After Xu Qing finished explaining his reasons, Prussia also felt that China and Prussia had a basis for cooperation. Because of the times www.biquge.info communication and transportation capabilities in this era were not well developed. Because of communication, the East and the West did not understand each other, so Xu Qing had the opportunity to eat from both ends. Also because of the shackles of transportation, the West is still unable to conquer China for the time being, and the West is also unable to threaten China at this point in time. Unless technology advances again, steam ships develop again, then there is a basis that threatens China.

In the same way, China cannot threaten the West, and Prussia has no direct conflict with China, let alone any contradictions and black history. Therefore, there is no problem in purchasing various basic materials from China.

"Your Majesty, we have a vast land and resources in China. However, for the time being, our domestic industrial demand is not large, and our domestic industrial demand is still not too high. Compared with Europe, our industry is still at a slight disadvantage, and we in China also have certain shortcomings. So we want to stimulate industry at the moment, and as for Prussia's strategic plan for the future, I think we can provide a lot of materials, so that we can stimulate the development of light industry in our country, which will be of great help to the employment of our domestic population. As for Prussia, it will also have access to a large reserve of resources in the future, so we think it is mutually beneficial. Xu Qing took the initiative to introduce the situation.

Xu Qing took the initiative to introduce that China could provide resources in the future, and of course, Prussia would also have to pay for the purchase. Prussia also made a preliminary intention to buy every opinion.

"In that case, I have entrusted Prince William as a representative to sign a memorandum with Minister Xu Qing of China. In the future, we in Prussia will purchase all kinds of fabrics, metal minerals, etc., from China as our reserves. We will discuss the specific payment method step by step. At the moment we can sign a memorandum of understanding as a basis! King Frederick William said.

"Okay!" Xu Qing also agreed.

Xu Qing drafted a memorandum of trade between China and Prussia, and Prussia will purchase a large number of various light industrial products from China in the future. At the moment, this is only a memorandum, not a formal treaty.

As a diplomatic memorandum, it is generally a record of negotiations between diplomats of the two countries, but it is not a formal agreement. This memorandum is only used as an argument for discussion between the two parties, but it does not have legal effect and can be violated at any time, and it is not a formal performance of the contract. Although Xu Qing does not have the power to formally sign a contract, he does have the power to sign a memorandum. After all, the memorandum is not a formal treaty, and the parties can revoke it at any time, or they can modify it at any time without fulfilling the conditions on the memorandum.

The signing of the memorandum in this way was still within the power granted to Xu Qing by the Manchu Qing Dynasty. The Manchus only deprived Xu Qing of the formal signing power, but all other powers were granted. Of course, the Manchus did not know what power there was. The diplomatic thinking of the Manchu Qing Dynasty was still stuck in the past, so Xu Qing could play as much as he wanted, and there were ways to bypass it.

Although Xu Qing has no way to formally sign the contract, he can sign it through informal documents such as "letter of intent", "memorandum", etc., which can also be attacked, retreated, and defended, which may not be a benefit.

Xu Qing drafted the memorandum and treaty between the two sides in Chinese and German, and then took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty, I drafted the agreement in Chinese and German, and then used French again as a preparation for the third part, so that if we have a conflict, the French version will be the mainstay, what do you think?" ”

The Prussians agreed to this plan, and in general there was a convention for the signing of treaties between the two countries, which had completely different languages and scripts. That is, in addition to the version of the two Chinese languages, there should also be a version of the language of another civilized country, so as to avoid conflicts in the translation and understanding of the two Chinese languages, causing unnecessary misunderstandings. In general, if there is a dispute, the third-party language version will be used as a decision in the future.

As for why the French language was used, this also has historical origins. The French language was widely spread among the European aristocracy, and the status of the European high society was relatively high. Of course, this is not the main reason, the main reason is the rigor of the French language. French is not like Chinese, where there are many polyphonic words, polymorphic words, and even ambiguous words.

In French, there are many words that are as ambiguous as in Chinese. This is not Xu Qingchong's flattery, but the whole world recognizes that French is the most rigorous language, and there are few ambiguities, so many international treaties like to use French as a third-party language as a backup!

If you use Chinese as a backup, it is a big joke in the world, because there are too many ambiguous words in Chinese.

The Germans did not see this as discriminating against them, and it was almost an international practice to use French as a third-party language backup. So the treaty was drawn up very quickly, and many of the Germans knew French.

After receiving the French translation and review, the Germans agreed to sign the Sino-Prussian Memorandum of Commerce.

Prince Wilhelm took the initiative to sit down and sign the memorandum, and Xu Qing also signed it on behalf of the Manchu court in the name of the Manchu court's envoy to Europe. As for the next, Xu Qing asked Hu Ling, the first female assistant, to sign the same signature.

"Hu Ling, you can sign it too!" Xu Qing said.

Hu Ling asked unexpectedly: "I also signed, I am also qualified?" ”

Hu Ling was very surprised, something like this kind of diplomacy between countries should be the business of court officials. And this kind of "national event" is all a man's business, Hu Ling and these girls still regard themselves as international students, and even in fact, they have regarded themselves as people with a very low status in their hearts, so they are still very hesitant to participate in this kind of "national event".

Xu Qing took the initiative to comfort and said, "It doesn't matter, you can sign it!" You are now also our Chinese Deputy Envoy to Europe, with the diplomatic title of First Secretary. ”

Xu Qing took the initiative to give Hu Ling, a female assistant, the "official position" of a Chinese deputy envoy to Europe, anyway, the Manchu court did not send a deputy to himself, and these students were Xu Qing's only subordinates. What's more, the Manchu Qing Dynasty's regulations on the diplomatic title and other official positions of this personnel stationed abroad are actually zero. It all depends on Xu Qing's own arrangement, of course, this Manchu Qing doesn't know how great the power is here, and almost all the power is given to Xu Qing. Including the formulation of rules and regulations in foreign affairs, including the appointment power of various subordinates, were unconditionally granted to Xu Qing.

So they don't know what's at stake, Xu Qing can now be said to be able to do whatever he wants, appointing a deputy and granting diplomatic titles, all within his power.

Hu Ling, a girl, is also a little nervous, as a girl, she already thinks that this kind of national affairs are done by men. What's more, she is also a "sold" girl, how dare she sign such a solemn document between the two countries? You must know that China has attached great importance to "foreign affairs" since ancient times, and the diplomatic positions of various countries are very important positions. What's more, the document signed like this is a major event in the eyes of Hu Ling, a girl, and she is actually qualified to sign?

"Miss Hu Ling, don't worry, sign it! Just write after my name, Deputy Minister of the Chinese Mission to Europa, First Secretary, and then sign your name again. Xu Qing said.

Xu Qing knows that these international students will be an important foundation for his future and the foundation of talents in China in the future. Xu Qing wouldn't mind exercising these international students now. As for what female international students are talking about, Xu Qing currently has no qualifications to pick fat and thin, and it is already good to have talents, so he can only settle for it. Let this Miss Hu Ling participate in the signing together, which can be regarded as a training for her, so that she can learn with it.

Hu Ling also held a pen and signed this memorandum very nervously. According to Xu Qing's statement, she wrote the words "Hu Ling, Vice Minister and First Secretary of the Chinese Envoy to Europa."

In front is the official status, and in the back is her name. It's done.

Xu Qing couldn't help but shake his head when he saw this Hu Ling's signature, this font is called a rotten. Of course, as Hu Ling, these girls were carefully selected by the Manchu bureaucrats in China, not only very beautiful, but also literate and hyphenation, and their learning talents are good. They are all literate and can even write beautifully.

But she was still nervous, as an ancient traditional girl who was instilled with those who obeyed women's morals and did not do anything out of character since she was a child, they didn't even dare to sign daily contracts, let alone sign on behalf of the country? In ancient times, women had almost no power to dispose of property, not even the right to dispose of their own property, let alone to sign documents between countries.

Hu Ling is nervous, so nervous that his writing is very substandard, crooked and twisted, and it is ugly.

"Fortunately, this is only a memorandum, not a formal treaty, otherwise it would be a shame! However, this is the first time, and it should be possible to improve gradually. Xu Qing thought.

Prince William looked at Xu Qing and Hu Ling's signatures, and soon saw the difference between the two words. Although Prince William doesn't know Chinese characters, he is not afraid of not knowing the goods, he is afraid of comparing goods! Even if Prince William doesn't know Chinese characters, it can be seen through comparison that Xu Qing's signature is very good, and the font is beautiful and skillful. But Hu Ling's signature in the back is really crooked and ugly!

Prince William stuck out his tongue, obviously having some "contempt" for Hu Ling's signature. Hu Ling, a girl, also felt embarrassed, and her signature was actually despised by foreigners. Hu Ling felt that the pressure was even greater, the signing of official documents between this country was so ugly, this was a loss of face for the country, it was too embarrassing.

However, Prince William didn't say much, just said: "Okay, now that this memorandum has been signed, we have sunk our preliminary intentions." The next thing, we can continue to prepare step by step. We can continue to talk about the future of trade, taxation, customs, etc., and then when the negotiations are complete, we will be ready to sign a formal treaty again. ”

"Okay, thank you, I'm very happy! I hope that China, Prussia, and even the future German Empire, will have a friendship forever! Xu Qing once again rammed a few diplomatic words, which can be regarded as perfunctory.

Xu Qing picked up the signed memorandum and could return to the state guesthouse where he was staying in Prussia.

Xu Qing looked at the memo and smiled. As for Hu Ling next to her, she was even more panicked, and her ugly signature on it made Hu Ling feel even more pressured. This is a loss of face for the country and makes Hu Ling feel uncomfortable.

"Lord Xu, wouldn't it be too embarrassing for me to do this?" Hu Ling asked with a flushed face.

Xu Qing looked at Hu Ling, and then said, "It doesn't matter, this is just a memorandum, not a formal treaty, it's nothing." If you relax, there will be more and more of these things in the future, so that you will also get used to it. ”

Anyway, this is a memorandum, not a formal treaty, and it doesn't have much legal benefit, so Xu Qing is not worried. Of course, if it was a formal treaty, then Xu Qing would not do it. It would be a real shame for a formal treaty to remain in place for many years, or even as a historical record.

But then, Hu Ling took the initiative to ask: 'Lord Xu Qing, what kind of memo do I read, what do you mean?' I want to sell so many things to this Prussia in the Qing Dynasty, what are we going to sell them for? We don't seem to need these things in the imperial court at the moment? “

"Isn't our court doing very well now? Why do such a meaningless thing? What's more, if it's sold, what can it be? Now this memo, is it interesting? I don't seem to see any meaning in this memorandum, we don't need to trade in the Qing Dynasty, not to mention that we in the Qing Dynasty are all in their own place, so why do we need to sign this kind of thing? ”

Xu Qing heard Hu Ling ask, and finally said, "I am very happy that you asked me this." You are finally able to think on your own, instead of following the crowd, taking the initiative to sign with me, and then signing inexplicably without knowing anything. If you can take the initiative to ask, that's a very good idea, and it shows that you really care, not blindly follow. The most taboo thing to do in diplomacy is blind obedience. That's right, this memo really doesn't mean anything at the moment, it really doesn't mean anything at all. I'm just talking nonsense with them, but it's not interesting at all! ”

"However, this memo doesn't seem interesting at the moment, but after ten years or so, it means a lot more."