The mage in the late Qing Dynasty

A rare sunny day in Sakhalin.

Ken Nakamura carries grass to feed the sheep.

After feeding the sheep, he hesitated for a moment, then took off a bunch of dried mushrooms hanging on the wooden ridges and sent them back to the house.

After he came out, the wooden chimney started to smoke.

He passed by the sheepfold and said to the sheep: "I'm going to the tavern to try my luck. If it doesn't work, I have to sell you for money."

Levitan took the peacekeeping sergeants for an early morning run. When he came back, he saw the various roads near the stone tower, which were astonishing.

Levitan yelled: "Who is it? Who did this? Come forward and come forward. Don't think I don't know! It's better to come forward and tell me now."

Ken Nakamura felt a little heavy.

He was actually having a hard time during this period. It was all because of that movie that caused him to cross the street and everyone yelled and beat him.

People here want to blame him for all the bad things.

And now he may face a fork in the road of selling his sheep.

It happened that he heard Levitan's roar.

Nakamura Ken's neck was stiff, and anger arose in his heart: "It's me, I did it, what's wrong? What can you do to me? Haha, that's right, I did it all."

Levitan is always dull but has a loud voice, so he feels like an active volcano that can erupt at any time.

He walked toward Nakamura Ken with a group of male and female soldiers with an expressionless face.

After playing around, Nakamura Ken realized what he was afraid of: If it were to be a catastrophic disaster, I would be doomed by my own actions. Nakamura Ken, Nakamura Ken, you really fail in success and fail in failure.

However, Levitan approached and patted Ken Nakamura on the shoulder: "You're good, Ken Nakamura. You cleared all this snow? Did you stay up all night to do it? You did a lot of personal work by yourself!"

Ken Nakamura was shocked for 0.1 seconds.

The time was so short that no one noticed.

He raised his chest and raised his head: "That's right, Lord Levitan, apart from being warmhearted, diligent and sincere, I don't have many advantages."

"Okay, good boy, I saw you right. I will ask someone to send you big horn lamb legs and fish as a reward. You are welcome, you deserve it."

Nakamura Ken wanted to pretend to refuse, but he didn't open his mouth: What if they really don't give it up?

After all, he just vented his anger and yelled and took the credit.

…

South Island Provisional Office.

Matsudaira Kunyang, who has now become the top administrator of southern Sakhalin, is questioning several people he brought to the Peacekeeping Bureau yesterday for surveillance.

These people's halls were darkened and their expressions were depressed. Some had one of their toes frozen off, and some had a section of their ears frozen off.

After relaxing for a while in the warm room, the capillaries on his face swelled and burst, looking very much like a bloody disaster was about to happen.

Songping Kunyang drank hot tea and asked: "What did you do last night?"

"We cleared the snow."

Songping Kunyang paused and spilled the tea: "What the hell?"

Immediately, he became angry: "The Imperial Palace in Tokyo was blown up, and I asked you to keep an eye on me. Why are you going to clear the snow for the Peacekeeping Bureau? You are such a warm-blooded group of good people!"

His subordinates cried out: "Tokyo bombed? That's none of our business... No, I mean, we have been staring at Zhao Chuanxin, and he has never been out. We will freeze to death if we don't clear the snow."

Songping Kunyang was confused when he heard this: "He didn't go out? Please tell me carefully."

His subordinates told him that Zhao Chuanxin returned from Fuxiang Tavern, went out to urinate, and then turned back.

About four hours later, Zhao Chuanxin went out to urinate again, and then went back. At midnight, Zhao Chuanxin went out to smoke a cigarette, then went back and turned off the lights and went to sleep.

Songping Kunyang stared at his subordinates: "Are you sure that Zhao Chuanxin is always at home? Are you mistaken?"

"Yes, that's right. There are lights outside the Peacekeeping Bureau tower, which usually stay on all night. When he came out, we saw it was really bright. It was definitely Zhao Chuanxin. After he went upstairs, we could still vaguely see his figure from the window. Shake."

Songping Kunyang asked again: "Are you sure that he will be at home until midnight? Could it be that you read the wrong time?"

"That won't happen. We have three pocket watches and we have to set the time every hour for fear of being wrong."

The Imperial Palace was bombed around 9pm.

The Bank of Japan was bombed at 9:12 p.m.

After listening to the report from his subordinates, he quickly reported the matter to Tokyo and let Emperor Meiji know.

Yes, Meiji was not dead, not even injured, just a little scared.

The Japanese side is well aware of Zhao Chuanxin's deeds.

When Zhao Chuanxin didn't have much work, he dared to go to the Forbidden City to bombard Cixi.

If something happens in Lugang Town, no one can guarantee that Zhao Chuanxin will not come to the Tokyo Imperial Palace to cause trouble.

Therefore, Meiji left the Imperial Palace early to avoid the limelight.

Unfortunately, it was true, and the Imperial Palace was bombed.

Empress Meiji was terrified.

With the signing of the "Japan-France Agreement" with France the year before last and the signing of the gentleman's agreement "Roto-Takahira Agreement" with the United States last year, Meiji has been promoted to the altar by various highlights.

He is seeking to sign the third Japan-British Alliance Treaty with the United Kingdom. As long as it is signed, Japan will be fully recognized by the Western powers, thereby gaining a long maritime interest line outside Japan's sovereignty line. By then, Japan will become a veritable overlord of the East.

So he felt that he could not die yet, even though he was already sick.

Prime Minister Katsura Taro took out three bomb fragments at the emperor's temporary residence: "These were found at the scene."

Meiji took it and took a look. There was a line of small words on each fragment: Is it unexpected? Surprised or not? Yes, it's me again, the gangster.

Meiji's veins popped out on the back of his hand as he held the fragment tightly.

He felt seriously provoked.

He is the master of ZTE. Who dared to do this to him before?

If he hadn't escaped in advance, he would have been killed.

Last night, he was so frightened that his hands and feet trembled for an hour before he recovered.

Immediately there was endless anger.

"What do you think?"

Katsura Taro is 61 years old. He has a round head, short hair, and a severely receding hairline, but he is not bald yet. His chin is cleanly shaved, but he has two wild beards that grow wildly and have uncertain directions on his lips.

He only needs to close his mouth tightly, and the drooped corners of his mouth can make him look extremely majestic.

He said in a deep voice: "Either the people from Lugang Town did it, or it was Zhao Chuanxin himself. But I am more inclined to think that it was Zhao Chuanxin who did it."

Meiji pressed the metal fragment on the table: "Zhao Chuanxin wants to kill me! We didn't provoke him. Is he provoking me?"

Katsura Taro glanced at the Emperor in surprise.

That means: Why do you have the nerve to say it? Are you sure you didn't provoke him?

He euphemistically said: "Although the Anti-Zhao Society is a non-governmental organization, the military and local governments did not interfere, but were happy to see the results. After the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shied away from responsibility and also asked the consulate in China to step up land occupation near the railway. This is all It’s Zhao Chuanxin’s motive for revenge.”

"Even if he wants to take revenge, isn't it enough to blow up the Kata Agency and the Hokkaido Agency? He has to bomb my Imperial Palace? What about bombing the bank? The bank manager said that more than 6 million yen were blown away! Ask Zhao Chuanxin , What exactly does he want to do?"

Katsura Taro pointed to the fragments in the emperor's hand: "This alone does not prove that Zhao Chuanxin did it. But Liu Guogui of Lugang Town said that they wanted us to cede the land to pay compensation. Baron Matsudaira Kunyang of Sakhalin said that Zhao The salary transfer requires 40,000 square kilometers in various places.”

"40,000 square kilometers?" Meiji was startled.

Katsura Taro hesitated for a moment: "Zhao Chuanxin obviously has a target. I secretly calculated that the only place that fits the 40,000 square kilometers of land is Sakhalin South Island, which has almost this amount."

Meiji's vision suddenly became blurry, and he began to feel weak in his limbs.

He held the table and shook his body twice: "He can explode. Don't we have gunpowder?"

Meiji has diabetes.

Just as Katsura Taro was about to speak, someone suddenly came to tell him the news that Matsudaira Kunyang had brought from Sakhalin.

On the night when Tokyo was bombed, Zhao Chuanxin did not leave the Peacekeeping Bureau.

"What?" Katsura Taro looked even more surprised: "If it was just the Lugang Town insurance team or the intelligence team, then the threat to Lugang Town cannot be ignored."

Being able to bomb so many places silently at least shows that there are already many spies in Lugang Town in Japan.

Meiji took a chance and asked: "Could it be that it was really done by gangsters?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Guitaro insisted.

At this time, the guard came to report that the Chairman of the Privy Council, Baron Peng from Shan County, wanted to see him.

Meiji and Katsura Taro looked at each other deeply.

First of all, Yamagata Aritomo is Katsura Taro’s teacher.

Since Ito Hirobumi was killed by Zhao Chuanxin, newspapers commented: Yamagata Aritomo has more power than the Minister of War and more power than the Chief of Staff, and the government cannot violate his orders. The disadvantages of arbitrary politics have reached the extreme.

But the current Prime Minister is Katsura Taro.

When a friend from Shan County comes in, I don't know if he is in a mood or is born like this. In short, he has to keep a calm face when meeting Meiji.

He was inherently ugly, like a giant monkey, and his sullen face was even more terrifying.

He said it bluntly: "I would like to remind your Majesty that just like the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894, the war between Japan, a civilized country that promoted the internal affairs reform of Korea, and the Qing Dynasty, an uncivilized country that refused to reform, was nothing more than our external propaganda rhetoric. In fact, it was the war at that time Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito and Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu were blindly optimistic, which led to misjudgments during negotiations, which led to the deterioration of relations between Japan and Qing Dynasty, leading to the Sino-Japanese War of 1898. Now we are making the same mistake, thinking that the anti-Zhao Society bombing of people meeting in Lugang Town is a suitable excuse. It’s completely blind optimism. Zhao Chuanxin must have done this, there is no other possibility.”

Katsura Taro felt that Yamagata Aritomo was calling him stupid.

He said in a deep voice: "But our surveillance personnel in Sakhalin told us that Zhao Chuanxin did not leave there last night."

A friend from Shan County was disdainful: "Does the Prime Minister think that Zhao Chuanxin is an incompetent person who can be manipulated by you? How many people can keep an eye on him? At that time, the Russian army was divided into six groups, with a total force of 170,000 to besiege the Northeast, and the border fell in just four months. . But you ask Nicholas II, does he dare now? For no other reason, it would be difficult for him to transport troops alone, and he would not be able to communicate with others, not to mention that Zhao Chuanxin is not what he used to be. He has soldiers. Therefore, even if Tsarist Russia can win, it will definitely pay a price ten times and a hundred times."

Although Katsura Taro was a little angry, he did not dare to show it. He just argued: "But we can't just let this matter go. Otherwise, how will the people and the great powers view us?"

The emperor has been put on a pedestal. If nothing happens, Meiji will become a joke.

Everyone will say: Look, the emperor is afraid of Zhao Chuanxin.

A friend from Shanxian County hesitated with his hands behind his back: "First, we will step up efforts to sign the third Japan-British Alliance Treaty with the United Kingdom. Once the conflict between my country and Zhao Chuanxin intensifies, the Japan-British Alliance can effectively prevent the United States, Qing, and Zhao from forming an alliance against Japan.

Second, before the United States builds a railway outside the customs, unite with Tsarist Russia, at least prevent them from causing trouble, and be fully prepared to go to war with Zhao Chuanxin at any time. Tsarist Russia is also dissatisfied with this railway.

Third, before annexing North Korea, I still advocate explaining our position to the great powers and emphasizing that we are the victim and it is best to let them share the same hatred. After all, Zhao Chuanxin has provoked many countries. Before completing the great cause of merging North Korea, try not to start a war with Zhao Chuanxin, otherwise the consequences will be unpredictable. "

Meiji stood up holding the table and said calmly: "They say that I am the overlord of East Asia, but I can't even do anything to the little Zhao Chuanxin? How ridiculous is the word "overlord"? He wants Sakhalin, does the Duke of Shan County have any countermeasures? "

Of course Meiji was unhappy.

The lair was bombed, and if it were someone else, Meiji would have to fight back regardless of whether he had evidence or not.

Even if Zhao passes the salary, at most it will only delay revenge, but revenge must be taken.

"Continue to search for evidence of the bombing, secretly negotiate with Zhao Chuanxin, and extend the negotiation period for one year to prevent the public from knowing the inside story until the North Korean issue is resolved."

He means to show off to the world.

Although he guessed that Zhao Chuanxin must have done it, as long as there is no evidence and Zhao Chuanxin does not admit it, no one can say that he forced the emperor to go to war.

That makes sense.

Katsura Taro pursed his lips, feeling dissatisfied in his heart. He said: "The Anti-Zhao Society is a non-governmental organization. In my opinion, we should help them secretly and let them go abroad and have a hard time."

"Can."

…

Liu Baogui and Er Feizi were reading newspapers in the teahouse.

Er Fatty smokes Peacock cigarettes, which are American cigarettes.

Liu Guogui was holding a Luzon cigar.

Er Fatty suddenly sat up straight, pointed to the latest news in Ta Kung Pao and said, "Look at this photo, it was done by gangsters again!"

Liu Baogui took a look and saw that the photo was a piece of metal with the words: Accident is not unexpected, surprise is not surprise...

Major newspapers named the bombs that destroyed the Karatai Agency, the Hokkaido Agency, the Imperial Palace, and the bank - gangster bombs.

"Haha, I strongly approved of the bombardment of the Forbidden City back then..." Liu Baobao laughed heartily. After laughing, he stood up with a serious look on his face: "No, I have to tell Zhongyi to prepare for war!"

Er Feizi also realized the seriousness of the matter.

They not only went to find Zhao Zhongyi, but also sent messages to the Backwater Army and Lubin Mansion.

The relationship between Tsarist Russia and Japan was ambiguous and strange at this time.

They originally had enemies, but they shared the same hatred because of Zhao Chuanxin.

If the two sides form an alliance, Lubin Prefecture and Yanbian will bear the brunt.

…

Zhang Shouzeng's scalp went numb after receiving the news, and he hurriedly went to Yao Jia and Hu Da: "It's not good, I think you blew up the Imperial Palace of the Emperor of Japan."

"What? Sir, this is too ridiculous." Yao Jia sighed and said: "Don't tell me in advance, I'm ready to prepare fireworks!"

Hu Da and Zhang Shouzeng: "..."

Hu Da looked solemn: "You must prepare for war."

Yao Jia held him back: "I'm not busy, so I can't fight. Maozi can't even open the door when he goes out in the morning. If he wants to fight, it will be warm and snowy."

Hu Er was stunned.

That makes sense.

Zhang Shouzeng also felt a little relieved: "What should we do in Yanbian? Sir, can you give me an explanation?"

"Not really. There is no explanation, just an explanation. Don't pay attention to it. We will just wait for the news."

…

When Sun Gongwu saw the Tokyo Imperial Palace being bombed, his eyebrows jumped uncontrollably in shock and his hair trembled.

In his opinion, this was more shocking than when Zhao Chuanxin bombarded the Forbidden City.

After all, Japan has risen in recent years and has won many battles. The emperor is called the overlord of East Asia.

But what happened to the overlord? He had to be bombed differently?

The newspaper was ambiguous. It only said that Japan was looking for the culprit. It did not say that Zhao Chuanxin was responsible, nor did it mention Lugang Town.

But Sun Gongwu believed that this must have been done by Zhao Chuanxin. No one else but him would be able to know, right?

…

In Germany, Wilhelm II gloated to Hans von Pleasant and Prime Minister Bertmann Hollweg: "Meiji claims to be the hegemon of East Asia, but I think it is nothing more than that. He hid before he went. His that At my age, it would be better to die, it can also boost morale.”

Hans von Plessen said firmly: "It must be Zhao Chuanxin who did it, it must be him."

William II snorted coldly: "Zhao Chuanxin had better provoke the whole world. At that time, he will not even have anywhere to hide, and he will die without a burial place."

…

On the contrary, a local Japanese newspaper claimed that Zhao Chuanxin did not leave Sakhalin on the night Tokyo was bombed. He mentioned some "witnesses" in an emotional manner, only said they were local residents, and even forged testimonies.

This hurried and shameless explanation seemed to be afraid that the Japanese people would think that Zhao Chuanxin was the real culprit.

Nobuzumi Aoki, who was avoiding the limelight, read the newspaper and frowned: How did Zhao Chuanxin drop the bomb and how did he detonate the bomb? The Imperial Palace was heavily guarded. How did he get in with such a big explosive bag without anyone noticing? Could it be that it fell from the sky?

He did not even suspect that the perpetrator was someone else, and concluded that Zhao Chuanxin was the murderer.

…

At three o'clock in the morning, Zhao Chuanxin stretched and yawned as he walked out of the stone tower.

The clothes he wears are very special. They are made of fur both inside and outside, which is thick, warm and windproof.

This is actually a double-layered cashmere sweater that Xingyue made for Zhao Chuanxin to use as pajamas.

It was too damn cold inside the stone tower, and Zhao Chuanxin couldn't bear it.

He was wearing furry pajamas and furry boots that were easy to put on and take off.

Secretary Nomi Shirasaka had just arrived and looked at him strangely: "Sir, you..."

Zhao Chuanxin put his arm around her shoulders: "Let's go to the tavern to work."

Normally, you have to raise your arms to hug your shoulders, but when Zhao Chuanxin hugged Shirasaka Nome, his arms were hanging down...

Even with her arms on her shoulders, Nomi Shirasaka could feel the warmth.

Although this outfit is weird and ugly, it must be warm.

After walking not far, Zhao Chuanxin saw many ragged Russians on the road.

They begged from the Peacekeeping Bureau passers-by.

The freedmen of the Peacekeeping Bureau, who had only had enough to eat for a few days, actually developed some compassion, and some would throw away a kopeck or two as charity.

When Zhao Chuanxin arrived, a skinny exile from the north shouted miserably: "Sir, please do me a favor and show mercy. You look like a rich master..."

Zhao Chuanxin was shocked: "I'm Zhuo, how did you know that I just became a nouveau riche?"

The exiled prisoner stretched out his hand to grab Zhao Chuanxin's pajamas.

"Sir, please give me some money to buy bread. I'm starving."

"I can see that you are starving to death." Zhao Chuanxin, wearing a furry Santa Claus nightcap and holding a cigarette in his mouth, said, "But if your dirty paws dare to touch my pajamas, I will break them off for you." Break.”

The exiled prisoner didn't know whether he pretended not to hear or didn't care, but continued to grab him.

That posture made it seem as if Zhao Chuanxin was grabbing his clothes and refusing to let him go without paying him.

Gaba.

"Ouch..."

Next to her, Shirasaka Nome's face turned pale.

Seeing the exiled prisoner's hand being broken off by Zhao Chuanxin.

Zhao Chuanxin took out a rag and wiped his hands, threw the rag on the exiled prisoner's face, flicked the cigarette ashes, took out 5 yen and threw it on the ground.

That's a drop in the bucket of what was withdrawn from the Bank of Japan's coffers in Tokyo.

"There is a doctor at the west end of the town. His skills are quite advanced. It's up to you whether he can give you a good treatment."

The exile reluctantly bent down to pick it up, but another exile jumped out of the field and picked up the money first.

"Give it back to me, it's mine..." The exile ran after him.

He not only chased after him, but also struggled with the man. The most outrageous thing was that he defeated his opponent by dragging his severed hand.

Shirasaka Nome was stunned for a moment.

Many people in the Peacekeeping Bureau do not go to restaurants for meals, but go to pubs.

Doctor Gavrilovich was one of them, who came early in the morning to get drunk.

Zhao Chuanxin met him at the door: "Doctor, there is a patient with a broken hand on his way to your home."

Gavrilovich's red nose turned with a stream of light when it was illuminated by the sun.

His head seemed to slow down, and he thought for a moment: "It won't be too late for me to go back after I finish a drink."

Zhao Chuanxin threw away the cigarette butt: "When you finish drinking and go back, his bones will grow back."

The doctor patted his head: "I'd better have a drink first, otherwise, if I don't dare to break and reconnect his newly grown bones, they will become crooked."

Zhao Chuanxin lowered his head and said to Shirasaka Nome: "You see, in the Peacekeeping Bureau, you'd better try not to get sick."

Shirasaka Nome: "..."

Inside the incense tavern.

Ken Nakamura went to Peter Grabbin with a sheepish face.

Before he could speak, Peter Grebin said: "Don't expect me to buy you salted eggs every day, it's impossible."

"Hey, I actually have other things to do. I want to borrow some money from you to survive this winter."

"Yesterday you said you didn't dare to bear the mortgage loan, so today you just want me to borrow money?"

"Yes, I didn't borrow it from the bank, I borrowed it from you."

Peter Grebbin just shook his head.

Nakamura Ken organized the language: "Peter, look, I can speak Russian, and then I became friends with you. The priest can speak Japanese, but he failed to become friends with the female technicians. What does this mean?"

Peter Grabbin thought for a while: "Does it mean that I shouldn't understand a language that you are proficient in, so that when you borrow money from me, I can use the excuse that I don't understand to refuse?"

"This..." Nakamura Ken pointed his thumb at his chin: "This means that I have good character and good reputation, but the priest is not, so you can lend me money."

Peter Grabbin sneered: "You can borrow money from Mr. Zhao Chuanxin, doesn't he treat you well?"

Seeing that he wouldn't let go, Nakamura Ken had no choice but to change the subject: "By the way, you are so popular with women, let me ask you a question."

"Oh, ask a question. If you don't want to borrow money, that's no problem."

"I have a friend who is full of flaws. Shouldn't he confess to the woman he likes?"

"..."

At this time, Zhao Chuanxin's voice sounded: "Isn't it necessary for women to discover a man's shortcomings? Who is the woman you like?"

Nakamura Ken's face turned red: "Sir, I said, I have a friend, he is my friend."

"Oh, I hope your friend isn't greasy, sleazy, takes advantage, smells like sheep and never takes a shower."

"..."

Peter Grabbin pushed Ken Nakamura and whispered: "My lord is here just in time. Don't you want to borrow money?"

Nakamura Ken was about to speak, but Zhao Chuanxin said: "For some reason, these days there are exiled beggars from the north everywhere, begging for money. Just now, a person who asked me for money asked me to break his hand. "

Peter Grabbin: “…”

Zhao Chuanxin looked at Nakamura Ken: "By the way, what did you just say?"

"Uh...I..." Nakamura Ken stammered: "I say people with hands and feet should be self-reliant."

"Good boy, you are right, robbing and cheating is more promising than begging."

Nakamura Ken left the Fuxiang Tavern in frustration.

After returning home, he said: "His aunt."

After thinking for a while, he said it again in Russian: "I'm back."

A Russian girl with a dirty face timidly walked out of the room, holding a bowl with boiled mushrooms mixed with suet and handing it to Ken Nakamura: "I've left it for you."

…

At noon, Zhao Chuanxin went to a nearby restaurant to have a Russian meal.

In the afternoon, Songping Kunyang came to Fuxiang Tavern again: "Master Zhao, I'm here to negotiate!"