In the 20th year of Daoguang's reign, the Sun Never Sets Empire used ships and artillery to open the gates of the Qing Dynasty, thus signing the Treaty of Nanjing, China's first unequal treaty in modern times.
Known as the Opium War in history.
In 1860, the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets came again, bringing with it its good brother France to beat the "rich locals" in the Far East. The two countries have gained a lot and made a lot of money. I left happily and promised to come back next year...
In addition, Tsarist Russia also stepped in and forced the Qing Dynasty to cede a vast territory of 1.5 million square kilometers in the northeast and northwest.
The invasion of foreign powers began to deepen.
In the middle, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom experienced what was like a natural disaster. The people's livelihood was in decline and the national power was gradually declining. This once behemoth is no longer as powerful as it once was.
In the 20th year of Guangxu's reign, the Sino-Japanese War of Sino-Japanese War dealt another heavy blow to the Qing Dynasty. Even the little brother at the time could ride on its head to show off its power and demand compensation.
Whether it's among the people, the blood community, or the imperial court, all knowledgeable people understand that this country is in trouble. Without reform and progress, there will only be more people coming to rob our homes and rob our homes.
A lot of efforts and changes have been made, but the results are not ideal.
In 1900, on June 17, the Western powers not only built embassies in the capital, but also forcibly stationed the embassy guards in the capital. This is putting your eyes in your own spring water.
The majestic Chinese dynasty, a great country, has been stepped on and spat on by Western powers time and time again.
Regardless of nation or country, they are all facing unprecedented disasters.
At that time, the Eight-Power Allied Forces captured the Dagukou Fort.
The capital was furious, and the people were furious.
In fact, in terms of weapons alone, the Qing Dynasty at this time was no weaker than the Eight-Power Allied Forces. The armory of the Dagukou Fort contained Krupp's most advanced cannons, the most advanced rifles Mauser rifles, and the most advanced German heavy machine guns. . There are millions of bullets alone.
Except for Germany, the equipment of other countries cannot compare with the Qing Dynasty.
As early as the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894, the Qing Dynasty's navy and army were already stronger than those of the island countries.
Insightful people in the blood world realize that what is truly backward is not weapons, but the corrupt political power. And the increasingly chaotic Qing army.
The imperial court cannot count on it, nor can it count on advanced weapons. There must be a larger, unstoppable force to help the country tide over the difficulties.
Invincible!
This is what everyone desires most right now.
While the main war faction and the main peace faction were fighting each other without a winner, the Li family had already been overrun by visitors.
On this day, a total of thirteen forces in the blood world gathered in Li Mansion. These are all blood forces participating in the soul refining plan.
A daughter of the Li family grew up and became a great master comparable to the Yakuza. No, the Yakuza may not even have her as a more suitable candidate to serve as an unparalleled fighting spirit. It is said that enhanced powers can be strengthened indefinitely...
The chosen one!
Almost everyone who heard the news had this thought.
The daughter of the Li family is simply destined to be a person born for the unparalleled fighting spirit.
As for who spread the news, he knows it well.
The lobby was packed with guests and all nearby tribesmen were dispersed. Li Rufeng was personally responsible for serving tea and water.
At this time, a fierce quarrel was taking place here.
However, in the face of the persuasion of more than a dozen forces, both soft and hard, Li Qiyun showed rare strength and became red-faced in the fight with the major forces.
"Don't even think about it. It's impossible for my daughter to become an unparalleled warrior. Even if the King of Heaven comes, I won't agree." He slapped the table and shouted angrily.
This is actually a serious overstatement. You need to know that the person secretly supporting the soul refining plan is the most powerful woman in the Qing Dynasty. In ordinary times, if someone is willing to listen to it, it will be enough for him to eat a pot.
"You can let your legitimate son join the battle to refine his soul, why can't your daughter?" someone said angrily.
"Everyone, do you have a clear conscience for letting a woman take the lead in saving the country?"
"If we can, why should we humble ourselves and beg you? The country is in turmoil, the people are in dire straits, no one is afraid of death, and all of us dare to die. Mr. Li, we really have nothing to do."
Li Rufeng stood aside, thinking to himself that this was quite the truth. If it were the other people here, if they were suitable, they would have been scrambling for the first place.
"Master Li, you should know that the soul refining plan is of great importance. Not only King Duan and others are eagerly waiting for it, but so is the current one."
Of course the one who hated the great powers the most was Cixi. When she was 60 years old, the island nation killed the Beiyang Navy. When she staged a coup to put Pujun in power, foreigners obstructed her.
"Impossible." Li Qiyun's reply remained unchanged.
At this time, not to mention everyone, Li Rufeng, the son, was also surprised.
Mr. Li, a well-mannered man who always puts his family first, was forced to this point and still didn't let go.
"You might as well discuss it directly with Ji'er." He threatened with a sneer.
"If her body, hair and skin are affected by her parents, Master Li can make the decision for her." Someone said dissatisfiedly.
How dare they? If the news is true, that person is a great master who can briefly burst out with extreme power. They don't dare to rush into the back house to discuss with that person. This is no different than lighting a lantern in the toilet, seeking death.
In the end, they parted on bad terms.
Li Shu walked out from the back of the lobby and personally gave Li Qiyun some tea: "Dad, why don't you agree? Don't you hate foreigners the most?"
She had actually been eavesdropping.
"Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, but there is no saying that women and children are responsible. The rise and fall of a country has nothing to do with women and children since ancient times." Li Qiyun shook his head: "There is no such reason."
Li Shu bit her lip.
Li Qiyun looked at her and suddenly realized that this year, he had rarely looked at his daughter carefully, and she became more and more charming.
The daughter of the Li family is just beautiful.
"Your mother passed away early. When you were young, your father was busy with official duties and rarely saw you. When you finally grew up, he sent you to go out to practice. You and Rufeng are your legitimate son and daughter. Your eldest brother has already married and started a career. Finally, dad also wants to see you get married and find a good home."
"Dad, I want to join the Jida, so I don't want to get married." Li Shu's face turned slightly red.
"It is virtue for a woman to have no talent, that's a wise saying." Li Qiyun sighed.
If she was just an ordinary woman, she wouldn't be in the difficulty she is today.
Outside, the situation is changing day by day.
The foreigners had captured the Dagukou Fort and marched towards the capital. At that time, the Boxers were out destroying the railway to fight against the foreigners. Inside, they vandalized embassies of various countries. The German Minister to China, Klind, went to the Prime Minister's Yamen to ask for protection on behalf of various countries, but was killed by Qing soldiers.
The main war faction repeatedly issued memorials, demanding a decisive battle with the foreigners. However, the Empress Dowager Cixi, who had been in charge of the Qing Dynasty for decades, wavered between supporting the Boxer Rebellion and cowardly providing material aid to the foreigners.
On the 21st, Cixi suddenly held a meeting and, uncharacteristically, declared war on the Eight-Power Allied Forces. The "Edict" said: Instead of trying to survive, which will bring shame to the ages, who can go out and attack in a decisive battle
Of course, this was an edict that only the internal ministers knew about. It was a mobilization slogan and was not made public, nor was it an overt declaration of war against the Eight-Power Allied Forces.
Although Cixi was a prodigal woman, she still had some brains.
... ...
Early in the morning, the gate of Li Mansion.
"Brother, be careful. Run away if you can. Don't fight. I heard that blood descendants from all countries are very powerful." Li Shu whispered.
Ordinary foreign guns and cannons pose little threat to blood descendants. As long as they are not unlucky enough to be hit by a cannon, it would be difficult for ordinary foreign soldiers to kill a vampire in one blow. But since ancient times, blood descendants have been active on the battlefield.
The blood elites of the foreigners were more numerous and stronger than those of the Qing Dynasty. After years of war, the Qing Dynasty had suffered heavy losses in the blood community, and not all blood descendants in the country were united to resist foreign enemies.
In fact, apart from the Boxers, only the Northern Bloods are currently resisting foreign enemies.
This phenomenon is not unique to the vampire world, it is also true in the military.
The Qing Dynasty's control over the entire country was already very weak.
After Cixi's mobilization meeting, the northern Qing troops officially joined the war against the Eight-Power Army. Li Rufeng, as a military master and experienced, was ordered to be transferred to Tianjin to participate in the war and resist the allied forces' march into the capital.
"I will take good care of the family. My sister-in-law and the others are safe in Zhuangzi." Li Shu added.
The brother and sister murmured for a long time, and Li Qiyun, who sent his son off to the war, had only one sentence: come back alive.
"Jiu'er, I will make a triumphant return."
After a long absence, Li Rufeng called the girl by her nickname, reached out and caressed her head.
"I want to tell those people that the Qing Dynasty can win without the need for an unparalleled fighting spirit."
No one has called her by her nickname for many years. Li Shu recalled that when she was young, her biological mother died early, her father was busy with official duties, and all the concubines in the family were mean and mean, and they bullied the mother-less couple. Brother and sister.
But after Li Rufeng turned ten, no one dared to bully them anymore, because at the age of ten, Li Rufeng awakened.
In fact, in the early years, Li Shuo woke up first before her eldest brother. She didn't say it, but she was greedy for his love and protection.
In the blink of an eye, the eldest brother has already started a family and started a business.
... ..
Since the coalition forces captured the Dagukou Fort, Tianjin has become a strategic location that the two armies must compete for. To avoid the fate of the capital being captured, the Qing Dynasty must defend Tianjin.
At first, the battle was going well, with good news coming one after another.
However, as the coalition forces increased their troops and blood descendants from various countries gathered together, starting on July 6, the fighting in Tianjin became fierce. On the 14th, Jin city fell, and Yulu, the governor of Zhili, committed suicide after his defeat. Also killed in the battle was Li Rufeng, the former commander of the forward battalion.
"He was stabbed dozens of times, and finally his head was beheaded by a blood master of the Murray family with one sword."
After the war, the subordinates who secretly brought back the body said so.
It was raining heavily that day, and late at night, one of Li Rufeng's confidants came back with the body.
After Li Shu heard the bad news, he rushed to the outer courtyard and saw his father standing in the rain, with a body covered with white cloth at his feet.
Her heart suddenly seemed to be blocked by something. She walked over step by step, letting the heavy rain wet her clothes and hair. The rain condensed on her long eyelashes, as if there was a heavy rain in her eyes.
"Your eldest brother...is gone." His father's first words.
"People in troubled times should die when they deserve it." The father's second sentence.
"Jiao'er, kill them all, kill them all." The father's third sentence.
"good."
Li Shu responded calmly, "I want to be alone with my eldest brother for a while."
The father who had only one legitimate son left in despair.
Now that I think about it, he must have had a death wish before he left.
After finally finding the best candidate, the Qing government would never give up.
Since he was a child, he has taken the four words "eldest brother as father" as his benchmark, and tried his best to protect his sister, even if her sister was strong enough to push him to the ground and rub him.
Da Qing needed a big victory to boost his morale and regain his confidence. He wanted to win, but he couldn't admit it to himself and his father.
This is what he will do.
That day, she stood in the heavy rain all night, thinking about her childhood days, the little moments of childhood with her eldest brother, her love and care in the past, and... that an elder brother is like a father.
(End of chapter)