Chapter 175 Mother and Son Monarch and Minister (15-1)

Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly realized that the sound of guns and guns had disappeared!The pale golden sunlight slanted down from the west palace wall, half of the courtyard was shaded by autumn, and it was very cool.What a peaceful early autumn!The Empress Dowager Cixi can't even imagine that the capital is about to fall! "Lafayette, Lafayette!" Suddenly there was a cry of panic, which broke the silence. The Empress Dowager Cixi looked out the window and saw Zai Lan rushing in in a hurry, and Li Lianying had already greeted her.There was no need to wait for Li Lianying to come in to play the report. The Empress Dowager Cixi stepped out of the room with the curtain closed.

"Lafayette!" Zai Lan's expression changed drastically, his head was covered with sweat: "The foreigner is here!" The Empress Dowager Cixi was taken aback, and asked anxiously, "Where is it?" "In the outer city." Li Lianying was afraid that she would be surprised, so she rushed to answer in front of Zai Lan. "Lafayette must leave!" Zai Lan said angrily, "And it must be fast." The foreigners are still in the outer city, separated by an inner city and the Forbidden City, so there is no need to panic. The Empress Dowager Cixi asked, "Of course we have to leave now! Can you protect me?"

"Your servant can't bear this heavy burden!" Zai Lan replied, "Your servant has no soldiers." "Then," Empress Dowager Cixi pondered for a while, and said hastily, "Look for the military plane!" The Minister of Military Aircraft came here without calling, but only two came, one was Gangyi and the other was Zhao Shuqiao.They also came to warn the police, saying that there were hundreds of "head-wrapped black soldiers" stationed at the Temple of Heaven.But the words were unclear, and the Empress Dowager Cixi asked which country did the "black soldiers with hooded heads" belong to?Neither Gang nor Zhao could answer.Therefore, the Empress Dowager Cixi suspected that she was the teacher of King Qin from Xinjiang.

"Absolutely not!" Gang Yi replied, "It's not wrong for the barbarians. I ask the holy driver to go on a tour immediately, otherwise the disaster will be unimaginable. I really can't bear to talk about it." "Go! I also know that I should go. But, at this time, how should I go? Have you thought about it? " Gang and Zhao and Zai Lan looked at each other speechlessly, only sighed, and the Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help shedding tears. There were countless complaints and resentments in her heart, but when she thought that she had praised the Boxers again and again, she was immediately discouraged. What? No words of reproach can come out.

At this moment, two more people came, one was Zai Yi, who came into the palace to inquire about the Empress Dowager Cixi's will, and the other was Rong Lu, who had just arrived at Zhilu, Minister of Military Aircraft, and came to wait for the order immediately after hearing that the Empress Dowager Cixi had summoned her. "The foreign soldiers have already arrived in Beijing, that's good. But the main team has not yet arrived. There is a small team at Dongbianmen, probably Russian soldiers, and there are also Indian soldiers sent by the British." Rong Lu said: "The Gan army has already left Zhangyi. door, fired guns all the way, and walked west all the way.”

Empress Dowager Cixi was so upset that she just looked at the ministers in a daze, and it took a long while before she said: "Then, what should we do?" Who should answer this question?If a military plane is summoned, Ronglu should play back, and when it comes to titles, Zaiyi should speak.Ronglu hated this man so much, he had an idea at this time, but he refused to show it, and he had no idea, so he wanted to squeeze Zaiyi, "Prince Duan must have a way!" Ask Duan Wang." "There is no other way." Zaiyi said bravely, "Only Zhang Baiqi." "Is Zhang Baiqi surrendering?" Empress Dowager Cixi asked.

"Yes!" Zaiyi lowered her head to her chest. "Surrender!" Empress Dowager Cixi finally choked up her voice. Seeing this situation, the officials met together to blame themselves, but the Empress Dowager Cixi wiped away her tears and asked by name: "Rong Lu, what do you think should be done?" "There is only one way, you can give it a try, quickly send a note to the embassy, ​​first cease the war, then negotiate a peace, any conditions can be agreed." Rong Lu paused and said: "It's better to do this than Zhang Baiqi, and it will look better."

The Empress Dowager Cixi nodded again and again, "This is the only way to do it, this is the only way to do it! You should go to Yikuang to discuss it, the sooner the better!" She added in a trembling voice: "The lives of our mother and child are all on this." "Yes!" Rong Lu agreed, then stood up, took two steps back, turned around, and hurried out of the hall. "Fortitude!" Empress Dowager Cixi regained her majestic voice: "You have to find a car quickly!" "Yes!" Gang Yi was not sure about the matter, so he could only reply, "I will try my best to do it!"

From this moment on, the Empress Dowager Cixi really made up her mind to run away.However, the more critical the situation is, the calmer she is, so she thinks more deeply than others.Sitting under the back porch of Le Shoutang, watching Qiuyang slowly disappear, she made a decision in her heart, whether to go or not, she had to go quietly, otherwise she would not be able to go. However, there was one person who had to tell him in advance, and that was Li Lianying.When he came to chat with him at dusk as usual, she looked around and asked leisurely: "Who else is there?" Li Lianying knew that she had something to say that could not be heard by a third party, so she waved her hand to the two maids in the distance, and replied softly:

"nobody." "Lianying," said Empress Dowager Cixi, "we have to go!" "Yes!" Li Lianying's voice was as usual, but her expression was obviously tense, she bent her waist even more, and turned her eyes up from time to time, looking at the Empress Dowager Cixi's face. "It's not sure when to leave." Empress Dowager Cixi paused and said, "It's either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, it depends on the situation." "Yes!" Li Lianying asked, "How should I prepare?" "What preparations are you talking about? Resolutely go looking for cars, how many can I find?"

"No matter what, the emperor has to go with Lafayette." "Of course. In addition..." Empress Dowager Cixi pondered: "Look at everyone's fortune!" This means that if you run into something and follow along, if you are not in front of the Empress Dowager Cixi, you have to stay in the palace.In the future, life and death, misfortune and fortune, each depends on the destiny. Thinking about it this way, it becomes clear that the matter of Empress Dowager Cixi's escape from the palace must be kept a secret, otherwise the family members will cry and cry, and this one will follow along, and the other one will not dare to stay in the palace. Empress Dowager Cixi was so troubled that she couldn't leave. "How about the clothes I asked you to prepare?" "Ready." Li Lianying replied, "The bamboo jacket and black cloth skirt are wrapped in yellow bundles and handed over to Madam Liu." Nanny Liu was originally a court lady, and she became a widow after being remarried. One year, the Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly thought of such a person, and ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to pass it in, and she was dedicated to serving all the washing things in the Empress Dowager Cixi's bedroom.She is extremely reliable, so Li Lianying handed over the suit to her. "Okay!" The Empress Dowager Cixi said again: "There are more guards on the gate of the palace today, and who will give the key to, please find out." "Yes! There will be no delay." "Rong Lu may invite him, but when he comes, you'll call him!" "Yes! The servant will take extra care." The Empress Dowager Cixi thought that there must be news about Ronglu, but she didn't hear anything until after nine o'clock.Cui Yugui was sent to inquire, and he said that the road was cut off, so he might not be able to enter the palace. Even Rong Lu was unable to enter the palace. The situation was critical. The Empress Dowager Cixi immediately ordered: "Send the military aircraft and the imperial ministers." As a result, three military ministers came: Wang Wenshao, Gang Yi, and Zhao Shuqiao.These three people were able to arrive in the middle of the night because they lived in Junji Zhilu. "It's just the three of you! Look, everyone else has left our mother and daughter alone!" At this point, the autumn wind entered the house, and the candlelight on the imperial case flickered, reflecting the haggard face of the Empress Dowager Cixi and the bleak face of the emperor.In such a large palace, how many times the well-dressed, dignified and solemn atmosphere of the prosperous age has been in the hearts of the monarchs and ministers, and they feel the unprecedented desolation at this time, and they all burst into tears! "Rong Lu is gone!" The Empress Dowager Cixi blew her nose and said, "Now we have to go! You three must go with our mother and daughter. Wang Wenshao is so old that he still has to take this trip." I couldn't bear the hard work, but there was nothing I could do, so I had to come later. Gangyi followed Zhao Shuqiao, and he knew how to ride a horse, so we must go with him!" "Yes!" Gang Yi replied, "Your servant and Zhao Shuqiao will risk their lives to protect you!" "Okay!" Empress Dowager Cixi turned her face and asked, "What does the emperor have to say?" "Wang Wenshao!" The emperor said in a rare voice, "You must come." Wang Wenshao didn't hear clearly, so they met each other without speaking.Fortitude then asked again: "Please the Queen Mother and the Emperor, when are you going to leave?" "I can't tell right now." The Empress Dowager Cixi was inconvenient to make strict demands at this time, so she could only say in a negotiating tone: "There must be a few cars to move." "Yes!" Resolutely replied, "I will do my best to prepare." "Yes! Do your best, as soon as possible, and we will leave immediately when everything is ready." After talking about leaving the court, the Empress Dowager Cixi returned to her bedroom, and after a long time of silent calculations, she went back to bed, but she woke up after less than an hour of sleep. It turned out that the gunfire resumed, but it seemed to be a rout. Harassment, not enough. So I got up and took a shower, and when I was combing my hair, I heard a series of strange sounds passing through the air, "meow, meow" like a cat meowing. "Then there are so many cats?" Before she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager Cixi noticed that there was a small thing jumping around on the brick floor, making a very solid sound of "card card gege".When it stopped, a court lady picked it up and looked at it. She happened to know the goods, and couldn't help shouting: "It's a bullet!" Just this one sentence, like a thunderbolt from the blue sky, everyone turned pale with panic, Empress Dowager Cixi was about to inquire about the origin, when she heard a trembling voice from outside the curtain: "The foreign soldiers have entered the city! Lafayette is not leaving soon? " When he looked intently, Zai Lan was kneeling outside the curtain. The eunuchs and maids who were walking around for a while stopped in their tracks, and their eyes were all focused on the Empress Dowager Cixi's face. "It came so fast!" Empress Dowager Cixi walked to the front of the curtain and asked, "Where are the foreign soldiers?" "We are attacking Donghua Gate!" No wonder the bullets flew!Empress Dowager Cixi was really afraid only at this time, because once the Donghua Gate was broken, Ningshou Palace was to the north.The enemy has not only broken the city, but has penetrated deep into the inner city. It's really incredible! However, her thinking became sharper, and she called out: "Zai Lan!" "Lafayette!" Zai Lan responded. "Should we go out that door?" "Should go northwest!" Zai Lan replied, "A lot of people have rushed to Deshengmen to wait." "Where's your car?" "Outside the Shenwu Gate." "Okay! I'll leave right away." The Empress Dowager Cixi then ordered: "Come to the emperor quickly!" "Yes!" Li Lianying agreed, and took care of Cui Yugui and said, "Go and greet the emperor and elder brother. I will wait for Lafayette to change clothes here. Let's do our own things, the sooner the better." "Yes!" Cui Yugui walked away and said, "I'm going to find the emperor." Therefore, Li Lianying asked the Empress Dowager Cixi: "Should Lafayette change his clothes first or comb his hair first?" "Comb your hair"?The Empress Dowager Cixi touched the back of her head, only then did she suddenly understand.Banner women comb their hair in a different style from that of Han makeup. It is divided into two drooping strands, called "swallow tail", commonly known as "handle head". "Let's change clothes first!" Turning to the back hall of the sleeping hall, after taking out a set of commoner skirts wrapped in yellow burdens, the Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help being stunned!If she wanted to get rid of the empress dowager's clothes, it was equivalent to shedding her identity as the empress dowager. From then on, the orders might not work, or people would ignore them. If the style of the empress dowager is adopted, there may be accidents. "No!" She said in her heart: "You can't condescend so casually! To humiliate yourself is to humiliate the ancestors of the Qing Dynasty!" After turning a thought, when I was undecided, I heard a "meow" again, and a bullet flew in from the window.Now, she didn't think about it any more, and let Mother Zhao take care of her, changed her clothes and shoes, and staggered to the front, feeling very uncomfortable all over. The eunuchs and court ladies all felt novelty when they saw the Empress Dowager Cixi's attire, but no one dared to take a second look.On the contrary, the Empress Dowager Cixi looked at herself, and forced a mocking smile and said, "Look, do I look like a country grandma?" "It's better to look like it!" Li Lianying supported her arm and said, "This servant is helping Lafayette comb his hair." Li Lianying hadn't combed her hair for many years, but she was still very proficient in the technique. She untied the "swallow tail", combed it briefly, twisted it three times and twisted it twice, and then combed it into a pendant bun with Chinese makeup. "When the Boxers first made troubles, who would have thought that there would be such a day?" Empress Dowager Cixi pretended to be open-minded: "I never thought that one day I would dress like the Han people!" Li Lianying didn't answer, but paused for a moment and asked: "For Lafayette's order, besides the emperor, empress, and elder brother, who else should I send to accompany me?" This made the Empress Dowager Cixi hesitate. There are so many palace relatives, it seems unfair to bring one but not the other, and it would be cumbersome to bring all of them.After thinking for a while, I resolutely said: "No one will take it!" "Yes." Li Lianying stepped back quietly, and called a trusted eunuch Mimi to inform Concubine Jin that Empress Dowager Cixi would leave Beijing through Deshengmen, and asked her to make up her own mind. At this time, the emperor who was saluting at the Shouhuang Hall had already arrived. The Empress Dowager Cixi said without waiting for him to kneel down to pay his respects, "What can you do with your clothes? Change quickly, change quickly!" So the maids hurriedly took off the red tasseled cap and gown for the emperor. Li Lianying found a half-worn black thin cotton gown with fine lake crepe and put it on for the emperor.The emperor was thin and thin, and the cotton robe was wide-breasted and had large sleeves without a belt. It looked too unfit, but he had to make do with it. At that time, all concubines and concubines in the palace had been notified, and they gathered in Ningshou Palace to ask for safety and stand by.The Empress Dowager Cixi was a bit ashamed to see people because of her attire, but since she was the lord of the first palace, before leaving, no matter what, she had to say something.A person calmed down, thought for a while, and felt that it was easier for him to speak because of his attire, so he regained his usual composure and walked out of the room slowly.It's just that I've been used to wearing "flowerpot bottoms" and Suyi Han people's flat shoes, so I can't make that kind of swinging and swaying. "Foreigners have come to Beijing!" Empress Dowager Cixi said very slowly and in a low voice, "I have to go with the emperor, in order for Li Hongzhang to negotiate peace and make it easy to negotiate terms with foreigners. You don't have to go with me for the time being! I don't To embarrass the ministers of various countries, the ministers of various countries must not allow them to enter the palace to harass them. Don't be afraid, just wait patiently for a few days, I will go to the ground with the emperor, and I will issue an order according to the situation." At this point, there was already the sound of sobbing.Empress Dowager Cixi also found this embarrassing, she wiped her tears with her sleeves, and had to say a few words to comfort everyone and express her love. "Actually, I don't want to part with you either, but there's nothing I can do about it. Look at my clothes! No one knows what kind of hardships I will suffer along the way. It's better to be in the palace!" Empress Dowager Cixi had an idea, He lied and said: "I have already told Rong Lu! He will negotiate with the ministers' offices of various countries and will definitely protect you well. Go back!" Except for Concubine Zhen in the well, none of the concubines in the palace dared to argue with the Empress Dowager Cixi, and looking at it like this, fleeing with the two palaces would be either good or bad.But it's better to be still than to move, and let fate be good. Thinking about it this way, no one would ask for a follower. The eldest concubine Wen Zongqi, Xiu Jia, said: "The empress dowager, the emperor is a lucky star all the way, and return to Luan as soon as possible!" Arranging shifts, waiting to kneel down to send Lianggong Qixuan off. In the Empress Dowager Cixi, of course she can't care about any rituals at this point!He walked westward in a hurry, followed by the emperor, empress, elder brother, and a "Qing Ke" of the Empress Dowager Cixi, who was born in Yunnan and was good at calligraphy and painting. In addition, there was a large group of eunuchs and court ladies. up. In front of Dexihua Gate, I saw three women in Han costumes kneeling to receive the driver. When I got closer, I saw that it was the two daughters of Concubine Jin and King Qing, Sangege and Sigege.Concubine Jin didn't wait for the Empress Dowager Cixi to speak, and said first: "The servant followed to serve Lafayette." "Okay! You follow." The Empress Dowager Cixi asked the two daughters of Prince Qing again: "You two sisters, why are you here?" "Ama, my slave, ask two slaves to serve Lafayette!" Although at the time of resigning from the temple in a hurry, the Empress Dowager Cixi was still sane and sane. She understood King Qing's actions, so she made it clear that she would never collude with foreigners, betray the Empress Dowager, and send the two women to accompany her. He readily agreed and said, "Good! Good! You also follow me. "And asked again: "Where is your Ama?" " "Wait outside." Sangege pointed to the outside of Xihua Gate. Those waiting outside the Xihua Gate were not only King Qing, but also Prince Su Shanqi, Prince Zhuang Zaixun, Zaiyi, and brothers Zailan, Duke Zaize of Zhen Guo, Pu Lun his son, Minister of Military Aircraft Gangyi, Zhao Shuqiao, and others. The minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the commander of the infantry, Yingnian, the right-wing commander of the yamen, and so on. After hastily saluting, Empress Dowager Cixi said: "Everyone get up and talk." "Yes!" King Qing agreed.Stand up first. "Just a few cars?" King Qing didn't answer, Zaiyi didn't make a sound, and the rest of the princes naturally couldn't open their mouths, so they stood up resolutely and said: "The empress dowager, the emperor will take the car of Yingnian and Zailan." Said: "Pu Lun rides in a car with the emperor, and the elder brother crosses the wheel in my car!" "Yes!" The elder brother agreed loudly, tilted his neck, pursed his thick lips and said, "Lafayette, you should go there first!" "Don't speak so loudly! Turning around and driving the car is a matter of handlebars, and you are not allowed to interfere!" The Empress Dowager Cixi said again: "Everyone gets in the car, and put down the curtains of the car so that no one can see it." After finishing speaking, Li Lianying walked towards King Qing and said in a low voice, "What Lafayette means is to leave the city through Deshengmen. My lord, do you think it's safe to go this way?" "There is only one way out of Deshengmen. The city of Beiping is full of Japanese soldiers. I will send someone to deal with them first." King Qing thought for a while and said, "Why don't Lafayette go to Xiyuan to have a rest first, and wait for the negotiations to be completed?" , please drive again." "Yes. That's all." So the car of the Empress Dowager Cixi went to Xiyuan first, and before the meal was passed, King Qing came to report, and Deshengmen can leave!The Empress Dowager Cixi left the gold-encrusted ivory chopsticks, got up and left, got into the car and went straight to Deshengmen. The wheels moved inch by inch among the refugees, and it took almost an hour to pass through the city gate. At this time, the Empress Dowager Cixi opened the curtain of the car and looked back, only to see that a white flag had been set up on the top of the city. ※ ※ ※ The two palaces were exiled, and the coalition forces entered the city. The first to die was Xu Tong, a scholar. After Xu Tong escaped from Dongjiaomin Lane, he stayed in the garden of the late scholar Baojun, and when he heard that the banners had been planted in the city, he ordered his old servant to set up two traps on the main beam of the hall, and then summoned two Son, Xu Chengyu, the third child, and Xu Chengxiong, the most beloved youngest son. "I am the Chief Assistant. When the country is in trouble, I should be martyred." He said to Xu Chengxiong: "Your third brother is the second of Qing, of course you know how to deal with yourself." Speaking of this, he glanced at the rope circle: "After I die, You can retire to the Yizhou Graveyard, teach your descendants to farm and study, and you can't be an official for generations to come." "Father..." Xu Chengxiong knelt down with tears in his eyes, choked with sobs, unable to speak. "Youngest! You go away." Xu Chengyu said: "You will miss the grand occasion of Daddy's life by doing this!" "That's right!" Xu Tong closed his eyes and suppressed tears and said, "Go quickly, don't act like a child!" "Go, go!" Xu Chengyu pushed the younger brother and the old servant and said, "When the devil comes, you won't be able to get away." "So," Xu Chengxiong asked tearfully, "What about you, third brother?" "I," Xu Chengyu replied, "as Qing Er, of course I will do my best. Go, go, you guys go! Don't miss the big deal between father and me." The old servant knows that at this moment, the most difficult thing to let go is the family relationship.Xu Chengxiong is here, Xu Tong and Xu Chengyu may not be able to die, and the injustice is serious, so it is no small matter, so they dragged Xu Chengxiong away. So Xu Chengyu helped his old father onto the domino stool, Xu Tong stood on tiptoe, and tearfully put his white head into the noose, but his eyes were still looking to the right, expecting the father and son to die at the same time. "Father, don't worry, my son will accompany your old man to the spring." Hearing these words, Xu Tong closed his eyes, and let go of the noose with both hands.Xu Chengyu was not negligent, and pulled his ottoman, only to see Xu Tong's body sank, and then swayed in the air. Xu Chengyu helped to become the "big festival" of the old father, and quietly looked out the window. The old servant was probably afraid that Xu Chengxiong would be sad when he saw him, so he dragged him to nowhere.If you don't leave now, when will you stay?Xu Chengyu took off his second-rank robe and jacket, and left home quietly in short clothes, preparing to catch up with the rulers of the two palaces. If he can't be a "filial son", he should be a "loyal minister". Unexpectedly, as soon as I left the alley, I met Japanese soldiers. In front of me was a guide in Han costume. He knew Xu Chengyu and called from a distance: "Master Xu, Master Xu!" Xu Chengyu didn't answer, he bowed his head and walked quickly, which aroused the suspicion of the Japanese soldiers, who caught up with him and grabbed him.Xu Chengyu's legs softened and he knelt down. When the guide arrived, the Japanese soldiers asked him that he was the son of Xu Tong, and Xu Chengyu, who had been imprisoned twice and beheaded the minister unjustly, refused to let him go.They escorted him to their temporary guidance department - the Yamen of Shuntian Mansion, and locked him up with Qixiu. "Why are you here?" Xu Chengyu asked. "Alas!" Qixiu said regretfully, "One moment of hesitation, I lost the chance to die for my country." Xu Chengyu and him were not very speculative, and they couldn't talk to each other at this time. They just sat silently by the side, trying to get away. "Where's the teacher?" Qixiu said. "Martyrdom!" Xu Chengyu said: "I originally wanted to accompany his old man to Quantai, but the old man said that loyalty and filial piety cannot be both, and his last order required me to serve the two palaces and restore the camera to Shenjing. Now, alas, it seems that the old man's Wishes come true." "Oh, the teacher died for the country." Qixiu said in awe, "How did you kill yourself?" "It's cast." "Respectable, respectable!" Qixiu became more and more distressed: "Oh! I am really ashamed of my teacher." "It's not too late to try to make up for it now. I know that you have a heart, and you only hate me for losing my freedom. If you can escape and travel north and see your majesty again, I will definitely give you the Jiaoran Zhi Festival that you will not be able to die and be captured and unyielding." , face to face the two palaces." Qixiu was quite surprised when he heard his words, they didn't hit it off normally, why did they have such good intentions at this moment? After thinking about it carefully, he then asked in a low voice: "What is your plan to get out? If there is anything that can be of help, I will not hesitate to help." Xu Chengyu hoped that Qixiu would cover him and help him get out of trouble.Qixiu made a promise, and at the time of intensive discussions, he didn't want to have ears behind the wall. The Japanese army had already arranged surveillance people there, and immediately put Qixiu and Xu Chengyu in isolation and imprisoned them. At the same time, they sent people to enlighten them. , or shoot to kill. At this point, Xu Chengyu had no choice but to be patient.On the second day, his old servant Xu Shengdexin came to inquire. When he met him, he burst into tears. Instead, Xu Chengyu comforted him: "Don't cry, don't cry! The country is ruined and the family is destroyed. Doom is inevitable. Where's the fourth master?" "Fourth Lord" refers to Xu Chengxiong, "another person was sent to Yizhou." Xu Sheng wiped his tears and replied, "The fourth master didn't want to leave, I said the old lady was worried in Yizhou, so I had to go After reporting a letter, fourth master left the city in a hurry." It turned out that the Xu family's women, children and dependents had long been sent to Yizhou's cemetery for refuge. When Xu Chengyu heard that his younger brother was going to report the letter, he asked, "How to report the law?" "The old lady died..." Xu Sheng hesitated and did not continue. "Also," Xu Chengyu pointed to his nose and said, "What about me?" Xu Sheng knew what he meant, if he said that he had promised his old father to die for the country together, then he would have known that he had abandoned his father to steal his life!It is embarrassing to say this even in front of family members.So Xu Chengyu was very concerned.In fact, after Xu Chengxiong found out that his third brother had escaped quietly, he had already asked Xu Sheng, what would he say when he met his mother?Xu Sheng's answer was, what is there, what to say.But at this time, in order to comfort Xu Chengyu, he had to tell lies. "I think the fourth master will probably tell the old lady that the third master is missing." "I was going to go with the old man. I didn't want to wait for the old man to ascend to heaven, but the Japanese soldiers broke in! At that time, I called you loudly, where have you been?" "Neither I nor Fourth Master heard it." Xu Sheng replied, "At that time, I was in the backyard, and advised Fourth Master not to be sad." "No wonder you can't hear." Xu Chengyu said: "The matter is already like this, so there is no need to talk about it. Has the old man been buried yet?" "I don't know where to find a coffin? I have to dig a hole in the backyard and bury it first." Xu Sheng sighed, and then shed tears: "When I was a first-ranker, I didn't even have a coffin when I died." Xu Chengyu was silent, biting his nails and thinking for a long time, then suddenly shouted to the guarding Japanese soldiers: "I want to see your commander!" The Japanese soldiers couldn't understand what he said, so they found an interpreter. Knowing what Xu Chengyu's request was, he agreed immediately, and sent the interpreter to report on his behalf. After a while, a Japanese second lieutenant named Shibata who could speak Chinese came and said to Xu Chengyu, "If you have anything to say, tell me." "My father died, and I have to go back to attend the funeral. You Japanese also value loyalty and filial piety, so why don't you let me go?" "Is your father's name Xu Tong?" "yes." "Does Xu Tongding believe in the Boxers?" "No, no!" Xu Chengyu said: "My father doesn't care about things. Although he is a bachelor, he is a fake prime minister. I can't tell you clearly. Anyway, he hanged himself, and it is always true. Please follow me The officer went to say, I will take a leave of absence temporarily, and I will come back after finishing the funeral." The second lieutenant agreed to pass on his request, but unexpectedly, "asking for leave" was not allowed to attend the funeral, but the Japanese army sent someone to take care of Xu Tong's funeral.Of course, it will not be a good coffin such as sand Fang, nanmu, a few thin pine boards nailed together, and it will look like a coffin. In any case, Xu Tong can be concluded before the coffin is closed.But some people really have to reach this juncture to be impressive, and the most shocking ones are Bao Ting's descendants. Bao Ting was one of the famous "Four Remonstrances in Hanlin" back then. He married "Sister-in-law Tongyan", a boat prostitute on the Fuchun River, as his concubine on the way back to Beijing after completing the Fujian provincial examination. , build a house in Xishan, search for poetry and get drunk, and die in peace. Two years before his death, the eldest son, Shoufu, had already ordered Hanlin. Shoufu's character was Bofu. He had a long history of family education and was a scholar among the bannermen.The most rare thing is that although Shoufu belongs to the clan, he has learned new knowledge. In the eyes of Xu Tong and his like, Shoufu and his younger brother Shoufan are both "monsters" who are "rebellious". Shoufu and Shoufan are brothers and they are both sons-in-law of Lianyuan.Lianyuan was originally a conservative school of Taoism, but he became a new school under the influence of Shou Fu, so he was cursed.After his death, the whole family went to the son-in-law's house.Shoufu felt that his father-in-law's life was in his hands, so before the coalition forces broke through the capital, the will to die had already begun. When they arrived at the two palaces and ran away, people of all sizes in Beijing raised many white flags.Shoufu made an appointment with his younger brother and decided to die for the country. Before his death, he calmly sorted out the manuscripts and then hanged himself.Shou Fu was a big fat man with limited mobility. Shou Fan helped him onto the step stool just like Xu Chengyu served his old father Hanging Liang. After watching him throw the ring with his own eyes, he also hanged himself.Shoufu also left a suicide note to his fellow officials, asking them to have a chance to show his knowledge and deeds, saying that he "although he taught Western learning, he did not surrender to the enemy". Chongqi, who deeply hated Western learning, did not surrender to the enemy, but followed Ronglu from Liangxiang to Baoding.His wife was born in the Paierjia family, one of the eight nobles in Manchuria, and has an extremely staunch temperament.Hearing that the coalition forces had entered Beijing, they were afraid of being humiliated, so they ordered their family members to dig two extremely deep pits in the backyard.Her son Baochu, Minister of Sanzhi, grandson Lianding, Lianke, Lianmi, and Lianhong, the supervisor, all listened to her, took the courage to make a leap, and were willing to die. The family of thirteen, except for one Except for the great-grandson, he was martyred behind closed doors.The news reached Baoding, where is Chongqi still alive?After crying all day and night, he used a rope in Lianchi Academy and ended his old life. In addition, there are several families who threw themselves into water, self-immolated, took poison, and even killed their own flesh and blood like Ming Sizong did, and then committed suicide.It's just that not many Han people were martyred, and there was only one Guozijian sacrificial wine for senior officials above the fourth rank, the famous Wang Yirong of Fushan, Shandong.Guozijian’s sacrificial wine is also lacking in both Manchu and Han Dynasties. The man’s sacrificial wine is called Xiyuan. He is Yulu’s son. Taking poison and martyrdom is worthy of being an example of Shilin. Although the gate of the country has been broken and the capital is full of turmoil, most people in Kinki, especially in the northwest, do not know that the Qing Dynasty has encountered a catastrophe similar to March 19, the 17th year of Chongzhen. Zeng Jize's son-in-law, named Wu Yong, styled Yuchuan, was born in Juren. He was a county magistrate in Zhili and handled Western affairs.This place is the first stop on the way out of Juyongguan. It is located in Beijing and Suizhou, and there are many places to go. There are more than 300 post horses alone. Therefore, although it is a first-class county, it is not easy to deal with a shortcoming. Wu Yong was capable and in the prime of life, so he didn't think it was hard, but since the Boxers started making troubles, in the past half a year or so, there was hardly a day without trouble, which made Wu Yong exhausted and restless day and night.Since the fall of Tianjin, the defeated army has been rushing in from time to time, and the situation has become more and more difficult. The Boxers were also wary, and filled the east and south gates with stone sandbags, leaving only the west gate to go in and out. Use a basket to hang it from the top of the city, and it must be inspected by the Boxers before it is sent and received. It was the 23rd of July, at dusk, the sky was dark and gloomy, Wu Yong was thinking in his mind, the only way to get rid of his worries was to go there to get some wine and get drunk for a while. At this moment, the Boxers sent an "urgent document".When he received it in his hand, it was just a ball of crumpled rough paper. Wu Yong thought to himself: What kind of emergency document is this?Let's smooth out the paper and see what is written on it? I couldn't help but be shocked when I saw the three characters "Emperor Dowager" in my eyes. I hurriedly read it again, and the horizontal slip read "The Emperor, King Qing, King Li, King Duan, King Su, King Na, Lord Lan, Lord Ze Ye, Lord Ding, Lian Beizi, Lun Beizi, Lord Zhen, Minister of Military Aircraft Gang Zhongtang, Lord Zhao, Lord Ying." Under the words "Empress Dowager, Emperor", it is marked "Full Chinese banquet at a table", the following people are "Each one pot".In addition, there are "Shenji Camp, Hushen Camp, and accompanying officials and soldiers. I don't know how many, so we should prepare more food and grass." print.Wu Yong looked at the handwriting, and it was indeed the handwriting of Qin Liangkui, the magistrate of Yanqing Prefecture. Then, there was news from the post station that the Empress Dowager Cixi and the emperor lived in Chadao that day.This is a post station belonging to Yanqing Prefecture. Twenty-five miles to the west is Yulinbao, which belongs to Huailai County, and twenty-five miles further is the county seat. Wu Yong was very anxious, so he hurriedly invited all his relatives and officials to discuss, "In a remote mountain city, the market is so bad, how can we handle this imperial mission?" He said: "The two palaces will start at the fork tomorrow morning, of course. It's at Yulin Fort, so we have to prepare overnight." Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay and remained silent for a long time. Finally, Master Xing Ming said, "In my opinion, it's better to ignore it. Since there is no order from the superior, and at such a time of turmoil, it is inevitable that the emperor's mission cannot be done." He paused slightly A moment: "It's okay if you don't take over. Once you take over, the supply will not be satisfactory, and you will be severely punished. Isn't it self-inflicted?" It's okay if you don't say this kind of words, but it will disturb people's mind if you say it, Wu Yong hesitated again and again, always feeling that the situation is imminent, if he pretends to be ignorant, he will not only lose the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers, but even if strangers are in trouble, they should help them.As for all the supplies, can you be satisfied with the above?There is no need to worry at this time, as long as you do your best and have a clear conscience, if you want to come to the two palaces to see the dilapidated and dilapidated scenes along the way, you will understand. Make up your mind, issue orders immediately, first send someone to inform the Yulin Fort Post Station that the two palaces will be there at noon tomorrow, and try to prepare food as much as possible, and secondly search the warehouse and kitchen thoroughly to collect more precious food materials, such as sea cucumbers and shark fins. All of them were gathered together, half of them were divided, and the cook from the small kitchen was sent to take them to Yulin Castle overnight to help them cook the imperial meal.At the same time, a notice was issued, inviting the gentry of the county to gather at the county yamen to discuss matters. At this time, it had already started to change, holding candles to discuss, and hearing that the great car was coming, all the gentry looked at each other in astonishment and didn't say a word.Because running an imperial errand is a very harassing thing. If you have money to contribute money, if you have the strength to contribute, which family’s house is good, you need to vacate it, and which family has antique calligraphy and paintings, and you want to borrow it for decoration. dismissed.But today's times are different, how can it be compared with the peacetime period?Therefore, keeping silent means dissatisfaction and alertness. If the county magistrate makes excessive demands, he will immediately encounter resistance. Seeing this situation, Wu Yong hurriedly said in a comforting tone: "Don't worry, everyone! The two palaces are just passing by, and they will leave after staying for one night. As for the officers and soldiers accompanying them, they are also easy to deal with. In order to meet the contingency, every family has food reserves. Divide half of it, bake some cakes, steam some steamed buns, cook some porridge, the more the better. It would be even better if you can prepare some salted vegetables. people."