Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 286 Everyone has a bright future!
The news was sent back to Manila by Lawson and to Batavia by Hudson.

Soon, Manila and Batavia responded and agreed to most of the demands put forward by the Tang Dynasty.

They only raised objection to one request: they could not accept the Tang Dynasty stationing troops in the concession.

After receiving replies from the Netherlands and Spain, Guo Songtao was unsure about what to do, so he chose to send the message back to Guangzhou via telegram.

Please let Li Yi make the decision!
Boom boom boom!
There was a knock on the door.

Li Yi put down the pen in his hand, looked up and said.

"Come in!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a creaking sound of door hinges and his secretariat director Li Hongzhang walked in from outside.

He walked up to Li Yi and began to report.

"Your Majesty, Director Guo from Hong Kong has an urgent report."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi nodded and signaled Li Hongzhang to read it.

Upon hearing this, Li Hongzhang nodded immediately.

"Your Majesty, Director Guo said in the telegram that Spain and the Netherlands accepted most of the conditions of our Tang Dynasty, but they expressed strong opposition to our Tang Dynasty's stationing of troops in the concession and refused to make concessions."

"Director Guo is not in a position to take matters into his own hands. I would like to ask the king to make the final decision."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi pondered for a while and then spoke.

"Tell Guo Songtao that the demands of the Dutch and Spanish can be met."

"But, our Tang Dynasty wants to increase the number of police forces in the concession."

Upon hearing this, Li Hongzhang nodded to show that he understood.

Then Li Yi continued speaking.

"Send a message to the General Staff, ordering them to select two regiments from various units of our army, arrange for them to retire, and transfer them as a whole to the police force, and carry out corresponding training in advance."

"Be prepared to set up camp in Manila and Batavia!"

Li Yi’s idea is very clear. Since you don’t let me station troops, then I’ll arrange more police officers.

It is obvious that Li Yi learned this trick from Sandezi.

Upon hearing this, Li Hongzhang immediately agreed.

As Li Yi gave in, the Tang Dynasty soon reached a consensus with the Netherlands and Spain, and the three parties signed draft treaties respectively.

……

The fifth day of the fourth month in the third year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty.

Hong Kong, City Hall, Conference Room!

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, the Tang Dynasty's negotiation team and the allied countries formally signed the peace treaty and exchanged treaties.

Well, what the parties signed during the previous negotiations was actually just a draft contract, which is almost the same as a letter of intent.

It is useful, of course it is useful.

Because everyone agrees with the negotiation results.

But in a sense, it has no legal effect.

Therefore, after all parties have reached an agreement, the peace treaty needs to be formally signed.

After exchanging the treaties, Zuo Zongtang and Elgin, who was sitting opposite them, shook hands, both with smiles on their faces.

Because they all felt that they had made a profit from this negotiation.

The British opened up the market of the Tang Dynasty; France successfully put an end to the previous conflicts between the two countries; the Tang Dynasty opened up trade routes to India and even global navigation; even Manila and Batavia gained temporary security guarantees.

Although it is only temporary, everyone has a bright future!

Bang, accompanied by a burst of white smoke rising.

The camera clicked.

The historic scene in the current conference room was recorded.

Well, the camera had actually been invented these days.

Although the image is blurry, it is far less clear than those in later generations, and it is still a black and white photo.

But it can still be used to record some important occasions.

Zuo Zongtang spoke politely.

"The war is finally over, but the consequences it brought are enough to serve as a warning to all of us."

"Here, I sincerely hope that the Tang Dynasty and the allied countries can coexist peacefully and never start a war."

Elgin also said with a fake smile on his face.

"Yes, peace is hard-won."

"It's worth defending together!"

"..."

……

The peace talks ended and the Allied fleet anchored off the coast of Guangzhou began to prepare for evacuation.

On Elgin's flagship, Earl Elgin, who was wearing a tuxedo, stretched his body and said with a tired expression.

"Oh, my God!"

"The war is finally over."

With the signing of the peace treaty, Elgin felt a sense of relief.

Seeing this, Gro, who was standing by, took a few steps forward and said.

"Lord Elgin, the fundamental purpose of this coalition expedition has not been achieved."

"I think if we go back like this, I'm afraid we won't be able to report to our superiors."

The primary purpose of the Allied Forces' expedition was to open up the Chinese market and turn China into their colony.

Secondly, it was a rehearsal for the upcoming Crimean War, in which many countries would gang up on the Russians.

But in the end, the primary goal was only half achieved, opening up the Chinese market. But this can only be considered a gain for the UK.

Because before that, the Tang Dynasty's market was open to all countries except Britain.

For the rest of the countries, this expedition was basically a wasted trip.

Even add some inside!
Especially the Netherlands and Spain, if others only take a little bit of it, then they have taken too much.

Now the representatives of these two countries really want to curse.

As for turning China into their colony?

Now the coalition forces no longer dare to ask for these things. Given the combat effectiveness of the Tang army, unless Britain and France can transfer their main forces across half the globe to East Asia.

Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to do.

However, mobilizing one's main force for an expedition across half the globe, given the transportation conditions of that era, is simply bullshit.

This time, several countries each contributed thousands of people to form a coalition force for the expedition, which took a lot of effort.

If the main force is really mobilized for an expedition, then old lady Victoria and Napoleon III will have to think about selling the royal palace to raise military funds.

However, the purpose of rehearsing for the Crimean War was not achieved.

Because, strictly speaking, this coalition's battle against the Tang Dynasty cannot be considered a victory.

Even suffered a loss!
It's really unlucky to use a draw and a slightly disadvantageous war as a rehearsal for the Crimean War.

When Elgin heard this, the expression on his face darkened and he spoke in a helpless tone.

"So, what do you want to say, Ser Gro?"

Gro took a deep breath and said with burning eyes.

"Let's go fight North Korea or Japan!"

"Now in East Asia, China is not the only country that is closing its doors to the outside world. Japan and North Korea are also doing the same."

"If we can open up the markets of Japan or Korea, we can turn them into colonies of our countries."

"Then, when we return to Europe, we can give an explanation to our superiors."

When Elgin heard this, his eyes lit up immediately, but he did not make a rash decision. Instead, he said.

"I need to think about it. I need to think about this matter..."

Logically speaking, if the coalition forces wanted to fight, the Qing Dynasty, which was large enough and had a weak army, should be the first choice.

But the problem is that the Qing Dynasty is now their ally.

When the coalition forces came to invade the Tang Dynasty, a considerable portion of the food and logistics they needed were provided by the Qing Dynasty.

In addition, since Yi ascended the throne, he has adopted a more proactive and cooperative attitude towards the great powers.

Whether it was opening up the market, allowing missionaries to preach, or a tariff agreement, the Qing Dynasty agreed very readily.

If the current trend continues, the Qing Dynasty will be able to turn itself into a colony even without the Allied Forces taking the initiative to fight.

Faced with such a so-called ally who is flexible and actively adopts various postures to cooperate with their own output, the coalition forces really have no reason to attack him.

In fact, the coalition forces will not attack the Qing Dynasty, but will support the Qing Dynasty and let the Qing Dynasty fight against the Tang Dynasty...

More importantly, as far as the Allied Forces knew, the Qing Dynasty was now training a new army by hiring Western instructors, purchasing Western weapons, and using Western tactics.

There are quite a few!
Given the coalition forces' current low health after having just fought the Tang Dynasty, they may not be able to win if they go to fight the Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, the Qing Dynasty is not the first choice of the coalition forces now, and is not even within the coalition forces' range of options at all.

After excluding the Qing Dynasty, the most suitable countries in East Asia are only Korea and Japan.

After thinking for a while, Elgin did not make a decision directly, but said.

"Let's ask representatives from all countries to come and discuss this."

This is not because Elgin was indecisive.

It’s because he’s afraid of taking the blame!
If he made the decision alone and something unexpected happened later, there is no doubt that he would be the one to blame.

But if everyone decides on it together, then even if something unexpected happens, the responsibility will be shared.

Soon, the senior leaders of the coalition forces arrived at Elgin's flagship one after another. A group of people sat together and began to discuss the next move of the coalition forces.

Elgin sat in the main seat, picked up the wine glass in his hand, took a sip, and then said.

"The peace talks are over, and logically the coalition should be disbanded."

"However, the mission we were ordered to come to the Far East for has not been accomplished."

"If we withdraw to Europe like this, it will be difficult to explain to the adults back home."

"So, I think we should find a way to further expand our victory?"

Upon hearing this, Corinth, the representative of the Kingdom of Sardinia, couldn't help but ask.

"We still want to fight the Tang Kingdom?"

Elgin shook his head in denial.

"Of course not. We have finally completed the peace talks with the Tang Kingdom. Of course, we cannot start a war again."

"My idea is that we could perhaps move troops north to open up markets in North Korea or Japan."

“Although the markets of these two countries are not as big as China’s, they are not small countries either.”

"If we can turn them into our colony, then our expedition will not be in vain."

As soon as Elgin said this, everyone started talking.

After a long discussion, the coalition forces reached a consensus!

It’s Japan, fuck it!
In the eyes of the Allied Forces, since the Americans were able to open Japan's door through the Black Ship Incident.

There is no reason why the coalition forces can't do it!
Even the Netherlands and Spain have expressed their intention to participate.

Although during the negotiations with the Tang Dynasty, the Netherlands and Spain were stabbed in the back by the coalition forces.

It is impossible for these two countries not to care!

However, if there are sufficient benefits, such a small gap can be selectively ignored.

Well, it makes money, not bad!
(End of this chapter)