The mage in the late Qing Dynasty

Among the "Xinchou Treaty" signed that year, one item was to increase the number of guards in the embassy area of ​​​​Dongjiaominxiang.

Since then, a mini Eight-Power Allied Force has been stationed in the capital all year round, with more than 2,000 troops.

Strictly speaking, this is not a concession, but it is better than a concession.

Public security is handled by the police composed of the mini-Eight-Nation Allied Forces, and the Qing court military police are not allowed to intervene.

There are walls and bunkers built around it, with a total of eight entrances and exits, all guarded by foreign military police.

Standing guard in the embassy area is a routine task. In addition, there is a small playground for military and police daily training.

Every time they train, many people from the capital gather to watch and praise loudly: They are indeed a foreign army, their spirit is different.

At this time, the foreign military and police officers in training were proud of themselves, with their chests and belly raised, their guns and bayonets raised, showing off their power.

It can be said that that pride comes from their centuries of accumulation of aggression and exploitation, and also from the awe-inspiring looks of the people in the capital.

Wherever there are people, there are business opportunities.

Some foreigners, seeing so many military and police officers with nowhere to vent their energy except standing guard and training, rented a house and opened a bar next to Dongjiaomin Lane to serve the foreign military and police officers.

In a few years, a red-light district-like commercial street has been formed here, with bars, casinos, brothels, hotels, etc.

The foreign police didn't care, but the Qing police didn't dare to. Over time, it naturally harbored filth and evil, creating a lawless and lawless place.

The mixed-race place next to the embassy district stretches from Suzhou Hutong in the north, to the Tatar City Wall in the south, and to Harde Gate in the west. It is filled with people who were forced to flee their homeland to make a living in foreign lands, as well as adventurers, many of whom were engaged in the flesh trade.

This area is called bad land by the people in the capital.

Many years later, even the daughter of the future British minister was killed here. The bad land was caused by them, and they also had to suffer the consequences.

This was the bar that Backus spoke of to Rebecca Levy.

Foreigners are open-minded, but they also have a certain degree of openness.

Even if it’s a foreign girl, who from a good family would go to a bar in a bad land to hang out?

Rebecca Levi shook her head, and at the same time took out the silver and handed it to Bacchus: "Mr. Bacchus, thank you for your help. This is the reward you deserve."

Bacchus is as bold as Zhao Chuanxin, but the difference is that Zhao Chuanxin is vicious and Bacchus is a wretched villain.

His favorite thing to do is to fool politicians. The more powerful he is, the more excited he is.

He is well-known in foreign circles. Everyone calls him China Hand and believe that the news coming from him is usually reliable.

If given a suitable springboard, he would even dare to fool the British Empire's court.

How could such a person be interested in Rebecca Levi's small reward?

He refused with a straight face: "Rebecca, what do you mean? Are you looking down on me? Take it back quickly."

Rebecca Levi seems to have a gentle and gentle temperament, but she is actually from Shandong County. She is as stubborn as a stone: "Mr. Bacchus, you must accept it, otherwise I will have trouble sleeping and eating."

"I won't accept this money."

"You must accept it."

"..."

Bacchus had no choice but to accept it.

He tried his best to say some wisecracks, but found that Rebecca Levi was not in her mind, her eyes were wandering, as if she didn't even hear a word, and the smile on her face didn't bloom because of him, she seemed to be thinking about something.

So San San resigned.

He went to the bar street by himself.

Even the air here is filled with the smell of drunkenness, and the smell of drunken belches fills the neighborhood.

When I walked into the bar and ordered a glass of whiskey, someone sat down next to me.

"How audacious of you, Mr. Backus."

Bacchus felt nervous and turned around to see a short middle-aged Asian who looked to be in his forties, looking at him with a smile.

"Who is your Excellency?"

"It doesn't matter who it is, what's important is that I admire Mr. Backus' courage."

"What do you mean?" Bacchus said with a serious expression.

"You fooled the special envoy and Zhao Chuanxin's lover. If you are not afraid of Zhu Erdian, are you not afraid of Zhao Chuanxin?"

It would be a lie to say that I am not afraid.

But walking on a tightrope is very exciting, and Bacchus, who is a little twisted because of his childhood experience, prefers this feeling.

He pretended to be calm: "I don't know what you are talking about, so don't disturb me."

The middle-aged man smiled and said, "Okay, I'll talk to them later. Maybe I can prevent them from being fooled."

Bacchus' hand shook and the drink spilled.

He gave an awkward smile: "Are you Japanese?"

"It has nothing to do with who I am, just a reminder to Mr. Backus that you can't fool everyone."

"Everything I said is true. Do you have proof that I lied?" A hint of cunning flashed in Bacchus's eyes.

"I don't know much about you, but my understanding of Zhao Chuanxin must be beyond your expectations."

Bacchus turned around and looked at the man steadily: "Sir, tell me, what exactly do you want to do?"

"I can tell you responsibly that Zhu Erdian will definitely die if he offends Zhao Chuanxin. Before he dies, he is still valuable, and we can cooperate..."

…

Zhu Erdian is not stupid at all to be the Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China.

But he also has shortcomings - he can't be distracted when doing things, he can only grasp one line.

For example, he first thought that Tianjin Wei was not as safe as the capital, so he came to the capital.

Someone recommended Backus and he met with him.

Instead of thinking about all the escape routes in Tianjin Wei, we can only grasp one line and keep moving forward.

When Bacchus, in order to emphasize the reliability of his words, mentioned that he knew Zhao Chuanxin's lover and lived in the capital, Zhu Erdian continued to dig deeper along this line.

When Bacchus left, he immediately sent someone to follow him and found the hotel where Rebecca Levi was staying.

Once Bacchus leaves, the place will be monitored secretly.

Zhu Erdian was still worried, but now that he had a life-saving straw, he had no time to worry about anything else.

…

Forbidden City.

Since the weather was hot, Cixi went to Chengde Mountain Resort to escape the summer heat. She contracted dysentery and never recovered after returning.

She always felt weak all over, with ringing in her ears and dizziness.

I get diarrhea from time to time.

Cixi knew to some extent that she had half her foot stuck in the loess and her time was running out.

Today, she summoned Zhang Zhidong.

The old Zhang Zhidong has long lost the courage he once had.

His beard is all white, reaching to his chest, he is short, his face is pale, his eyes are cloudy, and his speech is weak and hollow.

He himself refused to accept old age, but the fact was that he was already in his old age.

Cixi was indeed domineering and would not allow Zhang Zhidong to rise again, but she would still come to him for political consultation when something happened.

"Xiaoda, do you still have many cats?"

"I like cats by nature, and I always have dozens of cats in my bedroom. I have never lost a little bit. I have benefited a lot from practicing the method of keeping cats in good health..."

"Hey..." Cixi looked helpless. She learned health-preserving techniques from cats. Except for the one in front of her, she had never heard of it. It was really strange. After the greetings, she didn't want to talk about the cat anymore and changed the subject: "I called you here because I wanted to discuss what to do with the traitor Zhao Chuanxin and how to deal with him?"

What she wanted to say was "disposal", but after thinking about it, she didn't have the confidence, you know?

If he could live another twenty years, he would probably have to fight with Zhao Chuanxin to the end. One of them would have to die.

Now it seems that maybe she is the only one who is dying...

Zhang Zhidong understood immediately.

This year, Lafayette's health is deteriorating and his end is approaching. He must overcome all difficulties for future generations.

If Cixi wanted to discuss the establishment of an heir or the mobilization of troops, Zhang Zhidong might answer cautiously.

However, Zhao Chuanxin has nothing to do with their interests and power, and he can speak freely.

"Why not restrain it with official positions?"

Cixi shook her head: "I tried it a few years ago. This animal is rebellious and has no regard for the imperial laws. I'm afraid it won't be effective."

Zhang Zhidong's beard trembled: "Why not give him full-time duties?"

I think you are fooling fools there, Zhao Chuanxin is a monkey spirit, will he accept your tricks?

"A real job? Zhao Chuanxin is a martial artist. If he doesn't give him a real job, he's already training in private. If he gives a real job, won't he rebel against heaven?"

Although the insurance team did not continue to expand, it became a local hegemon. Neither the soldiers nor the Japanese could do anything to them.

Cixi would automatically transform into an ostrich in the face of forces she couldn't afford to offend. She would hide her head and act like an insurance team like the local prince Yang Fu Wei Zhi Zhi. She could do whatever she liked.

Just like Zimmer's special Muppets.

Fortunately, Zhao Chuanxin and Lugang Town fell out later, at least they believed it was true.

Without his powerful wings, although Zhao Chuanxin is still a cancer, it is at least barely benign.

Zhang Zhidong shook his head: "Real duties are given in vain, recruitment is in vain, and misfortunes are diverted to the east."

Cixi rolled her eyes: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Zhidong stroked his beard and already had a draft: "Earlier this year, Xu Shichang and Zhou Shumo petitioned to abolish Ai Hui, Mo Ergen, and Hulun Beier as deputy commanders, and to add Ai Hui and Hulun Beier. Two roads were added, including Heihe, Manzhu, Foshan, and Nenjiang. Last month, the imperial court approved the Hulun Army Preparation Road, with the Zhili Hall under it. As for Manzhu, the court regarded Manzhu as the Russian The name given by the court was not adopted, and the officials named it Lubin Prefecture. Why not appoint Zhao Chuanxin as the prefect of Lubin Prefecture and concurrently serve as the chief card officer of the six Karens?"

The system outside the customs was restructured, generals were withdrawn, and provinces were established.

This is not something that happens overnight, but changes slowly.

The so-called Manzhu Mansion actually means "Manchu". At that time, it was transliterated as Manzhu and written as Manzhu. This was a name given by Tsarist Russia because it was the first stop of Tsarist Russia's Middle Eastern Railway outside the customs.

Xu Shichang wanted to build a palace there, but Tsarist Russia would not allow it. It was clearly the territory of the Qing court, but it was occupied by Tsarist Russia. Now it is only the land of the Qing court in name only, but it has no jurisdiction.

Therefore, it could only be located two kilometers away from Manchuria in later generations, isolated in the wild, and its position was very embarrassing.

Cixi's eyes suddenly lit up.

I blanch, I can only say I blanch.

Sure enough, ginger is still spicy.

Real duty is indeed real duty, but it's a rough place and it's far away on the border. Maybe a fart could be smelled by Tsarist Russians outside the border. Friction is inevitable in a place like this.

Granted the actual post of magistrate, Zhao Chuanxin indeed has military power.

In a bitterly cold land, he could only lead troops to patrol the border posts in the devastated meadows every day, manage Karen, and constantly argue with the Tsarist Russians over the national border.

First, the imperial court could not allocate money, so Zhao Chuanxin could only find a way to raise it on his own. Second, the Tsarist Russians also hated Zhao Chuanxin, but they were also afraid of him. With Zhao Chuanxin around, maybe Tsarist Russia would not dare to arbitrarily occupy territory and act across borders, pushing this disaster to Tsarist Russia. Third, Zhao Chuanxin was entangled in busy affairs every day and was far away from the capital. Naturally, he would not threaten the newly succeeded Puyi. Fourth, it was too shabby and poor. Even if Cixi had never been there, you could still imagine what it was like. Zhao Chuanxin went there, even if he was rebellious, he couldn't make a big splash. fifth……

All in all, there are countless benefits.

Cixi breathed rapidly and almost wanted to applaud Zhang Zhidong.

She suppressed her excitement: "But this beast is unruly and untamed, what if he starts a provocation?"

Zhao Chuanxin has established a character for himself over the years - he is indifferent to life and death, he will do it if he doesn't accept it, and whoever loses will get a box lunch.

"You can send a deputy, um... let's say a special Russian translator, to restrict and dissuade him from doing anything. If he still fails, he will be demoted, fined and punished, and he will be replaced by a new prefect. As long as he is given an explanation by the Russian court, everything will be easy to deal with." Zhang Zhidong chuckled.

Is Zhao Chuanxin still afraid of being dumped? At the worst possible outcome, I would just transfer him somewhere else to appease him.

Anyway, Tsarist Russia didn't dare to take Zhao's salary.

Cixi couldn't help but said: "This is also very good..."

Overjoyed!

Then Zhang Zhidong poured cold water on her: "I'm afraid Zhao Chuanxin won't accept it!"

The two of them were discussing here in full swing. If Zhao Chuanxin turned around and said, "You can have fun by yourself, I won't do it."

That would be embarrassing.

The key is that this is very likely to happen.

Cixi was a little angry: a dog doesn't know how to show appreciation.

She said: "I'll think about it again..."

…

Zhao Chuanxin got off the bus at Tangshan at the same time as Bai Wenwei.

Bai Wenwei rushed to report, and Zhao Chuanxin went to Kailuan Mining Bureau, found Zhao Xilong and Zhou Xuexi, and showed up for dinner in the canteen of the Mining Bureau.

"Mr. Zhao, you are making a big noise again." said the obese Zhao Xilong.

Zhao Chuanxin greeted the staff who came to eat from time to time, gnawing on Xun's soft rotten pig's trotters dipped in garlic sauce.

His occasional visit has the effect of stabilizing "military morale."

"Bah..." He spat out the bones and said, "Damn, there's even a pig hair on this pig's trotter. I'll tie up the cook and beat him."

Zhou Xuexi and Zhao Xilong: "..."

Zhao Chuanxin threw the bone away, wiped his mouth, and took a sip of tea: "If you don't read the newspaper, you will know nothing. If you read the newspaper, you will be misled. I guess the newspaper must have slandered me as cruel again." It’s slander, a bunch of fake reporters without quality.”

"..."

Zhao Xilong sneered: "There are still positive reports in newspapers outside China."

Zhao Chuanxin rinsed his mouth, looked at his watch, stood up and said, "Let's leave it at that, I have to go to Tianjin Guard. Who knows that Zhao Chuanxin is a great husband who always keeps his word!"

Zhou Xuexi trembled: "Uncle, seeing that tomorrow is September 18th in the Western calendar, are you going to..."

"Don't think wildly, what does it mean to be wrong?" Zhao Chuanxin smoked a cigarette after dinner and walked out of the cafeteria with the cigarette in his hand: "Yes, I can tell you for sure that I am about to take Zhu Erdian's life."

"..."

It's a pity that I can't post the news, otherwise Zhao Chuanxin would have to make his noise known to the world.

Also making noise everywhere was Bacchus.

When he met anyone, he said he was going to bring Zhao Chuanxin and Zhu Erdian together to turn their feud into friendship.

Not only did he shout in the Badlands area, but he also went to the capital to publicize it to the people.

At night, even Tianjin Wei received the news.

Yuan Datou also sent a congratulatory message to Zhu Erdian.

Zhu Erdian was confused: "What happened?"

He asked someone to ask, and when he learned about the situation, he jumped up in anger.

Someone was immediately sent to call Bacchus for questioning.

Bacchus vowed: "Sir, I have made an appointment with Zhao Chuanxin to negotiate at the BJ Hotel at noon tomorrow."

When Zhu Erdian saw that his words were true, he believed them to be true.

This kind of face-to-face confrontation cannot be faked.

So the preparations began.

Zhao Chuanxin also arrived in the capital.

He went to Dongxinglou to eat Dunlu cuisine. During the meal, he heard the diners talking about a British guy named Bacchus, who wanted to resolve the conflict between him and Zhu Erdian.

Zhao Chuanxin was puzzled: Why didn't I know?

The time, place, and characters are all there, so to speak, there are noses and eyes.

This matter has made a big fuss. People in the capital still remember that Zhao Chuanxin bombarded the Forbidden City. Now he is going to cause trouble again. Can you not be excited?

In the course of one meal, Zhao Chuanxin listened to everything.

The one named Bacchus is said to have a close relationship with him.

The location for the peace talks was behind the barracks, at the BJ Hotel opened by the French.

The hotel was booked, and Bacchus spent generously.

The time is set at noon.

This is what Zhao Chuanxin heard.

It can be said that except for Zhao Chuanxin, everyone was informed and the arrangements were clear.

Originally, Zhao Chuanxin wanted to go to the post and telecommunications office tomorrow to send a telegram to Yang Yide and ask about the situation. Now it seems that someone has paved the way for him.

The next day, the weather in Beijing was fine.

The air is crisp in autumn, and the yellow ginkgo leaves all over the ground look like quills from a distance, floating all over the street, and they are so brilliant that they are beyond measure.

The crows were circling over the church.

There are wealthy families who have just moved to the neighborhood, hoping that the streets here will be dry.

Tables, chairs, dressing tables, and wooden beds are all lacquered and carved with squirrels, grapes, bats, auspicious clouds, or pine and crane carvings to show their wealth.

The wardrobe, which requires three people to move, also needs to be literate and engraved with: Yun Jin Tian Sun Weaving, Nishang Yue Sister Tailoring.

Needless to say, noble!

There are flag-bearers carrying birdcages at regular intervals and coming to the area to see if there is anything lively to see.

But I found that there were so many people today.

"Hey, I took the melon seeds, why don't I eat them?"

"Hey, in the land of foreigners, who dares to throw melon seed peels around?"

"That's the same reason. But why are you here to join in the fun today?"

"Hey, something big is going to happen today."

"Tell me about it!"

"Zhao Chuanxin, do you know?"

"Where is this? Butcher Zhao, who doesn't know this? Lafayette hates him so much that he hates him!"

As the two chatted, there were more people.

And it was just breakfast time.

Zhao Chuanxin, wearing a suit and tie and a top hat, was among the crowd.

In his hand, he was also carrying a foreigner's civilized stick that he had walked into the restaurant last night.

I could hear the people gossiping and gossiping. I kept walking and walked half a circle around the BJ Hotel, but I didn't see anything special.

Zhao Chuanxin slapped his palms with his hands: "Could it be that all the swordsmen and axemen are ambushing the hotel?"

Looking at it, I suddenly found a familiar face in the crowd.

Tall, plump figure, stubborn little eyes...who else could it be if not Rebecca Levi?

Where is the capital?

Pigeons, crows, towering city walls, the Eight-Flag carrying the birdcage, the awesome style that even though it is not a good thing must be covered up, the distinction between laziness and pride and hurry and humbleness, the possibility of passing each other on the street He is a high-ranking official, a arrogant foreigner with a high nose and dark eyes who smells fishy...

A place that makes people want to define it but cannot define it specifically.

Rebecca Levy simply didn't fit in here.

There was eager anticipation, anxiety, timidity, and shyness on her face. She was clearly tall but still standing on tiptoes and biting her lips. It was almost impossible for Zhao Chuanxin's eyes to miss her.

Rebecca Levi looked at it and was tapped on the shoulder.

She looked back.

The person I thought about day and night seemed to have jumped out of the cracks in the bluestone bricks...

"Zhao..."

"What are you looking for? Who dropped the money?"

As soon as he heard the word "money", the eyes of the people around him lit up and they were hurriedly looking around.

Zhao Chuanxin took the opportunity to press Rebecca Levi's head: "Lower your head and follow me out."

Rebecca Levi was obedient and obeyed immediately.

The two of them bent down and disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Outside, several foreigners suddenly became anxious.

In the blink of an eye, the person is gone. What happened?

Zhao Chuanxin took her all the way north and stopped when they almost reached the base of the city wall.

Rebecca Levi's heart was pounding so hard that she couldn't say a thousand words.

In the end, he just said: "Mr. Backus did not lie to me, you are really here."

Zhao Chuanxin helped her pat the ginkgo leaves off the shoulders of her windbreaker: "Bacchus? Do you recognize him? Just in time, take me to see him."

I almost recognized this name from last night to this morning.

Rebecca Levi felt inexplicably happy when she was stirred by Lao Zhao's actions.

He almost didn't turn his head: "Okay, I'll take you to find him."

"Then why are you leaving? Why are you looking at me? There is sand in your eyes? Why are they watery?"

Rebecca Levy: “…”

Sure enough, some people almost never become...

The two of them were not far from Bacchus' residence.

Rebecca Levy called it Morrison Street.

Because that’s what the foreigners in the concession call it.

In fact, it is Wang-Fujing Street.

Rebecca Levy pointed to a courtyard: "Mr. Bacchus' temporary residence is here, adjacent to Mr. Morrison's library."

Coincidentally, Zhao Chuanxin saw the door of Morrison's courtyard open and Morrison was walking out.

Morrison also saw Zhao Chuanxin, with surprise on his face: "Shopkeeper Zhao, why did you come to the capital?"

Rebecca Levi looked at Zhao Chuanxin in surprise, not expecting that the two people knew each other.

The first time Zhao Chuanxin met Morrison in Lanzhou was at the post and telecommunications office.

Later, Morrison chased him into the sky.

But he still doesn't know Zhao Chuanxian's true identity.

As he said this, he wanted to drag Zhao Chuanxin into the hospital.

He also looked Zhao Chuanxin up and down: "I almost didn't recognize Shopkeeper Zhao."

When we met for the first time, Zhao Chuanxin was wearing Taoist robes.

Flying in the sky, Zhao Chuanxin always wears jeans and Henley shirts.

Seeing Zhao Chuanxin dressed so neatly this time, he was not used to it.

It just failed to attract Zhao Chuanxin.

Zhao Chuanxin pressed his chin: "Go to that courtyard and look for Bacchus."

"Bacchus? He used to be my assistant. I'll show you the way."

Morrison was very enthusiastic.

He is one of those rare people who can definitely tell from his appearance, words and deeds that he is a kind and sunny person.

Zhao Chuanxin bared his teeth and smiled. He liked to give people like this a little shock.

Bacchus drank too much last night, opened the door, and looked at the visitor with a pair of hazy drunken eyes.

"Mr. Morrison! Rebecca, why are you here? Who is this?"

He watched with some disgust as Rebecca Levi stood next to Zhao Chuanxin intimately and with a smile on her face.

Maybe I didn't wake up and couldn't turn my head.

Rebecca Levi and Morrison were about to introduce themselves, but Zhao Chuanxin stretched out his hand, grabbed Bacchus' ears under his disheveled hair, and ushered him into the room.

"How brave, how dare you act in my name!"

Bacchus screamed in pain: "Ah..."

Rebecca Levy and Morrison: "..."