novelAbuy Chapter 73 Seeking One's Own Death
Chapter 73 Seeking One's Own Death
Chapter 73 Seeking One's Own Death
Liu Yulong didn't care what Palmerston said; he was just a messenger.
Although he was a Foreign Secretary with the potential to become Prime Minister, he didn't have much say in British politics.
Britain’s current political system is the result of compromises among different social classes.
They need to compromise again in parliament to make any decision that is even slightly significant.
Their cabinet and government could collapse at any time.
However, since Palmerston is the messenger, he can pass on a few more messages and further reinforce the ideas he has instilled in him.
So Liu Yulong spun the globe again, placing Australia at the very front: "Australia and New Zealand are nothing more than wastelands for exiles to Britain."
"After you return this time, go to the council to discuss how to hand over these two plots of land to the Great Han."
"How much gold, silver, or other goods does the Han Dynasty need?"
Palmerston and Staunton were both taken aback when they heard this, but they quickly realized what was going on.
These two places are of little significance to Britain because they have very few people and generate little tax revenue.
But it had a certain appeal to the Han people.
This matter is indeed worth discussing; there is indeed a possibility of a transaction.
However, one cannot admit to such a thing verbally, as that would diminish the potential value of these two locations.
So Palmerston deliberately acted very conflicted: "This—I'm afraid it's difficult."
"Although Australia was a penal colony, Britain did indeed need a place to exile criminals."
"New Zealand's climate is similar to that of mainland Britain, and it also has estates owned by aristocratic immigrants."
"However, I will convey His Majesty's will to Parliament and discuss in Parliament whether such a deal is feasible."
Liu Yulong did not want to spend money to buy Australia; he had already decided to seize India in exchange.
Moreover, even if it is an exchange, it is not a simple transaction on the desktop.
They would also send troops to occupy key locations, and then demand that Britain recognize the entirety of Australia as belonging to the Han.
The British were required to promise to relinquish all their rights in Australia.
Without the involvement of the military, even if an agreement is made on paper, it cannot be actually received.
However, if the transaction price is right, Liu Yulong is not incapable of buying it, although the possibility is very low.
At the same time, to accommodate this possibility, Liu Yulong will not show too much interest.
Such a thing could only be "mentioned casually" by the emperor himself, making it seem as if the emperor was just asking a question on a whim.
Instead of asking formally through diplomatic personnel, which would seem too formal.
Liu Yulong briefly mentioned it before changing the subject again: "There's no rush. You can go back and discuss it slowly. Right now, the key issue is the islands in the South China Sea."
"The Great Han will gradually occupy all the islands in the South Seas, and the Dutch will not be qualified to continue to control those lands."
"If the Dutch are willing to hand over all their land to the Great Han, the Great Han can allow them to continue operating in Southeast Asia and even in the Great Han mainland."
"What the Han Dynasty needs is land."
"You Britons should not interfere in the affairs of the Great Han and the Netherlands."
"Otherwise, don't forget that India is right next to the Han Dynasty."
"The Han Dynasty will not want India, but if Britain acts recklessly and harms the interests of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty may attack India to harm the interests of Britain."
As Foreign Minister, Palmerston had already considered this possibility; the absence of such an attack did not mean it wouldn't happen.
It is possible to threaten Britain's interests simply by causing sabotage in India.
Hearing Liu Yulong speak so frankly, Palmerston knew that this possibility truly existed, and he dared not be negligent in the slightest: "I will convey His Majesty's will to the British Parliament."
Liu Yulong seemed very satisfied: "Alright, that's all for today. You can take your leave now."
Palmerston prepared to simply bow and take his leave.
But Lawrence, who had been following closely, whispered a reminder: "Smugglers—"
Palmerston immediately realized that there was something he hadn't said.
This matter also troubled Palmerston: "Your Majesty, I have another matter I would like to ask you."
Liu Yulong returned to his throne and sat down, not responding directly, which was tantamount to allowing him to continue.
Palmerston took a deep breath: "I was entrusted by a British merchant to find out what kind of punishment the opium smugglers arrested by the Great Han were ultimately sentenced to, whether they are still alive and in what condition."
Instead of answering that question, Liu Yulong very sensitively asked Palmerston, "Who are the merchants who asked you to come? Have they also come to the Great Han?"
Palmerston instinctively replied, "There's Mattison, a former partner of Jardine Matheson, and Forbes, a partner and manager of Russell & Co., who are also in the three-nation delegation—"
As Palmerston said this, he gradually and involuntarily tensed up, until the hairs on his body stood on end.
After saying that, he immediately thought to himself, "Oh no—it's all over—"
Liu Yulong instructed Zhang Lexing beside him: "Immediately send someone to arrest them and deal with them together with Dian Di Luo Su and the others."
The opium traffickers who escaped last time have now delivered themselves to Liu Yulong's doorstep. How could Liu Yulong possibly let them go again?
As for international impact? The impact was that the Han emperor had zero tolerance for opium.
If any country were willing to declare war on the Han Dynasty for the sake of these opium traffickers, the Han Dynasty would not mind fighting an even larger-scale opium war for them.
Palmerston finally understood why he felt uncomfortable with the demands of Mattison and the others.
Why did I instinctively not want to talk about this anymore? Why did I start to panic as I talked about it?
The Han emperors' hatred of opium smuggling ran deep.
He actually dared to ask such a question and even brought Martin and the others along; he was really courting death.
I should have known this, but my past habits made me less vigilant.
I had instinctively thought that after an important cooperation agreement was reached, it wouldn't be a big deal to have a powerful monarch pardon a few smugglers.
They didn't immediately realize that the Han emperor had absolutely no tolerance for such things.
Upon hearing the identities of these people, the first reaction was to arrest them immediately, without any hesitation, consideration, or discussion.
Zhang Lexing immediately clasped his hands in obeisance and prepared to send men to arrest Ma Dichen and the others: "Your subject obeys."
A primal cry from the king, attempting to salvage the situation, went: "No, no, Your Majesty! They are also members of the mission. If we arrest them, Britain—"
Liu Yulong countered with a question: "What does Britain want? What can Britain do?"
Palmerston was speechless. Yes, what could Britain do?
Britain can do nothing now, not even sever ties with the Han Dynasty over this.
Wu Qijun, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, added from the side: "Your British mission has actually included accomplices of opium smugglers."
"You should have been punished for harboring criminals."
"Now that you have spoken out, you have a chance to ask His Majesty for forgiveness."
"If you continue to cover this up, you will all be punished!"
Liu Yulong felt that Wu Qijun spoke very quickly, and then emphasized very seriously: "Opium smuggling is a red line that no one can cross, including your king and prime minister."
"Given your ignorance, I'll give you one last chance. Step down."
Palmerston had nothing to say. He led Staunton and a few other companions out of the Longevity Palace, looking dejected.
When I returned to my residence in the carriage arranged by the Court of State Ceremonial, there were already soldiers on guard in the streets.
Palmerston got out of the car at the entrance of his residence and waited for a while.
Then they saw several burly imperial guards escorting Ma Dichen out.
The captured Matthias looked shocked and confused, but dared not confront the soldiers armed with swords and spears. He could only shout repeatedly, "You cannot arrest me! I am a member of the British mission! I am a guest of His Majesty the Emperor!"
But no soldiers paid him any attention, because it was the emperor who had ordered their arrest.
When Martin saw Palmerston return, he seemed to have finally seen a savior and immediately shouted to him, "Sir Palmerston, save me! What happened? Why are these big men trying to capture me?"
With a heavy heart, Palmerston closed his eyes, pretending not to have seen Mattison, and turned to walk into his courtyard.
Palmerston would report these things to the Prime Minister and Parliament, but he didn't think it would make any sense.
No country would go to war over the deaths of a few merchants if there were no major conflicts between the two countries.
At most, these issues will be used as a pretext for war when there are conflicts between the two sides.
The businessmen like Matthias are dead now; it won't have any real impact.
After finalizing the deal with the British, Liu Yulong casually ordered the arrest of a group of smugglers.
Then I went back to consider another, somewhat troublesome, problem.
Liu Yulong instructed Zheng Fuguang to send people to collect the demands of engineers and scholars from the Three Kingdoms period, and this task is now largely complete.
These people's demands can be roughly divided into four categories.
Representatives of the first category include Colt, Babbage, and Lussac.
They didn't bring any investment with them; they all came to Dahan seeking investment.
There are also some subtle differences within this category.
Koltek hoped that the Great Han would fund the construction of factories to mass-produce the products they invented, and only then would they purchase the products they produced.
Babbage and Morse hoped to receive funding from the Great Han to manufacture what he designed for research or any other possible practical use.
Lussac promoted his sulfuric acid steam tower, suggesting that the Great Han use it to protect the workers.
This type of person is relatively easy to handle. After reading the instructions, Liu Yulong immediately had a general plan in mind.
The Great Han would not allow private individuals to build large-scale arms companies, but it could buy Colt's inventions, hire him and Hall as engineers, and build standardized rifle and pistol production lines.
The metallurgical capabilities of the Han Dynasty are sufficient; they should be able to mass-produce breech-loading firearms.
Other inventions that come with civilian applications can be dealt with in the same way.
Babbage's Difference Engine was a mechanical computer, and its manufacturing cost was relatively high, but the biggest cost was the large amount of steel, which the Han Dynasty happened to have no shortage of.
Two or even more sets can be manufactured and placed in the Institute of Geography for research.
Lussac is an ethical scientist. The sulfuric acid steam tower is a facility that improves sulfuric acid production, protecting both workers and the environment. Although it requires some cost, Dahan can afford it and will put it into use in the factory as soon as possible.
The second category is represented by Owen, Faraday, and also includes Lussac.
They didn't bring any investment with them, nor did they come to seek investment; rather, they hoped to exchange ideas with engineers, scholars, and intellectuals from the Han Dynasty.
They were genuinely visiting to understand and investigate the social structure and technological development of the Han Dynasty.
There aren't any major problems with these. Just control the most important classified technologies and facilities, and let them communicate in ordinary factories and research facilities.
The third category consists of traders, whose goal is to take advantage of this visit to conduct a direct trade with the Han Dynasty.
There's not much to say about this; after the official meeting, they'll just send them to Shanghai and Bao'an.
The fourth category is represented by engineers such as Stephenson and Talbot, who bring a large amount of equipment to invest in their projects.
A lot of people have invested a lot of money in them.
Stephenson, in particular, was carrying over six million pounds, which was an enormous sum of money in those days.
In a simple and crude way, if we convert it to purchasing power, it's equivalent to billions or even tens of billions of RMB in modern times.
They hoped that the giant would allow them to invest in building a factory, help them recruit enough workers, and, crucially, purchase the equipment they produced.
Stephenson is now aware of the problem and has specifically explained the condition of the machinery and equipment he brought.
All of them are British standard equipment; I don't know if they can produce products that meet the standards of the Great Han.
Based on the principle of "since we're here, let's make the best of it," Liu Yulong was originally prepared to give them the appropriate authorization.
But it has now been realized that simply granting authorization is useless.
The British equipment brought by Stephenson and his team was clearly not a good fit for the industrial system that the Han Dynasty was currently building.
The Han Dynasty could not possibly introduce a separate industrial system based on British standards just to accommodate them.
Creating a dual system in a blank slate like China is just creating trouble for the future.
It's impossible to allow them to operate in the Han Dynasty in the European way, and they have no way to operate in that way either.
The farmers and artisans of the Han Dynasty simply didn't buy into their ideas.
If Liu Yulong ignores this matter, his group will likely lose everything, go bankrupt, or be disgraced.
Britain was already in an economic crisis, and this news, once it gets back, could very well be the direct trigger that ignites the crisis completely.
While all of this can be attributed to the British investors' own actions, it will also damage the reputation of the Great Han in Europe.
In the future, other engineers will be more cautious when coming to Dahan.
Liu Yulong didn't care about the attitudes and hostility of European governments towards the Great Han, but he was more concerned about the evaluations of the Great Han by these useful engineers.
If possible, I should think of a safe way to handle the troubles caused by this investment as properly as possible.
Try to preserve the reputation of Stephenson and his ilk, since they were nominally invited by us.