New Han Dynasty 1834

Chapter 21 Conflict on Another Level

Wu Qijun, Zhang Lexing, and their officials and officers, including Hong Huoxiu who was with them, were among them.

Seeing Palmerston's reaction and hearing Staunton's request, they were all very surprised.

Several people couldn't help but mutter to themselves: Barbarians really can't be considered human...

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Wu Qijun, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, said with a grim face:

"Patent matters are not something we need to discuss right now."

"I showed you this thing to show you the dangers of this drug."

"This is precisely why our great Han Dynasty prohibits the use of this drug."

"When the Han dynasty catches a merchant smuggling prohibited drugs, they either execute him or use him as a sample."

"This person should also be a famous British merchant. Since you are a merchant-run country, does anyone know this person?"

Seeing Wu Qijun's reaction, Palmerston and Staunton realized that their reaction just now was somewhat inappropriate.

Upon hearing the final reminder, Staunton carefully examined the people in the prison:

"This is... Mr. Jardine?"

Staunton once worked for the East India Company, and Jardine was also once an agent of the East India Company.

Although the two did not have a deep friendship, they at least knew each other.

At this moment, Jardine in prison also recognized Staunton outside:

"Lord Staunton! Is it Lord Staunton? Have you come to rescue me?!"

"Please, please, let them give me some medicine!"

Staunton knew Jardine, and so did Napier, Davis, and Elliot, who were originally scheduled to remain in the Han Dynasty. They also knew that Jardine was one of the most famous traders in the East.

He is also undoubtedly the biggest smuggler, so it's not surprising that he was caught here.

Staunton and the others finally felt a sense of panic when they saw the distorted appearance of the wealthy Jardine.

However, they also realized the drug's enormous benefits.

Palmerston carefully considered his words and said:

"It is truly astonishing that a gentleman could become so decadent and insane because of drugs."

"Did the Han Dynasty already know these things, which is why they strictly forbid it?"

Wu Qijun believed that Palmerston had realized his mistake:

"The Emperor of the Han Dynasty knew these things long ago, which is why he has always reiterated the strict prohibition of drug abuse."

"Now that you recognize the dangers of this drug, stop criticizing the way the big man dealt with the smugglers."

Under Wu Qijun's indifferent gaze, Palmerzun did not bring up the matter of drug patent again.

Palmerston maintained a serious expression as he formally addressed Wu Chi-Chun:

"We understand and respect His Majesty the Emperor's will."

"In the future, we can cooperate with the Han Dynasty to restrict and crack down on all smuggling activities."

"But we also hope that His Majesty the Emperor will target specific individuals and actions when judging lawbreakers."

"Do not punish a person's relatives because of their illegal behavior."

"Furthermore, we must not extend the illegal acts of one individual to all Britons."

"Directly and brutally expelling all Britons would also harm His Majesty the Emperor and the commercial interests of the Han people."

"We sincerely hope that trade between Britain and the Han Dynasty can be restored as soon as possible, so as to avoid damage to the interests of both sides."

Palmerston and Staunton both believed that since the Emperor of the Great Han had allowed the British delegation to enter the capital and even arranged for a foreign minister to receive them, it was quite remarkable.

The key was to demonstrate his handling of Jardine's Landing, to show the British mission his attitude, and to demonstrate that there was still a chance to restore trade.

The Han emperor and court officials were simply making demands, the most suitable of which was to request Britain's assistance in combating smuggling.

Palmerston believed this was a condition that the British Parliament could also accept, as no one could openly support smuggling.

At the same time, Palmerston also expressed the demands of the British Parliament, hoping that the Great Han would adjust its judicial model.

To avoid collateral damage in law enforcement and trials, relatives should not be exiled simply because the parties involved have broken the law.

Furthermore, we cannot expel all Britons simply because one Briton broke the law.

But this is clearly contrary to the cultural customs and legal practices of the Han Dynasty.

The key was to make Han officials believe that this was a barbarian accusing the Han of having problems with its etiquette and demanding that the Han learn the barbarian's etiquette.

This was considered utterly absurd by the Han Dynasty's literati and bureaucrats, and was a matter of principle that was absolutely unacceptable.

In normal times, during normal contact, if the other party made such a statement, the Han officials would not bother to pay attention.

Now that the other party is in the wrong first, not only do they not admit their mistake, but they also use admitting their mistake as a condition to criticize etiquette and law.

After listening to the translation, Wu Qijun immediately became furious and reprimanded Palmerston very sternly:

"Combating smuggling is your duty. If you didn't do it before, that's your fault."

"You're only admitting your mistake by bringing it up now. Do you really want to use it as a bargaining chip?"

"The so-called target is specific individuals and behaviors that violate the law, and other individuals will not be punished because of the individual's violation."

"Is this making demands on our Han Dynasty, asking us to respect your customs and etiquette even on our own territory?"

"The British are shameless and commit all sorts of evil deeds, which cannot be stopped despite repeated prohibitions."

"Whoever gets caught is unlucky enough to take the blame, saying it's none of other people's business, and the others should continue to go unpunished."

"Are you treating the officials of my great Han Dynasty like idiots?"

"You Britons are not subjects of my Great Han Dynasty. Allowing you to trade and live in the Great Han is already an extra favor."

"As a result, the proportion of Britons committing wrongdoings was significantly higher than that of other vassal states."

"The Emperor's ban on your trade is a welcome arrangement."

"What does commercial interest matter? Do you think our great Han should disregard etiquette and law for the sake of money?"

"You barbarians from the West, how dare you criticize the rites and laws of my Great Han Dynasty and despise the law and dignity of my Great Han Dynasty? You really don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

"You may go back now. I will report your attitude to the Emperor."

Palmerston was very surprised and didn't understand why Wu Qijun was angry. He turned to look at Staunton and the other translators.

Staunton didn't quite understand why Wu Qijun was suddenly so angry, so he could only try to use the most straightforward translation possible.

After listening, Palmerston was even more confused. He could only understand the first sentence; he couldn't understand the rest.

While Palmer was still considering how to respond, Wu Chi-Chun was already tired of hearing him speak.

After Wu Qijun finished speaking, he bowed to Zhang Lexing beside him.

With a stern face, Zhang Lexing ordered the captain beside him to drive Ba Maizun and the others out of the Ministry of Justice prison and escort and supervise them back to their residence at the Honglu Temple Guesthouse.

Then Wu Qijun and Zhang Lexing went to the palace together to pay their respects to Liu Yulong and explain what had happened that day.

His words revealed his extreme disgust for Palmerston and his group, and he had made it a habit to use terms like "barbarian" on his lips.

For the first time, Liu Yulong directly experienced the Han people's disgust and contempt for the barbarians.

This should no longer be the traditional debate between Chinese and barbarians; people in the Ming and Qing dynasties probably didn't exaggerate this much.

However, at the same time, Liu Yulong also realized another situation that made him feel powerless.

So after listening to their explanations, Liu Yulong couldn't help but say:

"The British are all idiots."

Wu Qijun and Zhang Lexing were taken aback, not expecting the emperor to speak so bluntly, and then they echoed him from the bottom of their hearts:

"Your Majesty is wise beyond compare! These British barbarians are all idiots."

"The British are all idiots!"

As a time traveler, Liu Yulong greatly dislikes modern Britain.

The Qing Dynasty made the British feel extremely uncomfortable; they thought the Qing Dynasty was a very powerful idiot.

But Britain now also makes Liu Yulong very uncomfortable. Liu Yulong also feels that Britain is a rather powerful fool.

The Britons had no idea what the Han Dynasty was like, yet they fantasized that if the Han Dynasty opened up trade, they could make a fortune.

In reality, it's simply impossible; it wouldn't be useful until at least the Second Industrial Revolution.

The key issue is that the British were unwilling to accept the rules of the Han Dynasty, but they never considered why the Han Dynasty should accept their rules.

Why should the Han Chinese respect the customs and traditions of the British? Do you respect the customs and traditions of the Han Chinese?

What many big men take for granted may be unacceptable to the British.

Some British customs were difficult for the Han Chinese to accept.

It was not until the late 18th century that Britain finally realized the need to adapt to local customs and adopt a colonial approach to governing its colonies.

However, it went to extremes, showing an excessive respect for cultural customs, which ultimately led to the evolution of "diversity".

The customs, ways of thinking, moral standards, and standards of civilization of the Han Chinese and the British are different.

This is a contradiction and conflict at the cultural and even civilizational level.

The officials of the Han Dynasty and the British Dynasty both found it difficult to understand each other's way of thinking.

As a time traveler, Liu Yulong could roughly understand the mentality of both sides, but he had no responsibility to educate the enemy.

In Liu Yulong's view, there was actually nothing for the Han Dynasty and Britain to talk about.

The future of both sides is fraught with conflict.

The main theme of the latter half of the 19th century should have been the great rivalry between Britain and Russia.

The two sides have been fighting for decades in multiple directions and on all fronts, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea, Afghanistan and Central Asia in northern India, on the east and west sides of the North Pacific, and in Northeast Asia and Alaska.

As the dominant maritime power of the era, Britain would not allow Russia, a major land power in Europe, to gain another maritime base.

However, once the Han Dynasty leaves its homeland to participate in the struggle for overseas interests, it will immediately clash with Britain, and the threat to Britain will certainly be greater than that posed by the Rakshasa.

The Han Dynasty's mainland was comparable to the whole of Europe, which could be considered as occupying a single continent, and it also had a long, warm coastline.

It has a population equivalent to or exceeding that of Europe and abundant resources.

Furthermore, it was separated from Britain by the entire Old World, meaning Britain had very limited resources to invest in the East.

In the traditional worldview of the Han Dynasty, there were only the Celestial Empire and its vassal states, with no other places.

After the expulsion of the Manchus and the restoration of China, the debate between the Chinese and the barbarians was intensified and even elevated.

In all the places where Britain clashed with the Rakshasa Kingdom, except for the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, the Han Dynasty could directly intervene.

Liu Yulong worried that Britain might cooperate with the Rakshasa Kingdom in the future to contain and suppress the Han Dynasty.