The envoys of both sides walked side by side, Mai Huatuo and Sun Yiwen were each with Birmingham and Yi, and were interpreting timely for them. When they arrived at the hall that had been prepared in the yamen, the two sides took their seats. Before talking about the main affairs, Yi? As usual, they would like to greet each other: "I have seen the official documents submitted by the Governor of Liangjiang before departure. Did the envoy come from your country?"

"Yes, Your Highness, I come from the British Empire."

"I've been walking on the road for a long time, right?"

“About 4 months.”

"That's really a long way. Mr. Special Envoy came here a long way, thank you for your hard work."

"Thank you for your concern. I think that as long as my labor can achieve this time, the two countries can have a dialogue on a more equal basis, I think I personally work a little more, and I am willing to bear it."

Yi? I was stunned for a moment, but I didn't expect that the British envoy was so sharp that he could not continue! Li Tangjie, who was sitting on the side, immediately continued the conversation: "Mr. Envoy, please forgive me for not agreeing with this! My Qing Dynasty has always been the country of the sect leader, just like Emperor Gaozongchun, when the Minister of Your Country came to the Heavenly Kingdom to meet His Majesty the Emperor of Our country, and never mentioned any 'equality'. I really don't know why the words of the envoy today are explained?"

Birmingham smiled and listened to Mai Huatuo explaining the words, nodding without saying a word: "Sir, I know very clearly what you said about the past. Back then, Mr. Macalny, the Minister of Our Country, came to your country just to enhance trade and exchanges between the two countries. It was not to pay homage to the sect leader as a vassal. That's why I said that this time I hope to enhance the friendship between our two countries on a more equal basis."

Yi? Seeing the scene a little stiff, he waved his hand with a smile: "Mr. Special Envoy, this time I set out from Hong Kong and headed north along the way. Can I still see the customs and customs of the Qing Dynasty?"

"Very beautiful." Birmingham sincerely praised: "The style of your country is really impressive. Although our language is not clear, it will not be a big obstacle. Your people always have smiles and enthusiasm on their faces. Of course, if this smile and enthusiasm are sent to face us, those of us from foreigners, it will make people feel even more pleasant."

"As the envoy said, this is probably a barrier caused by language barriers?"

"I hope it is as your Highness said."

After a few chats, Yi? Holding his fists with his hands, bowed to the air: "Our Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty is high-level and his temple is unique. In the last year, the Minister of the Kingdom of Your Country, Lord Wenhan, proposed the matter of entering the city of Guangdong Prefecture. The holy heart was concerned, so he specially ordered our Minister of Rites to lead the leadership, and together with the Minister of Revenue Zeng Guofan, the Censor of the Censorate, Lord Shen Huai, to Jiangning to discuss the matter with Mr. Wenhan, and to discuss the matter with the British envoy entering the capital of our China Dynasty to meet His Majesty's Emperor. Lord Wenhan delayed the matter to this day on the grounds that the matter was of great importance and the person could not be decided. My emperor has the intention of loving the people and is very kind. I am afraid that the minister of your country will run around from afar and the boats are exhausted, so the special brigade general's consultation site will be held in Tianjin."

Speaking of this, he paused for a moment until Mai Huatuo passed on his words to Birmingham, and then continued: "I am here this time, as the emperor is in charge. In order to enhance the friendship between the two countries, I will discuss the entry of the city with your special envoy. I just don't know that the envoy, Mr. Envoy, will you never reach an agreement on the etiquette and law section, but do you have any suggestions?"

"Your Highness, first of all, please allow me to express my sincere respect to His Majesty's broad mind." Birmingham stood up, nodded deeply, then sat down, and continued: "Your Majesty's Emperor allows my British subjects to enter the capital of your country. This is a deed that can leave a strong mark in the interactions between you and you. I personally appreciate His Majesty's decision."

"... Regarding the question raised by His Highness the Prince, the Prime Minister of our country is to express our respect to His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty by the envoys.

As soon as the topic was unfolded, I encountered difficulties. The British refused to kneel down and bow down when they met His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. This was a strong request from China: "Mr. Special Envoy, I am very disappointed and dissatisfied with your country's actions that do not consider the specific situations in the exchanges between the two countries and are completely determined."

Both sides have a firm position. China can agree to all conditions, as long as it kneels down; the British side’s opinions are also clear, and it can agree to all conditions, as long as it does not kneels down.

Yi and Guiliang exchanged a glance, and both of them saw the helplessness of the other party. There was no way. Fortunately, they had already predicted the enemy's planes before the negotiation, and they knew more clearly whether such a negotiation would be able to discuss in a short time, leading Zhang Shen: "This is the first time that the Special Envoy has come to our Heavenly Dynasty. I will prepare a banquet. After we have a banquet, let's discuss it carefully."

Birmingham is not polite - when we get here, the Chinese minister tried his best to do the friendship of landlords, and it was also the title of the topic - the dishes were placed, and everyone sat down with guests and hosts. Each time they served a dish, Yi?, we would give a detailed introduction: "This is a bird's nest blessing in front of the gold and silver duck. It is made of the best official swallows, and it is made of ducks produced in Shunyi, Beijing. As for why there are still two words of gold and silver, I'm sorry, I don't know."

Birmingham smiled sincerely and had a little more affection for His Highness, the young but handsome prince.

"This is a honey-made milk pig made in the wilderness, this is a bird's nest, a fat chicken with double-happy characters, a fat duck flesh, a long fruit of hibiscus, and a hibiscus chicken. On that smaller table are bird's nest duck strips, chicken skin sea cucumbers, deer glutinous ham, and fresh shrimp meatballs......"

After the meal introduction, Yi? Raise the wine glass: "Mr. Special Envoy, I hope our negotiations will be successful!"

Birmingham also picked up the wine glass: "I am very grateful to His Highness the Prince for his preparation. My colleagues and I express our gratitude for your arrangement."

Yi? He laughed, as if he couldn't understand the sarcasm in his words at all. He raised his head and drank all the wine. Birmingham also followed him and raised his head. This was a joke: the wine prepared in advance in China was very strong, and Birmingham didn't expect that a sip of wine fell down, and his originally fair face turned red, and finally he couldn't help but cough violently.

The Chinese staff laughed! Yi? The closest to him: "It doesn't matter if the special envoy is right?"

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Birmingham's fair face choked red, he picked up the napkin placed on his knee and wiped the corner of his mouth hard: "Your country's wine is so strong!"

"This time, what was prepared for the Special Envoy and your colleagues was Xifeng Liquor produced in northwest China. The wine was very strong." Yi? shook his head regretfully: "It made the Special Envoy sad, but this is not the king."

Knowing that the young man next to him was talking sarcastically, Birmingham could only pretend not to know, smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Where, where. Your Highness the Prince is so polite."
Chapter completed!