Chapter 109: Imperial Decree to Support the King

  Dagu Fort

  "Sir, the Taiwan Water Troop has arrived." Deputy General Han Zhaoqi hastily walked into the barracks of General Ro Rongguang, who was guarding Tianjin Town.

  "Come on, they're not here for the first time." Luo Rongguang said casually. This old guy is also over 60 years old this year and has been guarding this fortress for nearly 20 years. His general's mansion is not far from here, but he rarely goes there, including sleeping, and spends most of his time living on the artillery platform.

  "They're all here!" Han Zhaoyi said with a serious expression.

  "What's going on?" Luo Rongguang was momentarily stunned.

  "The flagship Plunderer, eight destroyers, six landing ships, plus Yang Feng's black ship, a total of sixteen warships have arrived," said Han Zhaoji.

  "What are they up to? Sound the alarm and prepare all batteries!" Luo Rongguang jumped up with a whoosh, holding his waist knife while shouting and running out. He wasn't an idiot, and the Taiwan Water Force's defense zone wasn't Dagushan either. One or two ships coming over to do something was normal, but having the whole fleet come over was very abnormal, and bringing landing ships too would be a clear indication of their intentions.

  The alarm bell on the five artillery forts at Dagukou immediately rang out, and thousands of soldiers rushed to their posts. The defenders' training level was still quite good, otherwise the Eight-Nation Alliance would not have suffered such a great loss in the Battle of Dagu Forts. Over 100 large and small caliber cannons quickly aimed at the distance, and more than a dozen warships were anchored outside the range on the sea surface.

  Before long, a small boat was lowered from the black ship and came over.

  "Yuan Shikai, what are you doing running to Dagukou?" Luo Rongguang said coldly as he looked at Yuan Shikai who had been brought onto the artillery platform.

  "General Luo, with all due respect, the Taiwan Fleet is a naval force of the Imperial Court. Why can't it enter the Dagu mouth? I am also an official appointed by the Imperial Court and the commander of the Xinjiang Army. It seems that I don't need your permission to go wherever I want, General Luo. What do you mean by aiming your cannons at our own naval ships?" Yuan Shikai said discontentedly. His own Xinqing Army of 5,000 men was left in Tokyo to continue fighting alongside the Germans due to their relatively poor combat effectiveness, but he himself was brought along by Yang Feng as his chief assistant.

  In fact, he was also very clear that after withdrawing from Japan this time, if he didn't take drastic measures, he might not only lose his official position but also risk being imprisoned. He understood this point more clearly than Song Qing and others. The entire Japanese garrison had already been branded with the imperial party's mark, so it would be strange if Cixi could continue to keep them after the war. Therefore, he was now Yang Feng's most steadfast supporter in his military coup.

  "The Ministry of War has an order, the various armies that surrendered to the Japanese in Tokyo should surrender on the spot. If you don't have a new order, it's considered desertion. Before the Ministry of War issues a disposal order, it is your duty as an officer. You absolutely cannot disturb the local area." Luo Rongguang said calmly, he wasn't stupid enough to be intimidated by Yuan Shikai's words. The disposal orders for the various armies that surrendered had already been made public nationwide. Although he sympathized with their situation, guarding Dagu was his responsibility. Letting a troop without a dispatch order pass through was absolutely not allowed.

  "Then it's up to Lord Rong to memorialize the imperial court." Yuan Shikai said, this was something he had anticipated long ago, and his coming was merely to perfect the process.

  Rong Guang of course had to ask for instructions. After Li Hongzhang went to Shanghai for medical treatment, Wang Wenshao, the acting governor of Beiyang, was stationed in Tianjin. The Dagu Fort had a direct telephone line to the Governor's Mansion. Upon learning this news, the cunning and treacherous Wang Wenshao immediately understood the real reason why Li Hongzhang went to Shanghai without rhyme or reason. Moreover, Li Hongzhang thus made his attitude clear. Since he, as the legitimate Zhili governor, did not want to get involved in this muddy water, what was the point of him, a temporary agent, getting entangled in these trivial matters? It would be better to continue reporting to the imperial court.

  Cixi was also stunned by the news, but she didn't think of Yang Feng's mutiny at all. In fact, Yang Feng's actions at this time were not considered a mutiny. At most, it could be said that he had disobeyed orders and made unauthorized troop movements. Moreover, he had not yet incited his soldiers to take action, and the real plot was still unfolding.

  "This monkey still dares to run to Tianjin, telling Wang Wenshao to lead people to Dagukou. Directly capture Yang Feng and his men." Cixi said coldly.

  Just as she gave this order, Weng Shifu rushed into the palace with a telegram from Yang Feng to Guangxu and found Xiaodog.

  "Your Majesty, the army of 10,000 men led by General Yang has arrived at Dagukou. According to what they say, all the officers and soldiers are resentful and indignant towards the imperial court's orders, and they want to go to the capital to appeal their grievances. This is a heaven-sent opportunity. If we can get these 10,000 men to come to the capital, then Your Majesty's great cause will be accomplished." Weng Shifu said excitedly, finally waiting for this day after many years.

  Guangxu was still sitting there, half-dead and unable to make a decision. This guy grew up under the shadow of Cixi, and his fear of her had already penetrated deep into his bones. To say nothing of rebelling against her, he didn't even dare think about it.

  "Your Majesty, can you bear to see me being beaten to death by the Empress Dowager?" Zhenfei said sorrowfully as she lay on her bed. This little thing now hated Cixi so much that she was grinding her teeth and wished to kick her down immediately, then find an opportunity to give her a cup of poisoned wine, watching from the side as she bled from all seven orifices, rolling about in agony, just like when she herself had been beaten by Cixi.

  "Your Majesty, the opportunity is at hand. With just one imperial edict, Yang Feng's troops can enter the capital, and then Your Majesty will soar to great heights." Master Weng urged anxiously from the side, he was truly anxious now, this matter couldn't be hidden for long, sooner or later it would be exposed, if Empress Dowager Cixi found out that he was secretly plotting to seize her power, it might lead to disaster, the lives of the old and young in the Weng family hung in the balance at this moment.

  "Your Majesty, Lord Wang requests an audience." At this time, a small eunuch came in and said that he was the Right Servant of the Ministry of Rites, Wang Xiangrong, who was now one of the few main figures still by Guangxu's side after Cixi had cleaned up most of them. Zaiyi had even been banished to the Imperial Clan Court, leaving only Master Weng and his disciples, and then there was this Wang Xiangrong, who would soon be dismissed from office forever in history.

  "Transmit!" The little dog said weakly.

  "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has already issued an edict to Wang Wenshao, ordering him to go to Dagukou to capture Yang Feng and others." Wang Mingruan said anxiously as soon as he came in.

  "Your Majesty, if you hesitate any longer, it will be too late. Yang Feng may have a strong sense of loyalty and righteousness, but without a just cause, what can he do with his soldiers? If we obtain the imperial edict to boost military morale, and with justice on our side, the soldiers who are filled with grief and indignation will certainly obey orders. Wang Wenshao is just a scholar, and the defenders of the Dagu Fort are only three thousand strong. With ten thousand troops, we can defeat the Japanese elite forces in one battle. The Beiyang Army has already been deployed to the Northeast, and Tianjin is almost defenseless. Although there are tens of thousands of soldiers defending Beijing, none of them are capable of fighting, and they have no strength to resist. Moreover, many of them are waiting and watching, and when the enemy approaches the city, Your Majesty can reason with them, and they will certainly turn against each other."

  "Your Majesty, if you continue to hesitate, I'd rather hang myself and be done with it. I absolutely cannot endure this fragmented humiliation any longer." Zhenfei said tearfully, then struggled as if looking for a rope.

  At this time, every man couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline, and even the weak little dog had some blood in its veins. It gritted its teeth, got up, and personally wrote a decree to Yang Feng, affixed the jade seal, and had it delivered by Master Weng to O'Connor, who then personally drove his car to deliver it to Dagoukou.

  At this time, Wang Wenshao, who had received the telegram, also boarded the ship and headed to Dagukou.

  Outside the Dagu mouth, both sides are still in a standoff. The soldiers on the landing ships have already begun to lose control of their emotions, and many have run to the deck to shout at the artillery fortifications. Many people have also asked their superiors to demand forced landing, saying that they really don't take this fortress seriously, just five artillery forts can be finished with a poisonous gas bomb. Some old soldiers have even found positions for rushing ashore.

  Yang Da Boss sat on the deck of the Parrot Shell, and today, in order to look more formal, he even put on his zombie outfit. This was actually the first time he wore a suit, wearing dragon scales inside and a zombie suit outside, making himself look quite majestic, with a hint of tiger-like aura.

  The raider next to him was also ready, with cannons aimed at the Dagao battery, and shells filled with phosgene, not mustard gas, but chloroacetophenone, which is also deadly, but mainly has a strong tear-inducing effect.

  Wang Wenshao's small steamer had only run a little over ten sections on the inland river, while O'Connor's car was the latest model from the American Yang Motor Company, using a four-cylinder gasoline engine that could reach speeds of over 50 kilometers per hour on dirt roads. He almost arrived at Dagukou at the same time as Wang Wenshao and immediately boarded a small boat that had been arranged in advance to go aboard the Parrot Submarine.

  At this time, Wang Wenshao also brought soldiers to the artillery platform.

  "Take him down!" He pointed at Yuan Shikai and said, the soldiers behind him immediately came forward to tie up Yuan Shikai. Da Tou Ge looked at O'Connor who had already boarded the USS Alacrity and smiled, saying: "Your Excellency, I don't know what crime this humble officer has committed?"

  Wang Wenshao looked at him and said expressionlessly: "Deserting the battlefield, disobeying orders and returning without permission."

  "Mr. Wang, what makes you say that?" Yuan Shikai said with feigned surprise.

  "Comfort, the matter of Japan is indeed not your fault. To be frank, it's hard for you to surrender to the enemy in a situation where you've won the battle, but this imperial court has its own laws and regulations. You don't have to worry too much about it. The main responsibility doesn't lie with you, and you are also a descendant of loyal and good people. I will help clear your name." King Wen Shao said with a heavy heart.

  "Your Excellency, I really don't understand what you're saying. All I know is that we were ordered to return to the capital and enter the imperial city. Could it be that following the sacred edict of His Majesty is also wrong?" Yuan Shikai said with a sly smile.

  Wang Wenshao felt a sudden jolt, and he immediately realized that this pool of murky water was much deeper than he had imagined. It might even be a real whirlpool. He subconsciously lifted his head, just in time to see Yang Feng on the black ship in the distance waving a yellow object at him with a flourish. By now, Wang Wenshao finally understood what was going on.

  This guy is also cunning and made a choice almost instantly.

  "Hurry up and untie me, why didn't you say so earlier?" he said with a reproachful face.