Chapter 865: American Doomsday A New Breed of Soldier Brought About by a Microwave Donkey

  It was also this night.

  In the Yuhuayuan Hall of Zhongnanhai, Beijing, which was thousands of miles away, Yuan Shikai, who had just sat on the throne for two days, was sitting in the dragon chair, carefully looking at the telegram that had just been transferred from the Ministry of Army.

  It was late at night, and Yuan, the first president of China, was still in his office, eating a midnight snack while looking over documents.

  The contents of this telegram are undoubtedly identical with those received by Yang Zengxin, the military governor of Xinjiang.

  At this time, Yuan Shikai was both the President of the Republic of China and the future emperor who would ascend to the throne as the Emperor of the Empire of China.

  However, those who supported Old Yuan's ascension to the throne had already begun addressing him as Your Imperial Majesty.

  Yuan Shikai announced the acceptance of the imperial system for less than three days, and he was extremely sensitive to the reactions of the military and civilians all over the country to the implementation of the imperial system. Therefore, he had instructed beforehand that anyone who had anything related to opposition to the imperial system must report to him immediately.

  The edict issued by the Tang Dynasty was undoubtedly the first major military conflict related to the imperial system that Old Yuan saw. The result, of course, was very gratifying and satisfying for Old Yuan, as all the rebellious officials who opposed him were eliminated by his loyal and capable ministers.

  Whatever the truth of this matter may be, at least Yuan thought that the Tang Family's militia in Xinjiang was so actively supportive of his attitude that it was worthy of affirmation and reward.

  Yuan Shikai knew in his heart that the people who hated him most now were undoubtedly the remnants of the former Qing dynasty.

  If it was said that others were rebelling against him, Old Yuan was half-believing and half-doubting, but if it was said that these hidden former Qing dynasty remnants jumped out to lead the trouble, Old Yuan absolutely believed one hundred percent.

  Presented with this telegram are two analytical reports from the War Department and the Secretariat, each representing a different viewpoint on the contents of this telegram.

  The Ministry of the Army considers this matter to be highly serious, as this self-proclaimed "Tangjiabao Civilian Corps" paramilitary organization has definitely cracked the military cipher codes currently in use by the Ministry of the Army, which is a major event that can be escalated to a strategic level.

  Xinjiang has been isolated from the outside world, and the current central government, due to the endless civil war in Guannei, has lost control of it. The Ministry of Land believes that no matter what the cost, Tangjiabao should be incorporated into its own use, which can be used as a nail for the central government to firmly pin down Xinjiang.

  From the perspective of the Secret Service Division, as a quasi-military organization, the Tang Family Village Militia can obtain the military cipher currently used by the Ministry of the Army. It is likely that they have an internal line within the Ministry of the Army and this internal line holds a position that is not low. A thorough investigation must be conducted to catch the traitor who leaked the secret.

  Since the Tang family has already stirred up trouble in Xinjiang, His Majesty the Emperor can order the Ministry of War to give them an empty unit number and let them cause chaos in Xinjiang. After all, they don't have money, people or equipment. If you really have skills, then make achievements first, and it's not too late for His Majesty the Emperor to reward you at that time.

  Lao Yuan was repeatedly looking at the two reports in his hand, while using his left palm to rub a cooked but unpeeled egg on the desk.

  The eggshell is slowly crushed into small pieces during the massage process, until all the eggshells fall off, and the entire egg remains intact without any cracks.

  Lao Yuan picked up the eggshell-less egg, dipped it in the small white ceramic dish filled with refined salt in front of him, and then put it in his mouth, chewing slowly.

  This was an old habit of Yuan's, every time he thought about important issues, he would eat ten eggs like this.

  With the suspicious nature of old Yuan, he still inclined towards the analysis of secret affairs. Moreover, granting official positions and making promises was also one of his specialties. In those days, he had turned the entire Beiyang Army into his own private army in this way.

  Xinjiang's territory is vast, and its strategic geographical location is extremely important, but Xinjiang is really too far from the capital, leaving Old Yuan with a sense of helplessness like a whip that is too long to reach.

  "Second son! Second son!" Old Yuan shouted twice without lifting his head.

  A middle-aged man with a slender figure and a gloomy face, wearing the uniform of a Northern Army colonel, silently "floated" into the imperial study from outside, like a ghost.

  "Your Majesty." Colonel Tang Kuan stood at attention in front of the desk, his hands hanging down. This man was none other than the most trusted confidant and loyal guard of Old Yuan for many years, Chief of Secret Affairs Colonel Tang Kuan, the biggest spy chief under Old Yuan's command.

  Erxiao is his nickname, nowadays probably only Old Yuan and Crown Prince Yuan Keding dare to call him that face-to-face.

  "What's your take on this Tang family?" Old Yuan continued to massage the egg while rolling his eyes at Tang Kuan.

  "Speculator." Tang Kuan replied without hesitation.

  "Two sons, you're okay at handling some special affairs, but when it comes to politics, you still lack experience." Old Yuan said as he dipped the egg in his hand into the fine salt and stuffed it into his mouth.

  He swallowed the eggs whole, and Old Yuan glanced at the teacup on the desk. Tang Kuan hastily stepped forward two steps, holding the teacup with both hands and handing it to Old Yuan.

  Lao Yuan took over the teacup, took a big sip, rolled the tea water in his mouth for a few turns, and then swallowed it down.

  "Tomorrow, you will take this telegram to the newspaper office, find a few more houses, the more the better." Old Yuan said calmly: "It's best to let all people in the world know that the imperial system is still deeply popular among the people. It can be given to the Tangjia Fort Militia a new army division, and the number will be determined by the Ministry of Land. I will also grant him the title of Viscount, appoint him as Major General, just a few appointment documents, it won't cost much money."

  "Let them take care of their own military supplies and recruitment. The more soldiers he can recruit, the larger the organization I will give him, and the higher the title! I want to make the Tangjia Fort Militia a model, a benchmark, so that those who oppose the imperial system understand that we don't even need to lift a finger, whoever dares to jump out and be a clown, there will naturally be people who will take care of it for us."

  "Long live the Emperor!" Tang Kuan suddenly enlightened, his face full of conviction.

  "From now on, any news related to Tangjia Village must be reported to me immediately. You're also surnamed Tang, so take care of it when you have time." Old Yuan said, and then continued his egg-rolling business.

  "Yes! Your Majesty." Tang Kuan bowed his head and stood at attention.

  "Go ahead and get some rest, don't overexert yourself." Old Yuan waved his hand.

  "Your Majesty, you must also take good care of your dragon body." Tang Kuan finished speaking and retreated to the door of the imperial study before turning around and leaving.

  At this time, the Tang Dynasty, of course, did not know that it had already been remembered by President Yuan.

  Tang Dynasty, who had a great time with Lan Xin's service, took a mandarin duck bath together and prepared to go to bed. As soon as they got into the quilt, they heard Wu Ma reporting outside the door that Mu Hailin was kneeling at the entrance of Xinhua Building, barebacked in the cold weather, begging for forgiveness.

  If it were someone else, Wu Mu would probably have been stopped by the Tang Dynasty. But Mu Hai Lin is different, Mu Da Dang Jia in the Mu family is a young master with great prestige.

  "Alas, what's the point of playing around and inviting trouble? It's already this late, aren't you tired?" Tang Chao sighed as he threw off his covers and got out of bed. He casually draped his military uniform over his shoulders, wore a pair of slippers, and yawned all the way to the first floor hall.

  In front of the Xinhua Building, Mu Hailin knelt down on the steps below, bare to the waist, with three thick and long thorny branches strapped to his back, silently bowing his head without moving.

  "I say, Old Mu, what tune are you singing?" Tang Chao said with his mouth, but he stood at the door and didn't seem to have any intention of going down to help Mu Hailin up.

  "Boss, I was wrong. Please punish me!" Mu Hailin's face was full of shame and regret, his eyes were very determined, as if he wouldn't get up unless the Tang Dynasty punished him.

  "These years, the Elder Brothers have been killing officials and causing chaos in various parts of Xinjiang. Haven't they all been eradicated by Yang Zengxin? With the Elder Brothers' foundation and influence in Xinjiang, it shouldn't be weaker than the Iron Riders Alliance of Canglong Ridge, right?" Tang Dynasty stood there with a very calm expression, his tone couldn't tell whether he was happy or angry.

  "Under my foolishness, boss, I was momentarily blinded by family hatred and almost ruined the boss's big deal." Mu Hailin said with great guilt: "The Tangjia Fort Militia has been formed, and the way of governing the army has always emphasized clear rewards and punishments. If there is an error, it must be punished. Please, boss, punish me!"

  "You're not wrong, I think you're absolutely right." Tang Chao sneered and said: "The sky is big, the earth is big, but there's no bigger grudge than the hundred-year-old feud between your Mu family and the Niu family! Mu Hailin, I think you've really lost your head! Do you think I'm too easy to talk to, so you don't need to be cautious?"

  "No, absolutely not, boss! I really know I was wrong!" Mu Hailin's face was full of panic as he repeatedly admitted his mistake: "I won't dare to do it again next time."

  "Will there be a next time? Hmph!" Tang Chao glared fiercely at Mu Haolin, who was bowing his head in apology. "With my previous temper, I would have had to blow you up with one shot. Do you know how much trouble this killing will bring? How passive it will make us in the future? Do you know how much risk I took by sending that telegram to cover for you?"

  "I know, I know..." Mu Hailin's face was covered in cold sweat.

  "You know nothing!" Tang Dynasty thundered, spitting out stars, "I almost got killed by you. I clearly gave you four words, 'measure one's strength', why didn't you think more about why I said those four words? Avenging family hatred, we're not wrong, it can be understood, but there are many ways to avenge, not necessarily killing people, in this world, there are many ways that make living more unbearable than dying, how come you don't know how to open your mind?"

  Mu Hailin knelt there with his head bowed and didn't dare make a sound.

  The Tang Dynasty seemed to have not yet dissipated its anger, and continued to shout: "Normally you seem like a clever person, how come at the critical moment you become muddled! You don't even think about it, if by chance Yang Zengxin takes us for the Elder Brothers Society and sends out heavy troops to suppress us, do you want to drag all of our people down with you to be buried together?! The people will not fight against the officials, this is an iron law since ancient times!"

  Mu Hailin was like a child who had done something wrong in front of adults, hanging his head and being so dispirited that he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

  "The people's hearts are like iron, and the law is like a furnace. You don't even think about it, Yang Zengxin has been the governor of Xinjiang, how many rebellions have been quelled, how many people have been killed! If he didn't have some tricks up his sleeve, if he didn't have some real power, could he have gotten all the kings and nobles of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang to submit to him?" Tang Chao glared at Mu Hailin with a look that seemed to say "I'm so disappointed in you", continuing to scold him nonstop: "I think you're just a pig-headed fool! You've already touched the most sensitive bottom line in Yang Zengxin's heart! Don't be fooled by how lively the Iron Riders' Alliance seems, that's just because Governor Yang doesn't even bother with you. Even if you locked up Niu Fumin, it would be better than killing him with one knife, at least there would still be room for maneuver."

  After venting his anger, Tang gradually calmed down and let out a long sigh. "Alas! Things have come to this point, scolding you won't make a difference. Although you've made mistakes, successfully capturing the Xianbei is still a great achievement."

  As he spoke, Tang Chao slowly walked down the steps and helped Mu Hailin up, saying in a very serious tone: "This time it's considered as offsetting merits and demerits, no reward or punishment will be given, but don't think this is an example to follow!"

  "Understood, thank you boss for your magnanimity!" Mu Hailin's tiger eyes flashed with hidden tears.

  Tang Dynasty, on the other hand, untied the thorny stick from Mu Hailin's back and handed it to him, saying calmly: "Leave one as a memento! Hang it above your bed after you go back, and remember it for a long time."

  "Yes! Boss." Mu Hailin took over the thorny switch with both hands, gripping it tightly, his palms bleeding profusely, as if he didn't feel a thing.

  "Alas! I've already forgiven you, why did you still end up like this?! It's really helpless with you." Tang Chao sighed and shook his head, "Quickly go to the courtyard where the wounded are being taken care of and find Ziwei or Ziling. Let them help you disinfect and treat your wound, bandage it properly, lest it gets infected and a small injury becomes a big illness."

  "Yes, boss, I'll take my leave first." Mu Hailin then loosened his grip on the switch.

  "Go quickly, we'll talk about it tomorrow." Tang Chao waved his hand and watched Mu Hailin's back disappear from the moon gate of the outer courtyard before turning around to go back inside.

  All of this left Wu Ma, who had been standing at the entrance of the hall sneaking a peek, utterly shocked in her heart.

  Was the one kneeling down and being scolded just now Mu Da Ye, who has absolute authority and power over life and death in the Mu family?

  Is it really the boss who usually looks gentle and easy-going that scolds people?

  She believed that the scene just now would soon spread throughout the entire Tangjia Fortress, and even the entire Canglong Ridge. Because Tang's roar was really too loud, it was estimated that people could hear it from a distance.

  As he entered, Tang Dynasty intentionally or unintentionally gave Wu Mama a glance, who was standing by the door waiting. That cold and sharp gaze made Wu Mama feel a sudden chill down her spine for no reason, and the phrase "accompanying the lord is like accompanying a tiger" suddenly popped into her mind.

  I thought Tang Chao would scold her a few words, but unexpectedly Tang Chao didn't say a word, as if he had forgotten Wu Ma's existence, and went straight upstairs.

  "Amitabha Buddha, Bodhisattva bless. Amitabha Buddha, Bodhisattva bless." Wu Ma joined her hands together and muttered repeatedly in a low voice, closing the front door and turning off all the lights downstairs after making sure no one was left on the stairs, before going back to bed.