I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 239

< The Bizarre Northeast Asia >

About a year before Killian exclaimed ‘Amazing Asia’ at the completely unexpected news…

In the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Daoguang passed away, having suffered the worst humiliation since the founding of the nation.

His successor, 혁저 [likely a misspelling, should be 奕詝 (Yìzhǔ)], using the reign name 함풍 [Xianfeng Emperor’s reign name], vowed to wash away the Qing Dynasty’s humiliation.

However, the reality of the Qing Dynasty was not so rosy.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, whose numbers had been growing since the reign of the previous emperor, directly caused a rebellion.

Hong Xiuquan, a Confucian scholar leading this puppet organization, claimed to be the son of Yahweh and the younger brother of Jesus, advocating for 멸만흥한 [Destroy the Manchus, Revive the Han].

He continued his outrageous actions under the banner of destroying the Manchus and reviving the Han people.

“Why has our great Chinese civilization come to this? It is because the Manchus, not the Han, have seized power! That is why China’s civilization, which was once the most advanced in the world, has stopped and been overtaken by the West, which was far behind!”

“Boo! Boo! The Manchu barbarians must step down!”

“Make China great again! We will lead this country to the path of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and overthrow the corrupt Qing imperial family!”

Hong Xiuquan initially tried to attract people by advocating anti-foreignism and independence, but there were some difficulties in actually putting it into action.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom first gained power in Guangxi Province, located in the south of the Qing Dynasty.

Unlike the wealthy Guangdong, the income level of the people was low, and the corruption of officials was rampant, making it easy to expand their power.

However, there was a problem with advocating anti-foreignism here.

That was the presence of the British Empire, which occupied the southern part of Guangdong Province right next door.

Moreover, Hong Xiuquan had a history of attracting people with the boast that he had met and talked with the British minister, 기리안 과이 [likely a transliteration of a British name, possibly related to a historical figure].

Therefore, it was not a wise move to attract the attention of the British while advocating anti-foreignism.

So Hong Xiuquan changed his strategy a bit.

“If the Han people are to revive, they must first catch up with the current technology and systems! And don’t we already have a relationship with such a country? The 영길리 [Yeonggilli – a transliteration of ‘England’], who have nests in Hong Kong and Shanghai, are the ones we should study in the future!”

“My Lord! But weren’t the 양이 [Yangyi – Foreign devils] supposed to be the targets of eradication?”

“양이 are 양이, but do you think that our great Han people and the Manchu bastards are the same just because they live on the same land? Of course not. The same goes for those 양이. Among the many 양이, the 영길리 are the ones who have awakened to the Tao of Confucianism.”

“You mean the 양이 understood the philosophy of Confucianism?”

“Of course! Otherwise, how could mere 양이 have achieved such a brilliant civilization? The reason why we were defeated by the 영길리 in the last war is because we were stopped by the miserable leadership of the Manchus while they were developing!”

Clearly, he seemed to have said that the 영길리 were a group of barbaric 양이 who were oppressing the Qing Dynasty at first, but anyway, Lord Hong Xiuquan’s words were always right.

After all, the British minister and Hong Xiuquan are said to be friends, so it is highly likely that they also have the right spirit.

“After chasing out the Manchus, we must first learn from and study the 영길리! Then, absorbing their technology and systems is the path we must take! Imbuing the spirit and color of the Han people into the culture of the 영길리 and building our own great civilization is the shortcut to heaven! Believe me, followers of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom! Heaven is right before your eyes!”

“Hong Xiuquan! Hong Xiuquan! Hong Xiuquan!”

“Learn from the 영길리 and overthrow the Manchus!”

The Qing Dynasty court, as well as the British Governor of Hong Kong, could not help but feel embarrassed by this bizarre movement where anti-foreignism and pro-British sentiment coexisted.

If they were just rioters, they would have subtly coaxed the Qing imperial family into helping them suppress them, but these guys were saying they were going to learn from the British Empire.

He had previously reported about that pseudo-religious leader Hong Xiuquan to Killian, but Killian had replied that he would just leave it alone for the time being.

The governor also left it alone because he thought it might become more valuable later, but frankly, he expected the Qing imperial family to suppress them soon.

Even if the Qing had become a paper tiger, there was no way they couldn’t suppress a civil uprising in the provinces.

However, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom continued to increase its power to the point where it made one wonder if this was okay, and at this point, the emperor’s death overlapped.

“Behold! Yahweh is angry and has taken the life of the evil Manchu emperor. This is clear proof that the will of heaven is with us!”

Hong Xiuquan is the one who even claims that the dew that forms at dawn is proof that he has been chosen by heaven.

To him, the death of the emperor was an excellent propaganda tool.

As things have come to this point, the Qing imperial family’s concerns have deepened, and heated debates have continued every day on how to deal with this situation.

“If we use the Eight Banners [Qing military units] and the Green Standard Army [Han Chinese soldiers in the Qing army], we can suppress them sufficiently! Please give the order now!”

“Didn’t we already lose Wuchang because we moved so carelessly! Your Majesty! You must not take this situation lightly!”

“If we don’t take it lightly, what are we supposed to do! Borrow the power of foreign forces?”

“If we can, we should!”

It was an opinion that would have been immediately dismissed as nonsense in the past, but surprisingly, Emperor 함풍 [Xianfeng Emperor] felt more persuaded by the words of those who advocated caution.

That’s because he had only been receiving news that the Eight Banner troops, who had gone out saying they would easily suppress the rabble rebel army, were suffering defeats every day.

Including the report he received yesterday, it was a total of four consecutive defeats. At this point, anyone, not just 함풍 [Xianfeng Emperor], would have to wonder if these guys even knew how to fight properly.

“If we borrow the power of foreign forces now, it would be the 영길리 [English], but considering their greed, wouldn’t they demand a greater price in exchange for sending reinforcements?”

“That’s right.”

“I wish there was a way to receive the support of the 영길리 [English] at the minimum cost. Does anyone have a good idea?”

Everything in the world is an equal exchange, and if there is something to receive, there must be something to give, but how could there be such a favorable method?

Everyone was just rolling their eyes and looking around, when a minister from the Military Affairs Department came forward and bowed respectfully.

“Your Majesty, if you are determined to bring in the 영길리 [English], there is only one way.”

“Oh, really. I thought you would have a good idea. What is it?”

The emperor’s brother, who was evaluated as being much more suitable for the throne than the current emperor in terms of ability alone.

혁흔 [Yixin], the Prince Gong, a minister of the Military Affairs Department, confidently opened his mouth.

“Many people are unaware of the situation abroad because the domestic situation is chaotic, but the 영길리 [English] are currently at war with 아라사 [Arasa – Russia]. Even the area around 연해주 [Yeonhaeju – Primorsky Krai], which the 아라사 [Russian] bastards forcibly stole from us in the past, has become a battlefield.”

“Hoo… really? The 영길리 [English] and 아라사 [Russia] are fighting?”

In a way, both sides are shameless 양이 [foreign devils] who took territory from the Qing Dynasty.

If you asked which one they hated more, 함풍 [Xianfeng Emperor] would answer that he hated both of them so much that he did not like the two major European powers.

He was somewhat pleased to hear that they were fighting each other.

How refreshing would it be if they fought fiercely and destroyed each other.

“According to reports coming from western Manchuria, both sides, the 영길리 [English] seem to be at an advantage. 아라사 [Russia] seems to lack the ability to defend 연해주 [Primorsky Krai], and they are actually concentrating all their forces there with the intention of saving at least the port.”

Unlike others who simply hated the West, Prince Gong had been studying Western powers under the belief that one must know the enemy to defeat them.

Thanks to this, he was able to grasp the international situation relatively calmly even in the midst of the Qing Dynasty’s situation, where they were busy taking care of their own problems.

“In my opinion, 아라사 [Russia] cannot defeat the 영길리 [English]. I don’t know about the west, but 연해주 [Primorsky Krai] is very likely to become a no man’s land.”

“It is refreshing that the 아라사 [Russian] bastards are losing 연해주 [Primorsky Krai], but what does that have to do with us now?”

“To put it simply, the current no man’s land, 아라사 [Russia], means that we can occupy a large area of land by simply moving a small number of the Eight Banner troops in Manchuria. In other words, we can create a justification for demanding that you help us suppress the rebellion because we sided with the 영길리 [English] in this war and attacked 아라사 [Russia].”

“Do you think the 영길리 [English] bastards will readily agree to that?”

“Even if they don’t agree, it wouldn’t be a bad choice to take advantage of 아라사’s [Russia’s] faltering state to reclaim at least some of the land that was taken from them. After all, the Eight Banner troops in Manchuria are unlikely to move to fight against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the south.”

Considering the distance to be moved, it is certainly too inefficient to send troops from Manchuria to the far-off Nanjing or Wuchang.

So, the idea is to select only a few hundred people and destroy the 아라사 [Russian] villages in 연해주 [Primorsky Krai], which was certainly an attractive strategy.

As Prince Gong said, this could be a good bargaining chip when they really need to ask for the help of the 영길리 [English] in the future.

Most of all, it was important that they had the opportunity to take revenge on 아라사 [Russia], who had shattered their pride.

The fact that they didn’t have to mobilize a large number of troops was the most pleasing thing.

The 역도 [rebel] group causing trouble in the south would be dealt with by moving the troops here.

Hamfeng [Xianfeng Emperor] ordered some of the troops in Manchuria to move and probe 연해주 [Primorsky Krai].

* * *

Some time later.

The border between Qing China and Russia.

A group of cavalrymen who confidently crossed the border recklessly plundered conspicuous villages.

“Just kill all those with different hair colors and blue eyes!”

“Hooray! It’s a subjugation!”

“Kuhahaha! Die, you bastards!”

The soldiers, reeking of alcohol, burst into laughter and roamed around, holding a festival of blood.

“Captain! What was our mission again?”

“What was it. I think it was just to cross the border and kill all the 아라사 [Russian] bastards here?”

“That’s easy. Keuheuheuh!”

These were not people who felt like soldiers at all, but this was the reality of the current Manchurian army.

How many times had there been a need to fight in Manchuria, which is considered the sacred land of the Manchus?

It was somewhat better in the old days, but since the 19th century, the Eight Banner troops of Manchuria were virtually a ragtag group that was hardly even called an army.

Would such people know how the current international situation is unfolding?

They simply kept in mind the order to ravage the 아라사 [Russian] bastards as much as they wanted because the 아라사 [Russian] bastards were not in a situation to counterattack even if they attacked this side now.

“Kill! Kill!”

They had never fought a proper battle, but it was honestly fun to sweep away the enemies unilaterally like this.

However, there were so few people living in 연해주 [Primorsky Krai] and the land was so large that the frequency of encountering enemies was lower than expected.

I want to cut down the enemies more coolly, but where the hell are these guys hiding?

Then, by chance, a village of considerable size came into the Manchurian army’s view in the distance.

“Captain! That place looks like a good place to plunder!”

“Good! Let’s charge right away! You can do whatever you want with the women and kill the men!”

“As expected of our captain! Since it’s a dark night, the atmosphere is even better. Hahaha!”

The soldiers roughly spurred their horses, exchanging vulgar conversations about how 아라사 [Russian] women looked different from women in the Central Plains, but this was good and that was good.

However, as they got closer to the village, something felt a little strange.

Is it because the view is a bit dark at night? The guys who are moving in a hurry in the distance seem a bit different from the usual 아라사 [Russian] guys.

The clothes are clearly different, and most of all, the guys are holding something that looks like a weapon.

Well, they’ve already plundered several villages, so by now they might know about their attacks to some extent.

So, they brought weapons that they could defend themselves with?

The soldiers laughed, saying that it was useless, and spurred their horses.

They could hear the sound of something being said over there, but they had drunk some alcohol and were already blinded by the slaughter, so they couldn’t hear anything.

And finally.

Kwaang!

With a huge explosion, a 화포 [Hwapo – cannon] fired by 조선’s [Joseon Dynasty’s] 지자총통 [Jijachongtong – type of cannon] fell in front of the cavalry’s path.

It was an accidental collision that occurred in a situation where neither side expected or recognized the other’s existence.