Chapter 72 Section 72 Negotiation Failure

Prince Gong's sedan chair was quickly carried out of the palace, but instead of going to the Prime Minister's Office, it went straight to the British Legation in China. When they arrived at the gate of the legation, someone first took the invitation card of the prince to report inside, and then Prince Gong was also helped out of the sedan chair. Soon, a translator came out with the official sent by Prince Gong to post posts.The translator nodded in front of Prince Gong, and then said with a stern face, "Minister Witoma, our country, left Beijing by car before breakfast. If you have anything to do, wait for my envoy to come back." .”

When Prince Gong heard this, he was immediately stunned, his mind went blank.The translator glanced at Prince Gong, said coldly: "My lord, please go back!", then turned and walked back to the legation. Prince Gong flew onto the sedan chair and shouted: "Get up the sedan chair quickly and go into the palace to meet the Queen Mother!" The sedan chair flew towards the palace gate like flying. When Prince Gong saw Empress Dowager Cixi, he was out of breath and said: "Report to Empress Dowager, I just heard the news, Wade left without saying goodbye, and left the capital early in the morning to return home to ask for orders."

When the Empress Dowager Cixi heard this, she was like five thunderbolts. She was so shocked that her face turned pale, her hands trembled and her heart beat. She said in a daze, "What did you say? What is he going to do when he returns to China? Hurry up, send a fast horse to pass on to Li Hongzhang." The decree, let Li Hongzhang keep Wade in Tianjin no matter what! This decree must be ahead of Wade and handed to Li Hongzhang! Tell Li Hongzhang that no matter what, Wade cannot be released back to China. Waiting for Wade to arrive with a large fleet of warships, it will be difficult to dismiss! What are you still doing? Go back to the military plane to draw up an order!" Prince Gong hurriedly retreated.

Li Hongzhang had heard about the Dian case for a long time. Guo Songtao also wrote to him about Wade Ma's disturbance in the prime minister's office, but he didn't take it to heart.Li Hongzhang believed that Prince Gong and the Zongli Yamen could handle the matter well, and his main energy was still on raising money to buy foreign ships. On this day, he was sitting in the signing room of the Tianjin Hotel, discussing with Sheng Xuanhuai about sending personnel to the German Martial Arts Academy to learn naval and army weapons skills, when he suddenly received an urgent imperial decree from the Beijing Military Aircraft Office.

The decree said: "According to Prince Gong, Bao Jun, and Shen Guifen, the case of Margaret being murdered in England has been repeatedly debated between the prince and minister and the British envoy Wade. The envoy will make various requests based on this matter. It can be accommodated." Those who have been approved with discretion; those who hinder the permission to go, should be refuted. The envoy failed to fulfill his request, so he left Beijing yesterday and said. Traveling out of Beijing is naturally intended to be a threat. If the envoy arrives in Tianjin and goes to see Li Hongzhang to discuss the matter, the supervisor can enlighten him accordingly and do business with the nearest one. If the envoy arrives in Tianjin and intends to go south, the supervisor It is also necessary to discuss with him, and hope that the case can be brought forward so that it will not be postponed. I respect this."

At the back of the imperial decree are the eight original proposals between Wade and Prince Gong. Li Hongzhang took the hand of the target and couldn't help but sighed up to the sky: "How did things become like this? You must not start a quarrel at this time!" He hurriedly sent Xu Qian, who had just been assigned to Tianjin Customs Road, to come over and ordered: "The old man just now After receiving the imperial edict, the Prime Minister’s Office and Wade’s talks collapsed! Wade has already left Beijing and wants to rush back to China. You should immediately ask someone to find out whether Wade has passed Tianjin or has not yet arrived in Tianjin. If you arrive in Tianjin, you Just go to see him immediately and tell him that the old man wants to talk to him and ask him to make an appointment. This matter is urgent, you should do it right away, and the old man is waiting for your results."

Xu Qianshen had just arrived in office, and when he encountered such a difficult matter, his scalp felt numb and his whole body was cold, but he didn't dare not to deal with it; Xu Qianshen felt a little annoyed in his heart. There are a few more cars driving in front of the British Consulate in Tianjin than usual. Wade had just arrived in Tianjin and was resting at the British Consulate.When Xu Qian received the confirmation report, he immediately took the post and went to pay a visit to Wade. After Xu Qian saw Wade, he was polite at first, and then said slowly: "I am here to visit your minister at the order of my family, Li Zhongtang. My family said that he and your minister are friends. , Your minister has arrived in Tianjin, he should meet with your minister to talk about the old relationship, I don't know what your minister thinks?"

Wade said coldly: "This envoy and Li Zhongtang of your country are of course friends, but your country is extremely unfriendly to our country. This envoy came to Tianjin this time not because he has any business to do, but because he has to take a boat Go to Shanghai and return to the country by boat from Shanghai to request an order. If Gui Zhongtang wants to discuss the matter of Majiali with this Minister, please tell Gui Zhongtang. This Minister believes that this matter is no longer possible. If Gui Zhongtang invites this Minister, I just want to reminisce about the old days, and the envoy is naturally happy to meet him, and the envoy is waiting for his arrival at the consulate."

Xu Qianshen left the consulate happily and flew to report to Li Hongzhang.Li Hongzhang knew that Wade had not left Tianjin, so he was naturally overjoyed.After a little preparation, he took Xu Qianshen, Xue Fucheng and others to visit Wade overnight.Wade still respected Li Hongzhang.In Wade's eyes, Li Hongzhang was the prime minister of the Qing Dynasty at that time.Not only did Li Hongzhang do many transactions with the UK, he was friendly to the UK, and he also understood the "Public Law of All Nations". When two people meet, it is natural to greet each other first, and then get to the point.

Li Hongzhang stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Minister Wei is very happy to come to Tianjin. Minister Wei can live in Tianjin for a while, and I can accompany you around. Tianjin has changed a lot in the past two years. Well worth a visit." Wade said: "Thank you, Li Zhongtang, for your kindness. This time, the envoy is passing through Tianjin, going to Shanghai by boat, and then going back to China by boat from Shanghai. When this envoy returns from China, I will definitely accept Li Zhongtang's invitation." Li Hongzhang still smiled and said: "Minister Wei, there are some things, we might as well sit down and have a good talk, don't insist on going back to China. If you want, I can accompany you to Beijing."

Wade said angrily: "Li Zhongtang, please tell me, this envoy left your capital this time, and he does not plan to return there again. This envoy said something that Li Zhongtang didn't like to hear. The prime minister's office in your country, including Prince Gong Inside, they are all people who don't count. The envoy has nothing to talk to them, so he can only go back to the country to ask for orders. It is already the second year of Guangxu, but they still refuse to do a single thing seriously. Playing child's games with this envoy day after day. This envoy has been completely disappointed with the prime minister's office in your country, they can't accomplish anything at all!" Li Hongzhang pondered for a while, and said: "Minister Wei Rong, the Prime Minister's Office has the same difficulties as the Prime Minister's Office! Besides, there are no trivial matters between the two countries, and we can't just do it. We must always discuss with each other to understand what is feasible and what is not feasible." Wei Tuoma suddenly said: "Please forgive Li Zhongtang, I just arrived in Tianjin, and I don't want to talk about this matter with you. I want to rest for a while, can we talk about it tomorrow?" Li Hongzhang said with a smile: "I only talk casually with your minister. That's fine. Minister Wei can take a rest for a few days. When I'm tired, how about I invite you to drink tea in the hotel?" Wade nodded in agreement . The next day, Li Hongzhang invited Wade and his party to the office hall of the hotel.After sending the official to offer tea, Li Hongzhang said slowly: "Minister Wei, I wonder if you would like to talk to me about Ma Jia's case?" Wade replied: "Li Zhongtang said, it's not that this envoy doesn't want to discuss this matter any more, it's because the Prime Minister's Office of your country has suddenly refused and agreed, and there is no final calculation. The terms discussed by this envoy in Beijing are a light accommodation method. The Zongli Yamen has repeated so many times, so this envoy has to put it aside and not mention it, and ask my country to handle it at its own discretion." Li Hongzhang said: "Minister Wei Rong, the negotiation between the two countries is not a trivial matter, and there must always be a process of mutual consultation." Wade Ma asserted: "Li Zhongtang, before leaving Beijing, this minister has already informed the prime minister of your country, the princes and ministers, that the previous proposals made by this minister will not be continued, and they have been declared invalid as dismissals. My minister After returning to my country, we will report to your country what our country will do. Li Zhongtang, let's change the topic." Li Hongzhang pondered for a while, and said: "Minister Wei, don't be so hasty, we don't talk about Ma Jiali's matter today, we can talk about it tomorrow, how about it?" Wade got up and replied: "Li Zhongtang, if you have no other topics, I have no choice but to leave." Li Hongzhang had no choice but to send Wade and his party to walk away. In the next few days, although Li Hongzhang visited Wade three times and discussed with him about returning to the capital for negotiations, Wade insisted on not turning back.Seeing that the tortoise had swallowed the weight, Wade became determined. Li Hongzhang was made tasteless by Wade, and couldn't sleep well, but he couldn't think of a better way to dissuade him from going to Shanghai.After dinner that day, Li Hongzhang suddenly received a memo from the British Consulate, which unfolded to be a personal letter from Wade to Li Hongzhang. Li Hongzhang handed over the letter to a translator for translation into Chinese.When Li Hongzhang saw the letter that had been translated into Chinese, his complexion changed dramatically, his heart beat faster, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He kept saying, "What should I do? What should I do?" Witoma wrote: "Dear Sir: All the terms and conditions drafted by this Minister have been notified to Prince Gong, and they are all put on hold. Now I accept the order of the noble middle hall, and discuss it again. This Minister always discusses it inconveniently." Answer, it is certainly not the intention to treat Guizhongtang lightly. Since Guizhongtang has issued an imperial decree to conduct business meetings, this minister has no intention of disregarding the court, so it is reasonable to say that. This time, the imperial edict specifically refers to the case of Ma Jiali. It is a matter of consultation, and what this minister hopes is to close the case properly. I have sent a note to Prince Gong so early, requesting that the governor of Yunnan and other officials come to Beijing to hear the trial before this minister or before this minister's committee. If the prince has prepared a copy of the document, he thinks it will be possible..." Li Hongzhang knew very well that Wade would not sit down and discuss this matter again.He may have already made up his mind to start a quarrel, or he may have received some instructions from the country. Li Hongzhang sent someone to prepare the sedan chair, and he wanted to see Wade for the last time. He couldn't just watch Wade walk away from under his nose.When Li Hongzhang hurried to the consulate, Wade had already left Tianjin by ship and was heading for Yantai. Li Hongzhang couldn't help sighing: "What my teacher said is absolutely true, as the saying goes, people plan things, but God makes things happen! It's a pity that the old man has no way to return to heaven!" Back in the hotel, he sent the "Wei Tuo Ma broke up and went to Shanghai" to the court 10% off. During the compromise, Li Hongzhang reported three things to the imperial court: 1. Wade had indeed arrived in Tianjin, and I also met him according to the order, but the conversation fell apart; 2. Wade said a lot about the Zongli Yamen; 3. Wade left me a letter and left Tianjin for the south. I didn't stop him.