Although the situation in the Shanghai Concession has stabilized a little, the Qing officials in Shanghai are still very nervous. Moreover, like the foreigners in the Concession, they are also worried that overseas Chinese will attack Shanghai.⊥Dingdian Novel,...

Most Qing officials in Shanghai have seen the world and opened their eyes, and are not so easy to fool. Although overseas Chinese are indeed descendants of China, and although they also used the banner of "returning to China", they were actually an external force. After they captured Tianjin, they did not immediately ask the Qing court for a return. Instead, they set up positions in Tianjin, recruited troops, and decisively attacked Weihaiwei. Judging from Qingdao's behavior, overseas Chinese actually did not take the Qing court seriously. From this point of view, there is actually no difference between overseas Chinese and foreigners.

Shanghai is a region that is heavily influenced by foreign countries, and the local officials here have some interests with foreigners and some of them have formed a community of interests with foreigners. Therefore, when the Boxer Rebellion broke out in the north, Yu Lianyuan, the Shanghai Daotai, took the lead and signed the [Southeast Mutual Protection Agreement] with the consuls of various countries on behalf of the Southeastern officials. This is almost equivalent to betrayal of the Qing court. So once overseas Chinese captured Shanghai, no one can say whether their own interests can be preserved. Therefore, the best result is that Shanghai still maintains the status quo.

However, the countries in the Shanghai Concession still have their own countries as their backing, and the court still does not know where to go to Shanghai's Qing court officials. Of course, the Qing court's southeastern governors who signed the [Southeastern Mutual Protection] was a force that could be relied on. Therefore, a few months ago, Yu Lianyuan, the Shanghai Daotai, who signed the [Southeastern Mutual Protection Agreement] with the consuls of various countries, and Sheng Xuanhuai, the Minister of Temple in Dali, discussed for several days, and came up with a solution: to organize an army to protect Shanghai. Of course, the army was drawn from the [Southeastern Mutual Protection] governors who participated in the [Southeastern Mutual Protection], and formed a coalition force with about 50,000 people and entered Shanghai.

Of course, such a major matter could not be decided by Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai, so the two of them came to see Li Hongzhang and told Li Hongzhang the results of the discussion.

After listening to the two of them, Li Hongzhang's face changed, he shook his head, and said, "Li Shan (Yu Lianyuan's name), Xingsun, this matter must not be done."

Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai were not stunned when they heard this. They looked at each other. Yu Lianyuan bowed and said, "Is there any advice from the Lord Zhongtang?"

Li Hongzhang said: "No matter what other countries do, will the countries agree to our army entering Shanghai?"

Sheng Xuanhuai said confidently: "Just rest assured, the foreigners are now worried that overseas Chinese are attacking Shanghai. If we organize troops to defend Shanghai and protect the interests of foreigners in Shanghai, foreigners are just looking forward to it. As long as the governors of various provinces agree with this matter, Xuan Huai can take on the important task of negotiating with foreigners."

Li Hongzhang glanced at Sheng Xuanhuai and sighed in his heart. Sheng Xuan was knowledgeable, responsible, and able to do practical things. Unfortunately, his vision was too narrow and he couldn't see the overall situation clearly. He said: "Foreigners do not object, but they will use this as an excuse to ask us to increase troops and ships to Shanghai. Moreover, not only will the increase troops in Shanghai, but also to enter the Yangtze River. How should we respond?"

Sheng Xuanhuai was stunned. In fact, during the Boxer Rebellion, countries wanted to increase troops and ships to Shanghai, and then deploy defenses along the Yangtze River to expand their sphere of influence in China. At that time, the governors and governors in the southeast were united in controversy, so that the troops of various countries were limited to Shanghai and were not allowed to enter the mainland. Now, if the coalition forces were formed in the southeast, foreigners would definitely take the opportunity to mention the old news again. It was indeed difficult to answer the foreigners at that time.

At this time, Yu Lianyuan said, "I dare to ask Zhongtang, how should I deal with this matter? Or you can station the army in Hangzhou or Zhenjiang and not enter Shanghai, so foreigners will have no reason to increase troops to Shanghai. Once Shanghai is in danger, the army can also enter Shanghai to reinforce at any time?"

Li Hongzhang shook his head repeatedly and said, "No, no, let alone the foreigners' problems, who are you who are the enemy?"

Yu Lianyuan said: "I am an overseas Chinese!"

Li Hongzhang sneered and said, "We can be enemies with the Boxer Rebellion, but we must not be enemies with overseas Chinese."

Yu Lianyuan was stunned and said, "I really don't understand the humble rank, so please let the Lord of the Central Hall make it clear."

Li Hongzhang sighed and said, "The overseas Chinese are not comparable to the Boxer Rebellion. The Boxer Rebellion is just a lie to support the Qing Dynasty and destroy foreign countries. In fact, he pretends to be a god and a ghost, deceives the court and fools the people. He also acts in disregarding the state court, polites the foreign countries, burns churches, kills priests and people, disturbs the local area, attracts coalition forces from various countries to put the Qing Dynasty in a dangerous situation. He is called the righteous people but is actually a bandit, so that the court is angry and resentful. Although the court is blinded by it for a while, there will be a day of awakening. Therefore, we form the Southeast mutual protection, and strive to protect half of the Qing Dynasty so that the people in the Southeast will not suffer from boxing bandits. After the court wakes up, we will understand our good intentions."

Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai nodded repeatedly after hearing this. Sheng Xuanhuai said, "So what's the difference between overseas Chinese?"

Li Hongzhang said: "Although overseas Chinese are enemies of foreigners, they have strict military disciplines and no offenses. After capturing Tianjin, they have no harm to the people of all countries. Now Tianjin is in order, and the people of China and abroad are living and working in peace and contentment. This is not something that the Boxer Rebellion can compare with."

Sheng Xuanhuai said: "Although that is the case, aren't overseas Chinese also enemies with foreigners? If foreigners attract more troops, wouldn't it be a great harm?"

Li Hongzhang shook his head repeatedly and said, "This is the time, and that is the time. Although the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion was caused by boxing bandits, it was also an invasion of foreign invaders. What's more, the capital was lost and the court was forced to hunt north. This was a humiliation for our Qing Dynasty. Moreover, since the Opium War, our Qing Dynasty has been defeated many times in foreign wars. Since the overseas Chinese came to China, they have won several Eight-Nation Alliances, and they have won Tianjin in one battle, then Weihaiwei in another battle, and Qingdao in three battles.

The three places are all occupied by the Qing Dynasty by the nations, which is a great inspirational act. What's more, overseas Chinese are originally from our Chinese, with the same roots and races, so they are both enemies of foreigners. However, overseas Chinese are deeply loved by the people and have a righteous way. How can we be enemies of overseas Chinese? We must be ruled by thousands of people. As I know, among the Southeast officials, there are several people who are kind to overseas Chinese, so how can they participate in forming a coalition and become enemies of overseas Chinese."

Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai suddenly realized after hearing this. Simply put, the reason why the Boxer Rebellion became the current beating was not because they were pretending to be gods, burning churches, and killing priests, but because they did not win the Eight-Nation Alliance. If the Boxer Rebellion defeated the Eight-Nation Alliance, then everything they did would become the right thing, and then [Southeast Mutual Protection] would become a treason, but the Boxer Rebellion had been defeated, so everything they did became a bad thing that harmed the people and harmed the country. [Southeast Mutual Protection], composed in the name of anti-Body, became a legitimate act. Even the court admitted that [Southeast Mutual Protection] would be a meritorious act.

The biggest difference between overseas Chinese and the Boxer Rebellion is that they did defeat the Eight-Nation Alliance. Although Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai did not know the principle that the winner would not be criticized, the winner would be the king and the loser would still understand the principle that the winner would be the king and the loser. Overseas Chinese could defeat the Eight-Nation Alliance, which is naturally the justice side. If the governor of [Southeast Mutual Protection] organized the coalition forces to be enemies with overseas Chinese, of course it would become a rebellious role. A hat of a traitor would definitely not be removed. Unless the Southeast Alliance could defeat overseas Chinese again, even the Eight-Nation Alliance was defeated by overseas Chinese. Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai did not think that the Southeast Alliance could defeat overseas Chinese.

Li Hongzhang was indeed a scheming person and could see through the essence of the matter at a glance. Of course, the governors and governors who participated in the [Southeast Mutual Protection] were not stupid people. Some people could definitely see the truth, so the Southeast Alliance could not organize at all. Thinking of this, Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai couldn't help but feel shocked and sweated. Fortunately, they came to Li Hongzhang to discuss it first, otherwise they would be ruined.

Sheng Xuanhuai said: "So, if overseas Chinese attack Shanghai, will we resist so much? Is it difficult to let it go, or rely solely on the armies of various countries?"

Li Hongzhang waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, overseas Chinese will not come to attack Shanghai."

The two were stunned at first, then were overjoyed, but they couldn't believe it. Sheng Xuanhuai said, "This is what you say is serious."

Li Hongzhang nodded and said, "Although overseas Chinese claim to be 'heart-to-heart China, returning to China', they are still survivors of the previous dynasty, not really wanting to return to the Qing Dynasty."

Yu Lianyuan immediately said: "So what is the purpose of overseas Chinese coming to the Qing Dynasty? Are you trying to take the Qing Dynasty and replace it?"

Li Hongzhang shook his head and said, "That's not the case. For more than 250 years since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, it has been deeply rooted and people have returned to their hearts. I have long since lost my thoughts on the previous dynasty. Although overseas Chinese have strong ships and cannons, it is not easy to take over the Qing Dynasty and replace them. According to my opinion, overseas Chinese actually wanted to occupy a piece of land in our Qing Dynasty, separating one side, and splitting the land and becoming kings. He thought that the Qing Dynasty was vassal, but he was not a subordinate. Although overseas Chinese occupied Tianjin, Tianjin was not a place of separatist foothold. Now overseas Chinese captured Weihaiwei and Qingdao, and should have planned to gain a foothold in Shandong, so he would never attack Shanghai again."

Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai were also half-believing and half-doubted after hearing this. Yu Lianyuan looked solemn and said, "Zhongtang, if it is like Zhongtang's words, overseas Chinese occupy Shandong, it may not be beneficial."

Sheng Xuanhuai shook his head and said, "That may not be possible. If the court is good at driving and letting overseas Chinese and foreigners restrain each other, it may not be disadvantageous."

Li Hongzhang sighed and said, "Huo Liaomei first takes care of the situation in front of us. What will happen in the future is beyond our knowledge."

In fact, Li Hongzhang's inference was mainly based on the information brought back by Zhang Peilun. Because he knew that the island where overseas Chinese had founded the country was destroyed, this group of overseas Chinese actually had no place to gain a foothold. In addition, after the overseas Chinese occupied Tianjin, it was completely like establishing a regime. With Li Hongzhang's experience and experience, he still couldn't see the plans of overseas Chinese.
Chapter completed!