Chapter 398: Heroes of the World (II)
"Master, my Qian Qing has been in a bad mood since she returned home. Do you have the nerve to bully a little girl?" Huo Chong asked with as straight a face as possible.
"If you want to call for punishment, why bother bringing tea in person? Although I like this taste, I won't use it for divination."
So the old man Huo Chong and the old man Chang Xin stared at each other for a while, and Huo Chong gave a wry smile and served tea, ending the confrontation which had no meaning in the first place.
Fujian tea is good, and soon the house was filled with the aroma of tea. Huo Chong took a sip and confirmed again that the so-called pure natural green tea might not be much different from the tea grown from fertilized tea trees in the 21st century.
Seeing Master Changxin drinking tea expressionlessly, Huo Chong said, "Is it really impossible to make Qian Qing feel at ease?"
"What kind of words does Brother Huo want to hear?"
"That's cool."
"I have no interest at all. You raise an emperor in your own family, what does it have to do with me? Let's talk about worldly things. If the little girl doesn't have confidence in herself, how can she raise a child that she recognizes? Monk Huo, if the little girl can't bear it, and then goes to find some shitty monk or Taoist to tell fortunes, you can't let her do it."
Seeing that the Taoist priest still had expectations for Qian Qing, Huo Chong sighed, "Who doesn't want to know where the future lies, especially when it comes to children? Believe in fate or not, so what? I still want to know. Just as a consolation."
"I met Lei Hu. He became an official, but he became more vulgar. This is probably how cultivation works in the world. The old Taoist and the little girl have different paths, so it's a good thing they don't meet."
Seeing that Master Changxin was still so insistent, Huo Chong could only give up his efforts to mediate for Qian Qing. But in his heart, Huo Chong even felt very relaxed. It was the best thing for Huo Chong that Master Changxin did not show off his metaphysics.
"Do you want to go to Kaifeng now, Taoist priest?"
"No."
Huo Chong advised: "Of course I wish you a long life, but after this separation, I don't know when we will see each other again."
"No one knows what will happen in the future. The old Taoist is old and weak, and can no longer be the leader of Taoism. If Mr. Huo wants to find a candidate, he should find someone as soon as possible."
"Does the Taoist priest have any recommendations?"
"Who doesn't want to immerse themselves in this colorful world? The monks have ordered that religions be classified as commercial groups. Isn't this a good thing? Since they are laymen, we should treat them as laymen."
"After meeting the Taoist priest, I realized that not all people in this world are vulgar."
"Before I met the monk, I thought there were no heroes in the world. But can monks be found everywhere? When I was young, I also lived a life of debauchery and pleasure. However, after experiencing it, I realized that I didn't like these things. A Taoist should look like a Taoist. If he doesn't look like a Taoist, he is not a Taoist. He then devotes himself to cultivation and thinks he is a true Taoist. However, after meeting the monk, it suddenly became clear to me. I am a Taoist, nothing more. What monks need are not Taoists, but people. Just choose the right person. If the person is not suitable, it doesn't matter if he is a true Taoist."
Huo Chong understood what Master Changxin meant, and instinctively wanted to persuade him, but he knew that Master Changxin was telling the truth. He could only give up, and couldn't help but sigh: "I am still too arrogant."
"If you don't have an endless heart, how can you be called a cultivator? In the world, you are just an ordinary person. Unless a cultivator has the ability to jump out of the Three Realms and not be in the Five Elements, there is nothing wrong with pretending to be an ordinary person."
Huo Chong couldn't help but sigh when he heard this, "Alas... Actually, I wanted to invite the Taoist priest to Kaifeng out of selfishness. When I'm really upset, I see the Taoist priest and all my troubles go away."
"Haha." Master Changxin laughed out loud, then he said, "I like to hear that. Since you said so, I also want to go to Kaifeng. But I'm not ready yet, so it's not the right time. By the way, would you like to have a divination?"
When Huo Chong saw that Master Changxin actually stood up to take the copper coins after he finished speaking, he instinctively refused, "Forget it. Although I want too much, but..."
A few soft sounds were heard on the ground, and the Taoist priest Chang Dao had already dropped three copper coins one after another. The young Taoist priest hurried forward to take a look, and then said, "Master, this is the Tai hexagram."
Master Changxin did not look at it either, and said calmly: "This divination is the intention of the old Taoist, and the cultivators do not need to take it to heart. Tai, small goes and big comes, auspicious and prosperous. It means that heaven and earth are connected, and all things are connected; the upper and the lower are connected, and their aspirations are the same. The inner yang is yin, the inner is strong and the outer is smooth, the inner is a gentleman and the outer is a villain, the gentleman's way is long, and the villain's way is fading."
Huo Chong didn't believe it at first, so he just listened and let it go in one ear and out the other. Just as he was about to say thank you and leave, he heard Master Changxin continue, "Those are just talk. What I want to say is that I hope the monks won't be greedy for more, as happiness will only lead to sorrow."
"Thank you." Huo Chong said as he stood up.
Master Changxin did not see them off. The two of them nodded slightly and said goodbye.
After Huo Chong returned, he told Qian Qing about Master Changxin 's concerns about him. Qian Qing replied with some resentment: "I am an ordinary person, so what's wrong with being an ordinary person?"
"There's nothing wrong with being a layman. Just don't be fooled by those guys who pretend to be gods. You are worth thousands and millions now, and there are as many people who want to cheat you as they want."
Qian Qing rolled his eyes but didn't answer.
Huo Chong and Qian Qing have been together for so many years, and he knows that Qian Qing has understood what he said. Since Qian Qing has understood what he said, Huo Chong is confident that Qian Qing will not take those nonsense seriously. He is relieved.
In April of the second year of the Republic of China, the imperial court moved the capital from Xuzhou to Kaifeng. It was announced to the world that Kaifeng would be the capital and Henan would be Zhili. The original Zhili was changed to Hebei Province.
This news immediately shocked the world. At this time, the momentum of the rebellion in Gansu and other places had been suppressed by the Qing Dynasty. Although the various groups were born as rebellious people, they did not join the rebellion. Instead, the rebellious militias who supported the court came to pledge their loyalty.
The Manchu Emperor Hong Zhou did not blame these people. He had already determined who was causing the rebellion, so he ordered these forces loyal to the court to come to the court and pay a visit. They swore together that if the rebellious people did not come to surrender within two months, they would not be pardoned. The court would not kill the rest.
Although the matter was resolved, Hong Zhou hurried back to Xi'an upon hearing that Huo Chong had actually moved the capital to Kaifeng and summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.
Someone among the Manchu officials immediately suggested, "Your Majesty, Kaifeng has no strategic location to defend, why not send troops to launch a surprise attack?"
This suggestion was not wrong in theory. Kaifeng was located on a large plain with no strategic location to defend. It was theoretically possible to send an elite force to attack Kaifeng.
However, the Manchu officials had no interest in such suggestions, and no one even agreed. More officials were worried that Huo Chong moved the capital to Kaifeng in preparation for a western expedition to Tongguan.
Hong Zhou also had such concerns, but since Huo Chong had the initiative in this matter, there was no point in worrying. He could only pretend to be profound and remain silent.
While the Military Affairs Council was holding a small meeting, the Minister of War Lan Gui asked, "Master, do you want to send someone to Kaifeng?"
Liu Tongxun was stunned, and admired Lan Gui's boldness. Although Hong Zhou had sent people to test Huo Chong before, Huo Chong had not even taken Hebei at that time, and the test was just a test. Now the situation has completely changed. The most essential areas of China have fallen into the hands of Huo Chong. At this time, the Qing Dynasty only had the areas outside the Great Wall, the northwest, Sichuan, and the southwest. They were all poor places.
At this time, the situation in the world has already been formed. If the Qing Dynasty can achieve a simple ceasefire through mediation by diplomatic envoys, it will be a good thing for the Qing Dynasty.
But this is really taboo, at least Liu Tongxun himself does not have the courage to say it.
Hong Zhou was neither angry nor surprised. He replied calmly, "Send someone to ask Huo Chong when to release Fu Qing."
The mission of the diplomatic mission fell to Liu Tongxun. After contacting the Huaxia Army and receiving a response of approval, Liu Tongxun embarked on the diplomatic mission.
After the delegation left Hulao Pass and passed Gongyi, they stood on a high place and saw a vast plain stretching out before them.
The ground is covered with yellow earth, and the patches of green on top are all fields. This scene is very different from the mountainous Shaanxi and also obviously different from Hebei.
With the Chinese Army escorting them, the group walked very fast. They learned that they could rest after arriving in Zheng County. Liu Tongxun suddenly remembered that he had already entered deep into enemy territory. Liu Tongxun then realized that he was not afraid at all, and did not feel a little guilty.
But even though he blamed himself, Liu Tongxun also found that the soldiers around him were not afraid. This made Liu Tongxun very unhappy. Among the people in the court now, the largest proportion may be those who were once captured and then released. Because there are too many people, the Qing Dynasty can only not mention it.
The guys who were released were a little nervous when facing the Chinese army, but they were not afraid. It was not because they were strong that they were not afraid of strong enemies. Instead, they were not afraid of the Chinese army doing anything out of the ordinary.
Rest in Zheng County before setting off again. After arriving in Kaifeng, Liu Tongxun saw that no one in the city had a braid, which made him sad. In order to force Han people to have braids, the Qing Dynasty adopted a policy of keeping hair but not head, and it took decades to change the customs.
However, in the past few years, no one has worn pigtails under Huo Chong's rule. Don't these people feel guilty for abandoning the court?
Liu Tongxun and his party were sent to live in the guild hall. Although the guards could not go out, they were also looking at the door. Soon they came to report to Liu Tongxun, "Master Zhongtang, the people living opposite us are actually Westerners. And there are people from the Huaxia Dynasty who took them away. Are they going to see Huo Chong?"
Foreigners were not rare animals in China at that time. There were some foreigners in the Qing Dynasty court, and they sent many novel things. Many of them were quite useful. For example, the flintlock rifles used by the Qing army were completely imitated from the flintlock mechanisms sent by these Western envoys, and copied from the shape of the Chinese army's rifles. Although they were still not as good as the Chinese army's muskets, they were much stronger than the Qing army's previous muskets.
However, after the imperial court fled the capital, the envoys also left. Until now, no envoys have come again.
Liu Tongxun shouted unhappily: "They are just some Westerners, how do you know they are going to see Huo Chong!"
Seeing that Liu Tongxun was unhappy, the guards did not dare to speak, or they replied in a low voice: "Master Zhongtang is right."
However, those Westerners outside really went to see Huo Chong, from Spain and France.
The envoys of the two Bourbon dynasties, led by guards, met Huo Chong. After saluting, they said loudly: "Messenger France, on behalf of our king, greets His Majesty the Emperor of China."
"The Spanish envoy, on behalf of our king, sends greetings to His Majesty the Emperor of China."
The foreign minister on Huo Chong's side also expressed the Chinese Emperor's welcome to the two envoys on behalf of Huo Chong, after which the two envoys saluted and greeted Huo Chong in their personal capacity.
"Mr. Francis, I heard that your father passed away. Please accept my condolences." Huo Chong said to the Spanish envoy.
When Francis heard Huo Chong mention the envoy's father "Oda Hideyoshi", his face immediately lit up. After all, among all the European countries, the only one who could say that he had a personal relationship with Huo Chong was probably Oda Hideyoshi's son Francis.
Francis quickly raised his head and replied, "Your Majesty, although my father unfortunately passed away during the voyage, he always praised Your Majesty as a great man during his lifetime. And he was always proud to meet Your Majesty."
The French envoy was inevitably a little jealous when he saw that the Spanish envoy was greeted first, and in such a personal way. The father of the Spanish envoy, Baron Francis, was just a minor nobleman in his early years, and was even considered a minor knight.
Who of the Spanish nobles would go to Luzon to live a lazy life?
Unexpectedly, he met Huo Chong by chance. Now Huo Chong has become the emperor of China, which means that the Francis family is destined to become the envoys of the diplomatic mission representing Spain.
More importantly, the Francis family became wealthy due to the increase in trade with China. After becoming rich, they used the money to get a baron title. There is even a saying that the Francis family is trying to spend money to get the title of earl.
Being a knight means being a person in Spain. Being a baron means being a minor noble. Once you become a count, you are a true noble. The rapid progress of a minor knight family really made the envoy, who was born into a long-standing French noble family, unhappy.
However, the envoys of the two countries did not come here to confront Huo Chong, nor to fight each other. After all, there are not two Bourbons in one stroke, and the two kingdoms of the Bourbon family sent envoys here to shoulder a very important diplomatic mission.
The first mission is naturally to establish formal diplomatic relations with China, including the establishment of embassies.
This request was fulfilled in less than a minute.
The second mission is the arms trade between the two sides. Both France and Spain have a high opinion of China's percussion cap rifles. In the Polish Succession War that ended not long ago, the Spanish army swept the Holy Roman Army with its troops equipped with percussion cap rifles.
In the War of the Polish Succession, Spain, Sardinia and France were on one side, and Russia and Austria were on the other.
Most Polish nobles unanimously nominated Stanisław I Reczynski as the heir to the throne. Reczynski was the father-in-law of King Louis XV of France and was supported by France and Spain . Reczynski was elected King of Poland with an absolute majority of votes. Then the Russian army occupied Warsaw and Reczynski fled to Danzig (now Gdansk).
After the outbreak of the war, the French and Spanish coalition forces fought together, part of the French army defended Stanislaw I in Danzig, and the French and Spanish coalition forces fought against the Holy Roman Empire, that is, Austria.
Although the coalition forces against Austria were victorious, the Russian army captured Gdansk and wiped out 1,500 French troops. Rechinsky fled to Prussia.
Historically, the war would have ended here. However, the Spanish army at this time would not let the Russians run wild. Three thousand Spanish troops and two thousand rushed to Danzig and fought fiercely with 22,000 Russian troops. Not only did they completely defeat the Russian army, but even Russian Field Marshal Pyotr Petrovich Lacy was injured and captured.
In this battle, the Spanish army, as the absolute main force, killed 6,000 Russian soldiers and captured 4,000. They also captured the Russian marshal, shocking Europe.
Spain was once widely considered by European countries to be a country with a long way to go, and even a younger brother of France, the largest army power in Europe. The younger brother from hot southern Europe stood up and beat up the polar bear Russia in the cold north. It really shocked the whole of Europe.
So the King of France certainly couldn't let his younger brother take the limelight, so he half-coerced Spain to establish formal diplomatic relations with China together with France, and let France obtain the right to directly trade arms with China.
Huo Chong certainly didn't care whether France also bought the new rifles. As long as they were willing to pay, China was certainly willing to trade on the basis of fair trade.
The French envoy was overjoyed to see that a very important part of his diplomatic mission was accomplished so easily. Fearing that Huo Chong would go back on his word, he asked Huo Chong when the contract could be signed.
Huo Chong had never seen someone so impatient before, and couldn't help but laugh: "Are you questioning my credibility?"
Hearing this, the French envoy quickly apologized.
Francis also knew the attitude of the French envoy and laughed in his heart, but raised another diplomatic issue, "Your Majesty, can the trade between us continue to expand?"
Huo Chong was very puzzled, "What does this mean?"
Francis suppressed his anxiety and tried to speak in a calm tone, "Your Majesty, do you have any quota restrictions on trade between China and Spain?"
Huo Chong thought this was incomprehensible. The Spanish fleet was now frantically transporting goods to China, mainly silver, matte, high-quality asphalt from North America, and South American crops and animals.
In this trade, there was one thing that made Huo Chong very satisfied. That was ten pairs of "king chinchillas". The so-called chinchilla is a kind of chinchilla in South America. The so-called king chinchilla is a giant chinchilla with a body length of more than 40 cm. Half of the fur, one hair follicle has ten hairs, which is a very good fur. Chinchillas can actually grow 30-50 fine hairs, which is an excellent fur. It's just that chinchillas are small and the skin is not big enough. The body length of the king chinchilla is more than 40 cm. If a population of king chinchillas with a body length of more than 60 cm is raised, mink fur may not be a problem. It's just that the king chinchilla became extinct in the 19th century due to the Spanish hunting. Unexpectedly, Huo Chong got the population at this time, and it was sent to Yinshan, where the climate is relatively similar, for careful cultivation.
With such a treasure trove, how could Huo Chong possibly impose trade restrictions?
However, Huo Chong did not agree immediately, but asked calmly: "I don't know what the limit you mentioned is in Europe?"
The Chinese officials present at the meeting were all stunned when they heard what Huo Chong said. After a moment, two young men showed a look of sudden enlightenment. Huo Chong ignored them and just listened to what these foreign envoys said.
Francis told Huo Chong that not only had the customs of European countries set high taxes, but he also imposed quota limits on bulk goods from Spain and France.
Such a frank performance made the French envoy, who came from a French noble family and had rich diplomatic experience, secretly curse the Spanish royal court for being blind. How could there be any reason to say such a thing!
Based on the experience of Europe, when countries increase taxes, it is country A that increases taxes and sets restrictions. Country B can only escalate further.
He cursed in his heart, but due to diplomatic etiquette, he could only listen to the Spanish envoy Francis continue to tell the truth. The French envoy wanted to kill Francis.
After Francis finished speaking, Huo Chong asked, "If there is such an upper limit, what do you hope it will be?"
Francis gritted his teeth and said, "With the current tariffs, the upper limit is five...ten times the current volume of goods traded."
The French envoy was so angry at these words that he felt dizzy. He now suspected that the bumpy sea journey had driven the Spaniard Francis crazy. Anyone who made such demands in Europe must be a lunatic!
The tax rate did not increase, but sales increased tenfold. Does Francis think he is a favored child of God?
In anger, Huo Chong said, "How about this. I'll give you fifteen times the amount, you do it first and we'll talk later."
"What about the tax rate, Your Majesty?" Francis asked hurriedly.
"Of course the tax rate remains unchanged." Huo Chong replied kindly.
When the French envoy heard this, he felt dizzy again. He suddenly suspected that he had gone crazy after the long voyage, so everything he heard was an illusion.
Yes, all this is an illusion. If it is not an illusion, then something is wrong with this world!
