By nine o'clock in the evening.
In Shanghai, there are no matter whether they are dignitaries, wealthy businessmen or ordinary people.
They were all devastated by the news.
"Outside, outside, the Beiyang Army has arrived thirty miles outside Shanghai and is camping on the north bank of Laoming Lake. It is expected to launch an attack tomorrow."
"Excuse the nickname. Cheng Fangyuan, commander of the Fuyuan Army of the Beiyang Army, rushed to the outside of Shanghai with 8,000 elite troops. They had a total of 20 4-pound steel cannons, 30 rear-hole cannons, and 30 imported Maxin machine guns. They were well-equipped. This time they came He is not good."
"Oops, there's going to be a war."
All around were ordinary Shanghai people running to tell each other.
As if the end was coming, I started to cry loudly as I ran.
In troubled times, people are worse than dogs.
Who is not afraid.
The upper-class people who used to have fun in the past no longer care about enjoying the prosperity, but are just nervously waiting for the news.
Looking at the chaotic militia soldiers passing by on the street from time to time, I felt confused and completely confused.
This has something to do with Shanghai’s unique situation.
The real concession is actually quite safe.
Because all the great powers have the right to station troops in the concessions and have the power to administer laws.
Their strength is very strong. Even if the Beiyang Army enters the city, it will not disturb them in the slightest.
But it is precisely because of the garrison of foreign powers that Shanghai's local strength is pitifully weak.
They are nothing more than soldiers trained jointly by major families and major chambers of commerce.
It's okay for these rabble-rousers to protect their family property and fight against the odds.
If you want to take action against the famous Beiyang New Army, the gap is not as big as usual.
If the Beiyang Army equipped with imported elite weapons really enter the city, these people may not be able to hold on for long, and they are not expected to be able to hold it for even three days.
Unless, unless foreign garrisons also join the defense.
But such expectations are obviously unreliable.
Whether those foreign garrison troops will participate in Shanghai's defense operations is still unknown.
Because no matter which force is stationed in Shanghai, they must be given face and their interests will not be infringed.
Overall, the situation is particularly bleak for ordinary people.
For the Yang Lin family, this is even worse news.
…
Everyone in the Jingwu Sect was completely in no mood to sleep at this time.
Nong Jinsun, Huo Yuanjia and others stared nervously with red eyes, keeping the lights on, waiting.
They know better than anyone else that this period of time is the most critical time.
The Tongxing Hui has conspired to unite and decided to start taking action within three months, setting off an anti-Qing wave from south to north.
But he didn't expect that when he was making intensive preparations, he would receive a blow.
The Beiyang Army changed its usual ambiguous attitude and actually made it clear that it wanted to influence the South.
On the surface, they say they are here for revenge, but no one knows their true intentions.
As long as you hear the cannons and machine guns in the news, you will know that the other party is definitely not here to play house.
His ambition is simply obvious.
…
After a sleepless night, I waited until the sky began to show a hint of fish white.
Nong Jinsun was still sitting at the tea table, playing chess with Huo Yuanjia and staying up late.
At this moment, no one's mind is on chess.
Especially Nong Jinsun, who would look at the telegraph machine in the living room from time to time.
Waiting for the first news that may come.
"Rumble..."
Suddenly, there was a tremor and shaking in the hall.
Dust rustled down.
Nong Jinsun shivered, his face full of disbelief.
"Here, entering the city so soon? Impossible."
He roared loudly, took two quick steps to the door, and looked up.
I saw that the southeast direction not far away from me was already filled with flames.
Visible to the naked eye, from time to time there will be meteor-like flames streaking across the sky, falling straight down, and exploding into a puff of flames in the buildings on the ground.
Immediately afterwards, there was a loud noise and shouts of killing.
There was a rapid continuous "dah-dah" sound that came into my ears.
Vaguely, one could vaguely see groups of soldiers, marching quickly with guns hunched over their waists.
"That's the Yang family."
"Aimed at Yang Lin? Did the Beiyang Army advance so fast? They pulled up artillery and machine guns overnight and rushed into the city. What are the people in the merchant group doing to eat? Didn't they stop them at all?"
Nong Jinsun's eyes were red.
He yelled breathlessly.
This place is only two or three miles away from the street where the Yang family is located, and it can already be seen clearly with the firelight and the faint skylight that has just turned on.
The Yang family has been surrounded on three sides...
In addition to the sudden attack with powerful weapons, there were more than two thousand soldiers who came to raid in the early morning.
Standing at the Jingwumen Archway on a higher ground, you can see that the streets and alleys in the distance are covered with darkness, and they are all human figures.
"No, those soldiers wore mesh helmets and narrow hats. The military uniforms were khaki, not azure wide-brimmed hats. They were not Beiyang soldiers, but Japanese soldiers."
Chen Zhen's eyes were sharp, and he suddenly woke up and screamed.
He suddenly turned his head to look at Mitsuko Yamada beside him, and saw that Miss Mitsuko's eyes were full of horror.
Obviously, she saw it too.
"No, Master Yang's family is in danger, and I want to go there."
Chen Zhen looked anxious.
"There are too many enemies. I'll go to Tianyuan Tower to find the old master. He is training new recruits at this time. He should be able to pull out a team of troops..."
Li Tongyun also looked very anxious and turned around to leave.
Xiaohui was almost crying.
Follow Chen Zhen and rush out.
Several other Jingwu Sect disciples were also excited and wanted to rush out.
"Everyone, stop right there."
Nong Jinsun gasped and shouted: "What's the use of going now? The Japanese soldiers came well prepared. They plowed it with artillery first...
Now that the Yang family has been almost razed to the ground, what's the use of you going there? It's nothing more than diving into the encirclement, becoming a rake, and losing your life in vain. "
"You can't, you can't just watch the eighth junior sister's family, just like this... just like this..." Xiao Hui's tears were light and she was already crying.
"Maybe some of them escaped, let's go and rescue them."
"Wait a moment."
Huo Yuanjia suddenly spoke.
During this period of time, he has been practicing self-cultivation, and his condition has actually improved a lot.
Standing at a high place at this time, his eyes were full of power, making people feel at ease just by looking at him: "The matter is not that serious. Think about it, what was Master Yang's attitude like during the day when he was still in Jingwu Sect?"
One word awakens the dreamer.
Yes, before Yang Linlin left, he taught him all his martial arts skills. He almost said that this was the last teaching before leaving.
In fact, everyone saw it.
The other party is very determined to leave and is likely to leave immediately.
So, since he had sensed the danger and was preparing to leave, how could he be caught off guard by the Japanese army?
…
Everyone felt a little calmer.
Huo Yuanjia said again: "Tongyun, don't go to Master Zhang, lest he be in a dilemma."
This was said in a somewhat cryptic way, but Nong Jinsun next to him let out a long sigh after hearing it.
A few people delayed for a moment and said a few words, but were not yet prepared for what to do next.
Suddenly, the situation in the distance changed.
First of all, there are the points with long flames and tongues of flames.
Almost at the same time, the spray of bullets stopped and the fire went out.
"Out of bullets?"
Chen Zhen looked happy, listened carefully, and then discovered that several steel cannons sounded with a steady rhythm, followed closely, and there was no news.
Only the sound of rifles continued, but the sound was much lower.
"It's not that there are no bullets, it's that Master Yang has taken action."
Huo Yuanjia took a long breath, and a bloody blush suddenly appeared on his waxy face, "He took action, he is not dead..."
"good!"
Everyone cheered in unison.
