Chapter 126: Verbal Strike (1)

On April 28, the British diplomatic special delegation, headed by Lord Birmingham, the British Foreign Minister Earl Cranton, was the deputy. The British Minister to China Sir Wenhan, the Embassy Counselor Husming, the General Translator Mai Huatuo and others entered the office hall of the General Administration Office and conducted the first round of formal consultations with representatives of the General Administration Office of the Chinese General Administration on the revision of the two countries.

The meeting was translated by Cao Fuzheng. After hearing the British finish the purpose of this revision of the convention, he translated: "The Special Envoy said that the request for revision of the convention was originally because the UK adopted a tolerant policy and was concerned about the importance of maintaining the permanent reconciliation of the two countries. He did not want to have any other disputes, which would hurt the deep friendship formed by the two countries over the years. I hope that your country can understand the British government's integrity and do not want the Chinese government to have many disputes with the UK due to various details."

"On the first Christmas Eve after the completion of the British Embassy, ​​I was invited to attend the grand banquet to celebrate Christmas held by the British Embassy. During the speech, I once said that any country with good intentions and willingness to start dialogue on an equal basis has always been a welcoming attitude. Anyone who comes with such an idea can be said to be my friend of the Celestial Empire." Yi sneered: "This time, the Special Envoy, who is sent by your government to come to my country, must have such ideas and wishes. As long as you can start dialogue on such a basis, I believe that the dispute between your two countries in some details will definitely achieve a satisfactory result."

"I am very pleased that Your Highness can have such an open mind," Lord Birmingham smiled with satisfaction. He said: "This time, the request for amendment of the contract was to quote the "Contract......... after twelve years, the two countries will send personnel to handle fairly. After the peace agreement is ratified, the officials and civilians of both countries should abide by it. No one in the United States shall send personnel to come and have other objections, and the rights of the most-favored-nation clauses set by the Sino-British Humen Treaty. Therefore, our country can use this to aid the United States to request amendment from China to China."

Birmingham knew very well how weak China was. This time he came with power, he did not take the Chinese officials attending the meeting seriously and sat opposite the long table and talked: "As for the conditions we put forward... they were: 1. Allow the British to travel to mainland China and coastal cities at will. 2. Determine opium as legal trade. 3. Imports and exports of goods shall not be subject to mainland taxes. 4. If the British envoy wants to meet with the governor of the mainland, they must meet immediately; 5. To eliminate Chinese coastal pirates. 6. To formulate a method for Chinese workers to go abroad. 7. The new treaty should be interpreted in English."

Yi patiently listened to his statement one by one. When he finished speaking, he took the teacup leisurely and took a sip. However, he did not speak, but nodded to Li Hongzhang sitting beside him.

Li Hongzhang opened the file at hand and started the formal talks: "Lord, the revision of the contract this time was originally intended to refer to and invoke the "Wangxia Treaty" signed by His Majesty, the emperor of our country in the 24th year of the First Emperor and the representative of the US government in Wangxia, China, as the fundamental policy, but?"

"That's right. This is what I just said."

"So, please forgive my stupidity. Since you want to invoke the precedent of the United States, and without the precedents to follow, your country suddenly proposed to amend the contract. Isn't this an act of disregarding international law?"

After listening to the translator's words, Birmingham was stunned for a while and insisted on himself, "This is different."

"Oh? How different?"

"The Wangxia Treaty signed by your country and the United States was in 1844 AD. According to the agreement, twelve years were the period of revision, which was not until 1856. The treaty signed by our country and your country was in 1842, and it has been a full twelve years this year, so this is different."

"Just" Li Hongzhang said loudly with a look of revenge on his face: "It is important to know that your country has clearly declared in the note that your country has submitted to me that this amendment was originally a citation of the United States. Since there is no 'preparation', how will it 'invoke'?"

Birmingham did not expect that the loopholes in this article would be the ultimate question. His arrogant face just now disappeared. He stumbled for a moment and said, "The Treaty of Jiangning signed by our two countries said that "if the great emperor or if he has a good deed to all countries, the Great Britain should share the same benefits." I thought that since your country and the United States had a provision for amending the agreement, it would be reasonable and legal for the Great Britain to act in accordance with the contract."

Yi and Li Hongzhang smiled at each other, "That's not entirely unfounded, but," Li Hongzhang sneered, "In this note requested by your country, the purpose of this amendment is to "explain the number of consciences of various ministers over the years, and many of them have been accumulated so far, but they have not been cleared. The matters listed are all based on the various agreements and are in accordance with the requirements of the sub-parties. Here are a few of them, but they can be explained in detail first so that they will not misunderstand your ministers. Since there are consciences of consciences and have not been cleared, it is naturally only for the purpose of revisions of the minorities. The matters that have been slightly contradictory in the trade between our two countries will be revised."

"And the requirements put forward by your country today are tantamount to re-conclusion of a new political treaty," Li Hongzhang said loudly: "If you want to re-negotiate several of the documents proposed by your country, it is OK, but you must first abolish the "Jiangning Treaty" signed that year. If this is true, then our country will take back Hong Kong and abolish the power of consular judgment, which should be reasonable."

Birmingham and Wenhan were shocked at the same time

Since an armed conflict in the middle of Daoguang, China's national strength is weak and China's incompetent national defense is known to the British. In addition, China has no diplomatic talents, and is regarded as the foundation for fish. The Jiangning Treaty signed by China and Britain are full of ignorance of China's weakness. On the one hand, it is indeed because Britain takes advantage of the remaining power of defeating the country and acts at will. On the other hand, it can also be regarded as the consequences caused by China's complete lack of diplomacy and does not understand the rules of the game in this game.

In the eyes of the British government, the Chinese are timid and weak. As long as they see the British sitting opposite the negotiating table, they will involuntarily be frightened. Naturally, this so-called revision of the contract will still achieve the results that satisfy everyone from government officials to traders as before.

But I never expected that this time the consultation would change its color from that year, and the mistakes in it were criticized, and even proposed to abolish the Treaty of Jiangning, which brought great benefits to the United Kingdom? This was something Birmingham and others had never thought of.

Birmingham didn't care about etiquette and shook his hands repeatedly: "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Birmingham, his hands were shaking: "It has nothing to do with what we are discussing today."

Yi also knew that such a request was impossible. When it comes to mentioning this, it was just to dispel the arrogant and unreasonable British people who were always proud of. "Mr. Special Envoy, I am deeply disappointed in your actions when you are concerned about your rights. This amendment was originally requested by your country. In order to enhance the friendship between the two countries, we should adhere to the principle of peaceful negotiations. But today, your foreign minister and Special Envoy of your country have no enthusiasm and loyalty in negotiations. It would be better not to discuss such negotiations."

Before the talks officially began, Birmingham and others were refuting the Chinese side, but they were also making trouble for themselves and were not intimidated. However, as a diplomatic expert, after the initial panic, Birmingham immediately calmed down. He no longer entangled in the details of the previous examples, but instead went straight to the point: "Your Highness, it has been twelve years since the signing of the Treaty of Jiangning. All the unfair things have been listed in the notes I submitted that this move of revisions is for this. Please also ask Your Highness to focus on the overall situation of the exchanges between the two countries and plan for more and larger-level exchanges in the future."

The meeting has not yet begun, and China has made a lot of money. Yi and others no longer bothered each other. Knowing that the British would not be able to achieve their goals, they would never just roll the flag like this. After hearing him, Yi nodded deeply, "What the envoy said is very true. To value our two countries' long-term interactions and cooperation in the future, we should give up past grudges and plan the overall situation together." He looked at the time and stood up: "Mr. Special envoy, Mr. Minister, it is noon now. We have prepared lunch for friends who have come from afar. Please stop the negotiations first. After lunch, let's have formal negotiations with each other."

Birmingham was about to take this opportunity to discuss the next moves and plans with Wenhan and his followers. He smiled and thanked him, each of them stood up and left without mentioning it.

The British special envoys and others naturally include Zhang Jing, officers from the General Administration, and Ronglu, who was intern in the yamen in the Tongwenguan, welcomed him. Yi summoned Li Hongzhang, Wenxiang, Xu Jishe and others to the signing room, took off his big hat, and smiled 'hey': "Everyone, the British's arrogance was gone for the words of Brother Shaoquan. Looking at Birmingham's face, it's so satisfying."

Li Hongzhang also felt very satisfied, "This room can make contributions in this dispute between the two countries. Speaking of which, it is all the achievements of the prince's teachings, and he dare not take credit for his humble position."

"Bogong, what do you think about what happened just now?"

Wen Xiang used a comb of pineapple wood to combed the long beard under his chin, "I think the British will never give up easily and start a meeting in the afternoon. I don't know what verbal conflicts will be there at that time, and these are all expected. However, the emperor's pride is brilliant, and the ones next to it can still be compatible. Only this opium is the only thing. I think there will be a lot of verbal lawsuits to fight."

"That's true. The morning's consultation failed. According to my thoughts, although the British were slightly less arrogant, it still did not help the overall situation. We must always focus on the several rules of the emperor's admonition and find a practical solution when negotiating with the British."

Xu Jishe also said on the side: "The prince's words are extremely true." He said, "The emperor once said that we can agree to all conditions, as long as opium is prohibited from being transported and flows into our country; the British can also agree to all conditions, as long as opium becomes a legal commodity. Such clear-cut conditions are difficult to reconcile."

He gasped for a few breaths and said, "But now, our North Korea has great cooperation with the UK. We will not mention the artillery and military items used in the border areas of each province. It is just a train from Jiangning to Shanghai. It will be officially started today in early June. If we have a quarrel with the British at this time, I am afraid that the British will be angry and will be discontinued from all matters of cooperation with our North Korea. At that time, it will be inconvenient."

"I'm not afraid of this. When the emperor was in Rehe, he said that railways are not unique to British people. Legal persons and beauties all have skillful train technology. If the British really use this as a threat, then we should change our families and cooperate with other countries, that's it."

Xu Jiyu sighed, saying that it is simple. If the British were really angry about the opium sales, and the troops who were like the previous dynasty, would they still rely on the Eight Banners and Green Camp soldiers who had already become in a state of decline to resist? Once they lose, they are just afraid that they will sit down and negotiate with each other like today.

After lunch, the two sides sat down again and started the meeting. This time, both sides had a tacit understanding and no longer mentioned the loopholes that appeared in the note text in the morning, but instead talked about serious things.

There are even greater differences in such specific details. After listening to Birmingham's statement, Yi Kuang said rationally, "I have been observing the decree of the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty and have long observed the various links of the two countries' struggles. Just as the envoy proposed by the envoy, the British were allowed to travel to mainland China and coastal cities at will. I think that as there are more and more businessmen in your country's business in our country, your request is reasonable and law-based. In principle, our country agrees. However, if your country violates the laws of our country's laws on the coast of our country's Celestial Empire, they cannot be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions stipulated in the consular judgment power, but must be defined in accordance with the laws of our Celestial Empire."

After listening to the translator's words, Birmingham frowned, "Your Highness, I think I need to remind you that in the "Jiangning Treaty", your country's laws cannot apply to our people."

"Sir, I think I need to remind you." Li Hongzhang refused to let go. "The establishment of consular judgment power was originally prepared for those who perform normal diplomatic affairs in our country. This is related to the independent judicial authority of our Celestial Empire. Can any foreigner in your country violate the law and refer to the consular judgment power, your country's management, and be acquitted by himself?"

"Mr. Minister, in the Treaty of Jiangning, the provisions of the provisions of all British merchants in China were referring to all the political treaties signed by our two countries. As for whether our country will comply with such a provision, please forgive me. This is not a matter that your country needs to care about."

Li Hongzhang was about to say something again, Xu Jishe, who was standing by, interjected: "It is really a shame for the fact that Britain is also a civilized country. More people of the country are polite, but they use such a policy of favoritism in international exchanges, which is clearly a bully of our country."

This time, Birmingham stopped talking, just sneered repeatedly, and that meaning seemed to say: What can you do if you bully your country without anyone?

Yi saw it in his eyes and was angry in his heart. He was really interested in the on-site attack. Considering that he always had to make the words clear, he suppressed his anger: "As for the several conditions proposed by your country, I will follow the emperor's orders to be the envoy to be a special envoy. Article 4: If the British envoy wants to meet with the governor of the Mainland, he must immediately receive one; if the governor of the Celestial Empire is on horseback, he must control the army, dismount and manage the people, and serve in a place, and the government affairs are heavy, how can the British come and meet immediately? We believe that if the British request a meeting, the local governor of the governor of the People must take time to meet within three days. If they really cannot meet within three days, they must also send a department to break it down and get the understanding of the British in China."

"The fifth paragraph of the fifth paragraph to eliminate Chinese coastal pirates, the sixth paragraph to formulate the measures for Chinese workers to go abroad and the seventh paragraph to make a new treaty should be explained in accordance with the English text. In principle, we agree with the request from the British side." Yi said, "As for the previous paragraphs, including the second paragraph and the third paragraph, our emperor has issued an imperial edict to issue the world. From now on, the embargo will be banned from sucking opium, and then transport and sell opium. After being captured by local prefectures and county roads, they will be put into prison and executed immediately after the autumn."

After hearing Yi's explanation one by one, Birmingham finally couldn't bear it anymore, "Your Highness, I think I must remind you that your country's actions are to interrupt the free trade between us. An armed conflict in 1841 was a matter of free trade. I hope China will consider it carefully and not repeat the mistakes that were the same as that time."

"Mr. Special Envoy, I must also tell you that before this meeting, my Emperor of the Qing Dynasty once told me that free trade is not only needed by the British, but also used by our Celestial Empire. We must maintain it with all our might and do not make any mistakes. However, opium must be prohibited, and even if we fight for this, the Celestial Empire will not hesitate to the last person."

"Okay, okay," Birmingham sneered a few times and stood up. "Since both of us have strong beliefs, such consultations do not need to be carried out. I just hope that if there is any dispute between us in the future, your minister will still have such courage."

"I will never forget it if I take care of you." Yi looked at him coldly, and then stood up. He held up the teacup with one hand. The listener standing at the door saw it, and he raised his voice and sang: "Send out the guest"
Chapter completed!