Alchemy Greater China

However, there is an unstable factor in this, whether the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Alchemy Kingdom will fully support Emperor Guangxu?

I heard that Long Hao also has ambitions for the throne of China. In his heart, does he hope that the Northern Qing and the Southern Qing will fight each other?

The more you think, the more you worry.

Seeing that Beiyang was approaching Nanjing City under Guizi Liu's leadership, those forces who were watching hadn't seen Long Hao show up yet.

Although Liu Kunyi repeatedly clapped his chest to the interviewer and said that the Nanyang navy would fully protect the little emperor Guangxu, but without the speeches of the Austro-Hungarian princess and the alchemy king, his voice, the governor of Liangjiang, Huguang, and Huguang, always seemed so lacking in confidence!

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of the Yiwei year, this was originally a festive festival for the Lantern Festival, but the Beiyang-based army of the Northern Qing Dynasty had already launched an attack on the Southern Qing Dynasty.

With an army of 15, they broke through three cities in one day, barely approaching the foot of Nanjing City.

Emperor Guangxu panicked, and hurriedly found Liu Kunyi to inquire about countermeasures.

Without haste, Liu Kun dispatched Nanyang naval forces along Hebei to shoot at the Northern Qing army on land and beat them back.

Liu Kun said to the outside world that there are thirty thousand brave Jiangdong children in Nanyang!

……

Once the war starts, it is not easy to stop.

In the next 20 days, Beiyang and Nanyang, the old enemies, left the ocean and started a tug-of-war on land in the Jiangsu border with Nanjing City as the center.

Beiyang's army is dominant, with a large number of soldiers and horses.

The Nanyang navy is dominant, and the naval guns are fierce.

It's really unpredictable who will win the game!

The two sides come and go, this "see-saw" happened in the first month, it can be said that the opponents meet each other, and the fight is very enjoyable.

Seeing that a battle is about to start in the first month, the two sides are evenly matched.It seems that adding a goose feather to any side can become the straw that breaks the camel's back!

The icing on the cake is like giving charcoal in the snow. Everyone understands this simple truth. All kinds of "speculative" forces feel that the opportunity is coming. Betting now is the time to maximize their benefits!

then.Hubei, Sichuan, Anhui, Henan...the four provinces closest to Nanjing have all made moves one after another.

There is Master Qin Wang in Henan, aiming at the chrysanthemums of the Northern Qing Dynasty;

There is a queen mother party in Sichuan, mobilizing porters and trackers to block the river navigation of the Nanyang Navy;

Gelaotang appeared in Anhui, a group of people wrapped their headscarves, shouted 'invulnerability', and rushed into the side of the Northern Qing camp;

A foreign gun team appeared in Hubei, shouting that Beijing is the orthodox.Rows of gunshots sounded at the logistics base of the Nanyang Navy;

……

In fact, not only the four neighboring provinces, but other provinces and cities also stood in line one after another. Although they could not put their strength into the front line of Nanjing at once, this did not prevent them from studying elsewhere.

Someone raised the banner of the Tiandihui to oppose the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty!

Someone claimed to be the ninth grandson of Emperor Chongzhen, and after counting, the Qing Dynasty should be destroyed, so they rose up!

Someone sold their property.Self-organized foreign spearmen, and joined the Southern Qing camp!

Some people claim to be high-end figures who have returned from overseas.Call on righteous men, in the name of abolishing unequal treaties, demand that both emperors abdicate, China must enter a democratic society!

……

Well, the above cases have been proved to be "sent by monkeys". These things have once again verified the ingenuity of the Chinese people when they changed dynasties.It is no longer useful.

Those who pulled the flag of the Tiandihui were beaten up by Nanyang, crossed the river, and defected to Beiqing;

The ninth grandson of Emperor Chongzhen was charged by the Beiyang cavalry.Turned into a rice dumpling, and went to chat with Qu Yuan in the river;

Those who changed their property to sell their property would end up better, and they would get a half-job, but those high-end "returnees" had only made a fuss in some tabloids for a few days before they were raided by the Shanghai police and thrown into prison.

Hmph, if you want democracy, you are too far ahead!

Go to the prison and reflect on it. When do you want to understand the truth of "one step ahead is a great man, two steps ahead is a dead man", and then come out!

What really had an effect on the 'Nanjing tug-of-war' was actually the 'provincial army' in various provinces and cities.

What is the provincial army?

It is the armed forces composed of local gentry, some people also call them "Tuanlian", "Xiangbing", and "Xiangyong".

For example, the Hunan Army who killed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is famous!

The Hunan Army is a 'provincial army'.

The provincial army is controlled by the top figures in each province.

After the fall of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, this group of armed forces was not under the control of the Qing court. Instead, they used them as their backing to breed many representatives of interests in the court.

Now, those who are qualified to play 'stand in line' are these provincial troops.

After more than 20 days of observation, they felt that the Northern Qing Dynasty and the Southern Qing Dynasty (well, let’s just say Beiyang and Nanyang) were so competitive. In terms of stamina and potential, Nanyang still has the upper hand!

The reason for this feeling is not complicated: there are ships in Nanyang!

Having a boat means being able to control the Yangtze River, and having a boat means sufficient military expenditure!

Nonsense, the navy burns money, can you tinker with the navy if you don't have money?

I heard that businessmen from the two coastal provinces of Guangdong and Fujian are already funding Nanyang without fear of being exposed. This also means that Emperor Guangxu has more potential for war. A situation is about to take shape!

On March [-], [-], the commanders of the "Provincial Army" in the four provinces of Hubei, Sichuan, Anhui, and Henan announced almost at the same time that they would support Emperor Guangxu of the Southern Qing Dynasty and resolutely overthrow the puppet court of the Northern Qing Dynasty controlled by Cixi!

The leaders of the four provinces did not just talk and do nothing. The Hubei Army, Sichuan Army, Anhui Army, and Henan Army they sent all fought against the Qing soldiers in Beiyang immediately. There were victories and losses. It greatly involved Beiyang's energy, but this "voting certificate" was at least successfully handed over to Emperor Guangxu.

With the help of the provincial army with considerable combat effectiveness, the originally balanced "tug of war" immediately fell to the Nanqing side.

Nanqing advantage!

Beiyang is the offensive side, and the supply line is already long. After fighting for more than 20 days, the logistical pressure is already quite heavy.

But the Empress Dowager Cixi was still picky as always, adhering to the fantasy style of "wanting the horse to run without letting it eat grass". She only knew that she kept urging the devils to capture Nanjing and capture Emperor Guangxu in six speeds in the imperial decree. The rations, grass and bullets that were allotted were nonexistent!

Guizi Liu felt a pain in his heart: Still arresting the little emperor?One inattentive.I'm about to be captured by Nanyang soldiers!

Guizi Liu already had the idea of ​​withdrawing his troops, and the intervention of the four provinces and provincial troops made him even more determined.

On March [-]th, the soldiers and horses of the Northern Qing Dynasty pulled out their battalion and returned to Beijing. On the way back, they broke through five obstacles in a row, and finally it was March [-]th.Safely returned to Shandong Province, which is still radiating from Beijing.

The siege of Nanjing was announced to be lifted, but after Emperor Guangxu received the "King Qin Army" from the four provinces, he had the idea of ​​striking while the iron was hot, and now counterattacked.

He summoned Liu Kunyi to ask a question, um, it’s not called a question actually, Emperor Guangxu asked Liu Kunyi like this: "Aiqing, how about we send troops to the Northern Expedition tomorrow?"

The little emperor's attitude is very clear: he is eager to return to Beijing and return to that dragon position.Can't wait!

It's a pity that Liu Kunyi's answer was not very clear, he said: "Your Majesty, this battle has just ended, it's better to recuperate and provide comfort to the soldiers!"

Emperor Guangxu was naturally dissatisfied with Liu Kunyi's answer. Fortunately, those provincial army commanders were all in Nanjing, and they couldn't move Nanyang, so there were still four provinces and provincial troops who could be dispatched!

Emperor Guangxu determined not to be a puppet.I don't have military power in my hands, so.It is necessary to play a balance between Nanyang and the provincial army.

On March 30th, the "Northern Expedition Youhuang Army" was established. The main body was the township soldiers of the four provinces, with a force of [-]. It set out from Nanjing and aimed directly at Beijing!

The army was established.The governors of the four provinces all worship Yipin, and their power can be said to have reached the pinnacle of their lives. Needless to say, they are full of ambition and the spring breeze is blowing on their faces...why don't they work hard for Emperor Guangxu?

On March 25, the Northern Expedition Youhuang Army broke through Fengyang Mansion.

On March [-], Xuzhou was also occupied.Nanzhili was in a hurry.

On April [-]nd, the Northern Expedition Youhuang Army fought with the Beiyang Army near the Confucius Temple. The two sides fought for five days with foreign guns and sticks. The number of casualties exceeded [-]!

Blood stained the statue of the saint...

On April [-], the Northern Expedition Youhuang Army stationed outside Jinan City, completely cutting off the main communication route between the Beiyang Navy and the capital.

The capital has become an isolated city!

Emperor Xuantong was so frightened that he burst into tears, and the Empress Dowager Cixi's face was even more ashen.

You don't know if you don't hit him, but after you hit him, you realize that Beiyang, whom she relies on for help, is so vulnerable!

The Empress Dowager Cixi is so regretful now that she knew that Prince Gong was so miserable, she shouldn't have stripped Li Hongzhang of his official skin and forcibly handed Beiyang over to him.

Of course, the Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't figure it out, Emperor Guangxu was hidden so well, who on earth had the supernatural power to rescue him from the prison cell placed on the fifth floor underground? !

Guangxu was an orthodox emperor no matter what he said, and he did not lose his virtue. As soon as he arrived in Nanjing, he immediately gave infinite encouragement to the forces in Nanyang and Jiangnan who opposed the imperial court!

Seek peace, Aijia demands peace!

Seeing that the enemy's iron hooves were about to approach the imperial city, the Empress Dowager Cixi resorted to her usual tricks.

What do they want?

silver?Beauty?Or food?

The Ai family will give everything, except for the throne, they will give the Ai family whatever they want, as long as they don't continue to work for that little bastard Guangxu!

The Empress Dowager Cixi's method of peace talks has always been like this, first throwing out her bottom line without a limit, and then stretching out her neck, giving the negotiating opponent a chance to kill with a knife!

But this time, Empress Dowager Cixi clamored for a long time, but none of the officials below responded.

They complained in their hearts: where is there any money, food and beauties!When your old man's birthday was held last year, the national treasury was emptied, and the conquest of Nanjing City some time ago was our last spare effort!Except for the throne, heh heh, there is probably only the throne left to give...

After learning the real situation, the Empress Dowager Cixi was a little dumbfounded, but she is a black-hearted person after all. After waking up, she secretly summoned Guizi Liu and planned to make a plan to take a few big families in the capital...

Fortunately, these big households seem to have great luck. When they still didn't know that they were about to be slaughtered as fat pigs, an unexpected news spread into Beijing, and into Cixi and Guizi Liu who were sharpening their knives. in the ears.

Princess Ashley of the Austro-Hungarian Empire came forward to mediate!

She went to Jinan and asked the Northern Expedition Youhuang Army to stop its northward march.

The purpose of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's meddling is still unknown, but the Empress Dowager Cixi is relieved. If she can, she even wants to go to Jinan in person, hug the lovely Princess Ashley in her arms and kiss her to express her heart joy.

Fortunately, Empress Dowager Cixi didn't go, otherwise she would definitely be beaten by Ashley.

She was in a bad mood at the moment.It turned out that the reason why she came forward to stop the Northern Expedition Youhuang Army from continuing to advance was completely following Long Hao's instructions.

It is said that Long Hao's whereabouts are erratic, and he and Ai Shili get together less often and leave more. This time he finally came back, and before he could express his lovesickness, he gave Ai Shili a task.Then the person ran away and disappeared.

How can this not make Ashley's gums itch?

On April [-], the Northern Expedition Youhuang Army retreated from Jinan.

This is impossible. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is now the victorious country in Europe, and its prestige is in full swing. These provincial troops are bullying Beiyang, which lacks backbone and money, and it is okay to bully them. Even though there were only a few hundred people on the other side, they didn't dare.

On April 25, Emperor Guangxu saw that the Northern Expedition Youhuang's army hadn't completed the battle.Back in Nanjing, I couldn't help but stamped my feet and cursed: "Damn Austria-Hungary, hateful princess, I will never die with you!"

However, Emperor Guangxu had no choice but to close his mouth before cursing a few words, showing an embarrassing and flattering smile.

It turned out that Long Hao and Liu Kunyi came to see him hand in hand.

Long Hao is the lord of a country.And the current international status is extremely high, surpassing the Qing court... So Emperor Guangxu figured it out.The flattery she showed to herself was also relieved.

In terms of military power and wealth, he is not as rich as Long Hao.

And even in terms of territory, although he nominally owns half of the country south of the Yangtze River, he himself doubts whether his government orders can be issued in Nanjing City?

Therefore, Emperor Guangxu met Long Hao.Appears very polite.

Long Hao was not polite, the first sentence was: "Everyone is Chinese, this battle, the more the fight goes on, the more people will die. How can we bear it?"

When Emperor Guangxu heard this, his heart skipped a beat: Uh, does this mean I should stop?

Liu Kunyi also chimed in and said, "Your Majesty, Austria-Hungary has already taken the side of the rebels in the north. If we don't know what's good and what's wrong, I'm afraid we will ruin the advantage we have so hard to get now!"

Emperor Guangxu felt dissatisfied when he heard this: Don't you know good or bad?Are you saying that I don't know good from bad?Do you, a courtier, say this to me?Excessive!

However, Emperor Guangxu's dissatisfaction immediately turned into floating clouds and disappeared in Long Hao's next words!

What Long Hao said was the truth.

First of all, he told Emperor Guangxu that I sent someone to save you. If nothing else, you owe me your life!

Secondly, he told Emperor Guangxu that Nanyang’s military expenses were also sponsored by banks and merchants under his name. If you insist on fighting, that’s fine. From now on, the military expenses will be paid by your court. I am also very generous. The previous debts You don't need to pay it back, as long as you have the money to continue fighting this battle!

In the end, he told Emperor Guangxu that Ashley of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a war lunatic, wishing to fight more, kill more people, and make more meritorious deeds, because as far away as Europe, many members of the Austro-Hungarian royal family were fighting for the next throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And work hard, if she can catch an emperor in China, this will be a lot of bonus points!

Long Hao listed the facts and reasoned, and Emperor Guangxu, who had no opinion at all, immediately had nothing to say.

Especially the part where Ai Shili wanted to catch her to 'earn points' frightened him even more.

After a while of silence, Emperor Guangxu acquiesced to the fact of the peace talks.

With Long Hao, he has the idea of ​​becoming emperor, and if Long Hao does not support, he can only rely on those provincial troops to confront Austria-Hungary... Forget it, they have been scared out of their wits by Austria-Hungary, After returning to Nanjing City, I couldn't even hide from them when I summoned them!

On the last day of April, Long Hao expressed his desire for peace on behalf of Alchemy Kingdom.

He said to the column reporter of "Shenbao": "I am Chinese, and of course I hope that there will be no more wars on the land of our motherland! It has been more than 200 years since the founding of the Qing court. What positive impact is there to comment, and I don’t say how many treaties it has signed to deepen the suffering of our compatriots... I’m just talking about the facts. Now the Qing royal family is divided into two courts, the north and the south, and there are two emperors because of their own conflicts! I think, According to international practice, the disputes of the royal family should not be extended to the common people. Now it is the [-]th century, and the [-]th century is about to enter! We should not expand the struggle of the royal family to the people like the previous dynasties So I think that the war must stop, and the Qing throne should be settled by the representatives of both sides and negotiated through civilized means! Well, as a Chinese, I would like to say something bluntly, the Qing royal family, you Aren’t you used to sitting down and negotiating with foreign powers? Then why can’t we restrain our cruelty and resolve it peacefully when facing our compatriots? We Chinese can’t be ruthless and ruthless to our compatriots. If we have the ability, we can attack Japan Let people go, go to those European and American powers who have bullied us!"

Long Hao's words, after being edited by the editor-in-chief, were immediately turned into a special issue of newspapers and distributed all over the country.

People who have read this issue of "Shenbao" can't help nodding: Yes, think about it carefully, the imperial court is really incompetent. It is very powerful when it hits us Han people, but when it comes to foreign hairs, all of them become soft-footed crabs!

I strongly agree with what the King of Alchemy said, if you have the ability, throw your fist at the big powers and Japan!Hitting ordinary people is a skill!

……

After nearly a year of promotion, newspapers have become an important means of guiding domestic public opinion.

The Chinese at this time were very simple and believed that what was said in the newspapers was the truth and there were no lies.

This is the same reason that in a certain era in later generations, people believed that the advertisements in the imperial court were genuine.

With the approval of the majority of the people, the two courts of the Northern Qing Dynasty and the Southern Qing Dynasty, under the intentional or unconscious promotion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Alchemy Kingdom, finally started peace negotiations in Kaifeng Mansion on May [-]th.

Li Hongzhang, who had just been released in the Northern Qing Dynasty, was in charge, while in the Southern Qing Dynasty, it was Zhang Jian. (To be continued..)