After the Qing representative made a high-profile opening statement, everyone was waiting for Ming's rebuttal. However, there was silence in the venue, and the Ming representative tacitly agreed not to speak.
After a while, Gua Dexin couldn't help it any longer, frowned and asked:
"Why...why don't you say anything? What's your attitude?"
The representatives from the Ming side looked at each other but still said nothing. Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs He Weibang sighed and shook his head slightly.
Guadexin waited for a few seconds, looked down at the emperor's negotiation instructions, then raised his head and asked tentatively:
"If you have no objection and approval of our condemnation just now, then we can write it into the beginning of the treaty?"
He Weibang was waiting for him to say this. He looked surprised and angry and said:
"Did I not hear clearly? What do you mean...?"
Guadexin repeated:
"As for the war between you and us at the beginning of this year, if you have no objection to our condemnation of you just now, we can write it into the treaty."
He Weibang frowned and asked:
"What do you mean? Are you going to publish this so-called 'condemnation' in a newspaper for your own people to see, or are you going to write it into a treaty and make it public to the world as a historical conclusion recognized by both parties?"
Guadexin said expressionlessly:
"It's the latter."
…
In fact, Guade Xin was not sure at all. He knew that the opening remarks just now were confusing right and wrong, and Nanming would never admit it easily. This meant that it was possible to force them with the lives of thousands of their officers and soldiers in their hands.
Agreed to smear shit on myself
Guade Xin also knew that even if hostages were used to force Nan Ming to sign and approve, this would be a great shame and humiliation against Nan Ming's conscience and principles. While the Qing side gained this self-deceptive "justice", it would definitely lose a lot of substance.
benefits.
But there was no other way. The emperor made up his mind. He must make Nanming sign and admit that he was the invader and was unjust, while Beiqing was the forced defender and was just. This was the primary political task for the Qing Dynasty.
Even if you suffer losses in other practical interests, you will not hesitate.
Although Nanming's treasury contained hundreds of tons of gold that the Qing Dynasty was in short supply, its warehouses contained non-ferrous metal raw materials that the Qing Dynasty was in short supply, its laboratories contained advanced technologies that the Qing Dynasty was in short supply, and its arsenals contained advanced aircraft and tanks that the Qing Dynasty was in short supply.
There were famines of various sizes in various parts of the Qing Dynasty every year, and the granaries of Nanming were filled with old grains that could not be eaten over the years...
But all of this is far inferior to letting Nan Ming admit that he was wrong and the Qing Dynasty was right. This is just a disgusting thing for Nan Ming, but it is a huge victory for the Qing Dynasty. This will be
A powerful internal propaganda tool, the leader of the Aixinjueluo family
Governance is more stable: Look, the Qing Dynasty is good and the Ming Dynasty is bad. Even the Ming Dynasty has admitted this. What are you stinking people still complaining about? What, don’t believe it? There is a treaty here, signed by the envoy of the Southern Ming Dynasty. Look, it is written in black and white on paper
Yes, the court did not lie to you this time.
…
The members of the Nanming delegation, including Xiang Xiaoqiang, had calm and even angry expressions on their faces at this moment, but they were happy in their hearts. They did not expect that Beiqing would make such a request as soon as they came up. Moreover,
It seems that the Northern Qing's desire for this article was greater than the Southern Ming's desire for its thousands of officers and soldiers.
The hope is still strong. I originally thought that it might cost a lot of money, but now it seems that as long as the Beiqing is stuck on this issue, it will be in a favorable position in the negotiations. In addition to accepting a shit basin and cooperating with the Manchu rulers
In addition to domestic YY, other actual costs will be saved a lot.
Moreover, Xiang Xiaoqiang and He Weibang were even more happy. Because they were the only two people in the delegation who were high enough to know that they would start fighting against the Qing in two months. And even if Daming wore this shit basin, it would only last for two months.
.And more importantly, this will seriously challenge the moral bottom line of the people of Ming Dynasty. Under normal circumstances, if the government signs such a treaty that is humiliating and humiliating the country, the people will not take it seriously.
The chief minister was dragged out of his official residence and killed. But now the people know that the government signed this humiliating treaty to save the lives of thousands of citizens and the hope of thousands of families. So the people will never take the credit for it.
Instead of placing the blame on its own government, it will only blame the Beiqing and direct all its anger at the Beiqing. The Ming Dynasty will once again be united as a nation in a very short period of time.
In this way, the purpose of Xiang Xiaoqiang and other war planners will be achieved.
…
Next, the representatives from the Ming side cooperated very well. They were shocked, indignant, unacceptable, and incredible at the "unreasonable request" made by the Beiqing Dynasty. The representatives from the Qing side also knew in their hearts that they really wanted to ask Nan Ming to accept this request.
It was not easy. So they lost their temper and threatened them with the thousands of Ming officers and soldiers, saying that this was the threshold for negotiation. If the Ming side did not agree, then there would be no negotiation. We would go back and send those thousands of prisoners.
Go to the labor camp.
The negotiation had just begun, and the two sides were about to collapse. At this time, Xiang Xiaoqiang came out to smooth things over. He stopped being arrogant during the Nanyang negotiations, and no longer even called himself "general". He lowered his eyebrows and said with a smile:
"Haha, what about... I suggest that everyone should not get entangled in this issue to the death. Let's put aside the dispute and talk about it first. Ah, let's talk about it first... Let's sit together, isn't it just to solve the problem?
Is it a problem?"
Seeing Nan Ming's soft words, Gua Dexin sneered, threw the pen on the table, leaned back in his chair, and said:
"No, our Lord has decreed that the name must be corrected before negotiating. If the name is not correct, the words will not go smoothly. This is the basis for negotiation. If you don't accept it, there is nothing we can do."
Xiang Xiaoqiang was not angry either, and continued with a smile:
"Your emperor asked me to come to negotiate with Xiang Xiaoqiang by name. I praised Xiang Xiaoqiang for his outstanding performance in the Nanyang negotiations and did not lose the face of the Chinese people... Then Xiang Xiaoqiang shamelessly guessed that your emperor could at least listen to Xiang Xiaoqiang.
In one sentence. Can you please tell Emperor Minggui to Xiaoqiang: Since we are all Chinese
Chinese people, then stop fighting over this imaginary face, and if you want to fight, fight for something... For example, how about gold? How much do you want, set a price, and everyone can discuss it... This thing about face, then
We have to compete with foreigners. We are all Chinese, so there is no point in competing with each other... What do you think?"
When Gua Dexin heard the legendary Xiang Xiaoqiang's soft words one after another, he felt more confident. He smiled and continued to say lightly:
"There is nothing we can do, General Xiang. This is not to save face, but to clear our name. As I said just now, if the name is not correct, then the words will not go smoothly. You asked me to report to the emperor on your behalf. This, General Xiang, is to ask our emperor.
I don’t dare not to speak on my behalf. However, I first told General Xiang that we had an oral message before, saying, “This Xiang Xiaoqiang is in Nanjing.”
They said in the square that Nanming is now begging me, so it is not impossible to bow to me. So now I will give them a chance to bow to me and see if they want to.' General Xiang, you heard me? This is our emperor.
The golden words are also quoted from what you said to your Excellency yourself. General Xiang, who do you think is fighting with whom among us?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang was stunned, and was really speechless. This was really what he said, and he was really caught by that boy Guangwu. But it's okay, what he is afraid of now is that the other party will give in.
The two sides were in a stalemate and made little progress all morning.
At noon, the first round of negotiations came to an end, and we took a break for dinner.
Xiang Xiaoqiang discussed it with He Weibang and decided to take advantage of everyone's lunch at noon to go to Guade Xin in a "private capacity" to say a few words. First, he would pass on the information that "Da Ming may accept this" and make further inquiries.
, if Ming Dynasty accepts this shit basin, what kind of benefits can it get in other aspects, and will it not have to pay for it?
It is difficult to say this kind of thing at the negotiation table, but it is much easier to say it in private. And once it is said, both sides have an understanding, and then it will be easier to discuss it at the negotiation table.
In addition, according to the plan, the Qing ministers were also bribed to try to buy the bottom line of the Qing Empire's negotiations, so that they could completely control the situation at the negotiation table and minimize the price paid by the Ming Dynasty.
He Weibang and the others are all official members of the Ming Dynasty's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they are not suitable to take part in such matters. Xiang Xiaoqiang is just an officer. Although he is well-known, he is outside the Ming government. If he does it, he will succeed.
It doesn’t matter if it’s not Chengdu.
…
As usual at the luncheon, Qing officials accompanied Ming representatives to eat together. During the lunch, Gua Dexin left the table to go to the bathroom, and Xiang Xiaoqiang also got up and went with him.
In the bathroom, the two "encountered" each other by chance. They both washed their hands under the faucet and exchanged pleasantries. Then when they came out, Xiang Xiaoqiang took out a cigarette and offered it to Gua Dexin, and then lit one himself.
Xiang Xiaoqiang is rich enough, and the cigarettes he usually smokes are worth several ounces each. It can be said that one cigarette is worth several grams of gold. This time he came to Beiqing to negotiate with people, and he was specially asked to buy more than ten mingyang cigarettes.
Bring it to others. But he didn’t expect
Mr. Guadexin usually spends hundreds of dollars a piece of "ration cigarettes", but now he smokes Xiang Xiaoqiang's "migrant workers' cigarettes", which sounds awkward. But after all, he is still the Minister of Military and Aircraft of the Qing Dynasty, and his identity is here
, you also have to take into account politeness.
Guade Xin didn't inhale the cigarette at all. He passed it around in his mouth and blew it out. He looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang with a smile on his face and said:
"Do you have something to say... to your lord?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang looked around and saw that there was no one around, leaned over and laughed softly:
"Hehehe... Lord Gua... my Lord Gua... hehehe..."
As he said that, Guadexin felt something extra in his hand.
He touched it and felt something about it, and then looked down again.
In his hand was a sparkling diamond, heavy and as big as a chestnut.
In this environment, diamonds are the best tool for bribery.
Guade Xin remained calm, still squinting his eyes and saying in a long voice:
"Sir...what does this mean?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang bowed his head and said with a smile:
"Lord Gua... Well, look at what we did this morning, everyone can't even eat lunch... After all, in this negotiation, you are on the emperor's mission, and we are also on the emperor's mission... No one has
There’s a way…”
Guade Xin grabbed the diamond and did not let go, but there was a sarcastic smile on his face:
"Sir Xiang, you are right. We are all on the emperor's mission for this negotiation, and our emperor's mission is even more important. How to negotiate and to what extent it is discussed are all determined by our emperor. What we are doing is a little bit of maneuvering.
There is no room for... This first condition is what the emperor wants, not what I want. Sir, don't say you give me this thing, even if you give me a gold mountain, I don't dare to give in.