When Su Yu appeared in the Governor's Mansion again, he was greeted with unprecedented warmth.

It's just that this time it's no longer a serious meeting, but a grand drinking party.

Many wealthy businessmen who have been in Hong Kong for a long time are also among them.

For example, the top five foreign banks, as well as bankers, etc.

And this time, Su Yao did not wear the official uniform of the Qing Dynasty, but wore a suit and tie.

As soon as he appeared, Bashali enthusiastically stepped forward to hug him.

"My friend, you're finally here."

Su Yu said: "Is this my delusion? I feel like you're a little darker? ”

Ba Xia said: "No, it's red, the sea breeze is too sharp." ”

Then, Minister Bao Ling stepped forward and hugged Su Yu.

"My friend, your handsomeness is so enviable, it's hard for me to imagine that an Oriental would look so good in a suit."

Su Yu said: "If this sentence comes out of the mouth of a lady, it will be even better. ”

Then came the uniformed Rear Admiral Sima Migoli, who did not hug, but reached out to shake each other.

"Sir Su Yu, I've heard of accurate marksmanship for a long time, and I hope that one day, we can go hunting together."

Next, Ba Xia Li took Su Yu and shuttled between various wealthy merchants.

It's a warm-up for the future business.

After the banquet entered the second half, the four of them entered the next room.

"Sir Su Yu, from now on we will be true friends, and only friends who have made a fortune together in this world are true friends." "We have assembled a team of professionals, and it won't be long before we can mine the gold. ”

Su Yu said: "Gentlemen, the gold mines are all small money, and our next Jiujiang Economic Pilot Zone is the real big money, if you invest, you will definitely get amazing wealth." ”

Then Su Yu said: "I'm very curious, wasn't the World Expo held every two years before?" Why is it interrupted this year? ”

The first was London, the second was New York, and the third was Paris in 1855.

Ba Xia said: "The devil knows why, why do you need this stage?" ”

Su Yu said: "Of course, because our products will be a blockbuster. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, now Jiujiang is still in the hands of the Taiping Army, and your economic experimental zone has not even appeared on paper. ”

"Sir Su Yu, I want to tell you that it is very difficult for a product to stand out at the fair, do you still want to face the world market?" ”

Su Yu said: "Of course, when our products are launched, they will definitely make your eyes shine, and if there is an expo, it will definitely amaze the audience." ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "There may not be a World Expo in the next two years, but London is the center of the world, and there will be European Expos, Industrial Fairs, etc., every year. Of course, if your product is really amazing enough, otherwise I'm embarrassed to put it on it. ”

Next, Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, we agree in principle to sign a secret agreement with you, but I must also state that this is not achieved overnight. I also need to lobby Congress, which of course will be lengthy, and I am impatient to do these things. ”

"So, on the one hand, we are lobbying Congress, but on the other hand, we are going to be more active in lobbying large business consortia, such as Jardine Matheson, and even the East India Company. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, could you please give me a rough estimate, if you invest in technicians and machines, how much is this investment?" ”

Su Yu said: "It's about 1.8 million pounds, all the transportation costs, machine costs, lobbying costs, and the cost of technicians' salaries add up. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "This is a large number. ”

Su Yu said: "Yes, a very huge number. But neither for Jardine Matheson nor for the East India Company, it was not a big problem. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "The key is to let them see the benefits. ”

Su Yu said: "Of course. ”

"We're just just getting started, lobbying Congress, lobbying Jardine Matheson, the East India Company, and even the consortium represented by Henry are all handed over to us, and it will take time. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "But our secret agreement can already start to sign the first one. ”

Su Yu said: "I want to hear about it." ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Time is money, my friend. As you said before, my term is almost up, and I have about two years to go, so I'd like to hear your schedule. ”

Su Yu said: "Before June 1857, I attacked the Jiujiang River, and then I needed your country's armed merchant ships to protect the Yangtze River channel in the Jiujiang region. ”

Bao Ling said: "Of course. ”

Even, they can't ask for it.

"By July 1857," said Su, "I hope that we will have signed all the secret agreements, that your investors will be in place, and that we will purchase the machines that are on my list. On my side, at the same time, I also recruited workers, bought raw materials, built cabins, and raised funds. ”

Bao Ling said: "Your Excellency Su Yu, I would like to ask, when do you want to start producing the first product?" ”

Su Yu said: "Before next summer." ”

Bao Ling exclaimed: "So urgent? ”

Su Yu said: "Yes." ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, there is one thing I need to state first, there are still policy risks between our two countries. Because your status is not high enough to determine the policy of your country. And I am only a minister, and I cannot determine the policy of our British Empire. ”

Su Yu said: "Of course I understand, but there is one point, no matter what policy changes we have in the two countries, it will not affect our cooperation. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Of course, interests come first. ”

Su Yu said: "Interests come first. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Therefore, we can sign the first part of the secret treaty, that is, your army must take Jiujiang." ”

The consul of Guangzhou, Ba Xiali, said: "Sir Su Yu, we fully understand the reason why you chose Jiujiang, because it is close to the Yangtze River and far from the sea, so it can be far away from our powerful fleet, but we didn't care about this. ”

Of course, you don't care, because you also covet the Yangtze River waterway, especially the cities along the Yangtze River, and we both take what we need.

Therefore, Su Yu's choice of Jiujiang is also very in line with the interests of the British, and this is also the first time that their forces have penetrated into inland cities.

"You said that in June, although we thought it was a little late, we agreed, so we set it before June 30, 1857, how about that?" ”

Su Yu thought for a while and said, "Yes." ”

"Because we are going to lobby Congress and lobby several major consortiums of the British Empire immediately, all of which have economic and political costs, so if you don't take Jiujiang before June 30, you must compensate us two million taels of silver." ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, don't think this is very harsh, because according to your calculations, we need to raise nearly 1.8 million pounds of investment, and we need to raise it by this date, and you know that all funds have a cost. ”

Consul Bashali said: "Although the cost of the delay of these funds is not as much as two million taels of silver, it is very necessary as a punishment for not fulfilling the contract. ”

Su Yu said: "In other words, the first part of the secret agreement between our two sides is that our side must attack Jiujiang before June 30. And you have until June 30 to secure all the investors and all the investment amounts, regardless of whether Congress approves it or not. ”

"Whoever fails to do so on both sides must be fined two million taels of silver."

Minister Bao Ling frowned, because they had never signed such an equal contract with a weak country.

But then there is pressure on both sides.

He had to do everything in his power to lobby Congress, lobby big conglomerates.

So, he asked: "Sir Su Yu, now we are friends, so we must be honest." According to your estimates, if I, Consul Pashali, and Major General Sima Mi Li, together with the three of us, invest about 8%, how much will we gain in the next ten years? ”

Su Yu said: "A conservative estimate of 18 million taels of silver is a very, very conservative estimate. ”

Minister Bao Ling breathed a screen, this money is not a small number for a country.

For individuals, it is even more astronomical, and it is definitely a splash of wealth.

This is far from being comparable to the gold mine in Malaysia.

Sir Bao Ling said: "Okay, then the first part of our secret agreement will be decided, Sir Bashali, please go and draw it up yourself, Chinese, English, and three languages are required." ”

Sir Bashali said, "More than happy to help." ”

Next, he went to draw up the first part of the secret covenant himself.

Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, you should know that we are not investing in an economic pilot zone, we are investing in you as a person. Both in my own name and in the name of the British Empire. ”

Su Yu said: "I have seen your great courage. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "So whether I am in this position in the future or not, our friendship will always be the same, right?" ”

Su Yu said: "Of course! Or I'll put it more bluntly, no matter who succeeds you, I won't have much overlap with him. And if he's your political enemy, he's mine too. ”

Minister Bao Ling stretched out his hand towards Su Yu and said, "Then I also promise you that no matter what changes occur in our two countries in the future, and no matter where I am, whether in Hong Kong or London, I will run for your interests." ”

Su Yu said: "I am the same. ”

Then he smiled and said, "In the future, I am very eager for you to be in the Cabinet, and even in Downing Street." ”

Sir Bao Ling said: "Thank you for your blessings, I am even more eager for you to be able to grasp the power of the Qing Empire." ”

Su said: "If that time really comes, we can really build that grand blueprint and build a real East Asian order." ”

Sir Bao Ling said: "To the future! ”

Su Yu raised his glass and said, "Respect for friendship!" ”

Rear Admiral Sima Mi next to him said: "To the future may be endless pounds." ”

Three people clink glasses.

The Basha, who was drawing up a secret pact next door, said: "Gentlemen, I hear your clinking glasses, you are so unfriendly that you have forgotten that I am a poor man who is serving you. ”

Exactly a few hours later.

The Basha rite reappeared, and came out with four identical copies of the first part of the secret covenant.

Chinese, English, three formats.

"Gentlemen, please check it, and hopefully there will be no problems, otherwise I will be busy for hours." Bashali rubbed his wrist.

Su Yu carefully examined each of the secret contracts.

There is no problem, the other side deserves to be the most professional diplomat.

It's not a lengthy pact, but it's flawless.

"If there are no problems after the inspection, then let's sign it." "There are four copies in total, one for Sir Su Yu, one for the three of us, one for the consortium participating in the investment, and the last one may be given to the cabinet of the British Empire." ”

Next, Su Yu picked up the quill pen, signed his name, and stamped it.

Sir Bao Ling, Sir Ba Ha Li, and Rear Admiral Sima Mi also signed their names, poured wax oil, and stamped their seals.

Originally, it was enough for the minister to sign it alone.

But this secret agreement may represent huge benefits, so the three of them have to sign it together.

After everyone signed the agreement, Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, from now on, the four of us will be a community of interests. ”

Su Yu said: "This is destined to be a great secret agreement. ”

Even in his mind, he felt that this would not only change the history of China, but even the history of East Asia as a whole, and even more.

This is the real first step to the rise.

Then, the four of them shook hands with each other and finally raised their glasses.

"Sir Su Yu, we both have to fight hard next, and the time is very short." "June 30 is like the sword of Damos hanging over our heads. ”

The first part of this secret agreement is to determine the cooperation between the two sides and determine the construction of the Jiujiang Economic Pilot Zone.

The core content is that before June 30, Su Yu must take Jiujiang; And the three ministers of Bao Ling will get the consortium investment of the British Empire, and it is better to successfully lobby the Congress.

Su Yu said: "Three knights, can we talk about retreating now?" ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Sir Su Yu, do you think this is a dinner or an after-dinner snack?" ”

Su Yu said: "Of course, it's an after-dinner snack. ”

"Agreed." Minister Bao Ling said: "The characteristic of the after-dinner dim sum is that it looks good and gorgeous, but the portion is very small. ”

"Since Sir Su Yu is our community of interests and our true friends, it is very necessary for us to make all this more gorgeous. ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "Yes, it should be gorgeous." To let Sir Su Yu have great glory in front of the emperor, let him be as triumphant as a hero. ”

Ba Xia said: "Then, it is necessary to invite many officials of the Qing Dynasty to be present to witness, and we will have a very grand ceremony." ”

Rear Admiral Sima Mi next to him said, "Do you need a firing ceremony?" Need to fire artillery? I can arrange it if needed. ”

Next, the three of them were talking about how to make the signing ceremony three days later more grand.

Let Su Yu have a long face.

This is a typical export to domestic sales, a performative contract.

………………………………………………………………

Ye Mingchen, the governor of Liangguang, Bai Gui, the governor of Guangdong, Ding Hao, the prefect of Guangzhou, and other officials have been captured for a long time.

During this time, they had a very bad life, even had no dignity at all, and even suffered a considerable degree of abuse.

So this time, for them, is simply a hellish day.

But one day, they were released from their cells.

A dozen or so high-ranking officials, all of whom were released.

"Hurry up and change your clothes and change into official clothes."

Suddenly, the officials of Liangguang were stunned, this ...... What does this mean?

Changing into official uniforms, is it to parade the streets and humiliate them?

Or are they going to be put to death?

Ye Mingchen, the governor of Liangguang, said: "Ladies and gentlemen, don't lose the dignity and backbone of my Qing Dynasty officials at any time. ”

This high-ranking official is also a complex contradiction.

When the Heaven and Earth Society was suppressed, it was extremely brutal, slaughtering tens of thousands of civilians.

For the British, they are afraid and poor.

To the emperor, constantly deceived and concealed.

When there was a war in history, the first one to run away and worship the Buddha on the mountain, and whenever there was a major event, he first found the master for divination.

Are you going to say he's spineless? After being captured by the British, he wanted to be Su Wu, and when he was finally exhibited like a monkey, he chose to die on a hunger strike.

And Bai Gui, the governor of Guangdong, was very soft in history, and he knelt down directly to the British and became a traitor, becoming a puppet of the British ruling Guangzhou.

After they bathed, they changed into their long-lost official uniforms.

Then, under the guidance of the British, they came to the yamen of the governor's palace after a long absence, and burned down to only half of it.

"Sit down!"

The British ordered!

Then, more than a dozen high-ranking officials of the Qing court sat down neatly.

Immediately afterward, hundreds of British soldiers began to enter the governor's palace, guarding every place.

More than a dozen soldiers, entering this hall, began to line up.

These dozen or so officials of the Qing court were even more afraid, which ...... What is this going to do?

Do you have to shoot in the halls?

Although Ye Mingchen, the governor of Liangguang, was afraid, he gritted his teeth and wanted to make an iron-clad posture.

Moments later, a dozen British officers entered.

Then, Rear Admiral Ma Mi Geli and Consul Ba Xiali of Canton entered.

Finally, the British minister and Su Lu entered.

Ye Mingchen and more than a dozen other high-ranking officials of the Qing Dynasty couldn't help but be stunned, this ...... Who is this man?

Wearing the official uniform of the Qing Dynasty? And it's just a fourth-grade official?

So young? So handsome?

Su Yu stepped forward and said, "May I ask if it is Governor Ye Mingchen and Governor Baigui?" ”

Ye Mingchen said: "Yes, it's me, may I ask who you are?" ”

Su Yu said: "This official Su Yu, acting prefect of Guangzhou, came to negotiate with the British at the behest of the emperor. ”

Ye Mingchen said: "It's you?" The emperor actually sent you? ”

You are only a fourth-rank official, what qualifications do you have to negotiate with the British minister? Not equal at all, huh?

I've heard your name, and you're very good at civil and military affairs, and you're good at war.

However, you don't understand diplomacy!

I, Ye Mingchen, have been dealing with the British for more than ten years, and I am the most professional, and I know how difficult the British are.

Now the situation has come to this point, they directly sent troops to occupy the city of Guangzhou, and the fleet went directly to the sea of Tianjin.

The emperor actually sent a fourth-grade official to talk?

How is it possible to succeed? I'm afraid you don't even know the minimum etiquette.

At present, this matter must be discussed at the level of the Minister of Military Aircraft, and a first-class officer is a must.

And even so, I don't know what kind of humiliating treaty I have to sign in order to get through this difficulty.

Immediately, Ye Mingchen put up a stand and said: "Since the emperor asked you to talk, then you have to talk about it well, even if the negotiation is not successful, don't damage the national character!" ”

Then, more than a dozen high-ranking officials of the Qing court in Guangdong all sat up straight. On the one hand, it is to show manners, and on the other hand, it is also to look at jokes.

Both sides are fully in place.

The ceremony felt top-notch, serious and formal.

………………………………………………………………

Ba Xia Li got up and said: "After the first six negotiations, we have reached a consensus, and the next step is to start signing!" ”

Ye Mingchen was stunned, he actually talked about the sixth scene?

What consensus has been reached?

What did you Su Yu talk about? How many conditions of loss of power and humiliation of the country have been agreed.

There were more than a dozen people on both sides, sitting opposite each other.

Dozens of soldiers, loaded with guns and ammunition, stood upright.

It looks serious and dignified.

The sense of ritual is full.

Next, the two sides began to officially sign a contract.

Ye Mingchen and the others were stunned, what is this signing?

Is it more shameful than the Treaty of Nanjing?

The two parties signed the contract.

Su Yu said: "I immediately hand over this treaty to His Majesty the Emperor, and ask you to strictly follow the agreement and officially withdraw after ten days." ”

Minister Bao Ling said: "We are the most contract-oriented country, and we will do what we say." ”

"Sir Su Yu, through the past 20 days of negotiations, you have left an extremely deep impression on us, I did not expect that there would be such an excellent diplomat in your country."

The consul of Guangzhou, Ba Xiali, said: "Sir Su Yu, if it were any official of your government, we would never agree to withdraw the army." But...... You have indeed conquered us, you are the best diplomat. ”

"I now believe that the legends about Su Qin and Zhang Yi in your history books are true."

Then the British Minister Packet ordered: "Now we begin to fulfill the first agreement, formally withdraw from the Governor's Palace, and return it to you." ”

"After ten days, the troops will be discharged as scheduled."

"I believe in our two countries, and the friendship will last forever."

Then, Minister Bao Ling, with Ba Xia Li, and all the officials, withdrew from the yamen of the governor's palace.

Immediately afterwards, all the soldiers also withdrew.

Return the entire governor's yamen completely.

Ye Mingchen and the others were completely stunned by this change.

This...... What's going on here?

How is this possible?

What the hell are you talking about?

Suddenly, Ye Mingchen said: "Su Yu, what conditions did you agree to the British?" ”

In fact, he had already talked with the British more than once, and promised many conditions for losing power and humiliating the country, but the other party just did not withdraw the troops and did not let go.

As a result, a fourth-grade official from Su Yao District came and the negotiation was completed.

This...... What a humiliating condition that must have been agreed?

Su Yu said lightly: "This has nothing to do with Lord Ye, I am only responsible and report to the emperor, and my errand has been completed." ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will leave Guangzhou immediately and return to Beijing to resume my life!"

Then, Su Yu turned around and left!

……………………………………………………

Note: The first update will be sent, and in the last ten hours of this month, the monthly ticket list must not be overturned, otherwise it will really hurt.

If you have a monthly pass, don't really want to keep it, can you give it a pastry? Bow to you!

Do you still have a monthly pass for the last ten hours? Is it okay for me? Don't be overturned!

(End of chapter)