The Americans were indeed furious, and the American minister Hua Ruohan, with a wound on his face, violently tore with the officials of the yamen and broke into the county office. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

"I lodge a solemn protest with you!"

The first thing he said when he saw Zhu Jinglun was that he shouted to Zhu Jinglun with a tone of grief and indignation that he was almost about to fight.

Hua Ruohan's boat was slowly swaying all the way because of his injury, and Fang Shan's fast horse was driven back to Xin'an City half an hour earlier by him.

But Zhu Jinglun asked knowingly, and said innocently: "It's Mr. Hua Ruohan, what's wrong with you?" Is this a fight with whom? ”

Hua Ruohan couldn't calm down at all, and continued to roar angrily: "I want to protest to the Governor of Liangguang, to the Emperor of your country!" ”

Zhu Jinglun walked out from behind the desk with a smile: "Why do you have to protest to the governor, and you have to protest to the emperor." Was it our soldiers who caused it? ”

As he spoke, he pointed to the injury on Hua Ruohan's face and asked, looking at it, it was bruised.

Hua Ruohan said solemnly: "Your battery has just attacked our warship, this is a serious provocation to the United States, I ask you to give our country an explanation immediately, otherwise you will be responsible for all the consequences!" ”

At this time, Hua Ruohan really wanted to fight with the Chinese.

It's too barbaric, it's too unreasonable, it's too unreasonable.

The humiliation he received in Beijing had not yet dissipated, and he was inexplicably attacked and almost lost his life.

Zhu Jinglun was suddenly surprised: "Are you saying that your country's warship was attacked by our soldiers?" This is impossible, neither the forts in Chiwan nor Xin'an have fired artillery. If they fire, they'll report to me. ”

Hua Ruohan snorted: "It's not here, it's in Humen, it's in Humen!" ”

Zhu Jinglun was stunned: "Humen? What are you doing in Humen? ”

It was impossible for Hua Ruohan to keep his sanity at this time: "We were about to go to Guangzhou to meet the governor of Liangguang, but we were attacked by your fort at Humen. I need an explanation. ”

Zhu Jinglun frowned and said: "I don't remember agreeing to let you go to Guangzhou, so you trespassed on the Humen Fortress and were intercepted by our defenders." ”

Hua Ruohan snorted: "This is not an interception, this is an attack, a despicable and shameless sneak attack. Without warning at all, they directly carried out a covering shelling of our warship, which is contrary to morality and the public law of all nations. ”

Yes, Zhu Jinglun couldn't help but think deeply, he just thought that the Swedes were interesting and very professional, but now it seems that the Swedes are not at ease at all, it is impossible for the Swedes not to know international practices, but they did not warn, and directly opened fire, is this planning to provoke a war between China and the United States?

Zhu Jinglun's mind moved and he took it back, now is not the time to think about the Swedes, but to send the American minister away first.

"Mr. Hua Ruohan, don't worry, sit down first, I'll ask someone to make you a cup of tea to quench your anger."

Zhu Jinglun said with a smile.

Hua Ruohan has not calmed down: "I ask you to immediately take the murderer, and compensate and apologize to my country." ”

Zhu Jinglun saw that Hua Ruohan's mood was wrong, and knew that the goods were frightened, and he couldn't communicate at all at this time.

So he immediately broke off: "I ask you to pay attention to the fact that you are forcibly breaking into our fortress, and I want to fortify the garrison just to defend my own country." According to our previous management regulations, you have no authority to go to Guangzhou at all. ”

Hua Ruohan said-for-tat: "We have completed the exchange of contracts, Guangzhou is a treaty port, we have the right to enter Guangzhou at any time for trade and diplomatic exchanges, you have no right to stop it." ”

Hua Ruohan still remembered that he had completed the exchange of contracts with the Qing court.

Zhu Jinglun sneered: "I'm sorry, Guangdong has not received an edict from the imperial court, and we will always adhere to the previous regulations until the imperial court decree is issued." I would like to remind you that if the same thing happens again, we will still do the same. ”

Hua Ruohan stood up angrily, and a messenger just came in with tea, and he directly knocked it over, glaring at Zhu Jinglun angrily.

"The treaty will come into force after the completion of the exchange, the treaty is sacred, and you must abide by it."

Zhu Jinglun sighed: "Mr. Hua Ruohan, we have not received instructions from the imperial court, so we don't know about the relevant treaties. Maybe the treaty is already on the way, but you should know that there has been a war along the Yangtze River in our country, and it is not surprising that the news has been delayed for some time. I will continue to uphold my principles and will continue to enforce the relevant regulations of the New Anli Bureau until I receive instructions from the Imperial Court. ”

Hua Ruohan glared at Zhu Jinglun: "Do you know that your actions will mean war!" ”

Zhu Jinglun sneered: "Your envoy is too uncalm, can I understand that this is an ultimatum for war?" I suggest that you go back and calm down first, I remember that you have been negotiating with me before, but unfortunately I am too busy to participate directly. I've heard that your talks with my men aren't going well. ”

Before Hua Ruohan wanted to talk about Thomas more than once, Zhu Jinglun avoided it, asked Fang Shan to come forward, and told Fang Shan to put on an arrogant look, which has been stimulating the Americans, this time Hua Ruohan's outburst and forced to go to Guangzhou, there is also the anger that has been accumulated before.

Hua Ruohan's chest rose and fell, but he really didn't dare to talk about war, he didn't have this power.

Zhu Jinglun said coldly: "I think we should talk about the issue of trade regulations now, even if you have completed the exchange of contracts with our imperial court, but this is Guangdong, there are some special circumstances here, I think a charter will ensure the interests of both of us for a long time." And I remember that you have always wanted to visit our tea plantation, I have thought about this matter, I think it is not generous enough to refuse this request of an American friend, are you still interested in visiting the tea plantation now? ”

Last time, Zhu Jinglun refused to allow American businessmen to visit the tea plantation, mainly because he didn't want to cause trouble, but they went without permission, causing even more trouble.

But now all this is not a trouble, he can take Americans to visit tea plantations, he also wants to listen to the advice of the Americans, on the issue of doing business, Zhu Jinglun has always been very convinced of the Americans' pioneering ability.

Hua Ruohan's expression was complicated, and he didn't know if he was thinking about these questions.

Zhu Jinglun knew that he was not calm enough to make a rational decision, so he waved his hand: "Send off." ”

Hua Ruohan went back and thought about it all night, he felt that he still couldn't break down relations with China, and if this incident really led to a war between the two countries, the exchange of contracts that had just been completed would be meaningless.

But even if the contract was renewed, Hua Ruohan still didn't dare to worry too much about the credibility of the Manchu court, and he also believed what Zhu Jinglun said, and he didn't receive a notice from their court. Because it was when he was in Beijing, he learned some bad news from the Russian envoys, and the Russians exchanged the treaty earlier than he did, but the Russians had not yet obtained the power stipulated in the treaty at this time.

The Russians said that they should be opened after the exchange of treaties was completed, and the Chinese officials said for the first time that they would postpone it by four months, and the second time they said that they would be implemented after Britain, France, and other countries had completed the exchange of treaties.

The Russians' experience made Warrenham feel that this treaty might not be able to guarantee their rights at all, you must know that the Treaty of Nanking after the First Raven War has not been well implemented, the British have never been able to enter Canton, and it was not until 1853 that Fuzhou was the first business of various countries.

Compared with the discredited Manchu court, Hua Ruohan must admit that although Zhu Jinglun, the magistrate of Xin'an, is not friendly enough, his credibility is okay, the articles signed with Britain and France have been implemented, and at the same time, he is more welcome to trade with other countries, and this person has now become a recognized Chinese official in the foreign circle and easier to communicate.

So if Zhu Jinglun is willing to negotiate with the United States and reach a charter similar to that of Britain and France, it will be absolutely beneficial to the United States, and at the same time, if the shelling of warships cannot be resolved by war, it still has to be negotiated, so the next day he decided that he still had to talk about what should be discussed.

Of course, he also wrote a report on this matter and reported it to the country, and he will talk about how the president and Congress will decide later, although he feels humiliated, but if he can use this incident to directly negotiate with Zhu Jinglun, he believes that he can achieve some results, and if he is replaced by other Chinese officials, even if it is Zhu Jinglun's subordinates, he also feels that he cannot communicate.

So early the next morning, he handed over a note to the Xin'an Yamen, demanding formal negotiations on the issue of the conflict between the United States and Guangdong.

Zhu Jinglun quickly replied and agreed, and sent someone to agree with him.

Of course, the sooner the better, and in the afternoon he was invited to the Xin'an Yamen, where he began negotiations with Zhu Jinglun with a few secretaries and interpreters who were also injured.

The Americans made three demands:

First, the Americans were allowed to go to Heshan to investigate the attack on Thomas, an American businessman.

Second, it is necessary to sign a rehabilitation charter with the United States to guarantee normal trade.

Third, immediately punish the soldiers who attacked our warships.

Zhu Jinglun couldn't stop nodding.

"In addition to Article 3, I agree in principle to your other requests, but I would like to discuss the details further."

Zhu Jinglun's agreement with the content of the negotiation made Hua Ruohan breathe a sigh of relief, and he was really afraid that this official would fool him yesterday.

Then Zhu Jinglun expressed his attitude one by one:

First, it is not agreed that the United States should go to Heshan alone, because for security reasons, American investigators must go under the protection of Chinese soldiers, and at the same time, it is not the United States that conducts a unilateral investigation, but a joint investigation team formed by China and the United States.

Second, Guangdong is very happy to sign a treaty with the United States to safeguard trade, and the specific terms will be discussed later.

Third, it is impossible for Guangdong to punish a soldier who has fulfilled his duties to protect the country's homeland security. However, out of moral considerations, the local government of Guangdong expressed regret over the silence of the US ship, and was willing to compensate the losses of the personnel involved, and at the same time offered written condolences to the families of the casualties.

Regarding Zhu Jinglun's opinion, Hua Ruohan immediately refuted:

"Not condolences, but apologies!"

Zhu Jinglun compromised:

"Okay, then apologize, the local government of Guangdong will apologize in writing to the families of the victims."

In Zhu Jinglun's view, it is not a shame to bully people and apologize to others. For example, after the battle of the Eight-Nation Alliance, the Qing government had to send the prince to Europe to apologize to people.