The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 212 Speak of the devil, and here comes the devil!
"I will report this matter to His Majesty the Emperor truthfully. I believe His Majesty will be very interested!"

The French "little clerk" consul spoke of his plan with a look of joy on his face, as if the man who claimed to have inherited the great cause of Napoleon I and wanted to make France great again would be promoted because of this.

The British Consul, Alcock, was a little confused about the latest situation in France. He just looked at this Frenchman who rarely went to church to worship God last year but now suddenly became superstitious, and asked with a puzzled look on his face: "Does your French Emperor like stories about the devil very much?"

Before the Frenchman could answer, the crude American redneck laughed and took over the question that interested him very much, and replied: "Rutherford, don't you think this is very interesting? A devil from hell disguised as a savior, bewitched countless fools living in despair from the mountainous areas of China, and then led them to challenge a brutal, pagan feudal dynasty.

We, a group of kind and upright people from civilized and progressive countries, will help the ignorant Chinese recognize the true face of the devil and support them in overthrowing the feudal dynasty and establishing a republic.

This American redneck had just finished talking when he felt the unfriendly looks from Aliguo and Aitong.

What does "overthrow the feudal dynasty and establish a republic" mean? Do you, a rude American redneck, want to oppose the great British Queen and the French Emperor?

"Ahem," Major Ma Hui coughed awkwardly twice and shrugged, "I just think that fighting the devil is a very cool thing, and we may also gain great benefits from it! Isn't it?"

Aliguo frowned, then looked at the French consul. This former watch shop clerk, now an elegant middle-aged man who has entered the French diplomatic community, took a sip of milk tea provided by the British Consulate, and explained with a smile: "Of course our wise and great French emperor would not believe that there are devils in China. However, the report of the Russian Orthodox priest is very detailed and well-founded, with not only witnesses but also physical evidence.

I think this is a very real lie, and perhaps it can enhance Europeans' faith in God.

Because the evidence of the devil's existence can also prove the existence of God! After all, the devil was also created by God. If there is no God, where does the devil come from? "

Then he made the sign of the cross on his chest.

Now Aliguo and the American Ma Hui finally understood that this French "clerk" consul had very clear logic and a strong ability to grasp opportunities. He actually found an opportunity to attract the attention of the Emperor of France from this "ghost story" - it seems that he must have a chance to go further in the French diplomatic world where there is a shortage of talent!

Inspired by this Frenchman, Aliguo's thoughts suddenly opened up, and he nodded and said: "It seems that we need to conduct an in-depth investigation into the issue of the discovery of the devil in China. We can tell the Qing Empire that if the devil they believe in really exists, as an empire or the United States under the blessing of God, our country will definitely fulfill its obligations to God!
At the same time, we can also tell those insurgents who may soon sweep across Jiangnan that if they are not the devils that the Tartar court claims, but a group of Christians who are resisting tyranny, then we have reason to believe that their victory will help our three countries blessed by God to obtain truly fair trade in this vast land of China with a population of 400 million! "

"Oh, Rutherford, why is it so difficult to understand what you British diplomats say?" Major Ma Hui, a red-necked American, seemed not to understand what the British diplomat said. He looked at the imperial civil servant from London and asked with a pair of thick yellow eyebrows, "What do you want to say? What policy should we adopt?"

After listening to what this redneck American diplomat said, Aliguo had the urge to kick him back to the United States to grow cotton with the black slaves!

Shouldn't diplomats speak in a roundabout way? If they speak directly, are they still diplomats?
Fortunately, the United States is no longer a colony under the good management of the British Empire, otherwise an uneducated fool like you would never be able to become a diplomat. "Well," Aliguo took a sip of the milk tea on the table, organized his words, and then frowned and said, "First of all, I personally think that the so-called Chinese devil incident is just a lie of a drunk Russian priest. But the ignorant Tatar court seems to believe this Russian priest and wants to use it to win our support - to support them in suppressing the rebellious Christian heretics.

Secondly, this is an opportunity for the three of us to jointly exert influence on the Tatar Dynasty and the Christian heretical rebels. If the Qing Empire can agree to the amendment conditions proposed by the three of us, open its market to us, and allow the free import of opium, it will allow...

Aliguo continued to talk a lot, and the American redneck tilted his head, smiled and said in a standard Oxford accent: "Britain has no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests! I think this principle also applies to the Tatar court, Christian rebels, or the devil, right?"

Aliguo was stunned for a moment, but finally nodded: "Yes, of course!"

Shanghai, Huangpu River.

When the consuls of Britain, France and the United States in Shanghai were discussing the "policy of the great powers against the devil", the devil who fell from the sky and whom they all agreed did not exist was standing on a 2,000-ton sand ship that had just sailed into Wusongkou an hour ago, with his arms folded, looking at the Shanghai Beach that would soon belong to him!
The current Shanghai was not the largest metropolis in the Far East, nor was it a place of extravagance and decadence. The foreign concessions had not yet taken shape. The current Shanghai Concession area only started from Suzhou River in the north, extended to Shanghai County in the south, and to the Huangpu River in the east. It was about as far as the People's Square in the west. The total area was less than 3,000 mu, and was under the jurisdiction of the British and French consulates, which were the so-called "British Concession" and "French Concession". In addition, the Americans also bought several hundred mu of land between Hongjiang River and Suzhou River, hoping to open up an American concession, but they had not yet obtained permission from the Qing government, so it was considered a "gray concession".

The American "grey concession" was located on the north bank of Suzhou River and there is no Waibaidu Bridge to connect it. It is inconvenient to travel with the British and French concessions and Shanghai County, so it did not develop much. The British and French concessions have a bit of "Western flavor", especially the "Bund" area on the west bank of the Huangpu River. Now there are smooth roads, some Western-style buildings, and many docks facing the Huangpu River. Many long piers extend from the Bund to the far middle of the Huangpu River, connecting the dock berths floating on the water.

Almost every berth is moored with Western-style sailing ships with a relatively deep draft, including clippers from the United States and sailing warships that symbolize the British Empire's maritime hegemony!
The most common vessels on the river are Chinese-style Fuzhou boats, Sand boats and Bird boats. These shallow-draft vessels are moored at berths closer to the river bank. The number of these berths is too small compared to the number of ships that want to dock, so there are seven or eight boats queuing at each berth.

In addition, there were several small patrol boats traveling back and forth between ships of various types, each carrying soldiers in uniform. No one knew which government office they belonged to.

At this time, Luo Yaoguo suddenly saw a Western-style sailing ship moored near a long pier. It left its original berth and began to sail towards the center of the Huangpu River, being towed by a small steamer that was making a "thump thump thump" sound and emitting white smoke.

So Luo Yaoguo took out a folding fan and pointed to the empty berth, and said to Wu Ruxiao beside him with a smile: "Master Wu, there is a seat over there, let's go over there!"

"Isn't this inappropriate?"

Wu Ruxiao had worked in Guangdong Thirteen Factories for many years and had also been to Hong Kong. He knew the rules at the foreign docks and immediately reminded them, "These berths are for foreign ships. Foreign ships are also lined up in the Huangpu River!"

"It's okay!" Luo Yaoguo smiled and said, "This is Shanghai. It will soon be my Shanghai! Besides, I just want to make some noise at the concession pier. I want to see how the British and French are defending. In addition, I want to see Aliguo as soon as possible!"

(End of this chapter)