Tianjin City, South Street, Yue Guest Inn.

Putiyatin returned to the courtyard where he was living with joy on his face, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, he ordered: "Book a table and celebrate in the evening." ”

The Qing court negotiated with Britain and France, and took the initiative to divide Tianjin as a treaty port, which was a surprise for Russia, and the Qing and Russian trade was mainly land trade - Kyakhta trade, and Tianjin as the only treaty port in the north of the Qing Dynasty, its importance is naturally self-evident.

Putiatin, who had just negotiated with Prince Yi Zaiyuan and Gui Liang, the governor of Zhili, had just negotiated with the Qing Dynasty's ministers and obtained the same treatment as Britain and France, and had demarcated the Russian concession.

Pirovsky hurried up to meet him and handed over a telegram, "Your Excellency, this is a telegram that has just been received from Petersburg. ”

After a few quick glances at the message, Putiatin's mood immediately became heavy, and he walked into the room without saying a word, refusing to cede land, refusing to redraw the border between Qing and Russia, following the border between the two countries demarcated by the Treaty of Nebuchu, Kazakhstan must negotiate an armistice as soon as possible and resume trade.

It was as if he had been struck with a stick, and the joy in his heart had long since disappeared, and he sat on the chair in a daze with the telegram, which was simply an impossible task! The attitude of contentment is very clear, there will be no truce and no resumption of trade without ceding the land east of the Altai Mountains.

"Your Excellency, not long after Your Majesty succeeded to the throne, and the abolition of serfdom was being contemplated in the country, at this time, the cession of a large area of land east of the Altai Mountains will inevitably be attacked." Perovsky followed, and said in a deep voice.

This is the truth, the domestic opposition to the abolition of serfdom is very high, this is indeed not a wise move to cede East Siberia, but in addition to East Siberia, what other bargaining chips does he have to make the Qing State cease war?

Although the Qing State is now preparing to conquer Goryeo, how big is Goryeo? How long can it hold out under the all-out attack of more than 100,000 naval and land troops of the Qing State? Once the Qing conquered Goryeo, it would inevitably go all out to the west. In addition, if the Mongol tribes in Mobei obtained a large number of Mini guns, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophe for Eastern Siberia!

"Your Excellency, the importance of the Kazakh steppe is far from being comparable to that of Eastern Siberia." Pirovsky said slowly: "Perhaps, we should do it another way...... A way that is acceptable to the country, such as selling East Siberia. ”

"Sell East Siberia?" Putiatin's eyes lit up, this may really be a way, after all, Yuanqi has a precedent for buying Alaska and Kamchatka, and Yuanqi doesn't seem to be short of money, anyway, this is a method that is acceptable to both parties after all, it's a big deal to sell it cheaper, anyway, Eastern Siberia is a bitter cold and harsh mountainous area, and it has no value!

After a slight hesitation, he spoke: "The Qing army may go out at any time, so get ready, and hurry to the camp in Xincheng early tomorrow morning." ”

Yan Yangtian and Feng Renxuan are first-class earls, Chen Hongming, Xiao Mingliang, Tang Zaosheng, Yin Youcai and other third-class earls, and other viscounts and barons have been promoted to more than ten people, as for other light car captains, cavalry lieutenants, cloud cavalry lieutenants, and enkai lieutenants, etc., it is even more difficult to count, and there are many official positions with names and titles, and most of the officers and soldiers who have been rewarded are excited and ecstatic.

Along with the rewards, there were also a large number of pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks and other livestock, poultry and a large amount of wine, and the whole camp was jubilant.

On the beach, Yi Zhizu faced the sea and asked with a smile: "With so many titles and rewards, and official titles and titles, do you think the imperial court will give them the corresponding Yulu?" ”

Zhao Wenlie, who was leading the horse and following behind, couldn't help but smile when he heard this, "The imperial court just didn't plan to issue Yulu, so it would be so generous." After a pause, he continued: "These rewards, the big shopkeeper doesn't need to pay attention to them, if there are really any eyes open, let them ask the court for them." ”

"The court doesn't admit it, but Yuan Qi can't deny it." Yi Zhizhi looked at the sea, "These titles and official positions represent their military exploits, and they can't chill their hearts." ”

Zhao Wenlie sighed, "Big shopkeeper, this is not a small number, and the imperial court may also reward it in the future." ”

"Conferring titles, awarding military ranks." Yi Zhizhi said: "After the conquest of Goryeo, the Yuanqi New Army carried out a major adjustment, set up a perfect command system and management system, and implemented a military rank system, all officers and soldiers were awarded corresponding military ranks according to their titles, registered and additional official positions, troop positions, combat merits, enlistment time, and weekday training results, and the military rank and troop position were directly linked to the ........ ”

Hearing this, Zhao Wenlie secretly breathed a sigh of relief, this is to establish a complete system to strengthen the control of the army, it seems that this time the imperial court intends to take the opportunity of the reward to divide and win over the new army of Yuanqi, so that Yi Zhizhi has a great vigilance in his heart.

A hurried sound of horses' hooves attracted the attention of the two, and Yi Zhishu turned around, recognizing it at a glance as Monk Greenqin, and immediately waved his hand, signaling that the guards did not need to stop him.

This time the big reward. Monk Greenqin also followed the light, from the prince of the county to the prince of Jin, it can be said that he won a big fortune, and he was also appointed as the general of the expedition to conquer Goryeo, and he was still more than a dozen steps away, so he dismounted and strode up to meet him and said: "Listen to Yan Junmen, the national city does not pro-conquer Goryeo?" ”

For this? Yi Zhizhi smiled, "There are monks and kings in charge, and generals such as Yan Yangtian, Chen Hongming, and Xiao Mingliang, who are fighting against just one Goryeo, and they are already killing chickens with knives, so I won't join in the excitement." ”

Hearing this, Monk Lingqin frowned, "Won't it be because of the reward that will make the country unhappy?" ”

"The court's reward is very much in line with my wishes, and the monk king does not need to be suspicious." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "The conquest of Goryeo, there is no suspense, I am not here, and the generals below can also let go of their hands and feet." ”

Monk Greenqin was a little skeptical about this, this expedition to Goryeo, he was the general of the expedition to the east, easy to be content, he really had no bottom in his heart, those generals of the Yuanqi New Army would not sell his account as a prince, he couldn't command at all, and groaned slightly, he said: "Goryeo hasn't laid a cable telegraph yet, right?" ”

Hearing him ask like this, Yi Zhixiang understood what he was worried about, and chuckled: "Don't worry, the monk king is ready to lay the submarine cable from Dengzhou to Ganghwa Island, and other places dare not say that it will not take long for Seoul to open a cable telegraph." ”

Before the words fell, he rode at a gallop, and saluted and reported: "The Russian minister Putyatin and his entourage have arrived in the new city and asked to see the great treasurer. ”

Putiyatin chased to the new city? News from Russia? Yi Zhizu ordered: "Call Lin Meilian, let's go meet him." ”

A group of people rode into the city, came to the courtyard where Puti Yating and his party were placed, this courtyard was originally prepared for Yi Zhicontent, Yi Zhishu only lived for two days and moved to the barracks, this courtyard was also vacant, the group entered the courtyard, Puti Yating quickly greeted him, after shaking hands and saluting, Yi Zhishu did not introduce the monk Lingqin, but asked directly: "But it brought good news?" ”

"Not good news." Putiatin smiled a little reluctantly, and stretched out his hand to give courtesy: "Your Excellency, please——。 ”

Isn't it good news, and he came to Xincheng to see him? Yi Zhifu was confused, and when he entered the house and sat down, Putiatin explained: "Your Excellency should know that His Majesty the Emperor of our country has not been on the throne for a long time, and there is great resistance to the abolition of serfdom, and at this time, it is not a good time to cede a large area of land east of the Altai Mountains. ”

Listening to the translation, Seng Lingqin was really shocked, Yi Zhizhi actually asked Russia to cede a large area of land east of the Altai Mountains? That's a lot of appetite! And listening to the meaning of this, Russia actually did not oppose it very strongly, but just said that the timing was not good, what does this mean?

Yi Zhizhi was content and silent, he knew that what the other party said was the truth, but he was more aware of the embarrassing situation that Russia was facing now, and if he didn't want a large-scale protracted war with the Qing Dynasty in the Kazakh steppe, Russia would have to give up a large area of land east of the Altai Mountains, which had no choice at all!

Bad timing? This is the best time for Russia, for the Qing Dynasty, once Russia has taken a breath and wants this place, it must fight! He didn't say anything because he knew that the other party still had the following, otherwise he wouldn't have made a special trip to Xincheng.

Knowing that the Qing army was about to go on an expedition and the other party's affairs were complicated, Putiatin did not go around in circles, so he directly tried to say: "Your Excellency bought Alaska and Kamchatka Peninsula for 20 million silver dollars, and the opposition in our country is very small....... ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at him and said, "Your Excellency means that our country will abandon the Kazakh steppe, and then pay for silver to buy a large area of land east of the Altai Mountains?" ”

Hearing his unkind tone, Puti Yating hurriedly said: "Your Excellency, don't get me wrong, buying is just a cover ....... people's eyes, and this is also the only feasible way at present." ”

"How much silver?" Yi Zhizu asked directly.

"That's tens of millions of square kilometers of land ......." Putiyatin hesitated and stretched out a palm, "How about fifty million?" ”

Fifty million silver dollars? Yi Zhizu chuckled and said, "It's too small, how can 50 million be enough?" Get at least a billion silver dollars! Although the land east of the Altai Mountains has a cold climate and is mountainous, it is not suitable for habitation and reclamation, but it is also tens of millions of square kilometers of land, which is worth 100 silver dollars per square kilometer, which is also a billion silver dollars. ”

A billion silver dollars! Putiyatin was stunned and looked at him in a daze, what does this mean? He couldn't figure out the other party's mind for a while, he didn't dare to think that the other party would pay a billion silver dollars to buy this huge area of bitter cold land, let alone take the initiative to increase the price!

Monk Lingqin also listened stupidly, even if he was doing business, he didn't do it! Besides, can Yuan Qi take out a billion silver dollars to buy a piece of bitter cold mountain land that is not suitable for reclamation? Not to mention that there are not so many silver dollars, even if there are, it is impossible!

The room full of people were taken aback by the price offered by Yi Zhifen, and the room was silent, and the pin drop could be heard! Yi Zhicontent continued: "I don't know how much silver the Kazakh steppe is worth for your country? I'll fight it down and sell it to your country! ”

For Russia, the Kazakh steppe has an unrivaled strategic position, the value of which simply cannot be measured in monetary terms! This is also the reason why Alexander II was anxious to make a truce with the Qing Dynasty after learning that the Qing army was equipped with a large number of new weapons and combat power beyond imagination!

Putiyatin reacted in an instant, the other party just didn't want to buy the land east of the Altai Mountains with silver, whether it was 50 million or 1 billion, it was just a number, of course, selling the land east of the Altai Mountains for a billion silver dollars would allow Alexander II to sell this land more decently, and it would also be more comfortable for the wounded hearts of the Russian people!

After a long silence, Putiatin hesitated and said: "Your Excellency will not want to see a long-term and large-scale war break out between our two countries on the Kazakh steppe, and buying this land is the only way that both sides can accept at present." ”

"It seems that your country is suspicious of silver." Yi Zhishu said in a relaxed tone: "Then less, Yuan Qi has stored some gold over the years, and he will pay the price of this land with 50 million taels of gold, and I will wait for the good news of your country." ”

What do you mean? Putiyatin felt like he was going crazy, and he didn't know what the other party meant, the problem was that the other party's tone didn't seem to be a joke! But even a fool knows that it is impossible for the other party to come up with 50 million taels of gold to buy that piece of land!

Monk Greenqin is even more inexplicable, Yuan Qi has 50 million taels of gold? Heckling ghosts! It is impossible for the entire Qing Dynasty to make up 50 million taels of gold!

Seeing that the atmosphere in the room was very strange, Yi Zhishu stood up and said with a smile: "You have come all the way from Tianjin, and Ben Jue is the landlord, so you should do your best to be a landlord." As he spoke, he instructed the outside world: "Come here, set up a table and wash the dust for the Russian envoy." With that, he walked out slowly, leaving a room of people looking at each other.

Lin Meilian, who acted as a translator, chased after her and laughed softly: "What kind of medicine is sold in the big shopkeeper's gourd?" ”

"Panacea." Yi Zhifu teased the familiar way of turning into the East Cross Courtyard, and said as he walked: "Take a chance, call Putiyating over alone." Then he ordered the guards to stand guard at the gate of the courtyard.

Is this going to be a secret talk? Lin Meilian understood, then turned around and walked away quickly, the excitement in her heart couldn't be suppressed, she also urgently wanted to know what Yi Zhixiang thought?

Soon, Puti Yating followed Lin Meilian into the East Cross Courtyard, and when he entered the room, he saw Yi Zhixiang leaning against the window and smoking, and he couldn't help but say: "Your Excellency doesn't really plan to buy that piece of land for 50 million taels of gold?" ”

"Is there any other way?" Yi Zhishu turned around, "It is in the fundamental interests of our two countries to end the war in the Kazakh steppe as soon as possible, but I also need the land east of the Altai Mountains to ensure the security of my country in the north. Of course, it is impossible for our country to really pay this golden ........ ”

"If you don't pay this gold, Your Majesty the Emperor of China will not be able to account to your subjects. ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhizhi smiled like a fox, "If the fleet of your country secretly transporting this huge amount of gold is shipwrecked and sunk, His Majesty the Emperor of your country will be able to explain, right?" ”