"Big shopkeeper, they're playing on the topic. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 info" Wu Changqing said slowly, he didn't think there was a loophole in this clause, "In recent years, the Taiping Army and the Twist Army have been in chaos one after another, and they think there is an opportunity. ”

"It's not that simple." With the words, Bao Shichen walked in slowly under the support of Yan Shikuan, and when he entered the door, he arched his hand and said, "The lord is back." ”

Yi Zhizu hurriedly got up and returned the salute, saying, "I heard that Mr. is unwell, so I didn't disturb ......" ”

"Thank you Lord for your understanding," Bao Shichen said: "It's just greedy, and it doesn't matter if I feel the wind and cold occasionally." ”

The four of them sat down at the ceremony, and Bao Shichen continued: "This time, Britain, France, and the United States asked for a treaty amendment, probably because they wanted to make friends with the imperial court, and seize more benefits. ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhi's heart sank, he knew very well what the current situation of the imperial court was, if Britain, France and the United States intended to make friends with the imperial court, the two sides would inevitably hit it off, which was really not a good thing for Yuan Qi.

Yan Shikuan said in a sullen voice: "What do these foreigners mean? Want to provoke the court and Yuan Qi to fight? ”

"Not necessarily without that idea." Bao Shichen said with his head on his head: "The snipe and the clam compete, the fisherman profits, and once a large-scale war breaks out, it is the foreigners who will naturally benefit." ”

After lighting a cigarette, Yi Zhizhi said: "What are the specific requirements for the revision of the treaty proposed by the three countries this time?" ”

"There are six specific points." Wu Changqing said without hesitation: "First, all Chinese mainland and coastal cities should be opened, at least the major cities of Nanyang Province and Jiangsu and Zhejiang should be opened. Second, the merchant ships and warships of the three countries will be allowed to sail freely on the Yangtze River. Three, recognize the crow. The piece trade is a legal trade. Fourth, the regulations on the immigration of Chinese laborers to the outside world should be formulated. 5. Exempt the export goods of the three countries from all customs duties and taxes levied through the mainland checkpoints. Sixth, foreign envoys are stationed in Beijing. ”

Yi Zhixiang smoked a cigarette and didn't say a word, he didn't know if the other party was asking for a price, or if he had ulterior motives? After thinking for a while, he said: "After the Prime Minister Yamen's clear refusal, how did they react?" Is there a threat of force? ”

"Not really." Wu Changqing shook his head and said, "However, they said that they would go north to Tianjin and negotiate directly with the imperial court." ”

Could it be that the combined fleet of Britain and France is going to Tianjin to show off its force? Then why didn't the United States send warships to participate? Do you have any scruples? Yi Zhishu was pondering to himself, and Bao Shichen said: "It is impossible for the Prime Minister Yamen to agree to these six articles, and the Three Kingdoms are using this as an excuse to go north to contact the imperial court." ”

Wu Changqing said with some concern: "If the imperial court is willing, we can't stop it, and we can't stop it." ”

"Not necessarily." Yi Zhishu said indifferently.

Only half an hour later, Lin Meilian came in and reported: "Sir, the British Minister Bao Ling, the French Minister Bourblon, and the American Minister Mai Lian have come to visit...... Do you open the middle door to greet you? ”

The ministers of the three countries came to visit together? Yi Zhishu was a little surprised, and glanced at Yan Shikuan, this guy passed the wrong word? Seeing his eyes, Yan Shikuan hurriedly cleared his eyes and said, "The big shopkeeper, I only sent someone to invite Bao Ling." ”

So Bao Ling took it upon himself to invite the ministers of the other two countries to come with him? Yi Zhixiang pondered for a while before he said: "What kind of middle door to open, invite them to the Lotus Garden, you can go and invite them in person, and in addition, arrange a translator." ”

The Lotus Garden is a summer garden of the Gongfu, with lush forests and a two-acre lotus pond with a tall and wide pavilion by the pool.

Along the green corridor to the pavilion, two early interpreters hurriedly greeted him, Yi Zhizu nodded slightly, walked into the pavilion to admire the lotus flowers in the pond, Wu Changqing and Yan Shikuan followed closely behind, Yan Shikuan was obviously a little dissatisfied with Bao Ling's own assertions, and muttered softly: "The big shopkeeper is too indulgent to that old man." ”

Wu Changqing said with a smile: "Since we came together, there is no reason not to see it, foreign affairs etiquette is not a trivial matter." ”

John. Bao Ling and the three of them soon entered the garden under the leadership of Lin Meilian, out of etiquette, Yi Zhishu walked out of the pavilion and greeted him a few steps, the ministers of the three countries, except for the French minister Bourblon who had not changed in the first year of Xianfeng, the British and American ministers were all exchanged like a horse, although he was not unhappy, but it was not easy to interfere.

Nearly sixty Bao Ling was a little bald wearing a pair of small glasses, his lips were wide and thin, and his eyes were a little cold, and he was content to meet him, and he stretched out his hand a few steps away, and said with a smile on his face: "It is really an honor to be invited by His Excellency the Duke." ”

Although Yi Zhishu is said to be a minister of Nanyang, he wears many hats, and he is also used to being a shopkeeper, and it is difficult for ministers and consuls of various countries to meet each other, let alone an invitation, listening to this, he smiled, shook hands with him and said: "Congratulations on your promotion to minister in China." ”

Bulblon had dealt with him twice and was familiar, but Mai Lian was the first time he had met, an American in his forties and full of boundless energy, and he smiled when he shook hands: "I have heard of the deeds of His Excellency the Duke in New York, and Your Excellency is a man who is good at creating miracles. ”

"America is a country that is good at miracles." Yi Zhixiang smiled: "Welcome to China. ”

After some greetings, everyone entered the pavilion and sat down, and Yi Zhizu said straightforwardly: "I heard that you plan to go to Jingshi?" ”

"We don't want that." Bao Ling said with a regretful face: "Prime Minister Yamen is unwilling to accept our request to revise the contract. ”

Yi Zhi's contented gaze slowly turned around on the faces of the three of them before he said slowly: "Do you think that when you arrive in Jingshi, your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Qing Empire will agree to those conditions?" ”

Listening to the translator, Bourblon preemptively said: "We have no other choice. ”

Yi Zhizhi said abruptly: "I heard that a combined British and French fleet composed of more than 20 warships has gone north from the Pacific Ocean, but you plan to resort to force?" Or is it a readiness to coerce by force? ”

"No, no, no." Bao Ling hurriedly said: "Your Excellency misunderstood, the United Fleet went north to deal with the Russian Pacific Fleet in Kamchatka, Your Excellency should be aware of the war on the Crimean Peninsula, and our country and France have declared war on Russia.

In order to prevent the Russian Navy from posing a threat to your country, as well as to the trade routes of Southeast Asia and Australia, and to cause unnecessary losses, we sent our combined fleet north to seek an opportunity to annihilate the Russian Pacific Fleet in the Far East and to uproot the Russian strongholds in the Sea of Okhotsk and Kamchatka. ”

What's going on? If this is the reason, it can be explained that the Americans did not send warships to participate in the Combined Fleet, and the United States was strictly neutral in the Crimean War.

However, in his memory, there was no such thing as the Anglo-French combined fleet and the Russian Taiping fleet fighting in the Far East, and similarly, there was no such thing as the Anglo-French combined fleet appearing in Tianjin at this time.

After thinking about it, he thought that the Russian Pacific Fleet in Kamchatka seemed to have always existed, in other words, the Anglo-French joint fleet's expedition to Kamchatka should be in vain. Anyway, he is going to send troops to the northwest, and it is inevitable to tear his face with Russia or even declare war, so why not take this rare opportunity to pocket Kamchatka?

As soon as this thought came out, it lingered in my heart, the Russians attached the most importance to the port, once the Kamchatka Peninsula was captured, the Russian Pacific Fleet would have no place to stand, which would eliminate a great hidden danger for the Qing Dynasty, and it would also be conducive to the Qing Dynasty's future seizure of Eastern Siberia, and Alaska would not become an enclave after it was bought.

The benefits are simply too many! It was not easy to be content or excited, but now was obviously not the best opportunity, so he had to suppress the excitement in his heart, and said in a steady tone: "Annihilate the Russian Pacific Fleet, uproot the Russian strongholds in the Sea of Okhotsk and Kamchatka, are you interested in Kamchatka?" ”

Burbulon smiled in a relaxed tone: "Only Russians who lack ports will pay attention to Kamchatka, which is deserted and has a freeze period of half a year. ”

Yi Zhixiang smiled, he also did not believe that Britain and France would be interested in Kamchatka, the reason is very simple, even if Britain and France captured Kamchatka, they would not be able to occupy it for a long time, for such a distant and uninhabited enclave, it is strange that Britain and France can be interested.

With a slight mutter, he pulled back the conversation, "I don't understand, why do you take the opportunity to revise the treaty to put forward such rude conditions, with all due respect, this is detrimental to the image of all countries in our country, the Qing Dynasty and the opposition, all along, Yuanqi's newspapers and newspapers have proclaimed your country as a democratic, free, equal and fratern, rich and civilized country, once these treaties you propose are made public, this will inevitably affect the trade between the Qing Dynasty and other countries." ”

This is quite a blunt threat! In the past ten years, whether it is Britain, the United States or France, the trade volume with Yuanqi has risen sharply, and no one dares to ignore the threat of contentment.

Bao Ling glanced at Burbulon and Mei Mailian, and the two people who saw it didn't mean to speak, so he couldn't help but curse secretly, and had to bite the bullet and say: "Your Excellency is the treasurer of Yuanqi, and it should be very clear that although it is now a four-port trade and the merchant system has been abolished, in fact, our commerce and trade with the Qing Dynasty have not changed at all.

It's just that the original thirteen lines were replaced by Yuanqi, and all commodity trade was monopolized and controlled by Yuanqi, and many businessmen couldn't stand this way, which was not in line with the ...... of free competition that we have always advocated. ”

Co-authored, the root is still in Yuan Qi? Yi Zhishu is a little speechless, now the capitalism in Europe and America is still in the stage of free competition and has not yet developed into monopoly capitalism, and Yuanqi can be said to be a typical monopoly giant in the Qing Dynasty, especially in the foreign trade of bulk commodities such as tea, raw silk, and more prominent, the pricing power of tea and silk and import and export tariffs are firmly in the hands of Yuanqi, more ruthless than the thirteen lines of the year, and it is no wonder that foreign businessmen have opinions.

In addition, Yuanqi's monopoly in the financial industry is also extremely amazing, although foreign countries are allowed to open banks in treaty ports, but for more than ten years, foreign banks that have come to the Qing Dynasty to develop are all struggling, and it is difficult to open up the situation at all, on the contrary, Yuanqi has opened branches in Europe and the Americas over the years, and has gained a firm foothold.

After a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said: "Yuanqi also advocates free competition, and it has developed step by step through competition, and Yuanqi's branches and commercial banks abroad also adhere to the principle of free competition.

In addition, in the past 12 years, China's foreign trade volume has increased year by year, and as of last year, the trade volume difference with England has more than doubled, the trade volume with the United States has nearly doubled, and the trade volume with France has now exceeded 5 million yuan...... You can't open your eyes and tell nonsense, can you? ”

Hearing this, Bao Ling and the three of them were speechless, indeed, in recent years, the trade between various countries and the Qing Dynasty has increased year by year, and the annual growth rate is not small, which is due to Yuanqi's large import of iron, copper, machinery and equipment, warships, artillery, cotton fabrics, wool fabrics, cotton yarn, tobacco leaves, wine, gold and silver jewelry, perfumes, alkali, matches, glassware, etc.

It was precisely because of the prosperity of commerce and trade that Britain and France were afraid that the Russian Pacific Fleet would threaten the trade routes between China and the West, and formed a joint fleet to eliminate this hidden danger in the Far East.

Seeing that the three of them were silent, Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The Twist Army has been wiped out, and the Taiping Army is not far off, and the foreign trade of the Qing Dynasty is mainly concentrated in the southeastern provinces - that is, Yuanqi's sphere of influence, I hope you can recognize this reality, I don't want you to ignore long-term interests for the sake of immediate interests." ”

For the domestic situation in the Qing Kingdom, Bao Ling and the three of them are naturally clear, however, in the face of this huge market that is gradually opening, they can't stand Yuanqi's strong monopoly, they know very well that with the continuous growth of Yuanqi, they will be more and more sad in the future, although the current situation is indescribable, but who can guarantee that it will continue to be good?

Obviously, taking advantage of the fact that Yuan Qi is not strong enough, it is the best choice to join forces with the emperor of the Qing State to contain the growth of Yuan Qi, and moreover, by cooperating with the Qing Emperor, they can grab more benefits that cannot be obtained from Yi Zhi's contentment, as evidenced by the agreement signed privately between the Americans and the Qing Emperor last year!

After a slight hesitation, Bao Lingcai spoke: "We attach great importance to the commercial and trade cooperation with Yuanqi, I don't think anyone can ignore it, but we still hope to be able to get fair and free competition, unless Your Excellency can make appropriate concessions to the terms of the amendment we propose, otherwise, we still hope to go north to the capital of your country to meet His Majesty the Emperor of your country." ”