C1436 Jiangnan Peoples Heart (1/2)

The Suzhou City, on the sixth day after the market opened, the atmosphere in the entire city suddenly became strange. First, there were three battalions of Xiang Army outside the city, and this was different from the usual guards that were stationed there.

There were two Battalion Head s amongst them who came from the regular army battalions selected by the Jiangning Great Marshal Zeng, while the other one came from Jiu Shuai's Zigzag Camp.

These were all core forces of the Xiang Army. Even during times of peace, they had to maintain their war preparations.

Once these elites were stationed in Suzhou, the air in the entire city became sluggish and the number of patrolling soldiers on the streets multiplied by several times. The yamen runners in the day were all awestruck, as if they were facing a great enemy.

A company of Marines crossed the Taihu Lake from the docks into the city. They had no braids, a brand-new sky-blue uniform, a lacquered cap, shining leather boots above the knees, a German Mauser on the back, and a revolver hanging from the officer's waist.

The belt was filled with magazines, wooden grenades and cantaloupe grenades. Qiu Wei, who had previously issued an imperial edict, returned with a big cigar in his mouth as he puffed with an unruly look on his face.

When these soldiers lord appeared, even the idiots of the Suzhou City knew who was coming. All the merchants had gone mad, and immediately said, ”The prime minister is here!” ”The prime minister must be here …”

”That's right, the Prime Minister has arrived. Even His Majesty has come …” Maybe the Great Marshal Zeng would come too! ”Oh my god, these six days have not been wasted!”

The entire city fell into a sleepless night, the security was so tight that not even flies could fly in. The anxious Big Merchant s lived in their homes and bitterly waited, or waited in taverns.

In the dark of the night, the sounds of the war horses on the long street were what countless merchants were hoping for. They truly hoped that the war horses would stop in front of their houses and bang on the door. To be able to see the emperor, the marshal and the Prime Minister Xiao of the East China Sea with his own eyes, this was definitely something recorded in the family tree.

When the sun rose, the Suzhou City did not sleep at all. Just after five o'clock on the foreign watch, the elders and merchants who had been invited headed to the Suzhou stock market under the protection of the soldiers. These distinguished guests were the people closest to the emperor and the prime minister.

After the distinguished guests were seated, there were the city's numerous representatives. Next, there were the twenty thousand people who came to watch the ceremony, filling the long street to the brim.

At nine in the morning, the Suzhou Stock Market opened punctually. The first group of people who came out were all fully armed Marines, their guns and ammunition forming a ring around the core of the cordon as they clashed against the Xiang Army's guards on the second floor.

Amidst the shocked voices of the crowd, Ceng Guofan and Jiu Shuai walked out first. The entire place was filled with cheers, with commoners everywhere bowing down to the ground as they greeted the marshal.

The heat wave of excitement had yet to subside when the nine ceremonial cannons began to roar, followed by a burst of music. The people who walked out together with the music were the bright-yellow Emperor Tongzhi and Imperial Advisor Xiao Letian who was beside him.

The atmosphere suddenly froze for three seconds, followed by tens of thousands of people prostrating themselves on the ground, calling out 'Long live' in unison. ”Huanhuan!” ”Hualuu!”

The citizens of the Middle Age revered and worshipped the imperial power from the bottom of their hearts. They were willing to put all the bad troubles on the corrupt officials, and also unwilling to put even the slightest bit of doubt in the Emperor's heart.

The Emperor was always a Holy Lord, and the one at fault was always the vile people by his side. Otherwise, how could there be so many people from the past who were on his side?