NFBE Chapter 239 Drama
Chapter 239 Drama
"Zhiyuan, please don't act rashly!" Yikuang exclaimed in alarm! This is terrible, this is a really big deal!
"If I don't show my teeth, they'll think I'm a pushover! Heh heh!" Shen Lian sneered.
"Order the 1st Army Division and the Armored Division to immediately march towards Beijing. We're going to demand justice!"
The news of the railway bridge being bombed reached the imperial court very quickly. Before the court could react, Shen Lian's envoy arrived.
They demanded that the imperial court hand over the mastermind behind the scenes and give the Shandong New Army an explanation!
The court and the public were in an uproar! No one expected that someone would dare to do such a thing! For a time, the court was abuzz with discussion, and everyone was trying to find out who had done it!
Tie Liang and others jumped out and submitted a memorial stating that this was a self-directed ruse by Shen Lian. He had long harbored treacherous intentions and was taking this opportunity to rebel! They demanded immediate martial law and the mobilization of troops from across the land to defend the emperor!
However, Yikuang and the others who returned to the capital with the envoy recounted the perilous events that occurred, refuting Tie Liang and others' attacks on Shen Lian.
They all nearly died on the spot, and were all furious. A dramatic scene unfolded in the courtroom!
Yikuang, relying on his status as a prince, launched a scathing attack on Tie Liang and the other anti-Shen faction, directly accusing them of ordering the bridge bombing. He claimed these people not only wanted to deal with Shen Lian but also wanted to eliminate him in the process.
The elderly Yikuang finally knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly. He begged Empress Dowager Cixi to severely punish Tie Liang and his associates, to give Shen Lian and himself an explanation, and to give the people of the world an explanation!
Chaos erupted in the imperial court, with officials splitting into two factions and blaming each other, nearly coming to blows on the spot.
"Enough!" Empress Dowager Cixi shrieked. The ministers were so frightened that they immediately fell silent and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
"Guards! Take Tie Liang and his men away and interrogate them thoroughly!" Empress Dowager Cixi knew perfectly well that, regardless of whether they were the ones who did it, she had to first show her attitude and appease Shen Lian.
While ordering a thorough investigation, Empress Dowager Cixi also sent someone to appease Shen Lian! This person was none other than Yikuang, an old acquaintance of Shen Lian!
Poor Yikuang, he was in his sixties or seventies, and the back-and-forth trip was exhausting. He didn't get back until the next day.
Meanwhile, a reporter from Shandong Daily, who was with the military, sent the news back to Shandong immediately.
"Newspapers for sale! Newspapers for sale! The Grand Canal railway bridge has been bombed, and King Qi narrowly escaped death!"
"King Qi has unexpectedly encountered danger, and may follow in the footsteps of Yue Fei."
News of Shen Lian's ordeal spread throughout the country via radio and newspapers! The nation was filled with righteous indignation, and people condemned the mastermind behind the crime.
King Qi had rendered such great service to the country, yet he had unexpectedly incurred the court's suspicion. All those with ambition sighed; if even someone like King Qi nearly lost his life, what hope was there for the court!
Indeed, throughout history, many generals who achieved great merit and threatened the emperor's authority were killed by him. Even uneducated common people know this.
Public opinion across the country was in an uproar!
However, officials in various regions remained silent, secretly plotting their own schemes. Whether it was the imperial court's doing or Shen Lian's own doing, it didn't matter.
Now that Shen Lian is alive, there's going to be a good show!
At this moment, on the canal only a few dozen miles from the capital, the new army had already erected pontoon bridges. The 1st Army Division and the armored division had arrived, and the army quickly crossed the four pontoon bridges, heading towards the capital.
"Zhiyuan, Zhiyuan! You absolutely mustn't!" Yikuang rushed over without even having a sip of water, and found Shen Lian to stop him.
"Your Highness, they all want to kill us. Do you expect me to just sit here and wait to die? They didn't succeed this time, but they'll definitely do it again!"
"If the court is unjust, don't blame me for being unjust!"
"Zhiyuan, do you know what you're doing? This is treason! Once you lead your troops into the capital, things will be beyond repair!" Yikuang earnestly advised.
"Stop the army now, and the imperial court will surely give you an explanation!"
"Treason! Ha! How can I be loyal to a court like this? I'm going to die sooner or later anyway, so I'll rebel today!" Shen Lian roared.
Shen Lian's furious appearance startled Yi Kuang! For a moment, he was speechless.
"The arrow is on the string and must be released! Prince Qing, we are old friends! I will not harm you, you can go! Go back and tell them to wash their necks and wait!" Shen Lian waved his hand and ordered the soldiers to drive Yi Kuang out.
All of this, including the bombing of the railway bridge, was, of course, orchestrated by Shen Lian himself.
From the very first day he was born, he had been plotting to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. But for the sake of the greater good, he had to endure it.
Otherwise, he would have done it when the Eight-Nation Alliance was wiped out!
It wasn't that he lacked the ability; the Qing Dynasty at that time could have collapsed with a single push! But what happened after it was overthrown?
He, Shen Lian, is a man with little foundation, little fame, and little merit. If he were to rise to power, the whole world would surely rebel!
That would turn the country into a second Republic of China, inevitably leading to widespread chaos and warlord conflicts. Even if he had the ability to eradicate all the warlords, who knows when that would take? The nation would certainly be ravaged and on its last legs.
The great powers were eyeing them covetously, especially Tsarist Russia and Japan. This was precisely their weakest point; missing this opportunity would mean expending far more effort later.
Therefore, Shen Lian has been biding his time and secretly developing his strength all these years. Now, having wiped out the Japanese in one battle, he has achieved an unparalleled feat. After returning home, he can easily overthrow the Qing Dynasty. Surely, there will be far fewer people in the world who oppose him now!
With the formidable strength he has demonstrated, officials across the land and powerful nations alike will have to think twice!
He originally wanted to take direct action, but Mr. Wang insisted on having a legitimate reason for his actions. That's why he planned this bridge-bombing spectacle.