Outside Guangzhou City, the Army Camp.

Several pots of ice were placed in the camp, and the cold breath was emitted. Li Mingxun lay on the rocking chair, looking at the letter in his hand, and couldn't hide his smile on his face. The letter was written by Li Xiangjun, telling Li Mingxun that he had another daughter. Li Mingxun had read it several times, and he was still happy. It was good that both children were good, and he was full of blessings.

When Qu Shixi and Li Chengdong heard about this, they originally planned to go to the military camp to discuss matters with each other, and brought some gifts to each other and entered the camp with dignity. The clean and tidy military camp was filled with happy soldiers. Today, the consul had a happy daughter and let go of the wine ban, so that the soldiers could drink in the camp.

The United States Army's troops came from all ethnic groups and places. Qilie and Sauron from the north danced quaint and barbaric dances. The native soldiers of the East Fan were painted with festive paints on their faces. People were in groups of joy, but Qu Shisi's face was solemn, and he asked: "Tingzhen, when you were happy to have Qilin's son, was the same in the soldiers in the camp?"

Li Chengdong shook his head and said, "Those servants are really happy..."

"Yes, I heard that there were no selfish soldiers in the Eastern Band army, but now I see that there are no servants, but everyone is like servants. The strong military strength of the Eastern Band is not a rumor." Qu Shizu said with emotion.

The two were able to enter Li Mingxun's tent. When Li Mingxun saw the two coming in, he said, "Shoufu Qu, General Tingzhen, please sit down."

Qu Shixiu did not care about Li Mingxun's simple and extremely etiquette and sat down calmly. Li Chengdong hesitated for a moment and suddenly knelt on the ground and said, "The crime of the foreign minister will be in charge of the ruling lord."

Li Mingxun smiled, raised his right arm in vain, signaled him to stand up, and said, "General Tingzhen, don't want this. Now in Guangdong, General Tingzhen is a great minister."

Li Chengdong didn't dare to make a contribution. He knew very well the difference between the United States and the Ming Dynasty. On the Ming Dynasty, rebellion was rebellion. Anyway, he did not blame him. Now he had a strong army, and the court dared not do anything to him. But the United States was different. Anyway, the crime of rebellion could be avoided. But massacre was considered a crime against humanity. In the Charter of the United States, even pardons could not be avoided. Li Chengdong was not afraid that Li Mingxun would be unfavorable to him. He was afraid that the United States would affect the overall situation of Guangdong because of his massacre in Jiangnan. After all, Li Chengdong had governed it as a territory since he entered Guangdong. This time he came here, he also wanted to turn Guangdong into a place for Huifan through the cooperation between the Ming Dynasty and the United States.

"I dare not! I will be guilty of the Ming Dynasty and unrighteous to the people. I deserve to die. Anyway, I have done my duty this time. How dare I be greedy for the achievements of heaven..." Li Chengdong bowed his head to the ground and said earnestly.

Li Mingxun said: "The past is unbearable to look back on, let's look at what you do in the future! General Tingzhen is now in the Wuling Mountains, the pillar of the country. Considering the overall situation, the United States will definitely not make things difficult for you. Our country has long been consistent with the Ming Dynasty. I hope you will strive to defend the enemy in the future and make meritorious contributions."

"The sinners are very sinful and are not worthy of leading troops anymore. However, the emperor and the ruling emperor will not abandon them. The sinners will fight against the enemy with all their might. They will not be a human being without destroying the Qing captives!" Li Chengdong kowtowed on the ground and said solemnly.

Li Mingxun nodded slightly and signaled that He Wenrui brought a stool for Li Chengdong. He didn't know whether what Li Chengdong said was true or false, and everything depends on the action.

"You two are here today. Is there a law to cede land and recruit soldiers?" Li Mingxun asked.

Qu Shisi nodded slightly and said, "Yes, the imperial court and Huifan already have a common position, so let General Tingzhen talk about it."

Li Chengdong stood up and explained it based on the map in the tent. Li Chengdong kept silent about Hong Tianzhuo's publicly proposed strategy of recapturing Huguang and exterminating the Qing army. After all, it was completely used to deceive people. What Li Chengdong said was to open up transportation between Jiangxi and Guangdong, offensive defense, and to ensure stability in Guangdong and Guangxi.

This strategy revolves around Ganzhou. Li Mingxun listened quietly and knew that this was Qu Shisi’s real idea, so it was very operational.

"If you have such a strategy, it seems that you don't have to borrow 20,000 soldiers." He Wenrui asked from the side.

Li Chengdong nodded slightly: "When leaving Meiguan in the north and conquering Ganzhou, the king's army should be the main force and the Allies as the auxiliary. The last general thought that it is better to borrow artillery than to borrow soldiers, and it is better to borrow wages than to ask for help. If you only conquer Ganzhou, the last general thought that your country only needs to provide heavy artillery and light army assistance. What do you think?"

Li Mingxun calmed down and thought about it, and felt it was really good, and said, "Since that's the case, our country can have four battalions, two infantry and artillery each. How about it?"

The four battalions mentioned by Li Mingxun are two field battalions and two heavy artillery battalions. Needless to say, the heavy artillery battalion is equipped with twelve-pound field cannons and eighteen-pound siege cannons, which is more than enough to deal with Ganzhou city defense. The purpose of the two invading battalions is to coordinate the artillery battalions to siege the city, focusing on defense, and not participate in offensive operations.

"In this way, everything will be foolproof." Qu Shizuo said first.

"Then how much money do you plan to borrow?" Li Mingxun asked again.

"I thought it would take 800,000 silver and 500,000 shi of rice." Qu Shizi said.

Li Mingxun thought for a moment and said, "That's one million and a half million taels."

Qu Shixi was not surprised by this number. At this time, the price of one stone of rice in Guangzhou exceeded two taels, and the price of grain given by Li Mingxun was much lower, which was already very righteous.

Li Mingxun asked again: "Then how do you plan to cede land?"

Qu Shixi said: "You and I have to negotiate together. I wonder what you want?"

"I want Huizhou Prefecture!" Li Mingxun said directly.

Qu Shisi and Li Chengdong's faces were both a little ugly. Huizhou is the largest prefecture in Guangdong. In terms of economic strength, it is second only to Guangzhou Prefecture. Logically speaking, if one prefecture in Huizhou is worth 1.5 million plus four battalions, it is already very cost-effective to have one prefecture in Huizhou, but the two still feel a little heartbroken. What's more, Huizhou is in the hinterland of Guangdong and does not undertake any defense in any direction, which is very different from the plan.

Qu Shixi said: "Your Excellency, Huizhou Prefecture is the Huifan vassal territory, which is not appropriate."

"Okay, then I want Guangzhou Prefecture." Li Mingxun said again.

That is even more impossible. Guangzhou is the largest prefecture in Guangdong, and it is a place with heavy taxes. How can it be given to others? But in the current situation in Guangdong, only these two prefectures are worth this price.

Qu Shixi shook her head, thinking that it was not a solution after all, and asked: "Your Excellency, how about Chaozhou, Guangdong's second largest city, the prosperous maritime trade and the port are rich, how about?"

In fact, Chaozhou is no less economically than Huizhou. It is only according to the Ming Dynasty's tax collection method that Chaozhou seems a little worse. Li Mingxun asked with a smile: "The surname Zheng Guo is in Nan'ao. Can you let him leave?"

Qu Shixi said: "I went to Nan'ao in person to persuade him, how about it?"

This is not a guarantee, it can only be an attitude. In fact, Li Mingxun still trusts Qu Shixi more. After all, Qu Shixi and Zheng Chenggong are considered brotherly relationships. Both of them studied under Qian Qianyi. In the original history, it was under his persuasion that Zheng Chenggong regarded Yongli as orthodox.

"But... Chaozhou is not worth the price." Li Mingxun shook his head.

Qu Shizi pointed to the north bank of Shenzhen River and said, "How about we draw a few more prefectures and counties in the south of Huizhou and Guangzhou?"

"It doesn't make much sense. Hong Kong is just a harbor city. The current land is more than enough... It's better to redefine Hong Kong's status. Your country will directly cede this place to us. Hong Kong will add Chaozhou, how about it?" Li Mingxun asked.

Li Chengdong was quite moved and looked at Qu Shisi, but Qu Shisi shook his head firmly and said, "No!"

Hong Kong is a golden rooster who can lay golden eggs in the Ming Dynasty. The annual rent and tax cash are more than 200,000 taels. Not only that, according to the contract signed by Chen Youlong and Li Mingxun, the annual rent in the New Territories is 200,000 taels, and the contract will be renewed next year. In other words, from next year, Hong Kong can contribute 400,000 taels to the Ming Dynasty every year, which is beyond the taxes of Guangxi province in normal times. Only such a treasure land will Qu Shisi will not let go.

Lee Myung-hoon’s issue raised by Hong Kong is actually a make up for the past ‘mistakes’. When he rented the New Territories with Chen Youlong and set such a high rent, he actually intended to cultivate Chen Youlong, and there were also personal relationships between the two. Moreover, at that time, it was the era of a community and a partnership company. As the "Chairman", Li Ming-hoon could make a decision in one sentence, but entering the United States era was obviously unacceptable. Not to mention it, Hong Kong was in a state of losing money in the year when Guangdong was in war.

"If this is the case, we will have to do things completely according to the contract. It is impossible to handle special matters like last year!" Li Mingxun persuaded a few words, and seeing that Qu Shixiu had a firm stance, he could only say solemnly.

Li Chengdong looked at Li Mingxun in confusion. He didn't know what Li Mingxun meant, but Qu Shixi knew that according to the Hong Kong Treaty and the later additional funds from the New Territories, Ming's income in Hong Kong was divided into two types, one was customs tax and the other was land rent.

The customs tax was collected and transferred by Ming officials. In this process, the United States provided assistance, which was not disputed. But the land rent bank was different. The bank was collected by the Hong Kong administrative agency, and then transported by the United States Army to the Guangdong Provincial Government Office, which is Guangzhou City. Last year, Guangzhou fell under the hands of Li Chengdong. The special matter was handled. He had to transport the land rent bank together with the customs tax to Guangxi. But from now on, everything was implemented in accordance with the treaty. The Ming Dynasty still wanted to rent bank, so it was necessary to ensure that Guangzhou was in hand.

Qu Shixi said firmly: "Since that's the case, then follow the treaty completely."

Lee Mingxun nodded without comment, and Lee Chengdong asked: "Your Excellency, how about this cooperation?"

Lee Mingxun said: "Then I will compromise. The United States only has Chaozhou, but the status of Chaozhou is up to us to decide."

Qu Shixi and Li Chengdong looked at each other, but they were puzzled. Qu Shixi asked, "If you have any profound meaning, please tell me clearly."

Li Mingxun took out a piece of paper, wrote a few words on it, and placed it in front of Qu Shixi, which read: Chaoshan Development Company.

"What is this?" Qu Shixi asked.

Li Mingxun said: "This is a state-owned company that will be established in the United States, Chaoshan Development Company. It will provide you with military pay and food worth 1.5 million taels. On the other hand, Chaozhou Prefecture will mortgage it to this company, and the company will control its operations instead of the United States, that's all."

Li Chengdong still didn't understand. Qu Shixi pondered for a moment and asked someone to call Chen Dachun in the city. After asking, he understood. Simply put, the United States regarded Chaozhou Prefecture as its own colony, not a territory.

The difference is that colonies are property, while territory is an inseparable part. The deeper difference is whether the people of Chaozhou Prefecture are citizens of the United States, and if they are territory, they are naturally colonies, that is not. Chaozhou people need to go to Taiwan and become citizens by owning property, paying taxes, etc., and paying taxes in the colonies, they are the leaders or employees of Chaoshan Development Company.

In other words, once the war is unfavorable, the United States will not bear too much political burden if it abandons Chaozhou. After all, it is just a colony, and abandonment and ownership are a matter of interest.

"This...this is not suitable." Qu Shixi said with a very ugly expression.

He Wenrui smiled: "The things you sold are not yours. How to deal with them has nothing to do with you!"

Qu Shixi slapped the table and stood up: "But that's not something. Chaozhou uses millions of people, that's a human, a living person."

He Wenrui said: "If you can't let go of this, don't sell it."

Li Mingxun glared at He Wenrui, signaled him to shut up, and turned to Qu Shixi and said, "Let me tell me, Shoufu Qu, you are promoting this cooperation mainly to hope that the United States will tie the carriage of the southwest of your Ming Dynasty to advance and retreat together with life and death. That's why you decided to kill two birds with one stone and want to give us the defense responsibility of Chaozhou, which is facing Fujian. As for the fate of the people, you can't actually worry about it."

Qu Shixi was not much surprised. He knew that Li Mingxun would see through the essence of this strategy sooner or later. Li Mingxun raised his hand and let him not argue, saying: "In fact, you don't have to worry too much, because we will never abandon you in the midst of a disaster. Let's put it this way, we accept Chaozhou Prefecture in the colonial situation, and we will not abandon it like a piece of grass, otherwise I will not cooperate with you. I can assure you that Mei is locked up, border guards are there, Nanxiong is there, and Chaozhou is there, how about it?"

This is very clear. If the Ming army can block the Qing army in the north, the United States will block the Qing army in Fujian. If the Ming army guards the heroic city of Nanxiong, the United States will not abandon Chaozhou, which is the key to eastern Guangdong.

"If you can do what you say, then I have nothing to say." Qu Shisi sat back on the chair.

Li Mingxun smiled and personally made tea for the two of them, saying, "In fact, the United States hopes that Guangdong and Guangxi will be more stable than you, but I have always believed that national defense is not the most important thing in the pass and the people, and people are not only the army, but also the generals. Have you ever thought about how far will it end if you sign such a humiliating treaty with the United States?"

"I have received great kindness from the country and die for the country. I will not hesitate to do this!" Qu Shixi said solemnly.

Li Mingxun smiled: "If the assistant Qu really ends up with the command of thousands of people and dies without any speed, who should the southwest half be entrusted to? At that time, the treacherous ministers will take over the remaining country and give up the only country. You, the assistant Qu, cannot die as much as possible."

Qu Shixi also understood this truth. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, he was willing to sacrifice, and he didn't care about the infamy of history books. He was afraid that he would sacrifice himself, but he would end up in the state and his family. Sacrifice was also in vain. At least, he could not find anyone in the court to inherit himself.

"Now, we can only take one step at a time." Qu Shishi sighed and said the status quo.

Li Mingxun smiled and said, "Now the southwest half of the wall is not short of you, Qu, and our cooperation is smooth. If someone else is either a treacherous minister or a pedantic literati. If Qu loses authority because of this, it will be a loss to both countries. Why not, let's find a scapegoat, how about it?"

"Hong Tianzhuo is a loyal minister in our dynasty. How can I suffer grievances for me? No!" The first thing Qu Shixi remembered was to cooperate with his assistant minister of the Ministry of War Hong Tianzhuo.

Li Mingxun smiled and said, "When you talk about scapegoats, you think that if you let good people suffer injustice, it seems that only good people can be scapegoats. In fact, bad people can do it, that is the use of waste. Okay, let's change the way we want to find a scapegoat, how about it?"
Chapter completed!