistics platoon of about 60 people, including 10 stretchers.

On the basis of the results of the three-month training, a number of company and platoon officers were adjusted and promoted, and two deputy posts were appointed to each company and platoon, and the order of replacement was determined.

Each company was staffed by two male medics. Since the end of the Battle of Yuanzhuang, the army has held two medical training courses and recruited dozens of male medical soldiers. Now, these medics are assigned to the companies from the logistics department.

The cavalry company had already set off in advance, leaving Zhengjiazhuang and entering Zhangqian Village, the northernmost part of the base area.

A large number of equipment that was not previously available was handed out, such as hemostatic kits. It was very lightweight, and inside was a homemade bandage mixed with Yunnan Baiyao, and two were issued to each person. For example, the small round shovel, through the capture, through the efforts of the logistics section during this time, each soldier in the combat unit was equipped with one. For example, all officers and soldiers are equipped with shoulder bags and belts, and all the dishes and chopsticks, medical bags, and spare shoes can be stuffed into the shoulder bag and easily carried on their backs.

All the officers and soldiers, including the "village officials" of the Autonomous Committee, knew that the Ludao troops were about to start a combat operation.

But no one knew the direction of the movement of the Daoist troops. There are many rumors, some say that they want to fight Zou County, and some say that they want to fight Pingyi. Only the most core characters know the true purpose of the Dao troops. It was not until June 20 that Long Qian convened a meeting of officers above the level of company commander and vice chairman of the Autonomous Committee, and Long Qian talked about the situation in the Gyeonggi area, and they learned that the troops were going to go on a long expedition.

"I think the officers who participated in the reorganization of the army in Mengshan must remember the story I told you," Long Qian said at a meeting of officers above the company commander, "a lone army far from the rear has traveled long distances for a year in the midst of encirclement and interception, crossing thousands of rivers and mountains to fight for their future. Now, our Mengshan army is about to go on an expedition, and our enemies are not Yuan Shikai, but foreigners who are preparing to go ashore from Tianjin, they are from the most powerful country in the world, the United States," Long Qian glanced at David, who was sitting below, "England, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, Italy, Austria and others. We will not allow them to invade our land with weapons, this is the principle of our Mengshan army, and as long as we exist, we will fight to the death against the enemy who has invaded our land.

"Yes, there will be many enemies. They were well-armed and well-trained, and they were not at all comparable to Yuan Shikai's new army. We may not be able to beat them. However, this battle must be fought, and the whole country and the whole world must know that the Chinese are not as incompetent as the Manchu court.

"For this battle, we must talk about politics and be relaxed. We're not going to fight the foreign soldiers. We have to rely on it to take root and blossom and grow into a towering tree. Therefore, special emphasis should be placed on discipline, and victory must be guaranteed with stricter discipline. Officers and men who violate military orders and discipline will be given the most severe sanctions!

"The base will not give up. Our sick number, family members, and logistics agencies will stay in Zhengjiazhuang. For this, it was necessary to leave the necessary guard troops. The headquarters studied and decided that each battalion should leave an old company to stay in the base area, with Feng Guozhu as the commander of the left-behind troops, Song Jinguo as the deputy commander, and Deng Qinghua as the chief of staff. The fourth battalion was headed by Shi Dashou. The chief of staff of the headquarters was succeeded by Lan Xinzhi, and Situ was the deputy section chief. The rest of the officers and men were ready to set off in two days. ”

After the meeting, Chen Chao, who was full of doubts, talked with Long Qian alone for a long time and asked two questions;

First, what if the imperial court does not recognize the Mengshan army? Do you want to hit it hard?

Second, all the female soldiers should stay in the base area, okay. However, let's bring Chen Shu with you.

During this time, Chen Chao had already entered the core layer of the Mengshan Army. Regarding the significance of this expedition, Chen Chao has completely understood. Regarding Long Qian's ambition, Chen Chao both agreed and was worried. And his wild niece has made no secret of her love for Long Qian. Although Long Qian did not make any statement, the high-level officials of the Mengshan Army, especially Ning Shijun and Wang Mingyuan, urged Long Qian to marry Chen Shu.

Long Qian replied, "If Yuan Shikai does not express his position, our army will go straight to Beijing and Tianjin." Earn a family business on your own. As for Ling's niece, let's stay. This battle has a bearing on the future of the entire army, and everything will be discussed when the results are obtained. (To be continued......)

PS: I wish book friends a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! I hope that book lovers will support "Mengshan Army" a lot.