The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 5 Master Qian

Li Yulin looked at Teng Yuzao worriedly, and after a little hesitation, he said, "After you went to the Governor's Office this morning, the Boxers came to our barracks to incite us, saying that we didn't fight the foreign devils, but only the civilians, and that this was not what real men should do. They wanted our soldiers to follow them to kill the foreigners, and that there would be a big change in Tianjin in the afternoon."

"They also encouraged our people to say that there are still some foreign companies in Tianjin that were previously protected by the Governor's Office, and there are many traitors hiding in them, and there are many foreign things there. When the time comes, we can not only kill the foreign devils and traitors, but also take all those foreign things at will..."

Teng Yuzhao knew very well that the so-called traitors were some religious people, especially students in some foreign churches. Many of them no longer had braids and were hated by the people.

This time, the Boxers not only killed foreigners, but were even more cruel to the traitors. No matter if they were men or women, they would be killed if they were discovered by them, and female Christians would die even more miserably.

Teng Yuzhao hated these brutal militia members who killed innocent people indiscriminately, but he felt helpless towards the common people who blindly followed xenophobia and even hated all religious believers.

Although there are some foreign slaves among religious believers who are willing to help the tyrants to commit atrocities, most of them are not evil, and they are also Chinese after all!

Teng Yuzhao had long been disgusted with the members of the group who showed no mercy even to these religious believers.

However, what Teng Yuzhao is most concerned about right now is his troops. This is a troop that his predecessor has invested a lot of effort and training. Now that it has just been captured by his substitute, there is a possibility of it being separated. How can he not feel anxious and worried?

Li Yulin smiled helplessly and said, "After I found out, I drove away all the members of the regiment. Some of our soldiers were very emotional because of this."

"that's it?"

Seeing that Li Yulin was hesitant in speaking, Teng Yuzhao couldn't help but ask more questions.

Li Yulin smiled bitterly and said, "If that's all, it would be fine. I just heard that our troops are going to march out, and I heard someone conspiring to say that they don't know where we are going to march to, and they want to find an opportunity to leave the army and join the Boxers, first kill all the foreign devils and traitors in the city, grab some good things, and then follow the Boxers to kill the foreign devils outside the city."

Li Yulin looked at Teng Yuzao, whose face was gloomy and scary, with a worried look on his face, and continued, "Those who are in the chain are all at the left and rear outposts. The front and right outposts are under strict control. Several soldiers who tried to pass the chain were beaten away by the two sentry leaders, so it's quiet there now."

All the officers above the rank of platoon leader in this battalion were students that Teng Yuzhao had taught before at the Beiyang Military Academy. Teng Yuzhao was very familiar with these people’s knowledge and character.

The two sentinels, Liu Yuzhi and Li Xianze, who were in charge of the front and right outposts, were both from Huaibei and were fellow townsmen of Teng Yuzhao.

After graduating from the Beiyang Military Academy, the two men returned to the Anhui army together. However, the Anhui Governor Wang Zhichun had no intention of developing a new army. What they had learned was of no use and they were ostracized in the army. When Teng Yuzhao returned to his hometown to visit his relatives and learned about their situation, he called them to the army when he was training the new army and appointed them as sentry leaders. The two men had one thing in common, which was that they were extremely strict in military discipline.

These two people are not only Teng Yuzao's students, but also his fellow townsmen. Because Teng Yuzao helped them when they were in trouble, these two people worked very hard in commanding the troops and training in the camp, and they were Teng Yuzao's absolute confidants.

Half a month ago, when some Boxers had just incited the soldiers in the camp, Li Xianze, the right sentry, wanted to severely punish with a stick a soldier in his sentry who was extremely active in inciting the Boxers.

Despite Teng Yuzhao's dissuasion, the soldier was still beaten with thirty military sticks until he was on the verge of death. However, under the persuasion of Liu Yuzhi and Li Xianze, they threw the soldier out of the barracks.

Afterwards, Liu Yuzhi and Li Xianze repeatedly advised Teng Yuzhao in private that he should not be too lenient in managing the army and must enforce strict laws to establish military prestige. However, Teng Yuzhao's predecessor did not take it to heart.

Teng Yuzao speculated that this predecessor disappeared after the Boxer Rebellion. Either he died while rescuing Yu Lu, or his soldiers dispersed this time, resulting in the failure of rescuing Beiyang Wubei Academy. He was too ashamed to stay in the army and returned home to farm. It is said that after Beiyang Wubei Academy was attacked, the rescue Qing army arrived three hours after the academy fell.

Teng Yuzhao secretly made up his mind that since he was here, not only must he not let such a thing happen again, he must also hold on to his troops tightly.

He firmly believed that in the chaotic period of the late Qing Dynasty, as long as he had military power in his hands, he would not have a hard time and would be able to make use of his talents wherever he went.

But in order to keep this army that he can rely on, he has to be ruthless and completely eliminate some dissidents who are disloyal.

It looks like a bloody massacre is inevitable.

Just when Teng Yuzao was secretly preparing to take action, the platoon leader Liu Changfa hurried in again, which made Teng Yuzao's already gloomy face even more frosty.

"Qingyun, what happened again!"

As Teng Yuzao spoke, he took out the Mauser pistol from his waist and opened the muzzle.

Liu Changfa said, "Master Qian is here."

Master Qian was Yu Lu's aide and often participated in the military and political affairs of the Zhili Governor's Office. He was very familiar with Teng Yuzhao. Before Teng Yuzhao could react, Master Qian had already followed Liu Changfa into the room.

As soon as he entered the room, Master Qian smiled and bowed slightly to Teng Yuzao, "Brother Xingfu, great news! Great news!"

After he finished speaking, he realized that the atmosphere in the room was a little strange. He was a little surprised and asked hurriedly, "Xingfu, what happened?"

Teng Yuzao closed the muzzle of the revolver and put it back on his waist. He smiled bitterly and bowed to Master Qian. "It's just a small matter. Some people from the Boxer Rebellion are trying to incite rebellion and take away my soldiers."

Hearing this, Master Qian shook his head helplessly, "Xingfu, you are doing well here, but General Nie and General Ma, the nominal general Li Dachuan, the garrison commander Sun Xiangyun, the guerrilla Su Huo's troops, and the Tianjin Lianyong, they are making more trouble. Not only are some of them calling themselves brothers with the Boxers, some even join the Boxers with weapons and become their disciples..."

Speaking of this, Master Qian also smiled bitterly and sighed deeply.

Master Qian suddenly remembered his purpose and hurriedly shouted, "Someone come here."

Following Master Qian's shout, two of Yu Lu's grooms, one holding a large folded piece of red silk, and the other holding a tray covered with red silk, walked into the room together. Both of them had followed Yu Lu to Laolongtou Railway Station, and they couldn't help but put on ingratiating smiles when they saw Teng Yuzhao.

Thanks to book friend "Yin Yang Wu Xing" for voting!

(End of this chapter)