Chapter 87

Here is the English translation:

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Fourth update, still requesting favorites, recommendations, and Three Rivers votes.

Late at night, in Maria House in Manchester, in Zhu Jishi's study, the whale oil lamp was still emitting light. Inside the room sat several of Zhu Jishi's subordinates, including Napoleon III, who was masquerading as Louis Durand, the recently arrived monk Trigo from France, the Liu brothers, Han Si, Will Heming, and Cosper William.

Although it was past midnight, everyone was still energetic. A large map of East Asia was spread out on the table, with several trade routes marked in red pencil.

Zhu Jishi's eyes were red from fatigue as he wrote something on the table, seemingly a plan for South Seas trade, occasionally pausing to speak a few words to his subordinates.

"Jason, the South Seas business is substantial, and it would be inappropriate for the Jishi Bank to manage it directly. We should establish a separate South Seas Trade Company."

"Jason, the profits from South Seas trade are substantial, and we must introduce some powerful shareholders. The Jishi Bank can hold 60% of the shares."

"It would be best to bring Prince Albert in as a shareholder, either for the South Seas trade or for the Jishi Bank."

"The market in the Qing Empire is not limited to coolie trade and opium. If the South Seas trade can fully enter the Qing market, that would be ideal."

Everyone was talking animatedly, all ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Although Britain was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the real wealth was made through overseas trade and colonization. Just the triangular trade between Britain, India, and China had created countless millionaires! Even the best textile factories in Britain rarely produced millionaires (in pounds). The opium smugglers to China, however, had countless millionaires, not to mention the slave trade from Africa to America, the trade from the Gold Coast and Ivory Coast of Africa, and the spice trade from the East Indies. So when Zhu Jishi mentioned the "coolie trade," everyone could already smell the scent of pounds.

Zhu Jishi smiled modestly and put down his pen. "The prospects for South Seas trade are indeed good, but it requires a significant investment and slow returns. If we are to build ironworks, shipyards, gunpowder factories, ports, and warehouses in Hong Kong, the initial investment will be at least tens of thousands of pounds! It will take at least two to three years to see profits."

Two to three years is not long, and even if he were to rebel, wouldn't he need time to build up strength? The university and academy in Hong Kong would take at least three to five years to produce talent. Without sufficient talent, even if a rebellion were to succeed, what benefit would it bring to the country and the people?

...

"Jason, are you really a descendant of the Ming Dynasty emperors of China?" Engels put down his wine glass, frowned, and his expression was complex. "Are you returning to the East to start a revolution or to restore the old order?"

The next evening, in the dining room of Maria House, only Zhu Jishi and Engels were present, with no servants to serve them, and they sat and drank together. Engels had come to the Jishi Bank headquarters on Vincent Street that morning to find Zhu Jishi. The atmosphere in Manchester had been tense recently, with several members of the League of the Just being wanted by the British police, and Engels had noticed that he was being followed by Scotland Yard. So it wasn't until a month after Zhu Jishi returned to Manchester that he came to talk to his good friend.

Seeing his complex expression, Zhu Jishi smiled and said, "In China, revolution and the restoration of the Ming are one and the same. The concept of a republic is unknown to the Chinese, and the call to 'overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming' is more compelling."

"Hehe, I, a staunch opponent of monarchy, am actually friends with a future emperor." Engels smiled. "My other friend, Marx, has been in Paris for some time. He plans to come to Britain in a few days. By the way, he has written a book that he intends to give you, called 'The History of the Opium Trade.'"

Marx's 'The History of the Opium Trade' existed historically but was written after the Second Opium War. In this timeline, due to Zhu Jishi, it was written in 1844 and was more detailed and profound.

"That's great, I was planning to read Mr. Marx's work." Zhu Jishi said, "Friedrich, I have already read your 'On the Success and Failure of Reforms in Egypt and the Ottoman Empire,' and it is very profound. If Pasha Ali had read this book earlier, he might not have ended up where he is now. By the way, do you have any advice for China's reforms?"

"The advice is all in 'On the Success and Failure of Reforms in Egypt and the Ottoman Empire.'" Engels sipped his red wine, paused, and said thoughtfully, "Pasha Ali's greatest mistake was splitting the Ottoman Empire! If the Ottoman Empire had remained a single entity, it would have had enough strength to avoid becoming a semi-colony... Jason, if I'm not mistaken, some European powers have already shown an interest in supporting you, right?"

Zhu Jishi was taken aback and quickly considered the attitudes of the major European powers toward him. Prince Albert of Britain, of course, was supportive, and the French had expressed support for his educational efforts in Hong Kong. The Pope Gregory XVI, who had confirmed his Ming royal lineage, must have had the French government's backing. The Jesuit monk Trigo seemed to be French!

He nodded and said, "Indeed, it seems that the authorities in Britain and France are quite supportive of me."

"There is no such thing as love without reason, nor a free lunch!" Engels shook his head and said seriously, "Jason, although you are outstanding and have many great inventions and discoveries, what they truly value is your Chinese identity. Whether as a promoter of Chinese reform or as a descendant of the legitimate Chinese dynasty determined to overthrow the Tartar dynasty. Without this identity, your endeavors would not have been as smooth as they are now..."

Hearing this, Zhu Jishi couldn't help but reflect on his entrepreneurial experiences over the past year. Indeed, his inventions were great for this era! In Europe, where the intellectual property system was already quite developed, success was inevitable. But had his success come too quickly?

"Hehe, the capitalist system is one where the wicked rule! Jason, you probably don't understand the commercial underbelly of Europe. There are countless ways to defraud you and leave you penniless, but you haven't encountered any of them. This business shouldn't be so easy, right?"

It seemed to be true. His commercial experience was almost zero, yet his business partners had never had any ill intentions.

"Is it Prince Albert?"

"What do you think?" Engels smiled. "There are so many fraudsters, swindlers, and bandits in Europe, yet none of them have come after you. By the way, you haven't even encountered a thief, have you?"

Zhu Jishi thought about it and realized it was true. Except for the early days when he worked at the Omen Hospital and often encountered bad people, after he became famous, especially after being called to serve as a temporary royal physician for Prince Albert, he hadn't encountered any bad guys. Even William Jardine, who had shown such intense hostility toward him, had never tried to harm him...

"Prince Albert must have sent Scotland Yard's agents to protect you. These agents have dealt with the petty criminals. As for the upper-class villains, their noses and ears are very sensitive!"

Zhu Jishi said softly, "Friedrich, thank you for the reminder, but what does Prince Albert want from me? Can you analyze it for me?"

Prince Albert might have a good impression of Zhu Jishi, but as a ruler and a king, his actions would inevitably be for the benefit of the British Empire. These foreign rulers of European nation-states were all more patriotic than the local nobility.

"Hey, isn't it obvious?" Engels, what kind of person is he? Prince Albert's calculations couldn't be hidden from the great mentor. The mentor smiled and said, "His target is, of course, the great Eastern empire of China!"

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