Chapter 50: The Day of Rise (5)

  Rumble...

  On the opposite bank, the rumble of cannons sounded, and Yang Qiu looked at his watch with a serious expression. In the parallel world, from the first shot to the first cannon, about an hour had passed, and in this world, it would also take about an hour for the logistics camp to rush out of Chuwangtai and cross the river. That is to say, if everything went smoothly, Xiao Anguo and Ma Kui should have succeeded by now, but why haven't they appeared yet?

  Fireballs occasionally flashing in the sky above Wuchang City tore apart the prosperity of three towns for over a decade. Countless people were awakened by the deafening sound, some began to pack up their belongings and prepare to escape, while others jumped up and joined the revolutionary ranks. Looting, arson, and violent incidents also occurred frequently. More ordinary people, however, hugged their children and family members, hiding behind thin wooden boards, trembling with fear and helplessness.

  More than a hundred warriors behind him were established through Lei Meng's hands with the 42nd mark law enforcement team as the backbone. There were those who used their power to transfer from the logistics camp, and more were the most hard-trained and ideologically consistent warriors in the three camps. Although nominally still a law enforcement team, through Lei Meng, Hu Lao San, and Bingwen's hints, everyone already knew what had happened, so all eyes were focused on the figure at the gate of the camp.

  Two incredibly powerful M1911 pistols were strapped to his thighs, his boots shone so brightly they could reflect the moonlight, a brand new military uniform complemented his tall stature, and just from his back, he gave off an aura of grandeur.

  As if he were that sharp long spear that could pierce through the sky, or that divine needle that dared to hold up heaven and earth!

  Countless soldiers who were awakened by the sound of gunfire rushed out of their barracks, asking each other in a flurry, but when they saw the towering figure standing alone at the camp gate, they all shut their mouths.

  "Attention!"

  Wen shouted loudly, and all the soldiers instinctively pulled in their legs. Even the logistics and engineering teams that had arrived less than half a month ago were infected, and they couldn't help but straighten their backs. The entire camp was silent, not even He Xi and other officers dared to say another word, everyone was waiting...

  He didn't turn back immediately, still gazing at Wuchang City, watching those fireballs rising continuously, his heart was like being cut by a knife! He didn't care about those party members, nor did he care about the life and death of Rui Ceng and others. What pained him was that the prosperous three towns would finally have to accept a baptism of blood and fire, the last bit of vitality on the Chinese land was being trampled and consumed! And tonight was just the beginning, followed by more than a month of bloody rain in the scorching summer! Moreover, there was still Old Man Feng's great fire that destroyed Hankou! Could he save all this?

  "History only records the victors, recording glory and splendor." Yang Qiu slowly walked to the middle of the army formation, his eyes scanning each soldier's face, his tone heavy and slow as he said: "Some of you are new soldiers who have won with knowledge, some are brothers from the security team. I want to ask you, apart from a few words of description, can you find more descriptions of the people slaughtered in war, the compatriots ravaged?"

  "No!"

  "Many of you may wonder why the running dog of the Manchu dynasty, a traitor and a loyal Batulu, would care about the safety of ordinary people. But do you know how I ended up like this today?"

  "Gentlemen, I, Bingwen, swear to heaven that although I am young, every word I say today is true. If in the future any of you brothers find out that I have spoken even half a lie, I am willing to take my own life as punishment." Bingwen stepped forward, and his opening statement shocked everyone. No one expected this young man with a baby face, who had been viciously called a "boy toy" by many people, to be so bold. When he recounted the events from Yang Qiu's entry into Sichuan to his appointment as commander-in-chief, and then to his assassination on the street, and how he knew who the killer was but didn't take revenge, and even let go of Song Jiaoren's matter, the soldiers all looked at each other in amazement.

  It turned out that everything about this "Zhongyong Batu" was passive, and he even gave up the opportunity to avenge himself by killing the party members for the sake of national righteousness! Su Xiaohu was the first to speak up and ask: "Biao Tong, if so, why didn't you explain it to everyone?"

  "People are doing, heaven is watching. Ask your heart without guilt why explain to others, and now people who like to rely on their mouths are rare?" Yang Qiu smiled and walked to the front of the army array, his tone rising again: "I'm a soldier, from the moment I put on this uniform, I vowed to be a good soldier standing tall! Protecting my home and defending my country is my dream. But this country is not just the Manchu's country, but the whole of China! Including the three northeastern provinces, including Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet! As long as there are Chinese people, they are the places I want to protect!"

  "This is the duty of a soldier, and it's also the highest honor! Today, in front of you, I am protecting my home! It's Sanzhong! It's Hubei! There are millions of compatriots here, there are my relatives, and there are your relatives too!" Yang Qiu pointed at Wuchang which had already turned red, with quick steps and a loud voice: "I know what happened tonight, some of you also know! The Qing government is corrupt, ceding territory, paying indemnities, losing national rights, foreigners bullying my compatriots in the southeast. If we want change, then as soldiers, why can't we take on the responsibility to protect our millions of compatriots and actively seek change?!"

  Yang Qiu took off his military hat, revealing his short hair without a braid: "The brothers on the other side have already taken action! What about us? Are we going to continue being the running dogs of the Manchu dynasty? Or be their slaves?! When the great army from the north comes, will you stand up or be cowards?! You... can choose for yourselves! My choice is only one! I am a Han Chinese, and also a soldier! From the moment I pick up my gun, what I need to protect is not the Manchu dynasty, but 40 million compatriots! I have never forced anyone, nor will I lay hands on comrades who want to leave... Leave behind bullets and guns, each person will receive 20 taels of silver to return home."

  Lei Meng fiercely opened a small silver box, revealing stacks of silver coins. He then threw away his hat, pulled out a dagger and cut off his queue: "Sir, I Lei Meng don't understand anything, but my home is right here!" After him, more than 100 soldiers who were selected also cut off their queues.

  However, this is still not enough...

  "I don't want to die for the Manchu rulers anymore, I just want to learn from the adults and become a good soldier who protects his family and country!" After a moment of silence, Su Xiaohu was the first to step forward and took the dagger from Pingwen's hand to cut off his queue.

  "Those Manchu officers have never treated us as human beings! I don't want to be a slave for the Manchus anymore!"

  "Don't be a slave, defend your home!"

  "A soldier's four words: command and obey. Sir, you just give the order."

  In the midst of shouting, one, two, three... except for a few officers like He Xi, all soldiers cut off their braids, and hair flew everywhere, filling the entire drill ground. The passionate words stirred up everyone's hot blood!

  Yang Qiu turned to He Xi, looking at him who had not yet gone to send off, his sharp gaze made him involuntarily tremble in his heart, and after thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and drew out the dagger from his waist, the blade suddenly swung, then saluted: "Sir, from today on, this hundred or so pounds of He Xi will be handed over to you, whether it's beating or killing, I won't regret it!"

  "I will never regret!"

  All officers and soldiers took one step forward.