Far to the south, a fleet of foreign warships now waited in the Pearl River.
And their envoy was asking for sothing no Western ruler had ever been granted.
An audience with the Emperor of China.
The hall remained silent after the ssenger finished speaking.
The ministers stood in their places beneath the high red pillars of the court, their faces controlled, but the tension in the room had changed. Foreign rchants in Canton were an old matter. British opium smugglers were a serious matter. But this was sothing else.
A foreign ruler had not simply sent ships.
He had sent a fleet.
And not rely to trade.
The Emperor sat motionless on the Dragon Throne, one hand resting lightly on the carved armrest. His expression revealed little, but his eyes moved across the officials gathered before him.
One of the senior ministers stepped forward first.
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing deeply, "this matter must be treated with caution."
The Emperor did not respond imdiately.
The minister continued.
"The British ca years ago with demands of their own. They sought direct relations with the throne and were refused. The proper order of the world was maintained."
Another official from the Board of Rites stepped forward beside him.
"That remains the correct course, Your Majesty. Foreign rchants may trade through Canton according to the laws of the Empire. They do not request etings with the Son of Heaven as equals."
Several other ministers nodded quietly.
One of the military officials spoke next.
"But the fleet changes the nature of the matter."
The Emperor looked toward him.
The man bowed before continuing.
"If the report is accurate, these French ships are unlike the ordinary Western rchant vessels that co and go each year. They are ard. They arrived in formation. That is not the conduct of rchants."
The ssenger was still kneeling near the center of the hall. Dust from the southern roads still clung to his robes.
The Emperor turned his gaze toward him.
"The Viceroy described the lead ship as larger than anything previously seen?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And made of iron?"
"That is what the report says, Your Majesty."
A low murmur passed through the court.
One of the older ministers frowned.
"Iron ships," he said quietly. "That sounds exaggerated."
Another minister answered from the opposite line.
"The Viceroy would not risk sending false alarm to the throne."
The Emperor remained silent.
Then he spoke.
"How many ships?"
The ssenger bowed his head lower.
"The report says several heavy warships, Your Majesty, along with supporting vessels. The exact number was not yet confird at the ti of dispatch."
One of the Board of War officials stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, regardless of the exact number, the intention is already clear."
The Emperor raised his eyes slightly.
"Clear?"
The official bowed.
"No foreign power sends a battle fleet into the Pearl River rely to deliver greetings."
That caused several of the ministers to exchange glances.
Another civil official stepped forward, his robe marked with the insignia of high rank.
"Your Majesty, perhaps this is how these Westerners conduct diplomacy among themselves. They co with force first, then speak afterward."
"That is precisely why they must be refused," another minister said at once.
The Emperor’s hand lifted slightly, and the room fell silent again.
He looked toward the minister of rites.
"What does custom require?"
The minister bowed deeply.
"According to the order of the Empire, foreign states may present tribute through authorized channels. Matters of trade are confined to Canton. Matters of imperial audience are not granted on foreign demand."
"And if the envoy insists?"
The minister lowered his head further.
"Then he must still be refused, Your Majesty."
The Emperor leaned back slightly against the throne.
"The British insisted before."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And they were denied."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
One of the military ministers stepped forward again.
"The difference, Your Majesty, is that the British envoy did not arrive at the gates of the Empire with a fleet of iron warships."
That line settled heavily in the hall.
The Emperor said nothing for a mont.
Then he looked at the ssenger once more.
"What else did the Viceroy report?"
The ssenger swallowed before answering.
"He reports that the French envoy claims to carry a formal ssage from the ruler of France. He requests that it be delivered directly to Your Majesty."
A minister from the left side of the hall spoke in a careful tone.
"Their ruler seeks to raise himself to the level of the Son of Heaven."
"That cannot be allowed," another replied.
A third added, "If one foreign king is received in such a way, then others will make the sa demand."
The Emperor listened to them all.
He had heard enough now to understand the shape of the problem.
To refuse the envoy was the natural decision of the Empire.
But to refuse a fleet without asuring its purpose or its strength was sothing else.
He turned toward the Board of War.
"What forces are in the south?"
The minister bowed.
"Local garrisons, river patrols, coastal artillery, Your Majesty."
The Emperor’s expression did not change.
"Enough?"
The minister hesitated for only a mont.
"Enough to maintain order in the province, Your Majesty."
That answer was careful enough that several other officials noticed it.
The Emperor noticed it too.
He turned his gaze toward another military official.
"And against a foreign battle fleet?"
The man lowered his head.
"The matter is uncertain, Your Majesty. We do not yet know the strength of these ships."
That honesty seed to narrow the room.
The civil ministers did not like uncertainty. The military ministers did not like foreign fleets. The Board of Rites did not like the idea of foreign kings demanding equality. Every part of the court now had reason for concern.
The Emperor finally spoke again.
"The envoy will not be permitted to travel north at his own demand."
A wave of relief passed quietly through several ministers.
"The capital is not opened because a foreign ruler desires it."
The Board of Rites minister bowed deeply.
"Wise and correct, Your Majesty."
The Emperor continued.
"But the matter will not be treated lightly."
That caught the attention of the entire hall.
He looked toward the ssenger.
"The Viceroy is to keep the foreigners in Canton."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"They are not to proceed beyond the limits assigned to foreign rchants."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"They may present their ssage through the Viceroy and the proper officials."
The ssenger bowed again.
"It will be done, Your Majesty."
One of the ministers stepped forward.
"And if the envoy refuses?"
The Emperor’s gaze shifted toward him.
"Then the Viceroy will continue to delay him."
The minister bowed.
"As with the British?"
"Yes," the Emperor said. "As with the British."
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