Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: A Country Destined to Fall, Falls
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An unprecedented, historic defeat.
But given its sheer size and power, a single loss wouldn't be enough to drastically tip the scales of war.
Especially for a great nation like the Qing Dynasty, the loss of thirty shattered junks could be quickly replenished.
Both the British Empire and the Qing Dynasty believed this to be true.
Thus, the British Empire was not so benevolent as to slow its offensive and give the enemy a moment to recover.
The *Nemesis*, a ship built from the outset for operations in Asia, pushed straight into the Guangzhou coast, annihilating all its defenses.
Though they had put up a semblance of a defense, the coastal fortifications, armed mostly with outdated cannons, could not withstand the British warship's bombardment.
If there had been wooden ships to act as shields at the front, they might have put up a fight, but those ships were already at the bottom of the sea, making a proper defense all but impossible.
Eventually, realizing that resistance, let alone victory, was impossible, Lin Zexu requested negotiations in hopes of ending the war as quickly as possible.
I, too, needed to clearly convey our demands, so I agreed to the talks for the time being.
I knew they wouldn't accept our terms, but showing a willingness to negotiate would provide a clear justification for our subsequent actions.
“It has been a while. I regret that we must meet again under such circumstances.”
“...I feel the same.”
“We have agreed to this meeting at your request, Governor-General, but we are not confident. Is there any real meaning to these talks?”
“I do not understand what you mean by that.”
“I pride myself on having negotiated in good faith during our previous discussions. Of course, you did as well, Governor-General. I do not doubt that. However, no matter how much you agree to the terms, if Beijing refuses, it all becomes meaningless, does it not? I am asking if that might be the case here as well.”
I had been granted full authority to negotiate by the British government, so if I said yes, it would become the nation's decision.
But no matter how capable Lin Zexu was, he was ultimately an official whose position could be stripped away by a single word from the emperor. His authority to speak was inevitably limited.
“First, His Majesty has expressed his willingness to provide generous compensation. We will show sufficient sincerity on our part, so how about we conclude this conflict with that?”
“No... Weren't you the ones who showed an attitude that war was acceptable? You refused to investigate the matter and acted as if to say, ‘Hit us if you dare.’ And now that you’ve taken a blow, you offer money for us to leave? Is this not, in fact, looking down on our British Empire?”
Having already lost all justification from the moment the war began, their side was in no position to appeal to reason or international custom.
This could be called a limitation of the Qing system, where all procedures could be ignored in an instant depending on the Son of Heaven's mood and disposition.
“We will, of course, receive reparations. But there must be no confusion with terms like 'condolence money' or 'tribute'. It must be clearly stated that Qing is paying reparations to our nation.”
“No, that is... wait, are you saying the disposed-of opium must also be compensated for?”
“That part needs to be considered differently. Goods confiscated within your nation's territory through proper legal procedures do not require compensation. However, you must naturally compensate us for entering an island under our control and setting fire to our goods. Even our merchant ships were burned.”
“That is...”
“So, to summarize, our demands are as follows: open the ports we designate, pay reparations, set tariffs according to our demands, abolish the Cohong system, and cede Hong Kong and the southern part of the Kowloon Peninsula near Hong Kong. There are other matters, such as establishing a legation and ensuring religious freedom, but those can be negotiated as we come to a mutual understanding.”
Lin Zexu’s jaw dropped as he heard the terms presented for a truce.
It was true that the Qing had lost the naval battle and the sea before Guangzhou had become our playground, but he must never have imagined that such conditions would be proposed.
“W-wait! These conditions are absurd. Does your country have any intention of negotiating with us at all?”
“Why are they absurd?”
“The Qing Dynasty has never voluntarily ceded its territory to another nation! Furthermore, to demand that it be explicitly called ‘reparations’ is to ask us to take the form of surrendering to your country, is it not?”
It’s not the *form* of surrender, it *is* surrender, isn't it?
As a reaction identical to what I had predicted came back, Admiral George’s eyes, listening to the interpreter behind me, filled with admiration.
With everyone back home watching things unfold exactly as I had foretold, my reputation as the foremost expert on Asia would only grow.
This was a very good flow of events.
“So, you are saying that Qing has absolutely no intention of accepting these terms. No surrender. Is that the lofty pride of the Middle Kingdom?”
“Even if I were to accept, His Majesty would never approve these conditions. For now... I will convey your demands to Beijing, but I do not expect a favorable reply.”
“I see. Understood. In that case, we will wait until His Majesty gives us his answer.”
Lin Zexu himself might have anticipated it, but it wasn't just the negotiations that would be finished once these terms reached the emperor's ears.
This talented man, equipped with ability, judgment, and loyalty, would not be able to escape the emperor's wrath.
It was a pity, but in a nation on the brink of ruin, it was always the capable and loyal subjects who suffered the most.
If the Daoguang Emperor realized that this was the cheapest price he would have to pay and agreed to negotiate, the story might change, but what were the chances of that?
The Qing Dynasty has no history of ceding land, so it's absolutely impossible?
Fine, don't give it to us then.
From now on, we'll dig in our heels until you're begging us to take this and go home.
* * *
Lin Zexu, who had sent a messenger to Beijing at top speed by mobilizing all the post stations, received the Son of Heaven's reply shortly thereafter.
After concluding his negotiations with Killian, he felt honestly conflicted.
The English demands were undoubtedly humiliating, the likes of which the Qing had never received before.
But the power of these people, which he had now witnessed, was far greater than that of any nation he had ever seen.
If only they could have purchased new cannons or steamships from the American merchants a little earlier.
If only the Son of Heaven had approached diplomacy with a bit more composure, giving them time to prepare.
Given the Qing Dynasty's fundamental national strength, they would not have suffered such a catastrophic defeat.
But the ship had already sailed, and the enemy was now keenly aware of how weak they were in comparison.
If they refused to negotiate now, the enemy would likely send more troops to pressure them, and in the end, they would be forced to sign a treaty with even worse conditions.
If so, it might be better to sign the treaty now and plan for the future, but he couldn't bring himself to say such words aloud.
He knew better than anyone that the moment he suggested ceding territory to send them away, his own head would be on the line.
Still, the country had not been completely defeated.
If they could quickly import various weapons by guaranteeing concessions to the American merchants, they could fortify their defenses to some extent.
It would be a difficult path, but if he were given just a little more time and budget, he would see this war concluded with minimal damage to the nation.
However, heaven did not grant even that small wish to the last loyal subject of the era.
“Lin Zexu is to be dismissed from his positions as Viceroy of Liangguang and Imperial Commissioner. His post will be filled by Qishan, the Viceroy of Zhili. Lin Zexu will be held responsible for causing this crisis, undergo a strict investigation in Beijing, and his definitive punishment will be decided thereafter.”
He had a nagging feeling it might happen, but he never thought the edict would actually come down.
Lin Zexu urgently questioned the official who had brought the emperor's decree.
“W-wait! My summons is one thing, but what is the next Viceroy's policy for continuing the fight against the English?”
“I do not know the details, but since the Yang-i have invaded, they must naturally be driven out. We will gather as many troops as possible and annihilate them.”
“No... That should not be done.”
“His Majesty believes that your lenient policies have only resulted in greater damage. You may face severe consequences in Beijing, so you should prepare yourself on your way up.”
It was regrettable, but this was reality. Perhaps he had been trapped in a fleeting spring dream all along.
He had tried with all his might to right a tilting nation, only to be met with the cold wind of a purge.
In Lin Zexu’s eyes, a vision formed—the future of the nation, uprooted by a single misjudgment from the Son of Heaven.
Once a nation's fortune is spent, it is impossible to restore it through human effort alone.
The loyal subject of the Qing Dynasty did not voice his resentment toward the Son of Heaven, nor the injustice of his own situation.
As he bleakly accepted the order and mounted his horse, only a few tears of sorrow for his nation's doom welled in his eyes.
* * *
The great war between the strongest nation of the West and the strongest nation of the East was, in itself, a matter of immense interest to the Western powers.
In particular, the Netherlands, though considered past its prime, was still active in international trade and was watching the course of this war more closely than anyone.
They were hoping to record detailed information and use it as a basis for opening up other Asian countries, when an offer came.
The British Foreign Secretary reached out to them first.
“If you are going to investigate anyway, we will provide you with the information to save you the unnecessary trouble. There are only two conditions. You must provide this information to all of Qing's tributary states, and if any country expresses a desire for diplomatic relations, the Netherlands will mediate for the British Empire as well. If you adhere to these terms, not only will we provide you with the information, but we will also ensure that Qing does not interfere when you contact other Asian nations.”
For the Netherlands, starved for opportunity, it was an exceptional offer they were eager to accept with open arms.
Immediately accepting Britain's proposal, the Netherlands received not only records of the naval battles fought so far but also the results of the battles currently in progress.
The reasons for the war, the names and careers of the lead negotiators, the number of ships mobilized, and the outcome of the naval battles—all were recorded on paper with detailed figures.
The Edo Shogunate, which had regularly received information about the West from the Netherlands, was thrown into an uproar by this unbelievable news.
“...So, according to this official letter, the Qing Dynasty is currently being crushed by the English so thoroughly that the word ‘catastrophic’ is insufficient?”
“So it is said.”
The Shogun of the shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyoshi, reread the letter addressed to ‘His Highness, the Seii Taishogun of Japan’ with a look of disbelief.
“But is this even plausible? The Qing sent more than twice the number of warships to face the English, yet without any strategy or trickery, they were defeated in a head-on battle without sinking a single enemy ship? And what's more, while the Qing lost over thirty ships, the English not only lost no ships but suffered not a single fatality?”
“It is an unbelievable result, but that is what is reported. And the English are freely entering and exiting the seas before Qing as if it were their own backyard, paralyzing the cities, while the Qing are unable to stop their movements and are being helplessly beaten.”
“No matter how I look at it, this is incredible.”
If the English had won by a moderate margin, he might have thought, *well, that could happen.*
The wondrous goods that had recently come through them and the cannons he had seen before were far beyond their own level.
But even so, was it possible for a fleet of over fifty ships to fail to destroy a single enemy vessel while losing over thirty of their own?
What's more, the English reportedly had fewer than ten injuries, let alone fatalities. At this rate, it meant there were almost no wounded soldiers unless they had slipped and fallen on the deck.
“And what is this? The Qing fired their cannons, but they failed to even pierce the armor of the English warships and simply bounced off? If this is true, it means our weapons are currently useless against them.”
“Cannons lose their power as the distance increases, so they would be ineffective from far away.”
“But from that same distance, the English warships were able to sink Qing ships at will.”
“It seems the difference is undeniably enormous.”
The Shogun sighed and read the latter part of the letter.
It mostly suggested that this shocking calamity could one day reach Japan, and to avoid such a danger, it would be wise to open their doors wide and establish diplomatic relations.
“Is it possible they are trying to confuse us with false information to get us to trade with them?”
“Holland has never provided us with false information before. And this incident is not happening in distant Europe, but in the seas before Qing, a place we can verify anytime by sending a ship. Any lie would be immediately exposed.”
“True. But it would be dangerous to make a hasty judgment on a matter of such gravity based solely on their words. Send men in secret to investigate.”
“Yes!”
“Ah, and...”
The outcome of the war was one thing, but what was most eye-catching was the background of the man in charge of the war.
The Shogun ordered that the veracity of this information be prioritized above all else.
And this turmoil brought a tremendous shock not only to Japan but also to the royal court of Joseon, which had had almost no diplomatic relations with the West until now.
“...So you are saying there is a high probability that the letter sent by those called the Hwarang is not mistaken.”
“Your Majesty, it is Holland, not Hwarang. You recall the Westerner who naturalized in Joseon during the reign of King Injo, do you not? He was from Holland.”
“Ah, yes. I have heard that story. Was his name Park Yeon? So he was from Holland.”
The true power of Joseon, Queen Sunwon, ruling as regent for the young king, was reviewing the contents of the letter brought by the Westerners with her younger brother, Jwa-geun.
Normally, a letter from Westerners would rarely reach the royal court, but this time was different.
News had just arrived that the Qing Dynasty had picked a fight with Joseon over a ridiculous pretext and had gone to war with a Western country called England.
And that wasn't all. The Qing Dynasty suspected Joseon of joining hands with the Yang-i and had even committed threatening acts by sending troops near the border.
Because of this turmoil, when Holland brought a detailed report on the war, they had no choice but to receive it.
But its contents were so absurd that they were hard to believe.
“For now, the other members of the family suggested sending an envoy to the Qing Dynasty to ascertain the detailed situation. We have the pretext of clarifying that we did not join hands with the English, so sending an envoy would not be strange at all.”
“I believe it is a clever plan. However... if this report is true, I worry if our explanation will be accepted.”
“We must find out whether it is true or not. Last time, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel said Qing's claims were baseless, but if this is true, it is proof that they are not doing their jobs properly, is it not? They must all be replaced.”
She wondered if they had deliberately hidden the information, but that seemed unrealistic.
But if that was the case, didn't it mean they were incompetent fools who failed to properly verify the facts even when an incident that could have led to a direct confrontation with Qing had occurred?
No matter what, the fact remained that they had not been faithful to their duties.
If everything written in this report was true, she couldn't even begin to grasp how the aftermath of this war would affect their nation.
Queen Sunwon could not take her eyes off the name and background of the person responsible for this war, written in the translated official letter from Holland.
- England's Minister of Rites, Killian Gore (confirmed to be of Joseon origin).