Usurping the Qing Dynasty: My first love was Cixi

Chapter 88: Pretending is too advanced! Conquering the British envoy!

Zhang Yuzhao and Shen Baoer, who had not been seen for two days, finally showed up.

These two people got off the boat first.

Shen Baozhen's eyes immediately fell on the two people, and then followed their figures. The two sides got closer and closer and stopped.

Zhang Yuzhao and Shen Baoer saluted Shen Baozhen, and then seemed to tell something.

Shen Baozhen's face suddenly showed a look of astonishment, and then he comforted Shen Baoer.

Next, several people did not leave, but waited for Su Ye to get off the boat.

Su Ye and Bai Feifei got off the boat.

Shen Baozhen immediately brought Zhang Yuzhao and Shen Baoer to greet them.

"Thank you, Brother Su Ye, for saving my life." Shen Baozhen bowed.

Although he tried his best to hide his inner emotions, Shen Baozhen still felt that fate was playing tricks on him when he saw Su Ye.

In recent years, this person was still his future son-in-law, and he was still giving him advice.

He fought again and again after repeated defeats, falsely reported military achievements, and escaped from battle.

Even when he was about to be executed, Shen Baozhen did not save him. Su Quan knelt outside, and he pretended not to be there and was indifferent.

But he did not expect that when they met again, the other party had already become a fourth-rank official.

It was only less than a year.

Of course, Shen Baozhen could not say whether he regretted it or not.

People with different ideologies cannot make plans together.

Su Ye was a bannerman and a red belt after all.

Su Ye bowed and said, "I saved your daughter, and I felt sorry for my own kind."

Then, he bowed to Zhang Yuzhao and left.

From beginning to end, he did not say a word to Shen Baoer, nor did he communicate with her in any way.

There was no verbal argument because he had saved her.

Someone also came to pick up Bai Feifei and Su Ye.

"Miss, Lord Su Ye." The man was very strong, not tall, and had dark skin. It was obvious that he often sailed.

Bai Feifei said: "This is Li Gong, who has been following his father since he was a child. Now he leads dozens of ships. This time they follow us north."

I understand, he is the captain of the smuggling team.

Su Ye will have a lot of convenient and inconvenient materials in the future, which can be handed over to this Li Gong.

Bai Feifei's father also has a house in Shanghai, which is a big house.

The group moved in directly.

Shanghai has only been a concession area for about ten years at this time, but it has already revealed an extraordinary prosperity.

The ten-mile foreign concession has also taken shape.

Only when he arrived here did Su Ye really feel the atmosphere of modern times.

Not only foreigners here wear formal clothes, but even many Chinese wear suits, ties, and top hats.

Hong Renli did not get off the ship with him, and there was not even a formal farewell.

I don't know where she lives.

After taking a good bath and changing clothes in the house, the whole person became refreshed.

Then he also changed into a suit and a top hat.

After arriving in Shanghai, Bai Feifei seemed to become lively and changed into relatively fashionable clothes.

Su Ye strolled on the street, enjoying the style of Shanghai at the end of 1855.

Suddenly, there was another person next to him.

"I asked a Western doctor, and he said he had never heard of the injection in that place, and he had never even heard of the injection." Hong Renli said: "How can I retaliate against you?"

Su Ye once again sighed at the good figure of this woman.

Suddenly, he instinctively thought of cheongsam.

I wonder how good her figure will be after she puts it on?

"Your injury hasn't healed yet, are you in such a hurry to come out?" Su Ye said.

Hong Renli said: "I have nothing to do, I don't know where to go."

Su Ye suddenly said: "I want to design a set of clothes for you, clothes that belong only to you, it must be very beautiful."

If Qingqing heard this, she would definitely spit inwardly.

"Are you going to Jiujiang or Tianjing next?" Su Ye said, "I advise you not to go to Tianjing."

Hong Renli said, "Probably Jiujiang."

Su Ye said, "Then leave a few days later. I'll go to the tailor shop and make you several sets of clothes. You can take them with you."

Hong Renli didn't reply and walked away.

Su Ye entered a coffee shop on the roadside, sat down and asked for a cup of coffee.

Most of the people in the coffee shop were foreigners.

After a while, Hong Renli also walked in.

Immediately, it attracted a burst of amazing eyes.

She also found a table and sat down, and ordered a cup of coffee.

Su Ye picked up the coffee and drank it.

Hong Renli also picked up the coffee and drank it.

Then...

Her beautiful face was almost slightly distorted, and she put on a mask of pain.

How could it be... so unpalatable?

Su Ye came over, added milk and sugar to her coffee, and said, "Now try it again."

Hong Renli took a sip and said, "It's a little better, but it's still not tasty."

Su Ye said, "How do you feel after just getting here?"

Hong Renli said, "Very relaxed."

Su Ye said, "Do you have a place to stay?"

Hong Renli said, "We didn't have it at first, but we got it later."

Ugh!

Violence again.

Su Ye said, "Do you have money?"

Hong Renli said, "We didn't have it at first."

Su Ye said, "Can we have dinner together in the evening?"

Hong Renli said, "We haven't reached that point yet."

…………………………………………………………

In the evening!

Su Ye took Hong Renli to a French restaurant.

French food was not so rich at that time, and steak was not popular. It was still the food of vulgar Americans.

Su Ye used the knife and fork well, but surprisingly, Hong Renli used it very well for the first time.

"I am used to killing people." Hong Renli said, "This foreign food is not bad."

Next, Su Ye asked for a bottle of wine, which he only drank himself.

But Hong Renli also asked for a glass.

"Your wound is not suitable for drinking." Su Ye said.

Hong Renli said, "Then I am not suitable for robbing money and killing people."

Okay.

"Shen Baoer was your former fiancée, and she broke off the engagement and humiliated you. Why did you save her on the boat a few days ago?" Hong Renli said.

Su Ye said, "I can't stand it. Aren't you the same?"

Hong Renli said, "I knew Bai Feifei before and had dealings with her. She did a lot of murders and robberies at that time, and we bought a lot of things from her."

Su Ye said, "Yes."

Hong Renli said, "Why didn't you take the opportunity to kill Zhang Yuzhao on the ship?"

Su Ye thought for a while and said, "Talent is rare. I always feel that his existence will leave some valuable value to this world. Or articles, calligraphy, etc."

"Or I want to prove something myself, to prove that one day I can conquer many Han elites and use them for my own benefit."

Hong Renli didn't expect to get such an answer.

"You killed the two brothers Jingtai and Jinglong, using my name." Hong Renli suddenly said.

Su Ye said, "Yes."

Hong Renli said, "Why?"

Su Ye said, "For Princess Qingqing, do you know her?"

Hong Renli said, "Yes, she is the most talented woman in Manchuria."

"Is she your woman?"

Su Ye said, "Yes."

She ate meat very quickly and finished it in a short while.

"In your opinion, what will be the end of our Heavenly Kingdom?" Hong Renli asked.

Su Ye said, "It will fail."

Hong Renli fell silent.

Su Ye said, "You are decaying too fast, much faster than the Tartars."

Hong Renli said, "What about our people? Should they all die?"

Su Ye said, "No, there are a group of you who are very outstanding. I hope to fight side by side with them in the future."

"Who to fight?" Hong Renli asked.

Su Ye said, "I want to change the fate of this country. I will fight whoever obstructs me."

Hong Renli said, "What if it is the powerful Western powers?"

Su Ye said, "Then fight them."

Hong Renli fell silent again.

"I don't know where to go." Hong Renli said, "Tianjing makes me sick, I don't want to go back, and I don't know if I should go to Jiujiang."

"I was so focused on going to the capital that I didn't care about anything else but killing people. It didn't matter when I was caught or when I was killed. I just thought about..."

Su Ye said, "Destruction."

Hong Renli said, "Yes, destruction."

Su Ye said, "By comparison, I am much luckier because I always know how to go next."

Both of them finished eating.

"I want to go back." Hong Renli said.

Su Ye said, "Shall we go to the theater together?"

"No!"

…………………………………………………………

In a theater, it was very lively.

Su Ye and Hong Renli sat in the middle, drinking tea and eating fruits and snacks.

Alas!

This is the best way to say one thing and mean another.

Hong Renli, you are so cool and powerful, but you are no exception.

What was performed on the stage was Peking Opera, not the common Yue Opera in Shanghai.

Because Peking Opera is more lively, with fighting and killing.

The two watched Peking opera for two hours and then walked home.

A child was buying flowers at the door.

"Sir, buy a bouquet of flowers for your wife. Your wife is so beautiful."

This is probably a scene that can only be seen in the concession.

Su Ye bought a bouquet of flowers and handed it to Hong Renli.

The other party was stunned and instinctively handed over the bouquet.

Then, Su Ye sent her back.

She lived not far from Su Ye, and the house was not robbed, because there was a kind-looking old lady who came out to greet her.

Su Ye stood at the entrance of the alley, waved at her, and watched her walk into the house.

This scene seemed to transcend time.

………………………………………………………………

The next day!

Su Ye changed into the official robes of the Qing Dynasty, took the imperial edict, and went to visit one of the British giants in Shanghai, Wade-Giles.

In fact, the Commissioner of Customs has been replaced by Li Taiguo, but he is not in Shanghai today, and it is in the transition period.

So for the time being, Wade-Giles is still the Commissioner of Taxation.

This person is a British diplomat who has lived in China for more than ten years. He is proficient in Chinese and can even be considered a sinologist.

He studied in Cambridge, served in the British Army, served as a counselor of the British Army in China, and served as the British Vice Consul in Shanghai.

In the future, he will also serve as the British Minister to China.

In short, he is definitely a big shot.

At the door of his office, Su Ye met an old acquaintance.

Shen Baozhen and Zhang Yuzhao.

Shen Baozhen, also wearing the official uniform of the prefect.

The situation is not good. Two people appeared in front of Wade's office at the same time.

Presumably, it was because of the same thing.

………………………………………………………………

At this time, Weitoma had two official documents in front of him.

One copy was sent by someone from the Qing court in advance, saying that the emperor's imperial envoy would come to see him and request that part of the customs money be transferred to purchase arms.

In addition, this member will purchase guns and ask for Lord Wade's cooperation.

The other official document was sent by the Hunan Army.

The content is almost the same.

Purchase arms and hire Western instructors.

It just so happened that Wetoma had both of these things in hand at this time.

However, he can only give it to one family.

Therefore, he could only accept one of the two invitations in front of him.

In his heart, he was more inclined to cooperate with the Hunan Army, because the Qing court in the north was really too conservative and corrupt, and he didn't like dealing with the northern court.

On the contrary, the Hunan Army is much more open-minded.

Moreover, there was a poem placed in front of him.

This is Zhang Yuzhao's work, with first-class calligraphy and first-class poetry.

Witoma is a sinologist with very high attainments, which can be fully appreciated.

He had already made up his mind, but this Su Yi was an envoy sent by the emperor after all, so he had to send him away decently.

Then Witoma came to the door.

Su Yi, Shen Baozhen, and Zhang Yuzhao stood up immediately.

"Is this Mr. Su Yi, the imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty?" Witoma asked.

Su Yi stepped forward and said, "Su Yi, I have met Sir Wetoma."

Witoma said: "I have received the official document from your country, but unfortunately, I am no longer in charge of your country's Customs and Taxation Department, so you need to go to Mr. Li Taitai."

Are you kidding me? Although you are no longer the tax secretary, you have been promoted.

And now during the transition, you still hold the power.

Moreover, what are Shen Baozhen and Zhang Yuzhao doing?

The current attitude of Weituma is obviously more inclined to cooperate with the Hunan Army.

Su Yi said: "Oh? That's such an unlucky coincidence. What about the two colleagues next to me? Do they have the honor to meet Mr. Witoma?"

Witoma said: "We are not meeting about politics, we are discussing literature and poetry."

Zhang Yuzhao said: "Sir Su Yi, in addition to being a diplomat, Sir Witoma is also a litterateur. We are here to discuss literature and poetry."

Su Yi said: "That's a coincidence. I met Mr. Witoma to discuss poetry."

Su Yi persisted in lingering, which was not the behavior of a gentleman, and immediately made Weitoma feel very unhappy.

"Mr. Su Yi, are you a Manchu?" Weitoma said: "It's not that I have any discrimination against your ethnic group, but your poetry and literature are indeed at a disadvantage, and it just so happens that our small salon today has a threshold. ”

Su Yi said: "I happen to have a few short poems here that I would like Sir Witoma to appreciate. I don't know if they can meet this threshold."

Wetoma frowned and took it, opened it and took a look.

It's actually in English?

This Manchu noble from the Qing court actually knew how to write English?

Let life be beautiful like summer flowers and death like autumn leaves.

Life is as gorgeous as summer flowers, and death is as quiet and beautiful as autumn leaves.

If you shed tears when you miss the sun, you also miss the stars.

If you cry because you have lost the sun, you will also lose the stars.

The world has kissed my soul with its pain, asking for its return in songs.

The world kisses me with pain and wants me to repay it with song.

Read on, a dozen poems in total.

Weitoma was stunned and looked at Su Yi in disbelief.

A decadent aristocrat from the Qing court actually knew English and wrote such beautiful poems?

Can it not be beautiful?

These are all from Rabindranath Tagore's "The Birds", which are top-notch in the world.

After all, Witoma is an Englishman. Although he appreciates Zhang Yuzhao's poems, he still has a distance.

And...these little poems in front of me resonate instantly without any distance.

But he didn't believe it was written by Su Yi, so he said: "Purpose is but the slave to memory, of violent birth, but poor validity." (Determination is but the slave of memory, it will change at will according to your memory.) )

This is Shakespeare's classic line, and Weitoma used it to test Su Yi.

Su Yi replied directly in fluent English: "Brevity is the soul of wisdom. Tediousness is the limbs and outward flourishes." (Brevity is the soul of wisdom, verbosity is superficial decoration.)

Also from Shakespeare.

Although the accent is slightly different, Su Yi's English is still quite standard.

Weitoma looked at Su Yi with great surprise and exclaimed: "Oh my God? I actually met a Manchu royal family who likes Shakespeare thousands of miles away in China."

This country is so corrupt, and the Qing royal family is even more decadent.

He never expected that Su Yi, a member of the Qing Dynasty clan, would talk to him about Shakespeare directly in English.

This...this is such a surprise, so ridiculous.

Su Yi said: "I like Shakespeare very much. Survival or destruction is a question worth considering. To endure the cruel poisonous arrows of fate silently, or to stand up against the boundless sufferings in the world and sweep them away through struggle, this is Which of the two actions is more noble? To die or to fall asleep is to end everything."

Witoma couldn't help but applaud, and then said to Shen Baozhen and Zhang Yuzhao: "I'm very sorry, it seems that our poetry exchange will be rescheduled."

Then, he stopped caring about the two of them and directly invited Su Yi into the office, showing his arrogance.

Then, he asked Su Yi: "Coffee or tea?"

Su Yi said: "Of course it's tea. I prefer Cambridge to Oxford."

Witoma was even more surprised.

You, you even know this allusion?

Because the coffee club of Oxford University is very famous, and Oxford and Cambridge are competing for excellence.

Witoma, from Cambridge University. Su Yi said to drink tea, indicating that he was siding with Cambridge.

"Oriental, you are a devil." Weituma pointed at Su Yi and said with a smile: "You have studied so deeply, it seems you are determined to win."

Su Yi said: "I am not the devil, coffee drinkers are the devil."

While leading Su Yi into his office, Weitoma made tea himself and said, "Where does this sentence come from? Is coffee the legendary devil's drink?"

Su Yi said: "Not only that, coffee was the first to become popular among Arabs, and Arabs like sheep the most..."

Wetoma suddenly showed an exaggerated expression.

"Wow, wow..."

"Sheep are the incarnation of the devil, hahaha." Witoma said: "But this sentence does not come from Arabia."

The next words would be difficult for Su Yi to answer, because they involved Christianity, which happened to be the other person's belief.

So Su Yi smiled and said: "Oh, does this sentence come from Magellan?"

Because of their long voyages, sailors often used sheep.

Therefore, Su Yi picked up the plot perfectly.

"Oh my God." Witoma laughed so hard that his face hurt and he couldn't help but rub his face: "Sir Su Yi, I now very much doubt that there is an Englishman living in your body."

"When I received the official document from your country, I thought I would meet a corrupt nobleman who was narrow-minded, arrogant, stupid, ignorant, and blind, but I didn't expect such an interesting soul."

"You are even funnier than the British. You know people from my country are mean and think they are humorous."

Su Yi said: "Then thank God for letting two boring souls get together here."

Wei Tuoma picked up the black tea and Su Yi took it.

The other party raised the black tea and said: "To this boring world."

Su Yi said: "Respect this lonely life."

Witoma said: "Life is wonderful, how can it be lonely?"

Su Yi said: "All brilliance will eventually be repaid with loneliness, and people are born lonely."

Next, the two of them chatted happily.

From Shakespeare, to Tagore, to Marquez, Su Yi's golden sentences kept surprising the other person. He first drank tea, then drank wine, and finally drank whiskey.

"Back to the subject, my friend." Witoma said: "Your country wants to transfer a sum of money from the Taxation Department. This is of course no problem, because it is your money. But you want to hire the best officers. , purchasing a large amount of arms supplies involves political interests. "

"Friendship is friendship, and interests are interests." Wetoma said: "We have the outstanding officers and a large amount of arms and supplies you want, and it is exactly what you need most, including advanced Mini rifles, and A considerable number of carbines, Whitworth 12-pounder field guns, etc."

"But what we have now can only be provided to one party, either you or the Hunan Army."

"I'm not afraid to tell you that we are more inclined to give it to the Hunan Army because they have more interests with us and they are much more open-minded."

"Friendship is friendship, and interests are interests." Witoma repeated: "I'm very sorry, my friend."

Su Yi said: "Friendship is benefit."

"Sir Witoma, you are right. The imperial court is corrupt, no one opens their eyes to see the world, it is ignorant and chaotic." Su Yi said: "But I appeared, and my enlightenment is unmatched by the Hunan Army. Once I rise , the benefits it will bring to you are immeasurable. Because once I rise, I will represent the entire central government, not just a few southern provinces."

"For the same business, if you do it with the Hunan Army, you may get a guaranteed profit of 30%. But if you do this business with me, you may get no profit, but it is more likely to be 300%. One thousand profits.”

In fact, Wetoma is already very excited.

"My friends, how about you give us a day or two to think about it?" Witoma said.

Su Yi said: "Of course!"

Then, Su Yi said goodbye and left.

Witoma walked him out personally.

…………………………………………

Bai Feifei is very busy in Shanghai. He has to purchase a lot of supplies and spend money like water.

These supplies are what Su Yi will need in the future. Some are for troop training, and some are for other places.

And she contacted her connections and channels to recruit those foreign mercenaries who came to the East for adventure.

Although not a professional officer, he can be a good supplement.

Then, Su Yi continued to date Hong Renli while waiting for news from Weitoma.

Even though she didn't even know it was a date.

She is very powerful, and perhaps has an almost idol-like reputation in her circle.

So in just a few days, there were already more than a dozen people around her, all of them desperadoes.

There seemed to be a charm about her.

Madness and destruction naturally attract many desperadoes.

In the past few days, Su Yi and he listened to plays, drank tea, drank coffee, ate, and took walks.

Of course, I also got two injections, the serious kind.

Her constitution was so good that she recovered quickly.

…………………………………………

Seven days later!

Weituma formally extended an invitation to Su Yi to go horse riding together.

He said that the real owner of this batch of arms, Sir Henry, was still more inclined to do business with the Hunan Army.

It was difficult for Weituma to convince him, but he was willing to make an appointment to meet and let Su Yi convince him personally.

This is the best opportunity and the only opportunity. I hope Su Yi can seize it.

Conquer Sir Henry as he conquered Wytoma. But unfortunately, Sir Henry did not like literature and poetry.

Su Yi, you need to change your approach.

Both Witoma and Henry will bring female companions, and Su Yi is also asked to bring one.

After hesitating for a while, Su Yi invited Hong Renli and gave him special riding clothes.

After putting on riding clothes and putting up her hair.

Su Yi was stunned!

This figure is so explosive.

A real devilish figure.

Full of power, full of curves, and full of temptation.

Ups and downs, perfect and charming.

Sure enough, when he appeared on the racecourse.

Hong Renli's Western girl's dress stunned everyone.

"Wow, is this your Juliet? Mr. Su Yi?" Witoma asked.

Su Yi said: "Yes."

"No, no, no!" Witoma said: "Juliet is not as beautiful as her, nor as mysterious and powerful as she is."

"Let me introduce you, this is Sir Henry." Wytoma said: "I am just the middleman. He is the real owner of the arms and officers. He is a big shot from London and one of the culprits of the imminent dissolution of the East India Company."

The bald Sir Henry stepped forward, took off his hat and said: "Nice to meet you, Sir Su Yi. You should reflect on it. The female companion you brought is too beautiful and has seriously raised my aesthetic threshold."

"These are the most elite and outstanding officers I have found, including British and Prussian officers. There are infantry, cavalry, and artillery."

What appeared in front of Su Yi was the entire officer corps, a total of twenty people.

The highest military rank is colonel and the lowest is major, which is very average. Of course, they are all retired officers.

Sir Henry said: "This time our arms and officer corps are packaged together. Sir Wytoma tried very hard to persuade me to give up the Hunan Army and do this business with you. But my officer corps is very Objection, do you know why?”

Maybe you yourself are opposed to it, because businessmen only care about money and don't care much about political interests.

So if you want to get this batch of arms and this batch of officers, you need to make a surprising move.

Su Yi said: "I would like to hear the details."

The leader of the officer corps, Colonel William, said: "According to my understanding, the Hunan Army is more elite and more enlightened. The Qing army in the north is extremely corrupt. Even if we become instructors and help you train troops, it will be a waste of our talents." Because you don’t understand the new army at all, I just heard that you are the first in the military examination? "

Su Yi said: "Yes."

Colonel William said with disdain: "You spend your infinite years on those ridiculous things, bows, arrows, and broadswords? They are simply ridiculous existences for modern warfare, just as ridiculous as the Indian's blow darts."

"Mr. Su Yi, you know nothing about the new army, and you know nothing about guns and artillery. And as you, a martial arts expert, are about to become the commander-in-chief of this new army, then I am very not optimistic about the future of this new army, so I I don’t want to join your new army, and I will also dissuade Sir Henry from doing this business with you.”

Su Yi looked at this group of upright, professional, and arrogant officers.

After being quiet for more than ten seconds, his expression became even more arrogant and he said slowly: "There is something I need to correct."

"No one in this world knows the new army better than me, no one knows shooting better than me, and no one knows artillery better than me."

"Gentlemen, you may be very good officers, but compared to me, you are nothing."

"Gentlemen, how about this."

"Just use the Enfield rifle you have, shoot thirty shots continuously from a distance of 250 meters."

"Twenty of you come together. If one of you is better than me, then this deal will be cancelled."

"But if none of you twenty are better than me, then I'm very sorry, you will belong to me, and this batch of arms will also belong to me."

As soon as these words came out, the twenty officers present were completely shocked, and then felt that they were insulted.

Wytoma, Sir Henry, and even Hong Renli were completely stunned.

Are you crazy?

This is an outstanding officer who has served for more than ten years. Even in the Western world, he is a top-notch professional soldier.

And as an official of the corrupt Qing court, have you ever touched an Enfield rifle?

Two hundred and fifty meters, do you know what this distance means?

You challenge twenty people alone?

It can't even be described as crazy, but a daydream.

Ridiculous and absurd!

………………………………………………………

Note: The first update is here. All the handsome benefactors, check your pockets, maybe you have a monthly ticket?

Vote for me, please? I bow to you.