Although he ignored Ignatiev's nonsense, the veteran diplomat Kralondon still did not spare Wu Chaoyue at the negotiating table, and while making very sincere concessions, Kralondon still put forward many conditions for the establishment of diplomatic relations that were difficult for Wu Chaoyue to accept. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Selling opium Wu Chaoyue can pinch his nose and endure it, because there are too many smokers in China now, and the conditions for forcible prohibition are not yet ripe, and it is undoubtedly a wise choice to take a step back and wait for the future to settle accounts after the autumn, Wu Chaoyue pretended not to see this and directly agreed by default.

Allowing the British to supervise the customs is also acceptable to Wu Chaoyue, as the grandson of Wu Lao, the chief of China's largest customs commissioner, no one knows better than Wu Chaoyue how corrupt and dark the customs is, not only causing economic losses to foreign businessmen who pay taxes in accordance with the law, but also causing a large loss of tariffs.

At present, China's industrial capacity is already very weak and small, and if tariffs are no longer used to properly protect China's industrial product sales market, Wu Chaoyue will really become a small comprador who is better to buy than to buy and to rent. So on this article, Wu Chaoyue and Kra London fought fiercely, and once almost angered Kra London.

In the end, in order to protect the weak Chinese industry, Wu Chaoyue gritted his teeth and proposed a quid pro quo - he agreed to let the British merchants monopolize the right to build the 3,000-mile Chinese railway, and the tracks, locomotives and bodies were all purchased by the British steelmakers by bidding, and the funds were guaranteed by China's mineral resources, allowing the British merchants to arbitrarily exploit the unmined Chinese mines within 20 miles of the section of the railway until the ore paid the funds and interest for the construction of the railway, in exchange for continuing to use the tariff rates determined in the Sino-British Treaty of Beijing.

Considering that the tariffs adjudicated in the Treaty of Beijing had already satisfied the domestic merchants, and that they coveted China's steel market and mineral resources, Clarklondon finally showed mercy and let Wu Chaoyue go, agreeing to accept this condition, but asked the British merchants to monopolize the 5,000-mile Chinese railway construction market, and Wu Chaoyue cut it to 4,000 miles with tears in his eyes.

Needless to say, Wu Yue agreed to fully open up the Chinese mainland without even blinking an eyelid, allowing British citizens to freely enter the Chinese mainland to invest, tour and do business, and also let British missionaries spread Christ Jesus in China. However, Wu Yue is also a little careful, especially adding the article that British troops must first obtain their own consent when entering Chinese mainland, and at the same time persuade Kralondo to set up a Sino-British joint tribunal to try and deal with foreign-related cases, and the British in China are cleaned up by British law, and the Chinese are solved by Chinese law when they commit crimes against foreigners.

In addition to these, the greedy Clarlondon also tried to gain control of Wu's army, offering British officers to command Wu's army and using all British weapons, in exchange for a Sino-British military alliance and a British commitment to protect China's territorial integrity and interests from infringement by military force.

Of course, Wu Chaoyue politely refused this, and Clarlondon threatened: "Wu, I am completely thinking about you for this point, do you know how many countries in the West are interested in the territory of your Qing Kingdom?" Without our military protection, can you stop them from aggression and plunder? ”

"Stop." Wu Chaoyue replied very directly, and said: "In fact, at present, except for the powerful and invincible empire on the earth, we Chinese are not afraid of any country, we just need to be able to be friends with Britain, and we no longer need to expect Britain to provide us with military protection." ”

"Wu, don't talk big." Clarlonon threatened: "I have given you the opportunity to form a military alliance, if you miss it, you will definitely pay a greater price if you want to beg our British Empire to send troops to protect it in the future!" ”

"The conditions for the alliance are too harsh for me to accept." Wu Chaoyue shook his head resolutely and said: "If it is to bear the wartime military expenses and let your country obtain orders for warships of our navy, I can negotiate, and I can make more sincere concessions." ”

"You cunning bastard!" Clarklonon was so angry that he cursed and said: "Our British naval warship is the first in the world, unless you are stupid, you will order warships from other countries!" Bearing military expenses in wartime is even more empty words, we Britain and you have signed a military alliance, and what country in the world dares to invade your China casually? I haven't seen a few people who are cunning enough to be cunning to your level without spending a tael of silver to deceive our British military protection! ”

Wu Chaoyue, who was shamelessly recognized by Claron, sneered and said, "I can pay your country a military protection fee of 100,000 taels of silver every year, this is all right?" ”

"100,000 taels of silver a year? You send beggars?! Clarlondon almost strangled Wu Chaoyue to death, and roared angrily: "Three million taels of silver a year is about the same!" ”

"Mr. Clarlon, I really can't take it." Wu Chaoyue shook his head with a painful expression and said: "Don't say three million taels, even 500,000 taels of silver per year I can't afford it, I'm fighting a civil war with the rebels in the capital now, and the military expenditure is really huge." ”

"Then forget it!" Kralonon waved his hand and said angrily: "We will only establish diplomatic relations with your provisional government, recognize the legitimacy of your provisional government, and do not establish military alliances!" ”

"Don't." It is true that Wu Chaoyue, who needs a piece of military alliance paperwork, is a little anxious, and said: "How about 400,000 taels of silver every year?" ”

"Two and a half million taels! Not one or two less! "Kralondon is still not fooled.

If the military protection promised by the British could really work, Wu Chaoyue could negotiate, but Wu Chaoyue couldn't believe the British promise at all, so he naturally didn't want to be this two hundred and five. But after Wu Chaoyue's mind moved, he tried his best, and said in a low voice: "Mr. Clarlon, is this okay?" As you know, I have partnered with Mr. Bao Ling of your country to invest in a mineral exploration team and are looking for a large gold mine in South Africa with amazing reserves, and we will make a fortune when we find it. If you could agree, on behalf of your country, to sign a ten-year pledge of military protection with our Provisional Government at a price of 400,000 taels of silver per year, I would give ......you a 1 percent stake in this gold mine. ”

“shit！” Clarklondon cursed again and said angrily: "Wu, you have not only insulted my personality by doing this, but also insulted my intelligence!" Did you know that Xiao Bao Ling has become a joke in the UK because of his partnership with you to explore gold mines in South Africa! I haven't seen half a grain of gold sand after investing so much money, and Xiaobaoling is about to sell pants at a loss, waiting for him to settle accounts with you! Keep your South African gold mine shares, keep it for yourself! I don't need to! ”

Of course, later Clarlondon also regretted his decision, regretting that he almost committed suicide by jumping into the Thames and throwing himself into the water, which is a later story that will be omitted here.

After being entangled for a long time, Wu Chaoyue still failed to deceive Kralondon into agreeing to provide military protection for Wu's army on behalf of the British government at a low price, and at the same time, under the pressure of Kralondon, Wu Chaoyue still obediently handed over a few grenadiers and supporting shells for Kralonon to bring back to Britain for study. Fortunately, Clarlon, who was still a little moral, promised on behalf of Britain not to sell British-produced grenadiers and shells to the Manchu court, as well as to the enemies who would fight with the Wu army in the future.

In the end, after both sides made very sincere concessions, and after signing a formal diplomatic treaty with Clarlon, Wu Chaoyue finally got his wish and asked the British government to recognize the Hubei Provisional Government as the sole legitimate government of China, establish formal diplomatic relations, and send ministers and consuls to each other. At the same time, in his capacity as the British Special Envoy Plenipotentiary for China-related issues, Clallon once again solemnly promised to maintain strict neutrality in the Chinese civil war and strictly prohibit the military forces of Britain and its allies from interfering in the Chinese civil war.

made huge concessions and sacrifices, and finally got the official recognition of the British government, but failed to deceive the British to promise military protection, although on the surface Wu Chaoyue did not take any advantage, but also suffered a big loss, but after the official release of the Sino-British joint announcement, Wu Chaoyue seemed to have unloaded a thousand pounds of heavy burden, and suddenly breathed a long sigh of relief, and his whole body suddenly relaxed a lot.

Because Wu Chaoyue knew very well that if Britain really stood on the side of the Manchu court, then even if Britain only used one-tenth of its military strength to help the Manchu court, it would be able to make Wu Chaoyue unable to eat and walk around.

The day after the Sino-British joint announcement was issued, an old friend A Huawei, who was appointed as plenipotentiary by the regent of Prussia, also came to the capital of Hubei Province, and not only signed a treaty on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Wu Chaoyue with almost no additional conditions, on behalf of the Prussian government to recognize the Hubei Provisional Government as the only legitimate government of China, but also brought Wu Chaoyue a gift from Prince Wilhelm, the regent of Prussia, to Wu Jun for the establishment of diplomatic relations - two large ships full of high-quality Prussian arms.

At the same time, the French government and the U.S. government also had news successively, and they also appointed their own ministers as plenipotentiaries on the spot to negotiate with Wu Chaoyue to establish diplomatic relations. As a result, the Americans are easy to talk to, as long as the market is fully opened and Wu Chaoyue buys arms, Wu Chaoyue can easily pass the test; However, his old friend Bourblon did not hesitate to draw a knife and cut the flesh, in addition to demanding full opening up, he also forced Wu Chaoyue to agree to the right to build a 1,000-mile railway before agreeing to recognize the legitimacy of the Hubei Provisional Government, and also issued a formal announcement on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Wu Chaoyue together with the United States.

But on the diplomatic battlefield for the support of the Western powers, Wu Chaoyue did not win a big victory - Tsarist Russia stood against Wu's army. Although in order to reduce the resistance to the reunification of the country, Wu Chaoyue also showed sincerity to negotiate with Ignatiev, the plenipotentiary of Tsarist Russia, but because of the inability to reach an agreement on the crucial territorial issue, the negotiations were not successful.

Finally, on the ninth day of the first month of October, Ignatiev also formally submitted a diplomatic note to Wu Chaoyue, announcing the severance of all diplomatic relations with the Hubei Provisional Government formed by Wu Chaoyue, and also announcing that he would only recognize the Manchu court as the sole legitimate power of China, and openly stated that he would provide all possible political, economic, and military assistance to the Manchu court.

Wu Chaoyue stopped the impulse of his soldiers to kill Ignatiev on the spot, and only demanded that Ignatiev leave Hubei within a time limit in accordance with public international law. Ignatiev did not refuse, and said with a cruel smile to Wu Chaoyue: "Dear Wu, the next time we meet, we are likely to be enemies, I hope you will not regret rejecting the friendly proposal of our government and pushing our Russia to the opposite side of you." ”

"You will only regret it." Wu Chaoyue was-for-tat, and said with a sneer: "You chose to support the illegal coup group in the capital, and you chose the wrong friend." ”

Ignatiev turned around and left without saying a word, and left Hankou on a French merchant ship on the same day, passing by the mouth of the source, Ignatiev also looked at Daye, the only industrial base of the Wu army, with hatred, and said something in his mouth, "Damn yellow-skinned monkey, sooner or later, we will turn your land into a sea of fire!" ”

The day after Ignatiev left Hankou, another thing happened in Hubei that surprised Wu Chaoyue - Yang Xiuqing actually sent Hong Renji as an envoy to Hubei to protest against Wu Chaoyue's private negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic relations with foreigners from various countries behind his back, and demanded that Wu Chaoyue immediately stop this diplomatic activity that ignores the existence of the Taiping Army, and wait until the Taiping Army and the Wu Army decide who is the real master of China.

"When did Yang Xiuqing become so knowledgeable about modern diplomacy?" Wu Chaoyue was a little puzzled, and then immediately came to his senses, and asked Hong Renji, "You told him, right?" ”

Hong Renji nodded calmly, and said more calmly: "Marshal Wu, I am grateful for your help to us in the matter of purchasing the fleet, but you have gone too far, we have said that whoever enters Beijing City first, the other side will surrender to the other party, this Beijing City has not been defeated, why are you in a hurry to establish formal diplomatic relations with foreigners?" You have established diplomatic relations with foreigners, what should we do if we enter Beijing first? ”

"When the time comes, won't you just take over my Ministry of Foreign Affairs? If you enter the city of Beijing first, and I surrender to you, doesn't my Ministry of Foreign Affairs mean that it is yours? ”

Wu Chaoyue fed Hong Renji a date first, and said: "Go back and tell Yang Xiuqing for me, just say that I am doing this for his good, if I am not in a hurry to establish diplomatic relations with foreigners, foreigners will run to the Qing Demon Court to establish diplomatic relations, and once the Qing Demon Court asks the foreigners to help them deal with us, won't we immediately have countless more enemies?" ”

"But you must at least ask for our opinion first, and see which conditions can be agreed to, and which conditions cannot be agreed?" Hong Renji protested: "You have signed a treaty with foreigners and negotiated the conditions for establishing diplomatic relations, what should we do if we cannot accept the handover of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to us in the future?" ”

"Then you can talk to the foreigners again?" Wu Chaoyue glanced at Hong Renji and said: "You still have a modern education in Hong Kong, don't you know that a diplomatic treaty has been signed between countries, as long as one party thinks it is not suitable, you can still ask for revision and negotiation in the future?" I'll stabilize the foreigners now, lest they help the Qing Demon Court, and in the future, when we determine who is the lord and who is the minister, and then decide whether to negotiate with the foreigners again, isn't it better?" ”

Hong Renji, who was a diplomat with half a bucket of water, was easily fooled by Wu Chaoyue, and was relieved after seeking Wu Chaoyue's written promise in black and white, but after Hong Renji was led down by Wu Chaoyue's own soldiers to rest, Wu Chaoyue called Huang Sheng, the temporary foreign minister of Wu Jun, and asked him to carry 10,000 taels of silver to bribe and buy Carat London.

"Tell Clardon that we only ask him for a small favor, that is, when the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom asks him if he is willing to establish formal diplomatic relations, he will reply that as long as the Taiping army enters the city of Beijing and gains legal control of the capital, they can negotiate immediately." This is Wu Chaoyue's treacherous explanation.

After seeing Wu Chaoyue's written promise, and after listening to the personal reply of the British minister Clarlondon relayed by half a bucket of water Hong Renji, Yang Xiuqing immediately decided to launch another Northern Expedition, intending to take advantage of the opportunity of Wu Chaoyue being dragged down by Yunnan and Guizhou, following the example of the British and French forces to go north by sea and smash into Beijing, so as to establish his position as the legitimate ruler of China in one fell swoop.

One more thing to explain is that when leaving Hubei at the end of the visit, the British delegation led by Clallin visited the Daye Industrial Base of the Wu Army by the way, and had a better understanding of the industrial strength of the Wu Army, and at the same time noticed that the Wu Army was the most heavily guarded new weapon development laboratory and tried to enter the visit. Wu Chaoyue, who accompanied the visit, hurriedly stopped him and said, "Mr. Clarlon, you must not go in there, there is nitroglycerin stored there, which is very dangerous." ”

After a shiver and subconsciously stopped, Kralondon was naturally curious to ask Wu Chaoyue why he wanted to produce and store dangerous explosives that were banned in European countries, and Wu Chaoyue replied calmly, saying that he was trying to develop a new type of explosive that was more powerful than picric acid - Wu Chaoyue did not need to hide it, except for a very few people in this era, no one would believe that the extremely dangerous nitroglycerin could be tamed and used by humans.

Sure enough, after Clarlondon smiled sarcastically, he said: "Wu, it's a pity that you didn't know Nobel, otherwise you two can definitely become good friends." He's like you, he's going crazy to study nitroglycerin. ”

"Mr. Clarlon, do you know Nobel?" Wu Chaoyue asked with great joy.

"I don't know." Clarklonon shook his head and said casually: "When the Crimean War broke out, he and his father helped the Russians to renovate industrial equipment, and our British intelligence department collected information about him, and I happened to be a special envoy for Russia-related issues at that time, so I knew him. Later, I accidentally read his name in the newspaper and learned that he was currently working on nitroglycerin in Stockholm. ”

"Dear Mr. Clarlon, can you please bring me a letter to Mr. Nobel, I would like to invite him to come to China to engage in the research of nitroglycerin, and to provide him with all possible assistance in terms of equipment, funds and materials."

"Absolutely." Clarklondo did a second thing in Hubei that he would regret for the rest of his life.