Chapter 44 Peace talks (14)

The "Goddess" was docked along the Baihe River and docked on the Tianjin Wharf. Nightingale got off the ship and headed straight to Tianjin Yamen, asking to see the situation of the prisoners of war. The person who came was a woman, or a foreign woman. Now it was the eve of the negotiations, and the officials in Tianjin did not dare to make decisions without authorization, so they carried the matter to Beijing.

When the name Nightingale appeared in Yang Yi's eyes, Yang Yi was stunned when he became familiar. Why did she come? Then Yang Yi had a premonition that this was an opportunity. Yang Yi knew who Nightingale was. It was precisely because of this woman's excellent nursing work that the British army's mortality rate dropped from 40% to 2% in the Crimean War. It is said that Nightingale created a miracle and created a brand new discipline.

Nightingale didn't expect that he would receive such a high-level reception. On the first day he arrived in Tianjin, the people in the yamen still ignored him and changed overnight. When he woke up early in the morning, Nightingale found that the yard of the inn was surprisingly quiet. It turned out that a group of Chinese officials arrived. Later, he found out that these officials were here to pick him up.

The Tianjin magistrate received an order from Yang Yi last night to receive Ms. Nightingale. Yang Yi came to meet her from Beijing. This scared the officials in Tianjin. Yang Yi was going to come down in person. They all heard that Yang Yi returned from the West. Is this woman Yang Yi's old friend? The officials had no intention of guessing, but when they thought that they were quite polite to treat Nightingale yesterday, they felt much more at ease.

Tianjin magistrate Liu Huanzhang came to pick Nightingale up to live underground in the yamen. Nightingale refused, but the magistrate Liu Huanzhang said that he moved into the yamen to facilitate the visit of prisoners of war, so Nightingale agreed.

In Tianjin, outside the prefect's yamen, Yang Yi, who had come from Beijing early, got off the horse. The prefect Liu Huanzhang had already brought these officials of all sizes to greet each year. According to the rules of the Qing Dynasty, if the Tianjin prefect of Yang Yi was to go to ten miles outside the city to greet him. However, Yang Yi felt that these were bad habits, so he announced that the officials would come down in the future. At most, the officials below only needed to greet him at the yamen.

The prefect bowed to Yang Yiyi and said, "See Lord." This is also Yang Yili's rule. No matter how big or small the officials are, they don't need to give a big gift when they meet. Just bow.

Yang Yi looked dusty and got up before dawn today. He brought a few guards and rode a fast horse and dared to come. Finally, he arrived in Tianjin before noon.

"I'm not giving a gift, where is that lady?" Yang Yi asked about this first thing.

"Sir, I have already arranged it in the inner yamen. Don't worry, go to the house to rest and wipe your sweat. I'll invite you now." Liu Huanzhang smiled and replied carefully. Chinese officials are indeed good at receiving their superiors.

Yang Yi thought for a moment and said, "No need, I'll go in and wash it first, and then visit it in person. This is more polite and makes us feel sincere."

Yang Yi's words confused the prefect. What's the origin of this woman? When the British ambassador came to China for negotiations, Yang didn't even see him at first. Now an old British woman came. Yang Yi actually came to see her from Beijing. Could it be that she is the Queen of England? You may be? But when you see Yang Yi's appearance, you are not familiar with this woman? Liu Huanzhang was thinking about it while scheming Yang Yi into the house.

"This is our central hall, Lord Yang." Liu Huanzhang didn't expect that he would be an introduction to Yang Yi.

"Zhongtang? What official position is it?" Nightingale asked the translator.

"Miss, China's central hall is equivalent to the British Prime Minister."

"Welcome, distinguished guest, Miss Nightingale, welcome to China." Yang Yi said, and Nightingale was shocked. There was no one who could speak Chinese on the street. Even the translator was brought by himself. Unexpectedly, the Chinese Prime Minister spoke fluent English. Not to expect that the Prime Minister was so young.

Despite the surprise, Nightingale, who had a good background, still followed the moral etiquette of the upper class in London, asked to lift his skirt and bow to Yang, and said politely: "I am happy to see you and Mr. Prime Minister."

"Haha, Miss Nightingale, I'm so happy that you can come to China. The nursing theory you created has saved countless dying people. I admire your dedication for a long time." Yang Yi's words surprised Nightingale even more. Yang Yi would actually know his nursing theory. Didn't it mean that Chinese people, like black Africans, and native Americans, are as backward as those of Africans? How could they even know this?

"This is the glory given to me by God, and it is not worthy of your admiration. By the way, I came to China mainly by the entrusted by the family members of the prisoners of war. I came to see these poor children, hoping to get your support, the honorable Prime Minister." The two of them talked directly in English, and the translation of Nightingale's arrival turned into the translation of the prefect Liu Huanzhang.

"Haha, this is fine. You see, it's not too late now. At noon, I'll invite you and your people to have dinner. In the afternoon, I'll accompany you to see the prisoners of war. They have not been abused in China." Yang Yi said with a smile.

Yang Yi really accompanied Nightingale and the others to the prisoner-of-war camp. With Yang Yi's arrangement, Nightingale's itinerary was very smooth. Seeing that all the prisoners of war were okay, and hearing that the injured prisoners of war were treated in time, Nightingale's impression of Yang Yi improved a little. When he returned to Tianjin, it was already very late. Although Yang Yi wanted to talk to Nightingale well and hoped that she could help train a group of nursing staff, looking at Nightingale's tired face, Yang Yi couldn't bear to disturb her rest, so he arranged for them to stay and left. Now is not a time to worry. Since he has come, it is not easy to leave, so he has to leave some unique skills, right?

Nightingale was a kind and enthusiastic person. The next day, Yang Yi asked her to take a group of Chinese students to the Far East battlefield to help nurse the wounded and provide guidance to Chinese nurses. Nightingale agreed immediately. In this way, Yang Yi selected more than 200 nurses and went to the Far East battlefield with Nightingale. The only regret is that in China now, women cannot go out to make a living, and all the students can only be men.

The negotiating delegations between Britain and France came to China again, and the Russian delegation also came. The place of the negotiation was still Tianjin. The only difference is that a telegram line has run through the northeast of China and is also connected to the Russian telegram line. If you have any questions to ask for instructions, the delegation can send a telegram directly. This also provides favorable conditions for the smooth progress of the negotiation.

Once again, sitting at the negotiating table, several countries became much more honest and their voices were no longer as loud as before. They were able to achieve strength by fighting, of course you have to win. Like the Qing Dynasty in history, anyone can bully it.

When I sat on the negotiating table again, the representatives of various countries no longer looked into the sky, and it was a pity to speak.

"Mr. Yang, dear Chinese representatives, our government hopes that you will reconsider the negotiation conditions you have offered in a pragmatic manner," said British representative Wilson as he tried his best to speak out.

"Mr. Yang, our government also believes that the conditions offered by your country are too harsh, and I hope you can have some room for reversal." Nadon also stood up and spoke on behalf of France.

"Mr. Yang, our country also hopes..." Mihailitchko looked at Yang Yi's smiling expression and sat back consciously. Not to mention Yang Yi, even the representatives of Britain and France looked over, they were also silly. The expression meant, Russia? Does Russia still have the say? If we hadn't interfered, it would be hard to say who Moscow is in now.

"Okay, this is the attitude of negotiation. We China is not an unreasonable country. Since everyone has difficulties, we can discuss it slowly." Yang Yi's words sound simple, but this discussion is based on the blood of countless soldiers to send out electricity. A weak country has no diplomacy, and China's history of being slaughtered is gone forever.

The following negotiations went much smoother. The representatives of Britain and France tried their best to kill the price, and Yang Yi rested on the ground to pay the money. The result of the bargaining was that Britain compensated China 12 million taels of silver, of which 5 million taels of silver were used to build steel mills and shipyards, and provided railway tracks to bring payment. At the same time, it also abolished the Sino-British Nanjing Treaty that the two sides had previously signed, and the two sides signed a new Sino-British Tianjin Treaty. The new treaty stipulates that Britain stopped all opium smuggling trade in China. (In fact, in Guangzhou, Chen Yucheng, who operated a coastal defense like an iron barrel, banned all opium halls, and found that all those who smuggled and sold opium were beheaded.) Both China and Britain sent ambassadors to each other, and signed mutual most-favored-nation treatment in the economic and trade fields.

The content of the Sino-France Tianjin Treaty is similar to the Sino-British Tianjin Treaty, but the amount of compensation is that the French compensation is 20 million taels of silver, of which 8 million taels are also paid by means of assisting the construction of factories, providing equipment, technicians, and providing rails. The other 1,000 taels are paid in three years, with interest of 5 cents.

As for the Russians, Yang Yi was not so polite. The compensation of 50 million taels was enough for them to save face. But the Russians really had no money, so they had no choice but to take the territory near Lake Berga, Alaska, and Siberia was a common area between the two countries, and all resources were developed by both sides. In this way, Russia still had to pay 30 million taels of compensation, but Russia still couldn't afford it. Fortunately, Russia has abundant resources, iron ore, coal mine, wood, and these things. After all, the Russians had to pay for it. In the end, the Russians had to pay 10 million in cash. The Sino-Russia Tianjin Treaty was signed, and the land including Lake Berga to the Ergun River was justified to become Chinese territory.

The battle was temporarily over and the peace talks were over. When the whole country was celebrating, Yang Yi clearly realized the gap between China and the world. Imperialism would not be so willing to fail, nor would they be willing to just watch a powerful China appear in the East. The world is unpredictable. If China wants to be undefeated to the world, it must continue to catch up and progress.
Chapter completed!