Chapter 185 – Meeting the Imperial Carriage

Author’s Note:

Note: In 1792, King George III of Britain dispatched an embassy to China to celebrate the 80th birthday of Emperor Qianlong, with the intention of establishing diplomatic relations between Britain and China. Special envoy Lord Macartney proposed to sign a trade agreement, requesting that China open more trading ports, establish concessions, lower tariffs, and allow the permanent residence of foreign diplomats. Emperor Qianlong famously responded, “Our Celestial Empire is rich in resources and lacks nothing. We do not need foreign goods to fulfill our needs. However, since tea, porcelain, and silk produced in our empire are essential commodities for Western countries and your kingdom, we extend our benevolence and tolerance by allowing foreign trade in Macau, so that you may benefit from it and share in the surplus profits.”

In 1901, the Boxer Protocol was signed, marking the transition from “our Celestial Empire lacking nothing” to “using China’s resources to curry favor with foreign nations.” This transformation took place within a mere century.

(Some readers asked why the foreigners dared to make such trade demands without defeating us in battle. Therefore, I provided a brief explanation. However, this story is set in a fictional world, so I hope everyone can enjoy it a bit more. I just set the historical context to satisfy a bit of fantasy. When I read about Baihe’s letter, I was also unable to sleep for an entire night. But without destruction, there can be no rebirth. The great ship of the Qing dynasty sank slowly, but the sleeping lion of the East awakened. I like this metaphor.)

“Lush, the flowing stream; exuberant, the distant spring. Graceful, the secluded valley—now and then, a fair beauty is glimpsed.” — Si Kongtu, “Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry: Delicate and Rich”