Listening to Yixun and Du Han, the two of them spoke one after another, and Mu Zhang'a couldn't help but be secretly anxious, he knew that he had privately signed an agreement with the United States to lease Kaohsiung Port, and naturally understood Xianfeng's intentions, as far as the current situation of the imperial court is concerned, it is the best choice at present to win the strong support of Western countries to contain Yuanqi. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

Recently, newspapers of all sizes in the southeastern provinces have been overwhelmingly attacking the terms of the treaty amendment, and not only the Nanyang Prime Minister Yamen has openly written articles to criticize it, but the well-known gentry in the southeast have also written articles to wave their flags and shout, and the governors and governors of the provinces have also successively expressed their support, which can be said to be one-sided opposition to the terms of the treaty.

Mu Zhang'a knew very well that in the current situation, he did not stand up decisively, I was afraid that no one would dare to risk the disapproval of the world to propose to invite the envoys of Western countries in China to come to Beijing, and after a little silence, he said: "Your Majesty, the threat of force from Western countries should not be ignored, and now it is a critical moment to encircle and suppress the rebels of Hong Yang, and there can be no more border provocations, even if it is a slight possibility, it is not allowed, and the slaves secretly think that they should summon the envoys of Britain, France and the United States to Beijing and appease them well." ”

"Never!" Qi Liaozao said in a deep voice: "Now the government and the opposition are all opposed to the terms of the treaty, and summoning the envoys of the three countries to Beijing will inevitably attract the attention of the whole country. ”

Mu Zhang'a said in a deep voice: "Now that the Nanyang Prime Minister Yamen has ordered all treaty ports to stop all foreign trade activities, and Yuan Qi has even called for refusing to sell any goods to foreigners, including grain and drinking water, the situation continues to stalemate, who dares to guarantee that war will not break out?" ”

Seeing that Xianfeng was silent, Ruilin said: "Your Majesty, if the situation continues to deteriorate, it may indeed lead to the outbreak of war. ”

"Your Majesty." Yi Xun continued: "Dealing with trade and foreign affairs with Western countries has always been the Nanyang Prime Minister's Yamen, if necessary, the Prime Minister's Yamen will play by itself, and the imperial court will intervene, which may disrupt the deployment of the Prime Minister's Yamen.

Moreover, now that the encirclement and suppression of Hong Yang's rebellion is relying on the Nanyang Navy, if it causes unnecessary misunderstandings, it may be suspected of falling short! Please think carefully! ”

Listening to this, Xianfeng couldn't help but hesitate, the Taiping army was infighting, and the soldiers were divided into two ways into Guangxi and Yungui, this is a good time to clear up, and it is necessary to try to envelop Yi Zhicontent, and Yi Zhicontent's attitude towards the terms of the amendment is extremely clear, rashly interfering, if it causes Yi Zhizhi to be suspicious, it is not as simple as falling short!

Moreover, even if it can win the strong support of Britain, France and the United States, it will take time, and it will not be able to compete with Yuan Qi in three or five years.

Mu Zhang'a also hesitated, Yuan Qi has monopolized foreign trade for many years, and has close ties with diplomatic officials from Britain, France and the United States, as well as large and small companies and businessmen, if he signs a treaty with the three countries in private, I am afraid that he will not be able to hide it, and even if he can hide it, he can only hide it for a while! With an easy-to-be contented disposition, how would you react when you know the truth?

There was silence in the warm pavilion, no one spoke again, and the people waiting at the military plane were not human spirits, at this time, they all figured out Xianfeng's thoughts, and they were all cautious, not daring to speak casually.

Xianfeng looked at the jumping candle flame in a daze and said nothing, signing an agreement with the United States in private made him see the hope of strengthening the New Army of the Eight Banners, and also let him see the hope of curbing the development and growth of Yuanqi, he was eager to win the strong support of Britain, France and the United States, so that he, the son of heaven, would not become Yuanqi's puppet!

In the past six months, Yi Zhixiang has taken the opportunity of encircling and suppressing the Twist Army and the Taiping Army to unscrupulously install a large number of Yuanqi officials in the southeastern provinces, and almost half of the southeast is in the hands of Yi Zhixiang.

Obviously, this time Britain, France and the United States put forward a clause that was difficult for the Qing Dynasty to accept, under the pretext of amending the treaty, it was an extremely rare opportunity, he didn't want to miss this opportunity, the growth of the Eight Banners New Army takes time, and when Yuan Qi used troops in the northwest, it was the best time for the Eight Banners New Army to grow!

After a long silence, he spoke: "Kneel down, Mu Zhang'a stays." ”

Let Mu Zhang'a stay, this is a very obvious signal, Yixun's heart sank, worried and retreated, he was very puzzled in his heart, the government and the opposition are trying to denounce the terms of the treaty, Britain, France and the United States The envoys to China can be said to be three hot potatoes, Xianfeng, who has never been interested in Western diplomacy, why did he suddenly want to summon the fortifications of the three countries to Beijing to meet him? Don't worry about burning your hands?

In the warm pavilion, the ministers of military aircraft who were waiting for them withdrew, Mu Zhang'a kowtowed lightly, and said: "Your Majesty, it is difficult to hide Yi Zhi's contentment from signing a treaty with the three kingdoms in private, even if it can be concealed temporarily, it will definitely not be concealed for a long time. ”

"Enlisting the support of Britain, France and the United States is the only opportunity to quickly expand the New Army of the Eight Banners and get rid of Yuan Qi's control over guns and ammunition, only in this way can the imperial court contain Yuan Qi and eradicate Yuan Qi!" Xianfeng said in a deep voice: "It takes time for the new army of the Eight Banners to grow rapidly, and the imperial court can't afford to wait now!" The Eight Banners New Army must take advantage of the opportunity of Yuan Qi's large-scale troops to the northwest to grow rapidly! ”

"Your Majesty." Mu Zhang'a hurriedly kowtowed, indeed, when Yuan Qi sent troops to the northwest, it was a rare opportunity for the Eight Banners New Army to grow.

Xianfeng was still waiting for the following, and when he saw him lying on the ground for a long time and didn't speak, he couldn't help but be depressed, and said angrily: "Go on!" ”

And then again? Mu Zhang'a was very worried in his heart, so he had to bite the bullet and say: "Your Majesty, Hong Yang is good at wandering, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi are all mountains, and the Taifa bandits have entered Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi, which can be said to be like a fish in water, if you want to completely clean it up, I am afraid that it will take three or five years, and the slave secretly thinks that it is not suitable to make a private agreement with the three Western countries during this period." As for the timing of the large-scale deployment of troops to the northwest, the minions estimated that it should be ...... after the end of the Crimean War. ”

Speaking of this, he hesitated for a moment before he said softly: "Your Majesty, is it ..... wait any longer, the terms of the amendment are really a bit excessive...... There may not be no opportunities in the future. ”

Xianfeng stared at him for a long time, and then said in a deep voice: "The machinery and equipment for the United States to manufacture Mini guns will not be available this year, and it will definitely arrive next year. ”

Mu Zhang'a hurriedly kowtowed and said: "Your Majesty, Kaohsiung Port is in Taiwan, far away from the mainland, and there is a precedent for leasing Macao and Hong Kong, so it will not cause too much criticism, and the introduction of machinery and equipment for manufacturing mini guns and ammunition will not ....... criticism." ”

Xianfeng interrupted him and said, "What I'm worried about is Yi Zhi's reaction! ”

"Your Majesty." Mu Zhang'a hurriedly said: "The reason why Yuan Qi sent troops to assist the imperial court in encircling and suppressing bandits and bandits is to stabilize the country and focus on the expansion of the northwest, and he will definitely not turn his face with the imperial court for this." ”

"If that's the case, why wait?"

"Your Majesty." Mu Zhang'a hurriedly said: "The support of the United States is easy to be content and bearable, but if it is the support of Britain, France and the United States, I am afraid that it will be unbearable." ”

After pondering for a long time, Xian Fengcai said: "Baojun has been transferred back to Beijing, is there a suitable candidate for the vacant prime minister of Nanyang Prime Minister's Yamen?" ”

Hearing this, Mu Zhang'a couldn't help but secretly slander himself, Bao Jun and Prince Hui Mianyu privately signed an agreement with the American Minister Marshali must not be able to hide Yi Zhi's contentment, at this time, if he inserts someone into the Yamen of the Nanyang Prime Minister, is it really easy to be content? However, since Xianfeng asked, he didn't dare to shirk, and groaned slightly, so he recommended a person who was not from the Mu Party's line, "The deputy capital commander Wuren is excellent in learning and has always been solemn and ......." ”

Shanghai, British Consulate in Shanghai.

It was only after eight o'clock, the French minister Bourblon and the American minister Mai Lian hurried over, Shanghai is not big, Bao Ling's trip to the Zhenhai Mansion last night could not be concealed from the two of them, and they were very dissatisfied with Bao Ling's private contentment, so they rushed over early in the morning.

Bao Ling welcomed the two into his office with a spring breeze on his face, and said with a smile: "Coffee or tea?" ”

"Black tea, coffee and milk, thank you."

"One cup of black tea, two cups of coffee with milk." After instructing the attendants, Bao Lingcai smiled and said, "Last night, Mr. Yi sent someone to invite him. ”

Bourblon said suspiciously: "Mr. Yi has seen through our intentions? ”

"It should be said that Mr. Yi is very afraid that we will support the Qing Emperor." Bao Ling said complacently: "So, after seeing our intentions, I couldn't wait to take the initiative to invite me." ”

Mai Lian asked with concern, "How are you talking?" ”

"That guy has a lot of ambitions." Bao Ling smiled, and said a concise account of the conversation with Yi Zhixiang last night, and then continued: "Did you choose to cooperate with Yuan Qi?" Or do you choose to cooperate with the Qing Emperor? You can only choose one, and I think it shouldn't be difficult for you to make a choice, right? ”

England already has Hong Kong as a foothold in the Qing Dynasty, and the United States now has Kaohsiung Port as a foothold, but France has nothing. France also needed a suitable place to stay in the Far East. ”

Bao Ling ignored him, but looked at Mai Lian, "What about Your Excellency?" ”

"Of course you choose Yuanqi?" Mai Lian shrugged her shoulders, "The United States has no territorial needs in the far Far East, and we are already very satisfied with having a suitable port that is convenient for trade, after all, commerce is what we need most." ”

"Very good." Bao Ling said with a smile on his face: "Business interests are our most important interests in the Far East, so Great Britain also chooses Yuanqi." ”

As he spoke, he looked at Bourblon, "France needs a suitable place to stay, I think it is impossible to get it from Mr. Yi, however, I believe that it is not difficult to get a place to stay from the Qing Emperor, of course, in order for the trade between France and Yuanqi not to be affected, it is best to learn from the United States." ”

Bourblon always felt that this guy was a little gloating, but he didn't think much about it, he was not in a hurry about the foothold, the relationship between France and Yuan Qi was now just the right honey to blend oil, and it would not be too late to learn from the United States after it obtained the port of Kaohsiung.

After a slight sigh, he said: "This time Yuanqi stopped all foreign trade, the impact and losses caused are not small, is it enough to be satisfied with a mere inland checkpoint that exempts import and export goods?" ”

"Oh, it's not a trivial matter for import and export goods to be exempted from the mainland checkpoints." Bao Ling said with a smile: "This can greatly reduce the price of our imported goods and improve the competitiveness of our export goods." ”

Mai Lian said coldly: "In the past few days, there have been many companies and businessmen who have come to the consulate to ask for compensation for their losses, and with such a preferential condition, I am afraid it will be difficult for them to shut up." ”

Bao Ling took out his pipe, slowly filled the tobacco, and after scribbling a match and lit it, he said slowly: "Mr. Yi's attitude is very tough, and he is very dissatisfied with the terms of the amendment we proposed, if it weren't for the fear that we would cooperate with the Qing Emperor, he might not make the slightest concession, I think, from the past few days Yuan Qi's attitude is enough to prove this." ”

He took a few puffs of cigarette before he continued: "Yuanqi is not a company, Yuanqi has 300,000 navy and army, the richest southeast seven provinces of the Qing Dynasty, has a population of 100 million, and has banks in all the prefectures and counties of the Qing Dynasty, I cautiously remind the two of you, do not regard Mr. Yi as an official of the Qing Kingdom, but as a king, the king of the southeast of the Qing Kingdom!" ”

"We never underestimated Mr. Yi." Mai Lian said: "He is a person who is good at creating miracles, but, unfortunately, he was born in the Qing Kingdom. ”

"Qingguo is not Mexico." Bao Ling glanced at him and said, "Because the Qing country has Mr. Yi." ”

Listening to his sarcasm, Mai Lian didn't bother to care, after all, England is a real maritime hegemon, and the strength of the country is far from being comparable to that of the United States, but he didn't want Bourblon to say: "Will the Qing Kingdom be the next Ottoman?" ”

"No, it won't." Bao Ling said with certainty: "The sorrow of the Ottoman lies in his geographical location, but the Qing country is in a corner. As he spoke, he set his pipe and said, "Mr. Yi is a difficult person, but we are not satisfied with obtaining a ...... of exemption from the import and export of goods. ”

The two people who saw him looked at him with a happy face, Bao Ling smiled, and said: "We gave the Qing Emperor an excuse, an excuse for us to go to the Qing Kingdom to meet in Beijing, if the Qing Emperor let us go to the Beijing to meet us, I think, we still have a chance to bargain with Mr. Yi." ”

Hearing this, Bourblon and Mai Lian were very happy, Yuan Qi had monopolized the foreign trade of the Qing State for more than ten years, and now that they had the opportunity, they didn't mind fighting for some more benefits.

"But ......, if the Qing Emperor didn't give us the opportunity to go to Beijing to meet us." Bao Ling looked at the two of them and said in a deep voice: "I hope this matter ends here, don't do anything to provoke Yuanqi's bottom line, unless we are ready to start a war in the Far East, otherwise, we will suffer!" ”