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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 358: Strategic Interests

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    Xiao Yungui looked at Bao Ling with a playful smile, stroked his chin beard and said, "Mr. Minister, you may have calculated the true purpose of our participation in the war. War at any time is a continuation of politics. It should not be difficult for you to see that we are participating in the war.  The real purpose."

    Bao Ling frowned slightly and said: "Do you really plan to form an alliance with us, declare war on Russia in the name of the Taiping Rebellion, and finally indirectly let Britain and France recognize that your army is the only legal government in China?" Bao Ling thought about it for a few days.  Come down, the real intention of the King of the West may be this. If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom can be recognized by Britain and France, it will be an unimaginable temptation for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. However, he does not know that the two big guys in Tianjing don't care about the recognition of Britain and France at all.  .

    Xiao Yungui smiled and said: "I won't think of such unrealistic things. Although the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is powerful now, Mr. Minister should know that we only occupy the territory of a few provinces and are far from being able to effectively control the whole country. In  At this time, the British and French parliaments and cabinets will not recognize us under any circumstances, so I will not consider this issue."

    Bao Ling lost his temper and asked, "Then why does Your Excellency the King of the West want to join the war?"

    Xiao Yungui smiled slightly and said: "Russia has begun to encroach on our northern territory since the Kangxi period. I believe that Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire will defeat Russia in the Crimean War."

    Hearing this, both Bao Ling and Blomble smiled slightly, Bao Ling nodded and said: "Thank you, His Excellency the King of the West, for your support to Britain and France."

    Xiao Yungui nodded and continued: "Once Russia's expansion in the west is curbed, the double-headed eagle will definitely develop eastward at all costs. From a long-term perspective, I think we need my soldiers to fight a low-level battle with the Russians."  For an intense war, we need to be familiar with the situation in northern Xinjiang and the Russian fighting methods. After we gain national power in the future, Russia will become the biggest threat to our new regime. So I must consider attacking the Russians as much as possible.  Isn¡¯t now a very good time for the forces in the Far East?¡±

    Bao Ling's eyes lit up when he heard this. This Western King's strategic vision was indeed very vicious. He was indeed a very wise and far-sighted leader. Bao Ling had rarely encountered such a figure in China.  Bao Ling pondered: "Can I interpret the words of His Excellency the King of the West to mean that once the Taiping Rebellion gains full control of China in the future, the number one enemy will be Russia?"

    Xiao Yungui said calmly: "Yes, the land area between Russia and our country exceeds thousands of miles. The Russians are prone to expansion, and we need to consider future threats. I don't want the Russians to come after driving away the Tatars. So until now  We, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, still do not recognize any treaties signed by the Qing government and Russia. We only recognize treaties with Britain, France, the United States and other countries. Mr. Minister, you should see the difference. This is our future strategic interest, so we need to carry out this war.  .¡±

    Bao Ling said with appreciation: "His Majesty the West King's courage is indeed different from ordinary people, and his vision is also very long-term. If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom can really gain national power in the future, Britain will be the first to recognize your government, and will also consider working together in the future.  Containing the possibility of Russian cooperation.¡±

    ?Blumble also expressed the same meaning.  The British and French ministers were of the same opinion.  As long as their interests in China can be protected, it is in the interests of both countries to have an ally like the Taiping Rebellion in the Far East that can contain Russia in the future.  After all, the Russians are expansionist, and the British and French forces in the Far East are weak, so they will inevitably not be able to completely curb the Russian ambitions. If the Russians alone control northern China, it will be a very big threat to the economically prosperous South China.  Therefore, Britain and France also hope to see the Taiping Army prevent the Russians from going south, and then ensure the interests of Britain and France alone in South China.

    And Xiao Yungui only revealed this long-term strategic plan first. Even if the Taiping Rebellion takes power across the country in the future, it will still need to find suitable allies around the world.  He will not dream that once he gains national power, China will be so powerful that it does not need any allies.  The current world structure has basically been finalized. It is very difficult to break the traditional sphere of influence of the traditional powers. Even the powerful United States only completely broke the traditional sphere of influence of the British and French powers after two world wars.  It is too early for China, a backward agricultural country, to challenge world hegemony.

    Therefore, Xiao Yungui proposed the strategic idea that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom could contain Russia in the Far East, and also dispelled the idea of ??Britain and France re-supporting other countries. Historically, Britain chose Japan to contain Russia out of this consideration. No matter what happens in the future, let this concept be publicized first  It is also very necessary. This is Xiao Yungui's political consideration for participating in the war.  As for whether Britain and France recognize the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Xiao Yungui is not worried at all. There is no need for Britain and France to recognize the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom regime now. After they gain national power in the future, Britain and France will definitely recognize it. This is a matter of course. There is no need to useFight in exchange for it.

    After Xiao Yungui thanked the two countries for their support, he continued: "However, at this stage, considering the neutral stance of Britain and France, we do not plan to directly participate in the war in the name of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. I plan to use mercenaries and volunteers as soldiers under my command.  Horses participating in the war will also facilitate the parliaments and cabinets of the two countries to reach consensus."

    Bao Ling finally felt relieved. If the King of the West insisted on participating in the war in the name of the Taiping Rebellion, the matter might be shelved, because the parliaments and cabinets of Britain and France would not agree to form an alliance with a non-governmental armed force.  This proposal of the King of the West was very much in line with the requirements of the two ministers. Bao Ling then asked: "Then what benefits does the King of the West hope to gain directly from the war? Land? Money?"

    Xiao Yungui smiled and said: "We will ask for the land from the Russians in the future, and we are not short of money now."

    Bao Ling also smiled and said: "Yes, the trade volume between Shanghai and Ningbo is increasing every day. The profits from the busiest trading port in the Far East are of course very generous, and there are several factories and handicrafts opened by His Excellency Xi Wang."  Some goods produced by handicraft workshops have also begun to make profits, and His Excellency Xi Wang is indeed not short of money." The factories Bao Ling mentioned refer to the cigarette factory, soap factory and other civilian factories opened by Xiao Yungui in Shanghai.  These factories were the idea of ??Xiao Yungui and Hong Yun'er. The biggest hope of Xiao Yungui, a smoker, was to stop smoking that old dry cigarette. Hong Yun'er was fed up with saponin, so he worked in the Shanghai Manufacturing Bureau and Ba  With the R&D support of the Side Laboratory, China's own cigarette and soap factories were opened. These projects were jointly established by Xidian and private businessmen.  It can also be regarded as a national industry.

    And those handicraft workshops are even more folk-oriented. From cloisonn¨¦ to Suzhou embroidery, from jade processing to stone statue carving, various folk handicrafts have been greatly encouraged and developed under the Xidian New Deal. Even ordinary straw hats and straw sandals have become more popular.  Xiao Yungui did not expect that it could be sold overseas.

    There are traces of Guiyun Company in these industries, and the business presided over by Zhu Changling and Wei Helin is getting bigger and bigger. Guiyun Company has even registered a branch in the United States, and has begun to invest and participate in the construction of American railways there.  .  Xiao Yungui certainly knows how much profit American railways can bring in the future.  In comparison, the funds previously invested in building the Atlantic Telegraph Line were not worth mentioning.  There is a sum of money in the holy treasury fund of the West Palace that is specially used for investment every year, which means that Xiao Yungui uses the money of the Sufu Provincial Government to make money.  This money is public funds, but the Guiyun business is entirely Xiao Yungui's own internal treasury, which is the money for him and Hong Yun'er to provide for their retirement.

    Bao Ling, who knew a little about the relationship between Guiyun Company and Xi Wang, said that Xi Wang was not short of money, and Xidian and Su Fu Province were not short of money either, under Xiao Yungui's guidance.  Officials in Su Fu Province learned how to invest money as quickly as possible, whether it was building railways, building factories, building schools, or building water conservancy projects.  Once a profitable place.  The household department in the West Palace will spend the money without hesitation.  Only when money circulates can money be produced. This is what Xiao Yungui said most to the Ministry of Household Affairs. This is why Sufu Province's economic prosperity is today.

    Blomble said with some dissatisfaction: "After the railway between Suzhou and Shanghai is connected, the profits will be very large. Your Excellency, King Xi, should also consider that our country will undertake the construction of the railway from Shanghai to Hangzhou and Ningbo."

    Xiao Yungui chuckled and said: "Mr. Minister, the Ministry of Revenue is already working on the minimum bid budget for these railways. You'd better be patient. There will be an open bidding later. If French companies are interested, they can make some preparations in advance. But everything  They all follow the market, and I can¡¯t influence who the Ministry of Finance will let win the bid in the end.¡±

    Bao Ling looked at the Frenchman dissatisfied.  I secretly thought that this French guy has already undertaken the construction project of the telegraph line from Shanghai to Suzhou. Does he still want to get a share of the Shanghai, Hangzhou and Ningbo railways?  The golden waters of the Yangtze River Delta are the British interests. The French must not be allowed to interfere too much. He interrupted the two of them and said: "Mr. Blomble, the Administrative Secretary of the Navy will issue the bidding documents after the railway incident. There is no need to do so at this time."  Let¡¯s get down to business and talk about the cost of King Xi¡¯s troops. Your Excellency, King Xi, if you don¡¯t need land or money, I really can¡¯t think of what you want.¡±

    Xiao Yungui smiled faintly and said word by word: "I need the two countries to provide at least ten three-tier battleships and thirty cruisers in exchange for our sending troops."

    Bao Ling and Blomble were both shocked when they heard this. Bao Ling jumped up and shook his head repeatedly: "Impossible, this is impossible. The combined naval power of Britain and France in the Far East does not have that much. Your Excellency, King of the West, are you doing this?  joke."

    Xiao Yungui said slowly: "Don't get excited, please. Our Taiping Army needs the navy. Smuggling is serious in Shanghai, Ningbo and other places. We need the navy to inspect. At the same time, our long coastline also needs the navy to guard. We will launch the navy plan sooner or later."  .We are already in contact with the United States and Prussia.?It is hoped that naval ships can be purchased from them.  As for Mr. Baoling's belief that our naval plan will threaten Britain, I am very surprised that your fleet in India far exceeds the navy in this plan, and is the majestic Imperial Navy so afraid of our naval plan?  ?  Our relationship is cooperative, not hostile. Our ships are used to deal with the Russians, and the threat to Britain does not exist at all.  "

    Bao Ling frowned and said: "Your Majesty the King of the West, your naval plan is too huge and needs to be reduced."

    Xiao Yungui was a little angry. I have planned how many ships the navy will need and I want you to approve it?  He said calmly at the moment: "The scale, logistics and ammunition costs of this troop dispatch are entirely borne by our Taiping Army ourselves. It is initially estimated that it will cost more than 1.5 million taels of silver. This does not include pensions for the dead and injured, and  Rewards for meritorious deeds. If your country feels that it cannot produce so many ships at the same time, we can ask for half of the ships first. They can be newly built by British shipyards, or they can be deployed from existing ships. In short, the price can be negotiated.  Mr. Baoling, what you should consider is that if we can seize several military ports in the Russian Far East, how much more land and benefits can you obtain for Britain in exchange for future negotiations with Russia? You will never accept this deal.  You will suffer a loss." (To be continued, please search Piao Tian Literature, the novels will be better and updated faster!
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