New Shun 1730

Since the battle against the Junggar tribe, Liu Yu has not paid much attention to the affairs of the Western Regions.

Anyway, the battle is over, and the people who should be killed have been killed. It doesn't matter what kind of commotion it makes. As long as the court doesn't want the previous efforts to go to waste, it has to keep throwing money into it.

It can still afford it now, and it should not give up for the time being.

The only thing is the negotiation with Russia. From what the Duke of England said, it should be that Russia is also desperately trying to win, so this time the reception of the French delegation should be a little louder.

"No way? What qualifications do the Russians have to compete with us in the northwest at this time? The Junggar tribe has surrendered, and they are fighting with the Rumi Kingdom..."

Suddenly, Liu Yu thought of a bad possibility. Could it be that the people in the court got excited and thought that the advantage was in my hands, and really went to ask for the Volga River of the Torghut tribe?

He said this idea with some fear. When asked a little, the Duke of England laughed and his beard trembled.

"Although the price is high and the return is low, our dynasty is not the kind of person who doesn't know the depth of the situation. It's not about this. The main reason is that Russia occupied some of the territory of the Junggar before. Now the Junggar has surrendered to our dynasty. The pastures that the Junggar used to have are naturally what the dynasty hopes to get back."

"The Russians won't give in, and we won't give in either, so the situation is deadlocked. The negotiations over there are not yours and mine. It's not your place to meddle in other matters. You and I just need to make the thunder here louder."

"You don't have to worry. Small countries around often pay tribute. It's not a big deal. It's just for tribute. This time with the French, it's not a big deal. It's just tribute. It's good to talk about something that is beneficial to the dynasty. It doesn't matter if the talks fail."

"Just let the Russians think that we talked well with the French."

This time, the visit of the French delegation was promoted by Liu Yu, because he knew the shortcomings of Dashun. But there was actually no overall rule in the court about what the French would talk about after they came.

The government's indifference was a silent protest, which damaged the dignity of the Celestial Empire. The emperor was also considerate of them, so he did not let the government participate, but used the money from the treasury and the "emperor's retainers" outside the imperial government to manage it.

But after the French came, the emperor didn't really care what kind of results they would negotiate.

It was nothing more than to scare the Russians, or to hold a Kuiqiu meeting or a Jiantu League, to formulate some dispensable international treaties, and to publicize the influence of Dashun.

At worst, it was just a tribute, and that was nothing. Diplomacy like tribute has always been the same, and the court has no real diplomatic thinking, but it is precisely because of this that the French delegation's visit this time is easier: even if there is no diplomatic demand, behind closed doors, it can still be regarded as France paying tribute.

Now seeing the attitude of the Duke of England, Liu Yu mentioned that the French tried to get porcelain and silk technology.

The Duke of England laughed out loud after hearing this.

"These French people have a good idea. But this matter has also alerted the enemy. We didn't pay much attention to it before, so we must be more careful in the future."

"When you went to Yongning Temple, the court found that some missionaries tried to take maps offshore, and there were names such as the Han Fali Kingdom on them. The court was already alerted to this matter, but no one really thought that Westerners were trying to steal porcelain and silk technology."

"Our dynasty has opened up trade since the founding of the country. Fortunately, we didn't indulge too much back then. Otherwise, I'm afraid that Catholicism would spread in Fujian, Guangdong and other places. The porcelain and silk techniques were also mostly obtained by Westerners."

"Okay, he Since you have reminded me, don't make it public. After he leaves, I will report to His Majesty and have the matter investigated strictly."

"It is you who have done everything to promote the Westerners to come... If there is a big benefit, the court will support it. But now, I am afraid that the court finds it boring."

"Since these Westerners like porcelain, silk, and our rhubarb and tea so much. You are also training the navy and trying long-distance voyages in Weihai."

"Then this time, maybe we can talk to the French and let our merchant ships go to France, what do you think?"

Liu Yu was quite surprised when he heard this. Looking at the old man in front of him, he thought, aren't old men generally conservative? This old man is so avant-garde?

Duke Ying also noticed that Liu Yu's eyes were a little strange, and smiled and said, "You don't have to be surprised. I have been watching what you have done in the past few years."

"You are setting up that joint-stock company and encouraging the nobles to invest. Don't I know about your little tricks?"

"It's nothing more than not wanting this dynasty to follow the old ways of the previous dynasty, land annexation, especially the nobles' occupation of land, and wanting to let the nobles' money invest in the sea. In this way, in the future, we can ask the nobles to return the occupied land, and leave some money for us, the wealthy families. . "

"The beginning of the corruption of the world is the annexation of land. This principle has been known since ancient times, but it has not been solved. The emperor will not allow the feudal lords to establish overseas, and if they are strong, they will rebel. If we can avoid feudal lords establishing overseas, but let the nobles have a way to make money other than occupying land, it would be good."

"But... Shou Chang, you need to know that if there is no 100% profit, no one will be willing to invest their property in business. Even if it is a loan, it will double in three years; land is passed down to descendants, so that illegitimate sons and those who cannot inherit the title will not be left without support."

"If you can't double the profit in three years, this thing will not be done after all. If you can double the profit in three years, this thing can still be done. Your family also lends money, and my family also lends money. You know this. Doubling in three years is conscience. In fact, although the Dashun Law stipulates that the profit cannot exceed the principal, when lending, most people give out 90% and return 130%. They say they borrow ten, but in fact they borrow nine, so as to avoid the Dashun Law."

"So I think, if we can trade directly with Westerners... In my opinion, our sea merchants are unable to go to Europe, and the only ones who can go to Europe are your people. If we can trade directly, we will make a lot of profit, and in the future we may really solve the problem of nobles occupying land."

Although the Duke of England is old, his brain is useful. In recent years, Liu Yu has been tossing trade, and the introduction of Western countries has gradually increased. He can think of the problems here as soon as his mind turns.

Look at the map. From Europe to Guangdong, you have to go around the Cape of Good Hope. This road is at least 60,000 to 70,000 miles. The sea is full of storms and high risks. If there is no 100% profit, who would fight so hard?

Westerners are also human beings.

Being human beings, we must conform to human nature. Taishigong said: The world is bustling with people coming for profit; the world is bustling with people going for profit, this is human beings.

In this way, the Duke of England thought that the only people in the Celestial Empire who are capable of 60,000 miles of voyage are the people under Liu Yu. Since it is profitable, if we can reach an agreement with the French and really let the shareholders achieve an annual profit of 30%, this may really be a way for the nobles to pass down their family for a long time.

The Duke of England has enjoyed what he should enjoy in his life, and paved the way for his sons and grandsons. When a person is about to die, he should consider the long-term.

Everyone knows what the consequences of occupying land and annexing land are. The nobles of Dashun knew it all too well. When Taizu entered the capital, how did General Quan treat the nobles of the previous dynasty? This happened only about 80 years ago, and the crooked tree is not even a hundred years old.

But everyone knows that no one can control their own hands, and everyone wants to grab more for their descendants and live a more luxurious life.

Each of them thought it through very thoroughly: If I don't take it, others will have to take it. When that day comes, the end will be the same. Since I have to take it until that day, I will still have to take it if I don't take it, so why not take it?

The emperor has to reward. The official land after the war in the previous dynasty has basically been divided up now. You will be rewarded for your merits, but there is no money for reward. Knowing that rewarding land is a poison to quench thirst, you have to reward it.

Duke Ying felt that Liu Yu had found a way that would last forever. If the silver could double in three to five years, the emperor could also be stricter about the occupation of land, and the fate of Dashun might be extended for a few more years, at least there would be a group of people who did not deal with land.

But Duke Ying's beautiful fantasy was immediately shattered by Liu Yu.

"Duke, the French will not agree. Not only France, but also Britain, the Netherlands and other countries will not agree to our ships going to them for trade."

"It's not a question of whether to go or not, but a question of whether they will trade after going."

"Even if this French earl had the courage, he would not dare to sign a free trade treaty. Even if they were allowed to collect 30% or even 50% tariffs, he would not dare to sign."

"If he dared to sign, his career would be over when he returned. The French, like the British, also banned the sale of cotton cloth in China and India. They have been closed to the outside world for a long time."

"In order to prevent Britain from closing its doors to the outside world, the Netherlands fought with Britain... uh, since the 16th century of the Western calendar Starting from 1951, in order to prevent Britain from closing its doors to the outside world, the war has been going on for 85 years, almost catching up with the time since the founding of our country. "

"I don't have the ability to negotiate this matter with just my mouth."

What the Duke of England cares about is that Liu Yu said that this matter cannot be negotiated with just his mouth, and he laughed: "If it can't be negotiated with just his mouth, then what can we rely on to negotiate?"

Liu Yu laughed and said: "Warships, cannons. First take Batavia, then take Malacca, occupy India, and take the Cape of Good Hope... According to 50 years, 300 to 500 million taels of military expenditure, maybe it can be done."

The Duke of England also laughed and shook his head and said: "I am not the Minister of the Household Government, don't tell me about this kind of crying poor and asking for military expenditure. You mean, this matter can't be negotiated?"

Liu Yu shook his head firmly.

"It can't be negotiated. Free trade is only within the range of warships."

The Duke of England pondered in silence, but thought in his heart: 50 years, 300 to 500 million, only 10 million a year, it seems that it is not unaffordable.

But such a thought only flashed through his mind, and no one dared to take it, even if he could afford it.

…………

Finally, the day came when he went to court to meet the emperor, and Count Morpa was a little excited. He was tired of learning all kinds of etiquette every day, but he had to learn it. When the Duke of Qi of Dashun visited Paris, he learned the etiquette of the nobles of Versailles to meet the King of France.

However, the degree of centralization and court etiquette in France were probably still in the state before Emperor Gaozu of Han and a group of old brothers conquered the world and Shusun Tong proposed to formulate etiquette.

When he arrived in the capital, Count Morpa really understood what the Eastern etiquette system was and what true centralization was... The centralization that France was proud of was simply a joke here.

As a foreign envoy, the emperor allowed him to attend the morning court, submit the letter of credence at the court meeting, and meet the emperor. According to the process, the emperor would receive them after the court meeting, and then throw them to the two negotiators, Duke Ying and Yingsuobo.

We will see each other again before we leave.

Thinking of this, Count Morpa couldn't help but feel excited: He wanted to go to court this morning to test Dashun's attitude. Will he really not allow porcelain and silk technology to be traded?

He didn't really trust Liu Yu. It's not a unique Eastern tradition to deceive superiors and conceal others. France also had many cases of deceiving superiors and concealing others. He was worried that Liu Yu was pretending to convey the emperor's wishes for his own purposes.

Anyway, he was already here, and he didn’t really believe Liu Yu’s warning, because he didn’t understand Dashun’s ideology at all, and he couldn’t tell the difference between the emperor and the emperor. It was even less possible to understand that not everyone in Dashun’s court was right. His visit is welcomed - this is not an unwelcome in attitude, but an unwelcome in principle.

Tribute is okay, but diplomacy is not. The whole world is not the royal territory, and the emperor can only have diplomacy with people outside the world.

He didn't understand, so he was bold and threw Liu Yu's warning behind him.

Waiting outside the Forbidden City, watching the officials in official uniforms filing in according to rank, without even a single cough, the pressure brought by this atmosphere is speechless.

Count Morpa could not go in directly. He had to wait for the process inside to go through: the British prince would give a report, the French envoy would come to see him, and the emperor would give permission to enter the palace before he could enter under the guidance of others.

I rehearsed the etiquette for meeting the emperor again in my mind to make sure there were no mistakes, and finally waited until I heard the shout from inside that he was entering the palace to have an audience.

After entering the hall, he bowed five times and kowtowed three times, and submitted the original and translated version of his credentials in accordance with the rules of the society.

There was no one in the court who could speak French, but there were missionaries who could speak Latin as translators.

Every time Count Morpa said a sentence such as congratulations, he would pause and wait for the translator to translate it into Chinese.

After mentioning the purpose of his visit this time, he added his own private goods in one sentence, hoping that the Emperor would allow the French to learn porcelain firing technology in Jingdezhen.

Li Gan, who was sitting on the throne, knew some Latin. His algebra and geometry teachers were Westerners, and there were many Western missionaries in the court.

Before the missionary could translate this sentence, Li Gan had already understood what the Frenchman meant. He panicked, knowing that if he said this sentence, the foreign teaching activity he had led against all opinions would be over. North Korea and China There will definitely be countless people writing letters saying that the Westerners have ulterior motives.

Liu Yu below was also sweating coldly, scolding you, you idiot, are you taking my words as a joke? If you don’t understand that Dashun has its own national conditions, just listen to me.

He swallowed secretly, not knowing what to do at this time.

However, the emperor on the throne did not wait for the missionary to translate and interrupted the missionary's translation. Knowing that he wanted to stifle the possible impact of this matter, he smiled and said: "France and the Celestial Empire have always had contacts. Bai Ming Yuan and others also served in Qin Tianjian for many years and made contributions to the drawing of maps. "

"When I was still the prince, Bai Mingyuan returned from France and presented a telescope with an altimeter. This was donated by your Duke Mann. But I wonder how Duke Mann is doing now?"

"A few days ago, some merchants heard that you were coming. They cheered and were about to sail to France to exchange what they had and benefit from the business."

"It's just that you are here. I also miss the old friendship. It would be better if China and France can trade freely in the future. I have exempted France from tariffs. When you return, you will also inform the King of France to exempt China's merchant ships from tariffs."