Chapter 61: The Oath of the Troops

  The sky has entered autumn, but the cold current in the north has not moved south, and the humid and hot air is filled with restlessness and anxiety. In front of the theater on Han Zheng Street, more than 100 soldiers are busy preparing, and a banner is hung above the stage, "Right Route Army Oath-taking Rally" in bold letters.

  Yesterday, the notice to pacify the people that appeared on the streets and alleys finally made many people slightly relieved. The streets were sparse, but there were not a few people, some brave shop owners opened their doors, but no one came to buy things. A horse-drawn carriage arrived at the swearing-in ceremony first, and Hu Rui Lin, who was almost 50 years old, got off the car and immediately caused a commotion. He had a reputation in the three towns, not only as a respected resident and member of the advisory board, but also as a kind and generous person, so many people knew him.

  Hu Rui-lin has washed away the tension and unease of yesterday, Hankou and Wuchang have resumed navigation last night. Tang Huai-long sent someone to pass on a message saying that Yang Qiu had arbitrarily posted a notice proclaiming himself Commander-in-Chief of the Right Route Army, and also brought up Li Yuanhong's face-to-face meeting with him at the time of Li's governorship, which was only just barely acknowledged by the other side. What a coincidence! Is there something...?

  The national tradition is that the left hand is superior, but now he has taken over the right route army and vacated the position of commander of the left route army. This also shows that he may have had ulterior motives from an early stage. To know that on the opposite bank of Wuchang, although there are more than 10,000 troops, at this moment only Li Yuanhong can command them! Isn't it true that after two days and nights of hard work by the party members, all the benefits have been taken away by these two people?!

  After a night of deep thought, he also felt that this was the best opportunity for these constitutionalists, so this oath-taking rally must be attended. Along with some members and gentlemen living in Hankou who came under the "protection" of soldiers, the previously somewhat empty venue became crowded, and a large team of foreign soldiers escorted carriages suddenly squeezed into the crowd. Hu Ruizhen secretly frowned, could it be that all foreigners have come to support Yang Qiu?

  "Attention!"

  A loud shout came, the soldiers maintaining order suddenly stood at attention with their feet together, and the crowd automatically made way for a path. Hu Rui Lin hastily looked back, only to see over a hundred soldiers and officers surrounding Yang Qiu as he walked slowly towards them. With a pistol at his waist, a sword in hand, his posture was straight, his physique was slender, and his eyes were full of vigor. His military uniform was immaculate, not a single thread out of place, and the sound of his leather boots on the stone pavement was like a drumbeat that shocked people's hearts.

  Since the assassination incident, he has been hiding in Hanyang and rarely goes out, so everyone only hears about this Qing dynasty running dog and Batu hero, but doesn't see his shadow. Now that they've seen him, it turns out to be such a dignified young man, which has also raised some good feelings in their hearts.

  "Commander, this is the German Envoy Sir Traun, and this is British Consul Viscount Gofu......" Zhang Wenjing introduced along the way: "This is Japanese Envoy Matsumura Teiichi."

  When introduced to Matsumura Teiichi, two gloomy eyes immediately locked onto him, and he said coldly: "Commander, I'd like to know why you sent troops into the Hanyang Steelworks. You've taken away the good workers of Han Ye Ping!"

  Sheng Xuanhuai hasn't arrived yet, but the one who came out is here! Yang Qiu pretended to be confused and asked: "What? Is the steel mill a Japanese company? Zhang Wenjing! How do you handle things? You didn't even tell me!"

  Zhang Wenjing smiled secretly in his heart. After the translator finished whispering to him, Matsumura Teiichi's face changed slightly.

  Indeed, although Japan and the Han-Ye-Ping Company have a close relationship, the ownership still belongs to Sheng Xuanhuai and the Qing government. Therefore, it is not up to Japan to intervene when Yang Qiujin goes to arrest people. However, Yang Qiujin does not want to turn against the Japanese at this time. He said seriously: "Your Excellency, I will definitely investigate thoroughly. If we mistakenly arrested personnel from your country or infringed upon your country's enterprises, we will severely punish them!"

  Traune, the German minister, could no longer hold back when he saw Matsumura Teijirō and Yang Qiu entangled in the steel factory. He walked over to intercept them, pulled out a copy of the convention signed by the consuls of various countries stationed in Hankou from his pocket, and said sternly: "Commander, we do not want to interfere with your internal affairs, but if you must fight, you must leave the concession area within thirty miles. Otherwise, we will reserve the possibility of taking necessary measures!"

  Yue Peng and Song Ziqing, who could understand some German behind them, changed their faces slightly when they heard these words. After the swearing-in ceremony, they were about to set out to attack Zhang Biao. Liujiatang was less than ten kilometers away from the nearest Japanese concession, so did foreigners and Zhang Biao reach an agreement to intentionally protect him?!

  Yang Qiu, however, remained calm and composed, opening his mouth to speak in German: "Your Excellency, I think this treaty should be handed over to the Qing government or Wuchang. I am just a soldier, my orders are to defeat the enemy at all costs!" As soon as he finished speaking, taking advantage of Traun's expression not having changed yet, he suddenly pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him.

  Trautmann was a seasoned diplomat in his fifties, and due to the limited strategy proposed by Britain for all countries in China, Germany had not been able to thoroughly open up the situation. Over the years, he has deeply understood how to protect German interests in the Far East under unfavorable circumstances and lack of allies. He was just about to discuss with the envoys of various countries to join hands and exert pressure when Yang Qiu handed him a piece of paper.

  First, it was a mouthful of German accent, followed by a note written entirely in German. Traun couldn't help but wonder about Yang Qiu's background. After taking the note and glancing at it carelessly for two seconds, his pupils suddenly enlarged, and he asked without even noticing there were others around: "Sir, what is this......?"

  "A British friend of mine happened to make a little mistake, so he brought these things and escaped to the Far East to avoid trouble. Seeing that he was penniless, I bought them from him. Are they really useful to you?" Yang Qiu asked in a low voice.

  "Yes, Germany needs..." Traun was about to continue when he realized the setting wasn't quite right and immediately lowered his voice: "We need."

  Yang Qiu smiled and slowly pulled out the paper strip that Traun hadn't grasped tightly, deliberately folding it into a small square before putting it back in his pocket. He chuckled and said, "After we take down Liu Jia Temple, I think we can have a drink together."

  The two men's conversation was all in German, and towards the end they were whispering to each other, so the other envoys only saw them gesticulating, but Yue Peng and Song Ziqing, who were standing closest, looked at each other in surprise and began to speculate about what could have moved Traun, this old fox.

  Standing beside him, Hu Rui Lin and others were even more astonished. He couldn't understand German but knew how to read facial expressions. He didn't expect Traun to suddenly change his tone, making him even more suspicious that he had received support from foreigners. Just as everyone was guessing, Yang Qiu put away the note and walked towards him with big strides. Before he could even greet him, he was grasped by the hand and smiled warmly: "Councilor Hu, you are the most prestigious person in our three towns. I am truly grateful that you can attend this oath-taking ceremony. On behalf of the Right Route Army's thousands of soldiers, I promise you that we will bravely fight the enemy, protect Hankou's peace, and defend our revolutionary achievements! Oh, by the way, I received the 50,000 yuan donation you sent over last night. Thank you so much, really, thank you so much!"

  Hu Rui-lin hadn't even reacted yet, when he heard Yang Qiu unexpectedly reveal that he had donated 50,000 yuan. Isn't this telling others that they have already joined forces with the Righteous Army?! He thought to himself that this young man was truly not to be underestimated. Fortunately, he had also prepared for this situation, and smiled: "Being able to do something for one's hometown is the greatest wish of an old man like me. Commander, you lead your soldiers in defending our home and protecting Hankou; if I weren't so old, I would be willing to accompany you onto the battlefield to fight the enemy and achieve immortal merit."

  "This old man really knows how to talk, Yang Qiu secretly smiled and waved his hand loudly: 'Thank you, Congressman Hu, I'm just a martial artist, but Yang Xia still needs people like you to preside over things.'"

  These few words were extremely loud, and Hu Rui Lin was also smiling all over his face. The surrounding members of parliament and conservatives suddenly understood that the two might have reached an agreement. Does this mean that the constitutionalists are going to take the stage? But before they could ask around, they saw soldiers carrying a large cardboard box bigger than a person, with five big words printed on it: "Revolutionary Donation Box"!

  Got it! Hu Rui Lin has donated, and I should also "contribute" a bit, let alone he's holding the gun! One by one, the gentry started gritting their teeth and touching their pockets, making Zhang Wen Jing laugh: "Commander, you're really shameless."

  "Shame is better than poverty." Yang Qiu glanced at Hu Rui Lin, who seemed to be thinking of something, and then took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.

  In the corner, Wei Yao, dressed as a fishing village girl, stood between Chang Si and several guards, saw Yang Qiu's fundraising method, and also burst out laughing. She turned her head to Miao Luo, who was silly, and said: "I know why this guy made your soul restless."

  "Ru Jie, you......!"

  Miao's face turned red with anger, and two red clouds flew up on her white jade-like cheeks. She looked at the tall figure on the stage, but didn't know how to continue speaking. This man had suddenly transformed from a lackey into a comrade, was she supposed to say that she and he...

  Yang Qiu stepped onto the stage, raised her arms and spoke in a loud and firm voice: "Fathers, elders, brothers, sisters! Compatriots! Today I stand here, actually having many words in my heart that I want to share with everyone, but opening my mouth again, I don't know where to start......"

  I just want to say, today! Our Han River Three Towns have been liberated first!

  The beginning of the Westernization Movement, the turmoil of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the brutal Boxer Rebellion... Countless predecessors shed their heads and spilled hot blood for this day! Only then did our generation achieve success by chance. After experiencing the bloody rule of the Qing government for hundreds of years, the three towns of the Han River finally returned to my China!

  But...

  There are still many places in Hubei that have not been liberated, and are still being trampled by the Manchu slaves! So... Today, my brothers hold this oath-taking rally, not to ask you for anything, nor to say any grand words...... Look around you, look at those young faces carrying guns, these fine young men full of hot blood!! As they looked over, the soldiers straightened their backs, and everyone felt a surge of pride.

  "We also have family and parents, we are also afraid, but we are soldiers, once we put on this uniform, we have no choice!"

  Yesterday... we ended an old era, ended the rule of the three Manchu towns, today! We will start a new journey, we will go for you, for all Chinese people! For this country! To fight for a new world, to fight for a proud future of the Chinese nation!

  Our national revolutionary army hereby solemnly vows that we will overthrow the Qing dynasty with our own blood and flesh, thoroughly revive China, and enable our descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors to stand up again as a strong nation in the world and strive for the rest of their lives!

  Rather die than surrender!

  If you break your oath, heaven and earth will kill you!

  If you break your oath, heaven and earth will kill you!

  If you break your oath, heaven and earth will kill you!

  The soldiers were stirred up by this passionate oath, and more and more young people began to join in, until the whole of Hankou was echoing with the sound!

  "Raise the flag!"

  As Zhang Wanjing let out a loud shout, Bingwen walked up to the podium holding a military flag that everyone had never seen before. Yang Qiu waved his hand and stepped on the bloody sea, and the painting "Flying Tiger Shouting at Heaven" appeared before everyone's eyes.

  Then, nearly a hundred bound prisoners were pushed to the nearby riverbank. Seeing them, many people shouted out because they were the thugs who had taken advantage of the fire that night to loot and kill civilians, and **molest**.

  Rui Yao's smile on his face suddenly disappeared when he saw the smile on their faces, because six or seven out of ten were people from the Yangtze River Gang. Just as he was about to rush out to stop them, he was pulled back by Chang Si. "Boss, they... are just bandits taking advantage of the fire." As soon as the words fell, the sound of gunfire rang out, and in the midst of countless curses, accusations, and shouts, 77 bandits were shot dead on the spot!

  When some people trembled at Yang Qiu's ruthless and merciless heart, Feihu Flag had already set off for distant lands.