Rise of the Arms Dealer in the World War-Chapter 34 - The Diplomatic War

The Emperor took a deliberate sip from his glass, then leaned forward. "Why did you kill her?"

"Does it matter to Your Majesty?"

"It does. I need to know if you're someone I can trust to stand with me."

"Consider it karma repaid," Liu Feng replied coolly. "That's all you need to know."

A day had passed since Jin Han and his staff arrived in Beijing. While some questioned the need to bring an entire team from the headquarters, the volatile nature of the 19th century left no room for oversight. In 1897, where messages still relied on horseback couriers, delegation and remote planning were luxuries he could not afford.

Fang Ming reunited with Liu Feng for the first time in a year. Since infiltrating the Righteous Harmony Society in 1896, Liu Feng had played his part masterfully.

"It's been a while," Fang Ming said with a grin.

"You've grown taller, Jin. Looks like you've shot up again," Liu Feng replied, appraising him.

At 17 years old, Fang Ming now stood at 176 centimeters, with more growth likely on the horizon.

"I have to say, Liu Feng, you exceeded my expectations. It would have been enough just to see Cixi dead, but framing the Japanese? Brilliant."

"That wasn't entirely intentional," Liu Feng admitted with a modest shrug. "Luck played its part."

Jin, however, knew better. Liu Feng's plan had involved meticulous execution and sharp adaptability. Originally, the plan had been to eliminate Cixi with explosives, leaving the true perpetrator ambiguous. But Liu Feng had suggested a simpler and more direct method: a gunshot. No one would trace it back to them.

The Japanese-issued rifles they couldn't procure didn't matter. The chaos of war would obscure everything, and even the bullet lodged in Cixi's body would remain untouchable.

"It's remarkable," Fang Ming mused. "The Japanese didn't even insist on an autopsy."

"They'd have been insane to try," Liu Feng replied with a chuckle. "Though they're already seen as madmen."

The fallout was significant. At the Empress Dowager's funeral, the Allied powers ostracized Japan completely. Any nation aligning with the perceived killers of Cixi had little to gain. Japan's diplomatic isolation was sealed by its own misstep.

"This is just the beginning," Fang Ming said.

"Agreed," Liu Feng replied.

"The battlefields are nothing compared to this," Fang Ming said, glancing at the imperial halls where diplomats and envoys gathered. "On the battlefield, you might lose thousands. In diplomacy, you can change the future of millions."

Liu Feng nodded. "What's the plan?"

"For now, we stay quiet,"Fang Ming said. "We've earned the Emperor's favor, but to the rest, we're just backwater merchants from an island."

The conference was a battlefield of its own, populated by towering political figures from nine nations. Any premature move would risk annihilation.

"We need to make Guangxu come to us," Fang Ming continued. "He needs to see us as indispensable."

"You're right," Liu Feng said thoughtfully. "Our position is precarious. Even though we orchestrated Cixi's downfall, leveraging that too aggressively will only dirty the waters."

"Exactly," Fang Ming said. "Secrets are most powerful when left unspoken. Guangxu's survival and success must align with ours."

"Understood," Liu Feng said. "So, what's next?"

"You'll take the lead," Fang Ming replied.

Liu Feng raised an eyebrow. "You're ready to trust me that much?"

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"Who else would I trust? You've already risked your life for this. You've earned it."

Fang Ming shared the full scope of the plan, leaving nothing out. Liu Feng listened carefully, occasionally nodding in agreement.

"It's a sound strategy," Liu Feng said finally. "Though, how long can this last?"

"I can't say for certain," Fang Ming admitted. "But at least six years, maybe longer. The Qing will weaken, but they won't collapse overnight."

Liu Feng nodded. "Then I'll see this through."

"Good," Fang Ming said. "Once we begin, you won't be able to return to Hong Kong for a while."

"I've made my peace with that," Liu Feng said with a faint smile. "This is the opportunity I've been waiting for."

That night, Fang Ming and Liu Feng shared drinks for the first time, talking late into the night about everything they'd left unsaid during the past year.

The next morning, a historic meeting convened at the Zhihua Hall near the Forbidden City. Representatives from nine nations gathered—titans of politics and power.

Leading the Qing delegation was Li Hongzhang, a seasoned diplomat who had negotiated during the First Sino-Japanese War. For Japan, Nishi Tokujirō represented his nation, while the other countries sent their ambassadors stationed in Beijing.

Around a round table sat figures whose words would ripple across history. Smoke from cigars and pipes clouded the air as Britain's Herbert Giles rose to begin.

"Before we proceed," he said, "let us first offer our condolences for the late Empress Dowager."

A moment of solemn silence followed before Giles continued.

"There are three matters before us today," he said, his voice steady but commanding. "First, the Righteous Harmony Society incident. Second, recent conflicts within and around the Qing Empire. And finally..." He paused for effect. "The Japanese involvement in the assassination of the Empress Dowager."

The final point landed heavily. Giles emphasized the words "assassination" and "Japanese," leaving no room for ambiguity.

"Regarding the first matter," Giles said, turning to Li Hongzhang, "the seven-nation coalition is united in its stance. The Righteous Harmony Society uprising is an internal rebellion, and the Qing Empire bears full responsibility."

Giles handed a document to Li. Its contents were devastating:

Foreign troops must be stationed in Beijing to ensure the safety of diplomats.Foreign forces must be allowed to occupy the railway from Beijing to Shanhaiguan.All fortifications obstructing the coastal corridor to Beijing must be dismantled.Reparations of 300 million taels of silver must be paid over 22 years at an annual interest rate of 5%.

Li's hands trembled as he read the demands. Stationing foreign troops in Beijing meant conceding sovereignty, while the reparations threatened to bankrupt the nation for generations.

The Qing Empire was cornered, and the world was watching.