Gordon was stunned. He put down his chopsticks and asked in confusion, "Is there any notification news? Is it also from China? Why don't you tell them together?"
Delaney laughed, "Of course it's a surprise! The good news must be told at the end. The Chinese call this the finale!"
"And this news comes in conjunction with the first telegram. If your answer to the first telegram is not satisfactory, then the news will naturally be invalid!"
"Okay... let's not sell it anymore! Due to your outstanding contribution to the Qing Empire, the House of Lords has decided to commend you! Next year, the House of Lords will have a six-member delegation to conduct a one-year inspection of the colonies of the Empire on which the sun never sets. !”
"In April... the delegation will arrive in Hong Kong. Please arrive in Hong Kong in early March to wait for the delegation... I will inform you by telegram of the specific departure time!"
"Congratulations, my lord, you have been commended by the noble gentlemen of the House of Lords. Your status will be greatly improved!"
Gordon's spirits were lifted when he heard the news. Although the House of Lords, the House of Lords, said they no longer had much power, they could not make much decision on British national affairs.
Nowadays, all government affairs in the UK, including taxation, foreign affairs, internal affairs, including war, etc., need to be voted on by the House of Commons!
The House of Lords is more of a symbol of honor and the final embodiment of the British aristocracy!
But it is this symbol of honor that people in the world crave most. How many people want to have a noble title, and those who have a noble title want to be praised by the House of Lords, and finally be commended by the Queen!
With such a commendation order, it will be much easier to upgrade your title in the future, and your status ranking in the empire will be high!
Gordon's face suddenly turned red. The snowflakes outside the window drifted in and fell on his face, making him feel cold!
"I...how virtuous and capable I am! I didn't do anything to get a commendation from the parliament? God...Thank you to the Queen, thank you to the House of Lords..."
"But... why do we have to go to Hong Kong? Don't the inspection team come to the Qing Empire? I... I still have very important training work next year!"
He had been excited for less than three minutes when Gordon suddenly thought of his work and asked tentatively.
Delaney sighed secretly in his heart, but showed nothing on his face. He still smiled and said, "My old friend, you are confused!"
"The House of Lords is inspecting the colonies of the Empire on which the sun never sets! Other areas are not included in their inspection plan. They are not here to do diplomacy, but to deal with affairs within our empire!"
"Hong Kong and Shanghai are both concession areas. Logically speaking, noble gentlemen should not come here. However, Hong Kong has a special location. It has become the pearl of our British Empire in the East!"
"And Hong Kong is strategically located, so they must come and take a look... As for the Shanghai concession and the interior of the Qing Empire, the noble gentlemen will not go there. This is not their mission!"
"What? Do you still want the gentlemen of the House of Lords to accommodate you? You wait in Beijing and let them come to see you?"
"No, no, no... stop joking..." Gordon waved his hands in fear, "What is my identity? How dare I trouble the Lords to run errands?"
"I just feel that this time I have to delay two or three months... What should I do with the training at Xishan Camp?"
"Hahaha..." Delaney suddenly laughed. "My old brother... aren't you confused? After all, you are still an Englishman. Why are you so interested in these Qing people?"
"What difference does it make if you train a few months later? Do you really think Prince Dun and the others don't understand military training?"
"Huh? Could it be that... you know some top-secret information? Does Emperor Tongzhi want to send troops to fight next year?"
Gordon hurriedly shook his head like a rattle, "No! Don't talk nonsense... Don't make random guesses, it's not true!"
"That's alright...why do you worry if there's no war? You've been tired enough in the past few years. Take this opportunity to go out and relax, have some fun, and meet friends from home..."
"You always fail to maintain your domestic connections. You will suffer a loss when you return to China in the future!"
Having said that, what else can Gordon say? Domestic orders cannot be disobeyed. It seems that in March next year, we can only go to Hong Kong to wait for the delegation from the House of Lords.
The wind and snow outside the window are getting stronger and stronger. The charcoal in the hot pot has passed the hardest fire stage, and the flame in the cast iron coal stove has also become much smaller.
Only then did they feel the biting cold wind outside the window. Gordon stood up and closed the window, only to find that the entire capital was completely white.
The wealthy people in furs and furs on the street didn't care about the wind and snow at all, but the poor people in ragged cotton-padded jackets stomped forward with their sleeves rolled up and their heads shrinking.
"The snow is getting heavier and heavier. We can't drink anymore...otherwise we won't be able to ride out of the city in the afternoon! How about we get together another day!"
After talking about the serious matter, he looked at his pocket watch and it was almost two o'clock in the afternoon. Under the escort of two soldiers, Gordon rode hard towards the West City. He still had to go back to live in the mansion in Longevity Hill. The courtyard is still vacant.
Delaney watched Gordon go away without saying a word for a long time. He paid the bill on the counter, wrapped in a thick warm cloak and did not call for a rickshaw, but walked quietly in the snowy capital.
He felt quite emotional in his heart: "Hey...Gordon! Go to Hong Kong quickly. You don't want to experience the disaster in this city. With your serious character, once you get involved in the civil war of the Qing Empire, I'm afraid that Get yourself involved too!"
"I am also helping you. I am loving you, not harming you! You should be able to understand my painstaking efforts!"
Looking up at the majestic city wall in the distance, we have witnessed more than five hundred years of vicissitudes during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and how many wars we have witnessed!
The most prosperous city in the Middle Ages in the East, a city that recorded a long history, God knows how much more damage it will suffer in this disaster.
These living beings in the city are still entangled in their own livelihood and desires, struggling to survive. They have no idea that a huge bloody disaster is about to sweep here.
Not only the capital, but the entire northern China will be swept away!
"The weapons and ammunition in the embassy are still a little short. Let Hong Kong allocate more tomorrow... We still need to choose Chinese rations for food reserves. Why is the shelf life so long!"
"Hong Kong and the Shanghai Concession both have to increase their troops... What's the reason? This really needs to be thought about..."
"Be prepared for war and famine! No amount of food is too much..."
While walking, Delani saw the recruitment of a grain merchant. The waiters who greeted him at the door all spoke with a strong Shanxi accent. It seemed that they belonged to Shanxi merchants.
Delaney actually walked a few steps further and entered the grain store, which frightened both the buyers and the shopkeeper.
