After a group of civil and military dignitaries in Jiangxi Province dispersed, Ma Ben was also sent out, and there were only two people left in the huge living room, Chang Zhenbang and Basiri, don't look at Brazil just now I was a little anxious to negotiate with Chang Zhenbang, but I really waited for only the two of them, but he drank tea leisurely, without half the anxiety of talking about things, he was not in a hurry, Chang Zhenbang was not in a hurry, he simply closed his eyes and recuperated as if the old god was there, in order to appease these civil and military officials, it really made him exhausted.

Time passed minute by minute, seeing that the noon meal had passed, the two of them still didn't even say anything, and they drank tea instead, and they should close their eyes and recuperate. It wasn't until Basili couldn't help but start screaming quietly that he stretched his arm slightly, took out a few notes from his body, slapped them on the table with a snap, and said with a smile: "You guy, it's really bold to write a few notes and treat the royal sailors of the British Empire as your watchdog in Jiujiang." ”

Chang Zhenbang smiled faintly and said: "The imperial sailors are invincible in the world, and it's not good to be afraid of the nest at home, so it's better to pull it out and slip around, so as not to let those rootless rumors fly all over the sky!" However, I have heard that since the imperial sailors cruised near the Jiujiang River, the sales of British goods have risen sharply, and soon won half of the Jiangxi market and even the Jiangxi market, which is really gratifying. ”

Basiri said proudly: "The reason why the British Empire was able to defeat Emperor Napoleon from the small British Isles to quickly expand into an empire on which the sun never sets, is that the entrepreneurs and businessmen in the empire who have done every job diligently." However, the foreign affairs department was seriously dissatisfied with the unprovoked appearance of the imperial navy outside Jiujiang City. ”

Chang Zhenbang smiled bitterly: "Speaking of dissatisfaction, it seems that the most dissatisfied should be me, don't you know, every time your sailors appear at the Jiujiang wharf, the official's table will ask for a boycott of British goods and blockade of the concession application, for this official is a headache." ”

"Whether you have a real headache or a fake headache, the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department has begun to investigate the matter." Basili said with a headache, obviously because of this matter, he was under a lot of pressure from inside and outside the loan management, otherwise he would not have rushed from Jiujiang to Nanchang so easily.

Chang Zhenbang said: "These days have worked hard for you, the flour mill in the concession will be officially assigned to your name from now on, old friend, this is what you deserve, please don't shirk." If there is anything else you need my help with, as long as you can continue to serve as a consul in Jiujiang, you might as well say it, as long as this official can do it, it will definitely be done! ”

"Expand the Jiujiang British Concession!"

"Impossible!"

"Only interests can be recognized by the foreign affairs department of the empire."

"Some interests will make the German Emperor Wilhelm II have announced that he will officially hand over the German concession in China to the Chinese government, so that as soon as the 21st Article of the Dongying people is proposed, it will be condemned by the whole country, and once the British concession in Jiujiang is expanded, you and I will become the target of public criticism! At that time, although they did not dare to have a head-on conflict with the British Empire, the nationwide boycott of British goods was afraid that they would continue to be connected one after another, and Chinese flour and other strategic materials were afraid that they would flow to Germany and other countries in a steady stream, and this situation was not willing to be seen by the foreign affairs department of the Empire. ”

Basili said: "If you don't do this, the consul of Jiujiang is afraid that he will have to be replaced, and the new consul is afraid that it will not be easy to become your new friend!" I don't care, there has been a little bit of progress in China over the years, but it's a pity that Lieutenant Colonel Silas has just arrived, and if he is demoted or warned, he will probably no longer have a good impression of you! ”

Chang Zhenbang thought for a while and said: "Maybe it's okay, in addition to the flour mill, how about I send another 50,000 oceans to subsidize the adults to take care of the up?" ”

When Basiri heard this, his fat face turned red with anger and said: "Insult, this is an insult, do you think that the officials of the empire will be able to buy it with a few draws of money like the officials of your country?" No way! The gentlemen of the British Empire had a dignity that could never be tainted by the stench of copper! After speaking, he turned around and left, Chang Zhenbang knew that these British foreign devils paid attention to the gentlemanly demeanor of the hell, but he didn't expect to reach the peak to such a point, so he hurriedly grabbed his arm and said: "Old friend, I'm just a joke, as an atonement, as long as this official is in power in Jiangxi for one day, the flour in my jurisdiction will be given priority to the British Empire, do you think this is okay?" Basili said coldly: "As far as I know, you don't really control Jiangxi, and it's insincere to say these empty words!" Chang Zhenbang said: "This is an investment, isn't the empire already making an invisible investment in some overseers?" Why don't you invest in this official in advance, this official has already drawn up a transaction contract for flour and other strategic materials. As he spoke, he took out a dozen pages of stationery from his sleeve and handed it over. After Basiri took the agreement, he flipped through it casually, and said mockingly: "Old friend, you are really generous, this agreement full of tempting flavor, even the richest person in the empire cannot categorically refuse, but it's a pity that the Jiangxi overseer is not you." ”

Chang Zhenbang listened to this, and said with a smile: "If I have already controlled the whole of Jiangxi, do you think I still need to give these benefits to the British Empire?" Isn't the reason why you are in a hurry to come back is to grab the greatest benefit from your brother before I stand firm in Jiangxi? If the empire really doesn't look down on me, you won't run to Nanchang! Okay, we're all smart people, so we might as well open the skylight and say something bright. ”

Basiri sighed and said: "Old friend, you are a smart person, and if you hide it, I am not a friend enough, I can't hide it, the British Empire's perennial investment in the local governors of China has made these local governors fully capable of abandoning their fear and allegiance to Emperor Hongxian, based on the fact that the empire chose a neutral attitude of non-interference in the process of the Hongxian Empire's rebellion......"

Before he could finish speaking, Chang Zhenbang's face turned dark, and he roared very angrily: "Isn't it treachery for the British Empire to do this? Is this what the empire calls gentlemanly manners? ”

Basili glanced at her with disgust and said, "Okay, my old friend, don't act here, you are not the descendant of Emperor Hongxian, even if you are angry, it will not be your turn!" If you were a loyal servant of Emperor Hongxian, you would not have robbed him of 3 million rounds of ammunition, let alone take advantage of the time when he was fighting with Cai Yi, connived at the rebellion of the Reform Party, and took advantage of the fire. ”

"Haha." Chang Zhenbang laughed a few times and said: "I didn't expect these little things to be said, the empire is still worried about them, it seems that this friendship is not as pure as I thought." ”

Basili said: "Old friend, you are wrong to blame the empire, if it weren't for the empire to help you cover up, the three million rounds of ammunition would not have been transported to Jiujiang, and the Beiyang Sixth Division would have already appeared in your town guard yamen, and it would not have made you stand comfortably in the Overseer's Mansion to give orders." ”

Chang Zhenbang glanced at him and said: "It's really like a matter of a while, if the empire is really so optimistic about me, I don't know what help it can provide for me to control Jiangxi?" Forget about verbal support, you won't object to anyone who comes up anyway, what I want is dry goods! ”

Basili smiled, took out a thick folder from the file bag behind him, handed it over, and said: "The kindness of the empire is in this, old friend, you have to repay the empire well!" ”

Chang Zhenbang took the folder and read it softly: "The British Empire on matters related to assisting Jiangxi's economic development, the British Empire's precautions on assisting Jiangxi's ordnance development, the British Empire's suggestions on assisting Jiangxi's civil servants in the assessment and appointment, the British Empire's guiding principles on the purchase of flour and other strategic materials in Jiangxi Province, the British Empire's suggestions on the military in the Jiujiang region, the British Empire's nine principles on public security cooperation in treaty ports and other places, and the British Empire's three principles on the development of minerals in Jiangxi, The guiding principles of the British Empire's foreign affairs operations in Jiangxi Province ...... "Chang Zhenbang only looked at the names of these documents, and he didn't know if he was angry, and through these guidance and precautions, the tentacles of the British Empire's power can be extended to almost any aspect of Jiangxi's military, political and economic affairs, which is completely the Jiangxi version of the 21 articles, but the provisions of the British Empire are more gentlemanly and more civilized.

No matter what you say, Chang Zhenbang is impossible to accept, how can there be a reason to throw away his own life and let others easily pick the fruit? However, in the face of the British Empire, the world hegemon, he could only suppress the anger in his heart and said lightly: "Isn't this a bit too much? If this is signed, let alone the Jiangxi overseer, even for the county officials of Xunyang Road, it will not be available. ”

Basiri said with a smile: "This is the relevant opinion of the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department, I just sorted it out, in fact, the twenty-one articles in the last two years have been stormy, and such unpopular provisions can only be thought up by those ministers who sit in the comfortable sofas in London and drink tea while chatting, I don't approve of it." For this reason, I fought with those ministers and gentlemen, and only reluctantly let these documents in your hands be invalidated temporarily. ”

Chang Zhenbang didn't buy it, but said lightly: "Old friend, you are a China expert, although the opinions you put forward are not as unrealistically harsh as those bureaucrats and ministers, they will definitely make me accept it painfully, do you think I should hate you?" Or should I thank you? ”

Basili said with a smile: "Thank you for the friendship between you and me, it's too foreign, but you are Chinese, you should know the truth of the grace of dripping water!" ”

Chang Zhenbang said: "Say your conditions!" ”

Basili smiled faintly and said: "My conditions are not harsh or complicated, you will be very happy to hear it, first, the strategic materials produced in Jiangxi Province during the European war are given priority to supply the empire." Second, if you are an old friend who wants to set up a modern industry such as the military, you should give priority to hiring British technicians; third, you can discuss with the consul of Jiujiang before Jiangxi's foreign affairs activities; and fourth, you should crack down on all anti-British forces and safeguard the economic interests of the British Empire in Jiangxi Province from being infringed upon. Fifth, if Jiangxi Province is to jointly develop mines and railways with foreign investors, it needs to give priority to the opinions of the British side. How's that, it's interesting! ”

Chang Zhenbang frowned and said, "First, you and I have cooperated, haven't we?" I don't have a problem with the second one, but are you just asking me to give preference to British technicians? Are there any other requirements? I don't believe you're so kind! ”

Basiri smiled and said, "My old friend, your suspicion is really serious, the empire is very generous for friends!" ”

"The Empire is not a charity!" Chang Zhenbang said: "If these British technicians have nothing to do and people are superfluous, I have the right to fire them!" ”

Basili said: "It is up to you to use human rights, and we don't necessarily have to choose them, you can also find them yourself, as long as the mechanic is British, the empire is not as calculating as Dongying." ”

Chang Zhenbang continued to ask: "You mean that as long as my technician is British, you really don't care about anything else?" ”

"The Empire won't bother with such trivial matters, but the Empire won't allow you to fire your subjects without cause, and it won't allow you to provide these munitions to the enemies of the Empire, can you do that?" ”

Chang Zhenbang said: "This is how it should be, but I always feel that something is wrong here, but now it seems that I should still accept it." ”

"It's a wise choice, the Empire won't let you down, old friend," Basiri said. ”

Chang Zhenbang said: "The third item about Jiangxi's foreign affairs activities, I think the empire is a bit difficult for strongmen, Jiangxi is a province of China, and all foreign affairs activities must be subordinated to the foreign policy of the central government. Forgive me for not daring to take risks in this matter. ”

"Diplomacy is the decision of the state, and foreign affairs are the decision of the local provinces, old friend, I just hope that when you encounter foreign disputes, you can express some goodwill for the empire." Let's try to take care of the interests of the empire as much as possible when a bowl of water is even."

Chang Zhenbang thought for a while and said, "If you say so, I can accept it." As for Article 4, I think it should be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, and conclusions should not be drawn up, right? The friendship between the Chinese and British people has a long history, but there are also a handful of fools who are hostile to the British Empire, for these guys with ulterior motives, this official can crack down, but due to the civil friction, this official hopes to investigate with your country, after concluding, old friend, what do you think of my way to deal with it? ”

Basiri said: "For the sake of your friendship with me, let's do what the adults want!" As for the fifth item, adults should have no opinion! ”

Chang Zhenbang thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll just accept it, but I have to add one condition." ”

"Say an old friend, please!" Basiri said cautiously.

Chang Zhenbang said solemnly: "The above agreement is a secret agreement, written by the Jiangxi Overseer's Office, and the deadline is that I am the overseer and you are the consul of Jiujiang, what do you think?" ”

Basili thought for a while and said: "The empire trusts the lord, and I also believe in you, as long as you Chang Zhenbang approves and does it, as for the writing matter, there is no need to do it again, you and I just have a verbal agreement!" ”

Chang Zhenbang said: "Doesn't your country value the agreement the most? ”

Basili smiled faintly and said very arrogantly: "The spirit of contract is the foundation of the empire, and the empire believes that every one of its collaborators is a perfect contractualist!" ”

"Aren't you afraid that I will break the covenant?" Chang Zhenbang asked tentatively.

"The Empire is not afraid of breaking the treaty, and the power of the empire will be punished with the most severe punishment to protect the dignity and interests of the empire. Thirty or forty years ago, Emperor Xianfeng used dirty means to break the contract, and the British Empire burned his Garden of Ten Thousand Gardens. As an old friend of yours, I don't want to see this, at least not in my lifetime. ”

Chang Zhenbang said: "Old friend, thank you for the reminder, and thank you for your generosity, but these conditions can only be agreed to after becoming the Jiujiang Overseer, to put it bluntly, it is all false, at present, what I am most concerned about is what help the British Empire can provide to me so that I can gain a firm foothold in Nanchang." ”

Basiri said: "The empire will touch the necessary manpower for the ...... of the adults"

Chang Zhenbang was first overjoyed and then sighed, shook his hand, and said, "The affairs of the Chinese, foreigners intervene in it, I'm afraid it's a little out of place!" ”

Basiri smiled: "My lord misunderstood, the empire will not participate in the struggle of the local military and government in China!" With Emperor Hongxian's three million rounds of ammunition, enough adults to fight from the south of Anhui to the north of Guangdong, there is no need for the empire to provide any help, what the empire can do for you now is to send manpower to cover up the matter of you stealing three million rounds of ammunition and arms, and let this matter disappear from the world! ”

Chang Zhenbang sighed and said: "It's okay, this matter is my henchman after all, if the empire can handle it properly, I have no opinion, but can the empire guarantee that this matter will be completely wiped out?" I don't want any more people or organizations to come before me and threaten me with this, and of course I don't mean to target the British Empire, but these people and these organizations include the British Empire! I don't know if you can do this for me, old friend? ”

Basili thought for a moment and said: "What I can do is to ensure that only a few gentlemen in the upper echelons of the empire know about this matter, after all, what happened, no matter how well it is covered, it cannot be regarded as if it did not happen, but the empire can guarantee that no one in China will know the truth of this matter, let alone make a fuss about it." ”

Chang Zhenbang sighed and said: "Thank you for not perfunctory me, I wish you a happy cooperation!" ”

This book was first published in Reading Books