War is a continuation of politics, and politics is the choice of economic interests. Only at this moment did Fisher truly understand the root cause of the outbreak of this war.
In the final analysis, it is a tripartite cooperation to do business. The British side feels that it has suffered a loss, and it has suffered a huge loss, but this kind of loss cannot be resolved through normal negotiations.
The industrialization of the Qing Empire was a huge cake, which could release a very large market and allow countless capitalists to make money. However, the Qing Empire was too far away from Britain and beyond its reach!
In addition, during the first industrial revolution, the British model has always been to place its production base in Europe, while the colonies were only responsible for raw materials and dumping markets.
This model can indeed ensure that the local manufacturing industry flourishes, and many technologies will not be leaked out! In other words, you can firmly control productivity in your own hands.
However, this model also has a drawback, which is that transportation costs are high, and a powerful navy is required for global protection.
It takes two or three months for goods to be transported from the UK to Asia. The long sea transportation in between is full of risks. Not to mention pirates and hostile countries, those storms are extremely dangerous.
All this increases the cost of British goods and reduces the competitiveness of British goods!
It would not matter if the world never changed and remained in the British heyday at the end of the seventeenth century, the eighteenth century, or even the early nineteenth century.
Anyway, Britain is the first country to complete the industrial revolution. Their products have no competitors in the world. Even if the price is higher, they are still competitive.
But now it is the end of the 19th century. European countries have emerged one after another and completed the first industrial revolution. New technologies have even pushed countries such as Germany to explore unknown scientific fields.
The world has undergone tremendous changes. British products have encountered many competitors, and business has become increasingly difficult!
But European opponents are easier to deal with. After all, everyone sells goods from Europe to the world, and everyone has the same logistics pressure.
However, the sudden rise of the Chinese people stunned the UK. This was the first non-European and American country in the world to complete industrialization. Their production base is in Asia, and they firmly control the Asian market. No one in Europe can compete with them.
The Chinese people are crossing the river by touching the butt of the British Empire. With the development of science and technology, the productivity has increased at an alarming rate. It only takes more than ten years to go from scratch to perfection!
With the same quality, who do you think Asian customers will buy? The shipping costs for Chinese products are low, and the quotations are very favorable. In addition, they are from the same ethnic group, so Asian customers will naturally choose Chinese products!
Many British businessmen have been forced to transform. They have begun to invest in Chinese companies and take certain shares to make money together. Many businessmen have abandoned the old ways of doing business in the past.
Are there any people today traveling all the way from Europe to Asia with goods that the Chinese can produce? This kind of person must be a fool!
British capitalists in light industrial products chose to form a joint venture with Chinese businessmen. It’s okay to make money together. Let’s all make a fortune together!
But when it comes to heavy industry, Britain really can't swallow this breath!
Because in this era, heavy industry is the aristocrat of all industries, the jewel in the crown, and the most profitable industry! It can be compared with the cutting-edge industries such as chips, biopharmaceuticals, Internet, aerospace, etc. in the 21st century.
In this comparison, the huge profits of heavy industry, especially steel and military industries, at the end of the 19th century can be seen!
The railway and industrial zone investment plans signed by the Qing Dynasty, Britain and the Chinese resulted in the Chinese taking advantage of the right time, place and people. It can be said that they took advantage of everything.
There is nothing we can do about this. Who allowed the Chinese industrial base to be established on the land of the Qing Dynasty? Railroad tracks, locomotives, carriages, steel structure bridges... If we don’t use Chinese products for these products, who should we use?
Do you transport goods from the UK to the Qing Dynasty? How much does that cost?
For third-party investment, the British pay for it, while the Chinese can make money in the early stage of investment, and continue to make money after the investment is completed. Project payments can be profitable, and dividends can be shared after the turnaround project starts to make profits.
All the benefits have been taken by the Chinese, and the British heavy industry has become a red-eyed rabbit!
Some people may say that if you think it’s inappropriate for the UK, you should go to Asia to invest in a steel plant. Aren’t you rich?
It's a pity that heavy industry is different from light industry. The investment cycle of this thing is too long. By the time the British steel plants produce steel, it is estimated that the Beijing-Hankow Railway will be completed soon!
Another important reason is that the British are used to being robbers. Whoever can rob is willing to build their own! In addition, Prince Gong secretly colluded internally, and a conspiracy to seize property broke out.
Prince Gong's rebellion is actually just a facade. Behind the scenes, the British are flipping the table and engaging in conspiracy. It can even be more detailed. It is the capital representatives of the heavy industry in the UK who are causing trouble.
In the final analysis, we still have to occupy the Chinese industry without capital. When their trees bear fruit, the British come down to pick it!
There was a small single room on the top floor of the Admiralty. Fisher was going to take a temporary rest here. It was already bright outside the window, and the busy London once again showed the charm of a world-class metropolis.
The streets were bustling with people, enjoying the glory of the empire on which the sun never sets. Police sirens were blowing in the distance, police carriages were passing through the streets, and people were trying to avoid them.
Fisher knew that this was Benjamin's order to close down all Chinese newspapers and periodicals. Fisher was not afraid of the Chinese public opinion's counterattack this time. On the contrary, Fisher believed that this was a sign of the Chinese people's incompetence.
The Chinese are already scared and cowardly, so they use this unsavory method to attack the British Empire, which is essentially a woman scolding the streets.
Fisher decided to intensify the crackdown. This time, he would wipe out all the Chinese influence in Europe, leaving no one behind!
"God bless the British Empire... Maybe I really think too much and have a bit of a neurasthenia... Why am I always worried about a small Chinese?"
"The Royal Navy will not lose!" Fisher raised his head and drank a glass of nightcap, then lay on the bed with his head covered, and soon fell into a dream.
And his close confidant, Staff Officer George, also left the Navy Department early to bring this top-secret news back to the family!
Facts have proved that there are no secrets that can be kept in the world. Inside the circle and outside the circle are two different worlds. Ordinary people outside the circle may not know much of the truth in their lifetime.
But one party within the community of interests will share resources as quickly as possible!
At this moment, countless British capital tycoons opened their mouths, and the news that Benjamin 'inadvertently' spread hit them like a stimulant.
"Get rid of the Chinese...split their industries...let our British Empire completely occupy the Asian market!"
"God forbid the sun never sets!"
