Early the next morning, Long Qian went to see Li Hongzhang, who looked very bad, and said that he was going to take David to the American legation.

explained the reason, Li Hongzhang agreed, "It's good to meet." The Americans, though, don't take the lead. Li Hongzhang guessed that Long Qian wanted to test the attitude of the US government.

"Yes, I know. But the great powers will certainly adopt the principle of moving in lockstep. If they have a gap in themselves, it will be a blessing to us. ”

"He won't reveal his attitude to you, and you're still their enemy." Li Hongzhang clearly had no hope at all for Long Qian's trip. Moreover, Li Hongzhang did not have a favorable impression of the Americans, and his negotiations on the Sino-Japanese Ryukyu dispute and the opening up of trade between Korea made Li Hongzhang feel that the US foreign policy was weak and capricious. Now, the predetermined breakthrough in Li Hongzhang's mind is still the Russians.

Long Qian's purpose in going to the U.S. Legation was not to understand the U.S. attitude toward the Gengzi incident, but to "return" David to the U.S. and start a huge plan.

It took a lot of twists and turns, mainly because David, a "purebred" American, was by his side, and Long Qian met the American minister Conger.

One of the hallmarks of a civilized country is the conscientious care shown by overseas embassies and consulates to the citizens of the countries in which they are located. David. The case of Divin's disappearance was registered, and the embassy informed his father, John Brown, of his disappearance. Mr. Devon, David's father had made a special trip to China last autumn to find out the whereabouts of his son and brother, and the death of David's uncle, who was a missionary, had been confirmed, but David's whereabouts were mysterious. Southwest Lu was one of the most "fierce" areas in the Boxer Rebellion, and many foreign missionaries were killed. Due to the extreme backwardness of transportation and consultation, the Manchu local government was unable to accurately tell the information about every dead and missing foreigner, and of course, these missing people eventually had to seek compensation from the Manchu government.

David's appearance surprised Conger. And David's narration, which also surprised Conger, is simply a legendary story made up in the novel. And David's description of Long Qian's identity is simply incredible.

"What? Are you a former U.S. citizen? Voluntarily renounce U.S. citizenship and return to China? Are you also the commander of the Battle of Xigu? Oh my God. Conger exclaimed.

In the Battle of Beijing and Tianjin, the Eight-Nation Alliance's heaviest losses were the Battle of Xigu. A large number of officers and soldiers were killed or missing, which caused fierce quarrels within the coalition forces and great concern among the embassies and consulates of various countries. Until three months later. From General Seymour's letter. It was only then that the exact news of the missing officers and soldiers was obtained - more than 400 officers and soldiers, including the commander Lieutenant General Seymour, were captured by the Qing army and escorted to Shanxi Province, 500 kilometers away, but they were not mistreated.

The Shandong army, which defeated the Seymour coalition army, naturally attracted great attention from various countries. The United States was also a "victim" of the Battle of Xigu, with an entire company of American troops killed or missing. The domestic instructions to Conger were to find out the whereabouts of the missing officers and soldiers as soon as possible and to do everything possible to rescue them. The situation in Gyeonggi has reached such a chaotic level. How to rescue? Until Seymour's letters were brought back by the Germans from the Lady Pass. Conger was relieved. But the letter only included the number of American prisoners, and did not specify each person, which still made Conger anxious. Unable to fulfill Secretary of State John Hay's directives.

Well, now, the commander of the Qing army who commanded the Battle of Xigu and the Battle of Niangziguan is now sitting on the couch of the American Legation, and besides, this guy turned out to be a Chinese-American - once!

"Mr. Diwen, are you also in the ranks of the Qing army fighting in Xigu?" Conger asked.

"Nope. Mr. Diwen was left in Shandong by me at that time. He certainly won't go against his homeland. ”

Conger breathed a sigh of relief and turned his gaze to Long Qian, "You, can you tell me the exact list of captured American officers and soldiers?" ”

"Of course." Long Qian began to recite the list, and the clerk on the side hurriedly recorded it.

"No need, this is their signature" Long Qian took out a piece of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to the clerk, "Mr. Minister, I used to be a citizen of the United States, and of course I pay special attention to American soldiers, and I assure you in the name of Christ that they are treated as prisoners of war as they deserve." When this ridiculous war is really over, they will return to America. ”

Long Qian accentuated his tone on the words "really over".

Conger studied the list for a long time, and there was no flaw in the signatures in the different handwritings, and there was no doubt that the signatures were made by the Americans.

"Thank you very much." Conger returned the list to the clerk, "I have a question, why did you renounce your U.S. citizenship?"

"That's for the U.S. government. The Chinese Exclusion Act was unbearable for me. Long Qian said coldly, "Since the U.S. government regards the Chinese who have made great contributions to its prosperity and strength as an outlier, why don't I choose to return to my motherland?" ”

"That can only be a pity. Originally, you would have been protected by the U.S. government, but now you're an enemy of the U.S.

"Mr. Minister, allow me to share my views on this war." Long Qian did not wait for Conger's statement at all, and spoke eloquently, "I admit that the Chinese government made a mistake in handling the Boxers' attacks on diplomatic institutions and churches. However, not all of the Chinese government are ignorant of international law and conventions, and several ministers have paid with their lives. The coalition forces are understandably involved in the military operation to rescue the embassy and consulates. However, the atrocities of the coalition forces in the occupation of Tianjin and Beijing later tarnished the glory of the civilized world. Contrary to all the original intentions of those, such as Mr. Divin's uncle, in order to help China move towards civilization. The United States is a civilized nation, and a passage from Article 2 of the Declaration of Independence has always been my unswerving rule of life: There is no need to argue about the following truth: All men are created equal, and God has endowed them with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I admit that China today is ignorant and backward, but it has a glorious history and created a splendid civilization, and it will eventually stand up again and realize the great rejuvenation of the nation. I don't regret choosing to return to my poor and sick motherland, there is an old Chinese saying that a son is not ugly. I think you'll understand how I'm feeling. Now, the war has entered its most difficult stage, and that is to deal with the aftermath. I hope that the great United States of America will play an important role in this, not in the grip of revenge and hatred. It's about looking to the future. A vast market with a territory of more than 11 million and 40,000 people. China has never lacked outstanding politicians, and the generosity and goodwill of the United States in dealing with the aftermath will surely reap the friendship of the Chinese people, and this friendship will bring huge benefits to the American people! ”

"Excuse me, what is your status now? Is it the official representative of the peace talks with full powers? Conger said coldly.

David finally spoke, "Mr. Conger, General Long Qian is already one of Lord Li Hongzhang's assistants. ”

"I thank you for rescuing Mr. Devon and for your civilized treatment of captured American officers and soldiers. For the aftermath of the war. Let me invite Mr. Li Hongzhang, the extraordinary and plenipotentiary representative of your country, to talk. Conger gave the order to evict the customer.

"Farewell." Long Qian got up and left. David chased him out, and Long Qian said, you stay first, it is estimated that Mr. Minister still has something to ask you. I live in Kenryo Temple. Feel free to come back to me.

The days that followed were uneventful. Long Qian and Situ both lived in Xianliang Temple at Li Hongzhang's request. David soon moved back.

Li Hongzhang himself spends most of his time at Xianliang Temple. Except for the Russians, no foreign envoys came to visit this "plenipotentiary envoy," and Li Hongzhang rarely went out. Every time he went out, Long Qian judged Li Hongzhang's whereabouts by whether he took Gu Hongming away. It was evident that he was in an extremely difficult situation.

Yixuan rarely came over, and only showed up once in a few days, chatted with Li Hongzhang for a while and left in his sedan chair.

Long Qian, who lived in Xianliang Temple, had a lot of time to spare, and he could take time to go back to the Deshengmen "base area" with David and Situ to visit his subordinates stationed there, and as the situation in Beijing became more and more stable, communication with the outside of the city was restored, and it was impossible for a huge city to be cut off by general military control. According to Long Qian's request, Ning Shijun and Wang Mingyuan, under the leadership of the Intelligence Bureau, moved Cheng Erhu's Fifth Company out of Beijing in batches, and of course, the Fifth Company also brought some gold and silver with them. Considering safety, Cheng Erhu took the Fifth Company not to return to Shandong for the time being, but went to Niangziguan, which was 350 miles away, to defect to the brigade. Long Qian planned to move the Sixth Company out of the city before the Spring Festival, leaving only the guard company, which was safe with few people.

When he was in Xianliang Temple, except for occasionally chatting with Gu Hongming, the main time was to discuss infantry tactics with Situ Jun, Gu Hongming's interest was not in politics or military affairs, so this scholar with an empty eye did not look down on Long Qian, a martial artist.

The squad-platoon-level offensive tactics of the Mengshan Army, which Long Qian trained, had always been the object of Situ Jun's research, and this tactical formation of three people, which was different from that of the European Army, fascinated Situ Jun, who believed that it was much more clever than the traditional linear tactics, especially in the case of the rapid development of artillery firepower. However, Situ Jun also found many of these problems, mainly the lack of support firepower, which made this small-unit tactic, which can minimize casualties and basically adapt to various terrains, not give full play to the best effect.

Situ Jun drew a lot of drawings and discussed them with Long Qian every day, and Long Qian asked with great interest about the current situation of the German Army, from equipment and training to tactical issues, and humbly sought advice. Situ Jun admired the German Army, believing that since the Franco-Prussian War, the German Army has been the first in the world, and the first in Europe is the first in the world, and the strength of the German Army depends on the fact that it has a strong officer corps, and the officers trained under the special general staff system of the German Army have the same thinking, which is the most frightening. The result is a combination of the Germans' rigorous and meticulous strengths. If you want to talk about the disadvantage, it is too lacking in flexibility, but Situ Jun doesn't think it's much of a problem.

Situ Jun pointed out the shortcomings of several battles commanded by Long Qian, and he believed that the victory of the Mengshan army was more based on the low quality of the opponent's individual soldiers, and if it encountered the German army, it was destined to be unsuccessful if it captured its own mountain road ambush. The Qing army, even the small station new army carefully trained by Yuan Shikai, was inferior to the Mengshan army in terms of courage and skills in individual combat, and it could not but be said to be a miracle for a force that had been in force for more than a year. In other words, Situ Jun was still a little disdainful of Long Qian's self-righteous defeat of Yuan Shikai's three-way siege.

Long Qian had an attitude of academic research to discuss and argue with Situ Jun, which made Situ Jun feel very comfortable. He felt that Long Qian's view was that the generals' strategies and tactics were based on the quality of the soldiers, that is, what soldiers fought what battles. Moreover, the generals' tactics are becoming weaker and weaker, obscured by the rapid development of weapons with greater lethality. So. The quality of the soldiers, including the junior officers, is the most important, and the kind of scene in the midst of strategizing and winning thousands of miles away can only appear in novels. Situ disagreed with this, believing that the general staff's plan was the most important thing, and that an operational plan based on factors such as the enemy's situation, our situation, logistics, climate, terrain, and roads was an important factor in victory.

The days passed like this day by day, until in December, one day Li Hongzhang called Gu Hongming and Long Qian to visit Marshal Wadsey, the commander of the coalition forces. Probably because Situ Jun graduated from Germany's highest military academy, he ordered Long Qian to call Situ to go with him. Before leaving, he ordered Long Qian to change out of his military uniform. Dressed in civilian clothes.

But Yixuan didn't go with him.

Gu Hongming, a strange man sent by Zhang Zhidong, once said to Li Hongzhang. I have a trick to make foreigners bow their heads. Li Hongzhang didn't believe Gu Hongming's words, but what surprised him was. As soon as Wadsey appeared, Gu Hongming actually scolded him with a scolding on his face, of course. Mr. Koo is fluent in German.

"Wadsey! You are so rude! There is no qualification to represent your glorious Caesar! ”

Under Li Hongzhang's surprised gaze. Wadsey, who had an arrogant face on him, actually bowed to Gu Hongming. And said sorry one by one.

It turned out that Gu Hongming had studied in Germany, and he got acquainted with this Wadsey at that time. Now the majestic Wa Shuai was just a fruit seller who delivered fresh fruit to Gu Hongming and his landlady every day. At the instigation of the landlady. Waldesi studied German and French with Gu Hongming as his teacher, and learned German, French and related scientific and technological knowledge.

With this level of master-apprentice relationship, Gu Hongming is certainly qualified to teach the commander-in-chief of the coalition forces, and he sharply asked whether China is in the current situation and whether Germany has experienced it? Wadsey hastened to reply that he had experienced it. Gu Hongming said loudly again, which countries were the evil eagles flying over Germany at that time? It's Napoleon! It's France and Austria! Now, all you have to do is help China exorcise those demons!

In Li Hongzhang's eyes, Gu Hongming's words, which suddenly became taller, were shouted in German, and Li Hongzhang naturally couldn't understand them, but he also brought Situ Jun, who was proficient in German, to translate Gu Hongming's words. Li Hongzhang saw that after Gu Hongming finished shouting, Wadsey even claimed that it was, and his heart was really relieved.

Li Hongzhang thought that with this kind of relationship, it seems that the negotiations that have reached an impasse due to the punishment of the culprit should be able to proceed smoothly.

This is really a very interesting and peculiar scene, although Long Qian, who was standing solemnly next to him, couldn't understand the conversation between the two, but he basically guessed a rough idea. When the round of conversation between the two ended, Long Qian couldn't help laughing.

The laughter caused trouble. A German second lieutenant at the scene asked sharply, who is this person? Why so rude? This second lieutenant was not tall, but he was extremely strong, because his commander was reprimanded by a Chinese, and he had already held his breath.

Li Hongzhang was greatly dissatisfied, and before he could speak, Gu Hongming had already proudly introduced Long Qian's identity to the German officers present in German, especially emphasizing that Long Qian was the Chinese commander in the Battle of Xigu.

It's broken. When the second lieutenant heard this, he immediately took out a pistol from his waist and aimed it at Long Qian.

Situ Jun shouted, "Stop! Are you going to discredit the German army? ”

"Loeb, put away your guns!" Wadsey stopped the second lieutenant's impulse, stared at Long Qian for a while, and then asked Situ Jun, "Who are you?" I see you are a soldier, where did you learn German? ”

"Report Marshal, my name is Situ Jun, and I am a 1898 graduate of the Infantry Department of the Military Academy in Berlin."

Wadsey was surprised. Today is a bit evil, Li Hongzhang does not care, three peculiar Chinese suddenly appeared, Gu Hongming is half of his teacher, Situ Jun turned out to be a graduate of Germany's highest military academy, and this impudent attaché turned out to be the commander of the Battle of Xigu, which humiliated the German army!

Abominable Chinese, is this specifically here to humiliate me? Wadsey's mood was bad, and he looked at Long Qian and muttered something in German.

"Commander, he said that you attacked the great German army with vile means! The hateful Chinese, the weak Chinese, can only achieve an insignificant victory with petty theft! Situ Jun made a simultaneous translation.

"Ambush is one of the main forms of combat in the army, especially when the weak army is against the strong army. Could it be that the moral army does not know how to ambush? In addition, the sign of strength and weakness is victory on the battlefield, not bluffing, shouting. Long Qian showed no weakness.

In this war, the Battle of Xigu was the most sloppy for the German army, an elite infantry battalion, more than three-quarters of the battle was killed and captured! No wonder the second lieutenant officer named Loeb drew his gun and faced him as soon as he heard Long Qian's identity.

"Your Excellency, Marshal, I humbly request a duel with him!" Loeb shouted.

Not wanting it to be a formal diplomatic occasion at all, Li Hongzhang and the others translated Loeb's request and hurriedly stopped, "Your Excellency the Marshal, I apologize to you for the rudeness of my men. I'm here to find friendship with Germany, and I don't want to engage in any kind of duel. Li Hongzhang regretted bringing Long Qian here.

"Soldiers should not be afraid of challenges! Not to mention an officer! Wadsey said coldly, "Mr. Plenipotentiary, I will not let them use knives and guns." He turned to Long Qian and said, "If you are really a soldier, accept the challenge of Second Lieutenant Loeb." ”

"I'm happy to accompany you." Long Qian said in a deep voice.

Wadsey was the first to walk out of the house and into the courtyard, "Loeb is a boxer, you can use what you call Chinese martial arts." ”

Gu Hongming became excited, he didn't expect to see a modern gladiator's performance today, "General Long, are you sure?" ”

"Grasp? He's right. Soldiers are up for the challenge! As he spoke, Long Qian took off his blue cotton robe and boots under the gaze of everyone, and stood on the ground with socks on, "Marshal Wadsey, I'm not good at Western boxing, so I'll use Chinese martial arts to compete with this second lieutenant Loeb, but the attacks of Chinese martial arts are not limited to hands." Situ, you tell them. ”

Wadsey has a translator, Long Qian's words have long been translated to the marshal, Wadsey nodded and made a gesture of agreement.

Li Hongzhang called Long Qian, "I don't allow you to win him, understand?" If you mess up this meeting, you don't need to go to the court, and I can punish you!" ”

"Lord Zhongtang, it is not possible to deal with the enemy, and it is not possible to compromise everything." Long Qian refused Li Hongzhang's request.

There were a lot of Germans in the courtyard, and they all knew that Loeb was a boxing master, and Loeb's friend Second Lieutenant Glenner died on the battlefield of Xigu, and it is estimated that this big Chinese will suffer today, at least he will be beaten by Loeb with a blue nose and swollen face.

Wadsey looked at the two men standing on the sidelines and made a gesture to start.

Gu Hongming looked at the field nervously, he had seen a Western boxing match abroad, and when he saw Loeb move first, he shifted a few steps and approached Long Qian, his left fist stretched forward, and his right fist was closed, and he looked like a boxing veteran. Although Gu Hongming is a literati, he also knows the ferocity of Western boxing, and it often happens that opponents are maimed or even killed on the field. Looking at Long Qian's casual appearance, he didn't look like a master who was proficient in martial arts, although he was strong and burly, he was afraid that he was not the opponent of this second lieutenant Loeb.

Loeb was competing with the Chinese for the first time, he tried to punch several times, could not see Long Qian's moves, contemptuous in his heart, shouted, rushed forward, left fist swayed, right fist quickly and forcefully hit the opponent's face. There is a saying in Western boxing that as soon as the right fist is out, the game is over, which illustrates the power of the boxer's right fist.

Long Qian was waiting for this time, Loeb's left shoulder sank, Long Qian moved, did not retreat but advanced, rushed straight into, in the screams of everyone, his left arm blocked's heavy punch, his right knee was raised, and he accurately hit Loeb's chest, Rao is he left his strength, this knee from Muay Thai, or easily knocked the opponent to the ground.

The battle was over in less than a minute. (To be continued......)