The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 365: Commander Hong, don't you want to monopolize power? (Please vote and subscribe)

The angel, of course, refers to Luo Yaoguo!
Of course, colluding with demons means colluding with the Qing demons!

Hong Xiuquan certainly knew that Luo Yaoguo had taken over Shanghai in the name of Luo Xueyan and had deceived the Qing Dynasty's Nanyang Minister and Shanghai Governor to do this. He had been to Shanghai himself, so how could he not know? Not only did he know, he also approved of Luo Yaoguo's actions.

The benefits of doing so are obvious. On the one hand, it can keep a vague space between the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the foreigners to avoid direct confrontation between the two sides. Hong Xiuquan also knows that the emperors, queens, kings, and popes on the foreign side will most likely not recognize his identity as the second son of God, and they may also treat him as an enemy.

Secondly, they could do business with foreigners through Shanghai, a port actually controlled by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and foreign guns and cannons were shipped in by the boatload!

Thirdly, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom could also use the shell of the Qing Dynasty's Nanyang Minister to export the God Worshipping Society.

Hong Daquan also knew that Hong Xiuquan knew about what Luo Yaoguo did in Shanghai under the name of Luo Xueyan - his wife Xu Yuegui was one of the "Five" in Shanghai, how could he not know?

Therefore, he did not write a letter to Hong Xiuquan to expose and denounce Luo Yaoguo, but reminded Hong Xiuquan that he could use "Angels' Communication with Demons" as a big card to play. By playing the "Angels' Communication with Demons" card, he could break the situation where the "Four Living Fathers" were above the Heavenly King, giving Hong Xiuquan the opportunity to seize power of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Of course, Hong Daquan did not write in the letter how to play this card. He just wanted to get a chance for an interview!

But Hong Xiuquan remained silent.

It’s not easy to seize power!
The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom at this time was not a monarchy, not even in name only. Rather, it was a republic ruled by the Heavenly King, the Eastern King, the Western King, the Southern King, and the King of Wu.

Because the King of the East could "speak on behalf of God", the King of the West could "speak on behalf of Ji Du", the King of the South was especially favored by Ji Du, and the King of Wu had the Tongtian Mirror which could "communicate with Ji Du" - the fact that Luo Yaoguo had the magic weapon "Tiantian Mirror" was kept unknown to Hong Xiuquan at first, but people like Xiao Chaogui, Hong Xuanjiao, Feng Yunshan, and Su Sanniang knew about it very early, and later many people around Luo Yaoguo also knew about it, so the secret could naturally no longer be kept.

Moreover, as Luo Yaoguo's power grew, there was no need to keep it secret. Therefore, Hong Xiuquan already knew that Luo Yaoguo had a good treasure that could "shake" Ji Du at any time!

Since God and Ji Du are higher than the Heavenly King in terms of righteousness, Yang Xiuqing, Xiao Chaogui, Luo Yaoguo and Feng Yunshan, who can "represent God", "represent Ji Du", "shake Ji Du" and "are loved by Ji Du", at least have the same royal power as Hong Xiuquan.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was not a monopoly of power by one king, but a republic of five kings.

And Hong Xiuquan was not the real "king", but General Hong. As for Yang Xiuqing, Xiao Chaogui, Luo Yaoguo, and Feng Yunshan, the other four could even vote to impeach General Hong!

Therefore, Hong Xiuquan's attempt to seize the supreme power of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was not a "Kangxi capturing Oboi" incident, but a coup d'état by the commander-in-chief, which had no legitimacy.

The Tianjing Incident in history was actually such a "coup d'état" in which the Heavenly King killed God! Not only did it lack legitimacy, it even destroyed the foundation of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's faith!

In the current Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, because Feng Yunshan and Xiao Chaogui are still alive, and there is also Luo Tianshi who can "shake the Ji Du", it is more difficult for Hong Xiuquan, the "commander-in-chief", to stage a coup - with four fathers, Feng Yunshan may not be enough of a father, but the other three "fathers" all have the power to "impeach" Hong Xiuquan.

However, it doesn't seem like a big deal to ask Hong Daquan. If he doesn't have any good ideas, just send him back to Japan quietly and pretend nothing happened!
There was silence in the hall.

Hong Xiuquan held Hong Daquan's letter in his hand, turning it over and over again, his face changing from gloomy to happy, as if he was having a fierce ideological struggle.

Daozi's forehead was pressed against the ground, letting the blood drip, his eyes were closed, and he did not move, as if he was under a spell.

Bian Sanniang had already heard what Hong Xiuquan had just said, so she put her hand on the hilt of the knife and glared at the rice, waiting for Hong Xiuquan's order to kill this evil woman who had provoked the brotherhood between the King of Heaven and the Angel with one knife!

Time passed by little by little, and no one knew how much time had passed. When Daozi, who had been used to kneeling since childhood, felt his legs go numb and was about to lose consciousness, Hong Xiuquan suddenly put down the letter in his hand and asked in a low voice: "Where is Daquan?"

As soon as he asked the question, Bian Sanniang suddenly raised her head and looked at the Heavenly King with a look of panic!

But the king just stared at the rice kneeling on the ground with a burning gaze.

Daozi remained in the kneeling position with her forehead pressed against the ground, and replied in a trembling voice: "Bishop Hong is still in Osaka."

Hong Xiuquan asked: "How can I get him to come to Tianjing to see me?"

"I can write to him!" Daozi said, "The Yuefa is still at Xiaguan Wharf. One of the girls I brought with me can speak some Chinese. I can let her accompany your majesty's envoy to Osaka. She will take the envoy to the church where Bishop Hong is."

"Then write it now!" Hong Xiuquan said, "Write it right here, Sanniang, untie her."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Bian Sanniang could only sigh softly, then drew her knife and cut the ropes on the rice.

When Daozi's letter and the envoy sent by Hong Xiuquan boarded the Yuefa and headed for Osaka, King Wu Luo Yaoguo once again transformed himself into Shanghai Governor Luo Xueyan. He had three important things to do in Shanghai this time.

The first was to open the Shanghai Tongwenguan and start the translation of Prussian elementary and middle school mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography and other textbooks into English.

The second was to meet with Colonel Asben, a naval adviser sent by the United Kingdom, to discuss the expansion of the Nanyang Navy and the establishment of the Shanghai Naval Officers School.

The third was to discuss with Hu Guangyong and others how to use the engineers and machinery and equipment brought back by Wang Libin to expand the Shanghai Silk Factory - this was the first step in industrialization!

"Great, that's great. The translation is great! Lan Qing, you have really made a great contribution this time. You are the best candidate for the position of Director of the Shanghai Tongwenguan! I will also arrange for you to be a deputy prefect, a fifth-rank official, and you will be Lord Wang in the future. In addition, I will ask Sister Yuegui to give you a one-acre house in Xujiahui!"

In Dianchun Hall in Yu Garden, Shanghai, Luo Xueyan was flipping through a Prussian first-grade mathematics textbook that had been "Chinese-ized" while rewarding Wang Libin. He gave him a lot of positions, official posts, and houses!
Ever since Luo Yaoguo took over Shanghai, where the money was rolling in, he has been willing to give money and houses to his subordinates.

After making arrangements for Wang Libin, the "old subordinate" who had made outstanding contributions, Luo Yaoguo turned his head and looked at the two newcomers who came from Hong Kong on the Dingyuan. They were two Cantonese. One of them was handsome, with thick eyebrows, big eyes and a square face. His surname was Huang and his name was Sheng.

A man with dark skin, high cheekbones, small eyes, and an average appearance. His name is Tang Tingshu!

Huang Sheng and Tang Tingshu were classmates at the Morrison School in Macau. Together with them were two other international students, Yung Wing and Huang Kuan.

Yung Wing is still studying at Yale and will graduate this year, while Huang Kuan is studying medicine in the UK and will receive his doctorate next year.

Now Huang Sheng and Tang Tingshu have been invited to Shanghai by Luo Xueyan through Legge's relationship. Sooner or later, those two will be invited to Shanghai to show their strengths.

"Pingfu, Jianshi, it's great that you two can come to Shanghai to work for me!" Luo Xueyan looked at the two new employees with a smile, "Shanghai has great potential, it is definitely better than Hong Kong. After all, Hong Kong is the British territory, and Shanghai belongs to us Chinese. There is an opportunity for you two to show your talents."

As he spoke, he took a sip of the coffee cup and said, "You two can help Lan Qing translate the Prussian textbooks at Tongwenguan first. After the translation work is completed, if you want to work in my shogunate, I will definitely use you.

If you want to do business in Shanghai, I can arrange for you to work in HSBC, Sanxin Company, Qichang Foreign Trade Co., Shanghai Silk Factory, and Jiangnan Shipyard.

If you think there are plenty of business opportunities in Shanghai, then I also believe in your talents and I will invest in you!
In addition, I know that you two have many classmates and relatives in Guangdong, among whom there are many outstanding people, you can recommend them to me. I will recommend people who are talented regardless of their relatives. Moreover, I have many industries to develop and many schools to open, and I urgently need talents who are proficient in business and foreign affairs! "

Although Luo Xueyan was only promising them something, the two newcomers were still flattered. He was the boss of Shanghai, the leader of the Qing Dynasty's Westernization Movement, and a warlord with 20,000 soldiers. He personally promised them something!

The two young men looked at each other and saw indescribable excitement on each other's faces - they finally came to the right place and met a wise leader!
The two men stood up together, bowed to Luo Xueyan, and said in unison: "I am willing to serve Marshal Xue at my utmost!"

"This is a small token of my appreciation. Please do not refuse it."

Finally, Luo Xueyan, with a courteous expression on his face, took out two 500-dollar HSBC bank notes and handed them over.

In the Haiyan Hall of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty was looking at a memorial handed to him by Woren, a great Neo-Confucian scholar from Beijing. He read it over and over again, and was still staring at it when it was almost lunchtime.

Suddenly, a clear voice came to his ears: "Your Majesty, I have brought Wanzhen to you."

(End of this chapter)