I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 106 The Qing Dynasty treated each other with courtesy

On the streets of Beijing, a messenger coming from Tianjin shouted loudly: "Get out of the way, get out of the way quickly!"

The people who were scolded on the street retreated numbly to both sides, thankful that they were not hit. Some people who were better dressed dared to be angry but did not dare to speak. They did not dare to spit on the ground until the messenger left.

"I'm running in such a hurry so early in the morning. I'm in a hurry to reincarnate!"

Others laughed and said, "Hey, Mr. Tong, don't get so angry. I see that the messenger is going to the Prime Minister's Yamen. I'm afraid something big will happen."

The man known as Master Tong said nonchalantly: "What big thing can be as important as my mood? No matter what the world is like? The Qing Dynasty is still the Qing Dynasty."

"Haha, what I said is, you can try the fresh wontons."

"Let me try it, hey, this tastes so comfortable..."

The messenger on the other side went straight to the Prime Minister's Yamen in Dongtangzi Hutong. As soon as he arrived at the Yamen's entrance, as soon as he got off his horse, the clerk in front of the door stepped forward and stopped him: "Who is it?"

The messenger called Qian'er and said, "Young man is sent by Lord Chonghou, the Governor of Zhili. If there is something urgent, please report it to the Prime Minister."

The clerk stepped forward and leaned over to look at the messenger and said, "How much silver is it?"

"Huh? This..." The messenger was a little embarrassed.

Xiao Li's expression changed and he snorted coldly: "You really don't understand the rules."

The messenger hurriedly explained: "I was so anxious that I forgot to bring too much money, so I brought this little."

The messenger hurriedly took out his money bag and took out one, two or three dollars.

The clerk took the silver with some disgust and asked casually: "Tell me, what's the matter?"

The messenger hurriedly said: "This morning, the Japanese envoy arrived in Tianjin and requested to see the Holy One."

The clerk sneered and said, "What should I do? Isn't Japan the Japanese country? The small country of Zu'er, you look so anxious, you thought it was England coming."

The messenger explained: "Sir, it's not just the small ones that are so strange. The Japanese envoy brought more than 200 foreign soldiers and horses, and the envoy came in a foreign iron-clad ship."

The expression on the young official Feng Qingyundan's face instantly became panicked, and he immediately jumped to his feet and said: "Oh, you stupid thing, why didn't you tell me earlier!"

He hurriedly ran into the yamen and reported to the superior officer. The official with a high official hurriedly ran to another room without caring about his image, knocked on the door and said: "Master Xu, I have something urgent to report to you!"

Xu Yongyi said in a deep voice: "Come in."

As soon as the official entered, he saluted Qian'er first, and then said: "Master Xu, a messenger from Tianjin just came to report that the Japanese envoy arrived in Tianjin on a foreign iron-clad ship and requested to see the Holy Emperor."

Xu Yongyi frowned and said in confusion: "Japan is just a small country, so why does it have relations with foreigners? I will go find the Prime Minister immediately."

Xu Yongyi hurriedly set off to find Wenxiang, the head of the Prime Minister.

There are now eight prime ministers in the Prime Minister's Office, and Prince Gong and Prince Yi were dismissed by Empress Dowager Cixi last month.

Now is the fourth year of Tongzhi. The emperor is young, and the affairs of the country are handled behind the curtain by the empress dowagers of the two palaces.

Wen Xiang, Chong Lun and others also looked sad after hearing Xu Yongyi's report. Wen Xiang asked: "What do you think should be done?"

Chonglun cupped his hands and said: "This matter is important and requires the Queen Mother of the two palaces to make a decision."

Baojun said dissatisfied: "Although this matter needs to be reported to the two empress dowagers, the Prime Minister's Office cannot stay out of the matter now. Whether to accept the Japanese envoy to the capital or reject this matter, the Prime Minister's Office must have a charter."

Dong Xun cupped his hands and said: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, it is not appropriate to go to war with the country because of the long-haired thief. Since the Japanese envoys follow etiquette, we should treat them with courtesy, so as not to lose the style of a great country."

Wen Xiang nodded and said, "That's fine. I will go to the palace to see the Queen Mother. You will immediately send people to Tianjin to welcome the Japanese envoy to the capital and place them there."

Afterwards, Wen Xiang immediately went to the Forbidden City.

In the Changchun Palace, Cixi was watching the opera on the stage. She was so fascinated that she also sang a few lines to the beat.

An eunuch came to Li Lianying and whispered a few words in Li Lianying's ear. Li Lianying looked at Cixi who was in high spirits, waved her hands and said: "Lafayette is in high spirits, please let me wait first."

When Cixi heard the noise, she turned her head and asked, "What's going on?"

Li Lianying quickly knelt down and said: "Old Buddha, please forgive me for disturbing you while watching the show."

Cixi lazily said: "Okay, tell me what's going on? How can I delay the state affairs because of a show?" Li Lianying quickly flattered him and said: "It's my slave who is confused. Lafayette worked so hard for the state affairs that we are now in great shape." The situation of the Qing Dynasty’s resurgence.”

"Just now, Prime Minister Wen Hsiang sent someone to tell us that a Japanese envoy arrived in Tianjin on an armored ship, hoping to see the Holy One and submit his credentials."

"Huh?" Cixi put away her laziness and sat upright and said, "This is not a small matter. I have to discuss it with my sister about letting Wen Xiang go to Zhongcui Palace."

"Whoo!"

After a while, Cixi arrived at Zhongcui Palace and greeted Ci'an first.

Ci'an said cheerfully, "Sister is here, sit down quickly."

"Thank you sister."

After Cixi sat down, she said, "Sister, do you know what Prime Minister Wen Xiang said?"

Ci'an said with a hint of worry: "Well, I just learned that I don't know whether Japan is an enemy or a friend."

Cixi reassured: "Since Japan submitted its credentials according to etiquette and law, I guess there is no malicious intention. You might as well talk to them first."

Ci'an nodded and said, "That's fine, just listen to my sister."

Cixi then looked down and said, "Wen Xiang."

"My servant is here." Wen Xiang immediately saluted with a bow.

"Have a good time entertaining the Japanese envoy, but don't lose the face of the Qing Dynasty."

"The slave understands."

"Go back."

"Hey, this slave is leaving."

Wen Xiang left the Forbidden City and immediately made arrangements to welcome the Japanese envoy.

On the street, the sun was already three o'clock in the sky. The red door on the side opened, and a disciple of the Eight Banners came out wearing a melon skin hat, a silk mandarin jacket, and holding a birdcage.

He yawned first, then teased the thrush in the birdcage. Hearing the cries on the side, he stepped forward and took a look.

The vendor quickly smiled and said, "Master, you are lucky."

Wu Yunzhu waved his hand casually, turned around and saw Yilan, who was also a bannerman, walking over, and quickly stepped forward to salute and greet him.

"Staller, get out of here!"

At this moment, a government official came over and drove away the vendors setting up stalls.

Wu Yunzhu said dissatisfied: "Hey, I haven't seen you for a few days. Liu Changyi is so timid that he dares to interfere with the affairs at the door of grandpa's house?"

Liu Chang quickly smiled and said: "Sir, how can I do that? This is an order from the Prime Minister's Yamen, saying that they are to welcome the Japanese envoy?"

Wu Yunzhu said with disdain: "I've never heard of Japan, but it's so shameless?"

Liu Chang said quickly: "I heard that they came on a foreign armored ship."

Wu Yunzhu's expression changed, and she coughed lightly and said, "Since it is a major matter for the imperial court, we can't ruin it, so go ahead and get on with it."

Wu Yunzhu changed her words and turned around to discuss with Yilan where to go.

When the bannermen walked away, Liu Chang secretly said something bad, and then drove the vendors away with a strong voice.

Many vendors begged for mercy: "Master Liu, the whole family is counting on the small one to sell something, otherwise we will all go hungry."

Liu Chang glared and shouted: "You bitch, if you can't complete the tasks assigned above, I will have to take off all my official clothes. Your lack of food has nothing to do with me. Get out of here!"

"Listen to me, now get out of here and stop taking over your stall. If you keep stalling, I will go to jail!"

(End of this chapter)