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The news of the loss of the Da Gukou Fort reached Beijing and shook the Manchu Qing imperial court. These few days, the eunuchs were especially careful when they walked, afraid that they would attract the attention of the flustered and exasperated Emperor, and then be ordered to be dragged out and beaten to death. Of course, this was obviously not going to solve the problem. Xian Feng could easily kill all the eunuchs in the palace, but he couldn't touch the foreigners at all.
In April 1858, the envoys of England, France, Russia, and the United States arrived one after another at the mouth of Dagu Pass. They each sent a note to the Qing government, requesting that within six days, a minister with full authority be appointed to negotiate. The note from Russia and the United States also expressed their willingness to act as "mediators." On one hand, Emperor Xianfeng ordered the Qing Army to set up defenses in Tianjin and Da Gu, on the other hand, he sent the governor-general of Zhili, Tan Tingxiang, as an imperial envoy to Da Gu to negotiate. He also placed his hope on the so-called 'mediation' of the Russian and American envoys. The British and French invaders did not have any sincerity in the negotiations. They were just stalling for time while they stepped up their military preparations.
On the 20th of May, 1858, the allied forces of Britain and France bombarded the Da Gu Fort. The Qing Army stationed at each fort fought back and engaged the enemy in a fierce battle. But Tan Tingxiang and the others had no fighting spirit at all, they abandoned the fort and fled for their lives. In addition, the fort's facilities were crude, they were isolated and without help, Dagu fell into enemy hands. On the 26th, the allied forces of Britain and France went up the Bai River, invaded the outskirts of Tianjin, and threatened to attack Beijing.
Emperor Xianfeng felt that the matter had clearly exceeded his imagination. This time, the British attitude and position were so intense. The reason they gave was about changing the contract. In 1840, the Manchu Qing were defeated in the First Great Smoky War and signed a series of treaties with the foreign devils. The Manchu Qing naturally felt aggrieved, so they delayed the implementation of the treaty as much as they could. Their plan was to drag these treaties down.
As it turned out, doing so had a certain effect. The foreigners were still blocked outside of China, and very few foreigners were able to enter China. Furthermore, the tobacco trade became more and more rampant. Because the Qing court collected tobacco taxes from the tobacco trade, it caused the area of tobacco cultivation in the country to skyrocket. Domestic tobacco companies were rapidly occupying a larger and larger share of the market, driving foreign tobacco companies out of the China market and even taking over the international market.
However, the British did not seem to accept this fact. They clearly told the Manchu Qing government that they must sign a new agreement with the British and implement the new agreement.
"What are these barbarians trying to do?" Xian Feng roared at the Grand Council. Because he used too much strength, Xian Feng clutched his chest and started coughing violently right after he finished shouting.
"Your Majesty! Take care of your dragon body! "The ministers of the Grand Council hurriedly said.
With great difficulty, he managed to calm his breathing. Xian Feng shouted again, "Serving me is the job of the eunuchs. As the Grand Council's ministers, you have to fight for the country. What's the point of worrying blindly? "
Under Xian Feng's rebuke, the Grand Council's ministers lowered their heads in unison. If they really had the ability to resist the attack of the foreign devils, would they still need to be as attentive as the eunuchs?
Xian Feng panted for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "How did Vézé win in Guangdong?"
A year ago, Vézé defeated the British in Foshan. Then, the announcement was spread all over the country. Xian Feng naturally knew about this. Because of this, Xian Feng did not think that the British were that great. Although Vézé had a fierce reputation for the past few years, the Qing Army was no match for Vézé. However, Vézé's victory proved that the British were not invincible.
"Your Majesty! You can't take Wei Ni's words seriously! "Immediately, a minister of the Grand Council advised.
"We can't take Vézé's words seriously, but can we take yours seriously?" Xian Feng immediately rebuked mercilessly. As the Emperor, he had a clear understanding of his subordinates. They seemed to be speaking righteously, but in fact, they were trying to shirk responsibility. First, they thought that the news of Vézé defeating the British could not be taken seriously. Then, they thought that it was understandable and forgivable that they lost the war. As long as they concluded that Vézé was lying, then no one in China could defeat the British.
The Grand Council's ministers all lowered their heads, their eyes looking at their noses, their noses at their mouths, and their mouths at their hearts. Now that the situation had reached this point, they really had no other choice. In fact, the Grand Council did not necessarily suspect that Vézé's achievements were fake. Vézé had dominated the world in the past few years. He had even fought his way to Tianjin and rescued the besieged Taiping army. Even the imperial envoy, Sheng Bao, had been killed in battle. It was not surprising that such a ferocious army could defeat the British army. However, the Manchu Qing army did not have such a powerful army. The ministers of the Grand Council were very clear about the fighting power of the Eight Banners.
Seeing the ministers of the Grand Council obediently allow the Emperor to scold them, Xian Feng did not calm down. Instead, his anger boiled. Then, his anger suddenly plummeted. He despaired of his ministers. When they didn't have to face external enemies, this group of people could show off their abilities, and the methods they used to fight with others were more exciting than the last. In the face of foreign enemies, especially in the face of continuous defeats, these people showed unprecedented "humility". As long as it did not involve the change of power, and as long as someone was willing to take responsibility, they would immediately express their approval and support.
For example, when Emperor Xian Feng scolded these ministers of the Grand Council, they behaved more submissively than eunuchs. Next, they would listen to the Emperor's teachings. But Xian Feng's purpose in promoting these subordinates was to have them work, to serve the country and solve problems when it was beset with internal and external difficulties. He did not want them to act like puppets and act as ministers of the Grand Council.
At this time, Xian Feng knew that his subordinates could not be relied on. Moreover, Xian Feng knew that he could not do anything about it. With a desolate mood, Xian Feng said, "Order Grand Scholar Gui Liang and Minister of Appointments Hua Xana to be imperial envoys to Tianjin to negotiate peace."
Hearing Xian Feng's decree, the ministers of the Grand Council breathed a sigh of relief. It was great that the Emperor had not ordered them to fight the allied British and French. It was also at this time that the Minister of Rites asked for an audience. Xian Feng no longer had any emotions in his heart. He did not even have the urge to send the Minister of Rites away. He said, "Let him in!"
The Minister of Rites entered the imperial study with a joyful expression. When he saw Xian Feng, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed. Then he raised his face and said happily, "Your Majesty! The United States and Russia have sent envoys to say that they are willing to mediate! "
Hearing this news, Xian Feng furrowed his brows in surprise. In his view, the foreign devils were all the same. Why was there suddenly a foreigner who was willing to mediate the war? Thinking of this, Xian Feng asked in a doubtful tone, "Aren't they in cahoots with the British?"
"Your Majesty, the United States and Russia also feel that the war is dangerous and that fighting is not a good thing, so they are willing to mediate," the Minister of Rites hurriedly replied.
Hearing this answer, the faces of the ministers of the Grand Council lit up. As long as they did not have to fight a real war and play games with the foreign devils, when had the Qing's Grand Council ever been afraid of the foreign devils? It was just that the foreign devils were barbaric and only knew how to fight. These ministers just did not have the opportunity to display their strengths. Now that they had the opportunity, the Grand Council felt that it was time for them to display their abilities.
Xian Feng naturally suspected that the British and Russia were harboring evil intentions. But at this time, the British Fleet had already reached Tianjin and was about to attack Beijing. Trying a dead horse as a living horse, negotiating with the British and Russia was also a method. Thinking of this, Xian Feng ordered, "Send someone to talk to them."
This discussion really did come to a conclusion. First of all, the British and French took a tough stance, demanding a complete revision of the treaty signed after the First Great Smoky War. How could the Manchu Qing representatives dare to say no to the four countries' fleets at sea? They immediately agreed to sign the treaty. The final treaty was named after the place where it was signed, the Treaty of Tianjin.
The Russian and American envoys took full advantage of their 'mediator' status, on the 13th and 18th of June, respectively, they signed twelve clauses of the Sino-Russian 'Treaty of Tianjin' and thirty clauses of the Sino-American 'Treaty of Tianjin', seizing almost the same invading privileges as the British and French, except for the reparations. The ninth clause of the Sino-Russian 'Treaty of Tianjin' also specifically stipulated that the two countries must send people to survey the 'previously undefined border' and 'must clear up the border and add it into the treaty', so that it could be settled in the future, thus laying the groundwork for Russia to further plunder China's territory.
After the 'Treaty of Tianjin' was signed, the British and French allied forces withdrew from Tianjin, the coastal forces successively moved southward. Emperor Xian Feng was worried about the contents of the treaty, he ordered Gui Liang and the others to negotiate the treaty with the British and French representatives in Shanghai to revise the 'Treaty of Tianjin', to cancel the terms of the envoy stationed in Beijing, the travel of the interior, the trade of inland rivers, and so on, and to try to avoid the British and French going to Beijing to change the treaty. In November, Gui Liang and the British, French, and American representatives respectively signed the 'Treaty of Trade and Aftermath', stipulating that the tobacco trade would be legalized; the customs would levy a tax of 5% on imported and exported goods according to the current price; foreign goods transported to the interior would only be subject to a 2.5% export tax, all inland taxes would be exempted; the British would be hired to help with the customs and taxation. However, the British and French would not allow the various clauses of the 'Treaty of Tianjin' to be changed, and insisted on changing the treaty in Beijing.
On the 24th of July, the British plenipotentiary representative in China, Erkin, sent an envoy to Foshan, asking the Liberation Army to accept the contents of the 'Treaty of Tianjin'. Of course, this time the excuse of the British was that a missionary named Cameron had been beaten up while preaching in a village between Hong Kong and Guangdong. The villagers were extremely ruthless, Cameron's left eye was blown out, and his body was fractured in many places. Seven days after being sent back to Hong Kong, he died of internal bleeding.
Beating a missionary to death was an important excuse in 'history' for foreign intervention in China. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Restored Commandery, Hong Ren? Not only did he join the church, but he also served as a church priest. Hong Ren? After listening to the British representative's protest, he sneered, "Do you know where that missionary went to preach?"
The British representative was stunned, he really did not know. Hong Ren? Hong Ren said, "The year before last, the British attacked Guangdong, burning more than six thousand homes along the coast along the way. That missionary went to that area to preach. I was actually quite surprised, the local people only severely injured him, but did not beat him to death. You British burn and kill the people of China, yet you still expect to go there to preach. Is there something wrong with your heads? "
"Flooded with water?" For a moment, the British representative could not understand the meaning of this sentence.
Hong Ren? Slightly raising his eyebrows, he said, "After committing such a heinous crime there, you still dare to go there. I can only tell you, the British deserved to be beaten to death in that area! "
This time, the British representative completely understood. He angrily stood up and shouted, "What did you say!"
Seeing the British representative being so arrogant, Hong Ren? Pointing at the door, he said, "F * ck you! You want to negotiate with us, yet you're still so arrogant? Get out! "R1058
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