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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 527 Everyone gets what they want

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    In the study, Ronglu slowly leaned back on his chair and said calmly: "What does it mean to betray the country?"

    Gong Chengqi asked: "Didn't you write to Mr. Aliguo and say that you can provide information on the Qing army's deployment in Dagukou, Tianjin, and near Gyeonggi? In Mr. Aliguo's view, betraying the country's military deployment is treason."

    Ronglu snorted and said: "Mr. Aliguo, has he forgotten my last suggestion? I can be Britain's agent in the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Empire has reached an era that needs change. It needs Western civilization and enlightenment.  , needs more trade opportunities, and the Qing Dynasty needs enlightened ministers like me to seek cooperation with Western powers. The so-called military deployment of betraying Dagukou and other places is just to break the conservative forces of this country. I am here  Save this country. The British interest is not in destroying the Qing Dynasty, is it?"

    Gong Cheng touched his nose and laughed and said: "It's really rare for Mr. Rong to speak so grandly about seeking glory for his country. However, Mr. Aliguo will not implement or recommend this suggestion to Sir Elgin for the time being, because the Americans have already come forward.  By mediating the war between Britain and France and the Manchus, perhaps Britain and France can obtain the benefits they want without going to war."

    Ronglu took a sip of tea and said: "The Western King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will not just watch Britain and France make peace with the Qing Dynasty. I believe that this negotiation will end without any problem. I don't know what Sir Elgin did.  I think it¡¯s impossible to maximize interests through negotiations without war, doesn¡¯t he know this?¡±

    Gong Chenggong cupped his hands and said: "Master Rong, I'm just a messenger. I won't speculate on things I don't know. However, I can also guess what Master Rong is thinking. Master Rong was recently demoted by the Queen Mother of the Two Palaces. My heart is  I was dissatisfied, so I wanted to use the help of foreigners to show the court some color. I used the military deployment at Dagukou to gain the trust and support of Britain and France. Becoming an agent was only the first step. I guess the court was eager to wait for Britain and France to approach the capital.  When suing for peace, Britain and France will appoint you to participate in the peace talks. In this way, you can become an important minister of the court again through the influence of foreigners."

    Ronglu smiled slightly and said: "You are very smart, but you are too confident. What's the benefit of participating in the peace talks? Do I need to try my best to fight for it? Forget it, I can't explain it to you, since you are just a messenger  Yes, then go back and tell Aliguo. I will wait for him at any time. You can get the military deployment from Dagukou to the capital from me. I believe he will use it one day."

    Gong Cheng didn't waste any time, stood up and said with a salute: "Then I'll say goodbye, good little guy." Just when he was about to leave, Ronglu said: "Wait a minute." Gong Cheng turned around and Ronglu touched his thumb.  The jade ring on the table pointed at him and said, "I heard that Mr. Banlun is very short of money?"

    Gong Cheng smiled slightly and said: "Does Master Rong want to bribe the villain?" Rong Lu also smiled and said: "Everyone takes what he needs and what he asks for." Gong Cheng said unceremoniously: "Then I don't know what Master Rong can do.  Price?"

    Ronglu pondered for a moment and said: "When I was in Guangzhou, I opened a trading company. Although the Taiping Army later occupied Guangzhou, the Taiping Army did not know that the trading company was under my name. Moreover, I still had 30% of the shares in that trading company.  It belongs to Mr. Aliguo, so it is still in operation. I can give you 20% of the shares, and the annual dividends are quite large."

    Gong Cheng was slightly surprised and said, "Is it possible that Mr. Rong is talking about the Huifeng Company under the name of Mr. A Liguo?"

    Ronglu took out some documents and showed them to Gong Cheng. They indeed listed the shares of foreign companies and other contracts, and also had Aliguo's signature and seal on them.  Gong Cheng smiled bitterly and said: "No wonder Master Rong and Mr. A Liguo have such a close relationship. The villain has only recently served as the head coach of Huifeng Foreign Company. I dare you to say that Master Rong is still the boss of the villain."

    Ronglu put away the document and said, "How about it? If you work for me, you will get 20% of the shares, and you will also be one of the bosses of Huifeng." Gong Cheng hesitated slightly, and then said after a while: "Although I work for the British,  But we are still Chinese, and we still have defenses against Huayi.¡±

    Ronglu smiled and said: "Do you really think that I will be a traitor and seek glory? There are quite a lot of conservative forces in the DPRK. If we don't defeat them, when will the country be able to be civilized and reformed? What I am doing is just borrowing the power of foreigners, and I can't really  Help foreigners change their dynasties."

    Gong Cheng asked doubtfully: "Why is Mr. Rong so sure?"

    Ronglu said: "England and France only want sea trade and have no interest in occupying the Qing Dynasty. Don't worry. In the future, once I succeed in taking advantage of the situation, you can also join the court as an official. The hatred of my father-in-law who was demoted and murdered will be gone."  It¡¯s worth it, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    After Gong Cheng pondered for a moment, he nodded slowly and said, "Okay, Mr. Rong, I'd like to work with you." Rong Lu extended his hand to shake hands with him and said with a smile, "It's a pleasure to work with you." Gong Cheng then asked  : "Then what does the villain need to do?"

    Ronglu said slowly: "Give me the news, all the news, and the British. I need someone who can provide them with reasonable advice."??

    Gong Cheng smiled slightly and said: "It is not difficult to provide information and suggestions, but the British are very conservative and stubborn. It is not easy to make them change their decision. Unless what Mr. Rong is planning is really what you said.  In that case, if this negotiation is disrupted again, it may become possible.¡±

    Ronglu said confidently: "Just watch, that King of the West will not disappoint us."

    Gong Cheng nodded and asked: "Then, will you continue to work as a big class member of a foreign bank?" Rong Lu smiled and said: "I have seen the recent transcripts of the foreign bank's accounts. You have done a good job as a big class worker. Of course you will continue to do it.  .¡±

    Gong Cheng frowned and said, "But now most of Huifeng's business is with the Taiping Army, and he even helps them import arms. Is this appropriate for Mr. Rong?"

    Ronglu said indifferently: "The purpose of opening a foreign company to do business is to make money. It is just for profit. The most important thing in business is credibility and reputation. As long as you can make money, you can't do business with anyone? What's more, this foreign company has Aliguo  30% of the shares, in the eyes of foreigners, it is natural to put profit first. Do you think that I can stop doing business with the Taiping Army? Furthermore, when the small country of the Netherlands went to war with Spain in the past, although the two countries were at war, the Dutch bank  Within the period, the money exchanges between the Spanish nobles continued as usual, and even Dutch merchants sold weapons and warships to the Spanish. In business, foreign companies just have to do whatever they want, and I only need to make money."

    Gong Cheng laughed, cupped his hands and said: "Sir Rong is indeed not an ordinary person, I understand. I will go back now. Mr. Aliguo and Sir Elgin have actually arrived at Dagukou, and the war mediation negotiations are about to begin.  If there is any information, the villain will report back as soon as possible."

    After saying this, Ronglu also said a few polite words, and then asked the housekeeper to come in and see Gong Cheng off as usual. Looking at Gong Cheng's back, Ronglu secretly smiled and said, "Xiao Yungui, Xiao Yungui, don't let me down."

    ¡­¡­

    Off the coast of Dagu, on board the French cruiser Nemesis, the French Minister Bourblon, the French Consul Grotto in Tianjing, the British Minister Sir Elgin, the British Consul Alley in Shanghai, the British Fleet Commander Grant, the French Fleet Commander Navy  Major General Brod and others gathered together.

    Through the open porthole, the coastline of Dagukou loomed in the distance. Grant was dressed in an admiral's uniform and stared into the distance with a sword studded with gems. Elgin took off the glasses on his nose and rubbed them.  Eyebrow said: "Gentlemen, the attitude and sincerity of the Qing Dynasty in this negotiation are very friendly, and the Americans are also very enthusiastic in mediating. It seems that it is time to consider negotiations."

    Grant turned back and said: "The Royal Navy of the British Empire suffered a defeat last time at Dagu Pass. The Navy has no practice of holding negotiations before defeating the enemy. Moreover, Your Excellency, Governor, do you think that without victory as a bargaining chip, we can gain anything at the negotiation table?"  Is it what we want?¡±

    Elgin and Bulbulon looked at each other. Elgin shrugged and said: "General, I understand your military's sense of honor, but the other party requires negotiation, and the Americans also came forward to mediate. We cannot give up and directly  Let¡¯s start a war, don¡¯t you want the Qing Dynasty to surrender unconditionally?¡±

    Grant sneered and said: "Americans have fallen into the eyes of money. They are greedy, selfish, and unprincipled. In their eyes, there is only the word profit. Has the Governor forgotten that American commercial banks purchased arms equipment for the Qing Dynasty?"

    Elgin breathed a sigh of relief and said: "My Excellency French Minister Bourblon and I were very angry about this, so we supported the Taiping Army's approach, and the batch of arms and equipment was not delivered to the Qing Dynasty. For this reason, the Americans also proposed  Fortunately, our wise friend, His Excellency King Xi of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, resolved this commercial dispute, right?"

    Grant still stood very upright, and he said firmly: "I still think that we cannot negotiate peace with the Qing people. The expeditionary force has ended the war in India and can be sent to the Far East at any time. We can fully accept the peace negotiation as a winner."

    Elgin hummed and said: "I can understand that the weight of victory can increase the success rate of negotiations, but both the United Kingdom and the United States have suffered a serious economic crisis. What we need is to reduce costs to achieve our goals, not to increase war bonds.  .¡±

    Grant said loudly and unwillingly: "Gentlemen, if we negotiate now, we may not be able to fulfill the requirements of maximizing interests, and we will probably waste more time."

    Aliguo suddenly interjected: "General Grant, are you sure of victory? Or do you know how much the Qing Congress has invested in this war?" Grant was speechless, and Aliguo said slowly: "The Qing Dynasty  The country has huge infantry and cavalry troops, as well as elite Tatar cavalry. War also has unpredictable risks, so negotiating first may not be a way to solve the problem."

    Grant blushed and said: "We have nearly 30,000 soldiers waiting in India."??I firmly believe that we can defeat the barbaric Qing people!  "

    While the argument was going on, the door of the reception room opened, and the British Consul in Tianjing, Midile, walked in quickly. He held up a document in his hand and said excitedly: "Gentlemen, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is also willing to enter into a new treaty with us.  Negotiations!" (To be continued)
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