Chapter 194: Emperor Tongzhi died of hatred
After Hongzhang's memorial was completed, he attached a document to organize the iron armor and invite envoys: The Minister of Military and Aircraft Chengzhun secretly sent an edict to Wenxiang on October 28th to pay tribute to Chen Guanjian. Although the Taiwan issue can be settled expeditiously, there is a risk of future troubles. Japan and Fujian and Zhejiang are as close as a stone's throw, and the Japanese are accustomed to breaking their promises, so it is difficult to guarantee that they will not have more trouble.
Because there was a proposal to purchase ironclad ships and water forts, there was no way to do it in a hurry. Now that the situation has slowed down, it is urgent to make plans quickly to prepare for a rainy day. Shen Baozhen and others carefully negotiated, and Generals Li Hongzhang and Li Zongxi discussed the purchase of unfinished ironclad ships, water forts, and applied ordnance, etc., and quickly raised funds to purchase them. The generals were well-equipped and well-prepared. Admire this. And copied Wen Xiang's original copy to the minister.
According to the letter sent by Shen Baozhen on October 14th, the Japanese envoy Okubo Toshimichi has arrived in Langqiao, and the company has been withdrawn as scheduled, so there will be no further changes in the situation. However, Wenxiang considered that Japan was too close to Fujian and Zhejiang, and it was difficult to guarantee that there would be no future troubles. At present, it was particularly urgent to guard against Japan. This was indeed a mature and far-sighted decision. The country has changed its old system in recent years, and the vassal people are not convinced. There was a little fuss at first when they visited, but they became peaceful after a long time. He changes his clothes, changes his style, and is ridiculed by those who know him.
However, if we learn Western military techniques, imitate railways and trains, purchase telegraphs, coal and iron mines, and mint our own foreign money, it will not be without benefits to the national economy and people's livelihood. He also sent many students to the West to learn craftsmanship, borrowed a lot of foreign money, and secretly formed a party with the British to support him. His power was growing day by day, and his ambition was not small, so he dared to dominate the Eastern Territory, despise China, and even attempted to invade Taiwan.
Although Britain, France, and the United States are powerful, they are still 70,000 miles away, while Japan is close at hand. They are waiting for us to see what is true and false, and they will sincerely be a permanent danger to China. Although they have reluctantly submitted, they have calculated and coveted the abundance of our products and people, and resented the lack of weapons, ships, and weapons. If there is a slight break in the future, I may still be cunning and want to succeed.
It's ironclad ships, water forts, etc. We must prepare quickly. However, since the huge sum of money is unavailable, and it still takes time to order, I have already stated this in detail in the shipbuilding section of the Prime Minister's Yamen.
There was a previous negotiation to purchase an ironclad ship, but Shen Baozhen ordered Japan to negotiate the purchase of a Danish ironclad ship, but the plan was abandoned due to circumstances. Yesterday, the Danish envoy Lars Lef came to Tianjin for an interview. It was said that the ship was worth about 600,000 taels of silver, which was inconsistent with the Japanese and Italian quotations.
The minister asked the envoy to return to Tianjin from Beijing in the spring for further discussions. One of the overseas affairs committee members, Rong Min, was in the United States and reported that there was a new unfinished ironclad ship that required 1.7 million yuan in foreign silver. The minister consulted the consuls in Tianjin and the United States, and it was said that the ship may not be under contract. Chief Tax Officer Hurd also told the Prime Minister's Office that he was afraid that it was not reliable.
The minister approved and ordered the Shanghai Daoist Letter to be sent to Rong Min, and then make a thorough examination and review. Although the purchase of the above two ships was not completed, there were many foreign merchants who submitted plans. Because they were too far apart, the cost was very high. I was afraid of buying old ships by mistake, so I did not dare to make a rush order. It seems that I need to go to the country to discuss the purchase. Appropriate.
As for the water fort, the Prime Minister's Yamen now ordered Hurd to ask the British about its value. Shanghai Maritime Co., Ltd. has contracted to order it. According to Feng Zhangguang, a member of the Shanghai Bureau, and others, the Bureau has made a replica of one and it will be completed next spring. It seems that it will not be difficult to purchase one after another. . But to be prepared but not to suffer is the foundation of a country. To kill people without fighting is to attack the heart.
Since we are preparing borders to control barbarians, we must not neglect both general and envoy talents. Countries send envoys from city to city, so joint diplomacy can also get a glimpse of the enemy's situation. However, China cannot control its enemies in the long run by keeping them close to them.
In the tenth year of Tongzhi, Japan first negotiated a treaty. Both the minister and Zeng Guofan petitioned the country to sign a treaty. After that, China should send personnel to Japan to control Chinese merchants and people, and also to explore the news of other tribes, hoping to contact and contain them and eliminate future troubles.
The treaty was exchanged last year, but before preparations could be made, the country sent troops to Taiwan this spring. If there are envoys stationed there first, they should be able to identify obstacles in advance and discuss secretly to make arrangements. Otherwise, they can also fight with the king and ministers of the country face to face after sending troops, which will be more effective than negotiating in Beijing.
Now that the situation in Taiwan has been roughly decided, this move cannot be postponed any longer. We plan to ask the Prime Minister's Office to select the third and fourth-ranking officials who are familiar with the details and skilled in border affairs. We request that they be awarded the title of Chong and sent to Japan. The envoy, externally, entrusts the neighboring country with the gift of employment, and internally responds to the sincerity of the Chinese people. If he has other ulterior motives, it is not difficult to detect his intentions and control them with camera.
I heard that there are nearly ten thousand Chinese merchants and civilians in Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Hakodate in this country. Now that the treaty has been made, we cannot ignore it. When the envoy arrives, we should consider setting up a general minister to station at the port to take care of the lawsuits. To safeguard the national system.
Not only this, but also the big countries of Britain, France, the United States and Russia should have special ministers, who take turns to be stationed there, pay high attention to their salaries and rewards, and set the number of years to show their prestige and trust and make generous payments.
If the matters they negotiate in China cannot be settled, or if the treaty they make is inconvenient, they can go back and forth with the Prime Minister's Yamen of that country to discuss matters at any time. This can gradually eliminate the disadvantages of being deceived and coerced, and it seems to be beneficial to the overall situation of trade. Whether it is appropriate or not, Fu Qi Shengjian will tell you. I would like to play.
Emperor Tongzhi received Li Hongzhang's memorial and watched it for a short time. Suddenly he felt a rush of energy in his chest, all his organs were trembling, and he was wailing miserably. Then he called the queen and said: "My illness is getting worse and I may not be able to cure it. If I don't keep it secret, I will have an heir. What do you mean?"
Queen Arut also said sadly: The rise and fall of a country depends entirely on the Holy Lord; a young boy cannot stand on his own feet, so how can he help the country? The concubines do not want to live in the false name of the Queen Mother and support Wei Qiu's young son, which will bring real disaster to the clan.
Emperor Tongzhi said: You also know the general idea, I have nothing to worry about! Baylor Zai Shu was at his peak in the Spring and Autumn Period, his wisdom and enlightenment were extraordinary, and he could inherit the throne. I troubled my mentor and prepared an edict as soon as possible.
Li Hongzao, the emperor's advisor and minister of military aircraft, cried and said: "Long live my emperor, he is the chosen king, and he will live a long life. The holy bow is the joy of smallpox. The rash will be cured immediately. My emperor must not care."
Emperor Tongzhi said: Is there anyone in the world who will not perish? My master plans to collect it and tell the world about it at that time. Li Hongzhang, the direct governor, had a lot of research on Western affairs. However, he said in his memorial, the thousands of miles of open land in Xinjiang are no longer worth the trouble caused by thousands of years; and the loss of Xinjiang will not harm the vitality of the limbs; the maritime borders If you don't take precautions, the serious troubles in your heart will become more severe. I feel very hesitant when I look at these words. What does my teacher mean?
Li Hongzao quickly kowtowed and said: It all depends on the emperor's decree!
Emperor Tongzhi said: "Fortification and coastal defense, which one is more important and which one is less important, should be decided early." I quickly conveyed my order to the governors and generals of all provinces, and carefully negotiated with Li Hongzhang to discuss the coastal defense.
Li Hongzao said: My emperor is wise! By pooling our wisdom and learning from everyone's strengths, there is nothing that cannot be done in the world.
Hongzao said goodbye, thought again and again, and finally did not dare to make a mistake, so he presented the imperial edict to the Empress Dowager Cixi.
When Cixi read the edict, her eyes were cracked, and she said angrily: "Shu Zi alone is not willing to sacrifice his own life, harming the country and the people!"
On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Emperor Tongzhi's cheeks became hard and swollen, his teeth became sticky, his mouth became sticky, his gums became black and chewy, and he had bad breath. There were pus oozing from acne and carbuncles everywhere, and he was already terminally ill.
The imperial doctor observed and observed again and again and said: The gums are black and smelly, the oral cavity is piercing the cheeks, and the poisonous heat is internally disturbing.
On the fifth day of December, Emperor Tongzhi died of grief in Yangxin Hall.
