"In the end, we and the Russians lost in Asia, and the British reaped the benefits, and they liked to see this kind of drama the most," the Empress Dowager Cixi pondered slightly, "and the British refused to budge? ”

"Yes, it's just that the Beiyang and Nanyang naval divisions can only be escorted by side, and the British fleet still has to go to Dagukou." Guo Songtao was slightly ashamed, "Weichen is guilty." ”

"It doesn't matter, although Pu Cungong's words are a little ugly, but it is also the truth, in the past, we didn't want to come to them, they have all come, and there are any secrets for others to probe, come on, you just say to the foreigners, Nanyang and Beiyang should be escorted together, whether it is to lead the way or the queen of the palace, they must be escorted together, the Beiyang sailors have heard that they have been the first in Asia over the years, and there is no one in their eyes, with the British fleet to inspire, maybe the arrogant heart can be slightly restrained." The Empress Dowager Cixi then said, "Ceremonial, bow down, bow down." ”

"Zhang Peilun's fold is good, this water is confused all of a sudden," Empress Dowager Cixi glanced at Zuo Zongtang approvingly, and the imperial history Zhang Peilun on the "please abolish the kneeling and bowing fold" explained that in addition to the five "Heaven and Earth Monarch and Teacher", the rest of the officials such as superiors and subordinates should bow and salute, in order to maintain dignity and dignity, they should all abolish the kneeling ceremony, so that the government and the opposition were boiling, and everyone participated in Zhang Peilun's excerpt, each expressing their opinions, and the Daqing Daily published opposing and agreeing opinions for several days, The Empress Dowager Cixi pushed the boat down the river and ordered Mu Yang'a, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, to preside over the reform of the etiquette of kneeling, and first issued an edict that "the Minister of Military Aircraft is the Prime Minister of the National Dynasty, the position is noble, the head of the hundred officials, and the court meeting is kneeling and reciting, hurting the body, and I can't bear it. Kneel and bow, stand and reply. "Since Emperor Yongzheng set up the Military Aircraft Department, the rule that the Minister of Military Aircraft and the Imperial Prelude are kneeling to reply is naturally a matter of virtue, and the government and the opposition are praised, you must know that except for a few people who have special opportunities. Ordinary people become the Minister of Military Aircraft, at least sixty miles away, and it is okay to kneel and salute, if they kneel for a few hours, the iron man will not be able to survive much time. As a result, Edward's ceremonial dispute over his visit to China to ask his ministers to bow down at the dock seems to have attracted much less attention.

"Bow down, the British won't let it, just leave it," the Empress Dowager Cixi finally decided on the matter. "It's expensive to be expensive, in the past, Magny met Emperor Gaozong, didn't he also kneel on one knee, the British have a good saying, follow the customs of the locals, but it's not easy to refute, you go and reply to them like this, if you can't talk about it anymore. Just let Edward come from there, and go back from there. We made a big step, and it was common for them to make a small step. ”

"But the government and the opposition must not let go of this matter," Guo Songtao smiled bitterly, "The world will think that the Prime Minister's Yamen has lost the face of the Tianyi Dynasty." ”

"Don't worry, I've got a claim on this." Empress Dowager Cixi smiled mysteriously, "When the time comes, you can always explain it to the big guys, so there is no need to hide this matter, you are good at maneuvering, at least you have found out the true intentions of foreigners." The Tobe side is also going to talk to the British about how to withdraw from the Suez Canal shares. ”

"Xisheng Sansi, this matter has not yet been discussed," Zuo Zongtang persuaded, "This matter is the fault of the British, who have taken our silver for so many years in vain, and now they just want to give some interest?" It's too much, Weichen feels that it is still too expensive to use this thing as a bargaining chip for Edward's visit to Huayi, and it is not worth putting so much silver into it for the sake of etiquette! Besides, the British have dealt with us like this, how can they get the silver back for no reason? ”

"What you said is," the Empress Dowager Cixi smiled, or Zuo Zongtang's words met her own appetite, "so I just let them pretend to talk about it, and when the time comes, it will not work out, or two words, if the British are willing to give me the latest warships and the best workers, this idea money, it doesn't hurt to give it to the British, he has a good plan, I also have a wall ladder, you come and go, it is a roar." ”

The Empress Dowager Cixi listened to Qinghai explaining the vassal issue in the Pamir area, Li Lianying walked in quietly, and stood beside the Empress Dowager Cixi with her hands down, "Xisheng," he interrupted Qinghai's words, "There is urgent information on the Vietnamese side. ”

"What's going on?"

"The Vietnamese had already signed an agreement with the French yesterday morning."

Qinghai Hai's face changed drastically, "Oh? Empress Dowager Cixi raised her eyebrows, "This Vietnamese king is very weak, what are the provisions?" ”

"France recognized the independence of Vietnam and was no longer subject to China...... Vietnam officially recognizes the French right? Cession of the provinces of An Giang, Ha Tien and Vinh Long...... France has navigation rights on the Red River...... Vietnam's taxation and customs are organized by French experts. French nationals enjoy extraterritorial jurisdiction in Vietnam, and lawsuits by French nationals and other foreigners in Vietnam must be heard by the French consul. France "recognized" Vietnam as "independent", but the Vietnamese emperor had to follow the diplomatic guidance of France. Li Lianying took out a piece from her sleeve and read it word by word, "That's it." ”

"It seems that they didn't take us seriously," the Empress Dowager Cixi sneered slightly, "The French are really romantic, and they signed an agreement with Vietnam like this, and they don't ask us whether they agree or not?" ”

"The French will inevitably send a note to the imperial court, and when the time comes, they will reject it, and they will not admit it!" Zuo Zongtang said angrily.

"Naturally, I don't recognize it, but it's really chilling that Vietnam is acting like this, aren't we supporting them?" The Empress Dowager Cixi shook her head, "It's useless." ”

"The Nguyen Dynasty built the capital in Hue, which is to show its attitude, and will never rely only on the Qing Dynasty," Wang Kaiyun said, if you don't know where Hue is, everyone turn out the map of Vietnam to take a look, Vietnam's two large land, the middle of the slender area, is the city of Hue, close to the Red River Delta means relying on China, relying on the Mekong Delta means relying on the French from the sea, "Emperor Duc of the Nguyen Dynasty came to us to ask for help on the one hand, and signed an agreement with the French on the other, It can be seen that it is impartial. ”

"Impartiality doesn't mean that you can be the first to go to both ends," Zuo Zongtang sneered, "It's ridiculous that such a small country still thinks so much, Xisheng, this is not as simple as just signing an agreement with the French, if Vietnam has been paying tribute to my Tianyi Dynasty, this Vietnam will just be taken by the French, and now that it has been asked for China's head, and it has signed an agreement with the French, this is not what is the face of the Qing Dynasty!" Be sure to punish the Vietnamese severely! (To be continued.) )