Chapter 28: The Liver and Gallbladder Interact

  I smiled and said: "Doesn't everyone think that this imperial court should be overthrown?"

  Four people stared at each other in silence, unsure of how to respond!

  "I say: 'This court, above is confused and reckless, below is corrupt and tyrannical, colluding with eunuchs, harming loyal officials, slaughtering the people, flattering foreign barbarians. The eunuch party in the court manipulates power, sells official positions, excludes loyal officials, embezzles and breaks the law, forms cliques for personal gain; various regional officials do not think of repaying the country, only seeking to exploit and enrich themselves, not thinking of protecting their families or defending the nation, only knowing how to wield military power for personal gain. This has led to foreign barbarians running amok, people selling their children, the country being weak and the people suffering, the army like a scattered handful of sand, soldiers like a group of bandits. How can we defend against enemies at the national border? How can we ensure the safety of the people? Can we rescue the people from water and fire? Is this kind of court still worth our protection? You young people with hot blood, do you really want to die for a corrupt and decadent dynasty?'"

  That yellow-faced man said: "Brother, what you said is all true, but now the dragon has no leader, who can reorganize the mountains and rivers? Who can save the people? We four also have a heart to save the country, but we don't know how to do it, so we admire Mr. Zhang's strategy for saving the country, and came to visit Mr. Zhang, asking the adult to point out our confusion, but unexpectedly, the adult said something that would make us even more confused!"

  Zhang Zhidong smiled: "The four brothers misunderstood, what I said earlier was not that I am confused now, but rather I am very clear-headed. I have come to realize that my past empty talk was actually harming the country, and my one-sided opposition to Western affairs was actually a mistake for our great Qing dynasty. Our Qing dynasty has been closed off and isolated from the world, falling behind in technology, how can we revive it without introducing Western techniques? I have come to recognize my mistakes, that's why I decided to follow the Emperor, unite with like-minded individuals, train elite troops, rally the masses, accumulate our strength, prepare to take back the power of the country and the military from their hands, build a new government, let the people be the masters of their own homes, implement scientific strategies to save the nation, take the path of enriching the country and strengthening its military, make the country strong, the people rich, drive out foreign invaders, and reclaim our national rights!"

  The purple-faced man suddenly stood up, grabbed Zhang Zhidong's arm and said: "Zhang sir, you say it, we'll follow you to overthrow this government!"

  A white-faced man stepped forward and said, "Governor Zhang, to be honest with you, the four of us are all members of the Bu Yi Society in the Beiyang Army. We've long wanted to stage a rebellion, but we didn't have a leader, so we didn't dare make a move. Now that you're here, please lead us! Among our brothers in the army, we have over 10,000 men and basically control eleven of the eighteen battalions in the Sheng Army, six of the twelve battalions in the Ming Army, and four of the eight battalions in the Qing Army. The only ones we can't get into are the five battalions of the Rén Army under the Governor's command, but they're just 2,500 men, not enough to make a difference!" He pointed at the purple-faced man and said, "My older brother Li Bin is the leader of the Bu Yi Society! I'm Zhao Hu, the deputy commander of the infantry in the Sheng Army." He then pointed at the yellow-faced man and said, "He's Nie Shi Cheng, the general of the Qing Army. My third brother." Finally, he pointed at the black-faced man and said, "He's Wu Biao, a staff officer in the Beiyang Fleet and Governor Ding's nephew. My fourth brother."

  Zhang Zhidong, looking at me, I nodded, he immediately smiled and said: "Everyone, since the words have been spoken to this point, I will tell you the truth. Don't follow me, but follow him - the current Wan Sui, our East Point Military Academy's principal Long Xiangyu, let's do it together!"

  The four of them were stunned at the time, and I said: "What's wrong, don't you four believe me yet?"

  Li Bin with a purple face suspiciously said: "I heard that emperor is weak and can't withstand the wind, but he..."

  I thought for a moment, to make them follow me obediently and grasp this considerable power as soon as possible, I must be sincere with them. At that time, I stood up and said: "Everyone should know the environment I am in, where killing intent is everywhere and danger lurks at every turn. In such an environment, if we don't practice being low-key and hiding our light, I'm afraid I won't even survive for a day! Precisely because I am Tongzhi, I feel more deeply the corruption of this social system, and I know more clearly that we should uproot this social system and establish one that allows capable people to take power and lead the nation towards prosperity and strength. We shouldn't let generation after generation rely on blood ties and personal relationships to select leaders. People chosen in this way may either be tyrants or mediocre rulers. How can they bear the weight of the rise and fall of the country? How can they lead the people to resist foreign invasion and official corruption?"

  A few people nodded in agreement, and I continued: "As for me personally, I hope that in the process of struggling with all of you to revitalize the country and benefit the people, you will test me to see if I am worthy of your trust, worthy of being a leader who can lead you through thick and thin. I hope that I can unite with all of my brothers, be of one mind, and together contribute our strength to the revitalization of China."

  Zhang Zhidong and the four soldiers immediately knelt down and said: "Please, Your Majesty, we are determined to follow you to revive China, even if it means shedding blood and sweat!"

  I pulled up five people and said: "You are my loyal ministers, so I will tell you what's on my mind. From now on, we must unite as one, prepare our strength, and take back power from the likes of Cixi and Li Hongzhang, abolish the Manchu imperial system, and build a new China!"

  The five of them immediately said: "Everything will be arranged by Master Wan!"

  According to the situation grasped by Li Bin and others, I organized their troops into the Second Army of China, with Li Bin as the army commander, Zhao Hu and Nie Shi Cheng as deputy commanders. The division commanders and regiment commanders were selected by them and reported to me for approval, while the battalion commanders and below were arranged by themselves. At the same time, Ding Ruchang was appointed as the commander of the Beiyang Fleet, Wu Biao as the deputy commander, letting Wu Biao secretly accumulate power, control the Beiyang Fleet, and when necessary, kidnap Ding Ruchang and force him to take the right path!

  Then I analyzed the internal situation of the Beiyang Army and said: "Now is the active preparation stage, don't easily talk about rebellion with those below, organize them well, unite them well, wait for the opportunity! Wait for my order!"

  As for Li Hongzhang, I had already seen through him in that world, so I said: "Be extra careful with Li Hongzhang, never expose yourself, especially to Li Bin. Quickly eliminate the enemies around you and find a way to protect yourself. I don't want any of you to encounter unexpected events!"

  Four people received the task and hurried away, and we also started strolling around on the street.

  Just a few steps away, Yan'er whispered to me that the boss of Longxiang Silver Number in Tianjin, Guo Wencai, had sent someone over with an invitation for us to go over.

  I nodded and said, "Let's go take a look."

  As soon as I finished speaking, Swallow waved her hand and three rickshaws came over from the side. We got on the cars and they took off quickly.

  The car stopped in front of a small building next to the Qianye Square, and a man wearing a long gown and a gray felt hat came out of the building and bowed to me: "Boss, Guo Wencai is here to pay his respects!"

  He led us into a room on the third floor with a wave of his hand and then knelt down to give me a bow.

  He said: "Recently, I got to know a boxing master from Jinghai County named Cao Futian. He has nearly a thousand followers and wants to join our group. Does the boss agree?"

  Cao Futian? Isn't he the leader of the Boxers in Jinghai County? The Boxers haven't risen yet, I'd rather...

  Keep him under our control! Let it be a powerful force for our anti-Qing and anti-foreign revolution.

  Thinking of this, I said: "Don't let him into your organization, your organization is underground, they are on the surface, and their arbitrariness is great, not convenient for management. Let's make an appointment with that Cao Futian, let me see him, and let him become another force for us!"

  I checked their accounts and found that the silver number income was not bad, and they also had close ties with some foreign large companies. I said: "If you borrow from a foreign company, do you think it's possible?"

  He immediately said: "Absolutely, now several banks have already made a few calls to us, asking us to help them contact external loans, and the more the better!"

  "Is there a Japanese company?" I asked.

  "There are, Kanto Alliance Bank's Managing Director, Honinbo Koichi, the President of Dai-Ichi Bank, Yamamoto Naonari, and the President of Mitsui Bank, Yasuda Zenjiro, all of whom have approached me about lending us money!"

  I hastily said: "Don't ignore them, entertain them well, we'll think of a way to borrow more money from them, and the more the better!" This Shizuka Eiichi was the main leader of the Patriotic Society, which raised funds for the Japanese government before the First Sino-Japanese War. He's a typical anti-Chinese radical. If I don't deal with him properly, my hands will be tied!