The next day's negotiations were held in the banquet hall of the envoy's residence. In the center of the hall is a long mahogany table. Gu Yongyuan and Storm Yushan sat on one side, while the consuls of the three countries sat on the other side, making the atmosphere of the negotiations more formal.

Gu Yongyuan presided over customs affairs, and Feng Tianhan also had a lot of leisure time. Since this was not a particularly advantageous task, he chose to keep his distance. Despite being the Governor, he used the excuse of exterminating the remnants of the Wind Sword Society to shift the blame to others.

Before the negotiations began, Ah Xinghan stared at Gu Yongyuan with gray eyes and asked, "My lord, how will your country deal with the captured officers and soldiers?" ”

Gu Yongyuan had long expected this question and said with a smile: "Should we discuss the main issue first?" ”

Ah Xinghan was furious, but he was helpless in the face of the country's officials. He could only sarcastically say: "In our country, life is very sacred, I admire the courage of your captured officer, and now I regret his fate even more." ”

Of course, how could Gu Yongyuan be as indifferent to his captive officers as Feng Tianhan? Although Gu Yongyuan may not have paid much attention to the fate of Qing officers, they were captured while fighting foreigners. He couldn't let them just become geists. In negotiations, however, the situation is different. If you care too much about something, the other person will use it to make higher demands. If you behave indifferently, given the historical record of Qing Dynasty officers and the values of this nation, the other side may no longer use this important bargaining chip as a bargaining chip.

Koo Yongyuan first showed several documents sent by Ah Xinghan the night before, which outlined the plans of various foreign businessmen to set up a public works bureau. In essence, this bureau is a quasi-autonomous administrative body, which has in fact become the administrative body of the former leased land. It is somewhat of the equivalent of a municipal council or town hall, but considering that it is located on the land of another country and is named after a leased land, rather than a colony like the Americas or Africa, it is important to have a structure similar to that of a municipal government. It's not simple. Therefore, they ended up using the term Public Works Bureau, which is a rather peculiar name for such an entity.

In the previous era, foreign merchants set up a public works bureau without even informing the central government of the Qing Dynasty. They notified local officials only after they were formed.

However, now, for some unknown reason, the foreign merchant's plan actually ran to the desk of the Qing Dynasty envoy, which surprised Gu Yongyuan.

However, getting an unexpected bargaining chip, Gu Yongyuan would not let go of such an opportunity easily. He tapped his fingers on the thick stack of documents, frowned, and said, "Honorable consuls, what is a leased land?" It is land leased to various countries. I understand that Western nationals have a strong spirit of self-government and respect for the rights and rights of all countries. "What their nationals are asking for within the community. However, judging by the charter of this Public Works Bureau, it seems to have overstepped its boundaries and violated the authority of our local government. ”

Ah Xinghan paused, realizing that the other party would definitely object. He had intended to use local autonomy as an excuse to dispel opposition. But unexpectedly, Gu Yongyuan preemptively raised this question, so that he did not get a proper response.

Gu Yongyuan pushed aside the charter documents, adopted an attitude that was not negotiable, and continued: "The Qing army is approaching, the thieves have been captured, and the city of Shanghai has been captured. As I said earlier, the customs will return to its original duties and will impose severe penalties on merchants of various countries who attempt to evade taxes! ”

Gu Yongyuan is full of confidence. After all, the Battle of Xinnicheng had proved that the Shanghai Concession did not have the absolute strength to compete with the Qing Dynasty. Even if they wanted to mobilize a naval fleet, how much time would it take? The back and forth correspondence, coupled with the quarrel between the House of Commons and the House of Lords - these were all things for later. In addition, your English and French are busy enjoying the battle with the Turks and Russians. How can you have time to teach me such an arrogant messenger?

Ah Xinghan's face turned iron-blue. He knew from yesterday that the remnants of the Wind Sword Society had abandoned the city, and Shanghai had fallen into the hands of the Qing army. The most critical bargaining chip in customs negotiations suddenly disappeared.

Gu Yongyuan continued: "Of course, I am not ruthless, and those who pay off the taxes within ten days will not be held accountable. However, if the deadline is over, don't blame me for being strict! ”

Storm Yushan sat intently next to them with a celadon tea bowl, lost in thought. He listened to the quarrel between the young master and the foreigner, but he was silent. The more he listened to the young master's words, the more anxious he became. If you anger the foreigners, I'm afraid this matter will be endless.

Feeling the tense atmosphere, the polite American Consul Ryder interjected with a smile and a meaningful sentence: "Honorable envoy, if your country wants to collect all taxes, it will be difficult to achieve without our help. I believe that the emissary is well aware of this, and I hope that you will remain calm and that together we can work out a mutually satisfactory charter. ”

Gu Yongyuan took a sip of the teacup, and everyone's eyes were focused on him. Everyone has their own ideas, but they are all wondering what kind of charter this messenger wants to make, and where his limits are.

Finally, Gu Yongyuan put down the teacup and said with a smile: "I understand your desire to participate in customs affairs. However, it is indeed a difficult thing for your country to set up a tripartite commission to decide the tariffs of the Qing Empire. "Accepted. If the negotiations are based on this premise, then perhaps it is better not to negotiate at all. ”

In fact, the previous night, Ah Xinghan and the other consuls, as well as several influential merchants, had already discussed the matter. With Shanghai back under the control of the Qing government, the influence of the Wind Sword Society ceased to exist. If they insisted on competing with the Qing Dynasty for the right to manage customs, it would be a bit wishful thinking. Moreover, this Qing court envoy in the capital seems to be quite knowledgeable about international current affairs and is not easy to be fooled.

In fact, back then, since the Wind Sword Society temporarily controlled Shanghai, the hastily formed Tripartite Committee did not expect to eventually take control of Shanghai Customs.

So, after a night of negotiations, the consuls and merchant representatives of the three countries drafted a new charter. Ah Xinghan took it out and handed it to his assistant, who respectfully handed it to Gu Yongyuan.

Gu Yongyuan simply flipped through it. The proposed changes are minor; However, the provision that the customs affairs of Jianghai were jointly managed by British, American, and French consuls and representatives of Qing Dynasty officials remained retained. "The affairs of Jianghai Customs are managed by the equal participation of all countries and the Qing government." Gu Yongyuan sighed in his heart, how can this be regarded as equal participation? That is, customs affairs cannot be carried out without consultation with foreign countries. This is not fundamentally different from the Tripartite Commission, but it just looks more like the Qing Dynasty.

Gu Yongyuan put the charter aside and smiled: "Please allow me to consult my colleagues first, and then reply to the consuls of various countries." ”

The three consuls readily agreed. Although Shanghai had been occupied, they still held the key to the Jianghai Customs within the concession. This gives them the last bargaining chip in the negotiations.

Speaking of this, Gu Yongyuan waved his hand, and the translators on both sides withdrew. He smiled at Ah Xinghan and said, "The plan for the establishment of a public works bureau in the concession by expatriates from various countries is not within my purview, and I can only provide personal opinions for your reference." It seems to me that the first priority of diaspora autonomy should naturally be to obtain the consent of the local government. This was a subtle hint to Ah Xinghan, who had to personally try to deceive local officials. Koo did not intend to publicly agree to the establishment of the Public Works Bureau.

Ah Xinghan was stunned for a moment, and then understood what Gu Yongyuan meant. A smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he said, "The messenger has a keen eye. ”

Gu Yongyuan continued to smile: "I heard that the business delegation arrested several lawbreakers in the concession yesterday, and I don't know if we can hand them over to the local area for severe punishment to have a deterrent effect." ”

When you receive a piece of sugar, you naturally have to return a few dates.

Ah Xinghan and Ruide whispered a few words. They all felt that the Qing Dynasty treated life too casually, as if it had no regard for human life. They didn't know what to do with the captives. The night before, they had tortured the captured officer several times, but the tough guy had never said a word, let alone admitted his identity. There is no point in locking up such a small person, it is better to regard him as a favor to this messenger.

After the discussion, Ah Xinghan smiled and nodded to Gu Yongyuan.

...

After bidding farewell to the foreign consul, Gu Yongyuan stayed in the flower hall to talk to Storm Yushan.

After reading the new regulations proposed by Ah Xinghan, Gu Yongyuan asked some questions about customs affairs. But Storm Yushan just said respectfully: "Everything is under the orders of the young master." ”

Gu Yongyuan finally became angry, his eyes widened, "Does the provincial governor think I'm a bully?" Tomorrow I will write back to agree with the foreigner's charter, and when I return to Beijing, I will say that it is yours. "Idea!"

Storm Yushan was stunned for a moment, and he was already sitting a little unsteadily. Hearing Gu Yongyuan's words, his buttocks stood up violently as if they were on fire. "It's cheap, it's cheap."

"Well, please give me some advice on how to shut up those people when I return to the royal capital." Although Gu Yongyuan already had a plan in his heart, when it came to deception and concealment, a master like Storm Yushan might be smoother. He wanted to hear what he had to say.

Hearing Gu Yongyuan's words, Storm Yushan's heart suddenly settled down. It can be seen that the young master treats him as an ally. His whole body felt a few ounces lighter. After thinking about it, he said: "Foreigners are uncivilized, and the young master should also be uncivilized to them." Looking at the new regulations, the foreigners have actually made great concessions, and the young master might as well agree, and when he returns to Beijing, he will briefly explain that Jianghai Customs is in the concession and employs foreign employees, of course, this charter should be signed by the governor, and the governor has just made military achievements, so it is natural for him to participate in it. ”

The word "foreign employee" made Gu Yongyuan a little dumbfounded. Is this really possible? The evasive methods of these officials are indeed confusing, but when he thinks about it, he can understand it. Even in this age of limited information, there are still a large number of officials who gain official positions by exaggerating natural disasters. Given this, such a little trick is not surprising.

After thinking about it, Gu Yongyuan smiled, picked up the teacup, and said, "Old Dao, you should come to see me more." Calling him by his first name indicates that they have a friendly relationship.

Storm Yushan suddenly showed gratitude, patted the horseshoe sleeve, and saluted deeply, "Obey, the minister is humiliated." ”

Gu Yongyuan smiled: "Okay, you're welcome, get up." ”

"The humble man has taken his leave." Storm Yushan respectfully withdrew from the flower hall.

Gu Yongyuan smiled and continued to read the new regulations for foreigners in the flower hall. Just as he was about to ask the old scholar for advice again, a Geshha rushed in and hurriedly reported, "Master, the foreigner has brought someone here. This follower learned to call foreigners "foreign devils" by Gu Yongyuan's side.

Gu Yongyuan nodded slightly and said, "Bring them in!" ”

Putting away the food, Gu Yongyuan lowered his head. Just then, he heard footsteps, and when he looked up, he froze. Oh! What a strong man!

Walking into the flower hall, it was a burly man with a tiger's back and a bear's waist. His muscles were tense, like a black tower. Despite his messy appearance and scarred face, he couldn't hide the fierce aura that seemed to rise to the sky.

"Wang Yuanqing, the general of Hezhe's battalion, under his subordinates, meet your lord!" The burly man pushed the golden mountain away, dumped the jade pillar, and kowtowed, his face full of embarrassment. In this day and age, the shame of being captured by the leader of the enemy army may never be erased.

Seeing his momentum, Gu Yongyuan found that he liked this man a little. He smiled and said, "Get up, General Wang is suffering!" ”

"I don't dare, I have failed the grace of the imperial court, and I ask the lord to punish me!" The burly man's voice was low and loud, like a big bell, crisp and sonorous. He is clearly not the kind of person who is really uneducated. He continued: "Your Excellency respects me as a general, but I dare not accept such an honorific title! ”

Gu Yongyuan said with a smile: "Being captured in an accident is not a war crime, General Wang doesn't have to take it to heart, we will win it back tomorrow." ”

"Yes, yes!" The burly man confessed, but his face still showed sadness, indignation, and shame.

"Do you know who I am?" Gu Yongyuan took a sip of tea and asked casually.

"I know, my lord is a messenger from the capital!" The burly man was still on his knees.

Gu Yongyuan nodded and said, "It's good that you know, you don't have to go back to your Hezhe camp, and you can't go back." I'll write to the governor tomorrow and consider asking you to help me deal with it. "Some tasks, would you like it?" With nowhere else to go, this burly man may have been listed as "killed" by the casualty list drawn up by Feng Tianhan.

The burly man is not an uneducated person, so he naturally understands what Gu Yongyuan means. He hurriedly kowtowed a few times and said, "Thank you for your kindness!" I only want to serve with my life! ”

Gu Yongyuan smiled mildly and said, "Get up, there is no bloody task to do here." ”

The burly man slowly got up.

Gu Yongyuan glanced at him and asked, "Brother Wang, what should I call you, what is your background?" ”

The strong man said modestly: "The minister's name is Zhenghao, and he passed the martial arts examination in the twenty-ninth year of Daoguang. ”

Gu Yongyuan didn't know that this name was a famous figure in history, a terrible general who pacified the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Jiangnan. He didn't realize the meaning, but when he heard that Zhenghao had a martial arts background, he couldn't help but look at him a few more times. Despite having spent twenty years in this world, he still remembers the concept of martial arts vividly.

"Mo Ba, Mo Ba." Gu Yongyuan called twice. His voice wasn't particularly loud, but immediately a boy as thin as a monkey rushed in from outside the hall. Mo Ba greeted: "Master, Mo Ba is here!" ”

Gu Yongyuan pointed at the burly man and said, "Take General Wang to take a bath and change clothes, let him rest for a few days, and then go and summon the old scholar." ”

"Got it!" Mo Ba stood up and made an inviting gesture, "General Wang, please." ”

When he entered the flower hall and saw Lin Wanxue sitting next to Gu Yongyuan, the old scholar almost didn't recognize her. Who is this dashing young man, he thought? He's too handsome and charming, right? Indeed, he wore that elegant black suit and a top hat, and he exuded a radiant and charming aura.

The old scholar recognized her as the young master's only concubine, so he had to lower his gaze and didn't dare to look more. This made him think deeply; If his daughter-in-law disguises herself as a man, especially a foreigner, he may break his son's leg before allowing him to divorce.

However, in front of the young master, I don't know why, no matter how the master dresses up, he looks very natural, and there is no sign of overstepping the rules.

Gu Yongyuan wrote a letter and prepared to send his guards back to Beijing to report safety. How long has it been since he left? The colt must have cared about him too.

In addition, he had to draft the documents of the capital, but he needed the guidance of old scholars. In the past twenty years, Gu Yongyuan has been somewhat illiterate, and he doesn't know how to understand these traditional words.

Lin Wanxue kept holding back her laughter, watching the old scholar almost hold Gu Yongyuan's hand and guide him to write.

"Old scholar, forget it, you can write it." Gu Yongyuan felt that it was torture to hold a pen and decided to tease it.

The old scholar touched his beard and said with a smile. Although he was disrespectful, he still had a certain good impression of Gu Yongyuan, perhaps because this young master never put on a show.

"Master, master, something is wrong!" Mo Ba rushed into the room in a panic, which was very unusual in front of Gu Yongyuan.

"Wang Yuanqing, he ...... Wang Yuanqing went to customs! Mo Ba's face turned slightly pale. He blamed himself for being talkative; He had been talking to Wang Yuanqing about the occupation of the customs office by foreigners, and he could not produce the account books. Gu Yongyuan was a little anxious. As everyone knows, Wang Yuanqing did not hesitate. He snatched one of Dahasseld's waist knives and rushed out.

Gu Yongyuan frowned and asked, "Why did he go there?" ”

Mo Ba immediately knelt down and slapped himself in the mouth with self-reproach: "The slave should die, the slave should die!" It's all the fault of the minions. Because I said you were bothered by the customs business, and he was dead. "He said that he would risk his life to retrieve the customs ledger for you, and Qi Bu Songao and Amba Lingwu also went with him.

Qibu Songao and Amba Lingwu were Gu Yongyuan's Dahasu bodyguards and personal soldiers brought from the imperial palace. They are the most famous fighters in the Blue Banner, and they are very proud of it. However, Mo Ba gradually realized the strength of the alien race and the seriousness of the situation.

Mo Ba persuaded them for a long time, but he couldn't convince them to turn back. He had to rush back to report the situation.