Usurping the Qing Dynasty: My first love was Cixi

Chapter 99 Death of Zhaolin! Everything is over!

Zhaolin was unlucky. When the mutiny occurred, he immediately fled to the dock and took a boat to the sea, intending to enter the Haihe River, and then go to the Tianjin General's Mansion to move troops and go to the new army camp to quell the mutiny.

But he didn't expect that he was caught by several pirate patrol boats shortly after he went out to sea.

Then... he was caught by a pirate leader.

Either he was cut into pieces or he led the pirate army back to the new army camp.

Then, this scene happened.

Behind the blade, Zhaolin shouted over and over again: "I am the Minister of the New Army, I order you to lay down your weapons and don't resist!"

"I am the Minister of the New Army, I order you to lay down your weapons and don't resist!"

When he shouted these words, he was in tears.

The faces of his son and daughter kept appearing in his mind.

My son Zhaobu!

My daughter Bingbing!

Ama ruined you!

The whole family will be implicated by me.

………………………………………………

“Fire, fire!”

With an order, several coastal defense guns on the new army dock opened fire fiercely.

But…

It’s not very useful.

First of all, these coastal defense guns are very old. Secondly, because these pirate ships are all small boats, there are a total of two or three thousand people, but there are a full one or two hundred ships, and they are all small boats.

How to fight?

Moreover, most of the new army has gone to the new recruits station.

There are only seven or eight hundred people left in the old barracks.

Moreover, most of these people have been infected with cholera and are now in a weak state.

Some people have recovered for six or seven days and barely have some combat effectiveness.

But… they have only trained new troops for less than half a year.

“Line up!”

“Line up!”

“Fight when you are close, fight when you are close!”

With orders, three or four hundred new troops began to set up defense lines.

“Charge… Charge…”

The densely packed pirates began to land from the dock.

The new army did not open fire.

If the landing point is very narrow, then this is the best time to open fire.

However, the landing site of this navy camp stretches for thousands of meters.

Not only can you land at the dock, but you can also land at the coastline.

The dock area is too empty, so it can only be temporarily abandoned. More than 400 new soldiers have to build a defense line at the junction of the military camp and the dock area.

The black bow knife was across Zhaolin's neck, and he said coldly: "Where is the silver vault? Where is the arsenal?"

"I'll take you there, I'll take you there!" Zhaolin trembled.

Then, he led the way in front.

Suddenly, they came to a huge warehouse with a thick iron door in front, and the lock was as big as a head.

Such a big iron door is difficult to blow open even if it is blown up.

"I have the key, I have the key!" Zhaolin said: "I'll open the door for you, don't kill me, don't kill me!"

Then, he took out the key and opened the lock tremblingly.

Then, he was controlled by the pirates again.

Several pirates stepped forward and pushed the door open with force.

Inside was a huge warehouse, densely packed with various supplies.

The pirates could no longer bear it, and they could not be controlled at all, rushing in.

Zhaolin was also taken into the warehouse.

The faces of his son Zhaobu and daughter Bingbing appeared in his mind again.

There were also a group of wives and concubines, and several other children.

"Zhaobu, Bingbing, Ama is gone!"

"Even if Ama is torn to pieces, it will never affect you."

Suddenly, Zhaolin suddenly jumped up and burst out with powerful strength.

He suddenly snatched the torch of the pirate next to him, and the whole person and the torch rushed towards a certain place.

He knew that there was gunpowder there.

There were countless gunpowder in this warehouse.

As long as the gunpowder was ignited, these pirates could be blown to pieces.

He, Zhaolin, and all the pirates died together, so that he could keep his reputation and the future of his children.

"Your Majesty, don't implicate my family and children!"

A loud roar!

Zhaolin smashed the place with the torch.

Instantly, the place was completely set on fire.

Then, he closed his eyes and waited for the moment of being crushed to pieces.

And Heigong was suddenly cold all over.

He rushed towards Zhaolin as quickly as possible to put out the flames.

But it was too late.

The place had already started to burn fiercely.

However...

Wait for a few seconds.

The earth-shattering explosion did not happen.

Zhaolin felt cold in his heart.

What happened? What happened?

Shouldn't there be gunpowder everywhere in here?

Why is it gone?

Can't I die even if I want to?

I want to die heroically, can't I restore my reputation?

At this time, several people caught Zhaolin again.

Heigong stepped forward and hit him hard on the neck, causing him to faint directly.

Before fainting, Zhaolin had only one thought in his mind.

I'm done!

My family is done.

The future of my children is also done.

…………………………………………

Next, many pirates searched the warehouses in the entire dock area.

They did not find any silver, any guns, or even food.

All they found were straw, and a lot of clothes and bedding.

Although these clothes are a little dirty, they look like they are made of very good materials.

A thief never leaves empty-handed, so the pirates began to desperately rob these clothes.

"Master Jiu, we didn't get anything this time, and we can't report to the boss!"

Hei Gong said, "What do you think?"

"This senior official is useless to us, why don't we exchange it for money?"

Hei Gong said, "You have a point."

Next!

Hei Gong led many pirates and stopped seven or eight hundred meters away from the defense line of the new army.

"Your highest official is in our hands, how about we make a deal?"

Su Ye said, "How to trade?"

Hei Gong said, "Five hundred thousand taels of silver, one hand for money, the other hand for people!"

Are you crazy? Is he opening his mouth like a lion?

Bo Yan roared in his heart, Zhao Lin, why don't you die?

You should commit suicide at this time to save the situation.

Even Zhao Bu's eyes were tearing when he saw this scene, and he was full of despair.

Ah!

You are going to kill our whole family.

Our whole family is finished, all finished!

However, Su Ye seemed to be determined to redeem Zhao Lin with silver.

In the end, the two sides had a fierce tug-of-war.

Two hundred thousand taels of silver were sold!

Su Ye prepared a twenty-tael carriage to carry two hundred thousand taels of silver.

The pirates also prepared a carriage (obtained in the New Army dock area) and tied Zhao Lin up and put him on the carriage.

Then, Hei Gong sent dozens of pirates to check the two hundred thousand taels of silver.

Su Ye sent the New Army to check whether Zhao Lin was dead or alive.

After both sides confirmed that everything was correct.

The exchange began!

Twenty carriages, carrying two hundred thousand taels of silver, headed towards the pirates.

Several New Army soldiers drove the carriages to bring Zhao Lin back.

When Zhao Bu saw this scene, he felt endless shame.

The ground was cold and full of despair.

Why don't you die? Why don't you die?

Su Ye's move was more heartbreaking than killing someone.

Zhaolin's incompetence led to the mutiny, and he was captured by pirates, and then taken by pirates to attack the new army camp.

Now, Su Ye has to spend money to redeem him.

Is there any greater humiliation than this?

Why don't you die? Why don't you die?

In this way, Zhaolin, the minister of the new army, was rescued back to the camp safely.

And the twenty carriages also drove into the pirate array safely.

Suddenly, all the pirates couldn't bear it anymore.

They rushed forward to rob frantically!

And at this moment!

"Boom boom boom boom..."

Twenty carriages exploded violently.

Countless pirates were blown to pieces.

Countless silver, like water, was suddenly blown into the sky and then scattered all over the ground.

All the pirates were shocked at first, then angry, and finally overjoyed.

The ground was full of silver, the ground was full of silver!

This group of pirates robbed everywhere frantically.

And at this moment

"Boom boom boom..." The artillery in the barracks began to roar.

One by one, the shells fell into the pirate group and exploded violently.

"Boom boom boom..."

Su Ye shouted loudly: "Brothers, follow me to kill!"

Then he waved his saber.

Four hundred new soldiers rushed out suddenly, running and firing.

"Boom boom boom..."

Inside the barracks, more than a dozen artillery pieces kept firing.

The four hundred new soldiers kept chasing and firing.

The morale of the pirates completely collapsed and began to flee.

And the pirate leader Black Bow was the first to run and shouted loudly.

"Brothers, run, run..."

"We're ambushed, run..."

Two or three thousand pirates, howling like ghosts and wolves, ran wildly towards the sea.

The four hundred new soldiers behind chased and fired.

Actual combat is also the best training.

This intensity is just right, because they are not a real army yet.

It is a real military exercise.

At least there will be real blood and real killing.

More than half an hour later!

The battle is over.

The pirates left behind six or seven hundred corpses, and the rest fled.

"Ten thousand wins!"

"Ten thousand wins!"

"Ten thousand wins, Marshal!"

These hundreds of new soldiers cheered.

Only Su Ye, his legs softened, sat directly on the ground.

How much does it take to achieve this situation?

It is necessary to make Zhaolin embarrassed again and again.

These hundreds of new soldiers have just carried out a mutiny. The emperor is furious, and the court is furious. A large number of them must be killed.

Now, they have defeated the pirates and saved the barracks with their sick and disabled bodies. Is it considered a meritorious service?

On the side of the new army, Su Ye did everything he could.

Next, it depends on the court.

…………………………………………………………

As a criminal, Zhaolin was first isolated for a few days.

Then, he was escorted back to Beijing by several imperial guards.

After returning to Beijing, he was isolated for a few more days.

Doctors were sent to check his body every day to confirm that he was not infected with cholera.

Then, he would be allowed to meet the emperor three days later.

Before he was allowed to meet the emperor, he was allowed to go home.

After Zhaolin returned home, he received extremely complicated looks.

Almost everyone blamed him, but they dared not say it out loud.

In the past few days, his notoriety spread throughout the capital.

No matter the Manchus or the Han, the government or the opposition, they all scolded him and made fun of him.

His family members also blamed him, asking why he didn't die.

Why did he drag his family into a desperate situation?

The whole family was in a state of panic.

He was originally high-spirited and ready to do a great job when he became the assistant minister of the new army.

As a result, he suffered a catastrophe in less than two months.

Not only was he finished, but the whole family was also implicated.

But at this time, Zhaolin became quiet, completely ignoring the complicated looks of his family.

He quietly entered the study and began to write the memorial.

He wrote for a long time, and wrote more than 10,000 words.

After writing, he called for wine and food, and ate them alone.

But for some reason, the more he drank, the more sober he became.

The wine entered his heart of sorrow and turned into tears.

When he drank to his heart's content, he cried and laughed.

Finally, he fell directly on the bed and fell asleep.

Zhaolin, Zhaolin!

You have been incompetent all your life, but at the last moment, you have to hold on.

If you don't hold on, your son Zhaobu will be finished.

Your daughter Bingbing will have no good days in the palace.

Our whole family is finished!

You only have one chance to save yourself.

No, not to save yourself.

It's a chance to save the whole family.

………………………………………………

The next day!

The emperor formally summoned Zhaolin.

Zhaolin could feel the emperor's anger from a distance.

Angry at his lack of fighting spirit.

I sent you to be the minister who assists the new army, but you caused such a big mess for me.

Bastard, bastard!

And you brought pirates to attack the new army?

Finally, Su Ye had to redeem him with money.

Is there anything more shameful than this?

However, Zhaolin seemed to be quiet at this time.

The emperor said coldly: "Zhaolin, what else do you have to say?"

Zhaolin kowtowed and said: "Your Majesty, I am guilty of an unforgivable crime!"

The emperor said angrily: "You also know that you are guilty of an unforgivable crime, and you still have the face to see me?"

Zhaolin kowtowed again and said: "Your Majesty, I have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I want to tell you."

The emperor said: "But I don't want to tell you."

Zhaolin said: "Your Majesty, when a person is about to die, his words are also good. Please listen to my last words from the bottom of my heart."

The emperor hesitated for a moment and said: "Approved!"

……………………………………………………

A moment later!

The emperor talked to Zhaolin privately in the Sanxi Hall.

For safety reasons, there was still a screen in the middle. Although Zhaolin had been checked several times, he was not infected.

The emperor said, "Zhaolin, tell me honestly, was Su Ye behind this mutiny?"

Zhaolin was silent for a moment, then kowtowed and said, "No!"

The emperor was stunned and said, "Are you sure?"

Zhaolin said, "I am sure. I have written a ten-thousand-word memorial, which clearly describes the whole process."

"The mutiny was entirely my fault and my ignorance."

The emperor said, "No matter what the reason is, no matter how wronged you are, you should not mutiny, let alone hold your superiors hostage. The Ministry of War, the Grand Council, and my intention are that all soldiers who participated in the mutiny should be executed."

Zhaolin kowtowed and said, "I ask the emperor to withdraw his order."

The emperor was stunned again. What do you mean, Zhaolin?

The person who suffered the most from this mutiny is you, and the person who wants to kill them the most is also you.

Zhaolin said: "Your Majesty, the group of people who participated in the mutiny are the most powerful in the new army. It is a pity to kill them. It is better for Your Majesty to pardon them and let them make meritorious contributions."

Zhaolin's words made the emperor completely unbelievable.

What do you think of Su Ye, Zhaolin?

The emperor was silent for a long time and said: "Zhaolin, what do you think of Su Ye?"

Zhaolin said: "I admire Su Ye's ability very much, and I have infinite expectations for the future of the new army."

Then Zhaolin said: "Your Majesty, I have another suggestion."

The emperor said: "You say."

Zhaolin said: "Please ask Your Majesty to transfer Prince Boyan from the new army, otherwise the new army will only fall into endless internal strife and internal consumption."

The emperor was even more surprised. Zhaolin, you and Su Ye are mortal enemies.

Zhaolin said: "Your Majesty, the new army is yours alone. Although I have been there for a short time, I think it is likely to be the strongest army in the Qing Dynasty. In this case, why not let go and let Prince Su Ye concentrate on training the troops, so that everyone can see what this new army is like?"

The emperor said: "Then do you know how much pressure I will face if the people who participated in the mutiny are not killed and Boyan is transferred away?"

Zhaolin said: "I know that the Eight Banners and the Green Camp will blame the emperor. They think that the emperor compromised to this extent for just over 2,000 new troops, and even trampled on the face of the Eight Banners and the Green Camp. Today, the new army mutinied, but they were not killed. Then, if the Eight Banners and the Green Camp mutinied in the future, will they not be killed?"

That's the reason.

Facing the opposition of the entire Eight Banners and the Green Camp, the emperor was also under great pressure.

Just over 2,000 new troops, is it necessary to do so? Is it worth paying such a high price?

Zhaolin said: "Your Majesty, I have only been in the new army for a short time, but... I also vaguely feel that this new army is the hope for the future. Now that we have started, we must persevere to the end."

"In order to eliminate the pirates and redeem my ministers, Brother Su Yi spent two hundred thousand taels of silver, which contained gunpowder, and killed countless pirates. However, he also lost 70 to 80% of the two hundred thousand taels of silver."

"I beg your Majesty to allocate another 200,000 taels of silver to Brother Su Yi. We must not cut off military expenses."

"Since you are showing kindness, then show kindness to the end."

The emperor said: "Is it really worth it?"

Zhaolin said: "Your Majesty, in half a year at most, the new army will be ready! It can go to the battlefield immediately. If it is really the strongest army in the world, it will prove the emperor's wisdom. If the new army cannot bear it, then we will Execute the New Army and give the Eight Banners and Green Camp an explanation.”

The emperor said: "By that time, my face will be completely gone."

Zhaolin said: "Dan Chen has great hopes for this new army."

The emperor said: "You asked me to transfer Boyan, then who will be the deputy of the new army?"

Zhaolin said: "I suggest that Brother Su Yi recommend me."

The emperor frowned and said, "Zhaolin, have you been bribed by Su Yi?"

Zhaolin said: "Your Majesty, when a person is about to die, his words are also good! Regarding the reasons for my various suggestions, as well as my judgment on Brother Su Yi, and the corresponding measures in the future, I have written them all in the Ten Thousand Characters Memorial. Yes, please come to the Emperor for a visit at that time!”

"Especially how I should deal with Brother Su Yi in the future, I also wrote it clearly in the memorial."

"My whole life is mediocre and inactive. Only at the last moment can I have a moment of clarity."

"This is my last ten-thousand-word memorial, and I am loyal to every word."

"Your Majesty, transfer Boyan back and pardon the mutinous new army!"

"Your Majesty, let Brother Su Yi do his best to train the new army!"

"In half a year, half a year at most, this new army will allow you to see the results."

"If the new army really wins the battle, it means that the minister's judgment is correct, and it proves that the emperor's efforts are worth it."

The emperor was still pondering. After a long time, he said: "Zhaolin, you have made a huge mistake. Even if you express your stance like this, I will never forgive you."

Zhaolin trembled and said: "Your Majesty, whether you believe it or not, I brought many pirates to the New Army camp with the intention of igniting gunpowder and killing the pirates together. Although I am incompetent,...it is absolutely impossible for me to commit treason. It may attract the enemy."

"Of course, none of that matters anymore."

"Thousands of mistakes are made, and they are all my fault!"

"Your Majesty, don't involve the new army, don't involve the minister's children, don't involve the minister's family."

"In the next life, I will work for the emperor again."

"I will be loyal to the Qing Dynasty and the Emperor for all my life!"

"When a person is about to die, his words are also good. My ten-thousand-word memorial is my final masterpiece."

"Your Majesty, I'm leaving!"

Zhaolin shouted loudly and kowtowed violently.

Then, the whole person fell to the ground, his whole body twitching in pain.

Black blood continued to gush out from his mouth and nose, bleeding from seven holes.

……………………

Note: The second update is coming, the monthly vote list has slipped to 83rd, and I feel anxious.

My benefactor who has a monthly ticket, can you give me a helping hand? thank you!