The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 259: Shanghai Military Governor and Minister of Trade of Five Ports (Request for subscription and ticket)

Forbidden City, Qianqing Gate, where the emperor holds court.

On the second day after paying homage to his ancestors in the Taimiao, Emperor Xianfeng, who always disliked seeing people in public, called for the imperial court to hold court.

The so-called imperial hearing is a "general meeting", which is usually held in the morning. The ministers who participate in the imperial hearing mainly include the cabinet ministers, the six ministers, the vice ministers, the military ministers, the eight banners commanders, the ministers in charge of the imperial guards, the ministers in front of the emperor, etc. Usually, not all of them are called at once, but only some of them are called to participate in the imperial hearing.

This group of people had to gather outside the Meridian Gate early in the morning before dawn, wait for the emperor's decree, and then enter the Qianqing Gate. They knelt in fixed positions, and then kowtowed more and talked less. Things like those in the Ming Dynasty where people would speak out against the emperor and make him angry were unlikely to happen in the Qing Dynasty, because they were not allowed to speak freely. Only when the emperor called their names could they stand up and kneel on the white marble steps outside the Qianqing Gate, and then answer the emperor's questions.

Even though Emperor Xianfeng held this kind of imperial court session, he did not do it often. On average, he only did it a few times a year. He usually did not waste time talking to the ministers below. He just asked the cabinet ministers to recite the contents of the memorials that needed to be processed, and then recited the emperor's will to the relevant ministers, and that was it.

For those officials who were qualified to attend the imperial court, this almost became a way to broaden their horizons and gain knowledge - there were many officials, especially Han officials, such as Li Hongzhang's father, who might have served in Beijing for more than ten years without ever having the opportunity to attend the imperial court. It was as if they were just fake court officials.

However, today's imperial hearing seemed to be a bit interesting. First, there were a lot of people coming. All the important officials in Beijing were present and had been waiting outside the Meridian Gate since early morning. It was quite lively.

Second, the emperor actually called all the Manchu and Han ministers and assistant ministers of the six ministries, as well as Prince Gong Yixin, to kneel on the platform outside the Qianqing Gate. That was a large group of people! The last time so many people knelt on the platform outside the Qianqing Gate was probably during the reign of Emperor Qianlong!
Thirdly, the emperor actually spoke a lot in front of all the ministers while holding court at the imperial gate!

The emperor, who had the same pockmarked face as Emperor Kangxi, smiled for the first time and said, "I woke up today to tell you about Luo Xueyan's victory report. Since the Taiping Rebellion, I have received many victory reports, but none of them can compare with Luo Xueyan's victory report! Because this victory report was endorsed by foreigners. If it was not a genuine victory, how could the foreigners be so easy to talk to? The British Concession and the French Concession in Shanghai have been handed over. I am in Beijing and don't know the situation in Shanghai, but they have seen it with their own eyes! Reclaiming the concession rights is something that has never happened in the past ten years. Luo Xueyan is really a military genius and a genius in foreign affairs!"

Emperor Xianfeng was not actually that incompetent. He had long known that the ministers who led the troops under him were very capable. Otherwise, how come there were so many reports of victory and the Taiping Rebellion was getting closer and closer to Beijing?
We have already lost to Nanjing, if we lose again, will we lose to Beijing?

But Luo Xueyan's victory report must be true! Because victory reports can deceive people, but the benefits that foreigners utter cannot deceive people.

Without tangible results, how can the foreigners spit out the fat meat in their mouths?

it's out of the question!

"But this military genius and Westernization genius is also quite evil. He actually submitted a memorial to me, asking for the title of Shanghai Governor-General, and to be the governor of all the official troops and militias in Songjiang Prefecture and Taicang Prefecture. He also asked to supervise the Jiangnan Salt and Customs Administration, the Songjiang Prefecture Yamen, the Taicang Prefecture Yamen, and the Yamen of the counties under Songjiang and Taicang. In a word, he wants to put Songjiang, Taicang, the Salt and Customs Administration, and the Shanghai Governor-General's Yamen under the jurisdiction of the Shanghai Governor's Yamen. What do you think? Tell me!"

When he said this, the ministers below were a little dumbfounded.

Why do they need to express their opinions? The emperor can make the decision on this matter, and they just need to kowtow and praise the emperor. No one said anything, and the atmosphere became awkward. Emperor Xianfeng looked gloomy. Fortunately, his good teacher Du Shutian's son Du Han knew the emperor's intention very well. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I, Du Han, think Luo Xueyan asked for too little."

Still missing?
The ministers below were stunned when they heard this.

If you want more, you will have to become the Governor of Jiangsu, right?

The expression on Xianfeng's face had relaxed, and he immediately asked with a smile: "Du Han, what other benefits should I give him?"

Du Han lay on the ground, his voice as loud as a bell, and he said with full energy: "Your Majesty, I think you should give him not benefits, but responsibilities!"

"What do you mean?" Xianfeng asked. "Your Majesty, everyone wants benefits, but everyone avoids responsibilities." Du Han said, "Now I am in charge of the military affairs of Songjiang and Taicang, and I am responsible for supervising the customs and salt laws. These are not benefits that everyone wants."

Xianfeng nodded slightly: "That makes sense." He looked at the ministers kneeling below, "Does anyone want to go to Shanghai to replace Luo Xueyan?"

Don't Have
Shanghai is a den of dragons and tigers, with foreigners outside and Taiping inside. Whoever goes there will die!
Seeing that no one responded, Xianfeng asked again: "Du Han, do you mean that these responsibilities are not enough for Luo Xueyan?"

"not enough."

Duhan said.

"How much more burden do you want to add to him?" asked Xianfeng.

"Your Majesty, I know of an official position that everyone wants to avoid, and it's just right for Luo Xueyan."

"What official position?" Xianfeng asked again.

"Minister of Trade for the Five Ports." Du Han said.

The Minister of Trade at the Five Ports is the so-called Minister of Nanyang, who is responsible for managing the trade and customs affairs of the five trading ports, namely Shanghai, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Ningbo and Xiamen, and is also responsible for handling diplomatic affairs.

Trade and customs certainly have their benefits, but diplomatic affairs are too difficult to handle.

Since this "minister" was a part-time position, held by the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi or the Governor-General of Liangjiang, he had been pushed back and forth by the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and the Governor-General of Liangjiang before, and the Minister of Trade for the Five Ports this time was the unfortunate Ye Mingchen. How could he be the Minister of Trade for the Five Ports? He was simply the imperial "foreign blocker" of the Qing court. The foreigners pressed forward step by step, but he could not force the court to give in to the foreigners, so he had to bite the bullet and lie down in Guangzhou. In history, he was arrested by the foreigners and taken to India because of this.
If he could be allowed to give up this unfortunate official position, he would have to hold a banquet in the governor's office to celebrate even if he had to pay a few hundred thousand taels of silver!
In fact, Emperor Xianfeng knew that Ye Mingchen was not capable of the job of Minister of Trade for the Five Ports, but there was really no one else to do it, so history let this guy serve as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi for six years. If he had not been kidnapped by the British, he could have served for a few more years.

"What do you think?" Xianfeng naturally wanted Luo Xueyan to take over the post of Minister of Trade for the Five Ports, but Luo Xueyan's promotion was too fast. In just how many days, he was promoted from a candidate for the seventh rank to a fourth rank prefect. In the past two days, because of the good news from Shanghai, Xianfeng had planned to give him the title of Censor. In the blink of an eye, he was Minister of Trade for the Five Ports again!

Although this minister has no rank, but exists as a part-time official of the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi or the Governor-General of Liangjiang. But if the part-time job of the Governor-General is separated, he must be a second-rank official, right?

This is equivalent to a minister!
Zeng Guofan's eight years as a minister was already a miracle in the officialdom, and Luo Xueyan's only one year as a minister. Even though his "Luo" is Aisin-Gioro's "Luo", it couldn't be that fast!

So Xianfeng had to seek advice from his ministers - mainly from Prince Gong Yixin, the second-in-command of the Aisin-Gioro family.

"Your Majesty," Prince Gong Yixin immediately understood and said, "I think Luo Xueyan can be the Minister of Commerce for the Five Ports. Although he has little experience and is not from a formal background, no one can handle negotiations better than him. Since he is the best at foreign affairs, it will not cause any controversy if we make an exception and appoint him as the Minister of Commerce. After all, officials are always afraid of the job of negotiating. It is not easy to find a capable official who can take on the responsibility of the governors of Guangdong, Guangxi and Liangjiang. It doesn't matter if he has little experience. Let him work for a few more years and he will have the experience, right?"

"That's right!" Xianfeng nodded. "Who doesn't know how to gain experience? You can get it by working for a few more years, but he is the only one who can handle foreign affairs! I want to use talents in a flexible way and set an example for the talented people in the world. I will make him the governor of Shanghai and the minister of commerce for the five ports! His rank will be set as the second rank, the same as the governor, and he can be promoted to the second rank or the first rank if he has made contributions in the future!
In addition, Luo Xueyan defeated the Taiping rebels in Shanghai and subdued the foreigners. Although he was a civil official, his military exploits were no less than any military officer today. He can be awarded the title of Loyal and Brave Baturu!"

(End of this chapter)