Slaying the Qing: My Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

"Your Majesty, now that your army has occupied Suzhou Prefecture, the entire southern Jiangsu region is under your control. We hope that your army can temporarily halt its advance."

Alternatively, if your army needs to launch an attack on other parts of the Qing Dynasty, it is best not to enter Songjiang Prefecture and instead take a detour through other places.

After all, the Empire had special interests in Songjiang Prefecture. The Empire, along with Gaul and the United States, held concessions in Songjiang Prefecture.

If your troops enter Songjiang Prefecture, it may cause unnecessary misunderstandings and seriously affect the relationship between our two countries.

I hope His Majesty the Emperor will accept my well-intentioned advice.

Henry Benson, the British Consul General in Songjiang Prefecture, made his request with a smile.

But Hong Tian's expression was quite grim at that moment.

These people who never set foot on the earth have been bandits for so long that it has become a habit.

Hong Tian was particularly annoyed by Consul Henry Benson's condescending attitude.

"Your Excellency, Songjiang Prefecture is a strategic location in southern Jiangsu, and we cannot afford to give it up. However, I can assure you that even if we enter Songjiang Prefecture, it will not affect trade between the two sides."

Foreign merchants may still conduct normal trade in Songjiang Prefecture. Of course, opium is an exception. Your Excellency should be aware that opium use is prohibited; all other legitimate trade, except for opium, will be protected!

Hong Tian suppressed his anger and made his stance clear.

If possible, Hong Tian did not want to fall out with the Sunless People at this time.

Especially given that the two bandits, the British and the Gauls, have clearly joined forces this time.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was far from having the strength to contend with the British and the Gauls.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's main target remains the Manchus.

Only by overthrowing the rule of the Manchus, restoring the Han dynasty, and establishing a powerful nation can we prevent the entire country and nation from being humiliated and oppressed by Western powers, as in another time and space, and avoid repeating the century of humiliation.

Consul Henry Benson frowned.

It should be understood that the opium trade had become the most profitable trade for merchants from various countries in the East.

As long as opium is continuously transported from overseas to the Far East, it can be exchanged for a large amount of silver.

In order to amass great wealth through the opium trade, the British Empire went to war with the Qing Dynasty more than a decade ago.

Now, the British are planning to join forces with the Gauls to wage war against the Qing Dynasty once again.

This demonstrates just how important the opium trade was to the British Empire.

How could they possibly give up this trade?

"Your Majesty, the opium trade is also a legitimate form of trade. In the field of medicine, opium plays a very important and irreplaceable role. Your Majesty's country should not prohibit this trade," Henry Benson said.

"Hmph! Your Excellency Consul. I admit that opium does have some effect in the medical field. However, throughout the East, opium has been abused and used for other purposes, creating a large number of addicts. Although this has brought you a lot of wealth, it has poisoned the entire country and the nation!" Hong Tian denounced.

As a time traveler, he was well aware of the immense harm that opium had caused to the country and its people.

"Your Majesty, our merchants are merely responsible for transporting opium to the East. How it is used is your own business. It has nothing to do with us!" Consul Henry Benson said, as if it were none of their concern.

"Then, Your Excellency, since you consider the opium trade to be legitimate, may I also send people to the British Empire to sell opium?" Hong Tian countered.

"No, absolutely not! Your Majesty, if you do this, you are provoking the Empire. Opium trade is illegal in the Empire. If Your Majesty dares to send people to the British Empire to sell opium, those people will all be hanged. At the same time, this will inevitably cause a fierce conflict between the two countries. I advise Your Majesty not to do this!" Consul Henry Benson's reaction was very strong.

"Your Excellency, do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. Since the opium trade is prohibited in the British Empire, it should also be prohibited in the Heavenly Kingdom!" Hong Tian's attitude was very firm.

Consul Henry Benson looked very displeased.

"Your Majesty, I think we seem to have strayed from the topic. I came to Tianjing City this time to hope that Your Majesty's army would not enter Songjiang Prefecture, not to address any other issues."

"I hope Your Majesty will consider the long-standing friendly relations between our two nations, and also remember the immense assistance Your Majesty has received from the Empire's merchants over the years, and grant my request!"

Consul Henry Benson said.

Hong Tian shook his head: "Your Excellency, my army will definitely enter Songjiang Prefecture. However, I can promise to guarantee your legitimate trade."

But this answer clearly did not satisfy Consul Henry Benson.

"Your Majesty, if you insist on this course of action, then I regret to inform you that all trade between your country and ours will be terminated!"

And it's not just us. The same goes for Gaul!

Consul Henry Benson made a direct threat.

Hong Tian admitted that if the British and the Gauls banned trade, it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

In particular, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's arsenals required large quantities of steel, copper ingots, and saltpeter.

In addition, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom imported a large number of steam engines and shipbuilding equipment from the British Empire.

However, this cannot be a condition for the British Empire to do whatever it wants.

Hong Tian had been well-prepared for some time. Over the past few months, he had been increasing trade with the British and the Gauls, and had stockpiled large quantities of steel, copper ingots, and saltpeter.

This was enough to sustain the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom for a period of time.

Once the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom repelled this round of attacks by the Qing army, it could increase the mining of copper in Tonglin and iron and copper ore in Daye, thus achieving self-sufficiency in these two important resources.

As for saltpeter, we can try to find it from other parts of the country.

As for the steam engines and shipbuilding equipment, they had already been delivered ahead of schedule.

The shipyard is under construction and the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in the second half of the year, at which point the shipyard will begin building its own warships.

As for steam engines, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom also set up a machine manufacturing plant and, under the guidance of Hong Tian, ​​began to manufacture steam engines on its own.

Therefore, it was utterly delusional for the British to think they could use these things to strangle the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

"Your Excellency, this is your prerogative," Hong Tian said dismissively.

After Consul Henry Benson realized that banning trade would not bring Hong Tian to his knees, he had to find another way.

"Your Majesty, if your army enters Songjiang Prefecture and provokes a conflict between our two sides, or even causes casualties among citizens of the Empire or Gaul, then the consequences will be extremely serious. You will bear all the consequences!" Consul Henry Benson's threat had undoubtedly escalated to a new level.

"Your Excellency, is this considered a threat of war?" Hong Tian asked directly.

"Your Majesty, you can understand it that way!" Consul Henry Benson said with a proud look.

It's important to know that the British Empire was the most powerful country in the world at that time.

The Royal Navy, in particular, is the most powerful navy in the world.

Few countries in the world could remain indifferent when faced with the threat of the British Empire.

Consul Henry Benson believed that Hong Tian would eventually yield to the threat of war from the British Empire.

However, the next second he realized he was wrong, very wrong.

"Your Excellency, I do not wish to be enemies with the British Empire. However, if the British Empire insists on imposing war on us, then I believe that all the soldiers and people of the Heavenly Kingdom will not be afraid."

So, if you want war, then we have no choice but to give you war!

Hong Tian's answer was resolute.