Master Yuan, start!

This is a song that has suddenly become popular in recent days. The tune of the song is completely different from the tunes used in previous operas.

Using plain language, it directly and vividly describes the current situation of the people in Northeast China whose homes have been destroyed and who are fleeing everywhere.

It is said that this song was composed by students of the Northeast Civil Affairs School who stayed up late to write the lyrics and compose the music after hearing about the miserable conditions of the fleeing people. They wanted to arouse the determination of the people across the country to resist Russia.

This song was published in the East Asia Times at an extremely fast speed and spread across the country in a short period of time.

When hearing this song, Chinese people seemed to see their compatriots in Northeast China crying bitterly, being hunted by the Russians in the snow and ice.

~My home is in the Northeast, on the Songhua River~

~There are forests, coal mines, soybeans and sorghum~

~My home is in the Northeast, on the Songhua River~

~There are my compatriots, and my parents~

February 18th, February 18th, the Russian Tartars stormed into my home.

~Escaped from my hometown, wandering, wandering~

Chapter 297: East Asian Upheaval Volume Ends

Outside Wuchang City, the sky was clear and the air was fresh, and the lake water was lapping against the bank under the spring breeze.

Zhang Zhidong and his favorite disciple Yang Rui were strolling along the shore of East Lake, followed by a team of guards.

A few dozen miles away lay the majestic Wuchang City. The sky was beautiful, and if one looked closely, one could faintly make out the Yellow Crane Tower and the palace complex on Snake Mountain.

If you look down from the sky, you will find that at the foot of Snake Mountain, where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Baoqing live today, there are many soldiers silently marching upwards.

Zhang Zhidong and Yang Rui were both concentrating their attention at this moment, staring at the Yellow Crane Tower.

However, listening to the sad songs of the Yangtze River boatmen and looking at the steamer heading north, the two of them suddenly became worried again.

After a while, Zhang Zhidong asked slowly.

"In August, the lake is calm, and the Hanxu Cave is clear. The mist rises from the Yunmeng Lake, and the waves shake the city of Yueyang.

"Shu Qiao Yang Rui, this East Lake in front of us is the remnant of the ancient Yunmeng Lake, right?"

"Xiang Xiang Shuai, the ancient books don't have a clear record of this."

When Yang Rui was asked, he stared at Wuchang City behind him for a few seconds, then he reacted and said with a bow:

“However, it was not until the Later Han and Three Kingdoms periods that Wuchang began to have government offices. Before that, this place must have been a swamp.

East Lake may indeed be the remnant of the ancient Yunmeng Lake."

"Maybe." Zhang Zhidong nodded absentmindedly, and then asked:

"Shu Qiao, why do people stop reciting poetry and instead sing that strange ballad?"

Yang Rui thought Zhang Zhidong was asking a question, so he paused and said, "

"Xiang Shuai, it's not just the boatmen. From what I've heard, the students at Ziqiang Academy are also singing this song about our home in the Northeast."

"What a great Ziqiang Academy!"

Ziqiang Academy was the predecessor of Wuhan University in history. In this time and space, Zhang Zhidong was transferred to the post of Governor of Huguang one year ahead of schedule, and Ziqiang Academy also came into being one year ahead of schedule.

It has been six years since the school opened. Thanks to Zhang Zhidong's relaxed academic policy, there is a strong atmosphere of free discussion in the school.

Zhang Zhidong was also called "the Confucian commander" by these students. His reputation once spread to Guangdong, Guangxi and Jiangnan, and he enjoyed a good reputation in public opinion.

However, today, Zhang Zhidong is a little unsure about how his students, who always like to criticize current affairs, will evaluate him in the future.

How will China as a whole evaluate itself in the future?

"Uncle Qiao!"

"The disciple is here."

If in another timeline, Yang Rui had a prominent title, one of the Six Gentlemen of the Wuxu Reform!

But now, he is just Zhang Zhidong's aide and disciple.

"I know that before the overthrow of the curtain, you had advocated for reform in the capital. If it weren't for the chaos in the capital, I would have sent you to the court to test the waters."

Zhang Zhidong sighed, not knowing whether he was sighing about the occurrence of the Curtain Restoration War or sighing about not sending Yang Rui north.

"Being able to stay with Marshal Xiang and witness the new policies in Huguang is no less rewarding than going to Beijing." Yang Rui bowed quickly.

Historically, in order to echo Kang Youwei's reform momentum, Zhang Zhidong left Yang Rui in the capital after he took office as the Governor of Huguang.

On the one hand, it served as a source of information, and on the other hand, it also served as a rallying cry for reform.

However, due to the changes in the historical line, there were no Six Gentlemen of the Reform Movement of 1898. Only Yang Shenxiu became famous for contradicting Cixi on behalf of Guangxu.

"Uncle Qiao, you have a lot of contact with young students. Tell me, if I do this today, will they support me?"

Zhang Zhidong looked back at Wuchang City again, as if he had already seen the Hubei New Army breaking into the palace and slashing at the Manchus inside with swords.

Seeing that Zhang Zhidong was still worried about the matter that had already been agreed upon, Yang Rui became anxious and advised:

"Marshal Xiang, opposing the Manchus and rejecting Russia is the general trend!

We can’t reach the Russian Xiangshuai, but we have enough chips to fight back!

86030.5 Old Man

"Cixi and the young emperor are still in the hands of Marshal Xiang. If we don't make use of these two, how can we win the hearts of the people in this chaotic world?!"

Yang Rui had already told Zhang Zhidong that the current situation in the world was quite similar to that of the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period.

Yuan Xiangcheng was like a combination of Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao, and was the number one prince in the world.

If you want to compete with Yuan Shikai, you must make a name for yourself so that you can be qualified to join forces with other princes to fight against Yuan.

Otherwise, Yuan Shikai had the National Defense Army and the banner of resistance against Russia;

Li Hongzhang had the South China Sea Fleet and the merit of defeating Spain;

What is the relationship between Zhang Zhidong and the Hubei New Army?

If I don’t do something earth-shattering, I’m afraid I’ll be lost in the crowd in the future and become like Zhang Xiu and Tao Qian in the late Han Dynasty!

As for the so-called big event, the big event that can capture the hearts of the people of the world, in Yang Rui's opinion, there is only one.

That means arresting the queen, capturing the emperor, and holding a public trial!

"General Xiang, the Hubei New Army must have arrived at the Snake Mountain Palace by now. It's too late to regret!"

It's too late to regret.

After hearing this, Zhang Zhidong finally made up his mind, stopped talking, and no longer looked towards Wuchang City frequently.

...

At this time in Wuchang, in the Snake Mountain Palace.

The Second Empress Dowager Cixi and the young Emperor Baoqing were trembling all over, surrounded by a group of eunuchs, palace maids, and princes and ministers who fled south.

"Snapped!"

Zhang Biao, the left-wing general of the Hubei New Army, fired a shot into the sky, pointing out the last way to survive.

"Han palace maids and eunuchs, if you want to leave, there's still time."

The eunuchs and palace maids, who had been terrified for a long time, were stunned at first when they heard this, and then they suddenly took action, shouting "Thank you, Lord Zhang" and crawling out of the palace.

"Zhang Biao, Li Yuanhong, the Queen Mother treats you well!

Have we ever lacked the rewards for wearing a hat and a jacket? Have we ever missed out on the gifts given during festivals and holidays?

How can you be so ungrateful today!"

4 Prince Qing Yilin, known as the Cormorant, leaned on the right side of the Emperor's throne and pointed at the new Hubei army that broke in and scolded them.

However, his reprimand did not seem to have any effect.

"Reward, gift?"

Li Yuanhong, the general of the right wing of the Hubei New Army, snorted coldly, put away his sword, and said sarcastically:

"Which of these things is not made with the blood and sweat of us Han people?

When you Manchu Tartars took the blood and sweat of the Han people that your ancestors had plundered and gave it to the Han people, did you ever imagine that this day would come?

Seeing Li Yuanhong's disdainful expression, Empress Dowager Cixi forced herself to remain calm, glanced at the soldiers surrounding the palace, and said tremblingly:

"Whatever Zhang Zhidong wants, I will give it to him. He wants to be the King of Hubei, right?

Li Yuanhong, the Governor of Hubei, whether you want it or not, I can give it to you.

I will order someone to write it down and issue the decree to confer the title today."

After saying this, a Manchu minister hurried down the stairs at the urging of Cixi's eyes.

But just as he picked up the brush, Li Yuanhong drew his sword and chopped him to the ground.

"Times have changed. The Tartar official position is worthless!"

"Empress Dowager, you probably don't know that Yuan Shikai rebelled against the Manchus in Korea, and Li Hongzhang established his own Han dynasty in Guangzhou.

The world is no longer the Qing Dynasty of you Manchus!"

Li Yuanhong walked up the stairs step by step, holding a steel knife with blood dripping from the tip.

When the officials saw this, they were immediately in a panic. Some princes stopped begging for mercy and sat down on the ground, cursing loudly.

"Traitor, traitor, you shall not die a good death!"

"Li Yuanhong, Zhang Zhidong, Li Hongzhang, Yuan Shikai, you will not die well!"

However, Li Yuanhong and Zhang Biao behind him showed no mercy.

With a flick of his hand and a slash of his sword, broken limbs and arms were scattered all over the palace, and nearly a hundred officials and princes died on the spot.

Of course, in addition to the Manchus, there were also some Han people who wanted to show their "loyalty" through transit.

The young Emperor Baoqing was so frightened that his crotch got wet. He wanted to run away, but he accidentally stepped on empty air, fell down the stairs, and fainted on the ground.

Cixi also stretched out her finger and wanted to say something, but she felt her blood rushing to her heart, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

When Cixi slowly woke up, she found that in the huge hall, only Emperor Baoqing was curled up on the throne and shivering.

The rest of the people looked up and saw a sea of ​​blood.