After the lively wedding, the brothers all returned to Rong County one after another.
Wang Hengyue accompanied Ma Yunxin back to the house, but Ma Weiqi's body and bones were failing and she really couldn't hold on. According to convention, newcomers were not allowed to see patients.
Ma Yunxin was helpless and kowtowed three times at her grandfather's door with tears in her eyes before leaving.
Another day later, Wang Hengyue came to visit again with Ma Yunxin, and finally met Ma Weiqi.
But at this moment, Ma Weiqi, who was lying on the hospital bed, had no trace of the charm he had when Wang Hengyue saw him. He was lying alone on the hospital bed, his eyes were blank, he was as thin as a stick, and he could see that he was dying.
"Grandpa..." Ma Yunxin just finished speaking, tears were already streaming down her face.
"Don't cry." Ma Weiqi's voice was very weak, and he looked at his granddaughter lovingly: "Grandpa is leaving soon. Grandpa has arranged everything for you, and you have to walk the rest of the way by yourself."
Ma Yunxin cried so hard that she couldn't say anything.
Ma Weiqi glanced at Wang Hengyue who was standing aside: "Yunxin, please go out for a while. Shuzhi and I have something to say."
Ma Yunxin reluctantly stood up and walked out.
He signaled Wang Hengyue to close the door and wait for his grandson-in-law to come back. Ma Weiqi kept coughing, as if he wanted to cough out his liver and gallbladder.
Wang Hengyue quickly took the ginseng soup on the side: "Ma Junmen, have some ginseng soup."
"To this day, do you still call me Ma Junmen?"
Wang Hengyue hesitated for a moment, "Grandpa..."
Ma Weiqi smiled and took the ginseng soup. Although he seemed unwilling to drink it, he still forced himself to drink half a bowl. Relying on the ginseng soup, Ma Weiqi's spirit improved a lot: "Let's talk about the new army.
how's it going?"
"Zhao Duxian has already told me." Wang Hengyue said briefly.
"That's good, that's good?" Ma Weiqi nodded: "This is your most critical opportunity, you must seize it no matter what."
After a pause, Ma Weiqi's expression was a bit confusing: "By the way, how is the situation outside now?"
Wang Hengyue knew what he wanted to know and said vaguely: "It's generally fine."
"You don't have to hide it from me. Even though I'm in the hospital bed, I know it." Ma Weiqi smiled bitterly: "The Revolutionary Party is making trouble everywhere. That Sun Wen went to the United States to raise money for riots this year. I heard that many people donated money. Abroad
, there are many people in the country who support Sun Wen, donate money and materials. There are many people who sympathize with him among the new armies trained in various places. Although he does not have an army at the moment, he still poses a threat to the imperial court. The imperial court is in turmoil.
It’s so stormy.”
Wang Hengyue remained silent. The dying old man's judgment was still very accurate.
"But what about the imperial court? There are many loyal ministers, but few true loyalties. Even Yuan Weiting was driven back by them. Prince Chun is in trouble." Ma Weiqi sighed.
In fact, Yuan Shikai may not be loyal to the Manchus, Wang Hengyue said to himself in his heart.
Ma Weiqi suddenly looked at Wang Hengyue blankly: "Speaking of which, do you think you are loyal to the court, or do you have ulterior motives?"
Wang Hengyue was stunned for a moment and didn't know how to answer.
But Ma Weiqi did not need him to answer: "Actually, how many people in this court are truly loyal to the court? How many people are willing to die for the court? The Qing Dynasty is in danger, and the court is in danger."
Wang Hengyue thought in his heart that his "grandfather"'s judgment was still very accurate, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty would be over soon!
"Tell me." Ma Weiqi suddenly raised his voice: "I know that no one can save this court, but I ask you one thing. No matter who wins this world in the future, you must try your best to save me."
Home! Promise me!"
Wang Hengyue nodded slowly and agreed to Ma Weiqi's request.
Ma Weiqi is still kind to him. His granddaughter is now his wife. If the Ma family is in trouble, he will not sit idly by and ignore it.
A smile appeared on Ma Weiqi's face. He raised his hand with difficulty and pointed to a wooden box in front of him: "Go, there is a small box there, help grandpa get it."
Wang Hengyue opened the wooden box and found a small brocade box inside. He handed it to Ma Weiqi, but Ma Weiqi motioned for him to open it.
When I opened it, there was a stack of silver notes at the top, and some gold and silver jewelry under the silver notes.
The corner of Ma Weiqi's mouth twitched, as if he was smiling: "To tell you the story, I have been a military attaché all my life, and I have never paid empty wages or deducted the wages of my brothers. I have managed to accumulate three hundred thousand taels of silver and these things with great difficulty.
I know you have great ambitions, so consider these things grandpa gave you as a wedding gift."
Wang Hengyue was surprised. Although he was his grandson-in-law, he was not the most direct relative of the Ma family.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard Ma Weiqi say: "Take it and tell me, this money can help you do something. If you tell me that you are powerful, my Ma family can be saved. I am not here for you, but for you."
My entire Ma family!"
Wang Hengyue pursed his lips, and then nodded silently.
Ma Weiqi really smiled this time: "My sons are all cowards and cannot take up my career, but you are different, but different..."
His expression was a little distracted, and he seemed to have returned to the past: "In the past, I fought fiercely with the French and severely damaged the company. It was so glorious. Now that I am old and about to pass away, I lament that God can't lend me another thirty years to make China's great country famous.
All over the world, it’s a pity, hateful, and deplorable. In short, everything depends on you young people! Go, go, promote the prestige of China and strengthen China’s aspirations, it depends on you!”
Wang Hengyue held the brocade box and left here silently...
In the third month after Wang Hengyue left, that is, on March 17, 1910, Ma Weiqi, the admiral of Sichuan and patrolling the entire army, died of illness.
Ma Weiqi was loyal to the Manchus throughout his life, but he made an indelible contribution to safeguarding the dignity of the country!
In 1883, the French invasion of Vietnam broke out. Ma Weiqi accepted the order and was appointed as the commander of the Suiyuan Left Battalion. He led the troops to support, garrisoned in Xinghua and supported Beining. He acted alone and defeated the French army. On the eve of the Tuyuan Quang War, Ma Weiqi disguised himself as a Vietnamese
A common man, he sneaked into enemy areas for reconnaissance many times. In the battle to capture Dashuoguan, he led his troops to attack the main force of the French army, carried out a rapid pincer attack from both wings, and won the victory. He also fought continuously and broke through Xiaobachong, Yingge Zi and more than ten people.
Located at a pass, it severely damaged the French army.
On November 5, 1884, more than 1,800 French troops and 9 warships attacked Admiral Sanxuan and the Black Flag Army Liu Yongfu's troops by land and water. The situation was urgent, and Ma Weiqi was ordered to rush to the rescue. He took the lead, fought fiercely for two days and nights, and finally reunited with Liu Yongfu. Ma Weiqi
After being transferred to assist in the battle, Lintao was captured, and Guangwei, Huanggangtun and other places were captured one after another.
This man who spent almost half of his life on the battlefield finally ended his life in 1910.
And with Ma Weiqi's departure, the great era has finally begun!