Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 297 Borneo Special Economic Development Zone
Just like during the Second Opium War in history, Tsarist Russia took advantage of the fact that the Qing Dynasty was beaten stupidly by Britain and France, and used diplomatic means to extort large tracts of territory from the Qing Dynasty without firing a single shot.

This time, Li Yi's plan was to take advantage of the Allied Forces' power to overwhelm Japan and extort money from the Japanese.

It would be best if it succeeds, but it doesn't matter if it doesn't. At worst, when the Tang Dynasty's naval power develops in the future, we can find a reason to attack the Japanese again.

All the Tang Dynasty had to pay for this trip was just the travel expenses required for the delegation.

How much would that cost?

Upon hearing this, Guo Songtao agreed immediately.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I understand!"

Li Yi nodded slightly to show his satisfaction, and was about to dismiss him, but Guo Songtao continued.

"Your Majesty, there is one more matter I need to report."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi showed an interested expression on his face and started talking.

"Tell me about it!"

Guo Songtao nodded and began to report.

"In reply to your Majesty, the situation is like this. My Department of Diplomacy has just received the peace request letters sent by the Qing court in Beijing and Hangzhou almost at the same time."

"The Qing court wants to make peace with our Tang Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi frowned and asked.

"what happened?"

"If the Qing court wants to negotiate peace, wouldn't it be better for the capital to send an envoy directly? Why does Hangzhou also have to send someone?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Songtao responded.

"Your Majesty, I think it is possible that the Qing army in Hangzhou wants to make peace with the Tang Dynasty, but did not inform the capital, and the capital also happens to want to make peace with the Tang Dynasty."

"So, the delegations sent by both sides met each other."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi had an intriguing expression on his face.

"It's interesting."

Seeing this, Guo Songtao began to ask further questions.

"Your Majesty, should the Tang Dynasty make peace with the Qing court?"

Li Yi said thoughtfully.

"If I'm not mistaken, the reason why the Qing court wants to make peace with our Tang Dynasty is probably so that they can concentrate their energy on dealing with Shi Dakai's troops in Henan, right?"

It is no secret that Shi Dakai's troops headed straight for Zhili and threatened the capital.

Li Yi was naturally clear about this as well.

"Haha, how can the Tang Dynasty let the Qing Dynasty do what they want so easily?"

"Director Guo, go tell the envoys sent by the Qing court in Beijing that our Tang Dynasty will never reconcile with the Qing monsters who have occupied our Chinese land for two hundred years."

"Peace talks are out of the question!"

"Between our Tang Dynasty and the Qing Demons, it's a life-and-death struggle!"

Li Yi behaved quite strongly.

Of course, it's just an expression.

He actually has no bottom line and is very shameless.

For example, during the first Battle of Guangzhou, Li Yi had stated that he would never negotiate with the British and would fight them to the end.

But this time when the coalition forces invaded, after the fierce fighting between the two sides, didn’t they still sit at the same negotiating table?
The reason why Li Yi did not negotiate with the Qing Dynasty this time was not because the Tang Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty were irreconcilable, but because the Qing Dynasty did not have the qualifications.

Remember, peace talks can only be held when the two sides are evenly matched and neither side can continue fighting.

If one side has a huge advantage and the other side has no power to fight back, what is there to talk about?

Give money?

Haha, even if I beat you to death, all the money will be mine!
After that, Li Yi continued.

"We can talk to the Qing Yao in Hangzhou."

"Tell them that if they are willing to surrender unconditionally to the Tang Dynasty, I can guarantee the safety of the eight bannermen in Hangzhou."

"Never kill indiscriminately!"

Of course, it is just to ensure life safety.

They will definitely not be able to escape from labor reform!

Two hundred years after the Manchus entered the Central Plains, the Eight Banners descendants have been plundering and amassing China's wealth for two hundred years.

Now, it's time for them to pay the price.

After speaking, Li Yi added.

"If they dare to raise conditions, then there is no need to negotiate. Send a telegram to the Jiangnan front to start fighting!"

"Recover the fertile land of Zhejiang for me as soon as possible."

The reason why he negotiated with the Qing army in Zhejiang was just to try to see if he could defeat the enemy without fighting and save some trouble.

Moreover, the surrender of an entire province without a fight was also a good publicity in terms of public opinion.

Rather, he really had the patience to negotiate terms with the Eight Banners in Hangzhou.

To put it bluntly, the so-called peace talks are just giving you a chance to surrender. If you don’t surrender, then we will continue fighting.

Upon hearing this, Guo Songtao immediately agreed and turned to leave.

After leaving the palace, Guo Songtao went straight back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Then, he immediately instructed his secretary to bring paper and pen.

He personally wrote a telegram and ordered someone to send it to the Jiangnan front, asking the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the front line to contact the envoys sent by the Qing court in accordance with the order.

In addition, he also ordered someone to call Liang Geng, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, to meet him.

Preparations were made to arrange for Liang Geng to lead a team to Japan to negotiate with the Tokugawa shogunate.

……

Xin'an, Weng family.

Weng He sent someone to Guangzhou to deliver a letter, inviting his second brother to come again.

Weng Tong was in Guangzhou recently to discuss business with someone and purchase equipment from Foshan, so he was stationed in Guangzhou. Otherwise, it would not be easy for the two brothers to meet.

The two brothers sat opposite each other at a table filled with wine and delicious food.

The two brothers raised their glasses together and clinked them.

Weng He let out a long sigh and then said.

"Brother, I was selected and became one of the first officers to be sent to Batavia for stationing."

"We will set off soon!"

"I came to you today to ask you something."

Weng Tong nodded and said.

"Brother, please tell me. I will obey you in everything."

Weng He nodded and said.

"According to the arrangement of the court, I have to leave for Guangzhou tomorrow to report, and then leave with the team to Batavia."

"When the time comes, your sister-in-law and nephew will be entrusted to your care."

"Please take them with you when you return to Xiangyin."

Weng Tong nodded and said.

"Don't worry, bro. I understand!"

"I will take good care of your sister-in-law and nephew for you."

"But brother, you are going to Southeast Asia this time. You are unfamiliar with the place, so you must take good care of yourself."

"If you really can't adapt to the climate of Southeast Asia, then just resign and return home."

"When the time comes, it will be a good thing for us two brothers to run the family business together!"

The brothers of the Weng family grew up together and have a very good relationship. Weng Tong does not mind giving part of his property to his elder brother.

Upon hearing this, Weng He shook his head.

"No, it won't work. How can you last long just doing business these days?"

"If you don't have a backer, no matter how big your business is, it will only be a favor to others."

Weng He has been an official for such a long time that he has a very clear understanding of the operating rules of this society.

Our ancestors said it very clearly about the four classes of people: scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans.

If a family wants to make a name for itself, it is not enough to have someone doing business and making money. The most important thing is to have someone become an official and make a name for themselves in official circles.

He understood that the reason his business was not facing any problems now was because it was not big enough.

Once your business continues to grow and becomes quite conspicuous, if there is no one to protect you from behind, it will sooner or later be eaten up without leaving a trace.

The two brothers continued drinking.

The next day, Weng He got up early, said goodbye to his family, and went to the yamen to hand in his assignment.

Afterwards, he set off for Guangzhou.

After arriving in Guangzhou, Weng He immediately went to the Organization Department to report and receive the letter of appointment.

The letter of appointment not only includes Weng He's name, but also the official position he was appointed to.

Director of the Borneo Special Economic Development Zone Taxation Bureau, seventh rank.

Looking at the rank of the seventh grade, Weng He couldn't help but feel a little excited.

A seventh-rank official would be a county magistrate or a marquis of Baili in the local area.

Being able to reach the seventh rank means officially starting in the officialdom, and Weng He couldn't help but be excited.

After receiving the letter of appointment, Weng He was arranged to stay temporarily in an inn in the city.

Not long after Weng He settled down, officials from all over the country who had signed up to go to Southeast Asia came to the post station.

Weng He went out and greeted his colleagues, so that they could get to know each other.

Soon, after everyone arrived, the fleet set off from Guangzhou and headed directly towards Batavia.

They were not the only officers in the fleet.

There was also a warship accompanying them, and on board were a group of Tang army soldiers who had just transferred from the military to the police force.

It took about half a month for the fleet to travel all the way from Guangzhou to Batavia.

Everyone got off the boat and went to the designated Tang Concession.

The concession that the Tang Dynasty obtained from the Dutch this time was not remote, but was located on an open space in the eastern suburbs of Batavia.

This was originally a gathering place for Chinese people in Batavia.

When the Tang Dynasty was demarcating the concession, it directly chose this place.

Zhou Tong, director of the Tang Borneo Special Economic Development Zone, went to negotiate with Alfonso, the Dutch Governor of Batavia, while Weng He and others went together to the simple government office that had been built in advance.

As Weng He was walking on the street with his team, a child with tanned skin but obvious Chinese features ran up to him, grabbed his sleeve, and asked in fluent Chinese.

"Uncle, uncle, are you officials from the Tang Dynasty?"

When someone pulled his sleeve, the expression on Weng He's face froze and he looked a little unhappy.

But when he saw that the person pulling his sleeve was a little kid about the same age as his own child, his eyes softened subconsciously, a smile appeared on his face involuntarily, and he spoke in a gentle voice.

"Yes, my uncle is an official of the Tang Dynasty."

When the child heard this, a bright smile broke out on his face.

"Great! The official is finally here!"

"My grandfather said that when the officials from the Tang Dynasty come, those foreign devils will not dare to bully us! Those foreign devils are so vicious and bad."

"But I don't even know what Datang is. Can you tell me, uncle?"

When Weng He heard this and looked at the innocent smile on the child's face, his heart was somehow deeply touched, and he said in a steady voice.

"The Tang Dynasty is our common homeland."

"I came from the Tang Dynasty, and you also came from the Tang Dynasty."

"Sooner or later, we will all return to our roots, to the land where our ancestors lived."

(End of this chapter)