Daming 1805

Chapter 179 The William Pitt Consultation

Regarding Zhu Jingyuan's arrangement, Zhu Jianyan and Liang Yunying discussed for a long time, and finally asked Liang Yunying to write a letter.

Write down messages that are not convenient for public delivery by telegram.

Including the criteria for selecting officials and teachers for the Great Food Kingdom, and the real purpose of Zhu Jingyuan building schools and funding students.

And the imperial court will give him a batch of official rewards, and he can ask Zhu Jianyan for another one in private.

If you are interested in the land, mountains, forests and lakes, you can ask Zhu Jianyan in private.

And tell Zhu Jingyuan that Liang Yunying will go there after the year and will bring him a few maidservants.

If Zhu Jingyuan agrees, he can directly ask the clan mansion to choose a few suitable girls for him to send there.

If you still plan to find the princess by yourself, you can take two official concubines first.

After earnestly teaching several paragraphs, I sealed it up after writing it carefully.

Let the two royal family members take them to Tianjin to take the next immigrant passenger ship to Dashiguo.

Although Liang Yunying herself was going to the Great Food Kingdom, she couldn't leave right away.

From the end of Taiping 34 to the beginning of the new year, the Great Ming Jingshihui was extremely busy.

Next, a ceremony will be held to honor Zhu Zhongliang as the Supreme Emperor, the Empress as the Empress Dowager, and the other concubines as the Taifei.

Zhu Jianyan is the second son, and his biological mother is the queen of Zhu Zhongliang, so there is only one queen mother in this dynasty.

Then wait until New Year's Day, which is Zhu Jianyan's enthronement ceremony.

Next is Zhu Jianyan canonization concubine.

Finally, the new emperor offered sacrifices to heaven again.

The Chinese New Year was about to start, and with the addition of this big mess, when everything was done, it would be February next year.

Only then can Liang Yunying set off.

When the entire Ming Dynasty was busy preparing for the new year, the countries of Thailand and the West had already started planning for the new year and the future.

Their new year has already started.

Daming's negotiating delegation was originally the last one to return to the capital of the country among all the missions.

Representatives from other countries returned to China before the end of 1805 in the Western calendar.

Compared with the excitement when the Ming delegation returned to China, when the delegations from other countries returned to the capital, the atmosphere was obviously much cooler.

Ottoman's negotiations had already ended, and the mission got the colony when it returned again.

However, the scale of the colony obtained is completely incomparable with the land ceded, so there is no publicity.

However, the level of civilization of the Ottoman people is significantly lower than that of other Thai and Western countries. The Ottoman Empire is the empire of the Sultan.

Ordinary people don't care about ceding land. As long as there is no compensation and no need to increase taxes, a truce is a good thing.

The three countries of Lucia, Spain, and Portugal did not officially announce any news, and the delegation returned to their capital silently.

However, private newspapers published the news, triggering a new round of denunciation and criticism. Many newspapers denounced the delegation for losing its power and humiliating the country.

Spain and Portugal lost a large number of colonies, and the eastern region of Lucia was split off and became a vassal state of Ming Dynasty.

The failure of the entire war and the failure of the negotiations have filled the new generation of young people in various countries with righteous indignation.

Around the New Year, the courts of various countries are thinking about how to stabilize the national order.

Fortunately, the war is finally over, and they can put all their strength in the country, otherwise they might collapse at any time.

Austria, Italy, and Prussia made announcements, but no events were held.

Private newspapers believe that their country is not losing money this time. The indemnity ended the world war and won the Mexican colony.

They are all looking forward to starting to develop the ink continent colony in the coming year, hoping to discover important minerals in the ink continent and build new cities and manors.

The French are busy appeasing the Yinzhou colony and continue to control the news of the Quebec religious case, and basically no one controls the affairs of the mission.

The matter of France's cession of land and compensation is not so important now, and I don't know if it is a good thing.

Prince Charles received Zhu Jingyuan's gift, and he was in a good mood to wear new clothes to attend the New Year's banquet.

The most complicated situation is the United Kingdom.

Under the long-term rendering of newspaper news, everyone from the new elite to the old aristocracy regarded Peter as a traitor.

From the people to the court, there were calls for Pete to be dismissed.

King George III was also planning to depose Peter, and even the order was written, which could be signed and announced at any time.

But Peter's last letter, and the persuasion of the Prince of Wales, forced George III to hold back.

George III did not publish Pitt's removal letter, and asked Pitt to go to Parliament for questioning after returning home.

The questioning site is in the House of Lords, nominally the highest judicial body in the United Kingdom.

Members of Parliament include descendants of the royal family, hereditary peers, life peers, judges of the Court of Appeal and church archbishops and bishops.

Members of the House of Commons should theoretically be civilians. When they reach the House of Lords, they have no place to sit, so they stand behind to participate.

George III sits on the king's throne and is questioned by a Lord Chancellor.

Pitt himself has no illusions about the inquiry, and everyone now wants him removed.

All the current contradictions and mistakes in the UK require someone to be responsible, and I am the ideal candidate for this.

The party I belong to no longer supports me, and now they don't need me.

Maybe not everyone is against me, but now I dare not stand up and support myself.

But Peter didn't want to leave a stain on himself, because he had a clear conscience, so he decided to participate and accept the questioning.

After getting permission from the king, the justice began to ask Peter who was standing below:
"Your Excellency Prime Minister, there are media reports that you have a very secret relationship with His Royal Highness Prince Dashi of Ming Dynasty.

"There are photos showing that the two of you had an intimate conversation at the banquet. How do you explain this?"

Pete rightly said:

"I don't have any personal friendship with His Royal Highness Prince Dashi.

"The so-called intimate conversation is nothing more than a misunderstanding caused by the angle at which the photo was taken.

"The conversation didn't last very long actually, just a few sentences.

"But I am the representative of the Anti-Ming Alliance, and Prince Dashi is the negotiator of Ming Dynasty. Both of us have been followed by media personnel, so we left photos.

"At that time, Prince Dashi actually just came to ask me if the UK had a patent for flying machines.

"It was just casual chatter during free time at the banquet.

"We have never had private contact and communication with each other."

There was a suppressed discussion below, but the discussion was not about Pete's answer, but how to make Pete take the blame.

King George III looked at Pete silently, a little bit of his mind was full of analysis of the news reports he had read.

The justice paused for a while, and after the secretary finished recording the information, he continued to ask about the topic:
"How did you answer that question about the flying machine patent?"

Pete had already made mental preparations for these situations, and now he immediately answered when he heard the question:

"I just stated that we have not yet approved the relevant patents in the UK, and did not disclose additional information.

"I claim to be unfamiliar with both patent matters and the development of flying machines."

The judge felt that there was nothing to explore here, so he changed to a more sensitive topic:

"Regarding your presence at the meeting, exchanging seats with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

"Being the only representative of the court sitting in front of the representative of the royal family, what is your explanation?"

Pete was also prepared for this kind of question:
"That was the only way to resolve Daming's difficulties when arranging the seating order.

"As the organizer of the Anti-Ming Dynasty Alliance, I sit in the front row of the representatives of the Anti-Ming Dynasty Alliance, and this approach is reasonable.

"I have explained the relevant logic to His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales."

After waiting for the record, the justice continued to ask:

"Since that's the case, why did you make so many compromises and concessions to Daming, and signed such an agreement that forfeit power and humiliated the country?"

Pete immediately retorted:

"That's the best result for the UK! That's the best result the UK can get!

"If there are no accidents, our peace can last for decades, hundreds of years.

"If you do not accept this agreement, His Majesty the King can veto the agreement again.

"Britain can continue to fight Ming Dynasty and see what happens!
"If the local MPs really object to the agreement, they should persuade His Majesty the King not to accept it before it is formally signed.

"But you didn't! It means that they themselves recognize it!"

The judge didn't expect to be countered, and immediately found more questions he had prepared to question Pete.

But Pete answered them all.

All the accusations against Pete in the newspapers had no actual evidence, and the biggest evidence was a few photos and the agreement itself.

But that proves nothing at all.

As the questioning progressed, the justice gradually lost his patience, and the surrounding Members of the Upper and Lower Houses also gradually lost their patience.

When the judge asked about the transfer of the Yinzhou colony, an unknown congressman couldn't bear it and shouted:
"He's quibbling! He could give up a piece of land in Tianzhu, but he handed over Florida!"

Pete responded loudly without hesitation:
"Da Ming clearly refuses to make any deal on the issue of Tianzhu, and the Prince of Dashi clearly asks for Florida.

"As long as there is a politician with a brain, standing on Daming's standpoint, they will ask for Florida, not a piece of land in Tianzhu!"

The other party did not argue with Pete about the specific content at all, and directly shouted loudly:
"He lied! He must have colluded with Daming! We didn't have to pay so much!"

Someone stirred up the atmosphere, and someone immediately followed suit.

What was originally a sentence-to-sentence, paragraph-to-paragraph questioning quickly turned into a chaotic scene of quarreling.

After all, Pete is outnumbered, and the opponent has no logic at all, and directly launches personal attacks and "I think".

Some people know that what Pete did is right, but they can't speak up for Pete, knowing that it is useless to stand up and support him.

The Prince of Wales was also standing at the scene, subconsciously wanting to speak for Pete.

But looking at the menacing members of the House of Commons, he was weak in character and finally did not dare to speak out.

Pete responded for a while, and after realizing that the other party was unreasonable at all, he simply stood there without speaking.

Anyway, the process of this kind of quarrel now will not be recorded in detail, and I will not sign the record that I have not responded to outside.

When everyone noticed that Pete had stopped talking, they thought the debate was about to be won.

Many councilors looked at the king subconsciously, waiting for the king to come out to announce the result or make a decision.

As a result, everyone found that King George III was sitting on a chair, shaking his hands slightly, and talking to himself continuously.

It seems that everything around him has been completely forgotten.

After the Lord Chancellor and the Prince of Wales found out, they tried to wake George III, but nothing happened.

King George III is still sitting in his chair talking constantly.

Messy, topsy-turvy, chaotic and lengthy sentences that almost no one can understand, spewed out intermittently.

The nobles and ministers immediately realized that His Majesty the King was ill.

The questioning had to end temporarily. His Majesty George III was carried back to the bedroom by his servants, and the royal doctor was invited to treat George III.

George III was mentally ill, which is the consensus of the whole of Britain.

In severe cases, he even had to be tied to a chair until he calmed down.

For a long time, doctors have not found any effective treatment options, but George III's condition will not last long.

But this situation is different. As a result, three consecutive days have passed, and the situation of George III has not improved.
I have been talking about it alone, ignoring anyone around me.

It is really worrying to have such a king on the stand.

In this intermittent state of mental illness, George III would continue to be the king, instead of learning from Ming Dynasty to pass the throne in advance.

In addition to the preservation of the characteristics of the traditional monarchy, it is also because George III is not satisfied with the heir.

The eldest George, who is now the Prince of Wales and George IV in history, has been extravagant and lustful since he was a child.

The four words arrogant, extravagant and lustful are not an exaggeration, but a very accurate description of most of George IV's life.

Hanging around with actresses and Catholic widows, and being in debt outside is fine, the point is that you have no opinion.

When the Prince of Wales was with Pete, he was completely persuaded by Pete and vowed to do what Pete said.

But after returning to China, at the inquiry meeting, he did not dare to speak for Pete at all.

Pete had expected his reaction, so he had no hope at the time.

As for the old King George III, in terms of his ability as a king, he surpassed most common monarchs.

Even if he gets sick from time to time, he is definitely more suitable as a king than the Prince of Wales.

George III suddenly became seriously ill, and both the members of the upper house and the members of the House of Commons were in a sad state.

I don't know if I should expect the king to die directly, so that the Prince of Wales, who is barely in good health, will directly succeed to the throne and keep the court running.

It is better to hope that the king will get well soon, and it is best to consume the Prince of Wales to death.

But in Pete's view, things have now turned around.

The kingship of George III is still relatively strong. If the king did not issue an order, Peter would still be the prime minister.

Although the parliament no longer supports Pete, Pete can still preside over the meeting.

So three days later, at a cabinet meeting, the Prince of Wales was invited to express his views:

"His Majesty's illness does not know when it will improve. In order to maintain the normal operation of the court, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales should supervise the country's regent."

The Prince of Wales has no opinion and is easy to be persuaded, so the final decision he makes must be influenced by the last person who comes into contact with him.

I can follow the Prince of Wales as much as possible and express my opinions selectively.

When necessary, persuade the Prince of Wales alone, let him accept his opinion, and follow him to prevent him from going back on his word.

(End of this chapter)