Kneeling on one knee before the emperor of China did not have the problem of "hindering the national body" to the ministers of the Taixi countries, because they performed this salute when they met their own monarchs.

However, the ministers brought out the third paragraph of the "Sino-British Treaty of Tientsin", "except that every time the British monarch sends a representative to the Taixi to worship the lord of the country, and also to worship the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, so as to show the same solemnity" -- when we meet the lords of friendly countries, we all bow and salute, and we should also handle the Qing emperor as one.

Damn, if you want to talk about the "Tianjin Treaty", let's talk about the "Tianjin Treaty".

Guan Zhuofan was unceremoniously accused the envoys of the four countries of "not being true": When you presented your credentials to the lords of Taixi, you did bow and salute, but what about other occasions? What kind of balls, drinking parties? Do you bow every time you meet the lord of the country where you are stationed?

You have met with the host country ten times, and only about one bow is performed, and the other nine times are all kneeling, right?

We, the emperors of China, are still young and have not yet been in power, and in principle, we do not meet with our courtiers, except for the most important ceremonies; The empress dowager of the two palaces is acting on behalf of the emperor, because she is a woman, according to Chinese customs, it is not appropriate to be good at listening and seeing. Therefore, the ministers of various countries, except for the presentation of their credentials, have almost no chance of meeting the emperor - why, on such an opportunity, you intend to bow with only a 10 percent probability, instead of the one-kneeling with a 90 percent probability?

What is the reasoning of this

Again, please take a look at the third paragraph of the Treaty of Tientsin: Is there any mention of the words "Presentation of Credentials"?

The ministers of Britain, France, Russia, and the Netherlands were speechless.

After the visit of the US delegation to China in the Qianqing Palace, on this issue. The ministers of the four countries were even more passive: Vice President Johnson was the vice president of the United States. Take a bow. Then he sits; The rest of the delegation will all kneel on one knee and give a flat bow.

The United States is still a republic.

As a matter of fact, since there is no problem of "hindering the national body" and kneeling on one knee, the ministers of France, Russia, and the Netherlands do not have much to say, but the envoys of various countries in China have always been the only British leaders in this kind of matter. Ah Liguo hummed and reluctantly, and this matter has been delayed.

In fact, Ali Guo is not really "reluctant", but he is a career diplomat, and bargaining is his professional habit, which is almost equivalent to instinct and nature. He can't close Zhuofan's fan so easily, this hole card has to be kept, and it has to be at the most appropriate time. It's good to flip it out in exchange for greater benefits.

As for Guan Zhuofan. Insisting that the minister in China meet the little emperor and the empress dowager of the two palaces and kneel on one knee is not to safeguard the "right to kneel," but to safeguard China's dignity.

When the US delegation to China met with him, the Americans bowed and knelt on one knee, but he had to lead China's relatives and dignitaries to bow three times and bow nine times.

This feeling was unprecedented, and at that time, he secretly cursed in his heart and said a few cruel words to himself.

However, at this stage, the national situation is so helpless.

The road to change is a long way to go.

Because the Chinese can't stand up in front of the emperor for the time being, they can't help but pull the foreigners down, so that the height of each other is not so different, and the distance is not so dazzling.

Also, the envoys of the four countries knelt on one knee, which was good for Guan Zhuofan.

Guan Zhuofan has already asked people to let the wind out: The ministers of the four countries please bow and salute, which is clearly stated in the "Tianjin Treaty", in black and white, we are very passive -- to blame, we can only blame the treaty for not being signed in the first place.

This kind of public opinion was formed, and when the time came, the ministers of the four countries had to kneel down on one knee when they met the emperor.

As for the subtle verbal entanglements in the "Treaty of Tianjin" and the facts of the Taixi countries, apart from him, how many people in China have figured it out?

When the time comes, both inside and outside the government and the opposition, whether it is the new school or the old school, will not all be full of joy and thunder?

Guan Zhuofan and Ali Guo have their own thoughts, you come and go, and finally in the matter of "EXPO", each other's interests have formed an intersection.

The British were very nervous when the "American delegation to China" was completed, and Ali Guo received instructions from London to closely monitor the interaction between Americans and Chinese to ensure that the United States would not form a monopoly on the Chinese market and damage the interests of the British Empire.

Railways are a lesson in the past.

In the construction of China's huge railway network, almost all of the "first phase of the project" fell into the hands of the Americans, and the British were extremely annoyed. But the wood is already in the boat, and there is nothing to be done. Moreover, the British judged that after the "first phase of the project," the experience and technology of the Americans in building ultra-long-distance and complex terrain railways would be more mature, and it would be more difficult for Britain to compete with the United States for China's share of railways.

After all, they have a Pacific Railway, the "Eighth Wonder of the World", which is being built in China.

In terms of industrial capacity, Britain has the certainty of completely defeating the United States in any other item, except for the railway, which is relatively weak-minded.

However, the mistake of the railroad must not be repeated, that is, everything must be off to a good start -- when the contract is signed and the work begins, it will be too late for them to mix in.

The British Legation is keeping a close eye on the movements of the "US delegation to China," but the talks between the United States and China on all substantive matters are "closed-door," and it is difficult to find out what agreements they have reached.

Ali Guo tried his best to finally get such a piece of information: China entrusted the United States to build a large "expo" in the capital Beijing.

This is a very important message!

Ali Guo learned that the focus of this "expo" is not to display China's own products and achievements, but to collect the latest and most advanced technology, machines, and products of the latest style and best quality from all over the world, and gather them together -- that is, this is a "window" opened in the capital Beijing for Chinese to "see the world."

Much like the "International Industrial Exposition" held in London in 1851.

However, the "International Industry Exposition" is mainly to display the advanced achievements of Britain and its colonies and protectorates, in order to "invite the 'world' of the 'empire' on which the sun never sets, to achieve a real 'world' exposition".

This "expo" in China is more like a real "world exposition".

Of course, "Britain and its colonies and protectorates" -- "the 'world' of the 'empire on which the sun never sets'" -- are not much different from the real "world."

Ali Guo's sense of smell is extremely keen, and he judges that this "expo hall" will definitely have a huge impact on the vision and concept of Chinese; This shock wave will quickly radiate from the capital Beijing to the whole country.

This "expo" will surely become one of the most important accelerators of China's modernization.

If the "EXPO" is undertaken by the Americans alone, then it is conceivable that the Americans will inevitably use the largest and best booths to vigorously promote their own technology and achievements; the Chinese will naturally think that these technologies and machines are the "latest and most advanced" in the world, and when China opens a new enterprise or upgrades its enterprise equipment, it will give first choice to these technologies and machines. How can this be tolerated?

Therefore, we must snatch the right to host this "EXPO" at any cost! At least Americans can't be allowed to eat alone! It really doesn't work - Fack, stir it up!

One shot and two scattered, to take a Chinese saying, it is "knock over the dog food bowl, everyone can't eat"!

In fact, in order to get this information, the British have already paid a little "price".

The "reliable channel" that Ali Guo said to Guan Zhuofan was actually discredited: This piece of information was "taken" by the wife of a first secretary of the British Legation surnamed Smith from an attaché of Secretary of State Seward, one of the members of the "American delegation to China."

This Mr. Smith and his wife, in addition to diplomats and their families, have another status: employees of the Topographic Survey and Statistics Bureau.

Don't be fooled by the name of the "Topographic Survey and Statistics Bureau", this is actually the first intelligence agency in the modern sense of the word in Britain, which was officially established eleven years ago, that is, in 1855, and the "MIn" of later generations was all the eggs laid by it.

In China's current situation, Mrs. Yang's identity makes it difficult to have the opportunity to work directly with the Chinese, so the main work object of this Mrs. Smith named Amy is temporarily the institutions and personnel of Western countries in China, including legations, fleets, merchants, and so on.

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

ps: There is no explosion, the lion doesn't know, can you be cheeky and ask all book friends for a guaranteed monthly pass? I've been a little out of breath these days, and after this effort, I must work hard to give back to the support of book friends! Thanks! R1292