Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Boxer Protocol
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September 7, 1901.
Beijing, Spanish Legation in the Qing Dynasty.
"...I take it there are no further opinions or objections to the treaty."
Li Hongzhang, the Qing Empire's Viceroy Plenipotentiary Minister, nodded gravely with a heavy expression.
Once a giant who had propped up the crumbling Qing, he was now a frail old man, his eyes filled with profound sorrow.
Today was the day the treaty—later known as the Boxer Protocol, or the Beijing Protocol—would be signed.
And the day the fate of the country he had devoted his life to would be sealed.
"Then, let us confirm the terms of the treaty once more."
Bernardo de Cologan y Cologan, the Spanish Plenipotentiary Minister representing the treaty signatories, slowly opened his mouth while gazing at the ink still wet on the document.
He was the most senior diplomat among those gathered, having served in Beijing the longest.
And thus, the one chosen to represent the signing of the Boxer Protocol.
"...Article 5: The Qing shall prohibit the importation of arms and materials necessary for their manufacture for a period of two years. Thereafter, if the powers deem it necessary, the prohibition may be extended annually for up to two more years. Article 6: The Qing shall pay reparations..."
Cologan's words continued on.
And with every word that dragged on, Li Hongzhang felt as if his heart were burning away.
The Qing would repay the principal of 450 million taels in reparations at 4% annual interest, from 1902 to 1940—a total of 982 million taels over 39 years.
Legation quarters would be established in Beijing, effectively recognizing the permanent stationing of foreign troops.
All forts from Dagu to Beijing and Tianjin would be demolished, and more.
There wasn't a single clause favorable to the Qing.
The moment this treaty was signed, the Qing would lose everything.
And effectively become a semi-colony of the Great Powers.
'If only I had the power...!'
He would have tried to revise even the slightest unfair terms.
But though Li Hongzhang was present as the Qing's representative, he was little more than a figurehead without real authority.
The true representative was Prince Qing, Aisin Gioro Yikuang, the Grand Councilor Plenipotentiary Minister.
A man who was arguably the most incompetent and corrupt in the Qing court.
Prince Qing seemed determined to sell out the empire his ancestors had built, accepting the powers' ruthless demands without a hint of resistance.
Li Hongzhang could barely contain his rage.
"Then I shall be the first to sign."
Once all articles had been confirmed, Cologan signed first as the representative.
"At last, the end of the Boxer Rebellion has come. What a tiresome year it's been."
Ernest Mason Satow, the British Plenipotentiary Minister, followed Cologan in signing, remarking thus.
"I agree."
Next came Mikhail Nikolaevich Girs of the Russian Empire.
Then Komura Jutaro, Foreign Minister of the Japanese Empire; Paul Beau of France; William Woodville Rockhill, the American envoy; Alfons Mumm von Schwarzenstein of the German Empire; and others.
"Now, if the two Qing representatives sign, the treaty will be complete."
"Understood."
Once all eleven nations' plenipotentiaries had signed, Cologan spoke.
Prince Qing nodded and signed the document.
And finally, it was Li Hongzhang's turn.
'To end the Qing's future with my own hand.'
Were all his efforts to save the Qing thus far in vain?
Li Hongzhang's eyes reddened as he lifted his trembling hand to take up the brush.
Scritch—
"With this, the Beijing Protocol has been signed. Thank you all for your efforts, representatives of the powers."
Clap clap clap clap—
And so, amid resounding applause, the Qing's fate was sealed.
The powers' diplomats shook hands with bright faces, celebrating their victory.
But Li Hongzhang could only stand dazed, watching with hollow eyes.
The pathos of a defeated nation.
Bang!
"This is bad!"
It was then.
A young man, presumably a legation staffer, burst into the signing room clutching something.
Cologan scowled.
"Diego, what is this commotion? Do you know where you are?!"
"Huff... huff... I'm sorry. But I thought the representatives needed to know this as soon as possible..."
"Is it that urgent?"
"Yes. Please, take a look at this."
The young man handed over what he held.
"...A newspaper?"
Indeed.
It was a newspaper, plain and simple.
"Yes. It just came out. All of Beijing is in an uproar over this!"
"What on earth..."
Cologan's puzzled expression turned to wide-eyed shock.
"No, what kind of news is..."
"Good Lord..."
"Pfft! Excuse me. Puhaha!"
The other ministers reacted similarly.
The British envoy stared blankly at the staffer who brought it, as if questioning reality. The French one crossed himself unwittingly.
The only one reacting differently was Alfons Mumm von Schwarzenstein of the German Empire, stifling laughter in the corner.
"...What on earth is written on that paper to elicit such passionate reactions from everyone?"
"Well..."
Sensing something ominous, Li Hongzhang spoke up.
Cologan hesitated, then finally handed the offending newspaper to Li Hongzhang.
"What in the world... Gasp!"
Li Hongzhang's hands shook violently as he gripped the paper.
What was this?
What nonsense was this?!
"Prince... Prince Chun... performed the... th-three kneels and n-nine kowtows...?"
"Zaifeng did the three kneels and nine kowtows? Li Hongzhang, what is the meaning of this?!"
Prince Qing's face twisted in horror; he had remained silent, ignorant of the foreign language.
Li Hongzhang, dazed, showed him the newspaper's illustration.
"Wh-what?!"
Thud!
Prince Qing's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
The illustration depicted Prince Chun kowtowing before Wilhelm II and a young Eastern boy chanting commands.
For an old-fashioned figure like Prince Qing, it was too shocking to accept in his right mind.
"H-how could this... How is this possible? What were his aides doing?!"
"I don't know. It says here he volunteered..."
Li Hongzhang dropped the paper, unable to continue.
There was no way he volunteered.
It must have been threats and coercion.
Prince Chun's heir was only 18.
For such a young lord to be dragged to a foreign land and forced into this humiliation.
'And a Korean-born young noble favored by the Emperor gave the commands?'
"Ha... haha..."
A hollow laugh escaped Li Hongzhang as his body and spirit crumbled.
How had the Qing fallen this low?
How far would it sink?
"It's over."
The Qing was finished.
Cough!
"Lord Li? Lord Li!"
"Doctor! Call a doctor!"
Li Hongzhang spewed blood and collapsed.
The horrified diplomats, led by Cologan, rushed to support him and summon a physician, but he no longer had the strength to endure this cruel, filthy world.
"To cultivate talent only to ruin the nation—what regret!"
With his last breath, he cried out and lost consciousness.
He would never wake again.
Two months earlier than in the original history.
"...Lieutenant, what in the world is going on?"
"I'd like to know myself, Leeb."
Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, a lieutenant in the China Expeditionary Force sent to suppress the Boxer Rebellion, eyed the throng of Chinese outside the legation with dismay.
"How much more must the German Empire trample China's dignity to be satisfied?!"
"We can't take it anymore!"
"Get out of China, Germany!"
The cause? None other than that morning's newspaper.
Something about a Qing royal performing some odd kowtow to His Majesty as an apology?
'What of it?'
Not well-versed in Chinese culture, Leeb couldn't grasp why it was such a big deal.
"They say it's a rite reserved for the Chinese Emperor alone."
"But our Kaiser is an emperor too, isn't he? They can do it, but we can't?"
"The Chinese are strict about such customs, Lieutenant. Especially those involving the Emperor."
"Either way, it's a hassle for us."
Hundreds had already gathered before the legation.
They were unarmed, but it could turn into a riot if mishandled.
"We're heading back to the dear homeland soon, and now this. Can't we just disperse them?"
"Lieutenant, haven't you had enough Chinese blood on your hands?"
"N-no, that's not what I meant, sir."
"Let's try to do this peacefully if we can. Peacefully. I'm sick to death of massacres."
The lieutenant exhaled cigarette smoke as he spoke.
Their expeditionary force had, per the Kaiser's orders, 'cleansed' Beijing and its surroundings indiscriminately.
Men, women, young, old—none spared.
"Do you think I wanted to do such dishonorable things? Orders are orders."
"...Yeah. Bloody orders."
"If we were going to kill them, better to cut off food and let them starve."
"Shot or starved—same difference, no?"
The lieutenant scratched his head, uncomprehending.
It was then.
Snap!
"Lieutenant! Message from Field Marshal Waldersee!"
"Hm."
The messenger from headquarters saluted crisply.
At last, their beloved commander had decided.
"Disperse the 'rabble' surrounding the legation by 'force' if necessary—immediately!"
"What...?"
The lieutenant's face twisted upon hearing the order.
By force if needed.
In other words, shoot them down if they wouldn't scatter.
"...You're sure that's the order?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hah."
The lieutenant tossed his cigarette to the ground.
That Chinese courtesan who frequented headquarters must have tried to dissuade him, yet this.
Rumors said Waldersee had been in a foul mood lately—was that why?
"...It's about that, isn't it."
"Sir? What do you mean?"
Leeb asked.
The lieutenant picked up the newspaper.
"I think I know why our dear field marshal is in such a temper. See this Eastern boy?"
"The one who saved the Kaiser?"
The story was well-known in the expeditionary force.
Half a year had passed since the incident.
"You didn't read the paper properly. Take another look at what it says about him."
Leeb tilted his head and reread slowly.
Then he realized what he'd missed.
"Huh? W-wait. Why does it say his name is Hans von Choi?"
"Looks like the Kaiser granted him a title. He's Baron Hans von Choi now."
"A baron? A yellow-skinned one?"
Leeb alternated stares between the paper and the lieutenant, incredulous.
The lieutenant smirked knowingly.
"The field marshal must have found out."
"Hah..."
"You know his temperament."
"Enough to explode."
"Exactly."
Of all people, Field Marshal Waldersee.
With his excessively conservative nature and many enemies in the military, he wouldn't take an Easterner becoming imperial nobility lightly.
But how had Waldersee learned of it today, when even they had just found out?
'Maybe someone back home tipped him off on purpose.'
That wasn't the point now.
They had to deal with the gathering Chinese.
"I was hoping warning shots would make them leave."
"Same here."
"Lieutenant Lettow-Vorbeck! Lieutenant Leeb! All units ready!"
Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck sighed shortly at the sergeant's report and drew his pistol.
Moments later, gunfire and screams echoed before the legation.