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Volume One: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 723: At the State Banquet

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    After the flag-raising ceremony at the founding ceremony, there was an exciting military parade. All the elite troops in Beijing mobilized troops to participate. However, because the Taiping Army¡¯s battle on the national battlefield had not yet ended, only the troops in Beijing  Participated in the military parade.  Even so, the parade of the Guards Cavalry, the Elite Cavalry Regiment of the First Division, elite infantry, artillery and other units in Beijing still shocked people.

    After the grand military parade, Xiao Yungui and his wife, officials and envoys from various countries who attended the founding ceremony returned to the Forbidden City. In the Yangxin Hall, Xiao Yungui and his wife accepted the credentials presented by envoys from various countries and some gifts celebrating the founding of the country.  Xiao Yungui and his wife held a large state banquet in the palace for civil and military ministers and envoys from various countries.

    The atmosphere of the state banquet was full of laughter and laughter, especially the group of old brothers in the West Hall, who were all very drunk. Li Kaifang and Lin Fengxiang kept drinking, and then recalled the difficulties when Jintian revolted, and then they  I hugged my head and cried.  This scene brought the atmosphere to a high point when Xiao Yungui and his wife drank with their old brothers one by one. The emotions of these civil servants and generals were released at this moment, because many of their comrades who were as close as brothers could not see the new brothers.  At the moment when the country was founded, thousands of passionate men and women paid the price of their lives for the establishment of the new country.

    Xiao Yungui also wanted to have a good drunken time, but he still had foreign envoys to greet, and it was related to the national system, so he couldn't be too rude.  After he toasted to Zuo Zongtang, Li Kaifang, Lin Fengxiang, Ji Wenyuan, Li Xiucheng and other old brothers.  After a few words of comfort, I just let them go when I saw them singing and dancing. They had the right and reason to indulge in tonight's banquet.

    Then Xiao Yungui toasted to the newly surrendered Manchu officials civil and military officials.  Yuan Jiasan, Li Hongzhang, Hu Linyi, Peng Yulin, Shen Baozhen, Zhang Zhidong and others all received the honor of having a conversation with Xiao Yungui alone.

    Then Xiao Yungui had separate conversations with envoys from various countries. The envoys from Prussia, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries all expressed their congratulations on the founding of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in China. They believed that this open and civilized new regime would bring new opportunities to the ancient country.

    The Prussian minister is still Bismarck. He is worried that the young country will face the challenges of Britain, France and Russia. Although Prussia is about to rise, their emperor has just been replaced, and the new emperor still needs to stabilize the domestic situation.  Therefore, the ability of Britain and France to contain Europe was not enough, for which Bismarck apologized.  Before that.  The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Prussia have already made a secret agreement, laying the foundation for the future alliance between the two countries. However, the prerequisite for the alliance is that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom can contain Britain, France and Russia in the east as much as possible, and Prussia will take this opportunity to challenge France on the European continent.  dominance.  Now Bismarck was worried if the Taiping Rebellion could not be sustained for a longer period of time.  That did not help Prussia's rise.

    Xiao Yungui expressed his understanding of Bismarck's concerns, but Xiao Yungui's words made Bismarck completely relieved: "Mr. Bismarck, our country's war with Britain, France and Russia will not fail, because we have mobilized people across the country, and we are fighting  In a civil war, external threats and invasions will be completely defeated!"

    While the two were talking, good news came from the Ministry of War on duty. After Xiao Yungui read it, he walked to the main seat of the banquet and said loudly: "Everyone, be quiet. I have important news to announce!" The people in the banquet hall fell silent.  After coming down, they slowly gathered around. Xiao Yungui raised the official document in his hand and said loudly: "Our war against Russia has achieved significant results. Three days ago, our Northeast Front Army defeated 8,000 Russian troops outside Nerchinsk.  The army has now surrounded the city of Nerchinsk with superior force!"

    After the scene was quiet for a while, huge cheers, applause and whistles broke out. Even Bismarck, who was very rigid, couldn't help but whistle. He stepped forward and said to Xiao Yungui: "Your Majesty, this is really good news.  Nerchinsk is very important to the Russians. If the Russians can be severely damaged here, it will definitely make the domestic situation in Russia worse. Perhaps the Russians can be defeated first and let them have peace talks first, so that they can concentrate on dealing with the enemies in the south.  .¡±

    Bismarck's strategic vision was indeed unique, and he could see Xiao Yungui's strategic layout at a glance. Xiao Yungui said with a smile: "Mr. Bismarck, you are right, think about it together with me. In ancient Chinese sayings, this is called a place for heroes."  We agree." Xiao Yungui then raised his wine glass and said loudly to everyone: "Come, let us raise a glass together and wish our Taiping Army defeat our enemies! Wan victory and victory!" Everyone raised their glasses together and said in unison: "Wan  Victory, congratulations!"

    Everyone was drinking happily, but Xiao Yungui noticed that the American Minister Burlingame was sitting alone in the corner, seeming a little worried. After Zuo Zongtang came up to remind Xiao Yungui, Xiao Yungui and Zuo Zongtang stepped forward together.  Zuo Zongtang raised his glass and said, "Mr. Minister, is there any lack of hospitality?"

      Burlingame saw that His Majesty the Emperor of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the First Prime Minister were coming to him. He quickly stood up and raised his glass and said with a smile: "No, your country's reception is very grand. We Americans all feel the friendly atmosphere. Your Majesty, the Emperor,  Mr. Prime Minister, congratulations on your remarkable achievements." After that, the three of them had a drink.

    After putting down the wine glasses, Xiao Yungui pulled the two of them to sit down and said with a smile: "I know what Mr. Burlingame is thinking. He must be worried about the situation in the country." Burlingame nodded with a wry smile. Last year, in 1860, he advocated the abolition of slavery.  After Lincoln was elected President of the United States, states represented by southern slave owners launched rebellions one after another. The southern slave states formed the Confederate government in February 1861, with Davis as president.  In April of the same year, the Confederate Army preemptively captured Fort Sumter, and the American Civil War officially broke out.  The war lasted until October. In the Battle of Manassas in July, the Northern Army suffered heavy losses, and the Northern Army also suffered a bitter battle in the Peninsula Campaign.

    Burlingame was a staunch abolitionist. He delivered the famous speech "Massachusetts' Defense" on June 2, 1856, which was an important document of the American slave liberation movement.  In 1854, a group of people who opposed black slavery established a new political party, which is today the American Republican Party. Burlingame was one of the founders of the American Republican Party. With his help, the party was established in Massachusetts.  In 1855, he entered the U.S. Congress and served as a member of the House of Representatives for several years. Shortly after President Lincoln took office in 1860, Burlingame was appointed as the 13th U.S. Minister to China.  At the beginning of the year, Burlingame arrived in Beijing and became one of the first batch of foreign ministers to settle in Beijing, the new capital of the Taiping Rebellion.  At the beginning of his tenure as minister to China, Burlingame began to actively implement the cooperation policy with China proposed by US Secretary of State Seward: to carry out fair diplomatic activities to replace force diplomacy.  It neither demands nor occupies concessions at treaty ports, nor will it ever threaten the territorial and sovereign integrity of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of China.  Compared with the tyranny of Russia, France, Britain and other countries, the United States' attitude towards China won the favor of the Taiping Rebellion, and they also had special trust in Burlingame.

    At the same time, Burlingame also actively implemented the "Wartime Far East Trade Treaty" left by his predecessor William William. He contacted other countries to abide by the agreement. When the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Britain, France and Russia were at war, he still actively promoted trade activities, making  Southern commerce did not come to a standstill.  Many British and French businessmen were even secretly involved. Their merchant ships flew the American flag and they still did business with the hostile country of the Taiping Rebellion. This was in line with the saying, "With 200% profit, they dare to trample on everything."  Human law!¡±

    Xiao Yungui consoled him: "Mr. Minister, please rest assured that our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will always support the northern government. The northern government is the legitimate government of the United States. The separatists in the south are traitors and we will not have any contact with them." Xiao Yungui said.  Although the commander said this, he was filled with bad thoughts. He thought to himself: "The American Civil War has just begun. The Northern Army will have to suffer defeat for one or two years before they can slowly regain the situation. Now we will fight with the Northern Army first."  Make good friends and buy them some weapons. After two years, I will have almost ended the war between Britain, France and Russia. At that time, I will start to support the Southern Army, buy weapons and provide funds to them, so that the American Civil War can be fought.  It¡¯s been a little longer.¡±

    Thinking of this, Xiao Yungui nodded towards Zuo Zongtang, and Zuo Zongtang said knowingly: "In order to show support for the United States, our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will let our controlled companies in the United States provide a batch of weapons and supplies to the northern government at a low cost. Those  The weapons are all the latest weapons.¡±

    Hu Xueyan spent several years in the United States, constantly investing in and annexing some potential companies in the United States. He has factories in New York, Los Angeles and other places. Sixty percent of the Taiping Rebellion's domestic technology and important machinery input also came from these companies and factories.  At the same time, these companies and factories are also important taxpayers and economic pillars of the northern government. In particular, several of their arsenals have received many orders from the northern government of the United States and are accelerating weapons production.

    Burlingame was very happy when he heard that Zuo Zongtang offered to sell weapons at a low price. At this time, Americans believed in free markets and free trade, and were not very interested in the investment and control of domestic enterprises by foreign capital. At that time, there was no improvement.  Considering these issues from the perspective of national security, and not fully understanding the harm of the domestic oligopoly and monopoly economies, it was not until the early 20th century that the United States raised its control over the economy from the perspective of national security.  Therefore, Americans at this time were not disgusted with some American companies controlled by the Taiping Rebellion. Instead, they were very grateful for their helping hand during the Great Depression.

    Of course, later, because of the Taiping Rebellion's excessive war profits in the American Civil War, it seriously affected the course of the Civil War and completely woke up the Americans. Nine years later, in 1870, the United States introduced the National Economic Control Act and the restriction of monopolies.  The series of bills can be regarded as another piece of evidence that Xiao Yungui changed history.  (To be continued)
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