Chapter 91

Here is the fourth update, seeking recommendations, collections, and Three Rivers votes.

"Supporting anti-Qing forces within China? Mr. Jardine, what do you mean by that?" Prince Albert seemed to understand Jardine's intention and smiled, saying, "But I'm not quite sure if my friend has the determination to oppose the Qing."

"Dear Albert, who is the friend you're talking about?"

"It's Jason." Prince Albert smiled at his wife, "He is a descendant of the Ming Dynasty of China, which was overthrown 200 years ago. His ancestors escaped to Manila with the help of the Jesuits."

"What influence can a dynasty that has been overthrown for 200 years still have?" Queen Victoria had long known about Zhu Jishi's "true identity" through newspapers, but she didn't take it too seriously.

William Jardine smiled and said, "Your Majesty, in fact, the Ming Dynasty still has a significant influence in China. The Tartar Dynasty has never considered itself Chinese! For 200 years, the Tartar Dynasty has never stopped oppressing and discriminating against the Chinese. China is merely a colony of a few million Tartars! Therefore, the Chinese have not forgotten the Ming Dynasty that was overthrown 200 years ago. Currently, the Hongmen Tiandihui, a widespread secret society in southern China, uses the slogan of 'overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming.' If Zhu Jishi receives support from the British Empire, he might become the leader of the anti-Qing forces in China, and Hong Kong could become the base of these forces."

"What benefits would this bring us?" Queen Victoria frowned, the image of the "poison-tongued doctor" floating in her mind. She didn't believe that Zhu Jishi would place the interests of the British Empire above those of China if he became the Chinese emperor.

"Your Majesty, the benefits are quite obvious," William Jardine said calmly. "Firstly, Zhu Jishi will be a trump card in negotiations with the Qing. If his activities in Hong Kong pose a threat to the Tartar Dynasty, the Tartar Dynasty might offer Britain very favorable terms to buy us off."

These favorable terms, of course, would include the legalization of the opium trade. The bought-off Britain might restrict Zhu Jishi's activities, expel him to the South Seas, or even eliminate him! Queen Victoria's brows knitted together as she looked at her dear husband, but Prince Albert remained expressionless, listening carefully to William Jardine.

"Secondly, Zhu Jishi can be a pawn to curb the rise of the Qing. If the Qing, with French assistance, launches ambitious reforms, we can increase our support for Zhu Jishi to incite a war against the Tartar Dynasty," William Jardine suggested.

"Would there still be a popular base for rebellion if the Tartar Dynasty launches ambitious reforms?" the Queen asked.

"Of course there would be," the Duke of Wellington sneered, taking up the question. "Any reform comes at a cost, and the cost is often borne by the lower and middle classes of society. The faster the pace of reform, the greater the suffering of the lower classes, and the stronger their desire to rebel."

The Duke of Wellington, having spent most of his life in the military and political spheres, had a very insightful understanding of political matters. Except in extremely special cases, most reforms come at a high cost, and there is no such thing as a few imperial edicts leading to nationwide support. The group that bears the cost of reform is often the weaker segment of society, as the powerful reformers always prioritize their own interests.

The same would be true for the reforms the Qing Dynasty is about to implement. To introduce Western military technology, a large amount of money will be needed, whether for hiring foreign experts, establishing schools, sending students abroad, purchasing Western weapons, training new armies, or setting up factories. Where will this money come from? The interests of the bureaucratic and landlord classes are unlikely to be touched, and the iron rice bowls of the millions of Manchu descendants are probably untouchable—cutting into the interests of the upper and middle classes is not reform but a social revolution!

Since the interests of the upper and middle classes cannot be touched, the only option is to squeeze the Han Chinese peasants under the Qing rule, which will naturally increase the dissatisfaction of the lower and middle classes of the Han Chinese with Qing rule. Therefore, the Qing reforms will not eliminate the social base for anti-Qing and pro-Ming sentiments but will instead exacerbate social contradictions.

Of course, the strength of the Qing Dynasty will also be enhanced through reform, and ordinary rebels will be easily suppressed. However, a major rebel like Zhu Jishi, who is a descendant of the Ming Dynasty and has the support of the British Empire, is different. Even if he cannot successfully overthrow the Qing, he will bring endless trouble to the Qing's reforms, significantly slowing down the Qing's rise...

"But why doesn't the Tartar Dynasty buy off Jason?" Queen Victoria looked at William Jardine, puzzled. "This possibility is quite high. A descendant of a dynasty overthrown 200 years ago should not be a reason for the Tartar Dynasty and Jason to become mortal enemies. Jason is a great scientist and a millionaire, and his Jishi Enterprise is involved in pharmaceuticals, rubber, and military industries, all of which have been very successful. The Tartar Emperor could make Jason a prince, grant Jishi Enterprise the right to establish factories and mines in China, and appoint him as the Minister of Education or Foreign Affairs. Wouldn't this make the Tartar Dynasty's reforms much easier?"

William Jardine smiled and shook his head, saying, "This possibility does not exist, Your Majesty. China is not Western Europe, and the political struggle there has always been extremely brutal. Moreover, the Tartar Dynasty has been implementing a 'cultural suppression' policy for the past 200 years. Many Han Chinese intellectuals have been executed along with their entire families for a single poem that offended the emperor."

"Executing an entire family for a single poem! These Easterners are truly barbaric." Queen Victoria stuck out her tongue and turned to her husband, "Dear Albert, do you think Mr. Jardine's suggestion is feasible?"

Prince Albert raised an eyebrow and looked at Robert Peel, "Prime Minister, I believe that China's reforms should be guided by the British Empire, and the results of the reforms should benefit the British Empire. Otherwise, it would be better not to proceed. This is the foundation of the British Empire's Far East policy, and the French should also understand this. Britain and France should take a consistent stance in the Far East and share the benefits in China.

Additionally, legalizing the opium trade is the top priority of Britain's Far East policy, and all means short of war should be used to achieve this goal."

At this point, Prince Albert paused slightly. It seemed that Britain's Far East policy was now closely tied to Zhu Jishi.

"As for Sir Zhu Jishi, he is a friend of mine and the Queen, and a friend of the British Empire (everyone in the room understood that a friend of the British Empire is meant to be betrayed, the only question being the price)." Prince Albert emphasized, "Therefore, we should still support him in establishing Jishi University and Jishi Academy in Hong Kong, but the military academy under Jishi University should be under the control of the War Office and the Colonial Office. He should not publicly claim to be a descendant of the Ming royal family in Hong Kong. Additionally, I will personally write to Sir Zhu Jishi to inform him of our position."

The words of the Prince, of course, were the will of the Queen. Prime Minister Peel immediately stood up and bowed, answering with a single word: "Yes."

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