Chapter 32 Section 32 special contest

After Guo Songtao left, Li Hongzhang urgently met with Shidi Fuli and Mai Huatuo to discuss the matter of hiring Gordon as the leader of the Ever Victorious Army. Before the interpreter finished translating the words, Shi Difu immediately jumped up and said: "Master Li, you are joking, Oren has only been in office for a few days, and he will be replaced. This will not work, we cannot promise it! Oren has been working hard since he took office. , you asked him to go east, but he didn’t go west, he was as docile as a sheep. Of course, if you insist on doing this, Mr. Li, we have nothing to say. But Gordon is too good, we can’t easily I will grant your request!"

Li Hongzhang said with a smile: "It is because Gordon is so good that the department decided to invite him to be the leader of the ever-victorious army. Of course, General Oren is also very good, but Gordon is more suitable." Shidifuli and Mai Huatuo looked at each other, Shidifuli said to Maihuatuo in English: "Mr. Consul, Bai Qiwen doesn't need to hide anymore. How about, let him be the deputy leader of the Ever Victorious Army?" Mai Huatuo nodded and said, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I don't think we should miss it." Li Hongzhang saw the secretive appearance of Shidi Fuli and Mai Huatuo, and knew that they must be playing tricks behind his back, but Li Hongzhang had no one of his own, so there was nothing he could do in a hurry.He met with Mai Huatuo several times, all with the help of the other party.So far, Li Hongzhang realized the importance of communication.

Shidi Fuli and Mai Huatuo stopped talking. He looked at Li Hongzhang and said solemnly: "Master Li, the governor's office has decided to ask Gordon to be the leader of the ever-victorious army. I have just exchanged views with Consul Mai. We can I promise you. However, we have one condition, as an exchange, I also hope that Mr. Li can agree to us." Li Hongzhang replied calmly: "Soldiers, please speak, and the headquarters will listen attentively." "Master Li, you don't need to be nervous. In fact, our condition is very simple, that is, let Bai Qiwen go to the Changsheng Army as the deputy leader."

When Li Hongzhang heard this, he was very surprised. He asked casually: "Scholar, what are you talking about? This department did not hear what you said just now." "Master Li, you don't have to talk to me like this. In fact, Bai Qiwen didn't run away. He has been living in Shanghai since he left the Ever Victorious Army." Li Hongzhang pondered for a while, and asked: "Shijunmen, since Bai Qiwen didn't escape, why didn't you send him to the inspector's office? He ransacked Lord Wu's mansion and took many treasures; Yang Fang prepared 40,000 taels of silver bills for the Changsheng Army. Don’t the soldiers know about the crimes Bai Qiwen committed?”

Mai Huatuo said at this time: "Master Li, please don't get excited. We admit that Bai Qiwen broke the law, but he has already admitted his mistake to us. Besides, after our investigation, it was your Wu Xu and Yang Fang who broke the law first. It wasn't Bai Qiwen. Master Li knew that in the Battle of Ningbo, Hua Er was killed and the Changsheng Army suffered heavy losses. Under such circumstances, Bai Qiwen proposed to Wu Xu and Yang Fang to recruit soldiers to supplement their troops. Wu Xu and Yang Fang They all agreed. "However, when Bai Qiwen recruited Bingyong, Wu Xu and Yang Fang not only refused to pay the salary, but also kept saying that they had never agreed. It was under such circumstances that Bai Qiwen closed the gate of Songjiang City and asked Wu Xu for an explanation. We understand that Wu Xu was in Songjiang City that night, but he avoided seeing him and sent the magistrate out to speak with Bai Qiwen.

"I have already reported what you have done to the embassy, ​​and the embassy will soon lodge a protest with the Prime Minister's Office of your country. Although Bai Qiwen is an American, he is serving our British Empire. You contradict your promise, It is clearly contemptuous of our country, we cannot tolerate it!" Li Hongzhang was even more astonished. He hadn't expected that the British could still speak so strongly despite being unreasonable.He suppressed his anger, and said word by word: "Shi Junmen, Consul Mai, what you said surprised this department. Bai Qiwen robbed the Wu Mansion, and it was recorded in Songjiang Mansion; Bai Qiwen injured Yang Fang, and Wu Zuo ①The text and ink marks on the injury test were not completely dry.

"Now, notices of arresting Bai Qiwen are posted at various checkpoints, but what do you two say? Let Bai Qiwen be the deputy leader of the Ever Victorious Army again. Is this reasonable? Bai Qiwen has natural citizenship with our country, and he is a subject of our country. It is only right for you to immediately send Bai Qiwen to the Yamen of the court for questioning! If you two still insist on letting Bai Qiwen be the deputy leader of the Changsheng Army, the Ministry would rather disband the Changsheng Army than agree!" After speaking, he stood up with an attitude He said forcefully: "Both of you, please hand over Bai Qiwen now, and bring him back to the yamen of the court for questioning!"

Shidi Fuli and Mai Huatuo were speechless by Li Hongzhang's words, looked at each other in blank dismay, and could not make a sound.Mai Huatuo whispered to Shidi Fuli in English: "General, we underestimated this Li Hongzhang. I suspect that he is not a purebred Chinese. No one who is a purebred Chinese would dare to speak to us like that." Shidi Fuli whispered: "I also feel the same. This Li Hongzhang, he is really a cunning old fox! Don't worry, let me deal with him!" After finishing speaking, Shidi Fu stood up, walked up to Li Hongzhang with a smile, and said, "Master Li, don't always be like this. Our British Empire is a friend of your country, and I am also a friend of you. What is Bai Qiwen? He is A scoundrel in the American West! But, Mr. Lee, when Paik was fighting, he was a lion again! We don't want this lion to throw himself at the enemy and come back to bite us. We beg you to have Paik as the ever victorious The deputy leader of the army is not helping Bai Qiwen, but actually helping you.

"As for where Bai Qiwen is now, we don't know. We are also looking for him through the US consulate. I firmly believe that as long as you agree to let Bai Qiwen be the deputy leader of the Changsheng Army, Bai Qiwen will soon come to the governor's office to greet you How about Master Li, do you have any questions?" Mai Huatuo said: "Lord Li, we are sincerely helping you. If Bai Qiwen really takes refuge in Changmao, you will be in big trouble! Don't hesitate any longer, just agree." Shidi Fuli and Mai Huatuo's ruffian accent made Li Hongzhang so angry that he didn't know what to say for a while.

Mai Huatuo got up at this moment and said: "Master Li, you should trust us, we are really afraid that Bai Qiwen will throw himself at Changmao and bite us in turn. Changmao's loyal king, Li Xiucheng, is a man who is very good at using soldiers. If Bai Qiwen, a lion, goes to help him, not to mention Shanghai, even the whole of Jiangsu will be lost. At that time, where will you be the governor? The queen mother of your country will put you in prison, and may even kill you Mr. Li, you are not yet forty years old, isn't it too regrettable to die for nothing because of Bai Qiwen?"

Shidi Fuli also shrugged his shoulders and said: "Master Li, please agree to let Bai Qiwen be the deputy team leader. We don't want to lose you as a good friend! We don't want to watch you beheaded!" Shidi Fuli Li and Mai Huatuo sang together, as if Li Hongzhang had been thrown into a big prison and was being interrogated by the court and whipped by the jailer. Li Hongzhang said with a sneer: "Okay, this department will give you a face, please hand over Bai Qiwen." Shidi Fuli said happily: "Master Li, have you agreed to let Bai Qiwen be the deputy leader of the Ever Victorious Army?" Li Hongzhang said word by word: "The Ministry will take this rascal to the Yamen of the court for questioning!" After listening to the interpreter's recitation of Li Hongzhang's words, Shidi Foli and Mai Huatuo froze again. Shidi Fuli whispered to Mai Huatuo in English: "Mr. Consul, we have to hand over Bai Qiwen to him!" Mai Huatuo was not reconciled: "No, General, we can't let the money we got go to waste! I told him." After finishing speaking, he quickly adjusted his facial expression: "Master Li, since you are so stubborn, Shi Difo and I General Li naturally has nothing to say. We don't want to lose a friend like you because of Bai Qiwen. I will tell you where Bai Qiwen is hiding right now, he is probably hiding in the German consulate." After Mai Huatuo finished speaking, taking advantage of Li Hongzhang's inattention, he took a sly look at Shidi Fuli. Li Hongzhang nodded in satisfaction, and said casually: "Scholar Junmen, Consul Mai, it's not that this department doesn't want to be friends with you, it's because Bai Qiwen has gone too far. He can discuss business with Wu Xu, but he shouldn't rob Property. Yangfang is a criminal name of a province. Bai Qiwen not only wounded him, but also took away the salary of the Changsheng Army for one month. You know, Bai Qiwen is the third-rank top wearer of the reward. The law of our country. He acted so boldly, didn’t he clearly embarrass the Ministry? The Ministry will return to the governor’s office now, and send someone to inform the German Consulate to arrest Bai Qiwen and bring him to justice. As for Gordon, when will he take office, the Ministry is waiting for you Arrangement. The department will take my leave first." The two sent Li Hongzhang straight out of the gate of the consulate, watching the tall Li Hongzhang get on the sedan chair and huddle away.After entering the room, Mai Huatuo called a guard to his side and whispered, "Go to the American consulate immediately and tell Bai Qiwen to leave Shanghai immediately. Li Hongzhang is arresting him." The guard took the order and left. The consul of the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai took Bai Qiwen and soon met with Mai Huatuo and Shidi Fuli.After negotiation, everyone agreed that the British side would send a ship to escort Bai Qiwen out of Shanghai, and go directly to Beijing to find British Minister Ali Guo and American Minister Burlingame Burlingame. Ali Guo and American Minister Burlingame Burlingame would come forward to negotiate with the Prime Minister's Office of the Qing Dynasty, and strive to win Bai Qiwen. Return to Shanghai as the leader or deputy leader of the ever-victorious army. Before Bai Qiwen left, he suddenly raised the issue of financial difficulties and asked Mai Huatuo for 40,000 taels of silver notes.Mai Huatuo refused to hand over the bank note to death, and claimed that in order to atone for his crimes, he had handed over the bank note to Li Hongzhang. Mai Huatuo said: "General Bai, don't you still have the jewels looted from the Wu Mansion in your hand? You can sell it for silver, and it will be enough to spend whatever you want in Beijing!" Shidi Fuli suddenly opened his eyes and said: "I have heard people say that there is a valuable night pearl in Wu Xu's hand. Is this night pearl in your hand?" Bai Qiwen immediately pointed to the sky and said: "General, Wu Xu is very shrewd, is he willing to put the treasure in the open? If that bead really fell into my hands, would I dare to keep it privately?" Shi Difu said angrily: "Bai Qiwen, you bastard! I believe you just once. Let me warn you first. If you succeed in your trip to Beijing this time, if you dare to cause trouble for us, see if I don't cut your dog's neck !" Bai Qiwen knew he was short-sighted, so he kept making noises, but he didn't dare to speak loudly. When Li Hongzhang returned to the Governor's Yamen, he immediately sent Qiao Songnian, the inspector of Jiangsu Province, and ordered him to take someone to the German consulate to get Bai Qiwen immediately. Qiao Songnian was ordered not to be negligent, so when he returned to the yamen, he ordered the arrests, and borrowed an officer from the commercial yamen, and then took a green sedan chair and brought a group of people to the German Consulate in Shanghai . After the German consul asked why, he jumped up and shouted, protesting again and again, which made Qiao Songnian very embarrassed.Qiao Songnian was afraid of causing a negotiation incident, so he had to apologize to the consul, while cursing the people below for not being able to do things.The consul's anger finally stopped. Back at the Governor's Yamen, Qiao Songnian bent his waist at ninety degrees and reported the result to Li Hongzhang.Li Hongzhang pondered for a while, then came to his senses, and said again and again: "The headquarters has been fooled by Shidi Fuli and Mai Huatuo! Bai Qiwen is an American, so he should hide in the American consulate. Even if he wants to hide in the German consulate, Will the Germans agree?" Qiao Songnian bent down and replied: "Futai's words make sense. It seems that Bai Qiwen really didn't hide with the Germans. However, if Ruosili will take people to the American consulate to arrest him now, if the Americans also arrive at him If you refuse to admit it, what should Si Li do?" Li Hongzhang pondered for a long time, but finally couldn't think of a better way, so he said: "It seems that even if Bai Qiwen is really hiding in Shanghai, it is really not easy for me to get him. The entanglement among the countries is complicated, and they are all trying to trick me. Great Qing. Come on, let’s not go to the US consulate, let’s inform the checkpoints and Haikou, check carefully, and don’t let him run away.” Qiao Songnian said yes again and again, and while he was leaving, he said: "Stand tall and see far away, I will order you to go down after Si Li goes down." However, Bai Qiwen still ran away. A British ship left Shanghai ostentatiously, passed through various checkpoints and Haikou, and sailed straight to Tianjin.Bai Qiwen was sitting in this boat. After some deliberation, he decided to go to Beijing alone to find the British Minister to China Ali Guo and the American Minister to China Burlingame Burlingame. The purpose of the army leader.