Some treasures are just treasures, but some treasures inherit a kind of belief.
The Manchus in the Qing Dynasty were descendants of the Jurchens from Baishan and Heishui. The Manchus themselves believed in shamanism and had strong primitive ancestor beliefs. After entering the customs, Confucian filial piety and this kind of ancestor worship were organically combined, and finally a unique custom was formed. The concept of governing the country with filial piety.
It has to be said that this kind of slogan really caters to the tastes of Han Confucian scholar-bureaucrats. Although the Manchus had constant internal fighting in the palace for two hundred years, and things like fatherly kindness and filial piety are imaginary extravagances, but having a slogan is better than having no slogan at all. At least with this slogan, we can promote the benefits of Manchus to the people at the bottom.
No matter what the emperors of the past dynasties thought in their hearts, as long as they encountered an opportunity to perform filial piety on the scene, they would spare no effort to perform it. This even formed a genetic inertia.
Zai Chun was a direct descendant of Emperor Qianlong. Emperor Qianlong's biological mother was his closest ancestor. How could he not be excited when he saw his ancestor's red sandalwood tower.
This is not an ordinary worship tower. The hair of the ancestors can be enshrined in this tower. The ancients said that the body, hair and skin are affected by the parents and should not be discarded lightly. The hair is the legacy of the ancestors' bloodline.
The French envoy did not expect that this gift was so important to the emperor. In the narrow warehouse, several eunuchs set up the incense table, and Emperor Tongzhi knelt down respectfully, kowtowing and bowing.
After the prostrations were completed, the photo was respectfully wrapped in yellow satin and properly stored.
At this time, Zai Chun had already changed his face and said coldly to the special envoy, "How did this tower get to France? I don't want to ask, and you don't have to. I just tell you that these two pagodas must be sent back to our country." Go ahead and mention your conditions now!"
The French envoy never expected that the negotiations would be so fast!
He immediately put on a flattering smile and said, "Oh, Your Majesty, thank you for your enlightenment! On behalf of the Emperor of France, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you!"
At this point, the envoy sent a list. All of these are the conditions proposed by France, as well as the price offered.
After Emperor Tongzhi read it, he couldn't help but be shocked. He never expected that the price given by the Emperor was so high!
With military assistance of 100 million gold francs and the latest weapons and equipment, the French shipyard can also provide the Qing Dynasty with three most advanced warships at cost price.
The 100 million gold francs just now were just interest-free loans.
Later, there were low-interest loans totaling up to 300 million gold francs. Such generosity was enough, and Emperor Tongzhi could support a medium-intensity war!
Emperor Tongzhi thought quietly for a while, "What do you want? Is it just some information sharing? I'm afraid I will disappoint you. Although I am the apprentice of the head of state, I cannot have access to the core secrets."
"The Chinese are a place with very strict rules. The CIA has a strict confidentiality level. Do you really think I have a lot of privileges? What a joke..."
The French envoy was a little angry when he saw the emperor, and quickly said with a smile, "Dear Your Majesty, have you misunderstood me? We only hope that you can provide some limited information. The information you know is enough. France naturally has ours." Intelligence organizations to conduct analysis.
"Of course, we offer such a large price. Naturally, the reward we seek is more than this. I hope that after you take office, the Qing Dynasty will build a railway project that runs through the north and south. I hope France can cooperate with you..."
Come and go, still for that railway. Zai Chun finally saw clearly the faces of the Western powers! At the same time, he also understood more clearly how important the railway is to a country.
Just for the construction rights and participation rights of a railway. These Western powers actually pounced on them like vicious dogs seeing a bone!
Emperor Tongzhi was calculating carefully. Although he had raised his expectations for the railway countless times before, reality reminded him that this railway could give much more than she imagined.
For a railway, Britain can give up its rich customs and France can invest hundreds of millions of gold francs. This only proves that the importance of this railway is far greater than this, because no one will do a loss-making business.
After weighing the pros and cons, Emperor Tongzhi decided to make the deal. He nodded and said, "The Qing Dynasty's construction of the north-south artery railway is destined to be openly tendered. Any qualified enterprise and qualified country in the world can participate. As long as France has this technology and this Capital, why would I close the door?”
The envoy's eyes lit up when he heard this: "My respected Majesty, you really gave me a very, very good news. I believe the French Emperor will be very happy."
Da Sixi looked at his pocket watch and realized that there was not much time left. He hurriedly pouted at the emperor and pointed at his pocket watch.
Emperor Tongzhi knew that he could not delay any longer. There was still a dance waiting for him to attend in Buckingham Palace. Zai Chun put on his hat.
"To express my sincerity, I can give you a piece of information first, but in return, you need to send 100 million gold francs to Fujian within three years."
"Tonight, after 12 o'clock at midnight, the battleship Zhiyuan will weigh anchor and leave the Thames Estuary. In addition to the original sailors on the ship, there is also a reinforced battalion of 500 people who will accompany him to leave the UK and go to Prussia."
The special envoy turned pale with fright, "What? Are you kidding me? Xiao Le is obviously having a cocktail party in the East Palace! How come he is dispatching the troops now?"
Emperor Tongzhi sneered and said, "Haha! That's not all. Tomorrow, the remaining three reinforced battalions will also leave the UK on merchant ships. Before you, the French, are unaware, the main force of the Chinese has already arrived in Prussia. .”
"Don't think that I don't know how many battleships you have set up ambushes on the sea. The Chinese are very cunning. Xiao Le held a high-profile banquet just to numb your attention. So that he could take advantage of the night and steal his The main army has just been transferred away!"
"You can't even detect such information. It seems that the Emperor should sort out your intelligence bureau. How about it? Is this price enough?"
"After three days, you will send the funds to Fujian. That is Zuo Zongtang's sphere of influence, and I can still trust him. Giving the funds to him is equivalent to giving them to me."
The wind and snow outside became more and more intense. Emperor Tongzhi put on his cloak and quickly left the department store. Then the secret telegraph line in the department store began to be busy.
Across the English Channel submarine telegraph line, the special envoy sent this shocking news to the French Ministry of Defense. Three hours later, the French Navy immediately began to take action. Six warships left the military port and outflanked towards the vast North Sea.
