Slaying the Qing: My Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Kingdom has achieved a major victory on the battlefield against the Tartars, not only annihilating more than 200,000 of the Tartars' main force, but also occupying a large area of ​​territory, further expanding the Heavenly Kingdom's territory."

Through land redistribution and propaganda, they won the support of the general public.

This not only further solidified the foundation of the Heavenly Kingdom, but also weakened the strength of the Tartars.

The balance of power between us and the Tartars has changed dramatically. In particular, our military advantage is now very clear.

I firmly believe that we will definitely defeat the Tartars in this war!

Hong Jen-kan, the Prime Minister of Taiwan, looked resolute and confident.

"Prime Minister, I also believe that we can defeat the Tartars. Due to the limited production capacity of the arsenal, we are currently unable to equip all our troops with new muskets and artillery."

However, by the end of this year, all major field corps will have units that have completed their re-equipment. By next year, the production capacity of our arsenals will be further expanded.

"Then it will be time for us to engage in a large-scale decisive battle with the Tartars!"

Hong Tian said.

In Hong Tian's plan, 1857 would be a crucial period for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to recuperate, expand its army, and prepare for war.

Next year, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will launch a large-scale attack on the Tartars, conquering more provinces and occupying more territory.

While continuously strengthening the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it further weakened the strength of the Manchus, thereby fundamentally reversing the balance of power between the two sides, enabling the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to defeat the Manchus in one fell swoop and overthrow their rule.

"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Kingdom has distributed land to the poor through agricultural reforms. At the same time, it has increased its propaganda efforts. This will undoubtedly help the Heavenly Kingdom win the hearts and minds of the most impoverished people. However, this alone is certainly not enough."

The Kingdom of Heaven must now vigorously develop industry and transportation.

In the past few months, Rongda has been promoting relevant industrial and transportation construction.

We hope His Majesty can provide more support.

Hong Rengan said.

Hong Tian has a more immediate understanding of this.

The main reason why Western powers have been able to dominate the world in the present era is that they have completed the Industrial Revolution and possess strong industrial capabilities.

A poor and backward agricultural country can never become a world-class power.

If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom wanted to truly become powerful and a world-class nation, then developing industry was inevitable.

"The military threats facing the Heavenly Kingdom are no longer as great as before. The Heavenly Kingdom will now enter a period of recuperation and development. It does indeed need to increase its support for industry," Hong Tian said.

"Alright then, I will have a proper talk with Rong Hong next!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Hong Rengan nodded.

The next day, Hong Tian summoned Yung Wing, the Minister of Industry and Transportation.

During this meeting, Hong Tian reiterated his determination to support the Heavenly Kingdom's vigorous development of industry.

At the same time, it was suggested that Yung Wing first establish an industrial zone outside Tianjing City.

An industrial zone can encompass a range of factories, such as machinery manufacturing plants, shipyards, and so on.

With the increased mining activity at the copper mines in Tonglin, the Ministry of Industry and Transportation could establish a non-ferrous metal smelter there.

As for Daye, it is entirely possible to build a large steel plant, along with supporting non-ferrous metal smelting plants, etc.

In addition to industrial construction, transportation infrastructure will follow.

Hong Tian suggested that a railway could be built first, connecting Tianjing City to Songjiang Prefecture.

Once this railway is completed, let everyone see its function and effectiveness. Then, promote it on a large scale throughout the Kingdom of Heaven and begin building a comprehensive railway network.

Before that, the Ministry of Industry and Transportation can focus on building highways.

Cement, a building material, was invented decades ago. It just didn't reach the East.

Hong Tian also knew the cement formula and firing method.

Hong Tian told Rong Hong about this method and asked him to set up a cement plant.

Once the cement plant is in operation, cement will be used to build roads.

This is undoubtedly a huge improvement over the current dirt roads and stone-paved roads.

Wide cement roads not only improve transportation capacity, but are also more durable.

It can greatly promote both economic development and military affairs.

While the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was vigorously carrying out agricultural reforms to win over the hearts and minds of the people, the Manchus were gripped by fear.

The high-ranking officials, landlords, and gentry of the Manchus were well aware that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was completely uprooting them!

Once these peasants rebel, their rule will inevitably collapse.

It can be said that this move by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has placed the entire Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in opposition to the current ruling class.

For their own benefit, they would naturally do everything in their power to stop the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Many landlords and wealthy merchants contributed money and effort to help the Manchus build an army and suppress the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The officials, too, were putting in their best effort. They weren't just using the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion as an opportunity to gain merit, but also fighting for their own interests.

The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was now facing not only the Tartars, but also officials, landlords, and wealthy merchants from all over the country, as well as the educated class.

This will inevitably make the war that follows even more brutal.

It will be much more difficult for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to win the war.

At the end of May 1857, General Li Xiucheng, commander of the Eastern Expeditionary Army, reported that the 2nd Infantry Division of the Eastern Expeditionary Army had completed its reorganization and had barely formed combat capability.

"Your Majesty, the 2nd Infantry Division of the Eastern Expeditionary Army is ready for combat. In addition, the 3rd Army has begun to be formed. We can launch an attack on Songjiang Prefecture," General Li Xiucheng suggested.

After the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom occupied Suzhou Prefecture, only Songjiang Prefecture in the entire southern Jiangsu region remained under the control of the Manchus.

However, because foreigners had significant interests in Songjiang Prefecture, they did not want the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to control it.

As a result, the foreigners even threatened the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Hong Tian was simply not intimidated by the foreigners.

Previously, the main forces of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom were fighting against the Tartars on other battlefields, and not many troops could be deployed to Songjiang Prefecture.

Now, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has defeated the Manchus' offensives on other battlefields. At the same time, a large number of troops have been reorganized and formed combat capabilities.

Therefore, the time was ripe for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to launch an attack on Songjiang Prefecture.

"Now that the Eastern Expeditionary Army is ready, let's launch an attack on Songjiang Prefecture as soon as possible." Hong Tian supported this suggestion.

Hong Tian believed that the armies of the British and the Gauls would arrive in the East in six months.

Before that, it would have been entirely possible for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to first capture Songjiang Prefecture and reclaim the concessions held by the British and the Gauls.

Even if it would severely offend the British and the Gauls, and even trigger a war.

But the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of today is not the same as it was before.

Unless the British and the Gauls exerted all their strength, they simply could not defeat the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The longer the conflict dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The British and the Gauls were ultimately too far removed from the Far East. Their military power was difficult to project into the region.

In contrast, as the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's various armies completed their reorganization and formed combat capabilities, its advantages naturally became increasingly apparent.

"Your Majesty, we can no longer let those foreigners run rampant. For the past few months, they have been building up an army in Songjiang Prefecture. The British and the Gauls have hired a foreigner named Ward to establish a force called the Foreign Rifle Corps. Currently, this Foreign Rifle Corps has more than two thousand men."

The core of the foreign-trained force consisted of over nine hundred foreigners. In addition, there were over a thousand mercenaries from the Luzon Islands.

It is said that they plan to recruit Han Chinese to join them with high military pay.

If the enemy's plan succeeds, it will inevitably lead to a further expansion of the foreign gun team.

This would also pose a huge threat to the Kingdom of Heaven!

Intelligence Minister Zhou Yufeng reported.