Although the Chinese Heavenly Kingdom has not explicitly severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. federal government, the expulsion of its chief diplomat in China and the closure of all churches and other cultural exchange facilities are already extremely serious steps.

Soon after the measures were announced, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he saw the figure of the British Minister Gro, who respectfully asked to see the Chinese Foreign Minister Zhang Zhidong, and after some courtesy, he expressed his concern in a tone of regret: "Lord Zhang, I hope that you can use your talents and connections to help Your Excellency King Rui and correctly understand the diplomatic friendship between your country and the United States, especially in the field of cultural exchanges. ”

Zhang Zhidong was a little embarrassed, in fact, he was very uncomfortable when he became the minister, not only in terms of clothing, hairstyle, but also in title, although he himself is a very enlightened person,

"First of all, thank you Minister for the importance he attaches to the contemptible, the contemptible people just want to ask you to revise a few views, first, in the future, it is Sir or Your Excellency, do not become an adult, second, our Archon of the Chinese Heavenly Kingdom attaches great importance to cultural exchanges, third, it is not that he does not attach importance to relations with the United States, but that the American Minister has damaged the dignity of our country, and fourth, the Chinese Heavenly Kingdom guarantees to protect the rights of all other foreign nationals, and the relations with the United States will not involve any other country." Zhang Zhidong dealt with it with a smile, for this talented, top-three jinshi background, and a person who ordered Hanlin, and had a super good head, it was easy to deal with a foreign hair.

Then, the French ministers, the Italian ministers, the Austrian ministers, the Dutch ministers, the Spanish ministers, and a large group of ministers lined up in the small cabinet outside the living room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking for a meeting, and although the questions raised were strange, there was only one core, and I hoped that the Chinese Heavenly Kingdom would not expand the situation, and that even if relations with the United States were rigid, they should also have reservations about cultural measures.

Count Francisco, Minister of Austria, said very representative and true: "Actually, even if your country breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States, it will not affect the relations of other countries too much, but the message of closing the church is really shocking. ”

Zhang Zhidong persuaded and repeatedly assured,

After the tide of ministers subsided, Zhang Zhidong came to see Luo Yang and reported to him about today's busy foreign affairs activities.

"You're right, you're right." Luo Yang praised Zhang Zhidong, "You are worthy of being the foreign minister of our Huaxia Heavenly Kingdom, when selecting talents, many people recommended you to me, and it seems that everyone's eyes are bright." ”

Zhang Zhidong was very happy, but he was very modest on his face, and only asked King Rui to show him, so that he could carry out the task.

"In that case, let's simply announce the severance of diplomatic relations with the United States." Luo Yang said,

The diplomats who discussed the issue here felt that it was too sudden, and that the severance of diplomatic relations meant a possible war in the future.

Hong Renji was very uneasy, and immediately pointed this out to Luo Yang, he had been in Hong Kong for several years, and he still had some understanding of the situation in the West.

Li Hongzhang also felt that it was inappropriate, "The country is newly built, and it should be restored peacefully, if it is so provocative, once a big country like the United States becomes angry and sends several fleets, it will be a great disaster for our country, not to mention, Britain and France, all of them are eyeing each other, why not think about creating things day and night, expanding rights and interests, contemptible people feel that this is a risk." ”

Luo Yang allowed everyone to speak, and, the content of the speech also commented, all praise, what kind thinking, ideas are new, etc., appreciation, he doesn't know anything else, he only knows one, the appreciation of the superior leader is crucial, determines the efficiency and loyalty of the subordinate personnel, anyway, as an artillery squad leader, once praised, that happy,

"The United States will not send a fleet, because the United States is in a civil war, although they now have an absolute advantage in the civil war, but our combined corps of General Li Shixian and General Dai Beibei will immediately change the pattern of the American Civil War, our artillery group, our special operations, will rewrite the history of the American Civil War, even if we cannot completely defeat the North, it can also cause the North to suffer a heavy setback, even if the US federal government ignores the theme of the civil war and really sends an overseer to retaliate, we are not afraid." Luo Yang focused on commending Li Hongzhang's "thoughtfulness", cautious, thinking that his thoughts are very deep, but in fact, in his inner world, he is very despised, thinking that he is as timid as a mouse, and his character determines his fate, such a person can serve as a subordinate and clerk, once he dominates the fate of the country, no matter which country is a tragedy,

"Our task now is not to consider whether to sever diplomatic relations or not, or the diplomatic pressure of various countries, that is not a question for us to consider, everyone think about it, if the US government really sends one fleet, or even two fleets, how can we deal with it diplomatically." Luo Yang put forward a focus task for everyone,

Hua Xia Tian ** was not sure to defeat the enemy's fleet at sea, because, in fact, Hua Xia Tian ** only captured a few foreign ships of the former Qing army, which were pitifully small.

Since this is a diplomatic issue, it is not a simple issue, and everyone's focus is on whether China can cope with the attack of the US Federal Fleet.

"Rest assured, we are completely capable of defeating the enemy, if the enemy dares to send a fleet, we will capture one, and if we dare to send two, we will capture two." Luo Yang said impassionedly,

Everyone was shocked,

Who can believe that the Manchu government was twice beaten extremely badly by the British army and the Anglo-French coalition army, and in the naval contest, it was hardly on the same level,

"Why, Mr. Consul, what do we rely on?" Several officials asked,

Luo Yang said: "This is a military secret. ”

While the center of the Chinese government was nervously discussing countermeasures to resist the pressure of the foreign diplomatic corps of the great powers, the American minister asked to see Luo Yang for the last time, and Luo Yang also summoned him very benevolently: "On behalf of the government of the Chinese Heavenly Kingdom, I would like to give you one last chance to argue, and I hope that you will automatically fulfill your obligations, return to the United States by yourself, and bring another minister, and besides, withdraw all the missionaries back to China, even if it is temporary." ”

"No, Mr. Consul, on behalf of the U.S. federal government, I would like to lodge a solemn protest with you once again, you must not be so impulsive, violate the norms of international relations, you are deliberately provoking, you are consciously deteriorating the relations between the two countries step by step, and it is very dangerous for you to do what you are doing here." Minister Rohr said angrily: "If you really feel the need, the contemptible man may meet your demands by convicting two missionaries of the contemptible country against conscience and the law for the crime of managing good and concealing." ”

"No, the time is different, you must evacuate our country, including all your missionaries." Luoyang Road,

"We protest, we refuse." Rohr said strongly,

"Okay, I'll announce now that the government of the Huaxia Heavenly Kingdom and the U.S. government will immediately sever all contacts." Luo Yang smiled treacherously and said,