The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Zhang Yinghao sighed slightly: "I think this is too slow. You don't know, those guys on the Yunnan border are restless. After liberating Guangxi, they have penetrated deep into the Annan region. The British haven't been dealt with yet, and they are about to run over to the French. Maybe one day there will be an accidental shooting. What do you think? If we don't have enough guns, ammunition, clothing and food, will our Progressive Party follow the Qing Dynasty and cede territory and pay compensation?"

"I don't understand your men's affairs, but I've seen foreigners bullying us since I was a kid. It's a good thing to teach them a lesson. Can we win?"

"Haha, in the face of a people's war, there's no reason not to win. Don't worry."

Chapter 580:

After the flood relief efforts concluded, the people of southern and western Sichuan became even more closely connected with the Progressive Party and the People's Liberation Army. The floodwaters gradually receded, leaving behind a devastating mess: collapsed houses, mud, and garbage all needed to be cleaned up. Many residents needed resettlement, and every area needed disinfection.

At this time, the army took on the role of cleaners and construction workers. The soldiers quickly began to clean the streets, burn lime, and then spread it everywhere. At the same time, they had to use the existing resources to build a batch of temporary houses on an assembly line. This busy work lasted for half a month.

During the past two weeks, the soldiers worked alongside the local people and forged deep friendships. They even held several galas, providing the locals with a lot of entertainment and enriching their lives. Of course, many soldiers also secretly married local girls. Perhaps after these soldiers retire, they can return here and marry wives...

Finally, the soldiers received orders to return to the barracks for training. Somehow, word spread, and as the troops departed, civilians from all over the country flocked to see their soldiers off. Outside the barracks, a sea of ​​people gathered, a black mass, the entire camp impassable. The people, clutching gifts, watched eagerly as the soldiers emerged from the barracks and approached them.

As the comrades approached the crowd, they willingly made way. Then, something unexpected happened. As the soldiers passed through the passage, the entire population knelt in unison to bid them farewell. Many elderly people, in particular, wept bitterly, reaching out to the soldiers' hands, hoping they would stay and live with them, giving them a chance to repay the soldiers for saving their lives. Banners were immediately hung nearby, reading, "Please, Soldiers, Stay," "Thank You, the People's Soldiers," and "You Gave Us a Second Chance of Life."

People are all made of flesh and blood. These people have never felt such deep and selfless love from the soldiers. How could they bear to let such a group of good guys go? The people saw with their own eyes that many soldiers fainted in the mud and water while fighting the floods, and even lost their lives when they were swept away by the floods. The people knew that these were a group of people who would give their lives to protect them at any time. They were people they could rely on at any time. How could they not be moved?

Seeing the people's sincere outpouring of emotion, their cries and cries for them to leave their message, even if it meant just a few more days, the soldiers' eyes welled up, tears streaming down their faces. They didn't bother to wipe away the tears, simply letting them flow down their faces, blurring their vision. Thinking of their fallen comrades, the hard work of carrying sandbags and rocks, the heartache and grievance, they suddenly felt that all the effort and sacrifice had been worth it.

Many soldiers, seeing the people kneeling before them, immediately wanted to kneel down before them as well. However, the order to march had already been given, and the command to stand still had not yet been given, so the soldiers could only continue marching out in unison.

"salute!"

As the soldiers were marching, they suddenly heard the command "Salute". They stopped in their tracks and immediately raised their right hands to salute the people. For soldiers, saluting is the highest form of respect and the best way to express their feelings.

When the people saw that the soldiers had no intention of staying, those who had received gifts immediately stood up and wanted to hand them to the soldiers, and even stuffed baskets and baskets into the soldiers' arms.

The soldiers naturally would not accept the gifts from the people, and the formation was immediately disrupted. Fortunately, the company commander had the sense to shout: "Stand still in the first column on the left and right, turn right, and hold hands to ensure the formation moves forward normally."

The soldiers immediately understood and began to form a human wall to block the civilians rushing forward. Seeing this, many grandpas and grandmas shed tears while taking out some things and stuffing them into the pockets of the soldiers blocking the road...

Order was maintained, and teams of soldiers saluted as they marched out, listening to the people's words of gratitude and letting tears of emotion flow down their cheeks...

Zhang Yinghao saw this scene, smiled, and thought, "It would be nice if we could sing a song." Unexpectedly, before he could even utter a word, several female art soldiers appeared at the back of the crowd and started to sing:

Mud covered your trouser legs, sweat soaked your back. I don't know who you are, but I know who you are for!

Who are you? For whom? My brothers and sisters do not shed tears! Who is the most beautiful, who is the most tired,

My fellow villagers

My comrades, my brothers and sisters

Zhang Yinghao's eyes turned red and his nose felt a little sore after hearing this. Although the song was still a little out of place, it was truly the most appropriate song for the occasion. The soldiers immediately started singing along, and those civilians who could sing also started singing...

Songs are the best way to express human emotions. When people are excited, it is unheard of for them to stop singing after finishing a song. After one song was finished, someone else started singing two songs that were very popular in the liberated areas: "The Sky of the Liberated Area" and "The East is Red":

The East is Red, the sun is rising, and China has produced a Zhang Yinghao.

He works for the happiness of the people. Hurrah! He is the people's savior. Chairman Zhang loves the people. He is our guide...

Because Sichuan was devastated by a once-in-a-century flood, Zhang Yinghao personally went to the front lines. This caused much of the work in the liberated areas to come to a standstill, even temporarily paralyzed, and the Party Central Committee became slow to react to external developments. Of course, for Zhang Yinghao, helping the people of Sichuan fight the floods and provide disaster relief was the most urgent matter, the ultimate political correctness. Unless a war broke out against the liberated areas, everything else was minor.

Zhang Yinghao walked all the way back to Chengdu, seeing reconstruction work underway everywhere. He was delighted to see that life had returned to normal in many places. It wasn't until he returned to Chengdu that he quickly reviewed the backlog of documents. It didn't matter; a lot of major events had indeed occurred in various places. As Zhang Yinghao had predicted, Hubei, especially along the Yangtze River, was also severely affected. This was understandable. With most of Sichuan's water flowing through the Yangtze River, it would be strange if the river downstream didn't surge!

Zhang Yinghao continued to read, and soon came across reports of numerous visits from foreigners and strangers to powerful figures in the unliberated regions. The documents even contained numerous details about the powerful figures exchanging interests with the foreign powers. The more Zhang Yinghao read, the angrier he grew. Governors-general like Cen Chunxuan and Duan Fang had been mortgaging road rights, mining rights, and tax revenues with the foreign powers, even demanding armed protection...

After reading this, Zhang Yinghao suddenly laughed again. Revolution and counter-revolution are inherently contradictory. The more these people engage in counter-revolutionary activities, the more they struggle to survive, and the faster they die. The imperialist powers are truly no good. Everything they provide is "poisoned." The more these counter-revolutionaries feed on it, the more they become dependent on the imperialist powers, and the more they need to exploit the people. The landlords here fear the Progressive Party, but can the so-called wealthy coastal provinces withstand such a drain on the imperialist powers? On the contrary, the conditions for revolution will mature rapidly. As for how many guns and artillery the imperialist powers have traded with these powerful groups, Zhang Yinghao is not worried at all. Without the support of heavy industry, everything is just a pipe dream. There is no need to be afraid.

However, Zhang Yinghao thought for a moment and then issued an instruction, "On the premise of ensuring the safety of intelligence personnel, appropriately publicize the traitorous activities of these local powerful factions of the Qing Dynasty and the foreign powers, so that the people can recognize their true colors, criticize and attack them, and divide the enemy."

After thinking for a while, Zhang Yinghao wrote again: "If these powerful people train new troops, they can implement the strategy of breaking in and pulling out..."

After writing his instructions, Zhang Yinghao continued to read. He soon came across another interesting piece of information, and couldn't help but laugh. Zhang Yinghao knew that ever since the Forward Party launched its revolution, life in the capital had become increasingly difficult, causing great dissatisfaction and embarrassment among the Qing officials. This was not how the capital should be. The price of rice and flour in the capital had skyrocketed, and the supply of basic necessities was on the verge of collapse. Many people in the city had already begun to leave for the countryside.

This is understandable. Living in the capital is already difficult, and it is a completely consumer-oriented city with so many parasites to feed. Without supplies from all over the country, it would be strange if the capital did not collapse. During the First Opium War, wasn't it this very fact that the British forced the Qing Dynasty to sign a treaty?

Although the Qing Dynasty and the People's Liberation Army were currently in a hostile relationship, the PLA didn't seem to have any immediate intention of overthrowing the Qing Dynasty by force. Therefore, alleviating the burden on the capital had to be put on the agenda. And as soon as they looked, they saw the Eight Banners children walking around with their caged birds. If these idle Eight Banners children could be sent out to fight, it would not only reduce the pressure on the capital, but they would also be able to plunder local supplies and alleviate the internal supply pressure of the capital, killing two birds with one stone.

Prices in the capital were skyrocketing, and the liberated areas couldn't possibly be unprepared for this, otherwise they would be the ones to suffer. Furthermore, both military and economic forces had to be emphasized. After all, every dynasty had a final, dying struggle before its fall, and Zhang Yinghao naturally understood this.

So, after learning of the skyrocketing grain prices in the capital, the heart of the Qing dynasty, the liberated areas began to continuously ship their production resources through various channels to the cities that had not yet been liberated. Smuggling was a fascinating thing, not to mention that even a regime as scumbag as the Qing dynasty could not stop it, and even in later generations with advanced technology, it still persisted despite repeated bans.

Salt, cigarettes, canned goods, blended liquor, medicine, and other products produced in the Jiefang Districts appeared openly on the market in the Qing Dynasty-ruled areas. Take the blended liquor, for example. This was brewed in the Jiefang Districts using potato peels, sugarcane residue, and other ingredients. After secondary or even multiple distillations, it became a highly concentrated blended liquor. Besides being consumed in the Jiefang Districts themselves, all of it was sold outside of the Jiefang Districts, a practice known as dumping. These products were packaged in glass bottles and were extremely affordable and of high quality.

Blended liquor was inexpensive and of good quality, making it a popular choice everywhere. Even on construction sites in the liberated areas, workers who had worked all day could enjoy a glass or two before bed to relieve fatigue and enjoy a good night's sleep. Demand for this inexpensive liquor was enormous. During wartime, it was used as alcohol for cleaning and disinfection, and the demand was even greater. If it weren't for the establishment of the Agricultural Reclamation and Construction Corps in Yunnan, Guizhou, and other places, and the need for the army to cultivate land and cultivate crops like sugarcane and potatoes, supply would have been simply insufficient to meet demand. However, upon its arrival in Beijing, this liquor became an instant hit, quickly capturing the market with its high quality and low price.

There were also canned fruits, canned vegetables, chili sauce, and canned meat produced in the base areas. These things also entered the consumer market in Beijing. Even though the Qing Dynasty knew that these were products produced by the rebels, they were powerless to ban them. Because the capital needed these foods to save lives, even the court had begun to use products produced in the liberated areas. How could they ban it? Moreover, those involved in smuggling all had backers, so who would dare to ban it?

If we were to ask who in the capital was most well-informed, it would undoubtedly be these Eight Banners. In fact, not long after Cixi and Tieliang had their conversation about training, these Eight Banners soldiers had already received word that Tieliang was sending them to Shandong to suppress bandits. This news spread like wildfire to every Eight Banners soldier.

As Sichuan was pouring with rain, a large group of Eight Banners descendants gathered in a teahouse in Beijing. These Eight Banners descendants were also very poor, but they still wanted to show off, so they ordered a large amount of cheap food produced in the liberated areas on the table. These people often gathered together and had already learned how to eat these things. First, they filled their glasses with wine, then opened the cans and ate up the chicken feet, duck feet, dried fish and other meats inside. Then they ate the canned fruits and vegetables, and finally the remaining pickled peppers.

Everyone ate and talked at first, and after a few sips of wine, everyone's emotions finally lifted, and they began to speak the "truth" and started to denounce loudly.

"That bastard Tieliang wants to drive us out of the capital, but don't even think about it. My ancestors followed the master to conquer the world, and they shed blood. He still wants me to fight to the death? He's dreaming."

"Exactly. Who the hell is Tie Liang? He actually wants us to go and suppress bandits. We all shouldn't go. Let's see what he can do to us."

"If the master goes with me, I won't have any problem even fighting the Red Bandits, let alone suppressing them. But my family depends on me for their livelihood. What will they do if I die?"

After saying this, everyone naturally took another sip of wine. Now, the opportunity to eat and drink was running out. Everyone had already given up hope in the Qing Dynasty. Now that even the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty had been lost, everyone naturally muddled through, living day by day.

"Yes, there's no problem in asking us to go to war, but Tieliang must at least give us all an explanation."

"I'm not afraid of death. I'm just worried about not having a grave."

Alcohol is a fascinating thing. There's a saying that goes, "Wine makes cowards brave," but the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty couldn't rely solely on alcohol to muster the courage to confront their masters. Whenever someone suggested taking action to cause trouble for Tieliang and the others, others would evade them and talk about other things. In the end, they were condemned by the public and their actions came to nothing.

The Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty didn't have much money, or rather, they had never been wealthy. Naturally, they couldn't get drunk by drinking, so they would run out of wine halfway through, unable to fully enjoy themselves. They could only curse and swear as the party slowly dispersed.

While these Eight Banner soldiers didn't dare to confront their masters, they were far less polite to the instructors of the new army who came to train them. Empress Dowager Cixi and Tieliang were truly devoted to the Qing dynasty, specifically requesting Yuan Shikai send the best new troops to train their Eight Banner troops. Before, not knowing they were about to go to war, everyone had simply taken advantage of the situation. But now that everyone knew the news, coupled with the lack of enjoyment from the previous day's drinking, anger was running high.

Early in the morning, these new army instructors blew whistles to assemble the troops. The Eight Banners soldiers refused to obey and started cursing immediately.

"What are you dogs bragging about? Are you looking for death by relying on the power of others?" "That's right. They can't even defeat the rebels themselves, and they still want to train us. They are just asking us to die. They are not qualified to train us."

"Did the Qing Dynasty spend so much money just to make you lose the war?"

Although being called "dog slaves" infuriated the new troops, especially in this era of resurgent nationalism, the Manchu Eight Banners were practically courting death by such insults. However, the instructors sent by the Beiyang New Army ultimately held back, as the New Army's discipline was no joke. Talking back would result in a spanking or even beheading. Furthermore, the fact that they couldn't defeat the People's Liberation Army was a fact, or rather, they had suffered defeats before, something they couldn't argue with.

That afternoon, Yuan Datou, Tie Liang, and a group of Qing civil and military officials came to observe the training results of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty, so these Beiyang New Army instructors were indeed teaching with all their heart. Unfortunately, the Eight Banners had already begun to have other thoughts and simply did not listen to the orders of these new troops.

Finally, it was time for the final round of the afternoon's competition: the actual combat drill. The sun's rays still shone brightly, and a gentle breeze brought a sense of comfort. Five hundred Beiyang New Army soldiers faced two thousand Eight Banners troops. A gentle breeze blew, and the dragon flags fluttered. With shouts from both sides, the Eight Banners troops, armed with wooden sticks tied with scraps of cloth, charged forward with all their might.

The Beiyang New Army was at a significant disadvantage in terms of manpower, but they showed no fear and began firing with their "guns" drawn. Although it was a drill, it was clear that the Beiyang New Army, with only 500 men, completely crushed the 2,000 Eight Banners soldiers. However, many Eight Banners soldiers, without any protection, "fearless and unafraid of death," charged directly into the Beiyang New Army's ranks.

Just as the Beiyang New Army commander looked towards the rostrum, unsure of what to do next, the Eight Banner soldiers who had rushed into the ranks immediately began to punch and kick the Beiyang New Army. These Eight Banner soldiers were relatively self-aware, knowing that if they used their weapons, they would probably not be a match for the Beiyang Army, and if someone died, the situation would be difficult to deal with. Therefore, they only fought with fists and kicks, fighting naked.

However, the Beiyang New Army had been rigorously trained and were no pushovers. The scolding from these Eight Banners soldiers had already ignited their wrath. If it weren't for the military discipline and Governor Yuan's personal instructions to be patient, they would have dealt with this bunch of useless rubbish long ago. Since they had initiated the attack, there was no need to be polite. They immediately engaged in sparring with the Eight Banners soldiers.

Now it was quite interesting. The Eight Banners were a group of cockfighting and bird-walking enthusiasts, and even with a force of 2,000 men, they were still no match for the 500-man New Army. However, the New Army soldiers did not dare to kill, and were evenly restrained. In a short period of time, the two sides actually fought to a draw.

When Yuan Datou saw the Eight Banners troops making such a fuss, he immediately said to Tie Liang, "Sir, please give the order to stop immediately. This is just an exercise."

Tie Liang sighed. What kind of competition was this? Whether it was marching, formations, or bayonet fighting, the Eight Banners soldiers were no match for the Beiyang New Army. They won none of the competitions. In the final combat exercise, the Eight Banners soldiers were indeed brave, but if the New Army had live ammunition, Tie Liang knew that only two rounds of shooting would be enough, and perhaps the Eight Banners soldiers would collapse without even having to charge.

But before he could give the order to stop, the "brave" Eight Banners soldiers had already rushed into the ranks of the New Army and started fighting. The New Army restrained themselves and immediately started to fight back. Tieliang couldn't believe it. How could such a thing happen? He just stood there and watched the scene become more and more chaotic.

"How brave! Perhaps the Eight Banners disciples are also capable of fighting..."

Chapter 581:

Tieliang had such an inexplicable thought, which even he himself found incredible. However, Tieliang's subconscious thought was correct. These Eight Banners were indeed very "combat-ready". In fact, these Eight Banners descendants had inherited their ancestors' looting habits in their bones. Their "combat-ready" was beyond the imagination of Tieliang and everyone else. Of course, this was all a story for later.

Once a large-scale fight involving over two thousand people began, trouble was bound to break out. Once the fighting started, they might restrain themselves at first, but once emotions ran high and the blows were inflicted, they would quickly lose all sense of severity and no longer be able to hold back. The men in the Beiyang New Army who could be transferred to train the Eight Banners were truly elite, some with actual battlefield experience, and their combat effectiveness far surpassed that of the Eight Banners. Once the fighting really started, the Eight Banners were no match for them. They were quickly dispersed. The Eight Banners relied on their arrogance, while the New Army had real skills. Just three or five New Army soldiers could easily have left a dozen or so Eight Banners soldiers crying and screaming, their bodies utterly lost.

However, a new situation arose at this time. Many Eight Banners soldiers fell to the ground after being hit, howling like ghosts and wolves. Hearing these cries, the Beiyang New Army immediately stopped fighting one after another, but more and more Eight Banners soldiers fell to the ground. Even if some of them did not join the fight, they were lying on the ground unable to move.

The final tally showed that while no one died, four soldiers from the New Army suffered fractures, while at least twelve of the Eight Banners soldiers were seriously injured. On that day, the incidents weren't limited to this particular training ground; even other training grounds, where no sparring was taking place, were plagued by various problems and injuries.

Tieliang soon realized that these Eight Banners were taking the opportunity to cause trouble and delay time so that they would not have to go to war. Even these Eight Banners officers took the opportunity to cause trouble, demanding severe punishment for the Beiyang New Army who had beaten them and an explanation for their abuse, otherwise they would never go to war.

Tieliang was at the scene of the fight and witnessed what happened with his own eyes. Naturally, he knew who was right and who was wrong. However, in order to get these Eight Banners descendants to go out and suppress the bandits as soon as possible, he had no choice but to come to Yuan Datou.

"Yuan Datou, more than a dozen Eight Banners soldiers have been severely injured, and countless others have been lightly wounded. How will you handle this matter?"

Yuan Datou's face was also dark at this time, and there was even some sweat on his greasy face in this cool weather.

"Sir, many of the Beiyang New Army were injured this time. What do you think we should do?"

Tieliang hadn't expected Yuan Shikai to actually kick the ball back. They were currently locked in a fierce struggle over control of the Beiyang Army. It had been his idea to have Yuan Shikai's troops teach the Eight Banners. Although there was still pressure from Empress Dowager Cixi, anyone with a discerning eye could see that her power was fading, so Tieliang naturally sought to seize control of the military.

Tieliang hadn't expected Yuan Shikai to actually pass the buck to him, and with such a hardline attitude, which made him a bit nervous. He and Yuan Shikai had witnessed firsthand how the Eight Banners were the first to instigate the conflict. The Beiyang New Army's counterattack only intensified the anger of these Eight Banners, causing them to let their guard down and speak out their deepest thoughts.

"You bastards, you dare to fight back? Beat you bastards to death." "You bastards, you dare to fight back? Just wait for our revenge."

Can these honest words be spoken? Now is not the time when the Qing Dynasty is the only one in power. The rise of the liberated areas is unstoppable. At this time, many officials in the Qing court have already fled. No one can guarantee that the Qing Dynasty will still exist tomorrow. No one knows what these important officials who hold military power are thinking...

During the Qing dynasty, the distinction between Manchus and Han Chinese was something the imperial family feared most. Touching it was like pinching the Manchu testicles, causing them to leap up in anger. In this unique period, the distinction between Manchus and Han Chinese has risen to the level of national survival; even the slightest misstep could lead to serious consequences. But now, a group of Eight Banners scions, capable of more harm than good, have stabbed this already festering wound once more, or rather, torn off the last veil.

However, facing Yuan Datou's tough attitude, Tieliang has no intention of relaxing at all.

"Those who caused the trouble must be severely punished."

Yuan Datou was a powerful figure with the support of the great powers at this time. He had long been thinking about rebellion. This time he did not speak immediately, but stared at Tieliang for a long time. Tieliang was almost scared by Yuan Datou's look. Finally, Yuan Datou said: "This is not our responsibility. I will never punish my subordinates."

"This matter must be dealt with severely." Tie Liang said without hesitation.

If things hadn't reached this point, he would never have been willing to deal with these Beiyang New Army soldiers. However, on the night of the brawl, the Manchu officers were surprisingly resilient and immediately rushed to Tieliang, demanding that the Beiyang New Army soldiers responsible for the incident be severely punished, setting an example for others. The Manchus had always bullied the Han people, and now the Han people were beating the Manchus, this was going to be a major uproar, and naturally, they wanted to dampen the prestige of the New Army soldiers.

The powerful fighting capacity of the Beiyang New Army now made these Qing officers very apprehensive. The People's Liberation Army alone was already unable to cope with it. If the Beiyang New Army also rebelled, then these Qing officers would really be finished. Seeing that Empress Dowager Cixi was about to die, these Qing officers naturally wanted to seize all the remaining military power of the Qing court into their own hands, rather than let a Han minister take over.

At this point, instead of rallying all forces to jointly address the current difficulties, these Qing officers were caught up in a fierce struggle for power. They no longer understood who was their friend and who was their enemy. They believed their only responsibility was to devour everything they could to protect themselves, eliminating all destabilizing factors to ensure their own safety. Perhaps this was the human instinct for self-preservation. All they had to do now was seize Yuan Shikai's military power and drive him away.

How could Yuan Datou possibly punish the soldiers at this time? He hadn't even had time to bribe them yet, so Yuan Datou said firmly again: "You can punish me if you want to, but I will never punish these soldiers under my command."

There was one more thing Yuan Datou didn't say, which was that if you deal with it, I will be able to win people's hearts more easily, and then I will appease these soldiers and promote them. In this way, these soldiers will definitely be loyal to me.

Just as Tie Liang and Yuan Datou were confronting each other, undercurrents were surging everywhere.

"We must kill all these Han dogs."

At this time, it was not suitable for these Eight Banners descendants to go outside to discuss things, so they could only come to the home of Deputy Commander Fuchun. At this time, they heard someone shouting with a drunken mouth.

The faces of those present were filled with approval. It was obvious they were a bit drunk and had entered a state of extreme excitement. Someone in a corner was smoking opium, puffing out clouds of smoke with a look of enjoyment on their faces. Hearing this, they immediately applauded.

"Yes, we will not send troops unless all these Han dogs are killed. Even if the Buddha finds out, he will still seek justice for us."

After saying this, Fuchun felt a little out of breath, so he quickly took a big puff of his cigarette and finally came to his senses.

At this time, the table had only a few simple side dishes, a few cans of food and a few glass bottles of high-purity liquor.

This is a wine that has recently become popular in the Beijing-Tianjin area, but no one knows where it is produced. Fuchun is able to reach the position of deputy commander, so naturally he has many friends.

I heard that this wine was shipped from the south and was not expensive, so I bought a few bottles for the deputy commander.

No one could have imagined that the wine was so intoxicating. After drinking one glass of wine, they immediately felt a burning sensation. Those who came to Fuchun's house for the party started to feel dizzy. After two or three glasses of wine, many people were drunk.

One man who had participated in the fight pointed at his swollen face and said, "Now those bastards have hit us bannermen in the face. They're so bold and aggressive that they're getting ahead of us. Are these bastards of the New Army trying to turn the tables or rebel? If we don't punish them severely, where will our master's dignity be in the future?"

Another one immediately shouted, "We are about to risk our lives for the master. If the master doesn't give us an explanation, I will make it clear here that if the master doesn't give us an explanation, I will definitely not send troops."

"Yes, we will never send troops."

"Yes, we will never send troops unless we kill these Han dogs."

Fuchun didn't join in the clamor this time. It went without saying that everyone didn't want to send troops. Ever since the Sichuan Red Bandits rose up, they had been unstoppable. Whenever he thought about having to fight such a fierce force, Fuchun's heart grew heavy. A war would kill many people, and he didn't want to die at all.

He'd just had a few drinks, and it felt so good. He felt so relaxed, like a god. He wouldn't trade it for the same feeling even if he were an emperor. He just wanted to continue this relaxed, sleep soundly, and not think about any more fights.

"Brother Fuchun, do you think we can avoid sending out troops?" It was as if an angelic voice came from an endlessly distant place and entered his ears. He wanted to think about what this sentence meant, but there was no intention in his mind to think.

At this moment when all five aggregates were empty, he suddenly had an idea and said, "Let the new army go out, and we will stay to defend the city."

He no longer cared about what everyone said after that, because he felt that this was the best solution. After a while, he fell asleep with a snore.

While Fuchun and the others were enjoying themselves, the palace was also holding its final discussion on the matter. Yuan Datou stiffened his neck and said, "...Empress Dowager, I serve the Qing Dynasty willingly. The brawl with the Eight Banners soldiers the other day was caused by my men's recklessness. If there is to be a punishment, please punish me, Your Majesty. It was my poor discipline that led to the conflict between the New Army and the Eight Banners. However, in this critical moment, we still need the soldiers' service. If everyone is punished, I am afraid that the morale of the army will be unstable."

Tieliang had never thought that Yuan Datou would complain to Cixi in the name of paying respects immediately after hearing that Cixi's condition had improved. Cixi turned her head slightly and glanced at Tieliang. Cixi was also a smart person. Although she had not seen the specific situation in person, she had already guessed a general idea.

Although Tieliang was unprepared for Yuan Datou's accusation, he remained calm. Many of the princes around him were filled with anger at Yuan Datou's accusation, their eyes even filled with malice, as if Yuan Datou and them held a deep hatred. After Yuan Datou finished speaking, before Cixi could even speak, a Manchu military minister immediately stepped forward.

"Are the New Army still the imperial army? Are the New Army planning a rebellion? All the Eight Banners leaders have said that if the New Army responsible for the incident is not severely punished, our Eight Banners will never agree. There is a difference between Manchus and Han people, and Manchus are noble! You New Army assaulted the Eight Banners, so you must accept punishment. Otherwise, where are the rules? How can this be disgraceful?"

With someone taking the lead, the crowd naturally began to clamor, berate Yuan Datou one after another. Cixi listened for a while, and her face, which had just regained some color, turned pale and blue again. Now was a matter of life and death, and these Manchu ministers, instead of being united, were actually fighting for power. They were simply a bunch of pigs. If the Qing Dynasty were handed over to such a group of people, it would soon be destroyed.

The entire room suddenly became lively. Even in this mild weather, beads of sweat formed on Yuan Datou's greasy face. Back when Yuan Datou was in Korea, he was a king, a figure he'd never imagined he'd be subjected to such humiliation. Yet, Yuan Datou dared not betray a single ounce of discontent, instead resting his head on the floor and letting the others harp on him.

Cixi opened her mouth and raised her hand. Li Lianying immediately understood and screamed, "Silence."

Hearing this shrill voice, the crowd fell silent, like ducks with their necks stuck. Everyone knew Cixi had something to say, but someone immediately knelt on the ground and shouted, "Empress Dowager, the Eight Banners are making a fuss. If you don't punish the New Army severely, they will definitely not send troops. Or if you let the New Army send troops, they will defend the capital and die for the Qing Dynasty."