Iron Dynasty

Chapter 1120

Imperial Study.

Pang Yukun placed a document in front of Xiao Ming. “Your Majesty, this is the purpose of Brooke’s visit to Qingzhou.”

“Steelmaking technology, high-precision machine tools, and metal bullet casting technology.” Xiao Ming found Brooke’s asking price on the document very amusing.

Pang Yukun also did not know whether to laugh or cry. He said, “The British must have water in their heads. Do they still think they have the right to ask the Empire for a price?”

“The arrogance in these Westerners’ bones cannot be changed in a short time, but they will soon understand where they should place themselves.” Xiao Ming said coldly.

“Then how should I respond to Brooke? Besides discussing these issues, Brooke also brought a British delegation, preparing to establish an embassy in Qingzhou.” Pang Yukun asked.

Xiao Ming was still looking at the document. This time, Britain’s confidence in its asking price came from three points: first, the war between the Ottoman Empire and Persia; second, the Empire’s strategy in North America; and third, the war between Tsarist Russia and the Empire in Central Asia.1

According to Brooke, as long as the Empire agreed to export these three technologies to Britain, Britain would mediate the war between Persia and2 the Ottoman Empire, provide assistance to the Empire’s soldiers in North America, and jointly attack America.

At the same time, they would also side with the Empire on the issue of Tsarist Russia.

“Go and tell Brooke that Persia will definitely defeat the Ottoman Empire within the next three months, and does not need Britain’s mediation. In addition, the Empire’s supply of materials in North America is not a problem and does not need Britain’s interference. As for Tsarist Russia, the Empire will teach them a good lesson.” Xiao Ming said in a firm tone.

Pang Yukun showed a smile. “I will go back and tell Brooke now. His expression will probably be very grim.”

After seeing Pang Yukun off, Xiao Ming remembered the news that Hu Chuan had sent about Britain’s bribery and intimidation.

He made a telephone call to Yue Yun, telling him to send a fleet of forty-two warships to pay a “friendly” visit to Britain.

Dengzhou.

A look of excitement appeared on Yue Yun’s face after he received Xiao Ming’s telephone call. Liu Chen, who was beside him, asked, “Is there another battle to be fought?”

“No.” Yue Yun’s smile did not fade.

Liu Chen showed a look of disappointment. “Then what else could make you so happy?”

“His Majesty wants us to send a fleet to Britain for a friendly visit.” Yue Yun said.

Liu Chen was even more confused. “A friendly visit to Britain? What’s there to be friendly about with those bandits?”

Yue Yun stood up and walked to the world map hanging in the office. He said, “This friendly visit is not a real friendly visit. It is to show Britain the might of the imperial navy.”

Liu Chen immediately became interested. “Hey, this is interesting. We are idle now anyway. We might as well take a trip to Britain and then a tour around the European coast to let those Europeans see the might of the imperial navy.”

“That’s exactly what His Majesty means.” With that, Yue Yun walked out of the office and looked down at the steel warships docked in Dengzhou naval port.

Two years had passed since the Battle of India. In these two years, the Empire’s warships, like dumplings being dropped into a pot, had surged from the original thirty to the current one hundred and twenty.

The Empire’s steel warships could now be seen on all the important shipping lanes in the world. Some of these warships were even equipped with the Empire’s wireless communication system, which allowed warships to communicate with each other via radio, enabling a leap in the coordination between the warships.

And with the increase in the number of warships, the Empire’s navy’s structure was re-divided. The former Qingzhou fleet had been formally renamed the Pacific Fleet.

In addition, the Empire also established the Atlantic Fleet, the Indian Ocean Fleet, and the Arctic Ocean Fleet. Each ocean fleet was composed of three fleets. In total, the Empire would have twelve fleets.

These twelve fleets would rule the entire ocean.

However, although the numbers were set, the current number of the Empire’s warships was still not enough to be allocated to all the fleets.

So at present, the Empire only had the Pacific Fleet and the Indian Ocean Fleet, which were equipped with forty and eighty warships, respectively.

The remaining two ocean fleets would have to wait for more warships to be launched.

“We will dispatch thirty warships from the Pacific Fleet and twelve from the Indian Ocean Fleet. This time, we will make Europe tremble in front of the Empire’s warships.” Yue Yun’s spirits were high.

…

Qingzhou.

Brooke soon received Pang Yukun’s disappointing reply. The bargaining chip that the Queen was so confident in was nothing but a bad hand in front of the Empire, and it did not even cause a single stir.

Moreover, the Emperor and the cabinet ministers had not personally met with him from beginning to end. They only conveyed their intentions through Tang Wenjie.

This alone was enough to show that they had overestimated the Empire’s seriousness about them. Europe’s most powerful country was nothing but a disposable object in the Empire’s eyes.

“Ambassador Brooke, the Cabinet has already decided on the location of the British embassy. You can begin preparing now.” Tang Wenjie was barely suppressing his laughter.

After Brooke and him had exchanged these opinions, he told Brooke that it was impossible for the Empire to make a deal with Britain.

Now, the facts had proven his judgment right. This was because the Empire was fully capable of handling the current situation, while the technology that Britain wanted was strictly blockaded by the Empire.

Brooke’s heart sank. After half a year of traveling, he had gained nothing. No one would be in a good mood.

“I hope you can seriously reconsider. Persia has already had one-third of its territory occupied by the Ottoman Empire. It is impossible for them to turn the tide of the war.” There was a warning tone in Brooke’s words.

Tang Wenjie’s expression did not change. He had long known that the Ottoman Empire’s attack on Persia was the result of Europe’s meddling.

It could be said that the war between the Ottoman Empire and Persia was actually a contest between Europe and the Empire in Central Asia.

If the Empire were to agree to Britain’s conditions, it would mean that the Empire had lost in this contest.

In his opinion, this was something that the Empire could not tolerate. Moreover, it was absurd for the West to think they could get the Empire’s technology by giving the Ottoman Empire some outdated weapons.

“Chief Grand Secretary Pang has already made it clear to me that there is no room for compromise on this matter. The Empire will not accept any concessions.” Tang Wenjie said, enunciating every word.

Brooke opened his mouth. His expression was very grim. This time, he was destined to return empty-handed. As a last effort, he threatened, “Does the Empire not want Britain’s market?”

“This is clearly stipulated in the ceasefire agreement. What do you mean?” Tang Wenjie asked, on his guard.

“Sometimes, a treaty is just a piece of waste paper.” Brooke was aggressive.

“Sometimes, disobedient children will be spanked.” Tang Wenjie did not back down, hinting that the Empire would use military force to make Britain abide by the agreement.