Seeing Lord Wenhan's anxious look, Xiao Yungui was secretly amused. After savoring the tea, he slowly said: "Our heaven encourages industrial and commercial trade. After occupying Shanghai, we will not only not reduce foreign trade, but we will expand the trade quota. Our army needs to be subdued, so the number of cloth required will be huge. At the same time, we hope to open up some minerals and seek some foreign merchants to cooperate in investment and build factories, develop minerals, and also need to build some arms factories. We will even consider investing in the construction of telegraphs and railways."

Lord Wenhan was surprised to hear this. The King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had a very big appetite, but there were many things to be developed in this ancient land of China and a large population, which meant that China was a huge market. However, the speed of opening up of the Qing Dynasty for a long time could be said to have stagnated. If it weren't for the opening of the Opium War more than ten years ago to close the country, perhaps the port where the British could trade with this ancient country would be limited to Guangzhou at this moment. If the King of the West said that they would cooperate in the development of minerals, new arms factories, telegraphs, railways and other projects were implemented, no matter which project it was, the benefits hidden behind it would be very huge. If these projects were exclusively occupied by the UK, the benefits that the UK would have gained would be unimaginable.

Lord Wenhan's heart was pounding and he tried hard to say in a steady tone: "His Excellency Xiwang, your idea is very good. Are there any specific plans?"

Xiao Yungui smiled faintly. Although Wenhan tried to remain calm, his slightly trembling hand was still seen by Xiao Yungui. Sure enough, these capitalists dared to do anything for 100% profit. Xiao Yungui said slowly: "Of course there is, but we hope to start our plan after conquering Shanghai. At that time, the exchange between us will no longer be in the way of the Qing Dynasty, so that our cooperation will be smoother. I think even if we say a specific plan now, the Minister will not be able to make a decision because these huge projects are not

It is one of your country. Two businessmen or companies can complete it separately. We also hope to cooperate with the most suitable businessmen or companies. It doesn’t matter which country is the most important thing, it is suitable, not blindly handing over the project. Now I can only tell you that we have this intention, and it is very certain that it will be implemented." The implication is that you support me in attacking Shanghai, and then Britain will have great interests. In fact, both sides know that Britain’s neutrality is actually very weak to a large extent. Whoever gives the higher benefits will be inclined to whom.

Lord Wenhan pondered for a moment. Such a large investment and construction plan was indeed not something that could be completed by two companies. And after Xiao Yungui's words, it seemed that Xiwang knew very well about trade. He seemed to want to start a series of development projects after conquering Shanghai and then open bidding. But at that time, I was afraid that it would not be exclusive to Britain. Americans, French, and even Italians would flock to them like sharks that smelled blood.

This is not possible. Lord Wenhan secretly clenched his fists. The first person to contact the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was Britain. In the future, Britain would only have the majority of the interests. Lord Wenhan hurriedly said: "His Royal, the merchants and technology of our British Empire are world-class, and we Britain have first friendly contact with your army. I hope your army can consider long-term cooperation with our UK."

Xiao Yungui smiled faintly and said, "Lord Wenhan, Britain is indeed a big country, but France and the United States have outstanding technology in some aspects." Wenhan couldn't help but feel relieved when he heard this, but Xiao Yungui continued to say: "But considering the friendly relationship between Britain and us first, we can agree in a secret agreement that in the future, the investment, procurement, construction and other projects of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will give priority to British merchants and companies under the same conditions. What about this? Mr. Minister, you cannot ask us to give up those companies and merchants from other countries with good conditions. It is unfair. All I can promise you is the right to choose first. Please understand."

Wenhan murmured and cursed in his heart. This Western King did not look like a rebel. He was calm and more like a merciless businessman. However, the Western King said nothing. Britain was a pioneer of free trade like Biaobing, and Britain was not good at destroying this free competition market environment. Lord Wenhan had to nod and agree.

Finally, Xiao Yungui touched his chin and asked with a wicked smile: "Lord Wenhan, I wonder if you come to Nanjing this time and have any goods to trade on the boat? Our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom wants to get some useful things."

Wenhan frowned. During this trip, they did not consider any trade except for necessary water, so they did not bring any goods. There were only cannons, muskets, gunpowder and other arms on the ship, because they were afraid of conflicts with the rebels. However, Britain had a neutral attitude, and arms could not be used as a commodity for trading, so Lord Wenhan said tactfully: "I'm sorry, your Excellency Xiwang, there are no commodities for trading on our ship except necessary weapons. Next time our British merchant ship comes back, I hope you can have what you want."

Xiao Yungui frowned. All he wanted was those weapons. He heard that Wenhan's ship Hamils ​​was very huge. The British must have equipped her with a lot of cannons, muskets and gunpowder. Xiao Yungui just wanted to buy some cannons, muskets and gunpowder on British ships. Why didn't Wenhan know that Wenhan was wise? He said with a smile: "Only weapons? That's great. I heard that Britain's firearms are excellent. I have been thinking about them for a long time. I wonder if I can buy some?"

Lord Wenhan immediately shook his head and said, "No, this is not possible. Our UK is neutral. If we trade arms with your army, it will destroy neutrality. If the Qing government knew that we trade weapons, it would cause great harm to our UK's interests in China."

Xiao Yungui cursed Wen Han and said neutrally, but secretly made a secret agreement with the Taiping Army to attack Shanghai. This is a practice of being a bitch and setting up a archway. But he still smiled and said, "Then like this, after we have finished discussing the secret agreement, can I go to Lord Wen Han's boat to see it?"

Wen Han didn't notice that Xiao Yungui was cheating in his smile, but just smiled and said, "It's very welcome."

Following Wenhan, he asked about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's attitude towards opium, Xiao Yungui laughed and said, "Our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom prohibits people from smoking opium."

Lord Wenhan frowned and said, "Then our opium trade will suffer a lot."

At this time, Hong Yuner interrupted: "Lord Wenhan, remember that when the Jiangning Treaty was signed, the imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty, Qiying, once asked the Baron Pudingcha to write the embargo of opium into the clause, but was rejected by Baron Pudingcha. Baron Pudingcha's answer was very simple. Opium trade is determined based on market demand. If no one in China needs opium, then British merchants will naturally not traffic in opium. But if the Chinese need it and the British entrustment in the clause, it will only be cheaper for other uncontracted countries, and merchants from other countries will also try their best to transport opium to China. Opium trade depends on market supply and demand. Do you agree with this?"

Wenhan nodded and said, "Yes, Baron Pudingcha's statement is not wrong. In fact, opium is not an embargo in many countries."

Hong Yuner said with a hunch, "It's true, so our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom just does not allow the people to smoke opium, but we do not ban opium. On the contrary, there are still a lot of opium stocks in our safe hall, which are used to save people. As Baron Pudingcha said, banning opium cannot completely eliminate the harm of opium. What China wants to solve now is its own problem. This belongs to our Chinese people's own business, and it has nothing to do with trade."

Regarding the issue of opium, Xiao Yungui and Hong Yuner repeatedly discussed it, but in the end they still felt that it was very unrealistic to let these great powers ban opium. Even if all countries ban opium, then some people would still transport opium on the black market or through smuggling. At the root, it was not how many great powers sent opium to China, but how many people in China sucked opium. Just like Japan during this period, the country's borders had been opened by the United States, but in history, the amount of opium sold by the great powers in Japan was pitifully small. Is it because Japan and the great powers signed a treaty to ban opium? Obviously not. The cruel reality is that many Chinese people are willing to degenerate and smoke opium.

Xiao Yungui remembered the incompetent brother of the King of the West, and sold the last few acres of land to smoke opium. Finally, he even joined the worship of God and was still secretly sucking. In the end, the King of the West could not bear it anymore and took advantage of his brother Tian to come down to the earth to punish him before he could make some changes. It can be seen that in China at this time, there were many people who were desperate to absorb it. Therefore, the key to completely cut off the harm of opium is not to ban opium, but to restrict the people of his country.

Wen Han did not think that the Western King could completely prevent the people of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom from smoking opium. It was almost impossible. Since the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom did not ban opium, but restricted its own citizens, it seemed that Britain could not say anything. Wen Han shrugged and said confidently: "Then I hope that the Western King's restrictions on his own nationality will be effective, but as long as China still has demand for opium, we will not stop shipping opium."

Xiao Yungui knew that smoking ban and drug control exercises were very difficult, and even in later generations it was still a difficult and dangerous job, so he was not confident that he could completely ban it, but at present he seemed to be able to deal with it this way.

So the two sides began to discuss the detailed terms of the sentences. The basic clauses were three, 1. Britain remained neutral in China's civil war; 2. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Britain maintained friendly trade exchanges, and ensured that Britain's original interests in China were not violated within the territory of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom; 3. When the war at the five treaty ports occurred, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom must ensure that the original order will be restored within three months, the normal development of free trade, and at the same time, it is not allowed to attack the British concession, and protect the lives and property of all British citizens in China. As for the opium issue, the two sides still did not make any promises in the treaty, because the four words "interests in China" included.

This secret agreement between Britain and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Nanjing was signed by the Western King Xiao Chaogui and Lord Wenhan on behalf of their respective countries, and was in a very special period. It was known in history as the "Siwen Secret Agreement". At first, it had a very positive effect on the rise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but later it also became the fuse for the outbreak of the war between the two sides. This is a later story.

After signing the treaty, the King of the West invited the British to enjoy a rich Chinese meal, and took out a batch of jade from Wu Sangui's treasure and gave it to Lord Wenhan and others to show friendship. He ate people with short mouths and short hands. Lord Wenhan and others enthusiastically invited King of the West, King of the West and some important figures in the West Hall to visit their boat Hamils.
Chapter completed!