After sending the manuscript, Xie Yuxi approached Li Yu again.
"Do you know how to rent a house?" Xie Yuxi asked.
Li Yu wondered: "Is it uncomfortable to stay at the Beijing Hotel?"
This is the most luxurious one. If it doesn't work, there is really no place to replace it.
Xie Yuxi said: "It's not a matter of comfort. I'm just very interested in Chinese culture and want to live in a traditional courtyard house with an expanded area to facilitate my future office use."
"It is indeed necessary," Li Yu said. "We just go to the teahouse to ask Cui Laosan where we can rent a house, and let you try some authentic Chinese tea."
In the teahouse, Li Yu ordered a pot of the finest Mingqian Gonglong, and then called over Cui Laosan: "Are there any larger houses for rent closer to the Beijing Hotel?"
Cui Laosan realized that as long as Li Yu came to his door, it would be big business, and he immediately became energetic: "Yes, of course! There happens to be a landlord in Xila Hutong who wants to rent it out, but the house is a bit big, and there is no yard."
Xila Hutong is next to Wangfujing, close to Donghuang City, not far from Dongchang Hutong where Li Yu lives, about ten minutes' walk.
Li Yu said: "Good place, how much does it cost?"
However, it was not finished initially, and the subsequent series was published in "Tianjin Daily News" and signed as "Hongdu Bailiansheng".
Li Yu said: "Mr. Lao Can is too praiseworthy."
"Tie Yun Hidden Turtle" has not yet been published, but these will become common sense in later generations. Li Yu said with a smile: "They are our earliest writings, and their value is inestimable."
Now under the pressure of public opinion and the political pressure of Japan, the Sino-Russian secret treaty will definitely be blown. I did not dare to offend Russia by leaking secrets, so I decided to find the "murderer" and give an "explanation" to Tsarist Russia.
Li Yu asked: "Who is your Excellency?"
Liu E and Wang Chonglie were shocked and said: "How could this be so? The Northeast is the land of Longxing, how can it be handed over to others?"
Liu E was even more surprised: "Did the Imperial Master study it in depth?"
Shen Xin happened to be working in a Japanese newspaper. He got this top-secret information from a Manchu nobleman, and with the help of the son of Wang Wenshao, Minister of Government Affairs, he obtained the original text of the secret agreement draft.
Liu E said: "Shen Xin worked as a reporter for the Japanese newspaper "Tianjin Daily News". It was also through his suggestion that I planned to continue to finish the remaining volume."
Liu E said: "It is extraordinary to have such a prejudice. It shows that the emperor's master indeed has real talent and knowledge, and he is worthy of being a person who is famous all over the world."
In fact, just like the house Li Yu rented in Dongchang Hutong before, because someone died a few years ago, either by suicide, the rent was very low, and it was easy to bargain.
Liu E also said angrily: "I'm afraid that if they occupy the Northeast, they will covet the Pass!"
Li Yu hurriedly said: "I'm sorry, it aroused Brother Hanfu's pain."
Li Yu said: "I only know so much."
A few years ago, when Li Hongzhang was passing through Russia, he secretly signed the "Treaty of Mutual Assistance against Enemies" with Tsarist Russia, also known as the "Secret Treaty between China and Russia". Russia thus turned the three eastern provinces into its own "sphere of influence" and took the opportunity to build
railway.
Li Yuze said coldly: "The evil wolf is not just Tsarist Russia."
Li Yu knew that the country would not be able to accommodate him if this incident came to light, and he could only have a chance of escaping to Japan, so he warned: "Sir, hurry up and buy a ticket to Japan tomorrow, so that you can keep the green hills and don't have to worry about running out of firewood."
"Why do you say that?" Li Yu asked.
Li Yu immediately said: "Easy to say, how much is it?"
Shen Xin said: "Tomorrow I will publish the original manuscript of this matter in the newspapers so that everyone across the country can take a good look!"
Wang Chonglie said: "You have done what you should do, there is no need to risk your life. If you don't buy a ticket, I will go to Tianjin to buy it for you tomorrow!"
The Russian minister on the other side also didn't believe that this matter could be revealed, and the Japanese minister almost scolded him in the face.
In order to stop the treasonous behavior of Empress Dowager Cixi and save the three northeastern provinces for China, Shen Xin decided to put his personal life and death at risk and sent the draft of the secret agreement to the English version of Tianjin's "Xinwen Xibao", and the original text was published by the newspaper.
Because he worked as a reporter for a Japanese newspaper, this matter not only harmed the interests of the Qing court, but also harmed the interests of Japan, so Japan would not surrender him.
Seeing that the Qing government refused to submit, Tsarist Russia signed the "Treaty on the Handover of the Three Eastern Provinces" with the Qing government, agreeing to withdraw its troops in stages.
Shen Xin was caught before she could escape.
But no matter how stupid Cixi was, she knew that the Northeast was the "lifeblood" of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, so she refused to sign the "Provisional Charter of Fengtian Relations with Earth" and dismissed Zengqi from his post for questioning.
Li Yu asked: "Okay, how long do we have to wait?"
Li Yu said: "I'm sure I won't be so pessimistic."
Unfortunately, it is difficult to guard against domestic thieves. Although the few people planned well, Wu Shizhao escaped immediately after the show ended that night.
After entering Liu E's residence in Beijing, Liu E ordered his servants: "Bring out the best wine and the best sauce meat in the house. The most distinguished guest is here today!"
After that, Tsarist Russia pushed further and directly sent troops to invade the Northeast, and forced General Zengqi of Shengjing to sign the "Temporary Charter of Fengtian Diplomacy", turning the three Northeastern provinces into de facto colonies.
However, after the signing of the treaty, Tsarist Russia repeatedly delayed the withdrawal process and proposed the so-called "seven new conditions for withdrawal" in an attempt to continue to occupy the three eastern provinces. Under the threat of force from Tsarist Russia, Empress Dowager Cixi finally chose to be forced to compromise and decided Agree to all the other party's requirements in a secret contract.
Guapimao Cui Laosan said: "The owner just told me that he wanted to rent it, and he hasn't had time to set the price yet. Why don't you wait a moment and I'll invite the owner in person."
Shen Xin said: "I'm afraid things are more pessimistic than imagined."
Wang Chonglie said: "I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence. The tenant of my late father's house was the emperor's master."
The Qing court felt that it was extremely difficult, and neither side dared to offend. At this time, Wu Shizhao approached Yikuang and told Yikuang exactly what Shen Xi had said, and even added: "Your Highness, please do it quickly, otherwise He ran away!"
But what the Qing court did was really funny.
Shen Xin said helplessly: "The Reform has been defeated. Apart from the Imperial Master, I am afraid that only foreigners can really understand it."
Liu E did understand life. Although his "Lao Can's Travels" was rated by Lu Xun as one of the four "condemnation novels" in the late Qing Dynasty, in addition to criticizing the officialdom, this book also contained many aspects of life in the late Qing Dynasty, including Diet is mentioned in many places.
Liu E said: "After the newspaper is distributed tomorrow, you can leave quickly!"
After listening to Shen Xin's story, several people were very angry. Wang Chonglie's father died during the Eight-Power Allied Forces' invasion of China. They hated the great powers and said viciously: "Damn Russians, they are trying to swallow up the entire Northeast!"
Wang Chonglie sighed: "Since my father passed away, the house has been idle. I was so moved by the scenery that I really can't live in it anymore."
Even in prison, facing interrogation, Shen Xun did not mince words and deeds, confessed her patriotic behavior, and exposed the traitorous behavior of Empress Dowager Cixi in trying to cover up the "Secret Treaty between China and Russia".
Xie Yuxi didn't know them, didn't feel like they were in the education field, and didn't want to drink, so he didn't go with them.
The higher the price, the higher Cui Laosan's commission. He immediately took out the contract: "It would be best if you two knew each other."
Shen Xin took another sip of wine and said with the strength of the wine: "It doesn't hurt to tell you in advance. I have received news from reliable channels that the imperial court will continue to sign the "Sino-Russian Secret Treaty" with Russia and cede the Northeast to Tsarist Russia! "
Liu E knew better about Shen Xin's identity. He had followed Tang Caichang in the uprising, and Tang Caichang and others were suppressed and executed. He escaped under a false name and is now wanted.
It was in this year that Liu E started writing, but at first it was just to support a friend Lian Mengqing. At that time, he was having difficulty making ends meet. Liu E knew that he was unwilling to accept money directly, so he planned to write a novel for him and earn money after serializing it. Point for living expenses.
Li Yu said: "Sooner or later, the clouds will clear and the sun will shine."
Cixi's petty mind could not bear such anger, so she ordered him to be executed.
Shen Xin drank wine, but she was not afraid of anything: "Tan Sitong can die, why can't I die? If I can exchange for the loss of Northeast China with my humble life, then why not let me die a hundred times?!"
Li Yu corrected: "Science is not understood only by foreigners."
Li Yu was very cheerful and did not bargain: "That's it."
As for the so-called "joint defense of the enemy", it actually means that the Qing government and Russia jointly resisted Japan.
Cui Laosan came back earlier than expected. One of the two people behind him clasped his fists and said, "It's really the Emperor himself!"
"Sir, there is no need to apologize," Wang Chonglie pointed to the person next to him, "I forgot to introduce you when I came in. This is Liu E, nicknamed Lao Can. I heard that the emperor's master is here, and he wants to come with me to pay a visit."
Xie Yuxi said: "It is indeed different, and the environment is also different."
Liu E also clasped his fists and said, "I'm so lucky to see the emperor's master!"
Li Yu smiled and said: "Same luck!"
"Go back quickly," Li Yu said.
When Liu E heard Li Yu say the three words "Oracle Bone Inscriptions", he was surprised and asked: "The emperor knows about Oracle Bone Inscriptions?"
Li Yu smiled and said: "How can there be such an owner? Since I recognize it, this is the price."
How can the current capital be as prosperous as New York and Chicago?
The food in Liu E's family is really good. Nowadays, most of the best cooks in the north are from Shandong. There is a Shandong chef in Liu E's residence. He himself knows Shandong cuisine very well. After drinking three rounds of wine and tasting five flavors, several people are extremely happy. .
"I am Wang Chonglie, courtesy name Hanfu."
But Wang Chonglie said: "I found out today that it was rented by the Imperial Master. I think 30 yuan is enough."
After signing the contract, Liu E said: "Drinking tea here is not enough. If the emperor doesn't mind it, how about coming to my house and having a few drinks together?"
The fragment Liu E is talking about is naturally the famous "Lao Can's Travels".
The two of them bowed their hands to Li Yu and said, "I have met the emperor's master."
Liu E said to them: "Come together, it is rare to see the emperor himself."
"No need to be polite!" Li Yu said with a smile, and then said to Liu E, "Mr. Lao Can is just like Lord Mengchang in ancient times, and he still has retainers at home."
Cui Laosan tightened his clothes: "Soon, my boss is not far away. After you drink two pots of tea, I will come back with my people."
During the Gengzi national calamity in 1900, after Dongbianmen was breached, Wang Yirong, his wife and his widowed eldest daughter-in-law committed suicide by throwing themselves into a well at home.
Then he introduced Li Yu: "This is Shen Xin, and this is Wu Shizhao."
Well, Liu E, the author of "Lao Can's Travels".
As expected, the secret agreement was published in the newspapers the next day, causing an uproar across the country. The Japanese Embassy went directly to the Prime Minister's Office and asked Yi Kuang to explain what was going on.
Japan will definitely not be willing to accept the fact that the two neighboring countries have united to fight against itself.
Even if he was beaten to death, he would not have thought that the person who betrayed him was his friend Wu Shizhao.
Cui Laosan, who was sitting next to me, watched them chatting for a long time, and became more and more excited. He didn't want to talk about the price at all, so he coughed: "Guys, what about renting a house?"
Liu E sighed: "They are all talented but unsatisfactory people. They all joined the New Party and supported the reform movement, but the result..."
After Wang Yirong died, in order to repay his debt, Wang Chonglie sold the bronzes and other cultural relics collected by his father Wang Yirong to Weng Tonghe, the master of Emperor Guangxu, and others; then he sold and gave half of the more than a thousand oracle bone inscriptions he had collected and studied to Liu Jia. , to help him compile and expand the famous first oracle bone inscription research book "Tie Yun Hidden Turtle" to complete the unfinished work of his father.
Most people who participated in the reform movement are not satisfied with their current situation. No wonder this is the case.
Only Wu Shizhao was eating nervously and only agreed with a few words.
Li Yu clasped his fists and said, "Look at me for a long time!" Then he stretched out his hand and said, "Sit down and have a cup of tea."
Liu E was the first person to make the oracle bone inscriptions public to the public. Previously, the oracle bone inscriptions were only circulated among a small group of cultural relic collectors. He was also the first to propose that the oracle bone inscriptions were "Yin people's sword and pen writing" and identified more than 40 characters.
How ridiculous and sad.
He is actually the son of Wang Yirong, the discoverer of oracle bone inscriptions.
Wang Chonglie on the side said: "Brother Lao Can knows a lot about food, whether it is Jiangnan cuisine or northern cuisine!"
If no one reported the matter, it would be impossible for the Qing court to know that Shen Xin was the one who revealed the matter.
Shen Xun was also a reporter, so he naturally knew Li Yu's name, and praised: "The emperor is proficient in advanced mathematical sciences that only foreigners understand. He is really the first person in science!"
The house Liu E rented was very large. After sitting down in the hall, he met the two people who were staying at his house.
Cui Laosan said: "On the way, my boss said 40 yuan."
Wang Chonglie actually stabbed himself with 10 coins.
Wang Chonglie said: "Mr. Lao Can was a good friend of my late father, and we studied epigraphy together."
Li Yu said: "Oracle bone inscriptions are our most precious treasure, and we really need to study them in depth."
After Cui Laosan left, Li Yu poured a cup of tea for Xie Yuxi, "How is it? It's different from what you drink in the United States, isn't it?"
Wang Chonglie wanted to be more humble, but Li Yu insisted: "Brother Han Fu, please stop arguing!"
In addition to being a writer and epigraphy researcher, Liu E was also a businessman with a lot of money.
This is a big deal.
Li Yu said: "It turns out to be the ancestral home of Brother Fu of the Han Dynasty."
Since it happened to be Guangxu's birthday, it was not appropriate to execute prisoners according to the law, but Cixi didn't care. She just specifically told the Ministry of Punishment not to see blood, so the execution was executed with an extremely cruel stick.
More than 200 sticks were struck down, and Shen Xin's bones were broken into pieces, but not a single cry was heard. Just when the executioner thought Shen Xin was dead, he suddenly said: "Why are you not dead? Hurry and hang me with a rope." The executioner had no choice but to strangle Shen Xin to death with a rope.
Things happened very quickly. Not long after Shen Xun was arrested, she was persecuted and died by the Qing court.
What was broken was a person's bones, but it also firmly broke the Qing court's own bones.