Chapter 287 National Gift Porcelain

The French would do good things? Shao Quanzhong didn't believe it.

This was definitely Shao Quanzhong's prejudice. The French were certainly capable of doing good things and there were many good people, but others could not convince Shao Quanzhong who had a stubborn impression of the French.

"When I was selected to live in the Old Summer Palace, the British and French forces invaded before I could see the late emperor. The late emperor went on a hunting expedition to the north, and those of us concubines and palace maids who did not follow him were left in Pengdao Yaotai in the Old Summer Palace.

If Mr. Elison hadn’t rescued us and sent a carriage to take us to the Forbidden City, the consequences would have been disastrous in the midst of the war.”

Shao Quanzhong thought for a moment and said, "Lu Tan, go investigate this Elison."

This is a simple matter. It's not about investigating military secrets. Just send someone to talk to a French person who knows the information. The information will be back in an hour.

"Erisson was a translator for the French army. He was a righteous man and opposed the burning of the Old Summer Palace by the British and French forces.

He used his status to save many palace maids and eunuchs in the garden within his ability. Later, when he returned to China to visit his relatives, he published his experience in the Old Summer Palace, exposing the atrocities committed by the British and French allied forces in the Old Summer Palace to the civilized world.

It was from his memoirs that the great French writer Victor Hugo learned the truth about the burning of the Old Summer Palace and took the lead in condemning the atrocities of the Allied Forces.

This time he is returning from his service in China and will be heading back to his hometown of Versailles in Yvelines. The cruise ship he is on will weigh anchor in an hour. "

After hearing this, Shao Quanzhong sighed, "It turns out that there are good people in France, and there are bad people among the masses. I distinguish between gratitude and resentment. I will take revenge on those who bully us Chinese, and I will repay those who have done us a favor. Ping'er, go get a piece of chicken-oil yellow national gift porcelain."

Shao Quanzhong's secretary was replaced by Ping'er because Liu Niang's period did not come this month and she was suspected of being pregnant. But the time was too short and uncertain, and it would take at least more than a month for the pulse to show signs of pregnancy.

This is very possible. Liu Niang is already 25 years old. It will be too late if she doesn't give birth. Shao Quanzhong has taken extra care of her these days. This thing would rather kill the wrong person than let him go. Liu Niang stayed in Hailing with a trepidation.

Ping'er saw an opportunity and strongly requested to be Shao Quanzhong's secretary. Although I can't be a bodyguard, I can still handle paperwork and serve the prince personally. Ping'er's handwriting is much better than Liu Niang's.

Ping'er came over carefully holding a yellow tea can. "Your Highness, there are only four bright yellow state gifts. Aren't they for people of Queen Victoria, Alexander II, King William, and President Johnson's level?"

Shao Quanzhong waved his hand, "No, we don't care about the level of the state gifts. We only give the best things to people who are really good to us. The two pieces for the United States are intended for the families of Grant and Emery. It is enough to leave one for my father-in-law Alexander II. The same goes for the blue and white porcelain state gifts for the British and American leaders. They are bigger and they may be more satisfied."

Pointing to the tea can, he said, "Ziyi, go there in person and give the state gift to Elison."

…………

The Queen Victoria cruise ship from Shanghai to Europe was about to set sail in half an hour. In the third-class cabin, Elison, a retired French military translator, was chatting with a Prussian passenger next to him. He was a professional translator and spoke German quite well.

There was a commotion at the door, and a Huai Army major general with a gold star on his shoulder squeezed in. "Who is Mr. Elison?"

Elison stood up and asked, "General, you are looking for me?"

He has retired and changed into a casual suit, so he no longer needs to salute Wu Ci.

Wu Ci came to Elison carrying a cloth bag he had found temporarily. "Sir, because of your good deeds in the capital seven years ago, you are now recognized as a good friend of our China. The Prince of Jingyuan specially sent me to give you a small gift. It's not a sign of respect."

Wu Ci left after giving the gift. Ellison curiously opened the cloth bag and found a delicate box inside, which contained a tea can. Ellison knew Chinese, but he did not understand the modesty of the Chinese. The tea can, casually placed in the cloth bag, did not look valuable. However, the box containing the can was painted with gold and dragons, and looked like an exquisite work of art.

He stuffed the tea can into his backpack and admired the box. The Prussian next to him was anxious, "Mr. Elisson, can you take out the national gift porcelain and let me take a closer look? This opportunity is too rare."

Elison was stunned. "National gift? You mean this jar?"

"Hey, you can't just hold it with one hand like this. If it breaks, you'll suffer a huge loss. What did you do seven years ago to make the Chinese respect you so much?"

"What I did was not worth mentioning. I just acted according to one's conscience. Are you saying that this jar is expensive?"

"Yes, it's expensive. But more importantly, this thing can't be bought with money. Bright yellow has a special meaning in China, and only the royal family can use it.

This kind of chicken-fat yellow porcelain is fired by a top master. Only three pieces can be fired in Jingdezhen every year. All of them are used in the imperial palace, and each piece has a unique number.

If defective products appear during firing or are accidentally broken, the royal family has special people responsible for recycling the fragments, and they must not be circulated among the people. "

Elison stared at the Prussian. "How can you, a fellow third-class passenger, know this?"

"I am a technician from BASF Chemicals in Prussia. I am here on a business trip to cooperate with the Wen's Silk Textile Company. That small textile company specializes in making clothing for the imperial palace. For this purpose, they specially imported a yellow dye from BASF Chemicals at a high price."

Well, I have met an expert who specializes in making tributes to the Qing Dynasty.

"If I sell this jar, will I become a millionaire?"

"This - Europeans don't understand this. This thing can't be sold at a high price in Paris. If you really want to get rich, get off the ship now and go to the auction on Shanghai Beach. There will be people rushing to buy it for 100,000 taels of silver."

Seeing that Elison was quite interested, the Prussian was disappointed and said, "Do you think the general just said 'good friends of the Chinese' casually? Can you think of any valuable gift that needs to be delivered by a general personally?"

"Besides being valuable, does this thing have any other benefits?"

"Of course. China has something called 'Red Book and Iron Certificate', which can only be obtained by founding heroes, and can be kept from generation to generation. As long as the descendants of the holder of the Red Book and Iron Certificate do not rebel, they will not be held accountable if they break the law.

The holder of this highest level of Chinese national gift will be respected by all Chinese people. It has the same effect as the Red Book and Iron Certificate, and can also be passed down to descendants. Your descendants will benefit from your good deeds for generations to come."

Allison said to himself, "Well, I've retired and returned to Versailles. I'm afraid I'll never come to China again in this life. This thing is of no use to me. Should I sell it when I get off the ship and become a rich man, or keep it as an honor and pass it on to future generations?"

If I were the Qing Dynasty in the past, Elison would have sold this jar without hesitation.

Now that our Qing Dynasty has become a great power and has a certain status in the world, this kind of honor has begun to be valued.

Erisson hesitated for a long time and had not yet made a decision. The whistle sounded, and the Queen Victoria weighed anchor and set sail.

(End of this chapter)

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