In the "Xinchou Treaty" signed that year, one of the provisions was to increase the number of guards in the embassy area of Dongjiaomin Lane.

Since then, a mini-Eight-Nation Alliance has been stationed in the capital all year round, with a number of more than 2,000 people.

Strictly speaking, this is not a concession, but it is better than a concession.

The police formed by the mini-Eight-Nation Coalition were in charge of law and order, and the Qing military and police were not allowed to interfere.

There are walls and bunkers around it, and there are eight entrances and exits, all of which are guarded by foreigners.

Standing guard in the embassy area is a regular task, and in addition, there is a small playground for military and police training on weekdays.

Every time I trained, there were many people in the capital who watched and praised loudly: it is worthy of a foreign army, and the spirit is different.

At this time, the trained foreigners and military police were triumphant, with their chests and bellies, holding guns and bayonets, and showing off their might.

It can be said that that pride comes from their century-old aggression and exploitation-accumulation, as well as from the awe-inspiring eyes of the people in the capital.

Where there are people, there are business opportunities.

Some foreigners, seeing so many military police, have nowhere to vent their energy except for standing guard and training, so they rent a room next to Dongjiaomin Lane to open a bar, specifically serving foreigners and military police.

Within a few years, a red-light district commercial street was formed, with bars, casinos, brothels, hotels, etc.

The foreign police didn't care, and the Qing court police didn't dare to take care of it, and over time, they naturally hid dirt and dirt, forming a lawless place outside the law.

Adjacent to the embassy district, the land of dragons and snakes is mixed, stretching from the hutongs of Suzhou in the north, to the Tatar city wall in the south, and to the Hade Gate in the west, it is full of people who have been forced to flee their homeland to make a living in foreign lands, as well as adventurers, many of whom are engaged in the skin and meat business.

This area is called the Bad Land by the people of the capital.

Years later, even the daughters of the future British ministers were killed here, and they had to swallow the consequences of the bad land.

This is the bar that Bacchus said to Rebecca Levy.

Foreigners are open and open, but there is also a degree.

Even if it is a foreign woman, who is a good person who goes to the bar of the bad land to play?

Rebecca Levi shook her head, and at the same time took out Yinyang and handed it to Bacchus: "Mr. Bacchus, thank you for your help, this is the reward you deserve." ”

Bacchus is as bold as Zhao Chuanxin, the difference is that Zhao Chuanxin is extremely vicious, and Bacchus is a lewd villain.

His favorite thing to do is to fool politicians, and the more powerful he is, the more excited he becomes.

He is very famous in foreign circles, and everyone calls him a China expert, thinking that the news that circulates from him is usually reliable.

If he was given a suitable springboard, he would even dare to fool the court of the British Empire.

How can this kind of person take a fancy to Rebecca Levy's small remuneration?

He refused with a straight face: "Rebecca, what do you mean by that?" Look down on me? Take it back. ”

And Rebecca Levy's temperament seems to be soft and gentle, but in fact she is also from Shan-Dongqiang County, stubborn like a stone: "Mr. Bacchus, you must accept it, otherwise I will not be able to sleep well." ”

"I'm not going to take this money."

"You must take it."

“……”

Bacchus had no choice but to accept it.

He tried to say some witty things again, but found that Rebecca Levi was not in his mind, his eyes were wandering, and he didn't seem to even listen to a word, and the smile on his face didn't bloom because of him, as if he was thinking about something.

So he retired.

He went to the bar street himself.

Even the air here is filled with the smell of obscenity, and the smell of drunken hiccups fills the streets.

I walked into the bar and just ordered a glass of whiskey when someone sat down next to me.

"Mr. Bacchus, you are so daring."

Bacchus tightened his heart, turned his head to look, and found that it was a small middle-aged Asian, who looked like he was in his forties, looking at him with a smile.

"Who is Your Excellency?"

"It doesn't matter who it is, what matters is that I admire Mr. Bacchus' courage."

"What do you mean?" Bacchus was striking.

"Fool the special minister, fool Zhao Chuanxin's lover. You're not afraid of Zhu Erdian, aren't you afraid of Zhao Chuanxin? ”

It is false to say that you are not afraid.

But tightrope walking is very exciting, and Bacchus likes this feeling because of his childhood experience.

He pretended to be calm: "I don't know what you say, don't bother me." ”

The middle-aged man smiled: "Okay, I'll go back and talk to them, maybe I can avoid them from being fooled." ”

Bacchus shook his hand, and the drink spilled.

He gave an embarrassed smile: "You're Japanese, aren't you?" ”

"It has nothing to do with who I am, just to remind Mr. Bacchus that you can't fool everyone."

"What I said is true, do you have proof that I lied?" A hint of cunning flashed in Bacchus' eyes.

"I don't know much about you, but my understanding of Zhao Chuanxin must be beyond your expectations."

Bacchus turned and looked at the man steadily, "Sir, tell me, what exactly do you want to do?" ”

"I can tell you very responsibly that Zhu Erdian will definitely die if he offends Zhao Chuanxin. Until he dies, he still has value, and we can work together......"

……

To be the Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in China, Zhu Erdian is not stupid at all.

But he also has a shortcoming - he can't be distracted from doing things, and he can only grasp one line.

For example, he first thought that Tianjin Wei did not have the security of the capital, so he came to the capital.

Someone recommended Bacchus, and he met him.

Instead of thinking about all the back roads in Tianjin Wei, he can only grasp one line and keep moving forward.

When Bacchus, in order to emphasize the reliability of his words, mentioned that he knew Zhao Chuanxin's lover and lived in the capital, Zhu Erdian continued to dig along this line.

When Bacchus left, he immediately sent someone to follow him and found the hotel where Rebecca Levi was staying.

As soon as Bacchus left, he secretly monitored the place.

Zhu Erdian was still uneasy, but he had no time to care about it after having a life-saving straw.

……

Forbidden city.

Since the hot weather, Cixi went to Cheng-De Summer Resort to escape the summer, contracted dysentery, and has not been well since she returned.

She always felt weak and dizzy in her ears.

Diarrhea occurs every now and then.

Cixi somewhat understood in her heart that she had fallen into the loess with half of her foot, and her time was running out.

Today, she summoned Zhang Zhidong.

The aged Zhang Zhidong is no longer as brave as he was back then.

He had a completely white beard, chest-length, not tall, a clear face, cloudy eyes, and a weak and empty speech.

He himself does not accept old age, but in fact he is also in his old age.

Cixi is not fake, and it is true that Zhang Zhidong will not be reinstated, but he will still be asked to ask about politics if there is something.

"Xiaoda, do you still have many cats?"

"This nature likes cats, and there are often dozens in the bedroom, and it has never decreased slightly. I have benefited a lot from practicing cat health......"

"Hey......" Cixi's face was helpless, learning health preservation techniques with cats, except for the one in front of her, I had never heard of it, it was really strange. After the greetings, she didn't want to talk about cats more, so she changed the topic: "I called you here to discuss, what about Zhao Chuanxin's thief and how to place it?" ”

What she wants to say is "disposal", but after thinking about it, don't you know that confidence?

If you can live for another twenty years, you can't say that you have to deal with Zhao Chuanxin to the end, and one of the two must die.

Now it seems that she may be the only one who is dying......

Zhang Zhidong immediately understood.

This year, Galeries Lafayette's health is deteriorating, and the deadline is approaching, so we must eliminate all difficulties for future generations.

If Cixi wanted to discuss the establishment of an heir or the transfer of troops, Zhang Zhidong might have answered cautiously.

However, Zhao Chuanxin has nothing to do with their interests and power, and he can speak freely.

"Why not be restrained by official positions?"

Cixi shook her head: "I tried it a few years ago, but this fang is a backbone, and he doesn't take the court law in his eyes at all, I'm afraid it will be difficult to work." ”

Zhang Zhidong's beard trembled: "Why don't you give him a real job?" ”

The heart said that you are fooling fools there, Zhao Chuanxin monkey spirit monkey spirit, will he eat your set?

"Substantial? Zhao Chuanxin is a martial artist. Without doing his job, he was already training in private. If you give a real job, isn't it against the sky? ”

Although the insurance team did not continue to expand, it also became a local hegemon. Neither the soldiers nor the Japanese could do anything about them.

In the face of the forces that cannot be provoked, Cixi will automatically turn into an ostrich, hide her head, and be the same as the insurance team and the local prince and the local prince, do whatever you like.

It's like Zimmer's characteristic Mupil.

Fortunately, Zhao Chuanxin and Lugang Town fell out later, at least they already believed it.

Without strong wings, although Zhao Chuanxin is still a tumor, at least it can barely be regarded as benign.

Zhang Zhidong shook his head: "The real job is false, the recruitment is false, and the disaster is eastward." ”

Cixi's eyes rolled: "What do you mean?" ”

Zhang Zhidong stroked his beard and already had a draft: "Earlier this year, Xu Shichang and Zhou Shumo asked for the abolition of Ai-Hui, Mo-Ergen, and Hulun-Bell deputy capitals, and the addition of Ai-Hun and Hulun-Bell, and the addition of Hei-He, Manzhu, Fo-Shan, and Nen-Jiang. Last month, the imperial court played the Hulun military preparation road, and the Zhili Hall was set up below. As for the Manzhu Mansion, the imperial court did not accept the name of Manzhu as the Russian court, and the ministers named it Yubin Mansion. Why not appoint Zhao Chuanxin as the prefect of Yubin Prefecture and concurrently serve as the chief card officer of the six Karens? ”

The system outside the customs was restructured, the generals were withdrawn, and the provinces were established.

This is not achieved overnight, but slowly changed.

The so-called Manzhu Mansion is actually "Manchuria", which was transliterated as Manzhu at that time, and the writing was also Manzhu, which was the name given by Tsarist Russia, because it was the first station of the Eastern Railway of Tsarist Russia to enter the Guanwai.

Xu Shichang wanted to build a mansion there, but Tsarist Russia naturally did not allow it. It was obviously the territory of the Qing court, but it was occupied by Tsarist Russia, and now it is only the land of the Qing court in name, but it has no jurisdiction.

Therefore, it can only be located two kilometers outside Manchuria-Chazhou in later generations, and it is isolated in the wilderness, and its status is very embarrassing.

Cixi's eyes lit up in an instant.

I blanch, I can only say that I blanch.

Sure enough, the ginger is still old and spicy.

The real job is indeed the real job, but the birds in that place don't, far away on the frontier. Maybe a fart, the Tsarist Russians outside the realm can smell it, and this kind of place is rarely rubbed.

Awarded the prefect a substantive position, Zhao Chuanxin does have military power.

In the bitter cold land, he could only lead troops to patrol the border posts in the devastated barren meadows every day, manage Karen, and constantly quarrel with the Tsarist Russians over the national border.

First, the imperial court couldn't allocate the money, so Zhao Chuanxin could only find a way to raise it by himself. Second, the Tsarist Russians also hated Zhao Chuanxin, but they were also afraid of him, and with Zhao Chuanxin, maybe Tsarist Russia would not dare to occupy territory and act across the border at will, and pushed this scourge to Tsarist Russia. Third, Zhao Chuanxin was entangled in heavy affairs every day and stayed away from the Jingshi, so naturally he would not threaten Pu Yi, who succeeded to the throne. Fourth, it is too dilapidated and too poor, even if Cixi has not been there, he can imagine what it will look like, Zhao Chuanxin goes, even if he is full of backbones, he can't make big waves. Fifth......

All in all, countless benefits.

Cixi was short of breath and almost wanted to applaud Zhang Zhidong.

She suppressed her excitement: "But this fang is unruly, in case he provokes the side?" ”

Zhao Chuanxin has set up a character for himself over the years - life and death are downbeat, if you don't accept it, you will do it, and whoever loses will receive a box lunch.

"You can send a hand, huh...... It is said that it is a special translation into Russian, which restricts and discourages it from acting. If it doesn't work out again, he will be demoted, punished with a fine, and replaced with a new prefect, as long as he gives an explanation to the Russian court, everything is easy to say. Zhang Zhidong laughed.

Is Zhao Chuanxin still afraid of being dumped? It's a big deal to turn around and transfer him elsewhere to appease.

Anyway, Tsarist Russia didn't dare to take Zhao Chuan's salary.

Cixi couldn't help it: "This is also an excellent ......"

Beaming!

Then Zhang Zhidong poured a basin of cold water on her: "I'm afraid that Zhao Chuan's salary will not be accepted!" ”

The two of them were discussing here, and if Zhao Chuanxin came back, he said: "Play by yourself, Lao Tzu won't do it." ”

That's embarrassing.

The point is, this is a very likely thing to happen.

Cixi was a little angry: the dog didn't know how to lift.

She said, "I'll think about ...... again"

……

Zhao Chuanxin got off at Tang-Shan at the same time as Bai Wenwei.

Bai Wenwei was in a hurry to report, Zhao Chuanxin went to the Kailuan Mining Bureau, found Zhao Xilong and Zhou Xuexi, and appeared at the canteen of the Mining Bureau.

"Mr. Zhao, you are making a lot of noise again." The obese Zhao Xilong said.

Zhao Chuanxin greeted the staff who came to eat from time to time, nibbling on the soft rotten pig's trotters dipped in garlic sauce.

He comes occasionally, which has the effect of stabilizing the "morale of the army".

"Bah......" he spat out the bones, and said, "Damn, there is still a pig's hair on this pig's trotter, go back and tie up the cook and beat it." ”

Zhou Xuexi and Zhao Xilong: "......"

Zhao Chuanxin threw away the bones, wiped his mouth, and took a sip of tea: "If you don't read the newspaper, you will know nothing." Read the newspaper and you will be misled. I guess the newspapers must have slandered me for being brutal again. It's all slander, a bunch of fake journalists with no quality. ”

“……”

Zhao Xilong sneered: "There are still positive reports in the newspapers outside the Guan. ”

Zhao Chuanxin rinsed his mouth, looked at his watch, got up and said: "That's it, I still have to go to Tianjin Wei, who made me Zhao Chuanxin a great husband who does what he says!" ”

Zhou Xuexi shuddered: "Uncle, seeing that tomorrow is September 18th in the Western calendar, you are going to ......"

"Don't be cranky, what do you mean?" Zhao Chuanxin took a cigarette after dinner, and walked out of the cafeteria with the cigarette: "That's right, I tell you for sure, I was about to take Zhu Erdian's dog's life." ”

“……”

It's a pity that he can't post the news, otherwise Zhao Chuanxin would have to shout to the whole world.

Also shouting everywhere is Bacchus.

When he met people, he said that he was ready to match Zhao Chuanxin and Zhu Erdian to turn the war into a jade silk.

not only shouted in the bad land area, but also ran to the people of the capital to publicize.

In the evening, even Tianjin Wei received the news.

Yuan Datou also sent a congratulatory message to Zhu Erdian.

Zhu Erdian was confused: "What happened? ”

He asked someone to ask, and when he learned about the situation, he jumped to his feet angrily.

Immediately sent someone to call Bacchus for questioning.

Bacchus swore an oath: "Sir, I have already made an appointment with Zhao Chuanxin to negotiate at the BJ Hotel at noon tomorrow." ”

When Zhu Erdian saw that his words were conclusive, he believed it.

This kind of face-to-face confrontation cannot be faked.

So I started preparing.

Zhao Chuanxin also arrived in the capital.

He went to Dongxinglou to eat Lu cuisine, and during the meal, he heard diners talking about an Englishman named Bacchus who wanted to resolve the conflict between him and Zhu Erdian.

Zhao Chuanxin wondered: Why didn't Lao Tzu know?

Time, place, and people have it, and they have noses and eyes.

This matter is in an uproar, and the people of the capital still remember that Zhao Chuanxin bombarded the Forbidden City back then, and now they are coming to do things again, can they not be excited?

After a meal, Zhao Chuanxin listened to the matter.

The one named Bacchus is said to have a strong relationship with him.

The meeting place was behind the barracks, at the BJ Hotel, which was run by the French.

The hotel was chartered, and Bacchus was bold in his actions.

The time is set for noon.

The above is what Zhao Chuanxin heard.

It can be said that except for Zhao Chuanxin, everyone was notified in place, and the arrangements were clear.

Originally, Zhao Chuanxin wanted to go to the Post and Telecommunications Bureau tomorrow to send a telegram to Yang Yide to ask about the situation, but now it seems that someone has helped him pave the way.

The next day, the weather in the capital was fine.

The autumn is high and cool, and the yellow ginkgo biloba leaves everywhere look like Qiluo from a distance, floating all over the street, and it is impossible to see things.

Crows quacked, hovering over the church.

There are solid people who have just moved to the neighborhood, and the streets here are dry.

Tables, chairs, dressers, and wooden beds were all lacquered and carved with squirrels, grapes, bats, auspicious clouds, or pine cranes, to show their wealth.

The wardrobe that can only be moved by three people must also be touched, engraved: Yun Jintian Sun Weaving, Ni Shang Yue Sister Tailoring.

No, it's extravagant!

There are flags - people carry bird cages at regular intervals, and come here to see if there is any excitement to see.

But I found that there are a lot of people today.

"Yo, why don't you eat the melon seeds when you take them?"

"Hey, foreigners, who dares to throw melon seed skins?"

"That's the same thing. But what's going on today? ”

"Hey, there's something big going on today."

"Tell me!"

"Zhao Chuanxin, do you know?"

"What do you mean by this, Butcher Zhao, who doesn't know? Lafayette hates his hateful teeth! ”

Between the two of them, there are more people.

And it was just past breakfast.

Zhao Chuanxin, who was wearing a suit and a top hat, was in the crowd.

In his hand, he was carrying a foreigner's civilization rod that he had walked away in the restaurant last night.

I heard the gossip of the people, chasing the wind and catching shadows, and kept under my feet, and I circled around the BJ Hotel for half a circle, but I didn't see any famous halls.

Zhao Chuanxin slapped his palm with his palm: "Could it be that the knife and axe hands are all ambushed in the hotel?" ”

Looking at it, I suddenly found a familiar face in the crowd.

Tall, plump figure, stubborn little eyes...... Who else could it be if it wasn't Rebecca Levy?

What is the capital?

Pigeons, crows, towering city walls, eight-flag carrying birdcages, very awesome style that must be whitewashed even though it is not a good thing, the distinction between lazy and proud and hurried and humble is clear, and the streets are full of high-nosed and deep-eyed foreigners......

A place that people want to define but can't concretely define.

Rebecca Levy is out of place here.

There was expectation, anxiety, timidity, and shyness on her face, and she was clearly tall but still tiptoeing and biting her lip, and it was almost impossible for Zhao Chuanxin's eyes to miss her.

Rebecca Levy watched and was tapped on the shoulder.

She turned back.

The person who thought about it for a long time seemed to jump in front of him from the crack in the bluestone bricks......

"Zhao ......"

"What are you looking for, who lost the money?"

As soon as he heard the word money, the eyes of the people around him lit up, and they hurriedly stepped around.

Zhao Chuanxin took the opportunity to press Rebecca Levy's head: "Bow your head and follow me out." ”

Rebecca Levi was obedient and immediately complied.

The two of them bent down and bowed their heads, submerging into the crowd.

Outside, several foreigners suddenly became anxious.

In the blink of an eye, the person is gone, what's the situation?

Zhao Chuanxin took her all the way north, and only stopped when she reached the root of the city wall.

Rebecca Levy's heart was pounding, and she couldn't say a thousand words.

In the end, he just said, "Mr. Bacchus really didn't lie to me, you really came." ”

Zhao Chuanxin helped her pat off the ginkgo biloba leaves on the shoulders of the windbreaker: "Bacchus? Do you recognize? Just right, take me to meet him. ”

The name was almost out of the cocoon last night and this morning.

Rebecca Levy was inexplicably happy in her heart when she was teased by Lao Zhao's actions.

The head almost didn't turn: "Okay, I'll take you to him." ”

"Why don't you go? What are you looking at me for? Do you have sand in your eyes? How watery? ”

Rebecca Levy: "......"

Sure enough, some people barely become ......

The two of them were not far from Bacchus's residence.

Rebecca Levi calls it Morrison Street.

Because that's what the foreigners in the concession call it.

In fact, it is Wang-Fujing Street.

Rebecca Levi pointed to a courtyard house: "Mr. Bacchus' temporary residence is here, next to Mr. Morrison's library. ”

Coincidentally, Zhao Chuanxin saw the door of Morrisun's courtyard open, and Morrison was walking out.

Mo Lixun also saw Zhao Chuanxin, and his face showed surprise: "Shopkeeper Zhao, why did you come to the capital?" ”

Rebecca Levi looked at Zhao Chuanxin in surprise, she didn't expect the two to know each other.

Zhao Chuanxin first met Morrison in the Lan-Zhou capital in the post and telecommunications office.

Later, Morrison chased him to the sky.

But he still doesn't know Zhao Chuanxin's true identity.

As he spoke, he wanted to pull Zhao Chuanxin into the hospital.

also looked Zhao Chuanxin up and down: "I almost can't recognize Zhao's shopkeeper." ”

When they met for the first time, Zhao Chuanxin wore a robe.

Flying in the sky, Zhao Chuanxin is always a denim and a henry shirt.

This time, seeing Zhao Chuanxin dressed so neatly, he was a little unaccustomed to it.

It's just that it didn't pull Zhao Chuan's salary.

Zhao Chuanxin nuned his chin: "Go to that courtyard and find Bacchus." ”

"Bacchus? He used to be my assistant, and I'll show you the way. ”

Morrison was welcoming.

He is one of the few people who can be sure that he is a kind and sunny person from his appearance, words and deeds.

Zhao Chuanxin grinned, he likes to give this kind of person a little shock.

Bacchus had drunk too much last night, opened the door, and looked at the visitor with a pair of hazy drunken eyes.

"Mr. Morrison! Rebecca, why are you here? Who is this? ”

He looked at Rebecca Levi with some taste and a smile next to Zhao Chuanxin.

Maybe you didn't wake up, and your head couldn't turn.

Rebecca Levi and Morrison were just about to be introduced, but Zhao reached out and grabbed Bacchus's ears under his unkempt hair and dragged him into the room.

"What a gut, dare to act in the name of Lao Tzu!"

Bacchus screamed in pain: "Ah......"

Rebecca Levy and Morrisson: "......"

(End of chapter)