Great Qing Dynasty talker

Sunrise, sunset.

Day and night cycle
The Wu army's infantry collected weapons discarded by the coalition forces along the long battle line, including swords, muskets, cannons, baggage, flags, etc., but no livestock.

The coalition forces were out of food and were starving.

Driven by a strong will to survive, these more than 200 million people headed northward aimlessly, hoping to find a way out in the ice fields of the Allies.

No one could have imagined that the death march would begin.

……

The important town of Kurk was captured on the same day after the Cossack cavalry tricked the city gates into opening.

Onegin led the Cossacks in a big circle from east to west on the familiar land, with black smoke billowing along the way, artificially creating an uninhabited road that was a hundred miles wide and a thousand miles long.

God doesn't like to help the weak.
The snow was falling heavily and the temperature dropped sharply.

The coalition forces struggled, and the Wu army turned around and retreated south.

On the Severnaya Donez and Dnieper rivers, the liberty ships were packed with soldiers.

Li Yu wrapped himself tightly in his leather coat and marched on horseback on land in the wind and snow. He did not dare to take a boat because he knew too well what a liberty ship was.

Shoddy industrial waste.

To prevent any unexpected events, each Liberty Ship was equipped with an axe so that sailors could cut the connecting ropes at critical moments to prevent being dragged into the water by other sinking ships.

……

The militia was disbanded on the spot and went home to fend for themselves.

More than 70 Wu troops (including vassal troops) set up camps along the Black Sea coast to reduce logistical pressure.

The farthest west is even as far as Odessa.

A massive snowstorm carrying cold air from the Arctic quickly moved southward, putting the brutal tea war on hold.

The war is suspended, but business will not stop.

People from all walks of life braved the wind and snow to come and visit Li Yu.

There is the Cossack leader Onegin, the Ottoman Sultan, many local tribal leaders, and a group of uninvited guests - bankers.

……

In a warm temporary palace with ground heating installed on the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov.

Dozens of fat-headed bankers took off their expensive beaver hats, knelt on their knees, saluted, and offered their loyalty.

Li Yu glanced at the long gift list in his hand and said with a smile:
“Not bad.”

"Tell me, what do you want from me?"

A banker from London bowed slightly:
"After the war, Your Majesty will become the emperor of the entire world. Under your leadership, a powerful empire unprecedented in human history will be born."

"The Bankers' Union wishes to serve Your Majesty and invest in Your Majesty's Empire."

……

Li Yu glanced at the person who was speaking. His first impression was that he had a big nose, and his second impression was that his eyes were full of greed.

I had some guesses in an instant.

But he still asked:
"what country are you from?"

"Your Majesty, bankers have no nationality. We are a group of pure world citizens. If Your Majesty allows, we plan to move our estate to Jiangnan."

……

Li Yu smiled, but did not show contempt.

The truth is hard to hear, but it is the truth after all.

Bankers are truly "cold-blooded animals" and "money beasts".

But it doesn't matter, I don't have any moral cleanliness~
The fact that these smart people braved the wind and snow to come here to show their loyalty shows that although the tea war has not yet come to an end, its outcome is actually already determined.

Good sign…

……

After two days of friendly negotiations, Li Yu signed a written treaty on behalf of the Wu royal family and the bankers' alliance.

The two sides agreed:

The Bankers' Alliance lent the Wu royal family 100 million ounces (26 tons) of gold at an annual interest rate of 5%, to be repaid in 10 years.

The bankers' alliance collectively invested 500 million ounces (140 tons) of gold and 3200 million ounces of silver (1000 tons) in various businesses of the Wu State, including industry, finance, ports, shipbuilding, import and export trade, mines, tea plantations, and mulberry fields (excluding education, agriculture, and medical care).

The only entry conditions are:

Each capital injection must be reported to the Wu royal family three months in advance. In principle, the royal family does not interfere, but the bankers' alliance cannot hold more than 3% of the shares in a single company.

The Wu royal family came forward and conferred imperial titles on no less than 10 bankers, allowing members of the Bankers' Alliance to freely purchase estates in Songjiang, Guangzhou and Yili, and promised that their freedom of entry and exit would not be restricted at any time or under any circumstances.

It is guaranteed that at any time, there are no fewer than 5 women from banking families who are married to Wu nobles or non-heirs of the royal family.

……

In addition, some clauses are not on paper.

For example:

After the signing of the agreement, the bankers will give the European countries a heavy blow from behind, not on the military level, but on the economic and financial level.

This group of people have plenty of ways to stir up trouble.

First he evacuated the family members, then the gold and silver, and finally the important employees. He had no problem getting through all the way thanks to his many years of connections. Before anyone could react,
They joined forces to sell off stocks, properties, and collect loans from countless factories.

This group of people decided to abandon the royal families of European countries without even saying hello.

……

So decisive~
The reason for this is not just because they are optimistic about the future development prospects of Wu State, but the bigger factor is that they are afraid of being affected by the war.

The Wu army is close at hand~
Some industries were robbed and burned by the soldiers, and the loss of money was a small matter.

Over the past five years, bankers have spent a lot of money collecting information and carefully analyzing Emperor Wu's personal style of behavior, believing that there is a great possibility that Emperor Wu will "throw out the baby with the footbath" when he orders his army to march into the heart of Europe.

Emperor Wu has a criminal record!!

Emperor Wu may well throw bankers from all countries into the foot washing water.
The bankers are really scared.

……

The Allied Forces discarded a large number of guns and artillery in the Battle of the Dnieper River. Wu Jun picked out some of the good ones and sold them to Constantinople to offset the land purchase payment.

Sultan Selim's confidence grew.

Immediately assembled an army of more than 100,000 and launched a revenge attack. The northern front was too cold, so they started fighting on the southern front.
The first target was the Habsburg Monarchy.

The Ottoman army's slogan was: Take Vienna and abolish Christmas.

Although Sultan Selim tried his best to request Wu’s army to join the expedition, even if it was only 1000 people!
But Li Yu used the excuse that the battle had just ended, the soldiers were tired and old and needed to rest, and he would never get involved!

The Wu army suffered heavy casualties, especially its vassal troops.

But this is not critical.

Li Yu didn't want to get involved in muddy water.

……

Odessa, a vassal camp.

Taro Matsuo, a Japanese, was commended by his superior.

He killed 12 enemy soldiers in this battle (3 in direct combat and the rest in pursuit), but the price was 4 knife wounds all over his body and a broken left palm.

reward:

12 taels of gold, 2 leather coats, 5 leather hats, and the promised 20 acres of tax-free mulberry fields in his hometown.

There were also diluted spirits, venison, grilled fish, tempura, and rice balls made with sea fish.

Looking at all this~
Matsuo Taro is excited!
There is no doubt that this moment is the most glorious moment in life, which has never been experienced before and will never be surpassed in the future.

……

After a round of drinking, Matsuo Taro's eyes were firm:

"Ji Lang, I intend to kill myself to avenge the Emperor Wu."

"Nani? Oh Nisan?"

"Life is like cherry blossoms, which will eventually wither. Only by decisively ending your life now can you keep the beauty forever."

Heavy snow flying
Many Fuso people who heard the news rushed over and stood solemnly outside the tent.

After a long time, Matsuo Taro, who had eaten and drunk his fill, changed into a clean set of white cotton clothes and walked out of the military tent, calmly spreading a piece of clean cotton cloth on the snow.

Kneel and sit on it.

……

The snow was falling heavily and everyone was solemn and silent.

All I could hear was Matsuo Taro chanting:

"Life is as brilliant as cherry blossoms, and death is as quiet and beautiful as autumn water~"

"You all still need to be diligent and kill all the evil spirits for Emperor Wu."

After reciting, the wakizashi fell to his stomach. Matsuo Taro's forehead was bulging with veins, and he roared:

"High noise black card, onboard~"

puff~
The sharp and short blade entered his abdomen, and he immediately pulled it to the right despite the pain.

His younger brother Matsuo Jiro, who was standing behind him, seized the opportunity, shouted loudly, and swung his knife.

Three feet of blood dyed the snow red.

Someone whispered, "Taro's life is so perfect."

……

Afterwards~
Judge Wu Junjun learned about the incident in detail.

After internal discussions, it was finally determined that Taro Matsuo's death was also considered "killed in action" and he was given a pension, and his brother was allowed to bring gold, silver and an urn back home.

Similarly, a large number of disabled soldiers of the vassal army were arranged to retreat in the early spring.

Let these people bring the good news back to their hometowns, bring the relief from their fellow villagers back to their hometowns, and spread the grace of Emperor Wu to every inch of land.

After this incident, the morale of the Fuso vassal army was high.

He sharpened his knife all day long and shouted in the snow: Kill all 990 million devils and spread the emperor's grace across Europe.

This winter.

The Wu army did not start the war, but was preparing for it.

Supervise the prisoners to cut down trees and dig coal.

On the Black Sea, the pace of shipbuilding never stops.

Volgograd even used the boring machines shipped to it to start mass production of marine steam engines. The requirements were not high, as long as they could be used, and the tolerance of the parts was temporarily relaxed.
……

The immigrant settlements in various places were also filled with jubilation. Although many people died, those who survived had more or less become wealthy.

The militiamen all came back with large and small bags.

At worst, they could pick up a few thick military uniforms.

While everyone continued to do farm work, they also asked if there would be any chance to pick up things with the army next year.

The first batch of rich people have appeared!

In the No. 9944839 cooperative group on the east bank of the North Donetsk River, everyone looked at their fellow countryman Zhao Wu with envy.

This kid is wearing beautiful leather boots, a 6% new leather coat, a leather hat, a western sword on his waist, and 3 gold rings on his hands.
He spoke excitedly about his experience on the battlefield.

"If you want to get rich, you have to be brave, rush~ rush to the front~"

As he spoke, he took out a few loose gold ingots.

Everyone exclaimed and their eyes turned red.

"I killed a Rakshasa captain who had fallen behind and snatched it from his pocket."

"What's a captain?"

"It's Master Qianzong."

……

Christmas in 1795 was like the Ghost Festival.

Although the newspapers did not dare to report it, the gossip had already spread among the people, saying that the Eastern Front had suffered a disastrous defeat and that millions of troops had suffered heavy casualties.

Countless women and children spontaneously flocked to the city hall, hoping to confirm the authenticity of the news?
The great nobles of various countries knew about the war situation. What was even more terrifying was that they had not received any information about the whereabouts of the three kings. Many alert people decisively packed up their belongings and fled to the countryside.

Once the Wu army spreads the war to the heart of Europe, the countryside will definitely be safer than towns.

The spontaneous actions of the nobles indirectly confirmed the rumors of a disastrous defeat on the Eastern Front. Prices soared and order was in chaos.
……

No one could have imagined that at this moment, King Frederick William III of Prussia and his entourage were still struggling on the ice field of Rakshasa.

The cold wind was mixed with heavy snow.

The snow was knee-deep, the road was not visible, and no one was seen.

After much difficulty, they came across a village, which had either been reduced to ashes by the Cossacks or looted by their companions.

Road falls are everywhere, and people are dying every moment.

This was a true death march.

Frederick William III struggled forward wrapped in a torn sheet. He had not eaten hot food for several days and was on the verge of death.

Abdominal pain
Severe abdominal pain!
He finally couldn't bear it anymore and fell headfirst into the snow. The last thing he felt was that it was so warm in the snow.

……

The young Franz II was very cunning. After walking north for a while, he smelled something wrong and chose to go south to find Wu Jun and reveal his identity.

Surrender!
Francis II was not at all panicked.

Li Yu is the monarch, and he is also the monarch. The bottom line is that the monarch does not kill the monarch.

The one who surrendered even faster than him was Godoy, the favorite of the Iberian king.

A king and a great noble were both arranged to live in warm tents, drinking wine and eating meat, complaining to each other, and ridiculing each other.

Half a month later~
Li Yu also met with them personally and gave them expensive clothes, food, wine and several Caucasian women.

You can’t kill him. You really can’t kill him.

It would be better to keep it and ask for more gold and silver.

……

London, Downing Street.

The security was tight and soldiers were everywhere.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was depressing, and everyone was sighing like eggplants hit by frost.

Foreign Secretary Viscount Staunton once again made shocking remarks.

"For the good of the kingdom, we should take the initiative to withdraw from the Treaty of Amsterdam and join the side of justice."

"Who is the righteous side you just mentioned?" Prime Minister North could hardly believe his ears.

"Of course it's Wu Jun."

"You call Wu Jun justice?"

"Yes. The situation is constantly changing. In the past, Wu represented evil, but now it represents justice."

There was total silence.

Even among nobles, it is rare to be so shameless.

……

Prime Minister North was so angry that his hands and feet were shaking.

He simply lay down on the spot and was carried out by two doctors amid screams.

For a doctor, feigning illness is an essential wisdom.

Prime Minister North knew that what Staunton said was actually right.

Joining the side of justice is in line with London's consistent practice, and there is no other option at the moment.

but,

He really didn't want to sign it, it was too disgusting.

……

Viscount Staunton is indeed the Lu Bu among men, and he talked incessantly on the spot.

"Gentlemen, the Wu army is advancing with all its might and momentum, and our neighbor Frank is sharpening his sword."

"If we cannot gain the forgiveness of the Emperor of Wu before the spring, then next year we will witness millions of Wu troops advancing all the way, destroying countries one by one, and drinking from the Strait."

Churchill, Under-Secretary of the Admiralty, was obviously dissatisfied and was about to speak out.

Sidangdong pointed at him with her little hand, signaling him to be quiet.
Continue to talk:

"Yes, we also have the most powerful navy in the world, with 350 main battleships surrounding the island. But don't forget, the narrowest Dover Strait is only 34 kilometers wide!"

"The age of sail has come to an end, and the age of steam has arrived. Wind direction? Ocean currents? They are outdated. Steamships don't care about them."

"The Wu army could have collected ships and steam engines locally, assembled 1000 steamships, each carrying 500 soldiers, and found the right weather to suddenly cross the Dover Strait."

"Can the Royal Navy guarantee patrols 365 days a year?"

"Everyone, our ancestors once said that you can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can never be on guard against thieves for a thousand days! Our ancestors also said that a man who knows the current situation is a hero!"

……

Undersecretary Churchill could no longer hold back and shouted:
"Fuck your mom!"

He rushed forward in two steps, knocked Si Dongdong down with a heavy punch, and used his weight advantage to ride on him.

He shook his fist and cursed:
"You traitor!"

A punch hit him right in the face. (End of this chapter)