You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 353 Jiangning Peace Talks! The Nation Changes Flags!
Aristotle once said:
A wise pope would convene several smaller meetings before holding a major conference. These smaller meetings allowed for lively debate, making the main conference proceed smoothly.

Jiangning was the Rome of the empire.

Posthouse.

Feng Xifan and Zhou Shao argued until their faces turned red.

“The current territory of the Prince of Yanping is only a small area. The court’s willingness to place Fujian and Dayuan under the jurisdiction of the Prince of Yanping is already an extraordinary act of kindness.”

"In any case, Zhoushan must belong to the Prince of Yanping, otherwise we will not believe in the sincerity of the imperial court."

"Could it be that the Prince of Yanping still intends to launch a counterattack against the mainland?"

"No, no, the barbarians have seized control of Taiyuan Island and built a fortified city. Isn't the court's decision to place Taiyuan under the prince's jurisdiction just a pipe dream?"

Faced with aggressive questioning~
Zhou Shao smiled.

"The imperial court has given you official status; you can use force to cross the sea and control Dayuan Island."

"Governor Zhou, don't you feel ashamed?"

"Since the Prince of Yanping lacks confidence in his military strength, the court can only hand over the command of Dayuan to someone else. By the way, last summer, the envoys of the Red-haired Barbarians went to the capital. They offered to buy Dayuan for a huge sum of money, and they were also willing to send a fleet to attack Kinmen and Xiamen from the sea."

"We want it!" Liu Guoxuan, the deputy envoy who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up. "We want even just nominal control over Dayuan Island!"

Feng Xifan: "How did the Grand Secretary reply to the barbarians?"

Zhou Shao took a sip of tea and said softly, "The Grand Secretary refused the barbarians on the spot. The Grand Secretary said, 'Even if brothers quarrel within their own walls, they should unite against external threats. Even if we fight each other, we will not interfere with the affairs of foreign barbarians.'"

Feng Xifan cupped his hands in greeting: "The Grand Secretary is wise."

The atmosphere eased slightly.

……

"Governor Zhou, could we discuss the Zhoushan Islands again? We are willing to pay 20 taels of silver to redeem them."

“Minister Feng, there is absolutely no possibility of negotiation in Zhoushan.”

"Since that's the case, then we'll compromise. We'll give up Zhoushan and take half of Guangdong in return. How about that?"

"Is this the Prince of Yanping's intention, or your own?"

Feng Xifan showed no shame at being exposed on the spot, and brazenly said, "The so-called unity of ruler and subject means that what I mean is the same as what the Prince of Yanping means."

Zhou Shao shook his head.

"If your esteemed envoy continues to make trouble, then let's meet on the battlefield."

Can I take your words as a threat of war?

"Sure. The imperial court has just wiped out Wu Sangui's 20-strong army, and morale is high. Wiping out another Prince Yanping is no big deal."

Feng Xifan narrowed his eyes, a hint of provocation in his voice: "Do you have that kind of capability?"

Zhou Shao: "Your infantry is weak, and your only strength is your navy. However, your navy has a major weakness."

Liu Guoxuan spoke for the second time: "What defect?"

Zhou Shao: "Supply base."

Silence fell again.

Zhou Shao ordered someone to bring a map.

"If the Prince of Yanping refuses to agree to the change of flags, the court will make the following arrangements. First, it will dispatch the Eight Banners cavalry into Fujian to control the Minjiang Plain and gradually eliminate the Zheng family's coastal fortresses. Second, it will announce to the islands of Southeast Asia that they are not allowed to trade with your Zheng family, and from now on, Guangzhou will be the only trading port. Third, it will sever all ties between your tribe and the major coastal households of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong."

Feng Xifan stood up.

“Governor Zhou’s idea is wonderful, but you can’t do it.”

"To correct you, Your Excellency, this is not my idea, but the strategy for suppressing the rebellion personally approved by the Grand Secretary."

"The Grand Secretary has great insight, but he overlooked one point."

"what?"

"It is not feasible to implement."

"is it?"

"Indeed, the Manila-Nagasaki route is a golden sea route, and every merchant ship passing through the Taiwan Strait has to pay taxes to the Zheng family. The imperial court has no overseas navy. Governor Zhou, what do you intend to use to cut off the waterway?"

“It’s very simple.” Zhou Shao drew a land route on the map. “The Prime Minister’s exact words were: take all the goods, open up the Guangzhou-Ningbo route, and bypass your Zheng family’s territory.”

"Such a grand project, when will it ever be completed?"

"If we want to do it, we can accomplish it in three to five years, six or seven years. But without the maritime navigation tax, how does the Prince of Yanping plan to support his massive army?"

"Seize it! Land with the navy, let the coast be engulfed in flames!" "Does your force dare to venture deep inland?"

"It is enough to take the produce from the coast within thirty to fifty miles to support the army."

"Take a look."

Zhou Shao took a piece of paper out of his sleeve and handed it over.

"A 'Relocation and Sea Ban Order'?" Feng Xifan glanced at it briefly, then his expression changed instantly. "Who wrote this?"

"He was a scholar who dreamed of becoming an official."

"Governor Zhou, aren't you afraid of incurring the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people by doing this?"

"The imperial court does not want to relocate the border and ban the sea, but if the Prince of Yanping insists on provoking us, then the imperial court will have no choice but to relocate the border and ban the sea, completely cutting off all your sources of food and supplies."

……

Feng Xifan and Liu Guoxuan exchanged a glance.

"Governor Zhou, please allow us to consider this carefully."

"it is good."

Zhou Shao smiled and left.

That evening, he received a written reply from Feng Xifan: After consultation, the delegation decided to adopt the court's friendly suggestion, but it was necessary to request the Prince of Yanping to make a decision.

October 10th.

Peace negotiations have officially begun.

The delegates gathered together.

Besides Feng Xifan, Ma Jixiang, and Zhang Huangyan, a few former officials of the Ming court, there were also more than a dozen governors and viceroys from various provinces who dared not refuse to come.

When Grand Secretary Chiang Ching-yun walked into the meeting room with a smile, thunderous applause erupted throughout the room.

A full three minutes~
Everyone's palms were red from clapping, but no one dared to be the first to stop.

Ma Jixiang even raised his hand to his chest and clapped, making a very exaggerated gesture.

Many people even experienced tinnitus due to the prolonged applause.

Zhou Shao tentatively asked, "The Grand Secretary?"

Jiang Qingyun took a deep breath, raised his hands, and pressed them down.

"Everyone, please take a seat."

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and quickly sat down, listening with smiles.

……

Holy sound broadcast, begin!
Unexpected.

He didn't mention changing the flag at all, but instead changed the subject.

"Those who wish to govern their state must first regulate their families. Those who wish to regulate their families must first cultivate their personal lives. Those who wish to cultivate their personal lives must first rectify their hearts. Those who wish to rectify their hearts must first make their intentions sincere. Those who wish to make their intentions sincere must first extend their knowledge. The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things."

Confucius was right, and Confucianism was right.

"Unfortunately, many scholars with ulterior motives practice Confucius in reverse. They say one thing and do another, disregarding the teachings of the sage and busying themselves with smearing him."

“Hong Chengchou, Qian Qianyi, and Wu Sangui are typical examples.”

Everyone was startled.

Some felt guilty, some were complacent, and some seemed lost in thought.

Feng Xifan nodded slightly.

Ma Jixiang was beaming, feeling that his future was bright.

……

Immediately afterwards, the well-trained band entered the stage, followed by a flag bearer carrying an imperial flag to the rhythmic strains of the "Imperial March".

"Imperial March"!
Black and Crimson Dragon Banner!
On the spot, Jiang Qingyun wrote down his governing philosophy: fairness, impartiality, and transparency.

Thus, the Imperial three-piece set began to take shape.

Everyone stood up again and clapped wildly until their faces were red and bleeding.

(End of this chapter)