Amidst this prolonged and grueling stalemate, the dawn finally broke, with light piercing through the heavy clouds as a turning point emerged.
**Trade: Breaking the Ice and Making Breakthroughs**
In the realm of trade, Great Qing’s manufacturing advantages, accumulated through its deep foundation, combined with its vast and vibrant market potential, acted like a powerful magnet, drawing in nations that had previously wavered in their trade stances. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, these countries clearly realized that the long-term, immense benefits of trade cooperation with Great Qing far outweighed the short-term, meager gains of blindly following the protectionist camp. Consequently, they cast aside their prejudices, actively extended the olive branch to Great Qing, and eagerly expressed a strong desire to strengthen trade ties.
Chapter 187