mage in the late qing dynasty

Chapter 1027: The Buddha of Ten Thousand Families Zhao Chuanxin

The sky was blue and misty in the rain. From afar, a figure could be seen carrying the disaster-stricken people, lightly tapping the floating wood in the muddy stream. He looked like a floating feather, with a handsome and ethereal figure, and his narrow robe also had the wind in the sleeves.

There was a shepherd boy cutting grass to feed cows on the shore. I was so fascinated by him for a moment and from then on I had dreams of immortality.

……

Tumen River was Zhao Chuanxin’s last stop.

After rescuing the people, he teleported directly back to Sakhalin Island without even saying hello to Ge Yunpeng.

Zhao Chuanxin gave orders on the fourth floor of the Peacekeeping Bureau: "Let Kuroda Toshiyoshi come to see me."

The usually grumpy Levitan pug responded and left like a pug.

Kuroda Toshiyoshi, the head of a county, was so humble that Zhao Chuanxin could call him and send him away at will.

I was angry, but I couldn't help but come.

He angrily went up to the fourth floor of the Peacekeeping Bureau and asked coldly, "What do you want from me?"

Zhao Chuanxin was wearing a dark blue home suit, with loose and soft straight-leg pants that had a strong drape. The T-shirt made his shoulders look broad and his waist narrow, which made him look nice without exposing his muscles too much.

This is a serious yet gentle tone, and although dark, it has a relaxing effect, unlike black which is monkish and harsh.

When it comes to dressing, Zhao Chuanxin refuses to be indecisive and just dresses however he wants.

He is carving and painting on paper, working on a new comic strip titled "The Wizard in the Late Qing Dynasty".

This issue is different from previous ones. The pictures are complex and magnificent, with a full Chinese-style architectural background. He even brought his own scene of "crossing the river on a reed" to life on paper.

He uses a fountain pen to create the flavor of ink splashing, and is one of the few painters today who uses a hard pen to depict traditional works in a realistic style.

Chinese artists have been deeply influenced by the poetic mood of "Fishing Alone in the Cold River Snow" for thousands of years, and Zhao Chuanxin is no exception.

There are scenes like the fluttering cloak overlooking the foggy peaks from the Five Finger Mountain, a reed boat crossing the vast water surface, and bustling cities, but they all give people a sense of the coming of a storm. There is cruelty in the romance and realism in the dream.

The comic book "The Wizard in the Late Qing Dynasty" is not only popular among children, but also adults who are unable to extricate themselves from it. There is a reason for this.

Some Western art critics even believe that Zhao Chuanxin has established a new school of art among contemporary painters.

I wonder what kind of reviews this issue of the scroll will receive when it is published?

Zhao Chuanxin's wrist was shaking violently, and the tip of his pen was moving quickly on the paper like a printer's probe.

After drawing the last line, he put down the pen and said, "Xiao Liangzi, are you here?"

"Xiao Liangzi?" Kuroda Liliang: "..."

Zhao Chuanxin spread his hands: "Xiao Liangzi, please sit down."

After Kuroda Toshiyoshi sat down, he asked impatiently, "What's going on?"

"It's like this. One of your Japanese compatriots has been captured by the Russians. I heard about it and I'm very worried. I want you to send someone to bring him back."

Kuroda Toshiyoshi was stunned.

I understood immediately.

Zhao Chuanxin recruited a large number of people from Japan and Russia on the island and trained them, and he could not hide this from him.

I heard that they are going to build a peacekeeping army.

He sneered and asked, "Mr. Zhao, are you talking about the Japanese traitor Sato Masayoshi?"

Zhao Chuanxin was shocked: "Xiao Liangzi, you actually said this about your compatriots, it's really abominable."

"Ugh..." Kuroda Toshiyoshi was furious. "He led the female workers in the parade to kill people and set fires. He hasn't been held accountable for this yet. You still want me to save him? No way."

Zhao Chuanxin drummed his fingers on the table. "No, I will never allow you to let your compatriots be slaughtered by the Russians. You must go and bring them back. I will let the Russian soldiers in the peacekeeping force accompany you and lead the way."

Kuroda Toshiyoshi didn't want to care at all. All Japanese traitors deserved to die.

However, seeing that Zhao Chuanxin's expression was becoming increasingly serious, he did not dare to refuse again.

Zhao Chuanxin continued, "You must know that what Zhao hates most in his life is people who don't care about the lives of their compatriots. Xiao Liangzi, you must be careful."

Kuroda Toshira stood up angrily: "I'll go back and call someone."

After he left, Zhao Chuanxin told Levitan: "Let Neng Chengwen come to see me."

Neng Chengwen came with a map roll in his arms: "Sir, I have already found the location of the Japanese and Russian arsenal, but it is heavily guarded..."

Zhao Chuanxin snatched the map and unfolded it to take a look. It had already been marked: "Not bad."

Neng Chengwen was praised, and rubbed his hands and said: "It's all because of your wisdom and good leadership."

"You're right. I'm just a little bit wiser."

"..."

Neng Chengwen was curious: "Sir, what are we doing in their arsenal? Is it because we don't have any weapons or ammunition?"

Zhao Chuanxin shook his head: "I have already purchased the weapons and ammunition. They are now in the warehouse. When it is sunny tomorrow, I will send them out for live-fire training."

This was a batch of lever-action rifles that he had previously customized from an arsenal he had invested in with his apprentice Benjamin Goldberg.

Can be written in a difficult to understand way.

Then why did Zhao Chuanxin inquire about the armory?
Kuroda Toshiyoshi moved quickly.

He found a lawyer named Jiang Taoliu. Zhao Chuanxin's dispatch was intriguing. He sent Levitan, the executive officer of the peacekeeping army.

The two of them rode in a carriage heading north.

The two-horse carriage traveled for three days and finally arrived at Palevo.

When Jiang Tao Liuhe Levitan saw Sato Masayoshi, Sato Masayoshi was beaten into a pig's head.

His face was miserable, with tears in the corners of his eyes: "Levitan, save me, help me..."

Along the way, Levitan was terrified.

This was because he had killed someone in Nerkan and was exiled to Sakhalin Island to do hard labor such as mining and logging. Going to the Peacekeeping Bureau was actually considered an escape. In essence, he was a wanted criminal in Tsarist Russia.

Sure enough, after hearing the name "Levitan", the Tsarist Russian officer looked at him suspiciously: "Your name is Levitan? I seem to have some impression of you."

Levitan's heart was in his throat: "Sir, I think you have the wrong person."

"No." The Russian officer narrowed his eyes. "My memory is very good. I must have seen you somewhere. Why did you work for Zhao Chuanxin?"

Levitan forgot Zhao Chuanxin's advice to him to speak firmly before he set out, and said with his head lowered, "Sir, this is just work, it has nothing to do with anything else."

"Haha, I remember now. You are a prisoner. To be exact, you are a fugitive. Come, arrest him."

Levitan was very nervous: "Wait, before you arrest me, please consider the fact that I am working for Zhao Chuanxin."

"Sukabulie!" the Tsarist Russian officer said angrily, "You are a Russian fugitive, it has nothing to do with anything else, catch him."

Levitan shouted and screamed, but to no avail, and was soon escorted out.

Jiang Taoliu was dumbfounded.

Zhuo...they were fine when they came, but now he is the only one left.

Faced with the aggressive Russian soldiers, he couldn't help feeling a little scared.

But he still gritted his teeth and pointed at Sato Masayoshi and said, "Please release Sato Masayoshi immediately because he is a Japanese citizen."

However, Sato Masayoshi shook his head vigorously: "No, I am not a Japanese citizen. I am a training sergeant of the peacekeeping army. I obey Mr. Zhao."

"Idiot, so stupid." Jiang Taoliu's scalp tingled: "Sato Masayoshi, you must come back with me as a Japanese citizen."

As he spoke, he also winked fiercely at Sato Masayoshi.

However, Sato Masayoshi was like a turtle eating a weight, and he was determined: "No, I am a training sergeant of the Peacekeeping Bureau..."

The Tsarist Russian officer laughed and said, "Do you know what this Japanese citizen did?"

Jiang Taoliu really didn't know: "I'd like to hear the details."

The Russian officer said coldly: "He came here and persuaded miners, lumberjacks and other workers to go to Fuxiang County. His crime is unforgivable."

Jiang Taoliu said: "It is his freedom to speak, and your people's range of activities is also their freedom, isn't it?"

"No, here we make the laws. Shorty, I think you'd better understand that."

Jiang Taoliu is 1.57 meters tall, which is his weakness.

The Russian officer was about 1.78 meters tall and looked down on people.

Jiang Taoliu felt greatly insulted and said angrily, "You will pay the price for doing this."

The Russian officer stepped forward, lowered his head and stared at Jiang Taoliu: "Little dwarf, are you provoking our country or me personally? If you provoke the country, do you want to start a war? If you provoke me personally, do you want to duel with me?"

Before coming, Kuroda Toshiyoshi once told Jiang Taoliu that it was enough to just show his appreciation and he didn't have to put his heart and soul into it.

He was just angry because the Russian officer insulted him.

But whether it was the former or the latter, he could not bear it.

He is a lawyer and the other party is a warrior.

He is 1.57 meters tall and the other is 1.78 meters tall.

He was skinny and bony, while the other was big and strong.

how to spell?
But he was unwilling to give in, so he could only say in a timid tone: "I am a lawyer, I will use the law to make you pay the price!"

The Maozi officer looked at him with disdain: "What's the price?"

The spit sprayed all over Jiang Taoliu's face.

Jiang Taoliu gritted his teeth and said, "At least make you pay the price in money."

"roll!"

Jiang Taoliu could only leave dejectedly, but he couldn't leave yet and couldn't be too perfunctory, so he found a place to stay locally.

The Russian officer went to report to Boyarkov.

This person is the previous Russian representative, the one who negotiated with Zhao Chuanxin and Matsudaira Kunyang.

"Zhao Chuanxin is too much of a bully. He shouldn't have taken in our prisoners privately, both morally and legally. You did a great job." At this time, a Russian man next to him said, "That Levitan is very hateful. He is willing to be Zhao Chuanxin's running dog. I think he should be severely punished."

It was the Russian who came to Beidao with Sato Masayoshi to persuade the coolies to go south. His name was Ivankov.

Boyarkov agreed: "Yes, it's good that you pulled back from the brink and corrected your mistake in time."

Ivankov quickly expressed his loyalty: "I never really wanted to go south. They coerced me, especially Levitan. I suggest that you get rid of him. In my opinion, Zhao Chuanxin is just one man. It would be better for you to lead your troops to kill him and let the Japanese see how powerful we are."

Boyarkov's face froze. "How dare you say that? How about I send you to kill Zhao Chuanxin? Tell me, what weapon do you want?"

"Ah, I...I can't do that. I've never fought a battle."

"Then don't give blind advice in the future."

"Yes, I am just thinking about our country, please don't blame me."

Boyarkov thought he had reasons and evidence, so he didn't take the matter seriously at all. He just ordered people to beat Levitan and force him to reveal Zhao Chuanxin's information.

As expected, although Levitan told everyone about the Peacekeeping Bureau, he, like Sato Masayoshi, insisted that he belonged to the Peacekeeping Bureau, was not a citizen of Tsarist Russia, and only took orders from Zhao Chuanxin.

As a result, he was often beaten.

However, the next day, Poyarkov received news that an arsenal near the Polonai Valley had been robbed.

He was startled and immediately thought of what the Japanese lawyer Jiang Taoliu had said: "At least make you pay the price in money!"

So, he immediately sent someone to the restaurant to bring Jiang Taoliu to him and roared, "Give us back our weapons immediately!"

Jiang Taoliu was confused: "What weapon?"

"You Japanese are very cunning!" Boyarkov said sarcastically, "Pretend, keep pretending?"

Jiang Taoliu had just fallen asleep in the hotel room when he was dragged here. He was confused at first, but seeing that his life did not seem to be in danger, he retorted: "My weapon is my brain, which I always carry with me. In addition, I have a pen on me. If you are worried about this, just take it away."

Boyarkov suddenly thought of a possibility.

He frowned and waved his hand to have Jiang Taoliu sent out.

Then immediately sent a telegram to the garrison in the Varanasi Valley.

Not long after, a Russian non-commissioned officer came to the narrow part of the water and said to the Japanese soldiers on the other side: "I want to see Zhao Chuanxin."

After obtaining consent from their superiors, the Japanese side released the non-commissioned officer.

The sergeant went to the Peacekeeping Bureau and met Zhao Chuanxin: "Our commander Boyarkov suspected that Mr. Zhao had stolen our arsenal."

This guy talks like a fool.

But if you think about it, it is understandable. If you are not a fool, who would be willing to come and confront Zhao Chuanxin?
Zhao Chuanxin smiled and said, "How is that possible?"

The Russian sergeant was stubborn: "Unless you show me the arsenal of your peacekeeping forces."

"We don't have an arsenal," Zhao Chuanxin said. "Our weapons are all with the soldiers of the Peacekeeping Bureau. If you are interested, you can come and have a look."

The Russian non-commissioned officer actually followed Zhao Chuanxin to the Peacekeeping Bureau's training ground.

Neng Chengwen is leading the live-fire training of male and female soldiers of the Peacekeeping Bureau.

This guy used to be a bandit and shot a gun.

Many bandits in the green forests outside the Great Wall are better at shooting than the regular army.

That’s because the regular army has a limited number of live-fire drills, and each person can only fire a handful of rounds in his or her lifetime.

But bandits, as long as you are willing to practice, as long as the silver you rob is enough to support the training, they can dislocate their shoulders...

This is the kind of writing that can be done.

The Russian non-commissioned officers discovered that the female peacekeepers were grimacing in pain due to the recoil. They were wearing half-sleeved clothes, and some of them did not even have a tube top underneath. Instead, their shoulders were padded to absorb shock.

There were at least a dozen bullet shells lying around each person.

This... is really a bold way to spend money.

They don’t dare to practice like this.

Moreover, it is a waste of God's resources for women to use guns. Are they worthy of it?

Zhao Chuanxin pointed at the training ground and said, "Did you see clearly? Is this the gun from your arsenal?"

The Russian sergeant shook his head blankly: "This is a lever-action rifle."

"Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, please go back. I don't want to keep you for lunch."

Russian sergeant: “…”

As soon as he left, Neng Chengwen came running over with a gun on his back: "Sir, what should we do next?"

"Next, I'll let Maozi have his day!"

"..."

Zhao Chuanxin turned and walked towards the Varanasi River Valley.

……

The rainstorm first swept Lugang Town and Yanbian area, and then moved to the southwest, causing serious flooding in Liaoning.

Xu Shichang was about to leave his post as governor-general of three provinces and go to the capital to take up the post of associate minister of the imperial court and be granted the title of minister of military affairs.

Before leaving office, Xu Shichang was worried that no one would care about flood control and disaster relief after his departure, so he did one last thing: he asked the Lugang Town Charity Association for donations.

He used the credibility of the Governor's Office as a guarantee and raised 3 oceans in donations from the Lugang Town Charity Association without any evidence.

The Lugang Town Charity Association acted very quickly and delivered the money the next day.

However, when Xu Shichang saw the colorful banknotes in his hand, he was stunned: "Miss Liu, are you sure this money can be used?"

Because Liu Jiahui has been practicing martial arts for many years and has learned maintenance techniques from Miao Cuihua, she does not look old at all after several years. Her skin is fair and she does not even have a wrinkle on her face.

But in terms of temperament, she is extremely mature.

This is the demeanor he developed during the years he was in charge of the Lugang Town Charity Association.

After all, you are doing good things and you will be complimented wherever you go. It takes a lot of perseverance not to be complacent.

She smiled, brushed the scattered hair on her forehead and put it behind her.

She was wearing a black silk and wool blended long dress. Because her neck was long enough and her collarbone was beautiful enough, it was designed with a half-high collar. However, the long sleeves were made of lace with arabesque patterns and were slightly hollowed out, which made the fair skin of her arms faintly visible, revealing a hint of temptation in the mystery.

This action made Xu Shichang dazed for a moment.

Liu Jiahui smiled faintly: "This is the new banknote issued by Lubinfu Bank. It can be exchanged for big-eyed gold coins at any time, and can also be exchanged for female generals' money."

Xu Shichang lowered his head again and looked at it carefully.

There are three marmots printed on the one-yuan banknote, two of which are standing up and fighting, and the one in the middle seems to be trying to stop the fight.

The marmot has a gap lip, incisors, small round black eyes, short but strong limbs, and even the texture of the brown and yellow hair on its body is clearly visible.

The three marmots are cute and naive.

Surrounding the marmot is dense grass. The grass is trivial, but the patterns are restored one by one, and there are even water drops hanging on the leaves.

The marmot's fur is brown and the grass is green. An Arabic numeral 1 is written in the upper left corner, with a blank space behind the 1, and then "Lubinfu Bank" is written.

At the foot of the marmot, there are two Chinese characters for "一元" written on it.

In the lower left corner of the banknote, there is a marmot standing on a stone with its mouth wide open and its small eyes wide, with "Ah" written behind it.

I blanch...

Xu Shichang was so fascinated by the sight for a moment that he even forgot to steal a glance at Liu Jiahui's arm.

This banknote actually has fine lines on it, in multiple colors, and the patterns are lifelike and funny, but it's hard to laugh at, after all, it's too difficult to imitate.

The banknotes make a crisp sound when they hit the hands, and when they are bent, there are no rough edges or creases like ordinary paper.

So cool.

What material is paper made of?
There is a weasel on the front of the five-yuan note and a clover flower on the back.

There is a red fox on the front of the ten-yuan note and a cluster of osmanthus flowers on the back.

There is an old wolf on the front of the twenty-yuan note and a cluster of purple irises on the back.

The fifty-yuan note has a moose on the front and a cluster of red hibiscus flowers on the back.

The 100-yuan note is the most amazing, as it actually has a group portrait of the Grey Axe cavalry attacking in a mighty and vigorous manner.

Xu Shichang asked again: "Miss Liu, printing money is no joke. It has been printed in every dynasty. In the third year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign, the government was in financial crisis, so it printed Ministry of Revenue silver notes and Qing Baochao. At first, all of them could be exchanged, but by the eleventh year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign, less than one in ten could be exchanged, and the people were complaining bitterly."

Liu Jiahui blinked: "Governor Xu, do you think our Captain Zhao is a corrupt official? Is our Captain Zhao stupid? The Qing government did not print banknotes according to the gold reserves. Will Captain Zhao's bank fall into the same pit and follow the Qing government's example of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs? Governor Xu, you underestimate our Captain Zhao's courage."

She smiled, turned around and left without any further explanation.

……

Lianliaodi received donations from the Lugang Town Charity Association, not to mention the Lugang Town area and Yanbian area.

However, all donations must be made in paper currency.

Light, exquisite, and not easily damaged...these are the characteristics of Lugang Town Bank's banknotes.

“Can this banknote be spent?”

"Nonsense, what are you afraid of, Mr. Zhao's bank?"

"Mr. Zhao is a kind-hearted man who saved my family and asked the charity to help with post-disaster reconstruction. He is like a second parent to me."

"Have you read the newspaper? Newspapers inside and outside the Great Wall say that Immortal Zhao is the Buddha of all families. Mr. Zhao is like Bodhidharma crossing the river on a reed, isn't he a Buddha..."

Flood relief, procurement of military supplies, government recruitment, etc. were all carried out using banknotes issued by the Lubinfu Bank.

Ordinary people and merchants were naturally hesitant, after all, there were precedents.

They were very careful and went to the bank to exchange the banknotes immediately every time they got them.

The trust in the banknotes issued by Lubinfu Bank still needs to be cultivated, but the power of faith of Zhao Chuanxin, the Buddha of all families, has increased sharply in the past few days...

(End of this chapter)