Chapter 19

With a "splash," the two massive iron anchors plunged into the water, and the huge, dark steel chains emitted a heart-stirring "creak," stretching taut in less than ten seconds. The battleship's massive iron hull jolted violently, slowing down visibly and finally coming to a steady stop at its berth. The dock was bustling with people, a sea of heads, all wearing the white headscarves and pigtail braids of the Qing Empire.

Although Weihaiwei was just a stop on the journey for Qingying and his party, the Qing Empire went to great lengths to show their familiarity with the Germans and to intimidate the Japanese, greeting them with the highest courtesy. They not only dispatched the two most powerful ironclad warships of the Beiyang Fleet, the Dingyuan and the Zhenyuan, to welcome them from afar, but also the commander of the Beiyang Fleet, Admiral Ding Ruchang, was present in person. At the welcoming ceremony, these Beiyang officials, whom one could only see in photographs, were now right before Qingying's eyes: the gaunt-faced old admiral Ding Ruchang, the robust captain of the Dingyuan, Liu Butan, the fair-faced, beardless captain of the Zhenyuan, Lin Taizeng, and many others, all of whom filled Qingying with genuine joy. The only slight disappointment was that the loyal and brave Mr. Deng was not among them.

After a round of polite exchanges, Admiral Ding Ruchang and the other Beiyang Fleet officers boarded the "Brandenburg" battleship for a tour, while Qingying parted ways with the group and was led by the receptionist to his quarters.

On the 4th, it would be the 23rd birthday of the young Qing Emperor Guangxu. Due to his adopted identity, Qingying would have to rush from Weihaiwei to the capital to attend the emperor's birthday ceremony. The thought of bowing and presenting gifts to the Qing emperor dampened his excitement and enthusiasm, which had been heightened by setting foot on his homeland. The crimes committed by the Qing against China were so heinous that even the vast ocean could not wash them away, and the bamboo of the southern mountains could not record them all. At the time of their entry into the pass, the Qing had massacred millions of unarmed Han civilians in the south. They then issued the hair-cutting edict, forcing the Han people to shave their heads like the Qing barbarians, leaving only a twisted, ugly pigtail at the back of their heads.

In addition to the cruel physical and mental torture inflicted on the Han people, the Qing also promoted despotism, especially during the so-called "Kangxi-Qianlong Prosperity," which was described by a Qing loyalist as the "emperor of all emperors." The despotism reached its peak under the Qing rulers. Shunzhi initiated despotism seven times, Kangxi twelve times, and Qianlong, in a state of madness, initiated it 130 times, creating a record that was more than twice the total of all previous despotism in Chinese history. This cultural tyranny created social terror, stifled thought, and destroyed talent, severely hindering the development and progress of Chinese society. In the end, to continue their tyranny in China, the Qing even proposed the slogan "Measure China's resources to win the hearts of the allied countries" and "Give to foreign friends rather than to domestic slaves," almost dragging China into an abyss of no return.

From a nationalistic perspective, Qingying longed to find a force to expel the Qing and restore the Han rule over China. However, he had to admit that, under the current circumstances, allowing the Qing to continue ruling was the most reluctant choice.

The force to replace the Qing must be an elite team with the talent to govern the country. Additionally, this force must have a powerful military to support its governance. If judged by these two criteria, the Beiyang Group led by Li Hongzhang was clearly the best choice. Unfortunately, like his mentor Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang's long-standing loyalty to the emperor was deeply ingrained in his mind. Although he possessed a formidable force capable of overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Han rule, Li Hongzhang was content to be a paper-mender, serving the Qing dynasty with all his heart, never considering rebellion against the Qing.

Apart from this capable but unambitious man, only his successor, Yuan Shikai, remained. Although Yuan Shikai was also a capable man, his ambition was too great, and he was fickle. He would choose personal power over national interests without hesitation. In the early days, he rose to power by betraying the Six Gentlemen of the Hundred Days' Reform, and in his later years, to gain supreme power, he even signed the humiliating Twenty-One Demands with Japan to secure their support for his imperial ambitions. Such a person could not be entrusted with the heavy responsibility. Apart from these two, others were either without troops, mediocre, or inexperienced youths, none of whom could steer the country at this stage. Although Qingying detested the Qing, for the sake of this land of China, he had to support and assist the Qing!

While deep in thought, he arrived at his destination. Green grass spread like a carpet, and snow-white trees and red flowers adorned the landscape. A two-story building stood quietly amidst the autumn leaves of the parasol trees, exuding a fresh, elegant, and serene charm. In front, an artificial river curved gracefully, encircling the two-story building. Stone bridges arched over the flowing water, and the chirping of insects and the croaking of frogs filled the air.

The Beiyang receptionist said in German, "This is where you will be staying. There is no better place to live in the entire Weihaiwei city." He pointed to another house not far to the right and continued, "As for the two bodyguards, they will stay in the side rooms. If you need to call them, they can arrive promptly."

Although the receptionist's pronunciation was inaccurate and his words somewhat confusing, Qingying understood his meaning from the context. After standing in the sun in formal attire for the whole morning, Qingying was drenched in sweat and parched, eager to take a bath and rest. He glanced back at the two bodyguards sent by Wilhelm II, received their affirmative response, and then walked toward the house.

Pushing open the door and entering, a faint coolness enveloped him, instantly dispelling the heat. The spacious and bright main hall was adorned with carved screens, purple stoves, round stools, and square tables. A landscape painting hung on the wall, its brushstrokes bold and its content profound, clearly the work of a master. Seeing this, Qingying nodded in satisfaction, about to offer praise, when he suddenly realized that, apart from himself, there was no one else in the two-story building! The house was neither too large nor too small, and being unfamiliar with the place, if he had to find the bedroom, bathroom, and various living items himself, he would be driven mad.

Just as he was feeling annoyed, a rustling sound came from the adjacent room. Qingying's heart raced, and he called out, "Who's there?" His voice echoed in the room, sounding powerful and resonant.

Hmm... There's another chapter today, so please give it a click and a favorite!~

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