Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 346: A weak country has no diplomacy—Vietnamese version!

The two people's words deeply hurt Hu Longshan's heart.

The anger in his heart was constantly suppressed and accumulated, and then fermented.

At this moment he realized what it meant that a weak country has no diplomacy!

When you are weak, everything you say will be regarded as bullshit.

Your opinion is totally unworthy of attention!
He was the Minister of Rites of Vietnam, but in the Tang Dynasty, even two low-level officials dared not take his words seriously.

What a disrespect this is for him and Vietnam!

However, Hu Longshan had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure it in the end.

He could endure some grievances, but there must be no mistakes in the peace talks.

Otherwise, Hu Longshan would not be able to explain to the Vietnamese government.

Therefore, Hu Longshan could only sulk, and then was taken to the inn by Ren Haiping and Zhong Jing.

After arriving at the posthouse and settling down, Hu Longshan arranged for someone to deliver a letter of peace request and seek an audience with Guo Songtao.

In addition, he also sent people to contact the ambassadors of Britain, France, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries in China.

It is hoped that they can intervene and promote peace talks between the Tang Dynasty and Vietnam.

Vietnam is now continuously losing cities and territories. The sooner the peace talks begin, the better. There is absolutely no room for delay.

……

Guangzhou, British Embassy!

British Minister to China Bruce, French Minister to China Baldwin, Dutch Minister to China Andre, Spanish Minister to China Cotero and others gathered together to discuss matters.

Bruce took a deep puff of his cigar and then spoke.

"According to the news from Vietnam, Vietnam can no longer hold on and is preparing to negotiate with the Tang Kingdom."

"They even sent someone to contact us and asked us to step in and push for the peace talks to be completed as soon as possible."

"Everyone, tell me, should we interfere in the peace talks between Vietnam and Tang?"

The fight between Vietnam and the Tang Dynasty was jointly promoted by the four countries of Britain, France, the Netherlands and Spain.

In this case, the discussion on whether to involve Vietnam and the Tang Dynasty in the peace talks must naturally be decided by the envoys of the four countries together.

Baldemi took a sip of the Bordeaux red wine shipped from mainland France, frowned slightly, and then said.

"I can't help but interfere!"

"The person sent by the Vietnamese ambassador said that if we don't help them with the peace talks."

"Then they will expose the fact that we instigated hostility between Vietnam and the Tang Dynasty."

"Once Vietnam exposes this matter, then the Tang Dynasty will certainly make things difficult for us."

It is one thing for both parties to tacitly agree on something, but it is another matter once it becomes public knowledge.

The Tang Dynasty claimed to be the Celestial Empire and was extremely concerned about its reputation.

Once Vietnam reveals that Britain, France, the Netherlands and Spain are interfering in the Vietnam War, the Tang Dynasty will probably have to hold Britain, France, the Netherlands and Spain accountable for this matter, even if it is just to give an explanation to its own people.

By then, Britain, France, the Netherlands and Spain will probably be in trouble too!

Well, the one who is unable to maintain his face but still wants to save face is the real one who wants to save face.

If you are able to maintain your own face, this can be called actively safeguarding the dignity of the country and the nation.

At this time, being too concerned about face is not a derogatory term.

No one dares to ignore the attitude of the Tang Dynasty.

Dutch Ambassador Andre also spoke up.

"I also agree."

"The Tang Kingdom is now actively expanding in Southeast Asia. If we fall into the hands of the Tang Kingdom, the consequences will be disastrous."

Britain and France actually don't care about the Tang Dynasty's accusations.

Everyone's territories are not adjacent, and the so-called accountability is nothing more than a matter of wrangling between the two parties.

Anyway, the Tang Dynasty is not like the closed-door Qing Dynasty, and it will not cut off trade at will.

However, the colonies of the Netherlands and Spain were right under the nose of the Tang Dynasty.

Once they give others a handle, the Tang Dynasty will probably have to take the opportunity to demand the expansion of its interests in Manila and Batavia as compensation.

Kotero also spoke up to second the motion.

Upon hearing this, Bruce took another deep puff of his cigar, and the light on the cigar tip flickered.

After a moment, he exhaled smoke, put out the cigar in his hand, and then spoke.

"Okay, in that case, let's send a diplomatic note to the Tang Dynasty's Department of Diplomacy together."

"Haha, I hope the Tang Dynasty won't ask us for too much for this matter!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

……

Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Guo Songtao's office.

Guo Songtao was meeting with Takeda Michihito, the Japanese ambassador to the Tang Dynasty.

The two sat opposite each other at a table, with servants serving them tea.

Takeda Michihito drank the tea in the cup and then spoke.

"Director Guo, regarding the Tang Dynasty's request for the shogunate to send troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in its war in Vietnam, the shogunate has already responded."

"The general has approved the dispatch of troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in conquering Yue."

"Within a month, Japan will send the first 5,000-man troop to Vietnam."

"When the time comes, I hope the Tang Dynasty will take good care of us!"

After the news of the Tang Dynasty's great victory in Hanoi spread, the Japanese side finally made a decision.

Send troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in conquering Yue!
The reason why there are only 5,000 people is, on the one hand, because the current domestic situation in Japan is not stable, and the shogunate needs to leave enough troops to suppress the outer daimyo and dare not send too many troops at one time.

The second reason is that Japan has been isolated from the outside world for a long time, and its shipping capacity has seriously deteriorated. It does not have strong troop transport capabilities, and 5,000 people are the limit.

The third reason is that the shogunate had no money.

How to say it, the expeditionary force sent by the shogunate this time was the prototype of the new army that the shogunate wanted to train.

Training soldiers costs money. Both training and armament require a lot of investment.

It is naturally impossible for the Tang Dynasty to pay this amount of money.

The only option is to let the shogunate take action!
The most the Tang Dynasty could do was give the shogunate a discount in consideration of the shogunate sending troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in conquering Vietnam.

But even if the Tang Dynasty is discounted, with the current financial capabilities of the shogunate, the 5,000-man new army of the shogunate is already the best they can do.

No matter how many more there were, the shogunate was truly unable to maintain them.

Guo Songtao heard this and said with a smile.

"Easy to say, easy to say."

"The Tang Dynasty will definitely allow the new shogunate army to grow in the flames of war and train them as quickly as possible."

"Haha, although 5,000 people is not a lot, it is also the Shogunate's intention."

"If the king knew about this, he would surely be very pleased."

Upon hearing this, Takeda Michihito simply agreed.

"Japan and the Tang Dynasty have a deep traditional friendship. Since the Tang Dynasty needs it, Japan will certainly help."

Guo Songtao talked with Takeda Michihito for a long time, and then he waved his hand and ordered people to send Takeda Michihito out.

After Takeda Michihito left, Guo Songtao ordered someone to prepare to report the matter to Li Yi via telegram.

Just at this moment, accompanied by a knock on the door, one of his secretaries walked in from outside and came to Guo Songtao and said.

"Director, the Vietnamese ambassador, Hu Longshan, sent someone to deliver the letter of credence."

"I want to make peace with the Tang Dynasty."

As he was speaking, the secretary presented the Vietnamese letter to Guo Songtao.

Just as Guo Songtao was flipping through the letter, the secretary spoke from the side.

"In addition, envoys from Britain, France, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries have also sent notes to our Tang Dynasty." "We hope that our Tang Dynasty can put peace first and complete peace talks with Vietnam as soon as possible to restore peace to the people of both countries."

Upon hearing this, Guo Songtao almost couldn't help but sneer out loud.

Haha, when did the Western Yi people become so peace-loving?

It's as if they are not the bad guys who are starting wars all over the world.

"It seems that Vietnam has leverage over these Western countries."

"Otherwise, these Western Yi countries will come out to interfere in the affairs between our Tang Dynasty and Vietnam."

The secretary heard this and spoke.

"Director, I think those Western Barbarian countries might be afraid that Vietnam will expose their collusion with Vietnam and their hostility towards the Tang Dynasty, and then give them a handle to attack them!"

"Otherwise, I don't think Vietnam can hold any leverage over those Western barbarians."

Upon hearing this, Guo Songtao began to touch his chin.

I started thinking that maybe I could make use of this.

Soon, Guo Songtao finished reading the letter from Vietnam.

The secretary at the side asked.

"Director, then should the Tang Dynasty negotiate with Vietnam?"

Guo Songtao shook his head and said.

"You ask me, how do I know?"

"Negotiations with other countries are a major national event, so of course we have to ask the king for his opinion!"

Guo Songtao is a man of great tact.

He would not overstep his authority on such a sensitive matter.

Upon hearing this, the secretary couldn't help wiping his sweat, thinking to himself that he was being stupid.

Of course, only King Li Yi can make the decision on this matter.

Guo Songtao smiled, then waved his hand and said.

"Go and telegraph to Jining about Vietnam's request for peace and Japan's promise to send troops to assist the Tang Dynasty in conquering Vietnam, and ask the king to make the decision."

Upon hearing this, the secretary bowed and left immediately.

Guo Songtao looked out the window with a dim gaze, as if he was thinking about something.

……

Jining!

Headquarters!

Good news came again from Jinan Prefecture. As the rain slowed down, the collapsed Yellow River has returned to normal.

In addition, Jinan has also begun to continue repairing the Yellow River embankment. I believe that the repair work of the Yellow River embankment will be completed by the beginning of winter this year at the latest.

Outside the headquarters, a group of Tang army soldiers in military uniforms were brought in from outside a hundred years ago.

There were seven people in the group. They all walked with their chests held high and their heads held high, looking very imposing.

The soldiers standing guard on the roadside looked at them with a hint of admiration in their eyes.

The leader of these seven people was named Liu Jinyang.

When the Yellow River was being repaired and the breach was being blocked, Liu Jinyang stepped forward and led his soldiers to risk their lives to drive a boat to block the breach.

When they went, they were a platoon of forty people in total, but when they came back, even though the victims organized rescue in time, they only rescued these seven people from the turbulent Yellow River.

The rest of the people were buried in the Yellow River.

After the inspection, the group was allowed to pass and, under the guidance of a secretary, walked along the corridor towards the main hall of the headquarters.

As they got closer to the main hall, Liu Jinyang and others began to feel nervous as they looked at the soldiers of the Imperial Guard carrying rifles on both sides of the corridor.

Because they knew who they were going to meet next.

They couldn't help but be excited as they were about to meet the King of the Tang Dynasty, the founding monarch who held great power and the lord of all people.

Soon, Liu Jinyang and others were taken to a tea room.

The secretary who led them settled them down and then spoke.

"Please rest here for a while. The king is handling official business now."

"Once the king has finished his official business, he will receive you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jinyang immediately clasped his fists.

"Thank you for leading the way!"

Zhang Zhidong smiled and said when he heard this.

"My dear heroes, you are too polite. You don't have to call me Sir. I am not an Sir either. Just call me Secretary Zhang."

As Li Yi's secretary, Zhang Zhidong's rank was indeed not high, but most of the provincial governors did not dare to offend him.

Under normal circumstances, if someone called him "sir", he would just respond.

However, facing these heroes who sacrificed their lives to block the gap in the Yellow River, Zhang Zhidong was not stingy in giving them some respect.

A man who dares to take on a mission knowing that he will die deserves Zhang Zhidong's respect.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that Zhang Zhidong knows that these people have caught Li Yi's eyes and have great potential in the future.

Well, if you build a good relationship now, it may become a network in the future.

After saying this, Zhang Zhidong said goodbye and left.

Liu Jinyang and others sat down, feeling the soft sponge cushions under their buttocks. A short and sturdy man grinned and said.

"Sir, this chair is so soft and comfortable to sit on."

Liu Jinyang glanced at him and said with some regret.

"Da Zhuang, be more serious and take off that useless smile on your face."

"Don't you see where we are? This is the king's residence. How can the chairs be uncomfortable?"

Wu Dazhuang grinned, looking very simple and honest. He picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip.

Feeling the aroma of the tea, Wu Dazhuang said while smacking his lips.

"It's really good tea. It tastes really good."

"This time our brothers fought hard and it was worth it."

"I never thought that I could see the king by risking my life. If we knew that we could see the king by risking our lives, I'm afraid we might not have been able to grab this chance."

With Li Yi's current prestige in the army, if one could get an audience with him by risking one's life, then everyone in the Tang army would probably fight for their life.

This is the prestige of a founding monarch.

Wu Dazhuang continued.

"What do you think? After seeing us, will the king see that we are all heroes and grant each of us a princess in marriage?"

Everyone rolled their eyes in annoyance, how dare you think that.

Another man at the side spoke up.

"Your Majesty is not even thirty yet, and you only have one prince who is less than three years old. How could you get a princess to marry you?"

"You old bachelor, you have a nice idea..."

Everyone laughed and made noises, expressing their excitement about meeting their idol Li Yi.

Xia Erhu on the side suddenly said.

"It's a pity that Lao Gu, Lao Wu, and Lao Wang are all gone."

"How nice it would be if we brothers could meet the king together."

Everyone was silent for a while after hearing this.

Yes, they did get a chance to be received by the king and rise to fame overnight.

However, many of our brothers were gone, and even their bodies were swept away by the Yellow River, leaving no trace...

They were brothers who had lived together day and night for several years and had fought together on the battlefield.

Who can remain indifferent?

(End of this chapter)