The Travelers of the Heavens

Minning was shocked when he heard Qinggui's words. Hundreds of cannons are mounted on the south bank of the Yangtze River in preparation for crossing the river.

"Do you think there are any good ways to make the foreigners retreat as soon as possible?" Minning asked.

"Well this"Qinggui and others didn't know how to answer.

The current situation seems to them to be impossible to negotiate and impossible to win, but it is getting more and more difficult.

"Your Majesty, I think we should mobilize a large army to confront the foreigners on the Yangtze River and let them see the majesty of the Qing Dynasty." Dong Gao still gritted his teeth and expressed his thoughts. But this time it was not"quickly advance and suppress", but It was changed to a confrontation on the Yangtze River.

After listening to what Dong Gao said, Qinggui shook his head repeatedly. The 100,000-strong army transferred from the Sichuan-Shaanxi front line was wiped out in Jiangbei not long ago. Why is Master Dong still planning to fight with"foreigners"?"Showing prestige"

"There is some truth in what Master Dong said"Minning nodded slightly, but she must not agree in her heart.

"Second Brother, I'm so brave. Now that the foreigners are powerful, we should send imperial envoys to try to negotiate with the foreigners," Qinggui said.

"Oh, what Qingzhongtang said makes sense"Minning also agreed with Qinggui's proposal, but his tone was completely different from when he responded to Dong Gao before. It seems that the second elder brother intends to end the war through peaceful means.

"Whether it’s war or peace, please let the second elder brother decide," Qinggui said.

"Please ask the second elder brother to decide." Several military ministers then agreed.

"That.. The negotiation will be left to Qingzhongtang with full authority," Minning said.

""I obey," Qinggui responded respectfully.

In this negotiation, Qinggui decided to personally take action. The previous military aircraft Zhang Jingsutuk was so incompetent that he actually pissed off the"foreigners" while talking, causing such trouble to the Qing Dynasty. Such a huge loss, he really deserved death.

Qinggui first visited the comatose Emperor Jiaqing, then said goodbye to Minning, and then led a team south to negotiate.

Qingzhongtang was over sixty years old, and although Jiangning was not far from the capital, It was too far, but at that time, for an old man in his sixties, the journey was not comfortable, so Qinggui and his party were destined not to arrive in Jiangning soon.

At this time, Chu Bufan ordered the 9th Army of the Third Army to The division sent a regiment to cross the river and establish a position in Jiangbei. It was Chu Bufan's move that allowed Qinggui to escape. If there were no Kyushu Army positions in Jiangbei, then once Qinggui and his party arrived in Jiangbei, they would definitely be attacked by the south bank. The artillery shelling by the Kyushu Army will end all the Qing officials who came to negotiate. At this time, the Yangtze River has been blocked by the Kyushu Army. Not only is no ship allowed to pass on the river, but people from the north of the Yangtze River will be bombarded as long as they approach the shore. The"lucky ones" who luckily escaped the bombardment and swam across the Yangtze River would have been shot at by Kyushu Army machine guns as soon as they came ashore.

Shipping on the Yangtze River was completely paralyzed, which would also have a major impact on the economy of the northern part of the Qing Dynasty in the long run.

Qinggui and his party finally stumbled. In the snowy winter, we arrived at the temporary headquarters of the Jiuzhou Army in Jiangning. It was already the first month of the sixth year of Chongning (the sixth year of Jiaqing, 1801 AD).

Emperor Jiaqing in the Forbidden City had also woken up after many rescues. When he learned that his second elder brother, Minning, had temporarily taken over as regent and sent Qinggui to negotiate, he did not blame Minning. Now, perhaps Minning's actions could help the Qing Empire end its war with"foreigners" as soon as possible.

Jiang Ning The city was formerly the Governor-General's Palace of Liangjiang in the Qing Dynasty and is now the temporary headquarters of the Kyushu Army.

"Qingzhong Hall, our prince is already waiting in the mansion. Please invite Chu Bufan to come and greet Qinggui in person.

"Please." Qinggui made a gesture of invitation.

When he came to the main hall, Wang Yu was already waiting here.

"Qingzhongtang, this is our Prince of Xining, the iron hat king of our country." Chu Bufan introduced Wang Yu in the Qing court way.

"I have met the prince." Qinggui greeted Wang Yu with a fist in his arms.

"Mr. Qing, please take a seat without any courtesy." Wang Yu motioned.

""Thank you, Your Majesty." Qinggui thanked him and sat down.

The soldier brought hot tea and put it on the table.

"I wonder what good news Mr. Qing brought me this time when he came from afar?"Wang Yu asked

"I came to discuss the armistice with the prince on the order of my second elder brother," Qinggui said.

"Second elder brother? Who?"After hearing what Qinggui said, Wang Yu didn't remember who this second elder brother was.

"He is the second elder brother Minning, the son of Emperor Jiaqing and the future Emperor Daoguang." Chu Bufan came to Wang Yu and whispered a few words.

"Oh, that’s it, it’s His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of your country." Wang Yu nodded and said to Qing Gui

"Well this"Qinggui couldn't answer the question. Although everyone knows that there is no suspense about the future succession of the second elder brother Minning, the Qing Empire secretly establishes the crown prince, and even if it is known, it will not be said publicly, which is taboo.

"Then can the second elder brother of your country make the decision?" Chu Bufan asked

"As long as the prince and Lord Chu agree to a truce, I think the emperor will consider it carefully," Qinggui said. Emperor Jiaqing was still in a coma when he came. Although he woke up later, he did not send anyone to tell Qinggui the news, so he said this It also leaves some room, at least I choose myself out.

""Oh, in that case, let's talk about it. I wonder where the armistice area designated by your country is?" Wang Yu asked.

After hearing this, Qinggui hesitated. Isn't it a comprehensive armistice? Why is there still an armistice area?

"Oh, that’s right. Currently, several provinces in Jiangnan of your country have been caught in the flames of war, so our prince means in which province the war will cease." Chu Bufan saw that Qinggui was a little confused, and he explained. Now that the war in Jiangnan has ended, we will clear up and loot The actions of the landlords, old rich, evil gentry and government supplies have also ended. The various units of the Kyushu Army have also entered the winter rest period. Where is the war?

"Ah this.. I hope for a complete ceasefire." Qinggui was surprised and said

"This matter is not easy to handle. Our troops are scattered in various provinces in the south of the Yangtze River. Maybe many soldiers are still attacking the state capitals in Ninghu and Shanghai. It is currently snowing heavily and it is difficult to contact the army," Chu Bufan said

"ah? Why"Qinggui was shocked when he heard this, and then sighed. Jiangsu and Zhejiang are the imperial court's moneybags, but now they are under fierce attack. If they are seriously damaged, the consequences will be disastrous.

In fact, Chu Bufan deliberately brought up what happened some time ago and said that the"money bags" of the Qing court were the key targets of the Kyushu New Army. Wang Yu not only wanted to plunder the property of these places, but also destroyed their economic pillar industries and slaughtered them. Wealthy businessmen, officials and even technicians in related industries

"Qingzhongtang, you keep asking for an armistice, but you don’t say what your country is willing to pay to end the war. If it is just empty words, then please go back. Even if the prince and I agree, the two hundred thousand troops under the prince will not agree. A soldier must earn a living with his head tied to his waistband, so he can't go out in vain," Chu Bufan said.

"I understand, but I don’t know what the prince wants." Qinggui nodded and asked

"I have drawn up a few armistice agreements here, and I would like to ask Mr. Qing Zhongtang to review them." Chu Bufan opened a folder on the table and handed it to Qing Gui

""Yeah." Qinggui nodded, took the folder, and an attendant beside him handed him his glasses.

"this.. The emperor and the second elder brother will never agree." After reading it, Qinggui's face changed drastically and he said.

This document is called"Draft Armistice Treaty between Zhou and Qing Dynasties", and the content is: First, all ports south of the Yangtze River It must be unconditionally and only open to the Great Zhou Empire.

Second, the Great Zhou Empire will establish a Zhou concession and set up a diplomatic agency in the capital of the Qing Empire. In order to ensure the security of the concession, the Zhou Empire can station at least one regiment of security forces.

Third, in order to ensure In order to ensure the trade security and personal safety of merchants from the Great Zhou Empire in Jiangnan, the Great Zhou Empire could station at least one army in any state capital in the south of the Yangtze River.

Fourth, Qing troops were not allowed in all concessions, stations, ports, etc. of the Zhou Empire in the Qing Dynasty. One soldier entered at a time, and the Qing government was not allowed to interfere with the affairs of the above-mentioned places.

Fifth, the Qing Empire's Baodao Province, Xiangjiang Prefecture, and Aomeng Island were ceded; the Qing Empire's overseas dependent countries such as Yuenan, Chaoxian, and Liuqiu were transferred to Zhou and Qing Dynasties. Co-management.

Sixth, if any Zhou people were arrested for committing crimes in the Qing Empire, they should be handled by the Zhou Empire’s Qing office. The Qing State had no right to convict Zhou people.