Chapter 29: Authorized Negotiation

  Li Mingfeng was taken aback, then asked in puzzlement: "Could it be that India has erupted into a large-scale rebellion?" In Li Mingfeng's impression, the periods that could distract the Western powers from turning east were the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The time of World War I was after the fall of the Qing dynasty, and the Crimean War had just ended, so it seemed that only the Indian Rebellion could have tied up the British army.

  "It was just when India had risen in revolt, and nearly all the troops that could be spared from the Empire in the Far East were sent to India. It would have been impossible for Lord Elgin's expeditionary force alone to win such a large-scale war." Weihai Ma did not expect this Li Mingfeng to know even about the Indian rebellion, and felt that he had underestimated this young Qing national.

  Li Mingfeng was just about to make a few suggestions at the level of a stinky skin craftsman, when he heard British soldiers coming to report outside the door. It turned out that someone had handed in a name card and requested to see the consuls of England and France.

  Wetmore took it and handed it to Gong Cheng, who looked at it and found it was Qiying's name card. Wetmore's face changed immediately after hearing the translation: "Hmph, so this is the person who doesn't treat friends as friends. We won't see him." Gong Cheng heard this and picked up the name card, walking out directly.

  Li Mingfeng didn't dare ask Qiying how he had offended these people, so he changed the subject again: "Don't worry, Your Excellencies, I think the officials of Qing are just making a show of strength. As long as we show our determination, they will definitely give in."

  "What reason does Mr. Li have for saying that?" Boule de neige, although he also spoke English, still had a French haughtiness that made him prefer to use his native language.

  Luckily, Li Mingfeng also understood French: "Now the Allied Forces are in a difficult situation, and Qing is even more so. The large-scale uprising in southern China must be known to both of you, and for Qing, the uprising in the south is the major event that threatens their foundation, so almost all the elite troops available in Qing are in the south, and they will not be easily called back. So today, the words of the two high-ranking officials of Qing, although very tough, are just empty talk, and when it comes to war, they have no army to use."

  As diplomats, Bulbulon spoke English and Veta spoke French, but due to their positions, they only spoke in their native languages.

  "Weita heard this and her expression slightly relaxed: 'Although it's said so, how can we reach an agreement in a short period of time?'"

  Li Mingfeng whispered that the opportunity had come, and he hastily offered a plan: "Qing officials are very arrogant, and what they care about most is the issue of face. It's difficult to make them compromise at the negotiating table. To achieve the goal of the Allied Army, I suggest using under-the-table diplomacy."

  "What is this 'diplomacy under the table'?" asked Weitman.

  "The specific operation is to have Lord Elgin pretend to strongly attack Tianjin, forcing the Qing government, and the two ambassadors will also make a tough statement behind the scenes, refusing to negotiate again. Privately, I and Mr. Gong Chang will go to persuade the Qing officials to make more concessions. In this way, the face of the Qing officials will be saved, and things will become much easier. Moreover, even if our negotiations fail, we do not represent the Allied Army, and the two ambassadors can still negotiate with the Qing government again." Li Mingfeng thought that he could only benefit from it by grasping the negotiation power in his own hands, and the reason for adding Gong Chang was because this guy was after all a staff member of Wietinghoff, and adding him would make Wietinghoff feel more at ease.

  "We hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible, negotiations cannot last too long," said Bourboulon.

  "In half a month's time, if we can't reach an agreement, even if we fail, the two envoys will still be able to negotiate with Qing country." Li Mingfeng said firmly.

  At this time, Gong Cheng, who had rejected Qiying's proposal, returned. After listening to Li Mingfeng's arrangement, he couldn't help but nod his head in agreement and praise it repeatedly. Everyone agreed on the matter, and then they discussed the requirements of England and France.

  Here is the translation:

  In summary, after half a day of discussion, the main points are as follows: First, open up Niuzhuang, Dengzhou, Taiwan (Tainan), Chaozhou, Qiongzhou, Hankou, Jiujiang, Nanjing and Zhenjiang as commercial ports; Second, allow Catholic priests to preach freely; Third, foreigners can live in the interior for travel and trade; Fourth, foreign merchant ships can navigate the Yangtze River. Fifth, compensation for military expenses, with Britain demanding 4 million taels and France demanding 2 million taels.

  One by one, every single detail was recorded in writing. After discussing the specific rules, it had already become very dark outside. Fortunately, Huashana and Guilang still understood diplomatic etiquette, so they arranged for food to be served promptly at this hour, and orders could be carried out immediately.

  After dinner, they bid farewell to the two national envoys and Gong Cheng and Li Mingfeng returned to their own residence together.

  Li Mingfeng thought for half a day and knew that he couldn't deceive Gong Cheng by trying to extort Gui Liang and Hua Shana, so he simply told the truth, at most just sharing a cup of soup with him.

  Li Mingfeng made up his mind and said to Gong Cheng who was making the bed, "Brother Gong, I have a good thing, I don't know if you're interested."

  Gong Cheng finished making the bed, turned around and said with a smile: "You little rascal still think you can deceive me? You instigated the foreigners to give you the right to negotiate, if you say there's no benefit, even a ghost wouldn't believe it."

  Li Mingfeng listened to him and couldn't help but blush: "Big brother is indeed knowledgeable, little brother's tricks can only deceive those foreigners, how could they deceive big brother?"

  Gong Cheng sat on the edge of the bed, took off his socks and put his feet into the foot bath that had just been brought in. He felt comfortable for a while before slowly saying: "Do you think foreigners are all fools? Your little tricks can be seen through by me, let alone these old guys who have become sophisticated?"

  Li Mingfeng was stunned by these words and only asked after a while: "Brother, are you saying that foreigners also know I have ulterior motives?"

  "Not bad, that's right. Wei Niang has been in the Qing Dynasty for over a decade, what hasn't she seen? How could your little flower-like intestines not see through it?"

  Li Mingfeng felt like he was the only fool in this world. He stared blankly for a moment before asking, "Then why did he still agree to give me the negotiation rights?"

  "At this time, the foreigners were indeed at a loss for what to do, and your plan might not be a bad one. As long as you can meet the foreigners' demands and fulfill all the terms on this paper, then even if you embezzle a little bit of silver, it's no big deal." As he spoke, Gong Cheng waved the paper recording the foreigners' demands back and forth in his hand.