Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 333 Sino-French Hostage Incident
Three days later, Yinger and other bannermen were put on the train going north, bumped in a stuffy jar for a full week, and when they got off the train, Yinger and the others almost vomited their hearts, livers and lungs. Those who are already thousands of miles away, the people from the Banner Affairs Bureau told them that the emperor has pardoned your capital crimes and given you the opportunity to start a business. .

Ying Er's legs softened and he knelt on the ground, facing the direction of Beijing and weeping: "If I, Ying Er, don't make a career here, I will be his son of a bitch!"

Guan Xuqing finally breathed a sigh of relief after dealing with the matter of these bannermen, and then waited to see how these people performed in Tomsk.But the majestic Kaiser Wilhelm II made Guan Xuqing dumbfounded. Now that the second Battle of the Marne is about to start, he is like a bystander, visiting the Imperial Temple in Beijing, visiting the Beihai, or discussing the overall situation of the world with Guan Xuqing. He looked happy to miss Shu, and never mentioned the matter of returning to Germany.Guan Xuqing knew in his heart that Wilhelm intended to stay in Beijing at this critical moment in order to give the world a false impression that China and Germany had the same views on European and even world issues. In the European War, we will firmly stand on the side of the Germans.

However, William's wishful thinking soon ran into crisis. He didn't expect that the stupid German War Ministry would have friction with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs because of a command issue, and even went to the point of monitoring other people's embassies. He felt extremely embarrassed in Beijing.He immediately sent a secret telegram to his Ministry of the Army, severely reprimanding the stupid behavior of the Ministry of War, and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately hold a press conference to publicly apologize to the staff of the Chinese embassy and clarify the rumors of a rift in Sino-German relations. The adverse effects caused by the incident were kept to a minimum.

After issuing this order, William still felt that it was not appropriate, so he came to see the Chinese emperor in person, hoping to obtain the understanding of the brother-in-law.

Guan Xu listened quietly to William's slightly apologetic and sad explanation, finally stood up and picked up the western sword in the study room, and said to William: "I still remember that you gave this knife to me at the Berlin celebration last year. My, I've always loved it very much." As he said, he exerted a little force on his wrist, and with a clang, a cold light flashed, and the knife was pulled out by a third, shining brightly in the slanting morning light.Guan Xuqing cast his eyes on William and said: "A good knife cannot be without a scabbard. The scabbard is not only a decoration, but also an indispensable protection for the knife. The knife and the scabbard are just like China and Germany."

William's eyes lit up, and he held Guan Xuqing's hand tightly: "Your Majesty, thank you for your understanding and tolerance. As the leader of the German Empire, I swear that no matter what happens, the friendship between China and Germany will never be broken." Change."

"We are friends, there is no need to talk between friends." Guan Xuqing said with a smile.

While the two were talking, Dai Hongci, the director of the Telegraph Bureau, hurriedly came to see the emperor. Guan Xuqing knew that something must have happened when he saw his ashes.

The "Emperor" Dai Hongci was about to give a report, when he looked up and saw William II looking at him with a smile, he couldn't help being speechless for a moment.

"If you have anything to say, just talk about it. There are no outsiders here." Guan Xuqing smiled and looked at William, who nodded in greeting.

"Your Majesty, something serious has happened!" Dai Hongci said loudly, Guan Xuqing's whole body was shaken, and he immediately suppressed his smile.

"Yesterday, Shao Lizhuo, the Minister to France, was ordered to go to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mediate. The people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond positively, but shifted the responsibility to the French combat command, so Shao Lizhuo approached Xiafei who was in charge of the front line of the Marne River. General, you have shown China's intention to mediate, I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it." Dai Hongci thumped his thigh heavily and sighed.

"Go on, what's going on?" Guan Xuqing involuntarily leaned forward.

"I didn't expect that General Xiafei would not buy China's account at all. He criticized our country and His Majesty in his words. He said that the Chinese are wolves in sheep's clothing. On the surface, they pretend to be mediators hypocritically. The fruit of the war, he also said that France and England have made all preparations to sweep away all the enemies who dare to invade, and they even did not hesitate to break into Beijing as they did 30 years ago, and push you, the emperor, from the throne." Dai Hongci did not dare to say any more, Take a peek at the emperor's reaction.

Guan Xuqing didn't speak immediately, but his eyes were extremely cold and sharp at this time, and his right hand had already clenched the corner of the dragon robe.After a while before he calmed down, he glanced at William II, who was secretly delighted, from the corner of his eye, and pretended to say nonchalantly: "It's just a few big words, so what's the matter. Gauls always like to put themselves He boasted that he was very great, if he really had that kind of ability, I would be waiting in Beijing at any time to see how they push me down from the throne." After finishing speaking, Guan Xuqing smiled lightly and waved to Dai Hongci, meaning that you can go down if you have nothing to do. .

Dai Hongci wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said, "If that's the case, it's okay, then General Xiafei imprisoned Shao Lizhuo viciously later, declaring that if China dares to use troops against the coalition army, it will be the first to detain China's diplomats." Officer killed."

"Bastard! It's been said since ancient times: When two countries are fighting, they don't kill each other. Now they dare to take our diplomats as hostages. This Xiafei is too arrogant and despicable!" Guan Xuqing suddenly stood up, and the veins on his forehead twitched. "Immediately ask Wu Tingfang and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a solemn negotiation on this matter, and ask the French side to release the detainees unconditionally. Otherwise, China will not be responsible for all the bad consequences caused by it."

"Your Majesty, after the incident happened, Minister Wu immediately negotiated with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the other party said that the matter was beyond the jurisdiction of the foreign ministry and ignored our request." Dai Hongci replied with a look of embarrassment.

"It seems likely that France secretly instructed Joffre to do this. They are pushing themselves to the opposite side of the empire." Guan Xuqing turned to William and said, "What do you think of this matter?"

The cunning William shrugged his shoulders and said: "This is a matter of your country. I'm sorry that I can't comment on it casually. But the arrogance and conceit of the Gauls are known all over the world. To deal with such a country, you must use cannons to give them a good fight." Just take a lesson."

Guan Xuqing did not express his position, but said something strange to Dai Hongci: "Immediately call Jianfeng and let them make all preparations."

Dai Hongci responded and withdrew.

William asked suspiciously: "What exactly is the sharp point you are talking about?"

Guan Xuqing sneered, did not answer William's words, but looked at the Western saber, and said to himself: "The French will definitely regret this behavior!"

About ten days before the Chinese Lunar New Year, the German army launched the second Battle of the Marne on the land of the French and Belgians, with the goal directed at Paris.

On January 1897, 1, the German army first launched against the British and French allied forces in the Aisne River area, forming a salient portion of the Marne River with a frontage of 25 kilometers and a depth of 80 kilometers.Subsequently, the German High Command planned to concentrate the forces of the 60 armies in the Marne area (the 3th, 7st, and 1rd armies, a total of 3 divisions, 48 artillery pieces, and more than 6353 airships). The river section broke through the defense line of the Allied Forces and pierced the heart of France like a sharp knife, Paris.

The French 6th, 5th, and 4th armies (36 divisions, 3080 artillery pieces in total) adopted a deep echelon configuration to organize defenses and prepare to switch to counter-offensive at an appropriate time. At 26:30 on the 1th, the French army unexpectedly launched a fierce artillery counterattack against the German army that was about to attack.After more than three hours of artillery preparation, the German 3st and 3rd armies launched an offensive east of Reims and broke through the first French position, but were stopped by heavy artillery fire in front of the second position.The German 7th Army broke through the defense lines of the French 5th and 6th Army in the Zoorgone and St. Everez areas, advanced 5-8 kilometers, and forcibly crossed the Marne River.

At the same time, the French artillery suddenly bombarded the crossings and bridges of the Marne River in an attempt to delay the German advance.

协约国军队在防御过程中增调部队准备反攻。联军总司令福煦决心由法第10、第6集团军（25个步兵师、3个骑兵师，共2103门火炮）从马恩河突出部西侧对当面德军（18个师，918门火炮）实施主攻，法第9、第5集团军从突出部东侧实施助攻，以解除德军对巴黎的威胁。

That night, under the cover of night, ten large combat airships quietly flew to Ziz, the strategic area first delineated by the German military, and landed near an munitions warehouse. Generals, the leading generals are Hindenburg, commander-in-chief of the German front-line army, and Ludendorff, chief of staff of the army.Hindenburg had been watching the airship slowly land in front of his eyes. Dozens of soldiers in black canvas military uniforms stepped down from it. Their faces were painted with dark oil paint, and their faces and expressions could not be seen at all.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff took a few steps to meet him.A sturdy soldier walked out of this group of soldiers, and said to Hindenburg in a low voice: "Are you the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, Your Excellency Hindenburg?"

"That's right. I came here from Senna to meet you. Who is Captain Wang?" Hindenburg looked excited and nervous.

The soldier pointed to the second airship on the right: "Captain Wang, please go to the airship and talk."

The arrogant Ludendorff snorted: "Is this how Chinese soldiers treat their friends?"

The soldier didn't answer, he left the group of senior German officers and went straight to his habitat.

Hindenburg boarded the airship alone despite Ludendorff's dissuasion.There was only one soldier sitting on the pilot's seat on the airship, and Hindenburg approached him and asked, "Are you Captain Wang?"

(End of this chapter)