Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 421 Undercurrent
"These 108 images contain profound truths. I'm afraid it will be impossible to fully understand them in a short period of time. Let's wait for Taowu to come back and study them in detail."

Qin Huai's mind moved, and he withdrew his gaze from the painting of the nude woman lying on her side with her elbows resting on her back, her waist fully extended.

He had no expertise in ancient martial arts at the moment, so if he wanted to understand the inner workings of these two notebooks, he might have to wait for Taowu to come back.

After putting the two notebooks back into his personal space, Qin Huai took out the [Seven Killing Sword] and planned to study what was going on with this weapon whose quality fluctuated between dilapidated and only.

[Seven Kills] is roughly the same in shape as a ring-handled sword, with a sharkskin scabbard, an oval brass guard, and hundreds of turns of red rope wrapped around the handle. The blade head is an irregular heptagon, and the overall length of the sword is about four feet.

Qin Huai held the hilt of the knife and pulled it out halfway.

The long sword was in his mouth, its color was red gold, and it was connected to the cold blade.

The blade is three fingers wide and the blade back is straight. It does not look like a silver-white tempered steel blade, but rather like some kind of meteorite gold sent by heaven, with countless fine scarlet lines.

"Zero, judging from the characteristics of this [Seven Killings], I think it is not as good as [Seven Deadly Sins]. What makes Yanbu believe that it can reach the quality of [Only]?"

Qin Huai sheathed his sword and asked Zero.

"Master Walking, the unique item is derived from the purest fruit essence. The [Seven Kills] is also derived from this. However, because its characteristics are mostly related to the living spirit in the sword, the host needs to kill enough living creatures. After satisfying the living spirit, the characteristics of the [Seven Kills] can be gradually unlocked."

"Oh, I see. Then according to your estimate, how many living creatures do we need to kill to upgrade the quality of this [Seven Kills] to [Only]?"

"If it were just mortals, they would probably have to number in the tens of billions. As for mythical creatures at the sixth level, they might even have to number in the multiples."

"so much?"

Qin Huai frowned, feeling that the murderous nature of this knife was a little too strong. Thinking back, he already had a complete set of legendary weapons [Seven Deadly Sins] at hand, so the need for this [Seven Killings] was not that urgent.

"Forget it. When we get back to the mother crown, we'll put it up for sale at the auction house."

After thinking for a while, Qin Huai still felt that the disadvantages of using this [Seven Kills] outweighed the advantages. It would be better to cash it in for money and buy more awakening points to improve himself.

Speaking of awakening, Qin Huai immediately took out the large earthworm with golden threads inside [Golden Marrow Earth Dragon], closed his eyes and swallowed it whole.

[Freedom awakening degree 22%]!
After smacking the remaining bitterness of the [Golden Marrow Earth Dragon] in his mouth, Qin Huai took out the [Taizhen Divine Makeup] that he had asked for from Yang Yuhuan from his personal space, and walked towards the courtyard humming a little tune.

In the small courtyard, Hongying, who had prepared half a table of dishes under Ao Ling's instruction, was listening to Sun Sheng's explanation with Xiang Yihai and Li Bingwu on how these mortals who had suddenly obtained Yuan Qi should strengthen their own Yuan Qi.

".There are four seasons in the sky, and the qi responds to four years. If you keep the qi in mind and concentrate on one thing, and prepare for four years, your spirit and body will be connected.

The body can communicate with the spirit, just like the bright sun. You can see the body without looking, hear the sound without listening, reach the destination without walking, and know the things without seeing. The so-called body is one and the spirit is one thousand, which can be called an immortal; the body is one and the spirit is ten thousand, which can be called an infant; the body is one and the spirit is eighteen thousand, which can be called a true person; the body is one and the spirit is thirty-six thousand, which can be called a newborn baby.

Qin Huai stood by and listened for a while, until he saw Sun Sheng waving his hand, indicating that the lesson for today was over, he moved a low stool and sat down next to Hongying.

"Yi Hai, I think this village is quite big. Maybe there are some martial arts masters living here who have never been seen. Let's go out and take a look."

When Li Bingwu saw Qin Huai coming out of the room with a handful of powder and rouge, as if she had something sweet to say to Hongying, he immediately understood and pulled Xiang Yihai out of the door.

"Old Sun, it's time for Master Shi to change his medicine."

Ao Ling brought the freshly prepared medicinal food, winked at Qin Huai, and found an excuse to call Sun Sheng away from the courtyard.
-
February 2, 1911, evening.

Nanjing, the office of the Governor-General of Liangjiang.

"Nonsense, nonsense! Do you believe it? Ah? It's only temporary. Who would want a temporary position as president?"

After reading the handwritten letter from Zhongshan Qiao brought back by Yang Xizi, Yuan Xiangcheng angrily threw it onto the large table in front of him.

"Uh, this this"

Yuan Xiangcheng's confidants who came with him to the south looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering what Zhongshan Qiao had said in the letter that could make Yuan Xiangcheng, who usually kept his emotions to himself, so angry. In the end, Feng Huafu, who was replaced by Duan Zhiquan from the front line, took two steps forward courageously, picked up the letter, and read it out word by word.

"Zhongshan Qiao said that as long as the autocratic government is overthrown and the constitutional monarchy is abandoned, everything else can be discussed."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Beiyang officers including Feng Huafu, Wang Pinqing, Zhang Shaoxuan and others all turned their eyes to Yuan Xiangcheng who was pacing back and forth in the room.

"No discussion here, just call me back."

Yuan Xiangcheng looked at the Forbidden City far in the north and shook his head.

The meeting hall of the Boxer Arena in Wuchang Town was brightly lit, and many Honolulu people gathered around a table.

Zhongshan Qiao and Feng Zhao were listening carefully to the reports from several secretaries.

"Mr. Zhong, the call from Nanjing is about Yuan Xiangcheng."

"Oh? Read it."

Zhongshan Qiao was cheered up. He put aside his discussion with Feng Zhao for the time being and turned his attention to Yuan Gongbao, who might be the biggest helper of Yihe.

"The issue of monarchy or republic is now being put to the public's discretion. How it will be decided is unpredictable. The idea of ​​a provisional president is unheard of and I dare not take part in it."

Zhong Shanqiao picked up the teacup and moistened his dry lips, feeling quite helpless: "I understand Yuan Xiangcheng's thoughts, but he doesn't understand my thoughts at all."

"Forget it, I'll talk to him myself. Secretary Li, bring me the phone."

Looking at the telegram on the table, Zhongshan Qiao pondered for a while, took the phone from his secretary, and waited patiently for the other party's reply.

beep~
The call was connected, and a melodious and soothing melody came from the other end of the receiver, followed by a deep and deep voice sounding in his ears.

"Hello, is this Zhongshan Qiao?"

"Mr. Yuan, I have long admired you."

"Okay, no need to be polite. In fact, we both know that we shouldn't have made this call today."

"I have to fight him even if I don't want to. If I don't fight him, how can a woodcutter like me understand Mr. Yuan's thoughts?"

Zhongshan Qiao's words were full of profound meaning.

"Me? What can I think about? Even a three-year-old child knows that a stone is harder than an egg. This fact is obvious. You only have a few thousand soldiers, right?"

Yuan Xiangcheng raised his lips, as if remembering something, and continued: "At most there are a few thousand broken guns. In my opinion, if we add some cannon sounds, gunshots, and shouts of killing to the song of Spring River Moon Night, I'm afraid it won't sound so good, right?"

"I know that Lord Yuan has a powerful Beiyang Army, but Lord Yuan, you should also know that Honolulu is not afraid of war. If a war really breaks out, Lord Yuan, you know military affairs. In the Battle of Red Cliffs, Sun Quan had only 50,000 soldiers, while Cao Cao had 730,000 troops. But Lord Yuan, who defeated whom in the end?" Zhongshan Qiao saw that Yuan Xiangcheng was still playing dumb, so he was not impatient and patiently explained, "My opinion is that it is better to negotiate."

"We can talk, but the basis for negotiation is constitutional monarchy and republic, which is not suitable for China's national conditions, and I don't like it either!"

"Mr. Yuan, if you want to establish a constitutional monarchy, there are only two options: one is to maintain the rule of the Qing Dynasty. You know I will never agree to this. The other is to make a Han Chinese the emperor. But who will be the emperor? Would you be willing if someone else were to be the emperor?"

Zhong Shanqiao smiled and said to himself, "Then you will be the emperor? You are more familiar with Chinese history than I am. You are a minister of the Qing Dynasty. If you dare to be the emperor, you will be a traitor like Cao Cao or Wang Mang. But as long as you support the republican system, there will be no problem."

"Mr. Zhong, I want to be the emperor? Don't make me laugh. Am I that stupid to jump into a fire pit? But you, as the president, are having a pretty good time. As far as I know, the president is elected by the people. You found a total of 17 members of the Advisory Council and made yourself the president. It's simply a joke."

Yuan Xiangcheng saw that Zhongshan Qiao's words hit him in the heart, so he did not sit still and wait for death. He said with a hidden needle: "But if you insist on being the president, I will not stop you. But how long will you be the president? When will the temporary term end?"

"Whoever overthrows feudal autocracy will be the next president."

"Huh? This."

When Yuan Xiangcheng heard Zhongshan Qiao suddenly say this, he was a little stunned. Before he could think of the wording, the next sentence came out of the microphone.

"It could be you."

"Ah, so that's it, Mr. Naka. Wait a moment. I need to discuss this with my staff."

"Please do as you wish, Mr. Yuan."

As soon as Zhongshan Qiao put down the microphone, Huang Keqiang, who was sitting next to the table, couldn't help himself.

"No, no, I don't agree with the president giving up his throne to Yuan Xiangcheng."

Huang Keqiang stood up, walked to the huge map, and explained his point of view: "According to the current situation, the collapse of the Qing Dynasty is no problem. The obstacles facing us now are nothing more than the regent Aixinjueluo Chuntai and Yuan Xiangcheng's Beiyang Army. Although Chuntai's methods are strange and unpredictable, he is still a human being after all. We have Wanming, Shen Kui and other masters to help us, and hundreds of sharpshooters who can hit whatever they point at. I don't think he can be considered our biggest obstacle."

"What I mean is that we should change our appearance, expand our forces, train 50,000 to 60,000 elite soldiers, and then fight that bastard to the death!"

"Keqiang, it's you."

Zhong Shanqiao sighed and said earnestly: "What is the reason for our uprising? To overthrow the feudal autocracy and establish a republican regime. As for the president, what is the point of talking about it?"

"It must be discussed! If Yuan Shikai was a tyrant and a traitor to the people, would you give the Republic of China to him? He would definitely create a fake republic for you."

Huang Keqiang punched the air. He felt from the bottom of his heart that Yuan Xiangcheng had absolutely no intention of being a republican.

"How can this be possible!"

Hearing this, Zhong Shanqiao lost his composure for the first time, but he suppressed his emotions after he said it: "We can't look at it that way. We are from Honolulu. We should be honest and trust others. It's not appropriate to suspect that others are bad people first, right?"

"What if he's a big bad wolf? Huh?"

Huang Keqiang imitated the Big Bad Wolf and walked slowly towards Zhongshan Woodcutter: "Gonghe Little White Rabbit, I am your rabbit mother, come on, open the door. Hey, you opened the door and he came over, snap, snap, your Gonghe Little White Rabbit is dead!"

"Hahaha"

"Hahaha"

Feng Zhao and the Bai Lian elders smiled at each other, and even Zhong Shan Qiao couldn't help but laugh: "I've never seen Huang Keqiang, and he says fairy tales are so scary."

"We must not let the new republic become a regretful fairy tale. Regardless of whether the future president of the republic is Yuan Xiangcheng, Wang Xiangcheng, or Zhang Xiangcheng, we must prevent him from becoming a big bad wolf."

Song Dunchu, who had been writing and drawing on the letter paper with a pen, suddenly spoke up and hit the nail on the head.

"Dunchu's words are very practical."

Zhong Shanqiao nodded, knowing roughly what he was going to say next.

"Sir, we must draft a republican constitution to ensure that despotism will never rise again."

“Constitution-making is something that the formal Congress will do in the future, but the priority right now is him.”

Zhongshan Qiao took the piece of letter paper from Song Dunchu's hand, his tone somewhat heavy.

There was only one name on the letter paper, which had been circled and crossed out many times - [Aisin Gioro Chuntai].

"Aisin-Gioro Chuntai transferred Yuan Xiangcheng to Nanjing a few days ago. What was the intention behind this? Jingbo and Wanming have discussed and come up with a rough conclusion. Keqiang and I also agree. We are basically sure that he is coming for us. But unfortunately, our informant has not sent back any news about the specific actions of the sticking pole."

Thanks to the [Three Mountains and Waters Mirror Appearance Talisman] left by Qin Huai, Feng Zhao, Du Xinwu and others also had a preliminary understanding of Chuntai's methods. But even so, they were still not very sure about killing Chuntai.

"Through the talisman images left by Jingbo, I am almost certain that this old man is not a grandmaster, but a more advanced [Martial Saint] as mentioned in the legend."

Feng Zhao pulled out a few big-character posters from his arms and spread them on the table one by one.

"As for Chuntai, you don't have to worry about his various methods related to Yuanqi. My secret technique is enough to make them ineffective. But if you want to kill him, the difficulty lies in his boxing skills."

Feng Zhao paused with a solemn expression, looked at Song Weiyi who came all the way from Wudang, and continued: "If there is a great master who specializes in horizontal training to fight him head-on, Master Sutang and Master Dehou will wait for the opportunity to attack the vital points with their swords and knives, and cooperate with Masters Shen Kui, Xinghui and others to besiege. This time, we may be able to kill the dragon..."

"Maybe 20% sure."

Li Cunyi continued the conversation. He was wiping the knife with a towel. Chuntai's beard and facial features seemed to be reflected on the frosty blade.

"You're going to do it even if you're even 20% sure?"

The mature and steady White Lotus Dharma King murmured.

"You're not even 20% sure?"

Feng Zhao shook his head and looked around: "Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Now that things have come to this, we have no choice, unless we did not do this in the first place."

"What if I lose?"

As soon as Huang Keqiang asked this question, he realized that everyone in the audience probably already had the answer to this question.

At this moment, Zhongshan Qiao spoke up and expressed everyone's thoughts.

"There will always be someone who can come after you."

(End of this chapter)