Macartney, like the first batch of merchants led by Sir Howard, who considered themselves part of an "embassy" and were essentially tribute-paying trade delegations, grew increasingly alarmed the longer he stayed in the Great Ming.
The difference was that while Howard and his group were alarmed by the Great Ming's market and military strength, Macartney was alarmed by the entire Great Ming.
Whether analyzed from the perspective of territorial area, military strength, governmental systems, or livelihoods, education, industry, commerce, and so on, the Great Ming far surpassed all of Europe.
These were easily analyzed statistics – Europe had dozens of large and small countries, and if one added the numerous tiny principalities, there were likely hundreds, even two to three hundred. Europe alone had over a dozen, or even several dozen, currencies in circulation, not to mention centuries-old enemies like England and France.
How could a chaotic Europe compare to a complete and unified Great Ming Empire?
Take the steam engine as an example.
According to the information previously provided by Howard, the Great Qing originally had no steam engines. The only steam locomotive was built for Kangxi by missionaries over a hundred years ago. By any measure, the development of steam engines in the Great Qing lagged far behind the British Empire.
Even the Great Ming Empire, which had defeated the Great Qing, did not have steam engines as advanced as they were now just a few years ago. At best, they were on par with the steam engines of the British Empire – and those were exported from the British Empire to Guangzhou.
However, as time progressed, the steam engines of the Great Ming Empire had far surpassed those of the British Empire. The "most advanced steam engine in all of Europe" that he had brought from the British Empire seemed like a joke in the Great Ming.
The reason was simple: the Emperor of the Great Ming had invested relentlessly, both in cutting-edge steam engine research and development and in basic education.
From this aspect alone, Europe was far inferior to the Great Ming Empire.
As for the current Great Ming Empire not having yet achieved complete unification, with Dogangsi, Wusizang, Zhili, and Liaodong still in the hands of the Great Qing… Sir Howard might not understand this matter, but Macartney saw it clearly.
Was this not exactly the kind of approach the British Empire excelled at?
The difference was that the British Empire only applied this approach to smaller countries, such as between Burma and the Arakanese Dynasty – instigating the Arakanese Dynasty to clash fiercely with Burma, and then, when the time was right, the British Empire would seize the opportunity to eliminate Burma.
The Great Ming Empire's approach, however, was to drive the Great Qing Empire to take action against Gorkha and even Tsarist Russia.
The thought of this approach made Macartney puff on his pipe even more frequently.
"If possible, the British Empire should form an alliance with the Great Ming Empire. In this regard, I must admit that Sir Howard is a complete idiot. He is not even as clever as those French frogs – Pierre has already facilitated an alliance between France and the Great Ming Empire, but what about our British Empire?"
"If possible, the British Empire should send students to study in the Great Ming Empire, and His Majesty the King of the British Empire should learn from His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming, increasing investment in education and research."
"I must admit that the Emperor of the Great Ming is a highly distinguished monarch, not only surpassing all European monarchs in foresight but also possessing virtues and qualities that European monarchs lack."
"As the Great Ming Emperor said, a hundred-year plan starts with education. The monarchs of Europe have always only considered the present and never thought as long-term as the Great Ming Emperor."
"Perhaps, I should think about how to get the British Empire to form an alliance with the Great Ming Empire."
After casually writing a passage in his diary, Macartney put down his pen and sent someone to contact the Court of State Ceremonial, requesting a meeting with Zeng Cheng.
"Mr. Zeng, I believe we should sit down and calmly discuss the world situation."
Upon meeting Zeng Cheng, Macartney directly stated his views: "As shown on the world map I previously presented to your Emperor, there are now one to two hundred large and small countries in the world, with frequent wars and conflicts. This is simply terrible, as terrible as the apple bread baked by Aunt Mary."
Zeng Cheng looked at Macartney, utterly bewildered.
Firstly, when had he not been calm? Had he threatened or cursed Macartney?
Secondly, who was Aunt Mary? How could this person bake two completely unrelated things like apples and bread together?
Thirdly, was it not a good thing that those chaotic countries were willing to fight? If they weren't fighting, who would buy the surplus cannons, flintlock muskets, and hand grenades that the Great Ming army had phased out?
In summary, what exactly was this fellow trying to say?
Macartney continued, "I believe we should unite."
Zeng Cheng nodded with a smile and said, "I am all ears."
Macartney said, "For example, the Great Ming Empire and the British Empire could unite to establish an organization, requiring all countries in the world to join this organization."
"For example, if two countries in the world have a conflict, this organization would mediate. If any country disobeys, this organization would have the right to dispatch troops to teach them a lesson."
"Everything would be based on the interests of the Great Ming Empire and the British Empire."
Zeng Cheng maintained his smile, but inwardly he was somewhat confused.
Just as His Majesty the Emperor had said, seeing the essence through the phenomena – the organization Macartney spoke of was essentially the international relationship network constructed by the tribute system. In essence, this approach was merely a rebranding of the tribute system and its promotion to the entire world.
The Central Plains hall had been playing this game for thousands of years. Did they still need Macartney to tell them about it?
However, Macartney, unaware that Zeng Cheng was mentally complaining, became more excited as he spoke: "Yes, such an organization should be created. Within this organization, the Great Ming Empire and the British Empire would become the two poles of the world, and other countries would only need to obey. Wars in the world would be greatly reduced because of this organization, and the Great Ming Empire and the British Empire would also gain many benefits that were previously difficult to obtain."
Zeng Cheng couldn't help but interrupt Macartney: "My apologies, Mr. Macartney, the organization you mentioned is called the tribute system in the Great Ming. If you are interested, you can learn more about it."
"In fact, for thousands of years, the various tributary states in the Central Plains have lived peacefully under the management of the tribute system."
"As for the Great Ming and the British Empire becoming the two poles of this organization and obtaining many previously difficult-to-obtain benefits, forgive me for saying, but all of this still depends on the strength of the Great Ming and the British Empire."
"As His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming said, what cannot be obtained on the battlefield cannot be obtained at the negotiation table. The Great Ming's interests are protected by the Great Ming's nearly one million land troops and three naval fleets."
Zeng Cheng paused slightly, giving Macartney time to digest, and then continued, "Moreover, the Great Ming will dispatch troops to conquer the Tartar Qing, and we have not stopped our advance in Jiaozhi. The organization Mr. Macartney spoke of..."
After Zeng Cheng's words, Macartney couldn't help but feel a sense of exasperation.
The Great Ming would definitely send troops to deal with the Great Qing, and at present, they were merely using the Great Qing to act against Tsarist Russia. If such an organization were to be established, how would the Great Qing be accounted for? And how would the accounts between the Great Ming and the Great Qing be settled?
Relying on this organization to mediate?
Don't be ridiculous. Based on Macartney's analysis of the Great Ming Emperor, as soon as this organization dared to step forward to mediate, the Great Ming Emperor would immediately dismantle it.
If France acknowledged the Far East belonged to the Great Ming and Europe belonged to France, as in the current situation, what would be the difference? Besides, would France be willing?
Thinking of this, Macartney began to ponder again.
Perhaps, they could bring France into this endeavor? Although France was somewhat inferior to the British Empire, France, the perennial second-place contender, had a glorious past and was not weak at present.
As for the centuries-old enmity between England and France... Macartney felt that as long as such an organization could be established and everyone had sufficient interests, centuries or even millennia of hatred would be meaningless.
So, the biggest problem was actually the issue between the Great Ming and the Great Qing?
With this thought, Macartney said, "Just as Louis XVI of France stated in 'Le Moniteur Universel,' the Far East belongs to the Great Ming – the British Empire is absolutely willing to acknowledge the Great Ming's status in the world, and even more willing to acknowledge the Great Ming's interests in the Far East."
"According to the history I understand, the Great Qing Empire was originally a tribe of the Great Ming Empire, and Jiaozhi was also a tributary state of the Great Ming Empire. Therefore, any military actions taken by the Great Ming against the Great Qing or Jiaozhi are the Great Ming Empire's own affairs, and no one in the world has the right to interfere – if the Great Qing can conquer Tsarist Russia, then naturally, Tsarist Russia will also belong to the Great Ming."
Seeing that Zeng Cheng seemed somewhat moved, Macartney began to add more chips: "According to the history I understand, the Great Ming Empire previously had names like the Han Empire and the Tang Empire."
Zeng Cheng looked at Macartney with surprise, then nodded: "Indeed, whether it was the Han or the Tang, they are part of China's history, and the Great Ming is no different."
Macartney said, "Then, the British Empire is willing to recognize the Western Regions and the Anxi Protectorate – if the Great Ming Empire is willing, the British Empire is willing to cede the northern regions of India. In return, the Great Ming Empire should also recognize the British Empire's status in the world, and the British Empire's interests in South India."
Zeng Cheng finally lost the smile he had maintained, and instead, looked at Macartney with a bewildered expression: "Mr. Macartney, do you know what you are saying? You are ceding territory in India belonging to your country?"
Macartney nodded, but inwardly he cursed – did he think he was stupid? If it weren't for the Great Ming Empire being so overwhelmingly powerful now, would he be willing to cede British interests in India? If the Great Ming Empire was willing to declare abandonment of the Western Regions, would he still say this?
Unlike Sir Howard, Macartney was a genuine sinologist who had dreamed of coming to the Central Plains hall since childhood. Therefore, Macartney was well aware of the Protectorate of the Western Regions in Chinese history and the four words that the Central Plains hall favored most.
Since ancient times.
For these four words, the founding emperor of the Great Ming was even willing to grudgingly acknowledge the Yuan Dynasty as a legitimate dynasty of the Central Plains hall.
Therefore, Macartney was willing to proactively cede a portion of India to silence the Great Ming Empire, not only to protect the British Empire's interests in South India but also to prevent the Great Ming Emperor from having a whim one day and declaring that the Danube River also belonged to the Great Ming Empire since ancient times.
Macartney explained: "This is not a cession, but rather the British Empire is willing to acknowledge the Great Ming Empire's interests in the Far East – this is something France could never achieve."
Zeng Cheng continued to be bewildered – this English barbarian was quite adept at playing games!