He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 182

< New Trading Partner >

◈ Two years and two months after Tae-oh’s wedding.

June 1792.

The French Revolutionary government finally placed the king on the guillotine, and Louis XVI was beheaded at the Place de la Concorde.

The shocking news that the absolute monarch had been executed by enraged citizens spread rapidly to neighboring countries.

The fact that even the monarch of a nation could be beheaded according to the will of the people was enough to make the monarchs of many royalist countries, including England, Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire, nervous.

In particular, countries bordering France were anxious that the spirit of revolution might spread to their own countries, leading them to unite.

Meanwhile, in France, where Robespierre’s reign of terror was at its peak, a young officer in his mid-twenties began to be talked about.

The officer gained attention by playing a major role in suppressing the royalist rebellion in Toulon and driving out the foreign coalition forces.

And he demonstrated his ability as an outstanding artillery commander, being promoted to general in a short period of time. This young soldier’s name was Napoleon Bonaparte.

◈ Two years later. April 1794. Windsor Castle, King’s Presence Chamber.

While France was in turmoil due to Robespierre’s reign of terror, an unexpected problem arose in England.

“Lord Sanderson! Tell me yourself! Isn’t the outflow of national wealth from trade with Qing China entirely due to your company’s coffee seeking excessive profits in trade?”

Littleton, a member of the House of Commons, pressed Tae-oh with fierce eyes.

He, who was always eager to find fault with Tae-oh, had a look on his face as if he had seized a very good opportunity.

‘······.’

Before Tae-oh’s T&S Coffee caused a huge boom, the beverage market in England, unlike other European countries, was dominated by tea from Qing China, not coffee.

However, unlike other alternatives, tea from Asia, especially Qing China, had absolute taste and quality, so England had no choice but to rely on imports, even at a loss.

If this situation had continued, a huge amount of silver would have been spent on tea imports, and England would have suffered considerably from the problem of national wealth outflow.

And this trade deficit could have led to the ugly temptation to spread opium in India to Qing China.

Fortunately, the tragic history of the ‘Opium War’ seemed unlikely to occur with the rise of T&S Coffee.

As the demand for tea decreased significantly due to the rapid growth of T&S Coffee, T&S Coffee, as well as other coffees, rapidly eroded the British beverage market, causing the demand for Qing China tea to plummet below 20%.

If this trend continued, England would not have to resort to the unscrupulous act of selling opium to pay for tea.

But an unexpected thing happened here.

Stimulated by the falling market share, Qing Chinese merchants unilaterally lowered the price of tea.

In addition, they selected high-quality tea and sent it to England in large quantities.

Tea, which was of much better quality than before but even cheaper, succeeded in attracting the attention of British people again.

In addition, British lawmakers, who had been lobbied by tea sellers, actively intervened in tax issues, reducing taxes on Qing China tea by nearly tenfold.

Due to the drastically lowered price and the nearly tenfold reduction in taxes, tea could be purchased at a price that was incomparable to the past.

With these measures, the market share of Qing China tea, which had once fallen below 20%, recovered to the 40% level in an instant.

The problem was after that.

As the market share of tea recovered to some extent, Qing Chinese merchants raised the price of tea again without notice. The price was slightly lower than that of T&S Coffee.

Many people who were accustomed to the taste of high-quality tea and felt burdened to drink relatively expensive T&S Coffee chose high-quality Qing China tea even if the price of tea was somewhat higher than other low-priced coffees.

As a result, the outflow of silver, which had been stagnant for a while, turned to an increase again.

Of course, due to the solid sales rate of T&S Coffee, it did not show the same overwhelming market share as before, but if this situation continued, the British government, which was sensitive to the outflow of silver, might take out the terrible card called ‘opium.’

‘The Opium War keeps trying to raise its head like a predetermined fate. I have to stop that history at all costs.’

Tae-oh had been continuously receiving reports related to this from Deputy Director Simon Hughes, so he was considering various solutions.

Tae-oh knew in advance that today’s meeting at the palace was also due to the trade imbalance with Qing China.

Littleton urged Tae-oh to answer.

“Lord Sanderson? Why don’t you answer? I asked you. Isn’t there a part of your company that should be held responsible for the current outflow of national wealth!”

Tae-oh, who came to his senses at the scolding, looked straight at Littleton and asked back.

“A part that should be held responsible? I don’t understand what you’re trying to say at all. Are you saying that our coffee sold so well that it offended Qing China? You have to be reasonable even when you’re being unreasonable. Our company has done nothing wrong, so there’s no reason to be held responsible at all.”

“What?”

“However, measures are urgently needed to address Qing China’s trade disruption. This is not something that will end once. In order to prevent such trade problems from occurring in the future, it seems that a groundbreaking and special plan must be established as soon as possible.”

Littleton responded as if he had been waiting for it.

“Hmm-. It’s not unreasonable! It may not have been what Lord Sanderson wanted, but as a result, that’s how it turned out.

Anyway, it seems that Lord Sanderson also thinks that it is necessary to improve the serious problems in Qing China’s trade by mobilizing special means. In that respect, I have the same idea.

So, if we want to increase England’s trade in Asia and expand our power, isn’t there only one way?

It is to send an envoy to Qing China as soon as possible to conclude a trade treaty with Emperor Qianlong. So we need to re-establish a proper trading environment.”

More than a decade ago, Emperor Qianlong of Qing China allowed the British East India Company to trade, importing tea, porcelain, etc., and exporting wool and cotton fabrics to Qing China.

However, the attitudes toward trade were clearly different between Qing and England.

Emperor Qianlong of Qing China thought that the great power was giving the benefit of trade as a great ‘grace.’

In other words, Qing China did not need to trade with European countries because it had everything, but it had the attitude of allowing them to use tea, porcelain, and silk with the mind of giving grace.

In addition, Qing China placed several restrictions on trade.

To trade, it was necessary to comply with the period from October to March of the following year through an organization called Gonghang (公行) [a guild of officially authorized Chinese merchants], and the items, types, and quantities of trade were also thoroughly restricted after consulting with Qing Chinese merchants.

It was difficult for England to make profits under a trade environment that was unilaterally favorable to Qing Chinese merchants without proper negotiations or treaties related to trade.

On the other hand, Qing Chinese merchants were making a lot of money by exporting tea, porcelain, and silk that sold well to the British.

However, for England, which was facing limitations in the growth of its colonies, trade with Qing China was indispensable.

Expanding the market to East Asia was essential, and for that, exchange with Qing was necessary.

Accordingly, King George sent an envoy to conclude a formal trade treaty with Qing China.

However, the first envoy was not successful because the representative died on the ship before arriving in Qing China.

Since then, trade relations with Qing China have been sluggish.

Littleton, who had received considerable lobbying from British tea merchants, was determined to send an envoy to Qing China this time.

Littleton appealed to King George as if he were a patriot thinking of the country.

“Your Majesty! You must send a large special envoy this year to celebrate Emperor Qianlong’s birthday. If we can develop the Qing China market by allowing our various British goods to be traded directly in Qing China, our profits will be several times······.”

The moment Tae-oh heard Littleton’s story, a scene he had seen in a history book came to mind.

‘Is this··· the time when that incident happened···?’

In history, England sent an envoy to Emperor Qianlong of Qing China, but there was an incident in which they greatly offended him by not properly performing the Sambae Gu Godu Rye (三拜九叩頭禮) [the ritual of three bows and nine prostrations], which meant bowing three times and knocking the head on the ground nine times.

In addition, they angered Emperor Qianlong by making a somewhat unreasonable request to station a British minister in Qing China for trade, but to give them a small island for British officials to use, and eventually the envoy had to return to England as if they were being chased out.

This worsened the relationship between England and Qing China, and later became the trigger for the Opium War and the Treaty of Nanjing decades later.

Emperor Qianlong of Qing China, who had greatly increased his national power in his youth, neglected science and adhered to a policy of refusing trade with foreign countries as he grew older, eventually leading to the path of national ruin, becoming a semi-colony of Western powers.

“Your Majesty! We must immediately select an envoy to visit Emperor Qianlong and negotiate. Only then will our England prosper and······.”

Littleton was spitting in front of King George, trying to take his own interests.

Tae-oh’s feelings were complicated as he looked at him.

King George asked Tae-oh again.

“Lord Sanderson! Do you have any specific ways to overcome this situation?”

Tae-oh hesitated for a moment, then raised his head as if he had made up his mind.

“Your Majesty! If you want to resolve the trade issues related to tea, etc., and further have proper influence in East Asia, there is a way to solve it without going through Qing China.”

The ministers buzzed at Tae-oh’s sudden words.

Littleton asked Tae-oh as if he were blaming him.

“Without going through Qing China? What on earth are you talking about?”

“I mean, let’s not rely on Qing China to import tea.”

“Haha- It’s not just any product, it’s a matter of importing tea, but you’re saying not to rely on Qing China… You seem to think that tea is produced like coffee, but tea is not a crop that is easily cultivated! You’re talking so carelessly without even knowing what kind of environment tea is produced in. Are you really a businessman? Tsk tsk.”

Tae-oh ignored Littleton and continued to speak to King George.

“Your Majesty! To forge a partnership with another country for future trade, we must approach it with proper ‘trade,’ not ‘force.’

The existing method of subjugating a country with force and turning it into a colony may bring small gains in East Asia, but you will face more side effects.

Rather, we must approach them with a sincere desire to become partners and with the intention of truly trading with them. If we approach with such an attitude, we can expect to gain ten times, no, twenty times the profit in the rapidly growing Asian market.”

“Tsk tsk- Do you think there is a decent country in East Asia other than Qing China?”

King George stopped Littleton, who was trying to pick a fight again, with an unpleasant look.

“Come now, Littleton. Keep your mouth shut! The Earl is speaking, isn’t he?”

“···Ah, yes.”

King George asked Tae-oh.

“Lord Sanderson? Your words are right, but isn’t it easier said than done? Especially since the countries of East Asia are known to be very unfriendly to us Europeans.

Not long ago, they committed the heinous act of beheading all the clergymen who went there for the purpose of missionary work. No matter how sincerely we approach them, it will not be easily accepted.”

“Your Majesty! The East Asians, centered on Qing China, that I encountered in my youth were immersed in Confucianism and wary of the approach of external forces, so it was natural for them to take a hostile stance from their point of view. And we, who were approaching them, did not know the proper approach and were busy rushing in with force.

But on the contrary, I also learned that if we understand their culture well, use their language, and approach them politely, we can unexpectedly open their hearts and have greater opportunities.”

“But in the meantime, our country and several other European countries have studied the culture of Qing China and approached them while studying their language, but it hasn’t been of much use, has it?”

“I think that’s because they didn’t understand the real intentions of the other country.”

“Real intentions?”

“That’s right. Qing China considers itself the most developed ‘great power’ in the world and tends to look down on the rest of the countries.

To such a country, trade is not an equal exchange, but a way to share their advanced civilization by giving them a taste of it as a special favor. It is not a problem that can be solved by respecting Qing China and listening to their words.

Trade with a country that does not view the other as equal will eventually have more disadvantages than advantages, and conflicts will continue to arise. That’s why I said not to rely on Qing China.”

“But as Littleton said, isn’t there no country in Asia other than Qing China that is capable of trading? Are you thinking of a country called Japan?”

Everyone looked at Tae-oh’s face with eyes as curious as King George’s.

“I believe that the current trade should not be a choice that looks at the next few years, but rather the next 100 or 200 years.

In that respect, I would like to strongly recommend a place called the ‘Kingdom of Joseon’ between the countries of Qing China and Japan.”

King George frowned.

“Joseon···Kingdom···?”