Throughout the night, there was no quiet inside and outside the city of Tianjin, and the soldiers with torches in their hands were busy walking through the streets and alleys to arrest the murderers, although the city was full of panic, but it did not cause a big riot, and the next morning, there was a long flail outside the yamen of the county government, and there was a row of more than 20 standing cages outside the Qin Cha Xing.

The standing cage is a heavier punishment than the flail, not only to make the prisoner stand upright in a special wooden cage, but also to make a flail above the wooden cage, jamming the prisoner's neck, so that the head is exposed outside the cage, and the prisoner's feet are lined with several bricks, and the severity of the prisoner's crime and the length of his life are all under the number of bricks under his feet.

The fewer bricks under the feet, the greater the weight of the prisoner's neck on the body, and once all the bricks under his feet are drawn, it will not take long for the prisoner to be hanged alive.

Those who are locked up in the cage outside the Qincha Xingyuan are all repeat offenders, but there are more or less bricks under their feet, and their lives are worry-free, but living crimes are indispensable.

When the news spread, hundreds of people flocked to watch from afar, and unlike the simple excitement in the past, many people bribed the guards to intercede or purchase food and water, with only one purpose, to try not to let the prisoners in the cage die.

On the one hand, the county government office is flail to show the public to be deterred, and on the other hand, it is all over the city to post notices to the people, clearly stating that the law does not blame the public, and only punishes the perpetrators and the key criminals who commit arson and robbery, and the arrest of the culprit, Chaoxingzi, is still continuing.

At the same time, Zhang Guangzao also spread the invitation, and was scheduled to have a banquet at noon in the largest restaurant in Sanchakou, Fugaolou, to entertain Tianjin's gentry and businessmen, as well as the leaders of the water and fire society and the pot gang.

Although they knew that there was no good banquet, a group of gentry businessmen and the leader of the water and fire club had to pinch their noses to go to the banquet, the gentry and businessmen were heartbroken, and they didn't know how much they would be slaughtered this time, after all, this matter was broken, and it was not something that could be sent away by two jujubes, and the leader of the water and fire club was concerned about the lives of his arrested subordinates, and it was only in the official's thoughts.

Qin cha Xingyuan, sign the house.

"The Water and Fire Club is a famous group spontaneously organized by the people of Tianjin, there are dozens of large and small, large and small two or three hundred people, dozens of small people, fire prevention and fire fighting on weekdays, protecting the territory and the people, most of the members are young and strong, and many people still have some skills."

Liu Jie glanced at Wu Changqing with some awe as he spoke, and said in a somewhat dry voice: "This time the siege burned the church, killed foreigners, and struck gongs to summon people, and the first to do it was the Congregation of the Water and Fire Society." ”

Wu Changqing asked in a casual voice as if he didn't care, "What about the pot guy?" Is it a bastard? ”

"My lord." Liu Jie lowered his head and said: "The scoundrels in the market, living and eating together, called the pot guys, the people on the other side call them mixed stars, they are all fierce and not afraid of death. ”

"Adult ——。" Rong Lu, dressed in a crisp new military uniform, strode in and saluted, "The troops have been assembled. ”

Wu Changqing raised his wrist and looked at his watch, and was about to speak, Liu Jie said boldly: "My lord, the water and fire will still have some effect, after all, fire prevention and fire fighting also need people." ”

Wu Changqing nodded, looked at Rong Lu and said, "Do it, but try to minimize casualties." ”

"Yes!" Rong Lu said loudly, saluted and turned around and strode away.

Wu Changqing glanced at Liu Jie and said: "The Water and Fire Association must be disbanded, and the fire prevention and fire fighting will be attributed to the county government, and you can follow the example of Guangzhou and Shanghai to raise funds to form a professional fire brigade, which will be directly under the jurisdiction of the local government." ”

In just half a day, the officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Naval Division, with the cooperation of the government officials of the prefecture and county, wiped out the stronghold of the Water and Fire Society and the pot gang inside and outside Tianjin, and arrested hundreds of people.

The people of Tianjin spent the night in fear, and the people of Tianjin found that the officers and men had been evacuated, and the streets and alleys were plastered with notices from the county government and government -- "Resolutely crack down on and ban underworld forces and illegal organizations."

A train with thick smoke slowly drove into the old Longtou Railway Station in Tianjin, and the British Minister Wei Tuma felt unusually deserted as soon as he got out of the station, and took a carriage through the city to the Zizhu Forest, and found that the city was even more deserted, most of the shops were closed, and the pedestrians on the street were sparse and most of them were in a hurry, and they rarely saw horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws, but from time to time you could see the officers and soldiers of the sailors patrolling with loaded guns and live ammunition.

With the arrival of Wei Tuma, the diplomats and businessmen of various countries in Zizhulin seemed to have found the backbone, and rushed to the British Consulate, in the office on the second floor, after listening to Li Weihai's report, Wei Tuma pondered for a while before looking at the French chargé d'affaires Luo Shuya, and said: "It is obvious that this Lord Qincha is investigating this case impartially...... ”

This tone obviously revealed a smell of tranquility, and Luo Shuya couldn't help but be disappointed, "This is an extremely bad anti-Christianity incident, if indulged, Christianity is in danger of being expelled from the East!" ”

"It's not that serious." Wei Tuma said softly: "Isn't the Qing Imperial Court dealing with it seriously? ”

"Seriously?" Luo Shuya sneered: "They don't even agree to pay for the burned church!" ”

"I believe that Your Excellency should calmly negotiate with them on the issue of compensation in accordance with international law and practice, rather than being domineering." Wittoma said in a sincere tone: "France is a strong country in Europe, but in the Far East, it is nothing, don't try to threaten war, the Qing Kingdom is not something that France can contend with." ”

"What about our two countries joining forces?" Luo Shuya said in a deep voice: "The Qing Kingdom is trying to implement constitutionalism and is actively developing a modern navy, Your Excellency the Ironclad Fleet in Qingdao should have heard of it, right?" Would your country like to see a powerful empire rise rapidly in the Far East? ”

"I have been in this country for almost 30 years, and I have personally experienced my country's two crusades, and I have also witnessed the rise and expansion of Yuanqi step by step." Wei Tuma's voice was a little low, "Even if our two countries are going to the east with all their national strength, there is not even the slightest chance of victory, you should know that this is a huge empire with a territory larger than Europe and a population larger than the total population of Europe, although the industrial base is not yet strong, but the military industry is not weak."

Neither the Queen of our country nor the Emperor of your country will agree to launch a large-scale crusade, for it is destined to be a war with no hope of victory. ”

Luo Shuya said in a deep voice: "Now it is the Qing Kingdom that is taking the initiative to provoke!" Trample on the honor and dignity of France! ”

"That's why I came to Tianjin." Wei Tuma said solemnly: "I want to know what is going on, judging from the current situation in the Qing Kingdom, Yuan Qi has no reason to provoke a European power, what is the reason behind this?" ”

The ghost knows what the reason is, Luo Shuya shrugged, "Maybe we should go to Shanghai and meet the big treasurer of Yuanqi." ”

"There's no hurry." Wittoma waved his hand, "Let's take a look first." "He has been in China for many years, and he has dealt with Yuan Qi a lot, although Yuan Qi is strong, but he is not unreasonable, this time he not only refused to compensate for the loss, but also took the initiative to provoke, it is really a bit abnormal, he wants to see how Wu Changqing will deal with it.

Jingshi, Forbidden City, military aircraft duty room.

Su Shun put down the telegram and groaned for a while, then looked at Yi Yi, "What kind of medicine is sold in Wu Changqing's gourd?" It is extremely tough on Western countries, and it is also a thunderous means for the people of Tianjin, each playing fifty boards? ”

"Fifty boards can be used to properly handle such a tricky lesson plan?" Yi Yi shook his head slowly, "I'm afraid it's not that simple." ”

"This France is the second largest power in Europe after England, so provocative, are you really not afraid of provoking a war?" Su Shun said with some concern: "Besides, Britain and France have always been one and the same when they are ...... abroad. ”

"If you dare to be so provocative, you are naturally not afraid of Britain and France joining forces." Yi Yi said with a smile: "Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands have all fought Yuan Qi, not to mention that it is only Britain and France?" The ironclad ships and new artillery built by Yuanqi today are not as good as those of Britain and France, which is Yuanqi's confidence. ”

"It's Wu Changqing who loses, and if you change to someone else, I'm afraid you don't have the courage." Su Shun said with a change of tone, "However, I always feel a little abnormal. ”

Yi Yi smiled: "It doesn't matter if he's abnormal or not, let's see." ”

After glancing at him, Su Shuncai said: "The Tianjin teaching plan, at a glance, you can see that it is very tricky, why did Yi Guocheng take over so happily?" ”

After his reminder, Yi Yi also felt that it was indeed a little strange, and after pondering for a while, he said: "If you don't think about it, it won't be a bad thing for us in the Qing Dynasty." ”

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

“...... Missionaries lure people to practice teaching, and often recruit local scoundrels to rely on the power to do strong, in the name of persuading others to do good, but in fact they carry lawsuits and resist debts on behalf of others, and bully and oppress good ....... Zhao Liewen said with a smile, "It's a little reluctant, but in fact, the missionaries of the treaty ports are still their duty, and the above-mentioned illegal acts are rare, but some religious people are just fake tigers." ”

"Prevent the slightest slight." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "We must use this opportunity to suppress and restrict the missionaries, we must gradually open up in the future, and if we do not suppress them, the future teaching plans may occur frequently." ”

Zhao Liewen glanced at him, "Why not just ban Christianity?" ”

"I can't do it." Yi Zhizhi said without hesitation: "There are huge differences between Eastern and Western cultures and customs, and it is difficult for Christianity to develop and grow in our country, so there is no need to have a gap with Western countries for this reason. ”

Zhao Liewen continued: "The Tianjin teaching case, just punish the murderers, why do you want to eliminate the party, it won't be because you want to get involved in Tianjin?" ”

"The atmosphere of hatred of religion and exclusion of foreign countries cannot be promoted, and it is not conducive to the opening up of the Qing Dynasty to the outside world." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Tianjin is the largest treaty port in the north, and if you don't crack down hard, you may even cause a big mess in the future." ”

As a matter of fact, Tianjin's crackdown on the Boxers and the Boxers was only an attempt, and Yi Zhizhi planned to gradually launch the campaign to crack down on the Boxers and eliminate the evil forces in the northern provinces, in order to put an end to the possibility of the Boxers, which were extremely harmful and destructive, and he absolutely did not allow any more movements similar to the Boxers.

Although this reason is high-sounding, Zhao Liewen is skeptical, he suspects that there is a deeper reason, however, the other party is reluctant to say, he will not ask, he is about to get up and retire, Cao Gensheng hurriedly came in to report: "The big treasurer, a call from Paris, a Spanish newspaper revealed the news that the Spanish cabinet meeting decided to list the cousin of the King of Prussia, Prince Leopold, as a candidate for the king, and France reacted very violently. ”

Finally came, Yi Zhizhi smiled and said: "Call back, pay close attention to the reaction of France and Prussia, whether there is a situation or not, report it a day." ”

"Yes." Cao Gensheng responded loudly.

"Generate electricity for Hu Xueyan." Yi Zhixiang continued: "War is about to break out! ”

"Tell Yan Yangtian to come over immediately."

War is about to break out? Franco-Prussian War? Zhao Liewenjue's thing is a bit incredible, a candidate for the king of Spain will cause a war between Prussia and France? Isn't it too child's play? Then it occurred to him that France was between Prussia and Spain, but the problem was that it was only one candidate.

After Cao Gensheng retreated, he spoke: "This is the fuse of the Franco-Prussian War?" ”

"Not bad." Yi Zhizhi nodded, lit a cigarette casually, and then said slowly: "The rise of Prussia has long aroused the vigilance of France, once the cousin of the King of Prussia becomes the King of Spain, France will be in a situation of being attacked on its back, which is absolutely unbearable for France." ”

"But." Zhao Liewen hesitated and said, "The cousin of the King of Prussia is just a candidate for the king of Spain...... ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled and said, "Hui Fujue, Prussia and France's -98=??" Who will start the war? ”

"Prussia?"

"Not bad." Yi Zhi said with a full jaw: "This war must have been deliberately provoked by Prussia. ”

Zhao Liewen hesitated: "France is the second largest power in Europe after England, and Prussia is sure to win the battlefield war?" ”

"The Prussian army, with its universal conscription, was one of the strongest in Europe, with a wartime mobilization of up to one million, twice as many as France." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "Coupled with mental arithmetic and unintentional, once this war breaks out, it is already doomed." ”

"Can you mobilize a million troops?" Zhao Liewen said in surprise: "How many people does Prussia have?" ”

Yi Zhishu said with some uncertainty: "The total population should be thirty or forty million." This is the advantage of universal conscription. ”

On average, there is one soldier in thirty or forty people, this ratio is really a bit scary, Zhao Liewen was silent for a while before he said: "This time is too unfortunate, so it is impossible to use the Tianjin teaching plan to provoke Britain and France to send troops." ”

"It's not a coincidence." Yi Zhi nodded and said: "It would be good if it could be delayed for another month or two, with Napoleon III's adventurous character, especially the more he dared to take risks the farther away from home, maybe he might really be stimulated to start a war." Smiling, he said disapprerovitically: "As long as the Franco-Prussian War breaks out, nothing else matters!" ”