62. Chapter 62
"none"
Soetu and others noticed that something was wrong with Golovin, and they suddenly became nervous. They wanted to go see Qi You, but they didn't dare to move.
Qi You held the teapot steadily in his hand with a normal expression. After adding the tea, he stepped back and sat on a small stool to add charcoal to boil tea.
Golovin stared at Qi You's left leg, a hint of sarcasm suddenly appearing on the corner of his mouth. He pointed at him and laughed, "You Qing Dynasty is short of people, yet you let a cripple serve you!"
After listening to the interpreter's translation, Soetu and others looked unhappy, and Tong Guogang even clenched his fists.
Qi You placed the teapot on the small stove, and the lid and the body of the teapot made a crisp collision sound.
Several people were startled and quickly adjusted their mood.
Qi You had instructed that apart from negotiations, there was no need to engage in verbal arguments with the other party.
There is no need to reason with robbers, just fight with your fists.
Suo Etu retorted sarcastically, "Whether or not our Great Qing possesses sufficient manpower is of no concern to you, Governor-General. However, our Great Qing possesses sufficient troops and artillery, so we don't need to recruit soldiers every time we go out to rob or invade other countries or tribes."
After hearing this, Golovin was so angry that even his big beard couldn't hide his red face.
Soetu looked at Golovin's expression, and his hands under the table were clenched into a ball, his palms full of sweat.
Qi You picked up the teapot and added charcoal to the small stove. The flames curled around the charcoal, making a slight crackling sound.
Suo Etu calmed himself and loudly stated the Qing's demands. "Your Excellency, please consider this carefully. If peace talks fail this time, your Queen or Peter the Great can come back for another round of negotiations. The Qing is not afraid, nor is it afraid. It doesn't matter. Galdan is just a spent force, just like Wu Sangui and other vassal kings, Zheng Jing of Taiwan, and others. It's only a matter of time before he is dealt with."
When Golovin heard that the Qing Dynasty wanted Sakhalin Island and Lake Baikal, he almost slammed his hand on the table. After hearing the rest of the story, he withdrew his hand.
Soetu's words were very clear: if he failed to handle this matter well, someone would come to replace him.
Moreover, within the Rakshasa Kingdom, the power struggle between the Regent Queen and the new emperor has reached a fever pitch. Golovin was sent by the Queen, but he has actually secretly sided with the new emperor.
The queen was old, and Peter the Great was young and strong. Once he came to power, he would have to build up his own new power. Countless people coveted Golovin's position.
Even though Golovin lost the Battle of Yasak, he still did not take the Qing Dynasty seriously.
After all, the Qing Dynasty won with fewer troops, while the Russian Kingdom was defending in the city, lacking ammunition, food, and supplies from behind.
Even so, the Qing commander Peng Chun finally allowed them to leave with their weapons, and the Rakshasa Kingdom suffered almost no losses. He recognized the Qing Dynasty's stupidity and gullibility.
The battle between the Qing Dynasty and Galdan really made Golovin feel scared.
This time, the Qing Dynasty sent out troops at an incredible speed and with great force. Although the Qing Dynasty also withdrew its troops in the end, Golovin was not happy and could not bear to see the joke.
The Rakshasa Empire invaded the Mongol tribes several times, forcing them to submit to the Rakshasa Empire. Except for a few tribes, the others fought desperately.
These tribes, however, surrendered to the Qing Dynasty without hesitation and submitted to it. Although the Qing Dynasty did not capture Galdan in its battle with him, it did capture the vast majority of the Khalkha Mongol tribes in the northern desert.
Golovin was so envious that his eyes were about to bleed. The Russian Kingdom had fought for so many years, but it was still not as good as the Qing Dynasty's one battle that required almost no effort.
If they continue to be tough and confront the Qing Dynasty head-on, they will definitely not be able to defeat it with just these two thousand people.
If nothing is recovered, Golovin will definitely be in trouble.
Golovin was caught in a dilemma and could only pretend to be angry and leave the Qing camp to discuss the matter later.
The rest of the delegation was fine, as they weren't the ones making the decisions. But Suo Etu couldn't sit still, and with a lot of worries in his heart, he arrived at Qi You's tent.
Qi You was observing the charcoal in the small stove. He actually didn't know how to make fire. He pretended to be a follower to make tea and serve, and almost put out the fire in the small stove.
Seeing Suo Etu coming in with a bitter face, Qi You pointed to the small stool next to him and said, "Sit down. Lord Suo, do you know how to light a fire?"
Suo Etu was stunned. He didn't expect Qi You to ask him this. He shook his head in confusion and said, "I don't know."
Qi You uttered an "oh" and carefully fiddled with the charcoal with the tongs, saying, "Then I'll have to figure it out myself."
Suo Etu was puzzled. He leaned over to look at the small stove and said, "Why does the Seventh Prince want to learn how to make fire?"
Qi You smiled and said, "I am your follower, so of course I have to know how to make a fire. This is a detail that I overlooked before, and I have to make up for it now."
Thinking of the way Golovin had looked at Qi You earlier, Suo Etu suddenly felt a chill on his back and said anxiously, "That's right, Seventh Prince must not be discovered by Golovin. But your reputation is well-known, and I'm afraid Golovin may be suspicious."
Qi You said slowly, "Master Suo, you are just scaring yourself. Now that you have discovered the flaw, you must fix it. I just want to learn how to make a fire. Also, I don't care whether Golovin recognizes me or not. It doesn't matter if he recognizes me. I'm not afraid of him."
Suo Etu became anxious and said, "Seventh Prince, your safety is of paramount importance!"
Qi You held the fire tongs, looked up at Suo Etu, and asked calmly, "Lord Suo, what are you afraid of?"
Soetu blurted out, "I'm afraid Golovin will break up this negotiation. We won't be able to complete our mission, and there will be another war between the two countries."
Qi You said with a smile: "Fight, it's just right to fight. I was just worried about having no excuse to destroy all their strongholds in the Far East."
Soltu was stunned and felt bitter. He suddenly felt that Qi You was too bold.
Qi You sighed, thought for a moment, and said, "Look, Golovin only brought two thousand men this time. Lord Suo, do you think he's really that brave and doesn't want to bring more people to help?"
Suo Etu pondered for a moment and said, "Although their troops are always small, they are brave and good at fighting. They can defeat ten enemies with one. That is why Golovin is not afraid."
Qi You couldn't help but laugh, "We are all flesh and blood. Fighting one against ten is only a matter of theatre. The Mongols are not inferior to them in physique."
Suo Etu retorted: "The Mongols cannot defeat them."
Qi You was not angry and explained: "He wanted to recruit soldiers, but he couldn't without money, so he only had this many people. Every time he plundered the Mongolian tribes, the Mongols were defeated by him. First, the momentum, and second, the weapons and equipment. The Mongols were caught off guard by the guns and cannons. Bows, arrows and swords are definitely no match for them."
Soetu agreed with what he thought. No matter how powerful the Mongolian cavalry was, they could only run faster when facing guns and cannons.
Qi You took the fire tongs and began to draw on the ground. "Look at this route. This is their stronghold. Ammunition will eventually run out, and subsequent supplies can't keep up. That's why they just grab and run like they're scavenging grass in a valley. If they wait until the Mongols come to their senses and then turn back to fight them, they will never be a match for the Mongols. Back then, Genghis Khan and his descendants swept through thousands of troops and beat them without a chance to fight back."
Suo Etu looked at the lines Qi You had drawn on the ground and asked hesitantly, "Is this Sibir land really so poor and vast?" (Note)
Qi You replied, "The New Book of Tang, Eastern Barbarians, records that to the north of Shaohai, the sea is blocked on three sides. It takes fifteen days for a Mohe boat to reach the south, and there are no fortified cities. The Northern Song Dynasty's History of the Khitan Kingdom also records how difficult it is to survive in this bitterly cold land. It's already August, and we're about to enter a long, harsh winter. Although we have sleds and horses, the road ahead is largely deserted, with only ice and snow. In this freezing weather, guns and cannons are no match for large bows and arrows."
Suo Etu was stunned for a moment, then mumbled, "So, Seventh Prince, when you asked Li Rongbao to bring more bows and arrows, did you really want to go to war with the Rakshasa Kingdom?"
Qi You said, "Don't fight a war unprepared. You must take precautions before it happens. The Mongols will lose because they are disunited and only care about their own tribes. If they can truly work together and regain the dominance of their ancestors, the Rakshasa Kingdom will not be their opponent. Galdan is the best example. One Galdan is not enough, but other Mongol tribes can unite. If there are more Galdans, the Rakshasa Kingdom will be afraid."
Suo Etu thought about it and couldn't help but smirked and said, "There are advantages to their disunity. If a few more Galdans emerge, the threat to the Qing Dynasty will be even greater."
The land of Siberia had been paying tribute to the Tang Dynasty since the Tang Dynasty. Qi You was not afraid of Golovin taking action, but was only afraid that he would not take action.
If they did, Qi You would not be polite. Golovin dared to send out a few thousand men to show off his power, and his tens of thousands of men would have to march all the way west.
As early as the Age of Navigation, Western powers began to expand everywhere. Qi You sighed, it was a pity that the Qing Dynasty was only focused on the small piece of land in front of it, and couldn't even keep it under control.
Soetu still had some concerns and said, "If Golovin brings more of the Cossacks that the Seventh Prince mentioned earlier, we'll be in danger."
Qi You smiled and said in detail: "As for the Cossacks, their origins date back a long time ago. They were originally a group of Slavs who fled the rule of the Mongol Khanate. Some were poor people who were too poor to accept the oppression of the Russian Empire. They fled together and divided into many tribes, living in groups. They are warlike by nature and will not accept the rule of anyone. Whether it is Golovin or anyone else who wants to find them, they must offer benefits. If he can find them, the Qing Dynasty can also find them. If the Qing Dynasty can offer more benefits, who do you think they will work for?"
"Of course I'll work for whoever pays the most," Suo Etu answered without hesitation. Then he subconsciously asked, "How does the Seventh Prince know so much? It's truly admirable."
Qi You said calmly: "Read more."
Suo Etu sighed repeatedly, a look of shame on his face, and said, "Ever since I started working, I haven't read a book for a long time."
Qi You poked the fire with the tongs in his hand and said, "It's never a bad idea to read more. Lord Suo, your worries are completely unnecessary. Just remember this eternal truth: if you fall behind, you will be beaten and bullied. Even if we sign a treaty now and incorporate the capital of Luosha Kingdom into the territory of the Qing Dynasty, if the Qing Dynasty does not make progress, it will still be unable to hold on. Not only will we have to return it in the future, but we will also have to cede more territory."
The Qing Dynasty is now strong. Suo Etu pondered for a moment and said hesitantly, "Seventh Prince told me not to worry too much before. I have to say that it is because of Seventh Prince that he is worrying too much. How could the Qing Dynasty survive that day?"
Qi You smiled and did not argue with him. He said quietly: "The emperors of the previous dynasties and the previous dynasties all thought like you. They were able to maintain their rule forever and for thousands of years."
Suo Etu stopped talking and was silent for a while before saying, "Seventh Prince, looking at Golovin's expression, I think he's in trouble too. He must have made a promise before his king. If we let him back down and fail to complete his mission when we return, I'm afraid our trip will be in vain."
Qi You uttered an "oh" without even raising his eyelids, and said, "Master Suo, do you know what your biggest problem is?"
Suo Etu looked a little embarrassed and said sheepishly, "I really don't know. Please give me some advice, Seventh Prince."
Qi You didn't mince words and said directly, "You think too much, you think too much, but you don't do enough. It's not wrong to think carefully, but the direction is wrong. You think too much about Golovin, but you don't think deeply. Golovin must be no fool to have climbed to his current position. Since he dared to make such a promise in front of his king, wouldn't he leave himself a way out? The bottom line he left for himself is where we must take it down."
After hearing Qi You's words, Soetu felt a complicated feeling in his heart.
It was difficult to do things, but it was even more difficult to be a human being. He couldn't tell if the prince would be doomed if he took one wrong step, but he probably wouldn't get away with it.
Thinking about how he never said anything when serving in front of Kangxi, Suo Etu looked embarrassed and said, "Yes, what the Seventh Prince said is right."
Qi You didn't say anything more, "Go and wait, there's no rush anyway." Taking the fire tongs, he carefully studied the method of making fire with great interest.
Seeing Qi You's concentration, Soetu took his leave and walked out of the tent. He stood outside in the cool breeze, feeling restless for a long time and full of emotions.
Even if it is such a small matter, Qi You will do it well and will never be perfunctory.
Compared to him, the prince has so much more to learn.
The subsequent negotiations were naturally extremely difficult. On the Qing side, Qi You insisted on his bottom line and refused to give in.
Not to mention Sakhalin Island and Lake Baikal region, the Rakshasa Kingdom withdrew from Nerchinsk and Daur region. Qi You thought that he was polite enough by not asking for Siberia back.
At Qi You's instruction, Suo Etu used both soft and hard tactics. When Golovin was arrogant, the Qing Dynasty held exercises by the river and occasionally fired a few artillery shells.
Besides cannons, there was also competition shooting. When thousands of arrows were fired simultaneously, the sharp whistling sound carried by the wind was no less than the roar of cannons, enough to make Golovin uneasy.
The soft follows the hard. When Golovin and his party arrived, the Qing Dynasty still treated them with good tea and snacks, and welcomed them politely with a smile.
The Qing Dynasty could afford to delay, but Golovin could not.
Firstly, they didn't have much food, and the longer the Cossat soldiers arrived, the more money Golovin had to pay.
The weather was getting colder, and the Siberian winter had already set in. Golovin was worried about the situation in Moscow. If the snow piled up too deep, his return would become increasingly difficult, and he might even miss important events.
In the end, Golovin agreed to the Qing Dynasty's request.
The two sides signed the treaty in three languages. Qi You would not give the other side the opportunity to go back on their word or find fault with the territory. He personally reviewed the treaty and made detailed annotations for every river and mountain in the treaty.
After the treaty was signed, it was as if the previous tension had never happened. Both sides sat down and began to drink and chat, and gave each other gifts.
It's cold in Rakshasa, and everyone loves strong drinks. Golovin is no exception. When it gets cold, he almost always has a drink in his hand.
This time, in addition to preparing delicious food such as roasted whole lamb, we also prepared rice wine.
The rice wine was poured into a silver pot, heated with plums and sugar. It tasted not only warm but also sweet. Golovin particularly liked it and drank a bowl without blinking.
Golovin did not stop after eating it, and he asked Suo Etu for more. "Although this wine is a little weak, it tastes very delicious. Lord Suo, do you have any more? I want to take some back to present to our king."
Soetu agreed generously. In addition to wine, he also gave Golovin several pieces of brocade silk that were tributed by weaving factories in Jiangnan.
Luosha Country is cold, and people usually wear furs. When Golovin saw the exquisite tapestry, he couldn't take his eyes off it, and his beard almost flew off with joy.
Soetu had been tense for so long, but after signing, his heart finally settled down and he relaxed. He and Golovin drank a lot of wine together, and both of them were a little drunk.
Golovin muttered a lot to Soetu while hugging him. Soetu didn't understand and replied with a bunch of nonsense.
Qi You was standing next to them and heard it clearly.
Golovin asked Soetu: "You are completely different this time than before. Did the Qing Dynasty also change its emperor?"
The interpreter beside him translated it in time. After hearing it, Suo Etu sobered up a little and said quickly: "Your Excellency, our emperor is still fine, please don't talk nonsense."
Golovin frowned in confusion when he heard the interpreter's translation, muttering, "Something's wrong, absolutely wrong. You were cowardly and timid before, but this time you're so fierce. By the way, Lord Suo, tell me honestly, who is that lame child? I heard that one of your Qing Dynasty princes was lame, but he's here too?"
Suo Etu felt uncomfortable when he heard Golovin slandering the Qing Dynasty and mentioning Qi You. However, considering the situation, he replied vaguely, "No, it's others who are deceiving you."
Golovin, high on rice wine and having eaten too much, was already half-smooth. Soetu's answer was perfunctory, but he hadn't even remembered the question and just let it go.
Qi You listened for a while and then walked out of the tent. The sun was high outside, and the heat on his body was no longer there.
All the grass and trees have turned yellow, and the water of the Nercha River is flowing slowly, rippling with golden light.
Qi You squatted down on the shore, scooped up a handful of water, and let it slip through his fingers.
Looking at Nerchinsk on the other side of the river, Qi You couldn't help but smile.
This river, this fertile land, no matter what will happen to it in the future, at least it is now the territory of the Qing Dynasty.
It doesn’t matter if it’s desolate now. In ten or even dozens of years, it will become lively again.
When the granary is full, the people will prosper.
The author has something to say:
Note: Siberia was originally a tribe, derived from Latin, and generally refers to what later became Siberia. Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution between 2022-11-01 21:08:48 and 2022-11-02 21:09:26~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: A Mao 5 bottles; I don’t know 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
