Rise of the Arms Dealer in the World War-Chapter 37 - The Diplomacy of Chaos

"I know exactly what you're worried about. You're afraid we'll turn it into a naval base, aren't you? But the treaty explicitly states that the ports cannot be used for military purposes," the Russian envoy asserted, his voice smooth but edged with cunning.

"Tsk, like we'd trust that. Who knows what excuses Russia might conjure next?" Herbert, the British representative, shot back, his tone dripping with disdain.

"What did you say? Isn't it Britain that's infamous for tearing up treaties with the flimsiest justifications?" retorted the Russian diplomat, his temper flaring.

Bang!

Herbert slammed the table, his face darkening. "How dare you? Britain is a nation of gentlemen, bound by honor. Don't you dare compare us to the likes of you!"

Liu Feng's proposal was a masterpiece of allure. It offered each nation a chance to expand their exports and establish a foothold within Qing China. It wasn't just a boon for trade but a tool for internal governance—appeasing industrialists, uplifting workers' rights through economic growth, and securing the undying love of the populace.

But therein lay the problem: the benefits would extend to rival nations as well.

The true agenda of the powers gathered was unmistakable.

"We must take the lion's share!"

"At the very least, we cannot let them surpass us."

If Germany managed to export goods worth 100 million taels, while Britain achieved only 50 million, the political repercussions back home would be immediate and ruthless. In such a delicate balance of power, perception was everything.

This wasn't just a quarrel between Britain and Russia.

"French weapons are overpriced and nowhere near as effective as our German arms," sneered the German delegate.

"Hah! Has Germany ever produced naval guns with a greater range than ours? Not once in history!" the French diplomat fired back.

The European powers, ever oscillating between alliance and rivalry, were now locked in a fierce struggle for advantage. Though they quarreled now, once the treaty's tariff-free period ended, they would likely band together again to counteract Qing China.

Despite their earlier pledge to present a united front, the coalition began fracturing barely a week after the second round of talks. Britain prioritized checking France and Russia, while Germany focused on undermining Britain's entrenched interests in China. Meanwhile, Italy and Austria pleaded with Germany to stand united under their Triple Alliance pact, but Germany remained frustratingly noncommittal. The Russo-French Alliance, too, quietly pursued its own agenda.

Watching this unfolding chaos from a distance, Edwin H. Conger, the American ambassador, sipped his tea with a bemused expression.

"Chaos. Utter chaos. Did Liu Feng foresee all of this?"

If the proposal succeeded, it wouldn't just provide immediate reparations but also create a long-term revenue stream for Qing China. Yet the path to that outcome was mired in filth and deceit.

"Well, this is the fate of diplomats, I suppose," Conger mused before setting down his teacup and stepping into the fray.

"Listen up! America is leading the charge in industrialization! Don't even think about touching that railway—we're claiming it first! Interfere, and it's war!" he barked, diving headfirst into the diplomatic battlefield.

As for Japan's representative, Tokujirō, he sat quietly, sipping tea with a faint smirk.

"Perhaps I'll try coffee tomorrow," he murmured to himself. Tea was starting to bore him.

"I believe this: opposing the strengthening of our nation is no less than treason!" Emperor Guangxu declared, his voice ringing with authority.

"Your Majesty! Please do not doubt our loyalty!" one minister pleaded.

"Your Majesty!" another cried, prostrating himself.

Chaos wasn't limited to the diplomats. Liu Feng's audacious proposal of 400 million taels initially baited the foreign powers, but now, it was ensnaring Qing officials as well.

"Your Majesty, the fault lies with us, your unworthy servants! Due to our incompetence, the Great Qing Empire cannot possibly pay 400 million taels!"

"That's right, Your Majesty! Liu Feng is a traitorous schemer who seeks to blind Your Majesty! Execute him immediately to set an example!"

"Please, Your Majesty, heed our plea!"

A sum of 400 million taels was enough to spark both hope and fury.

"What does this have to do with the ministers? Have I ever said I would draw from the national treasury? Have I lived a life of luxury, draining the empire's coffers? No! The imperial family will take responsibility and pay the indemnities. So tell me, on what grounds do you object?"

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

Emperor Guangxu's unwavering resolve stemmed from one simple fact: he wasn't touching the national treasury.

The late Empress Dowager Cixi's vast fortune was still being tracked, her hidden assets uncovered piece by piece. As more of her wealth was revealed, the scale of her holdings grew incomprehensible. Officials loyal to her were also being stripped of their ill-gotten gains.

On paper, it looked like the Emperor was confiscating Cixi's property, but in reality, he was dismantling the power base of her loyalists. Lands that had nominally belonged to Cixi had, in truth, been enriching corrupt officials. With every confiscated estate, the ministers' incomes dwindled, fueling their resentment.

"Your Majesty, how can you restore Li Hongzhang's authority as Governor-General of Beiyang after his failures in the war with Japan three years ago?" one minister objected.

"And Kang Youwei! He is nothing but a Japan-sympathizer! He openly praises Japanese reforms and spreads their ideas. How can such a corrupted mind guide our nation's policies?" another chimed in.

Guangxu barely listened, waiting for their tirades to end.

"Have you finished?" he finally asked.

"Then let me make a proposal. Bring me 3 million taels—not 4 million, just 3 million. If you can do that, I will follow your advice."

He had issued an unassailable challenge. The Emperor declared that he would pay the indemnities personally, without touching the treasury. Could the ministers do the same?

Silence fell over the chamber. None could argue further.

The Long Game

The ministers left, defeated but seething with quiet fury.

"You think your triumph will last, don't you? At most, two years."

They were waiting for the Emperor's resources to deplete. The success of his reforms hinged entirely on funding. Once the money ran out, he would have no leverage, and the ministers would reduce him to a powerless figurehead once more.

Guangxu, however, had no intention of sitting idly by. Watching the departing officials, he muttered under his breath, "Fools. Do you really think I won't strike first? Within two years, your heads will be displayed in the streets."

Thus began a high-stakes game of chicken. Would the Emperor purge his opposition and succeed in his reforms, or would the ministers outlast him and reclaim control?

The fate of the Qing Dynasty hung in the balance.