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"His Majesty, the British envoy of the Straits Settlements to Manila, has formally made a request to us to mediate the war between us and the Manchus. Claiming that the war was going on, Yan zhòng harmed their interests. If the war could not be ended, they would resort to a single means to safeguard British interests, including the war. On the afternoon of the same day that he met with the special envoy of the Straits Settlements to Manila, Lin Zihao, the foreign minister of the new Chinese country, asked to meet with King Long Yufei and reported the issue to Long Yufei.

Xinhua Prime Minister Li Decheng, Deputy Chief of General Staff and Minister of Logistics and Equipment, Lieutenant General Zhao Yi, and Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Major General Luo Hongtao, were also present.

"Humph! What harmed their interests, aren't they afraid that after we defeat the Manchus, our strength will rise rapidly, and then it will pose a threat to them? Long Yufei said disdainfully. He was well aware of the nature of the British's request for conciliation.

"Your Majesty, the minister thinks that if he can negotiate with the Manchus on this, it will be a good opportunity. We now occupy some provinces south of the Yangtze River. The army is also continuing to advance, but the lack of troops means that we have no chance to fight north of the Yangtze River for the time being. It would not be bad if the Manchus could recognize our rule over the provinces south of the Yangtze River. Prime Minister Li Decheng said. After occupying the vast territory south of the Yangtze River, the Xinhua army had almost reached its limit. If you want to continue to expand. There was also no adequate military support. Therefore, the cabinet believed that negotiations with the Manchus could be held for the time being. to determine the legitimate possession of the new Chinese state south of the Yangtze River, and then digest these territories and populations to continue to accumulate strength. After re-preparing for war, he crossed the Yangtze River in one fell swoop and destroyed the Manchus.

Long Yufei nodded, in fact, he thought the same way. First the south, then the north. After digesting the provinces south of the Yangtze River first, the new Chinese state already had enough strength to destroy the Manchu Qing when the time came. It's a no-brainer. Of course, although the Manchus lost the war, would they agree to hand over the south of the Yangtze River to the new Chinese state? This is obviously impossible. With their mentality of wanting to save face, it is estimated that they will directly ask Xinhua to withdraw from China. Even if it's a negotiation. Long Yufei for negotiations. There is no hope either. Anyway, Xinhua sacrificed so many soldiers to seize the provinces south of the Yangtze River, and it was impossible for the Manchus to take it back like this. As long as the Xinhua army's defense line on the Yangtze River was impregnable, it would be able to create a de facto occupation of the south of the Yangtze River, and the Manchus would not be ignored at all. In the end, it depends on whose fists are hard.

"Your Majesty, the British side has offered to hold tripartite talks in Singapore, and they are willing to provide a venue for negotiations. Do a good job of preparation. Foreign Minister Lin Zihao said. Of course, he knew that the British were so active. What is the idea, isn't it just to contain the new country?

"Then promise them and negotiate in Singapore. Lin Daren served as the representative of Xinhua and went to negotiate with the Manchus. I have only one request, and that is that not an inch of the territory that our soldiers have gained through the bloody sacrifice of their heroic battles must be lost. This is our bottom line, and we must stick to it. Long Yufei said.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the minister knows." Foreign Minister Lin Zihao nodded. The Manchus thought that by colluding with the British, they would be able to recapture the territories occupied by the Xinhua army, which was simply delusional.

"Your Majesty, while we are negotiating, we cannot stop military preparations. Not only the construction of the Yangtze River defense line, but also the preparations for war in the South Seas, we must also speed up the pace. In case the British this is a delaying tactic. Lieutenant General Zhao Yi, Chief of the General Staff and Minister of Logistics and Equipment, said.

"Hmmm! Director Luo, is there any movement in the British army? Long Yufei asked.

"Your Majesty, there is no movement in the British Army and Navy, but like us, the British Army and Navy in the Straits Settlements have also entered a state of emergency combat readiness." Major General Luo Hongtao, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, said. The British Governor of the Straits Settlements, Bonham, had secretly traveled to Calcutta, and even the military intelligence bureau of Xinhua had not been able to get the news in time. Therefore, on the Xinhua side, it was not clear that the British had made up their minds to start a war with the Xinhua Kingdom, and their mediation was only to prepare for war. Waiting for the British Army and Navy to be transferred from India to the Straits Settlements, especially those 'Apollo-class' warships of the Indian Ocean Fleet. Another reason is to wait for the war mandate from the Cabinet and Parliament. This will take several months, so the British want to use this to hold off Xinhua and prevent it from continuing to expand aggressively on the Chinese battlefield.

"Keep a close eye on the British, and if they show signs of moving, react immediately, and don't let them raid us." Long Yufei said. Although, it is shameful to go to war without declaring it, but don't the British often resort to such a method? History is written by the victors, and Xinhua had to guard against the British using this trick.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Major General Luo Hongtao, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, nodded.

The next day, Lin Zihao, the foreign minister of Xinhua, replied to Eric, the special envoy of the Straits Settlements to Manila, saying that Xinhuaguo was willing to negotiate with the Manchus on the issue of the Chinese battlefield. However, Lin Zihao claimed that this was a matter between the Xinhua Kingdom and the Manchu Qing government, a contradiction among the Chinese, and had nothing to do with the British. The negotiations could be held in Singapore, but the British side could only send people to observe the negotiations and could not interfere in the negotiation process.

The Straits Settlements' special envoy to Manila, Eric, said that Britain would not interfere in the internal affairs of Xinhua. In his opinion, as long as Xinhua is willing to negotiate and then drag on for a few months, it will be done.

Immediately after that, the Straits Settlements sent people north to inform Sir Pottinger, the minister in China, that the Manchu government send a delegation to Singapore and Xinhua for negotiations. When the news reached Beijing, the Manchu government made a decision, and it took two months to come and go. During this time, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Bonham, had already secretly returned to Singapore from Calcutta.

Governor Bonham's meeting with Lord Ehrenborough, Viceroy of India, in Calcutta was very pleasant. The two agreed on a number of issues. For example, both argued that if Britain wanted to continue its eastward expansion, it would first have to destroy the new Chinese state. As for the ongoing war between Xinhua and the Manchus, both believed that Britain should spare no effort to help the Manchus, from selling weapons to the Manchu government, training troops for them, and even directly waging war against the Xinhua Kingdom.

The two also decided to use their respective connections in the cabinet and parliament to facilitate the resolution to declare war on the new country. After obtaining the war authorization from the Cabinet and Parliament, the Indian side will give full support to the Straits Settlements and defeat the Xinhua State.

This meeting achieved satisfactory results. Upon his return to Singapore, Governor Bonham learned that the new Chinese were willing to accept British mediation and negotiate with the Manchus. This made Governor Bonham very satisfied, thinking that Xinhua Guo was afraid. Xinhua had already realized the strength of Britain, so it did not want a fierce conflict or even war with Britain, so it had to accept Britain's friendship.

Governor Bonham, who had not reported much of the results of this mediation, suddenly thought that it would be a good choice if he could curb the ambitions of the new Chinese state through negotiations. As long as Xinhua could give up the territory it had acquired in China, then war might have been avoided. No one likes war, not even the British. Fighting a war means killing people and expending a lot of wealth. As long as Xinhua does not expand into China, then, at the current speed of development, it is impossible for Xinhua to catch up with Britain, and it is naturally impossible to pose a threat to Britain.

The negotiators sent by the Manchu government were headed by the Minister of Military Aircraft, Wen Qing, and the Minister of Military Aircraft, Saishanga. The last time he went to Guangzhou to negotiate with Xinhuaguo, although he did not achieve any results, he could be regarded as having some experience. Compared to others, they are basically confused. The British Minister to China, Sir Pottinger, courteously accompanied Wen Qing and others to Singapore to participate in this negotiation. This is also a great achievement for him. In addition, in this negotiation, Britain helped the Manchus, and naturally they were able to further expand their influence in the Manchus.

On June 9, 1843, a British merchant ship carrying a delegation from the Manchu government docked in Singapore, where the Manchu military ministers Wen Qing and Sai Shanga, as well as hundreds of other officials and retinues, disembarked here. For the Manchu officials who lived in seclusion, everything outside was new. Although Singapore is a British colony, it is the outlet of the Strait of Malacca, and the trade is very prosperous, and merchants from the East and the West gather here. Let these Manchu officials, who have never seen the world, stunned one by one.

In order to show the friendship between Britain and the Manchus, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Bonham personally went to the docks to greet the officials of the Manchu delegation, flattering the Manchu officials. After all, the Manchus were defeated by the British, and now the British treated them like this, and they couldn't help but be grateful.

In the evening, Governor Bonham held a welcome party at the Governor's Palace in Singapore to entertain the guests. The two sides can be said to be happy as guests and hosts, and after receiving the support of the British side, Wen Qing, Sai Shanga and others are finally relieved. Previously, they had been worried that the negotiations would not succeed this time. But the attitude of the British side made them very satisfied.

On June 10, Xinhua's foreign minister Lin Zihao arrived in Singapore, and all the three parties involved in the negotiations arrived. (To be continued......)