“Damn Li Hong Zhang! Damn Li Jing Yuan! Damn Beiyang Army! They actually dared to confiscate the Kong Family Mansion! This is an insult to the Sage!”
“The Li family and the Beiyang bandits, they should all go to hell!”
“Take up arms, join the army, and fight the Beiyang bandits!”
“This old man swears, the Beiyang bandits are my lifelong enemies! I will dedicate my life to suppressing the Beiyang bandits!”
“All scholars in the world will stand against the Beiyang bandits!”
It can be said that the Beiyang Army’s confiscation of the Kong Family Mansion was like stirring up a hornet's nest.
Countless scholars across the land felt as if the Beiyang Army had dug up their ancestors' graves. They cursed the Beiyang Army with every breath and were eager to fight them to the death.
For these scholars, who had been educated in Confucianism since childhood and had studied the Four Books and Five Classics, Confucius was their spiritual pillar, and the Kong Family Mansion was a sacred place in their hearts.
The Beiyang Army had actually confiscated the Kong Family Mansion, this was a desecration of the Sage, a declaration of war against all scholars in the world!
In an instant, almost all scholars were criticizing the Li family and the Beiyang Army with words and pens.
A large number of scholars abandoned their studies to join the army, viewing the suppression of the Beiyang Army as their lifelong goal.
This resulted in a surge of support for the Qing Dynasty.
The changes greatly encouraged the Qing Dynasty’s upper echelon.
“Hahaha! Excellent! The Li family father and son are digging their own graves! The Kong family are the descendants of the Sage! The Li’s blatant disrespect is simply courting death!” Emperor Guangxu laughed heartily.
The gloom cast by the Qing army’s defeats at the frontlines seemed to vanish completely.
Empress Dowager Cixi couldn't help but smile.
She had been worried that the Beiyang Army was too strong and that the Qing army would have a difficult time suppressing them.
But now, the Beiyang Army had alienated the entire world, giving the Qing Dynasty an excellent opportunity!
As the saying goes, "When Heaven wills it, it gives many helpers; when Heaven does not will it, it gives no helpers." The Qing Dynasty had the support of the entire world. Even if the Beiyang Army could win in the short term, they wouldn’t be able to sustain their strength in the long run.
“Congratulations to the Empress Dowager, congratulations to Your Majesty! The Li bandits are arrogant and arrogant, and have angered all the scholars and common people of the world! The Qing Dynasty will surely have the support of the people of the world.
Soon, we will defeat the rebels on the battlefield and achieve victory!”
Li Qinwang Shiduo, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Council, said.
“Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, the whole world supports the Qing Dynasty. It’s clear that the Qing Dynasty is the rightful ruler of the land! The Li family father and son and the rebels, even if they achieve temporary victories, they will ultimately be unable to withstand the Qing Dynasty!” Erke and Bu, another Grand Councilor, added.
The other Grand Councilors and the Qing Dynasty's upper echelon all joined in the condemnation of Li Hongzhang and his son, and the Beiyang Army.
As loyal Confucian scholars, they held immense reverence for Confucius and profound respect for the Kong family.
The Beiyang Army’s confiscation of the Kong Family Mansion was something they could not accept.
It’s safe to say, the Beiyang Army had become their sworn enemies.
Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu were overjoyed, as if the Beiyang Army had truly committed a fatal mistake, and they would soon achieve final victory.
“My loyal ministers, issue an imperial decree in the name of the court, denouncing the Li family father and son and the Beiyang rebels for confiscating the Kong Family Mansion and desecrating the Sage. Tell all the scholars and common people of the world that the court will do everything in its power to suppress the rebels, bring the Li family father and son before Confucius’s tomb, and behead them to appease the Sage’s spirit!” Empress Dowager Cixi commanded.
This would undoubtedly further win the support of the scholars and common people.
“Yes!” The Qing Dynasty’s upper echelon replied in unison.
In the eyes of the Qing Dynasty’s leaders, having the support of the scholars and common people of the world meant that the Qing Dynasty was destined to win.
Even if the Qing army suffered temporary defeats on the battlefield, they would ultimately be victorious.
This boosted morale and confidence among the Qing Dynasty’s upper echelon.
On the Beiyang Army side, the troops were not significantly affected.
However, the Beiyang leadership, especially the civilian officials, were somewhat panicked.
In fact, many of them opposed the Beiyang Army's confiscation of the Kong Family Mansion.
Especially after it led to the opposition of scholars across the land, many couldn’t help but complain about Li Jingyuan's recklessness.
“How could the third brother be so reckless? The Kong family are the descendants of the Sage! This has placed our entire Li family in opposition to all the scholars in the world!
Now look, the whole world is denouncing us and supporting the Qing court. How can we possibly contend with them?
If the Qing Dynasty defeats us, everything is over!
The entire Li family will be destroyed!”
Li Jingshu worriedly complained to Li Hongzhang, believing that Li Jingyuan's actions had betrayed the Li family and pushed them to the brink of ruin.
“Alright, the third brother did this with my consent.” Li Hongzhang said.
Li Jingshu closed his mouth, not daring to say more.
“Everyone, history is written by the victors. Even if the entire world denounces us, so what? As long as we can win on the battlefield, overthrow the Qing Dynasty. Then, not only will no one criticize us, but people will even praise us!” Li Hongzhang remained clear-headed.