Faced with the threatening note from Bruce, Su Ran appeared outwardly calm, but his heart churned like a stormy sea. He knew that any sign of retreat now would render the New Policies futile, leaving the Great Qing to sink forever with no hope of resurgence. After careful deliberation, his gaze hardened. He decided to stall the foreigners while exposing the collusion between the conservative faction and them, skillfully steering the situation toward a path favorable to the New Policies.
Su Ran summoned the court ministers. The atmosphere in the imperial hall was so heavy it felt as if it could be wrung out. In front of everyone, he slowly unfolded Bruce's note and read it aloud in a resonant voice. The ministers erupted into an uproar. Some stared in wide-eyed disbelief, while others whispered to one another, their faces pale with panic. The hall became a cacophony, like a pot of boiling water.
Scanning the crowd with a frost-cold expression, Su Ran said slowly, "My lords, the foreigners attempt to force Us to abandon the New Policies by threatening to cut off technical aid and trade. Their intentions are treacherous! But We shall not let them succeed. However, We are curious why the foreigners are so anxious to stop the transformation of Our Great Qing. Is there some hidden secret behind this?"
Su Ran's words were like a bombshell, stirring waves in the hearts of the ministers. Their arguments grew more intense, and various speculations spread through the crowd. Su Ran signaled secretly, and Public Eunuch Li, instantly understanding the intent, led a squad of guards out of the hall with quick, disciplined steps.
Before long, Public Eunuch Li returned with several men bound in ropes. The crowd gasped to see that they were none other than high-minded officials of the conservative faction. Now, their heads hung low, their faces masks of terror and regret; their former arrogance had vanished entirely. Su Ran looked at them and thundered, "You are remarkably bold! For your own selfish gain, you dared to collude with the foreigners and plot to sabotage the New Policies of the Great Qing. Guards! Throw them into the dungeon and await further judgment!"
Seeing this, the ministers fell to their knees with a thud, hailing the Emperor's wisdom. Su Ran’s move, swift as a blade cutting through tangled hemp, not only dealt a heavy blow to the conservative faction but also made his resolve to push forward the New Policies clear to all. Officials who had previously been wavering now stood firmly by Su Ran's side, their eyes filled with awe and devotion for the Emperor.
Having cleared the internal threat, Su Ran turned his focus to the foreigners. He carefully selected a sharp-witted envoy to negotiate with Bruce. On one hand, he had the envoy play for time with empty promises; on the other, he urgently pressed Li Shanlan and the research institutions to accelerate their independent development.
At the negotiating table, Su Ran's envoy smiled, his eyes sharp with determination as he told Bruce, "Minister, the implementation of the New Policies in the Great Qing is aimed at enriching our nation and strengthening our military, as well as fostering friendly trade with all countries; it is not meant as a threat. If your country's decision to cease technical aid and trade leads to a deterioration of relations, it will benefit neither side. Furthermore, our people are quite fond of your country’s goods. Once trade is severed, the interests of your merchants will also suffer. I hope you will reconsider, Minister."
Bruce frowned, his resolve shaken. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the table, his eyes full of hesitation. He had never truly wanted to walk away from the vast market of the Great Qing, yet he was unwilling to see the nation grow powerful through these reforms. A fierce struggle waged within him.
Just as Bruce hesitated, heartening news arrived from Su Ran’s side. Li Shanlan and his team, having worked day and night without sleep or food, had successfully developed a new type of gunpowder. Upon hearing this, Su Ran immediately invited the ministers of various countries to witness a demonstration.
At the testing ground, the sun beat down on the earth as the foreign ministers gathered, dressed in fine attire, their eyes full of scrutiny and curiosity. Li Shanlan, focused and methodical, prepared for the trial. At the command, the new gunpowder was ignited. A deafening blast shook the air, and the sheer power of the explosion kicked up a violent gust of wind and a cloud of dust. Its potency was on par with anything the foreigners produced, leaving them in awe. Bruce’s face turned from smug to ashen; he bit his lip, his hands clenching into fists as he realized his strategy of intimidation had failed.
After the trial, Su Ran stood tall and spoke confidently to the foreign ministers: "Gentlemen, the New Policies of the Great Qing are not meant to make enemies of other nations, but to facilitate equal exchange and mutual development. If your countries are willing to continue friendly cooperation with us, the Great Qing welcomes it. But if you attempt to use threats to stop our progress, you have miscalculated."
The foreign ministers nodded, expressing their willingness to maintain friendly relations with the Great Qing, and Bruce was forced to abandon his plan to pressure the empire. Through wisdom and daring, Su Ran successfully resolved the internal and external crisis, allowing the New Policies to continue.
However, Su Ran knew this was but a small victory on a long road of reform. More difficulties and challenges lay ahead. The threat of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom still loomed over the Great Qing like a dark cloud, and the path to national strength remained arduous and long. Meanwhile, in the distant West, some nations had keenly sensed the changes in the Great Qing. Some grew wary, convening emergency meetings to discuss uniting other powers to curb the growth of the Great Qing, while others, showing keen interest in the results of the New Policies, began to consider new cooperation. What new trials awaited Su Ran and his New Policies? All was filled with uncertainty and change.