Using Barbarians to Control Barbarians
Let's think about this rationally.
Could the mighty British Empire, that nation of gentlemen boasting the greatest conscience of the 19th century, have truly extended a hand to me with any sincere intention of a mutually beneficial partnership?
Of course, it's true that without Southern cotton, Britain cannot export cotton textiles.
In that sense, it's highly likely they are being genuine, at least for the moment.
To be precise, this isn't truly a win-win. It's closer to them saying, We want to reap enormous profits, so we'll graciously allow you to take a cut since you must supply the raw materials.
Truly gracious and kind words, but there is one critical issue I must consider here.
The reason British and American interests are entering the Qing market hand in hand is that the Taiping Rebellion has destroyed the cotton production base in Jiangnan, causing the domestic handicraft industries to collapse one after another.
In this situation, it is good for the Anglo-Americans to join forces and rapidly seize the cotton textile market.
Building factories to ensure the handicraft industry can never recover, thereby destroying its very foundation, is also a perfect strategy.
But what happens to the South's position as a raw material supplier if cotton production in Jiangnan rises again?
In truth, from Britain's perspective, whether Jiangnan's cotton production recovers or not makes no difference whatsoever.
After all, the domestic handicraft industry that would weave that cotton into cloth was already destined to collapse.
If I were a British businessman, I would simply build factories on a massive scale in the Qing territories, import Jiangnan cotton cheaply, and churn out products at will.
It would be incomparably cheaper that way.
And would British capitalists fail to see a method even I could think of so easily?
If events proceed smoothly from here, I will inevitably be stabbed in the back and driven out of the Qing raw material market.
No matter how cheaply I produce cotton in the South, the transportation risks across the Pacific make it difficult to win a price competition against the Qing.
Therefore, I must prepare countermeasures before the knife finds my back.
“As Your Highness the wise prince already knows, England's true objective is to dominate this country's cotton textile market.”
“...I expected as much. But with domestic cotton textile supplies completely dried up, we have no other choice. Isn't that precisely why we joined hands with England and came this far?”
“Correct. Objectively speaking, the Qing's cotton textile industry will struggle to compete with England moving forward. The price of British cotton goods falls by the day, and the Qing industry has already collapsed once. Even if it is rebuilt, pushing out England—which will have firmly taken root in the market by then—would be impossible.”
“......”
Prince Gong frowned, silently sipping his tea.
Yet the fact that he offered no rebuttal at all suggested he had already roughly guessed how the situation was unfolding.
After letting out a low groan heavy with contemplation, he asked, as though he truly could not understand.
“But why are you telling me these things?”
“For my own benefit, naturally. Your Highness, the Qing must acknowledge that it cannot compete with British cotton textiles and boldly revise its strategy.”
“Revise it… Let me hear your thoughts.”
“While textiles lack competitiveness, Qing silk remains an item Europe desperately craves, and that trend will not change anytime soon. Therefore, when rebuilding Jiangnan—which has already been swept clean once—would it not be wiser to dramatically increase the proportion of food crops and silk, adjusting cultivation volumes accordingly?”
To maintain my position as the exclusive raw material supplier, the volume of cotton produced in Jiangnan must be reduced as much as possible.
And this is no mere sophistry. Demand for Chinese silk is projected to continue strongly not only through the 19th century but well into the 20th. Since the work must be done anyway, it makes sense to push the more profitable direction.
“It sounds plausible on the surface, but ultimately it seems your true aim is to reduce competition for the cotton you produce, even if only slightly.”
“Yes, that is correct. However, this is not a proposal made solely for my own sake. No matter how much cotton you plant in Jiangnan, you will ultimately have to compete on price with what I produce and slash unit costs to the lowest possible level. Britain will shop around to obtain supplies even a fraction cheaper.”
“...That is true.”
“Therefore, I propose we avoid unnecessary, bleeding competition and both focus on what actually generates profit. Moreover, I can provide Your Highness with a weapon capable of shaking off England’s grasp.”
Prince Gong narrowed his eyes, suspicion still lingering in his gaze.
“A weapon?”
“Yes. Shares.”
The very tactic 21st-century China excels at.
The secret technique of inviting foreign capital and technology, then swallowing the factories whole.
“Once Britain builds the factories, they will attempt to hold 51% of the shares and exercise real control. But can they maintain those shares indefinitely?”
Prince Gong said nothing, yet his eyes clearly urged me to continue.
“I will soon establish a company in Britain as well. Since my father-in-law is a powerful figure in the British ruling party, making it appear as British capital is no difficult task. Later, when British capitalists face financial difficulties or political pressure and must sell their shares, I will acquire them. On the surface, it will still look like British capital, but in reality, I will secure a portion of the shares.”
Using barbarians to control barbarians.
Using me—a barbarian—to swallow the factories of the strongest barbarian, Britain.
A strange smile curved across Prince Gong’s lips.
“It sounds plausible. But ultimately, does this not simply fill your own belly? What if you later change your mind?”
“By then, Your Highness’s Self-Strengthening Movement will have borne fruit, and the Qing will possess the strength to operate the factories itself. At that time, I will sell you the shares I hold—at a very high price, of course. You must purchase them quite expensively.”
Since these were shares that could deliver actual control of the factories, even demanding several times the value would not be excessive.
Judging that the moment was ripe, I deployed my ultimate technique to pierce the defenses of this paranoid patient.
“I trust in Your Highness’s insight. The Tongzhi Restoration. I am convinced that the success of these reforms will allow the Qing to once again stand tall as the center of the world.”
Though he showed no outward sign, Prince Gong’s shoulders trembled faintly.
The Self-Strengthening Movement.
Learn Western techniques to defeat the barbarians.
That was the sole hope and conviction Prince Gong cherished.
Yet it was true that, due to opposition from conservative factions at court and the checks imposed by Empress Dowager Cixi, the movement had not borne fruit as hoped.
And now a blue-eyed foreigner was affirming a policy that even his fellow countrymen opposed.
To him, my words must have felt like rain after a long drought.
“Does it truly appear so even in the eyes of a Westerner?”
“Of course. The Qing’s current hesitation stems merely from arriving late to technological competition. Where could the latent power of Central Plains civilization possibly disappear to? Ten thousand years of history stand as proof.”
I continued, letting my gaze sweep across the Confucian classics neatly arranged in the reception room.
“As Your Highness knows, we Westerners all regard the Great Jin Empire—Rome—as our spiritual homeland. Even my own country across the sea, the United States, admires them so deeply that it uses the eagle, Rome’s symbol, on its national emblem and modeled its senate after the Roman original.”
“The Great Jin Empire… I have heard it called the imperial realm of the West.”
“Yet observe. No Western nation has truly inherited the Great Jin Empire’s legitimate lineage. They merely claim to be its heirs, but the brilliant pulse of that civilization has been severed. Even Egypt, which boasts a history comparable to the Central Plains, now has no one who can read its ancient script; foreign scholars must come to interpret it.”
But the Central Plains are different.
Prince Gong nodded reflexively, having grasped the essence of what I intended to say.
“Though dynasties change, the spirit of Chinese civilization has never once been severed. It has been passed down with dignity through the ages. And the place that has inherited this great legacy most perfectly and allowed it to bloom is none other than the Qing imperial house.”
Not mere flattery, but words that scratched exactly where he itched most, the words he most desperately needed to hear in the current situation.
“Reciting the poetry of Li Bai and Du Fu, practicing the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, governing the world with such dignity. Distinguishing between Manchu and Han is a narrow perspective. Is not the one who protects and advances civilization the true master?”
“Ahem. You are well informed.”
Well now. He could no longer hide the upward curl of his lips.
The Manchu complex.
Having conquered the Central Plains by force as barbarians, the Manchus could never fully escape that yoke.
Yet the Western barbarian before him understood them far better than the Taiping rebels who had called for the extermination of all Manchus.
And in precisely the manner they desired most.
“Hehe… In all my years, I never imagined I would hear such words from a Westerner. You could pass for a Confucian scholar rather than a mere merchant.”
“You flatter me. Having grown up in a nation less than a century old, I simply hold deep admiration for cultures with long histories.”
James Serget, representing the United States, declares: The Manchus are indeed the true emperors of the Central Plains. Case closed.
Prince Gong nodded with an extremely satisfied expression.
“Very well. A man who understands Chinese civilization so profoundly—I can gladly join hands with you. I accept your proposal.”
Of course, despite his words, the chance that Prince Gong fully trusted me was nearly zero.
He had simply judged that a barbarian of this caliber could serve as a useful collaborator to check England in the future.
Since using barbarians to control barbarians had long been a favored tactic of Chinese dynasties, he likely believed this occasion would be no different.
But I am not Prince Gong.
How could I entertain the thought of using a loyal patriot prepared to burn everything for his motherland?
Earn money through silk, and later—once Self-Strengthening succeeds—seize the British factory shares.
Every proposal I had given him would genuinely benefit the Qing.
“Though my status is humble, I shall support Your Highness’s reign with the heart of Zhong Ziqi listening to Boya’s melodies.”
“...Hehe. You truly leave me with nothing to say. If you experience any inconvenience during your stay or have any particular requests, speak freely at any time. I will make time to accommodate you.”
But to put it another way, should the Self-Strengthening Movement end in failure, the Qing would never escape the straw Britain had driven into it.
If a figure like Empress Dowager Cixi checked Prince Gong and brought about his downfall, or if the corrupt officials beneath him refused to listen… well, that would be unfortunate.
Even if such a day arrived, no one would be able to hold me accountable.
Had I pushed them toward failure?
They had ruined things themselves.
“...How did it go, Your Highness?”
Wenxiang, who had been waiting anxiously as the audience ran far longer than expected, felt a weight lift from his chest at the unexpectedly bright expression on Prince Gong’s face.
“You were right. I was quite surprised. Do you know what that fellow said? He wishes to become my soulmate. Hahaha!”
“An astonishing statement, even if it sounds absurd.”
“And honestly, it is a shameful confession, but I gained true insight thanks to that Westerner. Indeed, the path the Qing must follow is the Self-Strengthening Movement.”
That was correct.
Unlike Europe, which admired the civilization of the Great Jin Empire yet could not claim its true lineage, the Qing dynasty had clearly inherited the authentic succession of Chinese civilization.
Just as the pointy-bearded Serget had said, this was irrefutable proof that the Chinese civilization protected by the Qing was by no means inferior to theirs.
England and France were afraid.
Of the latent power the Qing would develop through Self-Strengthening.
“Send word to the British envoy. We will accept the agreement, so let us refine the detailed clauses together.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“And convey a separate message to the American… no, to Serget. Tell him to first establish a company in England. He will understand what that means.”
In fact, when viewed rationally, there had been no falsehood in the other party’s words.
First concentrate the fertile lands of Jiangnan on food production and the silk industry, then—once national strength had grown sufficiently—legally seize the British factories.
Above all, unlike England or France, America’s limited national power meant there was little fear of being betrayed. That was what pleased Prince Gong most.
A prince of the Qing forming personal connections with a Western merchant magnate.
It was a truly catastrophic phrase, yet Prince Gong had resolved to gladly turn the world upside down for the benefit of the Central Plains.
“Next time, I really must treat Serget to Beijing roast duck.”
“He seemed to enjoy mala very much last time. Will you not serve Sichuan cuisine instead?”
“Since he has come to Beijing, we should show him Beijing’s flavors. Besides…”
Honestly, spicy food is a bit much…
Wenxiang nodded.
Yes. This was exactly how a Manchu imperial clansman should be.