The Heroic Age of the Late Qing Dynasty

Yuan Shikai immediately stepped out of the line and hunched over, replying, "In reply to the Empress Dowager, the Beiyang Third Regiment has already dispatched troops, with the goal of capturing Niangzi Pass in Shanxi."

Yuan Shikai, naturally, only reported good news, not bad news. He answered whatever Cixi asked. Yuan Shikai naturally wouldn't tell Cixi that the other Beiyang garrisons were stationed in the countryside, leaving them with few mobile forces. Bandits were roiling Shandong, and the Beiyang New Army stationed in Jinan was pinned down, unable to move. Zhili was currently experiencing instability, with workers in places like the Luanzhou coal mine on strike. Beiyang troops stationed in Beijing and other parts of Zhili were also stationed in the countryside, leaving them powerless. If Yuan Shikai had told her the truth, he could have packed up and left immediately.

After Cixi asked Yuan Shikai a few more questions, she immediately turned to Yizhu, "Prince Qing, I asked you to raise money from foreigners to postpone the indemnity. What's going on now?"

Yi Tuan immediately stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, the foreign envoys have introduced the banking group to us, and negotiations are still ongoing. As for the compensation, the foreigners have not yet agreed. They said it will be deducted from the customs duties in advance..."

"Then what about asking the foreign soldiers for help?"

"The ministers of various countries have conveyed our request back to their countries, and a reply will be forthcoming soon."

Not getting the answer she wanted, Cixi immediately said: "This time the Red Bandits sank the British warships. How can England let it go? Our dynasty must make friends with England. This is a great opportunity. Your Ministry of Foreign Affairs must urge England to send troops to eliminate the Red Bandits. Foreigners value profit. The road and mining rights in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and other places can all be granted to England. As long as the Red Bandits are eliminated, you can tell England that the rights in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou can be taken..."

At this time, Cixi had no intention of relying on the Qing Dynasty to solve the problem on its own. Zhang Yinghao naturally knew that if the Qing Dynasty wanted to continue to survive, it could only desperately sell out China's interests. However, after sinking the British warship, Zhang Yinghao's attention was naturally on the foreign powers. After all, the Qing Dynasty! What's the harm in letting them live for two more days?

After the court meeting, Cixi left Tieliang, Yizhu and other important Manchu officials alone to continue discussing state affairs. Cixi said directly: "Tieliang, how are our Eight Banner warriors training now?"

After the revolutionaries left Shaanxi, Cixi felt the Sichuan uprising was a repeat of the Taiping Rebellion. Given her age and the Qing's current state, she knew the country could no longer rely heavily on Han Chinese forces, and she immediately began training the "Eight Banners."

When Yizhu heard the words "Eight Banner Warriors," his lips twitched and he quickly lowered his head to hide his expression. But it also reminded Yituan of this forgotten "powerful force" of the Qing Dynasty. Yes! The Empress Dowager truly had good intentions. The Eight Banners were a military organization founded by Nurhaci, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty. During the reign of Huang Taiji, they were further divided into the Manchu, Mongol, and Han banners based on ethnicity. From Nurhaci's creation to the Qing army's capture of Beijing in 1644, the Eight Banners practiced a unified military and civilian system, combining military, administrative, and production functions.

The Eight Banners Army was once the most powerful force of the Qing Dynasty. Their strict discipline in battle was unwavering, and they only advanced, never retreating. Even when suffering heavy casualties and bodies piled high in the air, few retreated. It was said that even if they had fewer than 10,000 cavalrymen, they were invincible. Their terrifying combat power was virtually invincible, and their campaigns from Shengjing all the way to the Central Plains, ultimately unifying China, were built on the strength of the Eight Banners Army.

Yizhu tried to recall the information about the Eight Banners Army. This once formidable force truly fascinated him. But why was it so fragile now? The phrase "difficult to reverse" popped into Yituan's mind.

To maintain their political power and reward the Eight Banners' military achievements, the Manchu imperial family granted the Eight Banners officers and soldiers generous treatment from the outset of the founding of the country. This freed them from worries and allowed them to focus on training and maintain their original military qualities. At the same time, the Qing court also strictly prohibited Eight Banners officers and soldiers from working, trading, or engaging in other livelihoods, in order to cultivate a professional army.

The idea was a good one, but reality backfired. Starting during the Shunzhi and Kangxi reigns, the Eight Banners began to pursue a life of luxury and a decline in their fighting spirit. In the campaigns to quell the "Three Feudatories Rebellion," the Eight Banners' former primary role was replaced by the Green Camp. In key battles during the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns, such as the Battle of Qaidam, the pacification of the Hezhuo clans, and the Jinchuan campaigns, despite the limited number of Eight Banners soldiers involved, some of these supposedly elite Eight Banners units performed far inferior to the Green Camp troops. Their former daring and aggressive style was long gone.

From the Jiaqing period to the present, Yizhu shook his head. The Eight Banners Army has gradually evolved into a social relief organization that relies solely on state support. It has lost its basic combat capability and can no longer be called an army. Now want to reorganize the Eight Banners Army again? Alas! Yituan sighed in his heart and could only sigh in his heart: "Empress Dowager, why bother?"

How could Cixi not know what Yizhu knew? But Cixi had no other options at this point. She couldn't let the Qing Dynasty perish in her hands, so even if it was just a lifeline, she had to grab it and give it a try! Moreover, Cixi really didn't expect the Eight Banners Army to be able to fight the Red Bandits, but it wouldn't be a problem to let them garrison and suppress the bandits, right? Only in this way could the Beiyang Army be freed up to fight the Red Bandits! Otherwise, what would it be like if the Beiyang Army, which had been trained at such a great cost, became a garrison?

When Yizhu came to his senses, he had already missed Tieliang's answer. He quickly concentrated his mind and heard Cixi ask again: "Tieliang, when can the Beiyang Army go to attack the Red Bandits? And take back the country we have lost?"

Tieliang looked at the Empress Dowager Cixi, seated in the upper throne, feeling a mixture of emotions. He knew that Empress Dowager Cixi had always taken good care of herself, but at this moment, her haggard appearance could no longer be concealed. He had been reporting to her on military matters for the past few days, and had witnessed her rapidly declining complexion. Especially after hearing about the capture of Taiyuan by the Red Bandits, she was so overcome with emotion that she spat blood, muttered, "Heaven will destroy the Qing Dynasty," and then fainted.

Cixi, too, suffered a tragic fate, losing her husband at an early age and her son in middle age. While residing in the inner court, she manipulated the Qing officials with her own skill. She desperately tried to save the Qing dynasty from its abyss, but the Qing dynasty inevitably plunged headfirst into irretrievable ruin. Now, in her old age, she could no longer bear the devastation of losing her country. Therefore, naturally, as long as she had breath, she was determined to eliminate the Communist bandits and ensure the continued prosperity of the Qing dynasty for generations to come.

After hearing the question, Tieliang quickly knelt down, kowtowed hurriedly and said: "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. The troops are already being mobilized, and we will soon launch a counterattack against the Red Bandits."

Tieliang naturally wouldn't tell the truth now. After the Red Bandits captured Taiyuan, Lu Jianzhang had simply surrendered. Tieliang no longer trusted the Beiyang New Army. Zhili was no longer peaceful, with banditry surging in the countryside. Tieliang simply hoped the Beiyang New Army could suppress the locals and prevent major unrest in Shandong and Zhili. This was one of the reasons he was so overjoyed when he heard the Red Bandits had sunk the British warship. Tieliang knew that to eliminate the Red Bandits, he could only rely on the foreign troops.

Moreover, the Beiyang Army needed money to send troops. Every time they sent troops, they had to pay such bizarre expenses as troop expenses. These soldiers were willing to pay for nothing except money. But could the Qing Dynasty afford it now? The customs and salt taxes were controlled by the foreign powers, and the court still owed them so much in reparations. The court simply did not have the money to let the Beiyang Army work for it.

Of course, this doesn't mean that just because the imperial court was broke, the Manchu royal family would be broke. They had plundered China for over two hundred years, amassing enough wealth to last them dozens of lifetimes. But what did this wealth have to do with the Qing? The Qing Dynasty at this time was very similar to the late Ming Dynasty. Most of the high-ranking officials in the imperial court were extremely wealthy, but expecting them to give their money to the court was a pipe dream.

Moreover, the numerous imperial farms in Zhili were originally occupied by the Manchus when they entered the Shanhai Pass. Now these lands are still in their hands, so when the people of the whole world are starving, they can still live a life of ease and comfort. Perhaps this is how the Eight Banners lost their fighting power. The Eight Banners were not fools. They knew that the benefits they fought so hard for were taken by the Manchu royal family, while they were raised as thugs by the Manchus. When they were not needed, they were given some leftovers to feed the pigs. When they were needed, they were forced to fight for their lives. How could such a thing be justified in the world?

Anyone with a bit of calculation would know that this wasn't worth it, but as slaves, the Eight Banners naturally didn't dare to directly rebel against their masters. So, let's just go on a slack and give up! You want me to work for you? No way. While there were occasional talented individuals within the Eight Banners, their decline was inevitable.

Seeing that she had gotten the answer she wanted, Cixi turned to Yizhu and asked, "What do the foreigners say now?"

Cixi was also afraid that Yizhu would lie to her, or worried that Yituan would not dare to tell the truth in front of so many ministers, so she specifically asked Yizhu this question.

"Lao Foye is now in contact with foreigners. I believe

We will be able to get a loan soon, and we will send troops immediately after receiving the loan."

After hearing this, Cixi nodded and said, "Well, go tell those foreigners that as long as they can eliminate the Red Bandits, the Qing Dynasty is willing to rule the world with them."

Tieliang couldn't believe his ears after hearing these desperate words. But after thinking about it carefully, he could understand. After all, the world was about to be lost. No matter how much he promised, he had to eliminate the Red Bandits first. However, Tieliang didn't dare to say anything about this matter. If such a thing was recorded in the history books, he would be criticized.

"Master, this... this is inappropriate."

When Cixi heard Tieliang's question, she suddenly opened her eyes and suppressed her aura. Tieliang saw Cixi's eyes and trembled like a little white rabbit, with cold sweat oozing from his forehead. He really couldn't understand how such an old lady could burst out with such a powerful aura. Tieliang didn't dare to look at Cixi again.

Cixi stared at Tieliang for a while before saying, "I would rather befriend a foreign nation than a domestic slave. Tieliang!"

Tieliang kowtowed and replied, "Your servant is here." "Do you think foreigners can rule the world?"

Without waiting for Tieliang's reply, Cixi replied directly: "Foreigners cannot rule this world, they still have to rely on us. Foreigners only want a little profit, can they really move this land away? With the help of foreigners, our Aixinjueluo family can enjoy this world forever. If this world is obtained by those slaves, then our Aixinjueluo family will completely lose this country, and your glory and wealth will be gone. Do you understand?"

After the Boxer Rebellion, Cixi now understood clearly that foreigners could not rule the world. Ultimately, the Qing court had to maintain local order so that the foreign powers could gain sufficient benefits in China. Without the Qing court, the unruly people below would not listen to the foreigners!

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, I understand! I understand!" Tieliang was stared at by Cixi and hurriedly lowered his head to answer. "Can our Eight Banners Army be used?"

"Master Buddha, they are already strengthening their training. I believe they will be useful in the battle against the Red Bandits."

Regardless of whether Tieliang was lying to her or not, Cixi nodded in satisfaction: "Well, it's because we relied too much on the Han people in the past that we, the Manchus, have fallen into this state now. Let them go and fight the bandits to gain some experience, otherwise they may not be able to defeat those red bandits. How is the food supply for the troops now?"

"Replying to the Buddha, this is a difficult matter. There is very little grain trading in the market. The price of grain in the capital has risen too much today."

"How is the food in those imperial farms?"

Tie Liang was stunned. Now he finally understood. The old queen was planning to give it one last try. If she failed, everything would be over. If she won by chance, she could also meet her ancestors.

Although the imperial farms could theoretically provide a large amount of grain, they were the private plots of the princes and nobles, their personal property. Now these princes and nobles were waiting to sell this grain to make a fortune in the national crisis, so it was easy to imagine how much resistance they would encounter if they tried to move the grain from the imperial farms.

"Old Buddha, can the princes and nobles agree to this?"

"Hmph, the Qing Dynasty is about to fall, and you still want them to agree or not? These families have relied on the prosperity of the Qing Dynasty for so long. Now is the time to unite sincerely. They should also overcome difficulties with the Qing Dynasty and live and die together. Just say that it is my imperial decree and ask them to hand over all the grain to me."

"Yes, yes, I'll do it right away."

"What is Yuan Shikai doing now?"

"In reply to the old man, he is now reorganizing the army."

"These new troops are no good. My Qing Dynasty spent so much money to support them, but they are still useless at the critical moment. They have so many guns and cannons, but they still can't even defeat the Red Bandits. This time when we fight the Red Bandits, we will take all these new troops with us."

"Old Buddha, what about the defense of the capital?"

"Do we still need to defend? Ask the foreigners to send troops for protection and let them join in. We are not having a good time. Even if these red bandits take over the Qing Dynasty, we will not let them have an easy time. Humph!!"

Chapter 415:

Newspapers around the world reported on the "Mountain Oriole" incident. Driven by deliberate forces, the story quickly spread, generating considerable controversy. When the news reached Britain, it immediately caused a massive uproar. Great Britain was in uproar, with cries of war and destruction echoing endlessly. The British Empire had been bullied once again by the ignorant and backward Qing Dynasty. The entire British people felt humiliated! It was truly unbearable for the uncles, but not for the aunts.

In the minds of most British colonialists, the Qing dynasty was synonymous with poverty, backwardness, ignorance, and decay. In their minds, the British Empire was unparalleled, and its ships should be free to dock in Chinese waters. They could march with just a few thousand men and defeat the Qing dynasty with impunity. The sound of British gunfire would send the Chinese people trembling and begging for mercy, only to be forced to cede territory, pay compensation, and sign unequal treaties. Ever since the Opium War, Britain had disregarded the Qing dynasty, viewing it as the "sick man of East Asia" and a heavy smoker.

Perhaps humans are really forgetful animals. Even though the People's Liberation Army defeated and captured thousands of British troops twice, many people still did not learn their lesson. They still believed that the people in the liberated areas were the same as the people under the rule of the Qing Dynasty, and that the People's Liberation Army was still the corrupt army of the Qing Dynasty.

The world's great powers watched the British Empire's reaction, wondering what message would be emanating from 10 Downing Street. In the eyes of the great powers, the loss of a small warship in the benighted Far East was a significant blow. The great powers knew that Britain relied on its ironclad warships to dominate the seas. After defeating the maritime powers of Spain and the Netherlands, it became known as the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets! Britain now monopolized global trade and finance, dominating the world.

Britain also relied on its powerful ships and cannons to break open China's door and open up the Chinese market. Since entering Chinese territorial waters, British ironclad warships have been able to move freely. Now, facing provocations from rebel forces in the Qing Dynasty, this provocation is not only against the British Empire, but also against the colonial system and world order maintained by the British Empire, and even more so, the British Empire's prestige in China.

Why has the new Indian Viceroy, Gilbert Elliott-Murray-Kinningmond, 4th Earl of Minto, achieved no significant results since arriving in India? Despite increasing troops along the Tibet-India and Yunnan-Myanmar borders and even strongly threatening to attack Tibet and Yunnan, the British Parliament has yet to approve a resolution to send troops? Many people in Britain have remained rational and calm, refraining from warmongering. More importantly, the British Empire has yet to recover from the aftermath of the Boer War, and the country is deeply uneasy about the possibility of being drawn into another "Boer War."

—The politicians in Downing Street are also very aware of the current situation of the British Empire. It is no exaggeration to describe it as facing internal and external troubles.

The Far East was indeed poor and backward, but the Qing rebels captured thousands of imperial soldiers twice in XZ and Yunnan. After the Qing rebels released these prisoners, they naturally also received combat reports submitted by a number of captured officers. Moreover, the Qing rebels also raided and captured Myitkyina and Bhamo. These facts prove that the Qing rebels possessed certain combat capabilities and combat effectiveness.

Although the British Empire believed that if an all-out war with the Qing rebels were to take place, the British Empire would undoubtedly be the victor, captured British officers reported that the Qing rebels were perhaps even more powerful than the two small Boer republics in South Africa, and could even be considered the largest power in the Far East after Japan, making their potential for war difficult to estimate.

British officers, having experienced the Boer War, remained arrogant and looked down on the Qing rebels, but they also anticipated the potential for war. They anticipated that the Eight-Nation Alliance, after conquering the capital and advancing westward, would have been forced to halt at Niangzi Pass in Shanxi. Sadly, they discovered that the imperial army could not even reach the Qing rebels' core regions of Sichuan and Shaanxi. The Qing rebels lacked access to the sea, and even sending large warships to the Far East would pose little threat. The attempt to force the Qing rebels into submission through naval gunfire proved ineffective.

What if a large number of land forces were sent? Once mired in the Chinese civil war, would Britain be drawn into the quagmire of war, leading to another costly "Boer War"? If a protracted war were truly ensuing, what good would victory do? While some merchants and bankers would profit, the cost would be for Chinese merchants and bankers who would become the biggest victims. Britain would completely lose the Chinese market, a market it had acquired through war. The market it had cultivated for years was gone! This loss was significant. Furthermore, the influence it had maintained in China for many years would be lost, and the safety of tourists and expatriates in China would no longer be guaranteed.

However, the British Empire naturally could not do anything to embolden others and undermine its own prestige. Therefore, after the "Hillbilly" incident, British Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bennenan immediately issued a harsh warning: "British warships sailing on the Yangtze River have the permission of the Qing central government and can do so freely... If the Qing rebels do not apologize and compensate for this incident, the British Empire will send a large fleet to the Far East to retaliate with force... All consequences will be borne by the Qing rebels."

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannenan's harsh words certainly resonated with many colonialists, who immediately called for the Qing rebels to be taught a lesson. Perhaps, in their eyes, China would always be the "backward, sick man of East Asia," the target of their wanton exploitation and oppression, while Britain would always be the world hegemon, the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets"! His words were filled with arrogance and ignorance.

Perhaps with the foundation laid by Sadow's previous meeting, after hearing the British Prime Minister's speech, diplomats from France, Japan, Tsarist Russia, Germany, and other countries immediately sent positive signals to London. Based on the principle of unanimity among the great powers, they expressed their full support for Britain's actions against China...

Any European or American country seeking to weaken the British Empire, the world's dominant power, would undoubtedly support Britain's involvement in Far Eastern affairs and its deep involvement in China's civil war. If Britain could have another "Boer War" in China, it would have been a great opportunity for the European and American powers.

Seeing the support of the British Empire from the other powers, some warmongers in Britain naturally clamored for punishment of China. However, in the eyes of most British politicians, these countries' support for the British Empire at this time was definitely not a good intention. Britain can be said to be a model of seeking truth from facts. Everything they do is based on the national interests of the British Empire, and their policies are constantly changing according to the situation.

So, while Britain was issuing harsh words, it also issued orders to Sadowie: to quickly stabilize the Qing situation and safeguard British interests in China. However, the Qing rebels could not be attacked, at least not by British soldiers themselves. However, it was necessary to test the Qing rebels' attitude toward the British Empire and determine whether peaceful negotiations were possible. It was imperative that the Qing rebels recognize the series of treaties signed between the Chinese central government and the foreign powers... If necessary, the Qing court could be acquitted of loan issues, and even the Qing rebels' legal status could be recognized domestically.

The British Empire now does not want to send warships and soldiers to start a war, but also wants to maintain the situation, maintain peace, and guarantee its interests. It also wants the liberated areas to recognize the treaties signed by the great powers with the Qing Dynasty. These demands seem contradictory, but in fact they all understand the essence that the truth is only within the range of cannons. When the cannons cannot reach the liberated areas, they try their best to preserve the interests of the British Empire in China.

After reading the telegram sent to him from China, Sa Daoyi frowned. If China was not prepared to send warships and troops, then his previous statement to the foreign ministers about reserving the right to send troops would be nonsense. Of course, for diplomats like them, refusing to do so was a trivial matter.

Just as Sa Daoyi was thinking about how to handle this matter, a staff member walked in and said to him, "Sir, this is the message that the consulate in Shanghai just received from the Qing rebel leader and asked them to pass it on to you."

Upon hearing this, Sa Daoyi frowned immediately. What was the content of the letter from the rebel leader Zhang Yinghao to him? What was this about? But Sa Daoyi still took the telegram and started reading it. He wanted to see what the rebel leader was planning.

The British Prime Minister's harsh words were reported by newspapers like The Times. When the news reached coastal China, it caused an immediate uproar. Residents of coastal and riverside cities were naturally terrified. Those in Nanjing and Shanghai, familiar with the might of the warships and artillery of the great powers, were in a state of panic. Those with Anglophobia were even more terrified. It could be said that a single threat from the British Prime Minister had driven many "wise men" in these places into despair.

The comrades in Shanghai naturally sent the content of the Times to the liberated areas as soon as possible. After Zhang Yinghao received the content of the British Prime Minister's speech, he keenly discovered that the British Prime Minister did not say how many land forces would be sent, nor did he say when to send a large fleet to punish the liberated areas. Moreover, Zhang Yinghao knew that if the British really wanted to punish the liberated areas and bombard them, their fleet in the Far East could immediately launch the bombardment. Which warship could not flatten a Chinese city? Which could not cause the deaths of tens of thousands of people? Why would they need to send more warships from Europe?

Zhang Yinghao thought for a moment and immediately wrote down the first sentence: If you, Britain, want to invade the liberated areas, unless you kill all the Chinese, you will have to prepare more building materials to build concentration camps and bunkers, transport more barbed wire, and be prepared for the loss of tens of thousands of British soldiers and the cost of hundreds of millions of pounds.

To prevent the Boers from becoming a mass army, the British built 50 concentration camps to detain women and children during the Boer War. In areas where Boer guerrillas were active, the British erected 6000 kilometers of barbed wire to conduct sweeps of guerrilla zones. They also erected over 8,000 bunkers.

Zhang Yinghao's first sentence was to tell the British that the Liberated Areas were also aware of the Boer War waged by the British Empire in Africa. He was telling the British that if they wanted to fight, then they could fight. The Liberated Areas were fully prepared mentally and militarily, and would not rely on the mercy or favors of the great powers to unify the country and maintain peace.

Zhang Yinghao wrote this because he upholds the principle that peace survives when it is sought through struggle, but dies when it is sought through compromise. The cost of fighting in the Far East is far greater than in South Africa. The cost of transporting troops alone is beyond the reach of most nations, and the military expenditure could easily reach hundreds of millions of pounds. If tens of thousands of British soldiers were killed in action, Britain would collapse, not to mention the cabinet's downfall. Consider the Boer War alone, which ultimately led to the Queen's death from worry.

Of course, Zhang Yinghao's decision to privately convey his writings to British Minister to China, rather than issuing a public telegram or publishing it in the newspapers, was to fight without breaking the enemy. If the conflict were made public, the British Empire would ultimately be unable to resolve the situation, and to save face, they would be prone to extremes. While Britain wouldn't necessarily send troops to launch a war against the liberated areas, shelling Chinese cities was certainly within their reach.

For Zhang Yinghao, the best approach to this matter was to minimize it. Just like the "Amethyst Incident" in his previous life, after three months of fruitless negotiations, British soldiers were allowed to exchange food with Chinese civilians. Didn't the Chinese leaders know that Britain could repair the stranded Amethyst? Furthermore, they ultimately allowed the ship to slip away. One reason for this was that they didn't want to further escalate the conflict with Britain. Amethyst's secret departure directly resolved the conflict.

After writing the first sentence, Zhang Yinghao continued: The liberated area government led by the Progressive Party does not want to carry out a blind xenophobic movement like the "Boxer Rebellion", but American products are still unsold in large quantities.

After reading this, Sa Daoyi paused in silence. He was well aware that the unequal treaty, "Contracts between the United States and China to Restrict Chinese Workers and Protect Chinese Living in the United States," had sparked a boycott of American goods, leading to a massive slump in sales. He also knew that British merchants had been behind the initial push. After all, with American goods out of the market, British goods could increase their market share and earn more profits.

However, the development ultimately defied expectations for Sadaoyi and the British. The Chinese people's united support led to a nearly 50% drop in US exports to China, further eroding the image of Americans in China. Having experienced the Boxer Rebellion, Sadaoyi felt once again the power of anti-foreign sentiment in China. After reading Zhang Yinghao's words, Sadaoyi immediately understood that the Sichuan rebels were behind the boycott of American goods. He felt it was a naked threat, a way of telling Sadaoyi that if the Chinese could boycott American goods, they could also boycott British goods. They also assured Sadaoyi that a nationwide "Boxer Rebellion"-style anti-foreign movement wasn't inconceivable in the liberated areas; they simply didn't want one.

Sa Daoyi looked at the contents and felt that it was a naked threat. He felt very uncomfortable, but he still patiently continued to read it. He saw that it said: The British Empire is welcome to send people to Chongqing immediately to discuss the solution and follow-up matters for the captured officers and soldiers of the "Shanying" warship.

After reading these three sentences, Sa Daoyi could no longer suppress his anger and immediately said angrily: "Threats, these are naked threats. The British Empire must not be threatened by this..."

Sa Daoyi's words were certainly well-founded. Considering that Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Austria, and Italy all have warships stationed along China's coast and rivers, some of them tens of thousands of tons. A group of inexperienced rebels, without a single naval vessel, dared to threaten the British Empire—something that would have been unimaginable. In Sa Daoyi's view, the best way to describe the Sichuan rebels is to use a Chinese proverb: "An old man hangs himself because his life is too long; lighting a lantern in the toilet is courting death..."

Sadow knew that once the British Empire was threatened by the Qing rebels, it would be equivalent to finding the British Empire's weak spot, which would inevitably lead to endless troubles.

But what can he do?

Chapter 416:

If Zhang Yinghao knew that Sa Daoyi would read his three sentences and consider them a threat, it would be a profound injustice, even more so than the injustice inflicted on Dou E. Zhang Yinghao simply believed he was stating the facts. He could only say to Sa Daoyi, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you!" He even felt that this was an expression of goodwill towards the British Empire. He simply couldn't believe Sa Daoyi couldn't see it. If he truly couldn't, it must be due to his old arrogance and prejudice.

Of course, if Zhang Yinghao had placed himself in the shoes of the British Empire, he would have naturally felt that his writing was indeed threatening and reached a different conclusion. However, people of this era had not yet experienced the brutality of World War I and World War II, nor had the Soviet Union been established. No one believed in the power of the working class. The Chinese at that time had not yet experienced the War of Liberation and had no idea of ​​the great and tremendous power they possessed. Therefore, it is understandable that Sa Daoyi felt that Zhang Yinghao's words were threatening, or that many Chinese were frightened by the British Prime Minister's words.

The first country to open a bank and build railways in China was Britain. British companies such as Jardine Matheson, Swire, Sassoon and British American Tobacco controlled China's major economic sectors such as finance, real estate, shipping, railways, and tobacco. China's financial industry was dominated by the British HSBC Bank, and the post of China's General Commissioner of Customs was always in the hands of the British Hart.

From the 19th century to the early 20th century, China's foreign trade was primarily with Britain, while trade with China was the largest component of Britain's imports and exports. The modernization of China's military began with the Westernization Movement. The establishment of arsenals and the manufacture of guns and artillery relied on British "help." The Huai Army purchased weapons and ammunition from Britain and hired British officers to train the troops and form a foreign rifle corps. Furthermore, the establishment of China's modern navy also benefited from British assistance.

The British Empire was the first to launch the Opium Wars, becoming the first country to break the Qing Dynasty's dream of being the "Heavenly Kingdom." In modern Chinese history, starting with the Opium Wars, the British Empire, through the signing of unequal treaties, continuously sought privileges in China and constantly interfered in China's internal affairs. This had a huge impact on China in all aspects of politics, economy, military, ideology, and culture, ultimately causing China to gradually lose its status as an independent country.

After the 1860s, the British Empire supported the Qing Dynasty in suppressing uprisings such as the Taiping Rebellion. Britain was even one of the main countries that continued to support the Qing Dynasty until its demise.

Given the vast British interests in China, it's unlikely that Sadaoyi would have remained the Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China for such a long time if he weren't exceptionally capable and intelligent. Naturally, Sadaoyi understood what Zhang Yinghao was trying to convey. Sadaoyi personally witnessed the Boxer Rebellion from 1900 to 1902, experienced the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of China, participated in the negotiations leading to the Boxer Protocol and the Sino-British Supplementary Agreement on Trade and Navigation, and witnessed the 1903 Anti-Russia Movement and the current Russo-Japanese War. In just a few short years, Sadaoyi witnessed a series of dramatic changes in the Qing Dynasty and personally adjusted British policy toward China on numerous occasions.

Precisely because he clearly understood the situation in China and the plight of the British Empire, Sa Daoyi now genuinely loathed the rebels led by the Progressive Party. As long as the Progressive Party wasn't involved, Sa Daoyi was the emperor of the entire Qing Dynasty, subject to obedience from all. He had his way in China, dominating the powers represented by Li Hongzhang, Liu Kunyi, Zhang Zhidong, Yuan Shikai, and other important Qing officials. Simply by telling them that he represented the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets," the world's foremost superpower, Britain, these forces would immediately fall into line. Want to stop? British warships could simply patrol the region and warn various Chinese factions. Wasn't that how the Southeast Mutual Protection Agreement, signed during the Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of China, came about? Anyone who dared to interfere with British interests would be dealt a heavy blow.

However, ever since the Sichuan Forward Party rebellion began, the British Empire had increasingly felt its powerless in the Far East. The Sichuan rebels had directly chosen war in Tibet, had stubbornly opted for war in Yunnan, and now were showing no sign of reluctance to engage in an all-out war with the British Empire. The Sichuan rebels showed no fear of the British threat, rendering the conventional deterrents traditionally employed by the British Empire ineffective in dealing with China. War was the only remaining option.

War? Waging war isn't so easy! War is a continuation of politics, and politics is about interests. As the saying goes, national interests are above all else. China's boycott of American goods is in full swing, and the results are remarkable. British merchants aren't fools, and naturally don't want the Chinese people to point their fingers at them, drawing fire upon themselves and letting the Chinese xenophobia gather force. If the Chinese launched a comprehensive boycott of British goods, these merchants in China would inevitably suffer heavy losses, and would ultimately blame the envoy, the Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and drive him out of office, ending his political career.

Sa Daoyi sighed. If any Qing dynasty force had dared to sink British warships in the past, the British Empire would have already instructed him to use force to coerce the Qing government. Just like the previous "Margary Incident," Margary led his exploratory team to Tengyue City in Yunnan Province and was blocked by local residents. Unreasonably, Margary not only threatened to attack Tengyue City but also ordered the civilians to be fired upon, killing several on the spot.

Angry locals demanded that Lieutenant General Li Zhenguo of Tengyue capture and kill the British who had caused the disturbance. At the people's request, Li Zhenguo dispatched troops to intercept Margary and his companions at various passes. The locals also spontaneously organized search parties, eventually finding Margary and beheading him, then hanging their heads high on the walls of Tengyue City.

Margary was initially in the wrong, but the British seized upon this opportunity to distort the truth, accusing the Qing government of being the mastermind. They then threatened the Qing government with the withdrawal of envoys, the severance of diplomatic ties, and even war, forcing them to comply. Ultimately, the Qing government, unable to withstand the pressure, acceded to all British demands, executing the people who had captured and killed Margary. Local officials were either withdrawn or arrested, and the Qing government signed the humiliating Treaty of Yantai with Britain, sending ministers to apologize.

Wasn't the Second Opium War sparked by the British Empire's use of the Guangdong Navy to arrest several pirates and suspected sailors aboard the Arrow? At the behest of the British Minister to China and Governor of Hong Kong, Sir John Bowring, the Acting Consul in Guangzhou, fabricated a claim that Chinese soldiers had insulted the British flag hoisted on board the ship and demanded the return of the captured individuals and an apology. The Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Ye Mingchen, argued forcefully and offered no compensation or apology, only the release of the prisoners. Consequently, the British used this as an excuse to launch their operations, seizing the forts within Humenkou, bombarding Guangzhou, storming the city, and looting...

Thinking of the former might of the British Empire and its "glorious" deeds, Sadaoyi couldn't help but feel a little dazed. But when he came to his senses and saw the telegram in his hand, he felt a mixture of emotions.

Frustrated!

This is Sadaoyi's strongest feeling right now. Helpless!

This is Sadaoyi’s second feeling now.

This was a different time. If the British Empire had chosen war, marching deep inland to attack the Sichuan rebels, what would it have achieved besides thoroughly enraging them and igniting anti-foreign sentiment among the Chinese? If China were truly driven to the extreme of universal anti-foreign sentiment, it would have been politically bankrupt before the great powers. But what would the powers have gained? Could they have completely conquered China? Could they have killed the vast majority of the Chinese? If they could have divided China, they would have done so long ago.

The result of a total war against the Qing rebels might be that they would end up with millions of square kilometers of ruins, but they would also definitely have tens of millions of rebels who were hostile to foreigners...

With orders from home, Sadaoyi was left with no alternative. His initial decision to send warships upstream was, in fact, his last and best solution. Sadaoyi imagined that the Qing rebels could not withstand the British warships. However, once the Qing rebels entered the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the British Empire would be fully engaged. Even if the Qing rebels could not deal with the British warships, they would be more than capable of dealing with the British merchants in China, the citizens of the Imperial Concession in Wuhan, and the diplomats. Therefore, he wanted to send warships early to intimidate and threaten the Qing rebels. Even if they entered the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, they would not dare to challenge the British Empire, thus protecting the interests of the British Empire. He knew that this operation to send warships had been a complete failure.

After venting his anger for a while, Sadaoyi gradually calmed down. However, he couldn't make a final decision yet. He went to the residence of Robert Hart, the Inspector General of Customs, who had effectively controlled the Chinese Customs for forty-five years. A true China expert, Hart listened to Sadaoyi's story, glanced at him, and directly handed him his 1901 book, "These from the Qin State: A Collection of Essays on China."

Sa Daoyi immediately took it and began to read. The more he read, the uglier his expression grew. He saw the following: ...In China, the only universal sentiment is pride in the Chinese system and contempt for everything foreign... The Chinese are an intelligent and educated race, calm and hardworking, with their own civilization. Their language, thoughts, and feelings are all Chinese... Therefore, they are counting on the day they can become fully powerful, restore their former lives, and eliminate all foreign contact, interference, and invasion. This nation has been in deep slumber for a long time, but now it has awakened, and every member of it is stirred by a Chinese sentiment: "China belongs to the Chinese. Drive the foreigners out!" "...Twenty million or more armed, well-trained, strictly disciplined, and animated by patriotic (even if misunderstood) motives, will make it impossible for foreigners to reside in China, will recover from foreigners what they have taken from them, and will avenge old grievances with an additional price... In fifty years' time, there will be millions of militiamen, arrayed in close formation, fully armored, ready to answer the call of the Chinese government. There is no doubt of that! If the Chinese government continues to exist, it will encourage (and rightly so) to support and develop this Chinese national movement... China will have a long struggle, will make many mistakes and suffer great disasters, but sooner or later this country will present itself to the world as healthy, strong, and experienced, with the military power imposed upon it by the world, and, since it must have it, it will have the best - the best weapons, the most appropriate training, the highest education, the number of soldiers will be as large as the population will allow and the circumstances require, and the quality of the soldiers will be superior with each generation...

Sadaoyi saw that the sentence "Fifty years from now, millions of militia members will line up in tight formations to watch..." seemed to have been edited by Hurd. Fifty years? Yes, who wouldn't be shocked? It's only been five years.

After reading it, Sa Daoyi sighed deeply. He had always thought he was an expert on China, that he understood it very well. Now it seems that his understanding was limited to China during the Qing Dynasty. After reading Hart's article, he realized that his ideas had not yet changed with the changes in the Chinese rebels.

Even following the instructions in Hart's book, Sadao still felt the need to adopt a tough stance against these recalcitrant Qing rebels. However, orders from home forced him to accept that this was not an option for the time being. He knew he could only adopt a conciliatory approach. This was a first for Sadao in his Far East diplomatic career.