Chapter 77
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: The First to Strike (3)
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London, British Empire.
Westminster.
Rooooar!
“Show no mercy! Fight back!”
“Demand an apology from the Qing!”
The furious shouts penetrated the windows and walls, ringing in the ears of the members of Parliament.
Though the voices of the enraged citizens echoed through the halls, the MPs’ expressions were surprisingly calm and composed.
After all, those voices were not directed at them.
“The minister in Guangzhou has sent an additional report. The Qing promised a thorough investigation into the incident, but they have suddenly changed their tune. It seems to be the will of the Qing Emperor.”
“They refuse to investigate? Isn’t that tantamount to admitting their guilt?”
“It’s less an admission and more of a ‘what are you going to do about it, whether we’re guilty or not’ stance, I’m told.”
“Hahaha. Remarkable. I never imagined they would go this far.”
The burning of Lin Tin Island by the Qing.
Britain had attempted to negotiate peacefully, but the Qing had refused to even listen, pressing on with unreasonable demands. In the end, they set fire to all the merchants’ property, burned their ships, and some people even went missing in the process.
It was the first time the British Empire had been treated with such contempt, and the MPs found the experience rather novel.
The full details of the incident had already spread to the public through the newspapers, and there was a daily clamor for the punishment of the barbaric Qing Dynasty.
This sentiment was further accelerated when statements from Prime Minister Robert Peel and Queen Victoria were published.
-Queen Victoria asks the Prime Minister to prioritize the protection of the people’s safety and property.
-The Royal Family will do its utmost to create an environment where citizens can pursue their livelihoods with peace of mind under any circumstances.
Articles like these poured out, and the citizens cheered the young queen’s proactive stance, which scratched a persistent itch.
Of course, not all MPs viewed this development favorably.
“The Qing are one thing, but is it not somewhat improper for Her Majesty to voice her opinion so publicly on a political matter? As Her Majesty is young, Prime Minister, you ought to be more mindful of such things.”
“That may be so, but the people are anxious, with the economic recession and now this conflict with the Qing erupting in succession. It is part of the Royal Family’s role to soothe the public’s fears, so it is difficult to distinguish whether this is a political matter or not. Besides, we are not gathered here today to discuss the Royal Family.”
In truth, Robert Peel had not expected his conversation with the Queen to be so widely reported.
He tactfully omitted the fact that his original intention was to show Parliament taking preemptive action, but things had taken a strange turn.
The Queen, seizing the momentum, made daily appearances at official events, closing the distance with her subjects, and her popularity was soaring as a result.
She was not only addressing the issue with the Qing but also the lingering effects of the recession that had continued since last year.
She was visibly making an effort to build a rapport with the people, listening intently to the difficulties they faced.
Had it been an elderly king, it might have been different, but for a young queen who had only recently ascended the throne to act this way, the public was ecstatic. Parliament, too, believed the Queen was acting out of pure intentions.
In any case, with the Royal Family being so proactive, Parliament could not afford to lag behind public demand.
A vast majority of members, across both parties and both Houses, urged a firm resolution. The cabinet immediately began to review the justification for war, and the conclusion was presented at today’s meeting.
“Returning to the main topic, the cabinet has unanimously concluded that we cannot overlook this provocation by the Qing. The Foreign Office, the War Office, and the Treasury have all opined that there are no issues with this war, diplomatically or militarily. The First Sea Lord has also confirmed that our navy is fully capable of carrying out this war.”
With the cabinet’s conclusion reached, all that remained was the approval of Parliament.
The moment the decision to commence the war and the authorization of the budget were passed, the British Empire would enter into a state of war with the Qing Dynasty.
“We will now proceed to a vote. Are there any members who wish to ask questions beforehand?”
The instant the Prime Minister finished speaking, Charles Wellesley posed a question.
“Will we not issue a formal declaration of war?”
“They have already thrown down the gauntlet. What we must decide is whether to respond.”
“This is quite fascinating. A few months ago, we requested Minister Killian to diplomatically induce a provocation from the Qing, but I never imagined we would see results so quickly.”
Wellesley’s words, spoken loud enough for all to hear, drew murmurs of admiration from the other MPs.
“Indeed. It seems the suggestion to entrust Asian affairs to the Earl of Aaron was the correct one.”
“When the Prime Minister appointed the Earl of Aaron as minister, I was skeptical, but in hindsight, it was an act of incredible foresight.”
It was easy to say, but demanding that one diplomatically obtain a justification for war was, frankly, an unreasonable demand from Parliament.
Even the Whig Party, which had strongly advocated for pressing the minister on this, likely never expected Killian to deliver such a result.
If it had been so easy, why had Britain struggled for years with the opium trade issue?
According to the report, the opium industry had suffered massive losses, but the potential gains were far greater, so the MPs had nothing to lose.
While those with close ties to the opium merchants might have felt differently, the other MPs, though they didn't say it aloud, thought this was a better outcome.
As Gladstone had said, a not-insignificant number of them felt a prick of conscience at the thought of going to war to sell opium.
But now, the opium, the root of the problem, had been burned to ashes. They couldn't sell it even if they wanted to.
It was unfortunate that the merchants had suffered great losses, but from a broader perspective, this could be used to their advantage.
Ultimately, it wasn't their own property that had gone up in flames, so what did it matter?
After naturally drawing the praise of the other members, Wellesley turned back to the Prime Minister.
“Then, Prime Minister, who has been chosen to command this war?”
“We have decided to entrust command to Superintendent of Trade Charles Elliot, currently stationed in Guangzhou, and Admiral George Elliot.”
Charles Elliot not only had a long career in the navy but also extensive experience in the region. His cousin, George Elliot, was a seasoned veteran who had fought under Admiral Nelson in the Napoleonic Wars.
“Once the war enters its final stages, negotiations will have to begin. Will Minister Killian remain in charge of that?”
“Is that not a matter of course? This incident alone has proven that it is right to entrust him with matters concerning Asia. Do you have any objections?”
“Not at all. I, too, believe it is an excellent choice.”
If he could perfectly orchestrate both the beginning and the end of the war, Killian would solidify his position as Foreign Secretary.
And that was not all.
As was being discussed, whenever an issue related to Asia arose, Killian’s opinion would carry immense weight.
Since Britain was bound to continue expanding its influence in Asia, this was a golden opportunity to broaden their own standing.
With France and Russia also drooling over Asia, the public would surely support them unconditionally.
“If there are no further questions, we will proceed to the vote. Mr. Speaker, if you please.”
At Robert Peel’s request, the Speaker of the House of Commons took his place and solemnly conducted a voice vote.
“Please state your opinion on the motion to dispatch the navy to the Qing Dynasty under the command of Superintendent Charles Elliot and Admiral George Elliot, and to appoint Foreign Secretary Killian Gore as the chief negotiator.”
“Aye!”
“Aye!”
“Aye!”
The moment the Speaker finished, a vast majority of the members voiced their approval in unison. The word “nay” was barely heard.
Deciding there was no need to carefully weigh which side had more support, the Speaker declared the cabinet’s resolution passed.
And so, the curtain rose on the inevitable war between the strongest power in Europe and the strongest power in the East.
***
The rumor that the Qing Dynasty was going to war with the English spread like wildfire, crossing the northern plains to the distant land of Joseon.
From the Qing’s perspective, unaware of the specific relationship between Joseon and the English, it was necessary to preemptively block any potential intervention from Joseon.
A portion of their troops stationed in Liaodong moved toward the border with Joseon, as if in warning, and the Joseon court was thrown into utter turmoil.
The officials of the Six Ministries scrambled to find out where this country called England was located and the extent of its national power, all while keeping their nerves on edge regarding the Qing’s movements.
“The Qing are going to war with the *Yang-i*, so why on earth are they sending troops to our border?”
“Do they truly believe we would side with the *Yang-i* and attack them?”
“Hmph, I cannot fathom what they think of us to behave in such a manner.”
“Even if it is the Qing, should we not protest this? It seems they still believe that *Yang-i* minister, a man named Girian Gwai, has close ties to us.”
As fierce debates raged on daily, the news naturally reached the ears of royal relatives in minor positions.
Heungseon Daewongun, Yi Ha-eung, who was in charge of organizing the list of royal kinsmen, was no exception.
“The Qing are at war with the Westerners?”
“Yes, Your Highness. And they believe we might join forces with the Westerners to attack them, so they are moving troops. The court is in an absolute uproar, I hear.”
“I had heard similar whispers, but was it true and not just a rumor?”
“It is. Is it not utterly absurd? What’s more, this isn’t the first time. Previously, they demanded we hand over information, suspecting that one of the Westerner chiefs, a man named Girian Gwai, was of Joseon birth. The court suspects the Qing have some other ulterior motive.”
One of the Westerner chiefs was of Joseon birth? It sounded like a bad joke.
Even to Yi Ha-eung, it seemed like a flimsy pretext for the Qing to find fault and extort something from them.
“I hear there are many factions among the Westerners. Which one is the Qing fighting?”
“They call themselves the English, and they are said to be the foremost among the many Westerners.”
The official from the Border Defense Council who brought the news recounted the known details of how the Qing had come to war with the country called England.
“Hmm… If that is true, then those English seem to have a point. If their merchants came to harm, it is only natural to take action. But to come all the way to a land that takes months to reach by sea for a war… that does not seem like a very clever idea.”
“My thoughts exactly. They’ll be exhausted from such a long journey; how could they possibly fight? Just like the barbarians they are, they react emotionally, thinking, ‘I’m angry, so I must fight.’”
“Indeed. No matter how much one hears that the Qing are not what they used to be, the dynasty of the Central Plains will not fall to Westerners who have spent half a year on a boat.”
Suddenly, the memory of someone who had once spoken at length about how technologically advanced the Westerners were flashed through his mind.
He could no longer recall what the man looked like or what his name was, but he remembered that he, too, had the blood of a Westerner.
What was it he had said?
He couldn't recall the exact words, but it was something along the lines of… if they looked down on Western technology, then just as the Central Plains had fallen to the northern barbarians in the past, the Qing and Joseon could also face a great disaster.
Recalling this memory from his youth, Yi Ha-eung clicked his tongue and let out a faint smirk.
No matter what, the Qing wouldn't possibly lose.
He was certain that within a year, news would arrive that the English soldiers had been crushed by the Qing and driven away.
‘I wonder if that fellow is still alive.’
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall the face or the name, but he suddenly felt a flicker of curiosity about whether that servant was living well.
He had heard the boy left for somewhere else as a child, so even if he were alive, he would likely never be seen on Joseon soil again.
A strange experience from his childhood.
To Yi Ha-eung, that day’s meeting held no more meaning than that.