In late August, two more telegrams came from the capital, explaining the dispatch of the first batch of relief funds and the identity of the newly appointed disaster relief office, and confirming the detailed schedule and train number. [New] After receiving these messages, Yuan Su
, immediately started arranging the response arrangements in advance, and at the same time sent people to spread the news to further reassure people.
Everything seemed to be proceeding in an orderly manner until the afternoon of August 22nd, when Yuan Su was in the barracks reviewing a draft development plan for Beidaiheyang Parish sent by the Beidaihe British Chamber of Commerce. However, at this time, on the corridor outside the door, someone
There was a rush of footsteps from far and near, and soon Du Yu's figure appeared in front of the door.
"My lord, my lord, something bad has happened, something has happened." Du Yu gasped for breath, his forehead was covered with sweat, and he seemed out of breath when he spoke.
"Why are you so panicked?" Yuan Su put down the document in his hand and looked up at Du Yu.
"There is a group of French soldiers outside clamoring to see you. They are all very aggressive. The translator they brought said that one of their men seems to be missing and they want us to take action immediately." Du Yu said quickly.
"Nonsense, their people are missing, what does it have to do with me! Even if you want to report a crime, it is the county government's business. This is the frontline disaster relief command camp. Are these foreigners' heads filled with water?" Yuan Su's face suddenly changed, and he became angry.
Said.[]
"There were a lot of them, and they were pushing and shoving at the gate. They were noisy and fussy. I didn't hear clearly what was going on." Du Yu added with some embarrassment.
Yuan Su thought for a moment. He had recently established a relationship with the British Consulate in Jinan through Reynoldson and had good relations with the British and French foreigners in Beidaihe. Doesn't it mean that foreigners know what their identity is here, and what's more, the French
Bian Ye would definitely not come and make a fuss over a trivial matter. In other words, it was obvious that something major related to disaster relief had happened.
"In this case, you go tell the French people to let their commander come in to see me, and the rest of the people are waiting outside the door." After thinking about this, he regained his composure and ordered.
"Yes." Du Yu nodded, immediately turned around and walked away quickly.
After Du Yu left, Yuan Su leaned back on his seat, concentrating on this unexpected situation.
After a while, footsteps were heard again in the corridor outside the door, accompanied by some conversations in foreign languages.
Du Xian went to the door and made an announcement, then led a middle-aged foreigner wearing a French army officer's uniform and a Chinese attaché who was a translator into the door. [ ]
"Sir, this is Captain Rogen, the French security chief. This is our Lord Yuan." Du gave a brief introduction in advance. The following sentence was addressed to the Chinese interpreter attaché.
The translator immediately translated to the foreigners in military uniforms. Then the security captain, Logan, reluctantly bowed to Yuan Su and saluted, and then mumbled a lot in French. The translator spoke carefully while
Listening, he nodded and bowed in a respectful and submissive manner.
After Captain Logan finished speaking, the translator turned to Yuan Su behind the desk and said: "Master Yuan, Captain Logan asked me to tell Master Yuan what happened yesterday. I hope Master Yuan can preside over this meeting."
Justice.”
Yuan Su said with a smile but not a smile: "Let me uphold justice for foreigners? When have foreigners ever been wronged in China?"
The translator was a little embarrassed, but he couldn't say much, so he pretended not to care about Yuan Su's words, and then said: "The thing is like this, early yesterday, Father Dou of Beidaihe Wanfu Church organized church personnel and several
The believers, carrying a batch of food and some medical supplies they had just collected, left the city and headed to the refugee gathering place east of Fenghuang Mountain to help the refugees. They were scheduled to return to the city before dark, but they didn't come back until this morning."
Yuan Su's expression was serious. Before he finished listening to the translator, he already had several questions in his mind.
After a pause, the translator continued: "At noon today, Wanfu Church received a notification from Shanhaiguan Checkpoint that two people from the volunteer team that went to the east of Fenghuang Mountain for disaster relief yesterday returned. When the church sent people to get there,
These two people were a Chinese believer and a French volunteer. They were disheveled and disheveled, as if they had returned from fleeing the country."
"Tell me the important points." Yuan Su reminded him in a nonchalant manner.
"Yes, yes. The two of them said that yesterday afternoon, after Father Dou led the volunteer team to distribute food and medicine, they were preparing to return to the city. On the way, many bandit-looking refugees suddenly rushed out. In their hands, they not only had knives, spears, etc.
Weapons, as well as a variety of firearms. These bandits intercepted the rebel team and killed another Chinese believer in the chaos. Afterwards, the bandits kidnapped Father Dou and others and took them to the mountains and forests in the northeast.
We're here." Seeing that Yuan Su was a little impatient, the translator subconsciously spoke faster.
"What happened to the two people who came back?" Yuan Su asked calmly.
"According to the two of them, the robbers let them back and notified the church to prepare a ransom. They also said that they would prepare 100,000 yuan in cash within three days. If they did not receive the money on the fourth day, they would... kill people, and they would still kill people.
...It is better to kill the foreigners first... Sir, this is a kidnapping and extortion case." The translator said in a serious tone.
When he saw that the translator was almost talking to Yuan Su, Captain Logan, who had been standing upright, immediately put on a strong posture, as if he was the village owner who came to collect debts. He spoke in a loud voice.
He said in very suffocated Chinese: "Wa, I'm telling you, your officials in Zhongguo must take responsibility for this matter. They must bear the responsibility. The priest in Wamo went to help Nimo out of kindness.
Refugees, but now they have been kidnapped by your ruthless people. What should I do?"
Yuan Su finally stood up, stared at Captain Logan expressionlessly, and said coldly: "What is your military rank?"
Captain Logan didn't understand, so he looked at the translator standing in front of him. Although the translator was also surprised, he still translated it according to Yuan Su's words. After listening to the translation, Captain Logan's mind could not turn around for a while.
Instead, he puffed out his chest with a sense of honor and said in French: "I am the captain of the Ponifacia Musket Battalion of the Third French Republic."
Yuan Su asked again without changing his tone: "Do you know what my military rank is?"
After the translator translated Yuan Su's words, Captain Logan was immediately stunned, and it took him a while to react.