Chapter 73
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Curtain Rises
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As the 19th century neared its midpoint, the leaders of the British Empire were firmly convinced they were the world's most powerful nation.
They had overcome Napoleon, who had seemed invincible, and had confirmed that the great Eastern power of India was so far behind them that any comparison was embarrassing.
No nation, in the West or the East, appeared stronger than they.
But being the strongest didn't mean they could go around fighting whomever they pleased.
In Europe alone, great powers like France and Russia still existed—nations that, while unable to defeat Britain, could inflict considerable damage.
In the East, though technologically behind, the great Qing Empire, with a population estimated at nearly 400 million, stood firm.
Many argued that the Qing, like India, were laggards of a bygone era, but a significant number in Parliament still preached caution.
“Do you know the population of Qing? It’s 400 million. Four hundred million! That’s twenty times our own population, which barely exceeds 20 million even with Ireland and Scotland combined. No matter how superior our technology may be, they are not an opponent to be taken lightly.”
John Russell of the Whig Party shouted, his voice laced with frustration.
For some time now, Parliament had been continuously debating the prospect of war with the Qing Dynasty.
The trade deficit persisted, and with the ban on the opium trade that had once offset it, this course of events seemed inevitable.
The East India Company and the opium merchants relentlessly demanded military intervention from the government, engaging in all sorts of lobbying, and a good number of MPs sympathized with their cause.
This wasn't merely because they had been bribed, but from a conviction that the nation's interests must be promoted, even if it meant war.
“Mr. Russell’s point has merit, but a large population does not necessarily equate to national strength. While it's true the Qing population is twenty times ours, their territory is about forty times larger. This means that their immense population is spread out across the country, and in an actual war, they cannot easily gather hundreds of thousands, let alone millions, of soldiers.”
The one who refuted Russell's opinion was, surprisingly, not a member of the Conservative Party, but a fellow Whig—Henry John Temple, the 3rd Viscount Palmerston of Ireland.
Although a nobleman, Viscount Palmerston held an Irish peerage, which meant he sat in the House of Commons, not the House of Lords.
In that respect, he was similar to Killian Gore, but Palmerston was born in Westminster and had hardly ever visited Ireland.
Thus, he was far less popular in Ireland than Killian and Daniel O'Connell, but he was steadily expanding his influence within the party with his excellent sense of balance and sharp analytical skills.
However, Palmerston’s refutation of Russell’s opinion was not particularly driven by an internal power struggle.
On the matter of war with the Qing Dynasty, neither party had a unified stance, so such clashes had become almost a daily occurrence.
It was now common to see a Whig rebutting a Whig's opinion, and a Conservative agreeing with a Whig.
“Lord Palmerston, of course I am not suggesting we would have to fight all 400 million of them at once. But such a large population means a larger pool of potential soldiers. Besides, if we were to send an army, it would be 20,000 at the very most, while they would bring at least 100,000 to 200,000. Have you considered the immense losses we would suffer?”
“If we weigh the potential gains against the losses, it makes the case for war even stronger. A nation like the Qing Dynasty, which engages in protectionism solely for its own benefit, must be forced open, even if it requires harsh measures. Don’t the Conservatives agree? As Foreign Secretary Killian Gore’s paper on free trade states, establishing an international order of free trade will bring greater prosperity to the entire world.”
“So you’re saying that a nation unwilling to join this order should be forced to do so?”
“If a child refuses to take beneficial medicine, isn’t it an adult’s duty to make them take it?”
Palmerston nodded. He then turned his head to solicit the opinion of the Conservative Party.
But just as the Whigs were divided, the Conservatives were not united on the matter either.
The first to speak from the Conservative side was Gladstone, who looked as though he had been bursting to say something from the start.
“If I may add a word, I find it incomprehensible that we are considering war based solely on profit and loss. No, in fact, I cannot accept the very situation that has led to talk of war in the first place. What has the Qing Dynasty done wrong? Do we have a single valid reason to wage war against them? Have they invaded other countries, declaring their intent to rule the world like Napoleon? Or have they directly threatened us in any way?”
“The failure to open the vast market of the Qing Dynasty is in itself a threat to our nation's economy and industry. By restricting trade, they are inflicting enormous losses on our merchants. In a way, this is a form of economic threat.”
“I fail to logically comprehend how it becomes the Qing Dynasty's fault when our merchants, residing in their territory, are restricted from trade for not abiding by their laws. I do not know how long this war would last, or how much damage it would inflict. I have little knowledge in that area. However, to start a war because we were banned from selling opium will bring about a tremendous loss of honor that a few pennies could never restore.”
Even though a vote on whether to declare war was not imminent, the MPs' debate grew increasingly heated.
Those who, like Gladstone, believed an unjust war should not be fought; those who urged caution due to the Qing's strength; and those who insisted that war was necessary for the British Empire's interests—all stood their ground, refusing to yield.
Viscount Palmerston shook his head in frustration.
“The evils of opium are less than those of whiskey.”
“Lord Palmerston, then why don't you partake in opium instead of whiskey?”
“I personally do not care much for opium, so I will continue to drink whiskey. But that aside, this Parliament must prioritize the interests of the British Empire above all else. Allies, enemies—they are all secondary. In this world, there are no eternal allies, and no eternal enemies. There are, of course, no eternally lasting honors or norms. Only the nation's interest is eternal and perpetual, and it is our duty to pursue that interest!”
“I cannot agree. War must be the last resort. To even premise our discussions on war is to do grave harm to our prestige and dignity! We must seek a peaceful resolution through diplomacy.”
“Diplomacy? You speak of it so easily. Didn’t your Conservative Party take the unconventional step of sending a young minister all the way to Asia to resolve this through diplomacy? When can we expect to see the results of that diplomacy?”
It was a sharp jab from Palmerston, but as if he had been waiting for those very words, the Prime Minister, who had been silent until now, immediately spoke up.
“As it happens, I was planning to share the contents of the Foreign Secretary’s report with you all today. The report is quite extensive, and I must first apologize for the delay in sharing it, as we needed time to review it and gather opinions from various officials.”
“A report has arrived from Guangzhou?”
“Yes. As the content is quite lengthy, I will provide a brief summary here. The full report will be made available to the members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, so any member who wishes to read it in its entirety may do so after this session.”
Prime Minister Robert Peel took out several sheets of paper and placed them on the table.
All eyes were drawn to the document, which, even as a summary, was nearly ten pages long.
“According to the report, the situation in Guangzhou can be described as a state of hair-trigger tension. Judging from the attached minutes of the meetings, the atmosphere between the Governor-General of Guangzhou and Secretary Killian is quite amicable. Looking at that alone, a peaceful resolution seems possible, but the problem is that their central government has no such intention.”
“The Qing government wants to fight us? They have no reason to, do they?”
“It seems they have determined that we are a threat to their system. The report provides a detailed explanation of the fundamental East Asian concept of the Celestial Order, and the nature of the relationship between the Qing Dynasty and its neighboring countries.”
The Prime Minister paused for a moment, and during the wait, a single sheet of paper, a copy of a portion of Killian's report, was distributed to each MP.
[The Order of the Central Plains Dynasty Centered on the Son of Heaven]
◆ To understand the mindset of East Asian nations, it is essential to fully comprehend the tribute and investiture system that forms its foundation. This is entirely different from the concepts of colonies or vassal states…
◆ It is presumed that the Qing Dynasty has judged the British Empire to be a nation capable of threatening this Celestial Order. A much more hardline response and increased pressure are anticipated, and in the worst-case scenario, there is a possibility of a direct threat to the lives of our merchants…
“Mr. Gladstone, if the Qing Dynasty were to threaten our merchant ships or cause loss of life while pressuring our merchants, would you still say that you are absolutely opposed to raising an army?”
“...If they resort to violence first, then naturally, we must retaliate. But unless the Qing have lost their minds, there is no reason for them to…”
“We sent Secretary Killian, who is of their origin, in an attempt to resolve matters amicably, but it seems they perceived this as a threat. It is truly difficult to understand, but reading through these reports, it appears their way of thinking is so fundamentally different from ours that we cannot apply our own logic.”
If the other side clearly threw the first punch, opposition would be unthinkable.
But even so, some MPs still believed that if the potential losses were too great, such a situation must be avoided at all costs.
John Russell, who had consistently warned of the Qing's underlying strength, was a prime example.
“I acknowledge the hard work of our Secretary, who toils in a distant, foreign land. But if they attack first, isn't that a clear diplomatic failure? What will you do if we go to war with the Qing and suffer unbearable losses?”
“Anticipating such an opinion, there is more to the report. It details precisely how we should respond should the Qing resort to military force. I have attached a very detailed forecast and analysis, so please take a look.”
“Well, what kind of analysis could warrant such a fuss…”
Russell narrowed his eyes skeptically and read the contents of the separate sheet the Prime Minister had handed out.
“The armament status of the Qing army and an objective comparison of military strength?”
“Precisely. Most of you here have a general idea of the vast technological gap between Asia and us. But this report contains very specific figures.”
“Let’s see… Our latest warship technology allows cannons to rotate freely and strike from various angles, whereas most Qing warships are wooden vessels called junks, and the quality of their cannons is also vastly different.
“The Qing's main cannons have less than half the range of ours, their accuracy is even lower, and their reloading speed is more than twice as slow. Crucially, their cannons cannot easily penetrate the iron armor of our warships unless they strike at point-blank range… Is this true? I mean, I knew their military technology was inferior, but is the gap really this wide?”
Many military experts had testified before Parliament, and most had stated unequivocally that Britain's military was superior to Qing's.
However, almost no one had laid out the specific details and level of Qing's military technology.
That was why Killian's report—especially the prediction in the final paragraph—came as a considerable shock to the MPs.
—Based on the *Nemesis*-class ship currently commissioned for design, a single *Nemesis* could easily destroy 30 Qing warships. It has been verified that just two ships equipped like the *Royal Saxon*, currently stationed in Guangzhou, could comfortably obliterate over 25 Qing vessels.
*Come on, could the main navy of the great Qing Empire, a nation of 400 million, really be that pathetic?*
*Could the Qing really still be using such abysmal cannons?*
*Could their firearms truly be that shoddy?*
Astonishingly, Killian's report explained, point by point with specific figures, that all of it was true.
“If this is true… then the Qing Dynasty is nothing but a paper tiger.”
“Who was it? Who was it that said a war with the Qing would mean heavy losses for us as well?”
“At this rate, if they slap us, shouldn't we bow 90 degrees and say 'Thank you'?”
At first, Russell thought it couldn't be true, but as Robert Peel presented more of the report's summary, he could offer no rebuttal and had no choice but to quietly shrink into a corner.
And after the session ended.
“Prime Minister! Where can I see the Secretary’s report?”
“I’ll review it too, I will!”
“I am a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee! Let me see it first!”
As if by prior arrangement, MPs from both the Conservative and Whig parties flocked to the Prime Minister, clamoring for Killian’s report.
The very MPs who had been fiercely debating whether to go to war were now, to a man, beginning to share a similar thought.
*‘Ah, I truly wish the Qing would just throw the first punch.’*
The great empire that had once held sway not only over Asia but even the West was now nothing more than a firefly before the full moon in the face of the British Empire.
“Now that it has come to this, how about we offer our Secretary more encouragement to provoke the Qing into further hostility? With his abilities, I am sure Secretary Gore can handle this great responsibility!”
The excited voice of John Russell, who had been decrying diplomatic failure just moments before, echoed loudly through the chamber.
Instead of criticizing his sudden change of heart, the MPs who had been engaged in the most heated debates responded with hearty laughter and a round of applause.
All this, accompanied by Gladstone’s disbelieving, wry smile as he watched the scene unfold.
That day, the session in Parliament concluded with unparalleled peace.
***
At the same time that Parliament was thrown into an uproar by the sudden commotion.
Kensington Palace was as serene as ever.
“Your Majesty! A letter has arrived!”
Victoria received Killian's letter while enjoying afternoon tea, a custom that had recently become fashionable among the British upper class.
“...Hmm. A letter, you say? I told him he needn't bother with letters, being so busy with official duties. No matter how many times I tell him not to, he insists on sending them regularly.”
Victoria deliberately feigned a slight look of displeasure, glancing at Baroness Lehzen, who was having tea with her.
“What do you think? Secretary Killian is so diligent about writing and sending letters.”
“Oh my, it seems the Secretary’s affection for Your Majesty is quite special, isn’t it?”
“Right? Hah, it’s truly so troublesome.”
With a small smile, Victoria then turned to the woman sitting opposite her, her principal lady-in-waiting and Killian's mother, Cecilia.
“Does the Secretary write to you often, Duchess?”
“He doesn't neglect to write, but I've received two letters so far, so I suppose that's about once every few months.”
“Is that so? I shall have to mention that in my reply.”
She tactfully refrained from mentioning that letters arrived for her about once a month.
And, of course, she had no intention of admitting, even if her mouth were torn open, that she was the one who had urged him to do so.
“Let’s see what magnificent prose he has written this time.”
“The Secretary’s loyalty is truly remarkable.”
“It is, isn’t it? To be honest, sometimes I feel he doesn't need to go to such lengths, you know? Once a month is already plenty, but now it seems he’s trying to send one every fortnight.”
Victoria barely suppressed the wide grin that threatened to spread across her face as she tore open the envelope.
She had asked for a letter once a month, but she hadn't expected another one so soon, when it had only been a fortnight since the last one arrived.
*Perhaps being away for so long is starting to make him anxious?*
If so, that was a very welcome sign indeed.
Victoria unfolded the letter with an air of feigned bother, yet with the utmost care, and brought it before her eyes.
[It has only been two weeks since my last letter, so I will omit any personal updates. Rumors of a potential war with the Qing will soon be rampant. I urge Your Majesty to, at all times, prioritize the safety of our citizens and the dignity of the British Empire. If you do so, all will praise your bold decision.]
That was the end of the first page.
*To write only a few lines on a single sheet—isn't that a terrible waste of paper?*
Victoria naturally reached into the envelope to retrieve the second page.
“...?”
Her fingers found nothing.
Just in case, she shook the envelope, but as she suspected, the only sheet of paper was the one she had just read.
“Hmm…”
Thinking he might have written on the back, she turned the paper over, but it was blank.
“Hmph…”
The words Killian had written seemed to be seared into her eyes.
*—I will omit any personal updates.*
*I will omit any personal updates.*
*I will omit any personal updates.—*
She could almost hear a vein pop in her temple.
What kind of technique was this, to send a letter after a fortnight only to say he was skipping the pleasantries because he had written a fortnight ago?
As she stared blankly at the letter, Cecilia tilted her head and asked.
“Your Majesty, is something wrong with Killian? Your complexion…”
“Ah, no, not at all. It seems he’s having a hard time, living in such a distant land. I was just a little worried because he said his body and mind are growing weary. Oh, but he says he isn't ill, so there's no need for you to worry at all, Duchess.”
Having made such a fuss, Victoria couldn't possibly admit that she had received a paltry three-sentence letter, so she hastily folded it and put it back in the envelope.
*If there’s really going to be a war, he could at least write a word of concern.*
It was a mercy she hadn't shown the letter to the two of them in her pride.
*I should just go back to bed and sleep.*
Victoria pushed away the cake with jam and cream she loved so much and downed glass after glass of cool water.