…
After the peace treaty was delivered to the capital and announced to the court, the courtiers in the palace immediately exploded.
"Your Majesty, you can't agree. If you agree to this, how can Dajin lose his face? Your Majesty!"
"I beg your Majesty to bring the traitors Li Shen and Ji Yun to justice on the spot. These two people are a disgrace to the country!"
"I can't agree, I absolutely cannot agree, Your Majesty. If you agree to this treaty, how can you have the dignity to meet the ancestors of Dajin..."
For a time, there were mournful howls everywhere in the court, and some exaggerated people beat their chests and stamped their feet, as if they were mourning their heirs.
Honglin couldn't help but get furious when he saw so many "violating ancestral rules" in the treaty. He immediately asked Li Shen and Ji Yun who were kneeling on the ground sternly: "How on earth did you do this!"
Ji Yun immediately burst into tears: "Your Majesty, this slave is incompetent and cannot help the country. Please punish me!"
Li Shen said calmly: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to fight for Daikin, but I have really tried my best. If I hadn't risked my life with Lord Ji, the contents of the treaty would have been even more outrageous. I ask Your Majesty to tell you clearly."
This was what Li Shen and Ji Yun had discussed when they returned to Beijing to answer their orders. They made the negotiation more difficult to leave a leeway for themselves.
Hearing what the two said, and being upset by Manchao's crying, Honglin immediately shouted: "Why are you crying? I'm not dead, and Dajin is not dead, how can you behave like this!"
The hall fell silent instantly.
Honglin then asked Li Shen: "Is it true that the above content cannot be modified? Every detail is inconsistent with the ancestral system of this dynasty. If I agree, I will be a sinner for the ages!"
Li Shen replied: "Your Majesty is extremely wise and is a wise king of the world. However, the Han army has controlled our grain transport route in the north of Dajin.
It is now approaching April, and if we do not reach an agreement with the Han army quickly, the capital will be in chaos. "
When Honglin heard this, he fell silent immediately.
If water transport fails to transport food from the south to the capital on time, people in various parts of the capital may really starve to death.
"Forget it, just go and reply to Dongyi, saying that I basically agree with the content of the treaty, but it is absolutely not feasible to establish a consular office with the capital.
I only allow them to set up a consulate in Gui'ao Hong Kong. If they don't agree, I will fight Dongyi to the end even if I don't want this country. "
Up to now, Honglin still dreams of the beauty of the country, and still does not regard the Han Dynasty as a powerful opponent.
In his subconscious mind, the imperial power was still supreme. How could barbarians be allowed to live under the emperor's city? Where is the etiquette?
Li Shen: "I will definitely handle this matter for the Emperor."
…
After another half month of negotiations, Han and Jin finally reached an agreement and signed it.
The main provisions of the treaty are as follows:
1. Jing'ao Hong Kong and the sixteen surrounding counties and villages were a concession of the Han Dynasty, allowing Han Dynasty people to move around here as they pleased.
2. The Han Dynasty had the power to station troops, open various commercial firms and establish official offices in the concession area, and was not under the jurisdiction of the Jin Kingdom.
3. All mineral resources in the area west of central South Australia will be developed and utilized by the Han Dynasty for a period of ninety-nine years.
4. All citizens living in South Australia have the right to bear arms. If there is a conflict with the people of the Jin Kingdom, the citizens of the Han Dynasty shall be handed over to the Han Dynasty officials for disposal.
5. A total of 256.5 million taels of silver will be compensated for the military expenses of the Han army, of which 36.5 million taels will be paid in one lump sum in the first phase, and the remaining part will be repaid in installments over a period of eight years.
6. Businessmen of the Han Dynasty had the right to recruit workers from civilians in South Australia, and the Jin State was not allowed to prevent workers from living and working in the concession for any reason.
7.……
When the Jin Kingdom's seal is struck, this treaty will officially come into effect.
In order to save face for himself, Honglin issued an edict the day after the treaty was signed, announcing to the world:
"Dongyi is a small country, ignorant, barbaric and ill-mannered. However, I think it is not easy for them to come to pay tribute from thousands of miles away.
Therefore, we allowed it to trade with Daijin and granted Nan'ao and other places a place to live there. This demonstrates the etiquette of our country, Daikin.
In the prosperous times, our land is vast and rich, and we have everything. I hope Dongyi can appreciate my kindness and keep it in his heart forever. "
Good guy, this edict was written so eloquently and elegantly that those who didn’t know it thought it was Daikin who won. It’s strange that the compensation for ceding land could be described in such a fresh and refined way.
On the second day when the agreement came into effect, Li Shen found Ban Dingyuan, and the first thing he said when they met was: "Brother Ban Xian, my Li family is in danger, you must save me!"
Ban Dingyuan was stunned: "Brother Li, why did you say this?"
Li Shen said: "If our Lord Long Live signs such a treaty, he will definitely find a scapegoat to settle the score afterwards, and as the chief envoy, I will definitely be liquidated. Please also ask Ban Xiandi to think of a way for me to save my life. "
Ban Dingyuan actually had a pretty good impression of Li Shen. Although this guy was a corrupt official, he still had good abilities and was proficient in various languages. He was also a rare talent.
The Han Dynasty needed such people to communicate with the Jin Kingdom.
Ban Dingyuan thought for a while and said: "In this case, there is a way, but Brother Li is afraid that he won't let it go."
Li Shen said: "Brother Ban Xian, just keep it clear."
Ban Dingyuan said: "You can tell your emperor that in order to ensure the smooth progress of the treaty, the Han Dynasty needs to keep in contact with the negotiating envoys for follow-up discussions.
And this treaty must be sent to the Han Dynasty in person by the signer, so your life will be saved. "
Li Shen was startled when he heard this: "Brother Ban Xian, if you think so, don't I want to go to your country by sea?"
Ban Dingyuan said: "Brother Li, go out and have a look. If you come to our Central Plains and have a look, you will know why the Jin Dynasty was defeated so miserably. I believe you will have some insights when you arrive in the Central Plains."
Li Shen nodded silently, then cupped his hands and said, "In that case, thank you very much, Brother Ban."
…
At the beginning of April, Yue Shaomu and Gan Ziba all withdrew their troops and returned to Guiao Hong Kong to gather and prepare to return to China.
The water transportation of the Jin Kingdom finally returned to normal.
However, after this incident, the cowardly and incompetent performance of the Jin army was seen by the expatriates living in the Kingdom of Jin, and suddenly all parties were in commotion.
On the fifth day after the Han army left, a group of people in Huangnigang in the south immediately rebelled, and the surrounding towns and counties responded.
Of course, these have nothing to do with the Han army. After more than a year of fierce fighting outside, the soldiers have already returned home.
After receiving the two million taels of pension from Yue Shaomu, the soldiers of Ruijian camp immediately brought their families and children to the concession, and they all joined the Han army and became a standing army of the Han army in South Australia.
This is also what Yue Shaomu considers, not only out of respect for the enemy, but also out of consideration for the future situation.
Having local troops like Ruijianying stationed in the concessions could significantly reduce the Han Dynasty's overseas military expenditures.
These golden soldiers... no, we can say they are Han troops now. They are all elites who have undergone rigorous training. As long as they are replaced with Han-made weapons and undergo a short period of running-in training, they are fully qualified for the garrison duty.
In early May, after Yue Shaomu arranged for Lu Ziming and Lu Yi to be stationed in Nan'ao, they set off back to the Central Plains.
Along with him were Li Shen and dozens of returning delegations from South Australia.
They strive to change Daikin's decadent situation and vow to be the first to change.
