Quick Transmigration: When Can I Just Lay Down and Wait to Die?

Chapter 353 "The Legend of Zhen Huan" - 4th Uncle 13

Everyone knelt down to receive the order, and thereafter, sweeping reforms began throughout the Qing Dynasty.

Shipyards and gun factories sprang up like mushrooms after rain, and in the new-style schools, students followed the Westerners and worked hard to learn Western scientific knowledge.

Improvements to looms, the research and development of steam engines, and the improvement of various agricultural tools were all put on the agenda.

The traditional textile industry has seen its efficiency multiply with the help of new looms, producing finer and more exquisite fabrics that not only meet domestic demand but are also being exported overseas.

The improvement and application of the steam engine enabled trains to run across China and ships to travel faster across rivers, lakes and seas, greatly reducing transportation time and costs.

The third, eighth, and fourteenth princes became pioneers of change, taking advantage of the fact that relations with Western countries were not yet so harmonious to go overseas multiple times to introduce talent and technology.

However, the path to reform was not smooth. Conservative ministers in the court banded together in opposition, believing that the ancestral laws were immutable. They repeatedly impeached the third, eighth, and fourteenth princes in court, attempting to stop the reform from proceeding.

At the same time, the Western powers also noticed the changes in the Qing Dynasty. They were afraid that the Qing Dynasty would become powerful again. After all, they had long had the idea of ​​partitioning the Qing Dynasty.

The Qing Dynasty possessed a vast territory and abundant resources, including countless coveted treasures and resources. These treasures attracted the attention of countries around the world, inspiring envy in many.

However, it is not easy to gain benefits from this vast country, and there is a reason why they are called the "suzerain state".

After a long period of planning and effort, Western countries finally sent a large number of missionaries to the Qing Dynasty. These missionaries were tasked with not only spreading their religious beliefs, but also cleverly using various means to persuade the Qing emperor to adopt a policy of isolationism.

The success of this strategy was no accident. The missionaries gained a deep understanding of the culture, politics, and social environment of the Qing Dynasty, and they skillfully used their wisdom and eloquence to establish close relationships with Qing officials and the emperor.

Through constant lobbying and influence, they gradually convinced the Qing emperor that closing the country to the outside world was the best option for maintaining national interests and stability.

Ultimately, they succeeded.

The Qing emperor decided to close the country's doors and cease all communication and trade with the outside world.

This decision severely hampered the Qing Dynasty's technological development, especially in firearms research. Its previously world-leading firearms technology gradually fell behind, while Western powers seized the opportunity to gain a greater advantage in this field.

Now you're telling me all the effort I put in was wasted? That won't do.

However, given their current strength, it was clearly beyond their capabilities to confront the Qing Dynasty head-on from afar. Therefore, they decided to adopt more covert methods to create trouble for the Qing Dynasty.

These people began to secretly plot and instigate, instigating some small countries that were originally subordinate to the Qing Dynasty to provoke trouble in the border areas. These small countries originally had to pay tribute to the Qing Dynasty every year to show their submission to the Qing Dynasty.

However, this time, several small countries simultaneously created disturbances on the border of the Qing Dynasty, which undoubtedly shocked the princes and ministers of the Qing Dynasty.

They had not realized that the influence of the Western powers had penetrated so deeply into the areas surrounding the Qing Dynasty, and that the tentacles of Western countries had stretched so far.

Upon hearing of the frequent provocations from the small border country, the eldest prince, Yun Ti, and the tenth prince, Yun Qi, could not contain their anger and submitted petitions requesting to go to war.

The Fourth Prince issued an imperial edict appointing Yunzhi as the Grand General for the Expedition to the Border, and Yunzhi as his deputy, to lead an elite force to the border to defend against foreign enemies.

With the Qing Dynasty's national strength, conquering these small countries would not have been difficult. However, the intervention of Western powers complicated the war. But the Fourth Prince firmly believed that as long as Yinzhi and Yinzhi could fully utilize the army's advantages and employ tactics effectively, they would surely defeat the enemy.

Upon receiving the order, Yun Ti and Yun Yi immediately sprang into action, quickly assembling elite troops and equipping them with the latest weaponry.

With everything prepared, Yun Ti and Yun Yi led this powerful army, like an iron torrent, to the border.

Meanwhile, the fourteenth prince also received orders. He led the Qing navy and set off just as quickly. His mission was to blockade the surrounding coastlines, ensuring that Yinzhi and Yinzhi would not be disturbed by the sea while they were conquering those small countries.

If those Western countries' fleets don't come, fine; but if they do come, then let them never return.

During this period, Western merchant ships frequently traveled to and fro at sea. The fourteenth prince, however, was far from idle; he imitated the island nation's past practices and transformed himself into a pirate!

Whenever a merchant ship passed by, the fourteenth prince would lead his men to pounce on it like hungry tigers and seize it. The merchant ships were completely unprepared and no match for them, so they had no choice but to submit.

Next, instead of simply discarding or destroying these merchant ships, the fourteenth prince came up with a brilliant idea—to transform them into warships!

Building a new warship is no easy task, requiring a significant investment of time and resources. But now, with these existing merchant ships, the Fourteenth Prince only needs to make some simple modifications to transform them into powerful warships – a truly time-saving, labor-saving, and cost-effective solution!

In comparison, the time required to convert merchant ships into warships was negligible. Therefore, the fourteenth prince certainly wouldn't let such a golden opportunity slip by!

As for logistics, there's absolutely no need to worry. Today's Qing Dynasty is a wealthy and powerful nation, prosperous and thriving. Since the completion of the national official roads, north-south transportation has become increasingly convenient, like a network running through the entire body.

Supplies from various regions could be deployed to the front lines at an astonishing speed, providing a solid guarantee for the operation. Whether it was food, weapons, or other military supplies, they could be delivered in the shortest possible time, ensuring that the army had no worries about supplies.

The army led by Yun Ti and Yun Yi was unstoppable, and wherever they went, the armies of the small countries were powerless to resist.

The power of the new weapons made them realize the might of the Qing Dynasty; in just half a month, two countries were destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Fourteenth Prince's navy also achieved some success. They successfully intercepted a Western fleet along the coast, and a fierce naval battle ensued. With his modified warships and advanced tactics, the Fourteenth Prince drove the Western fleet into a series of defeats.

Meanwhile, in the imperial court, the third and eighth princes, together with the ministers who supported the reforms, engaged in a fierce debate with the conservatives, gradually stabilizing the situation for reform.

As the war progressed, the surrounding small countries surrendered one after another. However, surrendering was useless; being betrayed once was enough. This time, the Qing Dynasty was determined to bring all these disobedient small countries into its territory.