After staying up all night to intrigue with others, Li Hongzhang was also very tired, and now he had an advantage, so the next day he did not officially meet with the British and French ministers, but took a good rest for a day in the former Osaka office under the pretext of being unwell.

On the third day, Li Hongzhang, who had recovered a little energy, formally summoned the British and American ministers and a young man named Sakamoto Ryoma, who was said to be Sheng Haizhou's bodyguard and was deeply trusted by Sheng Haizhou, so he came to negotiate on behalf of Sheng Haizhou, and as for Sheng Haizhou himself, he left in a hurry early yesterday morning.

In fact, Sakamoto Ryoma was also a relatively famous person in the Japanese upper class society at this time, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a legend, but Li Hongzhang is Chinese, but he doesn't know much about this person, and he only thinks that the other party is just an insignificant little person, who replaces Katsu Haizhou and goes through the motions, so he doesn't pay much attention.

Sakamoto Ryoma, although he acted rashly, but he also knew that his words and deeds at this time were related to the future of the shogunate and even Japan, and he also knew that the person in front of him was actually a person who came to find fault and take the opportunity to expand the war, so he also remembered the teachings of his teacher Katsu Haizhou, and listened more and said less, so he was a little restrained and even a little wooden, but in fact, he had been carefully observing Li Hongzhang and two other foreign ministers.

Probably because they had waited an extra day, as soon as they met, the British envoy to Japan, Ali Guo, began to bombard Li Hongzhang, believing that their actions in Japan were too barbaric, not only invading Japan for no reason, but also without notifying them in advance, which was unruly and extremely irresponsible. In particular, the burning of Kagoshima was too brutal and completely lost the code of conduct of a civilized person, so he demanded that the Chinese army immediately withdraw from Osaka, apologize to Japan, and pay financial compensation to the shogunate.

After Ali Guo finished speaking, Li Hongzhang also listened patiently to the translation's words. Only then did he smile and said: "Mr. Minister, first of all, you must understand one thing, we are not the army of the Chinese government, but only a mercenary army under the Eastern Bloc, and what we do has nothing to do with the Chinese Empire, so we will never accept our national responsibilities."

Secondly, as a mercenary army subordinate to the Eastern Bloc, we did not invade Japan for no reason, but for a reason. Why? That's right. Some time ago, in the middle of the day, the Japanese brutally killed our company employees for no reason in a place called Yoshidaya, so we are seeking justice for them, but we are not out of nobody. By the way, this is only an act of justice within our company, and the act of justice of the imperial government is still to come. But that's not our business.

Thirdly, about the burning of Kagoshima, this incident was an accident, and in this regard. I also deeply regret it. But then again, the Japanese are also at fault in this matter, who made the Japanese not listen to us and not surrender. Do you have to resist? If the people of Kagoshima had not resisted, wouldn't there have been that tragedy? If you look at the people of Osaka, the people of Osaka are more obedient. As a result, didn't we burn Osaka either? ”

"Bastard!" Sakamoto Ryoma, who understood, still couldn't hold back after all, stood up suddenly, and looked at Li Hongzhang angrily, "Put the others aside first, does Your Excellency mean that you burned Kagoshima because they didn't take the initiative to surrender and had to resist you?" ，”

"That's right." Li Hongzhang looked at the angry Sakamoto Ryoma with a smile, not afraid at all, "That's the case, if you don't resist, there won't be that kind of tragedy." ”

"That's nonsense!" Sakamoto Ryoma said angrily, "It's like a robber who killed someone, but said that he killed him because the other party didn't take the initiative to give him money, so it's all the fault of the dead man, not the robber's fault, isn't it?" ”

"Well, that's an interesting story." Li Hongzhang nodded, "However, when you encounter a robber you can't beat, don't take the initiative to pay the money, but also resist, isn't this self-defeating?" So, from a certain point of view, the robber was right. If you have to say wrong, you can only say that the person who was robbed is too weak, who let him not beat the robber? Weakness is a sin, don't you? ”

"You, you ......" Hearing that Li Hongzhang was so shameless, even Sakamoto Ryoma didn't know what to say.

"The weak must have the consciousness of the weak." Li Hongzhang said lightly, "If anger works, there will be no need for the army." If you look at the British and the Americans, it's not strange at all, because they are also strong and know the truth that the law of the jungle is the strongest. ”

"But, but you are Chinese!" Sakamoto Ryoma finally reacted, "You are from the Heavenly Empire, haven't China always paid attention to etiquette and shame, haven't you also suffered aggression?" What is the difference between you and the Western powers in doing this now? ”

Although British Minister Ali Guo and American Minister Harris are not yet proficient in Japanese, they both have interpreters around them, so when they heard Sakamoto Ryoma's words, they immediately frowned, and seemed to be dissatisfied with this guy's appearance.

"Yes, we in China have indeed suffered aggression." Li Hongzhang narrowed his eyes and said with a calm face, "It is precisely because we have also suffered from the aggression of foreign powers that we have more completely woken up from the original ignorance, began to open our eyes to the world, know how big this world is, and also know the rules of this world, and adapt to this rule as much as possible." ”

Speaking of this, Li Hongzhang paused, and then continued: "I also studied your situation before I came, and I heard that the time when you founded the country was actually earlier than us, and you also have many people with lofty ideals, and the vision of many people in my country is farther away, but unfortunately, your country is weak and unlucky, and there is no holy monarch born, and you can't unite the people's hearts in a short period of time, and then work together to be strong, so ......"

Li Hongzhang spread his hands: "So you are lagging behind, and if you fall behind, you will be beaten, this is the law of survival in this world." In the current environment of global unity, it is impossible for Japan to continue to be in a corner of the country as before, and you must either find a way to adapt on your own or passively adapt, and there is no other way.

However, in my personal opinion, you have lost the opportunity to adapt independently, after all, our country has risen, and the whole of East Asia will be our sphere of influence. If you are smarter, you should be obedient and obedient, and maybe you can keep the name of Japan, and if you have to be stubborn, you will fight to the end. That may be the end of the destruction of the country and the annihilation of the nation.

Now, it's not the Yuan Dynasty, don't expect any divine blessings, even if there is, we have a way to avoid it.

We also encountered your so-called kamikaze when we burned Kagoshima, but how about it, it's not okay? Therefore, I say, you should not leave anything to chance, but think more about how to keep Japan alive in the new era. ”

After listening to these words. Sakamoto Ryoma clenched his fists, his face flushed, but after all, his mind was relatively clear, and he reacted quickly, so he bowed: "Thank you for your guidance, I was reckless just now, and please have a lot of them, don't mind." ”

"You can teach." Li Hongzhang nodded with a smile, "If you Japanese are as reasonable as you." That still saves. ”

After Sakamoto Ryoma sat down again, Li Hongzhang looked at the British Minister Ali Guo, who had been frowning and listening to the translator next to him, and smiled slightly: "Mr. Ali Guo, where did we talk about just now?" ”

Listened to the translator. Ali Guo nodded to Li Hongzhang at this time: "I mean, although you say that you don't represent the Chinese government, just a private mercenary army, but in fact, everyone knows it. That's just a pretext, you are representing the interests of the Chinese government.

We have a lot of rights and interests in Japan in the British Empire, so you have to go to Japan before you send troops to Japan. You should inform us and discuss with us, because you are disrespecting our British Empire and disrespecting other countries. Therefore, your behavior has violated the interests of our British Empire, so you must give us an explanation. ”

"Confess, what is there to confess." Li Hongzhang said with a smile, "I said, this is just an internal behavior of our company, it has nothing to do with the Chinese Imperial Government, the Japanese killed our people, we came to teach them a lesson, it is reasonable, don't you British always do this, are you only allowed to do this, and we are not allowed to learn the same?"

As for offending your interests? This is strange, Japan is neither your subject country nor your colony, on the contrary, it is closer to our relations with China. In other words, Japan is still a sovereign country with autonomy, so what does it matter to you British people if we beat Japan? Our people didn't kill the British, did they? ”

"But, but......" Ali Guo was a little aggrieved, but he quickly thought of something, and said at once, "but, as far as I know, you China and our British have signed an agreement to notify each other and cooperate with each other before sending troops, and your independent action without informing us is a violation of the agreement." ”

"Oh, you're talking about the Sino-British Joint Military Mutual Assistance Convention." Li Hongzhang said with a smile, "As far as I know, that convention was only effective in dealing with a common enemy, and at that time there was an agreement between countries, but we were just mercenaries of a company, if you want to talk about analogy, it is like your British East India Company, your East India Company sent troops everywhere to fight wars back then, but it didn't say that it represented the British government." ”

After finally listening to what the translator said, Ali Guo also had a little headache, and finally simply said unreasonably: "In short, you must immediately withdraw from Osaka Prefecture and compensate Japan and us in the United Kingdom, otherwise, you will bear the consequences." ”

"Then whatever you want." Li Hongzhang said with a smile, "I want to see what you guys who claim to be the empire on which the sun never sets, can do to us!" ”

"Okay, okay, let's all say less." Seeing that Ali was not angry, American Minister Harris immediately came over to play a round.

After finding that Ali Guo was sullen and did not speak, Harris said to Li Hongzhang: "Mr. Li, we are here to solve the problem, and your attitude will not work to solve the problem, don't you say?" ”

"Well, this gentleman speaks much better." Li Hongzhang nodded and said, "That's right, my willingness to meet you proves that I am also sincere, otherwise, I don't have to see you at all, don't you say?" ”

"Yes, that shows Mr. Lee's reasonableness." Harris, who understood, nodded and smiled, "I just don't know how Mr. Li plans to solve the current situation?" ”

"I know that you are actually afraid that China will monopolize Japan." Li Hongzhang simply got straight to the point, and he was not afraid that Sakamoto Ryoma would be uncomfortable when he heard it, "But what I want to say is that our current force is really only a private mercenary force, and it does not represent the will of the Chinese Imperial Government."

Let me be honest, the first reason we came to Japan this time was to punish the Japanese for their ignorance and daring to kill us. Second, it is to make some benefits, mainly for money. Now, we're pretty much done in Osaka Prefecture, and we can promise to leave soon, but we're not going to leave right away, and we're going to have to do another job. ”

"One more vote?" Harrison thought for a while, and finally understood the meaning of this sentence, "You mean that it is not enough to rob Kagoshima and Osaka Prefecture. Want to grab another city? ”

"Pretty much." Li Hongzhang said, "They do have to continue to do it, as for whether they only grab one city, I can't say." ”

"Why?" Harrison said, "As far as I know, you have looted 10 million taels of silver in Osaka Prefecture, isn't that a large amount enough?" ”

"You're asking the wrong person, Mr. Minister." Li Hongzhang said, "Let me say so. Actually, I am just a negotiator, but the real decision-makers are the fleet commander and the army commander of our army, and what they say is what they say. But it's a pity. They don't want to see you, and as far as I know, continue to rob Japan, no. It is to punish Japan, it is their established strategy, and it will not be changed. ”

There was a pause. Li Hongzhang then said: "This is like a hungry wolf who eats meat and tastes the sweetness, do you expect the hungry wolf to give up the meat in his mouth?" Obviously, this is not realistic. So, I'm unceremoniously saying that in the current situation, I'm afraid that even if the Imperial Government and the people of the Eastern Bloc give orders, these crazy people who make money will not stop, don't you say? ”

Harrison and Ali Guo are both understanding people, and they also know that what Li Hongzhang said is right, once the overseas army fights and makes a sweetheart, it is absolutely unrealistic to want them to take the initiative to give up the meat in their mouths.

In fact, Britain does not look at the empire on which the sun never sets, but the ruling power over many overseas colonies is also quite weak, assuming that a force is on a mission overseas, it is good to be frustrated, once it encounters sweetness, such as winning a war, grabbing a lot of wealth, and continuing to fight will get more wealth, it is absolutely impossible to expect them to obey the order to stop.

Not only Britain, but also the overseas colonial armies of other powers, most of them are in this state of being disobeyed by foreign monarchs, which is already a kind of normalization, and it is precisely because of this situation that the great powers can colonize the world.

"Even if your imperial government can't control it." Harrison continued, "Then your Eastern Bloc has a way, right? For example, to cut off their supplies, especially weapons? ”

"That's a good idea." Li Hongzhang nodded approvingly, "Actually, I have already reported to the above, asking for the supply of the Absolute Expeditionary Force and the task force to be cut off. However, this is not something that can be done for a while, as you know, this company is big, it is inevitable that there will be some bureaucracy, this back and forth, finalize the decision, and then put it into practice, it is estimated that it will take at least a month or two, which is still a smooth situation.

But as far as I know, the expeditionary force is so profitable, and the Eastern Bloc will definitely extract a lot of wealth, so I'm afraid it's difficult for their upper echelons to agree to stop in this situation, don't you think? ”

"So, there's no need to talk about it?" Ali Guo suddenly spoke, "Do you really plan to continue burning and looting in Japan like this?" ”

"No, no, no, how could it be." Li Hongzhang said, "It's still the same sentence, if that's the case, why did I come to see you?" It's good to just say no. ”

"And what do you mean?" Ali Guo said angrily.

After all, Ali Guo is used to being high in Japan, and he has also spent some time in China before, and he is also high, so he has always looked down on the yellow race, and now he is treated like this by Li Hongzhang, a Chinese who used to look down on him, and it is strange not to be angry.

Therefore, it is precisely because of this prejudice that he lost his original acumen, otherwise, as a minister of a colonial empire, it would be impossible for him to do such a gaffe.

Relatively speaking, Harrison, the U.S. minister to Japan, is in a decent manner, and at least maintains the most basic sobriety.

"Mr. Ali Guo is not impatient first." Li Hongzhang said with a smile, "Indeed, the two generals of our expeditionary force naturally hope to continue fighting in order to earn more wealth and fame. However, after all, Japan and China are neighbors separated by a strip of water, and although there were no formal diplomatic relations in the past, it does not mean that there will be no diplomatic relations in the future. As an imperial official, it is naturally my responsibility to maintain the friendly relations between the two countries and to avoid greater unpleasantness. In other words, if it weren't for the proper handling of relations with Japan, I wouldn't need to send them here. ”

"I seem to get it a little bit." Harrison interjected, "You mean your coming. Just to restrain the two generals of the expeditionary force from doing things that are too out of line? ”

"Yes." Li Hongzhang nodded, "However, although I have the support of the imperial government behind me, it is unrealistic to make them completely give up the upcoming benefits, so we must give them a buffer."

Well, let's put it this way, in fact, I have already received assurances from them that after leaving Osaka, they will fight at most one more Japanese feudal lord, yes. Just a feudal lord. After the fight, no matter what the result is, they will choose to leave Japan, what do you think of the result? ”

"Only one vassal valve?" Ali Guo frowned, "That means you have to fight a Japanese lord and rob it again?" ”

"Although I personally find this very harsh." Li Hongzhang nodded, "But essentially, yes, that's it." They promised me. At most, if you grab one more Japanese lord, you will stop it, and the rest will be handed over to the people sent by our imperial government to deal with. ”

"Someone sent by your Imperial Government?" Ali Guo thought about it. "Are you saying that your Chinese government has not intervened yet, no, is it still planning to continue to intervene in Japan?"

"How so?" Li Hongzhang thought for a while. "The Sino-Japanese conflict that was triggered by the Yoshidaya incident is actually just the beginning. To be precise, since it happened not long ago. We, the Chinese government, are still negotiating on this matter, that is to say, there is no unanimous opinion on how to deal with this matter in the upper echelons of our empire, which is why we have not yet launched an action against Japan.

In other words, in fact, our Chinese government has not officially come out, as for us, no, we should say that the matter of the expeditionary force and the task force, as I said before, they are only armed mercenaries under the Eastern Bloc, and the Chinese who died in the Yoshidaya incident happens to be an important figure in their group.

Therefore, as a more flexible company, the Eastern Bloc ordered the dispatch of mercenaries to inquire about the Satsuma Domain, with the intention of dealing with the murderers and rationalizing the compensation of our Eastern Bloc.

However, I also deeply regret this humanitarian disaster because of a series of accidents, especially because of the ignorance of the Satsuma Domain, which led to the intensification of the gaffe, and the use of new weapons by the task force, which seemed to be so powerful that most of Kagoshima Castle, the main city of the Satsuma Domain, was burned. ”

Speaking of this in one breath, Li Hongzhang was also a little thirsty, and hurriedly picked up a cup of tea, drank it to moisten his throat, and wanted to continue talking, but seeing that everyone was looking at him, he temporarily changed his attention, and continued to pour tea slowly, drinking tea, it seemed that he was really thirsty, so much so that he forgot what to say next.

Fortunately, everyone has been talking for so long, and they know more or less about the problem of this envoy Li, that is, he likes to deliberately hang people's appetites and then lead people to question, so when they look at him like this, they all deliberately don't speak, just quietly watch each other pour tea and drink tea.

found that no one picked up, Li Hongzhang was also a little embarrassed, so after drinking the fifth cup of tea, he stopped and stopped playing the trick of drinking tea.

"Ahem." After putting down the teacup, Li Hongzhang coughed first to resolve the embarrassment, "I'm sorry, I've been on fire recently, and my mouth is dry, which makes everyone slack." ”

"It's okay, you can keep drinking if you're still thirsty." "We can afford to wait. ”

"It's okay, it's okay." Li Hongzhang smiled, "Where did you just say?" ”

"As you just said, you also deeply regret your army's burning of Kagoshima." Ali National Highway.

"Yes, that's right." Li Hongzhang nodded, "But it's not our army, pay attention, it's just a private mercenary army, not our imperial army." ”

"Say whatever you want." Ali Guo said with a cold face, "Anyway, everyone understands what is going on. ”

"Well, I won't say anything superfluous, and I understand your concerns, I just don't want Japan to be messed up by us." Li Hongzhang said, "In short, I guarantee that for Japan, the expeditionary volunteers have no intention of interfering too much, will not mess up Japan, and will not deliberately target the shogunate, really only for the last time!" In other words, as long as the last planned feudal lord is defeated, no matter whether it is won or lost, and no matter how much or less the harvest is, they will stop immediately, and I can guarantee this in the name of the imperial government! (To be continued......)