I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 255

The Critical Point

“The Imperial Family kneeling to foreign powers? How can this be!”

“How can this be! How can this be!”

“Traitors blinding the Emperor! Step down!”

“Step down! Step down!”

“Renounce this humiliating diplomacy! Reclaim the pride of Zhonghua [China]!”

“Reclaim it! Reclaim it!”

After the defeat in the war, the atmosphere in Qing [the ruling dynasty of China at the time] was beyond description.

“Not only did the Emperor abandon the palace and flee, but the leader of those Western barbarians has seized the Forbidden City! And to make matters worse, the officials have recognized them as equals to the Emperor of the Middle Kingdom in order to avoid war! How in the world can this be!”

“Uproar!”

“In the long history of Zhonghua spanning 5,000 years, there has never been such humiliation! Even if the entire country is devastated, we have never endured such disgrace!”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

Anger. Shock. Hatred.

No words could better express the emotions that gripped them.

Those who shouted until their throats were raw were not just Manchus [the ethnic group ruling China during the Qing dynasty].

Rather, a significant number of Han Chinese [the majority ethnic group in China] were also yelling alongside the Manchus.

In fact, judging by the intensity of their anger, they seemed even more vehement.

The Imperial Family’s efforts to capture the organization that attempted to assassinate the French Prime Minister inevitably faced unexpected obstacles.

“They’re arresting and imprisoning righteous people who sought to uphold the pride of Zhongyuan [another name for China]!”

“We are also assassins! Arrest us!”

“We are the righteous Harmony Society [likely referring to a patriotic or nationalistic group]! Support Qing, destroy the foreigners!”

“Support Qing, destroy the foreigners! Support Qing, destroy the foreigners!”

Grand Councilor Zhang Lin, who was spearheading this matter, received reports on public opinion from various regions. His face turned pale as he hurriedly sought out the Crown Prince Minning.

“Your Highness! Have you seen this?”

“Are you referring to those crazy rioters outside?”

“We cannot simply dismiss them as rioters. If we leave this unchecked, the domestic turmoil could escalate to the point of threatening the stability of the Imperial Family.”

At those all-too-obvious words, Crown Prince Minning clutched his head as if trying to suppress a headache.

“Are you unaware that if we fail to resolve this, the stability of the Imperial Family will not only be threatened but could also be destroyed?”

“Of course, I am aware. However, we must also consider the reality that a forced investigation could lead to large-scale riots.”

“If riots break out, can’t we just kill them all as an example?”

“If we do that and the scale becomes even larger, we truly won’t be able to handle it.”

“…Is it really that serious?”

Zhang Lin nodded immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

Really, to that extent?

Isn’t he exaggerating too much, even so?

‘If the enemy’s momentum is too strong, we can temporarily yield, and there are times when we have to endure even if we don’t like it.’

But perhaps these ignorant peasants don’t even know this simple reality.

If we continue to wage war against France to uphold the pride of Zhongyuan, as they say, what will happen?

Have they already forgotten the unprecedented defeat where 100,000 men charged and failed to kill a single enemy?

Of course, they can’t not know.

They’re just stubbornly insisting even though they know.

They can’t offer any alternatives or solutions, and they’re just barking with their heads full of crap.

‘Should I just go all-in as those bastards want?’

Do those guys even realize that it’s not the Crown Prince himself who will be holding the guns and fighting?

“Haa… It’s frustrating enough that other countries are acting up, but now I have to worry about those guys too.”

“Other countries? Are you referring to the Wae [derogatory term for Japanese people]? They certainly didn’t come eagerly before, but they immediately came running to this banquet, wagging their tails, which is quite disgusting.”

“Yes. But we can overlook them since they’ve always been like that. This time, even Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] is causing trouble.”

“Joseon?”

Zhang Lin scratched his head with a puzzled expression.

“What did they say?”

“They emphasized that while they are our vassal, they are clearly an independent country.”

“…That’s true, but their words feel like they have impure intentions.”

“What should we do if Joseon turns its back on us?”

“…”

Unfortunately, no answer came, but the Crown Prince didn’t mind.

He knew that there was no answer to the question anyway.

Still, he had called the Grand Councilor in the hope that there might be some brilliant plan, but right now, the other side didn’t seem to have the 余裕 [Japanese word meaning ‘leeway’ or ‘room to spare’] to worry about Joseon.

Externally, ethnic minorities are rebelling, and internally, Manchus and Han Chinese are condemning the Imperial Family, demanding that they uphold the pride of Zhonghua.

In particular, he kept hearing that the Han Chinese’s distrust of the Imperial Family was now almost reaching the sky.

-Even if they have been assimilated into Zhonghua, aren’t they still fundamentally barbarians?

-How long must we entrust the position of the Son of Heaven [the Emperor] to those who do not understand the meaning of the Celestial Order!

-The current Imperial Family has chosen to step down from the throne of their own accord! This is not a voice of rebellion but a cry for justice!

Barely a day after Zhang Lin’s report, groups shouting these slogans were roaming around Beijing.

The Crown Prince was busy hiding the envoys, fearing that France might use this as an excuse to cause trouble again.

Of course, it would be enough to arrest all those bastards who threaten the national interest and torture them.

However, if an even more violent riot were to break out as a result, they would have no choice but to hand over the justification for French intervention once again.

It seemed that they really had no choice but to take special measures now.

※※※

Around the time when Zhongyuan was plunged into chaos due to the commotion involving France.

“So… are you saying that fighting any further is meaningless?”

Benigsen, the commander leading the Russian army, asked weakly with a voice full of gravity.

It wasn’t because they had suffered defeats to the point where they couldn’t continue the war.

As evidence, the person he was secretly talking to also didn’t look too good.

“Yes. I’m sure the commander is aware that our position has become quite difficult now, isn’t he?”

“…”

As Arthur Wellesley said.

The Russian and Anglo-American allied forces, who had been engaged in a fierce war of nerves in Uyghur [a region in Northwest China], had become like dogs chasing chickens and ending up staring at the roof [a metaphor for achieving nothing].

Information was already slow to arrive, so they received reports long after things happened, and even then, they were a series of unbelievable events.

“First of all, the parliament in my home country has ordered us to temporarily halt the battle with your country, if possible, and observe the situation. What is your country’s Tsar’s judgment?”

“…First, I forwarded the official letter from France. Did you receive it as well?”

“Yes.”

Wellesley nodded, fiddling with the paper that read:

[The Uyghur region is a disputed area where the Qing Imperial Family has entrusted administration to France. The countries currently engaged in unjust disputes must immediately cease hostilities and withdraw.]

“We dispatched troops to this land in cooperation with Qing, so we no longer have the justification to continue fighting without Qing’s approval. But I suppose that’s similar for your country as well, isn’t it?”

“I won’t deny it.”

In any case, the conflict between Uyghur and Qing is close to a civil war over the independence of the Uyghur people.

Russia had sided with Uyghur and participated in the war, but France had declared that they would mediate in this region.

Moreover, the Qing Imperial Family, who were the original owners of the land, recognized that right.

If they continued to resist here, they would have no choice but to endure confrontation with France.

The attitudes of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain, who had been happily providing unwavering support, immediately changed.

Benigsen assumed that the United States, Britain’s ally, would show a similar attitude.

“No matter who wins, they will inevitably be accused of extorting land without legitimate justification. I believe the Tsar is aware of this as well.”

What if Russia, which sided with Uyghur, wins?

France can immediately push Russia out by using Qing and then step in themselves.

Conversely, what if Britain wins?

France can push them out anyway, saying that Britain has occupied the land without Qing’s approval, and then take over Uyghur themselves.

That’s why France isn’t showing any active movements and is only expanding their influence in their homeland.

“First of all, I also reported to the Tsar that fighting any further is futile. I believe that the wise Tsar will surely accept my opinion.”

“That’s fortunate. Then let’s stop this drawn-out war of attrition here for now.”

“…But can your country be satisfied with that?”

“Well…”

Wellesley trailed off, wearing a bitter smile.

Fortunately, the number of times British troops had directly engaged in battle with Russian troops had been small so far.

They had only been crushing the easily defeated Uyghur resistance forces and gaining noticeable achievements.

The Russian side had also been showing off their power by only suppressing the easy-to-handle Eight Banners army [Qing Dynasty military units], so the actual casualties were not that great.

However, the resources consumed cannot be recovered.

What about the gunpowder, bullets, and the food and supplies that went into the soldiers?

It was only natural that they were burning inside, as they had no choice but to throw all of this into the air.

It would have been fine if they had coolly pushed back the enemy and received reparations, but… unfortunately, the other side was not that easy to deal with.

Wellesley never thought he would lose, but he also didn’t have the delusion that he could win without taking damage.

If you weigh the size of the benefits you can gain and the size of the risks you have to take, the answer is simple.

Moreover, if they continued the war, ignoring France’s recommendation, they would not be able to guarantee the safety of their rear.

From any point of view, it was right to stop here.

‘If only we had pushed into Beijing when France started their advance…’

He only wasted time waiting for the parliament’s decision, and now he regretted it so much.

“I understand your country’s sincerity. Let’s suspend all combat operations until the Tsar issues the next order.”

“Thank you. Then I will take that as such and withdraw. But…”

Wellesley was about to get up but added a meaningful remark.

“In the end, who has gained the most from this war? And is it really right for the war to end like this?”

“…”

Wellesley left without looking back after saying those words.

“Haa… Suka [Russian swear word, similar to ‘damn’]. Who doesn’t know that?”

Left alone, Benigsen lit a cigarette and stared blankly at the ceiling.

He had traveled to all sorts of battlefields since he was young.

He had won and lost.

The glory of victory and the shame of defeat were not unfamiliar emotions to him.

But even as a veteran, he found it difficult to accept this kind of ending.

If it ended with such an ambiguous conclusion, neither victory nor defeat, what were his subordinates who died in the war for?

What were they fighting for on this barren land for so long?

Could Russia really accept this kind of ending?

Well, he understood all the realistic reasons.

France and Russia were allies, and France had promised to help Russia conquer India anyway.

But was there any evidence that they would fulfill that promise?

All that was left in writing was that they would help Russia advance into Central Asia.

This advance into Uyghur was, strictly speaking, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Russia.

But it seemed that France would be taking all the sweet honey, while the bear was doing all the tricks.

Benigsen wanted to seriously ask the Tsar and the politicians in the capital.

“Really… is this the best we can do?”

End of