Qing Dynasty Secret History

Chapter 76

It is said that Ye Mingchen has to go to the school to take the exam for Wu Wei, and the two prefectures and counties tried their best to dissuade him.

Mingchen said: "I'm here, it's useless."

Fantai said: "Zhongtang should send someone to the British Consul's Yamen to ask him why he started the quarrel."

Ye Mingchen said: "Most foreigners are unreasonable. I'm afraid of negotiating with him."

As he said that, the governor sent in the manuscript, saying that Jiang Liang, the prefect of Leizhou Prefecture, asked to see him.Mingchen said: "Jiang Shou came by coincidence, let him go to the consul's office."

See you as you wish.For a while, the prefect Jiang was introduced, and Ming Chen gave him a word, and the prefect Jiang took the order to go.But within two meals, Jiang Zhifu returned to his hometown, and Ming Chen asked him what happened?Jiang Zhifu said: "When the Beifu arrived there, I was led to Lihao through the general affairs, and there were two foreign officials, one recognized as the consul Pachari, and the other was introduced by Pachari, and I found out that it was the admiral of the British navy. The surname is Xi. The Beifu told them what Zhongtang said, and the Consul Ba and the Admiral Xi replied in unison: "This matter needs to be interviewed in the city. Rumors have been misunderstood, and the two countries are so good that they bother to answer Zhongtang." , Please set a date for the old man, and we should discuss it face-to-face.' The government debated with him, but the Consul of Pakistan did not allow the government to speak, and said to the government: "In any case, we must go to the city for an interview. The words are all here and the meaning is exhausted." So, let's go to the Fuzhong Hall.' The Beifu had to rush back. It seems that the foreign officials wanted to enter the city to discuss the four houses, and they insisted that they would not move. "

Mingchen said: "Foreigners are not allowed to enter the city, it is stipulated in the treaty, how can it be changed?
Bashari was really making trouble out of no reason. "

Then I called Muyou to send a note, declaring that the prohibition of entering the city was made by Xu Qiandu and the British Minister Wen Han. It has been in place for a long time, and it is inconvenient to change it.Followed up, and there was no sound.

On the 29th, the artillery blasted the sky and the shouts shook the ground. The cannons on the mast of the foreign ship and the cannons on the Haizhu Fort were fired together.The generals of the two divisions and the Taoist government, civil and military officials, were extremely anxious, and the fire burst into smoke, and they came to the palace to see.When the arresting officer entered the newspaper, Ming Chen laughed and said, "What are they doing here?
I'm very calm.Let them sit here. "

After being introduced for a while, just waiting to sit down, suddenly a row of cannons came through the air, hitting the roof tiles, dripping, fierce, and making strange noises, which made everyone dumbfounded.When he looked at Ye Mingchen, he still didn't change his face, suddenly a stray bullet flew towards him, hit the table, and burned a hole.All the civil and military men walked and avoided, but Ye Mingchen still sat still.Jiang Guolin, the vassal chief, and Zhang Baikui, the leader, urged Mingchen to stay away.Mingchen smiled and said: "Thanks to the kindness, my brother serves the family lord, and it is very peaceful to live here. The family lord has no intention of moving, and the brother is not too reluctant."

Si Daojian persuaded him not to wake up, so he had no choice but to let it go.

On the afternoon of the [-]th, the foreign ships fired more and more powerful cannonballs, the small ones were like fists and the big ones were like mallets, and they came one after another.All the platforms and Xihua Hall in Zhitai Yamen were destroyed.

Mingchen still doesn't care.Suddenly it was reported that a fire broke out outside the city. Mingchen said: "Is it a fire among the people? Is it arson by foreigners?"

Three or five people were sent to inquire about it, and about a meal time, the people sent came together and reported that the fire was outside Jinghai Gate, and the scene was caused by foreigners shooting rockets and burning it.Mingchen stepped to the bottom of the profile, looked up, but saw black smoke covering the sky, like clouds and fog, the sound of beams and pillars bursting, crackling, crackling, crackling, like old firecrackers, urging flowers to drum up.All the family members were shocked when they saw this momentum.Mingchen said: "What are you afraid of? Foreigners are so skilled.

"

As soon as it got dark, the fire became more and more obvious, shining like day, and the two priests came to plead again, and Bogui, the Fuyuan, also sent him to welcome him.Mingchen said: "It's rare for you to be kind, but brother, I still need to ask for instructions from my family."

Everyone said in unison: "Forgive me, my lord, there will be no objection. How about we go in with Zhongtang to beg?"

Mingchen said: "I don't dare to do that. My family is recuperating in the Changchun Immortal Pavilion. The Changchun Immortal Pavilion is a place to worship the two immortals Lu and Li. You don't know how to fast. I'm afraid it will be inconvenient to go in."

The crowd said: "Since that's the case, please let Zhongtang forward the report."

Mingchen agreed to go in, and for a while helped an old man with fair eyebrows to come out.Everyone recognized Ye Zhishen, the old man of Mingchen, who came forward to pay respects and explained why he came.Ye Zhishen said: "I am very grateful for your kindness. However, there is one more thing that I ask for your forgiveness."

Everyone hurriedly asked what was the matter, Ye Zhishen said: "The Changchun Immortal Hall has a altar, where two immortal masters, Lu Dongbin and Li Taibai, are enshrined."

Jiang Fantai didn't wait to finish, and hurriedly said: "My lord, please don't worry, there will naturally be another abode in Xingyuan to enshrine the immortal master.

Zhi Shen said happily, "It's good to be so sincere." "

Jiang Fantai said to Mingchen: "Please tell Zhongtang, we should leave now, or stop after a while."

Mingchen said: "Brother's behavior is related to the eyes and ears of the whole city. The luggage of the family members can go first, and the brother himself can leave after tomorrow."

Everyone asked why, and Mingchen said: "Tomorrow is just the first day of October. I was going to burn incense in the holy temple. After I burn incense, I went to Fuyuan. I just said it was an important meeting. Who knows."

Everyone praised the trick.Jiang Fantai ordered Nan and Fan counties to quickly urge [-] husbands and servants to come to serve the prince.The two counties promised to go first, and the two ministers said a few more words before resigning.

The next day, Wu Chongyao, a gentry businessman, came to see him, and he replied at the door that Zhongtang was at the Fuyuan, and he knew that he had already moved away.Wu Chongyao had no choice but to turn back to Fu's Office and see you when he threw a stab. The patrol officer led him in, and Ming Chen asked about his intention.Chong Yao said: "Britain has sent a new envoy surnamed Bao. This envoy Bao has a letter to Zhongtang. Judging by their actions, it seems that they are trying to turn things around."

Mingchen asked, "Where is the letter?"

Chong Yao said: "Zhi Wan is here."

Hand it over immediately.When Mingchen unpacked it and looked at it, he generally said that Renyin asked for money, and that any consular officer had to meet with the local government office if he had any business negotiations.Since the prohibition of entry into the city in eastern Guangdong, the rumors have been misleading and blocked. Please still follow the old agreement of Jiangning to communicate with China and foreign countries.

After Mingchen finished watching, he shook his head and said: "The heart of entering the city will never die. After all, it's always the same sentence. Who cares about him patiently."

Seeing that Ming Chen was stubborn, Chong Yao didn't dare to say anything, so he left.

On this day, the Bofu Court held a ceremony and specially invited Mingchen and his son to have lunch.After sitting down on the table, just waiting to raise the chopsticks, the sound of the cannon was loud.The army flew to report that the foreign soldiers attacked the city, and the city wall collapsed by more than two feet, and the foreign general led his troops to rush in.Mingchen said: "Let's eat as much as we can."

Fuyuan reluctantly accompanied him, flustered and anxious.Suddenly, it was reported that Ling Cao, the deputy general of the army, was shot dead by foreigners, and the officers and soldiers were defeated.A large number of regiments bravely came to the rescue, only killing dozens of foreign soldiers.Because there were no firearms, they were still defeated and returned. Now the foreign soldiers have gone to the Yamen of Taitai.The Fuyuan said to Mingchen: "Zhongtang Hongfu, if the move is delayed by a day, it will be a disaster."

Before the Taoist words were over, the alarm came again. Jinghai and Wuxian's two sects all caught fire. The people came out to fight the fire, but they were all shot to death by foreign soldiers.At this time, Fuyuan couldn't sit still and eat unwillingly.Ye Zhongtang still acted as if nothing had happened, and smiled at his old man and said: "A gentleman lives in a barbarian country and reads the books of sages and sages. I'm afraid it will be useless for what he learns."

Zhishen said: "My family has been serving the people for many generations, and I also firmly believe that there will be nothing."

Suddenly reported to the gentlemen of the training group to ask for an interview, Mingchen said: "It is these gentlemen who drive out the foreigners."

See you immediately.All the gentlemen expressed their righteous indignation, and between the meaning of the words, there was an air of hatred and hatred.Mingchen said in a big way: "Foreigners started a quarrel, aiming to enter the city. Now that they are causing trouble with excuses, and the trouble has come to such a great extent, the headquarters quoted the previous agreement and repeatedly enlightened them, but the foreigners were stubborn and could not be enlightened. But the headquarters decided You must stick to the former alliance, and you can't just follow its request. You don't have to be suspicious, you should stick to it and fight against the enemy. Foreigners see that our officials and people are united, and they are of one mind, so naturally they dare not fight any more."

When the gentlemen saw Ming Chen rewarding him so much, they were naturally very brave.After the gentleman left, Mingchen smiled and said to Fuyuan: "Cantonese people are so nice. It seems that foreigners will still be driven away by them."

Don't talk too much.From this day on, the foreign soldiers bombarded the city every day, but the consul Pachari made appointments with local gentlemen every day to discuss money matters.Several gentlemen, such as Chong Yao, Liang Lunshu, Yi Jinglan, Pan Shirong, Yu Wenzhao, Huang Lezhi, etc., seemed busy.On this day, Bashali came up with another idea and said to the gentry: "Soldiers are linked with disasters, and it is not a blessing for the locality. We are determined to enter the city, but we are determined not to enter the city, and it is difficult to turn things around. Now we There is a way to get the best of both worlds, as long as Zhongtang learns from his humble heart and agrees, there will be no further fighting, and the two countries will still maintain good relations."

All the gentlemen were overjoyed and asked how to do it.

Bashali said: "It's very easy to do. You only need to discuss a meeting etiquette, and then consider a meeting office outside the city, and invite Zhongtang to come to the office to discuss everything. This way, both sides have face, and it won't hurt Feelings, everyone, can you see if it is feasible?"

All the gentlemen said: "We think it is very good, but I don't know what Ye Zhongtang thinks."

Huang Lezhi said: "Ye Zhongtang is very stubborn, so we should discuss it with Jiang Fangbo first. Even in front of Zhongtang, Jiang Fangbo is better than us."

All the gentlemen heard that it was reasonable, so they went straight to the feudal office, threw stabs at them, and explained their intentions.Jiang Guolin said happily: "It seems so accommodating, Zhongtang will definitely accept."

All the gentlemen said: "Can Fei Fang Boshen, in front of the middle hall, brag a little or two."

Jiang Guolin said: "A few words of help are absolutely necessary, but you have to say the words yourself."

Wu Chongyao said: "This is natural."

At present, Jiang Fantai and all the gentlemen took sedan chairs and went to the Fuyuan to see Ye Mingmao and Mingchen. As soon as they met, they asked them what they were doing again.Wu Chongyao said: "Foreigners are frightened by Zhongtang's mighty virtue, and dare not enter the city again."

Mingchen was very proud when he heard the words, and smiled to everyone: "I expected foreigners to be useless, but you don't believe it. How is it now? Now that you say that foreigners are powerful, let me tell you that there are no more than a thousand foreigners here." Left or right, depending on what he does, a hundred of them can serve one. We still have tens of thousands of people here. Foreigners from foreign countries don’t have wings, so they might fly here. Retire, it can be seen that I answered my words."

Said, laughing wildly.Wu Chongyao said slowly: "When we go back to Zhongtang, the foreigners still have demands."

Mingchen said: "What do you want?"

Chong Yao said: "Pashali, please set up a public office outside the city, consider a meeting etiquette, and invite Zhongtang to go out of the city for a meeting."

Mingchen said: "What do you want to see me for? I won't be fooled by them."

Jiang Guolin said: "According to Sili, this move has nothing to do with the covenant regime. Ba Chief just wants to have an audience with the Zhongtang, so why not play tricks on the Zhongtang, agree, and save a lot of gossip."

Mingchen said: "The foreign sentiment is treacherous, what is there to be trusted even today. If he is allowed to meet and suffers humiliation, it doesn't matter to me alone. I'm afraid it will be even more difficult to deal with the later things."

Seeing what he said, Jiang Guolin was inconvenient to meet with him, and all the gentlemen were silent. They sat for a while and then dispersed.Mingchen smiled and said to the left and right: "Foreigners have the most tricks. If you don't come this way, you can come in another way. I am determined to ignore him and see what he does."

Before the end of the Taoist speech, he suddenly heard strange noises as if the hills were sinking into the ground, continuous and continuous, shaking the houses to shiver, and four or five fires were reported in a flash.

On this day, the foreigners' cannons were attacked in five directions. The sound of the cannons was soaring, and the flames were scattered. Some of the shells weighed more than 80 catties.The shops and houses passed by the artillery line, if they are not destroyed, they will continue to burn. The flames are burning, and the crying is shaking the ground, until it is dark, and then the bombardment will stop.In November, the artillery fire exploded day and night, and the ammunition was burned immediately when it arrived. The county magistrates ordered the residents to remove the tents and other fire igniters and store more water slurry.On the night of the eighteenth day, there was a sudden fire outside Xiguan, the wind was fierce and the fire was raging, and it burned all night and day.The houses of merchants and people in America, France, and England have all been turned into piles of scorched earth.The foreigners suspected that the nearby residents had started the fire, so they set fire to thousands of shophouses along the river in Xihao, and burned them all down.It is strange to say that since the western foreign houses were burned down, the foreign soldiers retreated to the Haizhu Fortress and stopped bombarding the city.On the 26th, the foreign soldiers suddenly retreated to the Dahuangkou Chekou Fort, and the foreign ships in the inland river also retreated to the Dahuangkou.When the military scout entered the provincial capital, Ming Chen said happily, "I knew that foreigners were useless, so I really retreated."

It is reported that Wuchang and Hanyang have been conquered by the Hunan Army, and Jiujiang has also been encircled.Hu Linyi ran Wuhan, Zeng Guofan took charge of Nanchang, and the momentum of the officers and soldiers flourished again.Mingchen said: "Once Changmao is leveled, it will be easy to transfer the soldiers who leveled up Changmao to deal with the red-haired men."

With the order of the prefecture and county to repair the supervision office, it will move back to work today.

Time flies, and the new year is coming in a blink of an eye.Ye Mingchen was very happy. He held several banquets and invited generals, governors, governors, Liangsiti towns, and Taoist officials to come to Yuangong for a banquet.General Mu Duide said in a naive way: "Reading the residence newspaper, Concubine Yi, Nala, has been conferred the title of Imperial Concubine Yi by the Jin Dynasty."

Mingchen said: "The worship of the palace has nothing to do with government affairs, why mention her?
"General Mu said: "The Yehenala family is a family feud of this dynasty, so there has never been a concubine with the surname Nala in all dynasties.Now Concubine Yi is Nala, isn't it strange? "

Mingchen said: "Empress Gao, isn't the surname Nala?"

Mu Jiang said: "At that time Yehe Kingdom hadn't been destroyed yet."

Gui Futai said: "Your Majesty's affairs are not something that you can talk about. In autumn and winter last year, the foreigners were so turbulent, and the provincial capital was so critical. It is unexpected that the fog will melt and the ice will disappear, and they will still live in peace."

Mingchen said with a smile: "Everyone, you should be busy. Brothers knew that it didn't matter. Brothers asked Lu Zu at that time, and Lu Zu gave a sign, saying that the foreigners would retreat soon, and it was true."

Jiang Guolin said: "It seems to Si Li that the foreigners may not stop here. After the foreign firm outside Xiguan was burned, the British were so angry that they rushed back to their country and cried to the king. Most of the ministers advocate calling for soldiers, but the gentlemen in the House of Commons refused to agree, and British Prime Minister Bamidon asked to be dismissed for this matter, and I don’t know how it will end.”

Mingchen said: "My brother knows everything in detail."

Jiang Guolin said: "There must be a Macau monthly report in the department, and the overseas affairs are recorded in detail."

Mingchen said: "What do the Englishmen want to do when they cry to the lord?"

Jiang Guolin said: "It's nothing more than wanting to call the soldiers a nuisance."

Mingchen said: "The monarch of this country, the upper and lower courts, presumably are still in a state of ambiguity."

Jiang Guolin said: "The British system is different from ours. The big and small political affairs must always be discussed by the two houses, and then it will be easy. The upper house is full of ministers, and the lower house is full of gentlemen. This is also a routine move."

Mingchen said: "I don't care if I follow the rules or not. In short, no matter what, it's just a trick."

The wine is idle and the people are scattered, and they go home separately, and they have a chat, all of which have been put aside.Mingchen followed Laozi, still in Changchun Immortal Hall, paying homage to Lu and Li Erxian, and devoutly reciting "Jueshi Zhenjing".

The fallen flowers are speechless, but the fragrant grass is affectionate.Du Yu urges spring, cuckoo welcomes summer.In a blink of an eye, it was the beginning of May, and there was the sound of peaceful and elegant praises, the rain of guns and guns, and the blood and flesh were thin, which had long been regarded as a world away.Unexpectedly, on the [-]th day of the Lunar New Year, an alarm came, saying that Huang Kaiguang, the commander-in-chief of Qiongzhou Town, led more than [-] division ships and Hongdan ships, to start a war with foreign ships in Sanshan and suffered a big defeat.The foreign boat chased straight to Foshan Town, and then retreated.The foreign boat that reported to Darongjiao also retreated, I don't know why.Mingchen said: "It's not a surprise to come, and it's not a surprise to go. Don't pay attention to him. Once he is like a spring swallow in Liang Jian, he will come and go."

Since this time, several wind reports have been connected, saying that the foreign ships are so big that the foreigners are bound to make a big move.Mingchen said with a smile: "It's just a rumor, nothing will happen."

Everyone is skeptical.This year, things are turbulent, strange like ghosts, and chaotic like hemp.Zeng Guofan was worried, and the Hunan Army lost a general.Yiliang became vacant due to illness, and He Duqing acted as governor of Liangjiang, and there was another mediocre minister in Jiangnan.In Yunnan and Guizhou, the Hui people harassed and harassed. Governor Hengchun intercepted Jiqiong and hanged himself in the office.General Chen Yucheng of the Taiping Army repeatedly harassed Hubei.Yuan Jiasan defeated Deng, Wang and Yao Sanwei, and captured Nian Shou Li Yin and others alive.The Xiang army conquered Hukou and Pengze counties, Zhang Guoliang conquered Zhenjiang, and Dexing Ake conquered Guazhou, especially Guangdong, but nothing happened.Therefore, none of the civil and military officials did not admire Ming Chen's foresight.

Unexpectedly, on the first day of October, Wu Quan, who claimed to be an expert, asked to see Ye Zhongtang, saying that he had something important to report.Mingchen sent him in and asked what's the matter.Wu Quandao: "British Lord Bei, ask the young one to pay homage to Zhongtang. Tomorrow, Lord Bei will personally drive a steamer into the provincial river to deliver the note. Please ask Zhongtang to send officials there to pick it up." Ming Chen said: "What will you do if you send the note again?" ? Say I know."

The next day, Mingchen sent Xu Wenshen, the magistrate of Nanhai County, to receive the note.It turned out that the British Parliament advocated peace, while the cabinet advocated force, and they were at a stalemate.Cabinet Secretary Barmeton, I ask you to be dismissed.The conciliation faction is planning to send an envoy to China first to renew the covenant. If not, it will not be too late to use troops.The British monarch was deeply aware of his plan, so he sent Eruojin, the second-class earl, to Guangdong to discuss the payment, and at the same time dispatched steamers and warships to berth in Macao and Hong Kong to wait for the advance.He also sent someone to sue France to make an appointment with the joint army, but the legal person also obeyed, so there is a note.

But he said that Mingchen sent Xu Wenshen to go, so he changed into his official uniform, went to the Changchun Immortal Hall, burned a burner of incense in front of the statue of the two immortals, kowtowed four heads, and prayed silently once.The governor was also effective, and the fairy was so moved that he pronounced four sentences of fairy words in an instant, which were clear and clear. What was written was: on the [-]th, listen to the news, the matter has been decided, don't worry.

Mingchen said happily: "I have known for a long time that the British are timid and dare not go too far. Immortals have spirits. After fifteen days, there must be nothing serious."

Suddenly reported Xu Wenshen asking to see.Mingchen said: "Tell him to sign the bond room and wait."

After sending off the ghost fairy, taking off his official clothes, and sitting down to drink a cup of tea, he walked slowly to the signing room.The family opened the soft curtain, and Ming Chen walked in. Xu Wenshen rushed to greet him, presented a note to the British, and replied: "The humble official took a boat to the Jiyakou of the Provincial River, and saw two steamers, flying high with white flags. They came, one was an English ship, and the other was a French ship. Stopped to meet each other, sent a note, and as expected, they retreated."

Mingchen nodded, and when he took it apart to look at it, he saw Eruojin, the second-class earl Eruojin, who was signed by the imperial envoy and plenipotentiary of the Great Britain, and said in surprise: "Why did the British send a plenipotentiary here?"

Then look down and see that there are three things requested: one is to meet in the city, the other is to claim the land on the south bank of the provincial river, and the other is to blame the burned foreign houses, goods and trade.The tone is unusually mad.Mingchen began to say: "The British look down on people too much. You can reply to him and say that I can't do anything except trade. I don't have that much effort to write notes to those unreasonable people." .It's best if they listen, and if they don't, let them be."

Xu Wenshen didn't dare to say anything, Nuonuo kept going.

At dawn the next day, British and French warships sailed into the provincial river with masts and boats.The whistling of the siren, the whistling of the engine, the momentum is like the sound of mountains and valleys, and the roar of tigers and dragons.The people near the river were frightened and ran away in shock.As soon as the warships arrived at the south bank, they anchored and stopped, and the foreign soldiers landed in groups, expelled the residents, seized the houses, and implemented the second clause in the note.All the officials and gentry in the city were worried, so they all went to the supervisor's office to ask for an interview, and begged to try to resist.If you want to know what kind of secret plan Ye Mingchen has, you can help the situation, and I will describe it in detail in the next reply.

(End of this chapter)