Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 416 Negotiations Broke Down
After the imperial meeting, Wu Tingfang immediately sent telegrams to London and Queen Victoria in accordance with the emperor's will, and sent a note to the British ambassador to China Ersigny, reaffirming China's position on the Hong Kong issue and expressing his desire to hold Sino-British negotiations as soon as possible. Require.But as expected, the British only replied with a short telegram, hoping to sit down and discuss the Hong Kong issue after restoring the bad economic situation in the UK, and vaguely expressed to the Chinese side that the second loan should be in place as soon as possible. ask.

On this day, Wu Tingfang reported the situation to the emperor with a sour face. Guan Xuqing was well prepared for the reaction of the British. He immediately ordered the Imperial Investment Bank to immediately terminate its financial assistance to the British Empire.As a result, the British immediately panicked, and most of the entrusted construction and ongoing construction projects in the UK had to be interrupted due to lack of follow-up funds. Investors' confidence was hit hard, and the industrial stock and futures prices in London that day became It plummeted, and countless British companies went bankrupt and went bankrupt overnight, while the Chinese companies there were quite well prepared because they had been notified in advance from the country, because they had not been greatly impacted.

Even the most stupid British people understand the purpose of China's doing this. The economy is always linked to politics. The indifference to the Hong Kong issue caused the British to suffer irreparable losses overnight. After the consultations, the once invincible empire on which the sun never sets had no choice but to bow its head high to its eastern creditors, and eagerly agreed to the request of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hoping to start negotiations on the Hong Kong issue as soon as possible. The reason for the urgency was that the British Know that if this negotiation does not make substantive progress as soon as possible, China's funds may never be in place.

After repeated consultations, the two sides finally decided to hold the first negotiation in London on November 11.

The Chinese delegation arrived in London the day before the negotiation. The leader of the negotiation was the British Foreign Secretary Lord Smegle, who led the negotiation with a group of important officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.On the Chinese side, it was natural for Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang to come forward.

Smegley is a slightly thin-looking official in his fifties with a mustache. Although he can barely squeeze out a smile, he can't hide the arrogance in his bones.But he always remembered Her Majesty's unquestionable words before the arrival: no matter what the conditions, the Hong Kong issue must not be compromised with the Chinese, and the main task of this negotiation is to delay the time as much as possible.

Accompanying Wu Tingfang were Chen Jitong, director of the European Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Huang Zunxian, director of the Asian Department, and the interpreter and entourage of the Foreign Affairs Office.

Smegley just shook hands with Wu Tingfang as a courtesy, and said with a livid face, "Your Excellency, the political officer has been waiting for a long time, let's go in." Wu Tingfang nodded and walked in boldly.

The British side presided over the negotiations was Smith, the political officer of the Foreign Office.Before the negotiation, the two sides talked a lot of nonsense, which is not difficult for Wu Tingfang, who has been in the officialdom for many years, but the British are eager to get financial assistance from China from this negotiation.Foreign Secretary Smegle was very dissatisfied with Smith's irrelevance, so he stood up and said: "Your Excellency, we all know that some misunderstandings occurred between the two countries some time ago, and I am very sorry about it. Now we are arguing about who is right and who is wrong It is meaningless, our country is very sincere to conduct peace talks with your country."

Wu Tingfang sneered secretly. After dealing with these foreigners for so many years, he knew their attitudes best. In their eyes, they could let go of anything as long as it was beneficial.Right now, seeing that China wants to cut off economic aid, they put on a sincere look, and think of themselves as fools.

Wu Tingfang immediately pointed out: "During the Beijing Peace Conference a few years ago, His Majesty the Emperor of my country stated the position of the empire, and now I reiterate that it is not a question of whether Hong Kong can be taken back, but a question of when and how it will be taken back. In this negotiation, we hope that your country can show sincerity and agree on a specific timetable." Wu Tingfang was righteous and did not procrastinate, and immediately showed his point of view.

Seeing Wu Tingfang's awe-inspiring attitude, Smith couldn't help being surprised, which also deepened his doubts and fears.The Chinese have clearly made up their minds, and it can be seen from the attitude of the other party that they will never give up if they fail to achieve their expected goals in this negotiation.But Her Majesty the Queen has already instructed that on the one hand, Hong Kong must never be returned, and on the other hand, a compromise must be reached with the Chinese in terms of financial assistance. This task is really extremely depressing!When Smith didn't know how to answer, Smegley said gloomyly: "The Hong Kong issue has a long history. It was an express agreement signed between your Qing Dynasty and the British Empire. Today, that agreement is still preserved in Her Majesty's palace. Here, the whole world knows about it."

Wu Tingfang refused to admit it and said: "Mr. Smeagley, let me first correct one of your mistakes. China is now called the Chinese Empire, and it is no longer the same as the Qing Dynasty. All the unequal treaties signed by the former Qing Dynasty with other countries, The empire does not recognize it at all."

Smegle sneered: "What is the emperor's last name?"

Wu Tingfang's face suddenly became angry. The other party's words were extremely disrespectful. He obviously meant that your emperor's surname is still Aixinjueluo. How can you say that it has nothing to do with the Qing Dynasty?The disguise is a kind of satire on the Chinese emperor.

From the very beginning to now, the negotiation has become more and more intense, and the atmosphere has become more and more tense.It was Chen Jitong who saw that the situation was about to become tense, so he stood up quickly and said, "The Chinese Empire has 56 ethnic groups, and it is a big family of unity and harmony. No one will allow an inch of the empire's territory to be ceded."

Chen Jitong's answer was just right, concealing the emperor's ethnicity issue, and affirming China's position on the Hong Kong issue.

Smegley was stunned for a moment, and said: "I'm afraid China is not strong enough to forcibly take back Hong Kong. Don't forget that in this world, the British Empire can be called the empire on which the sun never sets. What is certain is that in At this time, you are not our British opponents. As long as we are really determined, China’s army and naval power will never be able to stop the empire’s footsteps. It’s not that the United Kingdom does not have the strength to defeat you, China, but I hope that some misunderstandings will not give the two countries Cause more casualties. Please don't take this kind of good intentions as a cowardly show! If you really want to live in peace with the empire, show your sincerity, otherwise you will be the empire to do it by force at all costs respond."

Wu Tingfang laughed instead of anger when he heard this. He suddenly stood up, looked at the panic-stricken Smith and said, "In this case, there is no need to talk any further. I am here to negotiate and negotiate on behalf of the Imperial Foreign Office. Yes, since your Excellency has involved this matter in the military, I think this is beyond the scope of our negotiations today, and there is no need for me to waste my time here." Said and walked out first, Chen Jitong and Huang Zunxian Jian hurriedly followed out.

I only heard Smeigley shouting angrily from behind: "Shameless! The Chinese will never try to overpower the British Empire! This is absolutely not allowed!"

After the Chinese representative left, the political officer Smith wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and said to Smegle with a bitter face: "Your Excellency, I never imagined how this negotiation would end in this way? The war really Is it what we want?"

Smegley snorted: "The Chinese have expressed more than once that they want to take back Hong Kong by force. This is a serious provocation to the dignity of the empire. Now that the trouble has reached such a point today, we must show the Chinese that our Standing, our British Empire has never been afraid of threats of any kind, and we are even ready to fight back against these threats at any time!"

"But in this way, it will be impossible for China to provide us with financial assistance, and our purpose of this negotiation will be defeated."

Smegley stared at Smith closely, his eyes radiated a terrifying light: "Mr. Smith, as a diplomat, I hope you can understand that nothing is more important than maintaining the dignity of the empire." It's over!"

Smith nodded abruptly.

"Master Zhongtang, are the conditions we are raising too harsh? Even now, we dare not say that the empire is stronger than Britain." Huang Zunxian took a few steps and chased after Wu Tingfang.

Wu Tingfang turned her head and glanced at Huang Zunxian lightly: "Gongdu, when dealing with foreigners, we must not only guard against arrogance and impetuosity, but also be neither humble nor overbearing, and judge the situation. The emperor has worked hard and won a victory that has not been seen in a century for China. If we are easily defeated by the British How can you be worthy of the emperor with a few false threats."

Huang Zunxian was embarrassed when he heard the words, and said in a low voice: "It's just that, even if an agreement is reached in the future, the imperial court will say that it is the credit of those who are fighting for it. Compliance with the constitution is not worth it for adults."

After hearing Huang Zunxian's words, Wu Tingfang's face sank immediately, and he stared at Huang Zunxian like an eagle: "Do you think it's worthless if we come to negotiate? Back to the negotiating table. Once upon a time, the British warships were invincible in the world, dozens of times that of our warships, and their guns were far superior to mine, and the British man-made ship industry was extremely powerful. At that time, China could not even produce steel, and warships It is sinking one ship and one ship is missing. Even under such circumstances, the emperor has never been afraid of the British. Now, God bless, the empire is booming. Could it be that I, Wu Tingfang, will disregard the national interests for the sake of face? Don’t say this again in the future. Mention." Wu Tingfang shook his hand violently, Huang Zunxian blushed, and quickly stepped aside.

(End of this chapter)