Originally, when Du Little accepted the knighthood, it was good to kneel on one knee, and he was not required to bow down on both knees, but he didn't expect him to jump out and ask to "follow the customs".

Doolittle's enthusiasm for aristocratic status made him feel that the more "standard" the "procedure" of knighthood, the higher the "gold content" of the title. If you are treated "specially", then your title will become "special" - it means that the title is mixed with some "informal" factors, and the "gold content" of the title will be reduced.

Doolittle does not consider himself a diplomat, and he does not care at all about the "negative impact" that his knee-jerk will have on the United States of America.

At the same time, after the end of the civil war, in the foreseeable future, there will be no large-scale war in the United States, both internally and externally, and Doolittle's development in military circles has in fact touched the "ceiling". If he hadn't come to China, he would have probably retired from business by this time. Therefore, Doolittle is not worried about the "negative impact" that this move will bring to his personal career.

On the contrary, an authentic aristocratic status, in addition to greatly satisfying vanity, will be of great help to him to "mix the world" in the future. And, really, "for future generations".

However, the "custom" that Doolittle asks to "follow the customs" is not a good "custom".

The direction of Guan Zhuofan's efforts is to make the Chinese's body stand straighter, not bend lower. Therefore, in terms of etiquette, it must be "changing summer with Yi", not "changing Xia into Yi"; It is not for foreigners to "follow the local customs", but for China to "be in line with international standards". Sooner or later, when the Chinese face their own monarch. The knees should also be off the ground.

Doolittle's request. It is contrary to this general direction.

But. As far as the short-term political effect is concerned, Du Lide's move will bring huge "blessings" to Guan Zhuofan.

Starting from the Qianlong Dynasty's British envoy Magalni, when he met the Chinese emperor, the foreign envoy's knees became stiff and could not bend down. My Heavenly Empire really can't understand it, and I have tossed and turned it over and over again, but I have never been able to grasp the essentials. Noisy and noisy. The question of whether or not the knee can be bent has become a major obstacle to China's foreign exchanges.

Later, the window paper was finally pierced, and I couldn't deceive myself anymore: the foreigner's knee was originally hardened with the waist pole. I had to sulk and hide without seeing anyone.

Later, people's foreign guns and cannons came over, and they couldn't hide. I had to "go hunting".

Now, there are high-ranking officials from foreigners. Take the initiative to bend your knees - isn't this a clear proof of "the prosperity of the country, the power of heaven is far away, and the people are oriented"?

It is conceivable that the current Chinese people, whether they are reformers or conservatives, will be inexplicably excited!

After weighing the pros and cons, Kwan decided to take advantage of Doolittle's knee, especially after violently knocking the conservatives on the skull.

Well, just give a sweet date after a slap.

As for "foreigners entering Beijing", Du Lide probably thought that China was similar to Japan, and it was an unusually strict thing. Therefore, they did not hesitate to take the initiative to kneel and bow in exchange. In fact, although China also has restrictions on the entry of foreigners into Beijing, there is already a large number of foreigners in the city, and the current policy orientation of the imperial court is to encourage the necessary increase in the exchange of people between China and foreign countries. Otherwise, it's a fart affair.

Therefore, Du Yide's entry into Beijing is actually not a difficult thing.

At the same time as the edict was issued, the news that Du Yide would enter Beijing to receive a knighthood and kneel down on his knees and bow to the bow was also leaked.

This Doolittle is different from the naturalized foreign generals such as Wall, Forrestal, and Bai Qiwen. Wall, they have been naturalized, and they should be courteous. And Doolittle is an active senior general of the United States, but he is willing to "be sincere", which is really rare!

But no matter how winter the head is, I also understand that this is probably not the good of our "education", not what is "if people from afar are not convinced, then they will cultivate Wende", but because someone has been constantly punching and kicking at home and abroad in the past two years, so that there is this situation of "looking forward to prestige, and people from afar come to the court".

Yesterday, conservatives were still in a daze with the edict that rebuked Xu Yingxiang; Today, in the face of this edict to reward Xuan Jun, it is difficult to hide his joy. At this time, when I thought about and mentioned Guan again, I couldn't help but have mixed feelings in my heart, and I really couldn't tell what it was like.

There is also one mentioned in the edict: Xu Silin. "Add three products according to the rank of inspector, and reward the second product to wear", Xu Zisui put on the red top as he wished.

Xu Silin has been designated as the first minister to Japan, which is China's second minister to a foreign country.

One more thing to say here: Originally, China's second minister to foreign countries should have been a minister to Britain.

After learning that China had sent a minister to the United States, the British Foreign Office proposed to the Prime Minister's Department of Foreign Affairs that China should also send a minister to Britain through the Legation in Beijing.

However, at the beginning of the new year, China's political scene has made great waves. The Queen Mother and the Prime Minister, for the sake of a woman, had a strict contradiction, and the central government was up and down, and the people were panicked, and no one had the heart to deal with this request of the British. After the turmoil, the energy of China and Britain was shifted to the "in-depth cooperation" of the navy, and the matter of China's dispatch of ministers to Britain was put aside for the time being.

After Guan Zhuofan made every effort to prepare for the expedition, he couldn't take care of this matter even more. By the time they returned from Japan, the British had brought up the old story again, and almost a full year had passed.

The Minister to the United Kingdom is a very important position. At this stage, it is not possible for China to send ministers to major European countries at the same time, so for a period of time, a minister to Britain will be equivalent to a "minister to Europe", and his powers and responsibilities will be very heavy.

In addition, the position of minister is not quite the same as that of the Minister of Shipping and the General Office of Railways, and he pays more attention to connections, status, and prestige, especially in Europe, where family background and status are strictly hierarchical. In Guan Zhuofan's pocket, the candidates who understand foreign languages and understand foreign affairs are too young and too young, and they are too young and too young to be sent out, at home and abroad, they are afraid that they will not be able to suppress the scene. Therefore, it is quite hesitant, and the candidate has never been decided.

After delaying again and again, he finally asked the minister stationed in Japan to cut in line and climb his head.

Straight to the point.

Only one day later, another "Ming Fa Edict" came down: the Empress Dowager of the Two Palaces was going to Tianjin to "work the army" and "patrol the army and sea soldiers"!

If I strangle God, can't I give us a breather? With such an endless exchange of ice and fire, cold and heat, which one can stand it?!

The edict is not short, and it is a brief excerpt of two paragraphs.

"In today's world, it is a common practice for heads of state to parade the three armed forces to boost morale. The queen mother of the two palaces listened to the government, that is, to perform the duties of the head of state, I should follow the story of the fine willows of the Han Taizong's labor army, and drive in front of the two palaces. ”

The "Taizong of the Han Dynasty" mentioned in this paragraph refers to Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty and the temple name Taizong.

It should also be noted that for the first time in the edict of the Chinese emperor, the words "world" and "head of state" appeared.

Look further down.

"The queen mother of my two palaces is like the benevolence of heaven, and she is worried about making a lot of money, disturbing the place, and the sacred heart is very much. It is also a labor army, and it should be done by military law. I uphold the kindness, the story of the Luan Yi, a qiē customs defense, car driving, etiquette, and loyalty, in short, Dorobelle Guan Zhuofan. The relationship is not fine, Baylor knows it! ”

Words and paths were in turmoil, and the Hanjan Kedao were once again headless flies.

It's incredible!

What to do?

No one knows what this "universal rule" is all about—if it is really what the edict says, and if you speak casually, you may be scolded for what you will be scolded for! Xu Yingxiang is not far away, "the bones are not cold", but he doesn't dare to repeat the mistakes of the past.

It seems inappropriate to talk about "men's and women's defense" and think about it carefully. This "big defense" is really big and small, and the style is not high. The most important thing is that since they have all "listened to politics", the so-called "men's and women's defense" has actually been removed a long time ago.

It can't be said that the two palaces are on patrol, spending too much money, and "the people are unbearable" - everyone has said, "the story of the Luan Yi"; It can't be said that Xuan Jun is in charge of the guarding, driving, and etiquette of the queen mother of the two palaces, which is "unorthodox" - doesn't that mean that the "Luan Yi story" should be restored?

After thinking about it repeatedly, there was nowhere to "put his mouth down"!

*(To be continued......)