Wen Han shook his head and whispered: "Listen, gentlemen, we should make trouble for the Han Kingdom, just like in Guangdong, which is the outlet of the Qing Kingdom, and if Guangdong Province is lost, the Qing Kingdom will not be able to accept our help, after all, we cannot blatantly drive the ships to Shandong and Hebei." ”

Mai Lian suddenly realized and said with a smile: "I understand, it turns out that this is all your trap, Mr. Wen Han, are you worried that after the Han army captures Guangdong, it will ask for Hong Kong, which is a good port!" You, the British, have only been in possession for ten years. ”

Wen Han defended: "This is only one of the reasons, the Han army banned opium on a large scale, didn't the opium merchants put pressure on you?" They were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, once the Han army captured Guangzhou, they would lose their livelihood, after all, the Han army had already acted in Shanghai, all the opium was confiscated, and not a single box was spared! ”

Mai Lian said: "You British merchants have the most opium, and we in the United States have the least, and I don't think the country agrees with me protecting the interests of opium dealers, so I can't do anything about it." ”

Bourblon also said: "I can't lose a big deal because of a small thing, now the French merchants have invested heavily in the Han country, railways, minerals, raw silk, tea, and many more, if I offend the Han country for the benefit of the opium dealers, I think my fate will be even worse, and no one will sympathize with me when I return to China." ”

Seeing that the excuse of opium was invalid, Wen Han immediately changed his tactics and said: "If we put aside the opium and don't mention the opium, shouldn't we prevent the Han army from capturing Guangzhou?" Believe me, this was done in order to balance the situation in the Far East. ”

As if convinced, Mai Lian asked, "What should we do?" ”

Wen Han looked at Bourblon and saw that he was also inquiring. Xi said: "We supported Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong, and sold him a large number of guns and ammunition. Let him form a foreign gun team, I don't think it's a problem. After that, we don't have to worry about it, Ye Mingchen will definitely resist desperately in order not to get out of Guangzhou, and we can also take the opportunity to make more demands. ”

Bourblon excitedly said: "Yes, that's it! Even if Ye Mingchen is driven out of Guangzhou, we can still bargain with Li Yunzhong with these treaties. ”

Mai Lian smiled: "This is a good idea, it can not only make money, but also expand our interests in Guangzhou, I agreed." That's it! However, you have to hide it from Han and find a scapegoat, how about Prussia? Austria? ”

The French minister, Bourblon, said with a smile: "These two countries have always been against us France, and I am happy to blame them."

Hong Kong

The British Minister to China, John Bunham, took the French Minister Bourblon and the American Minister Mai Lian to Hong Kong, and took the Hong Kong Governor Bao Ling, who was known as the China expert, to Guangzhou to negotiate with the Governors of the two countries, Ye Mingchen.

In the cabin, Bao Ling saw Minister Wen Hanyan smiling. seemed to feel that this trip must be fruitful, and hurriedly stepped forward to give them a preventive vaccination: "A few gentlemen, the situation in Guangdong is not as good as you imagined, you must know that the consul of Guangzhou Pa Xiali has not yet entered Guangzhou. ”

Wen Han said proudly: "Dear Mr. China Tong. In Hong Kong, your news has become closed, and now it is not that we have asked Ye Mingchen, but that he has asked us. Just some time ago, the Han army had conquered Fujian. Chen Bing and the border of Guangdong, do you say that Ye Mingchen, as the governor of Liangguang, can he still refuse our request? ”

Bao Ling explained: "Gentlemen. You haven't understood what I mean, it's not Ye Mingchen who refuses us to enter the city, but the people of Guangzhou, they always spontaneously gather together to block our entry into the city, do we want to shoot them? ”

Bourblon and Mai Lian showed hesitation, Wen Han glared at Bao Ling, pretended to be very relaxed and said: "Gentlemen, in the years I have been working in China, the people here are very afraid of those who are officials, as long as Ye Mingchen is convinced, the rest is not a problem. ”

Bao Ling said: "Maybe you are right, the ship is docked, you wait here, I will go and inform Ye Mingchen to come to negotiate." ”

Wen Han stood up and refused: "No, you asked Ye Mingchen to meet us at the gate of the city." This time I want to enter the city in person, I want to show the military might of the British Empire, and I will bring a hundred navies, which I think Ye Mingchen will allow. ”

Bao Ling put on his hat, opened the door, and turned around: "As you wish." ”

The arrival of Bao Ling made Ye Mingchen overjoyed, since the loss of Quanzhou and the death of the Spring War, he was shocked three times a day, frantically sent people to inquire about the movements of the Han army, and also summoned 100,000 regiments to train in the name of defending the foreign army to garrison the front line of Shaoguan and Huizhou.

"Mr. Bao Ling is really a distinguished guest, I wonder if this time I came to discuss the consul's entry into the city?" Ye Mingchen had already considered the affairs of the foreigners, and the two powers harmed each other, whichever was less, since the Han army was going to attack Guangdong, the matter of the foreigners entering Guangzhou became insignificant.

Bao Ling secretly admired Wen Han's vision, and said to Ye Mingchen: "This time, it is Mr. Wen Han, the minister to China, who wants to discuss the future of Guangdong with you. ”

Ye Mingchen calmed the anxious thoughts in his heart and asked, "What is the future of Guangdong?" I don't understand what you mean, Guangdong has always been under the control of my Qing Dynasty, what other future is there? ”

Bao Ling pointed to the east and said: "The Han army has already captured Fujian last month, do you know why they don't attack Guangdong?" ”

Since sending three waves of spies every day, Ye Mingchen knows Fujian well, and replied: "They are consolidating and occupying Fujian, sending officials to control the localities, and learning from what elections you Westerners have conducted, which is really ridiculous and generous!" ”

Bao Ling frightened: "No, you are wrong, the reason why the Han army did not attack Guangdong is what we mean, if it were not for our care, Guangzhou would have been captured by the Han army a long time ago, so you have to thank us?" ”

Ye Mingchen exclaimed: "What do you mean, blackmail?" You will not be afraid of being surrounded by ordinary people again. ”

Bao Ling was apprehensive about what happened last time, shook his head and said: "These things that Mr. Wenhan discussed with you, he is now outside the city of Guangzhou, but in order to prevent the people from causing trouble, you have to go to meet them in person." ”

Ye Mingchen weighed the pros and cons, felt that it was good to meet, and nodded to Bao Ling: "I'll go back and change into plain clothes." ”

In the inner room of Bao Zhilin, since it was rumored that Huang Qiying was appointed by the Han Emperor Li Yunzhong as the head of the Ten Tigers of Guangdong, the remaining nine tigers often came uninvited to learn martial arts with Huang Qiying.

"Snap" soft palm Zhou Tai slapped a palm print on the good pear wood case, and said angrily: "I didn't expect Ye Mingchen to be so spineless, personally going to the city gate to greet foreigners, really embarrassing our Chinese face!" ”

Su Qi'er is known as a drunken fist, and he never leaves his hand for the wine jug all day long, and said drunkly: "Lord Ye used to resolutely resist foreigners entering the city, but this time his heart has changed greatly, I think there must be some conspiracy in it." (To be continued......)

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