Edo Castle, the residence of the shoguns of Japan, the future Tokyo of Japan, was the largest city in Japan even in the late Edo era, the political, economic, military and cultural center of Japan, with a population of more than one million at the end of the Edo period! Lively and prosperous, all industries are prosperous, no less than any city in China at the same time!

It is a pity that the soldiers of the Wu army who came from afar did not see the prosperous scene of Edo, a city that never sleeps in Japan, neither the dense Japanese ships in Tokyo Bay, nor the mountains of various goods piled up on the docks, nor the Japanese Kabuki dressed as men and women, the slow and static Japanese Noh opera, and the sumo wrestlers unique to Japan.

All the soldiers of Wu Jun saw were the sea of Tokyo Bay with countless empty boats, the Edo Wharf with all kinds of miscellaneous items, the Japanese streets near the wharf where every household closed their doors and boards, and the nervous faces that peeked out from time to time at the corners of the streets and alleys, and the panicked crowds of Japanese people in the streets farther away.

Of course, all of this has nothing to do with the officers and men of the Wu Expeditionary Fleet led by Wang Fu - although the Wu fleet rushed into Tokyo Bay with a whistle, and aimed its cannons at the Edo pier and Edo streets, and fired a few trumpets to celebrate the successful arrival of the army under Edo Castle, but the Wu soldiers really didn't fire a single shot at Edo Castle, let alone kill a single person or a chicken or dog in Edo! - At least, the soldiers of the Wu army have not fired a single shot at Edo Castle until now, nor have they killed a single Japanese in Edo or a chicken or dog in Edo!

The situation may soon change, because at this moment, on the bridge on the flagship of the Wu army, Zeng Guofan, Wang Fu, the commander-in-chief of the Wu army's expeditionary fleet, is already scolding very angrily, "The Japanese Japanese who are raised by the son of a bitch, shameless!" You are limited to reply to Lao Tzu before ten o'clock, and there is no news at eleven o'clock, since you toast and don't eat and drink, don't blame Lao Tzu for being polite! Send someone to contact the Japanese Kou again, and before two o'clock in the afternoon, I will not give Lao Tzu a satisfactory answer! As soon as two o'clock arrived, Lao Tzu immediately opened fire! ”

"At the gate of the king's army, there is a Japanese ship leaving the dock with a white flag and is heading for our fleet!"

Soon, a Japanese ship flying a white flag appeared in front of Wang Fu and others, and after being stopped by the Wu army's boat, the Japanese ship did not dare to play any tricks, honestly stopped the boat, and only sent a messenger to board the Wu army's boat, and ferried to the Wu army's flagship. And after the Japanese envoy saw Wang Fu, he also nodded and said: "Your Excellency the Qing General, Your Excellency the General of our Japanese Shogunate has decided to agree to your request and send a plenipotentiary representative to negotiate an armistice with Your Excellency the General, and the time and place are also decided by Your Excellency the General." ”

"That's pretty much it." Wang Fu snorted coldly with reluctantly satisfaction, and pointed to Haneda Village, which he had long been optimistic about in the west, and said loudly: "Negotiate in Haneda Village, negotiate at ten o'clock tomorrow morning!" Tell you shoguns, send someone who has enough weight to call the shots to talk to me! ”

The shogunate envoy nodded again and agreed, and hurriedly got off the ship with Wang Fu's reply to report the news, and Wang Fu also ordered the Wu army fleet to turn around and sail into the sea near Haneda Village, where the current Haneda Airport in Japan is located, and anchored in the sea near Haneda Village, where the current Haneda Airport in Japan is located, so that the Wu army infantry led by Huang Yuanbao could land and set up camp, and prepare a negotiation venue for blackmail and extortion of the Japanese shogunate.

After the negotiation and liaison showed their identities, the British consul plenipotentiary in Japan, the soldiers of Wu Jun and Wu Chaoyue's old friend, the British Ali Guo, led the consuls of the United States, Spain and the Netherlands to Japan, and came to Wang Fu together. Why didn't he come to Japan? I've been thinking about him! ”

After hearing about the friendship between Wu Chaoyue and Aliguo, Wang Fu did not slack off, and replied very affectionately: "Dear Aliguo, our King of Zhennan was unable to come to Japan to meet you in person because he was not busy with official business, but he asked me as a representative to bring you the most cordial greetings for him, and sincerely hope that his friendship with you will last forever and remain unchanged for ten thousand years." ”

"He is worthy of being Wu's most trusted general, and he really has Wu's demeanor. Dear General Wang, please accept my greetings on behalf of Wu. Shouting loudly, Ali Guo unceremoniously gave Wang Fu a bear hug, and then took the opportunity to whisper in Wang Fu's ear: "Wang, knock it hard, I have already figured out the attitude of the Japanese shogunate for you, as long as there is a truce, they can consider accepting any conditions." Unless you force their shogun to seppuku, they generally won't consider going to war. ”

"Thank you, Mr. Aliko." Wang Fu smiled and replied in a low voice: "Let's knock on the bamboo together, Mr. Aliguo, no matter what you ask the Japanese, I will fully support it!" If the Japanese dare not listen to you, my cannon will speak for you! ”

"Wang, you are also my good friend!"

Ali Guo laughed, hugged Wang Fu and shook it a few times, and then introduced Wang Fu to the consuls of other Western countries stationed in Japan one by one, and the consuls of the United States, France, Spain and the Netherlands also immediately expressed their positions on the spot, expressing their willingness to fully support the righteous actions of Wu Jun's soldiers to punish the Japanese shogunate, saying that they could exert pressure on the Japanese shogunate through diplomatic channels to force the Japanese shogunate to agree to all the compensation demands put forward by Wu Jun - and also collect mediation fees from the Japanese shogunate and force the Japanese shogunate to sign some agreements with their own country. Reciprocity's new treaty.

Originally, it was by the way to help the British ask for compensation for the Shengmai incident, and it was of course not surprising that the British officials were resolutely on the side of Wu Jun, and it was also seen that several other Western powers not only did not dare to make trouble for various reasons, but on the contrary, they resolutely stood on the side of the Japanese army and joined hands to knock out the Japanese bamboo pole. Of course, Wang Fu was very happy in his heart, and immediately ordered people to set up a banquet on the flagship to celebrate the meeting with the consuls of the great powers.

But there was also something disgusting about Wang Fu, after the banquet, when Ali Guo seized the opportunity to talk to Wang Fu alone, he reminded in a low voice: "Wang, be careful, Birovsky, the consul of Tsarist Russia in Japan, also came to Edo under the banner of mediation, and has already met with the Japanese shogun once, and I don't know what exactly they discussed." This time I wanted to bring him with me to meet you, but he refused my invitation, and it looks like he wants to get rid of us and negotiate with you alone. ”

Wang Fu frowned, and then thanked Ali Guo for the reminder, and Ali Guo patted Wang Fu on the shoulder again, and said: "Don't worry, I will definitely stand on your side, if Birovsky dares to encourage the Japanese shogunate to expand the war with you, I will come out to put pressure on him, and I will also write to the country, asking us in Britain to come forward and exert diplomatic pressure on the Tsarist Russian court." ”

Wang Fu thanked him again, but he was a little worried in his heart, and said secretly: "If the old Maozi of Tsarist Russia is really determined to embarrass me and encourage the Japanese shogunate to fight me to the death, then I will really be in trouble." It is not difficult for the Japanese army to defeat the Japanese army with the strength in my hands, and it is impossible to occupy the whole of Japan under any circumstances, and if it is dragged into the ...... of a war of attrition by the Japanese invaders. Although the British will definitely be on my side, no one knows when the British will be able to suppress the old Russian Maozi, can I wait that long? ”

was guessed by Ali Guo, and when it was slightly dark, Birovsky, the plenipotentiary minister of Tsarist Russia stationed in Japan, really came to the berthing of the Wu army fleet by boat alone, and asked Wang Fu to meet alone. Although Wang Fu was disgusted in his heart, in order to find out the details of the Tsarist Russian side, he still agreed to the meeting, and invited Gong Cheng, who was familiar with diplomacy, to accompany him and meet Birovsky with him.

It must be explained that out of prudence, Gong Cheng, who is familiar with diplomacy, specially arranged for a book and a half to accompany him to the meeting, and recorded the conversation between Wang Fu and Birovsky with a pen.

After a while, Birovsky was invited into the reception room of the flagship of the Wu army, and like the consuls of other powers, after the meeting, Birovsky, through the translator he brought, couldn't wait to sing the praises of Wang Fu's great exploits in this expedition, and praised Wang Fu, who had killed many Russian soldiers in the decisive battle of Daye, as the number one fierce general under Wu Chaoyue, and the famous general of the Orient. Wang Fu secretly sneered, interrupting Birovsky's compliments and said: "Dear Mr. Birovsky, thank you for your compliment, but it's getting late, please tell me anything directly, tomorrow at ten o'clock in the morning, I will personally negotiate with the Japanese representatives." ”

"A graceless yellow-skinned monkey." Birovsky first sneered in his stomach before he smiled and said: "Dear Wang, please rest assured, I have come to visit you this time with friendly goodwill, and I hope to be able to obtain your consent to participate as a mediator in tomorrow's negotiations, and try my best to help you persuade the Japanese representatives to make concessions at the negotiating table, and help your country to win the greatest political and economic benefits at the negotiating table." ”

The interpreter brought by Birovsky himself quickly interpreted, and Wang Fu suspected that he had misheard, so he exchanged a look with Gong Cheng, and then asked with a suspicious face: "Mr. Birovsky, thank you very much for your help, but Mr. Birovsky, what price do I have to pay for this?" ”

"General Wang, don't worry, I said that I came with friendly goodwill, and I will never ask you to pay anything." Birovsky smiled and said: "I just need your help at the negotiating table, general, to support the mediation quid pro quo I proposed to Japan, and to help my country get the gratitude of the Japanese." ”

Birovsky's words, in the vernacular, actually hoped to join forces with Wu Jun as a mediator and join forces to knock out the Japanese bamboo poles, and it was indeed unprecedented that he had no plans to be unfavorable to Wu Jun. It's a pity that Wang Fu doesn't have much diplomatic experience, and he didn't understand the meaning for a while, but fortunately, Gong Cheng, who accompanied Wang Fu to meet him, was quite experienced, and immediately asked: "Mr. Birovsky, how do you want Japan to thank you for your mediation?" ”

Birovsky cautiously asked Gong Cheng's identity through the translator, and Wang Fu immediately said that Gong Cheng could represent himself with full powers, and Birovsky replied: "Don't worry, we hope that the price paid by Japan will not have any entanglement with the political and economic interests of your country, and we only hope to be able to get all the affiliated islands of Hokkaido, Japan." (Including Japan's current four northern islands.) ）

After listening to the translator's answer, Wang Fu was still a little confused, but Gong Cheng immediately smiled and said with a smile: "Mr. Birovsky, your country's dedication to territory is really admirable. Forcing one's neighbors to cede territory at the first opportunity is the same as for the rebellious party court in China, and the same for the Japanese, and it is simply natural to get used to it. ”

"No way, we need land where we can grow food." Birovsky replied shamelessly, and said even more shamelessly: "Dear king, I am not wrong, right? My request is in the best interest of your country, and if you can agree to it, you will have one more friend at the negotiating table tomorrow, so what do you have to hesitate about? ”

Wang Fu, who had no diplomatic experience, hesitated greatly, so he could only turn his gaze to Gong Cheng for help, and Gong Cheng carefully calculated before replying: "Dear Mr. Birovsky, I'm sorry that we can't give you an answer yet, because we have an agreement with the British that we will join hands to negotiate with Japan this time, so we must first discuss with the British before deciding whether to accept your country's mediation." ”

After that, Gong Cheng didn't wait for Birovsky to answer, and immediately said: "In this way, please Mr. Birovsky stay in our fleet temporarily, and we will give you an answer before ten o'clock tomorrow morning, before the start of negotiations at ten o'clock, is this okay?" ”

Birovsky turned his gaze to Wang Fu, and when he saw Wang Fu open his mouth to approve Gong Cheng's words, Birovsky said politely: "Okay, I'll wait for your good news, General Wang." I also asked General Wang to help persuade the British in front of the British, and persuade the British to accept the mediation and goodwill of our Tsarist Russia. If not....... ”

Speaking of this, Birovsky smiled slightly, and said: "There are actually smart people on the Japanese shogunate's side, and some of them suggest that they only bow their heads to the British and sue for peace, and then resist the attack of your army with all their might, and they are also ready to ask for help from our Tsarist Russia, asking us to help them resist the attack of your army." Although I have already refused, if your army rejects my kindness, ....... ”

Birovsky deliberately dragged out the tail note very long, and Wang Fu immediately changed color on his face, but fortunately, Gong Cheng coughed in time and said with a smile: "Understood, come on, please ask Mr. Birovsky to go down and rest, be hospitable, and don't be lazy." ”

After Wang Fu's reluctant nod, Wang Fu's personal soldiers invited Birovsky to rest. As a result, as soon as Birovsky left, Wang Fu immediately lost his temper and shouted: "You must not agree to his conditions!" Whether or not it is beneficial to us to do so, we must not agree to this because he dares to threaten us! ”

"Of course we can't agree, once we do, we will have endless troubles in the future." Gong Cheng replied coldly, and gestured on the British version of the world map hanging on the cabin: "Wang Junmen, the Russians want these islands. To the north of these islands is Sakhalin, which we are still arguing with the Russians about ownership, and if the Russians really let the Russians take these islands, it will be very difficult for us to get Sakhalin back. ”

"And if we take back Sakhalin in the future, these islands will become a hidden danger for us." Gong Cheng added: "The Russians will certainly use the honor of protecting the enclave to station troops and send fleets on these islands, and then our land and coast in the outer northeast will never be at peace." ”

"Then why don't you just say yes? And promised to give him an answer tomorrow? Wang Fu hurriedly asked.

"Because I'm afraid that the Russians will really incite the Japanese to fight us to the death." Gong Cheng replied: "At that time, if the British take the Japanese indemnity and choose to withdraw, it will be more difficult to force the Japanese with the support of the Russians to surrender to us with our fleet alone. ”

"And what are you going to do?" Wang Fu asked again.

"To drive a wedge between the Russians and the Japanese, so that the Japanese can see clearly the true face of the Russians, and choose to bow to us rather than bow to the Russians." Gong Cheng replied, and said: "There is also a wedge between the Russians and the British, breaking the Russians' idea of taking the British from the bottom of the kettle, allowing the British to put pressure on the Russians on the spot, forcing the Russians to be honest and settle down, and not to take advantage of the fire to rob the idea." ”

"So what exactly do we do?" Wang Fu hurriedly asked again.

Gong Cheng didn't answer immediately, but first picked up the conversation record in the book's office notes and looked at it carefully, and saw that the content was exactly the same as what he remembered, and then smiled and said: "It's simple, just change this conversation record to one word, and then let the Japanese and British see it." ”

"Just one word?" Wang Fu asked in surprise.

"Yes, just one word." Gong Cheng replied with a smile, and said: "In this way, even if Birovsky shouts grievances, we can infer that it is a grammatical error in the translation and interpretation brought by him, and it has nothing to do with us." ”