"When we do this great thing within the limits of wisdom and prudence that we set for ourselves, we are doing it for the benefit of future generations. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoThis is the last thing I want to say to you. ”

Albert thoughtfully put down the handwritten letter of the French Prime Minister Jouferi, and between the words of Jouferi revealed his shrewdness and calculation, that is, his governing style, in his attitude towards Vietnam and China, compared to those hawks in the Privy Council, Joferi's style was to conduct diplomatic blackmail and restrained military action at the same time.

Words of diplomatic blackmail....... Albert subconsciously poked his nose with the leg of his gold-rimmed glasses, "Please contact the Governor of Saigon immediately and tell him that I need to know the progress of the war in North Vietnam as soon as possible, and that diplomatic action must be firmly coordinated with the progress of military action." ”

"Yes, Mr. Ambassador, as your confidential secretary, I must remind you," the civil official agreed, and then said more, "Any interaction with other countries, or political compromises and secret agreements, I believe that you need a domestic power of attorney to carry out, and we do not need to pull a third-rate country into confrontation with China," the civilian official said faintly to the Japanese ambassador who had just left, "Although his position in Asia is quite important, looking at the world, there are many countries that can ally with France, But it is definitely not the turn of a single Japanese country to participate. ”

"Of course, I know this very well, I just had a cup of coffee with Ambassador Tanabe, what he wanted from us, of course I didn't give a promise, but I personally expressed support for his next move, willing to help them, of course, this is also in the interests of France in Vietnam, like France, they do not want to see the Chinese occupy a strong power in various parts of Asia."

"He just exchanged some views with me, and it doesn't matter, I just need to know -- of course I will never admit it officially, and they will also cause problems for China, which will help solve the problem of Vietnam."

An attendant came in with a telegram, Albert opened it, and nodded happily, "The vanguard has arrived near Hanoi." ”

"At the same time, the Chinese protest is coming," the civilian official said quietly, "Prime Minister Yamen sent us a note asking us to explain why French warships continue to enter China's South China Sea." ”

"That place is clearly offshore Vietnam."

"But now Vietnam is still a subject country of China, so it means that whether it is Vietnam's coastal waters still needs to be discussed, but it is definitely China's territorial waters."

"So that means I need to compromise with the Chinese by saying good things?" Albert stood up helplessly and tidied up his clothes, "Let's go, I need to buy time for the Vietnam operation, at least." Albert straightened his bow, "I need China to be calm about this." ”

"Calm?" When this word appeared from Albert's mouth for the third time in half a month, Guo Songtao finally couldn't help but interrupt Albert's almost self-talking, "I'm sorry? Do you think the situation in Vietnam is very calm? ”

"Of course, the Black Flag Army and our French army have fought a battle, and judging from the current results, it is indeed the Black Flag Army that is calmly withdrawing from Beiqi, and our France is calmly entering Beiqi."

The French reinforcements of 4,000 people were put together in Beiqi, the French have become the largest military force in Beiqi, in terms of numbers, it has exceeded the 2,000 people of the Black Flag Army, the Black Flag Army was originally defeated by the French in a head-on confrontation, and now there are so many people, Liu Yongfu wisely gave up Thang Long Mansion, left on the ships of the local military and civilians, and started a guerrilla war with the French, but this guerrilla war is not the right way in the end, although Chen Wending refused to accept the order of the Vietnamese Emperor Duc, and continued to stay in Beiqi to organize local military and civilian resistance to France, After the battle of Paper Bridge, the French counterattacked and successively captured Phu Xuan, Hue and Haikou in Vietnam, and incorporated Hanoi. The land route from Haiphong Port to Thang Long has been opened by the French.

"I want to stress one point again and again, that is, Vietnam is still a vassal state of China, and your country has no right to put its military power into Vietnam, especially in Beiqi, without China's permission!"

"I have already consulted with your country on this point, and as our French Republic and Your Majesty the Queen Mother have said, in order to maintain the friendship between the two countries, we are willing to sign a treaty on the affairs of Vietnam."

"Please don't mention this treaty again," Guo Songtao said loudly with a hot face, "This treaty has been unanimously opposed by the two governments!" ”

France agrees that the north of the Red River is a protected area of China, and China recognizes that the south of the Red River is a French protected area. This kind of treaty, counting, is China suffers a loss, but in the end it is also to hold the national Zuo and legal system of Vietnam, China's protected areas, when the time comes, it is not Vietnam's own people who have the final say, although it is much less than the previous country, but the green mountains are not worried about no firewood, there is always a day of Zhongxing.

If this is really the case, Prince Gong is very willing, leaving a buffer space for Liangguang, not offending the legal person, and preserving Vietnam, which is really a good thing to kill three birds with one stone, but he just forgot the current momentum, the momentum of the government and the opposition, all of them are going to war with the French, how can they be an alliance under the city and throw out all the vassal lands of Vietnam? Although it was not earned by the hard work of the first king, but the world is the king's land, and it must not be given to a legal person, as soon as such an agreement came out, the government and the opposition were in an uproar, and everyone said that Guo Songtao should be killed to thank the world, Guo Songtao only dared to work outside the Old Summer Palace in those days, and never dared to return to Beijing or step into the house.

China believes that this move is to divide Vietnam and divide China and France, so what is the difference between such an act and a legal person? Moreover, the Black Flag Army bloomed for the second time and beheaded the commander of the French army, it is obvious that the Black Flag Army is the nemesis of the French army.

And Paris is even more refusing, I have spent so much price and payment, just to annex Vietnam, and now I am only getting half of it, and I have not finished the whole work, but I want to give half of this low-hanging land to China, wouldn't it be cheaper for nothing.

The two governments rarely unanimously vetoed the draft, so naturally there will be only meaningless discussions and arguments in the future, and the representatives of the two sides began to fight and debate in full swing, threatening and intimidating soft requests or thunderstorming, and the same tricks were used in turn, and Albert and Guo Songtao were both in a state of vigilance on the surface but to maintain a tough attitude, so as to gain something.

"Mr. Ambassador, I believe that our two countries have been discussing the affairs of Vietnam for a long time," Guo Songtao is a big fat man, although the ice cubes stored last year have been put in the conference hall, but there are too many people, more than a dozen people stay indoors together, it must be extremely hot, "I have been in contact with each other, but there is no considerable and effective progress, why don't we suspend it first, and the Chinese side will introduce a bill that can be accepted by the two countries, and then we will discuss it?" Oh my God, it's been so hot today, I think the talks with the ambassador are not productive, don't waste any more time. ”

The task that Albert got from Prime Minister Jouferi at this time was to delay time, try not to provoke the Chinese at the diplomatic level, in order to prevent variables on the North Vietnamese issue, although you put forward the bill, France would not agree at all, at this time the attendant sent a card in and handed it to Albert, Albert had no time to pay attention to Guo Songtao's complaints, glanced at the card sent by the attendant, and smiled proudly at Guo Songtao, "Our North Vietnamese fleet has already headed for Hue City." ”

Guo Songtao's face changed slightly, "Your country is becoming more and more presumptuous," before he could continue, the door of the conference room was opened, and Qinghai came in, he hurried his steps, saw the French ambassador Albert, and shouted, "You, you, bold!" (To be continued.) )