At the end of the first year, Zhao Xin came back with the first group of people. These people included several teachers from the education department and Zhang Bo.
Among those who didn't come back, Hong Tao and Liu Siting were getting married. They decided to have a meal with their respective families after receiving the certificates. Because Hong Tao's family believed in the saying "no marriage during the first month of the year," they decided to get the certificates. The date has been postponed to the second month of the lunar calendar.
In fact, in addition to the saying "no marriage in the first month", there is also "no marriage in the twelfth lunar month". However, at that time, Shen Jingdan was obsessed with it, and seeing that Zhao Xin was not particular about this matter, he deliberately ignored this statement.
Besides preparing for the wedding, Hong Tao and his wife spent the rest of their time ordering medicines and medical equipment.
Liu Zheng is still waiting for the quotation list from the fertilizer equipment manufacturer; while Zhao Liang is going to inspect a steelmaking plant, where there is a set of 100 cubic small blast furnaces for sale at a low price.
The small blast furnace is not an "earth blast furnace". The earthen blast furnace is made of stone or bricks. The furnace shell of the small blast furnace is made of steel plates, and refractory bricks are built inside. The earthen blast furnace burns firewood, while the small blast furnace uses coke to make iron. .
Two old partners, Deng Fei and Ding Guofeng, have gone to West Africa to supervise the transformation of freighters. After arriving at the construction site, the two were really impressed by the work efficiency of the Africans! If you don't stare and rush, you can keep working hard for you. This made Zhao Xin angry when he learned about the situation, but he was helpless.
After returning to Fuldan City and meeting Liu Sheng, Zhao Xin learned that a messenger had been sent from Ninggu Pagoda and the ransom would soon be delivered to the Mongolian River Military Station. So Zhao Xin decided to meet Fukang'an again.
Fu Kang'an has lost weight rapidly since he learned that the imperial court was raising ransom to redeem them. According to the results of his recent physical examination, Marshal Fu now only weighs ninety kilograms.
When Zhao Xin saw Fukang'an, he was stunned in surprise. Is this still the famous Manchu general who was once high-spirited and arrogant?
Fukangan cowered in the chair, his thin body seemed to be blown away by a gust of wind. On his extremely thin face, three long beards hung down on his chest. On his originally smooth forehead, there were short hair that was several inches long. Became gray and mottled.
"Fu Zhongtang, it seems that you haven't had a good appetite recently. You have to take good care of yourself. If you fall ill on the way back, it will be difficult for you and the adults."
Fukang'an didn't speak, but stared at Zhao Xin with a sharp gaze. He knew that the guy in front of him was not forgiving, and if he had even the slightest criticism, he would be suffocated to death by the words he spewed out.
Zhao Xin seemed to see what Fu Kangan was thinking, and smiled and said: "In a few days, you and Duerjia can go back."
After hearing this, a bright light flashed in Fukangan's eyes, and then quickly extinguished.
Zhao Xindao: "Commander Fu, it's useless for you to torture yourself like this. Let alone you, even if Qianlong's imperial commander personally conquers, he will still be defeated. This is called weapons substitution."
"Weapon generation difference?" Fukang'an repeated these four words in surprise.
Zhao Xin didn't want to explain anymore, and let the Manchu bureaucrats guess slowly! He finally said: "Fuzhongtang, I'm going to say goodbye. I probably won't see you for a few days. You'd better tidy yourself up and wait in two days." As soon as news arrives from the Mongolian River, we can set off."
Zhao Xin turned around and was about to leave when Fukangan suddenly asked: "Apart from me and Duerjia, where are the others?"
"It depends on how much ransom is sent. If the amount is not bad, I won't keep anyone." Zhao Xin replied without looking back.
At this time, in the prisoner camp of the Qing army, all the Manchu, Han and Mongolian Eight Banners prisoners and border residents knew the news that the imperial court had sent people to ransom them. They could finally go home! All the prisoners were smiling happily, saying that they had finally made it through.
"Your Majesty! I can't repay your great kindness to my servants!" In the underground cellar, Enhai, Guan Bao and others knelt down facing south, kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times in the direction of Beijing City. After saluting,
En Haixin said that I finally no longer have to eat pickles, and the first thing I do after returning home is to stew a pot of meat.
Some people are excited, and some people are disappointed. At this moment, the Buddha with a white flag and a soldier is thinking that if he leaves, there will be no free dramas and storytelling in the future.
On the Manchu and Qing side, the team escorting the ransom went through many difficulties and finally arrived on the south bank of the Mongolian River on February 15th, across the river from the military station in Beihai Town.
After some contact between Na Qitai and Beihai Town, the two sides agreed to return the first batch of 2,000 Qing prisoners of war on February 18. Fearing that Zhao Xin would cheat, Na Qitai asked his side to send people across the river to check the number of people, and then
Pay the ransom again.
Zhao Xin asked the Manchus and Qing Dynasties to transport the ransom across the river in batches, and pay a sum of money to each batch after checking. After the prisoners crossed the river, Beihai Town would not be responsible. However, Zhao Xin was worried that the Manchus and Qing Dynasties would default on their debts after meeting the border prisoners.
, so it was decided to finally return Fukang'an and Duerjia.
On the morning of February 16th, the prisoners of the Qing army packed up hastily, took the "souvenirs" given to them by Beihai Town, and embarked on the journey back south.
The so-called "souvenirs" were brought back by Zhao Xin. A set of toiletries for each person, plus a flip-top glass mirror. The toiletries included towels, soap, simple razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Well, Zhao Xin just bought the kind of toiletry set from later generations of express hotels. According to his opinion, each ordinary Qing prisoner was worth one tael of gold, which was nearly forty grams!
Don't be too black-hearted!
When all the prisoners of the Qing army got the glass mirrors and toiletry sets, they were all stunned by Beihai Town's generosity. These grandsons must be too rich. Even the delicate glass mirrors were given away as big as pickled radishes.
!
Many prisoners of war regarded the "souvenirs" they received as treasures and kept them close to their bodies, ready to return home to the south to give to their families or to sell, as they were worth a few pennies anyway.
Before leaving the house, the official security threw the things sent by Beihai Town on the Datong bunk with disdain. Enhai on the side saw it and asked, "What? You don't want it?"
The official said: "It's just a strange and obscene thing. If I take it, I'm afraid my hands will be dirty." After saying that, he walked out of the house with his head held high.
Enhai looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to him. He picked up the package that was thrown on the bed by the security guard and quickly stuffed it into his arms. Then he strode out of the house to gather like a meteor.
The prisoners in each district first lined up according to the cell number where they were located. After being called by people from Beihai Town for confirmation, they gathered together and lined up to leave the camp. When they walked outside the prisoner camp, they merged into two with a thousand prisoners from another district.
The team of a thousand people was escorted by a battalion of soldiers from Beihai Town.
On the snowfield leading from Jurgen City to the south bank of the Suifen River, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has organized migrant workers to dig out a road with a width of three meters, with thick snow piled on both sides, like two high walls. The prisoners walked along
They walked south along the middle road, and the soldiers responsible for escorting them used loudspeakers from time to time to yell at them to pay attention to their walking speed and remind them to keep up with the team.
At this time, in the Mongolian River Military Station, Na Qitai came to a barracks with several accompanying guards and was reviewing the "peace terms" drafted by Beihai Town one by one:
Article 1: From the date of signing of this treaty, the Qing Empire and Beihai Town will cease fighting for five years.
Article 2: From the date of signing of this treaty, the Qing Empire recognizes the legal status of the Great Ainu Kingdom and agrees to establish friendly trade relations. It also recognizes Beihai Town as the plenipotentiary representative of the Great Ainu Kingdom.
Article 3: From the date of signing of this treaty, Beihai Town shall return all prisoners as agreed and shall not mistreat them. Serdan, Yarha, Hengji, Elu and their families involved in the previous battle, Da
The Qing Empire would grant them immunity; and the local governments were ordered not to arrest anyone without permission.
Article 4: From the date of signing of this treaty to the expiry of five years, the Qing Empire allows the Great Ainu Kingdom to use the Flower and Bird Island in the Shengsi Islands off Zhoushan as a temporary docking place, build trade warehouses and warehouses, and dispatch up to
Two hundred men were stationed. The annual rent was two hundred taels of silver.
Article 5: From the date of signing of this treaty, the Qing Empire allows the Great Ainu Kingdom to send trade representatives to Guangzhou, and the Thirteen Banks will handle trade matters on their behalf and have a department. The Great Ainu Kingdom has a limit of ten ships per year.
(time), the Great Ainu Kingdom agreed to abide by the regulations and tariffs on trade goods related to the Guangdong Customs of the Qing Empire and pay them accordingly.
Article 6: This contract was signed by Heshen, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minister of the Qing Empire, and Zhao Xin, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Great Ainu Kingdom, and was exchanged on the banks of the Mongolian River in February of the 51st year of Qianlong's reign. To this end, both parties must sign and seal
, Yizhao abides by it.
Na Qitai read the six items on the paper with wide eyes, and said to Zhao Xin: "Mr. Zhao, can I take back a copy of this agreement?"
Zhao Xin pointed to the horseshoe watch on the table with a smile, nodded and said, "Please, but you must stamp and sign it before five o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the latest."
"Can this be extended for some time?"
"My lord, He Shen actually assigned you to take charge of such a big matter. I think you were the only one who signed it."
Na Qitai said dumbfounded: "Mr. Zhao, even with a hundred heads I can't afford such a big deal!"
Zhao Xindao: "It doesn't matter, it's up to you whether to sign or not. If you don't sign, then all our previous talks will be invalid. I will take a boat to Dagukou in the beginning of the spring and find someone who can sign and then talk. See off the guests!"
Na Qitai had no choice but to leave the military station, crossed the frozen Mongolian River on a sledge, and returned to his tent. As soon as he entered the tent, a soldier behind him actually sat on the tiger skin in the tent in a swaggering manner.
On the Grand Master's chair, the man took off his hat, took the hot tea from Qitai, and took a sip before he felt that he was no longer so cold.
"This Zhao Xin! What a stubborn foreigner who has no regard for the king's constitution! He actually dares to threaten the imperial court!"
"Zhongtang, you can't afford to get angry for such a bastard. After dealing with him so many times in a humble position, you can understand this person. It's useless to talk about being a king or trustworthy with this kind of person. He relies on his sharp guns.
He only cares about money."
This private soldier is actually He Shen’s fake one!
He Shen really went all out this time. In order to accomplish a great feat that would shock both the government and the public, he actually disguised himself and entered the enemy camp just to see who he was who could defeat Fu Kang'an and A Gui!
He Shen shook his head and said: "It's not that simple. Don't look at the fact that he is always messing around with you and looks like a street gangster. You think he is a thief who only cares about money. This person is by no means an easy person to deal with.
Everything is unpredictable and treacherous. If you sign this thing with him and have this precedent, the people of the world will think that the court has exceptions for thieves and bandits, and if you can't beat them, you will sign such a bullshit contract. If others follow suit in the future, they will rise up.
, how will the court deal with it?"
Na Qitai asked: "Zhongtang means not to sign? What if he does."
Heshen said: "We have brought the gold, and we must take the people back. But this thing must not be signed! If you sign it, you and I will die without a burial place! I, the Qing Dynasty, attaches great importance to the defense of Huayi."
, a sinister person like Zhao Xin must not be allowed to get ahead of him!"
Later generations often said that Heshen was uneducated and acted like a villain. But in fact, Heshen's knowledge was really good, otherwise he would not have been appreciated by Qianlong, and then he rose to prominence. Except for having passed the Juren examination (he failed)
, He Shen also has certain attainments in poetry.
Na Qitai said: "Please tell me, Master Zhongtang, what should we do?"
Heshen said: "I will write a letter and you will send someone to deliver it tomorrow morning."
Early the next morning, Zhao Xin, who was brushing his teeth, received the letter sent by Qitai. He finished brushing his teeth in a hurry, wiped his mouth with a towel, and then accepted the envelope from Guisheng.
.
This letter is very strange. The two sides of the book cover are bare and there is not even a single word. It is said that the Qing Dynasty was also very particular about the use of envelopes. In this era, envelopes were called "book covers", and a long red strip was stuck in the middle.
Paper, the red paper must be glued from the top of the envelope down, without leaving any white margin. The words on the red label must also be written from the top, and cannot be empty; and the bottom word must be at the bottom, without hanging. The back of the envelope also has
It must be stamped with the sender's seal.
"Your Excellency Zhao Xin" There is no name on the letter's header. The cursive writing is thin and powerful, and the stipples are crisp and neat, without any sense of sloppiness.
Zhao Xin did not look down. He turned to the last page and saw that the signature only had five words, "Master of Jiale Hall". Zhao Xin was stunned, and then his jaw almost hit the ground!
"Master of Jiale Hall" is He Shen's nickname, and he is actually on the other side of the river!
Okay! That's quite courageous. Zhao Xin smiled and then started reading again.
What He Shen said in the letter was very direct. The general idea is that since Shen and I came to Ningguta on business, not even a single person was sent out to cause trouble for you, which is enough to show my sincerity in the negotiation. In this case, why bother?
What about on paper?
Moreover, after I argued hard, the court agreed to your request and shipped a large amount of gold. For a person like me who keeps his word, why would you come to harm me?
Since the fall of these soldiers, their families have not known their whereabouts. They have been waiting all day long and crying. Even I feel sad when I see them. Your brother did not kill them indiscriminately, but thought of releasing them, which shows that he is a compassionate person.
You are a kind and righteous person. I thank you on behalf of those orphans and widows.
As for the two things you mentioned about landing in Guangzhou for trade and renting the Flower and Bird Island off the coast of Zhoushan, I can agree on your behalf and arrange it privately; but you should also understand my difficulty. If it is known to the whole world and is rumored, don't mention yours.
If the goal is not achieved, even I will be implicated, and then there will be no one to speak for you.
After reading the letter, Zhao Xin thought about it for a long time. What He Shen said made sense. If he really broke up and signed the contract or Zhao Xin took a boat to Dagokou, Qianlong would not agree to anything, and it would definitely be a fight to the death.
.
Zhao Xin doesn't want to use troops against the Manchus yet. First, there are not enough grassroots managers. Even if they can break into Shanhaiguan, there is no one to manage those towns and villages; second, there is oil in Kuye Island, steel in Beihai Town, and Ezo Land.
Coal mines require manpower for production and operation. If we continue to fight, then everyone will do nothing else, recruit soldiers, and spend money to buy ammunition, which will fall into a vicious circle; the third is the island nation problem. If this is not solved, Ezo Island
If safety cannot be guaranteed, Zhao Xin will have no time to look west.
All in all, Zhao Xin still wants to farm and open up wasteland in a down-to-earth manner, and only after he has accumulated enough strength in a few years can he realize his plan.
Since we are so on the same page with the Lord, let's give him some face! Besides, with the relationship with He Shen, the trade situation in the southeast will probably open up faster.
Therefore, Zhao Xin asked the messenger to bring back only fourteen words in the letter, "I hope you will keep your promise! If you regret it, I will fight with you!"