"God forbid!"

In Washington, D.C., at this stormy moment, when the news from across the ocean came, almost every politician in Washington was so on his lips. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

For the United States, it is indeed God bless the United States. After the outbreak of the Civil War, it was Britain that worried American politicians the most. will take advantage of the American Civil War to intervene in the civil war, which will lead to the division of the United States, after all, for the United States, the British factor will directly lead to the victory or defeat of this war.

Even Washington's most confident politicians don't smell good. The civil war could be won by defeating Britain by borrowing the power of the United States alone.

But now, no one worries about Britain anymore, not just because Britain is involved in a war, but because Britain's maritime power is firmly pinned down in Europe by the Chinese, and for the United States, it is the British navy that they are most worried about.

Now there is no need to worry about them anymore, and even some confident politicians have repeatedly declared that "Britain is nothing to fear, they are just a paper tiger!" ”

Paper tiger!

For Americans, the word is new, but it is the Chinese word to describe Britain, and they use paper tigers as a metaphor for Britain, as if to tell the world how vulnerable and weak Britain is.

And it is also true!

People all over the world saw the fact that the arrogant British were no match for the Chinese, either on land or at sea, where the British were once proud. The Chinese taught the British a hard lesson in all directions.

Thus proving to the world an ironclad fact - Britain is nothing more than a paper tiger!

There is nothing to worry about at all!

The Chinese helped us contain our biggest enemy in Europe, and when the civil war in the United States ended, perhaps the British would still be in the mire, and perhaps the arrogant British would come and ask for our help.

Politicians in Washington are so eloquently proclaiming to the American public opinion circles that it seems that for Americans, the Chinese have become friends of the United States overnight, and it is China's "righteous act" that makes the United States no longer need to worry about the British.

Of course, no one thinks so!

No one would think that the Chinese are selfless.

Everyone knows very well what the trigger of the Sino-British war was, it was the Chinese who annexed Panama, and they even confiscated the Panama Railway, which belonged to the Americans. Although some radical lawmakers in Washington advocated that China should be forced to withdraw from Panama and return the Panama Railroad, Lincoln, who was relatively calm and wise, chose to remain silent.

Even in the face of protests from New York state legislators, Lincoln chose to remain silent, because he knew that the last thing the United States needed now was to make an enemy, and it was a relatively strong enemy.

But many times things go beyond people's expectations, and despite Washington's best efforts to avoid trouble, trouble always comes its way, or rather, trouble never stops.

“…… On that Chinese merchant ship, we seized 15,000 rifles, 200 breech-loading rifled guns, and 5,000 barrels of gunpowder......"

Edwin? M. Stanton, the newly appointed secretary of war, said in a somewhat excited tone when he mentioned these figures, because this was the most brilliant "anti-smuggling" of the US Navy at sea, but what made people feel a little powerless was that it was a Chinese merchant ship.

Conflicts with European powers should be avoided as much as possible, this is the basic strategy developed by Washington, and although China is not a European power, who can deny that China is also one of the great powers? After all, they are already on the battlefield, proving it with victory after victory.

"According to the information we have so far, in Panama, which is under the control of the Chinese, there are a large number of smugglers from China, who have brought all kinds of weapons and other supplies needed by the South, and now Chinese is replacing the British as the largest supplier to the rebels in the South......"

Of course, Stanton did not get to the heart of the matter, because the reason why China replaced Britain was because British military factories were now working hard to produce weapons for the British Army, and because of this, Chinese businessmen had to fill the gap in the market.

"But we have to see that now we are intercepting a Chinese merchant ship."

Secretary of State Seward reminded President Lincoln as he was lost in thought.

"If nothing else, the Chinese ambassador will soon come to protest! Mr. President, after all, we are now detaining Chinese merchant ships, Chinese crew members and captains. I think that if they are provoked by this, it will undoubtedly be extremely detrimental to the United States! ”

As US Secretary of State, Seward knows very well that China's attitude toward the North and South of the United States is very ambiguous.

"It's hard for us to confirm what kind of attitude the Chinese have. On the one hand, they are understanding Washington, but on the other hand, just last month, they sent their own representative to Richmond and set up a trade representative office in Richmond! ”

Diplomats in this era have no way to understand China's moves, and the ambassadors in Washington keep supporting the "One America" position, but they have no scruples about sending their diplomats to the south, to Richmond to maintain so-called "commercial interests", and to establish a trade representative office in Richmond.

In this regard, Seward and Washington have asked China to explain more than once, but the Chinese's explanation has always been playing with words there, and because of this, Washington's politicians have finally seen what is called "Oriental word games" and "Oriental diplomacy".

"If the relationship between the two countries deteriorates further because of this incident, then, Mr. President, no one can guarantee what the Chinese will do next?" If they recognize the government of the rebels in the South, then it will undoubtedly be a disaster for the United States! ”

This is exactly what Seward feared, and perhaps he could take a tough stance on the lips, but on the other hand, he knew that the United States was simply not capable of intervening in a civil war by any major power.

Just as Seward's words fell, there was a knock on the door of the president's oval office, and Lincoln's chief of staff walked in.

"Mr. President, the Chinese ambassador would like to be able to meet you directly!"

Here it comes!

Lincoln and Seward exchanged glances, and now the Chinese ambassador had come to the door.

"Mr. Ambassador!"

When Wang Wenshao, a diplomat from Shaanxi Shilang in the Qing Dynasty, walked into the oval office, Lincoln had already taken the initiative to greet him, and at the moment when the two met, Lincoln immediately felt the anger emanating from the other party.

"Mr. President, I believe you already know that our merchant ships were openly intercepted by the warships of your navy on the high seas, and now the Chinese crew members have been seized and the property of Chinese merchants has been infringed upon, which is an infringement of our sovereignty.

Faced with Wang Wenshao's unceremonious questioning, Xiward immediately said on the side.

"Your Excellency, I need to remind you that the New America is loaded with weapons, weapons to be smuggled to the rebels in the South! In accordance with Washington's wartime no-sail laws, your merchant ships have violated our blockade of the South! ”

"Mr. Secretary, in accordance with the instructions of the Imperial Capital, I need to emphasize once again that the Chinese Empire does not recognize any decree that hinders free trade, and that our country has the right to enter into any trade with any merchant in any region!"

As a diplomat from the imperial examination, although it took Wang Wenshao four years to learn English, it did not prevent him from playing word games with these Americans, of course, the basis of this word game is the power of the state, otherwise, no one would pay attention to it at all.

"Therefore, even our merchants trade with merchants from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, and any other state, in accordance with the spirit of free trade believed in by the Chinese Empire, according to which our merchant ships have the right to enter any port, unless the port customs deny our merchant ships entry!"

All right!

This is a strong word, but Wang Wenshao doesn't mind saying these words.

"Mr. Ambassador, please note that these states are states of the United States of America, and the laws of Washington are absolutely binding on them!"

"They didn't follow Washington's edicts! The reality is that they have re-established another country according to the founding spirit of the United States! ”

Wang Wenshao's words made Lincoln immediately vigilant.

"Mr. Ambassador, please pay attention to your wording, every word you say represents the Chinese Empire!"

Lincoln's warning fell on Wang Wenshao's ears, making him silent for a moment, and he said to meet Lincoln's gaze.

"Mr. President, we are all well aware that the public law of all nations has never given your navy the right to intercept our merchant ships on the high seas!"

Taking a deep breath, Wang Wenshao stared at Lincoln and said in a tough tone.

"Perhaps, you think, that the Chinese Empire is now in the midst of a war with Great Britain and is unable to take care of our commercial interests, but you must understand one thing, Mr. President, that even during the war, we will never ignore our special commercial interests in the southern states!"

This is the most realistic answer, business interests are the ambassador's Wang Wenshao's concern, although as a Confucian son should not be profitable, but he knows that the Chinese Dynasty is different from the old dynasty, if he ignores the interests of Chinese businessmen or other overseas Chinese, and does not back him, then what awaits him will be an edict, and he will lose his official position.

"Your country's commercial interests cannot be premised on harming the interests of the United States, and you must understand that the rebellion in the southern states is now the source of interference with your country's commercial interests!"

Although Lincoln has long given up lobbying these Chinese who play with words every day, at this time, he still does not give up trying to let the other side understand that the cause that the United States is now engaged in is just and is also an internal affair of the United States.

"And the sale of weapons by your country's businessmen to the rebels in the south is undoubtedly in violation of the public law of all nations, and instead of stopping it, your country is acting as a backing for it, and now it is also interfering in the internal affairs of the United States!"

"We note that your country has always been the greatest supporter of the Manchus when the Chinese people, under the leadership of His Majesty, opposed the colonial rule of the Manchus! Even now, the Manchu chieftain still lives in your country, New York! ”

"At that time, the Manchu Qing Dynasty was a diplomatic relationship with the United States!"

"But your merchants also sold arms to us, the "rebels" as you called them at the time, and Your Majesty has always remembered that the ordnance used by our army came from your country at the beginning! ”

Wang Wenshao unceremoniously pointed out the double standards of the other party. When he said this, Lincoln was dumbfounded, and Seward said immediately.

"At that time, the Qing Dynasty was not able to effectively prevent our merchants from selling arms to you, and our merchants believed that you were the righteous party! And your actions are against colonial rule, like the American War of Independence, but, the South ......"

"The southern states believe they are rebelling against colonization in the north!"

Without waiting for Siward to finish speaking, Wang Wenshao's expression was extremely serious, and he seemed to be reminding the secretary of state in front of him that everything he said could not solve the problem at hand.

"Now, the issue we need to discuss is not the issue of arms, but the rude behavior of your navy, which tramples on the dignity of the Chinese Empire! In accordance with the authority conferred on me by the Chinese Empire, I demand that your country must publicly apologize to our country and unconditionally release our detained persons and the seized merchant ships and their cargoes. and compensate for all losses and stop the barbaric interception of our merchant ships ......"

"This is unacceptable! Mr. Ambassador, as President of the United States, I must not watch your country send weapons that kill American soldiers into the hands of the rebels! ”

When Lincoln stood up and replied to Wang Wenshao in a righteous and stern tone, there was anger in his eyes, as if he was angry for Wang Wenshao's arrogance.

"Mr. President, you must know that the Chinese Empire will defend our commercial interests in the South at all costs!"

"Is this China's final decision?"

With a surprised face, Seward immediately asked, he didn't expect that the other party would bring such news when he met today.

"If so, you know, what does that mean!"

Faced with this kind of questioning question, Wang Wenshao replied in a tough tone.

"Mr. President, no one cherishes our friendship with your country more than we do, but we must see that your country is trampling on this friendship again and again, and according to the instructions of the Imperial Foreign Office, your country should give an answer to our representations within forty-eight hours......"

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