1890 King of Southeast Asia

Similar things happened several times, especially after the bombardment, many Beiyang Army soldiers surrendered to the Third Light Infantry Division in groups.

"What's going on? Have you asked the reason?" Zheng Lei was very confused when he faced the Qing Empire soldiers for the first time.

"I have already asked, and there are all kinds of reasons. Excluding the theory that they are loyal to the revolution, the most common reason is that Shangguan Ke beat and scolded the soldiers, followed by poor food and withholding military pay." Huang Zhengfang said.

If it was a single incident, Huang Zhengfang would not pay attention, but he must find out the reason for several surrenders in an organized manner.

"Withholding military pay?" Zheng Lei asked in surprise, and then nodded thoughtfully.

"The Qing Empire's finances are almost exhausted, but it has only been exhausted in the past one or two months. Are these soldiers really the Qing Empire's army?"

"Are there any Japanese surrenders?" Zheng Lei asked.

"A few wounded, and there are no examples of surrendering in an organized manner." Huang Zhengfang said.

"Okay, just keep the pressure on the subsequent attacks and let them collapse on their own." Zheng Lei nodded.

"Yes!"

"By the way, let the First Light Infantry Division and the Second Guards Division encircle from the left wing. The momentum should be great, so that people in the city can see it."

"Yes!"

…………

"Queen Mother, Old Prince, Prince Chun, it's not that I have other intentions, I just can't afford the travel expenses, and my subordinates don't obey me!" Yuan Gongbao spread his hands and looked at them helplessly.

As soon as the revolutionary army moved to Xuzhou, Feng Huafu quickly wrote to the court, requesting troops to support, and also requested additional food, fodder, military pay, etc.

The Qing Empire attached great importance to it, and it would not be okay if it didn't. If Xuzhou was lost again, the next step would be to go straight to the capital.

However, they faced a very embarrassing problem. They had a few towns left, two in the capital, one in Shanhaiguan, and one outside the pass.

But they had no money and could not mobilize these soldiers.

You know, when the army is dispatched, it is necessary to issue silver in advance and rewards. This is the rule.

Aren't these soldiers braving the hail of bullets just for money? Otherwise, could it be for the little emperor? Just say it, whoever takes it seriously is a fool.

No money? Even if you are Yuan Gongbao, you can't command the army.

"Sir Yuan, think of another way. The country of the Qing Dynasty cannot be lost in my hands." Yulong wailed above.

Yes, in Yuan Gongbao's view, it was wailing, with a crying tone and a sharp voice, but no idea to solve the problem was given. What else could it be if not wailing?

Find a way? Didn't he come here to discuss it?

"Empress Dowager, I have an idea here that can solve this urgent problem." Yuan Gongbao saluted solemnly and knocked his head on the ground and said.

"Sir, please get up quickly. At this critical moment, we will not make do with those red tape. I want to know what the solution is in your mouth?" Yulong said excitedly.

"Donate! I am willing to take the lead and donate 50,000 taels first! I have sent people to my hometown to sell land. In three or two months, I should be able to collect hundreds of thousands." Yuan Gongbao knelt on the ground and said without raising his head.

The more times like this, the more he has to behave properly - this is for the world to see.

"Donate?" Zaifeng shook his head in disappointment.

The Qing Empire has always opened a channel for donations - donating officials.

The official positions with empty titles but no real positions have always been clearly marked with prices. The nominal position of the fourth-rank Taotai is only 5,000 taels.

Those who need it have already donated, and those who don't need it...

"What does Lord Yuan mean... forced donation? That's right, he Li Chuang can do it, but I can't?" Zaifeng said excitedly again, he was already dizzy.

The war was not going well, the treasury was empty, his son's court was shaky, and the feeling that power was about to slip away from his hands repeatedly tortured him.

"Absolutely not, absolutely not!" Prince Qing hurriedly stopped it.

Prince Qing is a wealthy man, so he dare not do such a stupid thing.

"Your Majesty, I am not forcing you to donate, I am calling on all the ministers to donate." Yuan Gongbao also hurriedly objected.

Like Prince Qing, he has a family and a large amount of gold and silver. There is still a long future ahead, so he dare not do anything reckless.

This reaction is normal. After all, even if the dynasty changes, it is impossible to clean up all forces at once, especially the gentry and landlords, who are generally reused by the new dynasty.

They both have good relations with the landlords and gentry, and with a large amount of gold and silver in their hands, even if the Qing Empire really collapses, they can still live well, and it is not impossible to compete for parliament.

Isn't the South talking about human rights? Isn't it about protecting private property? These are all.

As for the 50,000 taels, it is used by Yuan Gongbao to buy peace. This money will not go through the Ministry of Finance, but will be sent to various towns in his name together with the donations.

Let alone 50,000 taels, he can also take out 500,000 taels. He has to get together 5 million taels, and he can still take it out by selling his property, but why should he take it?

Just like the so-called hundreds of thousands of taels of silver for selling the land, he had no intention of giving it. He had already prepared himself mentally - just like the beasts in human clothing in the court at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Similarly, Prince Qing was also a wealthy man, and it was said that he had 7.12 million pounds in a British bank, or in other words, about 50 million taels of silver.

In contrast, Zaifeng wanted to sell the Mongolian Plateau for 30 million taels of silver a few days ago.

If the Russian Empire had not been eyeing the Balkans and had not experienced trouble in the Far East, this deal would have been successful.

"All the ministers...are living...in a tight spot, how much can you donate? It's just a drop in the bucket, a drop in the bucket!" Prince Qing stared at Yuan Gongbao in disbelief, and said immediately after coming to his senses.

This is to cut his flesh!

"That's right! Lord Yuan is indeed a loyal minister. I still have 300,000 taels of private money. Let's use it to deal with emergencies first!" Yulong said on the side.

"Yes! There are still some antiques in the palace. If we gather them together, we can still get 100,000 taels. It's enough, enough, enough for the departure fee!" Zaifeng's eyes lit up.

"I can also get 100,000...50,000 taels here, and sell some goods to try to get as much as possible." The loyal minister and general, the loyal and patriotic Prince Qing said so.

Donating one thousandth of the working capital at one time, he was heartbroken.

"Yuan Gongbao, go quickly and transfer the Fourth Town to the south. There is also the front-line salary... Give them half first and tell them that we will double it after we win the battle!" Zaifeng looked at Yuan Gongbao and said.

"Your Highness, this is only 500,000 yuan. It can only solve the emergency for the time being. The front line is still fighting." Yuan Gongbao reminded.

"I know that this is only the first batch." Zaifeng waved his hand. He wanted to discuss with Yulong and Prince Qing about asking the nobles to donate.

Yuan Gongbao smiled mysteriously and left the Golden Palace.

Prince Qing had a complicated expression and was hesitant to speak. Finally, he took a breath and said nothing.

…………

"Did you see it clearly? Did it go around behind us?" Feng Huafu knocked on the table with one hand.

"I saw it clearly. It went around the west of the city. Most of the defenders in the west of the city saw it." Jia Daode, the captain of the personal guards, replied.

"Most of them saw it..." Feng Huafu said in a deep tone.

"Yes, I wanted to block the news, but there were too many people who saw it and I couldn't catch them all, so the news got out." Captain Jia said.

After that, Feng Huafu took a deep breath and didn't speak. If he didn't speak, Captain Jia didn't dare to speak either.

They were in a cellar at the moment, no one spoke, and they could only hear the muffled sound of the shells exploding.

"This is to cut off my retreat!" After a long time, Feng Huafu slammed the table with his fist.

He didn't know about the surrender of the front line, the battle was not over yet, and everything was still in chaos.

When he entered Xuzhou, he looted a wave of local people, and the gentry "sent" a batch of silver, and the salary was issued.

After all, he still wanted to rely on the troops in his hands to make a profit after the Qing Empire sank, and he would not let go of buying people's hearts.

However, the soldiers below also knew the origin of the military pay, and some of them would indeed be grateful to Feng Huafu.

However, there are still some people who only think, "Is the court out of money?", "Did the court embezzle the military pay again?", "I'm fighting on the front line, who ate up the military pay?"

"Go to the court and tell them about this matter, make it serious, and urge for supplies and reinforcements."

"Send a telegram to Lord Gong Bao, saying that the revolutionary army's offensive is very fierce and we can't stand it. I plan to withdraw from Xuzhou and retreat to Shandong. Ask him if he agrees."

"Send a batch of silver to the Japanese, and move them to the west and north of the city, and our brothers to the east of the city."

"Go."

Feng Huafu thought for a while and arranged it in an orderly manner.

Whoever is willing to be a filial son and grandson of the Qing Empire can do it, anyway, he doesn't want to.

Because of the information gap, Feng Huafu made a wrong decision, but it turned out to be a good thing.

…………

"The number of surrenders is decreasing, maybe they have taken action."

"Did they see the movement of the two divisions yesterday?"

Zheng Lei looked at the calm and ruined Xuzhou City, and his heart was calm.

The day before yesterday, hundreds of people came to surrender in squads and rows, and even half a company was defeated and only half of it came to surrender.

This was when the revolutionary army promised not to pursue any evil deeds, and did not give any benefits, and some people wanted to wait for the price.

"I must have seen it. The enemy on the city wall also shot at the First Light Infantry Division and injured several people." Huang Zhengfang nodded.

"Then continue to attack and launch a feint attack on the right wing to continue to put pressure on them." Zheng Lei nodded.

His information was wrong. At least Feng Huafu had money to give to the soldiers, so he made a wrong decision.

But war is like this. No one can guarantee to make a 100% correct decision, except for latecomers. They are not in the game and can make decisions based on information from all sides.

…

“Strange, why don’t we see any Japanese?”

“Yes, there are quite a few Japanese in the front positions, and many of our brothers were shot by the Japanese.”

“Damn the Japanese, why do they interfere in our Chinese affairs?”

“It’s just the Qing Empire that promised them land.”

“Isn’t this selling out the country? Don’t you feel bad if your son sells your father’s land…”

Just after taking down a street and handing it over to the Second Battalion, Li Dahai and a group of soldiers were resting and chatting.

“Xiaosong, go tell the regiment commander that the Japanese are gone. I always feel something is wrong, but I can’t put my finger on it…”

.