The Empire will continue to win

Chapter 95 Damn, an unexpected gain

Although Shen Moqing firmly denied it, Alexei's tone remained firm: "No, I can smell the scent of my kind. You are an intellectual."

I bet you're wondering why I, a university professor in St. Petersburg, am here.

During my time as a teacher, I was declared persona non grata and deported by the authorities for publicly expressing my political views.

Of course, this is more dignified than exile to Siberia. At least I can leave my homeland with my belongings instead of being forced to work in Siberia.

"How many years has it been?"

"Seven years."

It turns out that the Madier Hotel was staffed entirely by Russians, from the owner to the waiters. Their parents and grandparents were once "Siberian exiles".

Or should we call them "disillusioned people"?

Or perhaps they should be called "opposition members expelled by the authorities"?

Traitor!

This is the most appropriate title.

As the ancients said, "Reading books is not as good as traveling."

Shen Moqing's blind spot in understanding the imperial landscape has been reduced by another point.

It turns out that there were tens of thousands of foreigners like Lina and Alexei seeking refuge in the suburbs of Yanjing, with the earliest cases dating back to the reign of Lord Niu.

That was the period when the country was at its most powerful.

Lord Niu withstood diplomatic pressure from various countries and took in these rebels. He made it clear to them that as long as they did not leave the area within 50 li of the capital, did not attack diplomatic personnel, and did not commit violent crimes, they could stay in the outskirts of the capital indefinitely.

The Ministry of Rites even issued them indefinite residence permits.

This is said to be called protection.

A hundred years have passed, and the practice of providing protection has become an ancestral custom.

Ancestral rules must not be violated!

However, the imperial court, from top to bottom, had not yet realized the profound significance of protecting rebels, and the Forbidden City had not yet mastered the correct way to use rebels.

Professor Shen sighed:

I think the United Empire is doing a great job. It has cultural confidence, is inclusive, and has a prosperous economy. If I were to take charge of the government, people all over the world could live a good life.

"Sir, since you don't like Dostoevsky, you must like Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol Yanovsky, right?" Alexei took off his pipe, stood up, and said, "I'd like to give you a book."

"No rush. What subject are you a professor of?"

"History, the study of the history of the Slavic peoples."

That's not surprising; researchers in the humanities and social sciences are prone to going astray. After all, someone as principled as Professor Shen...

There aren't many intellectuals with principles.

At this moment, several more beautiful maids gathered around, all of whom had Slavic features.

Shen Moqing: "Don't you intermarry with the locals?"

Never.

Why?

-

"The imperial court has regulations that any foreigner who stays abroad for an extended period, regardless of gender, who secretly marries a citizen of the country, will be punished with 100 strokes of the cane and sent back to their country upon discovery. Any mixed-race children born to them will also be sent back."

"The laws of the country are strict."

"No, no, this is the freest place I've ever seen in the world. Except for marriage and relationships, everything is free. Here, I can breathe freely, speak freely, and write whatever I want."

"Even streaking," the playful Lina suddenly added.

Immediately, the hotel lobby was filled with friendly smiles.

"That's right. When spring arrives and flowers bloom, we can even swim naked in the Yongding River. Yanjing is not St. Petersburg; there is no bitter cold, snow, or secret police here," Alexei said earnestly.

The next second~

The heavy doors of the inn were pushed open, and amidst gasps of surprise, a group of wiry men in plainclothes, covered in snow, rushed in, shouting in unison, "Your humble servants pay their respects to Lord Shen."

Where is Lord Yuxian?

'

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"The minister will be here shortly. He has instructed us to follow Lord Shen's orders."

"Leave two men to guard the door, and the rest of you search all the rooms on the third floor and above, paying particular attention to the binoculars, clogs, and the dwarf."

"Yes, ma'am."

The plainclothes officers pulled out their revolvers from their pockets and scattered them like mercury spilling onto the ground.

Under the complex gazes of the maids, Shen Moqing slowly rose and looked at the impeccably dressed Alexei: "Professor, are you going to give me a book?"

"want."

Shen Moqing took the book, glanced at the cover, and exclaimed, "Wow, it's a satirical book called 'The Imperial Envoy'!"

The professor is indeed a traitor!

Lina's reaction was very genuine. First, she looked terrified, hugged her chest, and took a step back. Then, she loosened her arms, straightened her chest, and gave herself a charming smile.

Hey ~

I'd rather you be a little more proud; that way, you can still be used after washing.

Shen Moqing plopped down on the sofa and flipped through "The Inspector General". Hmm, if Gogol were in the Qing Dynasty, his head would have been chopped off long ago!

Ten minutes later.

dong dong dong~

The plainclothes police officers came downstairs.

"Reporting to Lord Shen, no telescope or suspicious dwarf was found."

at this time.

Just then, the neighing of warhorses came from outside, and without needing to ask, the main force had finally arrived.

Shen Moqing walked up to Alexei, whose expression was complicated, and whispered, "Before we part, I want to give you a line of poetry: I have a house, facing the sea, where spring is warm and flowers bloom."

Is this poem a metaphor for freedom?

Do you believe in absolute freedom in the world?

"There must be."

"I'm telling you, no! If you insist on seeking that kind of freedom, you'll only find yourself shooting yourself in the head, bang!"

Done.

Shen Moqing took out a few silver coins from his pocket and stuffed them into Lina's hand, while casually rubbing the girl's smooth face with the back of his hand.

Outside the hotel.

Watching the swirling snow dust, Lina asked in a low voice, "Boss, who is he?"

Alexei: "The most terrifying type of intellectuals."

Fifteen minutes later.

The houses ahead were crowded, and the streets were narrow and winding, like a maze. If the carriage went any further in, it would be impossible to turn around.

In this time and space, Yanjing experienced a population explosion, with incomplete statistics showing a population approaching 400 million, mainly distributed in the southern part of the city as well as the eastern and western parts.

Yu Xian lifted the carriage curtain and whispered a few words.

The dozen or so plainclothes police officers quickly disappeared into the streets and alleys.

"Mo Qing, let me have someone scout ahead."

"The surrounding terrain is complex, and the people are diverse. I'm worried that if gunfire breaks out, some might escape."

-

"I'll do my best. By the way, how did you find out?"

"There was a spy spying on the train station from a high place, and the light from his glasses dazzled my eyes."

"Then you're going to the Madier Hotel?"

"Confirm the situation."

"Mo Qing, you must have been a seasoned criminal investigator in your past life. You're meticulous and shrewd. I happen to have a vacancy on my end. You can apply for a position there. No need for attendance or office hours, and you'll receive a free stipend."

"Isn't that a bad idea?"

"What's wrong with that? The capable should do more. What kind of bastards are these days? How many people are as diligent as you and me in their duties?"

"Minister, be careful what you say."

"It's alright, I'm not afraid of offending people. I'm all alone in the officialdom, and apart from the Western Palace, I have no backing." Yu Xian said frankly, as cruel officials are all all alone.

The two chatted quietly.

Outside the train carriage.

"This humble servant, Yuan Weiting, is to lead the charge."

"This humble servant, Wang Wu, is also willing to go."

Duolonga and Miao Peilin are also eager to try.

Only Wang Shizhen and Gong Zhaoyu stood at the back of the crowd.

It was normal for Wang Shizhen not to be eager for battle; he was an army captain and a confidant of Li Shaoquan. Gong Zhaoyu, however, remained silent, his expression shifting.

"Are they all your people?"

Yu Xian sensed the military bearing on the group and asked this question.

"Yes. With the first town set out, the Nanyuan area is empty, so I hastily gathered some armed militia. Although they can't compare to the elite constables of the Ministry of Justice, they are still a force to be reckoned with."

"Alright~ We'll split the credit 50/50 afterwards."

"No, the Ministry of Justice has a legitimate reason to arrest spies. You should take the credit, and I'll just bask in the glory." Shen Moqing once again took the initiative to curry favor, and Yu Xian seemed to be thinking about something.

Twenty minutes later, the plainclothes officers who had been conducting reconnaissance returned one after another and together drew a simple map of the area around the pagoda.

Illustration.

More and more people gathered around to watch the spectacle.

Shen Moqing looked around and said in a low voice, "Minister, we can't wait any longer, let's arrest them."

Yu Xian: "Today's operation will reward twenty for killing one person and one hundred for capturing one person alive."

"If resistance is encountered, kill them on sight."

"If there is any suspicion, arrest them directly without questioning them; if they resist, they may be shot dead."

"All teams, launch your attack!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Constables from the Ministry of Justice, armed with revolvers, charged ahead, followed by militiamen armed with lever rifles. Each group consisted of four men, making up more than a dozen arrest teams that rushed toward the pagoda from all directions.

The crowd of onlookers was so frightened that they scattered and fled.

When Yuan Weiting rushed to the corner.

Bang! A gunshot rang out, and the plainclothes policeman who was standing a dozen meters in front of him fell to the ground.

Instinctively, he rolled over and, using the cover of a large truck on the side of the road, poked his gun out and aimed it at the spot where the muzzle flash had just appeared on the second-floor window at the intersection.

bang bang bang~

Three shots were fired, and one of the gunmen was shot and fell to the ground.

The short and stout Yuan Weiting crouched low and leaned against the wall as he moved forward. At the next alley entrance, he met up with two people from the next group: one was his classmate Wang Wu, and the other was a constable from the Ministry of Justice.

The alley was narrow, and with everyone feeling nervous, they unknowingly huddled together.

Wang Wu frowned: "Spread out a bit, everyone, don't get so close."

Before he finished speaking, a short man in black jumped down from above, wielding a katana, and leaped into the crowd, instantly unleashing his ultimate attack.

The blade flashed coldly, and blood splattered everywhere.

A bloody arm lay on the ground, the hand still clutching a revolver. Another militiaman clutched his bleeding throat, his rifle severed in two.

bang bang~

Yuan Weiting leaned against the wall and fired two shots, but not only did he miss, he accidentally hit another constable. The black-clad assassin was too agile.

"Get out of the way!"

Wang Wu's eyes were bloodshot. He threw away his rifle, grabbed a long stick, lunged forward, and thrust his gun forward like a dragon, aiming it at the assassin's face.

"Baka!" Blood streamed from his nose.

With a flash of cold light, a third of the stick was cut off.

After landing a successful blow, Wang Wu quickly retreated and struck again with his staff, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, aiming straight for his opponent's ankle.

The assassin couldn't dodge in time, his body swayed, and he lost his most relied-upon speed.

Bang bang.

He was shot in the abdomen and fell to the ground.

Wang Wu turned his head and saw Yuan Weiting holding a revolver, smoke curling from the muzzle. The next second, Yuan Weiting suddenly turned the gun around and aimed it at the constable who had been accidentally wounded.

bang~

He was shot in the chest and died instantly.

"Weiting, what are you doing?"

"Fifth Brother, shh, I accidentally hurt him just now. If someone finds out, it will cause trouble, and the Supervisor will also be in trouble."

"But he was our comrade-in-arms."

Looking at the furious Wang Wu, Yuan Weiting remained silent, holding his revolver and staring with his bulging eyes.

One was strong and tall, the other was fat and short.

One values ​​loyalty and righteousness, while the other is solely self-serving.

Suddenly~

"Hey, what are you two standing there for? There's a mouse nest over there."

The so-called "rat's nest" is a stronghold of the Sakura Agency.

About three years ago, the head of the agency, Munakata Kotaro, funded the rent of six rooms near Xizhimen Station and planted more than 20 spies, including a Jodo Shinshu monk who infiltrated the temple.

Six months ago~

The old monk who used to guard the pagoda suddenly fell ill and died, so Li Kui became Li Gui. Using the pagoda as a base, he observed daily...

Observe the movements at the train station.

Hearing the intense gunfire, Yu Xian was filled with regret. He had only brought 50 mounted constables today; if he had known this would happen, he would have brought 200.

"Walk."

The two hurried towards the area where the gunfire was most intense.

The two sides engaged in a fierce firefight around a brick and tile house, with bullets whizzing by.

"How is it?"

"Rifle bullets can't penetrate the walls of that house. If we try to force our way in, many of us will die."

"I'll send someone to bring Lamenshanpao."

"No need, it's too time-consuming to go back and forth. Come on, set them on fire and burn them to death."

97

Five minutes later.

Flames erupted all around, and the black smoke was choking.

Unable to bear it any longer, several fierce army idiots gritted their teeth and rushed out of the house, only to be driven back by the wall of fire and bullets.

Fire was everywhere.

There is nowhere to escape.

People kept shouting, "Heavy black card, Banzai!" and then kneeling down to commit seppuku.

Shen Moqing seized an opportunity to deliberately ask Gong Zhaoma, "Are you a coward? If so, I can let you go home."

Unexpectedly, the young man panicked: "Supervisor, please forgive me. It's not that I'm cowardly, but I'm afraid of being shot in the back by Miao Peilin during the operation. He has a reputation in the underworld of northern Anhui and is known for his ruthlessness."

"I see." Shen Moqing's heart skipped a beat. She asked, "During this period of military training, is there anything you'd like to tell me?"

"Wang Wu practices his sword on the playground every day, Yuan Weiting inquires about your family background everywhere, Duolonga keeps talking about wanting to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions, and Miao Peilin secretly climbs over the wall to sell two guns."

"What gun? Who did he sell it to?"

"The revolvers, one is his, and the other is Yuan Weiting's. I don't know who they were sold to, but Miao Peilin knows quite a few people in the underworld." Gong Zhaoyu chattered on and on, showing no military bearing whatsoever, more like a secret agent.

-

"understood."

Shen Moqing gritted his teeth, staring at Miao Peilin, who was not far away, who had voluntarily draped himself in a wet sheet, raised his gun, and shouted, "Brothers, grab them alive and collect the reward!" For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

The fierce generals are unruly, and the honest ones can't be relied upon.

Are there no subordinates in the world who are both capable and obedient, and who inspire great confidence?

Twenty miles away, Empress Dowager Cixi, who was putting on makeup in front of the mirror at Yanxi Hall, suddenly sneezed loudly, thinking it was because she was dressed too lightly.

A resounding victory, battle results:

Our side suffered 5 casualties.

Nineteen spies were killed and three were captured: a young woman, a middle-aged monk, and a deer that had lost too much blood and was unconscious.

Sunset.

"The imperial court has been making a lot of moves these past few years, and most of the Six Ministries have become mere shells. The Ministry of War has nothing to do, the Ministry of Works has seen its status greatly diminished, the Ministry of Personnel's real power has been cut in half, and the Ministry of Justice is not what it used to be. Only the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites are barely doing well. So, what can I do?"

-

"Perhaps now is the opportunity to establish a new organization under the Ministry of Justice, specifically for counter-espionage."

77

"The Flying Guillotine?"

"I've heard of it. It's said that the Blood Droplets guards are all hand-picked warriors from the army, skilled in shooting an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces away and throwing a knife from ten paces away, killing people without them even realizing it." Shen Moqing pretended to be stupid, throwing out an idea to get the ball rolling.

puff~

Yu Xian couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"It's just hearsay; the Blood Droplets were mostly made up of handsome men and beautiful women, and their martial arts skills in bed were indeed superb."

"ah?"

Shen Moqing was startled. This organization seemed familiar, it felt so familiar.

Then he recalled the handsome, unfamiliar guards who danced the waltz with the minister's wife at the Forbidden City ball. Could it be...?

It's really hard to judge.

Yu Xian, oblivious, continued speaking to herself:

-

"The Flying Guillotine was first established by the late emperor, and its main duty was to spy on foreign countries. After the late emperor passed away, the two empresses dowager ruled from behind the curtain, and the emperor was still in charge. The Flying Guillotine was in a rather awkward position, hampered by various forces, its orders were chaotic, and it was in complete disarray internally."

"No wonder not a single piece of intelligence was sent back home before the war started."

"The Blood Droplets' branch stationed in Kyoto was destroyed by the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department long ago. It's funny, but the Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department copied it and created a similar organization, called... what was it called again?"

Suddenly~

"Minister, we have made a major discovery. Please come over here!" An old constable rushed over, his face ashen, as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

"Go on," Yu Xian said, engrossed in her conversation and not wanting to be interrupted.

"Minister, this is a matter of great importance. It would be best if you reviewed it personally."

Shen Moqing and Yu Xian exchanged a glance, then turned and left.

Two minutes later.

The two men, carrying torches, entered a dilapidated woodshed. Upon seeing what lay so shockingly in the pile of firewood, their pupils dilated and they gasped in astonishment.

Holy crap~

Holy crap~~

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