Jingshi, Dongcheng District, Dongjiang Rice Lane, Russian Pavilion.

The Russian Pavilion was rebuilt from the Southern Guild Hall after the signing of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Kyakhta, and was used as a residence for merchants, priests and students.

In a room in the backyard, the Russian envoy Putiyatin was tirelessly reading through the information that had just been sent; the Orthodox mission in Beijing was not actually for missionary purposes, nor did it seldom recruit followers, but its main task was to collect intelligence materials on the political, economic, military, and diplomatic aspects of the Qing Dynasty, exert pro-Russian influence on the upper princes, learn Chinese language and culture, and translate Chinese classics to Russia.

The Anglo-French alliance declared war on the Qing state, landed directly in Tianjin, and divided its forces to attack Beijing, which was undoubtedly a top priority for Russia, and the Russian mission spared no effort to collect all the information that could be gathered during this period.

For this battle, he not only cares about the outcome of the war, but also wants to understand the strength of the new army of Yuanqi in detail through this battle.

"Your Excellency ——。" Zakharov walked in quickly with a look of surprise and said softly: "There are distinguished guests who have come to visit. ”

Honored guests? Putiyatin raised his head and looked at him a little confused, "Who?" As soon as the words fell, I saw a gray-bearded Chinese wearing a robe and a horse coat, about fifty or so, slowly walking into the room, with a reserved smile on his face, "Your Excellency, I have admired the great name for a long time...... ”

Without waiting for Zakharov to translate, Putyatin realized that the other party must be a member of the Qing court, and he quickly got up after listening to the translation, and the man took a famous note from the hand of a small servant behind him and handed it over.

Putiyating didn't know Chinese characters, so he took the name sticker and took a fake look, and Zakharov next to him hurriedly said softly: "This lord is the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, Suo Xuanluo Baojun." As he spoke, he added, "I was the prime minister and the minister of the Yamen." ”

The right attendant of the Ministry of Rites? He also served as the prime minister and the minister of the Yamen? Putiatin hurriedly stretched out his hand enthusiastically, "It turned out to be Lord Suo......." ”

Bao Jun has spent several years in the Prime Minister's Yamen and has been dealing with Westerners for a long time, he is familiar with Western etiquette, and he also knows the habits ......of Westerners, after shaking hands and greeting and taking a seat, he said directly: "This official came today to discuss with Your Excellency. ”

After listening to the translation, Putiyating stretched out his hand and motioned to close the door of the room, but did not speak, waiting for the following, Bao Jun paused slightly, and then said: "His Majesty the Emperor hopes to establish diplomatic channels with Britain and France. ”

After pondering for a moment, Putiyating spoke: "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve His Majesty the Emperor of your country, and we will contact Britain and France as soon as possible." After a pause, he continued: "I take the liberty of asking, what are the intentions of His Majesty the Emperor of your country?" Is it a truce? Or an alliance? ”

Bao Jun smiled when he heard this, "Military affairs, how can a servant of the Ministry of Rites in the lower district figure figure it out on his own?" ”

Putiyatin smiled disapprovingly and said, "At present, it is estimated that it will take four or five days to have news. ”

"After the news, send someone to my house with a sticker." Bao Jun said with a smile, the other party's attitude made him very satisfied, when he came, he was still very worried, worried that because of the northeast and northwest affairs, the Russians would not help.

After sending Baojun away and returning to the room, Putiyatin looked directly at Zakharov and said, "Why did the Qing court contact Britain and France? ”

Zakharov was a Chinese expert, not only Chinese but also Manchu, and maintained contacts with many princes and ministers in Beijing, and when he heard this, he chuckled: "Your Excellency already knows the answer?" Since the Qing emperor was not in a hurry to contact Britain and France, he showed that he was not worried about the coalition forces attacking Beijing, and it was either a truce, but naturally an alliance. ”

If the Qing court forms an alliance with the Anglo-French alliance, then Yuan Qi's situation is a bit dangerous! Putiatin slowly took out his pipe and put it in his mouth, the Qing State is the hegemon of the Far East, standing on the position of Russia, Russia does not want the Qing State to be too close to Britain and France, in fact, Russia prefers that Yuan Qi can rule the Far East.

Compared with the Qing court, Russia and Yuan Qi have a closer relationship, although Yuan Qi forcibly bought Alaska and Kamchatka, and is also aggressive in Central Asia, but a trans-Eurasian Sino-Russian railway will bring endless benefits to Russia, which the Qing court can only give!

Moreover, after this war, Yuan Qi's attitude towards Britain and France will definitely be cold, after all, Britain has a lot of conflicts with Yuan Qi in Southeast Asia and in the southern foot of Tibet.

Seeing that he was silent, Zakharov said tentatively: "Do you need to send someone to contact Britain and France?" ”

Slowly striking a match and lighting the cigarette, Putiyatin said slowly: "Of course, send someone to contact us as soon as possible to test the attitude of Britain and France." ”

After hesitating, Zakharov said: "Shouldn't we stop it?" ”

"We can't stop this." Putiatin said slowly: "However, we can sell Yuan Qi a favor. ”

Tianjin, Haiphong Office, Headquarters.

Cao Gensheng walked in briskly and reported: "Jingshi, the monk king has called, and the emperor has allowed to send troops to Tongzhou. ”

Hearing this, Yan Yang Tiandeng looked over eagerly, Yi Zhixiang smiled, took out his watch and looked at it, and when he saw that it was past five o'clock, he said: "I specially asked someone to buy a table and called Feng Renxuan to come over." ”

"Students obey!" Yan Yangtian said happily.

"Call back, the army will start early tomorrow morning." Yi Zhishu said and added, "There is an urgent telegram to my yard." ”

The courtyard where Yi Zhizhi stayed was not far from the headquarters, but a stone's throw away, the courtyard was not big, but it was very elegant, Lin Meilian was directing a few small servants to be busy in the living room Zhang Luo banquet, Zhao Wenlie was walking in the courtyard to enjoy the flowers, seeing Yi Zhizhi came in, he greeted him with a smile on his face, and said: "Jingshi called back?" ”

"What if you don't agree? The New Army of the Eight Banners can't be left alone to resist. Yi Zhicontent smiled: "I just received a call back from the monk king." ”

Zhao Wenlie glanced around and said in a low voice: "Are you leaving Beijing today?" ”

"The monk king didn't mention it, and the Jingshi didn't have any information." Yi Zhishu groaned: "However, the coalition soldiers are coming to the city, and it stands to reason that he should go to Rehe to escape the summer." ”

Lin Meilian greeted her at this time, "The big shopkeeper is back, and the banquet has been prepared." ”

"Hmm." Yi Zhixiang nodded, "Bring a basin of water." ”

Yi Zhizhi washed up and came out, Yan Yangtian and Feng Renxuan rushed to the courtyard to chat with Zhao Wenlie, today this table did not invite others, so they invited Yan Yangtian and Feng Renxuan, Zhao Wenlie is considered to be a companion, the four of them sat down, although Yi Zhizhi greeted him politely, Yan Yangtian and the two were still a little restrained.

After withdrawing from the table and serving tea, Yi Zhishu began to get to the point, "All along, Yuanqi has been committed to developing improved weapons, and now the weapons and equipment of Yuanqi's new army are indeed slightly ahead of the four-nation coalition forces such as Britain and France, but it is only slightly ahead.

With that raven more than ten years ago. I believe you know very well that the gap between the weapons of the two sides has not widened, but narrowed, and this is why over the years, I have been emphasizing that weapons are an important factor in determining the outcome of a war, but not a decisive factor.

Under the circumstance that there is not much difference in the weapons of the two sides, there are many factors that determine the outcome of the war, such as logistics support, battlefield ambulance, army quality, battlefield environment, battlefield communications, and so on, but the most important thing that can play a decisive role is the quality of the army! And the most important point in the quality of the army is to obey orders and obey commands! ”

Hearing this, Yan Yangtian was excited, and Feng Renxuan was a little puzzled, but he reacted quickly, and immediately got up and saluted and said loudly: "Please rest assured, tens of thousands of officers and soldiers of the Northwest Army resolutely obey orders and obey commands." ”

Seeing him like this, Yan Yangtian didn't dare to sit still, and hurriedly followed suit, Yi Zhizu stretched out his hand and pressed it weakly, signaling the two to sit down, and then continued: "Tongzhou intercepted, only 20,000 troops were dispatched, not because I trusted us, but the court was not at ease with us, and there were too many troops, and the court did not allow it!" ”

Zhao Wenlie interjected at this time: "The student doesn't understand, since the imperial court is not at ease, why do we have to send troops to Tongzhou to intercept it?" Tens of thousands of Eight Banners New Army could not watch the British and French forces break through the Beijing Division. ”

That's a trust! Yi Zhixiang didn't answer, but glanced at Yan Yangtian and Feng Renxuan, and said, "What do you think?" ”

Seeing that Yan Yangtian was silent, Feng Renxuan hesitated before he said, "The big shopkeeper is worried that the imperial court will privately sign a truce agreement with Britain and France?" ”

lit a cigarette, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "It is not easy to create the Eight Banners New Army, and it is not easy to have today's scale, the imperial court regards the Eight Banners New Army as the last reliance, and is reluctant to let the Eight Banners New Army confront the Four Nations Alliance Army head-on, for fear of being disabled, if we don't send troops to Tongzhou to intercept it, the imperial court will do everything in order to preserve its strength and keep the Beijing Division!"

It is impossible to sign a truce agreement in private, because the Four-Nation Alliance will not agree, even if the Eight Banners New Army withdraws from the battlefield, the Four-Nation Alliance will not be able to recover the disadvantage it is in, so there is only one result, that is, the imperial court colludes with the Four-Nation Alliance Army and fights us in turn! ”

Yan Yangtian's heart tightened, but Feng Renxuan froze, he was really a little difficult to accept this inference, he never thought that the imperial court would collude with the Four Nations Alliance to fight Yuan Qi in turn! However, if you think about it carefully, this may really exist, not only that, but also very big! After all, the imperial court has always regarded Yuan Qi as a thorn in the flesh, and if the alliance of the four countries can defeat Yuan Qi, the imperial court is very likely to take a risk.

The two people who saw it were silent, and Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice: "This time I sent troops to Tongzhou to intercept it, only victory, not defeat!" Otherwise, the imperial court will inevitably have other ideas! ”

After a pause, he continued: "All along, Yuan Qi has no intention of overthrowing the imperial court, but if the imperial court colludes with the Four-Nation Alliance, defects to the battle, and betrays the interests of the country, whether it is for the sake of Yuan Qi's own safety or for the sake of the long-term interests of the Chinese nation, I will not hesitate to raise troops to overthrow the imperial court!" ”

This is the first time that Yi Zhizu has openly said that he will raise troops to overthrow the imperial court, although there are conditions, but it is also inspiring, Yan Yang Tianteng stood up and saluted: "Resolutely obey the principal's orders, obey the principal's command!" ”

Feng Renxuan didn't dare to hesitate, got up and saluted: "Resolutely obey the orders of the big shopkeeper and obey the command of the big shopkeeper!" ”

"I don't want Yuan Qi to get into trouble with the imperial court to the point of fighting each other." Yi Zhishu slowed down his tone and said: "Tongzhou Blockade, give me a good fight, you must learn to annihilate the enemy in the movement, and learn to concentrate superior forces in the movement to break each one!" ”

"The students obeyed."

"Subordinates obey!"

"Let's go down and prepare." Yi Zhizu said softly: "Start early tomorrow morning." ”

Yan Yangtian and Feng Renxuan came out of the courtyard, Cao Gensheng hurriedly walked in, and said: "The big shopkeeper, Jingshi, the Russian minister Putiyating called, and the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, Lang Baojun, met in private, and the Russian mission was in the center to contact the British and French ministers. ”

After taking the telegram and glancing at it, Yi Zhizu commanded softly: "Call back and report the progress at any time." ”

When Cao Gensheng left, Zhao Wenlie laughed and said: "It's still far away from Jingshi, so I can't hold it." ”

Yi Zhisuff knocked the cigarette ash, and said indifferently: "It is still against the evil of the sky, and you can't live if you do it yourself." ”

Military Grain City, Headquarters.

It was two days later than the intelligence of Tianjin, and the news of the appearance of the main fleet of the Nanyang Navy in Dalian reached the headquarters of the military grain city, and when they heard the report, Erjin and Ge Luo all had an unbelievable expression, you must know that the combined fleet of the navy of the four countries has been looking for the naval fleet of the Qing State since it entered the Nanyang, hoping to destroy its main naval force in a war, but unexpectedly, the other party actually took the initiative to send it to the door!

"What does the Qing Navy want to do?" Erjin subconsciously muttered, if it was just to eliminate the two supply bases of Dalian and Zhifu, he would not be able to dispatch the main fleet, after all, the troops and warships left by the coalition forces in Dalian and Zhifu were pitiful.

Gro said softly: "Could it be to lure our fleet to the sea, so as to reduce the pressure on Tianjin?" ”

"The river leading to Tianjin was blocked by a shipwreck, and it could not be cleared up in three or four days, and the other party may continue to block it." Ergin pondered: "The naval fleet actually does not exert much pressure on Tianjin at all, which is very strange. ”

After a long time, Erjin said: "Send a clipper to Dalian and Zhifu to investigate the situation." After a pause, he continued: "A part of the fleet of the Tianjin Beiyang Naval Division entered the Da Liao River in the north and closely watched its movements. ”

He had a faint feeling of uneasiness in his heart, it was really too unreasonable for the main fleet of the Qing navy to suddenly appear in Dalian, it stands to reason, the most normal reaction of this fleet is to go to Shanghai to encircle and suppress the detachment that contained Shanghai's forces, and it should not appear near the Bohai Sea where their combined fleet is located anyway, what does the Qing navy want to do? You won't be able to come to their main fleet for a decisive battle, right?