Diplomacy between countries requires a thick skin. Xiao Letian had long been mentally prepared to face the British conspiracy, but he never expected that the British would be so ugly.
They started using divisive tactics as soon as they came up, and then flexed their muscles. Now they just cut the envoy into two. The Chinese are Chinese, the Manchus are Manchus, and Zai Chun is actually placed in Buckingham Palace. What do you want to do in the UK?
Xiao Letian knew very well that Zai Chun was now in a very unstable period of youth rebelliousness. This kind of middle-aged boy's mood changes very much. Things he said in the morning often changed his mind in the afternoon.
Today my thoughts are left-leaning, and tomorrow I will be right-leaning!
If you were a middle-aged child in an ordinary family, it would not be a big deal. If you were rebellious, just be rebellious. Anyway, there were no human rights in the 19th century. If you dared to rebel, society would slap you. This would definitely minimize the harm to you.
But Zai Chun couldn't do it. He was the legal monarch of the imperial family and the Qing Dynasty. He was a small person, but he had a big name on his shoulders. If he was confused, he would harm the interests of hundreds of millions of people in China.
How could Xiao Letian not watch it himself? He was very aware of Zai Chun's wavering and impetuous problems. If he were to be thrown into the wolves in England, he would be brainwashed in three days.
Xiao Letian's doubts did not change the Duke's expression at all. The envoy with a professional diplomatic smile shook his head and said indifferently.
"Is there anything wrong? Why do we need to explain this kind of thing? I don't see any problem here!"
"Your Majesty the Duke, what I want to ask is why His Majesty is separated from the envoys? We firmly disagree with this!" Xiao Letian said categorically.
The Duke of Newcastle shook his head, "You are being unreasonable, Head of State. Of course His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Kingdom will live in Buckingham Palace! This is His Majesty the Emperor of the Qing Kingdom. His status is equal to that of the Queen of England. Why not live here?" place?"
"Although you have a noble status, you are only the Prime Minister of the Chinese ethnic group after all. We have arranged for you to live in the Duke of Marlborough's residence, which is an exceptional treatment... You should really take a good look at that palace. It is very luxurious and beautiful. …”
"No!" Xiao Letian shook his head, "No! We came with His Majesty, so naturally we have to act together. If you arrange this, we cannot accept it!"
The Duke of Newcastle's eyes trembled with a hint of cruelty in his heart: "Haha...how should I understand the words of the head of state? You don't accept it...why don't you accept it? How are you going to not accept it?"
"With all due respect, the Qing Dynasty is the Qing Dynasty, and the Chinese are the Chinese... The connection between you is nothing more than culture and economy..."
"Of course, the former main body of the Chinese people, Ryukyu, was also a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty. Since the Chinese people were upgraded from the Ryukyu Kingdom, it means that you two are very close in terms of blood!"
"But!" The corners of the Duke's mouth sank. "But, you are not a minister of the Qing Dynasty! I know that you still have the portrait of the Prime Minister of the vassal state hanging on your head. It seems that you also have the fictitious post of Minister of the Ministry of Works, but you But you haven’t received your salary for a day! And it seems that the Qing Dynasty has not taken the initiative to found a country for you!"
"The so-called Tanggu Special Zone and those industries in Jiangnan don't mean anything. In my eyes, they are just the behavior of businessmen. Your Chinese is a contractor and contracted part of the industrialization business of the Qing Dynasty. That's all. That’s all!”
"Under such a premise, you have no right to decide Emperor Tongzhi's actions. Do you want to coerce the emperor?"
Hiss... Xiao Letian sucked in a breath of air and thought, What a powerful mouth and powerful intelligence ability. He actually found out all my official positions in the Qing Dynasty. This means that the salary books of officials in the Qing Dynasty, the British Can anyone check it?
"I am Emperor Tongzhi's master! Before he takes charge, I have the right to take responsibility for him!" Xiao Letian said in a deep voice.
"No!" The Duke of Newcastle became more determined. "No, the Imperial Master is just a teacher. When can a teacher control a student? There is no legal basis for this!"
"Master of Heaven and Earth! I am the teacher. I have the right to take responsibility when Emperor Tongzhi's relatives are not present!"
"No! No, that's your decadent Eastern concept. In our West, a teacher is a teacher. He deserves respect, but he can never make decisions for me, let alone control me. That's illegal!"
At this point, the Duke suddenly smiled sinisterly, "Is the Lord of Heaven and Earth my master? With all due respect, you have been flaunting yourself as the master of Western learning in Asia. You have been opposing Confucian control of the people. Why are you raising Confucian slogans today?" Do you endorse your actions?"
ko... Xiao Letian was stunned by the Duke's heavy punch. He was really speechless.
If you think about it carefully, the Duke's reasoning is really impeccable. You, Xiao Letian, have always claimed to be a master of Western learning, but you have double standards in your life. How can this be possible?
The surrounding Chinese senior officials also became nervous. When they faced such a powerful opponent from Britain, they felt a sense of powerlessness in their hearts.
Only now did they know the reason why the head of state had been unwilling to offend Britain, and then they knew why Xiao Letian had formulated a grand strategy of keeping a low profile against Britain.
Britain in this era was indeed invincible, and Xiao Letian was speechless as a duke could argue.
No, it’s not about how good the Duke of Newcastle is in eloquence, the key is strength! This is the territory of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has just shown off its muscles. As the saying goes, one force can defeat ten. No matter how brilliant the strategy is, it will be in vain if it encounters excessive and abnormal power.
Xiao Letian smiled bitterly and sighed, "The Duke is indeed very eloquent, but it seems that you have forgotten one thing...His Majesty Emperor Tongzhi has his own thinking, and he will make decisions for his own actions..."
"It's not you, it's not me...it's him who makes the decision for himself!"
The Duke of Newcastle shrugged, "OK, you are right, then let our Emperor make the decision!"
Suddenly the ball was raised in front of Zai Chun. Zai Chun was dazzled by the verbal exchange just now! This was the first time that he saw his master suffer a loss in a debate. Although it was not a big deal, it was definitely the first time.
The little emperor was stunned and didn't even hear the Duke's final inquiry. It wasn't until Da Sixi reminded him with a pale face behind his back that Zai Chun realized the seriousness of the problem.
On the other hand, his beloved master took him out of the Forbidden City to see this vast world and learn countless new knowledge.
On one side is the most powerful empire in the world today, whose every move can change the global geopolitical structure, and on the other is the huge help that I hope to attract.
Neither side wants to offend, but both sides are still forcing him to make a decision!
"this……"
