After the Nanming "Fortress" exercise, Emperor Guangwu of the Manchu Qing Dynasty decided to conduct a tit-for-tat exercise. The scale of this exercise, in terms of the breadth of the battlefield and the number of troops dispatched, must be ten times that of the Nanming "Fortress" exercise.
above.
It is more than ten times the size, which is the clear request of Emperor Guangwu.
Emperor Guangwu had just made his decision in the Forbidden City in Beijing on the morning of June 4. An hour later, in the morning of Nanjing in the Dongchang and People's Guard offices, Emperor Guangwu's original words were read out.
Of course, this is not a secret in Beiqing. Otherwise, the information would not have been transmitted so quickly.
"This will be a century-old exercise that will show the world the great power of the Qing Dynasty, demonstrate our world-class military power, and deter some people with evil intentions at home and abroad, making them understand that the Qing Empire is invincible.
, will stand firm for thousands of years and never fall.”
Xiang Xiaoqiang read Emperor Guangwu's "Supreme Instructions" with a smile, Stomachache across the desk also laughed, and Fourteen Gege next to him couldn't help but smile sarcastically.
"Guangwu said he wanted ten times the scale," Xiang Xiaoqiang said, tapping the piece of paper. "Our exercise involved a total of eight divisions. He wanted ten times the scale, so why not eighty divisions?"
At this time, a little female soldier outside came in and presented a piece of transcribed information to Xiu Xiu who was behind the desk at the door. Xiu Xiu read it, smiled slightly, and handed it to Qiu Qiu opposite. Qiu Qiu looked at it and gave an exaggerated expression.
The two looked at each other and smiled, then Qiu Qiu stood up and came over to present the information to Xiang Xiaoqiang.
Xiang Xiaoqiang took it and looked at it, and said with a smile:
"The latest information has come over. Guangwu has decided that more than a hundred divisions will be mobilized for this exercise."
I felt a stomachache and was stunned for a moment, then said:
"How is it possible, to mobilize more than a hundred divisions for a drill, just to take a gamble with us? There is no such thing in the world."
Fourteen Gege shook his head and said:
"No, Zi Teng, you don't understand. The Qing Dynasty can do this kind of thing. In the Qing Dynasty's view, earning face is more important than anything else. What they lack most now is face. Or in other words, what they lack most is that
A good sense of self. Such an earth-shattering exercise can allow them to find the feeling of 'we are still very strong', 'we will still stand for a thousand years'... and so on."
Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded and smiled:
"Especially the latter feeling. They are most in need now. If they continue to waste people and money like this, without us fighting, they will perish faster. Just think of it as a return to the past. But Zhao Fang, in your opinion, Guangzhou
It wasn’t long before Wu suffered a disastrous defeat. If we make such a big move now, will we not face any opposition?”
Fourteen Gege sneered:
"Probably not. You are using the Ming Dynasty's way of thinking to speculate on the Qing Dynasty. To use an analogy like this, if you want to plan such a 'big exercise of the century' in the Ming Dynasty, it will definitely be regarded as a waste of people and money. Maybe
Sir, you are just waiting for impeachment. But in the Qing Dynasty, this was to promote the country's prestige, and no one dared to say that it was a waste of people and money. The most important thing is that military and political officials from top to bottom had another chance to make money. How could they
What about objections?
"I'm sure that if the scale of the Qing exercises was ten times that of the Ming Dynasty, then the money spent by the Qing Dynasty would be at least thirty or fifty times that of the Ming Dynasty. On the one hand, the efficiency is extremely low, and it will cost more; on the other hand,
On the other hand, there are so many mouths to feed up and down. In the end, the people who really have to pay for the 'Exercise of the Century' are the people at the bottom of the Qing Dynasty. This year, more taxes of all kinds will be added to
They are in trouble. But they don’t know the cause and effect relationship. They thought they would just tighten their belts and pay taxes while watching the drills happily. They thought they were born in the most powerful country in the world.
"
Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't help but laugh and said:
"Haha, when did our Princess, your Highness, have such a strong sense of common people and become a commoner?"
Fourteen Gege said calmly:
"I have been a common citizen in Japan since I was a child. Being a princess has only happened in the past few years."
Xiang Xiaoqiang and Stomachache looked at each other, and they both laughed "haha". Xiang Xiaoqiang scratched the back of his head, handed the two pieces of information on the table to Shi Shigege, and said with a smile:
"Then about this, princess... oh no, Zhao Fang, you have to worry more. You are also most familiar with the situation in the north. You have to keep a close eye on the preparations for the exercises and the mobilization of troops there."
Fourteen Princess took the love paper and said:
"Don't worry, sir."
Having a stomachache, he suddenly slapped his head and said in surprise:
"By the way, they don't use the exercise as a cover. They actually want to mobilize their troops and attack our Ming Dynasty again, right?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang was also stunned and looked at Shi Shi Ge Ge. Shi Shi Ge Ge frowned and thought for a moment, then said slowly:
"I don't think so. More than a hundred divisions is a lot for an exercise, but it is far from enough for a real southern invasion. Our Yangtze River defense line is stronger than last time, and now that summer has entered, it is even more
There can't be fog. During the thick fog at the end of last year, the Qing army didn't come over again, and it's even less likely now. This should be a drill. But don't worry, sir, I will keep a close eye on it. If there is really another southern invasion,
We will not be deceived."
"Okay, I'll leave it to you, Your Highness."
Immediately afterwards, Xiang Xiaoqiang ordered Xiu Xiu and Qiu Qiu to send a copy of the information about Guangwu's decision on the "Exercise of the Century" to the Queen and the Chief Minister.
"There is a Dongchang factory over there, Mr. Shen Ge," Xiang Xiaoqiang said. "I will definitely know about it, maybe before we do. But we still have to do it here. After all, he is the head of the national government."
"I know," Qiu Qiu said with a smile, "This is how we respect him."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:
"Well, okay, Qiu Qiu is very savvy."
…
After lunch, Qiu Qiu went to the official residence of the Chief Minister and Xiu Xiu went to the palace.
But Xiu Xiu came back before Qiu Qiu. She flashed into Xiang Xiaoqiang's office, sat on the chair opposite him, looked at him and asked:
"Sir, do you still remember Cong Cong's birthday?"
When Xiang Xiaoqiang looked at the calendar on the table, he immediately patted his head and said:
"By the way, I almost forgot! Cong Cong's birthday is the day after tomorrow, June 6th, the D-day!"
"...?!"
Xiang Xiaoqiang saw Xiuxiu's confused look and said with a smile:
"Haha, anyway, remember, June 6th is D-day, and D-day is June 6th. Why? Haha, the secret must not be leaked. You will understand it in a few years."
Xiuxiu had no intention of playing charades with him, so she just said:
"Sir, I just came back from the palace and saw Cong Cong."
"oh."
"Cong Cong said that on D-Day, His Majesty will celebrate her birthday in the palace."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:
"Great Xiu Xiu, you are learning and selling now. Celebrating your birthday? What a good thing. Are you inviting us too?"
"Yes, please," Xiu Xiu nodded, still saying expressionlessly, "I also invited His Royal Highness Prince Ananta Mahidol, the Crown Prince of Siam."
"Ah...ah...Ananta...what Dun..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang was stunned as he murmured the unfamiliar name.
"His Royal Highness Prince Ananta Mahidol."
Xiuxiu repeated it again and stared into his eyes.
Xiang Xiaoqiang sat in the chair and felt a tightness in his chest. Although he had been fully mentally prepared before and knew that the Prince of Siam would come in the next few days and it was inevitable, but at this moment, he still felt like a thunderbolt.
Oh my god, there is no countermeasure! So far, there is no countermeasure! You won’t just watch the one you love being snatched away by another man, right?
Xiang Xiaoqiang subconsciously took a pen and scribbled on the paper in front of him, as if making a plan. Then he grabbed the phone receiver on the table in a daze, and then put it down again. Finally, he stood up with a "whisper",
Then he slowly sat down again.
"Sir, what's wrong with you?"
Xiuxiu stared at him and asked quietly.
He waved his hand to Xiaoqiang, leaned on the back of the chair, unbuttoned the collar with all his strength, pinched his forehead with his other hand, and said vaguely:
"No...it's okay, nothing...a little boring..."
Xiuxiu looked at him sadly, her eye circles slowly turned red, and there were glistening tears in her beautiful eyes.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was shocked and said quickly:
"Xiuxiu, I...you...what happened to you? Where did you think you were?"
Xiuxiu sighed softly, smiled again, and said softly:
"Sir...it's nothing. In fact, Qiu Qiu has told me a long time ago...Don't blame Qiu Qiu. Even if Qiu Qiu didn't tell me, I would have guessed it. His Majesty is both talented and beautiful, and has a gentle temperament. Even if he is just
She is an ordinary girl, but she is better than us... Sir, this is not your fault. It is normal for you to like her, but it is abnormal for you not to like her..."
Xiuxiu said softly, with the gentlest and most humble smile on her face, but tears were already rolling down one after another.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was a little panicked when he saw Xiu Xiu like this. He grabbed one of Xiu Xiu's hands and held it tightly with both palms.
He felt that Xiuxiu's hands were as cold as a corpse.
Xiuxiu lowered her head, retracted her hand, slowly took out her handkerchief, gently wiped away her tears, then looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang, showing the most charming and charming smile.
"My lord..." She looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang and smiled, her thick black eyebrows arched, her eyes full of spring, "Who do you think Xiu Xiu is... No matter who your lord likes, Xiu Xiu will not
If you have any complaints against adults... Xiu Xiu will always be your Xiu Xiu and will always love you the most."
After saying that, she sat on the table in front of Xiang Xiaoqiang, leaned down, squinted her beautiful eyes, slowly approached Xiang Xiaoqiang's face, kissed his lips, and tried her best to tease him.
He kissed Xiang Xiaoqiang passionately, and at the same time, intermittent intoxicating sounds came from his throat.
Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't stand it anymore and retreated while saying:
"Xiuxiu...Xiuxiu, you...you don't have to be like this..."
Xiuxiu stopped obediently. She lowered her head, sighed tremblingly, slowly got down from Xiang Xiaoqiang's table, and murmured:
"Sir, I...go to the bathroom..."
After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the office.
…
In the bathroom, the faucet was running loudly. Xiuxiu's eyes were red and swollen, her face was full of water, and there were tears. She took out her handkerchief and wiped it bit by bit.
She stared at herself in the mirror, suddenly bit the handkerchief, biting it fiercely, and let out a heartbreaking cry from her throat.
Without warning, Xiuxiu raised her arm and punched the mirror.
Two long cracks appeared on the mirror, and a strip of bright red blood seeped out from the middle.
Xiuxiu seemed to understand what had happened. She took back her fist tremblingly, shed tears, looked at her wound, and murmured: