Negotiations between Governor Cook and Consul Sukaiser are underway at the Governor's residence in Brisbane, and dozens of nautical miles from the port, the standoff between the Chinese and British ships continues.

Today, the sky was gloomy and terrible from the afternoon, and the wind suddenly rose in the evening, and the gas lamps in the reception room seemed to be blinking brightly and darkly.

Governor Cook did not expect the arrival of the British Empire's Asian Fleet, which only made the situation worse, and the confrontation between the two fleets on the east coast would have unimaginable consequences.

Now he had to start seriously considering the demands of the Chinese, and there was no problem in resettling the Chinese in Brisbane and demarcating an area as Chinatown, but the Chinese insisted on buying or leasing the ownership of the land, which was the usual way for the civilized world to deal with barbarian countries, and it is somewhat ironic that the Chinese are now doing the opposite.

As for the idea of building a Chinese town in the Kimpi area, it is even more difficult to accept.

Although the conditions put forward by the Chinese are so harsh, Governor Cook hopes to clearly tell the Chinese what the Australians think through communication, and make them understand that these are unrealistic demands.

It's just that Su Kaize's attitude is so tough, there is almost no sense of compromise, and this is the third meeting between the two.

"Consul Su, I hope you can understand that if this stalemate continues, it may lead to consequences that we cannot bear." As soon as Governor Cook finished speaking, a blinding lightning bolt tore through the sky outside, followed by a clattering thunderclap, and the gas lamps in the room suddenly flashed dazzlingly and then went out, plunging the entire reception room into darkness.

The soybean-sized raindrops hit the windows, and the wind howled, as if the whole house would be swept away by a storm at any moment.

Soon, the candles were lit, and the darkness mixed with the storm outside the glass window was even more terrifying.

Unlike Cook who frequently looked out the window, Boss Su was not affected by a thunderstorm at all, the scar on his face softened in the candlelight, and he smiled, Su Lao Dao: "I think that if Queensland can ensure the safety of Chinese merchants and ensure the safety of trade, the entire Queensland region will benefit from it, doesn't Mr. Cook think that our trade relationship is very important?" ”

Governor Cook was silent and assured that he did not want to deteriorate with the Chinese to the point of severing trade relations between the two sides, which would be extremely fatal to Queensland.

For nearly an hour, Governor Cook was still very patient in hoping that Boss Su would understand his situation, and finally said that he agreed to lease or sell land to the Chinese, and the British governor in Melbourne would not agree to Queensland to reach such an agreement with China.

Sipping coffee and looking at the sky outside, Boss Su knew that there would definitely be no result today, and he was slightly anxious in his heart, if the stalemate continued, once the confrontational warships clashed, the consequences would be extremely terrifying.

When Boss Su was about to say goodbye, the door of the negotiation room was suddenly pushed open, and a wet white man hurriedly walked in from outside, and his dripping boots were imprinted on the carpet.

He hurried over to Governor Cook and whispered a few words in his ear, and Governor Cook looked at him in amazement and asked, "Are the Chinese' warships unharmed?" Shocked, his voice was inevitably louder, and he was heard clearly by Boss Su.

Boss Su's heart tightened, and he couldn't care about some etiquette, so he asked anxiously, "Mr. Cook, what happened?" ”

Mr. Cook looked a little embarrassed, but he knew that he couldn't hide it, and said, "The Roar has encountered a huge wave and almost capsized, and now it has sailed to the harbor for maintenance. ”

The British ravaged-class battleships all had the problem of balance, and the problem of rolling in the wind and waves was serious, and it was really difficult to follow the Chinese Navy ships in circles in the storms and waves.

Boss Su breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, and then said, "It's okay, it seems that this confrontation is over for the time being." ”

Boss Su did not mean to be sarcastic, but the Australian officials in the hall naturally felt that their faces were dull, Cook nodded embarrassedly, sent Boss Su out, and secretly wondered in his heart, is the Chinese's naval technology really strong enough to compete with the Empire? Although I don't want to believe it, but today's events have undoubtedly poured cold water on all of them, and the era of superstitious belief in the strength of the British Emperor seems to be gone forever.

…… Looking at the telegram, Ye Zhao didn't expect this confrontation to end in this way, seeing Li Hongzhang sitting on the soft pier below, Ye Zhao slowly put down the letter and said, "What do you think?" ”

Although the attitude of the Queensland authorities has softened, Li Hongzhang's face is not happy, but more solemn: "Weichen thinks that he is afraid that the British subjects will make a noise and will think that this is a humiliating defeat, and his country will definitely take the opportunity to increase military spending and build more new ships." ”

Ye Zhao nodded slightly: "It's good that you can see this." I also sighed in my heart, could it be that I really want to start an arms race with Yu Buluo? In fact, the gold of black Africa and southern Africa is so heavy? The empire needed to maintain a large army armament, and if it competed with the British for a navy, it would be too much to compete.

After being silent for a while, Ye Zhao asked, "What do you think about the opening of the party ban?" Now Li Hongzhang is more and more trusted by Ye Zhao, and he is also the next prime minister candidate in Ye Zhao's mind.

At the beginning, when he heard that the emperor was going to open a party ban, Li Hongzhang was really stunned, although he was already familiar with the Western political structure, but the most taboo in dynastic society was party strife, and now it is artificially creating party strife, how can it not make people feel incredible, but the emperor's private work Li Hongzhang has read it, and what can he do in his heart except admiration? The mutual checks and balances of power, supervision, and how to reflect the will of the people, are mentioned in the emperor's holy treatises, this is the real people for the noble monarch and light, right? Compared with what the emperor thought, shouldn't the so-called holy lord who used to say that the people and the people are light should not die of shame? God really bless China, descended a saint to the world, for thousands of years, how can there be such a bold and wise monarch?

Ye Zhao smiled again at this time: "Can you think about forming a party now, you can form a group, Zhou Jingshan can also form a group, if you can do it now, if you have differences of opinion in the future, you don't have to look for me, debate on the newsprint yourself, see which one can convince the majority of the people." ”

Li Hongzhang knew that the emperor was joking, opening up the party ban was not an overnight effort, and there were too many things to consider and prepare, and the emperor also mentioned in his writings that Middle Earth was no better than the Western Regions, with a vast territory and complex population, so he didn't need to pay attention to the Western set, especially in the centralization of power, and he must not lose to the place; He also said that the elected system and the supervision system should follow their own path, and there are many misunderstandings in Xiyi's political structure, which will eventually gradually appear.

However, seeing that the emperor seemed to be in a good mood, Li Hongzhang laughed a few times, no matter how high and powerful, Li Hongzhang would not forget the emperor's promotion and care when he was down, even if he was named the marquis of ten thousand households, but it was not as good as the emperor's grace.

Ye Zhao thought for a while, and then said: "After a while, maybe this year, maybe next year, I am going to go to Europe to have a look." ”

Li Hongzhang was taken aback and said in shock: "This, the emperor, this must not be." ”

Ye Zhao twisted the Buddhist beads in his hand and said: "I know what you want to say, but if I don't go to Europe, some misunderstandings will not be able to dissolve after all, forget it, you don't have to say it, I'll think about it again." ”

Li Hongzhang lowered his head and said: "Yes, it's just that please take the community as the priority, and don't risk yourself." ”

"You go now, I told you, pay attention." Ye Zhao picked up the Buddha beads in his hand.

Li Hongzhang hurriedly got up and bowed to retire.

At this time, the sunset was shining, and the floor clock sounded crisp and melodious music, it was six o'clock in the afternoon, and Liupin Yiwan, who was waiting on the side, bowed slightly and asked: "Long live the lord, which lady do you want to go to the palace for dinner?" ”

Nowadays, the palace has reduced the use of the palace maids, and the palace ladies have begun to wear uniforms that can be mass-produced, absorbing the cumbersome imperial palace costumes designed by the Tang, Song and Han costumes and the costumes of the previous dynasties are only worn on major festivals.

Ye Zhao said: "Please come to the Heart Cultivation Hall to accompany me to dinner." ”

Dongzhu wanted to go to the warm room to spread Ye Zhao's message, Ye Zhao pointed to the phone on the kang table and said, "Use this." After thinking about it again, he said, "Forget it." Immediately picked up the phone to shake the handle, Dongzhu was startled, hurriedly stood aside and waited, took the handle and shook it.

Nowadays, several concubines are equipped with telephones in the palace, but few people use them, that is, Zhu Sisi, and they will not use the telephone to contact the outside world.

Through the switchboard of the telephone room in the palace, the line of Kunning Palace was connected, and it took a long time before anyone answered, thinking that it was enough to make the palace maids of Kunning Palace stunned, and they didn't know how to react for a while.

The call was answered by Rong'er, who grew up with Ye Zhao since she was a child, and it is not an exaggeration to say that she knows Ye Zhao best, and she also knows that only Ye Zhao will use this kind of fresh thing to find her, and other concubines, due to etiquette, will definitely not do this.

"Come and eat with me, I'll bake you a cake, okay?" Hearing Rong'er's still sweet voice on the phone, Ye Zhao's heart swelled with tenderness, as if she had returned to the season when she had been taught all kinds of novelties many years ago.

Rong'er chuckled and said, "Okay." If there was a palace maid next to her when the two of them were talking, she would not agree so happily, lest others think she was pampered and arrogant.

(To be continued)