"How do you think it'll go? Will they accept it?"
"This isn't the ti for negotiations. It's ti to push forward," ca the resolute reply.
Liu Feng's new treaty proposal sent ripples through the diplomatic world like a stone cast into a still lake. It was as if the single sheet of paper contained the answers to everything the foreign powers had been seeking.
The objective was straightforward—secure a foothold within the 400 million taels' worth of goods stipulated in the agreent.
"It's almost frightening how perfect it is. You've seamlessly blended everyone's desires into one comprehensive solution. Sotis your sches are terrifying, Fang Ming," remarked Liu Feng's aide.
"Hold on, don't pin this all on . You had a hand in crafting it too. Don't act like I'm the only villain here," Fang Ming retorted with a grin.
The Allied Powers had been eager for an indemnity windfall, a so-called "reparations party." With a sum like 300 million taels, they could rally public support, stabilize their economies, and invigorate their industries. But such a move would only hasten the decline of the Qing Dynasty.
The Qing couldn't collapse—at least not yet. Fang Ming needed ti, and the only shield sturdy enough to buy that ti was Britain. For that, the Qing would have to endure a little longer.
"It's a simple principle," Fang Ming explained, "just give them what they want—economic growth, public support, and industrial expansion—all wrapped up in one tidy package."
"Still, 400 million taels seems excessive," the aide replied.
"That's what makes the Emperor remarkable."
Britain was currently tangled in its own web of industrialization, struggling to balance the interests of laborers and capitalists. This was a shared dilemma among industrialized nations. Crack down on corporations, and the economy falters; appease them, and labor rights suffer.
The solution was to inject external wealth into dostic markets, often achieved through colonial exploitation.
"If they're going to spend money anyway, why not use it to make strategic purchases?" Fang Ming quipped.
The Emperor's priorities were clear—military and political power. What made this proposal so enticing to the Emperor was its potential to create a royal army directly under his control. Emperor Guangxu had long distrusted Yuan Shikai, and Liu Feng's counsel had only cented that suspicion. Once the imperial army grew large enough, the Emperor would likely move to dismantle the Beiyang Army entirely.
This year's reparations were already covered. A one-year tax exemption coupled with the indemnities could be funded entirely by liquidating Empress Dowager Cixi's assets.
"Are we still struggling to track down all of her holdings?" Fang Ming asked.
"There's simply too much to catalog. They say she had hundreds of chests of jewels alone," the aide replied.
If the reparations had been drawn from the national treasury, the Emperor's enemies would have used the opportunity to tear him apart. Instead, Emperor Guangxu had made the bold decision to fund the indemnities entirely through the imperial family's assets—specifically by liquidating Cixi's vast fortune.
"It feels like it's endless," the aide continued, shaking his head.
Indeed, hundreds of officials were working tirelessly to sell off Cixi's assets. Just two weeks after her funeral, the once-quiet capital was abuzz with rchants from across the nation, eager to acquire a piece of the treasure trove.
The sheer scale of Cixi's wealth was staggering. Even seizing the assets of her loyal officials might yield funds equivalent to several years' worth of Qing revenue.
The Qing Dynasty collected nearly 100 million taels in annual taxes. If they had to repay 300 million taels with 5% annual interest, the empire would spend half a century buried under debt. The nation would collapse long before that.
Emperor Guangxu had entrusted Liu Feng with full authority over the harbor city project. Unknown to the public, this 400-million-tael windfall was just the beginning of a sweeping reform plan that the Emperor intended to unveil in tandem with the funds' arrival.
"The Emperor said he has two years—just two years he can endure," Liu Feng noted grimly.
"We'll need to make our move before then," Fang Ming replied.
During the first year's tax exemption, imnse expenditures were inevitable. Even in the second year, the revenue from the leased harbor cities might not suffice to sustain the reforms. Stability and consistent taxation would likely take root only by the third year.
"How much are we allowed to take from this pie?" Fang Ming asked with a smirk.
"As much as we can handle, as long as we pay taxes and support the reforms," Liu Feng replied.
"Well, if there's give and take, the Emperor isn't gambling lightly, is he?" Fang Ming remarked.
"It might look that way to us," Liu Feng admitted, "but the Emperor has waited over thirteen years for this mont. This is his calculated move."
Indeed, Emperor Guangxu had staked everything on this reform—the reformist faction, his royal army, stable revenue, and the stability of the Qing Dynasty itself. Once the treaty was finalized, Li Hongzhang would assu control as the Governor-General of Beiyang, while Kang Youwei would take the helm as the vanguard of reform.
"And it seems I'll be overseeing the administration of the leased harbor cities," Liu Feng added.
The Emperor's bold strategy was becoming clear. He was delegating a portion of the Grand Secretariat's authority to Liu Feng, entrusting him with this monuntal reform effort. It wasn't just an internal transformation—it was a revolution that would ripple outward, reshaping both dostic and international landscapes.
"This is just the beginning," Liu Feng declared. "Soon, the world will converge here."
"Whether this marks the start of reform or the descent into ruin remains to be seen. The ministers won't stay silent," Fang Ming cautioned.
The ministers' current silence stemd from their belief that the Emperor had yet to touch the national treasury. They were biding their ti, waiting for his resources to deplete. In their eyes, the mont his funds dried up would be the mont to strike, reducing him once again to a puppet.
"It's a battle of endurance," Liu Feng said.
"Exactly," Fang Ming agreed. "If the Emperor prevails, many ministers will face their downfall. But if the ministers win..."
"Then the Emperor will live out his days as a figurehead," Liu Feng finished grimly.
The stage was set for a battle with no retreat.
"For now, let's focus on our part,"Fang Ming said.
They were poised to reap the benefits, navigating the chaos from a middle ground that ensured profit regardless of who erged victorious.
The Struggles of the Allied Powers
Days after the second round of negotiations concluded, the Allied Powers were still deadlocked.
"Qing China has agreed to lease ports to all Allied nations. Why are you blocking us?" the Russian envoy demanded, his frustration boiling over.
Herbert, representing Britain, t his anger with steely resolve.
"How many tis must I explain this? Your empire already shares a land border with China. Why would you need a port? Transporting goods by rail is far more efficient!"
You will not reach the seas.
This is your last chance to gain a port peacefully, and we will ensure you fail.
The Great Ga was far from over. For Britain, preventing Russia from securing a foothold on the seas was a battle that could not be lost.
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