Tens of thousands of people also gathered outside the Meridian Gate in the south of the Forbidden City. But this place was different from the official residence of the chief minister and other places. No one shouted slogans or made fierce speeches. People just gathered quietly.
Here, either standing or sitting. Zhu Yourong, or the royal family of the Ming Dynasty, is still very sacred in people's minds. The government directly exercises public power, and the people naturally distrust it. Naturally, they can scold them casually, but the royal family has always been relatively aloof.
As a symbol of the country, it is relatively sacred in the hearts of the people.
Suddenly, the Meridian Gate slowly opened, and a military band with strict ceremonial guards beat the military drum, stepped on the slow and solemn drum beat, and walked out step by step.
The people outside the Meridian Gate stood up in surprise and looked at them. Those who couldn't see behind them jumped up to look. They didn't know what was going on with such solemnity.
The military band marched solemnly to the open space in front of the Meridian Gate. As soon as the military drums stopped, everyone stood still, and there was silence, like a sculpture. Then, the conductor in the front row waved his baton, and the national anthem of the Ming Dynasty "Mountains and Rivers of the Motherland" played slowly
ring.
The people did not expect that the national anthem suddenly started playing, and the tempo was much slower and deeper than usual. Someone pointed upward and whispered:
"Look, the flag!"
Along with the slowed-down national anthem, the Ming Dynasty flag on the Meridian Gate Tower slowly descended, reached halfway to the flagpole, stopped falling, and hung there listlessly.
Everyone understood that this was Her Majesty the Queen's flag flying at half-mast in silence for the compatriots who died in Batavia. Many people took the lead in singing along with the tune softly, and soon everyone started singing along:
"The poisonous dust of barbarians spreads all over the nine states, and the loyal ministers and righteous men are filled with sorrow. Since there is no way to attack the prodigal son, we must follow the example of the middle-class ancestors..."
Many people sang and shed tears:
"The mountains and rivers of my motherland have changed color, and the old palaces and palaces have turned into hills. I don't know how long it will take to avenge my shame, and I will never stop until Loulan is killed..."
At the same time, all the national flags in Nanjing were slowly lowered. Where there was no military band, records were played. Throughout Nanjing, there was a sad sound of the national anthem everywhere.
…
After Xiang Xiaoqiang finished his impromptu speech in Singapore Port, amid the warm applause and cheers of thousands of listeners and reporters, he boarded the Wing On Princess and sailed to Batavia.
As soon as he returned to the cabin, three old consultants gathered around him. Song Ruhai asked anxiously:
"Sir, if you say this, have you communicated it to the government?"
"Ah? No."
The three old men looked at each other.
"Sir Xiang!" Sun Jiye beat his chest and stamped his feet and said, "You are too reckless!"
Xiang Xiaoqiang had just finished his speech and was still in excitement. He grabbed a cup and poured a large amount of water, then patted his chest, regained his breath, and laughed:
"The people like what I say, and Your Majesty also likes what I say. Just these two things will do!"
The three old men stared at him, speechless for a moment.
Xiang Xiaoqiang then smiled and said:
"I can imagine that the ministers in the cabinet are sweating profusely at this moment, debating whether to admit that my speech represents the Ming government. Haha. It doesn't matter whether you admit it or not. Although people are applauding and cheering, but
What did I say? I didn’t say anything substantive! I just talked about the friendship between the people of Ming Dynasty and the British people, that the overseas Chinese were very happy under British rule, and that Ming Dynasty would continue to respect British and American interests in Southeast Asia.
You have to admit these things, right? Every Ming official would say so.
"Well, I also talked about giants, children, and so on later. Yes, everyone knows that I am talking about the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies, but what about the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies when I said it? Not even a word
I didn’t say it! What I said is the same thing as the government’s previous words of ‘condemn’, ‘serious condemnation’, ‘protest’, and ‘serious protest’! It’s just a bit vulgar wording. In fact, our government’s leeway is
very big."
The three old men were not thinking as fast as the young people, and they looked at each other for a while. But after thinking about it carefully, what Xiang Xiaoqiang said made sense.
Even so, Song Ruhai still looked down and said to Xiao Qiang in the tone of an old man:
"Sir Xiang! It's very dangerous for you to do this! Now that your identity is here, every word you say will be considered to represent the Ming Dynasty. Although this time is not a big problem, can you guarantee that it will be like this every time?
Please don’t be so rash next time!”
Xiang Xiaoqiang felt a shiver in his heart and suddenly woke up from his complacency. He pondered for a moment and said seriously:
"What the three elders said is right, I was too rash... I know that His Majesty asked you to take me with you because you are worried that I am young and prone to do such unreasonable things... Don't worry, you guys, I won't be so rash.
I have no experience, so I ask the elders to continue teaching me."
Xiang Xiaoqiang's attitude was so good that the three old men looked very satisfied and had nothing more to say.
During the voyage to Batavia, he kept sending telegrams to Xiaoqiang and Zhu Yourong. He learned that just an hour after he left Singapore, the Dutch Ambassador to Nanjing asked to see the Foreign Minister and asked Xiaoqiang on behalf of the Dutch government.
Does Singapore's speech represent the attitude of the Ming Dynasty government? The Foreign Secretary gave an affirmative answer: This is the attitude of the Ming Dynasty government.
Zhu Yourong listened to Xiang Xiaoqiang's speech almost entirely. Her attitude was that the language was too vulgar and would damage the image of the Ming government. However, the strategy was in place and the attitude was just right. She gave verbal commendations to the three consultants.
Obviously, Zhu Yourong thought that the three old consultants helped him set the tone for this speech, and then he gave full play to it. Little did he know that Xiang Xiaoqiang was responsible for it from beginning to end.
Xiang Xiaoqiang left Singapore at six o'clock. The speed of the cruise ship reached 31 knots, and it was expected to arrive in Batavia around four o'clock in the evening. In the few hours from six o'clock in the evening to 11:30 p.m., Xiang Xiaoqiang and Zhu Yourong
Just like young people in later generations sending messages, the two of them kept sending telegrams one after another. There were also fourteen-frame telegrams that kept coming. The radio station on the ship, and the radio station that Xiang Xiaoqiang brought
, all busy at the same time.
How the Ming Empire handled this matter involved foreign policy and the geopolitical structure of Southeast Asia. Originally, Xiang Xiaoqiang, an officer, could not participate. But now Xiang Xiaoqiang has an ace in his hand: Zhu Yourong. Now every major decision of the cabinet government
They all have to go from Zhu Yourong, and Zhu Yourong will definitely discuss it with Xiang Xiaoqiang. This creates a situation where Xiang Xiaoqiang "remote control" Zhu Yourong overseas, and then "remote control" the Ming government. Even if it is not "remote control", it is still quite big.
degree of influence.
This matter was originally a big or small matter for the Ming Empire. But Xiang Xiaoqiang tried his best to guide it in the "big" direction. The safest way is of course to deal with the Dutch East Indies after settling the Northern Qing Dynasty.
, then there would be no worries even if there was a war... But Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that he could only stay in this time and space for five years, and there was obviously little hope of pacifying the Beiqing within five years. So he wanted to fight against the Ming Empire while he could still influence it.
Let's do this for the Nanyang Chinese.
Even if there is no war, even if the problem cannot be solved once and for all, then at least the Ming government must get used to not being afraid, and know how to take action when it is time to take action, so that they will no longer be pinched by others with an oil card. As for what will happen to Britain and the United States?
Worried, Xiang Xiaoqiang believes that this is only secondary compared to the life safety and long-term status of tens of millions of Nanyang Chinese. To a certain extent, a powerful navy is to protect one's own country's interests overseas. If it is to allow friendly neighbors
Don't worry, but to confine the fleet in the port and not protect overseas interests is to put the cart before the horse.
…
At 3:30 in the morning on February 25, the Yongan Princess sailed into Batavia Bay under the leadership of a Dutch pilot boat.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was woken up, rubbed his eyes and walked onto the deck, holding on to the railing and looking around Batavia Bay.
Batavia was dark at night. The sky in several places in the distance was dark red, and thick smoke could be seen through the firelight. The rest of the city was dark, with few lights.
Those places where the sky was illuminated red by the firelight should be the neighborhoods where Chinese people are concentrated. Xiang Xiaoqiang held the railing tightly with both hands and stared at those places with a gloomy look.
The harbor was brightly lit. Under the light, it was a miserable scene.
A large number of Chinese people were sitting on the ground, and the ground was covered with darkness. There were endless cries, screams, and moans, just like a gathering place for the wounded who had been evacuated from the war. Too many people had blood on them, some of them were their own, and some were dying in their own arms.
of relatives.
There are already several ships in the port transporting refugees. Three are from the Ming Dynasty, one is from the UK, and one is from the United States. They are moored at their respective docks, and the crew members are helping the refugees get on the ships under the gangway. There are still many ships in the port.
There were some medical staff, wearing red cross armbands, treating the injured. They were probably from the Batavia Red Cross.
On the left is a small cargo ship, several thousand tons in size, flying a flag. Two German sailors are carefully carrying a Chinese injured aboard. Below, more Chinese refugees are lining up, waiting silently.
Get on board and get out of this hellish place.
"Obersalzburg."
Alfred Krupp stood behind Xiang Xiaoqiang at some point, looked at the bow name of the German ship and said.
Xiang Xiaoqiang turned around to look at him, and saw that the young heir to the Krupp Empire, a man with a strong sense of honor in this country, had put on a suit and leather shoes meticulously, and also put on a red armband. Despite the night in Batavia
It was very hot, and his tie was still tightly fastened to his neckline. It didn't look like he was wearing shorts, shorts, and a jacket, and he was dressed in adventure attire.
He nodded to Xiaoqiang, patted his arm, and shook hands with him vigorously:
"Let me thank the German people."
At this time, the ladder of the Yongan Princess had been lowered, and the Dutch colonial administration customs officer ran up with documents. He was startled when he saw Xiang Xiaoqiang and Krupp wearing armbands. This customs officer wearing glasses
I didn't expect that there was a Nazi here, so I was a little hesitant and wondered whether I should go through the formalities with them. Xiang Xiaoqiang ignored him, but the first mate on the ship came to greet him and got off the ship with him.
As soon as the Yongan Princess lowered the gangway, hundreds of overseas Chinese rushed over, waiting to board the ship. The medical team on the ship also immediately disembarked and joined in the process of rescuing the injured. The crew also began to distribute water and food to the overseas residents.
, gathered them, guided them to wait together, and carried the seriously injured aboard first.
Qiu Qiu's military qualities and on-the-spot command skills came into play at this time. Seeing the tragic situation, although her face was pale, she quickly got into the mood, and quickly organized the doctors and nurses on the ship on the spot, and screened them in an orderly manner.
Treat the wounded.
The injured people who were brought up were terrible to look at. One person had his arm cut off, and it was missing from the shoulder. It was wrapped in gauze, and bright red blood was constantly oozing out. He was lying on a stretcher, without any consciousness, and his skin was waxy white.
A young girl's hair was messy, her clothes were torn into rags, her upper body was almost naked and covered in blood stains, but judging from her torn clothes, she seemed to be a young lady from the upper class. But she did not stop crying.
She just quietly helped the doctor treat the injured. After she helped lift up a little girl with bloody flesh and blood, Xiang Xiaoqiang saw that she was pretty and pretty, but she had a few letters tattooed on her face.
.
The girl seemed to be completely numb to the fact that she had been raped and disfigured. She straightened up and silently glanced at Xiaoqiang. Without saying a word, she got off the boat and continued to carry the wounded.
Xiang Xiaoqiang's face turned pale, he took a deep breath with trembling and slowly exhaled. He turned around and asked:
"Why hasn't our consul arrived yet?"
The guard in charge of the radio station behind him quickly replied:
"Sir, I would like to call you and ask."
With that said, he got off the ship and went to the port to find a phone.
The entire port is bloody, noisy, and dark. No one has noticed Xiang Xiaoqiang except the authorities and customs officials. Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at everything on the port and felt that his heart was bleeding. He didn't want to be in the limelight anymore, so he just leaned on the railing.
, watching quietly.
Xiang Xiaoqiang stared at the girl, watching her carry the injured person onto the boat again and again. After carrying the tenth injured person, the girl seemed to be very tired and stopped carrying the injured person. She rested for a while, and then slowly
I walked slowly to the slipway and jumped off without warning.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was shocked and couldn't believe his eyes. When he was convinced that he saw water splashes reverberating in the dark sea water, he immediately shouted:
"Someone has jumped into the sea! Rescue them quickly!"
Several sailors and nurses ran over and stared down at the dark water, but there was nothing but the aftermath of the water. One sailor jumped down and dived into the water to touch.
Xiang Xiaoqiang anxiously climbed on the railing and stared, but the sailor floated up twice and shook his head each time, unable to find him.
Xiang Xiaoqiang became anxious, but the girl was in front of him and watched her jump. He took off his shirt and shoes, rushed to the platform and said:
"Get out of the way and look at me!"
Before his men could catch him, Xiang Xiaoqiang plunged into the water.
The first feeling he felt when he was surrounded by water was that it was extremely cool. Then, the scene of lurking in the water at Pukou slipway came to mind.
Xiang Xiaoqiang showed off his swimming talent and tried his best to drill down, but the water at the pier was very deep, usually about ten meters deep. He could only dive to more than one meter, nearly two meters deep, and then he would have a splitting headache and couldn't dive anymore.
Already.
After trying again and again for a long time, he realized that there was no hope, so he climbed onto the slipway exhausted.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was shirtless and no longer wearing a shirt, so he sat down on the dock to rest wetly. He took a bottle of water from the nurse and drank it.
The expats next to him didn't recognize him yet, so they thought he was an expatriate who was about to board the ship. An old woman advised him:
"It's useless... You can't save it... Many ladies and ladies have jumped into the sea at the pier tonight... The police don't care, it's up to us to save it... Alas, we can't save it..."
...Many young ladies have jumped into the sea at the pier...
Xiang Xiaoqiang lowered his head and listened to these bloody words without saying a word, just gritting his teeth.
At this time, the guard who ran to make a phone call came back and said in Xiang Xiaoqiang's ear:
"Sir, I'm afraid something is not right. When the riot started yesterday, Mr. Consul went to pick up her daughter from school and never came back. Later, Mrs. Consul also went out to look for her husband and daughter and never came back. Now only
Maid, you dare not go out. Sir, look..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't bear it any longer. He stood up, threw the teapot to the ground, and cursed loudly:
"I'm so fucking fucked!!!"
The surrounding expats looked at the roaring young man, and saw several people surrounding him in fear. They all talked about it, wondering who this young man was.
Xiang Xiaoqiang suppressed his anger and gave a few instructions to the guard. After the guard received the order, he immediately turned back and rushed back to the ship.
After a while, the two searchlights on the ship turned on with a "bang bang" sound, shining brightly on the ship's hull. Then, a huge Ming Dynasty flag hung from top to bottom. On the bright yellow flag, a fiery red dragon spread its teeth and claws.
, seems to be ready to pounce at any time.
Gradually, everyone at the pier was stunned. Whether they were Chinese or local police, they all stared blankly at the huge Ming Dynasty flag on the Yongan Princess.
Xiang Xiaoqiang took a microphone and said "hello", and the sound echoed throughout the port through the loudspeaker on the ship.
"I am Xiang Xiaoqiang, the Imperial Envoy of the Ming Empire," he said calmly, "I would like to ask the Governor of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in East India to come and see me."