Jiu'ao Mountain is very close to Taipa Island, and he received a reply just after lunch.

Tan Bili heard the news and hid.

Now many gambling houses are closed, and the bosses have fled.

Business in Shushan is booming.

"Boss, Boss Tao said that although Tan Bili is hiding, he is contacting the Japanese and preparing to clear his name. He shouted, how can the seized weapons be confiscated and how can they be returned."

Zhao Chuanxin raised his eyebrows: "Oh, that toad yawned so loudly."

"What about us?"

"Let's see what tricks he does, but I guess it has something to do with the Japanese."

At this time, Chui Shuiju actually went up to Jiuao Mountain.

He is on duty today and it is his turn to take over.

When they got closer, Chuishuiju pointed at a lamb that was kneeling in front of a house not far away and sucking milk, and said in confusion: "Look at that wagging tail. Boss, what do you think that sheep looks like?" Like a dog?"

Zhao Chuanxin looked and saw that it was indeed the case.

This should not be a native variety.

Zhao Chuanxin said cheerfully: "You don't know something. This is a sheep dog, not a native dog."

Chui Shuiju just laughed, but another member of the adjudication panel who was about to take his turn left thoughtfully.

At this time, a snot-nosed kid ran over with red eyes and complained: "Uncle, my dad beat me again after drinking."

Zhao Chuanxin can't control if parents beat their children.

He casually stuffed a piece of candy into the snotty baby's mouth.

This is the cure for childhood.

As expected, Snotlout showed a smile, but still gritted his teeth and said: "I hate it when he hits me after drinking wine!"

Zhao Chuanxin squinted his eyes and asked, "What do you hate?"

The snot baby smacked his lips and smacked the sweetness: "I hate the person who invented wine."

"..."

Zhao Chuanxin was stunned: The hatred is really justified

……

Tan Bili did not leave Ao Island, and his hiding place was even on Taipa Island.

After visiting Zhao Chuanxin and the Erchen Pill merchant ship incident, Lu Lianruo easily found out where Tan Bili was hiding and visited him.

Tan Bili was in the reception room and said calmly: "Nephew Lu Xian, do you have anything to do with me?"

His attitude is lukewarm, as if he is talking to you just for the sake of your damn old man.

Lu Lianruo was not annoyed at all, and said sincerely: "Uncle Shi, I came to visit today. Lianruo is trying to persuade you to make peace."

Tan Bili frowned: "Persuading peace? What kind of peace are you persuading?"

Lu Lianruo said: "Actually, Mr. Zhao Chuanxin's original intention is not necessarily to go against all the gambling houses in our island. Wouldn't it be better if everyone can make money and keep doing business?"

Tan Bili sneered, took a sip of tea, and did not answer.

Lu Lianruo had no choice but to say: "Actually, we were the ones who started this matter from beginning to end. Why not give in? Uncle Shi, you see, you have also provoked the imperial navy recently. It is better to do less than to do more...

”

This time, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Tan Bili, who said in an arrogant tone: "Xiannephew, are you here to see Tan's joke? If Tan made a statement today, not only will the imperial navy's two men be released,

"Tatsumaru, I have to return all my quick guns, and this time Tan doesn't have to spend a tael of silver. If Tan doesn't go to Amon, even if your father is here, he still has to give Tan three points of thin noodles today."<

/p>

Lu Lianruo opened his mouth, said nothing more, stood up and left.

No matter how profound your cultivation is, it is still an insult to your late father. The Clay Bodhisattva still has three parts of fire nature.

But I was thinking: I just told Zhao Chuanxin the news, and Erchen Pill was detained. This matter is obviously related to him. This Tan Bili has already half-stepped into the gate of hell, and he doesn't even know it?

Fortunately, I felt guilty and came to persuade you, but it’s really hard to persuade a damn ghost with good words!

What's the use of being arrogant now? If you offend Zhao Chuanxin, will you reap the rewards?

Well, just sit back and watch him build a tall building and entertain guests, but the building collapses!

……

It turned out that the captain of the Futatsu Maru had accepted the punishment and decided to obey it.

The Qing Dynasty's South China Sea Regional Administration Guangdong Fleet had a total of 37 ships.

In fact, the Qing Dynasty also had warships, otherwise it would not have fought the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1898.

It is said that the Qing court's warships are quite advanced.

I was just scared.

The total tonnage of the Guangdong fleet is 11,000 tons, and it is controlled by Zhang Renjun, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.

After the warship was seized and the batch of guns and ammunition was confiscated, especially Tan Bili who was wanted, Tan Bili immediately became anxious.

Immediately call your Japanese friends, offer them the benefits you deserve, and beg them to handle the matter.

After all these connections, Japan's Third Fleet, the third-class cruiser "Izumi", issued a report on the incident to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At this time, Japan had good relations with Britain, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately contacted the British, who contacted a high-ranking official in the capital.

This man's name is Robert Hurd, and he is actually a British guy.

He has a first-level official position, has the title of Chief Envoy, and is in charge of the General Taxation Department of the Qing Dynasty.

I have to say it’s very strange.

This guy was very involved in the Qing court, and even extended his claws into the navy. Fortunately, Li Hongzhang was clear-headed and stopped his behavior in time.

This man is a powerful opportunist. He first sought a high position in the Qing court, and then used his influence in the Qing court to gain recognition from the United Kingdom and was appointed as the British Minister to China.

On the one hand, he was proud to be British, but at the same time he also had feelings for the Qing court, because all his "skills" came from the power given by the Qing court, so he couldn't stand the foreigners' rough treatment of the Chinese.

However, at every critical moment, he would always prefer the British side.

For example, this time, when the British contacted him, he immediately teamed up with Rosada, the new Portuguese governor of the island, and the Japanese colluded.

Not only did they deny it, they said: The Erchen Maru had an approved receipt and was legally carrying weapons into Macau.

As if they felt that the Qing Dynasty was not worthy of seizing their things, they even said back that Ao Island belongs to Portuguese territorial waters, so the Qing government's interception was an illegal seizure.

Japanese Minister Lin Linquan sent a note to the Qing court, claiming that the Qing government had breached the contract and acted barbarically. It immediately released the Erchen Maru, returned the national flag, severely punished all illegal officials, and expressed gratitude for the bad handling of the case to serve as a warning to others.

Portuguese Minister Bai Langgu was two days late before notifying the Qing court, but his tone was equally unkind: the seizure of the Erchen Maru violated Portugal's coastal rights and hindered Portugal's sovereignty.

When Zhang Renjun got the news, he became angry and said: "It's unreasonable to call a deer a horse! Call the court immediately and you must refute it. The Erchen Maru must not be released!"

However, when he handed the paper to the Forbidden City.

This is what Cixi said to the ministers: "It's just a merchant ship. Don't offend your friends, just let it go. That Zhang Jian'an is too violent."

Jian'an is Zhang Renjun's character.

Ministers: "..."

Although there are opinions, no one refutes them.

So I promised.

But Lafayette just said that the ship was released, without giving details.

Therefore, the ministers who still had some bottom line discussed privately and felt that they could not be so embarrassed and at least found a way out for themselves.

Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Japanese Minister Hayashi Gonsuke and said: "We should ask a neutral country, neither Japan nor Portugal, but the British Fleet Commander to act as an arbitrator and conduct a public judgment on this case."

In fact, now, in the hearts of Chinese people, who is the largest country in the world?

It's not the United States, it's not Tsarist Russia, it's not Portugal, and Japan, which has only just emerged a few years ago, is even less ranked, but the British Empire, which is known as "the sun never sets."

In the minds of Qing court officials, it was fair to ask the British fleet commander to judge.

However, Hayashi Gonsuke flatly refused: "We, the Empire of Japan, and Portugal unanimously believe that this matter is our fault and does not require a British public judgment.

Not only that, I also want to make five demands to the Qing court.

First, immediately put back the Erchen Maru.

Second, when returning the cargo ship, the Qing warships had to fire cannons to apologize.

Third, the seized guns and ammunition must be purchased by the Qing Dynasty, and the total price is Japanese yen.

Fourth, deal with the officials responsible for the seizure of the Futatsu Maru, and even the crew.

Fifth, compensate for the losses caused by this incident and the missed business opportunities.

Only when these five items are met can the Erchen Maru be completed.
To be continued...