In December 1879 (the fifth year of Guangxu), Hue, Vietnam, China's plenipotentiary envoy Tang Jingsong was reading the emperor's secret letter in his room, it is possible that this is also a Zuihou letter, according to the "Sino-Vietnamese Statutes", a Sino-Vietnamese telegraph line will be built, now the wire has been laid, a small telegraph office has also been built in Hue City, it can be used in a few days, and then you can directly contact by telegraph.

In the letter, Tang Jingsong was highly praised by the emperor, saying that he was "the dry city of the country, the loyal and good of the imperial court, and the confidant of me", which made Tang Jingsong grateful, but the letter also reminded that the French regarded Vietnam as a target of aggression and would not tolerate it for long, and should be careful to deal with it. Tang Jingsong thought so, believing that the Vietnamese imperial court had already felt some kind of pressure, otherwise the telegram would not have dragged on for a year and had not been completed, and the inherent speculative nature of the Vietnamese people was revealed and wavered.

However, even so, there were achievements in this year, the telegraph highway was nearly completed, and the pro-Chinese shili in the imperial court, such as Fan Shenshu, Chen Jiancheng, Huang Zuoyan, Pan Tingfeng, Ruan Shu and others, were able to cooperate with China in unison through Tang Jingsong's contact. Moreover, the "Kokang Battalion," which was aided and trained by China, numbered nearly 500 people, was commanded by Hoang Zuo Yan, a horse, and was the only unit in the Vietnamese army with some combat effectiveness.

But most importantly, Article 1 of the Sino-Vietnamese Statute stipulates that China can handle Vietnam's foreign affairs on behalf of China, emphasizing China's suzerainty, which is completely opposed to the Treaty of Saigon, which France forced Vietnam to sign a few years ago, because this treaty stipulates that Vietnam is not subordinate to any country, and can only ask France for help in the event of foreign invasion. Tang Jingsong thinks that France will soon come out to obstruct it.

His guess was right.

At this time, the French government was already determined to provoke the incident.

As early as more than half a year ago, the French governor of Cochinchina, Lu Mei, had learned the relevant news, urgently notified the country, and said that it was necessary to occupy Tokyo (Hanoi) as soon as possible and establish the French protectorate system.

However, in 1879 there was a serious political crisis in France, the royalist President McMahon was forced to step down, the political situation was turbulent, and the change of government also affected French foreign policy. It wasn't until October that things in Vietnam were on the agenda. Foreign Minister Falesina demanded an immediate formulation of aggression, and Prime Minister Waldin also passed a budget in the French parliament as soon as possible to take military action against Vietnam, occupy North and South Khi, and "destroy all ignorant ambitions and unrealistic illusions of China."

At the same time, the Cochinchina authorities sent a large number of personnel to go deep into Beiqi under various banners to conduct reconnaissance, and even in the name of tourism, they approached the Baosheng Black Flag Army station, and soon a clash broke out.

Two Frenchmen who claimed to be scholars, Goodin and Wereroa, were sailing north along the Red River and were stopped by sentries of the Black Flag Army as they approached Baosheng, who repeatedly claimed that they were just passing by. Promised never to prospect for reconnaissance. But when he passed by Bao Sheng, he suddenly looked around with a telescope and drew a map, and the sentry immediately opened fire, wounding one of his fellow Malaysians, and the two Frenchmen turned around and fled.

After this incident, the French governor of Cochinchina, Lu Mei, used this as an excuse to send a letter to the Vietnamese government, demanding that the Black Flag Army be punished or expelled immediately. Because Liu Yongfu was once named the deputy governor of Sanxuan by the king of Vietnam, he was nominally the local governor of Vietnam.

However, the Vietnamese king, who had always been cowardly, was afraid of being forced by France, so he simply moved out the "Sino-Vietnamese Charter", saying that the French side could ask Beijing about foreign affairs. Furious, Lo Mai also brought out the Treaty of Saigon in 1874, claiming that Vietnam had recognized itself as an independent and sovereign state, a matter between France and Vietnam, and no third party needed to intervene.

In December 1879, there was a personnel change in the French government, and Jouferry, who strongly advocated colonial expansion, came to power and became the new prime minister of France. Ding Yuntong keenly felt that the development of the situation was imminent, and if France and Vietnam had no results in negotiations, they would definitely do it directly, but now China's navy or coastal defense batteries will not be ready until at least next spring, and there must be no war at present!

The French must be dragged down!

Ding Yuntong immediately ordered Foreign Minister Zeng Jize to go to the French Embassy in China, and at this time, the new French Minister Baohai had not yet taken up his post, and the Embassy Counselor Patna was acting as the minister. When Zeng Jize met Batna, he went straight to the point and said, "If there is a misunderstanding between China and France in Vietnam, the Chinese side has the sincerity to clarify right and wrong and thoroughly resolve all issues of concern to both sides." ”

On December 23, after receiving instructions from France, Batner replied to Tsang Ki Chak with a diplomatic note: "The treaty concluded between the French Republic and the Kingdom of Vietnam on March 15, 1874 has determined the relations between the two countries. France recognizes the complete independence of Viet Nam from any other country and will provide all support to help Viet Nam maintain order and stability and resist aggression by other countries. It should be added that under the treaty, the rights and interests of other European countries in Vietnam will also be protected by France.

I assure you without reservation that France will faithfully fulfil its rights and obligations under the Treaty of 1874. At the same time, the French government also understands the concern of the Beijing court about the order of its neighboring countries, and the French government will make every effort to eliminate the misunderstanding between China and France. ”

This diplomatic note made Zeng Jize look pale. The above completely denied China's suzerainty status over Vietnam, refused to discuss any issue of Vietnam with China, repeatedly emphasized the treaty between France and Vietnam, pretended not to know the "Sino-Vietnamese Charter", legally excluded China, and even used diplomatic rhetoric to nakedly threaten China.

Ding Yuntong was at the military aircraft department, listened to Zeng Jize's report, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Zeng Jize said: "France's intention to plan Vietnam has been clearly revealed, and any so-called treaty between France and Vietnam, as the suzerain, China, as the suzerain, does not know in advance and will not recognize it. ”

Ding Yuntong said slowly: "What Zeng Aiqing said is very true, but France is biting Vietnam at this time, and will not recognize that our country has the right to negotiate with it, and it is useless to be reasonable." For the sake of today's plan, there can only be one battle. But we are not ready, and we have some time to delay. I have sent a telegram to Tang Jingsong to get the Vietnamese court to come forward and tell the French that the previous Treaty of Saigon has not yet been negotiated with China. Now that the treaty has been formally sent to the Chinese side to complete the legal process, the Black Flag Army can be disposed of in a justifiable manner. If France felt that there was hope of surrendering without a fight, it would naturally have a grace period. This gives us more time. ”

"The Emperor Mingjian."

A few days later, at the behest of Tang King Song, the Vietnamese court informed the French minister to Hue, De 61 Shang Bo, that it would negotiate with China and promised that China would recognize the Treaty of Saigon, and that Vietnam would faithfully fulfill all the terms of the Treaty of Saigon, as long as China recognized it.

In his report to France, Chambo said: "With a little more patience, I trust that the old dynasty to the north will make a wise judgment, and the result of Zuihou is to be expected." ”

In the following months, the Vietnamese court first chose to visit China with great difficulty, and then did not set off until the German 61 Shang Bo repeatedly urged Vietnam to send the military squire Tran Dinh Su and the official secretary Nguyen Thanh to China as envoys. He also took some tribute with him, and De 61 Shangbo knew that it was another strong protest, because the tribute was tantamount to the recognition of China's suzerainty, which contradicted the Treaty of Saigon.

Zuihou repeatedly explained that as a compromise between the two sides, these tributes were only given as gifts, and it was normal for people to give gifts when the country visited. But Emperor Duc of Vietnam told Tang Jingsong that it was still a tribute.

Finally, the mission set off, but the itinerary was slow, and it had not yet arrived in Beijing, and several months had passed.

At the same time, Ding Yuntong sternly urged the navy to conduct drills as soon as possible, that all coastal batteries must be completed in a timely manner, and that the four divisions stationed in Guangxi for training troops should make all preparations.

At the same time, it was ordered that among the three Liu Mingchuan who returned from Europe, Ma Yukun went to Xishan to command a brigade of the Guards. Together with Zuo's precious 2nd Division, and Jinshun's 7th Division, which was stationed at Dagukou, they defended Beijing and Tianjin.

In addition, the two new regiments of the Guards Army, one was handed over to Liu Mingchuan to go to Taiwan, and the other was led by Nie Shicheng to the Guangxi front.

Mawei Port was defended by Song Qing's Fifth Division, and the remaining independent brigade of the Zhou brothers went to Shanghai in case of accidents.

Ding Yuntong stood at the gate of the palace, watching the blood-red sunset hanging on the exquisite cornices of the palace, and the unprecedented emotions since the rebirth came to his heart, nervous, excited, heavy, and expectant, it was really complicated and unspeakable, and when everything was deployed, let it come to the war!

(Note: This is the Zuihou chapter of the first volume, and the next volume will be the Sino-French War, so stay tuned and give more valuable comments.) ）