Chapter 91 Section 91

Although the imperial court often issued strict orders to urge to do its best to make amends, once the outline of the peace treaty was approved, the peace would not break down, and this was something Li Hongzhang was sure of.In view of the initial sincerity shown by the Chinese government, the envoys from various countries showed less hostile attitudes, Xianliang Temple became more and more lively, and Li Hongzhang was in Beijing that day, and he often communicated with foreign guests. On this day, the ministers of the two countries visited each other at the same time.One is Komura Kotaro, the new Japanese minister to China, and the other is Salvager, the Italian minister.When encountering such a situation, it is necessary to distinguish between the depth of friendship, and the shallow friendship is more polite, and you should see first.Komura Toshitaro had acted as minister during the Sino-Japanese War, and he was an old acquaintance with Li Hongzhang, but this time he was re-envoy to China, and it was his first visit. Seeing the Japanese envoy, it is not reasonable.In a dilemma, there is only one way to deal with it, which is to meet at the same time.

Both the ministers of the two countries have come here for something, but they can only discuss things in secret. In front of the minister of the other country, each other has scruples, so they have to talk about some irrelevant diplomatic words. However, things with the same interests and the same position can still be discussed.In the outline of the twelve-article peace treaty, several clauses involving actual interests have their own ideas, but the clause of severely punishing the culprit is unanimous, so it has become a topic at this time. "According to the opinions of various countries, the top three culprits are: Zai Yi, Dong Fuxiang, and Zai Xun." Salvager said with a puzzled expression, "Why didn't the Chinese government order the execution of these three people? I really can't understand it." reason."

"Yiqin is not executed." Li Hongzhang replied: "There is no shortage of precedents in the monarchy." "So, what about Dong Fuxiang?" Li Hongzhang replied with a smile: "Mr. Komura has a better understanding of the situation in China and wants to sympathize with the situation of the Chinese government. Can you explain to the Chinese government?" "I have just arrived in China, and I haven't studied the reasons why the Boxer riots turned into such a serious disaster. As for Dong Fuxiang, I know a little about him." Komura Kotaro told Salvager directly in English Said: "This man is a bandit general. He has considerable appeal in the northwest of China. Now he still has a large number of troops in his hands. If the pressure is too great, he will raise troops and make trouble. I think all countries should be considerate of the Chinese government. You don’t have to be too persistent.”

"This level of difficulty can certainly be forgiven. However, the Chinese government seems to have too many excuses." Salvager then asked Li Hongzhang: "I want to ask a person. Xu Shilang, who is now detained by the Japanese army. Servant, how are you?" "This person is not good!" Li Hongzhang blurted out his answer. Why is it bad?Li Hongzhang explained: he supervised the killing of Xu Jingcheng and Yuan Chang on the third day of July, and he supervised the killing of Xu Yongyi on the seventeenth day of July.The most hateful thing is that Xu Chengyu once forced his father to commit suicide. Such a person is called "Xiao Xie" in China.

"There is another one," Komura Kotaro asked, "How is Qi Shangshu, who was detained together with Xu Shilang?" "He is a student of Xu Tong, a bachelor, and he is very appreciated by the teacher. One can imagine how he is. However," Li Hongzhang said something fair: "This person's personal morality is not bad." Because of this sentence, Qixiu was able to escape from prison temporarily.It turned out that because his mother died of illness, he asked the commander of the Japanese army, Sotomi Yamaguchi, for 10 days of leave to attend the funeral, but he was not allowed.Komura knew about this matter, now that he had heard what Li Hongzhang said, he would inform Yamaguchi when he got back, that he might as well agree to Qixiu's lie.

At the end of the tenth day, Qixiu reported for duty on his own, keeping his word and giving the Japanese army a special look.Seeing this situation, Xu Chengyu asked for ten days' leave in the name of his father's funeral.Because Shankou had learned that Xu Chengyu was a "Xiao Xie" from Xiaocunkou, he flatly refused. No matter how he "struggled with reason", he never considered his request.