Episode 80 D-Day Falls

After the Nanming "fortress" exercise, Emperor Guangwu of the Manchu Qing Dynasty decided that the scale of this exercise, both in terms of the breadth of the battlefield and the number of troops dispatched, must be more than 10 times that of the Nanming "fortress" exercise.

More than ten times the scale, this is the clear request of Emperor Guangwu.

On the morning of June 4, Emperor Guangwu had just made his decision in the Forbidden City in Beijing, and an hour later, in the morning in the offices of the Dongchang and the People's Guard in Nanjing, the original words of Emperor Guangwu were read.

Of course, this is not a secret in the Northern Qing Dynasty. Otherwise, the information wouldn't have come so quickly.

"This will be a great exercise of the century, which will show the world the great national prestige of the Qing Dynasty, demonstrate our world-class military strength, and deter some people with bad intentions at home and abroad, so that they can understand that the Qing Empire is invincible and will stand for a thousand years."

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and read Emperor Guangwu's "Supreme Instructions", the stomach ache on the other side of the desk also smiled, and the fourteen squares next to him couldn't help but show a sarcastic smile.

"Guangwu said that it would be ten times the scale," Xiang Xiaoqiang said as he knocked on the piece of paper, "We have a total of eight divisions in the exercise, and he wants ten times as much, so there are not eighty divisions?" ”

At this time, a small female soldier outside came in and presented a transcription of information to Xiuxiu behind the desk at the door. Xiuxiu saw it, smiled slightly, and handed it to Qiu Yu on the other side. Qiu Yun looked at it, revealing a very exaggerated expression, the two looked at each other and smiled, and then Qiu Yun got up and came over and presented the information to Xiang Xiaoqiang.

Xiang Xiaoqiang took it and looked at it, and said with a smile:

"The latest information has come, and Guangwu has decided that more than 100 divisions will be mobilized in this exercise."

Stomach ache stunned, said:

"How is it possible, for a drill, more than a hundred divisions were mobilized, just to gamble with us? The whole world doesn't do that either. ”

Fourteen Gege shook his head and said:

"No, Ziteng, you don't understand, this kind of thing has been completely done in the Qing Dynasty. In the eyes of the Qing Dynasty, earning back a face is more important than anything else. Now what they lack most is face. Or what is lacking the most is that good sense of self. Such an earth-shattering exercise can allow them to find the kind of 'we are still strong' and 'we will stand for a thousand years'...... Something like that. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded and smiled:

"Especially the latter feeling. They are now the most lacking. Now, if we don't have to fight like this, they will perish faster. Think of it as a return to the light. But Zhao Fang, in your opinion, it hasn't been long since Guangwu suffered a fiasco, and now at this time, he will not be opposed if he makes such a big move? ”

Fourteen Gege sneered:

"Probably not. You are speculating on the Qing Dynasty with the Ming way of thinking. For example, if you want to plan such a 'great exercise of the century' to your lordship, you will definitely be considered to be a waste of money and labor in Daming, and maybe you will wait for impeachment. But in the Qing Dynasty, this is to promote the national prestige, and no one dares to say that this is a waste of money and labor. The most important thing is that the military and political officials from top to bottom have another opportunity to make a big profit. How could they object?

"I'm sure that if the scale of the Qing Dynasty exercise is ten times that of the Ming Dynasty, then the Qing Dynasty will spend at least thirty or fifty times the amount of money of the Ming Dynasty. On the one hand, the efficiency is extremely low, and it will cost more; On the other hand, there are so many mouths up and down to feed. In the end, it was the people at the bottom of the Qing Dynasty who really had to pay for the 'Great Exercise of the Century'. This year, there will be more of a variety of taxes on their heads. But they don't know the cause and effect. They thought they would only tighten their belts and pay their taxes while watching the drills happily, and they thought that they were born in the most powerful country in the world. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't help but laugh:

"Hehe, our princess, when did you have such a strong sense of civilianism, and you are also a common person?"

Fourteen Gege said lightly:

"Growing up, I've been a citizen in Japan. It's only been a few years since I became a princess. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Stomach Ache looked at each other, and both of them laughed dryly twice. Xiang Xiaoqiang scratched the back of his head, handed the two pieces of information on the table to Fourteen Gege, and said with a smile:

"That matter, princess...... Oh no, Zhao Fang, you're going to have to bother more. You are also most familiar with the situation in the north, and you have to pay close attention to the preparations for the exercise and the mobilization of troops there. ”

Fourteen Gege took the love newspaper and said:

"Don't worry, sir."

Stomach ache suddenly patted his head, and exclaimed:

"By the way, they won't use the exercise as a pretense, in fact, they want to deploy troops and attack my Daming again, right?"

Xiang Xiaoqiang was also stunned and looked at the fourteen grids. Fourteen Gege frowned and thought for a moment, and said slowly:

"I don't think so. More than 100 divisions are a lot for exercises, but they are far from enough for a real southern invasion. Our Yangtze defense line is stronger than last time, and now that it is summer, it is impossible to have fog. In the dense fog at the end of last year, the Qing army did not come again, and now it is even more impossible. This should be the exercise. But don't worry, my lord, I will keep an eye on it, if it is really another southern invasion, we will not be blinded. ”

"Okay, then please Your Highness."

Immediately afterwards, Xiang Xiaoqiang instructed Xiuxiu and Qiuqiu to send a copy of the information on Guangwu's decision to the "Great Exercise of the Century" to the empress and the first assistant minister.

"Shen Ge Lao has an East Factory over there," Xiang Xiaoqiang said, "I will definitely know about it, maybe I will know it before us." But we still have to do it on our side. After all, he is the head of the national government. ”

"I know," Qiu said with a smile, "that we are respecting him. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled:

"Well, okay, Qiu Yu is very perceptive."

……

After eating at noon, Qiu Yu went to the official residence of the first minister, and Xiuxiu went to the palace.

But Xiuxiu came back before Akiyu. She flashed into Xiaoqiang's office, sat on the chair opposite him, looked at him and asked:

"My lord, do you remember Xuanxuan's birthday?"

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at the desk calendar on the table, immediately patted his head, and said:

"Oh yes, I almost forgot! Xuan Xuan's birthday is the day after tomorrow, June 6th, D day! ”

“……？！”

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at Xiuxiu's confused look and said with a smile:

"Haha, anyway, you remember, June 6th is D-day, and D-day is June 6th. Why? Haha, the secret of heaven cannot be revealed, you will understand in a few years. ”

Xiuxiu didn't have the heart to play dumb riddles with him, but said:

"My lord, I just came back from the palace and saw Xuanxuan."

"Oh."

"Xuan Xuan said that on D day, His Majesty will celebrate her birthday in the palace."

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled:

"It's a good show, now learn and sell now. Celebrating a birthday? A good thing. Invited us, right? ”

"Well, please," Xiuxiu said, still expressionless, nodding, "and His Royal Highness Prince Ananta Mahidol of Siam." ”

"Ah...... Pander to...... Ananta ...... What a ...... Dun"

Xiang Xiaoqiang was stunned, muttering the unfamiliar name.

"His Royal Highness Prince Ananta Mahidol Municipal."

Xiuxiu repeated it again, staring into his eyes.

Xiang Xiaoqiang sat in the chair and only felt a tightness in his chest. Although he had been fully mentally prepared before, knowing that the Prince of Siam would come in the next few days, it was inevitable, but when it really came to this moment, there was still a feeling of five thunderbolts.

Oh my God, there's no solution! So far, there is no countermeasure! You won't watch your beloved be snatched away by other men, right?

Xiang Xiaoqiang subconsciously took the pen and scribbled on the paper in front of him, as if he was making a plan. Then he grabbed the phone receiver on the table again in a daze, and then put it down again. Finally, he stood up with a "whew", and then slowly sat down again.

"My lord, what's wrong with you?"

Xiuxiu stared at him and asked quietly.

waved his hand to Xiaoqiang, leaned back in the chair, unbuttoned his neckline vigorously, pinched his forehead with the other hand, and said vaguely:

"I didn't ...... It's okay, nothing...... It's a little stuffy ......."

Xiuxiu looked at him sadly, her eyes slowly became a little red, and her beautiful eyes were faintly flashing with crystal tears.

Xiang Xiaoqiang was shocked in his heart, and hurriedly said:

"Xiuxiu, I'...... You...... What happened to you? Where do you want to go? ”

Xiuxiu sighed softly, smiled again, and said very gently:

"Your Excellency...... Nothing. Actually, Qiu Yu told me a long time ago. …… Don't blame Qiu Qiu, even if Qiu Qiu didn't tell me, I can guess it. Your Majesty is both talented and good-looking, and has a gentle temperament, even if she is just an ordinary girl, she is better than us...... My lord, I don't blame you for that. It's normal for you to like her, but it's not normal for you to dislike her......"

Xiuxiu whispered softly, with the most docile and humble smile on her face, but the tears were already rolling down one after another.

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at Xiuxiu like this, and he was a little panicked. He grabbed one of Xiuxiu's hands and held it tightly with both palms.

He felt Xiuxiu's hands cold and cold at the moment, like a corpse.

Xiuxiu lowered her head, retracted her hand, slowly took out her handkerchief, gently wiped away her tears, and then looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang, presenting the most charming and charming smile.

"My lord......" she looked at Xiao Qiang and smiled, her dark eyebrows were crooked, and her eyes were full of spring, "Who do you think Xiuxiu is...... No matter who the adults like, Xiuxiu will not have any complaints about the adults...... Xiuxiu will always be the Xiuxiu of adults, and will always love adults the most. ”

After speaking, she sat down on the table in front of Xiang Xiaoqiang, leaned down, squinted her beautiful eyes, slowly approached Xiang Xiaoqiang's face, kissed his lips, tried her best to tease, unilaterally kissed Xiaoqiang, and at the same time, there was an intermittent intoxicating sound in her throat.

Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't help it, and retreated back, while saying:

"Xiuxiu...... Xiuxiu, you ...... You don't have to ...... that."

Xiuxiu stopped obediently. She lowered her head, sighed tremblingly, slowly got down from Xiang Xiaoqiang's table, and muttered:

"My lord, I ...... Go to the bathroom ......"

As he spoke, he turned around and walked out of the office.

……

In the bathroom, the faucet was rattling. Xiuxiu's eyes were red and swollen, her face was full of water, and there were tears, and she took out a handkerchief and wiped it little by little.

She stared at herself in the mirror, and suddenly bit down on her handkerchief, biting it hard, and let out a heart-rending cry in her throat.

Without warning, Xiuxiu raised her arms and smashed her fist on the mirror.

Two long cracks appeared in the mirror, and a red strip of blood seeped down in the middle.

Xiuxiu seemed to understand what had happened, and tremblingly withdrew her fist, and with tears in her eyes, she looked at her wound and muttered:

"It hurts...... It hurts......"