The Ming Dynasty did not revolutionize

Chapter 407 The Prince of Wales meets the King of Hanover

The Prince of Wales wanted to meet with the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to discuss solutions to Britain's trade restrictions on behalf of British merchants and nobles.

However, when he met the officials from the Honglu Temple and went through the procedures for entering the country to meet the emperor, he immediately encountered new problems.

Ma Weiguo, the Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple, confirmed the purpose of the old Prince of Wales's visit and then asked:

"In what capacity are you going to meet His Majesty?"

The Prince of Wales said subconsciously:

"I am the Crown Prince of the United Kingdom and now also the Regent of the United Kingdom."

Ma Weiguo shook his head and waved his hands:
"That can't be done. Britain is not on the list of Ming's vassal states, so it is not included in the audience."

The Prince of Wales was stunned:
"I...why does Ming Dynasty have so many rules now?"

Ma Weiguo explained very seriously:

"There is no order without rules. In the past, there may have been times when we had to make decisions based on urgency. You cannot make exceptions the norm.

"Now that the world is peaceful and united, all kinds of things are no longer urgent. Naturally, we must follow the rules and procedures and keep records.

"If you were not the father of Princess Han, you wouldn't even be able to go through customs."

After Zhu Jianxuan prepared to establish and reform the Ming Dynasty's political system, he has frequently sent out various signals in the past two years.

All kinds of irregular and haphazard matters, as well as unclear unspoken rules and practices, will need to be sorted out and clarified in the future.

The bureaucratic system will resist such reforms, and many people even strongly support such adjustments, because the clearer the operating logic of the administrative agencies, the less responsibility they will have.

Although Zhu Jianxuan did target the British intentionally, he did not let his ministers reserve any "interface" for the British.

But there is really no way to define the UK in the normal process right now.

Zhu Jianxuan has been saying for many years that countries that are not vassal states cannot be traded with and should be regarded as overseas barbarians.

If you want to trade with the Ming Dynasty, you must pay tribute and become its vassal.

No other organization, institution, or individual has an equal status to talk to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the court as a stranger.

If there were other countries in a similar situation to the UK, they would face the same problem.

But there is nothing else now, and only Britain is still isolated.

The Prince of Wales opened his mouth, not knowing how to respond. He always felt that the Ming Dynasty was targeting him.

British Prime Minister William Pitt, who was following the Prince of Wales, couldn't help but interrupt:

"Then we will ask to see His Majesty the Great Ming in the name of Princess Han's family."

The Prince of Wales suddenly realized: Yes, I have this identity. No matter what my identity is, I just need to meet the emperor first, and then we can have something to talk about.

But he saw Ma Weiguo shaking his head and waving his hands again:

"The prince's wives, concubines and family members are not allowed to enter the capital without being summoned. We cannot process the audience procedures for you."

When the Prince of Wales heard this, he was completely stunned. He didn't expect that meeting the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty would become so difficult.

The Prince of Wales has limited abilities and does not know how to proceed.

Pitt thought more than the Prince of Wales. He guessed that the Ming Dynasty must want to change the status quo and not allow Britain to continue in this delicate situation.

This kind of provocation is only aimed at lowering the status of the British to prevent them from being confused.

But the Ming people will eventually deal with British affairs, and at this time I can only cooperate as much as possible.

So Pete asked very politely:

"Please give us some advice, old sir, on what our Crown Prince should do to have the opportunity to meet His Majesty."

Ma Weiguo nodded gently and introduced slowly:
"If you want to see His Majesty, then let His Royal Highness the Prince of Han go to the palace first to ask for permission and introduce you to His Majesty. If His Majesty agrees, then you will naturally be able to see Him."

Pete suddenly realized:

"Thank you for your advice, old man. I am very grateful."

Pitt and the Prince of Wales took their leave and left the Honglu Temple. After leaving, the Prince of Wales asked in confusion:
"Mr. Peter, why do you think the Ming Dynasty is torturing us like this? It doesn't matter if the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty comes to see us directly, right?

“Even if we should ask the King of Hanover to introduce us, this Ming official could have told us directly at the beginning.

"In the end, they went through so much trouble to repeatedly emphasize that the King and Crown Prince of England were not qualified to meet the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty directly."

Peter sighed softly, looked at the surrounding palace buildings, and explained to the Prince of Wales with a complicated expression:
“What Your Highness does not understand is probably the purpose of the Ming Dynasty court doing this.

“And it didn’t start when we came here, but when British businessmen were harassed here two years ago.

"The officials of the Ming Dynasty used this series of rigid rules to let us know that times have changed and to make us accept the clear gap in status.

“The status of the British is far lower than that of the Ming court, and the status of the British monarch is far lower than that of the Ming emperor.

"If the British monarch wants to see the Ming emperor, he must either seek special relationships and methods, or simply pay tribute and join the Ming dynasty system."

The Prince of Wales seemed to understand what he heard, but he did not take it seriously. He was only concerned about what to do next:
"And then? Should I go find Charlotte and the King of Hanover now?"

Pete sighed again:
"Yes, this is the only correct way. We should do whatever the Ming people ask us to do and show our docility and obedience."

The Prince of Wales was stunned for a moment. The first two sentences of Pitt were nothing, but the last explanation made him feel uncomfortable. However, the Prince of Wales also immediately realized that he really had no choice but to do this. The consequences of not obeying would be very terrible.

In recent decades, the power of the Ming Dynasty has been growing, while the status of other countries has been declining.

The Prince of Wales has actually been living in this international environment for a long time.

Now we have just made this matter clear and put it directly in front of the UK.

The Prince of Wales accepted this mentality with a little sadness.

After leaving the palace, the two men went directly to the courtyard where Han Wang Zhu Jingjian and his wife lived, and explained their purpose to this most vicious vassal king of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Jingjian was vicious and proud by nature, and especially not very understanding of human nature.

He had no good impression of the overseas barbarians, and he didn't have a good face towards his father-in-law. He just treated him as the chief of the overseas barbarians.

So even though the two of them were actually very close, neither of them was very happy to see each other.

When the Prince of Wales had to take the initiative to meet his son-in-law for the sake of Britain, he went to meet his daughter Charlotte first to avoid embarrassment.

First explain his purpose to Charlotte, and then let Charlotte take him to see Zhu Jingjian.

Charlotte has been with Zhu Jingjian since she was a teenager and has completely understood Zhu Jingjian's character.

In Charlotte's view, her husband is "kind-hearted by nature", free and easy, not caring about worldly views, and of course very strong.

She doesn't think her husband is a bad person, he just doesn't think certain things make other people feel uncomfortable.

Moreover, after all these years, Zhu Jingjian has changed a little. At least he can talk about any method he comes up with to torment others.

Charlotte took the Prince of Wales to meet Zhu Jingjian.

Although Zhu Jingjian was the son-in-law, he was also a prince of the Ming Dynasty. He just sat down and waited for the Prince of Wales to salute.

If it were more than a decade ago, when Zhu Jingjian faced the British Crown Prince Regent like this, other Ming officials would probably advise him to show a little courtesy.

The Prince of Wales bowed helplessly:

"I've met the king."

Zhu Jingjian first accepted the gift as a prince, and then bowed to the Prince of Wales as a son-in-law:
"My father-in-law came to see me specially. Is there something important?"

Charlotte didn't wait for her father to speak before conveying his purpose. She was worried that her father might not express himself clearly and her husband might misunderstand her.

The Prince of Wales also asked his daughter to fill in some omissions:

"That's it. Please help me, my dear son-in-law, and introduce me to His Majesty."

After hearing this, Zhu Jingjian agreed casually:

"I understand. When I see my father, I will ask my father-in-law about it."

After a few short words, the meeting ended.

The Prince of Wales bowed to Zhu Jingjian, thanked him, and then said goodbye and left.

Zhu Jingjian didn't want to talk much with the Prince of Wales, and the Prince of Wales didn't want to deal with his son-in-law.

After the Prince of Wales left, Zhu Jingjian spoke more and complained directly to Charlotte:
"Doesn't my father-in-law understand? The emperor must be dissatisfied with Britain's attitude now, so the British are so upset.

"At this time, the British still want to remain independent?
"Do the British want to make the world only have two countries, Ming and Britain?
“What right does Britain have to remain independent?
"It is obvious what the emperor wants. He will directly ask the emperor to be the regent of Britain, and the emperor will naturally summon him.

"Even if we go to the palace to pass on the message, the emperor may not be willing to meet him."

There is nothing wrong with Zhu Jingjian's intelligence, and he can even be considered quite smart, but he has some minor issues with his personality.

After being a king overseas for these years, I have become more mature and thoughtful than before.

Charlotte was visibly stunned by her husband's analysis:
"My dear, since you know what the emperor means, why didn't you just explain it to father?"

Zhu Jingjian shook his head and waved his hands:
“Because I don’t know my father’s true intentions yet, I dare not tell my father-in-law nonsense.

“Is your targeting of the British a test for my father-in-law, or is it specifically designed to punish the British?

"What if I say too much and my father finds out and implicates both of us?
"Those British ministers are also true. Even if my father-in-law himself can't figure it out, can't those ministers figure it out too?

"Or have you already thought of it, but are pretending to be stupid?
"If Father thinks they are pretending to be stupid, will he further increase the punishment?"

Charlotte couldn't help but start to worry as she listened to her husband's analysis:

"Then what should we do? When we go to see His Majesty, can we plead for our father?"

When Zhu Jingjian heard this, his real name was exposed:
“I can plead for my father-in-law, but those British officials should also be killed!

"These lowly creatures have always been able to deceive their superiors and subordinates and disobey their own monarchs. They should be severely punished.

"We can ask our father for permission to lead an army to England to purge the emperor."

Charlotte was already used to it, and didn't find it strange that her husband said this casually. She even supported him instinctively:
"After the two revolutions in England, the nobles and merchants joined forces to limit the power of the king.

"Later, even the prime minister and officials were no longer appointed by the king, but could only be elected by the parliamentarians themselves.

"We should indeed govern well, otherwise we will be restricted when we become king in the future."

(End of this chapter)