The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 754: Mr. Zhao Si, the President said that as long as you are willing to surrender
The cold wind blew goose-feather-like snowflakes across the wasteland on the south bank of the Platte River. Zheng Yongning, the military attaché of the Korean Embassy in the United States, wrapped himself tightly in his thick woolen military coat and squinted at the vast expanse of white snow in front of him. Yamamoto Gonbei, who was standing next to him, straightened his back and let the cold wind blow on his face, like a frozen stone.

Behind them, a team of short "Korean Heavenly Soldiers" lined up in two rows, slowly advancing on the snow. These Korean Heavenly Soldiers were all navy soldiers, wearing strange "Western-style" military uniforms - dark blue woolen jackets with Korean-style wide trousers, Japanese samurai swords on their waists, and rifles with heavenly calendar inscriptions on their shoulders. At the front of the team, a military flag embroidered with a cross of rice ears fluttered in the wind, and the golden wheat ears on the flag were particularly dazzling in the snow.

"The Heavenly Kingdom Navy under the command of the Eastern King travels thousands of miles across the ocean" "The grace is spread to the New World, and the glory of the Heavenly Father shines on the peace"

The Marines sang the "Song of the Heavenly Kingdom Navy" in a mixture of stiff Chinese and low Japanese tunes. The sound of the song floated over the empty snowy plains, sounding both solemn and strange. Zheng Yongning listened to the song and couldn't help muttering in his heart: "This military song that Nanmu Daozi made for the Korean Heavenly Kingdom Navy has a strong Japanese flavor."

Yamamoto Gonbei seemed to see through his thoughts, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly: "Colonel, the Korean Heavenly Kingdom Navy is now dominated by us Japanese! It seems that after the Korean-Japanese Union, the Korean Heavenly Kingdom will form a pattern of Korean Army and Japanese Navy."

Zheng Yongning nodded, but did not continue what Yamamoto said. The saying "Korean Army, Japanese Navy" began to spread in Japan after the "Second Battle of Sekigahara". It was obvious that someone was deliberately spreading rumors, maybe it was Inako, maybe it was the young master of the Yang family!

He looked up into the distance. The horizon at the end of the snowfield was blurry, as if the whole world was swallowed up by white.

"Colonel, do you think Zhao Si will agree to surrender?" Seeing that Zheng Yongning did not respond, Yamamoto Gonbei changed the subject.

Zheng Yongning was silent for a while before he slowly spoke: "The factories in the Northern Federation can produce a hundred cannons a day, the railway network is denser than the official roads in the entire Japan, and there is enough food to feed 80 million people. How long can the South survive by growing cotton?"

"Yes, the South will surely lose. If they surrender now, they can negotiate good terms." Yamamoto Gonbei lowered his voice: "But this Southern Yijin Prince Consort is not an ordinary person. He killed so many federal soldiers in Missouri and massacred many white civilians. Will Lincoln let him go?"

"You can't say that," Zheng Yongning tightened the reins. "The Prince Consort of Nanyi has proven the value of himself and his black army. For Lincoln and the North, if they can win over the Prince Consort of Nanyi to defect, it will be a major victory!"

"Then," Yamamoto Gonbei asked again, "will Prince Consort Nan Yijin surrender?"

Zheng Yongning didn't say anything else, but just narrowed his eyes and stared at the distant horizon.

Suddenly, a marine from Satsuma shouted at Zheng Yongning: "Colonel, Mongolians!"

Zheng Yongning and Yamamoto Gonbei looked up at the same time, and saw a group of cavalrymen galloping towards them at the end of the snow. Those people wore heavy fur coats, furry Mongolian hoods, and carried foreign rifles on their backs. The snow foam splashed by the horses' hooves sparkled in the sun.

"Mongols?" Zheng Yongning frowned - a team of Japanese-speaking Korean Marines marching in the heart of the United States encountered a group of Mongolian cavalrymen who came to the United States on a "business trip". Could there be anything more ridiculous than this?

"No, they are not Mongols, they should be Indians." Yamamoto Gonbei reminded in a low voice, "There is an archbishop, Amur Buddha, under the command of Prince Consort Nanyi. It seems that he passed on the True Covenant Sect to the Indians of the Great Plains, and also brought some Mongols to teach the Indians how to nomadic."

This story is so tortuous and bizarre!

When Zheng Yongning's head hurt a little after hearing this, the group of cavalrymen approached quickly, led by a red-faced, hooked-nosed "Mongolian" strongman with a silver-studded Mongolian scimitar on his waist. He reined in his horse and shouted in stiff English: "You! Who are you!"

Zheng Yongning raised his hand, signaling the team to stop, and then answered in English: "We are envoys from the Kingdom of Korea, and we are here to meet the Prince Consort of Nanyi, General Nicholas Zhaosi, under the order of His Royal Highness King Gan."

The red-faced Indian stared at them for a few seconds. It seemed that he did not understand Zheng Yongning's English. However, he still recognized the rice cross flag and the "yellow faces" of Zheng Yongning and his group. He suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and said in Chinese: "So you are the Zhenghuang Banner. Follow me!"

After saying that, he turned his horse around and galloped towards the depths of the snowfield. Zheng Yongning and Yamamoto Gonbei looked at each other, waved their hands, and followed with their team.

When Zheng Yongning and his team arrived, they were stunned by the scene before them - this group of "new North Koreans" thought they had arrived on the Mongolian grasslands!
A simple bastion stood in the middle of the snowfield, surrounded by thousands of yurts, and the outermost circle was formed into a "Guleyan" defense circle using caravans and carts.

The gate of Guleyan opened to the east, and among the people coming in and out, there were "red-faced Mongolians" wearing fur robes, black soldiers wearing gray Confederate uniforms, and "black guards" wearing black cotton jackets. Oh, and a group of white prisoners in chains were pushing more than a dozen carts full of ice and wood towards the camp under the supervision of black guards.

You know what, this campsite is quite lively, and it has a bit of a welcoming atmosphere.

"There are really all kinds of people here." Zheng Yongning whispered. Yamamoto Gonbei made a rough estimate: "I'm afraid there are tens of thousands of people!"

They were taken to a large tent in the center of the bastion. Outside the tent stood several fully armed black guards, all with revolvers on their waists and very alert eyes.

The red-faced Mongolian who led Zheng Yongning and the others dismounted and shouted into the tent in English: "Fourth Master! The Korean Zhenghuang Banner master is here!"

The golden tent was filled with the strong smell of tobacco, mixed with the special smell of leather and sweat. Xianfeng sat cross-legged on the Persian carpet, his fingers rhythmically tapping the silver wine glass on the low table. Bell kneaded behind him, his slender fingers gently kneading his shoulders.

"The lord of the Plain Yellow Banner of Korea?" Xianfeng smiled with his pockmarked face, revealing his uneven teeth. "Heidehai, call them in!"

Heidehai, who was standing by, smiled and showed his white teeth: "The Korean master of the Zhenghuang Banner has entered the tent!"

When the curtain was opened, a piercing cold wind blew in. Zheng Yongning and Yamamoto Gonbei walked in on the thick wool carpet, with unmelted snow on their boots. The two stood five steps away from the low table, and Zheng Yongning took out a gold-stamped envelope from his arms and presented it with both hands.

"Your Highness Prince Consort Nanyi, this is a handwritten letter from His Highness Prince Gan."

Heidehai took the envelope and carefully checked the wax seal under the candlelight before handing it over to Xianfeng, who opened the seal with his thumb, glanced through it, and suddenly laughed out loud.

"Governor of the West?" He threw the letter aside. "Lincoln can barely pay the army's salaries now, and you still dare to appoint me as governor?"

"Your Majesty, I understand," Zheng Yongning bowed slightly, "The industrial strength of the Northern Federation far exceeds that of the South. We just need to hold on for another year."

"Bullshit!" Xianfeng suddenly slammed the table and stood up, frightening Bell to shrink back. "You Korean, do you know what the front line of the American Civil War was like?" As he spoke, he took out a few "green papers" from his pocket and threw them on the Persian carpet. "Grant is now using waste paper to pay his men. And the Southern Army can now take out silver coins to give to my Black First Army!"

"Please calm down, my Lord," Zheng Yongning said respectfully. "That is why President Lincoln is willing to make such a condition. As long as you agree to surrender, he will appoint you as the Governor of the West, in charge of the three territories of Colorado, Idaho, and Utah."

"Have you brought the letter of appointment?" Xianfeng raised his eyelids and looked at Zheng Yongning.

"No," Zheng Yongning said, "President Lincoln is waiting for your envoy in the presidential palace in New York. As long as your people go there, everything will be easy to discuss."

"No problem?" Xianfeng sneered, and suddenly grabbed the silver wine bottle on the table and took a big gulp. "Go back and tell Lincoln that you can talk, but first withdraw his troops to the east bank of the Mississippi River!" He wiped his mouth, and the wine dripped down his beard. "Then ask him to send someone of sufficient weight to Fort Kearny - I'll be waiting here!"

Zheng Yongning sighed, "We will convey your intentions truthfully. However," he hesitated for a moment, "Your Highness Prince Gan also ordered me to bring you a secret telegram. A secret telegram from Tianjing!"

When Zheng Yongning mentioned "Tianjing", Yamamoto Gonbei, who came in with him, was stunned. The Tianjing side could not be referring to Yang Xiuqing, or even Feng Yunshan, but only Luo Yaoguo.

Hong Rengan had always been on Yang Xiuqing's side. How did he maintain telegraphic contact with Luo Yaoguo in Tianjing?

"Give it to me!" Xianfeng could ignore Hong Rengan, but he dared not ignore Luo Yaoguo.

Because Luo Yaoguo sent a warrant to San Francisco, Hong Daquan would be cut off from his ammunition! Without the bullets, shells and 70mm Armstrong breech-loading guns shipped from the West Coast, his Black First Army could not continue to fight.

Heidehai quickly took the lacquer-sealed envelope that Zheng Yongning had taken out and brought it to Emperor Xianfeng. Xianfeng first carefully checked the seal to make sure it had not been opened before removing the seal and taking out a piece of letter paper from it. He unfolded it and read it. After reading it for a while, he sneered, "Your Highness the Prince of Wu is really..." He said halfway before rolling up the letter paper, placing it on a candle and burning it, "Zheng Yongning, go tell Lincoln that my people will arrive in New York after spring!"

(End of this chapter)