Listening to this note from the British made the Manchu central court very embarrassed. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info They really can't find a suitable candidate, not only must be familiar with Western culture, but also have a certain diplomatic ability, so as not to embarrass the court. This Manchu court regarded the face of the court as more important than many practical interests, but there was no suitable candidate at all, so everyone also had a headache.

"Your Majesty, why don't you just do this, how about letting Xu Qing recommend someone to be his successor?" Ministry of Rites Shangshu Baochang said.

Baochang really has no choice, he is in charge of Honglu Temple, and he is in charge of the Ministry of Rites Manshangshu in charge of diplomacy, and he has no shirk responsibility for this matter. Instead of making trouble by yourself at that time, it is better to simply throw the pot directly, throw the pot to Xu Qing, and let Xu Qing recommend it himself. Bao Chang is also an old official, and he knows that if this continues, this responsibility will definitely be shirked to him, the man who is in charge of foreign affairs, so it is better to simply shirk the responsibility, push it down, and shirk it to Xu Qing, his nominal subordinate, which is also good.

"Your Majesty, Bao Shangshu is very good!" "Your Majesty, since that's the case, let Xu Qing recommend it himself!" "That's right, let Xu Qing recommend it himself!" ……

Those people in the imperial court simply asked Xu Qing to recommend it himself, anyway, compared with offending people, let Xu Qing choose the most suitable one by himself, avoiding all kinds of problems. As for who Xu Qing recommends next, the responsibility will be on Xu Qing at that time. These Manchu bureaucrats are good at throwing the pot, and they are naturally no strangers to this kind of shirking responsibility.

"Okay, since that's the case, then let Xu Qing recommend it himself, and then play it to the imperial court, and the imperial court will appoint it!" Emperor Daoguang said.

Xu Qing received this order from the Manchu court in England, and his heart was also happy, he didn't expect that things would go more smoothly than he imagined.

"I really don't know if I should be happy or sad! The fact that such an important power was given to me shows that the Manchu court did not have any diplomatic thinking at all. Completely taking such an important matter as a child's play, it is not as good as their so-called term of office. This is my luck, but it is the sorrow of China! Xu Qing thought.

Hu Ling next to him then asked: "Lord Xu, the court is like this, that's too child's play!" “

Xu Qing nodded and said, "Yes, it's too child's play, which means that they don't pay attention to it at all." I can even do such a thing as appointing a successor myself, but I can imagine that there is no meaning in their eyes. But it's okay, so I can recommend it to you directly. After I return to China, you must do this well, the identity of this minister in Europe is very important to me, understand? ”

Hu Ling immediately promised: "Lord Xu, I will definitely be the minister in Europe for you!" ”

After Xu Qing wrote a recommendation of Hu Ling as his successor, there was immediately a great controversy in the Manchu court.

"Your Majesty, Xu Qing actually recommended a woman as an official, this is too child's play, isn't it?" "Your Majesty, it's too ridiculous to recommend a woman as an official?" "Your Majesty, how can a woman be an official?" "Even, this woman was a foreign student at the time." "There is a problem with whether this is timely, I'm afraid Xu Qing has an ambiguous relationship with her, right?" ……

Many members of the Manchu court were also unhappy, Xu Qing actually recommended a woman as an official, isn't this too ridiculous? Above the court, when were women allowed to mix here? They can accept being an official in the same dynasty as a man, but being an official in the same dynasty as a woman is too a slap in the face, and they can't stand it.

Many people quarreled one after another, dissatisfied with the Hu Ling recommended by Xu Qing. But after arguing for a long time, Emperor Daoguang finally couldn't help it.

"What's the noise, is my Heart Nourishing Hall a vegetable market? You're not satisfied, but you're also saying a candidate? Whoever has the right candidate, I will appoint it immediately! Emperor Daoguang said.

Those ministers dare not speak again, where do they have anyone to say? Those who have the ability are unwilling to go, and those who are not capable are ashamed, so who dares to speak.

After a long time, everyone didn't have a suitable candidate, but Baochang spoke.

"Your Majesty, the slave thinks that it is not unreasonable to recommend this woman named Hu Ling to succeed him. To know the identity of this minister, you must be familiar with barbarian things, and Hu Ling has studied abroad for several years, so he is naturally familiar with barbarian things, and the language and writing are not unfamiliar. Even a lot of things are very familiar. As for Xu Qing, he also said that he was short of manpower in England, so he selected some international students to help him deal with official business, Hu Ling is very competent, and is Xu Qing's important assistant, even if he is not as good as Xu Qing in terms of ability, it will not be too embarrassing. ”

"As for the rest, our only controversy is that she is a woman. However, as far as I know, the kings of many countries in Europa are also women, and this is not something incomprehensible to Europa. ”

But immediately someone shouted: "Baochang, what do you mean by this?" How can we compare with those barbarians? ”

Bao Chang hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, that's not what the slave meant. The meaning of the slave is that it can actually be done on a special basis, and now the imperial court can't choose a person who is suitable in all aspects, so we might as well do it on a special basis, and how about retreating? Our court can use hiring, and we will hire this Hu Ling for three years with the salary of a seven-rank official. This Hu Ling is a woman, not included in the regular official position of our imperial court, they are also a female employee hired by our imperial court with a high salary, this is not impossible, right? ”

"After three years, if Hu Ling, a woman, can do it, we can continue to spend money to hire her. Anyway, isn't it good that the imperial court spends some money to hire it, but it is not included in the formal official system of the imperial court? ”

The eyes of those Manchu court officials lit up, and the only thing they disputed was not Hu Ling's ability, but the issue of official position. Women can't be officials, this is recognized in China, and even the West does not have this rule. But the rules are set by people, but people can change them! Bao Chang's mind turned quickly, and he actually thought of using the method of employment, so that he successfully bypassed the problem of official establishment?

If it is a regular official position, then this will definitely not work, and it will definitely not be able to let women become officials directly, which is too embarrassing. But it is not incomprehensible to define Hu Ling's identity as a senior employee of the government in a different capacity. Even if the salary of this "employee" is higher, it is still an employee, and there is no "membership"!

As long as you don't enter the regular establishment of the imperial court, then everything is negotiable, and it won't be so sensitive. Anyway, once every three years, if it continues to be good after three years, then you can continue to "hire". Even if the salary is high, as long as it is not included in the regular establishment of the imperial court for a day, it is not an official, and it is much easier for everyone to accept.

As for hiring female employees, although this is a bit embarrassing, it is better than having women as officials!

"Baochang's words are really the words of Lao Cheng to seek the country!" Emperor Daoguang praised.

Bao Chang knelt down and said, "Thank you to the emperor for your appreciation, the slave is grateful!" ”

Those ministers felt that this method was good, this method bypassed the embarrassment of a woman as an official, and defined Hu Ling's status as a foreign minister as an employee of the imperial court, although the salary income was relatively high, but that was just an employee of the imperial court. This status is similar to that of later generations of hired civil servants, although the income is high, higher than that of many employees, but it is not a formal staff, and it is not suitable to be hired at any time.

"Okay, hire Hu Ling as my Qing Dynasty's minister to Europa, hire for three years, and pay according to the seven-grade official Lu. After three years, decide whether or not to continue hiring! Emperor Daoguang said.

Xu Qing saw this appointment, and he also admired it in his heart: "Who said that the ancients were stupid, isn't this very smart?" Even the employment system has been figured out, and this method has successfully bypassed the ancient moral ideology and political system, and just solved the concerns of all parties, master! The ancients were not stupid at all, but very clever. ”

However, Xu Qing received this order, and it was officially appointed Hu Ling as his successor, which was much smoother than Xu Qing imagined. This appointment meant that Xu Qing's post as Minister to Europe of the Manchu government had ceased and that he would be recalled to his post in China. And the new minister is Hu Ling, but the nature of this new minister is no longer the same as the nature of Xu Qing, Xu Qing is an official in the Manchu court, and Hu Ling is just a senior employee.

"Hu Ling, the appointment of the imperial court has arrived, and we are ready to carry out the handover. I will soon return to China, and we will make the handover, and in a few days you will be my Qing Dynasty's minister to Europe for a term of three years. In the future, you will be the curator of 49 Portland Street, and you must pay attention to it. You have on your shoulders the hope for the future of China, understand? Xu Qing said.

Hu Ling was still a little nervous and said, "Lord Xu, I ......"

An eighteen-year-old girl was obviously not confident that she could take on such an important responsibility.

"Remember, you have to be confident, everything I can teach you has been given to you, and then you have to rely on yourself. First of all, you have to have self-confidence, do you understand? If you don't have self-confidence, you can't be this diplomat! Xu Qing said.

Xu Qing opened the appointment paperwork, then signed the resignation paperwork, and then stamped the seal, which can be regarded as completing the resignation process. Xu Qing asked Hu Ling to also sign the identity of his successor, and also used a seal, which represented the handover of work.

In accordance with the general diplomatic rules, Xu Qing asked Hu Ling to submit a diplomatic note to the United Kingdom, which was regarded as the official appointment of the new minister, and the transfer procedures were completed.

"Hu Ling, don't worry, I will let Ning Qing help you here, and then you promote Ning Qing to the rank of political counselor and let her be your assistant. You 'sisters' work well together, you know? Xu Qing said.

Xu Qing deliberately used the word "sister" to describe it, Hu Ling has followed Xu Qing for so long, of course he understands the profound meaning of this. In fact, it is to tell Hu Ling that this Ning Qing is her "sister", and they are all Xu Qing's women, and the "sisters" cooperate well with each other to help Xu Qing look forward to this 49 Portland Street.

Hu Ling immediately nodded and said, "Okay, Lord Xu, I will definitely cooperate with Sister Ning Qing well." ”

Xu Qing then explained: "Okay, then the French princess Mathilde will give birth soon, and when she gives birth, she will send the child to you, and you can also help me take care of it." ”

Hu Ling knew that Princess Mathilde was also Xu Qing's woman, and her child was also Xu Qing's child, as Xu Qing's wife and concubine, she naturally had to help her man take care of the child, which was a normal requirement and was very normal in ancient times.

"Okay, I will definitely help Lord Xu take care of your son, I will definitely treat it as my own!" Hu Ling replied.

Xu Qing thought about it, and the things that should be explained have been explained, and he can officially return to China in a day or two. After leaving China for three years, I have to go back this time. In fact, his main battlefield is still in China, and China is the main battlefield that Xu Qing should pay attention to, and this foreign country is just a place where Xu Qing accumulates wealth and relationship networks. Now that the accumulation is enough, it is time to return to China.

Soon it was late at night, Xu Qing lay down to rest, ready to think about what to do after returning to China.

"Knock knock!" There was a knock on the door of Xu Qing's room.

"Please come in!" Xu Qing said.

"Hu Ling, Ning Qing, is it you?" Xu Qing asked.

Hu Ling and Ning Qing, two girls, walked in, obviously with a little red face. And their clothes were relatively thin, so Xu Qing didn't quite understand what they meant when they came to their room at this time.

Hu Ling's face turned red and said, "Lord Xu, you are going back to China tomorrow, Sister Ning Qing and I admire you very much." We'd like to be your woman, but you're going back home tomorrow. We didn't know when we would be able to meet, so tonight, we ...... We...... We're here to sleep! ”

After Hu Ling finished speaking, he immediately lowered his head, obviously very shy. As for Ning Qing, her face was also very nervous, and the two girls took the initiative to enter the man's room and offered to "recommend themselves for pillow seats", which was too shameful. If it was in China, they would never dare to say that. But in Europe, the mind is finally a little more open-minded, so that's why I have the courage to come.

Xu Qing took the initiative to stand up, came to the two girls who were only seventeen or eighteen years old, and used his hands to touch the two girls who were still ****. Of course, Xu Qing understood what they meant, and this was also a means to gain Xu Qing's trust, and of course Xu Qing would not refuse. What's more, doing so is also very beneficial to Xu Qing.

"You don't have to be nervous, I have experience in this kind of thing, don't worry!" Xu Qing said.

The faces of the two beauties were even more red, and the words "experienced" obviously made people not know how to describe them.