Section 47 Northwest Civil Affairs

Princess Shouan turned back to her mansion in Yangquan Hutong and ordered someone to call her husband to the front, and then repeated what the emperor said to her, "What do you mean by saying this?"

"I don't know this." Demuchukzab said, "It's arousing trouble for the wealthy families and giants. The emperor has seen many edicts for many years, so he doesn't think he's going to do this, right?"

"From you, don't even think of a useful word!" The princess glared at her husband hatefully, "Have you been in a relationship with the person named Zuo Zongtang recently? I'll go to the yamen tomorrow and ask him if the emperor has any other meaning."

"Oh, yes." Demuchukzab agreed crisply.

The next morning, the couple stood up, and Demuchukzawa passed the sedan chair straight to the ancestral hall of the Zongren Mansion, and came straight to find Zuo Zongtang. Zuo Zongtang was waiting for the sedan chair to leave the ancestral hall. In recent days, especially since Chongyi's matter was resolved, he became more and more energetic. He changed his demeanor to sit in the hall in the previous month, and became more and more resolute. He ran all day long in the Xishan Mountains, Tanzhe Temple and other bannermen, and ran around the area of ​​bannermen moving to the residence of the bannermen.

Demuchukzab knew that if he was allowed to leave at this moment, he would not have thought of it this day. He grabbed a step forward and stopped in front, "Brother Ji Gao, Brother Ji Gao, Brother Ji Gao go slowly!"

"What's wrong?" Zuo Zongtang came out of the sedan chair, saw that it was him, and saluted with a smile, "I've seen the adults."

"I dare not, I dare not." Demuchukzhabu supported Zuo Zongtang and said with a smile, "Brother Ji Gao, where are you going?"

"Let's go to the West Mountain. Yesterday, a family of his subordinates who had returned from outside the pass were dedicated to their own opinions in public and explained the customs outside the pass to the same tribes in Beijing. Now, the prince sent me over to maintain it."

"Why do you need Brother Ji Gao to do this? Isn't it enough to send two servants over?" Demuchukzab said, "I'll go to see the prince later and ask him to quit the brother's job." He took Zuo Zongtang's hand, "I have one thing, I want to ask Brother Ji Gao to plan for me."

Zuo Zongtang looked down on the Manchu and Mongolian clans in his heart, but as an official and performing this ceremony, his first job in Beijing was to deal with his subordinates, and his etiquette was indispensable. Although Demuchukzhabu was not good at learning but not talented, he was not a bad person. He also had a lot of respect in his interactions with him. Therefore, after many days, the relationship between the two was quite good. "My joking, what kind of virtue can Zuo do? Can you plan for him?"

Demuchukzab didn't understand these words, and he probably understood what he meant, and was just a self-righteous word, "You guy, don't be polite." He said, "I went to the Seven Beller Mansion yesterday. Do you know?"

"Know."

"Neizi was also summoned by the emperor to the front of the emperor. After she came back, she told me that the emperor said to her..." Demuchukzab relayed what his wife said, and then asked, "Brother, why is this for?"

Zuo Zongtang blinked his swollen eyes, thought for a moment and knew the details. The Yangquan Hutong was to be changed into an embassy and consulate area of ​​various countries, which caused the people's feelings to be boiling. It is no secret in Beijing. The ridiculous princess and his wife did not know what they did at all, and they have gradually aroused the emperor's dissatisfaction. This time it was quite good. For the sake of the deep love between brothers and sisters, if they don't know how to repent, what should the princess be? What should the princess be?

Looking at the begging smile of Demuchukzab, Zuo Zongtang felt soft, "This matter is nothing more than the princess and the prince-in-law offended the emperor. You don't have to be afraid. Now there is still a way to go back to heaven. As long as the princess and prince-in-law can follow the will of heaven and no longer violate the holy intention of the embassy in various countries, the heart of heaven will naturally be able to return."

Demuchukzab said a long 'oh', "So it's for this? I understand." He bowed to Zuo Zongtang, "Thank you for your advice, there will be rewards in the future."

Zuo Zongtang smiled and said goodbye to him. He ordered people to prepare sedan chairs and headed towards the west city again.

*********************************************

In the seventh year of Xianfeng, after the war between China and Britain, Russia sent envoys to China and put forward three requirements. The first was to follow the precedents of Britain, France and other countries in Beijing, set up consular venues, and establish ambassador-level diplomatic relations with each other; the second was to require that Tianshan North and South Road be added in addition to the old five and three new trade ports, and border trade between the two countries should be opened to eliminate the increasingly serious smuggling and economic harm caused to the two countries; the third was to request that China send personnel to work with Russia to work together on the Pamir area west of Ili and south of Kobdo, and to make a thorough visit and demarcation to distinguish each other's border disputes.

Yizou reported to the imperial front, and the emperor approved the first and third articles. The second article was temporarily shelved because Qingliu was very loudly opposed. In the Beijing Treaty signed by the two countries later, one of the following articles is as follows: "China and Russia will not have a clear border before, and the two countries will send trusted officials to investigate impartially, so that the border will be cleaned up and filled into this contract. After the border is established, log in to the ground book, draw it into the map, and establish evidence so that the two countries will never have a dispute over this border and another."

The job of exploring the territory of the northeast with the Russian side was on the head of the Ministry of War, Wan Qingli, who was ordered to work in Shanxi and almost caused a mutiny. The two general offices of Xu Geng, Mianhua and Zhiyan, Zhang Jing, and the second year of Xianfeng, were dismissed for the Shandong case and sent the emperor to Jing Lian, who served in front of Urumqi. Later, another person was added, that was, Cheng Tinggui, the Minister of Works, who was also sent to Urumqi in the major case of Wuwu. The representative sent by the Russian side was the deputy minister of diplomacy, named Alexander Shidlov.

After more than three years of investigation and redefinition, the border dispute between the two sides still started from the end of the border of Shabindabaha in the sixth year of Yongzheng, and went west to Jaisannur Lake. From then on to the southwest, the Temurtunur of the Tianshan Mountains in the south to the border of Haohan as the boundary. There were also stone carvings to record the incident. Wan Qingli and his men and women had completed their merits and reported the matter in Urumqi. After the two countries identified the boundary sites, the re-divided dynasty map arrived in Beijing. When the emperor saw it, he was overjoyed and issued a special order. This time, Wan Qingli was the first minister, and he worked hard and made great contributions. He was granted the second-class Fuyuan son and was appointed as the Minister of War. Jing Lian and Cheng Ting and Guizhao were restored to the original level and went to Beijing to meet. Even Mian? and Zhiyan sent by the General Administration Office, there were many commendations, so there was no need to mention them.

This was naturally a good thing for the Qing Dynasty, but after Wan Qingli returned to Beijing, he brought back a very bad news: "...I have seen all the way that the land is vast, the court is trapped by the long-term, and the people are suffering from illegal robbery. Especially when I saw it in Turpan, Yili and other places, they were all Tsarist Russian knights, who rode their horses and were like entering a no-man. I heard from the local people that there are many people in that country who are not tamed, and they only have the power to act. When there are any unsuccessful trade, they are often intimidated with muskets. The people are afraid of their toughness and have to sell them at a reduced price. After a long time, the people are resentful and have accumulated a lot of savings. I am only afraid of unexpected changes!"

"This is a problem," the emperor said, "In fact, not only the Heilongjiang area, but also the same. In the past two years, I have received many reports from Heilongjiang General Chang Qing, saying that the Songhua River and Erguna River basin have become the abyss of smugglers in China and Russia. The exchanges are like wind and the officers and soldiers cannot stop them. Not only is the court affected, but the people of both countries are deeply affected."

He lowered his head and asked the few people in the military office who were kneeling, "How do you think we should solve it?"

"I think that it is not necessarily a good idea to rely on blocking people for their interests. Instead of spending a lot of effort to strictly guard smugglers everywhere, it is better to gradually open the border ban. In the border areas, find one or two places of traffic that are convenient, set up trading places, and allow merchants from both countries to trade normally, and then the smuggling corruption should be solved."

"Yan Jingming, you are in charge of the Ministry of Revenue's errands, what do you say?"

"I agree with Master Wen's words. Smuggling is risking beheading and suffering from the cold night. It is just to avoid the suppression of the official army. If you can have a legitimate trade place, even if you take a few more steps and pay a few more silver to pay, it will be cost-effective if you think about it carefully."

"Okay." The emperor quickly made a decision, "According to the discussion, Wenxiang, after you go down, you will immediately write a Russian envoy to tell them that the Celestial Empire intends to carry out border trade between the two northeast and northwest borders with Russia, so that they can turn the information back to their homeland, send people to Beijing, and discuss together."

"twitter."

"For this matter, the Tian Dynasty must first come up with a full discussion." He said, "In the past few days, the Ministry of Revenue and the General Administration have summarized and calculated the tax and bank payments and specific details, and have a report. I will take a look first and then talk about it."

Wen Xiang knew that although the emperor was young and had never been to a foreign country, he had special and strange views on such exchanges and disputes between countries. Although he didn't know where he got it, he had always expressed his meaning after many years of experience. He immediately agreed, "Yes, the servants have recorded it."

A few people from the Military Affairs Office went out, leaving only Wan Qingli and three people in the Yangxin Hall, "Get up and talk."

He asked several people to stand up, and he looked at the cracked faces of several people who were blown by the north wind outside the border at close range, and a warm current rose in his heart. Zhiyan, it is not necessary to mention whether Mianhua is young after the New Year. Cheng Tinggui is fifty-five years old. He suffered all the hardships of rain, snow, and frost for the court's affairs! Thinking of this, his voice trembled a little, "Thank you... all the hard work."

"Although the emperor is in the capital, his holy heart often cares about the innocent children of the Celestial Kingdom thousands of miles away. Compared with the emperor, what is the point of me and others working a little hard work?"

The emperor forced a smile and shook his head in vain, "You, I, the king and the minister, should we bear with each other for the country. By the way, Wan Qingli, you said that the people in the northwest are in full swing and have deep resentment from Russia, but how serious is it?"

"I dare not deceive the Holy Lord. In the *** area, all ethnic groups live in a mixed manner, but whether they are Tibetan, Mongolian and Han, when they mention Russia, they are inquiring and conspiring with each other, and they look angry. Especially for those smugglers who come and go, they are even more so." Wan Qingli said, "In the ninth year of Xianfeng, the people had no choice but to sue for the smugglers with muskets. In the face of the turmoil, the Russian merchants in Tarbachtai gathered and sold all the businesses and traded, and injured many people. This shows that."

"Yes, the people are angry and unanimous. It's not possible to come up with a proper management method." In June of the ninth year of Xianfeng, the incident of innocent people being killed by Russians in the Tarkhatai area of ​​***, triggering a fierce conflict. The angry people burned the Russian silk tea and fur business stalls. A fire was extinguished for several days. The two countries were very unhappy about this. Russia made a very solemn statement and reported the memorial to the capital. The emperor unexpectedly ignored it, and seemed to intend to make the matter big. In the end, the French mediated it and it was resolved.

"Yes." Cheng Tinggui also said, "As far as I see, most of the merchants in Russia are always good, but there are occasionally illegal people who act despicable and are seen by the people. If they do not distinguish between each other, they will easily vent their anger on good things. Over time, the diplomatic relations between the two countries are likely to be affected by this."

"Zhiyan." The emperor suddenly pointed his hand, "You are a student in the first phase of Tongwenguan, and you are proficient in Spanish. What do you see?"

This was the first time Zhiyan had the opportunity to meet the saint, and was so excited that he heard the emperor ask him, and was startled, "Student..." as soon as he said the wrong thing. The young man's dark face turned purple and red, and he hurriedly knelt down, "Slave is confused."

"Get up and talk, don't panic."

"Yes." Zhiyan stood up again and said, "As far as slaves see, whether Russians are good or not, they mostly have the idea that it is better to make more than less money. Therefore, smugglers are naturally greedy for the benefit of money; and normal merchants often take advantage of the opportunity to transport goods and privately hide them in order to seek more greed."

"Your words really make me feel refreshed, is that something?"

"Reply to the emperor's words, some." Zhiyan said, "When the slaves were a little familiar with Western languages. When they talked to Russian merchants, they heard that the smugglers not only resented the people of our Celestial Empire, but also despised the people of that country. However, the smugglers were mostly Cossack nomadic people. They were the same nations, but they were more likely to be united in each other. Between advancing and retreating, they paid attention to the pace of the same. When one person was in trouble, all those who came and went out to save each other. And my Celestial Empire..."

The emperor probably guessed what he wanted to say. When he saw him hesitant, he nodded in encouragement, "You continue to say whatever you see, say whatever you think."

"Yes." Zhiyan continued, "And our Celestial Empire has different people's sentiments, and this section is slightly worse. After many years, we have not been able to seize the power of mutual help. If we defeat each other, the ills will become more and more serious." He also said, "Today, Russian smugglers have a sense of shame for the goodness of the Celestial Empire, and when they are in exchange, they are becoming more and more arrogant."

The emperor sighed deeply, "You can say such words, which shows that you are really observing with your heart!"

"Slaves dare not."

"There is nothing to dare to do." The emperor smiled bitterly. In the autumn of the ninth year of Xianfeng, a serious conflict between merchants and civilians broke out. He reported to Beijing. He deliberately ignored it. He originally planned to take such an opportunity to fight against the Russians head-on in the northwest. However, on the one hand, Russia was fierce and weak on the outside, and on the other hand, considering that the distance was too far and the use of troops was not enough, he had to follow the flow and accept the mediation of the French. Today, when Zhiyan said, the emperor also felt that his decision was taking risks! With the strength of the troops in the top area, can he resist the impact from the Russian cavalry? This is still unknown!

He shook his head secretly and stopped engaging in many troubles. "It's been very hard for you to go back to Beijing from afar. Let's go down today, take a few days off, and wait for the rest, and then hand in the sign in."

When I heard that the border between China and Russia was re-divided, the first person to submit official documents and express congratulations to the General Administration. It is not surprising that Russia has always wanted to see India through Pamir and had a conflict of interests with Britain. If Pamir still belongs to China and forms a buffer, Russia would not have the convenience of such invasion of the south.

This kind of game between great powers is the most complicated. Rong Lu and others sent the other party back on the grounds that there was no agreement between the court and the new boundary was set and they could not be announced to the public for the time being. "Teacher, the British are really impatient! He sent someone here in such a hurry?"

Yung Wing smiled, "This is not surprising. Since the eighth year of Xianfeng, the British have never stopped asking questions since the two countries handle errands. To be honest, it is difficult for them."

Ronglu chuckled and buried his head in sorting out the documents on the case. Wenxiang brought the emperor's oral orders, asking the General Administration and the Ministry of Revenue to summarize and determine the various details of the trade transactions that will be held in the future between China and Russia. From the foreman to Zhangjing and clerks, they have gradually accepted and have become accustomed to the mixed style of Chinese and Western affairs.

First of all, the movements are faster and the efficiency is higher. It will be done when there is nothing to do. When there is something to do, the overall coordinated style of doing things can be better played. Each person is responsible for some of the responsibilities. Over time, he will be extremely skilled in the matters he needs to master, and naturally, the speed will be faster.

In addition to daily documents and the reception and translation of official documents by Ronglu, the other responsibilities in charge were the preservation and sorting of contract texts signed by various countries and the Qing Dynasty from the Treaty of Nebuchu. This part of the work was also necessary for this task.

After doing such an errand for a long time, Ronglu knew that on the surface, it seemed that the two countries had an extremely serious matter to interact and make a treaty with each other, but in reality, it was no different from the buying and selling shops everywhere in Beijing, which attracted customers to come and bargained for an item! This sounds a bit blasphemous, but in fact, it was that.

According to the provisions of the "New Trade Agreement between Three Places" signed by China and Britain and France, the content of the taxation methods for trade exchanges and tax rules for imported goods in various countries was slightly changed and submitted to the General Administration's Office, even if the work was completed.
Chapter completed!