Great Qing Dynasty talker

On the deck of a steam battleship cutting through the waves,

Li Yu suddenly turned his head and looked at everyone with serious expressions.

laughed:

"Why? Are you worried that we won't be able to sell our tea?"

Everyone laughed.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Fan Zhongmo bowed:
"Your Majesty, I am indeed worried. Now the hilly lands in the southern provinces have been converted to tea. If they cannot be sold, I~"

Finance Minister Hu Xueyu covered his face and coughed a few times.

"Your Majesty, tea, silk and porcelain account for too large a proportion and involve too many people. If the export route is cut off, the consequences are simply unimaginable."

Everyone nodded.

In fact, ever since Li Yu became autocratic and encouraged large-scale expansion of tea planting within the empire, opposition voices have never stopped.

……

Export to domestic sales?

That is impossible.

Although the empire has more than 3 million people, it is currently unable to digest so much tea.

This is a really big deal.

Something more terrible than losing a battle.

Li Yu looked at everyone and said seriously:
"I am willing to interact with the Europeans within the rules based on one premise, that is, I recognize that they are still civilized people. And the premise of civilization is drinking tea!"

"If you don't drink tea, you are not a civilized person."

"Europeans have to choose between war and civilization."

……

During the voyage, Li Yu ate steamed Yangtze River fish.

He signed a decree with the highest priority:

The three fleets were merged into a combined fleet, still commanded by Commander Liu Wu, and stationed in Cam Ranh Bay.

In addition, 20 sailing frigates and 4 steam frigates were drawn from the original South China Sea Fleet and stationed in Chennai, the empire's colonial outpost on the east coast of the South Asian subcontinent, through the Strait of Malacca.

It was announced to the outside world that this was just a visit.

in addition,

The plainclothes soldiers were secretly transported on merchant ships.

The men and guns were separated, transported separately, and delivered in batches, with the final assembly point being Chennai.

The above is top secret. Anyone who leaks it will be killed.

……

Lushan Palace.

The important officials looked at His Majesty in astonishment as he walked into the conference room, dressed in military uniform, with a sword at his waist, and full of murderous intent.

As soon as he opened his mouth, it was a famous scene.

"Declare war on the Saxons!"

"Declare war on Frank!"

"Declare war on the Netherlands!"

"Declare war on the Habsburg Monarchy!"

"Declare war on Prussia!"

"Declare war on Rakshasa!"

"Declare war on Iberia!"

A series of battles echoed in the palace~
The ministers left their seats, knelt down and shouted "Long live the emperor".

……

Outside the Lushan Palace, there is a residential area for wealthy merchants who accompany the emperor.

A textile merchant ran into the restaurant with an excited look on his face:

"Everyone, stop eating. His Majesty has ordered us to prepare for war. Prepare to go to war with the whole world."

Everyone present cheered instantly.

"Yeah~"

Finally, we have waited for this day. There are so many business opportunities hidden behind such a grand war.

Jiang Chun, who was awarded the title, signaled everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone, there are two things going on right now."

"First, we need to raise funds for His Majesty. Second, we need to prepare food and fodder before the army moves. We have a lot to do."

Everyone suddenly realized.

The expedition to Europe, covering tens of thousands of miles, required an incredible scale of logistics.

After a while,
People from the General Staff also came.

"Minister Tan has requested that you all discuss logistical preparations together."

……

Deep inside the palace, in the war room.

The staff came in and out in a hurry.

They need to consider the scale of the troops, the time required, material supplies, route conditions, and the deployment of surrounding enemies.

There is too much data to calculate.

There are so many situations to consider.

It would be better if Osman did not die.

Everyone hopes that this fortified city can hold out longer, just like Rome and Byzantium once did.

……

Moreover, there were great differences between the War Department and the Navy Department.

Who is the main one? Who is the secondary one?
The Army Department insisted on sending troops independently from Yili, marching a long distance across Central Asia, passing the Caspian Sea, and reaching the shores of the Black Sea.

The Navy Department believed that the two armies should cooperate and take the sea route.

The dispute over the northern and southern fronts was extremely sharp and fierce from the beginning. Both sides argued endlessly and refused to give in.

Position is above all else!
How could the War Department be willing to become a vassal of the Navy?
The Admiralty could not do without the Army, otherwise they would not be able to complete a key move and annihilate the Saxon East India Company Army entrenched in the South Asian subcontinent.

……

Arguing, debating.

The staffs of both sides were divided into two camps.

Later, even the two ministers joined their respective camps.

The disputes on the southern and northern fronts led to an unprecedented stiffness in the relationship between the army and navy.

Even Li Yu felt extremely surprised.

On second thought, it's actually quite normal.

The army and navy each held their own views.

The Sacred Heart had to make the decision alone, and soon the Army and Navy Ministries received clear orders.

The Army Department was responsible for the northern front, Ili-Black Sea.

The Admiralty was responsible for the southern front, destroying all European warships cruising in the Indian Ocean and opening up a route to the Persian Gulf.

The vassal army was divided into two.

The Nanyang vassal army was under the control of the navy, while the Goryeo, Fuso and Eight Banners vassal armies were under the control of the army.

The details will be discussed slowly and the general direction will be decided first.

……

The next day, in the palace.

Merchants gathered here.

Li Yu's voice was calm and firm:
"I'm sure you all know that I have decided to go to war."

"There are many reasons for starting a war, but it all comes down to one word: money."

"There are no outsiders present today, so I can say seriously that war or colonization are essentially business."

"The Empire doesn't want to start a war, but there is no way. They are forcing us to go to war. Now, in addition to tea, silk and porcelain, our import of raw cotton has also been strangled."

"I don't like war, but I'm not afraid of it. Since they are unwilling to accept reality, let's fight seriously."

……

Textile tycoon Xu Xiang echoed:
"Your Majesty is saying that the price of raw cotton imports has tripled in the past five years, eating up too much of our profits."

Li Yu smiled.

He knew the water in it.

It wasn't all because of the East India Company's troubles, but the global cotton market did experience a huge development.

The root cause was the invention of various cotton spinning machines. The efficiency of cotton spinning increased by more than 10 times, so naturally there was not enough raw materials.

Price increase is also a market behavior.

Li Yu smiled:

"Instead of being controlled by others, it is better to be self-reliant. Everyone, go to Central Asia to plant cotton. If you need manpower, recruit from the country. I will give you a reassurance. You can hire civilians to go abroad without setting an upper limit. There is only one rule: you must advance 2 years' wages to their families. This is the bottom line~"

Everyone responded quickly.

The bottom line is a warning.

Whoever crosses the line is seeking death.

……

At this point, Li Yu also said a few more words:
"The General Staff Headquarters will liaise with you on specific logistical matters."

"I am just expressing my opinion. It is not unusual for this war to last three to five years. Logistics is the key to a long expedition of thousands of miles."

"Don't worry about unsalable products. Every grain of rice, every piece of cotton cloth, and every iron ingot you produce will have a market."

All the wealthy merchants stood up and knelt down to kowtow. "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor. Long live the emperor."

Li Yu accepted the kneeling calmly.

He thinks deeply.

Military expeditions were used to encourage merchants to go abroad, and merchants were used to encourage overseas labor.

Whether it is immigration or employment, there is no essential difference. The people who are imbued with pragmatism will not be willing to leave once they find that they can earn money by working abroad.

Some stay for 5 years, some stay for 10 years.

Some people accidentally stay there for a lifetime.

……

The meeting lasted for one hour.

After that, there was a private meeting.

The big businessmen were once again tied to the empire's high-speed chariot, and they were no longer so excited.

I have gambled with His Majesty many times and I won every time.

This time it's the number one gamble.

If they win, the Empire will be the future world hegemon.

The Wu Emperor's army would most likely have to traverse the same route that Genghis Khan had traversed.

The Mongolian cavalry was lightly armed, but the Wu army could not have been lightly armed.

Therefore, logistical supply is the key point.

The General Staff drew up a terrifying shopping list.

Covering all kinds of military and civilian supplies:

Military uniforms and boots, dried meat, alcohol, tea, grain, coal, oil, salt, sauce, medicinal materials, canvas, felt, blankets, cold-resistant supplies, vehicles, various tools, as well as mules, horses and livestock.

The requirement is to provide supplies along with the army.

……

In the summer of 1791, the empire's focus quickly shifted to preparing for war.

autumn.

The Combined Fleet held a grand naval review.

Hundreds of warships passed by the mouth of the Yangtze River one after another to receive inspection from the flagship.

Afterwards, they moved south collectively and stationed in Cam Ranh Bay.

The hinterland of Cam Ranh Bay is rich enough and supply is not difficult.

The following month, Duke Jinghai Shi Bingren led a fleet through the Strait of Malacca.

The Saxons were nervous.

The Governor of the Straits Settlements issued a general mobilization order. All castles, strongholds, artillery batteries and warships were put into wartime status, but they were not allowed to take the initiative to attack.

If the people of Wu provoke us, we can fight back immediately without asking for permission.

Fortunately, everything is fine.

The Wu fleet had no intention of provoking, but simply passed through the strait in a state of extreme alert.

When passing by,
The captain of a level 6 reconnaissance ship of the Royal Navy wrote in his logbook:
Our former Eastern allies have become our greatest enemies in the East. Even though I was 30 meters away, I could sense the murderous intent that Wu Jian could not conceal.

God bless the Saxons and God bless the Royal Navy.

……

There are no secrets in this world.

The atmosphere gradually became tense.

The State of Wu began to send reinforcements to Luzon, West Borneo, Sumatra, and Java, with the number ranging from 1000 to 3000, all of whom were vassal troops.

at the same time,

Each Wu State immigrant village also received a mobilization order from the Governor's Office, requiring: issuing flags, ammunition, and rockets to each village.

All were told:

"If you encounter an enemy attack, you can open fire. If there is trouble in one village, the surrounding areas will help. The imperial army will arrive to reinforce in the shortest time~"

Manila City.

The Governor of the Iberian colony received an ultimatum from Envoy Wu in person.

"In view of the changes in the European situation, the Wu Kingdom adhered to the principle of equal diplomacy and informed the other countries of the principles of future coexistence among the colonies in the Nanyang region."

"First, if you provoke me, the Heavenly Soldiers will show no mercy and will uproot you with force."

"Second, if we remain neutral, the Wu army can also remain neutral."

“Third, any actions to block ports, cut off trade, or expel immigrants will be considered a provocation.”

……

Seeing the situation has changed,
The 4th Army finally ended its years of laziness and entered a state of combat readiness.

Under the strict orders of Commander Huang Si, the soldiers practiced marching, shooting, and routine patrols every day without complaining.

At the same time, the garrisons of the 4th Corps scattered across Southeast Asia submitted reports to the court, asking for the latest breech-loading artillery, with earnest words and three requests a day.

Seek help while saving yourself.

He dug trenches and buried bamboo sticks, and purchased pistols from the Nanyang Group at his own expense.

Although the 4th Corps has not fought a major battle for a long time, the concept that one more gun means a little more safety has not been forgotten.

The average military service of the legionnaires is over 10 years. These people have made military service a lifelong career and are reluctant to leave.

One person goes overseas, the whole family becomes rich.

One person carries a gun, the whole family is happy.

According to private estimates by interested parties, although the soldiers of the 4th Legion did not fight very often, their average annual income per person was over 300 taels, and they had a good way of making money.

……

At the same time, the 7th Army Corps once again crossed the border and stationed in the Mandalay area.

The 5-mile area around Cam Ranh Bay, the first military port in Southeast Asia, was turned into a restricted area and dense barbed wire was erected.

There are many warships in the harbor.

Li Weiqi was so frightened that he quickly sent someone to express his loyalty: "Annan will never have second thoughts. Annan will always be a loyal vassal of the upper country."

The Intelligence Agency also pricked up its ears like a hound.

Develop more spies in various countries.

Emperor Wu temporarily gave the order:

Due to changes in the situation, the intelligence station chiefs of the countries in Indochina can temporarily command an armed vassal army of no more than 300 people to eliminate all dissidents.

……

The clouds of war loom over Europe and Asia.

The young Americans are so happy. It is so easy to survive in the cracks. We Americans will definitely do business with the Wu people.

Franklin, a founding father, famous scientist, and Washington's right-hand man, personally visited the Huangpu River on the armed merchant ship Empress of the Orient.

At first, he lobbied Paris for an alliance.

Now, he comes to lobby the State of Wu again.

The elderly Franklin first visited several large factories in Songjiang Prefecture and Songjiang New City.

He praised it on the spot:
"Compared with Europe, Jiangnan's civilization is at least 100 years ahead."

As expected, this sentence was not published in European newspapers until a year later, which made Parisians jealous and they collectively cursed this shameless old guy.

……

Li Yu originally planned to meet this old guy in Lushan.

Finally, bad news came.

Franklin died of illness in Suzhou Prefecture.
He lived one year longer than the original time of death in history, probably because of his strong will that supported him. In order to expand the Wu market, he was determined to die in Wu.

then,

The State of Wu held a funeral for him that was slightly smaller in scale than that of Voltaire, and placed Fu Sheng next to Fu Sheng.

Jefferson, the deputy envoy of the United States, climbed Mount Lushan and signed the Treaty of Lushan, also known as the Open Door Treaty, as the official version of the previous Washington Treaty with a very humble attitude.

According to the treaty:

The United States fully opened up to the Wu State and gave it the best treatment in areas such as tariffs and immigration.

……

When the Oriental Queen left Songjiang, it was fully loaded with tea, and it was accompanied by five armed merchant ships of the Wu State and two sailing frigates.

When signing the contract,
Li Yu proposed to Jefferson:
“We should jointly develop the Hawaiian Islands as a transit point for trade between our two countries across the Pacific Ocean and to provide supplies for merchant ships.”

Jefferson agreed.

Three months later, fully armed Wu sailors landed on Oahu and clashed with the local natives.

The sailors came prepared and well-equipped, and they changed the population of the island with lightning speed.

Half a month later, the remaining five armed merchant ships and the Oriental Empress left Oahu and continued to Boston.

……

Looking at the island of Oahu gradually disappearing from sight.

A crew member of the Oriental Queen couldn't help but ask Jefferson:
"Sir, why do we need an open door?"

"Because we need foreign resources." Jefferson's eyes were calm. "Without the influx of foreign population and foreign resources, Citigroup cannot develop."

"But, with so many immigrants, will Citigroup still be the same Citigroup it once was?"

"I firmly believe that the concept of inclusiveness, freedom and openness can integrate all immigrants, whether they are Han Chinese, Saxons, Germans, Celts, or everyone else."

The crew teased:

"Where are the niggers, sir?"

Jefferson took a deep breath and pointed to the deck:

"Go, clean it carefully, otherwise you will lose your rum quota today." (End of this chapter)