C581 torrential downpour (1/2)
Before the new army's vanguard unit arrived at Wu Qing, heavy rain began to fall. This heavy rain cloud rose from the Swallow Mountain range and pressed eastward. The entire northern part of the Li Residence was filled with raindrops.
At this time, no one cared about the life or death of the citizens, and no one cared about fighting against the flood. Almost all the officials of the Northern Li Empire received a terrifying rumor from different channels that the Eastern Empress Dowager Xi's army was about to start a war on the Plains of the Dead.
No one was drinking any alcohol to visit the brothels anymore, no one was reciting poems to enjoy the view of climbing the mountain, no one was even thinking of taking bribes. Everyone's emotions had been tied down because they knew that this war on the plains would decide the political situation in the next few decades.
”My dear, Empress Dowager Ci An is only 29 years old this year, Empress Dowager Ci Xi is only 31 years old, and the Emperor is only 10 years old this year. ”In the future, the Qing Dynasty will be in chaos. These are all the years when people get old and strong and cause trouble …”
It was impossible for one not to choose a side in the Qing Dynasty's official territory. If you were deemed as a fence-sitter by others, then you would be everyone's enemy.
Every major political event was an opportunity for the officials to queue up from the beginning. If they made the right choice, they would naturally rise to the ranks. If they made the wrong choice, they would be stripped of their official duties and if they lost their minds, it was no small matter.
However, there were a lot of officials who were looking forward to Xiao Letian's victory. Through the efforts of the Discipline Hall, there were already 40% of the county officials taking Xiao Letian's secret salary.
In Xiao Letian's heart, he was like a mirror, money could never buy loyalty, even if they wrote blood letters to rely on him, it would not be the most reliable, and everything would depend on victory. It would be a violent group like the army, where as long as victory did not end, Xiao Letian would be able to obtain the greatest loyalty.
Xiao Letian wiped the rain from his face, and shouted to the Japanese knife drawing team s who were walking beside him. ”Yepingtai, Bing Tai Lang... Are you tired? Are you cold? Can you guys still fight? ”Answer me loudly …”
”Not tired …” Not Cold... Of course we can fight! ” Over four hundred Knife Puller s roared under the heavy rain.
Xiao Bingtailang arrogantly raised his head and said, ”What is this? In our Japan, the typhoon that is blowing from the sea is even more terrifying, we did not retreat, and we are used to volcanic eruptions, but it was just a storm! ”
”Well done... The Japanese knife drawing team can still hold on. Where are my loyal Ryukyu Warriors? ”
”If that's the case, then we'll be able to endure the Tyrant Blood Flame. What's there to be afraid of in this kind of situation …” ”Accelerate, hasten the march!” There were shouts in the team.
Xiao Letian laughed wickedly at Sima Yun and the others, ”The brothers of Japan and the Ryukyu are able to hold on … What about the good guys in China? Can you guys hold on … ”
”Sacrifice Xuanyuan with my blood, sacrifice Huaxia with my life!” New Army Speed... ”Urgently march!” The roar was as loud as thunder. The horse was so shocked that it let out a rhythmic cry and almost flipped Xiao Letian onto the ground.
”You stinking brats, I know that you guys are strong, but do you have the strength to use it on the soles of your feet?” Gone! Brothers, let's enter the Beijing to eat something warm. ” Xiao Letian took the lead and rushed out.
The old city wall of Wu Qing County was left behind by the new army, Xiao Letian knew that there must be countless officials and officials secretly watching this evil demon from the top of the city. They didn't dare to fight against him, and similarly, they didn't dare to get too close to him either. All they could do was to crouch on the city wall and watch them timidly.
On top of the city wall, a Grand Master who was hiding in a makeshift shelter whispered, ”Master, are you really going to let go of this opportunity to board the ship?” If we send Xiao Letian a piece of information now, it would be a huge favor to him. If Li Hongzhang can deceive Xiao Letian, it won't fool the locals like us! ”
”Foolish!” The county magistrate stared and scolded, ”Master, I am a soldier too. If not for the current rain, I would have definitely sold myself to Xiao Letian. But look at the sky! Even the heavens are helping the group of Huai Army … What are firearms most afraid of? What we are most afraid of is water! ”
”We will definitely lose. Only idiots will be able to board the ship, and after we defeat Xiao Letian, let all the constable head go and capture some defeated soldiers, we can also get some credit right …”
The Grand Master fell silent. Listening to the county magistrate's confident tone, he sighed in his heart and thought to himself, ”My lord!” Master... Don't you think? Then when Xiao Letian brought his men and circled around Europe, did nothing really happen? ”Things that are abnormal become demons …”
Even if Xiao Letian had returned to the Great Qing, no one knew what he had done in Europe or Northern China. There was only a fast horse running towards the north on the public road in Henan province, which was the Singapore newspaper Ceng Guofan had sent to the imperial court.
It was a pity that this newspaper came too late. War was now unavoidable!
As the heavy rain poured down, hundreds of Huai Army soldiers who were wearing straw raincoats were hidden in a drainage ditch. Everyone ignored the surging waves beneath their feet and the mud on the ground, as they remained motionless in the torrential rain as if they had no life left.
No one had a hard bow with a broken bowstring in their hands. On the ground, there were long spears, short knives and other weapons used for melee combat. As for the bowstrings of the bow, they were wrapped in oilcloth and hidden deeply in their pockets.