Wu Changqing glanced at Liu Jie and said, "The water and fire association must be disbanded, and fire prevention and fire fighting will be returned to the county government. We can follow Guangzhou and Shanghai, raise funds to form a professional fire brigade, and directly include it under the jurisdiction of local governments."

In just half a day, with the cooperation of the prefecture and county yamen runners, the officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Navy cleared out all the water and fire associations and pot strongholds inside and outside Tianjin, arresting hundreds of people. The whole Tianjin was collectively lost voice, and the foreigners in the Zizhu Forest were also stunned. No one expected that the imperial envoy from the Qing Dynasty would turn his hand and search for the Tianjin mobs with such great strength.

After a night of fear, the next morning, the people of Tianjin discovered that the officers and soldiers had evacuated. Notices from the county government office were posted everywhere in the streets and alleys - "Resolutely crack down on and crack down on evil forces and illegal organizations."

A train squirting thick smoke slowly drove into the Laolongtou Railway Station in Tianjin. British Minister Weituma felt unusually deserted as soon as he left the station. He rode through the city in a carriage and headed to Zizhulin. He found that the city was even more deserted. Most shops were closed. There were few pedestrians on the street and most of them were in a hurry. He rarely saw carriages and rickshaws. From time to time, he could see naval officers and soldiers patrolling live ammunition from time to time.

With the arrival of Witoma, diplomats and businessmen from various countries in Zizhu Forest seemed to have found their backbone and rushed to the British Consulate and the office on the second floor. After listening to Li Weihai's report, Witoma pondered for a while before looking at the French agent Luo Shuya and said, "It is obvious that this imperial envoy is investigating the case impartially..."

This tone clearly reveals a sense of dividends and people's silence. Luo Shuya couldn't help but feel disappointed. "This is an extremely bad-like Christian incident. If you indulge in it, Christianity is in danger of being expelled from the East!"

"Not that serious." Weituoma whispered: "Isn't the Qing court dealing with it seriously?"

"Treat it seriously?" Luo Shuya sneered: "They even disagree to pay compensation for the burning church!"

"I think you should discuss compensation with them calmly in accordance with international law and international practices, rather than being arrogant." Wittoma said sincerely: "France is a powerful country in Europe, but in the Far East, nothing is there. Don't try to threaten war. The Qing Dynasty is not something France can compete with."

"Where are our two countries joining hands?" Luo Shuya said in a deep voice: "The Qing Dynasty is trying to promote constitutionalism and is actively developing modern navy. You should have heard of it, right? Is your country willing to see a powerful empire rising rapidly in the Far East?"

"I have been in this country for almost thirty years. I have personally experienced two expeditions of our country and witnessed the rise and expansion of Yuanqi step by step." Weituma's voice was a little low, "Even if our two countries devoted their efforts to expeditions in the east, there was no chance of winning. You should be clear that this is a huge empire with a vast territory that is larger than Europe and a larger population than Europe's total population. Although the industrial foundation is not strong, the military industry is not weak.

Neither Her Majesty the Queen of Our Country nor the Emperor of Your Country will agree to launch a large-scale Eastern Expedition, because it is destined to be a war without any hope of victory."

Luo Shuya said in a deep voice: "Now the Qing Dynasty is taking the initiative to provoke! Trampling on France's honor and dignity!"

"This is exactly why I came to Tianjin." Weitoma said seriously: "I want to know what happened. Judging from the current situation in the Qing Dynasty, Yuan Qi has no reason to provoke a European power. What is the reason behind this?"

Who knows why Luo Shuya shrugged, "Maybe we should go to Shanghai to meet the big shopkeeper Yuanqi."

"Don't worry." Weituma waved his hand, "Look first, let's talk about it." He has been in China for many years and has dealt with Yuan Qi a lot. Although Yuan Qi is strong, he is not unreasonable. This time, not only refuses to compensate for the losses, but also provokes on his own initiative. It is really abnormal. He wants to see how Wu Changqing will deal with it first.

Capital, Forbidden City, Military Machinery Payment Room.

Su Shun put down the telegram and pondered for a while before looking at Yi, "What is Wu Changqing selling in this gourd? He is extremely tough on Western countries and is also a thunderous means to the people of Tianjin. Each of them is a big shot."

"Can you properly handle such a difficult lesson plan by hitting fifty boards?" Yi? slowly shook his head, "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

"This France is the second largest European power after England and Geely. Isn't it afraid of provoking such a provocation?" Su Shun said with some concern: "Besides, Britain and France have always been one of them when they are abroad..."

"I dare to provoke this, so I am naturally not afraid of joining forces between Britain and France." Yi laughed and said: "Yuan Qi has fought both the coalition forces of Britain, France, Europe and the Netherlands, let alone it is only Britain and France. The ironclad ships and new artillery built by Yuan Qi are probably inferior to those of Britain and France. This is Yuan Qi's confidence."

"It's Wu Changqing who lost it. If someone else was there, I'm afraid he wouldn't have the courage." Su Shun said, "But I always feel a little abnormal."

Yi? smiled and said, "No matter whether he is abnormal or not, let's just look at it."

After looking at him, Su Shun said, "Tianjin lesson plan, you can tell at a glance that it is very difficult. Why did Yi Guo take over so happily?"

After his reminder, Yi? He felt that it was indeed a bit strange. After thinking about it, he said: "No need to think about it. It will not be a bad thing for our Qing Dynasty."

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Bookstore.

"... Missionaries are seductive in their teachings, and often gather local rogues, relying on their power to do things, which is called persuading others to do good, but in fact they take lawsuits and resist debts on their behalf, bullying the kindness...." Zhao Liewen smiled, "It's a bit forced, but in fact the missionaries at various trade ports are still the duty. The above illegal acts are rare, but some religious people are just pretending to be powerful."

"Prevent the problem from the problem." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "We must take this opportunity to suppress and restrict missionaries. We must gradually relax and not suppress them in the future. In the future, lesson plans may occur frequently."

Zhao Liewen glanced at him, "Why not just ban Christianity?"

"No need to do it." Yi Jingzuo said without thinking: "There are huge differences in cultures and customs in the East and the West, and Christianity is difficult to grow and grow in our country. At present, there is no need to have a gap with Western countries. Besides, everything has its pros and cons, and the existence of missionaries is not harmful or useless."

Zhao Liewen continued: "Tianjin lesson plan, just punish the murderers. Why do we need to follow the trend to eliminate the association? Isn't it just that we want to get involved in Tianjin?"

"The atmosphere of hatred and anti-Japanese war cannot be promoted, which is not conducive to the opening up of the Qing Dynasty." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Tianjin is the largest trading port in the north. If it is not severely cracked down, it may cause great chaos in the future."

In fact, Tianjin's fight against gangs and evil was just an attempt. Yi Zhizuo planned to gradually launch campaigns against gangs and evil in various northern provinces in order to eliminate the possibility of Boxer Rebellion. The Boxer Rebellion was extremely harmful and destructive, so he would never allow movements similar to the Boxer Rebellion to occur again.

Although this reason is high-sounding, Zhao Liewen is skeptical. He doubts that there are deeper reasons. However, the other party is unwilling to say it, so he just doesn't ask. He was about to get up and leave. Cao Gensheng quickly came in to report: "The big shopkeeper, Paris calls, and a Spanish newspaper disclosed the news. The Spanish cabinet meeting decided to list Prince Leopold, the cousin of the king of Prussia, as the king's candidate. France responded very fiercely."

Finally, Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "Call back and pay close attention to the reactions of France and Prussia, regardless of whether there is any situation or not."

"Yes." Cao Gensheng responded loudly.

"Generate power to Hu Xueyan." Yi Zhizu continued: "The war is about to break out!"

"Call Yan Yangtian to come here immediately."

The war is about to break out? The Franco-Prussian War? Zhao Liewen finds this a bit incredible. A candidate for the Spanish king will cause a war between Prussia and France. Isn't it too much? Then he thought that France is between Prussia and Spain, but the problem is that this is just a candidate.

After Cao Gensheng retreated, he spoke: "Is this the fuse of the Franco-Prussian War?"

"No," Yi Zhizu nodded, lit a cigarette casually, and then he said slowly: "The rise of Prussia has long aroused the vigilance of France. Once the Prussian king's cousin becomes the king of Spain, France will be in a situation of being attacked from both sides. This is absolutely unbearable for France."

"But." Zhao Liewen hesitated: "The cousin of the King of Prussia is just a candidate for the King of Spain..."

Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "Hui Fujue, who will provoke this war between Prussia and France?"

“Prussia?”

"No," Yi Zhizuji said first: "This war must have been deliberately provoked by Prussia."

Zhao Liewen hesitated and said, "France is the second largest European power after England. Is Prussia confident of winning the battlefield war?"

"The Prussian army, which implements a universal conscription system, is one of the strongest troops in Europe. It can mobilize up to one million troops during wartime, twice as much as France." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "In addition to being intentional and unintentional, once this war breaks out, it will be destined to end."

"Can you mobilize one million troops?" Zhao Liewen said in surprise: "How many people are there in Prussia?"

Yi Zhizu said with some uncertainty: "The total population should be 30 to 40 million. This is the advantage of the general conscription system."

There is one soldier in the average of thirty or forty people. This proportion is really scary. Zhao Liewen was silent for a while before saying: "It's a coincidence at this time. In this way, it's probably impossible to use the Tianjin lesson plan to arouse British and French troops to send troops."
Chapter completed!