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Beijing in December 1844 was exceptionally cold. Originally, winter was the most depressed time for Beijing, but this winter, Beijing seems even more depressed. Although it has been two years since the signing of the peace treaty with China, in the past two years, the Manchu Qing Dynasty has not only failed to regain its strength, but has become even weaker. In order to be able to compete with the Chinese Empire, the Manchus desperately increased their military spending, which severely damaged the Manchu economy. In addition, a large number of laborers were forcibly conscripted into the army, resulting in a large number of fields being deserted. It is foreseeable that it will not be long before the Manchu Qing Dynasty itself will collapse without the Chinese Empire attacking.

However, the rulers of the Manchu Qing Dynasty did not seem to realize this, and they were still obsessed with the former glory of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and their increasingly powerful military strength. In the past two years, the Manchus have successfully trained millions of new troops. Of course, only half of the trainees have completed so far. The remaining half is still being trained. and, waiting for military equipment from the British.

In order to develop armaments, the Manchus not only increased taxes again and again, but also borrowed large sums of money from Britain at high interest rates. The current Manchu government was already heavily indebted, owing tens of millions of pounds to the British alone. However, the Manchus placed all their hopes on defeating the Chinese Empire, and as long as they could defeat the Chinese Empire, they would be able to reap a lot of benefits from the wealthy Chinese Empire. Not to mention the repayment of the debts owed, the Manchus were able to rely on the foundation laid by the Chinese Empire. Leap to become one of the world's great powers.

This was the great dream of the Manchu rulers, and they also hoped that such a dream would be realized. It's very difficult. However, for the Manchus, there was no way back. If they don't rise up and resist, sooner or later the Chinese Empire will destroy them. Since sooner or later it will be death, it is better to fight hard, and maybe there will be a little chance. It's a gambler's mentality, but whether it's the regent of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, Aixin Jueluo. Pleasant. Or the ministers of military aircraft have pinned their hopes on this gamble. If they win, the Manchus will be able to achieve ZTE. If you lose. Then, the Manchu Qing Dynasty was destroyed just a little earlier. There's nothing bad about them about that.

Although Emperor Tongzhi was the emperor in name, but. The current power of the court is completely under the regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu and a group of military ministers headed by Wen Qing. Emperor Tongzhi was nothing more than a puppet emperor. Even the pilgrimage. Emperor Tongzhi was too lazy to participate, and the dragon chair on the Jinluan Hall in the Forbidden City was empty. Only on the chair next to the dragon chair sat the regent of the Qing Dynasty. In the beginning, there were still some people who regarded themselves as loyal ministers and criticized the regent and others for oppressing the emperor, but over time. Everyone is used to it.

The upper study of the Forbidden City became the regent Aixin Jueluo. A place where Mianyu and a group of military ministers discussed state affairs. Though. Ai Xin Jueluo. Mianyu was very eager to become the true emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, but he knew that he was in no hurry. If the Manchu Qing could defeat the Chinese Empire, with this great merit, he could naturally persecute the Tongzhi Emperor Chan to him. If he loses, the Manchu Qing will no longer exist zài, then naturally there will be no more Manchu emperors, even if he fights again, it is useless. The most important thing now was to ensure that the Manchus were able to defeat the Chinese Empire in future wars, and that was the biggest problem facing the Manchus and their rulers.

"Your Royal Highness the Regent, there is an urgent report from the North Korean side. The Chinese* army landed at Inchon and is marching towards Seoul. King Yi Yeong of Joseon asked the imperial court to reinforce them. Otherwise, with the strength of Korea alone, it would not be able to compete with the army of the Chinese Empire. Said the Minister of Military Aircraft, Saishana. Among the ministers of military aircraft, Seshana is in charge of external affairs.

"North Korea is a subject country of my Qing Dynasty, but the Chinese* army is attacking at will, which is simply not taking the Qing Dynasty in his eyes! Your Royal Highness the Regent, we can't be silent any longer, we must give the Chinese* army a fierce counterattack. Minister of Military Aircraft Pan Shien said. Although Pan Shien is old, and it has long been rumored that he is about to die. But I didn't expect that this old man has become more and more energetic in the past two years, and a few days ago he also asked for a new 14-year-old concubine, and did a romantic affair of a pear flower pressing a begonia.

The regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu couldn't help frowning, although he also hated the actions of the Chinese Empire very much, but how to fight back? Is it difficult to go to war with the Chinese Empire? The last time the Manchus had already lost a lot. They haven't recovered yet. If they are defeated again, then the Manchus will not have to lose all their chips! When the time comes, what will the Manchus take to fight with the Chinese Empire?

"Lord Wen, what do you think?" The regent Ai Xin Jue Luo Mianyu asked. He was able to become the regent, which was indispensable for Wen Qing's support. And Wen Qing has also become the chief minister of military aircraft, and his authority is unparalleled.

"Your Highness, North Korea is just a small country, and it is not of much use to me in the Qing Dynasty. Now is not the best time to start a war with the Chinese Empire, we must not fight the Chinese Empire now, if you can't bear it, you will make a big plan! Wen Qing said. Although, the subject state was attacked by the Chinese Empire, which damaged the face of the Qing Dynasty. But it's better to have a disgraced face than to have the country destroyed!

"Master Wen, what are you talking about? Isn't the dignity of the Qing Dynasty important? Now that the Chinese Empire is able to attack Korea, he will be able to directly tear up the original treaty and take action against the Qing Dynasty. We must now be tough on the Chinese Empire, and let them know that I, the Qing Dynasty, am not easy to bully! Minister of Military Aircraft Mu Zhanga said sternly.

"Lord Yu, if we start a war with the Chinese Empire now, do we have a chance of winning?" The regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu asked.

"Your Highness, if we go to war now, we don't have the slightest chance of winning!" Minister of Military Aircraft and Minister of War Shangshu Yucheng said.

"What? There is no chance of winning. The new army has been built for two years, and after spending so much money, it still has no chance of winning? What is the Ministry of War doing? His Royal Highness the Regent, the servant implores His Highness to cure Yucheng for the crime of dereliction of duty! Mu Zhang'a, Minister of Military Aircraft, immediately jumped up.

The regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu ignored Mu Zhang'a, but asked, "Master Yu, let's talk about it in detail!" ”

"Yes, Your Highness." Yucheng glanced at Mu Zhang'a with disdain, and then said: "At present, my Xinhua Army of the Qing Dynasty has built 500,000 people. But the remaining half a million are still in training. Plus the weapons we bought from the British have not yet arrived. The remaining 500,000 people are estimated to be able to complete their training by the end of next year. Now the army of the Chinese Empire has more than 700,000 troops. Moreover, their weapons and equipment are all made by themselves, and their performance is even more powerful than that of the British. Therefore, if we go to war now, we have no chance of winning! ”

The regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu nodded, he was also very clear about the gap between the Manchus and the Chinese Empire in industry. The Manchus, who were poor and white, even had to buy bullets from the British. And the Chinese Empire, whether it was rifles or artillery, doubted that the warships on the sea were all built by themselves. The performance is world-class. In this respect, the Manchus simply could not be compared with the Chinese Empire.

What Yucheng said is true, although it is a little difficult to accept, but it is the truth. Mu Zhang'a and Pan Shien also kept silent. The two of them are not fools, and if the Manchu Qing are defeated, the two of them will only have a dead end. As high-ranking officials of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, they and the fate of the Manchu Qing Dynasty were already tied together.

"If the training of the new army is completed, will we be able to defeat the Chinese Empire?" The regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu asked.

"Your Highness, if the new army can complete its training, we will have at least fifty percent chance of defeating the Chinese Empire. First of all, we have 300,000 more troops than them. In addition, the Chinese Empire still had places such as Nanyang to garrison, and the Qing Dynasty could concentrate all its efforts on attacking them. Third, although the Chinese Empire was strong, they made too many enemies. Britain remains the world's number one power. If Britain were able to attack the Chinese Empire from the sea in the event of a war with the Chinese Empire, our chances of victory would be much greater. Yucheng analyzed.

The regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu and the other ministers of military aircraft nodded again and again when they listened. They are very recognizant of Yucheng's analysis, which is where their confidence lies. Although the Manchus were getting worse and worse, they all believed that it would not be long before the Manchus would be able to rise again. As long as they can defeat the Chinese Empire, and then take over the wealth and industrial base left by the Chinese Empire, the Manchus will be able to be reborn!

"Your Highness, therefore, I think it is not appropriate for us to break out into conflict with the Chinese Empire now, which is very detrimental to our future strategy!" Minister of Military Aircraft Wen Qing said.

"Hmmm! We'll have to endure it for a while! "The regent loves Xin Jueluo. Mianyu said.

"Your Highness, then we can't do nothing, right? In this case, the Chinese Empire will only think that we are better bullied. Minister of Military Aircraft Pan Shien said.

"Find a time to meet with the envoys of the Chinese Empire in Beijing and express the Qing protest to them!" The regent Aisin Jueluo. Mianyu said.

"Your Highness, we still have to strengthen the defenses in the northeast. Otherwise, the Chinese Empire would be able to directly threaten the Northeast by sending troops from Korea! Minister of Military Aircraft Yucheng said. (To be continued......)