Chapter 237 The General's intention!
"One day, I will make you greedy and barbaric guys kowtow and crawl at the feet of our British Empire, I swear." Although the fear from the bottom of his heart made him bow his head, his heart was full of humiliation and resentment. A sense of superiority of the people of the British Empire made him feel that his behavior was simply smearing his country.
As an excellent British diplomat, it is Macartney's strength to look at people's faces and think about people's hearts. Although he doesn't quite understand how the Qing general who came to meet the envoy could make the arrogant Si Dangdong look so embarrassed, but he also knew that it was not the time to think about this, and his face was exposed. A sincere smile: "Dear General, thank you for reminding me. I will keep it in mind."
"Mr. Count, it's best for you to think so. You may have learned some news about our country from Mr. Donton. I believe you also know that our East and your West are almost two completely different things. Please don't look at my country with a Western world view. I hope my advice will be helpful to you." Liang Pengfei responded politely.
"General Liang, it's nice to meet you. I heard from my teacher, Father Li, that your country has a population of more than hundreds of millions. I would like to ask you if this is true." At this time, the little European boy who was just standing beside the priest suddenly said. Although it was not standard, Liang Pengfei never thought that the little guy was talking to himself in Chinese.
"Your Excellency, this little guy is my son Xiao Sidangdong. He is full of a strong thirst for knowledge and curiosity about everything in the Qing Dynasty. In the whole mission, except for him and his teacher, the four Chinese priests, no one can know how to use Chinese and Chinese characters. My son only spent ten At the time of the month, I learned how to talk in Chinese, and also learned how to write this ancient text on paper. Si Dangdong proudly reached out and touched the little Si Dangdong's head and introduced it to Liang Pengfei.
"Little Si Dangdong? Ha ha ha, really, life is really wonderful..." Liang Pengfei looked at the Western Xiaozhengtai, who was at most 11 or 12 years old, and could not see that this little guy would become the culprit that made China a semi-colonial country in the future.
Hearing Liang Pengfei's words, not to mention Xiao Si Dangdong, who has just learned Chinese conversation, even his teacher's Chinese priest has an inexplicable face. I don't know what Liang Pengfei means. What's so wonderful about seeing a little child who knows Chinese?
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Next, the Chinese priest couldn't help but change his face when he saw Liang Pengfei's eyes falling on his head. Fortunately, it seems that Liang Pengfei didn't care that he had cut off his braids and changed to a western style. He just glanced at him and his eyes fell on Xiao Sidangdong again.
"China's population exceeded 10,000 people decades ago, and now there should be nearly 20,000 people." Liang Pengfei replied to Xiao Sidang with a kind smile.
Hearing this answer, Macartney couldn't help gasp and subconsciously drew a cross on his chest. My God, there are so many. I'm afraid the whole Europe can't catch up with the population of your empire.
"Of course, our territory is not smaller than your Europe. It is not surprising that a civilization system that has been passed down for nearly 5,000 years and has never been broken. It is not surprising that there are so many people and such a large territory." Liang Pengfei smiled and said that his smile was so bright, but his eyes turned ghostly.
In the exclamation of these Westerners in front of him, Xiao Si Dangdong said with a yearning face, "I really want to see such a huge country."
"Your wish will definitely be fulfilled, little Sidang, I'm glad to meet you, you know? I like smart children best. Liang Pengfei put his hand into his arms and touched it. He took out a small dagger made of Cloisonne. Under the jealous and greedy eyes of the people around him, he handed it into the hands of Xiaosdangdong with a look of surprise and love.
"I'm sorry, I came in a hurry. I didn't expect to meet such a cute and smart child. I'm really sorry if I don't give you a gift. So, I'll give you this little thing. I hope you like it."
"Thank you very much, General Liang. I like it very much." After receiving it in disbelief, the childlike little Si pulled out the dagger on the spot, and the snowy blade could still make people feel the sharpness of the murder weapon and the chill in the sun.
"It's so beautiful. It's a perfect work of art." Although Macartney still had a smile on his face, he stared at the Clotland dagger in Little Sdang's hand with jealousy in his eyes.
"You think it's a work of art, which shows that you have a kind heart." Liang Pengfei glanced at Macartney, and his eyes fell back again. He smiled meaningfully at the little Sidang, who couldn't put down the little dagger with the handle of Cloisonne. Whether it is a work of art or a sharp weapon to kill people, it depends on what angle the person who holds it appreciates or uses it.
Xiao Si Dangdong squeezed the gift tightly, raised his still innocent eyes, and nodded as if he didn't understand.
Although Liang Pengfei's words were joking, his eyes also seemed amiable. But I don't know why, Baron Si Dangdong's heart was cold. He always felt that Liang Pengfei's eyes looking at his son were like a fierce beast hidden in the grass. His greedy and blood-eating eyes were staring at a defenseless prey.
Sdang swirled and smiled. Is he too nervous? Liang Pengfei has never met his son. Although Liang Pengfei is famous in Liangguang and Guangxi, it is impossible to have any malice to his son?
"Well, gentlemen, I have finished my polite words, and I should also explain my intention. On the order of Guo Shixun, the acting governor of the Qing Dynasty, I came to welcome the British envoy and shoulder the responsibility of escorting you to Macao. In addition, I need to understand the purpose of your coming to the Qing Dynasty. " Liang Pengfei temporarily put Xiao Si Dangdong aside and looked at the thoughtful expression in front of him and said.
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"This, this doesn't seem appropriate, does it? Dear General, you are just a general, not a foreign minister. It seems that you need to know about this. Macartney shrugged his shoulders and said to Liang Pengfei with regret.
Although he deliberately maintained respect on his face, as the British Empire, the Industrial Revolution is gradually making it the world's most powerful country today, and it also has the world's largest merchant fleet and the most formidable naval fleet. If it hadn't been for Macartney's peace opening. He will never explain the task of this huge imperial market gate so patiently and politely to a commander who only has a fleet that can't even compare with British armed merchant ships.
"Boldly, how dare you talk to our generals like this, just a barbarian, my general talks to you like this, I already think highly of you, how dare you refuse so much?" At this time, a Qing general standing behind Liang Pengfei came out from behind, with a look of arrogance and arrogance.
Although this sentence has been translated euphemistically enough, the Qing army's attitude made several British [***] officials who stood behind to watch the bustle couldn't help but change their faces, and one or two of them were all angry.
You should know that the British Royal Navy is as proud as the Army. In Europe, although they are often hated by soldiers from other countries, they will never be despised. However, the manners and words of the two Qing generals were in a high tone, which made them feel quite unhappy. Even two officers stood up and seemed to want to fight back with words.
However, Macartney stopped these excellent and equally proud royal officers from scratching with her eyes in time. Who is this general? ......"
"Guangdong Humen Town Marine Division guerrilla Wu Liang is my deputy. Maybe his words make you feel uncomfortable, but it's true. If you refuse my request, I, the lieutenant general of the Qing Dynasty, who has been ordered by two governors of Guangdong, have every reason and qualification to reject you outside the sea territory of the Qing Dynasty.
"With your ridiculous warships?" A naval officer couldn't help standing up and looked at Liang Pengfei provocatively with a contemptuous expression and eyes.
Liang Pengfei didn't say anything, but his eyes fell on the face of the naval officer. The dark eyebrows on the handsome oriental face were gently raised, and the sharp eyes made the naval officer have the illusion that a guillow knife on the guillot cut at his neck.
"Enough, Major General Ford, if you still admit that I am the supreme commander of this envoy fleet, please put away your pride as the Imperial Royal Navy first. I don't want the conflict of words, so that the Empire has prepared this mission for nearly five years, so that the Empire wants to open up this huge market trade. The gate is closed to us because of you. Do you understand? Otherwise, I just want you to explain it to Her Majesty in person. At that time, you will bear the anger of the Congress and His Majesty!" Macartney stood up and looked at the fleet commander who was on the voyage this time, in an unprecedentedly harsh tone. This time, he used French, because he didn't want his subordinates to be understood by the Qing people.
(to be continued)