Beiyang Dream

Chapter 259 Li Hongzhang, are you protecting the Qing Dynasty or China?

On the evening of July 17, the Zhili Governor's Office in Tianjin was brightly lit.

However, the signing room was quite quiet.

Li Hongzhang lay on a recliner, covered with a thin blanket, dozing off with his eyes half-closed.

The old man simply couldn't take it anymore.

He hadn't had a full night's sleep for two days in a row. During the day, he had to meet with guests and discuss military affairs with his subordinates. At night, trouble always came knocking. Either news came from Dagukou, or the young emperor in Beijing issued another decree.

Even the strongest person can't withstand this.

Besides, he's over seventy years old, and his bones are practically falling apart from exhaustion!

Zhang Peilun walked in very quietly.

He didn't want to wake Li Hongzhang; he wanted the old man to rest a little longer.

But the telegram in my hand was far too important.

He stood at the door for a while, then finally gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and softly called out, "Your Excellency? Your Excellency?"

Li Hongzhang didn't open his eyes, and mumbled a "hmm" through his mouth.

"Your Excellency, Chang Zhenbang's reply has arrived."

Li Hongzhang's eyes snapped open.

He propped himself up to sit up, rubbed his face, blinked hard, and then said, "Nian."

Zhang Peilun paused for a moment: "Your Excellency, should we call Brother Yushan and Brother Jichen over first?"

Li Hongzhang nodded: "Call them all over, let's all listen together."

Zhou Fu and Luo Fenglu arrived quickly.

The four people sat down in the signing room, and the door was closed.

Li Hongzhang leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and said, "Youqiao, read it."

Zhang Peilun unfolded the copy of the telegram in his hand, cleared his throat, and began to read it aloud.

The telegram was written in classical Chinese, but the distinct "Nanpu accent" made it sound like it came from Changdesheng.

Zhang Peilun replied: "Your Excellency, I have received your telegram. Yantai is indefensible, and our forces are weak and cannot hold out for long. If Yantai falls, the Japanese pirates..."

A large army must be transported by sea to Tianjin. Tianjin is vulnerable, and the Huai Army, fresh from its defeat, may find it difficult to stop their landing. However, there is no need to worry excessively. Although Tianjin is in danger, Beijing is still safe. If the Japanese pirates do launch a major attack on Tianjin, Your Excellency can retreat to Luanzhou to avoid their advance. Luanzhou is close to the pass, offering flexibility for both advance and retreat, and serves as a solid base. As long as Your Excellency does not intervene, the British will not stand idly by and watch the Japanese pirates penetrate deeper. British commerce is thriving in China, especially along the Yangtze River. If the Japanese pirates occupy Beijing, the country will be in chaos, and the British will suffer huge losses. Therefore, the British will definitely intervene to mediate and prevent the Japanese pirates from entering Beijing. At that time, peace negotiations can be held, and our Beiyang Army will not suffer any losses. These are my humble opinions, humbly submitted for your consideration. Respectfully submitted by Chang Desheng.

Zhang Peilun finished reading.

The signing room was quiet for a while.

Zhou Fu lowered her head and didn't say anything.

Luo Fenglu looked at the table without saying a word.

Both men waited for Li Hongzhang to speak.

Li Hongzhang sat there, his old face so gloomy it looked like it could be wrung out of water.

He knew it perfectly well!

Chang Desheng is putting the entire Qing Dynasty on the gambling table, and incidentally putting the old man on the hot seat!

Isn't this just to make him learn from Liu Zhiyuan?

When the Khitans arrived, the Later Jin dynasty was on the verge of collapse. Liu Zhiyuan stayed in Taiyuan to watch over the situation, and once the Khitans left, he became emperor.

Chang Desheng just wanted him to do the same thing, didn't he?

When the time comes, Lao Li will become Liu Zhiyuan, and Chang Desheng will become Guo Wei, right?

How old is Old Li? None of his sons are capable of taking on the main responsibility. After he dies, will Chang Desheng stand up to "preserve the lineage and uphold the Way" with the support of a group of "military comrades and teachers and students of Nanpu"?

Historically, Liu Zhiyuan's descendants all died out!

Li Hongzhang grew angrier the more he thought about it.

He's lived most of his life, what storms hasn't he weathered?

How could he not see through Chang Desheng's intentions?

This kid is deliberately testing me!

Furthermore, even if the British were to be right and step in to stop Japan, clean up the mess left by the Beiyang Army, and save the Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang might still be forced into the position of emperor by his subordinates!

The reason is simple... Chang Desheng's idea was to put the Qing Dynasty at the gambling table!

They were gambling with the entire Qing Dynasty's empire, wondering if the British would intervene!

Is this what a subject should do?

If Li Hongzhang had listened to Chang Desheng and actually done it, could he still be considered a good minister of the Qing Dynasty?

I can't do it!

When those people in the imperial court realize what's going on, they'll understand that Li Hongzhang originally intended to use us as bargaining chips at the gamble.

Ah!

That would be terrible!

Emperor Guangxu was young and perhaps couldn't understand the intricacies of the situation.

But what about Empress Dowager Cixi? Who was she? She had lived in the palace for so many years, what kind of schemes and plots hadn't she seen? Did she think she wouldn't see through it? With her petty mind, wouldn't she try to kill Li Hongzhang and the Beiyang Army?

There are also many important officials in the court, this prince, that military advisor, none of them are fools!

Of course, even if the people in the imperial court tolerated it for the time being, there were still people within the Beiyang government!

What about the Beiyang government?

There are plenty of shrewd people in Beiyang! When the time comes, everyone will surely think, since the Grand Secretary has already done something as simple as putting the Emperor's family on the gambling table, what's a little more than "donning the yellow robe"?

Let's just go all the way and get rid of Old Li... so that those Manchus won't settle scores later.

But he's already seventy-two this year!

If Li Hongzhang were only forty or even fifty years old this year, he might really have done it!

If he's going to don the yellow robe, so be it. First, create a "Shu Tang" (a type of ancient Chinese dynasty), then use a "banquet to release military power" (another type of ancient Chinese military power), and maybe it will become like the Song Dynasty. But he's already seventy-two!

Moreover, his elite troops suffered heavy losses in this battle, and many were even absorbed by Chang Desheng, proving that he was no longer capable of fighting.

Then what kind of "progress" is he making?!

If you can land safely and peacefully, and avoid ruining your reputation in your later years and causing harm to your descendants, you should already be grateful!

Thinking of this, Li Hongzhang let out a long sigh.

That sigh was as if it had exhaled all the strength and empty fame of a lifetime.

"Zhenbang's method..." he said slowly, "is indeed a good method."

Zhang Peilun, Zhou Fu, and Luo Fenglu all looked up at him.

They all looked surprised and expectant.

It's as if it's saying: Old Li, are you really going to do this?

"But," Li Hongzhang continued, "how can a subject allow the Emperor and Empress Dowager to put themselves in danger?"

As soon as he said this, Zhang Peilun, Zhou Fu, and Luo Fenglu exchanged glances.

A hint of disappointment appeared on their faces.

Old Li, he really isn't a hero!

But they couldn't say anything.

After all, Li Hongzhang was not a hero, and neither were they.

We were all "slaves" of the Manchu Qing dynasty.

Zhang Peilun was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Excellency, if we're not going to use Chang Zhenbang's method... then let's negotiate peace sooner rather than later!"

Li Hongzhang remained silent.

Luo Fenglu chimed in from the side, "I'm afraid the Japanese won't agree!"

Zhou Fu added, "Even the Emperor might not agree to the war faction within the court!"

Li Hongzhang waved his hand: "Even if we negotiate peace, we cannot abandon Tianjin."

He paused, as if he was thinking about something.

After a while, he said, "Send a telegram to Yuan Weiting."

Zhang Peilun was taken aback: "What does the Grand Secretary mean...?"

"Ask him," Li Hongzhang said, "whether he is willing to lead troops to defend Tianjin. If he is willing, the Qing Army and the Yi Army can be placed under his command."

Zhang Peilun and Luo Fenglu spoke almost simultaneously: "Your Excellency, you mustn't!"

Zhang Peilun said, "Lushun is already vulnerable. If the Qing Army and Yi Army are transferred away, what will happen to Lushun?"

Luo Fenglu also said, "Yes, Your Excellency, if Liaodong is lost, the court will blame us. This court is too difficult to please."

Li Hongzhang waved his hand, interrupting them.

"Send a telegram to Chang Zhenbang," he said. "Tell him that I am transferring Yuan Weiting's troops, the Yi Army, and the Qing Army back to guard the nation's borders. Lushun and Dalian are all under his command. The forward operations office in Lushun will also be under his control... The armies in Lushun, Dalian, Weihaiwei, Zhennanpu, and Pyongyang will all be under his command!"

He looked up at the dark night outside the window, his voice a little hoarse: "As for whether he can hold out, that depends on his ability..."

9

The telegram was sent from Tianjin in the middle of the night.

One letter was sent to Lushunkou, and another to Liugong Island.

The telegram sent to Lushunkou was addressed to Yuan Shikai. He arrived in Lushunkou aboard the ship "Airen" after news of the victory in the Battle of Lushunkou reached Zhennanpu.

Arriving with him were the "Turtle Ship" and more than 3000 "Yuan soldiers" who "ate Yuan family food and wore Yuan family clothes".

On the very night Yuan Shikai arrived at Lushun, he was sound asleep when he was woken up by his personal guards.

He quickly put on his clothes and went to the signing room, where he saw Tang Shaoyi waiting there, holding a telegram in his hand.

Upon reading the telegram, Yuan Shikai immediately sobered up.

"Upon entering Tianjin... the Qing Army and the Yi Army will both be under my command..."

His hand holding the telegram trembled slightly.

It wasn't fear, it was excitement.

Although he had reached a secret agreement with Chang Desheng and Nie Shicheng at the "Zhennanpu Reorganization Conference" a while ago to "divide up the Qing Army, Yi Army, Ming Army and Sheng Army".

But that was just something the three Beiyang warlords discussed in private; it wouldn't be easy for it to come to fruition.

This time, once Li Hongzhang's telegram arrived, it was a done deal.

The Qing Army and Yi Army together number over 7000 men. Adding the more than 3000 "Yuan soldiers" under his command, that's over 10,000. If a few more are added, it would be a division of the new army.

In addition, Li Hongzhang also entrusted him with the defense of Tianjin!

This is terrible!

Only with key defense zones could he get money from the imperial court!

There are over ten thousand new soldiers; we can't expect him to support them all on his own.

He took a deep breath and read the telegram again.

Then he raised his head and said to Tang Shaoyi, "Shaochuan, send a telegram back to His Excellency, saying that Yuan Weiting has obeyed His Excellency's orders and will immediately prepare his troops. Within ten days, he will lead his troops to defend Tianjin. As long as Tianjin exists, Weiting exists. If Tianjin falls, Weiting will not survive alone!"

Tang Shaoyi responded and turned to leave.

Yuan Shikai sat in his chair, looking at the night view outside the window, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up!

Tianjin, a small station with a large camp, here I, Yuan Shikai, have arrived!

He stood up and stretched.

"Someone, prepare the horse... I need to go to the camp."

The telegram has also arrived from Liugong Island.

Chang Desheng also fell asleep, but he wasn't completely asleep.

He had been waiting for news from Tianjin.

When Duan Zhigui came in with the telegram, he immediately sat up.

"How so?"

Duan Zhigui handed over the telegram: "A reply from the Grand Secretary."

Chang Desheng took it and looked at it by the light of the oil lamp.

After reading it, he didn't say anything.

Duan Zhigui waited for a while, and seeing that he didn't say anything, he asked in a low voice, "Brother Zhenbang, what about the Grand Secretary...?"

"He transferred Yuan Weiting back," Chang Desheng said. "The Qing Army and the Yi Army were both placed under Yuan Weiting's command. Lushun and Dalian were placed under my command."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhigui was taken aback: "Then...isn't that great? Lushun is, after all, a place of its own..."

"Good?" Chang Desheng chuckled. "Good what? Do you know what the situation is like in Lushun right now? The Qing Army, the Yi Army, and Yuan Weiting's three thousand-plus men are all going to Tianjin by train. Once they leave, Lushun will only have the Beiyang Fleet sailors left. The forts are still there, but what's the use if no one guards them? The Japanese pirates will be able to take Yantai in a few days. With Zhifu Port in Yantai, the Japanese army can board ships and head to Liaodong... There are few places to land along the eastern Yellow Sea coast of the Liaodong Peninsula, but along the Bohai Sea coast, there are places to land everywhere!"

Duan Zhigui's expression changed upon hearing this.

"Then... what do we do now?"

"What should we do?" Chang Desheng sighed. "Let's move the troops there first. The problem is, our troops are still in Zhennanpu. By sea? The Bohai Bay is full of Japanese warships right now. Yuan Weiting was able to sneak in on the 'Airen' and 'Turtle Ship' before because a battle had just ended off Lushun, and the Japanese warships there were either sunk or fled. We don't know what happened to the Japanese warships in the Bohai Bay, which is why he was able to take advantage of the situation. Now that they've recovered, if we try to go in by sea again, isn't that just suicide?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhigui broke out in a cold sweat.

"Then...then we can't even leave Liugong Island now? If we try to leave Weihaiwei, we'll definitely run into Japanese warships at sea!"

"Of course." Chang Desheng said, picking up a slip of paper from the bedside table and handing it to Duan Zhigui. "Brother Xiangyan, give this to the telegraph office and send it to Zhennanpu immediately."

Duan Zhigui took it and saw that it was a secret code.

"This is.

"

"This is for the German Consulate General in North Korea at Zhennanpu," Chang Desheng said. "The German East Asia Cruiser Fleet's frigate 'Akona' will be coming to Liugong Island to pick us up soon."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhigui felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.

The fact that the Germans were willing to send warships to pick up Chang Zhenbang shows that they support him!

Duan Zhigui put away the telegram, saluted Chang Desheng, and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Chang Desheng called out to him again.

Duan Zhigui turned around.

"Send another telegram to Duan Zhiquan," Chang Desheng said, "instructing him to lead the railway protection brigade of the Guandong Railway Corporation to immediately take up residence in Lushunkou."

relieve."

Duan Zhigui snapped to attention again: "Yes, sir!"

Chang Desheng lay back on the bed, muttering, "Old Li, you think you can stump me by just dumping an empty Lushun on me? Humph, once I take over Lushun, Dalian, the Kwantung Railway Corporation... most of the Beiyang Army will belong to the Chang family!"

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