What came from the south was the communication ship dispatched by Deputy Commander Vinia. This small clipper ship rode the wind and waves to catch up with the main fleet at the fastest speed, and brought the latest battle situation to the Commander-in-Chief.
"Report to your Excellency, Commander! We have separated from the enemy ships in the northern waters of Taiwan Island. This is the battle report sent by Commander Vinia..." The tired soldier saluted and held the wax-sealed file bag in his hands. .
Stefanski used a paper knife to pry open the wax seal, opened the letter and took a look, and he suddenly became happy. He glanced at Molière and said, "You guessed it right. Although this battleship is powerful, it is a pity that it is only an experimental ship!"
The letter was handed to Molière. It briefly reported the battle situation after the separation, and focused on the sudden boiler failure of the Reach.
"In the evening, the enemy ship suddenly slowed down, and then black smoke billowed from the chimney, and there were faintly panicked sailors running on the deck... Then our ship continued to suppress the enemy until it became completely dark at night, and the Zhiyuan's The black smoke persists and the speed has not recovered..."
"I'm sure that the Zhiyuan encountered a boiler failure. Although it did not lose power, there was definitely a loss of power! The current speed of the Zhiyuan has been hovering between 9 and 10 knots... Our ship is now out of the battle and heading north Looking for you to meet up, we are safe..."
Molière breathed a sigh of relief and passed the letter to the other officers. After everyone read it, everyone felt relieved, "Vinya's judgment will not be wrong. He has a deeper understanding of steam power systems than we do." Many, his analysis is credible..."
Everyone turned their attention to the commander-in-chief. Stefanski could understand everyone's eyes. He also knew that the expeditionary force needed a moderate victory to recover, and the empire also needed the gold to survive. Financial crisis.
"Okay, pass my order, the fleet will move forward at full speed, prepare for battle... I will take you to grab the gold!"
"Hurrah!" cheered in the command cabin, and the decline of the day's combat defeat was wiped away. From now on, the Russian fleet divided into two parts one after another, and finally rushed towards Xiao Letian's trap without hesitation.
…
Spring in Beijing is not a very pleasant season. Although the warm spring flowers and lush greenery are very pleasing to the eye, the imperial capital at the foot of Yanshan Mountain is affected by sand and dust weather every year, especially in spring.
Early in the morning, the sky in Sijiucheng became dim and yellow, as if wrapped in yellow paper. The sun hung on the horizon, emitting a shit-yellow light, and looked so weak.
There is more and more dust in the air, and the breeze blowing from the northwest is filled with an earthy smell.
The guards, officers and soldiers in the Forbidden City all had their armors and mandarin jackets covered with yellow sand. From a distance, they looked like clay sculptures. All the people walking in the Forbidden City were hunching their necks and tightening their cuffs to avoid being drilled by the yellow sand. go.
At around eight o'clock in the morning, military aircraft Zhang Jing and Li Tuo entered the imperial city from the left gate of Wufeng Tower with his basket in hand. He straightened his waist and hurried to the military aircraft like a prawn. He had to hand over to the other people on time. If he eats it, he will probably be scolded again.
Just as he was walking through the Square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there was suddenly a burst of footsteps from behind. When he turned around, he saw that it was still his old acquaintance, Lao Jiang, who had drank with Yang Zhi in Quanjude.
"What are you doing here? To earn your life?" Li Tuo asked while winking, but unexpectedly, Lao Jiang was uncharacteristically ignoring him today and ran past him like a gust of wind.
"The military aircraft department is sending an urgent telegram. Everyone, get out of the way...hurry up, hurry up!"
Behind him, a young eunuch was so tired that he stuck out his tongue like a dog, "Oh...oh my god! Master Jiang, wait for me...I have to accompany you into the palace!"
"You are so stubborn. I can't run away, my father-in-law. How can you, the bodyguard, run away? Hurry up and catch up with Mr. Jiang..."
Amidst the scolding, two guards rushed forward, one on the left and one on the right to protect Lao Jiang, the secretary of the Prime Minister's Yamen.
According to the rules of the Qing Dynasty, officials of low rank who entered the Forbidden City on official business had to be led by eunuchs and guards throughout the process. Especially low-ranking officials like Lao Jiang had to be guarded by guards.
Only high-ranking officials who have reached the third rank or above are eligible to move freely in some areas of the Forbidden City. However, if they go to see the Queen Mother or the Emperor, eunuchs will lead the way.
According to the rules, even if Lao Jiang had something serious and urgent to report, he had to be accompanied by guards and eunuchs. He had never seen such a scene before. The official who delivered the letter ran as fast as a donkey, and the guards and eunuchs behind him were chasing him so fast that they died. , and didn’t catch up.
Countless people secretly watched the diorama in front of them, wondering in their hearts, "What's going on? The British are going to attack Beijing again, right? It's impossible. The relationship between the British and the Qing Dynasty is good now." …”
Only Li Tuoru was struck by lightning. He had just faintly seen the running Lao Jiang secretly raising his thumbs to the sky. What does this mean? The thumbs of both hands pointing to the sky have only one meaning in the slang of these people, and that is the Nine-Fifth Lord.
"Damn, has something happened to His Majesty? No, I have to go to the military aircraft office quickly..."
When Li Tuo walked quickly to the military aircraft, he found that all the officials on duty had stood up and stared at the side door in a daze. Some people had stuffed the fried dough sticks in their mouths and forgot to chew them.
"It's an eventful time! What urgent matters do the Prime Minister's Yamen have to take care of? It's sandy and dusty this early in the morning. Why don't you take a good rest?"
Just as everyone was talking about it, a group of young eunuchs suddenly ran out from the side door, and the leading eunuch was Li Lianying. I saw a red slap mark on the favored eunuch's face, and his eyes were red.
He shouted while running, "Who is on duty in the Military Aircraft Department today? Go to Yangxin Hall and wait for the Empress Dowager to summon you...Immediately send someone to summon Prince Gong and Prince Chun to the palace...Go and invite Mr. Weng...quickly, quickly!"
At this moment, yellow sand suddenly rolled in from the west, and a strong wind swept across the Forbidden City. The world was suddenly covered by yellow sand, and the eunuch guards were everywhere, dizzy and swaying.
"It's a crime! This is a crime! God wants to recruit people again. Why have our Qing Dynasty been so unhappy in the past few years? Why can't we have a good day!"
Li Lianying was as ferocious as a ghost in the yellow sand. He turned around and cursed, "Where's that bastard who just wanted the door package? Drag him up... Damn it, I'll slap you, and your life will end here today..." "
"Kids, beat me! Beat him to death! If you can't beat him to death, I will beat you to death!"
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