Chapter 170: Another Slap in the Face, Asking Su Ye to Come Out

Chapter 170 Another slap in the face! Ask Su Ye to come out of retirement!

After escaping from Guangzhou for a long distance, He Guiqing gradually calmed down.

The mind that was in chaos due to fear also became clear.

He felt that he had escaped very well.

He thought that after making some concessions as the emperor requested, the British should still agree.

But now it is obviously impossible, the British have a big appetite.

As for those conditions, no matter who signs, they are traitors and will definitely not end well.

The key is that Emperor Xianfeng was very vague when he left Beijing, saying that the conditions required by the British could be compromised a little.

How much is this compromise?

Don't sign now, the British will withdraw their troops and be happy for a while.

In the future, he will feel that he has lost too much, and he will be scolded by the court and the public, and the emperor will push him out as a scapegoat again.

So, he can't sign this agreement anyway.

Whoever wants to sign, can sign.

In history, He Guiqing was also so smooth.

After the capture of Guangzhou, the envoys of the four countries also went to Shanghai to find He Guiqing first. As a result, He Guiqing said, it has nothing to do with me, I don't care about these, you can either go back to Guangdong or find whoever you want, so the warships of the four countries went north to Dagukou to find the emperor.

At this time, He Guiqing was named by Sushun and came to Guangzhou, but the result was still the result of history.

Next, He Guiqing thought about how to get out of this right and wrong.

Now that the negotiations have failed, I must give an explanation to the emperor when I go back.

After thinking about it, I can only use the bitter plan.

So, he found his trusted subordinates and said: "Come, you come and beat me, whip me with a bamboo whip."

The subordinates quickly knelt down and said: "I dare not, I dare not."

"If you ask you to beat you, beat you quickly and beat you harder."

Then He Guiqing stripped off his shirt.

The subordinates trembled, picked up the bamboo weaving, and whipped him.

"You haven't eaten yet, beat him hard!"

So, the subordinates beat him hard.

After a short while, He Guiqing was covered with wounds.

Of course, the subordinates knew what their master was thinking, and hurriedly said: "Master, fake is fake. What if the emperor sends someone to ask the British, wouldn't it be exposed?"

The staff on the side sneered.

Exposing ass.

First of all, this matter can be concealed from the emperor.

Secondly, even if the British deny it, will the emperor believe it?

Next, the staff wanted to find a doctor to treat He Guiqing's injuries, but He Guiqing refused, and then just lay on the soft bed and took a boat to the north.

A few days later, He Guiqing landed at the port of Tianjin.

After hearing about it, Zhili Governor Tan Tingxiang immediately came to greet him. (Former Zhili Governor Gui Liang was promoted to Dongge University Scholar, and concurrently Zhenglan Banner Mongolian General)

"How is it? How is it?" He asked directly after seeing He Guiqing.

Apart from the emperor, the governor of Zhili must be the one who cares about whether He Guiqing's negotiations are successful.

Because according to the general rules, as long as the negotiations fail, the foreigners will rush to Dagukou.

And Dagukou and Tianjin belong to the defense of him, the governor of Zhili.

He Guiqing sighed and said, "Brother Zhuya, prepare for war."

As soon as these words came out, Tan Tingxiang was immediately frightened.

Prepare for war?

How do you want me to prepare for war?

There are tens of thousands of troops in Guangzhou, and they all lost in less than a day.

How do I prepare for war?

Suddenly, the governor of Zhili felt that a disaster was coming, and he really regretted why he wanted to get this position.

Before, the governor of Zhili was the head of the governors and governors-general in the world, but now it seems that it is a complete pit of fire.

Next, He Guiqing rushed to Beijing.

He had to be quick, otherwise the wounds on his body would heal.

………………………………………………

The court meetings these days have the same topic every day.

How to make the foreign barbarians withdraw their troops.

But after discussing it over and over again, there is no result.

The emperor is looking forward to He Guiqing.

He has been gone for so long, and there should be a result.

So this emperor is difficult to serve. No matter what, he is always anxious and has no patience.

Little do people know that negotiations of this level can take several months or half a year, and it is normal to go back and forth for a year or two.

Su Ye's negotiations with the British consortium this time were considered fast, and they lasted for two months.

Therefore, during this period, the Qing court and foreigners signed treaties, which often pointed to one result.

There was no tug-of-war, nor too much bargaining. After being intimidated, they closed their eyes and quickly signed the contract.

After signing, they regretted it, so they did not execute it, or they wanted to regret it.

These days, the emperor was restless and sleepless.

Almost three questions a day.

Is He Guiqing back?

Did He Guiqing submit any memorials?

Is there any news from Guangzhou?

That day, in the Sanxi Hall, he picked up a book and couldn't read it.

"Your Majesty, He Guiqing is here." The eunuch Zenglu outside said.

The emperor said, "Quick, let him in."

A moment later, the dusty He Guiqing rushed in and knelt down to Xianfeng from a distance and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I almost couldn't see you!"

Then, he knelt on the ground and cried loudly.

Suddenly, the emperor's heart trembled.

This, this, this was not agreed upon?

The emperor couldn't help but feel a little cold in his hands, and said: "What's going on? Tell me, has the negotiation been concluded?"

He Guiqing said: "Your Majesty, I dare not talk about the foreign ambitions of foreign barbarians, and I cannot talk about it."

The emperor asked: "What do foreigners want?"

He Guiqing said: "Foreigners want to open twelve new trading port cities, foreigners want the Yangtze River waterway, foreigners want to have the freedom to enter and exit the country, trade and do business, and have the right to preach."

The emperor didn't say it out loud, but he felt that...these conditions seemed...not completely unacceptable.

"Foreigners want to take over the tax customs in these cities."

This, there seems to be nothing wrong with this. After the foreigners took control of the Shanghai customs, the court's income increased.

"Foreigners want to fully open up the opium trade, and goods from the other four countries are exempt from customs duty. If they are sold domestically, they will only be taxed at 2.5%."

The emperor also felt that this... these were nothing.

"The foreigners have to pay compensation of 20 million taels of silver."

"Foreigners want to build an embassy in the capital, foreigners want to go to Beijing to preach, and foreigners want to send troops into the capital in the name of protecting the embassy."

He Guiqing knew the emperor well, so he put the two items that most irritated the emperor at the end.

For a moment, the emperor almost jumped up.

How is this possible?

The emperor felt uneasy at the thought of the foreign troops in the capital.

This is absolutely unacceptable.

Anyone who dares to agree is being treasonous.

"It's too much to bully others, it's too much to bully others." The emperor said angrily: "The foreigners are indeed prodigal and ambitious and want to overthrow our Qing Dynasty."

Then, the emperor angrily said to He Guiqing: "Then why don't you talk about it? You're asking for a high price, and you can't pay back the money, right?"

He Guiqing said: "Your Majesty, I think so too. So we talk every day, but the foreigners don't give in at all. So I thought of a way to leverage a small matter to negotiate and let them release Governor Ye Mingchen. This This thing is easy for them. If they agree, it means that the attitude of the foreigners has relaxed. "

The emperor said: "Well, this is a good idea."

He Guiqing said: "But...I went to see Governor Ye Mingchen the night before. He was still fine. When I proposed to release Governor Ye the next day, Governor Ye died. He died..."

Ye Mingchen is dead? !

The emperor was stunned when he heard the news.

Moreover, his instinctive reaction was for the British to kill Ye Mingchen.

"They said he committed suicide, but I could clearly see the strangulation marks on his neck. It was obvious that he was strangled from behind."

The emperor felt even more horrified. The frontier officials of the Qing Dynasty were killed as soon as they said they would be killed?

Ye Mingchen most likely committed suicide, but in He Guiqing's mouth, it sounded like he was killed by the British. Otherwise, he would have died sooner or later, but He Guiqing died when he asked the British to release him.

Obviously the British want to scare the monkeys.

He Guiqing continued: "I was angry at that time and angrily said that the foreign barbarians were inferior to animals. The two countries were at war and they did not kill the envoys. They became crazy and killed my minister."

"My blood was rising at that time, so I ignored him and scolded the foreign barbarians. As a result, I had a conflict with the foreign barbarians."

"Then, the foreign barbarians also used force against the ministers."

"He even wants to force me to sign this treaty that is humiliating and humiliating the country and keeps issuing fatal threats."

"I thought that if I stayed in Guangzhou any longer, if they really tied me up and signed my name and stamped my name, I would be a sinner forever, so I found an opportunity and escaped from Guangzhou."

"Your Majesty, I am guilty and incompetent!"

He Guiqing kept kowtowing, his movements seemed clumsy.

Wang Chenggui, the eunuch in charge next to him, said, "Hey, Mr. He, what's wrong with you? Are you so unwell? Are you injured?"

This sentence is worth eight thousand taels of silver.

Only then did the emperor pay attention: "What's wrong? Are you injured?"

He Guiqing said: "Your Majesty, I am incompetent and guilty. Even if my body is broken to pieces, I cannot escape the blame."

The emperor said: "Let me see."

He Guiqing cried: "Your Majesty, please stop reading."

The emperor said: "Someone came and took off his clothes."

Eunuch Wang Chenggui stepped forward and took off He Guiqing's clothes, immediately revealing his scarred body.

His whole body was bruised and purple, with whip marks all over his body, which was shocking.

The emperor hissed: "The two countries are at war, and they don't kill the envoys. The foreigners are so heartless and crazy. It is really the behavior of beasts."

Next, the emperor asked: "Now that the negotiations have collapsed, what do you think will happen to the foreigners?"

At this time, He Guiqing couldn't help complaining that the emperor was really cold.

I am the Governor of Liangjiang, a top-level feudal state, and when I was beaten like this, you didn't offer any comfort. You just scolded the foreigners, and then immediately asked the foreigners what they would do? He only focused on whether the foreigners would invade the north.

He Guiqing said: "The foreign barbarians keep saying that they want to gather the fleets of the four countries to go north and march to the entrance of Dagu to force the emperor to agree."

The emperor suddenly felt dizzy.

This...this must never happen.

Then...what should we do?

Then, the emperor said: "Go, call Sushun and Duanhua over."

"Call Guiliang and Seng Gelinqin."

……………………………………………………

Half an hour or so later.

All the emperor's favorite ministers have arrived.

After looking at He Guiqing, the emperor said, "Put it on."

He sounded a little disgusted, as if He Guiqing was an eyesore.

After He Guiqing put it on, he felt a little ashamed, but also a little relieved, as he had passed this stage.

The emperor said, "He Guiqing, tell me the whole process again."

So He Guiqing told it again, making it thrilling.

The dozen ministers in the palace also changed color when they heard it.

The emperor said, "Ministers, what should we do next? Tell me."

Prince Senggelinqin of Khorchin said, "Your Majesty, fight! There is nothing else but fight!"

"I don't believe it. Do these foreigners have three heads and six arms? We have also renovated the Dagukou Fort. It took about a year to replace all the new cannons. I am willing to lead the army to fight against the foreign army."

The emperor was very pleased to hear Senggelinqin's answer.

At the critical moment, at least one person can stand up.

But he didn't want to fight.

Not at all.

He was afraid when he thought of the record of the foreigners.

More than a decade ago, in the Battle of Guangzhou not long ago, the foreigners were unstoppable, and the Qing army was like paper in front of them.

We should talk if we can.

No matter what, let the foreigners withdraw their troops first.

But now the key is who to send to talk?

Who can succeed in the talk?

So, the whole audience fell into silence.

Everyone looked at their noses and their hearts.

What He Guiqing said just now may be exaggerated, but Ye Mingchen is dead, this is a fact.

Whether Ye Mingchen committed suicide or was killed by the British, this negotiation is very dangerous.

Didn't you see He Guiqing return so embarrassed, and he was also scarred and embarrassed.

I was afraid that the emperor would name him to go.

At this time, Su Shun was very clear in his heart.

The emperor remembered that person.

Because only he had truly created a diplomatic miracle.

Now the emperor and the civil and military officials in the court also understood that Su Ye made the British withdraw unconditionally last time, which was really awesome.

Although it is not known how it was done, it is indeed the greatest victory in the diplomatic relationship between the Qing Dynasty and the foreigners, a real miracle.

Later, Ye Mingchen reported victory again and again, which was pure nonsense, completely fooling the court, and ended up angering the foreigners, who sent troops directly, and he also played himself to death.

The emperor hated Su Ye at this time.

And he kept saying, can't the Qing Dynasty leave you?

Do you think I will compromise with you?

Do you think that if the foreigners come, I will have to ask you, Su Ye?

These words were said by the emperor himself, and many people heard them.

It has only been a few days, and you want the emperor to spit in his face and dry it, that is absolutely impossible.

Su Shun instantly understood the emperor's mind.

The emperor himself did not take the initiative to mention Su Ye's name, but he hoped that someone would wake Su Ye up.

Let Su Ye take the initiative to ask for diplomatic battles.

Let him submit a memorial himself, asking the emperor to agree to represent the Qing Dynasty to negotiate with the foreigners.

Then, the emperor pretended not to agree.

Then, the officials tried their best to persuade him, Your Majesty, please give Su Ye another chance.

Lord Su Ye, even if he made a mistake, we should uphold the heart of curing illness and saving lives, so let him make up for his crime and make meritorious service.

Then, the emperor reluctantly let Su Ye represent the Qing court to negotiate in Guangzhou again.

However, this process must be fast.

According to the process, it will take at least two months, but now the military situation is urgent and can't be delayed any longer, otherwise the foreign fleet will really come to Dagukou.

Therefore, the whole process must be compressed.

So, Su Shun, who understood the emperor's heart the most, said: "Your Majesty, I have an idea. Since Su Ye had warned before that Ye Mingchen's constant provocation of the foreigners might lead to war, it shows that he still has a certain grasp of the foreigners. Now he has made a mistake, but he is still young after all, so I think he still needs to be given a chance to make up for his crime and make meritorious service."

The emperor couldn't help but glance at Su Shun.

Then, the emperor said coldly: "No, the great Qing Dynasty, with all the nobles, can't you find a talent? Is Su Ye the only one? It's really ridiculous. Anyone can go, but this person can't."

Next, under the guidance of Su Shun.

The ministers present pleaded for Su Ye, considering his young age and his past merits, and let Su Ye make meritorious contributions.

However, the emperor still denied it.

And in the end, he said bluntly: "There is no need to discuss this matter again."

"I am tired!"

Then, the emperor waved his hand and left directly.

Su Shun led people to leave the Yangxin Palace.

"Don't leave, go to the Military Affairs Office and discuss it!"

Then, more than a dozen ministers went to the Military Affairs Office.

Su Shun said, "Lord Du Han, do you have any opinion?"

Du Han said, "The emperor does not allow it, but the matter must be done. Su Ye has indeed made achievements in the negotiations with the British, and he is indeed the most suitable person at the moment."

Someone else said, "But the emperor disagrees. What can we do?"

Du Han said, "If the emperor disagrees with curing diseases and saving lives, then we will not do the job? Send someone to Jiujiang and ask Su Ye to write a memorial that is more profound, so that he can recommend himself and share the country's worries. Then we can ask the emperor a few more times in the court."

"That's the only way."

Su Shun said, "Who will go to Jiujiang? Let Su Ye recommend himself and make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence?"

The whole audience was silent, and no one answered.

Suddenly, everyone looked at Kuang Yuan.

As an imperial envoy, you, Kuang Yuan, have been to Jiujiang twice and have dealt with Su Ye several times.

Kuang Yuan shuddered immediately, I won't go, I won't go.

Although the words sounded nice, he was going to let Su Ye make up for his crime and recommend himself.

But in fact, he was going to ask Su Ye to come out of retirement.

Not long ago, he had just publicly reprimanded Su Ye with the emperor's oral order and took away his military power.

The two of them are considered to have a grudge, so let me go to Jiujiang at this time?

Let me ask Su Ye?

Absolutely not.

Suddenly, Kuang Yuan said: "I have reprimanded Su Ye before, and I reprimanded him in front of Jiangxi officials, so if I go, I'm afraid it will be counterproductive."

When everyone heard it, they immediately felt that it made sense.

Du Han said: "Why not let Ruilin or Chongen go."

When everyone heard it, they felt that it made sense.

At the critical moment, Lord Du Han's brain was smart.

One of these two people is Su Ye's father-in-law, and the other is a half-backer.

If either of them goes, Su Ye can only agree, and everyone will avoid going to Jiujiang to suffer.

But then there is another question, who will persuade Ruilin and who will persuade Chongen?

Some time ago, everyone squeezed Chongen and Ruilin so much that now both of them are sick at home.

Du Han said: "Let's ask Prince Hui to go."

Yes, Prince Hui was once a backer of Chongen and Ruilin, but later they gradually drifted away, but after all, he still had face, and Prince Hui Mianyu was still the emperor's uncle.

Su Shun said to Duanhua: "Third brother, you go to Prince Hui's mansion?"

Duanhua said: "Okay!"

………………………………………………

Next, Prince Zheng Duanhua went to Prince Hui's mansion, surrendered a little, and bitterly described the affection of his ancestors, the difficulties of the country, etc.

So, this uncle agreed to go out, and he went to Ruilin's mansion in person.

As a result, Ruilin was found to be sick, lying in bed with a high fever and unable to get up.

So, Prince Hui went to Chongen's house again.

Chongen was much more straightforward.

He didn't pretend to be sick, and he didn't want to pretend to be sick.

"Sorry, I can't do anything." Chongen said directly.

Prince Hui said: "Chong'en, this is the world of our ancestors, don't you have a share? Now we need to serve the country, you are making excuses, where is the former style? Where is the iron-willed and loyal Chong'en before?"

Chong'en said directly: "Didn't you drive him away?"

"I have already resigned from my post at home, and even resigned from the post of acting governor of Shandong."

"I just write every day, take care of my grandson, and enjoy my old age. I don't care about any state affairs."

Prince Hui was so angry that he trembled, and said with anger: "Chong'en, if you don't consider yourself, don't you consider your grandson?"

Chong'en said: "I don't have this ability. The future of my grandson will naturally be considered by his father. I, an incompetent Guo Luoma, can only ask him to read and write at most."

After that, Chong'en began to hold the little baby, coaxing him while writing.

Prince Hui retreated in anger.

After Mianyu left, Qingqing came out and wanted to take her son away.

Chong'en was reluctant to let go and said, "I'll hold you again, and I'll give it to you when you cry."

Then, he couldn't help but said indignantly, "What did you do earlier? You took away the military power and scolded Su Ye. Didn't you think this day would come? Now He Guiqing has messed up his job and knows to come to you for help?"

Chong'en was painting while talking.

The bamboo he painted was really first-class. The bamboo joints were full of bones, and the bamboo leaves were like swords.

But his big baby grandson in his arms didn't like it and cried.

In desperation, Chong'en could only use a brush to draw a big dog, which was naive.

Now the big grandson was happy and giggled.

…………………………………………

In the Military Affairs Office, everyone was helpless.

Originally, everyone didn't want to be angry or look at Su Ye's face, so they encouraged Ruilin and Chong'en to be the imperial envoys to Jiujiang.

Unexpectedly, they didn't fall for it at all.

So, if you need to be angry, you still need to be angry.

If you need to ask for help, you still need to ask for help.

Sushun named him directly: "Kuang Yuan, you were an imperial envoy before, so you should go this time."

Last time, Kuang Yuan could still refuse to go.

Now Sushun named him, you have to go.

If you don't go, you will never think about becoming a regular employee of the Military Affairs Office.

Kuang Yuan said: "Su Zhongtang, I will go. But Su Ye and I had a bad quarrel before, I'm afraid..."

Sushun said: "Lord He Guiqing, you didn't do your job well, so don't hide away, you go with Kuang Yuan."

He Guiqing had no choice but to agree!

……………………………………

The next day!

He Guiqing and Kuang Yuan, two senior officials, left the capital and went to Tongzhou, heading south along the canal.

First go to Yangzhou, then change to a ship on the Yangtze River and go to Jiujiang.

After landing in Jiujiang!

The two men put on their official uniforms, brought their guards, and headed for Jiujiang City in a majestic manner.

This time, the lineup was really large enough.

A quasi-military minister and a governor-general of Liangjiang.

Kuang Yuan said: "Sir He, although we are here to invite Su Ye to come out of retirement this time, we are also here to help him and give him a chance to redeem himself, so don't lower your attitude too much."

"If we act like we're begging for help, I'm afraid Su Ye will be unreasonable and even more arrogant."

He Guiqing nodded in agreement.

That's what's going on now. The emperor is determined not to use you, Su Ye, and will completely ignore you.

We're here to help you make achievements and secure your future.

So, don't be ungrateful.

He Guiqing said, "Of course, don't be too tough. Young people are soft-hearted. Don't let the talks break down, or we'll be in trouble."

Kuang Yuan said, "Yes, so we have to use both hard and soft tactics."

Then, Kuang Yuan said, "I've never been very nice to Su Ye, so I played the cold one. Lord He and Su Ye seem to have some friendship, so how about you play the warm one?"

He Guiqing frowned. You've been waiting here for a long time, right?

Okay, okay!

Who made me unlucky to have this job?

Next, the two of them practiced how to say it along the way.

How to use both soft and hard tactics, how to coerce and lure.

In this way, the two men, with hundreds of guards, holding the flags of the first-rank officials, beating gongs and drums, arrived at the Jiujiang prefectural government office in a majestic manner.

When they arrived outside the Jiujiang prefectural government office, the two officials did not get off the sedan chair.

Because the two were on duty, they needed to wait for Su Ye to lead all the officials to come out and greet them in person.

The military minister learned to walk, and the staff of the Ministry of Personnel Assistant Minister Kuang Yuan stepped forward and said loudly: "Military Minister Kuang has arrived, why don't you go in and report immediately, let your Lord Su lead the staff to greet him?"

The staff of Liangjiang Governor He Guiqing stepped forward and said: "Liangjiang Governor He Guiqing has arrived, you go in and report immediately, let Lord Su come to greet him!"

Then, the two adults stayed in the official sedan chair, waiting for Su Ye to bring people to greet him respectfully.

The guards of hundreds of people were arranged neatly.

Silence, avoidance signs were set up on all sides.

No one was allowed to approach the official sedan chair.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Su Ye still did not bring anyone out to greet them, and suddenly Kuang Yuan and He Guiqing were impatient.

A moment later!

Li Qi came out and bowed, saying, "My Lords, my master is busy with official duties and has no time to see you."

"My Lords, please go back!"

Suddenly, Kuang Yuan and He Guiqing seemed to not believe their ears.

Su Ye is not here?

Su Ye turned us down?

……………………………………………………

Note: The second update is here, begging for monthly tickets, I am eager to protect the top 50, please help, long live the benefactor!