Chapter 717: Don't get too much in front of your benefactor (First update, please subscribe)
When Guo Chongtao was riding a tricycle towards the Peace Hotel with mixed feelings, a black BMW 101 car picked up a guest in front of the hotel, drove out of the hotel, and drove towards the imperial palace along the spacious Suzaku Street.
Sitting in the speeding car, Lincoln felt a little complicated. After arriving in Yingtian, he had a very in-depth discussion with the Minister of Justice of the Ming Dynasty, who should be called the Minister of Justice, on the issue of American prisoners. As a lawyer, he certainly argued based on international public law, but the other party's attitude was very stubborn.
"Law, if your law cannot give those criminals the punishment they deserve, then the laws of the Ming Dynasty will seek justice for its own expatriates!"
"But what about international public law? There is no provision that provides you with the power to arrest citizens of other countries and put them on trial."
"Mr. Lincoln, protecting expatriates is the duty of every government. Any international law gives us this power!"
Under these circumstances, the discussion could not proceed at all because the differences between the two sides were too great, and he could not do as the other side demanded - that after the US government guaranteed that all prisoners were sent back to the United States, they would continue to serve their sentences in prison without pardon or parole.
Of course Lincoln could not give such a guarantee, and neither could the president. If that were the case, it would be better not to release those people, at least to avoid a lot of political trouble.
"But Your Majesty, please make some concessions!"
At this moment, Lincoln was full of anticipation for the meeting with his successor.
Lincoln!
For Lincoln, a famous historical figure, what impressed Zhu the most was not that he won the Civil War, maintained the unity, and was assassinated in history books, but the conversation between the ministers in front of the Lincoln statue on Capitol Hill in the movie "Ministers of Nanshan".
“This is simply a Greek temple!”
"But it's true. Lincoln is a god here! But he was still shot to death!"
All right!
Emperor Zhu felt that his interference in the American Civil War and his actions to promote division were not only beneficial to the Ming Dynasty, but also to Lincoln. Look, he is alive and well now!
If Lincoln knew that it was me who saved his life, would he thank me?
Alas, we are all those good people who do good things without leaving a name, and without expecting anything in return.
Finally, after meeting Lincoln, Emperor Zhu did not show any special enthusiasm, just like he was entertaining a few ordinary guests.
What was the meeting between the emperor and the former president like?
In fact, Zhu Guozhong, the foreign minister of the Ming Dynasty, was a little worried before this. Why was he worried? Because as we all know, Lincoln almost won the war, and it was the intervention of the great emperor Zhu that led to his failure and the division of the United States.
Now that the real boss is here, how can I not worry!
But who would have thought that from the moment they met, the two of them were chatting and laughing, like good friends who had not seen each other for many years, and seemed to be completely unaffected by history.
All politicians can laugh and chat while pulling up their pants, and will never be affected by their personal emotions.
However, although there would be no impact, in the end, after talking about his feelings in Ming Dynasty in recent times, Lincoln still took the initiative to mention the Civil War and South China's "interference".
"Your Majesty, in fact, in the past few years, I have been thinking about a question, Nanhua, why did you interfere in the American Civil War at that time? Even France only expressed verbal support, but you supported the South through national actions."
Lincoln had indeed always had this question in his heart, which was why he came to Ming Dynasty, because he wanted to know the answer in person.
"Well, I recently read a book, and there is a passage in the book that left a deep impression on me - "If there is a 10% profit, it is guaranteed to be used everywhere; if there is a 20% profit, it will become active; if there is a 50% profit, it will take risks; for 100% profit, it will dare to trample on all human laws; if there is a 300% profit, it will dare to commit any crime, even the risk of being hanged."
After quoting this familiar phrase from another world, Emperor Zhu, as in the past, directly denied interference.
"When we started business with the South, we were just a business company. As we all know, the pursuit of profit is a normal behavior of any business company. After all, the trade profits with the South were extremely lucrative at the time. All this was just business."
Interference, is this interference?
It's just business!
Faced with such an answer, Lincoln felt a little helpless, but at the same time, he asked again as if he saw an opportunity.
"So what about now? Your Majesty, if one day, war breaks out between the North and the South again, which side will you stand on?"
Why did Lincoln ask this question? It was because of the division between the North and the South. He had always been brooding over it. Unlike many people who regarded the Ming Dynasty as their number one enemy, Lincoln believed that America's greatest enemy was division. Only a unified America could resist the threat from the Ming Dynasty. So in his view, America's top priority was to achieve unification. As for the Ming Dynasty, it was not the most pressing issue.
"Of course I'm on the side of profit."
Faced with Lincoln's question, Emperor Zhu always gave a straightforward answer.
"The Ming Dynasty was founded on commerce. We value commercial interests more, so we have no interest in the internal affairs of other countries."
This answer was quite frank, but it left Lincoln somewhat puzzled. He asked tentatively.
"Can it be understood that you value the northern market more than the southern market?"
"Ha ha……"
Emperor Zhu laughed.
"We value the market more than any other party's market. That is why we are more opposed to war than anyone else. We hope for peace because only peace can promote the commercial development of all countries."
This is of course a lie. If the United States launches a war against the South, the Ming Dynasty will support the South without hesitation! After all, the entire United States now regards the Ming Dynasty as an enemy. In this case, the South is the natural ally of the Ming Dynasty.
Even in Emperor Zhu's plan, there is a plan to support the South to fight against the North. How to support?
Of course, they supported the US economically. The northern market was important, but a divided America was more important! If it weren't for the lack of conditions, Emperor Zhu would have wanted to divide the United States into several parts.
In short, there cannot be only one America in the world.
On the issue of the North and the South, Lincoln could not get any answer at all. Even if he knew the answer, it would of course be meaningless. In the end, he had to change the subject to the purpose of this trip.
"…Their families are waiting to be reunited with them. Your Majesty, can you pardon them out of mercy?"
In response to Lincoln's request, Emperor Zhu wiped his lips with a napkin and said.
"Mr. Lincoln, you were once the president. Would you pardon a criminal who killed an American?"
this……
Faced with the emperor's question, Lincoln remained silent. He remained silent because the answer was obvious.
When Lincoln was silent, Emperor Zhu continued.
"Their families are waiting for them to return home. But can they meet anyone? What about our expatriates who were massacred? Where can their families go to reunite with them?"
Release those people?
Is he Lincoln kidding?
"As we all know, American law is nothing but a joke, Mr. Lincoln. We all witnessed how the American courts shielded those criminals after the Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre. Was it fair? Was that trial, which could be called a joke, fair?"
Emperor Zhu said seriously.
"We all know what happened later. Although that incident was a little unpleasant, compared to the American trial that fooled the world, our trial was fair. Although those criminals were brought to the Ming Dynasty for trial, the Ming Dynasty did not replace the law with anger. Only the criminals who killed overseas Chinese with conclusive evidence were sentenced to death, and the other participants were prosecuted as accomplices of the murderer. They all received the punishment they deserved. After all, the Ming Dynasty is a country ruled by law. It will never make the law a joke like you do."
After saying this in a sarcastic tone, Emperor Zhu looked at Lincoln and said.
"You were also a lawyer, Mr. Lincoln. Please tell me, based on the current laws of various countries, what reason do I have to go against the judge's verdict and release those criminals?"
Faced with such a rhetorical question, when Lincoln was silent, California Senator John said.
"Your Majesty, this is out of mercy. In the past few years, quite a few of those people have died in prison. If this continues, they will all die in hard labor in the end. Your Majesty, please have mercy and at least give them a chance to return to the United States alive."
When John finished speaking, Emperor Zhu shook his head and said.
"Mr. John, first of all, I must make it clear that the prisons in the Ming Dynasty are very civilized. Even if some of them died, it was because of their physical condition, not the prison. As for hard labor, it is totally fabricated. They may do some labor in prison, such as digging coal, but that is also to pay for their living expenses. After all, prison is not a charity, it is a place to reform people. I believe that when they return to the United States, they will definitely turn over a new leaf and become good people."
Is there a chance they can return to the United States?
Of course they have a chance to return to the United States, but they may just return in a jar.
Emperor Zhu was still very confident about this.
The Ming Dynasty is definitely a very kind and humanitarian country. Now and in the future, when those people can return to the United States, the Ming Dynasty will be very generous and provide a ceramic jar and free shipping services to send them back to the United States and to their families.
Is there any other country that is so full of humanitarian care? Only the Ming Dynasty.
Whenever he thought of this, Emperor Zhu would sigh at his own kindness.
Oh, sometimes you can't be a good person. Just like now, they are pushing it too far.
I have set up a book club: 335260551. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.
(End of this chapter)
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