Changes

In [[1878]], Chonghou was sent to St. Petersburg to negotiate a treaty with Russia. Rather than travel overland through [[Xinjiang]], in order to learn more about the territories in question in the treaty, Chonghou journeyed by ship to Europe, and would make his way to St. Petersburg from there. He met with [[Guo Songtao]], the first official Chinese ambassador to Britain and France, who assured Chonghou that his mission would fail due to his lack of proper preparation. And, indeed, it did. The Treaty of Livadia was drafted in September [[1879]] which granted considerable concessions to Russia, including 3/4 of the Ili Valley which Qing forces had only recently won in bloody battles, the right to establish Russian consulates in seven places in China, and an indemnity to be paid by China in the amount of five million rubles.<ref name=britan>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/282770/Ili-crisis#ref1079985 Ili crisis (Chinese history)]," ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', accessed 25 Dec 2013.</ref> Though the Qing Court expressed concerns over some of the elements of the treaty, Chonghou replied that it had already been copied out and signed, in October, and that it was too late to make any changes.

In [[1878]], Chonghou was sent to St. Petersburg to negotiate a treaty with Russia. Rather than travel overland through [[Xinjiang]], in order to learn more about the territories in question in the treaty, Chonghou journeyed by ship to Europe, and would make his way to St. Petersburg from there. He met with [[Guo Songtao]], the first official Chinese ambassador to Britain and France, who assured Chonghou that his mission would fail due to his lack of proper preparation. And, indeed, it did. The Treaty of Livadia was drafted in September [[1879]] which granted considerable concessions to Russia, including 3/4 of the Ili Valley which Qing forces had only recently won in bloody battles, the right to establish Russian consulates in seven places in China, and an indemnity to be paid by China in the amount of five million rubles.<ref name=britan>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/282770/Ili-crisis#ref1079985 Ili crisis (Chinese history)]," ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', accessed 25 Dec 2013.</ref> Though the Qing Court expressed concerns over some of the elements of the treaty, Chonghou replied that it had already been copied out and signed, in October, and that it was too late to make any changes.

Chonghou was denounced by [[Empress Dowager Cixi]] upon his return to Beijing, and was imprisoned and put on trial for disobeying the throne. By March [[1880]], he was convicted and sentenced to death. Not only Russia, but many of the Western powers, expressed their outrage at such a move, feeling it outrageous for a treaty signed by a rightfully appointed ambassador to be renounced, and the ambassador convicted & sentenced to execution in this manner. Russia refused to renegotiate the treaty should the execution go forward, and both Russian and Chinese militaries prepared for war. Leaders of the Western powers worried that this would lead to Russia invading China, and/or to China renouncing other Unequal Treaties it had signed with their governments. Thus, they agitated for Chonghou to be freed, the treaties honored, and war avoided. In the end, Chonghou was spared, being freed in August 1880, and [[Zeng Jize]], son of celebrated general [[Zeng Guofan]], was sent to Russia to renegotiate the treaty; a new agreement, the Treaty of St. Petersburg, was signed in February [[1881]], granting most of the territory in question to China, and reducing the number of Russian consulates in China to two, but increasing the indemnity to be paid by the Chinese to nine million rubles.<ref name=britan/>

Chonghou was denounced by [[Empress Dowager Cixi]] upon his return to Beijing, and was imprisoned and put on trial for disobeying the throne. By March [[1880]], he was convicted and sentenced to death. Not only Russia, but many of the Western powers, expressed their outrage at such a move, feeling it outrageous for a treaty signed by a rightfully appointed ambassador to be renounced, and the ambassador convicted & sentenced to execution in this manner. Russia refused to renegotiate the treaty should the execution go forward, and both Russian and Chinese militaries prepared for war. Leaders of the Western powers worried that this would lead to Russia invading China, and/or to China renouncing other Unequal Treaties it had signed with their governments. Thus, they agitated for Chonghou to be freed, the treaties honored, and war avoided. In the end, Chonghou was spared, being freed in August 1880, and [[Zeng Jize]], son of celebrated general [[Zeng Guofan]], was sent to Russia to renegotiate the treaty; a new agreement, the [[Treaty of St. Petersburg (1881)|Treaty of St. Petersburg]], was signed in February [[1881]], granting most of the territory in question to China, and reducing the number of Russian consulates in China to two, but increasing the indemnity to be paid by the Chinese to nine million rubles.<ref name=britan/>

Retiring from official service, Chonghou spent the remainder of his life living in comfort in his extensive mansion, where he fathered an additional six children (he had nine children earlier in his life). He made considerable donations to the Court, and attempted to restore his reputation, but was never successful; he died in [[1893]], thirteen years after his release from prison.

Retiring from official service, Chonghou spent the remainder of his life living in comfort in his extensive mansion, where he fathered an additional six children (he had nine children earlier in his life). He made considerable donations to the Court, and attempted to restore his reputation, but was never successful; he died in [[1893]], thirteen years after his release from prison.