Threat, Chi Guoguo's threat. Zai Chun has been receiving generous hospitality since arriving in the UK. This is the first time he smells the smell of gunpowder.
Gordon looked at His Majesty apologetically. He suddenly remembered the years of fighting in the south of the Yangtze River. The mountains and rivers of the Qing Dynasty were still lingering in front of his eyes. It would be a lie to say that he had no feelings.
He suddenly knelt on one knee in front of Emperor Tongzhi and said with great sincerity, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being unreasonable, but...but I still want to tell the truth. I can no longer challenge the Prime Minister's patience. There is a limit to any attitude. Please Your Majesty, think carefully!"
Zai Chun said with a pale face, "Are these Benjamin's original words?"
Gordon did not answer directly but said with a worried face, "The Prime Minister has become much older recently. He can't even rest for three hours a day. He has too much pressure on him. Please forgive him for his hardship..."
For this reason, what else could Zai Chun say? Benjamin was already prepared. The truth behind tearing open the painting would be so cruel.
Zai Chun nodded, "Give me one day, come see me tomorrow afternoon, and I will give you an accurate letter!"
"Really? That's great. Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I will definitely persuade the Prime Minister to give Your Majesty the most favorable conditions. I believe you will make the most correct choice!"
Gordon stood up, bowed, and turned to leave. After taking two steps, he turned back tentatively and said, "Your Majesty, you really can't give up this opportunity. I am also a minister of the Qing Dynasty. I assure you that what you are facing at this moment will The right conditions are really the most generous that Britain has provided in the past century..."
Zai Chun smiled bitterly and nodded, "I know, I understand your loyalty. Go back and let me think about it... After all, it is related to the well-being of millions of people, so I have to be cautious!"
Gordon nodded, "Yes, running a big country is like cooking small dishes. I heard Li Hongzhang say this... Also, here is a personal gift from me to His Majesty, which may alleviate His Majesty's homesickness!"
When Gordon came, he brought a large leather briefcase. It was thick and heavy and he didn't know what was stuffed inside. Now when he opened it, he saw that there was actually a thick photo album inside.
"Your Majesty, these are the photos I took during the years when I was in the Qing Dynasty. They record many scenes during the battle with the Taiping Army, as well as the dilapidated scenes in the south of the Yangtze River... Your Majesty, please take a look! I really hope that the Qing Dynasty will never do it again. We will encounter such a disaster!"
"The Qing Dynasty needs to strengthen itself, and the empire really needs to be reformed!"
Gordon left, leaving behind a photo album from his private collection. It was thick enough to be 4 inches wide, and it was placed heavily on his knees, weighing down his legs. The cover was made of cowhide, and there were even brass covers on the four corners. The mouth is used to prevent wear and tear. After opening, large and small black and white photos are neatly pasted inside.
Even though Zai Chun was the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, what he knew about the Changmao Rebellion was only written in nature, and few photos were transmitted to the palace.
What the Taiping War in the south was like mostly existed in the imagination of Emperor Tongzhi. The few lines of text written from thick to light on the memorials of the ministers may have cost tens of thousands of lives.
A few inconspicuous changes in numbers may mean that the land is thousands of miles away and the refugees collapse... The appearance of the empire only exists in the mouths of ministers and the words they write.
The emperor looked at his empire, and it was separated by a thick gauze curtain of ministers. Since ancient times, there have been countless jokes about why he doesn't eat minced meat.
It's not that the Hunan Army can't afford cameras, or that they don't use these new technologies, but they won't send photos to the palace even if they have them. They would rather use the most primitive means to communicate with the emperor than use new technologies.
The reason for this is very deep. In the final analysis, the ministers are not willing to let the emperor really get close to the people. If the emperor knows what the lowest level is like, then there will be no room for them to turn around.
But Gordon was different. The British were not as colorful as the Confucian Hanchen. He said whatever he had, recorded whatever he saw, and was willing to offer his treasures to the Emperor without even asking him to speak.
As soon as he opened the photo album, Zai Chun was immediately shocked by the devastation, ruin and cruelty that came to him. "Was that war so cruel?"
Under the dilapidated city wall, groups of prisoners of the Hunan Army knelt on the ground like livestock waiting to be queued up for slaughter. The severed heads were piled into pyramids, and the faces of the proud soldiers had cruel smiles on their faces.
The originally picturesque water town was filled with thick smoke, and cannons destroyed the houses. The helpless old man's eyes only looked numb with resignation.
The refugees lay on the ground in black masses, occupying the entire dirt road. In the distance, there was a porridge shack, and soldiers were wielding sticks to maintain order. The beaten refugees no longer even had anger, and there was only hollowness in their eyes.
There is also a market where children with grass tags on their heads look at the buyers' selections in fear. Their parents behind them don't even have the guts to bargain with those high-ranking big shots. A handful of copper coins or even a bag of grains can buy a big girl.
"This...this is my Jiangnan?" Zaichun's eyes were filled with tears.
The two eunuchs beside him, the big one and the big one, Sixi, knelt on the ground and said, "Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...
"Although our ancestors have a rule that eunuchs cannot interfere in politics, I can only risk my life to say a few more words today..."
Da Sixi kowtowed to the ground, "Your Majesty, please obey the authority when the matter arises! Britain's threat is not just an empty talk. It really pisses them off. They might really leave Your Majesty and go it alone!"
"Your Majesty... Our Qing Dynasty has been fighting for many years, and our national strength is too weak. Just like in this photo, we no longer have the strength to bargain! Your Majesty, it is no longer possible not to agree now..."
"I know that these bastards in the UK are all empty-handed. They use the Qing tax revenue as a bargaining chip to exchange for the right to build railways. But the situation is stronger than the people, so we have to bow our heads!"
"The British can give that cornucopia at the customs to us, or to the Ministry of Revenue, or even to the Queen Mother, to the Prince... Wouldn't it be nice to have it in His Majesty's hand?"
"Give it to Your Majesty, at least that money can be used for a serious purpose. Your Majesty can implement the New Deal, and you can also raise and train the army. By then, all the opposition will be eliminated one by one, and the world will be clarified. You will be the Holy Lord of ZTE in the Qing Dynasty. !”
"As for the railway, build it on our land and let them make money for the time being. If you want to take it back later, isn't it just a matter of a word? We are strong, so what are we afraid of..."
Zai Chun's hesitation made the two eunuchs start to wonder. The expression on his face changed back and forth and he finally closed the photo album with a snap.
"Okay! Since Benjamin wants this agreement, then I will give it to him!"
"Master! I'm sorry, can you Chinese exchange credentials and start negotiations... Disciple, I don't have the ability to take care of it, and I really don't want to take care of it. I'm sorry..."
