The 26th year of Guangxu, the year of Gengzi in the lunar calendar.
This was a significant year in Chinese history. The Boxer Indemnity, as we later came to know it, took place in this year. In the history of the late Qing Dynasty, there were many indemnities for defeat, but only the Gengzi indemnity was "named and surnamed" and was often mentioned separately.
Because it is the largest amount of compensation in Chinese history, it will take 39 years to pay it off given China's material resources.
But before that tragedy happened, the backbone of the Qing Dynasty still stood stubbornly after being trampled on several times. In the hearts of those in power, China is still the great country, and the country is still in heaven.
After experiencing the Opium War and the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War, this behemoth in the Far East finally woke up, but the bloated and corrupt feudal dynastic system held back its efforts to catch up and staggered forward.
Beijing, Li Mansion.
In this land where powerful people gather, the Li Mansion, which once had a minister of the Ministry of Industry, finally recovered after several generations of decline.
The head of the family, Li Qiyun, lives in the Ministry of Industry, Yu Heng, and is a doctor of the Qing Dynasty. He is a fifth-grade man and is a skilled craftsman who is famous all over the world. The eldest son, Li Rufeng, was born out of his skill and excelled in his skill. He became the commander of the vanguard battalion at a young age. His martial arts skills were the best in the capital, and his future was limitless.
In mid-June, the pomegranate flowers in the yard are in full bloom, bright red and in clusters. Together with other charming bitches in the flower garden, they embellish the garden with spring scenery.
Li Rufeng, who was dressed in military uniform, was summoned to the study by his father before he could change into civilian clothes.
Pushing open the door of the study, Li Qiyun leaned back on the big sandalwood chair, lowered his head, and looked at the table, lost in thought.
Li Qiyun has a long beard and a face like a crown jewel. He is calm and intimidating. When he was young, he was famous in his family for his jade tree Linfeng. Even in middle age, he still has no loss of charm and his skin is outstanding.
Li Rufeng called his father twice and gradually became more serious.
Li Qiyun seemed to have just come to his senses. He said softly "Ah" and raised his head: "Rufeng, you're here."
Li Rufeng sat down and frowned, "Father, why did you call me? You look gloomy."
"Boom!"
Li Qiyun tapped his fingers on the desk twice and pushed the drawing above, "Read it yourself."
Li Rufeng unfolded the drawing with doubts, and saw countless complex runes engraved on it, of various types. In addition to Taoism and Buddhism, he could recognize no less than seven schools.
After looking at it for a while, he determined that it was a formation.
At the end of the drawing, there are four words written: The sharp weapon of the country, the magical power of creation.
"This is..." Li Rufeng was a little unsure.
"Unparalleled fighting spirit." Li Qiyun said.
"Have they not given up yet? Can Li Zhongtang agree?" Li Rufeng's eyes widened.
Unparalleled Fighting Soul Plan!
A project that the imperial court had been planning for forty years.
The story begins with the First Opium War, which was the first time that the Qing Dynasty was opened to the country. Although there were firearms at that time, they were still dominated by cold weapons. Suddenly, they were suddenly defeated by a group of foreign devils holding foreign guns and controlling foreign cannons. The one who beat me called Dad.
From then on, this dynasty, which once conquered the world on horseback and was famous for its military force, realized that it was falling behind.
How can agricultural civilization surpass industrial civilization
The country needs to save itself, but how to save itself? There were two voices at the time:
First, learn from the West. It is the instinct of the weak to learn from the strong.
Second, the Palace of the Gods.
Due to the limitations of the times, people do not know that industrial civilization is the real way out for human civilization. They have regarded themselves as a sovereign country for hundreds of years, and have unreasonable contempt for foreigners.
Therefore, the Palace of the Gods became the Qing government's choice to save itself.
However, the Palace of the Gods is an illusory legend after all. After the whole country pursued the non-existent phantom, the die-hards became disheartened.
The Westernization Movement began.
But the die-hards have not given up. If the Pantheon Palace cannot be found, then we will create our own invincible "weapons". Thus, the Unparalleled Fighting Soul Project was born.
This plan had to be stopped due to numerous obstacles.
First of all, Li Zhongtang, a very popular minister, dismissed him as a deviant and evil person with strange skills and tricks. Frankly speaking, the rise of a great country is not about one person or one thing, but about everyone and everything.
The Qing court has reached this day. Except for that chair, most of the power has been held by the Han people, and the die-hards have to avoid its edge.
Secondly, the Unparalleled Fighting Spirit Project lacks two core "objects", one is the ultimate treasure, and the other is the ultimate person.
The Qing Dynasty has no longer been as prosperous as it was at the beginning of the founding of the country. After experiencing the Taiping Rebellion, looking at the world of blood descendants, there is no Ji Dao.
The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom directly destroyed the strength of the Qing Dynasty. In the history of China, such rebellions are very rare.
Li Zhongtang’s memorial described the post-war situation in Jiangsu as follows:
"Chasu Province is densely populated. Most of the villages are half a mile away, and there is a town every three miles. Smoke from cooking stoves faces each other, and chickens and dogs hear each other. Now it is flat and barren as far as the eye can see, with thorns blocking the roads. There are no residents for several miles, and there are no residents for twenty or thirty miles. There are broken walls and ruined walls, solitary owls are breathing weakly, and there are only one or two left in a hundred. All of them have pale faces, groaning and dying."
The great harm is evident.
However, after the defeat of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894 and the complete destruction of the Beiyang Navy, this so-called dynasty's self-rescue movement failed.
For the Westernizationists who were eager to save themselves, it was a disaster. Many people were discouraged and many people grew old overnight.
"Now that the Western countries are watching with eager eyes, the Boxer Rebellion is in danger, and there are internal and external troubles, the Unparalleled Fighting Soul Project has been secretly restarted." Li Qiyun picked up the tea cup and put it down again. He was no longer in the mood to drink tea. "Today, Master Shangshu quietly put the drawings Gave it to me and brought the Queen Mother’s oral instructions.”
"What did the Queen Mother say?"
"The country has been raising scholars for hundreds of years. If everyone dares to die, why not reduce the fierceness and show the prestige of our country?"
Li Rufeng swayed, holding on to the corner of the table, gritting his teeth: "The civil and military officials in the entire dynasty have been pushing back and forth, and women are incompetent in governing."
"Shut up!" Li Qiyun slammed the table angrily, his voice stern.
"Father, what do you think? What do you think of the Li family?" Li Rufeng said excitedly.
The Li family is a family of weapon refiners that has been around for centuries. There are many skilled craftsmen in the family, and they are all skilled in magic weapons, firearms, and cold weapons. Li Qiyun is even known as "Luban of the time".
When the Unparalleled Fighting Soul Plan was originally drawn up, the Li family was one of the core forces.
First of all, the family was declining day by day. Li Qiyun's father was eager to revive the family, so he gave in to his wishes and recommended himself. Li Qiyun's success in officialdom was due to his connections.
Secondly, the Li family, as a family of weapon refiners, cannot avoid it no matter what.
But the Unparalleled Fighting Soul Plan is simply a dead end that doesn't work. With so many capable people and strangers at a loss, how can the Li family do it
Over the years, the Queen Mother has become increasingly moody, implicated, and cruel.
"The Queen Mother agreed to take out the Black Water Spirit Pearl." Li Qiyun said suddenly.
Li Rufeng was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "Even so, where can we find a Jida master for them? Besides, this formation may not be feasible. They are all trying to cross the river by feeling the stones. Even if there are Jida masters, they can't." Willing to take risks."
"That's why I came to you." Li Qiyun looked at his eldest son.
Li Rufeng is the strongest in the Li family. Not only in the Li family, but also in the entire northern blood world, he is also the master among masters. Li Rufeng, the eldest son of Li, went out to ask who in the blood world he had not heard of.
Because of this, he was exceptionally promoted to commander of the stormtrooper battalion.
The father and son looked at each other for a long time and understood.
Li Rufeng shook his head bitterly: "I'm not even half-step to the extreme."
"Your uncle and I will imbue you with kung fu, forcibly raising your cultivation level to half a step to the extreme level, and then cooperate with my Li family's enhanced abilities, supplemented by black water spirit beads and formations..." Li Qiyun did not say anything. After going down, he was silent for a long time, with red eyes: "Rufeng, I'm sorry for you as a father. If you don't want to, I can bring this matter to Li Zhongtang."
There are many people who oppose the Wushuang Fighting Spirit plan. To this day in the Qing Dynasty, even the Queen Mother cannot act arbitrarily, so she only gives oral instructions.
Li Rufeng thought for a while and accepted his fate, "In that case, my Li family will not be in a good position, and we will endanger those people. Besides, it may not lead to failure."
But, just a Yakuza, can he really turn the tide
"You don't have to go back to the camp for the time being, just stay at home... and spend time with Wanru and Ling'er."
"Um."
Li Rufeng got married the year before last and gave birth to a son the following year. He could already stagger and learn to speak.
After leaving the study and turning into the back house, he did not go to see his long-lost wife and son, but went to another courtyard.
When Fang Fu stepped into the courtyard, there was a "bang" gunshot, which made Li Rufeng's hair stand on end. His body's instinctive reaction was faster than his consciousness, and an iron bridge escaped the attack.
"boom!"
The wall behind him collapsed.
In the yard, a young girl wearing a cheongsam stood pretty, her left hand on her hip, and her right hand holding a Mauser repeating rifle.
This is currently the most advanced rifle in the world.
The girl giggled and said, "You little thief, you broke into my aunt's yard without permission. Are you stealing money or robbing sex?"
That kind of innocent style that only belongs to girls comes to my face.
Before Li Rufeng could speak, she said with a smile: "If you don't want money, I can save you a lot of money. What do you think of this little lady?"
She nudged her personal maid Ruyi with her mouth.
The maid, who was about the same age as the young lady, immediately blushed, lowered her head, and looked at the tips of her shoes.
"Your personal maid will be married to you in the future. Brother, I don't want to offend my future brother-in-law in advance." After Li Rufeng finished speaking, he stepped forward angrily and knocked her chestnut: "Damn girl, you want to shoot me Did you destroy your own big brother?"
"Father said that the country is currently in turmoil due to internal and external troubles. My eldest brother is also the commander of the storm battalion, so I must not tell you to be vigilant at all times." The little girl was sharp-tongued and eloquent.
Li Rufeng took the Mauser rifle, used his enhanced power, and fired a shot at the courtyard wall. The bullet blasted a hole as big as a bowl.
Look at my sister just now destroying half of the wall with one shot...
Li Rufeng shook his head: "It's embarrassing, it's embarrassing."
The girl put her feet on her feet, raised her hands, and her sleeves slipped down, revealing the wrist that can bully the frost and win the snow. She touched Li Rufeng's head and said, "If you make a little progress, you can teach me."
Li Rufeng had a dark face and spat at her: "Go, go, brother is like father, you are becoming more and more unruly."
The girl puffed up her face and said, "The eldest brother is like a father, but he asks his sister for advice about his powers all day long. Isn't he ashamed?"
Since I needed to clarify the timeline of the Eight-Power Allied Forces incident, I spent some time searching for information. When I was a student, when I read history books, the most difficult thing to remember was the timeline, not just the events.
In addition, I won’t write memories anymore, especially memories with some historical background. It’s too tiring. The mind is exhausted and the mind and body are exhausted. I am a very serious person, and I am very good at some details, such as which position is better for my grandma’s father. I checked the information for an hour just for this. I basically got a thorough understanding of the official positions in the Qing Dynasty. I found that the information provided on the Internet was actually very confusing, very vague, and very general, and could not go into detail about an official, a position, or specific affairs. After all, they are just online materials and cannot be compared with physical materials. From now on, I will sit in the library with my notebook and write books. I can look up any information I want at my fingertips, which is great. However, conditions do not allow it and I have to work. You can only do this on weekends.
Don't scold me, I stayed up till now.
(End of chapter)