There is no such thing as the Kangxi and Qianlong eras

Chapter 207 Humiliation
Two days later, Liu Yong and Ji Xiaolan were finally informed by Chen Xinghuai that they could come to the governor's office for formal peace negotiations.

The two arrived at the governor's office together, with a rather modest entourage, accompanied by only six attendants.

There was nothing they could do. The Qing soldiers accompanying them were numerous, numbering over two hundred, and there was also a large imperial guard representing the imperial ceremonies. All of them, along with their boats, had been detained at the dock.

The cannons of the two cities of Wuchang and Hanyang were directly aimed at the imperial envoy's ship, and any unusual movement was met with indiscriminate bombardment.

At the entrance of the governor's office.

Looking at the newly replaced yamen plaque, Ji Xiaolan sneered, "This Han traitor is quite magnanimous. Not only did he leave us hanging for five whole days, but he also made us stay at the post station for five days. Even our entourage and guards were detained at the dock. This is simply outrageous!"

Liu Yong remained calm and said nothing, taking the first step to enter.

"Stop!"

The two Han soldiers at the door immediately drew their swords and blocked their way.

Ji Xiaolan frowned: "We are imperial envoys, what do you want?"

"Routine inspection!"

The two Han soldiers didn't want to utter a single unnecessary word.

Liu Yong clearly had anticipated this, and naturally stepped forward to cooperate with the search. Only after the search was completed and it was confirmed that there were no sharp weapons behind him was he allowed to pass.

Only he and Ji Xiaolan were allowed to pass; their six attendants were stopped outside the yamen and not allowed to enter.

Liu Yong composed himself and followed the guide into the yamen. This was the first time he had entered the governor's yamen in the five days since he came to Wuchang.

For the first five days, they were practically confined to the post station. They had to report their presence and get permission before someone would lead them out.

Upon entering the yamen, Liu Yong saw that the various offices were basically complete, and the clerks were all busy working. No one was curious about the sudden arrival of two pseudo-Qing officials outside.

He even saw an "acquaintance," Xu Mu, whom he had met three days earlier. Xu Mu hurriedly ran past carrying a stack of documents, without even glancing at them.

After many twists and turns, we arrived at the main hall of the governor's office.

Chen Xinghuai, this traitorous Han official and fake governor, was talking to several unfamiliar faces when he saw Liu Yong and Ji Xiaolan arrive, at which point he stopped.

Chen Xinghuai took his leave first, while the few unfamiliar faces coldly gestured with their hands: "Although you two are under the control of the puppet Qing dynasty, you are guests from afar, please have a seat!"

Liu Yong did not get angry or argue, but went straight into the main hall and took his seat.

The two sides first introduced themselves; the two imperial envoys from the puppet Qing side were the only two of them.

Three people arrived from the Han side: Gu Jing, Wang Ruoyu, and Yao Hongyi, all of whom were senior cabinet officials.

Liu Yong didn't ask why the Han traitors' false king hadn't come. He went straight to the point: "Although you Han traitors have rebelled against the court, the current emperor is sympathetic to your situation, as you were forced into rebellion by the officials. He now intends to appease you and quell the war. What do you think?"

Is this how you start?
Gu Jing laughed: "Let's negotiate peace then. Why talk about appeasement? His Majesty ordered us to come and negotiate with you pseudo-Qing Tartars. If you want to negotiate peace, you can do so. Let the Tartar chieftain Hongli cede the four provinces of the Han Dynasty, and then our Great Han will negotiate peace with him."

Good heavens, they came up with an outrageous demand, or rather, they're utterly inhuman.

Ji Xiaolan was completely bewildered and said, "You're ceding four provinces to us? Do you even know what you're saying?"

Wang Ruoyu nodded: "These are my king's conditions! My Great Han only wants the four provinces of the Han Dynasty. If they can be ceded, then my Great Han will immediately cease hostilities!"

Ji Xiaolan stood up and angrily cursed, "You traitors are delusional! You actually want the four provinces of the Great Qing? Why don't you just ask for the entire Qing Empire?"

Gu Jing nodded: "If you pseudo-Qing barbarians can retreat to the border on your own, then my great Han can also carry out the matter of bestowing titles and appointing Hongli as the King of Liao."

"..."

Ji Xiaolan was about to continue scolding when Liu Yong raised his hand to stop him.

This is getting more and more outrageous. The other party is clearly asking for an exorbitant price, and we can't let ourselves be led by the nose. Moreover, since the Han traitor is willing to ask for a price, it means there is still room for negotiation. The only problem is that the Han traitor might not name a price.

Before arriving, Liu Yong was furious at the Han traitors for daring to claim the title of king and even forging the imperial seal. He decided that he would not agree to any conditions proposed by the Han traitors.

But now...

Although Liu Yong only stayed in Wuchang for five days, he deeply realized that the Han rebels could not be wiped out by force. He could only try to appease and negotiate peace first, and keep the Han rebels from launching any military campaigns. Once the court had destroyed the White Lotus Rebellion, they could then slowly devise a long-term plan.

After carefully considering his words, Liu Yong said, "Since you are the Minister of Rites, a traitor to the Han dynasty, you should be a person who respects etiquette and abides by the law. To constantly talk about the false Qing dynasty and the four provinces of the country is going too far!"

Gu Jing chuckled: "Respect for etiquette applies to people too. You pseudo-Qing barbarians, what etiquette do you have to talk about? Besides, Ying said that I, the Minister, spoke too bluntly. Aren't you also calling yourselves traitors and rebels all the time? It's just a matter of returning the favor!"

Liu Yong nodded: "A fine example of reciprocity. Let's leave this matter aside for now, but the four provinces of Shanhe..."
"It is impossible for us to cede these four provinces to you Han traitors. The imperial court has come with sincerity to negotiate peace with you bandits. Ceding four provinces is not peace negotiation; it is surrender!"

Liu Yong simply stopped pretending and said that they were there to negotiate peace on behalf of the Qing Dynasty, regardless of whether they were being offered amnesty or not.

Peace talks are possible, and all conditions can be negotiated, but ceding four provinces is not peace talks, it's surrender!

Wang Ruoyu laughed upon hearing this: "If the four provinces of mountains and rivers are not acceptable, then let's compromise and exchange them for the seven provinces of Jiangnan for my Great Han! That will make it a round number. Since you are imperial envoys, you can also help my Great Han send a letter to the Huguang Governor in Xiangyang. Either he surrenders the city voluntarily, or my Great Han will take it for itself."

No, you call this a compromise?
Upon hearing this, even if Liu Yong and Ji Xiaolan were still confused and eager to push for peace, they would have understood that this traitor was determined not to negotiate peace with them!
With four provinces in the mountains and rivers and seven provinces in the south, that makes eleven provinces in total. It's no longer a matter of whether or not to cede them; even losing just one province would be a cataclysmic change for the Qing Dynasty.

At its peak, the Taiping Rebellion only controlled less than half of the Jiangnan region, yet it still nearly wiped out the puppet Qing dynasty.

Before his death, Emperor Xianfeng issued a special decree promising to grant land and a title of king to whoever could destroy the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

During the Qing Dynasty, what kind of prestige did it take for a Han Chinese to be granted the title of king?

During the Qing Dynasty, the only Han Chinese to be granted the title of king was the Three Feudatories in the early Qing period, and they were quickly eliminated.

Liu Yong was not one to be stubborn and obstinate. He coldly retorted, "Since you are so unwilling to talk, then there is no need to continue. My Great Qing has come with sincerity to eliminate the calamities of war for the sake of the people. You bandits, however, remain obstinate. Then we shall see who prevails on the battlefield one day. I hope you will not regret it!"

"Heh," Gu Jing sneered, "I'll return those words to you pseudo-Qing Tartars. Let me tell you the truth: my Great Han has joined forces with the White Lotus Sect and the Miao people, and we will launch a full-scale attack next spring. At that time, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and central Henan will all belong to my Great Han. Let that old dog Hongli obediently wash his neck in Beijing and wait for my Great Han to raise an army to take it!"

"what?"

Liu Yong was startled by the news and wanted to ask for more details, but Gu Jing waved his hand and four Han soldiers rushed forward and blasted the two of them out of the main hall.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"When two countries are at war, envoys should not be killed! Envoys should not be killed!"

“Oh dear, my braid.”

"Bandits! Bandits!"

Liu Yong and Ji Xiaolan struggled as they were thrown out of Fujie Gate. Their official hats and hats were nowhere to be seen, revealing their bald heads, which looked quite comical.

The two men, clutching their severed braids, were overcome with grief and wept bitterly.

Outside the governor's office.

Many people rushed over to see what was going on, pointing and whispering about the two corrupt Qing officials with their queues, their faces full of mockery and ridicule.

Not very harmful, but extremely insulting!
Liu Yong and Ji Xiaolan didn't even dare to stand up and shout, as Han soldiers were eyeing them menacingly in front of the governor's office. They could only grab their braids and slink back to the post station in shame.

Not long after they returned to the post station, Han soldiers came chasing after them, saying that the negotiations for pacification and peace had broken down and that the Han people and the puppet Qing Tartars were still mortal enemies.

then……

The two were dragged out of Wuchang City like dead dogs and sent onto the imperial envoy's ship.

(End of this chapter)