Lin Qingyuan said that foreign ministers, consuls, and military attachés usually do not have any official duties, and they usually go to the horse race hall in the morning to run horses or play ball, and in the afternoon they get together for afternoon tea, and in the evening there are not only parties but also dances. Today you invite me, tomorrow I invite you, almost every day there is a party. In other words, today's dinner was not specially prepared for Xu Naizhao and other Chinese officials.

I rushed to the consulate and inquired, and sure enough, it was so.

The niece of a foreign businessman came all the way from England, and found that none of the Chinese officials such as Xu Naizhao had the final say, nor did the ministers and consuls of the Three Kingdoms come, and after receiving the letter, they no longer bothered Han Xiufeng, and were more polite to the niece of the foreign businessman than Han Xiufeng, not only got up to greet each other, but also shamelessly kissed the woman's hand.

Everyone stood up, thinking that China is a country of etiquette, Han Xiufeng didn't want to leave an arrogant and rude impression on foreigners, so he also got up to greet him, but he would definitely not kiss the woman's hand.

What made Han Xiufeng laugh was that the woman had obviously never seen Chinese, and she felt very curious, and kept staring at this side, and a young officer in a crimson military uniform offered great courtesy, pulling Yan Matai, a Citi missionary who could speak Chinese, to come over and introduce.

Knowing that the strange Chinese was actually the customs commissioner, the woman was in awe, squatted slightly with the hem of Nuoda's skirt, and curtsy a knees. Han Xiufeng could only be like those foreigners, holding his chest and bending down slightly to return the salute.

Looking at his helpless appearance, Yan Ma Tai felt very funny, and when the woman went to dance with the young officer, she raised her wine glass and smiled: "Your Excellency, how do you feel about attending the ball for the first time?" ”

Han Xiufeng paused, looked back at the plate he had just put down, and said with an embarrassed expression, "The dessert is good." ”

"I'm glad there's at least a dessert to your taste." Mrs. Yan raised her glass and greeted a foreigner who was looking at her from afar, and asked quietly: "Your Excellency, Wu has not come back until now, do you think your boss will let him come back?" ”

"Mr. Yan Matai, are you asking Wu Jianzhang about Lord Wu's current situation?"

"As far as I know, he trusts you, aren't you worried about him at all?"

"You can rest assured that he will be fine, but it is unlikely that he will be reinstated for a while."

"That's good news, as long as he's not in danger." Yan Matai put down her wine glass and asked with a smile, "Your Excellency, do you know why the three ministers invited your superiors?" ”

"Why?" Han Xiufeng asked curiously.

"Mr. Minister is seriously concerned about the proximity of your troops, and wants to speak to your superiors, and hopes that your troops will not affect the concession when they engage the Taiping forces in the city."

"Is the army of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the city?"

"Isn't it?"

"Mr. Yan Matai, I'm not afraid of your jokes, as far as I know, the chaotic party entrenched in the city seems to be under the banner of the Ming Kingdom."

"It doesn't matter what banner they are fighting, the important thing is that the battle must not affect the concession." Yan Ma Tai smiled and continued: "In addition, the three ministers, for the safety of the expatriates in the concession, plan to revise the land regulations of the concession with your superiors. ”

Han Xiufeng realized that the foreigners were planning to take advantage of the fire to rob and expand the concession again! Thinking that there was really no good banquet, he touched his chin and asked knowingly: "Mr. Yan Matai, wasn't the land charter already negotiated, why should it be revised?" ”

"Your army is too close to the concession, the French is closer to the county seat, and your army is at war with the army in the city, and the three ministers consider it necessary to revise the land charter and demarcate a buffer zone that is sufficiently safe. Moreover, the land in the concession has long been insufficient, in fact, the land matter has long been negotiated with Wu, but now Wu is no longer a Taoist platform, and the three ministers can only negotiate with your superiors. ”

Han Xiufeng didn't dare to express his position lightly in this kind of matter, but asked without humility or arrogance: "Mr. Yan Matai, isn't your country strictly neutral with England and France?" ”

"There's no doubt about that."

"Since your country is strictly neutral with England and France, it means that your three countries will neither recognize our Qing court, nor the rebellious parties in the city as orthodox. If you don't admit it, why do you have to talk to my boss about rebuilding and amending the land charter? In your country's words, it has no legitimacy, even if it is revised, it is useless! ”

Yan Matai didn't expect Han Xiufeng's mind to turn so quickly, holding a wine glass and smiling: "Your Excellency, our three kingdoms strictly abide by neutrality, you can understand that you recognize both the Qing Dynasty and the army in the city as the legitimate government. The officials and troops of your country are stationed outside the city, so the three ministers outside the city will talk to your superiors, and if it involves the affairs of the city, the three ministers will naturally go to discuss with Liu Lichuan and them. ”

"Mr. Yan Matthei, with all due respect, the Minister of your country and the Ministers of England and France proposed to revise the land charter of the concession at this time, which is clearly taking advantage of the fire to rob!"

"Your Excellency, I'm not a diplomat, and what I just said is just a kind reminder."

"I know, thank you, Mr. Yan Matthey, I have known that you are our friend."

"We are mutual friends of Wu."

Yan Ma didn't want to be misunderstood by Han Xiufeng, so he immediately changed the conversation, mentioned the preaching he was most concerned about, and seized the opportunity to preach to Han Xiufeng, so that Han Xiufeng could listen to the gospel of God.

"The heart is depressed, the diet is not digested, the movement is not fast, and the cold and heat are not adjusted, it is cold and greedy, then the vaginal discharge is amenorrhea, and the menstrual blood is vain, and the diseases gradually enter, and the child can conceive and become a fetus......"

not only quoting Confucian classics, but also citing medical theory, although Han Xiufeng knew that he was looking for someone to make it up, he found that it seemed to make some sense. Seeing Han Xiufeng's frequent nodding, Yan Ma became even more energetic, leaning on the side and pointing to the last paragraph that Han Xiufeng had not finished reading

"Your Excellency, it is difficult for a woman who binds her feet to be healthy even if she gives birth to a child, because they sit more and move less, and their blood is uncomfortable, and they are prone to disease, and it is very difficult to give birth, and their body is weak, and they are weak in giving birth to children. ”

"Mr. Yan Matai, I believe what you say, it's just that the bad habit of foot binding is hard to return, and it is not an overnight thing to let my Qing women let go of their feet."

"So you don't think it's good to bind your feet?"

"This is natural, Mr. Yan Matthei, you may not believe it, the imperial court has never encouraged women to bind their feet, and even did not allow banner women to bind their feet, but ...... Just ......"

"I know that, Mr. Overseer, and it is a pleasure for you to share my views on this matter, and will you do me a favor for God's sake?"

"What's the busy?" Han Xiufeng asked subconsciously.

Mrs. Yan looked back at Ding Gui, who guarded him like a thief and didn't dare to approach even one step, and said helplessly: "Mr. Overseer, the people of your country seem to have misunderstood me, and they don't even dare to listen to me, can you help me let more people see this article, so that they know that binding women's feet is not only an extremely cruel thing, but also will lead to unhealthy children and grandchildren in the future." ”

Han Xiufeng was almost certain that Yang Nengge was absolutely against women's feet, and said with a wry smile: "Mr. Yan Matai, this is for the well-being of thousands of women in my Qing Dynasty, and I am willing to serve you, but not now." ”

"It's enough to have this promise, and I believe that I will definitely wait until the day when you fulfill your promise."

While chatting, a Chinese servant who was doing chores in the consulate came over quietly, leaned into Ding Gui's ear and whispered a few words, Ding Gui glanced at Han Xiufeng, and then looked at the foreigners who were busy dancing, and then followed the servant out.

After a while, Ding Gui came back, walked to Han Xiufeng's side and said, "Master Han, my master sent someone to pass a message to you." ”

"What's the word?"

Thinking that what the master had done was too scary, Ding Gui said with palpitations: "My lord said that if the foreigners also invite Liu Lichuan and other rebels, please kill them like Ban Chao killed them, and you must not let the rebels return to the city alive." ”

Han Xiufeng thought he had heard it wrong, so he stared at him for a while before asking, "Ding Gui, you're not joking, are you?" ”

"Master Han, how dare you make such a joke." Thinking that the foreigners did not invite Liu Lichuan and other chaotic parties now, it does not mean that they will not be invited later, and as long as the chaotic party appears, even he, the long-term entourage, will have to work hard, Ding Gui said eagerly: "Master Han, we have also eaten the foreigners' meal, why don't you leave quickly." ”

Han Xiufeng thought to himself that you were also afraid, and at the same time felt that foreigners were unlikely to invite the party, so he said quietly: "What's the hurry, people haven't dispersed yet, if we just leave, won't it seem too rude?" ”

"But ......"

"Don't be, the soldiers will block the water and cover the earth, you and I will have to serve the court if you are deeply favored by the emperor, if the foreigners really invite the chaotic party, if the chaotic party really dares to come, we will fight with them, even if we die here, we will die as we deserve!"

、

"Master Han, you are an official of the imperial court, not a small one. You are deeply favored by the emperor, and the little one has never received a tael of silver from the imperial court......"

Han Xiufeng forced a smile and said righteously: "Although you are not an official of the imperial court, you are the family of Lord Yang, and you should die for Lord Yang!" Don't worry, if we are really martyred because of this, the court will not forget me Han Xiufeng, and your master will not forget you Ding Gui. ”