Chapter 84: The Successor

Forty-Nine Portland Ave

"Lord Xu, I'll clean it up!" Hu Ling took the initiative to come over and clean up the dishes for Xu Qing. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Xu Qing shook his head and said, "You go and let the servants clean up, you don't have to do these things." “

Hu Ling hurriedly asked, "Why?" Isn't it time for me to clean up on weekdays? What's more, I am also willing to take the initiative. ”

Hu Ling's meaning is obvious, isn't this kind of tidying up of dishes just what his wife should do? But Xu Qing still shook his head, obviously not agreeing.

"Hu Ling, you have to remember that you can clean up in the past, and you won't have to clean up in person in the future. From now on, you have to understand who you are. You are now the second-in-command of our minister in Europe, not a servant. First of all, we must change our thinking, what identity and what to do, do not transcend to a higher level, but also do not self-depreciate to do things that are not our own. ”

Hu Ling felt that Xu Qing's words were a little different, and took the initiative to ask, "Lord Xu, what's wrong with you?" ”

Xu Qing replied: "I was thinking, after I return to China in about a year, I hope you can be my successor and serve as this minister to Europe." ”

"What? No, no, no, I don't dare! Hu Ling hurriedly refused.

When Hu Ling heard this, he felt very scared. He heard that Xu Qing actually wanted her to be Xu Qing's successor, which made Hu Ling frightened. You must know that no matter how hard Hu Ling tries, he still positions himself as Xu Qing's assistant, but he never thought of being Xu Qing's successor.

Hu Lingke is deeply aware of how much influence this Chinese minister has in Europe, and she has also understood very well these days. It is obviously unimaginable how important this represents influence, and how great indirect power it is. As a good girl in the past, she is only preparing to be seventeen years old, how can she have the courage to assume such an important power.

Especially a woman, how dare she imagine holding so much power? So Hu Ling was taken aback, this obviously didn't dare to bear it.

"Hu Ling, there is nothing to dare to, now your studies are also completed quickly. Next, I will train you well, so that you can truly become a qualified diplomat. When the time comes, I will find an opportunity for the imperial court to recommend you to succeed you, as long as the British are willing to help, and the bureaucrats in the country do not pay attention to it, then it is not impossible to agree. ”

"I have paid the price of this telephone, and I hope that I will have the opportunity to designate my successor? If you don't want to be my successor, then what should I do? I hope that you will take my place when the time comes, so that you can help me to grasp the situation in this Europe, so that I can still control the situation here when I return home. ”

"In particular, I want someone who listens to me, who really listens to me, to be my successor, so that I can make sure that the situation here is not a problem. So who else can I have but you? These days, you are the most likely person to be my successor. Especially since you are not only talented and have potential, but I can also trust you in your relationship with me. I don't choose, who do I choose? “

Hu Ling didn't know what to do in her heart, because she actually wanted to go back with Xu Qing very much, but Xu Qing had her here as Xu Qing's successor, so wouldn't Xu Qing be in China, and she would be in this distant Europe, across a continent like this?

What is this? Long-distance relationship? This is not just a long-distance relationship, it spans a continent, especially if it still has to be passed through letters, so it must be difficult.

"Master Xu, I want to go back with you!" Hu Ling took the initiative to say.

Xu Qing took the initiative to sincerely say to Hu Ling: "Hu Ling, let me tell you the truth!" I have said more than once that I don't want a maid, not a maid who takes care of my life. Hu Ling, I am here to tell you a sincere word, don't believe a man's promise, you never believe that a man is so-called unchanging for a woman. The so-called unchanging heart is because the man can't do without the woman. “

"Although, as such a man, I am shameless. But it's true! Since ancient times, all kings and harem beauties have countless beauties, how many can be loyal to their original partners? Emperor Wen of Sui Yang Jian, he was the ultimate Queen of Dugu in his life, but it was based on the fact that Queen Dugu was not just a queen, but his comrade-in-arms. Why does Li Shimin attach importance to Empress Changsun, in fact, in addition to being his wife, Empress Changsun is also a comrade-in-arms who shares life and death, and is an inseparable comrade-in-arms. There is also the relationship between Tang Gaozong Li Zhi and Wu Zetian, do you really think it is the relationship between an ordinary emperor and a concubine? No, Wu Zetian is his comrade-in-arms, his adviser, and his comrade-in-arms who fights against the ministers. ”

"I say something unpleasant, if one day you become dispensable to me, then I am afraid that I will soon forget about you. Do you understand? Don't believe in the so-called men's promises, this sentence is hard to hear, because if a woman becomes completely dispensable for a man, it is no longer so irreplaceable, that is why she is abandoned. ”

"Why have kings been affectionate since ancient times, it is because most of the concubines have nothing but a beautiful face. And for a king, a beautiful face is not irreplaceable, they see a lot every day. And how a woman ties a man's heart, in fact, the most important thing is to make herself an irreplaceable woman for that man. If one day you can be replaced, I'm afraid I'll forget about you soon, you understand? ”

Hu Ling listened to Xu Qing's "ruthless" words, and he also felt a little "wow cool and wow cool" in his heart. But Hu Ling heard what Xu Qing meant, although the reality was very cruel, but Hu Ling was the key to understanding the problem here. If a woman cannot be the irreplaceable person for his man, then she will fall out of favor very quickly.

"Whether it is in the workplace or in your woman's relationship, if you become a person with more than one and no more, and one less and no less, then you are very likely to be replaced. You're going to fall out of favor right away, you know? So, do you understand what to do? To be honest, whether I'm a politician or a man, you don't believe all of my words. Because a politician's promise is uncountable, a man's promise to a woman has the same little effect as a politician's words. ”

"If you really want to stay with me for a long time, your only possibility is to truly become the irreplaceable woman by my side. If I'd rather go back to China, everything you have learned won't be useful, and you will be an ordinary person similar to a maid by my side at most. But as a maid, I can replace it at any time for a few dozen taels of silver. Do you see what I mean? How much I value you is not by my side, because if you can be replaced at any time, then I can't guarantee how long I will value you. ”

Hu Ling was silent for a long time, she knew that Xu Qing was actually right in a sense, if a woman could be replaced at any time, then her status in this man's mind would be very suspicious. But what if there is no substitute? No matter how far this man is separated from this woman, he will never be able to forget her. Even if there are more women around this man in the future, as long as he can't replace that, then he will never fall out of favor. It may be cruel to do so, but it's a historical fact.

Judging from the emperors who valued feelings in ancient times, which of their queens did not struggle together and share weal and woe together. Encouraging each other together in times of trouble, is this the "comradeship" formed?

So although Xu Qing's words are ugly, he has said the truest side of this world. The reason why most of the concubines fell out of favor was because they had no advantages other than their appearance, but for the king, their appearance could be replaced at any time.

"How long can Israel do to others?" Hu Ling recited a verse of Li Bai's poem.

Xu Qing came to Hu Ling's side, took the initiative to pat her on the shoulder, and said, "Do you understand?" Do you know what to do? Hu Ling, I know what you mean for me, but as a diplomat, as a politician, I can't even believe in myself. You'd better not believe my promises to women, even to you. What really solidifies a man's affection for you is not how beautiful you are, but how important and irreplaceable you are. ”

"I can't even trust my own discipline, and I sometimes don't know what I'm saying about everything I say. So, you fall in love with me, maybe it's a tragedy. But if you really want me to never forget you, then the only way, and that is to try to be the woman I can't mention...... One. “

Hu Ling quickly understood and said, "Master Xu, I understand!" I got it, I got it and I got it. Please also ask Master Xu to teach me, and I will definitely learn from you in the future, strive to master all abilities, and then be a competent successor to you in the future. As you said, I want to pass on to you one of the women by your side who can never be replaced, so that it will be good for me and for you! In this way, you will never be able to leave me, you will never abandon me. ”

"Papapapa......" Xu Qing applauded and said, "Very good, you comprehended quickly, I'm very happy." Okay, I will officially promote you to the rank of Political Counselor of the Legation, and confer the title of Counselor, and officially become the rightful second-in-command of the Legation. In the future, you can't look at things as a 'secretary' as you did in the past. You should really try, really try to look at things from the perspective of a minister. If you look at the problem from the perspective of a 'first secretary', it is a certain matter. But if you really look at the problem from the perspective of a minister, then you can really see the overall situation, and you can become a real minister. ”

British Cabinet

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, Chinese Minister Xu Qing sent a note formally appointing Hu Ling, former First Secretary of the Legation, to be promoted to Political Counsellor and conferred the title of Counsellor. Moreover, it was claimed that if Minister Xu Qing was not there, this Miss Hu Ling could act as the minister. In addition, he will give most of the minister's power to Hu Ling to share. Palmerston said.

John Russell saw the note and said: "Her Majesty has said that as a condition for Xu Qing to give up the telephone patent, that is, we must cooperate with Xu Qing so that he can choose his own successor." This Miss Hu Ling is from an international student, and I heard that she is interested in Minister Xu Qing...... Well, I have a lot of admiration for Minister Xu Qing. So in other words, if this Miss Hu Ling is allowed to take over the position of minister at that time, it is actually equivalent to Xu Qing serving as this 'shadow minister' behind the scenes. This Miss Hu Ling is just a person controlled by Xu Qing, and it is still Xu Qing who is really in charge. Of course, maybe Miss Hu Ling also has some power, but the real greatest power is still in Xu Qing's hands, even if Xu Qing returns to China. ”

Palmerston said directly: "Your Excellency, I feel that this is not normal. I deeply feel that this Xu Qing's style is obviously a little abnormal, and he actually wants to monopolize China's power to deal with Europe, which I feel is very inconsistent with diplomatic practice. He is an ordinary minister, in other words, even if he really wants to recommend his successor, he can personally tell the domestic government, personally recommend his favorite successor to the domestic government, why bother? ”

"Why didn't he tell the country, but instead use this roundabout method to achieve his goal, this is obviously abnormal! I think we have to pay attention to this issue, and I feel that if we don't pay attention to it, we will suffer a lot. ”

Palmerston, a veteran diplomat, obviously felt that Xu Qing's behavior was completely out of line with common sense, but he couldn't draw a conclusion about what was abnormal. But he knew that he had to pay attention to it, and if he didn't, it could have serious consequences.

John Russell shook his head and said, "Palmerston, it's all your guess. Even if you hi speculate that there is a problem here, but can you tell what the problem is? Can you explain what Seo Kyung wants? If there is not enough evidence, if there is not enough evidence that this is harmful to our British Empire, how do you let me convince the Queen? You are also the Foreign Secretary, and you should know that you will not be able to convince us without any evidence, with just one mouth. ”

Palmerston smiled wryly and said: "I don't know, I just have a feeling that I have been in politics for many years, but I don't know where it is." The point is, most importantly, that we know too little about China, we know very little about China, but Xu Qing knows too much about us. Prime Minister, you should know that the most important thing for those of us in power is intelligence and information, and if we don't have enough information to make judgments, we can't make effective decisions at all. We know very little about China, but Xu Qing ...... Hey, can we not suffer? “

John Russell's face is not very good, isn't their loss due to the unilateral transparency of information? Xu Qing knows too much about them, but they know very little about China. Even if there is some news in a few hands, they don't dare to believe it! For a general, or even a politician, if there is not enough information and intelligence, it is fatal!