Zuo Zongtang continued, "Xisheng visited the United Kingdom in the past, and the British etiquette was sufficient, Crown Prince Edward personally greeted him at the port, and the British Prime Minister greeted him in the palace where he stayed. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"This is not outrageous," Wang Wenshao continued, he joined the military aircraft last year, and now he is still "learning to walk on the military aircraft", which means that he is still a trainee minister of the military aircraft department, and the official is a squire of the military department, he has a goatee, his eyes are big and bright, he twisted his beard and nodded, obviously he agreed with Zuo Zongtang's opinion, "Edward is the prince of the United Kingdom, the enemy of China and Britain, and he treats everyone equally, and it doesn't hurt to kneel, if you feel that the etiquette is unreasonable, send a lieutenant to meet him." He meant that if the low-level officials greeted him, it would be okay to bow down, but he couldn't say it clearly, after all, his own official was still a soldier from the second rank, and he couldn't arrogantly let the low-level officials say it.

Jing Lian was a little hesitant, looked at Prince Gong who was sitting on it, and Bao Jun sneered slightly, "Aren't you afraid of the bullet seal?" ”

"What's there to be afraid of the bullet?" Zuo Zongtang said disdainfully, "When you do things, how can you not offend people?" If you don't say anything else, let's just say that you are worthy of the princess, who has presided over the household department for so many years, and arranged the expenses of the court in an orderly manner, isn't there still many people who impeach you for harming the public and private interests? If you are afraid of the bullet seal, you don't have to do anything, as long as you learn from the people of the Hanlin Academy in the past, you can write poems and lyrics every day to talk about moral articles, what kind of errand, what kind of foreign affairs, besides, the imperial historians have no leader, what role can a little bullet play a role, it's a big deal to be bitten by mosquitoes, it's okay. ”

Bao Jun avoided talking about etiquette, but sneered slightly, "The dragons have no leader? Zuo Gong, your news is not well-informed enough, Li Baoding is about to arrive in Beijing in a few days, and Ding Wei's period has expired. ”

Zuo Zongtang's eyes condensed slightly, "Li Baoding is coming back?" ”

"Yes," Bao Jun said leisurely, "He is the emperor of the two dynasties, do you think his bullet seal can give you a headache?" Needless to say, it's his badge, as long as he has a look, those imperial historians can come one after another. ”

"Then, the matter here really can't be leaked out." Zuo Zongtang said decisively, "The imperial historians are most concerned about this matter, and this matter must not be compromised in the future, then, the king of the council," Zuo Zongtang looked at Prince Gong who was sitting on it and pondered, "The sky is asking for a price, and the money will be paid back on the ground." The foreigners put forward two requirements, if it is a bargain, we must at least agree to one, and the foreigner will return one, this is the situation that both parties can be satisfied with, Lord, which one can give in? ”

Prince Gong exhaled, "Face and lining, always have one." ”

"Lord Wang, I'll tell you the truth, these two are faces," Jing Lian said, "The British warship is coming, is it really how?" No matter how powerful their navy is, they can't go ashore, but if they promise the British to escort them with their own warships, some people don't agree, they agree to kneel and welcome, and the imperial historians don't agree, it's really difficult to do. ”

Bao Jun thought for a while and made a suggestion, "Lord Wang, why don't you lower the tariffs of the British this year?" ”

"How to lower it?" Prince Gong asked.

"The Ministry of Industry said that now many factories and businesses want British machinery and equipment, in addition to the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Industry's own factories, others want to buy, and they have to ask the British to collect taxes, many people complain, feel that the cost of running a factory is already high, and the machine is so expensive, the Ministry of Industry wants me to give them a subsidy for finding gold in accordance with the will of Xisheng, I didn't give it, this money, who knows that they took the money to go to the garden to drink tea and squander? The household department also does not have the spare time to check the accounts. I thought that the British collected taxes, he raised the price, and when he arrived in China, he asked us Chinese to pay, it is better to waive this money, no matter what the British say, the price can be lowered, and the domestic people will always benefit. ”

Zuo Zongtang shook his head, "Baogong's move is for the benefit of the people, but I'm afraid that it won't impress the British." ”

"What do you mean? This is white silver. Bao Jun grimaced, "The customs don't know how much money to be charged less!" ”

"The British don't look down on this bit of silver," said Zuo Zongtang, "and the British are still thinking of returning 10 million francs to us in the Suez Canal." Ten million francs is almost 1,800,000 taels of our silver, and we will be given interest, and if you are exempted from customs duties, you will not be exempted so much at one time. So we also have to think about this matter clearly," Zuo Zongtang looked around at everyone, "The British have breached the contract and are aggressive in their visit to Huayi, what are they going to do?" ”

Prince Gong glanced at Zuo Zongtang, "You can give it a try, they want to take the Suez Canal back, but they just don't want to give us so many dividends, and they will send us away with a little interest. That's it for today. ”

Wang Wenshao hurriedly said, "Lord Wang, today's matter, we still want the Prime Minister's yamen to keep it secret for the time being, if it spreads, I'm afraid there will be another turmoil." ”

Prince Gong nodded, "That's the reason, the British demand, no one can say it now." ”

Today's deliberations have ended, Zuo Zongtang stood up, didn't talk to anyone, and walked straight out of the meeting hall, Wang Wenshao also walked out, Jing Lian said a few things he was in charge of, and then retreated. There were only two people left in the palace, Prince Gong and Bao Jun, Bao Jun snorted coldly, and at this time he spoke with less scruples, "This left stubborn donkey, he is really majestic in the military aircraft, after so many years, he still thinks he is the king of the northwest?" Our prince is still here, and it won't be his turn to be a big-tailed wolf! ”

Prince Gong shook his head and didn't speak, Baojun has been a military aircraft for so many years, he is old, and he is Prince Gong's confidant, in charge of a country's financial power, no one dares to respect it, but when he came to Zuo Zongtang, he repeatedly hit a wall. Zuo Zongtang's temperament, he is not afraid of heaven and earth, Prince Gong is only a little respectful, and he will not pay attention to Bao Jun at all, Zuo Zongtang himself came back from the northwest to quell the rebellion, and he is very generous to the military attaches of the Ministry of War, and has been chasing the household to ask for silver and Lu to ask for military salaries, Bao Jun is the most picky person, so there is a lot of disgrace in Su Ri. (To be continued.) )