Northwest, ancient city.

If you want to make money, you can travel to the ancient city.

Dihua does not live in important places, but the ancient city is surrounded by its gates and is located in a place with four blocks. The ancient city, which is only 200 kilometers away from Dihua, is known as the Xinjiang trade portal and is the place where the northern Xinjiang trade gathering is.

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were two main sources of mainland China entering the northwest, one from Shaanxi and Gansu to Hami, and the other from Guisui to Mongolian grassland, all gathered in the ancient city.

The superior geographical location has created the prosperity of the ancient city for hundreds of years. Four commercial transportation lines radiating north, west and south to the north with the ancient city as the center cover the entire Xinjiang region.

With the opening of the Northwest Railway, the business roads on the western line of the Gucheng were greatly impacted. However, the business roads to the north and south, especially the business roads with Hami became more prosperous due to the railway.

Amid the sound of camel bells, a large camel caravan slowly appeared on the official road to the west. Due to civil strife in the northwest and railways were interrupted, the commercial road on the western line of the ancient city has returned to its former prosperity. From time to time, camel caravans of all sizes traveled west and east, but such a large-scale camel caravan that could not be seen at first sight is still extremely rare.

Needless to say, this big camel caravan was the Empress Dowager Ci'an and the Little Emperor Guangxu who escaped from Gongning. The guards were naturally accompanying them.

Ci'an, who was under house arrest for several months, was unwilling to stay in Gongning City for even half a day. As soon as he recovered his freedom, he couldn't wait to start the eastbound journey, but he couldn't resist Zhu Shanhai's excessive enthusiasm to keep him. After all, he stayed for two more days, and was then sent out of the city by officials of Gongning City Hecheng with the highest standard gift.

For Ci'an, this highest-standard gift was more like a disguised humiliation and demonstration, and it also took two days of precious time. Therefore, she was depressed all the way east, and she felt better when she saw the ancient city in sight.

When it was almost dusk, the Camel Corps set up a camp outside the ancient city. Although I had heard of this important commercial town in the northwest, Ci'an had no interest in entering the city at all, nor did he have the intention to meet the officials who came to pick up the car, but just asked Yi Li to deal with it. After all, the Camel Corps needed supplies.

It was getting dark, and Ci'an, who was tired all the way, was about to go to bed to rest, but when she heard that Yi Li was asking for a meeting outside, she ordered, "Let him come in." But she wondered, what urgent matter had happened?

Yi Li entered the tent and said directly after seeing the ceremony: "Report to the Empress Dowager, Hami sent someone to come and see him..."

Hami? Yi Zhizu sent it? Ci'an was refreshed, but said in a plain tone: "What is the identity of the person who comes?"

"Chief of Staff of Lanzhou Military Region, Sun Yaowu."

"Xuan." Ci'an said softly. She naturally didn't know Sun Yaowu, but she knew that the status of the military chief was not low. According to the new army, the chief of staff was lower than that of the commander and was the same as the deputy commander, but his actual power was higher than that of the deputy commander, second only to the commander. As far as she knew, some commanders of the military district were promoted from the chief of staff. As expected, this Chief of Staff Sun should be a confidant who was easy to be content.

Sun Yaowu was in his early fifties, wearing a long gown and jacket, wearing a pair of eyes, gentle and elegant, and calm, neither like a soldier nor a merchant, with a bit of a resignation. After following Yi Li to the tent, he glanced at Ci'an behind the curtain, took off his hat and bowed, and said slowly: "Sun Yaowu, chief of staff of Lanzhou Military Region, asked the Empress Dowager to rest."

Ci'an didn't care about his inappropriate gift of kindness. After the Qing Dynasty was established, he advocated Western etiquette and knelt down and worshiped etiquette was explicitly prohibited in the local governments, especially in the southern provinces. She did not ask the other party's purpose, but said warmly: "General Sun does not need to be detained and given a seat."

"Thank you Empress Dowager." Sun Yaowu was so straightforward that he raised his head and took out a telegram, "The King of Zhennan learned that the Empress Dowager was heading east to Beijing, so he came to deliver the letter with a humble official."

The eunuch in front of him hurriedly came forward to receive the telegram, which was sent by Yi Zhizu. He first congratulated Ci'an and his mother on their successful escape from Gonggu. Then he told him that they could go to Hami to take the train back to Beijing from the ancient city. At the end, he pointed out that Sushun was about to take over as Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

After reading the telegram, Ci'an pondered silently. Hami is now under the control of the new Yuanqi army. Taking Hami is equivalent to falling into the trap. After all, she is in a confrontation between the north and the south. She has been under house arrest twice in Shengjing and Gongning. She doesn't want to experience it again.

However, she thought again that this may not be an opportunity to resolve the crisis in the north and south. Perhaps Yi Zhisheng invited her to change her way to Hami, hoping to resolve the current crisis of confrontation between the north and the south.

If Yi Zhizu held her and detained her mother and used this as a bargaining chip to coerce the court to negotiate to avoid a war between the north and the south, it would be impossible to cooperate. For the past ten years, she was willing to give in without regard to gains and losses, in order to avoid a big war with Yuan Qi, and to extend the Qing Dynasty's destiny. At present, she really doesn't care about taking another risk.

In addition, the last sentence - Sushun is about to take over as Prime Minister of the Cabinet, which even gave her hope. Obviously, Yi Zhizu is trying his best to avoid a war between the north and the south. Of course, this sentence also reminds her that there may be major changes in the capital.

After slowly folding the telegram, she said, "The ancient city is still under the control of the Northwest Army? If I change the route south, will it change?"

Diverging southward? Going to Hami? Yi Li was shocked. Didn’t he just leave the tiger’s mouth and enter the wolf’s den?

After hearing this, Sun Yaowu's heart that had been hanging around slowly. Once Ci'an disagrees to go to Hami, he will explain here and relax. He couldn't help but feel a little admiration, and immediately said with a firm tone: "Please rest assured, Empress Dowager."

After a pause, he continued: "The Empress Dowager only needs to rest in the ancient city for two days before leaving for a trip south. Beishi has dispatched four regiments of troops to come and respond to ensure that there is no accident."

"Okay." Ci'an said simply: "I will rest in the ancient city for two days."

"The Empress Dowager is wise." Sun Yaowu said sincerely and bowed, "I gave up my humble position."

As soon as Sun Yaowu left the tent, Yi Li lowered his voice and said anxiously: "I pray that the Empress Dowager should be careful and go east to naturalize, and the road is flat. Just step into the grassland, and there will be garrisons all the way. Even if there is heavy snow, there is no need to worry or risk..."

Ci'an said in a deep voice: "Traveling east may not be a smooth road..." After thinking about it, she said more, "The capital may change, and I am willing to return home.

Maybe the capital changes? Yi Li couldn't help but be stunned. He really couldn't imagine what would happen if the capital changes. His Adam's apple moved and he didn't say anything.

The ancient city with prosperous trade was also a place for four battles. The Northwest Army originally had only two regiments of troops stationed here. As the situation worsened, two divisions were drawn to strengthen the defense of the ancient city.

Two days later, just darkened, and the gas lights shone brightly on the ancient city. Zhao Lixin, the commander of the newly compiled 38th Division, quickly walked into the 23rd Division headquarters and hurried into the brightly lit combat room. He glanced at the commander of the 23rd Division, Agudamu, standing in front of the sand table with a solemn expression, and quickly met. The two were old friends for many years, and now they are teaming up in the ancient city, so they are not polite. "So urgent, can it be that Hami has made any moves?"

Agudam waved his hand and took off several staff officers in the war room, and then said, "Just just received the report, all the cable telegrams from the ancient city have been cut off."

After hearing this, Zhao Lixin's heart sank, "Surprise..."

"It's mostly for the Empress Dowager." Agudam said as he handed over a cigarette. "Although the road from ancient city to naturalization, although the road is flat, it will take two months to arrive. At present, it will snow heavily in half a month at most. There is no reason for the Empress Dowager and her party to stay here for two days in vain."

What this means is that the Empress Dowager has colluded with Hami? Will he be too suspicious? Zhao Lixin hesitated and said, "That large-scale camel fleet will take two days to replenish supplies."

"This is not an ordinary camel caravan." Agudam said in a deep voice.

Zhao Lixin immediately stopped saying a word. This is indeed not an ordinary camel caravan. There is no need to trade other goods. The only thing that needs to be supplied is grain. The ancient city has sufficient food, so they also made preparations in advance. Replenishing supplies normally, let alone two days, half a day is enough.

If the Empress Dowager and her party intend to go to Hami and have Yuanqi's new army to respond, it would be a dilemma for them. If they send troops to stop it, it would be very likely to destroy the current situation and kick off the Northwest War in advance. In addition, if Ci'an and Guangxu had any problems, they would not be able to bear the responsibility.

If they are not stopped, they will be held accountable and will inevitably be held accountable afterwards!

After pondering for a while, he murmured in a low voice, "Now the north and south are as powerful as water and fire, Empress Dowager Ci'an has escaped from the trap. Logically, this is impossible..."

"There is nothing impossible." Agudam said in a depressing voice: "Empress Dowager Ci'an has always taken the overall situation into consideration and has always opposed the war with Yuan Qi. As long as Yuan Qi reveals his willingness to negotiate, it is enough to make him moved, and even take a desperate bet."

If Yuan Qi negotiated a truce with the court, what does it mean for the Northwest? Zhao Lixin was a little afraid to think about it. After hesitating, he said: "How about reporting to Gong Ning?"

"Since the other party can cut off the cable telegram, how can we not intercept the telegraph soldiers?" Agudamu said: "Even if the telegraph soldiers can break through successfully, this round and back will not be able to reply until early tomorrow morning."

It was too late, and Zhao Lixin took a deep breath of cigarettes. Since the other party cut off the cable telegram, it means that there will be an action tonight. By tomorrow morning, I am afraid that I have been traveling dozens of miles. It is related to the life and death of Ci'an and Guangxu. Yuan Qi must be a heavy army to support him. Do they dare to chase him? The newly formed 38th Division is not even equipped with weapons now.

He spit out a long fog and said in a deep voice: "Two evils are the least, and it is better to start first!"

Agudamu smiled bitterly and said, "If we send troops to surround the other party's camp, we will give the other party an excuse to go to Hami. The other party is trying to break through the siege. How dare we intercept it if we try to death?"

Zhao Lixin was speechless. It was dark at night, and guns, cannons, bullets, and bullets were not eye-catching. What if there was any accident, how could I explain it?

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Agudamu whispered: "I have sent two cavalry companies to Gongning separately..."

Before he finished speaking, the gas light suddenly turned off. Agudamu's heart sank and he quickly walked out of the war room. Seeing that the whole city was dark, he couldn't help but breathe in air conditioning and immediately ordered loudly, "Send the order, the whole city is martial law!"

As soon as the words were finished, a staff officer trotted forward and reported softly: "Someone outside the door asked for a meeting, saying that it was an old friend of the teacher." He said that, and handed over a famous post.

He took a look at the lighter and saw the three words Sun Yaowu in the famous post. Agudamu quickly turned off the lighter, pondered for a while, and then ordered: "Take him to the study." As he said that, he turned around and entered the war room. Seeing that the opportunity was fast, the staff officer quickly brought in a Mobil lamp.

"Close the door and guard outside the door." Agudamu ordered, and then handed the post to Zhao Lixin, who looked suspicious. The name on the post he saw was silent for a long time without saying a word.

Both of them are familiar with Sun Yaowu. More than ten years ago, when the three of them were battalion commanders, they worked closely together to fight for thousands of miles to suppress bandits in Anxi. It is no exaggeration to say that it was a life-long friendship. In fact, the two were very envious of Sun Yaowu, who was born in Huangpu, and mentioned it a lot during chats.

After smoking a cigarette silently, Agudamu pressed off the cigarette butt and said, "Let's go and see what he says."

In the study, the Mobil lamp emitted a dim and soft light. Sun Yaowu, dressed in a businessman, was quietly drinking tea and waiting patiently. When he heard footsteps outside the door, he stood up and took off his hat. The two of them entered the room. He smiled and reached out and smiled, "In a blink of an eye, both of them have been promoted to division commanders..."

Zhao Lixin interrupted him, "Are you, the chief of staff, saying this to the cold, we are shrouding us? Or show off?"

"It is easy to change the country and nature is hard to change, so I still can't chat." Sun Yaowu said with a smile.

"He——I'm not convinced." Agudamu smiled loudly and shook hands enthusiastically.

Zhao Lixin asked straightforwardly without saying anything, "Chief Staff Sun came here from afar, is he here to reminisce about the past? Or be a lobbyist?"

"Lobbyist." Sun Yaowu said simply.

"Sit down and chat." Agudam quickly reached out and gave up his seat.

As soon as he sat down, Zhao Lixin said: "Do you hope we will let Empress Ci'an go to Hami?"

"I hope you don't stop me."

"Do Chief of Staff Sun put his shoes in our shoes?"

"Of course......" Sun Yaowu said carefully: "Don't you think that the two northwest provinces can compete with the entire Qing Dynasty with a corner?"

"The Qing Dynasty has officially recognized the establishment of the Northwest."

"Yuanqi didn't admit it."

Agudam alone handed a cigarette and said slowly: "It's been more than ten years of friendship, and I can't make a fuss, and I'll be hurt by the harmony."

When he lit the cigarette, he slowly spit out a cloud of smoke. Sun Yaowu slowed down and said in a slow tone: "Everyone knows it well. There is no need to pretend to be confused. Yuan Qi will never agree to the independence of the northwest provinces. Even if Britain, Russia and other countries strongly support the independence of the northwest, Yuan Qi will fight to the death."
Chapter completed!