C2187 The British Version of the Way (1/2)
”I feel that we should give assistance to the Tongzhi Emperor in batches after batches. We will give as much assistance as he pleases …”
”The right to open the new ports, the right to build railways, the right to invest in factories and so on … none of these are as important as this one …”
”If we want to control the Tongzhi Emperor properly, I think we should think of a way to get him to marry a princess from Europe as soon as possible from his imperial harem. This might be the breakthrough!”
”My God! You really dare to think about it? ” Queen Victoria was dumbstruck by her son's boldness.
”Edward, you must remember that the emperor of China does not believe in God! They are still the most primitive form of polygamy, whereas we are strictly monogamous! ”
”Do you want our princess to be a concubine for the Chinese? Or do you mean to say that after becoming an empress, you have to separate from countless other women? ”Remember, this is not something as simple as having a few lovers. This is God's will!”
”But mother, Xiao Letian is also a disciple of the Protestantism! He doesn't have the same two wives. The bishops of Protestantism all pretended not to see it, and didn't even mention anything … ”
”It's about the country's key strategy. I think God will get away with it!”
”If the Tongzhi Emperor marries a European princess, this proves that he has the determination to declare war on the Qing Empire's conservative forces, and it also proves that he is pro-Western in his heart. This is the guarantee that he must give us …”
Queen Victoria shook his head: ”This is very difficult to handle, let's discuss it a little more, do you have any other ideas?”
Edward nodded his head, ”Of course there is. We cannot put all the bets in the same basket, we can put down more bets! Support more Anglophile forces in Asia, such as... For example, Xiao Letian! ”
”Emperor Tongzhi is the core of our nurturing, but we have to give him some pressure. We have to let him know that there is someone who can restrain him, and even take his place …”
”Who is he most afraid of? Of course it's Xiao Letian, my intelligence shows that Emperor Tongzhi does not have the slightest bit of dignity as an emperor in front of Xiao Letian. He has even been beaten up a few times! ”
”The Chinese are getting more and more powerful, and the main body of the Chinese are the Chinese. This naturally contradicts the interests of the Manchu, and the overseas Chinese are like sharks outside of a shoal, constantly threatening the rule of the Manchu. I think the threat should be strengthened!”
”Choose Xiao Letian?” The Queen frowned, ”The Prime Minister doesn't see it that way. He has always advised me, saying that Xiao Letian is the greatest threat to British Empire, and he has always wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible. You actually want to support him?”
”Mother, of course, I am not unconditionally supporting Xiao Letian. Everything depends on the negotiation that follows. We still have a lot of time, so there's no need to rush …”
”If Xiao Letian follows our strategy and is willing to cooperate, British Empire will not treat him badly. It's not impossible for him to let his Chinese people survive on a part of the islands …”
”But if he had any ulterior motives... Forget about him having a Steel battleship, even if he had 100, so what? ”Too little, his strength is too weak. We can kill him at any time!”
”In short, use the Asian to restrict the Asian, and we'll find a balance from within … This is the only way to invest the least and reap the most! ”