Seeing Lord Wen Han's anxious look, Xiao Yungui was secretly amused in his heart, and after taking a leisurely sip of tea, he said slowly: "Our Heavenly Kingdom encourages industrial and commercial trade, after occupying Shanghai, not only will we not reduce foreign trade, but we will expand the trade quota, and our army needs to be subdued, so the amount of cloth needed will be huge." At the same time, we hope to open up some minerals, seek some foreign businessmen to cooperate in the construction of factories and the development of minerals, and we also need to build some arms factories, and even we will consider investing in the construction of some telegraphs and railways. ”

Lord Wenhan was very surprised when he heard this, this Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Western King really has a lot of appetite, but there are many things that need to be developed in this ancient land of China, and there is a large population, which means that China is a huge market. However, the pace of opening up of the Manchu Qing Dynasty can be said to have stagnated for a long time, and if it were not for the Opium War more than ten years ago, the British might have been able to trade with this ancient country only in Guangzhou. If, as King Xi said, the cooperative development of minerals, the construction of new arms factories, the construction of telegraphs, railways, and other projects were all put into effect, no matter which project it was, the benefits behind it would be very huge, and if these projects were monopolized by Britain, the benefits that Britain would gain would be unimaginable.

Lord Wenhan's heart was pounding, and he tried to say in a steady tone: "Your Excellency King Xi, your idea is very good, do you have any specific plans?" ”

Xiao Yungui smiled faintly, although Wen Han tried to stay calm, his slightly trembling hands were still seen by Xiao Yungui, and sure enough, these capitalists dared to do anything for 100% profits. Xiao Yungui said slowly: "Of course there is, but we hope to start our Jihua after the capture of Shanghai, when the communication between us will no longer be hindered by the Manchu Dynasty, so that our cooperation will be smoother." I think that even if we say a specific plan, Your Excellency the Minister will not be able to make a decision, because these huge projects cannot be completed by one or two businessmen or companies in your country alone, and we also hope to cooperate with the most suitable businessmen or companies. All I can tell you now is that we have the intention and are very certain that we will implement it. "The implication is that if you support me in attacking Shanghai, then Britain will have great benefits, in fact, both sides know that Britain's neutrality is actually very weak to a large extent, and whoever gives the highest benefit will be inclined to whom.

Lord Wenhan pondered for a moment, such a large investment in construction is indeed not something that one or two companies can complete, and listening to Xiao Yungui's words, it seems that Xiwang knows a lot about trade, and he seems to want to start a series of development projects after conquering Shanghai, and then open bidding. But at that time, I am afraid that it will not be exclusive to the British, and the Americans, the French, and even the Italians will swarm like sharks that smell blood.

This is not good, Lord Wenhan secretly clenched his fists, and the first contact with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was the United Kingdom, and in the future, only Britain could have most of the interests, when Lord Wenhan hurriedly said: "Your Excellency King Xi, the merchants and technology of our British Empire are all first-class, and we Britain are the first to have friendly contact with your army, I hope your army can consider long-term cooperation with our Britain." ”

Xiao Yungui smiled faintly and said, "Lord Wenhan, Britain is indeed a big country, but France and the United States are also outstanding in some aspects. Hearing this, Wen Han's heart couldn't help but tighten, but Xiao Yungui's next words made him breathe a sigh of relief: "However, considering the friendly relations between Britain and us first, we can agree in the secret agreement that in the future, the investment, procurement, construction and other projects of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will give priority to British businessmen and companies under the same conditions, how about this?" Mr. Minister, it is not fair for you to ask us to give up those companies and businessmen of other countries that have good conditions, all I can promise you is the right of first choice, please understand. ”

Wen Han muttered and cursed in his heart, this King of the West does not look like a rebel, he is cool-headed, more like a businessman, but there is nothing wrong with what the King of the West said, Britain is also the pioneer of this kind of free trade, and Britain is not good at destroying this market environment of free competition, so Lord Wen Han had to nod and agree.

Zuihou Xiao Yungui touched his chin and asked with a wicked smile: "Lord Wenhan, I don't know if you have any goods that can be traded on the ship when you come to Nanjing this time?" We in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom want to get something that can be used. ”

Wen Han frowned, this trip, in addition to the necessary fresh water, they didn't think about any trade at all, so they didn't bring any goods, only cannons, muskets, gunpowder and other arms on the ship were very sufficient, because they were afraid of clashes with the rebels. However, Britain has a neutral attitude, and it seems that arms cannot be used as a trading commodity, so Lord Wenhan said tactfully: "Unfortunately, Your Excellency the King of the West, we have no goods to trade on our ship except for the necessary weapons, and the next time our British merchant ships come back, I hope to have what you want." ”

Xiao Yungui frowned, what he wanted was those weapons, I heard that Wen Han's ship Hamilz was very huge, and the British must have equipped her with a lot of cannons, muskets and gunpowder, Xiao Yungui just wanted to buy some cannons, muskets and gunpowder on the British ship, why didn't Wen Han get the hang of it? At the moment, he smiled and said, "Only weapons? That's also very good, I heard that the British firearms are excellent, and this king has been admiring it for a long time, I don't know if I can purchase some? ”

Lord Wenhan immediately shook his head and said: "No, this is not good, we in Britain are neutral, if we trade arms with your army, it will destroy neutrality, if the Manchu government knows that we trade weapons, it will be very harmful to our British interests in China." ”

Xiao Yungui cursed Wen Han in his heart and said that he was neutral, but behind his back he secretly made a secret agreement with the Taiping Army to attack Shanghai, which is the practice of being a bitch and setting up an archway. But he still smiled and said, "In this case, after we have discussed the secret agreement, can this king go to Lord Wenhan's boat to have a look?" ”

Wen Han didn't notice that Xiao Yungui was deceitful in his smile, but smiled slightly: "Very welcome." ”

Following Wen Han asked about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's attitude towards opium, Xiao Yungui laughed and said, "We in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom prohibit people from smoking opium. ”

Lord Wenhan frowned and said, "Then our opium trade will suffer a great loss. ”

At this time, Hong Yun'er interjected: "Lord Wenhan, I remember that when the "Jiangning Treaty" was signed, the Manchu minister Qi Ying once asked your Baron Pudingcha to write the embargo opium into the terms, but was rejected by Baron Pudingcha, Baron Pudingcha's answer is very simple, the opium trade is determined according to market demand, if no one in China needs opium, then British merchants will naturally not trade opium, but if the Chinese need it, and Britain has written the opium embargo into the terms, Then it will only cheapen other unsigned countries, and businessmen from other countries will also try their best to send opium to China. The opium trade depends on market supply and demand, Lord Wenham, do you agree? ”

Wen Han nodded and said, "Yes, Baron Pudingcha's statement is not wrong, in fact, opium is not a prohibited substance in many countries. ”

Hong Yun'er snorted and said: "That's right, so our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom only doesn't allow the people to smoke opium, but we don't prohibit the transportation of opium, on the contrary, there is still a lot of opium stock in our life-saving hall, which is used to save people." As Baron Pu Dingcha said, the embargo on opium cannot completely eliminate the harm of opium, and what we China now have to solve is our own problem, which belongs to us Chinese, in fact, it has nothing to do with trade. ”

On the issue of opium, Xiao Yungui and Hong Yun'er have repeatedly discussed, Zuihou still feels that it is very unrealistic to let these powers embargo opium, even if it is true that all countries embargo opium, there will still be people on the black market or through smuggling to transport opium in the future, when it comes to the root, it is not how many powers send opium to China, but how many people in China smoke opium. It is as if the country of Japan during this period has been opened by the United States, but the amount of opium sold by the great powers in Japan in history is pitiful, is it because Japan and the great powers signed treaties embargoing opium? Obviously not, the cruel reality is that many people in China are willing to degenerate and smoke opium.

Xiao Yungui remembered the uncompetitive brother of the king of the west, and sold a few acres of land in zuihou to smoke opium, zuihou even participated in the worship of God and was still secretly smoking, zuihou the king of the west couldn't bear it, and he punished him through the punishment of his brother in heaven, and it was only then that he improved. It can be seen that at this time in China, there are many people who are desperate to suck up. Therefore, the key to completely cutting off the harm of opium is not the embargo on opium, but the restriction on its own nationals.

Wen Han didn't think that the king of the West would be able to completely stop the citizens of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom from smoking opium, that was almost impossible, since the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom did not ban the transport of opium, but restricted its own nationals, and the British did not seem to be able to say anything. Wen Han shrugged his shoulders and said very confidently: "Then I hope that His Excellency Xiwang's restrictions on his own people can have an effect, but as long as China still has a demand for opium, we will not stop transporting opium." ”

Xiao Yungui knows that the anti-smoking and anti-drug campaign is very difficult, and even in the future generations it is still a difficult and dangerous job, so he does not have the confidence to completely ban it, but at present, it seems that he can only deal with it in this way.

So the two sides began to negotiate the terms of the clause carefully, and the basic major clauses were three: 1. Britain remained neutral in the Chinese civil war; 2. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Britain maintained friendly trade exchanges, and guaranteed that Britain's original interests in China would not be infringed upon within the territory of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom; 3. In the event of the war in the five treaty ports, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom shall ensure that the original order shall be restored within three months, that free trade shall be carried out normally, and that the British Concession shall not be attacked, and that the lives and property of all British citizens in China shall be protected. As for the opium issue, the two sides still did not make any commitments in the treaty, because the four words "interests" in China were included.

This secret treaty between Britain and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Nanjing, because it was made by Xiao Chaogui and Lord Wenhan on behalf of their respective countries, and was in a very special period, known as the "Western Secret Treaty", at first had a very positive effect on the rise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, but later it also became the fuse for the outbreak of war between the two sides, which is a later story.

After the treaty was signed, the King of the West invited the British to enjoy a rich Chinese feast, and took out a batch of jade artifacts from Wu Sangui's treasure and presented them to Lord Wenhan and other people as a sign of friendship. The mouth of the cannibal is short, and the hand is short, so Lord Wenhan and others very warmly invited the King of the West, the Queen of the West and some important people of the West Hall to visit their ship Hamilz.