As Gu Yongyuan predicted, on the third day after the racecourse incident, the British consul Allen, the acting French consul Ruide, and the American consul Zhu Liguo came to the Qincha Xingyuan together, and they took a tough attitude and demanded that the Qing envoy take measures to restrain the brave behavior of the soldiers, otherwise they would not give up.

In two consecutive days, there were frequent incidents of Qing soldiers bravely attacking foreign merchants, and the killing of Xiangyong in the racecourse triggered a series of chain reactions. Most of the Tuanlian villagers are from the same area, and they have the same spirit, so when they see their fellow villagers being killed by foreigners, they will naturally have fierce anger. Moreover, the military discipline of the township brave regiment training is not very strict, and it is even more difficult to restrain it.

Gu Yongyuan sat firmly in the Diaoyutai and only repeatedly expressed regret to the outside world, and after sending the three foreign adults away, he immediately began to write letters. The letter was addressed to Feng Tianhan, the governor of Jiangluo, and Ji Erhang'a, the envoy of the Imperial Inspectorate, in which he warned them to be on high alert to prevent a sneak attack by foreigners. To ensure that they took the matter seriously, Koo used harsh language in the letter, threatening that they would be held accountable for dereliction of duty if they failed to do their duty and led to military mistakes.

When the cronies and soldiers secretly sent the letter to the Qing army camp, Gu Yongyuan came to the second floor and knocked on Lin Wanxue's door.

Lin Wanxue was wearing a rose-red small placket plum blossom branded slim cheongsam, her figure looked slender and enchanting, and she was so beautiful that she was intoxicating. Gu Yongyuan smiled and said, "What, you also put on a tartar suit?" ”

Lin Wanxue ignored him and said sideways, "Come in and talk." ”

The room is lit up with red candles, with silver screens and embroidery pavilions beautifully decorated, and Western-style dressers by the windows adding a touch of style.

Gu Yongyuan sat on the soft pier, took the fragrant tea handed by Lin Wanxue, tasted it, and the aftertaste echoed in his mouth.

Gu Yongyuan no longer joked lightly, but became extremely serious: "Write a letter to Guo Jianye of the Wind Sword Society, I estimate that in less than half a month, the foreigners will attack the Qing army camp." I was worried that Guo Jianye might be asked to assist at that time, and you told him that he couldn't agree. If there is any sign of a foreigner attack, let him take the opportunity to lead the crowd to break through. The life and death of the Wind Sword Society lies between this move, and this is their only chance. If he can't make a quick decision, then the Wind Sword will be doomed. ”

Gu Yongyuan originally thought that he still needed to explain why the Wind Sword Society could not cooperate with the foreigners to attack the Qing army, but Lin Wanxue frowned and said, "Is this news really credible?" I'm also bothered by this. Although foreign businessmen provided weapons to Brother Guo and them, in the eyes of the foreign government, we were still a chaotic army. Sooner or later, one day foreigners and Tartars will join forces to deal with Brother Guo, and at that time, Brother Guo may not even have a way out. ”

"Rest assured, there will be no mistakes in this letter. But wife, if you want to find a friend who can speak well, you must persuade Guo Jianye. If he really doesn't listen, then there is nothing we can do, we have done our best, and the rest is up to God's destiny. ”

Lin Wanxue nodded silently, and gradually, she didn't seem to notice that the title of "wife" gradually became natural in her business.

"Just let Feiming go." Lin Wanxue thought for a while and chose the right candidate.

Gu Yongyuan nodded: "Early tomorrow morning, let the eldest brother take Feiming to Boulder, and he will help arrange Feiming's affairs in Shanghai County." "Gu Yongyuan knows that the relationship with the Red Flower Society is best, as long as Lin Wanxue and Boss Lin know, people like Jin Feiming must not know the inside story.

Lin Wanxue nodded, but looked at Gu Yongyuan again, and said solemnly: "I really don't understand, you are the prince's elder brother, why do you support us traitors so much?" ”

Gu Yongyuan smiled mysteriously: "It is natural to support my wife. As for those who support the traitors, that is not necessarily true. ”

In fact, in the social background at that time, the division between the Manchus and the Han was not as fierce as it is now, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty had been in charge of the Central Plains for more than 200 years, and the idea of loyalty to the monarch had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. For example, the Hunan army of Zeng Guofan believed in "loyalty to the monarch and respect" and launched a fierce battle with the Taiping army. Among the gentry, while some still retained their dissatisfaction with Manchurian rule, there were also many who had come to accept the Manchu regime and considered themselves subjects of the Manchurians.

The members of the Taiping Army and the Red Flower Society were mainly peasants, outlaws, and people seeking power and wealth, and although they raised anti-Qing slogans, their uprisings had little to do with the Manchu-Han controversy. Even after the Xinhai Revolution, there were many so-called Han Confucians who insisted on keeping their braids and supported the royalists.

The fall of the Manchus was not due to the Manchu-Han dispute, but to the internal and external difficulties of the Manchu regime. The defeat of the First Sino-Japanese War, the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, the Boxer Rebellion, the death of Cixi, domestic political turmoil, and increased external pressure contributed to the collapse of the Manchu Dynasty.

However, Gu Yongyuan knew that no matter how he looked at it, he would eventually have to regain his Han identity. The changes that cannot be brought about by him cannot prevent the Qing Dynasty from being perpetuated. However, this can take more than a dozen or even decades. At present, he can only accumulate strength, and if he can have a strong armed force and establish a solid foundation in the coastal areas of Jiangnan and Guangdong, he will be able to carry out real reforms, unite the gentry, improve the people's livelihood, establish equal diplomatic relations with the West, and make his territory rich and prosperous.

If I can really reach this step, in fact, even if I continue to maintain my status as a Manchurian nobleman, no one will question me because of my blood. Maybe they will support me to become the first king under a constitutional monarchy. It's just that I myself don't want to exist as a Manchurian nobleman all the time.

Of course, to say these things now is just a distant dream. The world doesn't go the way it usually does because of my intervention. I can only work hard one step at a time and move towards the goal of my dreams.

As for the children of the Eight Flags, if I can really change the country, it will be a blessing for them. At the very least, they can live a life of self-reliance in peace. Betrayal of the people and the like, after I changed the country, it won't happen anymore.

Of course, I won't tell Lin Wanxue these words, I will only say goodbye and leave with a hippie smile on my face, maintaining my mysterious image in her mind.

...

It is a typical 19th-century western-style building, with colorful and extravagant glass windows, a spire structure similar to a church, and a green grass in the garden, like a miniature version of the palace. The floor of the hall was covered with a red carpet, and a statue of a girl in white and flawless marble came to life, as if it would move at any moment.

This is the residence of Boulder's lawyer, and in the hall covered with red carpets, Gu Yongyuan met with ten teenagers selected by Boulder's lawyer who were about to be sent to study in England. They were all boys, each with braids on their heads, and their bright eyes stared at Gu Yongyuan curiously.

The children were all orphans adopted by the church orphanage. Despite rumors about orphanages in the Qing Dynasty, some say they were abducted and sold to make medicines, others say they were gouged out of their eyes and used in evil rituals. But the children looked very energetic, and there was no trace of the emaciation of a country child on their faces.

"Regarding braids, when you're in the UK, whether you want to keep it or not, that's your own business!" When Boulder introduced Mr. Gu Yongyuan to the children as their sponsor of studying abroad, Gu Yongyuan's opening remarks confused the children.

Gu Yongyuan then asked everyone's name, and then said with a smile: "Studying abroad means being away from home, and there will be many challenges in life in the future. I have only one thing to tell you: I study for the sake of the motherland. "China Rises!" He borrowed a quote from a great man, but it feels very appropriate to say it now.

"Let's just raise our hands." Gu Yongyuan clenched his right fist and leaned against his chest to show the children how to do it. He shouted: "Study for the rise of China!" ”

"Learn for the rise of China!" The children also followed Gu Yongyuan, and their voices were a little hesitant.

"Louder!" Gu Yongyuan shouted.

"Learn for the rise of China!" The children shouted in unison, but there was still a slight confusion on their faces. For some reason, Gu Yongyuan felt a little numb in his nose.

"Great, that's it, one day you'll understand what that means." Gu Yongyuan smiled and gently patted the shoulder of the tallest boy closest to him. This young man has just been named, his name is Pang Lezhang, and the word is Hao.

"Sir, I will study hard and live up to your expectations, and when I return to China, I will definitely serve you!" The oldest boy was the most mature and sensible, and realized that Mr. Gu Yongyuan had changed his fate.

Gu Yongyuan smiled faintly and said, "It's not for me, you will understand this truth later." ”

"Yes, I will listen to whatever you say!" The boy bowed his head respectfully, avoiding direct eye contact with Gu Yongyuan.

Looking at these little boys, Gu Yongyuan's mood became inexplicably happy.