Chapter 297: Concessions

Everyone's eyes refocused on the infantry behind Liu Chang, these elite Chinese infantry seemed to be not in harmony with Liu Chang's assurance, but Liu Chang told everyone: "That's right, I once promised to ensure the prosperity, stability and neutrality of Ningbo Port, which should be regarded as a non-belligerent zone and no longer be involved in China's civil war!" ”

This sentence received a lot of applause, and then Liu Chang continued: "I still respect this promise, my troops entered the port of Ningbo just to maintain order, and they can withdraw from this port at any time, and the fate of this port will be in your hands, not the hands of a dictator!" ”

"I hope that there will be a council and a city government that will be recognized by both China and the West to run the city, and they will take on the responsibility of running the city, distributing the city's revenues reasonably, and bringing the city to prosperity, stability and neutrality, and you are willing to take on this responsibility!"

Immediately, many hands were raised, these people came to China with the strongest sense of adventure, and now they have clearly seen that the greatest opportunity of their lives is coming, and whoever misses the present is missing out on a lifetime.

"Excellent!" Liu Chang continued: "The city must not be in the hands of a dictator, but should be decided by the representatives of the interests of all residents, and I am not asking for much......"

He was naturally referring to the consul Fumar who was overpriced, and now Liu Chang had put aside this consul and negotiated directly with the Western merchants in this port: "I need the prosperity and freedom of this neutral port, and we will sell and buy supplies here without any hindrance!" ”

Westerners agreed with him, and they went on to ask: "What do you need besides arms and cotton?" ”

"We need everything, we need all industrial supplies, we have to build our military industry, civilian industry, railways, mines from scratch, we need your help, and you can not only help us, but also enjoy huge profits!" Liu Chang promised them: "The customs revenue of this city, I must state one point, must be managed by an independent commission, and I do not want this tax to be used for purposes that oppose us." Update"

This condition is reasonable, and even some Western businessmen agree that Liu Chang can take a large part of the tax revenue: "General Liu, as long as you guarantee normal trade, we can hand over the customs revenue here to you!" ”

Liu Chang agreed: "Except for opium, any goods can be traded freely, unless this trade affects the safety of our Hong Army!" He continued: "I can leave this port completely under your management, whether it is administrative, legislative, or personnel, and you even have independent self-defense forces in this port!" ”

This condition is very lucrative, and it is a long applause, which is equivalent to Liu Chang temporarily leasing the port of Ningbo to these Westerners for management, but these Westerners must also respect the opinions of their partners: "No problem! No problem! ”

"I am a retired soldier, and I am willing to take on the responsibility of managing the City Self-Defense Force!"

"I used to be a tax commissioner, and I was an expert in customs revenue......"

"I had a dream of being elected as an honorable member of parliament......"

"Can I come out and run for mayor?"

Compared to Fumar becoming the dictator who ran Ningbo alone, everyone prefers the way it is now, where everyone can cut the cake together and openly share the spoils.

And now Liu Chang has found the most reasonable excuse for him to enter Ningbo: "The reason why I drove the army into Ningbo Mansion is to clean up Ningbo Port for you and facilitate the establishment of new Ningbo!" My troops are about to withdraw from Ningbo Fucheng, and I hope that before then, you can form a complete set of administrative institutions, thank you! After my presentation, we will have a very pleasant cooperation! ”…,

The applause was like thunder, which lasted for six or seven minutes before it ended, and now Liu Chang had left the consulate with his infantry, but the Westerners in the consulate had already begun to divide the spoils.

"We need a council!"

"Who wants to come out and run for mayor?"

"As long as I can get into the city council, then I can support anyone!"

They had so bluntly carved up the cake in order to set up the administrative structure of the new Ningbo as quickly as possible, and Consul Fumar, who had once professed to be the protector of the port of Ningbo, had now been abandoned by the Westerners present.

Consul Fumar realized what a problem he had made, and when he got a super big cake, he did not share it with everyone, but decided to enjoy it alone behind closed doors.

He couldn't eat such a big cake, and now the Chinese and Westerners were dissatisfied with his hegemonic behavior, and Liu Jihu of the Hongjun even crossed him, the Westerner with the highest status in Ningbo Port, and directly negotiated with the Westerners in Ningbo Port.

Although His Excellency the Consul is very important in the port of Ningbo, everyone has friends and relations in Shanghai, Singapore and Mumbai, and as long as everyone has reached a consensus, His Excellency the Consul cannot oppose the opinions of so many people.

He watched the people gleefully divide the spoils there, but forgot about him, the consul, and repented, sat down, and clasped his head tightly with his hands, but soon someone shook his hand.

Fumar looked back, but it was his translator Xing Malong, and he said, "Your Excellency, there is still a chance!" There's still a chance! ”

A flash of lightning suddenly flashed in Fumar's heart, and he immediately became excited, although he could not become the dictator of Ningbo Port as expected, and seize all the power in his hands, but as the British consul in Ningbo, he should share the fattest part of the cake.

He had already thought about what to do, he should take action, and the reason why everyone had forgotten about Xing Malone now was obviously because General Liu of the Rainbow Army decided to change the negotiation opponent, and his monopolistic behavior resulted in not being able to find enough allies.

But as long as there are allies, everyone can't ignore him, the consul who is high, just where to find allies? He had another flash of inspiration, and said to Xing Malone: "Find the lantern, I'll go find Feng Wenyi!" ”

The night was already a little late, but Feng Wenyi was gilding his steps in his courtyard, and from time to time someone outside asked to see him, but he was blocked: "Our second young master has something, please come back tomorrow!" ”

Now the troops of the Rainbow Army have carried out a clean-up operation according to the expected deployment, and the large and small yamen, warehouses, and key points in the city of Ningbo have been controlled by the Rainbow Army, and some local officials of the Qing Dynasty have been arrested by the Dragon Lance Regiment on order.

Everything went as smoothly as agreed, and then it was time for Feng Wenyi to come forward to maintain it, the second grandson of the Feng family had such a weight of pressure for the first time.

But he refused anyone's request to see, and refused to see anyone today, you must know that the group of Qing Dynasty officials and inferior gentry arrested by the Hongjun this time were all made by himself, and most of the people who came now came to intercede.

In this case, it is not appropriate for him to appear, and he can only wait until tomorrow.

Although he did not come forward, but the news from all sides came, Liu Chang appeared at the British Consulate, a speech moved the Western businessmen present, the dragon gun battalion did not commit any crimes in the autumn of the city, and some local officials of the Qing Dynasty fled to Dinghai overnight......

All this information was transmitted to Feng Wenyi as soon as possible, so that he knew the situation of the entire Ningbo City well, but Feng Wenyi still felt that something was missing......

What's missing? He was thinking carefully as he walked in, and the underworld man suddenly walked in and said, "Consul Fumar is here!" ”…,

When Feng Wenyi heard this, he suddenly realized what he owed in his plan: "Please come in, please come in, I can't show up, I can only grieve Your Excellency the Consul!" ”

"Your Excellency Feng Wenyi!" Fumar hugged Feng Wenyi affectionately: "My friend, I came to you for a big event!" ”

"Your Excellency Fumar, I am also waiting for your visit! I want to do something big too! ”

"This port of Ningbo should be a free port enjoyed by Chinese and Westerners!" Fumar laughed: "Together, we can guarantee their prosperity, freedom, and neutrality." ”

The so-called "Chinese and Westerners share the same enjoyment", in fact, in other words, he and Feng Wenyi are just two people monopolized, Feng Wenyi is not polite, he opened the skylight and said brightly: "I heard that to elect the city council, I need one-third of the seats!" ”

"Chinese?" Fumar has already understood: "I think Chinese and Westerners in Ningbo Port should be in the parliament with equal shares." ”

Although it is an equal share, it is actually unequal, so many Chinese in Ningbo only enjoy half of the seats, while dozens of Westerners enjoy half of the seats, but compared to the concession, this is a great improvement.

Feng Wenyi agreed, and he even promised another thing: "Then you also have the same power." ”

His point was obvious, if Consul Fermar cooperated with him, he would also be able to appoint one-third of the councillors, and the remaining one-third would be the ones who were actually elected.

Fermar agreed, and he made even more concessions than Feng Wenyi needed: "No problem! You and I have the same rights throughout the port of Ningbo, including customs, the city government, and the Self-Defense Forces. ”

And Feng Wenyi was also very happy: "I am responsible for the affairs of the Chinese realm, and as for the affairs of the concession, this is originally the responsibility of His Excellency Fermar!" ”

Fermar thought more than just this promise, and he immediately asked, "So do I have a chance to have a sincere conversation with General Liu Chang?" I am willing to pay half of the tax revenue of Ningbo Port to the actual controller of Ningbo Prefecture after deducting the cost of customs collection."

The actual controller of Ningbo Mansion was naturally Liu Changliu, and Feng Wenyi agreed: "Yes!" ”

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