Yan Fu chased after him with the cruiser and four frigates, and they avoided the Tuzhenni, the prey left for the Taiping and the Anxiang, and they were accompanied by three frigates.

It was not easy for the French to escape, and although Yan Fu's ships did not have the perverted speed of the ships of the Dashang's home fleet, they easily surpassed the fastest ironclad ship of the French Baya by more than ten knots. A sea pursuit battle ensued, and the airships of the Great Merchants caused great problems for the French fleet, and although they only attacked with machine guns, several small-tonnage cruisers had to slow down.

A British warship had been watching the battle from a short distance, and the commander above lamented that although it was the opponent of the Hundred Years' War, the French fleet did not even have the ability to resist in the face of the menacing merchant fleet. The French were not without warriors, as was the case with the officers and men of the Tuzheni, but their courage pale in the face of all-round backwardness.

Explosions were heard in the distance, and the Tuzheni had completely lost power under the siege of the Taiping and the Serenity.

"The Tuzheni is finished!" The British commander shook his head helplessly. "The French fleet is also finished."

On June 20, 1885, the news of the conquest of Saigon in Vietnam shocked the world again, and the French navy was completely wiped out, and the remnants of the army retreated into Cambodia in three ways. The first road was Poriya, which was originally in the north, with more than 4,700 men, who first retreated to Laos (Nanzhang) and then south to Longfa, Cambodia. The second way is to attack Toulon's Kelenda, who also has more than 4,000 men, and has already played with the first team. The third route was the retreating troops from Saigon, small in number, just over a thousand men, led by Lieutenant Colonel Henry, to Phnom Penh.

Beijing, Dashang Beijing Office.

Tang Shaoyi is chatting with the US Minister Charles Timbey, next to British Counsellor Ogne, who is currently the top British official in China.

"Congratulations to the Northeast for its brilliant achievements in Vietnam." Ogner smiled and congratulated.

"Thanks for the compliment."

Tian Bei also smiled, but he was a little insincere, and said: "I really can't imagine that your warship is so powerful, I don't know how the Northeast is going to end up in the matter of Vietnam?" ”

Before Tang Shaoyi could answer, the doorman came to report and said, "Director Tang, French Minister Batna asks to see you." ”

Tang Shaoyi smiled and said, "Say Cao Cao, Cao Cao will arrive." Please! ”

Beijing today was a bit gloomy, and when Batna arrived at the Beijing office, there was a sudden thunderstorm and a torrential downpour. However, in just a few steps, even with an umbrella, Batna still wet his clothes. Tang Shaoyi stood at the door and said with a smile: "Mr. Batner, I haven't seen you for many days, but it's always good." ”

Batner nodded, and then he saw the American Minister Tian Bei and the British Counselor Ogne, and his heart was slightly relieved.

Tang Shaoyi saw it next to him, nodded slightly, and said in his heart: "No wonder Tian Bei and Ou Gene suddenly visited, it seems that they were entrusted by Batner." ”

The living room was warm, with a fireplace, and someone helped Baggett change his clothes, and after a few sips of hot tea, Baggett's slightly pale face gradually regained a hint of ruddyness.

"I wonder what is the so-called sudden visit of Mr. Ambassador?"

Baggett lost his former arrogance and said calmly: "Our Prime Minister, Mr. Henry Brisson, I hope to be able to hold peace talks with you. ”

Tang Shaoyi smiled, nodded, and said, "Yes!" ”

"When will it be possible to do it at the earliest?" Bagner finally showed a hint of anxiety.

"In five days, the foreign minister of our government is currently busy preparing for the establishment of the Diplomatic Academy, and it is estimated that the school will start in a few days. Of course, if your country is willing to send a minister plenipotentiary, our Prime Minister may be able to receive you. ”

"This ......" Bagner hesitated for a moment, "I can't reply to you right now......"

A thunderbolt flashed in the sky, and after a while, a roaring thunder rolled in, shaking the four fields.

"That's no problem, we are willing to negotiate peace with your country." Tang Shao was gentle and elegant, but the three foreigners all felt that they were neither humble nor arrogant.

It is said that this is the first time that Bagner and Tang Shaoyi can have a calm conversation, and the two must have been at odds with each other when they met before, and they did not give in to each other. Now that Vietnam has settled down, and the defeated French army has arrived in Cambodia, if it were not for the lack of troops in Vietnam by the Great Shang, I am afraid that these defeated French troops would not know where they would be driven.

Bagner was somewhat silent.

Tang Shaoyi said at this time: "Mr. Bagner, there are some things we can talk about first. If we can't talk about it, how about the big guys talk about it? …… Today, Mr. Tin Bei and Mr. Ogne are here, and with them as a witness, we seek common ground while reserving differences, and I believe that Mr. Bagner will not return empty-handed. ”

Bagner nodded and said, "Yes." ”

"Let's talk about prisoners of war, then." Tang Shaoyi paused slightly and said, "First of all, I would like to inform you of the unfortunate news that General Guba had been seriously injured in the previous battle. Although we have worked hard to rescue Mr. Guba by our medical staff in Northeast China, we still have not been able to save Mr. Guba's life. At 3:15 a.m. this morning, he passed away due to organ failure caused by bacteremia. ”

Bagner froze in his seat, speechless. Now Guba is regarded as a national hero of the French, and if it weren't for the sudden intervention of the Northeast, he would still be sailing on the seas.

"Can I see his body?"

"Of course, that also includes Mr. Guba's family. However, his body is still in the northeast, and we hope to hand it over as much as possible. ”

The matter of Guba is not complicated to deal with, and the Northeast has no interest in Guba's corpse. If antibiotics are used, Guba may not necessarily die, but Wang Yi vetoed this request, it is very simple, how many Qing soldiers and Han people were slaughtered by Guba and his subordinates, and the Northeast did not kill him directly, even if the benevolence and righteousness were exhausted.

After disposing of the body of the lone person, the topic of Tang Shaoyi and Bagner fell on the issue of prisoners of war. There were nearly five thousand French prisoners of war in the hands of the Northeast, some navy and some army. At present, they are assigned to various labor camps for heavy work. Despite this, the people are still alive, they are well fed, and there is no abuse.

"As long as the peace agreement is signed, we can return these prisoners of war. Rest assured, Mr. Bagner, we always do what we say. ”

"I don't know if you have any specific requirements for signing a peace agreement?"

Tang Shaoyi filled Bagner with a cup of tea and said with a smile: "Our conditions are very simple, to receive all of your country's colonies in Asia, and at the same time pay an indemnity of 500 million gold francs. Of course, we will retain your trade rights, but your warships are prohibited from entering our waters without our permission. ”

"It can't be!" Bagner vetoed directly.

Tang Shaoyi smiled and said, "If you want to keep your colonies in Asia, it's impossible!" Now that Vietnam is in our hands, Cambodia is only a matter of time. Your armies resist our attacks. ”

This is a fact, and at present, the combined attack of the sea and air force or the land and air forces in the northeast can be regarded as the most advanced offensive system in the world. Countries are copying the airships of the big merchants, but many of the problems are far more difficult than imagined. One of the most difficult to solve is the source of helium. Many countries are using hydrogen instead of helium, but the results are not encouraging. The hydrogen-filled airship looks like a large flying bomb, and sometimes it doesn't need to be attacked, just a little spark inexplicably can make a valuable airship burn.

Bagner did not speak.

"As for the reparations, if you do it, you will be held responsible. Vietnam was originally a vassal state of our Great Qing Dynasty, it was like this, it is now, and it will be like this in the future! ”

"But your Qing Empire has signed a treaty with us to recognize Vietnam as our colony." Bagner finally found an excuse to refute it.

Tang Shaoyi had a smile on his face and said, "That imperial court has nothing to do with us, they can't represent our country." Moreover...... Before signing a treaty with your country, your country was also a sword against our country. What is the point of a treaty that is nothing but the result of the war, and now that the war is not over? ”

Bagner kept his head down and didn't speak.

Tang Shaoyi continued: "If Mr. Ambassador insists on such a treaty, it is okay! But we will pay your blood debt with endless wars, and we will pay your blood debt until you are willing to sign a new treaty! ”

"You!" Bagner stared at Tang Shaoyi.

The two sides do not give in to each other, and the saber rattling!

Seeing this, the British Counsellor Ogne started a round and said with a smile: "Drink tea, drink tea!" Mr. Tang, this tea is good. ”

American Minister Tian Bei also smiled: "It's really good, it smells very fragrant, and it tastes a little bitter at first, but after it enters the throat, there is a trace of sweetness on the tip of the tongue." ”

Bagner was stunned, did they ask me to agree to the conditions of the Northeast?

"That's right, first bitter and then sweet!" Tang Shaoyi laughed and ordered: "Uncle Chen, go and get some new tea sent by Mr. Hu Xueyan this year, and let the three ministers, taste it." ”

The servant named Uncle Chen said yes and withdrew.

Bagner didn't speak, thinking about it.

The final negotiations still did not yield any results, and when Bagner returned to the French embassy in Dongjiaomin Lane, the servant came to report and said: "Sir, the ambassadors of Tsarist Russia and Japan have come to visit. ”

The current Tsarist Russian ambassador to China is Bo Baifu, and the Japanese minister is Shimada Yinnori.

"What are they coming for?" Bagner said with a frown. "Where are they?"

"I'm waiting for you in the living room!"

"Sue them, I'll go over right away after I change my clothes!"

The rain is still falling in Beijing, and the sky is still dark, and there is no light in sight, because it is night.