The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 919: Submission
The Prime Minister of Qi must express goodwill to the Kingdom of Britain and the rebels in the eastern provinces it supports; in other words, he must yield.

This point is becoming a consensus among the enlightened people of the empire.

As Liu Ye, a representative of the pro-peace faction, said: "What cannot be obtained on the battlefield can only be obtained at the negotiating table."

The Eastern War (or the Ezo War of Independence) entered its third year.

The balance of power in the war began to tilt eastward.

The Qi army suffered defeat after defeat on the battlefield, and could hardly see any hope of victory.

The war was raging, and the whole country was in turmoil.

The pro-war faction, led by Zhang Xiang, began to feel uneasy about their future and fate.

"Are you trying to confront the entire world?"

During the meeting, Liu Ye slammed his fist on the table in anger and roared at the Prime Minister.

"Back then, I didn't want war, I didn't want war, but you wouldn't listen. You said you could traverse the entire country in one hour and twenty minutes, and that the army could land and pacify the land with a single proclamation. Where has that traversal gone now?!"

Facing the emperor's wrath, Zhang Xiang cautiously said, "Your Majesty, please do not worry. The situation is under control. They are just a few petty thieves from the east. I can handle them."

"A few petty thieves?"

Liu Ye thought of Zhao Gao from the Qin Dynasty.

Yes, he was none other than Hu Hai, the one who was unaware that the six states had rebelled and attacked Hangu Pass.

Judging from the current trend, the fall of the Great Qi is not far off.

How will future generations evaluate the Great Qi?
Liu Ye received a European royal education in his childhood, even in terms of language. The emperor was fluent in English and French, while his mother tongue seemed rather unfamiliar in comparison.

The foreign language not only changed Liu Ye's way of expressing himself, but also profoundly influenced his thinking.

"Look into my eyes!"

Tell me! Why? Why?

"How did things come to this!"

Zhang Ruoting dared not look the emperor in the eye.

The prime minister lacked Zhang Tingyu's political acumen and Kang Guangxu's strategic brilliance.

He was just an ordinary, even somewhat foolish, second-generation rich kid.

He climbed to his current position thanks to his father's achievements and connections.

"How much military spending have you expended in the three years of war? Where has all the infrastructure funding for the eastern provinces gone over the years? It cost 300 million Qi coins to build a bridge, and what have you gained so far?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The funds are far from sufficient, and there are still outstanding debts..."

"Enough. No more!"

Liu Ye was still furious.

"The Empire's allies have vanished! Now the whole world is our enemy! You bunch of useless trash, what have you left the Empire after handing over the country to you? Trillions of dollars in debt!"

The ministers were silent.

"The Great Qi is doomed! The people will not forgive you!"

Unbeknownst to many, after the Battle of Volcano, the British strengthened their support for the rebels, and half of Europe was organized by old George.

A steady stream of supplies crossed the ocean to reach the Eastern battlefield.

The Royal Navy broke through the Qi army's blockade and transported military supplies such as gunpowder and cotton cloth to various parts of Kyushu.

Europeans viewed Qi's war ban as a joke; in reality, the whole of Europe was against Qi.

European students were expelled, shops invested in by Qi merchants were vandalized by locals, and joint naval exercises with France were postponed indefinitely.

The State of Qi has become an evil force following the Rakshasa.

The whole world is an enemy.

Europeans, in the name of so-called "freedom and justice," were willing to go to war with the State of Qi, which was ranked second in the world in military strength.

Of course, this title of second in the world was actually self-proclaimed by the people of Qi. "Your Majesty, although the situation is unfavorable, everything is under control. Overall, Great Qi has still won..."

Liu Ye gave a cold laugh: "Tire of Winning!"

They've won so many times! Are they going to win again this time?
The suppression of the Annam rebellion demonstrates that the Great Qi Dynasty successfully thwarted British military intervention, thus winning the war.

The fact that North Korean miners fled to Kyushu demonstrates that the intelligence agencies promptly uncovered the espionage activities of the eastern vassal states, thus securing their victory.

The declaration of independence by the eastern provinces shows that the rebels had no other choice but to act desperately, so they still won.

Yes, since Zhang Xiang took power, the Great Qi has either been winning or on its way to winning.

After the Kingdom of Britain announced military sanctions, various countries began to restrict arms exports to Daqi.

Needless to say, they won again this time.

The strategists in the General Staff said that, faced with severe sanctions, the imperial artisans would completely abandon any thought of borrowing foreign technology, become independent, roll up their sleeves and work harder, thereby accelerating the progress of the empire's military technology...

But how can distant water quench a nearby fire?
Due to the British embargo, the Qi army's fighting strength was reduced by more than 50%.

Weapons and equipment such as airship engines and artillery calibration instruments are becoming increasingly rare, and they can no longer be replenished.

It should be understood that the empire's military technology was primarily based on learning from and imitating others.

Once new weapons appeared on the European battlefield, the artisans of Daqi would immediately imitate them.

While copied weapons may not surpass their predecessors, they are at least roughly the same in performance.

For example, the "large airship" development project that the late emperor had been so concerned about was stalled for almost twenty years because the British were reluctant to export the core engine. It wasn't until the relationship between Daqi and Britain improved, or more accurately, after the two countries formed a marriage alliance, that Old George issued an order to relax the export restrictions on the engine. Only then was the Daqi airship manufacturing plant able to quickly develop a super airship suitable for battlefield use, capable of carrying 300 tons of supplies.

Despite opposition from the Kingdom of Britain, they persisted in suppressing the rebellion.

The honeymoon period is over, and the export of many technologies, with airship engines at their core, has been completely halted.

The Qi State airship will face serious problems such as being unable to be replaced after being damaged and missing parts.

The shutdown of the large airships is just the tip of the iceberg.

In the words of protester representative Roston, the rulers of Skyheart City were a complete charlatan, and all the core technologies that the empire was so proud of were obtained from the British through despicable tricks.

Zhang Ruoting murmured to herself, "Your Majesty, we must not yield. We must fight to the end, no matter the cost."

The emperor said impatiently, "If we continue fighting, what will be the price? Who will pay the price? You or me!"

Zhang Xiang was speechless.

"Do you know how many people are against you right now? You're being condemned by everyone, and you'll die without a trace!"

Protest leader Roston believes that Zhang Ruoting and the ministers around her are the culprits behind this conflict.

The protest propaganda claimed that this group (Zhang Ruoting) was willing to go to war with the Kingdom of Britain for their own selfish interests, attempting to drag the country into a state of war and take the opportunity to eliminate all dissenting voices.

Roston called for a new round of elections in Tianxin City to elect councilors who truly represent the interests of the empire. He also called on the lords from all over the country to march on Tianxin City, overthrow the corrupt and chaotic council, and promised that all “righteous men” would receive rich political benefits after their success.

Regardless of how many vassal states responded to Roston's call, the imperial cause of quelling the rebellion had now become a complete mess.

The Qi army suffered repeated setbacks in its campaigns to quell the rebellion in the eastern provinces. Two commanders had already died for their country, and another had deserted. With the independence of Emishi becoming a reality, anti-war sentiment within the country grew stronger. Relying solely on a few second-rate newspapers to deceive the people, even if the battlefield situation was described in glowing terms, no one believed it anymore.

As the war to quell the rebellion entered its third year, the outcome became increasingly clear. The deteriorating war situation gradually affected the normal lives of the people of Qi, and more and more people were misled into taking to the streets to express their dissatisfaction to the Tianxin City Council.

Although Zhang Ruoting was helpless about this, she still cursed, "A bunch of troublemakers, daring to openly oppose the government! If we had won the war, would we still be making such a fuss?!"

What worried Zhang Xiang was not only the gains and losses on the battlefield, but also the severe sanctions imposed by the Kingdom of Britain and its allies, which began to show their power three months later.

Qi's foreign trade suffered a severe decline, with silk and tea sold to Europe and India falling to less than half of previous years' levels. Even the empire's best-selling Baolu brand carriages faced boycotts from various countries, leaving a large number of unfinished carriages piling up in warehouses. More and more manufacturers began to put their employees on indefinite leave, and an increasing number of imperial workers took to the streets to protest.

The ministers in Tianxin City lacked a clear understanding of the impending economic recession, but Zhang Ruoting, who considered himself a capable minister, had already realized the seriousness of the situation.

However, there is something more important to focus on right now: the centenary celebration of the empire's founding.

This might be a symbol. If the celebration cannot be completed smoothly, it means that Zhang Xiang's term will end prematurely. According to the current situation, if Zhang Xiang and his confidants lose power at this time, they will be hung on street lamps by the angry people. On the streets of Tianxin City, under the fanatical gaze, their old bodies sway gently in the wind.

Then let's acknowledge the independence of Ezo (Hokkaido).

The independence of a colony would not cause Zhang Xiang to lose anything, but if Tianxin City fell into chaos and his rule became unstable, he would have nothing left.