The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 273 Luo Xueyan, get out and sell out your country! (Please subscribe and vote)
If Luo Yaoguo was listening in at the same time, he would probably also suspect that Hong Daquan really had some skills.

Because his guess this time made sense!
Isn’t this Wanzhen the biological mother of Guangxu and the biological grandmother of Xuantong?

Historically, Guangxu lasted for thirty-four years and Xuantong lasted for three years, which together makes thirty-seven years. However, the three years of Xuantong were incomplete. November 13 of the third year of Xuantong was January 1 of the first year of the Republic of China, which was more than a month short.

Therefore, if Luo Xueyan had married Wanzhen, there would definitely be no Guangxu and Xuantong, and wouldn't the Qing Dynasty have lost 36 years, 11 months and 13 days of national life?

Although Prince Gong in the Ministry of Justice did not know that Wanzhen's fate was tied to Guangxu and Xuantong, he was still fooled by Hong Daquan.

After all, Hong Daquan had guessed it right several times, and Prince Gong himself believed in fate - it seemed that he himself was not destined to be emperor!
Otherwise, why would his royal father choose the Fourth Prince, who is lame, stupid, alcoholic, drug addict, and extremely weak, to be the emperor?

Later, seeing that Emperor Xianfeng was “not capable”, he had another chance. As a result, when the “Man of Destiny of the Qing Dynasty” appeared, Xianfeng became “capable”, and he was further and further away from the throne.

"Hong Daquan, do you think there is a solution to this problem?" Prince Gong asked, "If the sister of Tianmingren is not taken away by the Bull Demon King, will the Qing Dynasty not lose thirty-six years of life?"

"Let me calculate it carefully." Hong Daquan knew that he had another chance to survive, so he had to cherish it. So he frowned and tried to deceive, "The sister of this man of destiny may also be a part of destiny. Didn't the prince just say that the man of destiny is the emperor's concubine? The concubine's role as the man of destiny is nothing more than giving birth to a son and becoming the queen mother, being the hen crowing at dawn, and being the regent. And what is the key to the hen crowing at dawn?"

Prince Gong's eyes lit up, as if he had thought of something: "It's a son! Could it be..."

When Hong Daquan saw Prince Gong's expression, he knew he had a chance to survive, so he redoubled his efforts to deceive him: "What if my son is gone?"

"Be bold!"

Shengbao and Guiliang shouted together.

Prince Gong waved his hand and said, "Everyone go out and guard!"

"Your Majesty, be careful of the traitor named Hong!"

"My Lord, you are worth a ton of gold!"

Shengbao and Guiliang quickly reminded Prince Gong.

However, Prince Gong glanced at the pale and frail Hong Daquan in shackles and waved his hand, saying, "Get out! He is no match for me!"

Shengbao and Guiliang looked at each other and had to bow to Prince Gong, then asked the guards in the palace to retreat together.

Seeing that his men had all left, Prince Gong narrowed his eyes and looked at Hong Daquan: "Hurry up and speak!"

"Your Highness, the imperial concubine's sister must be a beauty, right?" Hong Daquan asked.

"of course."

"Do all the beauties of the Bannermen have to participate in the beauty pageant?" Hong Daquan asked again.

In fact, it is not "all required". The yellow belt and red belt are not allowed to participate, but the sister of Concubine Yi is definitely not allowed. Prince Gong has understood that Concubine Yi's son may not live long and have no heirs to the throne. In this way, Concubine Yi, who became the empress dowager, had to adopt a son from the family of a close prince for Emperor Xianfeng or Concubine Yi's emperor son. The son born by Concubine Yi's sister to Emperor Xianfeng or a close prince must be the most suitable candidate.

In other words, the next emperor of the Qing Dynasty must come from Concubine Yi's sister. If Wanzhen married Luo Xueyan, then the son she gave birth to for Luo Xueyan would definitely not be able to inherit the Qing Dynasty!
Although the Aisin-Gioro family had no shortage of male heirs who could ascend the throne, without the blessing of heaven, the newly elected emperor would not be the true son of heaven, and would not be able to suppress the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom or the Qing version of Cao Cao, Liu Yu, or Zhu Wen who suppressed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The Qing Dynasty would lose 36 years of its national life.

In addition, if Wanzhen married a close relative of the Qing Dynasty, she would be able to give birth to the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Then who was this close relative of the Qing Dynasty? Thinking of this question, Prince Gong's breathing became rapid!
Among the close relatives of the Qing Dynasty, he seems to be the "closest branch". If Wanzhen becomes his concubine, his son will be the emperor in the future and can rule the country for at least 36 years.

Not bad!

"Okay!" Prince Gong nodded heavily. "Hong Daquan, you are indeed a master. Are you willing to serve me?"

This is exactly what Hong Daquan was waiting for!

He quickly bent his legs and knelt, prostrating himself on the ground: "Your Highness, I, Hong Daquan, am willing to serve you!"

In the living room of the British Consulate on the Bund in Shanghai, several influential figures in the Far East diplomatic circles were already seated. British Consul Alcock, French Consul Ai Tong, and American Consul Ma Hui, who were considered the top names in the original Shanghai Bund foreigner circle, were now cautiously sitting in the corners with ingratiating smiles on their faces.

The protagonists in the consulate's living room today are three plenipotentiaries who can truly represent the British Empire, the French Empire and the United States of America - Bonham, Bourboulen and Marsalis.

In the diplomatic activities of this era, the minister is the "full authority" to represent a country, and the consul is sometimes just a representative elected by the overseas Chinese themselves and cannot represent their own government at all.

From this perspective, the abolished "Shanghai Land Lease Regulations" itself should not involve the "sovereignty issue" that can only be decided at the minister level. It is simply invalid!

Of course, as long as there is enough "truth", the invalidity can also be the relevant agreement to abolish the "Shanghai Land Regulations"
And now, Bonham, Bourboulen and Marsali, who gathered at the British Consulate, obviously want more!

Because Wenxian's trip to Nanjing brought them back enough chips!

At the same time, the Qing Emperor had recently appointed Shanghai Governor Luo Xueyan as Minister of Trade for the Five Ports.

This is such a coincidence! If Luo Xueyan wants to keep Shanghai, he must rely on the support of the three great powers of Britain, the United States and France.

Britain is now in touch with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom again!

If Luo Xueyan doesn't want the great powers to support Luo Yaoguo, he must work hard to sell out his country!

"Gentlemen, this is the temporary agreement I just reached with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Foreign Minister and Commander of the Upper Army, Wu Wang Luo Yaoguo, on free trade, labor export, free missionary work, and the establishment of consulates. This is a huge diplomatic breakthrough. It will allow most of our goods to enter the heartland of China unimpeded, and it will also ensure that our colonies in Southeast Asia will obtain a large number of hardworking and high-quality laborers. Our profits in Southeast Asia will also increase dramatically!

Finally, our Anglican missionaries will be able to freely enter and leave the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's territory to spread the gospel of God!"

Wenxian took out the "British-Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Provisional Agreement" signed by himself and Luo Yaoguo, and waved it proudly in front of the American and French ministers, as if he had achieved great diplomatic achievements.

The American Minister, Marshall, looked at the agreement in Bonham's hand with a burning gaze, and seemed quite envious: "Mr. Bonham, does this interim agreement restrict the cooperation between Britain and the Qing Dynasty? Will Britain suspend its neutral policy of non-interference in China's civil war? Will Britain sell a large number of weapons and equipment to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and send military advisers?"

French Minister Bourboulon pointed out seriously: "Mr. Bonham, I want to know whether the great power agreement of our three countries on China's diplomatic issues is still valid? We French are the most loyal people of God and will never cooperate with the blasphemous Taiping Heavenly Kingdom! I think the British Empire will not ignore the French Empire's position on China at present, right?"

Wen Xian smiled and said, "Mr. Marsali, Mr. Bulbourn, this 'temporary agreement' only involves trade, labor, missionary work, and the establishment of consulates, and does not involve any other aspects. Britain's neutral policy in the Chinese Civil War remains unchanged, and the British government will not send military advisers to serve the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. As for the sale of weapons, that is part of free trade! If Luo Xueyan cannot give Britain more benefits, then we will sell more weapons to his enemy Luo Yaoguo!"

The American envoy nodded heavily and said, "That's right. If Luo Xueyan cannot give us conditions that satisfy the United States, then we, the United States of America, are very willing to conclude the same agreement with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and export a large number of weapons and equipment to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!"

Facing the "British-American consensus" and the "neutral" commitment given by Wenxian, the French envoy Bourboulon immediately followed suit and said: "Luo Xueyan should indeed make more concessions to us. Although we in France will never cooperate with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it is precisely because of our firm stance that the Qing Dynasty should give us more rewards!
Mr. Bonham, Mr. Marsali, why don't we discuss today what specific conditions we should put forward in the next negotiations?"

(End of this chapter)