After Henry Temple came to China, he tried his best, worked hard, and spent too much energy. He didn't want to accomplish nothing in the end. He had to at least get back some of the benefits for his country like Muravyov did. Temple's mind turned. , immediately said: "President Li said that each country has its own situation, and Tsarist Russia and the United Kingdom are different. I would like to ask President Li, what is the difference between Tsarist Russia and the United Kingdom."
"Yes, what is the difference between France and Tsarist Russia?"
Phillip frowned and asked immediately.
In fact, Philip had already planned to agree to Li Zhen's conditions, but he felt very unhappy when he saw that Muravyov had reduced a lot of losses for the country at once.
Siward said nothing and waited silently.
Li Zhen laughed, and the sound echoed in the conference room, making Temple feel confused.
After a while, Li Zhencai said: "Think carefully, can the Queen of England and Napoleon III of France have the same power as the Czar? The Queen's actions are incorrect, or Napoleon III's actions are unpopular, which means he may be kicked out. They were not driven out by the people, but by the politicians in power. Unlike Tsarist Russia, the emperor had supreme power and could remove a country official at will. Politicians were all trying to please the tsar."
Li Zhen said loudly: "Tsarist Russia can suppress the boiling public sentiment, but Britain, France, and the United States cannot suppress it. The inability to suppress public sentiment means that it is impossible to ignore the prisoners in China, understand." After a few words, no matter whether it was frankly Poole, Philip, or Seward all had frustrated expressions on their faces.
Li Zhen hit the nail on the head and got to the point.
Temple changed the subject and stopped dwelling on the matter, saying: "When will President Lee plan to release him?"
"When do you plan to sign the treaty?" Li Zhen asked.
Temple said, "Today."
Li Zhen looked at Siward and others and asked, "Where are you?"
The three nodded, agreeing with Temple's statement.
Li Zhen stood up abruptly and said: "Wait a moment, I will send people to draw up a treaty immediately, sign the treaty immediately, and then I will send people to release the captured prisoners." Li Zhen stood up and left the conference room, and asked people to prepare to sign the contract. Treaty, in less than half an hour, treaties between China and Britain, France, the United States, and Russia were drawn up. All treaties were in Chinese with the other country's text.
Li Zhen placed the treaties one after another on the conference table and said: "This is the treaty that has just been drawn up. Let's take a look."
Temple and others took it and looked at it carefully.
The four of them looked at each other, and their brows were not relaxed, but rather a little embarrassed.
Temple said: "President Lee, regarding the transfer of control by the British to India and other places, time is too tight. We need a certain amount of time to withdraw Indian troops and supplies. Therefore, please allow President Lee a little grace."
Philippe said: "The same is true in France."
Muravyov nodded and said: "The same is true for Tsarist Russia."
The United States has no territories, and the so-called treaty time has nothing to do with it.
Li Zhen thought about it carefully and said: "Okay, I will give you one more month. After one month, I will send someone to take over." After a pause, Li Zhen said again: "I will not write during the one month grace period. Enter the treaty, but I will still give you one month's grace, just treat it as an unwritten agreement, sign it, finalize the treaty, and then I will release everyone immediately."
People from the four countries had no doubts and began to sign the treaty.
After signing, Li Zhen shouted: "Here comes someone."
The door opened, and a soldier strode in, raising his hand in salute.
Li Zhen ordered: "Please come to Li Hongzhang."
"yes."
When the soldiers went to deliver the order, Li Zhen's eyes fell on the faces of the officials from the four countries, and he said with a smile: "Everyone, please wait a moment. Later, I will ask Deputy Minister of Defense Li Hongzhang to take you to the prison and release all the prisoners. When the time comes, things will happen." It’s over.”
The people from the four countries just nodded and said nothing.
At this time, I really wasn't in the mood.
In less than five minutes, Li Hongzhang rushed to the conference room.
Li Zhen told Li Hongzhang about the release of the prisoners, and Li Hongzhang took the people to the prison. After Li Hongzhang and others left, Li Zhen sent someone to invite Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin. The place where Li Zhen received them was the office, and the three of them sat down. Li Zhen handed the signed treaty to Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin and said, "Look, this is the treaty just signed. I didn't expect that people from the four countries have agreed to the conditions."
Li Zhen's face was full of smiles and he looked proud.
After Zeng Guofan read it, he gave it to Peng Yulin.
The two looked at each other, Peng Yulin's face was full of smiles, but Zeng Guofan was worried.
Zeng Guofan said: "President, I think there are certain problems with the treaty."
"What's the problem?" Li Zhen asked.
Zeng Guofan sorted out the thoughts in his head and said: "Although the four countries agreed to your conditions, the specific operations are extremely complicated and may not be implemented. If it were me, if I really have no way to refuse, I would definitely make a superficial decision. The government promised, but secretly violated it. Take India as an example, it may withdraw its troops on the surface, but it can turn the troops on the surface into secret ones.”
"In this way, we can't find any reason to blame the British, and the British can completely support local puppets and use the puppets to fight against us. When the time comes, we will not be able to take India, but will be ridiculed by the British, saying that we have no ability to control India, but the territory can When such a situation occurs, the same strategy can be adopted for the so-called mineral deposits, allowing you to mine them, but how to transport them back after they are mined? Something may happen on the way, and in the end we will help other countries mine them for free."
Zeng Guofan looked worried and said: "The negotiating team officials from the four countries have thought about their retreat and then unanimously agreed."
"Hiss, hiss,."
Li Zhen took a deep breath, his expression serious.
He was immersed in the excitement of signing the treaty and did not consider other issues.
"I think it doesn't matter." Peng Yulin interrupted.
Li Zhen waved his hands and said, "Say."
Peng Yulin said: "Signing the treaty is a major event. Its significance is not to immediately capture these places and mineral deposits, but to have reasonable and legal reasons. With the treaty, we can send troops to India and send people to various countries at any time. Exploiting mineral deposits is our right and involves the interests of all countries. It is impossible for them to hand over the interests smoothly, but if we have reasonable reasons, things will go much more smoothly."
After a pause, Peng Yulin said in a deep voice: "As for how to capture India and other places, and how to get back the mined mineral deposits, this is a test of our ability. There is no pie in the world. Even if the money falls on the ground, we have to bend down to pick it up. We must have to pay a lot to obtain such huge benefits, so I think having a legal right will achieve our goal."
Li Zhen's eyes lit up and he approved Peng Yulin's suggestion.
There was still worry on Zeng Guofan's face and he continued: "If this is the case, I'm afraid war will inevitably start. War may start if Lake Baikal, India, Cambodia and other places are to be taken back. However, we have already started to formulate a five-year plan. This is based on not starting a war. The premise is that once war breaks out, the country's center of gravity will shift, causing the five-year plan to abort. President, things are not simple."
After Li Zhen listened, he began to think about solutions.