Chapter 135: Favorite

The British did not expect that China's attitude was so tough. Although both sides turned against the opium import on the first day of negotiations, and Birmingham and others also left, in Birmingham, Wenhan and others thought that the Chinese were known to those who were harsh and weak on the outside world for a long time. This time, such a tough time was just a common trick. As long as the threat was spoken in future negotiations, the effect would naturally be achieved.

Who knew that the Chinese were determined to eat a weight, and there was still something to say about what was next. As long as the import of opium was mentioned, Prince Gong immediately turned cold and said amazingly: "Mr. Special Envoy, our conditions are very simple. Others can be discussed through the normal way of intersecting the two countries. Only opium is not included in the topics that can be discussed in this consultation. Special Envoy, please do not speak out." In this way, all the unspoken words of Birmingham were sealed back on the spot.

Birmingham was shocked and angry. Although the two countries had their own masters in their interactions, they were also a dispute between gentlemen. Not only did they not allow bad words, but they were also unwilling to say that the British, who always regarded themselves as gentlemen, were unwilling to do so. But when would it take a breakup for the Chinese to be so unsuccessful?

During the first day of the meeting, he used the threat of "the two countries will have great disputes in the future." As soon as these statements were released, the Chinese Magna Constitution changed its color and always received a surprise weapon. However, this time the Chinese were very tough, and the other party's prime minister said many times that even if they fought until the last person, they would never take a step back. It can be said that they were extremely tough.

As the special envoy of the Foreign Minister, Birmingham certainly had no right to decide whether the war between the two countries was held. Even the first time that year, it was just a small majority vote in the parliament.

The national systems of China and Britain are completely different. In China, all military dispatch is decided by the emperor's words, but in their own motherland, there must be many obstacles. Birmingham thinks that even if the troops are sent again, it will not be able to achieve the wish in one or two years, not to mention that China has a clear attitude. In recent years, it has had many connections with Britain, France and the United States. If it is inseparable, it will be a result of both jade and stone burning.

Another more important reason is that over the years, British merchants have made a fortune in China. China purchased large quantities of artillery produced in Britain and reached major cooperation agreements with Britain, including railway paving, locomotive purchase, equipment, and steel mill construction. There is no longer the situation where opium merchants monopolize their interests in the middle of the Daoguang period. Therefore, there are a large number of spokespersons for opium merchants in the House of Commons, such as Wen Han, the first governor of Hong Kong Pu Dingcha, etc., which has made the fact that the far-far division has fought hard.

Now, even if the opium merchants are dissatisfied with the fact that there are members of parliament that endorse the parliament and the representatives of other merchants, who are considering their own interests, can they allow the government to send troops to destroy such a vast market - isn't it one of them?

Birmingham picked up the coffee that was already a little cool, took a sip, and thought to himself that the benefits that opium can bring to the British Government are still the largest proportion of trade exchanges between Britain and China, and they are unwilling to let go of it easily. During tomorrow's consultation, we should still negotiate with China seriously, just to reverse China's attitude. If the goal can be achieved, it is an acceptable loss to relax in other aspects.

Unfortunately, the telegram system construction matters reached with China are still uncertain. The local information has to be rushed to Hong Kong and forwarded to the UK through the stations set up there. The exchanges have been a long time. How convenient would it be if it could send telegrams in Beijing? At this point, Birmingham smiled helplessly: I don’t know when it started, but his thinking is still limited to such gains and losses. If one day the two countries start war machines, would they still bring up any telegrams?

I couldn't think of a better solution, Birmingham was too lazy to spend more time, so he spent dinner and fell asleep.

On the next day, he was preparing to go to the General Administration Office for consultation with Yi and others. He did not want the General Administration Office to send Zhang Jingtang Wenzhi, the General Administration Office of the British Stock Exchange, and an intern named Jin Ning from the same Wenguan - serving as a temporary translator - to send the Public Security Bureau to the embassy that the consultation this morning was temporarily suspended for some reason, and whether to restart in the afternoon, waiting for China's notice.

Husming was very familiar with Tang Wenzhi, who came to deliver official documents. He sent him to the gate and asked a few questions: "Mr. Tang, do you know what to do to suspend the consultation?"

Tang Wenzhi smiled and said, "Don't be anxious, you'll know until the afternoon or when the talks are restarted tomorrow."

There is a person under the Central Beijing, named Zaicai. He is the most popular in the wind and rain. He always thinks he is a scoundrel in the royal family, but he relies on the "yellow belt" of the "third-class general" to set up fraud, shelter prostitutes, open tobacco shops, and solicit business, and do everything. This time, the emperor's decree is the world. Beijing is the capital of the Celestial Empire, and the best area is even more eye-catching in the country. Most of the tobacco shops are temporarily closed to avoid the limelight. Zaicai is the same. She only set up a cigarette tray in her own mansion to entertain some regular customers who have been walking around for many years and enjoy it.

In addition to the tobacco restaurant, Zaicai also has a gambling shop. In recent days, something happened: in order to get gambling debts, he killed a family of aristocratic families who spent their gambling. He was tragically corpse at the city without anyone asking about it.

There was a censor named Liu Enpu, from Wuqiao, Zhili. He was an official from Zhejiang Dao Censor. He was specialized in asking for trouble for the bannermen. The words of the comments were like Dongfang Shuo. He wrote a memorial for this matter. The inner comments were made: "'The heavenly family was in power, and the flames were burning. He was a noble man with heaven and desolate men. He killed a fairy man, and the ministers did not dare to intervene. However, he was thinking about the kindness of the Holy Dynasty, and the plants, trees, birds and beasts were all filled with grace. However, the dead were exposed and the corpses were filled with black kites. Judging from the meaning of the ancient kings and the dry bones, it seemed that it was not suitable for the prosperous era. He was not ordered to inspect and bury the local officials, and it seemed that it was also a kind and a kind government.'" The meaning of the lyrics was ridiculous and sarcastic, and he was mean to be a family.

The emperor ordered the new Nine Gate Admiral Xi A to send people to investigate thoroughly. After investigation, he realized that in addition to gambling, Zai Cai also had the bad behavior of opening a tobacco shop in the mansion. He immediately passed Zai Cai to the infantry commander's office to investigate and investigate, and was imprisoned. After he was ready to report to the Emperor Ming, he would immediately hand it over to the clan's house for punishment.

He handed over the sign in the garden, and the emperor passed it on to see him. He heard from Xi'an explain the situation. Finally, he said: "According to the laws and regulations, such cases must be handed over to the clan's office for handling."

The emperor sneered a few times, "Early last month, when I was in Tianjin, I had issued an imperial edict that all the 18 provinces in the world would stop the business of tobacco shops within a specified period of time, but they did not want to have policies and countermeasures. They set up private tobacco shops in the mansion to enjoy the tobacco shops." He put Xi'a's note aside and continued, "I really think I dare not kill anyone?"

"The emperor calms down. The servant is in charge of the military commander of the Nine City. There are such a foolish slave who ignores the imperial edict in the city. The servant does not know at all. It is difficult to refuse the blame. Please punish the emperor."

"You can't blame you, after all, they are hiding in the mansion to smoke opium, and you can't go door to door to search, forget it." The emperor waved his hand and said, "I have a decision on this matter, you can go down first."

The next day, the emperor took out the matter again. "Slaves like Zaicai are just relying on their own lineage of Emperor Wu, Xue Yin, to dare to commit crimes in such a way. Such people must not tolerate them. After the Military Affairs Office goes down, they will draft an order and hand it over to the Ministry of Justice for a final judgment. There is no need to wait until after the autumn, and directly tie up the vegetable market to the operation, which will make those who think that the ban on smoking is just a gust of storm. After the stakes, Zaicai is the lesson of their predecessors."

Although Yi was young, he was the chief military officer. First, he knew that the emperor was very determined to ban smoking; second, he was not addicted to opium; third, he knew that the emperor was doing this to show the position of the Celestial Empire to the British who were discussing in Beijing. There were three meanings in it, so Yi agreed loudly and the foreman met.

This time, the morning consultation with Birmingham and others was temporarily stopped, first, for the follow-up report of this matter; second, for the results of the consultation with the British for a few days, so in addition to the few people from the Military Affairs Office, the officials from the General Office, who were in charge of the Central Committee of the Beijing Central Committee also came together.

Several people from the General Administration's office knelt on the side, listened to the Military Affairs Office and told the emperor a few things, and then turned the topic to the Zai Cai case. The Ministry of Justice quoted the "anti-order" law and planned the crime of being executed. The emperor nodded: "After waiting for a while, the Military Affairs Office issued an order to tell the governors of all provinces that anyone who dared not take the imperial edict seriously would handle the matter as Zai Cai. The Ministry of Justice did not have to wait until after the autumn, and to make a killer. Those bastards who only stared at the silver in their eyes knew that Wang Farulu was the right way."

"Zha. I have written it down. After I go down, I will tell the emperor's thunder and will express his thunder to all provinces in the world."

"Well," the emperor smiled without comment and asked again, "What's the situation when we negotiate with the British?"

"Yes. The attitude of Birmingham and his group has eased. The envoy said that as long as China can agree to the opium trade, the UK is willing to provide all the conditions China hopes to obtain in other cooperation moves."

"Don't pay attention to them." The emperor had a decisive look. "Old Liu, I would like to remind you again, the opium embargo is the last bottom line of my dynasty. I will do whatever I can to fight with the British for this. You must not have any wandering opinions."

"Yes. I understand that opium harms our country's people deeply. Since the late emperor, I have issued an edict that the emperor will inherit the will of the late emperor today. Is it reasonable for me to give up halfway through the emperor's blood yin?"

"It is of course great if you can think like this." As he spoke, the emperor's face turned cold and he looked at the kneeling people and said, "I know that the British are used to using silver to open the way. When Lin Zexu first arrived in Guangzhou, the opium merchant Elliot had already done it, but Lin Zexu was loyal and unwilling to be moved by the things left by the British."

Those who can meet the king in Zhanfu Hall can be called the top talent among court officials. When they hear the string songs, they know the elegance, and naturally understand what the emperor said. Sure enough, he said again: "I hope you can follow Lin Zexu's heart and be dedicated to the public. If you give me the words of Zhang Mei who knows that some of you dared to plan for the British, the friendship between the king and the ministers over the years will probably be completely overwhelmed."

"The emperor's heavenly teachings, and the ministers should follow the instructions of the emperor and father with the heart of a great prince."

The people from the Military Affairs Office withdrew, and the emperor waved his hand to let Yi and others stand up, and he also stood up, and wandered a few steps in Zhanfu Hall: "Lao Liu, have you just said that the British's attitude changed to ease?"

"Yes. The British kept roaring during the three consecutive days of consultations. I followed the emperor's teachings and argued with him. The British had no choice but to make polite words and ask each other, and they still asked the Celestial Empire to relax the opium ban."

In the past, some people wrote some likable poems, and there were also words like "Wait for this", which were just game words. And the court answered and said "Yunyun". This was the first time the emperor heard that, and he couldn't help but curl up his lips in a funny way, "What about you?"

Yi had not noticed the grammatical problem in his words, so he continued to answer: "I am naturally not sure. Opium is a waste of money, but it hurts the bodies of the people of our heavenly dynasty. Smokers often spend time in the clouds and mist, leaving their affairs aside. I thought that evil things like this are harmful but not beneficial should be prohibited early."

"If you think so, you will definitely live up to my expectations." The emperor did not ask about his inappropriate omissions in the preface, but nodded and said, "As long as the British are willing to bow their heads, I think the Celestial Empire will also show some sincerity. Are there any other requirements for the British besides the opium transaction?"

"Yes, the British also made another request, hoping that the Celestial Empire would allow the British to travel to and from the coastal provinces and mainland provinces at will."

"This is not true, I am sure. Is there any more?"

"The British also said that the exchanges between the two countries are becoming increasingly frequent now, hoping to obtain permission from the Celestial Empire and send department personnel to set up envoys and envoys in the UK to enhance communication between the two countries."

"Let's discuss this matter again. Sending foreign envoys to lead the venue, it's better not to make hasty decisions at this time. Moreover, the choice of personnel is a very cumbersome thing, and we'll talk about it later."

"Zhe." Yi agreed and met up, "After I go back, I will explain the emperor's holy intention to the British envoy clearly."

"Lao Liu, stay, everyone else, please kneel down." After sending the others out, the emperor said to Yi like two brothers chatting, "Lao Liu, I know that you are busy with business now, and the mansion is constantly in contact. This is your position, and the people around you can't say anything. However, I have heard recently that you have allowed the servants in the mansion to collect the door bag?"

Sweat on Yi's forehead immediately emerged, and he hurriedly knelt down and met: "My brother is confused and asked the emperor to punish him."

The "Transporting the Gate and Use of the Mansion" in the King of Gong is an open secret in the capital. King Gong was promoted by the emperor more and more times and served as the emperor's brother. He had many unexpected expenses, especially the kindness that was received every few days. Even if it was the four snacks contained in the imperial kitchen, the eunuch was ordered to be awarded to the mansion. Even if it was a great grace, the envoy must be rewarded with great rewards.

Therefore, King Gong often suffered from enough money. Later, someone gave him an idea to reward the officials who came to see King Gong, and offered a "door bag" on the door of the palace, and paid a certain amount to the account room to subsidize the expenses of the palace. This way, the "door bag" naturally increased and became a disguised bribe. The emperor suddenly asked about it, which was the matter.

Seeing that my younger brother was so scared, the emperor softened his heart and sighed, "Old Liu, when I was in Rehe last year, I criticized Duanhua and Zaiyuan and a few others. He told them that as long as they act correctly, sit upright and bow down with me, who can move them? Today, I will still speak to you. I know that your mansion has a lot of money, but this hole will cause endless harm in the future."

He said, "Besides, you just ask yourself that you are unwilling to act in a bad way. What about the servants in your mansion? They are all involved and they are stolen. Is it necessary to report to the emperor? Do I care or not?"

"Yes, I understand. After returning to the house today, when I find the servants who have received the sect bags, beat them up and expel them from the house."

"It's not necessary to be expelled from the mansion, but, as a result, you should stop quickly." The emperor thought about it. It would be easy to cause resentment from others in this way. He had to think of a way for him, "You go down first, and look back, I will give you the decree."

Yi was sweating profusely, crawled on the ground and rang out of the hall.

In the afternoon of the same day, an order was issued, and the name of being diligent, loyal and upright since Prince Gong Yi's office, he has repeatedly made achievements. He also rewarded Prince Gong with his eyes and his double salary. I admire this.

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Chapter completed!