New Han Dynasty 1834

With King William IV silent and Crown Princess Victoria astonished, Palmerston explained the results of his discussion with Viscount Melbourne:

"Our advice is that Your Majesty does not actually need to worry about such things."

"Since this matter involves the interests of all businessmen, let them discuss and decide for themselves."

"We publish the contents of the Han Emperor's demands in the newspapers and decide through a vote in Parliament."

"If the members of parliament representing the citizens vote in favor, His Majesty will declare acceptance."

"If the councilors vote against it, Your Majesty can simply refuse it as well."

"Regardless of the final outcome, Parliament must bear the responsibility."

Britain was, after all, a kingdom, and such foreign affairs nominally required the king's approval, so Palmerston came specifically to coordinate this matter for the king.

But at the same time, this incident will also be used to make the king more compliant with the decisions of Parliament.

This makes the king more accustomed to delegating responsibilities to Parliament, which also means handing over more real power to Parliament.

Victoria looked silently at her uncle.

After a long silence, William IV nodded weakly.

"Well, that's the only way. Let's vote officially after this election is over."

Palmerston bowed and accepted the order:

"Your will, Your Majesty."

With the king's approval, Palmerston and Staunton took their leave and began formal preparations for propaganda and publicity.

The Viscount of Melbourne first sent his servants to invite those whom the Emperor of Han had personally named.

These include the Stephensons, father and son, who designed and manufactured trains, and Talbot, who invented the calotype negative photography method.

First, invite them to your home for a banquet, and naturally, discuss things before the banquet.

The Stephenson father and son designed and built the first steam locomotive to actually carry passengers and oversaw the construction of the first intercity commercial railway.

Steam locomotives are constantly being improved to achieve ever higher operating speeds. In 1830, the highest train speed was set at 57 kilometers per hour.

The Stephensons were prominent figures in British industry and commerce, having established their own factories and companies involved in steam engines and railway construction.

The servants of the Viscount of Melbourne easily found the Stephenson father and son through an intermediary.

The Stephensons were eager to further enhance their influence. When they received the invitation from the Viscount of Melbourne, they did not know his specific purpose, but they knew that he was a key figure in the Whig Party and a leading candidate for the next prime minister.

Robert Stephenson and his son immediately agreed, saying they would definitely attend the banquet at the Viscount of Melbourne's home.

Talbot became a member of the Royal Society of Britain three years ago, but he is rather withdrawn and spends most of his time conducting research at his grandfather’s country estate, rarely participating in social activities.

The servants of the Viscount of Melbourne went to great lengths to find Talbot, driving a carriage out of town. However, the Viscount of Melbourne's influence was high enough that he was able to persuade Talbot to come to his aid.

On the morning of February 28, Viscount Melbourne arranged two carriages to invite the Stephensons and Talbot to his home, while Viscount Palmerston arrived alone in his own carriage.

The five people from the three parties met and sat down in the main hall of the Melbourne Viscount's house, where servants served tea and coffee.

Talbot showed no interest in social niceties; after a brief greeting, he went straight to business.

"Thank you very much for the invitation, Your Excellency Melbourne. I'd like to know what brings you here?"

Stephenson and his son were equally curious, so they waited for the answer together.

You can't talk to these engineers and scientists the way you talk to politicians and kings.

The Viscount of Melbourne smiled and dropped the most crucial information directly:

"His Excellency Palmerston has just returned from the East as a special envoy to China, bringing back some unexpected and significant news."

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han mentioned the two of you and wishes to invite you to set up factories in the Great Han to produce steam locomotives and photographic equipment."

Stephenson, his son, and Talbot were stunned when they heard this.

None of the three of them had ever imagined such a thing; they had no concept or understanding of it whatsoever.

"The Emperor of the Han Dynasty? He's inviting us?"

"Does the Emperor of Han know us? Have I become that famous?"

"I am indeed researching photography technology, but I haven't revealed it to anyone outside the circle..."

Palmerston then spoke up, adding a few details:

"The emperor wanted to build a railway across the entire continent in the vast East, at least three thousand miles long."

"We also need to take photos of all foreigners entering Dahan for management purposes."

"The Emperor said that he could adopt your technology, but it was impossible for you to produce in Britain and slowly transport it to the Han Dynasty by sailing ships."

"That would be too slow, inefficient, and too costly."

"Therefore, the Emperor wishes to invite you all to build factories in the East. What are your thoughts on this matter? Are you willing to give it a try in the East?"

The over-fifty-year-old Stephenson didn't speak immediately, but the young Stephenson, in his early thirties, stated his position directly:

"If what Mr. Palmerston said is true, I am willing to go to the East."

Palmerston assured Stephenson with great certainty:

"This matter is absolutely true, and I can vouch for it with my family's reputation."

"If the Emperor of Han has not truly invited you, there will be no benefit for me to deceive you all into going to Han. On the contrary, it will only ruin my reputation."

Talbod, bewildered, spread his hands and said:

"I am a researcher and I don't know anything about management or business. The photography techniques I'm researching are not yet mature."

The Viscount of Melbourne comforted Talbot from the side:

"It doesn't matter if Mr. Talbot doesn't understand business. We can arrange professional business personnel to assist you in running the business, but this will require your technical support and authorization."

"It doesn't matter if the technology isn't mature yet. We can find investors for you, or even provide investment myself, so you can hire more people and quickly conduct broader research."

"The key question is whether you are willing to cooperate with us and participate in the investment and construction of the factory in Dahan?"

"The Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty verbally invited the two of them, but he also said that he would be willing to accept other potentially useful engineering technologies as well."

"Therefore, we are preparing to organize another delegation, mainly composed of engineers and scholars, to go to the Han Dynasty to communicate directly with His Majesty the Emperor's engineers and finally determine which industries can be built in the Han Dynasty."

"Would you all be willing to join this delegation?"

After a brief discussion, the Stephenson father and son made a clearer decision:

"Workers are becoming increasingly restless, and it seems they are starting to organize some kind of workers' association."

"They may be preparing to rally the workers against the factory management."

"There will be more and more troubles in the future."

"And the Han Dynasty's domestic market is so vast that it can be compared with the whole of Europe."

"Now that we have the opportunity, we should give it a try."

"We've decided to join."

Talbot looked worried, but with a hint of curiosity, he said to Palmerston:

"I can provide technical support, and I also hope to communicate directly with scholars and engineers from the East."

"But for everything else, we need someone to help us."

"I personally am willing to join the mission."

Upon hearing this, the Viscount of Melbourne immediately offered his full assurance:

"No problem, don't worry, we'll arrange everything for you."

Viscount Melbourne and Viscount Palmerston continued in-depth discussions with the three, mainly regarding the composition of the visiting mission.

However, it did not mention the conditions that the Han emperor demanded for Britain to cooperate with the Han in destroying Indian opium plantations.

Of the two Stephensons, the older father decided to stay in Britain and take charge of the British business.

Stephenson Jr. then went to the Great Han Dynasty and was temporarily selected as the head of the delegation of engineers and scholars.

After a brief meeting, the Viscount of Melbourne invited all the visitors to lunch.

That afternoon, the Viscount of Melbourne arranged for servants and carriages to take old Stephenson and Talbot home.

Young Stephenson remained by the side of the Viscount Melbourne, cooperating with the Viscount Melbourne and Viscount Palmerston's plans.

The main purpose was to visit and meet with renowned engineers and factory owners in London and the surrounding area, inviting them to join the delegation.

Palmerston also arranged a suitable time to be interviewed by the newspaper with Stephenson Jr.

First, there was the Chronicle of the Morning, a liberal newspaper that leaned towards the Whig Party, which was later even acquired and became the official newspaper of the Whig Party.

The contributors to the Chronicle Morning Post directly complied with Palmerston's requests, writing positive and even exaggerated reports:

"Upon the return of the mission to Han, His Excellency Viscount Palmerston further opened up the Han market for British industry and commerce."

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han warmly invited British engineers and scholars to visit the Great Han and establish a completely new and unprecedented mode of trade."

"Mr. Robert Stephenson has been confirmed to participate in and head the visiting mission, seeking direct involvement in the construction of at least three thousand miles of railway on the Great Han mainland."

Then there was The Times, which at that time was Britain's largest newspaper by circulation, and even the first international newspaper.

In addition to reporting news from Britain, they also report on important news from Europe.

The Times' correspondents stationed in other countries were even regarded as Britain's second ambassadors.

The Times will not fully comply with the demands of the Whig Party and Palmerston, but will only explain the situation based on Palmerston's account:

"The mission to Han returned without success in its request to expand trade, but His Majesty the Emperor of Han proposed a solution to the trade deficit problem."

"The Han Dynasty further strengthened the management and restrictions on import and export trade, and further intensified its efforts to combat and prohibit the smuggling of contraband."

"The Great Han demands that Britain cooperate in combating smuggling activities, or it will sever trade relations with Britain."

Palmerston declined an interview with the Morning Post, a conservative newspaper that supports the Tory Party.

However, after reading reports in other newspapers, the writers of the Morning Post would write their own articles criticizing Palmerston and his group.

"As Foreign Minister and Special Envoy to China, Palmerston did not fulfill his duty to promote greater openness in China."

"The Whig cabinet failed to protect the interests of British merchants in the Great Han."

"Reports indicate that the Emperor of the Han Dynasty has officially ordered the expulsion of British merchants, effectively severing direct trade between Britain and the Han Dynasty."