The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 1008 The Shape of the European Union in the Eyes of the Germans

Tianjing, the council chamber of the Prime Minister's Office. Late autumn of 1887.

Luo Yaoguo tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present—Wang Yan, Minister of the Navy; Wu Tingfang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Shi Dakai, Speaker of the National People's Congress; Ma Baocai, Director of the Military Industry Commission; and Xu Shou, Minister of Armaments. Outside the window, the maple leaves on Purple Mountain were already turning red, and the autumn wind swept fallen leaves across the ancient yet vibrant city of Tianjing, but the atmosphere inside the council hall was even more somber than the autumn wind.

“The British have relented.” Luo Yaoguo unfolded a telegram, his voice calm but hard. “They have agreed to include the Persian Gulf in our sphere of influence after the war.”

A murmur of discussion arose in the council chamber—in truth, most people were unaware of the extent of the interests involved in the Persian Gulf. However, given Luo Yaoguo's consistent "far-sightedness and wisdom" over the past thirty years, no one questioned why the Persian Gulf, filled with sand, was chosen over other richer territories, such as Bangladesh, or Yemen, which had greater strategic value and a more developed economy.
"What are the conditions, teacher?" Wang Yan asked, frowning.

"Of course, we must send a fleet to participate in the war! Ten battleships, ten armored cruisers or battlecruisers, and corresponding auxiliary vessels." Luo Yaoguo pushed the telegram to the center of the table. "The fleet must arrive in Britain in the spring of 1888 to participate in naval battles in the Atlantic, the North Sea, and the English Channel."

Wu Tingfang frowned slightly: "Prime Minister, should the Rome Peace Conference continue? Minister Wu is currently negotiating with German State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Otto von Bismarck. The Germans have stated that they have no intention of establishing a unified Europe; their goal is merely to create a European Union centered on Germany, excluding Russia, and to help countries in Africa, the east coast of the Americas, and the western Mediterranean region integrate into European civilization." He paused, "The Germans also say that India, as an ancient civilization like China, can achieve independence with China's assistance."

Luo Yaoguo sneered and shook his head in rejection almost without thinking: "No, absolutely not!"

An EU centered on Germany, excluding Russia. Isn't this the ideal shape of the EU in the Germans' minds? Even the US, after the Cold War, didn't hesitate to suppress a relatively loose EU dominated by France and Germany. The EU Bismarck wanted was practically German-dominated—post-war Germany likely had 1.5 million square kilometers of land and over 100 million people. After excluding Russia, who could compete with Germany? France under Marx? Completely a puppet of Germany! Italy, which hasn't even annexed the Papal States yet? Even Mexico wouldn't dare! Borussia? Oh, not a chance!

Shi Da had always had some ideas about "Indian Brahmin beauties," but now that he heard Luo Yaoguo say "no," he frowned and asked, "Ninth Brother, what's wrong with taking over India?"

Luo Yaoguo's gaze swept over the Wing King: "If we take India, the British Empire will collapse. Without the empire, the United Kingdom will not be able to stand against a superpower like Germany in Europe."

Wu Tingfang frowned: "If the British Empire hadn't interfered with the Germans, they would almost certainly have been able to make that so-called European Union a reality."

“That’s right.” Luo Yaoguo nodded. “If the German Empire, which now has more than one million square kilometers of territory and a population of over one hundred million, were to truly integrate Europe into an economic and military alliance with themselves at its core, it would become our greatest threat in the future.”

"So what does the Premier mean?" Wu Tingfang asked tentatively.

"Europe must never be unified," Luo Yaoguo said firmly. "It won't work no matter who unifies it."

Shi Dakai pondered for a moment: "So, we must support Britain?"

“No.” Luo Yaoguo shook his head. “We are not supporting Britain. We support whichever European country can divide Europe. Right now, there are two such countries: Britain and Red France.”

Silence fell over the council chamber.

Wang Yan finally couldn't help but ask, "So we really want to send ten battleships and ten armored cruisers to Europe?" His tone was clearly reluctant, "These ships aren't cheap."

Shi Dakai smiled and said, "Just send some old ships."

Luo Yaoguo shook his head: "No, we must send our best ships." He looked at Wang Yan, "What are our best ships next spring? Don't be reluctant... The best ships now will be scrap in twenty years. This expedition to Europe will be their last glorious moment."

王琰深吸一口气，翻开海军名册：“目前最好的战列舰是两艘‘应龙型’——‘天国’号和‘天朝’号。应龙型战列舰的参数如下：标准排水量：26500吨；主炮：4座双联装360mm/L45（射程24km，弹重680kg）；装甲：主装甲带380mm（倾斜18°），炮塔正面420mm；不开强压下的最大航速：23.5节；动力包：12×煤油混烧锅炉+4×蒸汽轮机，总功率72000马力”

他顿了顿，又道：“还有两艘‘天海级’战列巡洋舰——‘天海’号和‘天河’号。天海级战列巡洋舰参数如下：标准排水量：19500吨；主炮：4座双联装310mm/L45（射程21km，弹重450kg）；装甲：主装甲带240mm（倾斜12°），炮塔正面280mm；不开强压通风情况下最高航速可达：25.5节；动力包：14×煤油混烧锅炉+4×蒸汽轮机，总功率85，000马力。”他想了想，又补偿道：“这两型舰也是目前已知全世界最强的战列舰和战列巡洋舰！”

Luo Yaoguo nodded: "Add three 'Qianlong II' submarines—'Tianjing', 'Beijing', and 'Yong'an', and three 'Haili III' submarines—'Xinjiang', 'Mongol', and 'Tibet'. Four 'Donghai'-class armored cruisers and four 'Jingyuan'-class armored cruisers. This will form the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Atlantic Expeditionary Fleet, with Luo Xinhua as its admiral."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "After the Spring Festival in the thirty-eighth year of the Tianli era, we will send troops to... Europe!"

The council chamber was completely silent.

Luo Yaoguo is really going all out! He's brought out almost the strongest lineup of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's navy!

After a long pause, Wu Tingfang asked in a low voice, "Premier, are we really going to send so many capital ships?"

Luo Yaoguo smiled faintly: "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."

Wang Yan hesitated, "But these ships... they're the fruits of our labor." "Our fruits of labor?" Luo Yaoguo sneered. "Twenty years from now, they'll all be scrap metal. If we don't send them out now, are we just going to let them rust?"

Shi Dakai sighed: "The Premier is right. These ships will become obsolete sooner or later. We might as well let them play their last role on the European battlefield."

Luo Yaoguo stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the Purple Mountain in the distance: "Europe must never be unified, never! Therefore, we had better make sure this war is long enough and brutal enough, so that the hatred between them can accumulate deep enough."

10 Downing Street, London, November 3, 1887.

Autumn rain tapped against the diamond-shaped window panes of the Prime Minister's residence, while the air in the cabinet meeting room was filled with the aroma of cigars and the sweetness of milk tea. The Earl of Salisbury, who had just replaced the elderly and ailing Gladstone as Prime Minister, lightly traced the telegram reporting the victory of the Russian Revolution with his fingertips, but his gaze was fixed on the North Sea chart—there, the shadow of the German High Seas Fleet was expanding along with Germany's booming shipbuilding industry.

"Gentlemen," the Prime Minister raised his grey-blue eyes, his voice as deep as the fog on the Thames, "the fall of the Tsar has severed the noose on Germany's Eastern Front. Next spring, Moltke's iron cavalry will surely march on Paris. But the most important battlefield is still on the ocean. Can we bleed the Germans a good sip before the German shipbuilding industry can produce enough battleships to overwhelm us?"

Foreign Minister Marquis de Lansdowne suddenly stood up, a smile he could hardly hide on his lips.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I have just received some good news." He pulled a telegram from his briefcase, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Prime Minister Luo Yaoguo has just sent a note—they are willing to send 20 capital ships to Europe to participate in the war!"

The meeting room fell silent instantly, and even Chancellor of the Exchequer William Harcourt forgot to complain about how the war budget was always exceeding the plan.

"How many?" Lord George Hamilton, First Lord of the Navy, stared wide-eyed.

“20艘。”兰斯当侯爵展开电报，“包括10艘战列舰、2艘战列巡洋舰、8艘装甲巡洋舰，但其中有2艘装巡是可以当成战巡使用的东海级。”

"And the conditions?" Prime Minister Lord Salisbury narrowed his eyes.

"After the war, the Persian Gulf was placed under the sphere of influence of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom."

The cabinet erupted in a burst of jubilant discussion.

"My God!" Chancellor of the Exchequer William Harcourt slammed his fist on the table. "The Persian Gulf? That place is nothing but sand and camels!"

“There’s still some oil,” Trade Secretary Joseph Chamberlain sneered, “but what’s that compared to the losses Germany would incur if it controlled the European continent?”

"They're really willing to send a fleet?" War Secretary Henry Campbell-Bannerman asked incredulously. "Twenty capital ships?"

“Absolutely true.” The Marquis of Lancetown nodded. “The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s fleet is already assembling and will arrive in Europe as early as next spring.”

The Earl of Salisbury turned his gaze to Sir Arthur Hood, First Lord of the Navy.

"Sir Hood, what do you think?"

Hood paused for a moment, then traced an arc with his finger on the nautical chart.

“Let them arrive secretly.” His voice was low and hoarse, but tinged with excitement. “Scapa Flow, the anchorage in northern Scotland—it’s secluded enough that the Germans won’t find us.”

"and then?"

"And then?" Hood sneered. "In the summer of 1888, we fought a decisive battle against the German High Seas Fleet in the North Sea, together with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's fleet."

His fingers struck the Skagerrak Strait heavily.

"This time, Emperor William's fleet will not have the chance to return home."

(End of this chapter)