I can't die

Zhao Liewen greeted the [-]th generation of Prince Gong's ancestors in his heart, but he still had a smile on his face. It was really the sentence "Don't look at me smiling, I'm roaring in my heart." Everyone walked into the British Consulate together, but they saw Magnificent, but it is an aesthetic feeling different from traditional Chinese architecture.This is also the first time Zhao Liewen has seen this style of decoration, and he is a little sighing in his heart.

"I heard that foreign skills are extraordinary, but now I have to accept it." But seeing the crystal chandelier in the consulate, the colorful decorations painted with angel patterns, and the marble dome imitating Greece, Zhao Liewen admired.

"It's nothing compared to the imperial court of your country, it's just a trick." Although Bacharley said so, there was unstoppable complacency on his face.Seeing this, Zhao Liewen smiled slightly, but curled his lips inwardly.When everyone entered the consulate's conference room, a blond secretary had already prepared champagne.

"Moetdon, it was sent from France a few days ago, try it." Bacharley raised his glass and smiled at everyone.It was also the first time for Zhao Liewen to drink this kind of wine, and he sipped it, but he was not used to it, but he couldn't express his dissatisfaction on the surface, so he had to say: "It tastes mellow."

Moetdon, once won the reputation of "Imperial (royal champagne)" because of the favorite of Napoleon, but for many people in the Qing Dynasty, this wine is really. . .Even though Prince Gong had dealt with foreigners for a long time, he still couldn't appreciate the taste of these foreigners, so he put down his wine glass after trying it for a while, and curled his lips in his heart.

"It's not rude to come and go. The officials also brought some special products, and I invite the consul to have a taste."

Although Zhao Liewen was suddenly tricked by Prince Gong, he didn't come empty-handed. He called the book boy to take out an exquisite wooden box.The book boy put the wooden box in front of Zhao Liewen and then withdrew. Zhao Liewen and his son got up and opened the box, but saw pieces of golden cakes inside. style.

"This is the Jinchu Cake, a specialty of the Liuli Kingdom. It is especially eaten by the nobles of the country, but adults are welcome to taste it together."

Seeing the golden cakes in front of them, everyone thought about it, then took their chopsticks with clean hands and said with a smile, "Let's have a taste."

This Jinchu cake is baked with flour, brown sugar, and lard. It has a biscuit texture that other cakes do not have. It is crispy, elegant and sweet, unique, and it tastes really good.

"This Ryukyu is a good place." Bacharley sighed softly after tasting it.

The Ryukyu Islands, extending approximately 1 kilometers (100 miles) southwest from Kyushu Island (and its affiliated islands) in southern Japan to northeast of Taiwan, are the dividing line between the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea.The total land area is 700 square kilometers (3 square miles), including 090 large and small islands, which are divided into 1 larger island groups: the Amami Island Chain in the north, the Okinawa Islands in the middle, and the Sakishima Islands in the south.Because of its special geographical location, Ryukyu serves as a transit point for trade between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, and its trade is developed, so it is known as the "Tianjin Bridge of All Nations".

But no, whoever controls this place is equivalent to occupying a geomantic treasure land in the East Indian Ocean that can be attacked and retreated.Ryukyu has been a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty since ancient times, but it is not the territory of the Qing Dynasty. If the Qing Dynasty wants it, Britain and France naturally want it too.Ryukyu is actually quite different from Japan.Japan's land area is too large, and it has a large population. It is not impossible to conquer it, but it is very problematic to rule and manage it.It is impossible to kill all the Japanese, right?What Britain and France want are Japanese resources, not an uninhabited land, which is not in their interest.But Ryukyu is different. Firstly, Ryukyu has a small land area and most of them are small islands. Secondly, Ryukyu has too few populations. Otherwise, a group of Japanese bandits would not be able to bully them as soon as they said they would bully them.

"Ryukyu is a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, and now Japanese pirates are forcibly occupying our vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, which is really against international norms."

International norms are nothing more than a fig leaf. In the final analysis, whoever has the biggest fist is right. However, the traditional ancient empire of the Qing Dynasty pays the most attention to benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness.

"I, Great Britain, really don't like the Wa country."

Bacharley heard the strings and knew the elegant meaning, so he replied.Compared with the Qing court, which has always held a moderate attitude towards Western powers, the Japanese anti-barbarian warriors have been making small moves, often assassinating foreign businessmen and high-ranking officials stationed in Japan, which undoubtedly made the British and French heads a lot.This is also a prerequisite for why Britain and France are willing to join hands with the Qing Dynasty.In the final analysis, they want to support a representative who can replace them and make money for them. Since the Japanese would rather die than obey, the British and French do not mind giving the Japanese some strong medicine.

"My emperor of the Qing Dynasty has decreed that on the eighth day of next month, the Jiangnan navy will dispatch troops to station in Ryukyu to quell the chaos."

Zhao Liewen also put down the Jinchu Cake in his hand, and suddenly said this.As soon as these words came out, everyone in the audience was surprised.Even Prince Gong's face changed slightly. Although he knew that Zai Chun was preparing to send troops, he never expected that it would be so fast, and the time was set without informing him.

When Bacharley heard this, his eyes flashed: "So fast?"

"The imperial decree has been issued a few days ago, and I think it is almost here in Anqing."

This imperial decree was drafted by Zaichun himself, Cixi and Ci'an jointly affixed the seal, and it was directly issued to the Ministry of War, and no one in the Military Aircraft Department knew about it.It can be seen the attitude of the one emperor and two empresses in this palace on this matter.

"Anqing?"

When Pashaley heard this name, he couldn't help thinking of the warships equipped with mountain guns in the East China Sea.Wanshi did not expect that the Qing Dynasty really developed a navy.And now that the Yangtze River system has been opened up across the board, the ships built by Anqing can completely export troops directly to the Pacific Ocean through the Yangtze River Estuary.

"Your country is really a good means. Then I wonder if Mr. Zhao has any tricks to find it here?"

Bacharley leaned back, put his palms together in front of his legs, and looked straight at Zhao Liewen.

"I send troops in the Qing Dynasty, if your country is willing to send food. Our country is willing to set up a new concession in Ryukyu."

Zhao Liewen clapped his hands: "Bring the map."

Hearing this, the book boy took the map of the Qing Dynasty and placed it on the table again. On the Ryukyu Islands on the map, there was a circle drawn with a red cinnabar brush, completely enclosing the Amami island chain. A stamp is precisely Zaichun's "Tongdaotang".

"This is my sincerity."