Super dictator.

I had a dream last night. In the dream, someone told me that if I don’t collect this book, I won’t do it tonight. I don’t know if it’s true or not. Let’s wait and see.

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In the Governor's Mansion of Zhili, Tianjin, Li Hongzhang, Minister of Beiyang, and Wang Wenshao, Deputy Minister of Beiyang Affairs, were having a lively chat.

Wang Wenshao was originally the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, but after the Sino-Japanese War broke out, the Qing government called Tianjin as the gateway to Gyeonggi and called him into the pilgrimage.At the beginning of this year, he was ordered to act as Deputy Minister of Beiyang Affairs.

Of course, this is what they said clearly, but it actually shows that the Qing court no longer trusts Li Hongzhang very much, and sent this Wang Wenshao to contain him.

Not long after Wang Wenshao came to Tianjin, Li Hongzhang hosted a banquet today. Besides some of Li Hongzhang's staff, there were also some people brought by Wang Wenshao.

Li Hongzhang raised his wine glass with a smile on his face, and said loudly: "Kui Shi, I am busy with military affairs, so I only took time out to entertain you today, I hope you can forgive me."

Wang Wenshao also responded with a smile on his face: "Master Zhongtang said, this Beiyang is busy with affairs, I have seen it, please be polite, Master Zhongtang, and leave some insignificant matters to the lower officials to handle in the future. , in this case, wouldn’t Zhongtang be able to spend more time supervising important matters.”

Li Hongzhang squinted his eyes and put down his wine glass, and sighed, "I don't want to worry about these troubles, but unfortunately there are some things that I can't do except for the old man. Take the counterattack of Ximucheng as an example. Liu Kunyi is still on the way and has not arrived at Shanhaiguan for a long time. , only our Huai army is left on the front line still trying to resist, not only resisting, but also planning a counterattack, this is the greatest blessing since the beginning of the war, if the old man does not personally command, how can the frontline soldiers be suitable?"

Wang Wenshao kept silent, but secretly blamed what kind of job the court had given him. Seizing power from Li Hongzhang was tantamount to taking food from a tiger's mouth. How could it be easy? If not, he would have to go back in despair.

Wang Wenshao lowered his head and did not speak, but Li Hongzhang chased after him fiercely, and continued to sigh: "The situation in Liaodong is now rotten, and the Zhenbian Army and other troops are sluggish. Only the Huai Army of the old man has won a few times, such as Wei Jichen, now even The Japanese always walked with their heads down when they saw him. They heard that he was going to counterattack Ximu City, and stayed in the city in fear, never daring to attack lightly. achieved such great results.”

Wang Wenshao could only agree and said: "Master Zhongtang is very true. Among all the armies, only Wei Jichen fought well."

Wang Wenshao called it a commendation, but it was actually an implicit derogation. He satirized that Wei Jichen was the only one in the Huai army who was worthy of great use, and everyone else was a dead man.

For a while, at the banquet, Li Hongzhang and Wang Wenshao continued to exchange words, and outsiders seemed to be enjoying the wine and chatting again, and there was a backstabbing hidden in the words.

The two are opponents at chess, and they are talking happily.

However, Sheng Xuanhuai, the supervisor of the Tianjin Telegraph Bureau, rushed in from the door in a hurry.

Sheng Xuanhuai didn't even say hello to the others, but walked straight to Li Hongzhang.

Seeing his flustered steps and pale face, Li Hongzhang couldn't help asking first, "Xingsun, why are you so panicked?"

"Zhongtang, something is wrong. Liaodong Military Affairs Deputy Wei Jichen was assassinated by the Japanese and unfortunately died." Sheng Xuanhuai said anxiously.

"What!" Li Hongzhang stood up in shock, no longer chatting and laughing like before.

The entire banquet also became extremely quiet, and the staff who were still making loud noises just now all froze when they heard the news.

The atmosphere of the banquet took a turn for the worse because of the news of Wei Jichen's death.

"When did it happen?" Li Hongzhang calmed down and asked repeatedly.

"It happened last night. It has been confirmed for sure. Ma Jinxu, Jiang Xiyi, Nie Guilin and others jointly reported it." Sheng Xuanhuai said with a sigh.

Seeing that Li Hongzhang was in a trance, Zhang Peilun hurriedly made a gesture and secretly ordered his servants to withdraw from the banquet.

Although Wang Wenshao and Li Hongzhang fought for power and profit, but now this major event has surpassed the struggle between the two, and it is related to the overall situation of Liaodong, and he is also hesitant.

"The Japanese did such a despicable thing. It shows that they are really afraid of Wei Jichen's counterattack. They are willing to bow down and feel ashamed to have such dirty methods. I will expose the cowardice and timidity of the Japanese to the world. They are afraid that I will The Qing army has already arrived." Wang Wenshao rolled his eyes and said hastily.

After all, Li Hongzhang was used to seeing strong winds and waves. After the initial shock, he immediately regained his composure and carefully considered the impact of Wei Jichen's death.

There is no doubt that it will seriously affect the morale of the frontline sergeants. However, the matter has come to this point, and the only way to weaken the impact is to try our best. Wang Wenshao's suggestion is somewhat reasonable.

"Send a note to all countries, strongly condemn this despicable assassination method of the Japanese, and inform the officers and men of the three armies, so that all armies will be united in the same hatred, and understand that the Japanese will also be afraid, and the Japanese will also be timid. This time, I will make the Japanese lose face." Li Hongzhang turned around. Gritting his teeth, he said to Sheng Xuanhuai.

Li Hongzhang was dreaming of a further promotion after regaining Ximu City, but unfortunately he only realized half of it, but he was awakened by this news, and the anger in his heart can be imagined.

Li Hongzhang was nothing more than talking about how some Japanese were afraid of Wei Jichen and so on, and how they had changed from being brave at the beginning to being cowardly now. Of course, this could not change the overall situation, but it could still slightly save some of the impact of Wei Jichen's death.

Hiroshima, Japan's wartime headquarters.

Shanxian Youpeng took a telegram and hurried to Muren's temporary bedroom with a happy expression on his face.

Walking to the door, an attendant stopped him and said, "Your Majesty has been tired all day, and he just lay down to rest. Mr. Shanxian, if you have nothing important to do, please come back tomorrow morning and don't disturb me."

Shanxian Youpeng waved his hands impatiently and said: "This is great news. His Majesty must be very happy when he hears it. Hurry up and report it."

The attendant was a little hesitant, but seeing Youpeng Shanxian's happy and impatient face, he had no choice but to leave.

In the bedroom, Muren's concubine Ye Shiguangzi leaned her head on his chest, with a trace of dissatisfaction on her face, although she had resentment in her heart, she didn't dare to show it, she just knocked around and said: "Your Majesty , why are you not very interested tonight?"

Mu Ren glanced at the dissatisfied concubine, smiled awkwardly, and said embarrassingly: "I happened to have used up the Dali Vajra Pills sent by the inner palace, so tonight can only be like this."

Upon hearing this, Ye Shiguangzi quickly opened the bedside table, took a few red pills from it, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, my concubine has already prepared."

Muren's eyes lit up, and he took one immediately, but he still couldn't get any energy up after a while.

Ye Shi Guangzi turned to the side helplessly, thinking in his heart: His Majesty is still old, compared to the attendant, there is one heaven and one underground.

Mu Ren pretended to be concerned about the country and the people, and covered it up: "Now the situation in Liaodong has undergone new changes. I am so anxious that I really have no other thoughts."

Ye Shi Guangzi had no choice but to follow his words and asked: "Your Majesty, haven't the imperial army already occupied more than half of Liaodong in the Qing Dynasty? What new changes will there be?"

Muren sat up straight, leaned against the head of the bed, put on a piece of underwear casually, and then said slowly: "It's not that Wei Jichen, who actually gathered more than ten thousand Qing troops in an attempt to counterattack Ximu City, which was recently occupied by the imperial army. His hands will have a great impact on the morale of frontline soldiers."

"Wei Jichen, is that Wei Jichen who fabricated facts indiscriminately and slandered His Majesty's reputation?" Yeshi Guangzi asked, stroking Muren's chest with his hands.

"It's this person, I wish I could tear his body into pieces, otherwise I can eliminate the hatred in my heart." Mu Ren said with a ferocious expression.

Ye Shi Guangzi rolled his eyes at him charmingly, and said with a silly smile: "Your Majesty, why don't you kill the concubine first."

After saying that, Yeshi Guangzi lowered his head and kissed Muren's chest.

Mu Ren had more than enough heart but not enough energy, and was about to scold Ye Shi Guangzi, but there was a knock on the door.

"Your Majesty, the Lord of Shan County is asking to see you." The attendant reported loudly outside the door.

Mu Ren hurriedly opened the quilt, got up and got out of bed, hurriedly put on his clothes, and quickly replied: "Let my friend from Shan County wait a moment, I will announce my meeting right away."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The attendant ordered a guard to immediately inform Sanxian Youpeng.

Not long after, Mu Ren was fully dressed, appeared at the door, and fled away in panic.

Seeing the attendant standing outside the door, Ye Shiguangzi in the bedroom couldn't help saying softly: "My body is a little weak, come in and give me a massage."

"Yes, empress!" The attendant walked in quickly with a wicked smile on his face, and then closed the door behind him.

When Muren came out, Shanxian Youpeng had only waited for a little while, and hadn't even finished a cup of tea.

He couldn't help thinking smugly in his heart: It seems that my friend from the mountain county still holds an unrivaled position in His Majesty's heart. His Majesty heard my request and couldn't wait to announce it.

Shanxian Youpeng hurriedly got up and gave the royal and ministerial ceremony, and then the two sat down one by one.

Shanxian Youpeng first smiled and apologized: "Your Majesty, I deserve death for disturbing you in the middle of the night, but there is an important piece of information from Liaodong. After hearing it, Your Majesty will not blame me, but you will blame me. This information was not sent sooner."

"Oh, what information is it?" Mu Ren asked curiously when he became interested.

"Your Majesty, Wei Jichen was bombed to death last night." Shanxian Youpeng didn't dare to keep it any longer, but spoke out the contents of the telegram aloud with great excitement.

"What did you say!" Mu Ren lost all sleepiness, fully awake, and stood up suddenly.

"Your Majesty, Wei Jichen is dead." Shanxian Youpeng said loudly again.

The muscles on Muren's face were trembling with excitement, obviously he was in excitement. He picked up the teacup that Shanxian Youpeng had just drank, and drank it down in one gulp. Picking up the telegram in Shanxian's hand, he muttered, "Good death, good death."

Soon, Guangxu and Cixi respectively learned the news of Wei Jichen's death. When Guangxu got the news, he was reading Wei Jichen's paper - On Protracted War.

His blood boiled with enthusiasm, and he became confident for a while, determined to fight the Japanese to the death. Just like what Wei Jichen said above, the Japanese people are small and few people, China has a vast land and rich resources, and [-] million people, even if space is exchanged for time, they will eventually survive. Drag the Japanese to death and win the war against Japan.

Guangxu no longer doubted Wei Jichen's talent. He could see the state affairs between China and Japan so clearly and speak so clearly. In the whole Qing Dynasty, who else was there besides Wei Jichen?

Guangxu could not wait to recruit him to Beijing immediately, and hold candlelight night talks with him to discuss military and state affairs. He immediately felt that Wei Jichen was here to save the Qing Dynasty, he was here to save Guangxu, and he was a blessed general sent to him by heaven.