The court went to war with legal persons in Vietnam. The front line flew to the Governor's Governor's Office like snowflakes every day, while many soldiers, food, fodder, and ammunition were not able to carry over. The most funny thing is that whether the Vietnamese front line was fighting or competing, winning or losing, the court actually needed to know from the foreigners. There was no way, even if it was eight hundred miles to speed up, it would take a few days, but the foreigners' telegrams arrived in a few minutes. The importance of the two items of railways can be seen from a war.

The emperor's concern is not the question of whether the correct or inaccurate statements are correct. Now the court supports telegrams due to the Sino-French war. More and more railways are coming, and even some pedantic people who are not old can hardly resist this trend.

The question now is, what should the railway do with this telegram?

The officials of the Qing Dynasty, especially those Hanlin and Shuji, who are good at talking, gave me some advice and said that the participation of this and that is definitely more active than the other, but if they want to come up with specific plans, I'm sorry, no one!

Cui Guoyin is the same. He gave a long memorial, first talking about the problems that arise in this battle due to telegrams and poor railways. Then he predicted that once the war deepened, or other changes in the future, the problems that would arise due to the lack of fast and effective communication and transportation means. Finally, he discussed the telegrams in a scattered manner, and the railway must be handled.

There are thousands of words, but no word says it is there to do it. Who will do it, and what to do? As for how long it takes, how much money is spent, and how to manage it after it is completed, it is even less mentioned.

Throwing such a note over would make the little emperor worry so much. It’s not accurate. The situation of war is so urgent. The problems brought about by backward communication and transportation are so prominent. As a capable king, how can he ignore the rules? It’s correct, but Zaitian is not a god, and we have never done the railway. If a decree continues, it will not only fail to do anything, but will cause greater waste.

I went! Who is the emperor? Cui Guoyin easily had a comment - let's start the railway, and the rest of his life must be worried by him, the emperor!

Yihuan thought for a while, "Your Majesty, it is better to issue an order to let the governors and governors of all provinces recommend themselves. If localities need to build railways, they must formulate clear strategies and report them to the court meeting before they are implemented. At the same time, they can also recruit relevant talents from the world. I think the Qing Dynasty is vast and the people, can't I find talents who can handle telegrams and railways?"

Weng Tonghe, who heard Yi Huan's opinion, nodded: "King Chun's proposal is the most appropriate, and the old minister will discuss it."

Zaitian thought for a while, "Then let's do this first. Go back and Master Weng drafted an order for each province to write a decree. Oh, by the way..." When he said that, Zaitian thought of something.

"By the way, the orders are issued to recommend young talents in various places. As long as they are honest and have some expertise, whether they are diligent in administration, skilled in military affairs, familiar with Chinese and foreign affairs, or are just good at managing ships, machinery, and proficient in arithmetic; no matter whether they are in office or not, they can recommend them."

"The country is the time to employ people. The so-called "unconventional" is called "unconventional". If there are really wise men and women who do not serve the country at this time, when will they wait?"

"Yeah! The emperor is wise!"

After approving Cui Guoyin's memorial, Zaitian then remembered that Prince Chun must have something to do when he met him at this time, "Does Prince Chun have something to say when he enters the palace?"

Yihuan quickly took out the several regulations that Li Hongzhang had given him from his arms and handed it on: "It is reported that the legal person has sent a special envoy to our dynasty to negotiate the Vietnam issue. Li Zhongtang found the content of the treaty that the legal person had wanted to reach from Fuluno a few days ago, and reported it to the Zongli Yamen. The minister did not dare to make arbitrary decision, so he attacked and asked the emperor to decide."

"Oh?" Zaitian reached out and signaled the eunuch to take the paper, "Let me take a look."

After browsing the content on the paper twice, Zaitian said: "Since Li Zhongtang has explored the intentions of the legal person in advance and reported them to the Zongli Yamen, I believe he has also discussed with King Chun. I wonder what you two mean?"

Yihuan said: "Curbet, the current French naval admiral, has ordered the fleet to set sail south. I believe that the provinces in Jiangnan are intent on my intention to occupy Taiwan with the benefits of the navy. The HN islands are considered to be of quality and force our dynasty to give up Vietnam. If this is true, it will be difficult for our dynasty to compete with the dynasty."

"Oh..." Zaitian sighed, stood up and walked slowly. He didn't know what Prince Chun said, and this was the most critical reason why he had asked Li Hongzhang to keep in touch with France before. The Qing Dynasty did not have a navy, and Taiwan and HN were alone overseas. If it was occupied by the French, the court would have no way to do it.

Even if you don’t see that RB can seize Ryukyu, it’s been ten years now. Even if you have won RB once in North Korea, Ryukyu can’t be taken back. Why is the navy unfavorable?

Just south, the Beiyang Navy's ships were okay to compete with RB, and I was dragged out to fight the French in a sea? I really don't know how to write the word "death".

But, was it just like that to give up Vietnam?

Zaitian knew that time was not waiting for anyone, but he just couldn't make up his mind. "Let's wait and see, didn't the French send an envoy to come? Let's discuss it after the legal envoy arrives."

Although the emperor did not spit, the emperor seemed to be a little moved by this. Yihuan knew that this matter could not force the emperor too much. Since the emperor said he would wait a little longer, then wait a little longer.

But since we talk about Taiwan, there is someone we cannot ignore.

"I have previously sent an order to invite Liu Mingchuan to Taiwan to lead military affairs. Where is this person now?"

Yihuan said: "When returning to the emperor, Liu Mingchuan has already set off from his hometown of AH and will arrive in the capital soon. However, after receiving the order, this person wrote a letter to obtain a civilian position to facilitate the raising of military funds..."

"I already know at this time." Zaitian snorted coldly, "It's just an old-fashioned cliché of 'official slutty martial men, and many constraints on official affairs'. Well, Taiwan is lonely overseas, and transportation and communication are even more inconvenient. In order to facilitate its operation, he can supervise Taiwan's military affairs under the rank of governor."

"The emperor is so kind, this person should repay him!"

Finally, Zaitian ordered: "The Black Flag Army and the Dian Army in Vietnam should also inform you that during the negotiations between the court and the French, a temporary truce will be temporarily stopped to avoid the destruction of the population. In addition, let the two lakes and SC release the front line salary as soon as possible. The Black Flag Army headquarters will pay three months of real salary according to the number of people reported, and the Dian Army headquarters will issue one month to order Ding Huai, the general of the Dian Army in Vietnam, to work hard to build a powerful soldier as soon as possible! At that time, the court will have a generous reward."

"Abide by the order!"

In June, Jule Pat Noetel, a special envoy appointed by the Rufeli Cabinet, arrived in Vietnam.

Pat Noetel stayed in Vietnam to re-sign the French-Vietnam Peace Treaty with the King of Trust. Because the Vietnamese king who had signed the Hue Treaty with France before was poisoned to death at the end of last year, this time the French re-signed the treaty to add an extra insurance so that there would be another weight in the subsequent negotiations with China.

The small Vietnam naturally had no room for resistance, and the signing of the new French-Vietnam Peace Treaty was very smooth. After a brief stay in Vietnam, in early July, Padnotel arrived at the SH General Taxation Division, Hurd, who requested mediation of the Sino-French dispute, and then met with Padnotel at SH.

Hurd knew that the dispute between Britain, France and Egypt distracted France from its attention, and it would be unfavorable for France if the war stalemate continued. Moreover, Hurd knew that the Qing court had good face and was easy to say except for cede land and pay compensation. Therefore, he hoped to persuade Pat Noetel to give up the compensation and seize longer-term privileges and trade interests.

But Hurd's 'good intention' was rejected by Padnotel.

Joke, Chinese people are very proud of their face, what should they do if the French people are proud of their face?

Now the whole of Europe is talking about France's failure in Vietnam. The French mainland, which was originally criticized by domestic people after the French-Prussian War and ridiculed by foreign powers, urgently needed a brilliant strategic - not tactical - victory like cutting melons and vegetables to reshape the "glorious image" of the French army.

The military is now clamoring to expand the war and force the Qing government to surrender through a war. The generals of the army asked the parliament to expand the war allocation and fight like occupying the Forbidden City in 1860 and burning the Old Summer Palace; the navy suggested attacking the coastal ports of the Qing Dynasty at the same time and reappearing the alliance under the city that year.

Although Padnotel is different from the militants of the military, as a "glorious Frenchman", how could he let go of the Chinese who plastered the French flag so simply?

On July 12, just as Zai Tian, ​​Yihuan, Li Hongzhang and others were waiting with confidence to negotiate with the French to fight for more favorable terms, bad news came. French interim minister to China Xie Manlu officially notified the Zongli Yamen, saying that he would adhere to the content of the Concise Treaty and require the Chinese army to withdraw from Tonkin immediately. At the same time, due to the huge losses caused by the war in Tonkin, the extortion of soldiers was 250 million francs. He also threatened: "Reply to the following within seven days, otherwise France will take his own mortgage and withdraw his own compensation."

As soon as the news came out, the government and the country were in an uproar, and they all thought that the French must be crazy. Some ministers even shouted that they would lead their troops to Tonkin to destroy the French.

Zaitian was too lazy to listen to these boastful ministers. These people still had to lead troops to fight? I guess they didn't even know where France was.

But the negotiation foundations between the two countries are too different, so there is no room for negotiation at all. Well, since you have given a 7-day ultimatum, it doesn't take any more effort.

After confirming the French conditions, Zaitian made only two arrangements: Liu Mingchuan immediately went to Taiwan to rectify military affairs; urged the delivery of the payment to Vietnam for the Black Flag Army and the Yunnan Army, and the arms must be in place within this month.

Alas, when the Qing Dynasty fought, the ones who could stand up to it were bandits. The French were also suffering from their lives. Those who had been hit by these guys who had been young and had no other name on their waists. They happened to be Liu.

Two decrees were made, not only Yihuan, Shiduo, Li Hongzhang, Weng Tonghe, who were close to the capital, understood, but also the four governors of Zuo Zongtang, Zeng Guoquan, Cen Yuying and Ding Baozhen who were far away in other provinces also understood.

Since you can't talk, let's come over!

On July 16, Liu Mingchuan arrived in Keelung, Taiwan on a ship "Haiyan" from SH. He arrived with him. Dozens of former Mingjun generals specially allocated by his old boss Li Hongzhang, and more than 120 guns and mines were drawn from Liu Shengxiu's headquarters in Zhili Mingjun. In addition, there were 3,000 Mauser rifles sponsored by Li Hongzhang, as well as dozens of artillery and mines transferred from the Jinling Machinery Bureau and the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau.

In fact, Liu Mingchuan wanted to draw some troops from the Jiangnan Ming army stationed in the Yangzhou area of ​​JS and participated in the counterattack of Japanese pirates invading Taiwan in 1874, but Zuo Zongtang did not agree to the mobilization on the grounds that Jiangnan's defense was tight. As for other Ming army stationed in Zhili and GD, they could not be allocated for this reason.

After all, any coastal province now may be the next target of the French attack. No one wants to lose their military power at this time.
Chapter completed!