The next day's negotiation was also in the banquet hall of Qin Chaxingyuan, but a long sandalwood table was placed in the middle of the banquet room, Ye Zhao and Wu Jianzhang sat on one side, and the consuls of the three countries sat on the other side, but it was more formal.

Because of the customs affairs of Prime Minister Ye Zhao, Xu Naizhao is happy to be idle, this is not a good errand, if he can not be touched, he will not be touched, although he is the hospital, but under the pretext of eliminating the remnants of the knife society, he has become a shopkeeper.

Before the negotiation began, Ali Guo asked Ye Zhao with his gray eyes: "Your Excellency, what should you do with the captured officers and soldiers of your country?" ”

Ye Zhao had long expected him to say this, and said with a smile: "Let's talk about business first, right?" ”

Ali Guo was so angry, but he really had no choice but to say sarcastically: "In the eyes of the people of this country, human life is the most precious." I greatly admire the courage of the captured officer of your country, and I now regret his fate. ”

In fact, how could Ye Zhao not take the officers under his rule seriously like Xu Naizhao? Although Ye Zhao didn't care much about the fate of the Qing officers, after all, he was captured in the battle with Yangyi, and he couldn't let people be a lonely ghost. It's just that negotiation is like this, if you show that you value this captive very much, but the other party will ask for a sky-high price, you don't care, and then consider the historical record of your Qing officials, considering the values of this country, the other party really can't use this important bargaining chip as a bargaining chip.

Ye Zhao first threw out a few documents sent by Ali Guo last night, which were actually plans for businessmen from various countries to prepare for the establishment of the Ministry of Industry Bureau.

This ministry of work basically functioned as an autonomous political axe, and in the previous life, it did become the administrative body of the concession, a state within a state. According to its functions, it is probably more appropriate to call it a municipal committee or a city hall, but after all, it is on his land, nominally a concession, not a colony in the Americas or Africa, and it is unreasonable to set up an institution similar to a municipal axe, which is why it has such a nondescript title as the Ministry of Industry Bureau.

In the previous life, the foreign businessmen set up the Ministry of Industry Bureau but did not greet the central government of the Qing Dynasty at all, and only after the establishment of the Ministry of Industry did they note the local officials.

And now, no matter what kind of consideration, the plan of the foreign businessmen was sent to the desk of the Great Qing Qincha, but Ye Zhao was slightly surprised.

However, if he got a bargaining chip out of thin air, how could Ye Zhao let it go lightly, and he knocked on the thick document with his hand and frowned: "Consuls, the concession is a concession, what is a concession?" I also know that the expatriates in Western countries have a very strong spirit of autonomy and respect the rights and demands of the expatriates in various countries for their communities, but I think that the regulations of the Ministry of Industry and the Bureau are really suspected of overstepping their authority and overriding the management of our local government. ”

Ah Liguo was stunned, he knew that the other party would definitely oppose it, and he was going to use the principle of civil autonomy to vaguely pass after the other party objected, but who knew that Ye Zhao said it first, which made him speechless.

Ye Zhao pushed those regulations aside, with a completely non-negotiable posture, and said: "Where my Qing Heavenly Army is coming, Xiao Xiao has given the head, and now I have broken through Shanghai City, as I said, the customs will resume its old business, and will impose heavy penalties on tax evaders from various countries!" ”

Ye Zhao is very confident, the lion opened his mouth widely, the battle of Xinnicheng has already told you that the Shanghai Concession does not have absolute strength to fight against the Great Qing Kingdom, even if you want to transfer the fleet to war, how much time will it take? The exchange of letters, coupled with the quarrel in your House of Lords and House of Commons, is not an immediate matter in short, not to mention that you are still fighting with Lao Maozi in Turkey, where can you spare your hands to teach me this arrogant chaplain now?

Ali Guo's face was pale, and he knew yesterday that the Xiaodao congregation had abandoned the city and broken through, and the county seat of Shanghai had been conquered by the Qing army, and the most important bargaining chip in the tariff right negotiation was suddenly gone.

Ye Zhao said again: "Of course, this official is not unkind, and those who make up the tax within ten days will not be investigated, if the ten-day period is over, don't blame the official for being strict!" ”

Wu Jianzhang sat respectfully on the side, just holding the celadon tea bowl and listening to the little grandfather and the foreigner's words, that was not a word, but the more he listened to the little grandfather's words, the more worried he became, this, if this angered the foreigner, it would not end.

Seeing that the atmosphere was stiff, the gentlemanly American consul Ai Tang interjected with a smile, but his words were very weighty: "Lord Qincha, if your country wants to receive full taxes, it is difficult to do it without our assistance, I believe that Lord Qincha is very clear about this, and I hope that Lord Qincha will be calm, and we will jointly discuss a charter that is satisfactory to both parties." ”

Ye Zhao picked up the teacup and drank tea, everyone's eyes were all on his face, everyone had different thoughts, but they were all figuring out what kind of regulations and bottom line this Lord Qincha had in his heart.

Finally, Ye Zhao put down the teacup and said with a smile: "I can understand that you want to intervene in tariff affairs, but if a three-country committee is set up and your countries will determine the customs tax rate of our Daqing Dynasty, it is really unacceptable, if the basis of the negotiation is this, then it is okay not to talk about it." ”

In fact, last night several consuls such as Ali Guo and more than a dozen influential businessmen also discussed this matter, Shanghai City has been recovered by the Qing army, with the knife will be blackmailed by the Qing State of the bargaining chips no longer exist, if you insist on competing with the Qing State for the right to manage customs affairs, it seems quite whimsical. What's more, the Qincha from the capital division of the Great Qing Kingdom seems to know the affairs of the kingdoms clearly, but he is not so easy to fool. In fact, in the previous life, how could the Three-State Commission, which was improvised because Xiaodao would occupy the county seat of Shanghai, that it would finally be able to control Shanghai Customs?

It was because last night that under the collective discussion overnight, the consuls and merchant representatives of the three countries drafted a new charter, and then Ali Guo took it out and handed it to the secretary office next to him, and the book office respectfully sent it to Ye Zhao.

Ye Zhao glanced at it a few times, it was nothing more than a change of name, but he still asked that the customs department of the Jiang Customs should be jointly served by the representatives of Britain, the United States and France and the officials of the Qing Dynasty, "Jiang Customs affairs, all countries and the Qing Dynasty have equal right to speak", Ye Zhao was in his heart, how can this be talked about equally? In other words, customs affairs cannot be handled without consultation with other countries, which is not qualitatively different from the Trilateral Commission, but it is just a good face.

Ye Zhao put aside the charter and said with a smile: "Let me wait for the discussion before replying to the consuls of the countries." ”

The consuls of the three countries readily agreed, and although the county seat of Shanghai had been conquered, the Jianghaiguan Yamen in the concession was still in their hands, and they still had the last bargaining chips to bargain.

At this time, Ye Zhao waved his hand, and the interpreters on both sides retreated, Ye Zhao smiled and said to Ali Guo: "It is not within my authority and responsibility for the preparation of the overseas Chinese of various countries to set up a Ministry of Industry Bureau in the concession, and I can only provide your personal opinions for reference. "Since you hinted at Ali Guo, you can fool the magistrate, if I want to clearly agree to your establishment of the Ministry of Industry Bureau, forget it.

Ah Liguo was puzzled at first, and then suddenly, then there was finally a smile on his face, and he said, "Lord Qincha is high. ”

Ye Zhao smiled again: "I heard that yesterday the merchant group caught a few lawbreakers in the concession, I don't know if they can be sent to the place and severely punished to set an example." "If you give a piece of candy, you naturally have to get a few dates back.

Ah Liguo turned his head sideways and discussed a few words with Ai Tang, and they all felt that this country was careless about people's lives, and they really didn't know how to deal with it with a few prisoners, and tortured the officer many times last night, but that tough guy didn't say a word, let alone admit his identity, it didn't help to keep such a small role in lockdown, it was better to give this Qin cha a favor.

After the discussion was over, Ali Guo smiled at Ye Zhao and nodded.

……

sent away the consuls of several countries, and left Wu Jianzhang's narration in the flower hall Ye Zhao......

After Wu Jianzhang read the new clauses that Ali Guo came up with, Ye Zhao asked a few questions about customs affairs, but Wu Jianzhang just said very respectfully: "Everything is subject to the instructions of the little grandfather." ”

Ye Zhao finally became angry, and glared: "Lord Daotai thinks that I am young and easy to bully?" Then I will reply tomorrow, agree to the foreigner's charter, and return to Beijing only to say that it is your idea! ”

Wu Jianzhang was startled, he was not sitting very steadily, and when he heard Ye Zhao's words, his buttocks seemed to be on fire, and he stood up suddenly, "Humble duty, humble duty don't dare." ”

"Then you give me an idea, how to go back to Beijing and block the mouths of those people." Although Ye Zhao already had a plan in his heart, if he talked about deception and concealment, a veteran like Wu Jianzhang was afraid that he would be more tactful, so I had to listen to what he had to say.

Hearing Ye Zhao say this, Wu Jianzhang put it back in his stomach with a swish, the little grandfather clearly regarded himself as his own, and suddenly felt a few taels lighter on the bones of his body, and groaned for a moment, Wu Jianzhang said: "The foreigners are arrogant, and the little grandfather is also arrogant to them, and I see the new constitution of the foreigners in fact with great concessions, the little grandfather might as well agree to come down, and on the fold of returning to Beijing, it is only said that because the Yamen of Jianghai Customs is located in the concession, it is just to hire foreign employees to serve." Of course, this charter still needs to be signed by the Fuyuan Lord, and the Fuyuan Lord's new military merits should also have some involvement in this. ”

Ye Zhao was a little dumbfounded, "hire foreign employees", this is okay? The tricks of these officials to shirk their involvement are really incredible, and it is relieved to think about it again, because of the lack of information today, there are still many feudal officials who falsely report natural disasters, not to mention this small trick?

Ye Zhao pondered for a while, picked up the teacup with a smile, and said, "Brother Daopu should come to me more often." He shouted his words, and it was his own.

Wu Jianzhang's face immediately showed a look of gratitude, and he snapped the horse's hoof sleeves and beat it down, "Obey orders, and be terrified." ”

Ye Zhao smiled: "Yes, you are also polite to me, get up." ”

"Retire from your duties." Wu Jianzhang respectfully turned upside down and exited the flower hall.

Ye Zhao looked through the new constitution of the foreigners in the flower hall for a while, and was about to discuss with the old master again, when a Goshha hurriedly entered the hall and said, "Master, the foreign devil has sent people here." "Following Ye Zhao's side, I didn't learn anything else, but I learned to call foreigners "foreign devils".

Ye Zhao nodded slightly and said, "Bring it in!" ”

Bowing his head and putting away the charter, he heard the sound of footsteps, and when he looked up, Ye Zhao was taken aback, ho! What a big man!

I saw a man with a tiger's back and a bear's waist walked into the flower hall, his muscles were knotted, like a black tower, although he was unkempt and his face was scarred, but he couldn't hide the fierce spirit that seemed to rise to the sky.

"Han Jinchun, the general of the Beizhihe Town Battalion, has seen an adult!" The big man pushed the gold mountain and knelt down, looking ashamed, in this era, the shame brought by being captured by the enemy chief is afraid that it will be difficult to wash away for a lifetime.

Seeing his majestic appearance, Ye Zhao liked it a little, and said with a smile: "Get up, I have wronged General Han!" ”

"Don't dare to be humble, humiliation is a debt of the court's grace, please punish your lordship!" The big man's voice was loud, but it was clear and loud, obviously not the kind of real rough person, and said: "My lord is called a lowly general, but I really dare not be a lowly general!" ”

Ye Zhao smiled and said: "Being caught by mistake is not a crime of war, Lord Han doesn't have to take it to heart, let's win it back tomorrow." ”

"Yes! Be! Although the big man said yes, the sadness and shame on his face could not be reduced slightly.

"You know who I am, right?" Ye Zhao took a sip of tea and asked slowly.

"I know that my lord is a messenger from the capital!" The big man still knelt so upright.

Ye Zhao nodded and said, "It's good to know, you and Zhenying have not returned, and you can't go back." I'll write a letter to the Fuyuan tomorrow, I want you to help me run an errand, right? Would you like to? "It's really that this big man has nowhere to go, I'm afraid that he has already been on the death list drawn up by Xu Naizhao.

The big man is not a rough person, so he naturally understood what Ye Zhao meant, so he kowtowed to Ye Zhao a few times, "Lord Xie lifts!" The little ones only sacrifice their lives to run errands! ”

Ye Zhao smiled and said gently: "Get up, I'm here, and I don't have those bloody errands." ”

Dahan slowly got up at this time.

Ye Zhao looked at him and asked again, "What is the name of Brother Han's Taifu, and what is his origin?" ”

Dahan didn't even dare to say it, and said respectfully: "The villain has a cursive word, and Daoguang Ye has been a martial artist for thirty years." ”

Ye Zhao didn't know that this name was the first fierce general of the Green Battalion who exterminated the Taiping Army in history, but he didn't feel it at all, but he heard that he was born as a martial artist, and he couldn't help but look at him a few more times, although he has been in this world for 20 years, he still feels quite fresh about his martial arts background.

"Rui Si'er, Rui Si'er" Ye Zhao shouted twice, and the voice was not too loud, but immediately, a thin monkey rushed in outside the hall, and Rui Si'er called a thousand to ask for peace: "Master, Rui Si'er is waiting!" ”

Ye Zhao pointed at the big man and said, "Take General Han to bathe and change clothes, recuperate for a few days, and then call the old master." ”

"Wow!" Rui Si'er got up and made a gesture of please, "Master Han, please!" ”