The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 1013 Finally Standing at the Top of the World

October 1888, Civitavecchia, Italy.

The Mediterranean wind, carrying warm moisture, brushed against the dresses and military uniforms embroidered with gold thread on the port docks.

The anchor chain of the battleship "Tianwang" made a dull thud in the deep water as this steel behemoth with a standard displacement of 2.65 tons slowly approached the shore. Its dark cannon muzzles pointed diagonally to the sky, as if silently proclaiming that the power of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had reached the heart of Europe.

On the docks, European kings and generals stood ramrod straight, as if nailed to the spot by some invisible force.

This is the third "Yinglong-class" battleship!
The "Yinglong-class" battleship is the most powerful battleship in the world today. Apart from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, no other country has it. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has already sent two of them to Europe, and now another one carrying Luo Yaoguo has also come to Europe.

I wonder if there are any other "Yinglong"-class creatures guarding the home?
The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's navy was incredibly powerful!

Pope Leo XIV's white robe fluttered slightly in the wind. He ignored the imposing battleship and focused his gaze directly on the man descending the gangway—Luo Yaoguo, the Prime Minister of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, who was also his son-in-law and financial backer.

He wore a dark woolen military uniform without any epaulets or medals, and a pair of gleaming leather boots. He carried only a cane. There was no entourage or honor guard in smart uniforms, but the moment he stepped onto the dock, everyone held their breath slightly.

“Your Excellency the Prime Minister,” King Leo XIV spoke first, his voice deep and solemn, yet he spoke fluent Chinese.

Luo Yaoguo nodded slightly: "Your Holiness the Pope." He did not appear overly friendly.

"The German Empire welcomes you." Bismarck's voice came from the side. The Iron Chancellor's beard was meticulously trimmed, and his eyes gleamed with shrewdness.

Luo Yaoguo turned around and extended his hand: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I have long admired you."

The two men clasped hands together; Bismarck's palm was dry and strong, while Luo Yaoguo's knuckles were slightly white.

"I hope this meeting will bring an early end to the war in Europe," Luo Yaoguo said calmly.

The war in Europe is not completely over yet; it has only been paused.

"End the war?" Bismarck smiled. "Perhaps it should be said that only a new order that respects the interests of all major powers can truly bring lasting peace, and that the order in Europe be established as soon as possible!"

British Prime Minister Salisbury stood aside, observing coldly. His gaze swept over the imposing hull of the "King of Heaven" before settling back on Luo Yaoguo, a bitter feeling welling up inside him—how could such a powerful battleship not belong to Britain?
“Your Excellency, your warships are impressive.” Salisbury’s tone carried a hint of barely perceptible apprehension.

“It’s just a ship,” Luo Yaoguo replied calmly. “What truly determines the fate of the world is the massive industrial system that builds these battleships.”

Salisbury narrowed his eyes slightly and said nothing more.

Karl Mohr, the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of Red France, stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on Luo Yaoguo. When their eyes briefly met, Mohr let out a cold laugh.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, the French people will never forget your friendship with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom."

Luo Yaoguo glanced at him, but did not respond; he simply nodded slightly in greeting.

Grand Duchess Natalia stood a short distance away; she was there on behalf of the Russian Empire to welcome Luo Yaoguo. Luo Xinbei stood beside her, his hand gently resting on her arm.

"Let's go." After shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the dignitaries from various countries at the dock, Luo Yaoguo said to Wu Chaoyue in a low voice, "It's time to go to Rome."

The group boarded the carriage that had been prepared in advance, and the wheels made a dull sound as they rolled over the stone road.

Inside the carriage, Wu Chaoyue unfolded a document and reported in a low voice: "The Germans have agreed to a framework for achieving peace with all countries except Russia, but their conditions are very harsh."

Luo Yaoguo closed his eyes to rest: "Speak."

“In Africa—they want the whole of West Africa, from Morocco to Angola.” Wu Chaoyue paused. “The British want East Africa, including control of the Suez Canal.”

"Give them to them." Luo Yaoguo opened his eyes. "Africa is not our battlefield."

Natalia suddenly spoke up: "The British want our support. Because the Germans have too big an appetite for Africa; they even support Mathilde in establishing an 'African Empire' and trying to take over all of North Africa except Egypt."

"Oh." Luo Yaoguo nodded slightly.

“Towards France,” Wu Chaoyue turned a page of the document, his voice even lower, “the Germans are demanding the annexation of all of Alsace-Lorraine, plus the Vosges region (including the Meuse, Vosges, and Moselle departments). At the same time, they are demanding the demilitarization of eastern France—the entire area north of Paris and east of the Seine, where no troops can be stationed, no fortresses can be built, and the railways and ports will be under German control.”

Luo Yaoguo sneered, "They're ruthless! Have they taken Calais Fortress and Dunkirk Fortress yet?"

"No!" Luo Xinbei shook his head. "Could the Germans really withstand French fortress guns and British naval guns to attack these two coastal fortresses?"

This isn't World War II; there are no Stukas to bomb ships. Faced with the old British battleships sailing into Calais and Dunkirk, the Germans really didn't have much of a way to deal with them. They didn't need cutting-edge battleships like the Dreadnought or Orion classes either; a ship of about 10,000 tons and a few 9.2-inch or 10-inch guns would be enough to give the Germans a run for their money.

The Germans could only use railway guns to deal with these battleships at sea, but the ports of Calais and Dunkirk were in the hands of the Anglo-French forces. The German railway guns could only be aimed and fired from airships, and the airships were easily shot down by anti-airship guns on the ground.

Therefore, the Germans had no way to take down the Calais and Dunkirk fortresses; they couldn't conquer them by force, nor could they effectively besiege them!
Luo Yaoguo snorted: "What you can't get on the battlefield, you can't get at the negotiating table either!"

Luo Xinbei continued, "Intelligence indicates that the German Empire and the United States of America have secretly formed an alliance. I suggest we ally with Britain, support the Romanov dynasty, and form an alliance of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Russia, and Britain." Luo Yaoguo chuckled, "World War I just ended, and the Second World War alliance is already ready?"

He looked out the window at the olive grove rushing past: "In today's world, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is already at the top. Britain, Germany, and the United States are not even 'second place,' but merely tied for third. There's no rush to suppress them; let them fight among themselves first."

Natalia said urgently, "But what if Britain fails?"

“Then let’s wait until they’re finished before we talk about it,” Luo Yaoguo said calmly. “The most important thing right now is to let everyone know that Britain is the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s closest European partner.”

The carriage drove past a vineyard, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on Luo Yaoguo's face.

“The war in Europe may end for now,” he said softly, “but the global struggle has only just begun.”

When the carriage arrived in Rome, Luo Yaoguo told Wu Chaoyue, "Arrange for me to meet with the British Prime Minister and the Crown Prince first."

He straightened his collar, a sharp glint in his eyes: "From now on, we will let everyone know that Britain is the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's closest European partner."

The Palazzo Venezia in Rome was bathed in a golden-red glow under the setting sun. The heavy, intricately carved wooden doors slowly opened, and Luo Yaoguo, accompanied by Natalia and Luo Xinbei, entered the reception room. British Prime Minister Salisbury and Queen Victoria's eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, had been waiting for some time.

“Your Excellency the Prime Minister,” Salisbury rose to greet him, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity.

Luo Yaoguo nodded slightly: "Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Crown Prince Albert Edward extended his hand, his smile gentle yet dignified: "Your Excellency the Prime Minister, I have long admired your name."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone took their seats. A servant quietly served black tea, then left the reception room, the heavy wooden door closing gently behind him.

"Regarding the demilitarized zone in northeastern France," Luo Yaoguo stated bluntly, "the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's position is very clear—we do not support Calais and Dunkirk becoming demilitarized zones. These two areas are extensions of British naval power, and the Germans cannot take what they cannot obtain on the battlefield from the negotiating table!"

He spoke with an unquestionable decisiveness, as if he were the arbitrator at the Rome Peace Conference!
Salisbury raised an eyebrow slightly: "The Germans have too big an appetite."

“Yes,” Luo Yaoguo said calmly, “but more importantly, a weak France is not good for the balance of Europe.”

Prince Albert Edward picked up his teacup, seemingly lost in thought: "What does Your Excellency mean?"

"The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is willing to work with Britain to help France rebuild its national defense." Luo Yaoguo's gaze swept over the two men, "especially the army."

A glint of light flashed in Salisbury's eyes: "Rebuild the French army?"

“A sufficiently strong French army can draw the Germans’ attention,” Luo Yaoguo said casually. “This would benefit both Britain and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.”

Salisbury pondered for a moment and slowly nodded: "I agree. But the Germans won't stand idly by."

"Let them have their headaches!" Luo Yaoguo sneered.

The topic quickly shifted to Russia.

“The Romanov dynasty is in a difficult situation now,” Salisbury said in a deep voice. “The People’s Will party is gaining more and more influence in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk and other places.”

Crown Prince Albert Edward added, "If the Romanov dynasty collapses completely, all of Russia will fall into the hands of the People's Will party."

Luo Yaoguo did not respond immediately, but looked at Natalia.

Natalia's fingers tightened slightly: "Nicholas II needs support."

“Support can be given,” Luo Yaoguo said calmly, “but the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will not directly intervene in the Russian Civil War.”

Salisbury frowned: "Does His Excellency the Prime Minister mean..."

“Weapons, funds, advisors,” Luo Yaoguo said calmly, “we can provide some, but the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s army will not set foot on Russian soil.”

In reality, Luo Yaoguo did not want to save the Romanov dynasty; he longed for a strong Russia led by the People's Will party. However, in order to maintain cooperative relations with Britain, he still had to make some gestures.

Salisbury and Albert Edward exchanged a glance, then slowly nodded: "That's enough."

As the talks drew to a close, Luo Yaoguo stood up and walked to the window. The setting sun cast its glow on his profile, outlining a sharp contour.

“The order of Europe and the world needs to be re-established,” he said softly, “and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Britain will be the maintainers of this order.”

Salisbury smiled slightly: "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you, Your Excellency the Prime Minister."

Luo Yaoguo turned around and extended his hand: "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

(End of this chapter)