Su Ran remained composed in the face of the unreasonable diplomatic notes from the Anglo-French powers; he did not panic. He knew full well that although Great Qing had achieved a military victory, it remained at a disadvantage on the international stage, facing immense pressure. If handled improperly, a new war could easily be triggered, causing the achievements of the New Policies to be destroyed in an instant. It was like walking along a road filled with thorns—every step had to be taken with the utmost care.
Su Ran promptly summoned his team of diplomatic advisors to discuss a course of action. The atmosphere in the palace was grave. Su Ran looked at everyone with a steady gaze and said slowly, "Gentlemen, the Anglo-French powers are attempting to force our hand through diplomatic means. We must devise a foolproof plan—one that prevents them from succeeding while avoiding another war. The future of Great Qing rests upon our decisions at this very moment."
A senior Minister of Foreign Affairs stepped forward. With a solemn expression and a bow, he said, "Your Majesty, the so-called 'international rules' invoked by the Anglo-French powers are nothing more than shackles forged to protect their own interests. We need not fully heed them. However, a blunt refusal might provoke them into a more intense conflict. I believe we should adopt a delaying tactic, engaging them in multiple rounds of negotiations. We can argue our case logically and use clever rhetoric and reasonable …
Chapter 16