Since the press conference held by the Prime Minister's Office the day before yesterday, a series of news of great victories have come out of the Prime Minister's Office, and the whole country first did not believe it, and then they were in a state of ecstasy, and citizens in Shanghai, Ningbo, Nanjing, Jiujiang, Guangzhou, Hankou, Shenyang and other treaty ports spontaneously organized large-scale parades to celebrate the victory; And located in the inland state capital county, hundreds of officials and people gathered in the imperial palace to celebrate, Beijing is the capital, after the redemption of the Manchurian residence, many people in the inner and outer cities are Liaodong, Yanzhou, Yizhou martyrs immigrants, is to celebrate the most lively, firecrackers are sold out on the first day, and then the opera troupe in Beijing is all contracted to sing all night, the Hutong neighborhood committees celebrate, but also do not forget to pool money to buy pigs and sheep to be sent to the front line of labor.

However, just two days after the celebration, Yiqiē was disturbed by a notice from the Ministry of Rites.

After going to the Prime Minister's Office in the morning to convey the news of Japan's hope for peace talks to the Chinese, the British acting minister Mamuller suddenly found something wrong on the way back to Dongjiaomin Lane, as if Beijing, which was extremely noisy before, suddenly quieted down today, except for the majestic Janissaries on the chessboard street, those pedestrians were actually dressed in costumes on a hot day, he looked at the Chinese walking on the road but constantly wiping their sweat, and asked curiously: "Are the Chinese crazy, why do they wear winter clothes?" ”

"Your Excellency, the situation is not so good."

The secretary had just received the news, and he said helplessly, "I heard that His Royal Highness King Min of China is going to receive the Korean envoy this afternoon. ”

"Oh God!"

Ma Mule's mouth was shocked, it was expected that China would enter Korea after encircling and annihilating the Japanese army, but he didn't want this day to come so soon - it should be a legitimate name to meet the Korean envoys so quickly.

"Shall we go back to the Prime Minister's House, Your Excellency?"

The secretary asked with concern that, in the past, the British minister must have wanted to stop such an act of disrupting the balance of the Far East, not to mention that Korea is the territory of Japan, an ally of Britain.

"Nope. We can't go back. ”

Ma Mueller said helplessly.

The war in Europe is raging.

Since Britain entered the war, it could no longer take care of the Far East.

Unlike others, he did not believe that the war in Europe would end anytime soon, and that the war in Europe would only make the European countries extremely weak.

That is, the Entente after the war did not have the ability to intervene in the Far East.

In particular, the squadron * surrounded the Russian Siberian Army in three days, which simply shocked the world, and no one knew what the Chinese did.

It is precisely because of this that Britain and France have become more and more taboo about China's tilt towards the Central Powers, and if China is really forced into the camp of the Central Powers, it will not only be the Russian Far East, French Annam, and British Burma all under the threat of the squadron, but if we take into account the brigade deployed by China in Tibet, India will also be extremely dangerous.

European nations can be strong.

But Europe cannot be united; Asia China can be unified, but not strong, this is Britain's diplomatic norm, but now Britain in Asia can no longer take care of it.

In fact, he had already arrived in China, just to convince outsiders that the liberation of Korea was not planned in advance, and he stayed in Nanjing for a long time, and it was not until yesterday that he secretly went north from Nanjing on the airship.

On the way to Beijing, he was both excited and worried.

Excitement has been a dream of recovering for many years, and today it has finally come true, and he tears welled up when he thought about it.

Beside oneself.

The worry was that after the Hague envoy incident, he was forced to abdicate and be succeeded by his son Li Kun.

Although Gojong abdicated, the previous contact with the Revival Society was completely completed with his full support, so now the Revival Society does not recognize pure sects, but only Gojong.

But once the Japanese learned about his entry into Beijing to invite troops into the court, could Gaozong still be able to keep it safe?

Li Xiangwei was so excited all the way and worried all the way to the capital, after getting off the airship in Nanyuan on the outskirts of the city, he was greeted by Zhang Taiyan, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

"The vassal Li Xiangjiao paid a visit to Lord Shangshu."

How did Lee Sang-su first arrive.

I don't quite understand the etiquette of receiving foreign envoys in China today.

"Lord Li does not need to call himself a vassal, I regard Korea as a brotherly state. Therefore, there is no such thing as a vassal. ”

Zhang Taiyan is dressed in an official robe very decently, and his beard is also neatly trimmed.

The words were flat, but the expression was arrogant.

"Please make it clear to Lord Shangshu, what kind of etiquette should my little state use to meet His Royal Highness King Min of the Heavenly Dynasty?"

Li Xiangyu was cramped and uneasy, and lowered his head even more.

North Korea believed in Japan before, then Russia, and then the United States, and what these people said was better than the other, but at a critical time, one was more unreliable than the other, and today the Chinese Reconstruction Army defeated Russia and Japan, and he didn't know how the previous agreement would change, and now that the etiquette of the audience has actually changed, he is even more worried.

Seeing that the Goryeo stick was very deferential, Zhang Taiyan finally smiled with satisfaction, "Just meet as a special envoy of a friendly country." Master Li, did you bring the documents to ask the soldiers to return to the country? ”

"Brought, brought."

The paperwork for inviting soldiers to return to the country was actually prepared when he helped Zhu Kuanwei make the dragon robe, and it was not finally used until today.

Excited, Li Xiangyu took his hand into his arms after saying that, but was stopped by Zhang Taiyan.

"Master Li, don't be busy, please enter the palace now."

Zhang Taiyan said.

"Ahh

Li Xiangyi was shocked, and he hurriedly said: "The little envoy has not practiced the etiquette of the audience, nor has he bathed and changed his clothes, so he ...... to meet him like this."

As soon as Li Xiangzhu mentioned the etiquette of the meeting, Zhang Taiyan was furious, in order to welcome the North Korean envoy to Beijing, not to mention the committee, even the Ministry of Rites quarreled several times, many people took into account the demeanor of China's great country, and demanded that the audience must be handled in accordance with the regulations of the previous Ming Dynasty, but some people think that the Imperial Court is gone, and now it is an equal country, and it should be handled according to the state of equality and brotherhood.

In the end, Yang Rui decided the policy, and the tributary set was no longer visible, even if it was given the name of an equal state in Korea, could he really be equal to China?

The prime minister made a decision, and the Ministry of Rites implemented it, but Zhang Taiyan still felt very hit, and all the audience etiquette he had been thinking about before was in vain.

Now that Li Xiangwei talked about his sore spots, of course he was very displeased, and immediately stretched his face and said: "The military situation on the whole line is like fire, what kind of audience etiquette do you talk about?" The revival army will pursue the Japanese invaders into the DPRK today, and even if they have already entered the DPRK at this time, they will wait for another three days, and they are afraid that Pyongyang and Seoul will be recovered. ”

Li Xiangwei didn't know that the battle situation in Liaodong was like this, and tears suddenly fell from his face in surprise, and Zhang Taiyan saw him crying.

is even more impatient, feeling that this North Korean is like a girl, and immediately asked people to help Lee Sang-su into the carriage.

I sat down on it.

According to the regulations on the visit of foreign envoys in China, foreign ministers should leave from the embassy to enter the palace in a royal carriage.

In addition to the Praetorian Guards, there were also people who beat gongs to announce which country's envoys were waiting for the audience; Now that the DPRK does not have a legation in China, and the matter is urgent, Lee Sang-woo was asked to meet him immediately as soon as he got off the airship.

In order to create momentum and prevent China from temporarily changing his fortunes, Li Xiangwei not only brought a rich tribute, but also many backbones of the Xinmin Association also came to Beijing together, but because of some airship seats.

Only about 30 people entered Beijing.

These more than 30 people, plus those indispensable tributes, loaded a total of eight carriages, plus the guards before and after, a group of twelve carriages from Nanyuan straight into the capital.

When the foreign feudal clan came to the court, he always walked through the side gate of Yongdingmen Urn City, but now Li Xiangwei saw that the main gate was wide open, and when he went to Zhengyangmen Urn City, he saw that the main gate was open, and he finally couldn't help but say: "Lord Shangshu, Xiaobang ......"

Zhang Taiyan sat in the carriage.

Listening to the soldiers in front of him shouting gongs and shouting, 'The imperial court envoys enter Beijing to meet him', and when I saw the pedestrians on the road and the merchants on both sides of the road, they were all dressed in costumes and went out to watch, with a smile on their faces.

His elongated face also relaxed, although the Ten Thousand Domains came from a distant dynasty, there was already a domain by his side.

Zhang Taiyan only cared about himself, and didn't hear what Li Xiangyan said at all, only after the carriage entered the thousand-step corridor, he remembered some things that he hadn't explained, and immediately advised: "Lord Li, China and the DPRK are a country of brothers, so don't bow three times and bow nine times." Seeing His Royal Highness King Min, he only needs to bow four times. If you have an audience in Chinese, then you will not arrange a general event. In this way, you can also let His Highness send troops to help you restore the country......"

"The minister understands, the minister understands."

Li Xiangwei nodded vigorously.

A long-cherished wish for many years is about to come true today.

But when he saw the carriage driving directly into the Chengtian Gate, he was surprised: "How can the little minister go straight into the inner part of the city so much? ”

Li Xiangyan talked a lot because of his deference, but it made Zhang Taiyan's face darken.

After Gengzi, the Great Powers forcibly changed the rules of the audience, that is, the carriage could directly enter the Jingyun Gate in the Forbidden City, and then take a sedan chair to the gate of the Qianqing Palace, and finally walk into the Qianqing Palace for the audience.

After the founding of China, the United States was the first to recognize China, Zhang Taiyan had negotiated with the American minister, hoping that he would not take a car and enter the inner palace in a soft sedan chair, but was rejected by the American minister, so the ceremony of the audience followed the former Qing Dynasty, which made him deeply ashamed.

"This is the disaster of foreigners, and it has to be so."

Zhang Taiyan doesn't care about face, tell the truth.

"Since this is true for foreigners, it is also true for friendly countries, otherwise it is contempt."

"Minister...... Minister......

Li Xiangxuan wanted to get up and apologize, but he couldn't stand up in the not wide car.

"From His Royal Highness King Min, to the Prime Minister, to the people of Limin, they all hope that the DPRK can be self-reliant and self-reliant. You guys, you can't be as messy as before, whoever says it's beautiful, believe whoever you say, this world, it's all wolves. ”

Zhang Taiyan also understands the restoration of North Korea, and these restorers can be regarded as trying their best to restore the country, but there is no such god in them, so that the homeland will not be restored.

"The adults teach, and the ministers remember the five."

Li Xiangwei thanked him again, but at this time the carriage had already arrived outside the Jingyun Gate.

Fortunately, it is only more than 100 meters from Jingyunmen to Qianqing Gate, and it is not a big problem for this group of people not to take the soft sedan chair, only Syngman Rhee, who inserted him halfway, did not agree with this, and the American Minister Rui Enshi had already told him about the process of the visit, and he also knew that this meeting was related to the national dignity of the DPRK in the future, and since the restoration of the DPRK was carried out at the request of US President Wilson, Then North Korea doesn't need to be too humble about China.

As a righteous envoy, Li Xiangxiao, who walked in front step by step, could not imagine the thoughts of Syngman Rhee in the back, he was in the Forbidden City at this time, but he thought that he was only in a dream, how many years of dreaming and sighing, and today he finally got to taste what he wanted.

"Special envoy of the Republic of Korea meets with ......"

A hazy voice came from afar, red walls and yellow tiles, gray ground and white steps, Li Xiangyu and others, who were standing in front of the Qianqing Gate respectfully, suddenly shook their bodies when they heard the sound, and then, the voice seemed to be close, and it didn't seem to be in the sky, I don't know how long it took, just waiting for the protocol officer standing on the side to prompt: "Lord Li." Your Highness Xuan is here. ”

Li Xiangwei and the others woke up, and stepped on the white jade steps of the main gate of the Qianqing Gate with trembling steps, and walked towards the incomparably majestic palace in the distance.

This is the Celestial Empire!

Qianqing Palace is the sleeping palace of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

After Kangxi, because of the hanging of a 'Zhengda Guangming' plaque, Kangxi named the Zhengda Guangming Palace, plus the Qing Dynasty plaque after a building storage box, related to the heir to the throne, is known to the world.

After the founding of the new dynasty, a qiē in the Forbidden City was attacked by the Ming system, so the 'Zhengda Guangming' plaque was thrown out and burned, and then the plaque of 'Respecting Heaven and Fazu' was hung back.

to return to the right; The two crooked and nagging couplets in Qianlong's handwriting were also removed and destroyed, and Zhang Taiyan saw that the foreign envoys did not enter the Daming Gate to meet him, so he hung the couplet of the Daming Gate here: The sun and the moon are bright and the heavens are de, and the mountains and rivers are the emperor!

Ambition and pride, that's all.

At this time, Zhu Kuansu sat under the plaque of respecting heaven and Fazu, waiting for the North Korean envoy to meet him.

He is eighteen years old today, and since the founding of the country, he has received many foreign envoys, but this time he was a little nervous.

North Korea, this is a vassal of the Ming Dynasty for hundreds of years, and North Korea will be restored under the grace of China.

There is nothing more prestigious.

Zhu Kuansu was looking forward to it, only to hear the chief of protocol outside shouting: "The special envoy of the DPRK, Lord Lee Sang-so, has come to meet the king of Great China." ”

Then I saw several people dressed in official robes of the Ming Dynasty walking to the main hall with great respect, and then began to bow four times according to the etiquette of the audience.

Zhu Kuansu also got up to accept the salute in accordance with the etiquette regulations, and after bowing, Li Xiangwei said with a crying voice: "Foreign ministers and ministers see His Royal Highness King Min of the Chinese Kingdom." ”

In the Chinese spoken by Li Xiangxuan, Zhu Kuansu said without going through anything: "Is your envoy safe from afar, where do you start your journey?" ”

Zhu Kuansu followed the diplomatic etiquette routine, first asked about the situation of the envoy's journey, and then asked the emperor and head of state who came to the country, this is the script, but he didn't want Li Xiangwei to tremble all over his body and not follow the script.

Hearing this, Zhu Kuansu had no choice but to say again in order: "Are the emperor and empress of your country good?" ”

Li Xiangwei was excited when he stood in the splendid Qianqing Palace.

Now when he heard that His Royal Highness King Min was greeting Emperor Gaozong, he knelt on the ground with a plop.

After crying, he said, "Four years ago... Annexed by the Japanese invaders, the monarch was forced to abdicate, and was forbidden by the Japanese people, and his life and death are unknown. Today, on the order of the monarch, the foreign minister invites His Royal Highness the King Min of Great China to read the three-hundred-year-old relationship between the two countries, send troops to Korea, and restore the homeland! ”

Li Xiang's crying was heartbreaking, deeply moving, and everyone present actually understood the pain of losing the country, and they were suddenly quite sad.

After Li Xiangwei cried, he took out the letter of invitation to enter the court from his arms, opened it excitedly, and then presented it with both hands.

With the etiquette of the audience after Gengzi, the Chinese emperor must personally accept the letter of state of the foreign envoy with both hands, it is Zhu Kuansu who got up when he saw this, and walked out of the dragon seat to receive the letter of state, although he did not see what he said above, but saw the dark red text on the brocade, and immediately understood that this was a blood letter.

"Your envoy, please get up, the monarch of your country has been rescued from the Hanyang Palace by the soldiers of our revival army and the volunteers of your country, and he will be able to arrive in Beijing in a few days."

Zhu Kuansu took the letter of state, helped Li Xiangxuan up, and then told him the latest news to comfort him.

"Ahh

Li Xiangyun was extremely surprised, and everyone behind him was also shocked.

Because Gaozong did not cooperate with Japan, he was deeply feared by Japan, and he was forced to abdicate after the Hague secret envoy incident, but he was still monitored by the Japanese, and the revival army was able to rescue Gaozong, if it were not from the mouth of King Min, no one believed it.

"Your Excellency, please rest assured that this is indeed the case."

Xie Zhangtai, a diplomatic scholar who had been standing in the Qianqing Palace for a long time, said on the side, "Thank Your Highness Hongfu, my Revival Army Ruishi rescued Your Majesty the Emperor last night, and this is the news I just received. ”

"Your Highness's kindness to our country, foreign ministers ......"

Li Xiangwei burst into tears, knelt down again as he spoke, this time not only he knelt, but several deputy envoys also knelt down, causing Zhu Kuansu to help Li Xiangwei up again.

"The widow knew the Japanese people's intention to swallow Korea and invade China, because they strongly advocated a war against Japan last year, and now China has not been founded for a long time, and they have fought hard to resist the enemy, although they have won many battles, but there are many martyrs!"

Zhu Kuanwei said that this was a lamentation, he had been there to treat the Gyeonggi battlefield, and he also roughly knew the number of casualties, although he was a king with no power, but as the king of a country, he was naturally concerned about the people of a country.

From this point of view, there is really nothing to be happy about when the war is won, but the loyal and enthusiastic men are also gone.

Li Xiangxuan and the others also heard the sadness in his words, and immediately lowered their heads after hearing the words, not daring to look at the sky, they could only look at the golden steps in front of the emperor, and Zhu Kuansu said after being sentimental: "However, if the ambition of the wolf son of the Japanese is not to rise up and hit, it will make its momentum bigger, and use the ship and artillery to do evil, reverse black and white, and confuse good and evil." Emperor Gaozong had a war to aid the DPRK during the Ming Dynasty, and today the widow will also order the soldiers of the Fuxing Army to immediately enter Korea and recover Jifeng. ”

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Kuanji, who was sitting on the dragon chair, had a loud voice, and Li Xiangwei and the others heard his last sentence 'Enter North Korea and recover Jifeng, and at the same time slipped from the chair to the ground and kowtowed to thank the emperor.

After that, the Ministry of Rites made the book, and the deed was passed to the Prime Minister's Office.

When Yang Du, the eunuch in the palace and the speaker of the Inspectorate Yuan, went to the Yin'an Hall with the holy decree, countless reporters were already waiting at the press conference, China's defeat of the Russian army is a major event, and the recovery of Taiwan is also a major event, but sending troops to North Korea will profoundly change the political pattern of the entire East Asia.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! Before answering your questions, I have the following message to post, "

Lu Bicheng's cheeks were red this time, and his eyes were shining, but his lines were still the same: "At the invitation of His Majesty the Emperor of Korea, our revival army will officially enter the DPRK today, that is, June 20, the third year of Shenmu, and its purpose is to annihilate the Japanese troops stationed in Korea and restore the homeland of Korea......"

Lu Bicheng said this, the spotlight flickered, and the reporters present were all afraid of the photos, and everyone thought that this was a historic moment, which represented the beginning of the real awakening of this ancient power.

“…… The current battle of the Baxing Army into Korea was not like what Japan did in the past, which was clearly independent but in fact annexed, and the Baxing Army fought this battle only for the real independence of Korea. According to the intelligence bureau, the elite soldiers of our revival army attacked the Hanyang Imperial Palace at night and rescued His Majesty the Emperor Gojong from the city, and it is expected that the Great Emperor will pay a friendly visit to our country in four days......"

Hearing that Gojong of the DPRK was actually rescued from Seoul by the elite soldiers of the Revival Army, there was a burst of applause in the press briefing room, and the incident of Japan's annexation of Korea happened in the past 10 years or so; although reporters from various countries have their own standpoints, it is normal for people to sympathize with the weak and resentment against those who hold the strong, and China actually rescued Gojong, which should be praised by the world.

Lu Bicheng's speech was interrupted seven or eight times, and after each news was announced, there was continuous applause, which was a victory for China and a victory for the righteous.

But the applause was cheap, and no one would care about it in the crowd, and when she announced that she could ask questions, the reporters were not so amiable.

"May I ask Lord Lu, this war in Korea is only to expel the Japanese army and seek Korean independence, so who will bear my * expenses?"

This time, the first person to be pointed out was Dai Tianqiu, a reporter from the People's Daily, and his question immediately pulled everyone from ecstasy to reality: It is reported that the current military expenditure has exceeded 400 million, and I don't know how much it will cost if North Korea goes to war again.

"North Korea will be recovered by the joint forces of China and North Korea, and military expenses will also be borne by China and North Korea."

Lu Bicheng answered the question, and then ignored this person and directly clicked on the next one.

"Ms. Lu, your country's help to Korea for independence is indeed a gospel for the civilized world and a model for the righteous, but 20 years ago, Japan also began to invade and occupy Korea in the name of helping Korea become independent, how can your country guarantee that it will be able to keep its current promise after this war?"

A foreign reporter stammered and said, he said very awkwardly, but Lu Bicheng's response was extremely sharp, "It's very simple, because my country is not Japan!" ”

At the press conference, Lu Bicheng was able to deal with reporters with ease, but in the Yin'an Palace, the conversation between the US Minister Rui Enshi and Yang Rui, who came again, could not be left at such a touch, and many things should be explained thoroughly and clearly at this time, so as to reduce the misunderstanding between China and the United States.

"Mr. Minister, the budget given to me by the Ministry of Household is that it will cost 370,000 taels of military expenses to help the whole of Korea become independent, so from the point of view of fairness, after this war, our country will definitely seek certain privileges in Korea, but this is only for economic purposes and will not affect the open door policy that we have agreed to before."

Yang Rui looked at the Americans who were listening intently, and said strictly.

(To be continued)