I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 255 Threats and pulls

Li Hongzhang was also a little distressed when he took over the task of negotiating with Japanese Prime Minister Yagyu Nozomi. He quickly asked Prince Gong on the side: "Your Majesty, I wonder how you feel about contacting that Japanese Prime Minister?"

Prince Gong was in a happy mood and said a few more words: "Actually, it was also the first time that I met Prime Minister Yagyu. Before that, I met with the Japanese ambassador.

However, when I talked with Prime Minister Yagyu, I did not feel that I was being looked down upon. I felt that communicating with Prime Minister Yagyu was quite easy. "

When Li Hongzhang heard this, his expression did not change, and he still had a serious look on his face. He then asked about some details, but Prince Gong didn't remember much, which made Li Hongzhang a little distressed.

He didn't know Yagyu Hiyan personally, but he knew that it would not be easy for Yagyu Hiyan to lead Japan into a head-on confrontation with Britain and France.

It would certainly not be easy for such a person to bring the Qing Dynasty into the alliance.

Li Hongzhang returned to the military aircraft with worries.

Several military ministers saw that Li Hongzhang was worried, so they stepped forward to ask.

Li Hongzhang shook his head slightly and said: "It's a Japanese matter. Immediately let someone bring the things related to Japan in recent years to me."

Li Hongzhang said unhurriedly: "I have already heard about Prime Minister Yagyu's heroic deeds. I didn't expect that Prime Minister Yagyu is so talented. He can lead a small country to confront Britain and France head-on. I admire him very much."

"I didn't expect Prime Minister Yagyu to be so familiar with our country."

Soon, Li Hongzhang saw a memorial that wrote: "The Japanese ambassador invited our country to join the East Asia Economic Mutual Assistance Alliance. I believe that this matter is insulting to the national system and should be rejected..."

He did not refuse, but readily agreed: "Please tell Mr. Witoma that I will go to the appointment on time."

Li Hongzhang's smile was a little forced, and the foreign devil began to threaten them with force again.

Of course, we couldn't help for free, so we signed a peace contract.

Witoma received Li Hongzhang in a Western restaurant.

Witoma invited Li Hongzhang to take a seat, and then motioned to the waiter to serve the food.

The conflict between Great Britain and Japan is huge. If the Qing Dynasty gets involved, it will bear the wrath of Great Britain. "

After getting off duty, Li Hongzhang returned to the mansion with a sad face. As soon as he reached the gate, a foreigner stopped his sedan.

"Hey, did Japan invite us four years ago? This time, the Prime Minister of Japan came to invite us personally. I'm afraid it's not simple."

Li Hongzhang was shocked, and then he cursed secretly: Those Eight Banners disciples in the Military Aircraft Department, who are they who sold the information to foreigners?

"Mr. Witoma, Prime Minister Yagyu of Japan does want to form an alliance with us, but this alliance is only for business and has absolutely no other meaning."

At eight o'clock in the evening, Li Hongzhang's sedan entered Dongjiaomin Lane, which is where foreign embassies gather and there are also many entertainment venues.

Li Hongzhang, who was a little aggrieved, left after not staying for long.

Yagyu Shengxiyan was not in a hurry to get down to business. Anyway, the Qing court would beg him in a few days.

He raised his head, looked at Li Hongzhang with some arrogance, and said: "Mr. Li, I heard that Japan's Yagyu Hiyan came to join your alliance?"

In the living room, both parties sat down and exchanged a few words.

However, Yagyu Heeyan retorted: "Your country has outstanding people, and there are many outstanding people in the world, just like the crucian carp crossing the river. However, it seems that no one in your country is making the best use of it, right?"

Li Hongzhang asked someone to take the invitation, and it was Weituma who asked him to talk about something.

"But Prime Minister Yagyu doesn't know enough details. Officials at all levels of the imperial court are all outstanding, and there are no talents left behind."

However, after Japan's reform, it turned its back on Japan. It is such a despicable and shameless country. I advise you from the bottom of my heart not to get involved with it.

“Ten years ago, Japan was forced by the United States to sign a treaty. Some of them wanted to save the country, so they found us, the British. We admired their courage, so we came to help.

Li Hongzhang replied: "Mr. Witoma, you are too excited. I will properly handle the relationship with Japan."

The foreigner said directly: "Mr. Li, our ambassador would like to meet with you."

Early the next morning, Li Hongzhang sent someone to inform Tokugawa Qingxi, who then informed Yagyu Heiyan.

Weituma didn't want to talk nonsense in front of Li Hongzhang. He said directly: "I have said this. I hope Mr. Li and Qing Guo will wake up and not make mistakes."

The military aircraft department immediately became busy.

"Mr. Li is ridiculous. It's not just my contribution. Without the support of His Majesty the Emperor, I would be nothing more than a warrior.

The two parties met at the Prime Minister's Office.

Li Hongzhang was a little ashamed. Why did he need to explain this matter to the British? And saying this will make you look shorter than the other person.

It's just that I never thought that the Qing Dynasty would also start to reform, and there hasn't been much change so far, which is really a pity. "

Li Hongzhang's worries became more and more serious.

Compared with Japan, Britain's attitude was very bad. For a moment, he wanted to leave the Western restaurant and run to Japan.

Li Hongzhang responded with a smile: "Prime Minister Yagyu doesn't know something. Our country has a vast land and a large population. Many things will not be resolved in a short time."

He quickly added: "This matter was only brought up today. It is normal for Mr. Witoma not to know the details."

Li Hongzhang was a little embarrassed. The attitude of these foreigners had always been like this, but he could only spit on it.

Of course, this was just a thought on his part, and he didn't dare to take it seriously. The two Queen Mothers were the last to nod in this matter.

On two days, Yagyu Heeyan met with Li Hongzhang.

Witoma shook his head and said: "Mr. Li, it doesn't matter whether what I know about this matter is right or not, what matters is Japan."

Li Hongzhang flattered him a little.

"Humph."

Liu Shengxiyan saw that Li Hongzhang was stubborn and said nothing more. He turned to ask, "How is your country's foreign affairs?"

Li Hongzhang smiled and said: "Okay, it has been rolled out according to the plan."

Yagyu Heeyan nodded slightly and suggested: "I heard that it is very expensive for your country to buy machines from Britain, France and the United States. It is better to buy them from Japan, the price can be at least half cheaper.

And you don’t have to worry about the quality of the machines. Our country and Germany are allies. With the help of Germany, the quality level of our machines has skyrocketed.

Your vassal country, Vietnam, has just ordered three million taels of silver weapons, warships and new machinery from us. "

"Since Prime Minister Yagyu recommends it so, I naturally want to take a look."

Li Hongzhang didn't refuse, so it would be a good thing if he could save money.

"Then it's better to choose a day than to hit the sun. Let's go and take a look today. Our factory in Beijing has just installed new machines." Yagyu Heiyan directly invited.

Li Hongzhang was a little surprised, and he couldn't refuse, so he had to follow Yagyu Heiyan to leave the Prime Minister's Office and go to the factory purchased by the Japanese.

This is a canning factory, and its business in the Qing Dynasty was very good. The factory purchased raw materials from locals at low prices, and after processing and selling them, it could earn three times the profit.

When Yagyu Heiyan came this time, he changed the machinery of this factory. Before, it used a steam engine, but now it uses a kerosene internal combustion engine, which is several times faster than the steam engine.

He took Li Hongzhang to the workshop where the machines were roaring, and took him to check the operation of the workshop.

Li Hongzhang was very surprised when he looked at the efficiency of the machine. Someone under him also built a factory, but the efficiency of the machines purchased from the UK was far inferior to the quality of Japan.

He was a little moved, but he didn't show it, he just wrote it down.

After leaving the workshop, Yagyu Heeyan said proudly: "How about it, Mr. Li, our country's machines are much better than those of Britain and France."

Li Hongzhang praised: "Your country's machines are really amazing."

Although Li Hongzhang kept flattering, he did not open his mouth to talk about purchasing. Yagyu Heiyan was not in a hurry. He immediately talked about the Vienna World Expo and promoted products such as electric lights, bicycles and motorcycles.

After Li Hongzhang saw these new things, he was secretly surprised. He did not expect Japan to come up with these things, and he was even more surprised when he confirmed that Japan had also gone to the World Expo.

He said goodbye to Yagyu Heiyan with these doubts, and he had to ask Hurd to confirm about the World Expo.

After Yangyu watched Li Hongzhang leave, Tokugawa Yingxi immediately said: "Prime Minister, these Qing officials are really stubborn. They would rather be bullied by Britain and France than accept our country. They are really stupid."

Yagyu Heiyan also knew the stupidity of the Qing court, but as he was now the Prime Minister of Japan, it was impossible for him to persuade him with all his heart.

He shook his head slightly and said, "Don't worry, let the bullet fly for a while."

"What does this mean?"

Tokugawa asked happily.

"Li Hongzhang is not stupid, but too shrewd. You have to know that the Qing Dynasty is extremely corrupt and is being bullied wantonly by Britain and France. If they don't buy British and French machines now and instead buy our machines, I'm afraid they will be dead the next day. Trouble was caused by Britain and France.

Li Hongzhang was afraid of this, so he did not immediately decide to buy our machine.

Hahaha, don't rush this matter, Li Hongzhang will come to express his kindness in a few days. "

……

The time soon came to the 20th, which was the day when Emperor Guangxu ascended the throne. Yagyu Shengxiyan entered the Forbidden City as a distinguished guest to witness Emperor Guangxu's enthronement.

The ceremony for Emperor Guangxu's enthronement was very grand. Officials at all levels and nobles from the Eight Banners were all standing neatly in the Taiji Hall. The guards in the square were holding gleaming swords and guns and wearing gorgeous armor from each banner. Coupled with the flags fluttering, overall it looks like a great country.

Yagyu Heiyan and other ambassadors stood in the corridor outside the hall watching the ceremony.

Hundreds of people knelt down and shouted long live the mountain, which was very lively.

Later, Yagyu Sheeyan entered the main hall together with some important ministers. Emperor Guangxu, who was only four years old, was wearing a small imperial uniform and sat on the throne that was enough for him to play with, with a blank look on his face.

Yagyu Heiyan and the ambassadors stood at the pillar on the left, and the important officials of the Qing court knelt down, listening to Prince Gong above read the new emperor's imperial edict.

After a while, the ceremony was completed and the enthronement ceremony ended.

Subsequently, Yagyu Heiyan left the Forbidden City and returned to the embassy.

In the next few days, Li Hongzhang came several times, but he always left after talking for a while.

Yagyu Heiyan didn't care either. He just happened to take Tetsunosuke Ichimura out of the embassy to have fun.

The two of them were wearing suits and walking on the streets of Beijing. The streets were bumpy and not very smooth, but there was an endless stream of horse-drawn carriages passing by.

On the main street, the shops on both sides are booming, and the roadside stalls are also full of customers.

When Yagyu Heiyan was walking on the street, those passing by Qing Dynasty would deliberately avoid him when they saw Yagyu Heiyan wearing a suit.

When Yagyu Shengxiyan walked farther away, he muttered: "Do you know me? You're not from the Qing Dynasty, are you?"

Another person shook his head and said: "I don't know him. Hey, don't let me know who it is, otherwise I will definitely spit on him. He will not wear a good flag uniform, but wear the clothes of a foreign devil and forget his ancestors!"

"Yo yo yo, stop bragging."

The stubborn man holding the birdcage at the side laughed and said: "You don't know what you are seeing at first glance. These two are Japanese."

"Oh, it's indeed that master. You know this. How did you tell?"

As soon as the man was praised by the people around him, he immediately boasted: "Hey, that's enough. I have a brother, Doron, do you know? He went to Japan to be an ambassador.

He told the man that the Japanese did not fully learn from our ancestors. When they sit on their knees, they kneel on the ground with their buttocks on their heels. If they sit like this for a long time, they will have bowed legs.

Look at those two people, is the youngest one a little bow-legged? "

When everyone saw it, they quickly praised: "Oh, it's true. As expected of that man, he is well-informed."

"Hey, that's who we are."

"That man is mighty!"

Yagyu Shengxiyan did not notice that several people were using him to show off their knowledge. He looked at the situation on the streets of Qing Dynasty and thought of other things.

Although the streets looked very prosperous and many people looked glamorous, he could still see beggars in some alleys and some farmers wearing shabby, patched clothes counting their copper coins to buy things.

He also asked about the prices of the items. The foreign goods in the store were much cheaper than local handicrafts. They were plentiful and sold quickly, while the more expensive handicrafts were somewhat unsaleable.

Liu Shengxiyan heard a shopkeeper complain: "This Li Ji's stuff used to be easy to sell, but now it really can't be sold at all.

After a while, when Li Ji's boss comes again, we have to lower the price, otherwise we won't buy from them. "

He walked around and found that this was not an exception. When the economic crisis broke out, Britain, France and the United States would definitely dump a large amount of industrial goods to the Qing Dynasty. By then, he was afraid that there would be a wave of bankruptcies of handicraft workshops within the Qing Dynasty.

Liu Shengxi looked around and shook his head slightly, feeling a little depressed.

Ichimura Tetsunosuke said: "The Qing Dynasty lacks courageous heroes like you, Prime Minister, and it is your own fault that you are in this situation. Prime Minister, why don't we go to the Bada Hutong to have fun?"

Liu Shengxi nodded sternly and said: "Forget it, let's go to Bada Hutong. I heard that this is the most interesting place in Beijing."

Yagyu Heiyan went to Bada Hutong and looked at this hall and that garden. Many brothel girls were thin and small, with three-inch golden lotuses. He really couldn't arouse interest, so he had to return to the embassy in the end.

(End of this chapter)