China and Britain formally established diplomatic relations.
Viscount Andre became the Ambassador of the Kingdom of England to China.
Under the leadership of Chu Sheng, a member of the Lifan Department of the Ministry of Rites, he learned about various yamen and major places in the capital.
Chu Sheng reminded: "Our two countries have established formal diplomatic relations. According to relevant policies, your country can establish an embassy in the capital.
Your country can rent a building or buy land and build it yourself."
Viscount Andre followed Chu Sheng around the capital.
He discovered that there were two Western-style buildings in a prosperous area of the capital, one of which was a completed cathedral.
The doors of these two buildings are all closed, and there is no one around them.
Viscount Andrei saw Western-style buildings.
He should feel at ease living here in a building he is familiar with.
He asked in surprise: "Master Chu, do these buildings have owners? Can we buy them?"
Chu Sheng looked at the two buildings in front of him and introduced: "This is the embassy and church built by the Spanish before.
After Dahua and Spain went to war, this place has been sealed off.
If your country is willing to purchase these two buildings, I can make the decision to sell them to you for about one hundred thousand taels of silver coins.
I particularly remind you that the Dahua court prohibited churches from preaching to the people, and your churches can only allow Westerners to enter.
If you violate relevant laws, the Ministry of Punishment will arrest the missionary."
When Chu Sheng said this price, he was very open-minded. He was able to sell these two buildings at a high price, which indirectly showed his strength.
The real price of these two buildings is about ten thousand taels of silver coins each. The buildings are not valuable, but the attached land is valuable. This is the core area of the capital.
Viscount Andre thought about the price carefully, and he thought it was more appropriate.
Buying the Spanish embassy will also increase the pride of the embassy.
Their country's invincible fleet defeated the Spanish fleet, and the two countries entered a state of unending struggle.
He would never miss anything that could hit the Kingdom of Spain.
They must also have an embassy to provide related services to incoming domestic businessmen.
Viscount André agreed to the deal and paid for the Spanish embassy and church.
The members of the mission had a place to work, and they began to work.
The main job content is to collect information and intelligence disclosed by Dahua.
…………………………
Imperial meeting in Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Su He asked Han Cuibai, the Minister of Rites, "Han Shangshu, what is Ambassador Yingji doing these days?"
Han Cuibai, the Minister of Rites, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the British envoy came to Dahua alone.
Before they came, they didn't know whether they could establish diplomatic relations with our country.
The merchants did not come with the mission, and they will have to wait until next year for a large number of merchants to come.
Ambassador André purchased the previous Spanish embassy and church, established a new embassy, and restored the church.
They have made corresponding preparations to receive the large number of businessmen who are coming next year.
Ambassador Andre sent people to buy a lot of old newspapers and books. They wanted to have a comprehensive understanding of our country.
Ambassador Andre made suggestions to our Ministry of Ceremonies.
The English fleet is about to return to the country, return the concluded treaty, and at the same time notify domestic merchants to come and trade.
He hoped that when the fleet returned home, they could buy some Dahua products.
Ambassador Andre also offered to purchase some arms and medicine."
Su He could predict that with the return of the British mission, European countries would get to know the Great China Dynasty again.
There will be many European delegations and businessmen coming to Dahua for trade.
Dahua is about to usher in full opening up, and Dahua’s businessmen will also take the initiative to do business around the world.
It is basically impossible for Dahua not to close itself off and ensure that all technologies are not leaked.
Only the most core technologies can be kept secret.
Su He ordered: "Using the treaty we established with England this time as a template, we will formulate treaties of different levels.
The Dahua Dynasty is about to establish diplomatic relations with a large number of countries, and the cabinet and the Ministry of Rites must make arrangements for this matter."
When Prime Minister Wang Zhongce heard Su He's instructions, he immediately promised: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that the cabinet will make arrangements for relevant matters.
After this experience in establishing diplomatic relations, the cabinet summarized the relevant procedures for establishing diplomatic relations with foreign countries.
In the future, the process of establishing diplomatic relations with foreign countries will be simplified."
After listening to the report from Prime Minister Wang Zhongce, Emperor Su He ordered: "We cannot close the country in isolation, as the country's opening-up process accelerates.
More people from abroad will come in, and many people from China will go out.
In particular, the three great princes will soon go overseas to establish a country, and they will bring a large number of technical talents with them.
Technology outflow is inevitable.
But we must control core technologies from leaking out.
Try to sell finished products and do not directly license technology to others.
Some products containing higher technologies are also prohibited from being sold to outsiders.
For example, machinery such as steam engines, general industrial steam engines, can be provided to friendly countries such as vassal states.
However, ship steam engines and train steam engines need to be strictly restricted from being exported.
Medications such as cowpox vaccine and penicillin are available for sale.
However, the preparation technology of penicillin needs to be kept strictly confidential.
Front-loading guns can be sold to external parties, but breech-loading guns are strictly prohibited.
Black powder is very popular in the world and can be sold at will. The sale of advanced gunpowder is strictly prohibited.
The cabinet and the Metropolitan Government must work out a list of goods that can be sold as soon as possible.
Customs and other relevant agencies must strictly crack down on merchants who smuggle contraband."
Many officials in the cabinet and the governor's office breathed a sigh of relief when they heard Emperor Su He's instructions.
With the advice of Emperor Su He, the relevant yamen will be able to operate more easily. They can classify many technologies and try their best to protect core technologies without losing sight of one thing.
Prime Minister Wang Zhongce suggested: "Your Majesty, a large number of imperial merchants will go overseas, and foreign merchants will also flow into the country at an accelerated pace.
The minister suggested setting up relevant yamen to manage the country's foreign trade.
Foreign trade should be conducted in an orderly manner under the control of the court, rather than being left to the control of merchants.
Businessmen's pursuit of profit sometimes disregards national security.
Whether related products and technologies can be sold externally is also left to this yamen to manage.
To prevent the flood control situation in Kowloon, every yamen can manage it, and if it does happen, every yamen will shirk it."
Su He agreed with Wang Zhongce's suggestion. He thought carefully for a while and then ordered: "Establish a General Administration of Commerce to manage foreign trade-related affairs.
The sale of arms requires the participation of the Metropolitan Government in formulating relevant lists.
The cabinet recommends candidates for the State Administration of Commerce, and after inspection, I will decide who will be in charge of the State Administration of Commerce."
Prime Minister Wang Zhongce responded with a smile: "I will lead the cabinet to improve the relevant systems of the State Administration of Commerce as soon as possible.
The cabinet will recommend the candidate for the director of the General Administration of Commerce as soon as possible."
Various policies decided by the Imperial Council were implemented as quickly as possible by the Cabinet and the Governor's Office.
It only took less than half a month for the new government office of the State Administration of Commerce to build all the framework.
Zhou Wenhua defeated several competitors and became director of the State Administration of Commerce.
He had previously served as a mentor to Prime Minister Wang Zhongce.
During the time when Emperor Su He was king, this position was called secretary.
Zhou Wenhua had many opportunities to serve as an official, but he refused directly and stayed with Wang Zhongce.
He was self-aware and knew that his ability at that time was not enough for him to do it alone.
Zhou Wenhua's skills were not well trained. Even with the power of Prime Minister Wang Zhongce, he could not be too stable as an official.
This time there was a vacancy at the State Administration of Commerce, but Zhou Wenhua took the initiative to compete for this position.
He now feels that after long-term training, his abilities and connections are enough for him to take on this job.
Things did not go beyond his expectations. After His Majesty the Emperor's assessment, Zhou Wenhua stood out.
Zhou Wenhua led officials from the State Administration of Commerce to work out a list of goods that could be traded as quickly as possible.
Except for arms, which are formulated by the Metropolitan Governor's Office, private commodities are formulated by the General Administration of Commerce.
This is an offending job. Being included in the list of products that can be exported to foreign countries will bring huge profits to the company.
Zhou Wenhua put on a black face, and no one could intercede with him.
He strictly restricted the outflow of technology in accordance with the principles established by the emperor and cabinet ministers.
The commodity list of the State Administration of Commerce divides export commodities into three categories.
There are no restrictions on the export of goods, only the goods of the contracting countries are exported, and only the goods of the vassal countries are exported. These three categories.
…………………………
Viscount Andre was reading today's newspapers at the embassy. He learned about the country of Dahua through the newspapers.
The Yellow River Railway Bridge was officially opened to traffic. Steam trains can pass through the railway bridge and directly pass through the wide Yellow River.
Steam trains no longer need to be connected by ships.
Viscount Andre was lamenting Dahua's strong industrial strength.
Lu Ping'an approached the ambassador's room with a surprised look on his face.
He has gained the trust of Viscount Andrei.
He accepted Viscount Andre's arrangement and returned to England with the fleet.
He went to the country of England, and Viscount Andre recommended him as a Chinese teacher to teach Chinese to the nobles of England.
Lu Ping'an is very satisfied. With this job opportunity, he will be able to better spy on the intelligence of British senior officials.
"Lord Viscount, Lord Chu sent us a letter, stating that the imperial court has established a new Yamen General Administration of Commerce.
We can go to companies designated by the State Administration of Commerce to purchase goods."
When Viscount Andre heard the news, he immediately stood up.
He has been waiting for nearly a month. Everyone in the fleet is very anxious and wants to return as soon as possible.
After he purchases the corresponding goods, the fleet can return.
Viscount Andre immediately took everyone in the mission into a carriage and headed to the relevant company.
Lu Ping'an introduced on the carriage: "Sir Viscount, the foreign trade company we are going to is a new type of company that has appeared recently.
All the products they sell are authorized by the State Administration of Commerce, and these companies are divided into different levels.
The Xingshenghao and Zhanlu companies we went to, we can place orders for all the products they sell."
Lu Pingan recommends Xingsheng Hao, which of course gives the highest rebate.
When it comes to arms, there is no choice but Zhanlu Company, a company established by the Logistics Department of the Metropolitan Governor's Office.
Viscount Andre first came to Zhanlu Company, and he saw many weapons placed here.
The muskets he saw in the court that day, the cannons with calibers as long as an arm's span, were all sold here.
There are also many exquisite things, such as a telescope that can see far and clearly, and a bayonet that shines with cold light.
Viscount Andre came to Dahua with five large ships of silver.
Among them, three boatloads of silver were the money that the great nobles in the country asked him to buy silk, porcelain, and tea.
The remaining two large ships of money were the country's money. They used this money to purchase the embassy and hire people.
He wants to use this money to purchase some weapons for the country.
The weapons of the Dahua Dynasty are very advanced. When domestic craftsmen see these weapons, they are likely to get inspiration and imitate similar weapons to enhance the country's strength.
After Viscount Andre carefully inquired about the prices of the weapons, he felt very sad. The prices of these weapons were too high.
He gritted his teeth and bought enough to buy three thousand cap guns and various types of artillery, ten of each type.
Among them, the most expensive 155mm caliber artillery gun costs 8,000 taels of silver coins each.
Viscount Andre spent a total of 800,000 taels of silver coins on purchasing these weapons.
He was also looked down upon by the sales staff of Zhanlu Company, who disliked him for buying too little.
After Viscount Andrei pays the deposit, the transaction of these weapons will be completed in Love City.
After trading weapons, they left Dahua territory directly.
After Viscount Andre finished purchasing the weapons, he came to the Xingsheng not far from Zhanlu Company.
The shopkeeper of Xingsheng Hao warmly welcomed Viscount Andre and introduced Xingsheng Hao's products to him.
As a company under the Liao Prince's Palace, Xingshenghao has a complete range of products.
"This is penicillin. This vial only costs one hundred taels of gold coins. It can cure most infections.
Even if the arm is cut off, as long as penicillin is taken in time, the survival rate is as high as 90%."
"These are perfumes with various fragrances. Each bottle costs one hundred taels of silver coins."
After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he opened several bottles of perfume, filling the whole room with fragrance.
Viscount Andre inquired carefully about the prices of the goods in the Xingsheng.
After understanding the price, he asked: "Do you have all the products on Xingshenghao?"
The shopkeeper said proudly: "We at Xingsheng Hao have not left any of the goods that the State Administration of Commerce has allowed for sale, and we have received a batch of all of them."
Viscount Andrei waved his hand and said: "No need to read, sell all the goods in your Xingsheng warehouse to me.
The unit price of the product must be marked in detail.
Those fragile glass products should be wrapped in old newspapers. Don't be afraid of taking up space. Wrap them in multiple layers to prevent them from being bumped during transportation.
Especially for extremely expensive glass mirrors, I have to personally check whether the mirror is in good condition and pack it myself."
Viscount Andre didn't know which product would be popular in the United Kingdom.
Before he set out, the king had issued an order to buy all the goods he could.
The shopkeeper of Xingsheng was very surprised when he saw this scene, and then he reacted and smiled immediately.
He didn't expect that just by paying some kickbacks, he could gain such a large number of customers.
The shopkeeper tried his best to meet Andre's small requests.
Viscount Andre also smiled. He fulfilled the order of the King of the United Kingdom and bought all the goods he could buy back to the country.
No one knows which product will become a hit.
When these goods return to China, domestic businessmen will have accurate targets when they come to Dahua again.
His only regret is that the Dahua Dynasty does not sell steam engines to external parties.
He could only choose to use old newspapers as wrapping paper and bring old newspapers introducing steam engines back to the country.