Kowloon wins

Chapter 854 A compromise agreement ([-])

Prince Lao Zhuang died of illness in April this year, and the current clan mansion is under the care of Prince Xiao Zhuang, that is, Old Sixteen. Although this guy's ability to manage politics is mediocre, his methods of tossing people are very clever , although it has only been three short months since he took over the clan's mansion, he has already sorted out everything from top to bottom, but all the children of the clan, when they hear that the clan's mansion has an invitation, they will definitely pee in fright. Pants, as long as they are the clan's children who have been invited to drink tea by the clan's mansion, all of them will turn pale and avoid them. There is no doubt that the third elder brother has fallen into the hands of the old sixteen this time, so naturally there is no good fruit The edible food was tossed and tossed inside for three days, after coming out, even if it was a serious illness, it took a full two months of recuperation before it could be regarded as barely recovering.

The upper echelons of the capital are all very curious about the crimes that the third elder brother suffered in the clan mansion, but they are unwilling to disclose any news from the clan mansion, and the third elder brother himself never wants to mention it. Anyone who dared to ask would be beaten out by the third elder brother in embarrassment. This matter has become a mystery. There are not a few people who are curious about it. Of course, Hong Qing is not among them. Inside, in fact, Hong Qing never cared about the situation of the third elder brother at all, let alone expressed even the slightest bit of sympathy for him, nothing else, because Hong Qing never regarded the third elder brother as a The opponent, in Hong Qing's eyes, the third elder brother is nothing more than an ant-like existence, and there is really no need to pay too much attention to it.

On July 25th of the first year of Chengde, ten days had passed since the first meeting between the Qing Dynasty and the British Mission. One after another, I was busy contacting the rich and powerful families in the capital, and I often tried to lobby the high-ranking ministers with heavy gifts, but unfortunately the effect was almost zero. Who else in Beijing dares to take the lead in the negotiation? After much tossing and no results, the Kingdom of Great Britain is forcing Brooks? In this regard, Hongqing readily agreed and agreed to Earl Brooks Wilson's request, agreeing that the second round of talks between the two parties would still be held in the Summer Palace, and the time was scheduled for July 27th.

"First of all, on behalf of all our members, I would like to express my 12 thanks to your country for your warm hospitality. I believe that today's meeting between you and us will make a breakthrough. I have no doubts about this."

Britons always pay attention to their manners. Even though they have encountered obstacles everywhere in the capital over the past ten days, Earl Brooks Wilson still behaved politely and with a full gentlemanly demeanor. No, he was already polite as soon as the two parties settled He bowed towards Hongqing to pay tribute.

"Your Excellency, Earl, you are being polite. This king also believes that you and I will reach a consensus. Of course, the prerequisite is that you can agree to the terms we proposed in the first meeting. Otherwise, there is no need to continue the follow-up talks." Continue."

Compared with Earl Brooks Wilson's pretentious posture, Hong Qing's performance was a bit aggressive. No, it clearly set the tone for today's talks as soon as it came up.

"His Royal Highness, we have come here with 12 points of sincerity. Please also, His Royal Highness, fully consider the sincerity of my Kingdom of Great Britain."

Earl Brooks Wilson has been in the Qing Dynasty for more than two months, and he has been in the capital for more than half a month, but he has worked hard on information collection. Although he has never collected the most confidential core information of the Qing Dynasty, he can He already has a certain understanding of the political situation and strength of the Qing Dynasty. Of course, this understanding is only superficial, but even so, he has a considerable understanding of Hongqing's position in the court. He knew that if Hongqing could not be persuaded, the mission of the envoys to the Qing Dynasty would never be realized. Hearing that Hongqing was repeating the same old tune, the so-called gentlemanly demeanor could not be maintained. After listening to the words relayed by the interpreter, even if his brows were furrowed, the words inevitably carried a hint of threat.

"Sincerity? Heh, is the sincerity you mentioned referring to your country's fleet? It's very interesting sincerity. According to your country's logic, sincerity and justice are only within the range of naval guns. What can I do?" Did you make a mistake?"

Although Earl Brooks Wilson's words were very cryptic, Hong Qing understood the meaning immediately after hearing it, but she didn't care about it at all, smiled indifferently, and belittled Earl Brooks Wilson without any scruples. Fan.

"It's good for His Royal Highness to know. The fleet of my Kingdom of Great Britain is the strongest in the world. The fleet is invincible. Anyone who dares to resist will be destroyed!"

Colonel Cannan Carter is a hawk in the British military, a typical militant. Hearing that Hongqing talked about the fleet of the British Kingdom in a contemptuous tone, even if he was angry, he did not wait for Brooks Wilson The earl said something, and he shouted angrily.

"You bastard, a mere barbarian, dare to talk like this, bold!"

As soon as the interpreter finished translating Colonel Kannan Carter's words, Wang Yanke, the Minister of Rituals, couldn't bear it anymore, but when he saw him slam the table, he yelled angrily.

"Misunderstood, misunderstood, Your Excellency, Colonel Carter just stated the facts, and did not intend to be rude to your country. Please speak slowly if you have something to say, harmony makes money, harmony makes money."

After all, Sir William Woodbridge was a businessman, and he only cared about his interests. Seeing that the negotiation had just begun and was in danger of collapsing, he couldn't sit still, so he hurriedly settled the dispute with a smile on his face.

"My lord, I think that these barbarians don't know how to flatter me, and they dare to threaten my kingdom. It's really rude. I propose to deport them all!"

Wang Yan is an old-fashioned person. He has been immersed in Confucianism all his life. He has always regarded countries other than China as barbarians. How can he tolerate the arrogant words of Colonel Cannan Carter, even though Sir William Woodbridge is He smoothed things over with a smile on his face, but he refused to give up, but when he saw Hong Qing bowing his hands with a livid face, he already suggested a word indignantly.

"Don't worry, let's negotiate. There will always be some disputes. It's all about seeking common ground while reserving differences. Let's hear what other terms the other party has."

Hongqing doesn't have the slightest affection for the Kingdom of Great Britain. In fact, Hongqing has no affection for all the western colonial countries, nothing else. These countries blocked the way of the Qing Dynasty to dominate the world, and sooner or later they will confront the Qing Dynasty Haijiang, of course, is not at this time, probably because the Qing Dynasty is not yet ready for a large-scale war. If there is a war, it will have to be at least seven or eight years later. At this moment, Hong Kong Qing did not intend to completely tear herself apart from the Western powers, so naturally she would not agree with Wang Yan's decisive approach.

"My lord is wise."

Hong Qing was the host of this negotiation, since he had an order, Wang Yan didn't dare to say any more, so he could only bow down and praise him.

"His Royal Highness said it well. If you and I seek common ground while reserving differences, we will be able to reach a win-win consensus. We have always been optimistic about this."

Although Earl Brooks Wilson was the first to issue the threatening words, in his heart he really didn't want to tear himself apart with Da Qing. Hearing what Hong Qing said, he hurriedly echoed it in order to ease the tension atmosphere.

"I hope so. Alright, let's get to the point. If you have anything to add to the terms we mentioned last time, let's put it on the table."

After listening to the interpreter's translation, Hong Qing shrugged her shoulders indifferently, and replied calmly.

"His Royal Highness, during the first round of talks between you and me, there was a big difference in our positions, and it was all due to a misunderstanding. While expressing our regrets about this, we also have a new idea. Well, let's put it this way Come on, we can give up the plan to set up a commercial port in Guangzhou, your country. If you can provide a small island close to the mainland, we are willing to conduct business transactions with you on the island. Of course, the jurisdiction of this small island should be It belongs to us, for this reason, we are willing to pay a large amount of rent every year to show our sincerity."

Earl Brooks Wilson obviously still didn't want to give up his "beautiful vision" of opening up the Qing Dynasty, so he played the old-fashioned trick of secretly changing concepts with a face of sincerity.

"Oh, is this your sincerity? Well, we are also willing to open a commercial market on a small island near your country. The conditions are also very simple. We also require the jurisdiction of the small island. Every year we can Paying more than double the rent that you can give as a show of sincerity, I think His Excellency the Earl will readily agree to it?"

Upon hearing Earl Brooks Wilson's sincerity, Hong Qing's originally gentle smile turned cold in an instant, nothing else, only because Earl Brooks Wilson had brought back Hong Qing's memories of her previous life, and when she thought of the Kingdom of Great Britain once Stealing Hong Kong opened the door of the Qing Dynasty, poisoned the Chinese people with opium, and finally triggered bloody tragedies such as the Opium War and the invasion of China by the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Come to think of it, even though it was just a matter of time and space in the previous life, it was a shame that Hong Qing would never forget. However, Hong Qing did not lose her composure because of this, but smiled coldly, and came to counter her body in her own way.

"This is absolutely impossible, my Kingdom of Great Britain will never tolerate such shame!"

As soon as the interpreter relayed Hong Qing's words, the arrogant Colonel Kannan Carter immediately jumped up and shouted again. As soon as this remark came out, not only the faces of all the people in the Qing Dynasty were extremely pale, but even Brooks? Earl Wilson and other members of the British envoy also looked very ugly...

(End of this chapter)