Xianfeng didn't care much about the situation in the Western countries, but he had heard something from the newspapers and the children of the clan in the navy, what was the relationship between the Nanyang Islands and England, he really didn't know very well, and he didn't want to ask too much when he heard Mu Zhang'a say this, thinking that when Su Shun came, he might as well ask carefully. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

After a slight sigh, he said: "Nanyang is a new place for the imperial court, and it is not a trivial matter to appoint officials, this matter will be discussed later, so kneel down first." ”

Mu Zhang'a had a stomach, originally thought that Xianfeng would ask, and then took the opportunity to report to the British Prime Minister Yamen, strongly protesting against the Qing Dynasty's forcible occupation of the Nanyang Islands, and did not want Xianfeng to tell him to kneel down, he didn't say much, immediately got up and saluted, slowly withdrew, out of the Qianqing Palace, and bumped into Su Shun head-on, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and quickly stopped it, and said the British protest succinctly, and he looked for an opportunity to speak.

Su Shun had a long time in the navy, and his knowledge of the West was far comparable to that of the ministers of the Beijing Division, and when he finished speaking, he complained: "Such a big event, how could the crane minister not report it early, diplomacy is no small matter, England is so strongly protesting, threatening to send troops, one bad will lead to the ..... of war between the two countries." ”

Is it really that serious? Mu Zhang'a's heart sank, and he quickly explained: "There are a lot of things ..... during this time. Saying that, he admonished again, "The emperor doesn't seem to be in a good mood, so be cautious when playing right." ”

Xianfeng is in a bad mood? Su Shun couldn't help but be stunned, is it for Yuanqi? Yi Guocheng began to toss? He was about to ask carefully, but Mu Zhang'a had already left quickly, and he had to wonder and walked in, and when he entered the Xinuan Pavilion, he glanced at it quickly, and saw Xianfeng pacing in the room with his hands behind his back, and quickly knelt down and said: "Chen Su Shun respectfully invites Sheng'an." ”

Xianfeng turned around and glanced at him, slowly paced back to his seat, and waited for Su Shun to kneel down in front of him before he spoke: "What does the imperial court's conquest of the South Seas have to do with England?" ”

Hearing this, Su Shun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and calmly replied: "Back to the emperor, England already has colonies in Nanyang - Malacca, Temasek, the imperial court conquered Nanyang, although it did not capture the British colony, but it will invisibly pose a threat to the British colony in Nanyang, this is one of them.

Second, England pursued a policy of continental equilibrium in Europe, and the loss of the colonies of Spain and the Netherlands in the South Seas would inevitably weaken the strength of the two countries. ”

These words were concise and clear, Xianfeng secretly praised, worthy of having stayed in the Nanyang Navy for all these years, he knew the pattern of the Nanyang well, and he groaned slightly, before he asked: "England is the supremacy of the sea, and the naval fleet is far from being able to compete with the Nanyang Fleet. ”

"Yi Zhishu said that the South Seas are the sea barrier of the Qing Dynasty and cannot be occupied by Western countries for a long time." Su Shun carefully considered and said: "Moreover, he judged that England would have a large-scale economic crisis last year, and he was unable to take care of Nanyang, and thought that sending troops the year before last was the best opportunity to seize Nanyang." ”

Xianfeng asked: "Is there an economic crisis in England?" ”

"Yes." Su Shun said succinctly: "Last year, a large-scale economic crisis broke out in England, which also affected the whole of Europe, and caused a major turmoil in Europe. ”

How can I be so content? was able to predict so accurately that an economic crisis would break out in England, which was tens of thousands of miles away, and seized the opportunity to decisively send troops to seize the South Seas, Xianfeng couldn't help but be secretly frightened, and groaned slightly, before he asked: "What was the reason for your impeachment back then, and your relationship seems to be good." ”

Su Shun had long expected that he would have this question, and immediately replied calmly: "Yi Zhizhi is content to control the Nanyang Navy, deliberately provoking the relationship between the children of the clan in the navy, and Weichen entered the navy because of his military merits, conquering the Nanyang, but leaving Weichen to guard the Dinghai ....... ”

Xianfeng originally estimated that it should also be for this matter The two of them made trouble, Yizeng followed the army to conquer the Nanyang, Jin Fengbeizi, and actually awarded the commander of the Beiyang Naval Division, and all the children of the clan who accompanied the army were rewarded, but those who stayed behind did not catch any benefits, and it was strange that there was no resentment, and after the conquest of Nanyang, it was difficult for the navy to have a big war.

Xianfeng didn't bother to pay attention to these things, and said with a slight mutter: "The conquest of the South Seas, just because the South Sea Islands are the sea barrier of the Qing Dynasty?" ”

Su Shun said without thinking: "The Nanyang Islands are connected with Taiwan, the Ryukyus, and the Japanese Kingdom to form a complete island chain, and Yi Zhishu plans to use this island chain as a maritime barrier for the Qing Dynasty, and furthermore, the Nanyang Islands are strategically located, which is an important channel for the Qing Dynasty's maritime trade or foreign trade, and also a springboard for the Qing Dynasty's overseas expansion.

Also, the Nanyang Islands have a vast area, the climate is suitable, the land is fertile, there are few disasters, the rice can be planted three or even four times a year, once the large-scale immigration is developed, it will be the largest granary of the Qing Dynasty, although it seems that it is a little far away from the mainland at present, but with the development of navigation technology and the rapid development of steamships, it only takes two or three days to arrive in the future.

At present, the land of the Qing Dynasty is highly concentrated, but the population is growing steadily year by year, there are many people and little land, and the contradictions are acute....... ”

The largest granary in the Qing Dynasty! Xianfeng's heart sank, if Yi Zhizhi actually controlled Nanyang, it would not take more than ten years to compete with the imperial court, but now he has no ability to control Nanyang, and he can't ban Nanyang immigrants, Daoguang announced to the world, Nanyang built a province, encouraged immigrants to Nanyang, he changed his course after a few months on the throne, what do people in the world think of him? Isn't it a joke to govern the country with filial piety?

It seems that it is still the reason that Mu Zhang'a said, at present, he can only occupy the name of righteousness first, and it is better to choose the official than to be content to occupy Nanyang privately, thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh secretly, as the Son of Heaven, he can't do everything as he likes.

After Su Shun stopped, he asked, "Is the steamer so fast?" Can you reach Nanyang in two or three days? ”

"Back to the emperor." Su Shun said: "The current speed of the steam steamer is not fast, the only advantage is that there is no need for sails, no need to use the wind, inland navigation can go upstream, but, according to Yi Zhicontent, at present, Western countries are vigorously developing steam steamers, steam ironclads, within 20 years, will be able to be greatly improved." ”

Luzon Manila is only 700 nautical miles away from Guangzhou, and the speed of 8 knots per hour only takes four or five days. ”

The steam steamer, Xianfeng had never seen it, but he had heard of it, and immediately inquired carefully, and learned that the steamer made by Yuanqi was not big now, and there were not many guns on it, so he relaxed a little and asked instead: "What do you think of Yuanqi?" ”

Pingsuri Junchen played right, all of them were concise and to the point, because it was kneeling, and he couldn't afford to kneel for a long time, Su Shun wanted to win Xianfeng's weight, so it was not too cumbersome, but it was uncomfortable to kneel for a long time, but he didn't dare to move, and Xianfeng kept asking one after another, but he didn't call him flat, and he couldn't help but secretly complain in his heart.

"Back to the emperor." He cheered up and said: "Western artillery, muskets, and ammunition are now made by machines, which can be produced in large quantities, and the iron used to make guns is also mined and smelted by machines. Military industry is the foundation of the country, and if we want to develop the military industry, we must first develop basic industry.

Yuanqi opened a bank, set up a factory, opened a mining field, and built a railway, all in order to develop the basic industry of the Qing Dynasty, which was beneficial to the imperial court, to say the drawbacks, the biggest drawback of Yuanqi was that the scale was too large, and it had gradually formed a trend of tail not falling, and the micro-ministers thought it was ....... ”

Speaking of this, he gently moved his kneeling legs that were a little numb, Xianfeng was listening attentively, noticed his small movement, and immediately waved his hand and said, "Flat back." ”

"Thank you for your grace." Su Shun secretly got up slowly, and continued with a slight groan: "Wei Chen has pondered carefully and repeatedly, the reason why Yi Zhishu founded Yuanqi Group Training, and then firmly controlled the Nanyang Navy, is not because he is not subservient, but out of self-protection and protecting Yuanqi's interests.

He has repeatedly referred to the sanctity of the protection of private property in the laws of Western countries, the most typical of which is that 'the wind can enter, the rain may enter, but the king cannot enter.' Allusions. As he spoke, he elaborated on the allusion.

Although Xianfeng is proficient in the "Great Qing Law", he has also read it carefully, and it is clear that the protection clauses for private property and personal safety in the "Great Qing Law" are not only numerous but also detailed, and trespassing in private houses is also prohibited by the "Great Qing Law".

He knew very well that Su Shun was not referring to the law, but to the imperial power! Yuan Qinuo's great wealth, Yi Zhixin itself is a first-class member with real power, a first-class marquis, only the imperial power can make Yi Zhixin feel at ease, the Qing Dynasty imperial power is supreme, although the imperial power is restricted by the law to a certain extent, but always has the privilege of surpassing the law!

Yi Zhicontent: This is to limit the imperial power! After a while, Xianfeng said coldly: "This is the case in Western countries? ”

Hearing him speak, Su Shun's heart that had been hanging was put down, and he didn't know if all Western countries were like this, so he immediately bowed slightly and said: "Back to the emperor, as far as Weichen knows, this is the case in England." England exercises judicial independence, the executive and the judiciary do not interfere with each other, and the trial of cases is carried out by full-time judges, not even by Her Majesty the Queen. ”

Nonsense! Xianfeng secretly sneered in his heart, the whole world is not the king's land, and the shore of the land is not the king's minister, what can't I interfere in? If I can't even interfere in the trial of the case, I am still the Son of Heaven who is the Ninety-Five?

Half an hour later, Su Shuncai looked relaxed, and walked out of the Qianqing Palace briskly.

Military Aircraft Division.

As soon as Mu Zhang'a entered the door, he asked the military machine Zhang Jing who came up, and said, "Has Ma Yiqing's situation been clarified?" ”

The military machine Zhang Jing bowed slightly and said, "Back to Mu Zhongtang, it has been ascertained." When Mu Zhang'a returned to his seat and sat down, he hurriedly submitted Ma Yiqing's information.

Ma Yiqing, formerly known as Ma Yinglong, the original Guangzhou Thirteen Lines Shun Tai Xing Ma Zuoliangzi, Daoguang 24 years of Jinshi, the 102nd Jinshi of the second grade, was elected as the Jishi of the Hanlin Academy, and the scattered museum was awarded the compilation of the Hanlin Academy, and the 27th year of Daoguang, he was promoted to the Hanlin Academy, and was appointed as the school manager of Wenyuan Pavilion. In the twenty-ninth year of Daoguang, he was promoted to Changzhen, Jiangsu.

After a few glances at this simple resume like a blank piece of paper, Mu Zhang's eyebrows wrinkled into a Sichuan character, isn't this a joke, Daoguang was promoted to the fourth grade of Taoism in the twenty-fourth year, and in the blink of an eye, he was suddenly promoted to the governor of Luzon, although the place in Luzon is overseas, but after all, it is a second-grade official appointed by the imperial court, Daoguang is hesitant to choose an official, and when he learns about this Ma Yiqing's situation, isn't he even more disgusted?

After a slight groan, he got up and paced to Lin Zexu's bookcase, sat down by himself, pushed Ma Yiqing's information over, and said, "Brother Shaomu, take a look." ”

Yi Zhisufficiency's recommendation of Nanyang military and political officials, Lin Zexu naturally knew, so he glanced at it slightly, and his heart was clear at a glance, and he immediately said tentatively: "The emperor allowed it?" ”

Is this not allowed? Mu Zhang's abdomen sneered, and then said: "But this Ma Yiqing is young, and his qualifications are too shallow, once he is appointed, what do the officials below think?" ”

Lin Zexu said disapprovingly: "This is not written clearly, although this Ma Yiqing has shallow qualifications, he is a son of the Thirteen Lines, and he is deeply trusted by Yi Zhi, the imperial court does not lack enough qualifications, and he is also experienced, and he is suitable to be an official of the governor of Luzon, will Yi Zhizhi agree?" ”

After a pause, he lowered his voice and said: "This matter is actually a rare opportunity - a chance to save the relationship with Yuan Qi, since you agree to Yi Zhizhi to recommend the election official, why bother with the details?" This Ma Yiqing is a genuine Jinshi background, and if Yi Zhixiang recommends Shanghai Daotai Wu Changqing, wouldn't it be more difficult for the imperial court? ”

Shanghai Daotai Wu Changqing is a donor official, compared with Ma Yiqing, it is even more unbearable, Mu Zhang'a originally wanted Lin Zexu to mediate from it, listening to this tone, he knew that there was no hope, and he couldn't help but sigh secretly, this time Yi Zhixin was obviously a temptation, but he recommended Ma Yiqing, the governor of Luzon, and Yan Yangtian, the governor of Luzon, and it was clear that they were all Yuanqi's people.

If the imperial court agrees, Yi Zhizhi will recommend the governor of Java, the admiral and the officials of the prefectures and counties below, needless to say, they must all be Yuanqi's people, so that Yi Zhizhi is not the governor of Nanyang, he is an out-and-out king of Nanyang! What is the difference between this and Wu Sangui, the king of Yunnan back then? And even more.