"I heard that the Provisional Government will give most-favored-nation treatment to countries such as Germany, which will put the British Empire at a disadvantage in China's business competition. In this regard, I think the British Empire should also receive such treatment." Juerdian avoided the important issues and wanted to change the topic.

"Any discount is mutual, and the same is true for friendly treatment. I don't want to talk about the proposition of the Provisional Government anymore, I just want to hear the sincerity you want to express." Chen Wenqiang was a little impatient, and his expression clearly expressed his emotions.

Juerdian was silent for a moment and said, "The postal system in Customs was created by Mr. Hurd of the General Taxation Division. It seems inappropriate for the Provisional Government to take it back unconditionally."

"There is no doubt that Mr. Hurd is a British man, but he was in charge of the General Taxation Department because of the appointment of the original government. His identity is a Chinese employee. The creation of the postal system was also based on the orders of the original government, not his personal system. In other words, not only the postal system belongs to the country, but also to the General Taxation Department of Customs. If you insist on your own opinion, it can only indicate that you are still acknowledging and supporting the Qing government and have an attempt to suppress bias against the provisional government." Chen Wenqiang said tit-for-tat.

"There is a large number of foreign personnel employed in the General Taxation Department, which is formed in history and is determined by the low working ability of Chinese officials. Moreover, the work efficiency and work style of foreign personnel in the General Taxation Department are recognized and appreciated by all countries. For this, the Provisional Government is also requested to consider it carefully."

"The Provisional Government has no intention to change the organizational structure of the General Taxation Department, but the exercise of supervision and amendment of tax rates is a very legitimate and reasonable requirement. It is also an international practice to deposit taxes into the National Bank. I don't think you will deny this."

"How will the Provisional Government revise the tax rate?" Juerdian asked anxiously.

Chen Wenqiang signaled the secretary to hand over a stack of lists to Zhuerdian, which were filled with the names and places of origin of various commodities, and said: "The import tax rate of these commodities is relatively low, which has a great impact on Chinese merchants. The Provisional Government hopes to increase it. Of course, what commodities will be increased in the end and how much will be increased, we need to negotiate and resolve it."

It is good to achieve it overnight, but when you are not strong enough, you can only fight for it little by little. Customs administration is in the hands of foreigners. This is difficult to change, or it cannot be changed overnight. However, exercising supervision power, placing taxes under the control of the government, and then raising tax rates to gain a relatively relaxed environment for national industry and commerce. This is the initial goal of the government.

As for what level it can reach, Chen Wenqiang could have imagined some of the commercial interests of small countries such as Sweden and Belgium, the UK would sacrifice without hesitation. It may add some symbolically to its own goods, but it will not change too much. In any case, changes will inevitably arise, and some interests will be repurchased.

The first meeting between the two sides ended, which is strange. From beginning to end, there was no discussion on cooperation between Mawei Shipyard and Jiangnan Shipyard, but each condition can also be regarded as an exchange before cooperation.

"The awakening of national consciousness is a matter of time and time. This not only refers to what the Chinese nation says, but is the same for all nations. For Britain, the empire with the largest colony in the world, if you face this problem earlier, you will have more new experiences and new ways. Don't wait until the fires are ignited everywhere, and you will be burned to death because of the lack of solutions to deal with it."

Zhu Erdian sat in the car and recalled what Chen Wenqiang said. Well, he was a young man after all, and he spoke very vigorously. However, if you think about it carefully, it makes sense. Change will inevitably occur. From the output of goods to the output of capital, from gunboat diplomacy to moderate means, nothing is unchanged.

He had to admit that the Provisional Government's current foreign policy had initial success, and tariff negotiations, as a means of showing friendship between the British Empire, were inevitable. Thinking of the impact of the active actions of the United States and Germany on the great powers, Jurden was so angry that his teeth were hurt.

…………………

Yuan Shikai threw the newspaper on the table, and the talks between China and the UK were all official articles. Both sides expressed their sincere intention to cooperate. The atmosphere of the talks was harmonious and frank, and fruitful. A consensus was reached on many issues and reiterated that the friendship between China and the UK will be maintained forever... These unsubstantive reports, although they showed that the differences between the two sides were actually very important, were no longer important to Yuan Shikai.

The provisional government could afford the price, and he, except for Zhili, Henan, and the three northeastern provinces, declared independence. The shock of the death of Cixi and Guangxu and the loss of authoritarianism finally gave local forces a chance to exaggerate. Regardless of whether the so-called independence is about revolution or not, the government's income and the withdrawal of the independent provinces all took the opportunity to intercept.

Not only is it financial difficulties, but the military-industrial capabilities in the north are not the opponents of the south. Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant, Daye Iron and Steel Plant, Yazhou Iron and Steel Plant, plus Chenzhou, Yazhou, Shanghai, and Jinling Arsenals, there are more and more revolutionary troops, and it is an obvious trend to fight harder and stronger.

Yuan Shikai felt deeply helpless about this. The situation was like this, and he knew that he could no longer fight. Yang Du also sent a telegram, advising him to accept the conditions of the provisional government as soon as possible, otherwise in layman's terms, there would be no such store after passing this village. When the revolutionary army became stronger, they would not take the Beiyang Army into consideration. At that time, not only would there be nothing left, but they could not even guarantee their lives.

Yuan Shikai knew that this was not to scare him. After Jinan was restored, the temporary court organized by the temporary group tried the crime of injured, killing and robbing people at an extremely fast speed. Not only Wang Chuanlan, but more than 200 Qing troops were sentenced to death at the same time. In order to save bullets and express civilized law enforcement, all prisoners were hanged and executed.

Bah, the bullshit civilized law enforcement, killing people means killing people, using guns, knives, and ropes, isn't it the same? It also saves bullets. What you have for revival is money, and you care about a few bullets? Yuan Shikai was disdainful, but he couldn't help but scan the newspapers reporting on the table next to the sweeping table.

Chinese people like these exciting things. Several reporters vividly described the execution process. Wang Chuanlan's obese body broke three ropes one after another. The execution lasted for an hour, and the onlookers applauded. Yuan Shikai was very suspicious whether the provisional government instructed the executioners to deliberately make bad intentions to increase the effect of deterrence.

Of course, this is not over. Since many death row prisoners have no one to collect the bodies, the Provisional Government cremated the bodies and used financial funds to buy urns in order to express the humanitarian spirit.

Not only did he kill the person, but he also burned it to ashes. Giving a broken box is called the humanitarian spirit and received praise from the intersection. What is this?

But Yuan Shikai had to admit that this trick was very good. At that time, Chinese people were concerned about burial, and cremation was suspected of squeezing bones and ashes. After the newspapers promoted it, many people would be quite scared. If the Empress Dowager Longyu in the palace saw this, should he faint? The Regent would be so scared that he would pee his pants? Yuan Shikai thought maliciously.

Yuan Shikai punched the table hard. The general situation was like this. While the Beiyang Army was still there, I had no choice but to be a hero who knew the current affairs.

What’s interesting is that on this land of China, there are many good ministers and heroes who choose their masters and serve in this way and know the current affairs. When the general situation is getting brighter and brighter, many people began to express their opinions. Although it is a bit late, it is always better to miss the last bus.

The Great Wall is like a flying dragon, where the "dragon head" enters the sea. It is Shanhaiguan of Qinhuangdao. Qinhuangdao was named after the eastern tour of Qin Shihuang, China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang, who sent people to the sea to seek immortality. It is the only city in China named after the emperor's title.

Since the Opium War, the gradually formed concessions were viciously developed and widely promoted until the end of the Second Opium War. Driven by patriotic officials and gentry, the Qing government took measures to open a commercial port to open shopping malls to resist outsiders opening up concessions after the Sino-Japanese War.

In order to "hide" the great powers to increase the concessions and their "coveting" of our country's "a concise area" of the situation, the Qing government independently opened more than a dozen trading ports and set up a number of shopping malls for domestic and foreign merchants' residence trade, trying to take advantage of the situation of the mixed residence of various countries in the trade port to "retain each other" and achieve the goal of "not staying with each other with troops" and "conservative business".

These measures of the Qing government curbed the momentum of the great powers to open up concessions to a certain extent. Gulangyu and Qinhuangdao were also commercial ports that the Qing government independently opened during this period. However, due to the incompetence and weakness of the Qing government and the greed and arrogance of the great powers, Qinhuangdao gradually became a quasi-concession area.

In 1901, the Eight-Nation Alliance forced the Qing government to sign the humiliating Treaty of Xin Chou, giving the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Japan and Italy the right to station troops in the Beijing-Tianjin area. In addition to stationing troops in the Embassy in Beijing and Tianjin, the United States also stationed Marines in Qinhuangdao, using it as an important port for the United States to provide supplies from the Philippines to troops stationed in North China.

In the early morning, the sky was gloomy, and a thick layer of fog covered the sea. Looking up, it was a gray and blue area, and it was hard to tell which is the sky and the sea.

A mid-sized ship flying a six-star flag split the waves and headed towards the north, followed by three medium-sized merchant ships, following behind them.

Facing the sea breeze, Yao Yu buckled the hat strap under his jaw and looked up at the hazy sea surface, but his heart was bright. As the coalition leader of the mixed association, he was full of pride in his troops.

This is a young, full of vitality and ideal force. With such a force, he was confident that he would give the Qing Dynasty a final blow. Although the occupation of Shanhaiguan was temporary, it was planned by Chen Wenqiang and Yuan Shikai, which prompted a huge change in the situation in the Northeast and eliminated the Qing Dynasty's last fantasy.

Many times have I felt heartbroken and passionate, and now I have to lead the Iron Army and watch the realization of my ideals with my own eyes. New China is entering the stage of history. He has no choice but to think about it and his heart is ups and downs.

The fog is dissipating, the last horn has sounded, and a brilliant chapter is about to begin.

…………………

The yellow glazed tiles of the Forbidden City still shine brightly in the sun. The palace is tall and majestic, but it can no longer shock people's souls. The Qing Dynasty has come to an end.

The atmosphere of the East Warm Pavilion of Yangxin Palace is like a mourning stopping the coffin, and the imperial meeting of the Qing court is being held here.

Vice Foreign Minister Hu Weide knelt on the ground and remarked: "Empress Dowager, I received a telegram from the congressional envoys in Japan, the United States, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, etc., mainly Lu Zhengxiang, the ambassador to Russia. This matter is of great importance. I came to report to the Empress Dowager to learn about the severance."

"What's the matter? Just say it." Empress Dowager Longyu said weakly.

"They unanimously demanded that the emperor abdicate..." Hu Weide lowered his head and reported.

"What!" Queen Mother Longyu was shocked and her mind buzzed.

Xiao Dezhang handed Hu Weide's telegram to the empress dowager. Long Yu calmed down and took the telegram. When he saw that "the implementation of republic is the trend of the world, and the emperor's abdication was the general trend", he almost fainted and his eyes were black.

******* Yi Li appeared at this imperial meeting very rarely. Yuan Shikai wrote him a secret letter, frightened and frightened. He knew that the Beiyang Army was no longer reliable and might even be rushing towards Beijing by train. But now he just wants to save his billions of property, but he doesn't want to accompany the Qing court to burn both jade and stone.

Seeing that Empress Dowager Longyu was slowly recovering, Yi Li stepped forward and said, "Empress Dowager, now the national trend is towards the Republic. The revolutionary forces are getting more and more profitable day by day, and dozens of Western Navy and Army are willing to help serve. All countries have expressed their close attitude towards the provisional government. If the war is delayed, there is no need to discuss victory or defeat. Where is the salary? Where is the gun? If the troops are at the city, not only will the throne not be preserved, but even these nobles are hopeless. Wouldn't it be too late to regret it?"

"In any case, we have no reason to surrender to the rebels." Regent Zaifeng was not confident enough to speak.

Yi Li looked heartbroken and hesitated for a long time before saying: "The situation is extremely critical now. Maybe we can only ask the Empress Dowager to follow the public opinion and be willing to give up the regime. Then we can discuss it in fact. Who dares to treat the emperor and the royal nobles unfairly? When later generations talk about this, they know that the court is not private to the world to protect the people, so naturally everyone is grateful. Doing this will bring decentness and benefits, isn't it great? Nowadays, bandits are rampant, and Beijing is full of chaos, just like a powder barrel, and a little spark will explode. If there is no republic, there may be the disaster of Li Zicheng entering Beijing."

"Fart." Prince Su Shanqi cursed: "You are corrupt in the Qing Dynasty. You are not greedy. You have been waving flags and shouting for Yuan Shikai over the years. Look at his Beiyang Army, and they have sex with the Revolutionary Party, and dare to jointly generate electricity to threaten the court."

Prince Su Shanqi suddenly realized that he had left the word. This matter was hidden from Empress Dowager Longyu. After all, he was a timid woman. If she was really scared and decided to abdicate, she would be done.

"Say, why don't you say it?" Yi Li suddenly became excited and said loudly: "The generals of Beiyang jointly issued a power generation, and asked the Empress Dowager to quickly abdicate and implement a republic, otherwise they would lead their troops north. For such a big thing, you dare to deceive the Empress Dowager, and the Revolutionary Army landed from Qinhuangdao and had occupied Shanhaiguan. Maybe you didn't dare."
Chapter completed!