Slaying the Qing: My Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

"Gentlemen, since everyone agrees on destroying the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, we can consider ourselves to have reached a consensus on this issue. However, how many troops do we need to send to the Far East? How many troops will it take to achieve our goal?"

Edward Stanley, the Prime Minister of the British Empire, asked.

Although the British Empire was a world superpower and the world's leading superpower, this was mainly due to its powerful Royal Navy.

The British Empire's army was not large. Even now, its standing army numbered only 160,000.

Having already dispatched over 20,000 troops to the Far East, and with plans to send even more to the Indian subcontinent to suppress resistance, they seem unable to spare much more manpower.

After all, the British Empire's colonies all over the world also needed troops stationed there.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this is indeed a problem! Given the strength demonstrated by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, we must send more troops to the Far East. The current size of the Imperial Army, while meeting needs in other areas, is insufficient to accomplish this mission! We must mobilize and expand our military strength!"

Army Secretary Jonathan Peale said.

Compared to the Royal Navy, which was considered the foundation of the empire, the British Empire's army held a much lower status.

If there is an opportunity to expand its size, it will also help to enhance the status of the army.

"How many more soldiers does the army need to expand in order to win?" Chancellor of the Exchequer Benjamin Disraeli frowned.

Expanding the military means spending a lot of money.

"We need to expand our forces by at least 50,000 men. That way, we can send at least 30,000 more to the Far East. Combined with the 20,000 already sent out, we'll be able to defeat the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom." Jonathan Peele thought for a moment and then gave a number.

"Fifty thousand men is not a large number. With the Empire's financial resources, we can easily support them. As long as the Empire can defeat the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, we will be able to acquire even more wealth from the Far East!" said Prime Minister Edward Stanley.

Seeing that the Prime Minister had already made his statement, Benjamin Disraeli had no choice but to say nothing more.

"Your Excellency, gentlemen, in addition to the Empire, the Gauls should also send more troops. The Empire has allied with the Gauls this time. The Empire is now sending more reinforcements to destroy the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Therefore, the Gauls should naturally also send more troops with the Empire," Foreign Secretary James Harris proposed.

"That's right, this is not only the Empire's war, but also the Gauls' war. The Gauls should reinforce their troops alongside the Empire!" Prime Minister Edward Stanley nodded repeatedly.

"Your Excellency, as the Imperial Envoy, you must immediately travel to Gaul and persuade the Gauls to join the Empire in military action. After we have destroyed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, we will share the spoils and other benefits," Edward Stanley instructed.

Given the severe shortage of military manpower in the British Empire, bringing in the Gauls was undoubtedly a very good option.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I will depart for the Gallo-British Empire immediately. I am confident that His Majesty Napoleon III will not refuse us," James Harris said.

"Should the navy send additional fleets to the Far East?" Edward Stanley asked.

"Your Excellency, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom does not have a strong navy. In fact, their navy is almost non-existent. We have already sent more warships to the Far East. That is enough to control the seas. There is no need for the navy to send more warships to the Far East," said Admiral Henry Addington.

Edward Stanley nodded, without pressuring him.

"Your Excellency, the Navy is very interested in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's artillery. On the Navy side, new steam warships are under construction. Especially since we have learned that the Gauls are building a completely new warship. Therefore, the Royal Navy also needs more advanced artillery."

Improving in this area would undoubtedly further enhance the strength of the Royal Navy.

First Sea Secretary William Martin made the request.

In fact, the First Sea Lord is the highest-ranking official in the Royal Navy, equivalent to the Chief of Naval Staff.

“Absolutely no problem!” Edward Stanley replied immediately.

For the British Empire, the Royal Navy was the true foundation. Therefore, the Royal Navy's demands had to be met to the greatest extent possible.

After the high command of the British Empire reached a consensus, it was a foregone conclusion to send more troops to the Far East to destroy the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in one fell swoop.

Communication between the British Empire and the Gallo-British Empire was also quite effective.

Emperor Napoleon III was equally ambitious.

He hoped to lead the Gallo Empire to gain more benefits and colonies in the Far East.

Therefore, they were extremely vigilant about the rise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

A powerful nation would undoubtedly severely hinder the Gallo Empire's expansion in the Far East.

Therefore, since the British Empire intended to destroy the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Gallic Empire naturally wouldn't hold it back, much less refuse.

The Gallo Empire immediately expressed its willingness to send an additional 20,000 ground troops to the Far East to join the British Empire in eliminating the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

In this case, the British Empire and the Gallic Empire, joining forces, would deploy more than 80,000 ground troops.

An army of 80,000 men equipped with modern firearms and artillery was an extremely formidable force in that era.

This led the high-ranking officials of the British Empire and the Gallic Empire to believe that with such formidable power, they should be able to defeat the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

While the second batch of reinforcements from the British Empire and the Gallo Empire were rapidly setting off for the Far East, the faster cruisers had already made their way there.

Before telegraph lines were laid to the Far East, this was the only way to transmit information.

However, the Gauls had already established the Suez Canal Company and planned to dig the Suez Canal.

However, it will take more than ten years for this canal to become navigable.

From Europe to the Far East, one still needs to detour around the Cape of Good Hope.

At the same time, Du Han, a Grand Councilor of the Qing Empire, was ordered by Emperor Xianfeng to communicate with foreigners, hoping to unite with the British and the Gauls to besiege the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and completely annihilate it.

The Qing Empire did not allow foreigners to establish embassies in Yanjing, and Zhonghai County was captured by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Therefore, Du Han had no choice but to travel a long distance by boat to Hong Kong Island to meet with the foreigners.

For a high-ranking Grand Councilor, this was undoubtedly a very difficult journey.

But in order to serve the Qing Dynasty and to be loyal to the emperor, Du Han had no choice but to work tirelessly.

Furthermore, if he can complete his mission during this trip, he will surely gain the favor of Emperor Xianfeng.

At that time, I might be able to climb to an even higher position.

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Duhan immediately gained the attention of Count Elgin, the British Empire's envoy to the Qing Empire and commander-in-chief of the allied forces, and Baron Gros, the Gallic Empire's plenipotentiary representative.

The British and the Gauls have always hoped to establish a deeper diplomatic relationship with the Qing Empire.

However, the Qing Empire always regarded foreigners as barbarians from overseas and was unwilling to establish normal diplomatic relations with them.

This time, a high-ranking official from the Qing Empire took the initiative to visit, which was undoubtedly a long-awaited opportunity for the British and the Gauls.

Sir John Bowring, the Governor of the Hong Kong Colony of the British Empire, hosted a welcome dinner for John Duhan's arrival.

But for an old scholar like Du Han, those scantily clad foreign women were truly an eye-opener.

However, when the Governor's wife invited him to dance, they embraced. The strong scent of perfume hit him hard. This was undoubtedly a huge shock to Du Han's worldview, which he had lived most of his life in. He could only awkwardly sway to the Governor's wife's steps. In his heart, he couldn't help but admire that these foreigners weren't entirely without merit.

Perhaps, the Qing Dynasty should have deepened its exchanges with foreigners much earlier.