O Açoriano Oriental Front Page of the special ‘China Edition’ 29th of May 1743
“The Dragon Speaks” A interview with Prime Minister of the Right Zuko
By Filipe Peazê*
I met the Prime Minister of the Right Zuko outside the great pink walls of the Meridian gate in Beijing, he leaving with his retainers from one of the side arches. The central is reserved for the emperor and other special events, or so I am informed. He was of middling height and dressed in the black robe of all Chinese functionaries with but a square on the front with a picture of a waterfall and a tiger showing his mighty position carrying day to day affairs of the Empire. We and his retainers proceeded through the city some distance; it was evident that there were many things he wished to point out to me; new developments and the like. I have often be complimented on my skill with the Chinese tongues, but I warn there may be subtleties of phrase or gesture, particularly of a important official that I may not be faithfully transcribing here.
FP: I believe this is the first ‘interview’ with a western newspaper such a highly placed person such as yourself has agreed to Your Eminence. I very thankful that you selected my newspaper for such a prestigious honour as this; but I am curious as to know why the Qing Hierarchy decided to favour us so, changing from their past positions on the subject?
PMZ: Various high ranking members of the Qing Hierarchy are under the belief that the past misunderstandings between Western Powers and China have been due to the lack of understanding for the opposite number during tense negotiations and situations. In a worthy effort, we decided two years ago to send numerous young Chinese students to Europe for education to broaden our perspective upon Europe. However, as Portugal and France both major powers are Parliamentary Monarchies it was decided that we needed a vein to communicate with the people of those nations and spread knowledge about china and not myths to the people and not just to the people of higher income strata.
FP: A commendable move on your part of course. Well first off on that note; for my European readers could you summarize the various developments and evolution of your government and nation over the last five years or so?
PMZ: Of course it would be a pleasure, the Empire has begun a massive program to encourage the construction of factories and railroads to improve the industrial capacity of China as well as offering many young Chinese a better future then simply farming in the countryside and instead moving to the cities to find work In addition, the Empire has overhauled the taxation system to be based upon income instead of a flat rate. Another important note is that we have completely changed the outlay of our top officials bringing in new opinions in the form of younger officials and encouraging elderly statesmen, such as my counterpart the Prime Minister of the Left who turned 90, to retire and allow younger officials to take their place.
FP: Indeed; a man of ninety should be playing with his great-grandchildren not enduring the rigours of office! What were those fine divisions of horsemen with the striking uniforms that were parading in the square called? I understand that you have been engaging the French and Spanish governments for army officers to train your new military forces.
PMZ: Indeed, Qing China has had the splendid opportunity to have her armed forces trained by the two finest armies in the World and we are eternally grateful towards the French and Spanish Governments for aiding China's military modernize. I am of course obligated to tell you that the officers in China are all volunteers perhaps helped in their decision by a large monthly salary paid by the Chinese government in addition to their salary from the military.
FP: Does this introduction of the superior European techniques not meet with disgruntlement form your ‘old guard’ of soldier, especially with such high rates of pay? I speak from my own experiences in Indonesia as part of the officer core tasked with training native levies.
PMZ: The introduction of European techniques does not meet with disgruntlement from all but our most senior officers. The majority of our senior officers fought in the Baikal War on the frontlines as foot soldiers or junior officers and having met the Russian Army face to face they have admit that the Empire's existing military techniques are incapable of standing toe to toe with Europe. And for the rates of pay it is once more perhaps a misunderstanding, to be an officer in the Emperor's Army is the greatest honour and privilege and many of our officers are quite sympathetic to the few European Officers who are motivated by their desire of material goods.
FP: Have you engaged in any other reforms which have met with resistance?
PMZ: The Qing Empire has not enacted any reforms that have met with resistance.
FP: An interesting statement to be sure; where do you see the Chinese nation going with all this modernization in the future? Are further expansionist plans afoot?
PMZ: Perhaps in the time of my grandchildren we will see the Chinese People enjoy a standard of living equal to France, Spain or Portugal and that is the goal of the Qianlong Emperor to better the lives of our people which I would say is a worthy goal. The Emperor having served a brief sojourn as a soldier has no desire what so ever for expanding the Empire beyond our already existing orders. That said, the Empire will defend herself in the event she is violated by foreign nations.
FP: Will you be increasing trade with Europeans as well as all these west-copying reforms? Will you be ending the old practice of only excepting precious metals in exchange for Chinese goods; surely you can see the disadvantages of such a policy?
PMZ: The policies of accepting only precious metals in exchange for metal goods is not in hands of the Empire but in the hands of private merchants however since the Qianlong Emperor's enthronement we have pressured successfully for several large shipping clans to drop it instead opting for machinery parts as well as other goods not native to Qing China and we continue to do so.
FP: I congratulate you on such foresight. Well now on to foreign policy considerations, would you care to tell me about your governments and of course your own opinions on each of the ‘Atlantic Three’ as we sometimes call Portugal, Spain and France back in the west?
PMZ: The Empire's position is that we are friendly and cordial to all nations unless they intentionally provoke us - with the "Atlantic Three" being no exception. We extend the hand of friendship and cooperation to all nations despite any problems between us. However many officials have expressed outrage that Portugal has continued to hold sovereignty over Macau in direct violation of the past Dynasty's agreement with Portugal though the Empire has no desire to press the issue with military force.
FP: About that specific question of Macau - what is the problem with the Portuguese control - they settled the empty land and dredged it from the sea. Is not the land itself insignificant in comparison to the vast monies the Portuguese traders are bringing in for the Qing? Trade that might very well be lost if the Portuguese freedoms and warehouses are restricted? The Portuguese are surely not going to use their base against Chinese interests unless threatened - that just wouldn't be good commercial sense.
PMZ: The question of Macau isn't exactly simple to understand and many officials are confused by the exact wording of the agreement with Portugal though I shall endeavour to explain. While the land itself is insignificant compared to the trade Portugal brings to China the issue isn't merely one of "ownership" in the term that many Europeans are used to. An example is Ningunta where many Russian shipping companies operate out of with equal freedom and with just as expansive warehouses and port facilities as the Portuguese posses in Macau however they recognize that the land is China's and that they have only been granted permission to use the land. The Portuguese position on Macau is that the land belongs to Portugal, not China and that is where the main friction occurs. Portuguese companies will be allowed to do the same as they have under Portugal as long as the Portuguese Government understands that the land is not owned by Portugal but instead land lent to Portugal as a place for her people to do business and trade.
FP: Onto your other neighbours now – what of Russia? After the victory in the Baikal war many expected long standing enmity between your nations but apparently you are getting along very well, even leasing one of your ports to the Russian fleet.
PMZ: Despite our differences and conflict shown in the Baikal War both sides have recognized that it was not in our mutual interests to maintain costly and expensive defences along our long border and spark another potential conflict. It can be summed up in a simple maxim, ‘you don't mess with me and I won't mess with you’. As I said before, China only desires the best of relations with her neighbours and since an port not blocked by ice during the Winter was one of Russia's primary objective during the Baikal War the Empire sought to sever such a desire and allowed the Russians to use a port for their trading and other naval purposes.
FP: Hmm…Finally onto your neighbours of Japan, what little foreign traders they allow report an increase of anti-china sentiment. We Europeans don’t really understand be basis behind this – do you understand the reasoning?
PMZ: Unfortunately I understand that for most of Japan's history unlike the rest of East Asia she has had a militaristic history with much of the country in the hands of regional warlords instead of a central power. The Japanese people are then often aggressive and see war as many in Europe see polo. It is an admirable trait in an admirable people alas in a misplaced situation. The Qing Government has been doing everything in her power to pursue good relations with Japan as a war would be mutually harmful to our respective nations
FP: And so peace and stability in the Far East is well assured?
PMZ: Of course, barring a massive diplomatic crisis of course. Or perhaps a comet seen in the skies (The Prime minster let loose a small chucle at the thought - the first sign of humour I had seen in the man)
FP: On behalf of the many commercial interests that will be reading this I must say I’m glad to hear it.
PMZ: It was my pleasure to reassure the business interests of Europe.
FP: Well thank you very much for answering my questions, a copy of the interview will be winging its way to our parent company back in Portugal on the next sloop out of Macau, and will be coursing about the arteries of Europe within the four months - where I am sure many interested parties of note will read it.
PMZ: Yes, the Empire sincerely hopes that the peace can be maintained in Europe and the rest of the world and that the War in the Middle East quickly ends
People are begging for dis to interview them while he reaps the benefits... Fascinating 
