Chapter 52: Loyalty and Treachery are Hard to Distinguish (Part 2)

  The king's words made the Yangxin Hall quiet again.

  Yes, the Beiyang Army has been deployed to other places, who will defend the capital? In the year of Gengzi National Change, the Eight-Nation Alliance ordered the imperial court to dismantle the fortresses in the Beijing-Tianjin area. The defense of the capital was usually the responsibility of the Beiyang Army.

  "It's possible to recall the Yi army to defend. Currently, the Yi army cavalry is in Anhui suppressing the rebel forces of Xiong, but the infantry has just arrived at Dagou and hasn't boarded the ships yet, so recalling them would only take a few days." Shan Qi said, pausing for a moment before continuing: "Additionally, we can also mobilize some defense troops from Kouwai and Shanxi to enter the capital and provide protection. These soldiers may not be able to defeat the southern rebel army, but they can still maintain order on the ground. At the same time, we can purchase some horses in Kouwai and recruit local cavalry, and wherever there is a military emergency, we can rush to that place."

  "If so, wouldn't Shanxi and Kouwai be empty?"

  "Now there's no time to think about that, let's focus on the capital first."

  "Where can we find so much silver for recruiting soldiers and buying horses?" asked Longyu.

  "It is possible to borrow foreign debts from foreigners. Now the US and UK are both eyeing the Guangzhou-Hankou Railway, unwilling to give in, so the imperial court can take advantage of this situation, whoever is willing to lend silver can be given the Guangzhou-Hankou Railway to build, and it's better than Belgium not wanting to return the Beijing-Hankou Railway rights to the imperial court. France is also instigating from behind, the imperial court might as well think of a way regarding the Beijing-Hankou Railway rights, see if Belgium and France are willing to continue lending."

  "The plan of the Su King is a measure to save the situation, and I, a humble talent, agree with it. Moreover, the first town of the capital can also be expanded, the court can hold its own guns, Japan has an Imperial Guard Division, we should also build a Forbidden Army, and the soldiers will be selected from the people in the capital. The court has supported the banner people for 200 years, now that the court is in trouble, it's not possible to just eat without working, right? Let's send another telegram to Japan, summon back those banner people who studied in Japan, no matter what they learned, assign them to the Forbidden Army as officers. I don't believe that Yuan Shikai can train the Beiyang Army with the court's money, but the court itself cannot train a Forbidden Army."

  "This remark is reasonable, I agree. Moreover, it should be arranged immediately, and I am willing to go and negotiate with the British minister about borrowing money. It would be best for Wang to go to the military camp right away."

  "Yuan Tu, you go to Jianwei Camp and take charge there. The Military Department should also be more efficient, the imperial edicts and decrees should be drafted simply, without so many useless words." Longyu made up his mind, seeing Yihai wanting to speak, he gave him a sideways glance and said: "Qing Wang, I understand your concerns, but the court cannot not take precautions. I haven't made up my mind yet, whether to capture or not, this needs to be discussed further by everyone. But Gong Wang is right, if the news leaks out, the banner people will be outraged and want revenge for the late emperor, Yuan Shikai will have nowhere to turn, if he becomes desperate, the court won't be able to control him. That's all I have to say, Yuan Tu, you can go now."

  Na Yan Tu hastily knelt and followed Zai Yu out of the Nourishing Heart Palace. As soon as they exited, he collided with Xiao De Zhang, who was rushing over. He was a Mongolian prince, and from a young age, he had been riding horses and falling off, so he was strong and sturdy, and nothing happened to him. However, Xiao De Zhang fell flat on his back. Na Yan Tu didn't pay attention to Xiao De Zhang's dissatisfaction and left directly. Xiao De Zhang got up, rushed into the Nourishing Heart Palace, and shouted: "Empress Dowager, something's wrong! Li Lianying has escaped!"

  "What?" Not just Long Yu was surprised, but everyone else was also shocked. If they were not guilty, why would they run away?

  Xiao De Zhang said: "When I hurried over, Li Lianying was not there. After asking the little eunuch, I just found out that at the moment before I left, a standing eunuch who was waiting outside the Nourishing Heart Palace ran over to talk to Li Lianying, and then Li Lianying ran away. Presumably he heard the news and felt guilty, so he ran away."

  Everyone was shocked. Li Lianying had been the head eunuch of the imperial court for decades, and his power was deeply entrenched. Although a new emperor had taken the throne and his influence had waned, it was unclear how many of his loyal followers still remained in the palace. Earlier, when people were discussing this in the Nourishing Heart Palace, their words were overheard by a young eunuch standing guard outside, who quietly ran to tell Li Lianying. Afraid of being caught and put on trial, he naturally had to flee.

  Just as everyone was stunned, Little Gong Wang shouted: "Not good! Li Lianying is going to run and inform Yuan Shikai! Those two are like ants on the same string!"

  "What...what can be done?" Shan Qi was anxious and looked at Long Yu, but saw that the Empress Dowager also had a shocked expression.

  Zeng Guofan said, "We can't hesitate any longer. If we hesitate again, Yuan Shikai will receive the news and may counterattack. At that time, it will be the imperial court that suffers a defeat. Yuan Shikai is a powerful and cunning general who won't wait to be captured. Only by capturing Yuan Shikai can the Northern Army be deterred from taking action, and then the imperial court can divide its forces."

  Longyu nodded and said, "Gong Wang, this matter is left to you. Call up the Nine Gates Commander Yu Lang, bring the infantry battalion soldiers to surround Yuan Shikai's residence, but do not allow them to rush in to capture him. Just say that the imperial court has sent troops to protect him, lest the banner people go to find him and settle accounts." He looked at Yixuan again and said, "Qing Wang returns to the military affairs office to preside over it, and others also wait outside the military affairs office. You discuss how the imperial court can take back the military power of the Beiyang Army? Among the banner people, those with talent should be promoted beyond the usual ranks. Now that national affairs are in danger, it is a time when talented individuals cannot be left unused."

  Looking at Longyu, who was solemnly issuing an edict, Yixuan seemed to see the shadow of Empress Dowager Cixi again. Over the years, this woman with the same surname Yehe Nara had been imitating Cixi in every move and gesture, word and deed. The two women were very similar, but the problem was that it was just a shadow after all. In terms of aura, means, and endurance, Longyu was far inferior to Cixi, especially in composure, which was simply on a different level. This Longyu really had no composure at all. Think back to when the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded Beijing and occupied the city gates, Empress Dowager Cixi still led a group of princes and officials in disguise, and before leaving, she even ordered the eunuchs to get rid of Guangxu's concubine. What kind of composure was that?

  "If the old empress dowager were still alive, how would she issue an edict?" Yi Xiu thought seriously in his heart for a moment, but the conclusion he came up with was astonishing.

  Even if Empress Dowager Cixi were still alive, the current situation would probably be beyond Yuan Shikai's control. If the revolutionary army had not risen up now, it might have been possible to rely on prestige to make Yuan Shikai retire automatically and then slowly cut off his wings and weaken the Beiyang clique's power. But now it is no longer possible. Even if Empress Dowager Cixi were still alive, she could only either invite wolves into her home or drive fish into the depths - the difference being that one would be seeking death while the other would merely be waiting for death.

  This is fate, and no human power can change it; the fortune of this Qing dynasty has indeed come to an end.

  If the revolutionary party did not rise up in revolt now, but instead waited for three more years before rebelling, perhaps the imperial court would have been able to completely eliminate Yuan Shikai's wings.

  "Gentlemen, it seems we can only watch as this great Qing dynasty collapses before our very eyes!" Yixin let out a long sigh as he walked out of the Palace of Mental Cultivation.

  Isn't this their collective heart's voice? It's just that Yihuo has the guts to say it out loud.

  ……

  Just as Yi Xiu was sighing in the palace, Prince Gong Puwei had already led a group of young and ambitious nobles, bringing hundreds of banner soldiers and infantry camp soldiers with rifles to Xila Hutong, the residence of Yuan Shikai. Without saying a word, they surrounded the courtyard, then defied the imperial edict, holding the ancestral white rainbow sword, killing intent soaring as they rushed into the inner mansion, wanting to capture Yuan Shikai.

  But Yu Wei and others were disappointed, searching the entire house but not finding a single hair of Yuan Shikai's. Yuan Shikai's several sons were also nowhere to be found. The large mansion was left with only some female relatives and servants, and even the few scouts from the Imperial Guard had disappeared. The banner soldiers captured several household servants, subjected them to severe torture, and easily opened their mouths. Only then did they learn that just half an hour before they arrived, Yuan Shikai had changed into casual clothes, taken a few sons and a eunuch who had run away from the imperial palace, got on a carriage, and left in a hurry.

  "Ran away?……” Yu Wei almost couldn't stand up, holding onto an old tree, looking up at the bare branches, the White Rainbow Sword in his hand slipping down weakly, hitting the base of the tree, but not even scratching the bark.

  These days, even an heirloom sword is useless.

  Yu Wei's difficult footsteps moved forward, walking onto the street, looking at those expressionless flag-bearing soldiers, then gazing out at the snowy streets, and suddenly bursting into a loud curse: "Li Lianying, I'll fuck your eight generations of ancestors! Yuan Shikai, I'll fuck your eight generations of ancestors!"

  Yu Wei scolded the wrong person, because the one who sent someone to deliver a message to Yuan Shikai was not Li Lianying, but Xiao De Zhang. As for Li Lianying, he didn't even run out of the imperial city, but instead jumped directly into the icy river and froze to death, his body was found frozen solid.

  The collapse of a dynasty is not without reason, when it is infested with worms and petty people from top to bottom, its thunderous collapse is only a matter of time. All that revolutionaries need to do is to give it a hard kick before it collapses, making the scene look even more spectacular.