But the rapidly developing situation no longer allowed the Manchu court to have more options.

On September 2, on the day of the Wuchang Incident and the independence of Shanghai and Zhejiang, the Xiong Xun Brigade of the Northern Army of the Mengshan Army, which was moving southward at great speed, captured Yongping, and the defenders retreated without a fight. The Beijing division was shaken, and the Qing court urgently transferred the first mixed association that was intended to be used in Shandong to go out of Lutai to resist the attack of the northern army on the Beijing division. But Duanfang and the others knew that it was difficult for Jingshi to hold on. There is more than one avenue to go from Shanhaiguan to Jingshi, and the Mengshan army does not attack Lutai Tianjin, but also can go out of Yongping and take Yutian and Xianghe to attack Jingshi. What's more, how could a First Mixed Association that had never been in battle be able to withstand the tens of thousands of troops of the Northern Army? Speaking of which, this army of soldiers and horses is the most powerful, not to mention the cavalry, and the Japanese have fought in Mukden, which is a big battle that cannot be imagined in China.

Sure enough, a large number of people fled when the first mixed Xiefu left Beijing, and this army could not be used.

It is worth mentioning the confrontation between the Northern Army and the Japanese army in the area of Shanhaiguan.

According to the "Xinchou Treaty", Japan obtained the right to garrison troops in the line from Tianjin to Shanhaiguan, the headquarters was located in Tianjin Haiguang Temple, and the troops were called the Qing State Garrison Army, and the commander of the year was called Abe Sadajiro, with a total strength of about 1,600 people, and the troops were distributed in Beijing, Tianjin, Tanggu, Qinhuangdao and Shanhaiguan.

The 1,600 people were stationed in several places, and there was also the Japanese embassy defending the Beijing Division, that is, the so-called garrison headquarters in Tianjin, and the troops on the front line of Shanhaiguan were very small. However, after hearing about the Mukden Incident, Abe Sadajiro judged that Beiyang would be defeated, so he personally went to Shanhaiguan to make arrangements, preparing to block the road with less than three squadrons of troops at his disposal and block the advance of the Northern Army of the Mengshan Army to Guannai.

Really. Duan Qirui defeated Jinzhou. After letting go of Duan Qirui's defeated troops, the Japanese army blocked the main road, citing military exercises and blocking the 73rd Regiment of the Xiong Xun Brigade that had caught up.

What kind of generals lead what kind of soldiers. If it was Sheng Guang's troops, they would not hesitate to rush over, and the Japanese dared to shoot, then they would fight and talk about it after the fight. But Xiong Xun won't, this company commander during the Battle of Xigu and the battalion commander during the Battle of Heigoutai is a cautious person who loves to learn. At the beginning, Long Qianmeng Mountain held a "current affairs lecture" as a whole army. Xiong Xun was the one who asked Long Qian the most questions. If you talk about the understanding of the series of strong disputes related to international relations. Xiong Xun is second to Jiang Fangzhen, who served as the chief of staff because of his excellent staff skills and military qualities, and even Lu Shan is not as good as Xiong Xun.

Xiong Xun drank the enraged 73rd Regiment in time.

"It's not cowardice, it's prudence! Disputes involving foreign armies must be consulted above! Got it?! "Xiong Xun reprimanded the commander of the 73rd Regiment." Be ready for battle. If they shoot. You can fight back! I'm going to report to Commander Lu. ”

The 73rd Regiment could only comply with orders. The Japanese also did not shoot or provoke further, they simply blocked the road and blocked the Northern Army for a whole day!

Lu Shan belongs to the kind of person who is bold and careful. Immediately found Jiang Fangzhen, "Director Jiang, what do you think the Japanese mean?" ”

"It is certain that they have hatred for our army, not only the old hatred of Shendanbao and Heigoutai, but also the anti-Japanese sentiment revealed by the marshal during the Shandong and Guangdong periods, as well as the concern for Japan's interests in China. However, I conclude that the Japanese did not dare to shoot! As far as I know, there are very few troops, and the size of a brigade alone is enough to deal with the 73rd Regiment. Moreover, I suspect that this was a spontaneous act of the garrison and was not authorized by its cabinet. How could the debt-ridden Japanese government start a war lightly? No, it won't! Jiang Fangzhen said with certainty.

Cai Ye, who was present at the time, agreed with Jiang Fangzhen's judgment. After verifying Duan Yongqing's identity, Lu Shan welcomed Cai Yongqing, but did not immediately arrange his position, and asked him to follow Jiang Fangzhen first.

Lu Shan listened to the judgment of Jiang and Cai, and nodded, "That's good." You don't need to ask the headquarters, Xiong Xun, you rush over for me, but don't fire the first shot! It only took a few seconds for Lu Shan to make this decision.

Jiang Fangzhen and Cai Yi glanced at each other, and admired the generals under Long Qian very much, they were disciplined, disciplined, honest, and could afford to take it and put it down. Changed to Beiyang, he would never dare to attack the Japanese army. I don't know how Long Qian trained these tiger and wolf generals, but he was able to order and prohibit them, although the orders came from thousands of miles away, they could basically be respected. This is the founding atmosphere of the country.

The 73rd Regiment received the order, roared up, removed the obstacles set up by the Japanese army, and passed through the center of the Japanese position. Sure enough, the Japanese were also bluffing, and they didn't even fire a warning shot into the sky.

"Little Japan is really bluffing." Xiong Xun rode through the Japanese defense line and looked at the Japanese officers and soldiers who were watching from a distance and said.

The Northern Army Brigade was like a torrent, pouring into Shanhaiguan and sweeping towards the Beijing Division.

At 10 o'clock in the evening of September 4, Long Qian, who had just recovered from a serious illness, dictated in Changsha a telegram of instructions to the Northern Army to capture the Beijing Division, which was polished by Situ Jun and Hong Yuecheng and sent to the Northern Army overnight.

The electricity has been highly praised by historians.

"You are about to capture the Manchu capital of Beijing on behalf of the Mengshan Army, and no one doubts the occurrence of this great historical event, which marks the complete end of the alien dynasty that has ruled China for more than 260 years. For this reason, I warmly congratulate the great victory of the Northern Army and extend my greetings and respect to the heroic Northern Army on behalf of the Southern Army and the Shandong Army in the name of the General Headquarters!

The occupation of Beijing is not our ultimate goal, but only the beginning of our great cause. There is still a long road ahead, and the struggle will be harder and more complicated, so it's important to remember that. Accordingly, you are hereby commanded to do the following:

1. Rectify the discipline of the troops, formulate detailed rules for entering the city, and maintain and show to the people of Beijing the glorious image of our Mengshan army.

2. Carefully select the troops to enter the city, the northern army must not enter the city in its entirety, and the main force should be placed outside the city and all key points should be effectively controlled.

3. No invasion of the embassy area, no restriction on the freedom of movement of foreign military and civilians, foreigners (including foreign military units guarding foreign embassies) do not have real provocative acts, and our army should protect their safety.

4. All Manchu officials and nobles who have not fled from Beijing will not be arrested, but will only be placed under surveillance, and their homes will not be raided. Arrest people and recover property.

5. Do not enter the palace and palace without permission.

6. It is forbidden to requisition private houses and requisition the people's power of Beijing. Do not intrude on merchants.

7. Do not enter brothels, tobacco houses and other places.

8. All former Manchu officials (including Manchu and Beiyang officials) who are willing to cooperate with our army shall be entrusted with their original posts and paid a salary not lower than that of their original posts.

9. Earnestly maintain public order in Beijing and severely crack down on all acts that undermine public order.

On the morning of the next day, Lu Shan, Shi Dashou, and Deng Qinghua jointly sent a telegram to the headquarters: The decision was carried out according to the instructions of the commander-in-chief.

Jiang Fangzhen, who drafted the rules for the Mengshan army to enter the city according to Lu Shan's order, said to his old friends Cai Yi and Zhang Xiaozhun that Long Qian is not Li Zicheng, and we are the right person.

On September 5, the Manchu court, after learning that the Mengshan army had occupied the Xianghe River and that the Beiyang army on the front line of Hengshui refused to carry out King Qin's orders, hastily withdrew from Beijing. Flee westward. Evacuated to Baoding. They were supposed to retreat to Tianjin, but Xiong Xun's department blocked the railway line, and the railway between Beijing and Tianjin was paralyzed, so they had to retreat westward.

September 7. The cavalry brigade of the Northern Army Jiang Cunxian attacked and occupied Fengtai (after the death of Shengguang. Jiang Cunxian served as the commander of the cavalry brigade). Xiong Xun's 25th Brigade was from Yongdingmen, and Cheng Erhu's 28th Brigade entered the undefended city of Beijing from Dongzhimen. According to Lu Shan's order, the troops who entered the city in advance under the leadership of the Beijing Intelligence Station seized the key points of the Beijing Division. A large number of pre-drafted "notices for the safety of the people" were posted to publicize the "nine-point" prohibitions of the Mengshan Army Headquarters and the hastily formulated more detailed and strict rules for entering the city.

At noon the next day, Lu Shan led his headquarters into the city from Dongzhi Gate. According to the recommendation of the Beijing Station of the Military Intelligence Bureau, the headquarters of the Northern Army was set up in Xiyuan. According to Long Qian's telegram order, Lu Shan summoned the generals to strictly enforce military discipline and read out the "Nine Articles of the Headquarters" again. Lu Shan thought that the palace was the most important, so he simply sent his guard battalion to guard the palace, and there were a large number of palace maids and eunuchs who had no time to escape.

On 8 September, the headquarters of the Mengshan Army again telegraphed to the Northern Army that the Beijing Military and Political Commission would be composed of seven people, including Lu Shan, Shi Dashou, Deng Qinghua, Fan Deping, Xu Gongzhi, Zheng Shuangqing, and Jiang Fangzhen, with Lu Shan as director and Shi Dashou as deputy director. Shi Dashou was appointed as the commander of the Beijing garrison, and Xu Gongzhi was appointed as the deputy commander, taking overall responsibility for Beijing's public security. The telegram instructed Lu Shan that since the Manchu court had lost all its military force, the northern army should not approach Baoding, but should send important personnel to liaison, paying special attention to the liaison with Yuan Shikai's Beiyang generals. However, policies related to the central and important personnel of the Manchu Qing Dynasty must be implemented only after consulting the headquarters.

After the meeting, Shi Dashou and Xu Gongzhi immediately took the lead of the Northern Military Judge Advocate General's Department to select officers and soldiers from among the troops entering the city and organized nine military law supervision teams (40~50 people each) to demarcate areas and inspect Sijiu City day and night.

This is an epoch-making event! Almost all Chinese and foreign newspapers reported the news of Beijing's "fall" on their front pages.

After spending a few days in terror, the people of Beijing and the foreign envoys in China quickly settled down, believing that this bandit-turned-army was conscientiously carrying out the "nine-point" prohibition. In particular, on September 9, after the guard battalion captured several soldiers of the 75th Regiment who were about to break into the palace without permission (in fact, to see the excitement) in front of the Donghua Gate, the people of Beijing began to spread the strict military discipline of the Mengshan Army. Ordinary people have their own criteria for judging - what is that? Don't you just want to see the palace? was beaten half to death in public! No wonder people seized the Manchu Dynasty, and the imperial court really couldn't compare with this rule.

The British envoy followed the Manchu center and withdrew from Beijing. The German, French, Russian, American, and Japanese envoys to China, who had remained in Beijing and had never been evacuated, issued reports to China almost at the same time, confirming that China had "changed the sky" and that the establishment of a national government by the Mengshan Army was just around the corner, and asked for instructions on China's policy toward China.

The Great Powers were not concerned with the fate of the Manchu court (which no longer existed in their opinion), but with their interests in China - if there was no military intervention, then the continuation of a series of treaties, customs duties, concessions, and the right to garrison troops, and they urgently needed domestic instructions, the Manchus could perish, but it was impossible not to have relations with China, military, political, and more economic. The United States, Germany, and even Russia watched the great changes in China with joy, and they thought that it would be more advantageous for the Mengshan army to seize power in the whole country. General Artemyev, who had been promoted to lieutenant general and had a good personal friendship with Lushan, specially called Lushan to congratulate him personally.

Finally, I will talk about Yuan Shikai and the generals of the Beiyang Department.

On September 7, that is, the day Lu Shan entered the city. Yuan Shikai entrusted Wang Shizhen to send a telegram in Baoding to officially announce his departure. He can see the general trend of the world clearly, first of all, he can no longer fight with the Mengshan army. In fact, Yuan Shikai has already expressed his attitude by refusing the order of the Central Qin King, and now the only thing he is worried about is the fate of the broken group of Beiyang. After discussing secretly with Wang Shizhen, Feng Guozhang, Yang Shiqi, Duan Zhigui, Yang Shiqi and others, Yuan Shikai decided to retreat and advance and clear himself first. Yuan Shikai estimated that Long Qian would definitely take the form of negotiation to transform and even annex Beiyang. Yuan Shikai, who was ill, said to Wang, Feng and others that Long Qian was not a reckless man, otherwise he would not have succeeded today. Only to keep the Beiyang army. Only then can we wait for the future. But you can't fight for sure. So just bargain with him. To put it mildly, it is still undecided whether Long Qian can pass this hurdle, and when he walks on the highest stage, it is the beginning of his big trouble. Economically. Diplomatic. There is also the arrogance of the Revolutionary Party of the Southeast. There's a lot going on. We don't necessarily have a chance......

Wang Shizhen and others agreed with Yuan Shikai's judgment. So, Yuan Shikai appointed Feng Guozhang to act as his agent to lead the three towns of Beiyang that stayed on the front line of Hengshui, and sent Wang Shizhen and Yang Du to Baoding. Send a telegram to the field, and then go to talk to the imperial court, persuading the imperial court to abdicate at the cost of preserving the safety of the imperial family. At the same time, Duan Zhigui and Chen Xiao were sent back to Beijing to contact Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui, who had returned to Beijing, to try to establish direct contact with the Mengshan army.

The regent Zaifeng fled from Beijing in a hurry with the royal family, including the Empress Dowager Longyu, and did not go far, nor could he go far, and stopped in Baoding. The Governor's Mansion of Zhili served as a palace.

Nine years ago, roughly this season, the supreme ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty had fled from Beijing, but that time it was a foreign soldier, and he may not have the opportunity to return to Beijing to take charge again. And now this time is different, Zaifeng, who provoked the most heavy burden of the Manchu regime, understands that the Manchu Halal is going to die!

On the night of arriving in Baoding, Zaifeng placed the gods of the Qing monarchs invited from the Taimiao and held a simple and solemn memorial ceremony. Zaifeng knelt in front of the ancestral tablet and cried, and actually swept the tablet of his brother Emperor Guangxu to the ground! While crying and scolding, the ministers of the clan who accompanied the crying finally heard clearly, the regent was not scolding Emperor Guangxu, but the Empress Dowager Cixi!

She's blind! He actually chose a gravedigger for the Qing Dynasty! If the eldest brother is pro-government, why is the court situation like this, why is it here! The people present were all important ministers of the clan, and they couldn't help but think of the Wuxu Revolution eleven years ago, if Cixi did not launch a palace coup, could the Qing Dynasty really last for thousands of years?

The high-ranking Manchu and Han officials who participated in the memorial ceremony, such as Yixuan, Shixu, Liang Dunyan, Shanqi, Zai Ze, Tang Jingchong, Zaixun, Shaochang, Pu Lun, and Shouqi, all looked gloomy.

After crying to the extreme, Zaifeng, who was kneeling in the front row, actually got up and hit his head on the incense case, bleeding profusely when he landed, and the person was also unconscious.

Zaifeng's "suicide and martyrdom" put an end to this memorial ceremony that was considered a pure farce by later generations. Everyone rescued Zaifeng, and the imperial doctor rushed to deal with the regent, but fortunately, the strength was insufficient, and Zaifeng was not seriously injured, but he was about to leave a scar on his forehead.

Jaefeng's desperation reflects the state of mind of the royal family. They are no longer thinking about counterinsurgency, but about their own end. Although the Manchu clan is a foreign race, it is a very deep ethnic group, the children of the clan have received strict Han culture education since childhood, and they actually have a fundamental identity with the Chinese civilization dominated by Han culture.

Here's the problem. Which dynasty had a good end for the king of the fallen country? Did Liu Chan, who was so happy, really forget the hatred of the country? Isn't the heartlessness he showed a helpless choice to survive? Li Yu, the queen of the Southern Tang Dynasty, who left countless superb words and chapters in the Yahao poetry book, was powerless, what threat did he pose to Song Taizong? Not to mention the humiliation of his wife, he still can't escape the fate of being poisoned in the end?

What will be the end of the Manchu royal family?

Desperate waited for Wang Shizhen, the general of Beiyang, and Yang Du, who was at both ends of the head in the eyes of the Manchu nobles. Yang Du's qualifications and identity were not enough, but Wang Shizhen, who was neither wearing a military uniform nor an official uniform, but wearing a casual dress and a melon skin hat, was quickly taken to Zaifeng's bedroom, and did not avoid suspicion, and the Empress Dowager Longyu, who was swollen with eyes, also rushed to the little uncle's room.

Long Yu glanced at Wang Shizhen, who was kneeling on the blue brick floor and crying, "Don't pretend, are you here on behalf of Yuan Shikai or Long Qian?" ”

"Weichen is here in the name of Yuan Shikai." Wang Shizhen stopped crying and kowtowed repeatedly.

"You get up and speak, Yuan Shikai sits back and watches the Jingshi being broken and ignores it, do you want to make a meeting gift for Long Qian? What is his charter now? Now is not the time to make a fuss, just tell the truth. Zaifeng, who was mentally exhausted with a bandage on his head, said.

"Back to the regent's words, it's not that Yuan Shikai doesn't want to be the king of Qin, he is really powerless to be the king of Qin. In the first battle of Texas, the three towns of Beiyang have been dilapidated and useless, and they will have no fighting spirit, there is a shortage of food and ammunition, and there is a worry of mutiny at any time, where can they still be used? Moreover, Yuan Weiting has already been energized to go into the wilderness......"

"Hey, he's going to get rid of himself. Do you think you can be let go by Long Qian in this way? Zaifeng snorted.

"Don't talk about Yuan Shikai, Wang Shizhen, tell me, what should we orphans and widows do?" Empress Dowager Longyu said.

When it came to the critical place, Wang Shizhen pondered the words, "Back to the Queen Mother's words." The minister thought that now he could only abdicate to ensure peace. ”

Longyu screamed, "Abdication? Peaceful? Can you abdicate and be safe? What guarantee do you use? ”

"Chen had a relationship with Long Qian nine years ago, and he was not a person who loved to kill. Desperately talk to him about Weichen's life, if he can't agree, Weichen is willing to die to martyr the Qing Dynasty. ”

"Hehe, speaking of which, you're a loyal minister."

The conversation broke up unhappily. Fortunately, on the evening of the next day, Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui came to the palace together. Hearing that the two of them came from Beijing, they couldn't care about anything else, so Longyu and Zaifeng hurriedly passed on the meeting.

When Xu Shichang reported that the Jingshi was quiet, and the palace and palace were not violated, Zaifeng still didn't believe it.

"How dare Weichen deceive His Royal Highness the Regent," Xu Shichang said in a deep voice, "Weichen saw Lu Shan, and he was ordered by Long Qian to ask Weichen to bring a few words to the Queen Mother and the Regent." ”

"What do you bring?" The uncle and sister-in-law asked in unison.

Lu Shan said that Long Qian telegraphed him instructing him to contact the royal family. As long as the imperial court abdicates by electricity and calls on the world to stop the war, he will never endanger the royal family. At the very least, the royal family can be law-abiding citizens in the new country. He can publicly swear that he will never hold the court accountable for all crimes, and that he will effectively protect the personal safety of the emperor and the clan......"

"He, then Long Qian really said that? Isn't it Lu Shan's false will? In desperation, Longyu actually used the word "will".

"Wei Chen saw Long Qian's telegram to Lu Shan, and it was indeed written like this."

"Okay then, you can write this abdication edict for the Qing Dynasty." Longyu didn't even ask Zaifeng's opinion and made a decision immediately.

"Queen Mother......" Zaifeng shouted in despair.

Long Yu glanced at Zaifeng, "Old Five, thousands of crimes are all borne by me, an ominous person." As long as the emperor survives. "Longyu, who has always been submissive, has shown unprecedented responsibility.

During this process, Duan Qirui did not say a word.

"Wechen didn't dare to obey the edict......" Xu Shichang knelt down and kowtowed again and again.

"Even if this palace begs you." Long Yu said sharply, "If you think of the grace of the Great Qing Dynasty, you don't have to be afraid to bear the infamy." However, it is better for Long Qian to give the palace a handwritten letter. ”

"Weichen is willing to go to Jiangnan to ask Long Qian for a letter of guarantee." Wang Shizhen kowtowed again.

"Queen Mother, Your Highness, I'm afraid I'm going to issue an edict first." Duan Qirui, who had never spoken, said, "Before I left Beijing, the cavalry brigade of the Northern Army stationed in Fengtai was already preparing to move west. ”

"Ahh

Compared with Xu Shichang and Wang Shizhen, Duan Qirui's feelings for the Manchu Qing were much indifferent, he was summoned by Lushan twice in Beijing, and the conversation was very extensive, after learning that Long Qian would never be the emperor and was determined to establish a republic and be magnanimous to Beiyang, the general, who had studied in Germany and knew more about the republican system than other generals in Beiyang, had decided to side with the Mengshan army. (To be continued......)

PS: I'm on a business trip, so I'll send it out today. Tomorrow's pre-release. Try to get back tomorrow night.