"The last time he ousted Disraeli as prime minister, I think he will succeed this time. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info" Nathan looked at Gladstone, who looked at the aggressive Glöck, and said quietly.

As early as 1852, the Tories governments of Derby and Disraeli had proposed a budget in favour of the big landowners, which aroused strong opposition from the bourgeois radicals in Britain and led to a heated debate. In this debate, Gladstone sided with the government's opposition and rejected Disraeli's budget proposal to the fullest, and the Disraeli government collapsed. It was also that operation that made it clear that Gladstone was moving further and further away from the Tories. Seven years later, Disraeli decided to join the Liberal Party, which had evolved from the Whigs, as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Liberal government, and officially became a member of the Liberal Party.

Father and daughter were talking, and Gladstone had already begun to speak.

“…… The world is evolving at a rapid pace, changing every day, even if it is a decade ago. The giant hand of mankind holds the power to destroy both all kinds of poverty and all kinds of life in the world. But there are those who are so accustomed to looking at this changing world in the light of the past that they seem to forget that in this world, everyone's rights do not come from the generosity of the state, but from the gifts of God. ”

"Today, I would like to expose to all of you a heinous crime that will bring unavoidable shame to this great nation."

Hearing Gladstone's unusual opening remarks, the entire council hall immediately fell silent.

"This crime took place in distant China. I think you have all heard about the death of Mr. Margaret. I mourn his tragic passing, but I condemn his actions! Because it was his stupid actions that gave our great country the notoriety of not keeping its promises! ”

"As you know, the country's businessmen have been looking for a commercial route from India to Yunnan, China, and that desire itself is not problematic. But most people in this country may not know that the geographical environment of Yunnan is very harsh, the transportation is inconvenient, although it has been the territory of the Qing Empire for centuries, but the Qing Empire is not very effective in the management there, just two years ago, a rebellion there that lasted for 18 years has just been put down (referring to the Yunnan **** uprising led by Du Wenxiu), although the Chinese government has strengthened the management and control there, but it is still a very dangerous place for foreigners. It is not surprising that the Chinese government has always discouraged foreigners from traveling to Yunnan, and that Mr. Margaret was killed there. ”

"The crux of the matter is, why is Mr. Margaret there?"

"Before going to Yunnan, Mr. Margaret applied for a passport from the Chinese government in the name of tourism, but did he really go to travel? Of course not! Mr. Margaret was the interpreter of our esteemed Minister in Peking, Mr. Wittoma, and he was on the commission of Mr. Wittoma to join a force of about 200 men led by Colonel Brown, who had been on his way from India to Yunnan! And the purpose of this army entering Yunnan is to detect the route! ”

"I am not opposed to opening up business routes in Yunnan, but I believe that the development needs to be carried out in a reasonable and legal way, and here I would like to strongly condemn this sneaky behavior! Because it is this stupidity that has ruined the reputation of this great country for hundreds of years! ”

"Over the years, Britain has adhered to the principle of loyalty to our old allies, with whom we share our cultural and spiritual roots, and we have pledged to treat them as honest friends. For if we are united, we can be invincible in many cooperative causes; We will achieve nothing if we are divided and opposed to each other – because we dare not take on a formidable challenge when we are quarreling and falling apart. ”

"Britain has always welcomed new nations that want to join the ranks of greatness. China is such a country - it has been undergoing profound changes over the years, and Mr. Pu Anchen, Mr. Lin Yizhe, Mr. Hong Jun and Mr. Guo Songtao have shown us a different China. We can see that China has embarked on the road of peace and progress, and the day is not far off when this ancient nation will stretch out its hands to the glorious banner of Western civilization. ”

When Gladstone said this, he bowed slightly to Guo Songtao, who was sitting in the audience, and expressed his respect.

Nathan noticed that after the translation was finished, Guo Songtao saw Gladstone's movements, and a trace of excitement appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but smile.

"We seek a way into Yunnan through legitimate means and negotiate with China, and we should not use such sneaky behavior, because this will not only destroy the friendship between China and Britain, but also arouse extreme resentment among the local Chinese, and don't forget that the rebellion there has just been quelled, and many of the rebels' weapons have been imported by foreign lawbreakers who have secretly entered there, so the locals have always been deeply hostile to foreigners."

"In order to prevent the occurrence of such a dangerous situation in which the friendship between the two countries is undermined by the actions of individuals and non-governmental organizations, Her Majesty the Wise and Wise made a solemn promise to Mr. Lin Yizhe, the envoy of the Emperor of China, during his visit to London, that Britain would not allow any person or organization to enter China without permission to seek new trade routes in China. And now, Mr. Wittoma has done something that blatantly undermined that promise, and has made Her Majesty the Queen and the British Government guilty of breaking it! ”

"What makes people even more angry is that Wei Tuma actually used Margaret's death as an excuse to openly threaten the Chinese government with war and force the Chinese government to agree to his conditions!"

When Gladstone said this, there was an uproar below. Conservative MPs stood up and accused Gladstone of exaggeration, while Liberal MPs fought back, saying the Conservatives were secretly plotting the war.

"Silence! Quiet! The speaker shouted as he held the gavel and struck it heavily, and the noise of the people gradually subsided.

"Let me tell you what Mr. Wittoma has done." Gladstone glanced contemptuously at the Conservative MPs, flipped through the speeches in his hands, and said, "Mr. Witoma first left Peking, went to Shanghai to conspire with Colonel Brown to attribute the cause of Margaret's death to the local officials of China rather than to the barbarian tribes, and then claimed that the supreme governor of Yunnan Province of China, Cen Yuying, had instructed an official named Li Zhenguo to kill Margaret, and thus made a great deal of demands to the Chinese government. And when the Chinese government said that it could not accept it, Mr. Wittoma actually issued a threat of war to the Chinese government and mobilized our fleet to Tianjin! Threaten the capital of China! ”

Hearing Gladstone's words, the crowd below began to boil again.

"It can't be!" Someone in the Conservative seat shouted.

"This is slanderous ......"

Before the other party could finish speaking, and before the speaker could knock down the gavel, Gladstone suppressed the noise of the other party with a roar.

"It's a fact!" Gladstone snapped, "What our fleet has done in Tianjin, it's already clearly written in the newspapers, haven't you seen it?" ”

As soon as Gladstone finished speaking, a burst of laughter erupted in the Liberal table.

"They don't like to read newspapers, Mr. Gladstone!" Someone laughed.

"No, they're just watching what they like! For example, when will the latest Chinese Lin's underwear be sold in the market! ”

"That's right! That's all they know about China! ”

Hearing the cynicism of the Liberal MPs, the Conservative MPs blushed one by one, and many people stood up again and scolded the Liberal MPs.

"Silence! Quiet! The Speaker raised his gavel again and struck it wildly to silence the room.

"Because of Mr. Wittoma's tireless efforts, the reputation of the United Kingdom has been reduced to its lowest point." Gladstone cleared his throat and continued, "What I don't understand is who, as a minister, gave him the authority to go against Her Majesty's solemn promises to China? Who gave him the power to make these outrageous and harsh demands on the Chinese government through the death of a translator? Who gave him the power to mobilize our fleet and threaten the capital of a country? ”

After listening to Gladstone's repeated questions, the faces of many Conservative MPs changed.

They only now understand who Gladstone's speech is really targeting.

"Who gave him the authority to dare to blatantly violate the treaty?" Gladstone, seeing that the Conservative MPs were silent, asked again loudly.

"What treaty has Mr. Wittoma violated? Mr. Gladstone? Hearing Gladstone's accusations against Wittoma, the Speaker asked.

"An official statement made by Mr. Pu Anson in September 1868 on behalf of the Chinese and British governments concerning the settlement of the 'Yangzhou Case' dispute." Gladstone flipped through the text of his speech, raised his head and replied, "This statement stipulates that when similar problems are encountered in the future, the two sides should deal with them in accordance with public international law and relevant treaties, and cannot use force to threaten each other." This statement has been kept by both the UK and China. Some British officials, such as Mr. McWarto and Mr. Gilbertson, who violated this statement, were punished accordingly. He glanced at the Conservative seat across from him and emphasized, "But now, as we all see, Mr Wittoma has undermined it with impunity!" ”

Guo Songtao heard that Gladstone's speech was justified and well-founded, and he also mentioned the Treaty of Puanchen, and his heart couldn't help but be full of reverence.

That was the "Yangzhou Case" in November 1868, when tens of thousands of suspicious people burned churches and beat missionaries in China because more than 40 babies died in a row in Catholic nurseries. The British consul in Shanghai, Mai Huatuo, took the opportunity to send warships to Nanjing to threaten Zeng Guofan, the governor of Liangjiang. After months of unsuccessful negotiations with the Qing court, the Anson Pu delegation was ordered to take the opportunity of his visit to Britain to negotiate directly with the British government.

Relying on the familiarity of Anson Pu and others with the rules of the game in Western diplomacy, the negotiations were successful, and the two sides agreed that the handling of similar incidents in the future must be carried out in accordance with the agreement, and "no unauthorized transfer of troops and ships to quarrel with local officials" was compelled to issue an official statement openly admitting that McWarato's unauthorized transfer of troops and threatening local Chinese officials was improper, and expressing respect for China's sovereignty and judicial power. However, Britain still expressed reservations about the use of force "in order to protect life and property from imminent danger".

Soon after this statement was issued, there was another incident in which the British consul in Taiwan, China, Tamsui, Ji Bixun, transferred troops and ships to extort silver from Taiwanese magistrates. In accordance with the agreement, the Qing court sent a note to the British government. The British government then ordered Ji Bixun to return the extorted silver taels to China, apologized to the Chinese officials in Tamsui, and subsequently dismissed Ji Bixun.

"I have reason to suspect that Mr. Wittuma moved the fleet without being questioned or punished with the authorization of Mr. Disraeli!" Gladstone leaned forward, forced his gaze at the Conservative MPs opposite, and exclaimed, "A foreign minister can have the power to mobilize the fleet of the entire Far East!" Could it be that he was Caesar of ancient Rome? Why didn't Mr. Disraeli's government explain this to Congress? If Mr. Disraeli's government did not know about this, it would be a dereliction of duty! And if Mr. Disraeli's government knew about it, why not stop it from happening? What exactly does the government want to do? ”

"I ask Congress to question Mr. Disraeli about this incident! If Mr. Disraeli wanted Mr. Wittema to do this, I demand a motion of no confidence in the Government! ”

Gladstone's words made the room boil again.

"What a great speech, Dad." Sara clapped softly and turned to Nathan.

Nathan looked at Gladstone, who was scolding Fang Yu on the podium, nodded, and said quietly, "I think his goal has been achieved." ”

"Uncle Gladstone should thank our Lin," Sara said with a smile, "and if it weren't for Lin, this wonderful speech wouldn't have happened." ”

"Of course." Nathan smiled slightly, he didn't say anything more, but got up and put on his top hat.

"Let's go." Nathan said to Sarah.

Sara got up and grabbed her father's arm and quietly walked out of the venue, and when she reached the door, Nathan inadvertently turned his head just in time to meet Gladstone's burning gaze.

Although it was only for a moment, both of them understood what was hidden in each other's eyes, and the facial expressions of the two did not change in the slightest.

Guo Songtao, who was also sitting in the auditorium, had no intention of leaving, he looked at the two groups of people arguing fiercely at the venue with great interest, and pondered how to describe in detail what he saw and heard today in his "Chronicle of the West".

After learning the news, the shocked Disraeli immediately convened a cabinet meeting to discuss the response.

"Your Excellency, your accusations against the Admiralty are quite unjust." Aware that Disraeli might use the Admiralty as a shield, First Sea Minister Alexander? Sir Milne angrily got up and said, "I have told you many times that the Admiralty has never given such an order to the 'Chinese fleet'!" Not in the past! Not now! There will never be one in the future! ”

"But why did the fleet appear in Tianjin?" Disraeli said a little frantically, "Is it my order?" ”

The First Sea Lord was about to get angry when an Admiralty officer hurried in and handed him a report.

The First Sea Minister suppressed his anger and glanced at the report, and after only a few lines, the anger in his eyes disappeared little by little.

"Here's why the fleet appeared in Tianjin." Milne said, pushing the report in front of Disraeli, "It was Wittoma who suggested that the 'Chinese fleet' hold a military exercise near the port of Dagukou in Tianjin. This is the report of the commander of the 'Chinese fleet', Ryder. ”

"How so? ......" Disraeli said, clenching his fists.

"There's also a report here, and at the suggestion of Wittoma, they also invited the East India Fleet to send warships to participate." Milne's face was extremely gloomy at this time, "Everything is well explained, Wittoma used this way to assemble the fleet in order to put pressure on the Chinese and create the illusion that a war was about to start, so as to achieve his goal." ”

"Damn it!" Dislee thumped the table with force.

He knew that the appearance of this report meant that the Admiralty had now taken itself out.

Although he had made up his mind to abandon Wittoma to get out of his current predicament, it was clear that one Wittoma would not be enough in the face of the attacks of Gladstone and the Liberals behind him......

"I don't think Mr. Wittor should be blamed for this incident." Earl Deby, the foreign secretary, looked at Disraeli and said slowly, "The Indian government has long decided to explore the route into Yunnan, and Wituma sent Margaret as a guide at the request of the Indian government, and he has not done anything wrong in this regard." And asking China to increase the number of treaty ports, renegotiate commercial taxes, protect foreigners, and give preferential treatment to ministers are also what we have always hoped to get from the Chinese, and if Wittoma violates the Treaty of Anson and Her Majesty's commitment to the Chinese, then the Indian government should also be responsible. ”

"But, in any case, the breach of the treaty and the violation of Her Majesty's promises are true." Disraeli was very annoyed when he heard that Derby actually had the meaning of Bovi Toma, and he said dryly, "He is no longer suitable for the post of minister to China, and we should consider removing him." ”