The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 683 Rewarding an Official Position
When Chen Zhengwei went to Guangzhou, He Sikun had already arrived there on horseback, just ahead of time and followed the people sent by the Green Camp.

Guangdong Governor Zhang Zhaodong had just heard that an army had landed at the port and asked to see Zhang Shusheng.

Later, someone brought news that thousands of people were heading towards Guangzhou, and Zhang Zhaodong suddenly could no longer sit still.

He sent someone to notify the governor of Guangdong and the navy camp at the same time, and then gave the order: "Close the gates of Guangzhou!"

"We must not let those people rush in!"

At the same time, the Green Camp soldiers of the city defense department strengthened their guard.

He Sikun had just returned to Guangzhou when he saw the city gates were closed. He immediately went to find Zhang Zhaodong and asked, "Master Zhang, I just heard that the Guangzhou city gates were closed. I wonder what happened?"

"Mr. He, you have arrived at the right time. A group of people are heading to Guangzhou outside. It is said that these people are coming with muskets and on warships. There are thousands of them and they want to see Governor Zhang! Mr. He, do you know why these people are here?" Zhang Zhaodong asked.

He Sikun was Zhang Shusheng's aide and held the official position of deputy prefect of the fourth rank.

"Is this really true?" He Sikun looked surprised.

"The Governor has gone to inspect Guangxi, and I am not aware of this matter. How is Lord Zhang going to deal with it?"

"These people are armed with muskets and their purpose is unknown. We must not allow them to enter Guangzhou. We must close the city gates and block them out. I have already notified the Green Camp and the Navy. We must hold our ground and wait for help."

"Then ask about the origins of those people."

Zhang Zhaodong stroked his long beard, looking confident.

"Lord Zhang, that's a brilliant idea!" He Sikun said with a bow.

"I heard that these people came here on warships, but I don't know why the navy didn't stop them. I will definitely report him after this incident!" Zhang Zhaodong said meaningfully.

He Sikun did not argue. He had already discussed this matter with the Admiral Li Jun.

At this time, rumors were spreading in Guangzhou about the closure of the city gates, and people were in panic.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Zhang Zhaodong saw a group of people coming from the direction of Huangpu Port.

These people were dressed in hunting suits, long boots, and had guns on their waists. They looked neatly lined up. Through the telescope, we could see that these people looked Chinese, but they didn't have braids and had short hair.

Zhang Zhaodong looked at the opponent's formation and his expression changed slightly.

In particular, these people are physically strong and fierce, even more powerful than the elite of the Green Camp.

……

At the same time, Chen Zhengwei also learned the news about the Guangzhou city gate in the carriage.

It didn't surprise him.

Seeing an army approaching the city, even a fool would know to close the gates.

The American Minister was used at this time.

Otherwise, he really couldn't enter Guangzhou. He couldn't even break through the city gate that was one or two meters thick.

Besides, he was not prepared to fight, otherwise he would have sent a group of people in advance.

He is not worried about his safety, he is enough.

The reason why I brought so many people here is purely to scare the officials in Guangzhou and make them more sober when talking to me.

Chen Zhengwei leaned over and looked at the city wall in the distance. He had been to Guangzhou before, in his previous life.

The city wall was later demolished, and he saw it for the first time.

He said to the henchman outside the window: "Go inform the American minister and consul, and ask them to negotiate with the other side!"

A moment later, the American Minister George Seward came to the carriage and said, "Mr. Chen, I will go and negotiate with them, but they will not allow so many people to enter the city."

"Tell them that I'm back to visit my relatives, and I must bring at least two hundred people into the city!" Chen Zhengwei said expressionlessly. He estimated that 200 people might be the limit.

"If they refuse, then let's go to war! The United States will declare war on the Qing Dynasty, and then we will have an open naval battle! I guarantee that the Guangdong Navy won't even be able to leave the camp."

This kind of war threat diplomacy may not work on other countries, but it definitely works on the Qing Dynasty.

In 1874, Japan used the excuse that Taiwanese killed Ryukyu people to send 3000 troops to invade Taiwan. Then the Qing government and Japan signed the "Beijing Treaty", recognizing that Japan's sending troops to Taiwan was a "righteous act to protect the people" and paying a military compensation of 50 taels in exchange for the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Taiwan.

Japan also officially used this excuse to swallow up Ryukyu two years ago.

In 1875, Britain found an excuse to launch a war and threatened the Qing government. In 1876, the Qing government signed the Sino-British Treaty of Yantai with Britain. The Qing government paid Britain 20 taels of silver, sent Guo Songtao to Britain to apologize, and opened several ports.

Not to mention that Zuo Zongtang won the battle in Xinjiang but still paid Russia 900 million silver rubles, equivalent to 500 million US dollars, and also ceded land.

It happened just a few months ago.

It's so easy to bully.

George Seward breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. Chen Zhengwei was reasonable this time.

He still has a dull pain in his waist.

Then George Seward and Guangzhou Consul Samuel W. Hard waited for a long time outside the city. A small door was opened at the city gate to let them in, and then the door was immediately closed.

George Seward and Samuel Hard were brought to the city and fought with Zhang Zhaodong.

"Mr. Chen is a person with extensive international influence. He was born here and just came back to visit his relatives. By refusing to let him in, you are creating disputes!"

Only then did Zhang Zhaodong know who was outside the city.

As the place with the most contact with foreigners, as the Governor of Guangdong, even if he did not intend to understand the outside world, he would hear some things.

He had also heard of Chen Zhengwei's name, but he didn't know much about him.

"You didn't inform in advance, which is against procedure! And what's going on with those soldiers?" Zhang Zhaodong stroked his beard with a bit of arrogance.

"He is a Qing citizen, so those people are naturally Qing citizens as well. Does your Qing Dynasty have regulations that Qing citizens need to notify in advance when returning to their hometowns to visit their relatives?" George Seward argued.

"Since they are people of the Qing Dynasty, this is Guangzhou! It is Qing Dynasty's land. How to deal with it is our business!" Zhang Zhaodong was not moved at all.

"A gentleman of great reputation has been insulted here. This is a provocation to the United States. If you insist, let's go to war!" George Seward took off his gloves and pretended to throw them.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhaodong's face immediately turned gloomy.

"Can your words represent the U.S. government?"

"Maybe I can't, but the gentleman below can!" George Seward said directly.

"You are creating a serious diplomatic dispute. Can you take responsibility? Aren't you afraid that your court will punish you?"

Zhang Zhaodong's face was uncertain, and after a moment he said: "I am not an unkind person, but he can only bring 10 people into the city!"

"That's impossible. Mr. Chen is a gentleman of status. He must bring two hundred followers with him to ensure his safety!"

After a debate between the two sides, Zhang Zhaodong finally backed off and allowed Chen Zhengwei to bring 200 people into Guangzhou and bring weapons with him, but the others had to return to the ship.

George Seward then went to inform Chen Zhengwei.

"Mr. Chen, under my pressure, they compromised!"

"You can bring two hundred people into the city, and you can bring weapons!"

"That's it!" Chen Zhengwei smiled and asked someone to arrange his men.

After a while, Chen Zhengwei left behind two hundred security company personnel, and the rest returned to Huangpu Port.

However, they did not board the ship, but set up camp in Huangpu Port.

After most people left, the gates of Guangzhou city were reopened. Only then did Chen Zhengwei's carriage enter Guangzhou, accompanied by two hundred armed thugs.

The Green Camp soldiers in Guangzhou looked at them warily.

After the carriage entered the city, the Guangzhou residents who were asking for information not far from the city looked at the group of Chinese people wearing neat Western clothes and holding guns curiously, and whispered to each other. The members of the security company also felt a little emotional when they heard the familiar accent.

"Pause!"

Chen Zhengwei got off the carriage with a cigarette in his mouth. His huge body immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Including Zhang Zhaodong who was on the top of the city wall.

Chen Zhengwei turned his head to look at Zhang Zhaodong on the top of the city wall. After staring at him for a while, he stretched his body and returned to the carriage.

He just wanted everyone to look at him.

The carriage was then escorted to the consulate by security company personnel. Along the way, Guangzhou residents were curiously watching these Chinese people without braids on the roadside.

Lin Changning was also in the carriage, looking outside curiously.

The defenders of Guangzhou were keeping watch from a distance.

After Chen Zhengwei arrived at the consulate, he stayed directly there. When he was away from home, he was never picky about the living environment.

While others were cleaning the room, Chen Zhengwei sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, smoking a cigar, thinking about something in his mind.

If one of his men were lost...how much compensation would the Qing Dynasty have to pay him?

The money has to be given out anyway, whether it’s to others or not, so why not give it to yourself?
When Chen Zhengwei arrived at the consulate, the reinforcements and navy sent by the Governor of Guangdong finally arrived, and then they followed Chen Zhengwei's men all the way back to Huangpu Port.

……

After Zhang Zhaodong returned, he immediately wrote a letter and sent a telegram to the Zongli Yamen, asking how to deal with the matter.

This year Li Hongzhang just built a telegraph line from Shanghai to Tianjin.

In this way, the telegram from Guangzhou could be sent directly to Tianjin, and then quickly delivered to the Zongli Yamen in the capital, arriving in just half a day.

While Zhang Zhaodong was writing letters and sending telegrams, He Sikun also sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang, detailing some information he knew about Chen Zhengwei, including Chen Zhengwei's personality and his knowledge of Chen Zhengwei's influence in the Western world.

There is also the situation of Chen Zhengwei's fleet and the fact that Chen Zhengwei snatched Ryukyu from Japan.

In his view, the court could fully utilize Chen Zhengwei's influence in the West.

Even if you don't want to be on good terms with Chen Zhengwei, there's no need to be hostile to him.

He believed that Li Hongzhang must understand this.

Moreover... the Guangdong Navy really cannot win. If a conflict breaks out between the two sides, the Guangdong Navy will be gone.

In Tianjin, Li Hongzhang had just finished dinner and was resting.

"Sir!" Xue Fucheng, Li Hongzhang's aide, walked in. "There are two telegrams from Guangzhou to be sent to the Zongli Yamen!"

Li Hongzhang took the telegram, looked at it for a few seconds, and his expression became serious.

"America, Chen Zhengwei?"

He had heard the name, and more than once.

He even knows more about Chen Zhengwei's situation than Zhang Shusheng.

The newspaper that published Chen Zhengwei's rental of the Ryukyu News is now on the table in his study.

“He actually came to Guangzhou!”

"Fortunately, there was no conflict between the two sides!" Seeing the telegram that there was no conflict between the two sides, he breathed a sigh of relief and felt that the handling of the matter by Guangdong Governor Zhang Zhaodong was appropriate.

It would be extremely unwise to come into conflict with this person.

In fact, he knew that the Queen Mother had sent an imperial envoy to the south last year to inspect coastal defense and crack down on human smuggling, but it was too late to stop it.

The consequences soon became apparent.

Just a few days ago, a telegram was sent back from the United States, stating that the sale of American smokeless gunpowder to the Qing Dynasty was banned.

Smokeless gunpowder is an important reliance of Chen Zhengwei for his rampant growth in the United States.

Li Hongzhang attached great importance to this.

"Go and get Ji Chen!" Li Hongzhang said after a little thought.

Luo Fenglu, whose courtesy name was Jichen, was his English translator and diplomatic adviser, and had studied in the UK.

I just came back from studying in the UK last year.

At that time, Chen Zhengwei had already become famous in the United States and forced the US government to sign the Washington Treaty.

Since then, Luo Fenglu has been collecting information about Chen Zhengwei, including news about Chen Zhengwei in Panama, Peru, Cuba and other places. He knows it all.

Soon, Luo Fenglu was found.

Li Hongzhang motioned him to look at the telegram on the table.

Luo Fenglu picked up the telegram and looked at it for a few seconds. His expression immediately changed and he said:

"Sir, the Guangdong governor has handled this matter properly. We cannot come into conflict with this man. This man has great influence in the West. If we can make friends with him, it will be of great benefit to our Qing Dynasty."

"What's more, they have strong ships and powerful guns, and they have the help of the US Navy. If a conflict occurs, the Guangdong, Fujian and even the Nanyang Navy will be in danger."

"He has been active in the Western world for many years. If he can help you, your Excellency will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort in foreign affairs."

Li Hongzhang said in a deep voice: "Of course I know what you said. But this matter is not up to me, and because of the previous incident, the two sides already have a conflict!"

Luo Fenglu thought for a moment and said, "Sir, you can write to the court and ask for an official position and jewels as rewards!"

Li Hongzhang thought for a moment and nodded slightly: "This is indeed a solution."

In their opinion, Chen Zhengwei would definitely not refuse this.

After all, things that bring honor to the family and ancestors are bound to be attractive to a person with a working-class background.

Although he was not in the Qing Dynasty, this official position was equivalent to aristocratic status.

Moreover, with his official status, it was much easier for him to do things in the Qing Dynasty.

This trick has been tried and tested since ancient times.

Li Hongzhang thought for a moment, then wrote a memorial overnight, analyzing the pros and cons in detail, and had it sent to the capital as quickly as possible.

In the early morning, telegrams from Guangzhou were sent to the Zongli Yamen, and Li Hongzhang's memorials were sent directly to the East Warm Pavilion.

When Cixi saw this memorial, she immediately thought of Chen Zhengwei whom she had heard of before.

"He actually dared to come back! And he led his troops into Guangzhou. He is so bold! What does Zhang Shusheng do for a living? What does Guangdong Governor Zhang Zhaodong do for a living?"

Cixi was a little annoyed at first, but soon calmed down.

She relied heavily on Li Hongzhang and trusted his abilities.

Li Hongzhang analyzed the pros and cons in the memorial. After she read it carefully, she began to think about it.

The reason why people were sent to inspect the southeast was mainly because of the agreement with the United States, but also because they were afraid that Chen Zhengwei would collude with some mobs in the south and the Long Haired Bandits incident would happen again.

Now this person is very powerful in the West. If he is given an official position, he can not only gain some benefits from the West, but also restrain him...

Which is a good thing.

　I ran around all day today, accompanying my family to the provincial hospital for a check-up, and finally wrote a chapter when I came back.

　　Fortunately, I have made adjustments and completed the work in the past two days, and the updates will be stable starting tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)