When two 770 high-end cars were parked outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the flash lights immediately turned on. Dozens of reporters who received the news asked questions to Rui Enshi and his party who had just got off the car, especially those Chinese journalists, who often had a hint of joy on their faces. Today is a big day for Chinese diplomacy.

After the State Council proposed the "re-re-contracting of the new contract" and established the "Special Foreign Affairs Commission" to specialize in the negotiations on the new contract and stop all "non-reciprocal negotiations" with countries that have not established diplomatic relations, although the United States gave a positive response, the United States' positive response only made people fall into another trouble after the initial excitement.

"All countries agree!"

There is such a hurdle that cannot be avoided on the issue of China. This is a diplomatic principle formulated by countries before and after the Boxer Incident in order to maintain the interests of various countries in China, and to reconcile conflicts among countries. They not only establish a ministerial mission and consular mission to coordinate the interests of various countries in China, but also conduct diplomatic negotiations with China on the basis of consistency of interests and on the basis of equal interests.

This is extremely unfavorable for China. Although countries will contact China in private or even conduct secret negotiations, in fact, this consensus among countries directly led to the "governing the barbarians" since the late Qing Dynasty, which is actually mutually reinforcing, and this strategy suffered a severe blow.

Especially the unified "action" of the mission has made China negotiate with the mission when it involves diplomatic matters of its own national rights and interests. Although this is just a "disguised method", China will not abide by it and countries will not abide by it, but when it involves the interests of other countries in China, the great powers will take out this "disguised method", which will naturally have practical significance!

After the State Council proposed the "re-re-contracting of the new contract", after intense merchants finally, at the insistence of Zhu Erdian, the mission made the decision to "not have any diplomatic contact with China on the "re-contracting of the new contract"" by voting. Even if other countries intend to negotiate separately with China, the binding nature of this clause is very likely to cause miscarriage of separate negotiations.

It can be said that if this clause is not broken, diplomatic negotiations will not be able to make progress. For a time, domestic legal scholars have studied international law to find loopholes in this clause.

Just when everyone thought that "re-re-re-test" could not make real progress, good news finally came, and the United States would hold direct negotiations with China on the issue of "re-test-test" re-re-re-test. Until an hour before the negotiations, journalists from various countries in Beijing received a notice that "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have big news." It was not until ten minutes ago that they learned that the so-called big news was the news of this separate negotiation.

"Minister Rui, the United States directly negotiates new contracts with the Special Extraordinary Commission. Does this mean that the United States will no longer recognize the so-called unanimity of all countries!"

"Minister Rui, is the United States ready to give up..."

Rui Enshi, who was smiling, did not answer those questions, and he did not even speak. He would reveal the negotiation results after the negotiation was over. As for the others, let them guess!

stunned!

Zhu Erdian, who was in the embassy, ​​first felt astonished after learning that Rui Enshi had held separate negotiations with China. After a moment of dazed, he immediately shouted outside the door.

"Bruce, hurry up, prepare the car immediately. I'm going to the State Council to see Li Zhiyuan!"

Just half a month ago, he did not respond much to the resolutions made by the US Congress, and even told London with confidence that he did not need to consider the attitude of the United States too much.

"The changes in the United States cannot have any positive impact on China. What we must see is that, in China, it is precisely because of the predecessors of various countries that have not had "absolute autonomy" on issues over China. Although no one needs to abide by it, agreement must be reached on matters involving the interests of various countries, otherwise countries may not recognize any treaty that "violates the agreement."

But now, not only did the Americans not retreat as he imagined, but even Rui Enshi quietly started negotiations with the Special Foreign Affairs Committee. This really went beyond Juerdian's consciousness. As the initiator of the "diplomatic agreement", Juerdian naturally knew how fragile the so-called "diplomatic agreement" was, so he knew that he had to seize the opportunity, otherwise Britain would have to...

After entering the State Council, while waiting for the reception, Zhu Erdian felt a sense of humiliation. In the past, he did not need to wait for him to enter and exit the Presidential Palace. Now, he not only needs to wait, but also needs to wait until the "Prime Minister" meets the guests before meeting them.

The even more annoying person seems to have taken him seriously. Although he is a little angry, Zhu Erdian must stay here. He needs to hold direct talks with Li Zicheng to remind him of the seriousness of "the treaty must be followed". Of course, if it were not for the "Special Foreign Affairs Commission" directly managed by the State Council, he would rather deal with Yuan Shikai. In his opinion, he would rather talk with Yuan Shikai about any issues than dealing with Li Zicheng, but things went against his wishes. Although he knew that Li Zicheng would not sell him any "face", Zhu Erdian still had to deal with that person.

More than ten minutes later, as soon as he entered Li Zicheng's office, Zhu Erdian nodded gently and then said immediately.

"Mr. Prime Minister, on behalf of the British Government, I will bring the most serious protest to your country!"

"oh?"

Li Zicheng, who deliberately let Zhu Erdian go for about twenty minutes, looked at the minister in surprise, and then said with confusion.

"I wonder what the Minister wants to protest whether the missionaries there were beaten or British goods were burned! Or that ship was hit?"

After several questions, there was no good word. Juerdian felt uncomfortable after hearing it. Looking at the Prime Minister's concern, if he hadn't understood him, Juerdian would have thought he was concerned about "the interests of Britain."

"Prime Minister, please stop taking turns. I mean that your country holds diplomatic negotiations with the United States alone, which has seriously violated your country's commitment to respect the effectiveness of the treaty. For this reason, on behalf of the United Kingdom, I also convey the views of the United Kingdom to your country's views to you!"

At this time, Zhu Erdian's chin raised slightly and said arrogantly.

"As the head of the ministerial missions of various countries in Beijing, given that the United States violated the unanimous commitments of the ministerial mission to China and China violated the endorsement of diplomatic agreements with various countries, the United Kingdom will not recognize any attempt to unilaterally modify the treaties related to the interests of various countries. If China wants to amend the Old Testament, it must reach an agreement with the ministerial mission and negotiate directly before negotiations with the ministerial mission! The separate contacts that your country has tried at present have seriously damaged your diplomatic credibility!"

When Juerdian conveyed his protest, Li Zicheng just listened to him with a smile, and only looked at him and said after Juerdian finished speaking.

"Your Excellency,"

While speaking, Li Zicheng picked up a document from the table and recited loudly.

"His Excellency Li Zicheng, Prime Minister of the Republic of China..."

This time, Li Zicheng did not recite Chinese but spoke English, but read a document submitted by the British Embassy to the State Council three days ago. He had talks with Jurden and Gudaev on this document. Although no consensus was reached, it was a "direct diplomatic contact."

When he heard the official document that Li Zicheng was reciting and realized that he had made a mistake, Zhu Erdian immediately understood something and fell into a carefully designed trap.

Finally, after reading the last sentence, he looked at Zhu Erhuang with an extremely unnatural expression, and Li Zicheng still smiled.

"There is a saying in China that I think Mr. Minister should have heard it!"

Li Zicheng said word by word.

"Only state officials are allowed to set fires, and the people are not allowed to light the lights!"

As the bytes became louder and louder, Li Zicheng seemed to have no patience, and he said loudly.

"Are you only allowed the United Kingdom to unilaterally contact with China for the sake of the interests of the United Kingdom and conduct diplomatic negotiations, and not allowed the United States to hold direct talks with China?"

As soon as Li Zicheng's question fell, Zhu Erdian answered with confidence.

"This is different. This official letter is not only the United Kingdom but also Russia. This is a diplomatic meeting proposed by the two countries to China. Even if it is not discussed and agreed by the mission, please note that this official letter only means a very ordinary diplomatic meeting without any results!"

"Does that mean that the UK will no longer have any objections to China's change of tariff storage bank!"

Li Zicheng immediately changed the topic, but his change made Zhu Erdian's heart tighten, afraid that it would be a trap and said quickly.

"Because it involves the interests of British banks, as the British minister, I have the right to hold objections to protect the interests of British companies!"

"Well, objections cannot change the decision of the State Council!"

When he was speaking, Li Zicheng had already picked up the phone.

"Connect the Office of the General Taxation Department!"

While making a phone call, Li Zicheng looked directly at Zhu Erdian, and his appearance was simply picky at this time.

"Is it the General Secretary of the Taxation Department of General Mei? I am currently meeting with Minister Juerdian. Regarding the transfer of tariffs, Minister Juerdian only has objections. Oh, I think so to me. I think the Minister's objection does not mean opposition, oh, yes, okay, I'm waiting for your good news!"

After hanging up the phone, Li Zicheng stared at Zhu Erdian again, and the corners of his lips raised slightly.

"Am I right? Minister Jurden!"

For a moment, the office was in a stalemate. Zhu Erdian never expected that Li Zicheng in front of him would be rude, or he was like a hooligan. He completely ignored any diplomatic etiquette. No, he seemed to have violated anything, but...

"Now!"

Standing up, Li Zicheng supported the desk with both hands.

"What I can answer to the minister is that, while we are talking, the tariffs have begun to be transferred from HSBC to Bank of China!"

Faced with Li Zicheng's pickiness, Zhu Erdian laughed in his heart after a moment of panic, and then said with a smile.

"Mr. Prime Minister, I personally appreciate your flexibility. Well, I can accept your misinterpretation!"

Zhu Erdian, who knew that he could no longer stop the transfer of tariffs, smiled again on his face, restoring the confidence of the veteran diplomat.

"But your flexibility cannot change a reality. Out of respect and adherence to the international principle of "the treaty must be adhered to", the UK will announce that it will not recognize the Sino-US New Testament after the negotiations with the United States ended, and will protest to the US State Department as the head of the Ministerial Mission in Beijing......"

In Zhu Erdian's confident words, Li Zicheng sat down, but his face did not have the frustration, disappointment, and anger that Zhu Erdian expected, but some of them were just... calm, yes, calm!

calm!

Faced with Zhu Erdian's disagreement, Li Zicheng found that his heart was extremely calm. He looked at the Chinese who promised to be Chinese and applauded. When the crisp applause rang in the office, Zhu Erdian looked at the Chinese in surprise. Li Zicheng, who seemed calm, actually smiled!

And she smiled brilliantly!

Why does he laugh?

Facing Li Zicheng's applause and smile, Zhu Erdian was stunned. He didn't even know that he should face all this. This is the so-called "appraiser of his opponent?" No, this is not that simple. If that's right, Li Zicheng is thanking him or reminding him.

But what are you reminding him?

For a moment, Zhu Erdian was a little confused for the first time. Facing Li Zicheng's smile and even the pride in the smile, Zhu Erdian felt like he was like a prey, step by step and took the initiative to walk into a trap. No, what kind of trap would this be?

Combined with Li Zicheng's previous call, Zhu Erdian began to recall what he had said before in his mind. After recalling it, his face changed and immediately realized why Li Zicheng was proud because...

"Mr. Prime Minister, I need to remind you that you refuse to recognize the agreement that has been reached."

"How about rejecting a treaty that we have never recognized before?"

The smile calmed down from Li Zicheng's face. Although neither of them mentioned what the treaty was, Pozhi understood very well what the treaty was referring to.

"Mr. Prime Minister, if you keep being tough, then China may lose everything, at least there!"

Zhu Erdian reminded the other party very seriously that although China has never admitted that contract, it at least acquiesced and no longer asks about it. The UK is willing to maintain the current situation, but now Li Zicheng is "returning down old accounts" there.

"The treaty is illegal, so it is not necessary to be followed. I can spend 50,000 troops to conduct public relations in the United States and 5 million in the House of Representatives lobbying in the United Kingdom. Of course, after the Minister humiliated the United States, Mr. Minister felt that at that time, was the American newspaper standing on China or a country that humiliated the entire United States?"

At this time, Li Zicheng's heart was getting calmer and calmer. He had neither complacent nor joy in his heart. It seemed that successfully "mastering" Zhu Erdian in the applause was not a big deal, but a very ordinary thing.

Opening his mouth, Zhu Erdian couldn't speak. He looked at Li Zicheng, trying to find even a hint of bluffing from the other party's face, but it turned out to be extremely disappointed. On Li Zicheng's face, he only saw peace, and it was this peace that made him believe that the other party was not bluffing.

He really would do that!

Spend ten million!

Where will he spend that ten million? For Britain, he does not doubt that under the lobbying of a huge sum of five million, hundreds of MPs will turn to "support justice". In fact, many so-called "decent people" have long been disgusted with the "plunder of privilege" in other countries. They always think that this is just, that it is unjust, that it is moral, that it is immoral. There may not be many people, but it is enough to disrupt the situation in the U.S. and the money offensive are enough to make the British and Indian authorities rather than face the U.S. problem, and it is even more impossible to send troops to safeguard the interests of Britain.

The reason is very simple - ˉ - the treaty is illegal!

At the same time, he will also create public opinion in the United States that is not conducive to the British, and what about the person in front of him? Is he a winner? By then, even if he fails to succeed in re-constructing the new contract, he will still be a winner, but there is no... But no matter what, it cannot change a fact. Britain will become the real loser and big loser in this battle!

There is no big winner, but there is a big loser!

After a long silence, Zhu Erdian, who realized that he had no choice at all, looked at Li Zicheng and asked curiously.

"Li, can you tell me, what exactly do you want?"

Despite being frustrated by Li Zicheng one after another, Zhu Erdian found that he fell in love with this guy who never gave him any affection and even used some hooligan methods.

"My friend!"
To be continued...