Chapter 122: Germans, ambition

After Ma Bowen and Naohime signed the Edo Treaty or the Sino-Japanese Friendship Agreement, Ye Zhao's visit to *** came to an end.

In the Treaty of Edo, the Chinese promised to send economic advisers to the shogunate government to accept *** school children to study in China. At the same time, the Chinese gained a series of privileges such as road construction, mining, and settlement in the country of Homaki.

Ye Zhao did not return to Nanjing according to the original route, but headed south from Edo and made an official visit to Ryukyu Kingdom. The boiling it brought can be imagined.

In terms of population, although the Ryukyu Kingdom was small and insignificant, the Southern Dynasties also sent permanent consuls in Ryukyu. When the Regent visited, the King of Ryukyu King Shang Tai welcomed the courtesy of ministers below. In fact, according to the etiquette, he and Ye Zhao were named together.

Ryukyu followed the etiquette of the Southern Dynasties and was similar to the countries such as Korea, Annan, Siam, and Nanzhang. In the Tongzhi period, its king Shangtai was even more agitated with the Central Plains. When he was forced to surrender to the ***, he felt deeply ashamed.

The Chinese Regent's visit to the small Ryukyu brought unprecedented shock to his people. Shang Tai was even more grateful and expressed his loyalty to the Central Plains several times when he met with Ye Zhao.

After leaving the Ryukyu Islands, Ye Zhao continued to walk southwest, passed Taiwan, and went to Guangzhou.

In fact, this is almost the recent expansion map of the Pingyuan Navy's sea area power. Ye Zhao believes that in the short term, it is feasible to build a naval sphere of influence from Busan, *** Nagasaki, Ryukyu Islands to Taiwan, and the Dongsha Islands. There is no doubt that in this expansion map of the expansion map, the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea have all become ordinary existences in China's inland sea.

The foreign affairs department is also preparing to begin negotiations with the British, urging its armed fleet to reduce activities in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.

In fact, on this first layer of offshore defense chain, Luzon, the northernmost island of the Philippines, inevitably enters Ye Zhao's eyes. Having a military port on Luzon Island is of great significance to building this defense chain. The problem is that the dispute with the Dutch has not yet subsided, and we cannot provoke Spain again.

In fact, the Little Luzon is the traditional Luzon Island. The Chinese population was once not weaker than the local indigenous people. However, with the arrival of the Spanish, the Chinese were massacred several times. Most of the Chinese on Luzon Island have traveled across the ocean in recent decades. As for the Chinese indigenous people who lived in Luzon hundreds of years ago, they were basically massacred. The two generations of Central Plains dynasties in the Ming and Qing Dynasties regarded overseas people as abandoned people. If overseas Chinese founded a country, they would even think that it was a threat to the Central Plains dynasty. The killing of overseas Chinese was never an indifferent attitude unless they were traders. If they were residents who moved to the local area, they would never be ignored.

Thinking of these, Ye Zhao felt a little heavy. Colonial history was a bloody history of massacre. However, in the 19th century, European talents gradually became "civilized".

The gunboat stayed on Taiwan Island for one day and then drove to Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, Ye Zhao did not set off the ship. The outgoing Hong Kong Governor Bao Ling boarded the ship to visit Ye Zhao. Now he is actively working to obtain the position of Indian Governor.

The Governor of India should actually be called the Deputy King of India, representing the British Queen, that is, the Queen of India, to rule India. Compared with the Governor of Hong Kong, its importance is one heaven and one earth. It can even be said that without the brilliant gems on the crown of India, it would be difficult for the British to maintain their overlord status throughout the 19th century.

Bao Ling's nomination for the Indian Governor was inseparable from his activities in China, and even more from the rise of Southern China. As the Chinese become more and more active in the Far East, appointing an Indian Governor who can deal with the Chinese is obviously a good choice. This is extremely necessary to curb the Chinese ambitions and maintain the British's voice and dominance in the Far East.

I met with Bao Ling, but after chatting for a few homely conversations, I asked him to taste the *** flower tea made by Wei Yueyi. Bao Ling naturally praised it.

Although the British had just protested to the south that several Chinese tea farmers drowned in Singapore, suspected that it was done by the Chinese secret police, which undermined the British plan to introduce tea tree planting in India. However, Bao Ling did not mention this matter and was about to step down. At least on the surface, he had to maintain a good relationship with the Chinese Regent. Moreover, it is difficult to say that several tea farmers drowned and died. The British Consul General in Jinling protested to the South Foreign Affairs Department, which was just a trick to shirk responsibility.

Bao Ling also finds it difficult to believe that the Chinese have such a sensitive sense of touch and attaches so much importance to the introduction of tea trees in India. After all, Bao Ling himself does not take the fantasy of merchants transplanting tea trees seriously.

After simple supplies, the gunboat left Hong Kong and sailed for Guangzhou. In Guangzhou, Ye Zhao had an important meeting. The outgoing Prussian consul Bismarck was about to leave Guangzhou. Staying in Guangzhou was also waiting for the summons of the Chinese Regent.

The Regent's Mansion in Guangzhou actually became the residence of Prince Zheng, but the area around the Lotus Tower was kept in its original state. No one was allowed to enter except for the little maid cleaning on time.

At the Guangzhou Wharf, Guangdong Governor Gao Qin led civil and military officials to welcome the regent. After Bai Gui was transferred to the position of agriculture minister, Gao Qin took over as the position of governor of Guangzhou. Needless to say, Guangdong Governor must be one of Ye Zhao's most trustworthy officials. Gao Qin came from the police system and served as the general office of the Guangdong Provincial Police Bureau. After the establishment of the department, he was renamed the director of the Police Department. Later, he was promoted to the governor of Guangdong and served as a governor in another place. Last year, Nanjing established a political consultation department, and senior officials made major adjustments, so Gao Qin was able to be promoted.

Gao Qin was in his early fifties and in good health. He was in his prime and open mind. He was one of Ye Zhao's favorite generals and had close ties with Li Xiaocun.

First, I went to Guanyin Mountain to pay homage to the two palaces, told me about going to the ***, and told a few jokes, which made Niuhulu laugh and kept saying, "This child, this child..." It seemed that I really returned to the time when Ye Zhao Jing was in trouble a few years ago.

The Queen Mother Xigong didn't say much, and asked a few questions, and she was very polite.

Who told Ye Zhao to be in Guanyin Mountain and didn’t even drink much tea? The eunuchs and palace maids who were serving beside him didn’t notice it. How could Concubine Lan not notice it?

Even this time when he entered the palace, Ye Zhao brought more than ten guards to the sky. Outside Guanyin Mountain, hundreds of guards were waiting. Before he knew it, Guanyin Mountain became a den of a dragon's pond for the regent's retainers, and perhaps the most dangerous place.

When he returned to the Regent's Mansion, Ye Zhao invited Ama and his mother to An, and then went to wash up and asked someone to invite Bismarck to pass by.

After taking a hot bath, he went all tired. In the flower hall on the west side of the Lotus Building, Ye Zhao met Bismarck, the cold German, in fact, because of his extreme thoughts, he was not popular in the circle of diplomatic envoys in Western countries in Guangzhou, because he was too out of place, just like a fighting rooster. He had to win every time he argued with others, which made the consuls of various countries feel a headache when they saw him.

Perhaps, his talent should not be wasted in such hypocritical dance communication, right?

"I didn't expect that Mr. Bismarck is going to return home now. I haven't had time to ask Mr. for advice on many things."

"Your Highness, you are so polite." Bismarck didn't know why the most powerful ruler in the East was so friendly to himself. It was not the hypocritical intimacy of diplomatic rhetoric, but could feel a kind of sincere kindness.

For Ye Zhao, no matter which front he stands on, Germany's rise is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for China. When the Germans break the old pattern of power in Europe, China will inevitably gain benefits.

This key figure in the rise of Germany was undoubtedly the object of Ye Zhao's great admiration.

"For the cooperation agreement reached between Jinling Arsenal and your country's Krupp Company, thank you for your help." Ye Zhao smiled and picked up the teacup and said, "We Chinese are used to expressing gratitude with rice wine. In private, there is also the saying that tea is used to replace wine. Mr. Bismarck, if we use tea to drink a cup, you can feel the wonder of our Oriental customs."

Bismarck smiled, then picked up the teacup, touched Ye Zhao gently, and said, "Your Highness, you are so polite. I want to thank Your Highness for your help."

In nearly a year, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a series of cooperation agreements with the Germans. The more secret terms included the cooperation between the two armies. For example, the Jinling Machinery Bureau introduced Krupp production technology, and China provided technical improvements in gunpowder. The Guangzhou University Metallurgical Laboratory cooperated with German scientists to conduct steel materials tests to further improve the research on the production of cannons, ship armor and other steels. Prussia sent an army officer group to South China for exchanges, etc.

The Prussian infantry has always been very powerful. Although for the southern countries, due to the training of the Civil War, the progress of firearms, and the new military theory have gradually taken shape, in some aspects, the Prussian army guidance theory has become outdated, but the high-quality army officers' regiment exchanged with Southern Dynasties' officers with systematic combat theory will play a great role in promoting the regularization of the Southern Dynasties' army, and similarly, Prussian officers will also benefit a lot.

Of course, because the sea route is far away, most of these treaties have been completed in the near future and are expected to be implemented within one or two years. Bismarck made an indelible contribution. The greatest pleasure of this Germanic man who yearns for a strong life in the South is to promote military exchanges between the two sides.

"In China, I have learned a lot. Today, I have learned your wonderful customs again. I hope that one day in the future, I will meet Your Highness in Europe. I will treat Your Highness with Eastern tea." Bismarck's cold face rarely showed a soft smile.

Ye Zhao smiled slightly and said, "I am also looking forward to the arrival of this day."

...

In the afternoon, the representative of Guangdong Enping Wei was summoned. Now the Enping Wei is no longer a world of great businessmen and gentry, and there are more and more places in various provinces. Taking Guangdong as an example, according to population and household registration, there are quotas in prefectures and counties. There are more than 100 Enping Wei in Guangdong Province.

The heads of the various yamen, led by the Governor's Yamen, convene the Enping Wei Conference twice a year to listen to the people's voices.

Ye Zhao summoned Enping Wei and hoped that the governors of all provinces would not think that this institution was a decoration and should face its existence.

In fact, for the development of Enping Wei system, Ye Zhao hoped that he could become a public opinion institution, similar to the Western House but not the same, but the principles were the same in terms of restricting and supervising the power of the ruling government. However, Ye Zhao hoped that this institution would become an institution that truly reflects the public opinion, rather than a representative of the will of the chaebol.

However, absolute fairness does not exist, so we can only try to create a relatively fair environment.

Now, Enping Wei is naturally appointed by the provincial government and rotated for five years. Ye Zhao hopes to realize the electoral system in the future. Of course, this will be a long process.

Moreover, why Ye Zhao yearns for the Nine Five position, because he feels more and more that if he does not ascend to the Nine Five position, many changes will not be able to be legitimate. The resistance is too great. If he can ascend to the Nine Five position, no matter how strong the opposition is, many of the things he does will be understood and supported by the enlightened.

Nowadays, whether the old or the new, they may think more of the power battle between the royal family and the royal family, and they try every means to limit the power of the royal family. If they touch some fundamental things, they are afraid that both factions will oppose them.

And when the royal family becomes the royal family with justification, things will be much easier to do.

However, with the stability of the Southern Dynasties, there is no doubt that the tentacles of the royal family gradually expanded to all levels. It is easy to say now. If the young prince takes power in more than ten years, he would be afraid that he would be exhausted from dealing with the power struggle, so why would he talk about other ambitions?

The idea of ​​abolishing the little prince is getting stronger and stronger, but I have to wait for a suitable opportunity.

How will future generations judge themselves?

A treacherous?***? A wise king in the country?

Ye Zhao didn't care how future generations viewed him. He wanted to have a clear conscience in doing things. The only thing he felt guilty about was perhaps to Rong'er, the two palaces, and he started his business. Without the support of the two palaces, he was afraid that he would not be today. However, it would be better to guarantee their glory to the Queen Mother for a lifetime.

Ruisi was also in Guangzhou. When Ye Zhao was having dinner with Prince Fujin at night, he served him next to him, as if he was still the Baoyi slave in Beijing.

"Master, Xiao Anzi is disobedient, he is not a thing!"

After dinner, Ye Zhao summoned Ruisi into the study to discuss matters. Ruisi mentioned Andehai and was quite gritted.

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "What's wrong?"

Rui Si said: "This little bastard's secret report to me every month is either that the little prince is smart or that his virtue is good, without a word of truth. If I can't do it, then the little furry child will not do anything wrong?"

Ye Zhao laughed and tasted tea.

Rui Si's eyes rolled and said, "Master, why don't I think of a solution?" He is getting more and more impatient now, and he really wants to get the white knife in and out of the red knife and make a conclusion for the little disaster.

Ye Zhao waved his hand and said, "What's wrong with the loss of virtue? You, don't worry about these trivial matters, don't make any decisions, I know what to do."

"Yes." Rui Si agreed respectfully, but his eyes were circling, and he was guessing how true or false the master said.

"If you dare to do something random, I will keep your dog's head for you to take it!" Ye Zhao said half-jokingly.

Rui Si was shocked and knew that he really couldn't interfere in this matter, but it was certain that the master was close to him.

"Go." Ye Zhao waved his hand.

Rui Si hurriedly kowtowed and left.

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It happens to be a paragraph, so let's update it first.
Chapter completed!