The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 344: Sitting up in shock from the dying illness, the Qing Dynasty seems to be a superpower! (Please subscribe, please vote)

"Then tell me your request!"

The commander of the French East India Fleet, Charles de Gaudet, was obviously more concerned about the Qing Dynasty's attack on Russia's eastern territories. When Luo Xueyan said that it could be discussed, he asked questions directly in English.

"Commander, before I make a request, can you tell me your general plan? Where do you want to attack? Petropavlovsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula, or Russian Alaska?"

Luo Xueyan did not make a request immediately, but asked about the other party's plan.

He knew that in history, Britain and France had once sent a 2,000-man coalition army to attack Petropavlovsk, while the Russian army there had only more than 800 people. Unfortunately, the 800 Russian troops repelled the 2,000 British and French coalition forces, and the attack ultimately failed.

But now Luo Xueyan feels that since the Qing Dynasty is determined to cheer up and join this war, the British, French and Qing allied forces seem to be able to attack Russian Alaska after capturing Petropavlovsk. Alaska is a very large territory. If it can be conquered, the Qing Dynasty may be able to get a piece of it.

It doesn't need to be too big, just pick an island near western Canada, Prince of Wales Island, Baranof Island, or Dole Island will do.

It doesn’t matter the size of the territory; what matters is participation. After the Qing Dynasty, China became an American country, and a neighbor of the United States.

Matthew Perry doesn't have to worry about Taiwan anymore. How much trouble would it have taken to seize Taiwan Island as a trading base for the Qing Dynasty? The Qing Dynasty offered itself to him, and he took an island from the United States. How good would that be? How considerate?

"Your Excellency," the commander of the French East India Fleet stroked his beard and smiled, "Why do we have to choose one or the other? Can't we have both? Salier, what do you think?"

Wen Xian nodded and said, "Xueyan, if you Qing Dynasty can provide two or three regiments of reinforcements, then we can definitely take over the Kamchatka Peninsula and Russian Alaska!"

Historically, the British and French allied forces only deployed a regiment of ground forces, while the Russian army only had a reinforced battalion. If Luo Xueyan could get them two or three more regiments, there would indeed be hope of taking over Russian Alaska.

Although Kamchatka and Russian Alaska were not good places, they were not difficult to manage because there were not many people to manage them. Moreover, since they also produced fur, the income should be able to cover the expenses of the colonial authorities.

Luo Xueyan pretended to think for a while and said, "I need the Qing Dynasty to dispatch three regiments of new troops."

Three regiments, that’s a total of five to six thousand people!

Quite a lot!
"What? Can't you do it?" Wen Xian asked.

Laer also looked at Luo Xueyan: "If it really doesn't work."

"No!" Luo Xueyan quickly interrupted the Frenchman, "Minister, Commander, the Russian Empire has been a friendly neighbor of the Qing Dynasty for 200 years. Although we are in different places, we share the same sky. Now you want the Qing Dynasty to send troops to attack, which is really embarrassing! So, you have to pay more!"

"More money?" Wen Xian was stunned. "How much?"

Rael asked: "Sir, please tell me the number first!"

Luo Xueyan said: "I have three requests. First, I need a steel plant that can produce 30,000 tons of cast iron and 20,000 tons of steel per year. Second, I want a shipyard that can build 5,000-ton steamships."

Wen Xian and Laer both frowned after hearing the two requests made by Luo Xueyan.

"Xueyan, this is a bit difficult!" Wen Xian shook his head, "If we build a steel plant and a shipyard, it will probably cost millions or even more!"

Laerer was also embarrassed: "That much money and the Pacific battlefield is a secondary battlefield in the war against Russia after all. I'm afraid His Majesty the Emperor will not agree to give so much."

Luo Xueyan smiled and said, "Even if the Emperor and Queen refuse to give, General Tokugawa can! Give me more of the compensation from Japan this time, and I will use the money to purchase steel mills and shipyards from Britain and France. As long as you two countries are willing to export technology and help me train skilled workers and engineers, that will be enough."

At this, Wen Xian and Laer'er's faces warmed up.

As long as someone pays, exporting technology and helping to train workers and engineers will be easy.

It’s just a steel plant and a shipyard. If the Qing Dynasty forms an alliance with them to fight Russia, what can’t it give them?
"That's no problem!" Wen Xian said with a smile.

Rael asked, "What is your third request?"

"I want Prince of Wales Island, Baranov Island, and Dor Island," Luo Xueyan said, "after we take Kamchatka and Russian Alaska together."

"Where are those three islands?" Wen Xian put away his smile.

"They are all in Russian Alaska." Luo Xueyan said. "Three American islands? What do you want those three islands for?" Wen Xian frowned. "What is there in Russian Alaska? If I remember correctly, there is nothing there except ice and fur, right?"

Luo Xueyan laughed and said, "There's nothing there, but it makes the Qing Dynasty look like a great power!"

"Oh, it looks like a great power? Interesting." Bonham glanced at the commander of the French East India Fleet.

Laer smiled and said, "I can understand. I think if your army can really help us seize the Kamchatka Peninsula and Russian Alaska, you can certainly ask for a few small islands as a reward.

I mean, you must provide three regiments immediately when we need them!"

Luo Xueyan said solemnly: "I can solemnly promise this!"

"Then there's no problem." Laer glanced at Wen Xian.

Bonham Island: "Can we now discuss how to end this conflict with Japan?"

"Of course," Luo Xueyan turned his head and looked at the fire in the distance, "I think the Japanese have realized how powerful we are. We should give them a chance to correct their mistakes!"

"Mito Chunagon! Mito Chunagon!" A small but urgent voice came from the other end of the corridor to the Japanese-style room at the other end of the corridor. Along with the voice, there was the sound of hurried footsteps.

Tokugawa Nariaki, who was sitting in the room, had changed into white clothes and was kneeling on the tatami. In front of him was a small table with a dish of sake, a sword and a white handkerchief on it.

It looks like he's going to commit seppuku!
It’s about to be cut. But it hasn’t been cut yet!

Tokugawa Nariaki looked down at his sword and stretched out his right hand, as if he was about to pick it up and cut his belly. But he seemed to be under a spell and never picked up the sword.

The footsteps and shouts became louder and louder, and the door to the Japanese-style room was suddenly opened. Tokugawa Nariaki looked up and saw the three people who came into his sight: the old middle chief Abe Masahiro, the lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Nariakira, and the head of the university, Hayashi Fusai, who all looked treacherous.

Seeing Qi Zhao's appearance, the three men rushed forward. Abe Masahiro grabbed Qi Zhao's arm, Shimazu Qibin quickly moved the small platform away, and Lin Fuzhai threw himself in front of Qi Zhao and said quickly and anxiously: "Mito Chunagon, victory and defeat are common in the military. You should remain useful, work hard, assist the Kubo, and do your best for the revival of the Tokugawa family!"

Tokugawa Nariaki looked at Lin Fuzhai and asked, "Can the Tokugawa family be revived?"

Lin Fuzhai nodded heavily: "The four-nation coalition of Britain, the United States, France, and Qing has just sent a military envoy."

Tokugawa Nariaki asked: "What do they want?"

Lin Fuzhai said: "In addition to the previous few points, they also want us to pay 500,000 taels of gold as compensation, hand over the shogunate's territory on Karafuto Island, and cede the Kuril Islands."

"Baga!" Tokugawa Nariaki slammed the tatami, "It's impossible to give so much gold! It's impossible to cede the Kuril Islands!"

After hearing what he said, Abe Masahiro, Shimazu Nariakira, and Lin Fusai all breathed a sigh of relief.

If you can’t give 500,000 taels of gold, then what about 250,000 taels?

If the Kuril Islands cannot be ceded, what about the territory on Karafuto Island?

Paris France.

A train rumbled slowly into Paris Gare du Nord in a cloud of white steam, whistling. Princess Mathilde, wearing a long white dress that revealed her snow-white shoulders and holding a small white flower umbrella, stood on a VIP platform in the train station. A short, fat man with regular features and a suit, who accompanied her here to meet the train from Calais, smiled charmingly.

Mathilde noticed that he was laughing.

"Count, the Mr. Li Hongzhang I mentioned to you also came to Paris this time. He gave me the second volume of the Great Prophecy Book!"

Mathilde lowered her voice but still spoke with great excitement.

"Really? He really helped us a lot!" The count said with a smile, "Matilda, I heard that he has become the Qing Dynasty's ambassador to Britain. You can meet him often in the future."

Mathilde laughed and said, "I also want him to be the minister to France!"

(End of this chapter)