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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 415: Confrontation in Dagu

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    In late July of the Yi Mao year, it was at the mouth of the Hai River, a hundred miles southeast of Tianjin.  It borders the Bohai Sea to the east, the Haihe Plain to the west, and faces Tanggu across the river. It is located at the strategic point of Jiuhe and Tianjin, and has roads connecting seven provinces. It is the mouth of Dagu, known as the gateway to Beijing and Tianjin and the throat of land and sea.  After Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, established his capital in Beijing in the second year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty, he built a city and garrison in Tianjin, and built piers and artillery at the mouth of Dagu.  In the 20th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign in the Qing Dynasty, the governor-general Nar Jing'e was directly under the control of the governor. He built additional forts and artillery positions in the north and south of Dagu, installed more than 30 cannons, and defended the area with more than 2,000 troops.

    The Year of Yi Mao was destined to be a troubled year. When the land of Jiangnan was still mired in the fighting between the Manchus and the Taiping, the murder of French missionaries and the Nissan incident occurred one after another in Guangxi and Guangdong, making the already complicated situation even more unpredictable.  These two incidents directly caused the Qing Dynasty's originally recovering foreign relations to fall into crisis again. The tough attitudes of Britain and France and Ye Mingchen's perfunctory response at the beginning led to the British fleet bombarding Guangzhou City.

    The dark clouds of war enveloped Guangdong. Just as the instigators Xiao Yungui and Hong Yuner were celebrating each other, the Manchu Qing Dynasty's always arrogant and arrogant attitude towards the outside world suddenly changed. Xianfeng issued an order to be presided over by Prince Gong Yi?  Negotiations with Britain and France.

    After re-opening negotiations with Britain and France, the combined fleets of Britain and France withdrew from the siege of Guangzhou and escorted the mission northward, which was also a show of force.  The Qing government appointed Shi Rongchun, a general of the Senggelinqin tribe, as the commander-in-chief of Dagu, stationed a large number of troops in Jingu, supervised the defense, fortified Dagu, built five forts, and a total of 64 cannons to serve as awe-inspiring, town, sea, gate, and  They were arranged in high five-character semicolons, and more than 20,000 troops were stationed to prepare for the establishment of the Dagu Navy, and piles were planted on the bottom of the water to defend against enemy ships.

    On the sea of ??Dagu, a dozen ships of the British and French allied fleets floated quietly on the sea. One of them, a large ship wrapped in iron armor and with a tall chimney standing on the hull, was particularly eye-catching.  This is the flagship "Telia" cruiser of the British Far East Fleet. It is a new ironclad ship that combines steam power and sail power.  Displacing 1,459 tons, the ship was equipped with thirty-eight breech-loading rifled guns and a crew of 136.  In front of the surrounding sail warships, its dark gray huge body looked so dazzling.

    John Bowring, the Minister of the British Empire to China and the third Governor of Hong Kong, stood on the bow of the ship, under the huge flag of the Chinese flag. On his thin face, a pair of deep blue eyes looked at the various buildings in Dagu from a distance.  Fortress, with high eyebrows, wide forehead, blond hair and gray eyes, clean shaven face, wearing a snow-white shirt with a black satin bow tied at his Adam's apple.  Looks very capable.

    Standing straight behind him was a British rear admiral, but it was Feltwood Perot, the admiral of the British squadron. He was in his thirties, of medium build, and his thick sea lion beard was meticulously combed.  Wearing a crisp blue twill navy uniform, a short sword hung on the left side of his belt.  The hilt of the sword is embedded with a green emerald.  The British and French fleets anchored at Dagukou were just a squadron under Grant's command.  Originally, after the war with Russia, the British and French fleets were facing disbandment, but now because they have common enemies and goals, they are forced to reunite.

    Looking at several small sailboats of the Dagu Navy of the Qing Army milling around on the seashore, Pei Luo smiled contemptuously at the corner of his mouth and said with a pure London accent under his thick nasal voice: "Your Majesty the Governor. We are already waiting at sea.  It¡¯s been several days, and I don¡¯t think the yellow-skinned monkeys opposite will give us a satisfactory answer.¡±

    Bao Ling tightened the bow on his collar and said: "My Major General, you still don't know the temper of the Qing people. They always compromise in constant arguments and anger. We are much luckier than Lord Wenhan. Four years ago he also  When we got here, we were finally tricked back to Guangzhou by the arrogant Qing Prime Minister (referring to the then academic scholar Mu Zhang'a), and ended up with nothing. We were lucky that the bombardment of Guangzhou finally made Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, surrender, and the Qing government agreed with us  Go north to negotiate. But this is not enough. We, like the French, hope to visit the capital of this mysterious country." After the British and French envoys and fleets arrived at Dagukou, Britain and France were not satisfied with the Qing Dynasty's proposal to negotiate at Dagukou.  , and proposed to negotiate in the capital, Yi? naturally refused, and the two sides fell into a confrontation again.

    Peluo said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty the Governor, I am skeptical about the credibility of this country that is unfriendly and does not abide by treaties. You must know that the damn city of Guangzhou still refuses to let us enter the city. Our compatriots will not get anything here.  security. So I think only war will teach them how to be friendly and abide by treaties."

    "Major General, do you think it is a good idea to start a war with the Qing people at this time?" Bao Ling and Pei Luo looked back and saw that it was Walter Henry McWatt, the new British consul in Fuzhou. He was in his thirties, blond and blue-eyed.  , with a high nose and deep eyes, a thick beard on his chin, and hawk-like eyes, he looks very smart and capable.  Mai Huatuo had been in China for more than ten years and was proficient in Chinese and China's national conditions, so he came with Bao Ling and served as Bao Ling's deputy negotiator.  At this time, the Taiping Army had already occupied Fuzhou., Xiamen was also in danger. Maihuatuo got along very well with the Taiping Army in Fuzhou. Bao Ling also hoped that someone familiar with the Taiping Army would be around, which would help put pressure on the Manchus.

    Pei Luo¡¯s thick beard trembled slightly and said: ¡°Then when does Mr. Consul think is the appropriate time?¡±

    Mai Huatuo smiled slightly and said: "Your Excellency may have forgotten the adjustment of our China policy. For us, the best situation is that neither the Manchu Qing Dynasty nor the Taiping Army can unify China. Drawing rivers to rule can make us have both sides. Separate and peaceful  If the Manchu and Qing dynasties go to war, the Manchu and Qing dynasties will soon collapse, so that our Christian friends will soon unify China."

    Peluo snorted and said contemptuously: "Even if the Taiping Army can unify China, they can't stop our fleet! Just like the fort on the opposite side, if we send any warship over, we can attack it!"

    Mai Huatuo clapped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the courage of the Major General is indeed second to none among the British Empire's navy. Do you plan to send the Swinji to clear out the Chinese coastal fortresses?" The Swinji is a sailing ship with a displacement of only 300 tons.  The gunboat is the smallest ship in the British and French mixed fleet heading north this time.

    Pei Luo realized that his speech problem was caught by Mai Huatuo, his face turned red, and he said angrily: "Mr. Consul, pay attention to your words."

    Mai Huatuo smiled slyly and said: "I am just reminding you, Major General, that the range of naval artillery is only so small. It cannot cover the entire Chinese continent."

    Seeing Pei Luo, he still wanted to speak.  Bao Ling waved his hand to signal the two to stop arguing. He looked at Mai Huatuo and asked, "My consul, are you sure we can achieve the purpose of our trip without the need for naval cannons?"

    Mai Huatuo nodded slightly and said: "The prompt response to the negotiation requirements this time is something I have never seen in the Qing Dynasty for more than ten years. Compared with the past, even a small matter could make you wait for a month or two months.  It seems that the Qing emperor has come to his senses this time. He no longer avoids us, but is more generous than ever. Although they still refuse us to come to their capital to negotiate and revise the treaty. But I believe that the Qing people are sincere in this negotiation.  . I judge that the Qing people are busy dealing with the Taiping Army's offensive and will not go to war with us now, so they will agree to our request."

    Bao Ling nodded with satisfaction and said: "It is definitely the right choice to let you serve as my deputy envoy. I also want to know if your proposal to the Qing Dynasty to lead troops to Beijing as a guard for the mission was purely out of temptation?"

    Mai Huatuo said with a smile: "The Chinese have a good saying, know yourself and the enemy and you will never be defeated. Testing the reaction of the negotiating opponent is very important and has guiding significance for our next negotiation plan." He then glanced at Pero and said: "  At the same time, I also want to give the Marine Corps officers and soldiers of His Majesty the Major General the opportunity to visit the capital of this mysterious country."

    Peluo's anger has not subsided.  I also heard Mai Huatuo's teasing tone.  He said angrily: "My Marines would rather step on the enemy's corpses to enter their capital for sightseeing!"

    Bao Ling frowned and said: "That's enough, Major General. You should wait until the actual declaration of war. Until the Qing people show no signs of using force, it's best to be patient. Prime Minister Palmerston and the entire UK are not ready yet."  To prepare for war in the Far East, we need time to digest the pain that Crimea has brought us."

    Mai Huatuo pointed in the direction of Dagu and said: "It seems that the reply from the Qing Dynasty has arrived. Look." Bao Ling and Pei Luo looked back and saw a Dagu Navy sailboat slowly approaching. Pei Luo  Opening the telescope, I saw only a few officials wearing Qing court uniforms on the sailboat.  There were only shirtless sailors on the ship, and no officers, soldiers or cannons were seen on the ship. He breathed a sigh of relief and said: "There should be no combatants on the ship. It seems that they should be officials who came to exchange documents. But to be cautious, I still ordered the soldiers  Be on guard."

    Bao Ling said: "Go ahead, Major General, put down the boat and pick them up. I can't wait to know how they reply to us. My consul, could you please go and greet them."

    Mai Huatuo bowed slightly and said, "I am happy to serve you." After that, he and Peluo went to greet the officials of the Qing Dynasty.

    After a while, several Qing officials boarded the British fleet's flagship, the Taelia. The leader was Sushun, who was wearing the official uniform of a first-class civil servant. Maihua Tuo had been in China for a long time and was familiar with the costumes of Qing officials, so he was a little surprised.  The officials who came to reply to the paperwork this time were of such high rank.  When they came to Bao Ling, after Mai Huatuo introduced each other, although Sushun still had a straight face, he was not as arrogant as some Qing officials Bao Ling had seen before, nor did he bow or hold fists or other strange etiquette.  He stretched out his right hand, indicating that he wanted to shake hands with Bao Ling, and said, "Nice to meet you, Your Excellency, Minister."

    Bao Ling was a little surprised. The Chinese official in front of him looked to be in his thirties, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, a dignified appearance, and a graceful attitude.His long beard makes him look graceful and modest, with a hint of unruliness.  After listening to Mai Huatuo's translation, Bao Ling was stunned for a short time. He immediately smiled and shook Sushun's hand and said, "I'm glad to see you, Your Excellency." When Mai Huatuo was translating, he knew that the Minister of Household Affairs in the Qing Dynasty was in charge.  The money department, so it was directly translated as Minister of Finance of the Qing Dynasty.

    Because Sushun got the decree to deal with the envoys from Britain and France, he had to make up some Western etiquette. With Xingzhen's guidance, he knew some etiquette from the two countries. After listening to the translation, he continued: "I got the decree from the imperial court, and I specially  I came here to reply to Your Excellency the Minister¡¯s request to bring troops and horses to Beijing together, so please forgive me for making you wait at sea for a few days.¡±

    After hearing the translation, Bao Ling immediately said: "Thank you, Minister, for personally answering this matter. We feel your country's sincerity. I wonder how your Majesty the Emperor will answer this matter?"

    After listening to the translation, Sushun smiled slightly and said word for word: "We reject this request. The British and French ministers want to go to Beijing to submit their credentials. There was no agreement in the previous Jiangning Treaty. It is impossible for us to agree to this request under such circumstances.  ." While speaking, Sushun looked at the ships around him, and then said: "If your country and France want to use cannons to open the door to the capital, we will fight to the end!" (To be continued, please search Gone with the Wind!  Astronomy and novels are better and updated faster!
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