The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 160: War on the World

Wei Jinghai's letter was very short, his handwriting was a bit sloppy, and it only took up half a page.

However, Teng Yuzhao was 100% sure that this was written by Wei Jinghai himself because the letter was written with a fountain pen.

Now all officers of the Vanguard Army use fountain pens to write military documents, and Wei Jinghai's letter to Teng Yuzao certainly belongs to this category.

Although the content of the letter was not much, it shocked Teng Yuzhao greatly, because Wei Jinghai reported to him a shocking news in the letter that was both expected and unexpected to him.

That was early this morning when Yu Lu received an official document from the court declaring war on the eight Western powers that participated in the invasion of China, namely Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, the United States, and Japan. Wei Jinghai informed Teng Yuzhao that the document had been sent to the powers in the form of a formal note.

It was expected because Teng Yuzhao had already known that this would be the result, but he just couldn't change it.

According to the time calculation, Cixi should have received the news of his victory in Xigu and the success in entering the concession today at the earliest, and the court definitely had not received this news when he declared war.

Looking at this expected news, Teng Yuzhao was still shocked, because Cixi's declaration of war was almost a declaration of war to the whole world.

Because even if we exclude Japan, the quasi-great power, each of the remaining seven countries is a well-known international power in the world. Not only at this time, but even a hundred years later, when these old powers have declined, they will still be among the top countries in the world.

Cixi is now declaring war on all the powerful countries in the world, which is undoubtedly declaring war on the whole world.

Because these countries almost represent the entire world. At this time, other countries in the world are either their colonies or countries under their control and influence. Everything those countries say and do must be determined by the faces of these powers.

Teng Yuzhao now truly understood the true meaning of the saying "ignorance is bliss".

If it were Teng Yuzao, even if he had to go to war, he would have to adopt the method of division and disintegration, win the support of one or several major powers, and then deal with other major powers. Otherwise, it would be extremely difficult to win.

However, despite being shocked, Teng Yuzhao was not afraid.

Teng Yuzhao secretly made up his mind that now that he had returned to this era of blood and fire, he would exert all his strength to deal with these Western powers to the end, and stage a magnificent historical drama in which he would punch the Western powers and kick the Japanese financial wolves.

Next, Wei Jinghai told Teng Yuzhao in the letter that Song Qing, the assistant director of Beiyang military affairs, had arrived in Tianjin City yesterday evening, and according to Yu Lu, Dong Fuxiang's Wuwei rear army would also arrive in Tianjin in the near future to assist in the battle.

Just last night, Song Qing had decided on a strategy at the military meeting chaired by the Governor-General's Headquarters. Nie Shicheng's Wuwei Vanguard Army and Zhang Decheng's No. 1 Regiment in the World would still attack the concession; Ma Yukun, commanding the Wuwei Left Army and Cao Futian's Boxers, would coordinate with Dong Fuxiang's Wuwei Rear Army that would arrive soon to attack Laolongtou Railway Station with all their might, striving to achieve success in one battle.

At the same time, Song Qing ordered that, in addition to leaving a part of Teng Yuzhao's vanguard army to defend Dongjuzi, Teng Yuzhao should lead the existing expeditionary personnel to block the reinforcements of the Dagukou Allied Forces with all their strength, in order to buy time for seizing the Laolongtou Railway Station and the concession and destroying the foreigners in these two places in one fell swoop. Without the order from the general, Teng Yuzhao was not allowed to lead his troops to retreat at all.

According to Wei Jinghai, Song Qing not only praised Teng Yuzao for his repeated victories and outstanding contributions at the meeting, but also asked everyone to take Teng Yuzao as an example, muster up the remaining courage, and work hard to kill the bandits.

Song Qing also wrote a memorial to the court on the spot, reporting his battle strategy to the court. Song Qing also said in the memorial that whether the Laolongtou Railway Station, the concessions, and the coalition forces in Tianjin City could be captured depended on Teng Yuzao alone. If successful, Teng Yuzao would be the court's first meritorious official, and he would resign and retire to the countryside, recommending Teng Yuzao as the assistant director of Beiyang military affairs.

Finally, Wei Jinghai told Teng Yuzhao that along with the announcement, the court also sent an imperial decree conferring the title of Baturu and the first-class auxiliary general Yunqiwei on Teng Yuzhao.

Baturu's title is fine, but the first-class auxiliary general Yunqiwei is a title of nobility, equivalent to a second-rank military officer.

It seems that the court has invested a huge amount of money this time.

Seeing Teng Yuzhao holding the letter paper for a long time and refusing to put it down, Li Xianze couldn't help but ask with some concern.

"Sir, what happened?"

As if Li Xianze's words awakened Teng Yuzao from his deep thoughts, Teng Yuzao looked up at the people at the table, then expressionlessly handed a piece of letter paper to Wu Peifu, "Zi Yu, you read it, so that everyone doesn't have to pass it around."

Seeing that Teng Yuzao's expression was not right after reading the letter, Wu Peifu also had a premonition that something big had happened. He took the letter handed over by Teng Yuzao and glanced at it briefly. His expression changed, but he still began to read the contents of the letter according to Teng Yuzao's instructions.

The letter was not long, and although Wu Peifu did not read very fast, he still finished it quickly.

Just as Wu Peifu was reading the letter, Teng Yuzhao walked out alone and went to his room next door to get two bottles of beer.

The beer in Teng Yuzhao's room was the spoils of war seized last night. It was probably the supplies brought by the Germans in the concession. Teng Yuzhao saw it by chance and moved nearly five boxes of beer to his room.

Teng Yuzhao liked drinking beer in his previous life. Although he never drank liquor, he could drink quite a lot of beer. Not only would he not get drunk, but after a hard day at work, he would feel more energetic the more he drank. He would even drink a few bottles of beer when others were drinking tea or coffee while staying up late.

Back in the temporary restaurant, Teng Yuzhao opened a bottle of beer and poured it into an empty bowl. Wu Peifu had just finished reading the letter.

Liu Shijiu was the first to slap the table and stand up, congratulating Teng Yuzhao with a loud laugh. Following Liu Shijiu, Li Jinyu also stood up and congratulated Teng Yuzhao. However, seeing that Li Xiance was sitting there without moving and Wu Peifu's face looked strange, Li Jinyu hesitated for a while and finally sat down.

Seeing that Teng Yuzao did not look happy, Liu Nineteen said in surprise, "Xingfu, Baturu or no Baturu is fine, but you are a general of the auxiliary state, Yunqiwei, which is a real title. In the whole Zhili area, no other general has such a title as yours. The court gave you this title, which means that the court now values ​​you very much. We should be happy!"

Wu Peifu said with a bitter face, "Uncle Master, what you said is true, but Song Qingming obviously hates the fact that Yu Zhongtang recommended you to be the assistant of Beiyang Military Affairs. He is plotting against you."

I’m sorry to all my fellow book friends. I will continue to reply with 3,000 words per chapter tomorrow.

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(End of this chapter)