Similar things happened several times, especially after the shelling, many Beiyang Army soldiers surrendered in groups to the 3rd Light Infantry Division.

"What's going on? Have you asked for the reason?" Zheng Lei faced off against the soldiers of the Qing Empire for the first time and was very confused.

"We have inquired about it and found that there are various reasons. Excluding the idea that they are not interested in revolution, the most common ones are that Shangguan Ke beat and scolded the soldiers, followed by poor food and withholding of military pay." Huang Zhengfang said.

If it were an isolated incident, Huang Zhengfang wouldn't pay attention yet, but with several cases of institutional surrender, he had to find out the reasons.

"Withholding military pay?" Zheng Lei asked in surprise, then nodded thoughtfully.

"The finances of the Qing Empire are almost exhausted, but it only took a month or two to dry up. Are these soldiers really the army of the Qing Empire?"

"Have any Japanese surrendered?" Zheng Lei asked.

"The few wounded have not yet surrendered." Huang Zhengfang said.

"Okay, just keep the pressure on with subsequent attacks and let them collapse." Zheng Lei nodded.

"yes!"

"By the way, let the 1st Light Infantry Division and the 2nd Guards Division outflank us from the left wing. The noise should be loud enough to be seen by people in the city."

"yes!"

…………

"The Queen Mother, the old prince, and the prince Chun, it's not that I have some agenda, but I really can't get the departure fee, and my subordinates are not obeying my orders!" Yuan Gongbao spread his hands and looked at the few people helplessly.

As soon as the revolutionary army moved to Xuzhou, Feng Huafu hurriedly submitted a letter to the court, requesting the dispatch of troops for support, and also requested additional supplies of food, supplies, military pay, etc.

The Qing Empire attaches great importance to it, and it won't matter if it doesn't. If Xuzhou is lost again, the next step is to go straight to Gyeonggi.

However, they faced a very embarrassing problem. There were only a few towns left in their hands, two in the capital, one in Shanhaiguan, and one outside the customs.

But without money, these soldiers cannot be mobilized.

You must know that when a large army is dispatched, it is necessary to send out silver and rewards in advance. This is the rule.

Isn't it because these soldiers braved the hail of bullets just for money? Otherwise, it could be for the little emperor? Just say it, whoever takes it seriously and who is stupid.

No money? Even if you are Yuan Gongbao, you can't command an army.

"Master Yuan, please think of another way. The country of the Qing Dynasty cannot be lost in the hands of the Ai family." Yulong wailed from above.

Yes, in Yuan Gongbao's opinion, it is just a wailing, with a crying tone and a sharp voice, but does not give any ideas for solving the problem. What is it other than wailing?

Thinking of a solution? Isn’t that why he came here to discuss it?

"Your Majesty, I have thought of a way to solve this urgent problem." Yuan Gongbao saluted solemnly and knocked his head on the ground.

"Your Majesty, hurry up and get up. We won't have to deal with the red tape at this critical moment. The Aijia would like to know what your Majesty's advice is?" Yulon said excitedly.

"Donate! I am willing to take the lead and donate fifty thousand taels first! I have sent people to my hometown to sell the land. In three to two months, I should be able to raise hundreds of thousands." Yuan Gongbao knelt on the ground and said without raising his head.

The more times like this, the more he has to behave properly - this is for the world to see.

"Donate?" Zaifeng shook his head in disappointment.

The Qing Empire has always opened a channel for donations - donating officials.

Official positions with empty titles and no actual duties have always been clearly marked with a clearly marked price. A fourth-level official position can only cost 5,000 taels.

Those who are in need have already donated, those who are not in need...

"Master Yuan means... to force donations? That's right. If Li Chuang can do it, I can't do it?" Zaifeng said excitedly. He was already dizzy.

The war was not going well, the treasury was empty, his son's court was on the verge of collapse, and the feeling that power was about to slip away from his hands tormented him repeatedly.

"Absolutely not, absolutely not!" Prince Qing quickly stopped him.

Prince Qing's family is extremely wealthy, but he would not dare to do such stupid things.

"Your Majesty, I am not forcing you to donate, I am calling on all ministers to donate." Yuan Gongbao also hurriedly objected.

Like Prince Qing, he has a family, a wife, and a large sum of gold and silver. He still has a long future, but he doesn't dare to mess around.

This reaction is normal. After all, even if there is a change of dynasty, it is impossible to clean up all the forces at once, especially the gentry and landlords, who will usually be reused in the new dynasty.

Both of them have a good relationship with the landowners and gentry, and with the large sums of gold and silver in their hands, even if the Qing Empire really collapses, they can still live well, and it is not impossible for them to even compete for parliament.

Doesn’t the South talk about human rights? Doesn’t it protect private property? These are all.

As for the fifty thousand taels, Yuan Gongbao used it to buy Ping An. This money will not go through the branch, but will be sent to various towns together with donations in his name.

Not to mention 50,000 taels, he can also take out 500,000 taels. He has to scrape together five million and sell off his property, but he can still take it out, but why should he take it?

Just like the hundreds of thousands of taels for the so-called land sale, he had no intention of giving it. He was mentally prepared - just like the well-dressed beasts in the late Ming Dynasty.

Similarly, Prince Qing is also extremely wealthy. It is said that he has 7.12 million pounds in British banks. In other words, about 50 million taels of silver.

For comparison, a few days ago Zaifeng wanted to sell the Mongolian Plateau for an actual payment of 30 million taels of silver.

If the Russian Empire had not focused on the Balkans and had no experience in making trouble in the Far East, this deal would have been completed.

"Ministers... your life is... relatively tight. How much can you donate? It's just a drop in the bucket, a drop in the bucket!" Prince Qing stared at Yuan Gongbao in disbelief, and said immediately after coming back to his senses.

This is to cut his flesh!

"That's right! Mr. Yuan is indeed a loyal minister. The Ai family still has 300,000 taels of private money. Let's use it for emergencies first!" Yulong said from the side.

"Yes! The palace still has some antiques. If we scrape them together, we can still get a hundred thousand taels. That's enough. The departure fee is enough!" Zaifeng's eyes lit up.

"I, my servant, can collect ten...fifty thousand taels here, and then sell some goods and collect as much as possible." Prince Qing, the loyal minister and good general, Gongzhong Tiguo, said.

Donating one thousandth of his current capital at one time made him feel bad.

"Yuan Gongbao, go quickly and transfer the fourth town to the south, as well as the frontline wages... give them half first, and tell them that when they win, they will pay double!" Zaifeng looked at Yuan Gongbao and said.

"Your Majesty, this is only 500,000 yuan. It can only solve a temporary emergency. There is still a war on the front line." Yuan Gongbao reminded.

"I know that this is only the first batch." Zaifeng waved his hand. He wanted to discuss with Yulong and Prince Qing about asking the nobles to donate money.

Yuan Gongbao smiled mysteriously and exited the Golden Palace.

Prince Qing's face was complicated, and he hesitated to speak. Finally, he took a breath and said nothing.

…………

"Did you see clearly? Did he go around behind us?" Feng Huafu knocked on the table with one hand.

"Look clearly. Most of the defenders on the west side of the city have seen those who went around from the west side of the city." Captain Jia Daode returned.

"Most of them have seen it..." Feng Huafu said in a deep tone.

"Yes, I wanted to block the news, but there were too many people there and I couldn't catch them, so the news got out," Captain Jia said.

After speaking, Feng Huafu took a deep breath and said nothing. He didn't speak, and Captain Jia didn't dare to speak either.

They were in a cellar at the moment, no one was talking, they could only hear the muffled sound of shell explosions.

"This is going to cut off my escape!" After a long time, Feng Huafu slammed the table with his fist.

He didn't know yet about the surrender of the front lines. The battle wasn't over yet and everything was still in chaos.

When he entered Xuzhou, he raided a wave of local people, and the gentry "sent" a batch of money, and the wages were paid.

After all, he still wants to rely on the troops in his hands to gain benefits after the ship of the Qing Empire sinks, and he will not let go of winning people's hearts.

However, the soldiers below also know the origin of military pay, and some of them will indeed be grateful to Feng Huafu.

However, there are still some people who only think, "Is the court out of money?", "Is the court embezzling military pay again?", "I am working hard on the front line, who is eating the military pay?"

"Call the imperial court and talk about this matter, make it more serious, and then urge for supplies and reinforcements."

"Send a report to Mr. Gong Bao, saying that the revolutionary army's offensive is very fierce and we cannot withstand it. I plan to withdraw from Xuzhou and retreat to Shandong. Ask him if he agrees."

"Send a batch of money to the Japanese and move them to the west and north of the city, and move our brothers to the east of the city."

"Go ahead."

Feng Huafu thought for a while and arranged it in an orderly manner.

Whoever wants to be a filial son and grandson of the Qing Empire can do it, but he is not willing to do it anyway.

Because of poor information, Feng Huafu made a wrong decision, but he got it wrong.

…………

"Fewer and fewer people are surrendering. Maybe they are taking action."

"Did they see the movements of both divisions yesterday?"

Zheng Lei looked at the peaceful and dilapidated Xuzhou City, without any disturbance in his heart.

The day before yesterday, hundreds of people came over to surrender in whole squads and platoons. Even half a company came to surrender after being beaten.

This is still the case when the revolutionary army promised not to pursue any wrongdoing and did not give any benefits. Some people wanted to wait for a price and sell it.

"I must have seen it. The enemy troops on the city wall also fired at the 1st Light Infantry Division, injuring several people." Huang Zhengfang nodded.

"Then continue the attack and launch a feint attack on the right wing to continue to put pressure on them." Zheng Lei nodded.

His information was wrong. At least Feng Huafu had money to send to soldiers, so he made the wrong decision.

But war is like this. No one can guarantee 100% correct decision-making, except for latecomers. They are not in the game and can criticize Fang Qiu based on the information from all parties.

…

"It's strange, why don't we see any Japanese?"

"Yes, there are quite a few Japanese in the front positions, and many of our brothers were shot by Japanese cold guns."

"Damn Japanese, what are they meddling in with our Chinese affairs?"

"It's the Qing Empire that promised them land."

"Isn't this betrayal of the country? I don't feel bad for betraying my father's land..."

Just after they conquered a street and handed it over to the Second Battalion, Li Dahai and a group of soldiers were resting and chatting.
Chapter completed!