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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 668: Meeting Alone

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    Britain is known as the Empire on which the sun never sets. Like the Romans, the British army has fought against all kinds of enemies, and they have been defeated by all kinds of enemies, including Americans, Russians, French, Native Americans, and Africans.  people.  ¡üNow that the navy and army were completely defeated, the British were humiliatingly defeated by the yellow-skinned monkeys in their eyes.

    More than 9,000 people in the Jintang area were captured and more than 5,000 surrendered, of which the British army accounted for the vast majority. This tragic defeat has exceeded the 7,000 British troops in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 who were still militiamen at that time.  The defeat in which the Continental Army surrendered.  That defeat caused the British army to completely lose hope of retaking the North American continent, and the United States was born.

    However, the navy suffered very few defeats. Elgin selectively forgot the navy's defeat by the Manchus in the first two battles of Dagukou. He faced a group of dejected British people in the cabin conference room and said: "The enemy has passed through  We have made careful preparations, so we will suffer defeat, but it is not terrible! We lose every battle, but we win in the decisive battle!"

    The last thing Elgin said was a famous British proverb. It is true that whether Britain challenged powerful countries like Spain and the Netherlands, or conquered North America and the African continent, it had fought many defeats, but it was the British who had the last laugh. Otherwise, the British  It is also impossible to become the current empire on which the sun never sets.

    After being inspired by Elgin's proverbs, the British naval officers present reluctantly cheered up, but Massimogli still said with a frown: "After we lost twenty warships, what is available now?"  There are 54 warships left. You must know that a large part of these warships come from the Indian Ocean Fleet. If we continue to fight and lose more warships and crews, we may not even be able to guarantee control of the Indian Ocean. Therefore, I suggest that the entire army  Return to Hong Kong. Break away from the mode of inland warfare and attack some important ports of the Taiping Army in small fleet mode. And intercept Taiping Army merchant ships and other ships on the sea. At the same time, send people back to the mainland to report the war situation in detail to the Parliament and the Prime Minister.  To carry out a complete decisive battle, we need more reinforcements, and now we don¡¯t have more armies, so we can¡¯t completely defeat the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!¡±

    The French present did not say anything. They had fewer warships and it was a dream to escape from the battle.  Those British naval officers who held their heads high had to admit the reality that they wanted revenge but were powerless.  In addition to the fourteen French warships, there are still forty British warships left. Including the naval ships stationed in Hong Kong and other places, there are only just over fifty. For the first time, they found that their maritime power was weak. These ships  A large part came from the Indian Ocean, and unless the British were happy to see another great uprising in India, known as the Queen's Crown, these ships could no longer afford losses.

    The British naval officers did not express any objection. Breaking away from inland river warfare was indeed a good example of their strengths.  They do not believe that even after being divided into small fleets, the weak navy of the Taiping Army can threaten them. It is the navy's duty to use their own accustomed combat methods to attack the enemy.

    Erjin saw that no one raised any objections.  For the first time, he agreed with the soldiers' opinions without affecting the strategy from a political perspective. He stood up and waved his fist and said, "Okay then. We will withdraw to Hong Kong, and then the naval fleet will be divided into several squadrons to attack the Taiping Rebellion.  Important port. Sink all Taiping ships you encounter!"

    It was rare for Elgin to readily agree with the soldiers' opinions, but Wetoma said inappropriately: "What about the people in the concession?"

    Suddenly there was silence in the conference room again.  Yes, what about the military and civilian merchants who are still staying in the concession?  They are all citizens of the British Empire, and we cannot just watch them die.

    Elgin opened his mouth wide and took a few hard breaths. He wanted to speak out but it was so difficult. Fortunately, Wetoma continued: "We retreated. It is impossible to hold on to the concession for a long time, at least until we come to the country."  Reinforcements were not possible before, perhaps we should give them authority to surrender to the enemy when the time comes?¡±

    This is exactly what Elgin wanted to say, but the word surrender seemed to him so bitter. Fortunately, Vetomar said it for him, so Elgin immediately nodded, then sighed and said: "Maybe this is the only way.  , but we are unable to contact the concession, so we need to send personnel to negotiate with the Taiping Army first to see if we can get some old, weak, women and children out on a humanitarian basis, so that we may be able to contact Midile and the others in the concession."

    After pondering for a moment, Weitoma said: "It should be possible. The Taiping Army is not an unreasonable barbarian like the Manchu Qing Dynasty. They still abide by some rules."

    So, after the meeting that day, Witoma and several of his entourage took a merchant ship with a white flag and arrived at Wusongkou. After the Taiping Army stationed there inquired about their intention, they sent someone to board the ship and follow them to the Yamen of the Administrative Department of Shanghai.  Here Weituma met Tao Enpei, deputy director of Shanghai's Naval Administration Department.

      After meeting, Weituma couldn't wait to put forward their ideas. Tao Enpei did not refuse, but said with a smile: "Mr. Consul, we will consider your request. After all, the old, weak, women and children are innocent, we can consider it."  I agree to your request."

    "But I need to meet with Mr. Midile in the concession first to understand the current situation in the concession," Weitoma added.

    Tao Enpei laughed and said, "Mr. Witoma, this is just a drunkard's intention. You just need to make it clear that you want to contact people in the concession. Why go around the bush?"

    Weituma was exposed on the spot as to the purpose of his trip, but he smiled without changing his face. Tao Enpei continued: "What a coincidence, Mr. Midile sent someone to ask for a meeting and negotiations in the morning. He said that the concession needs more food, clothing, and medicine.  , I can let you meet, let¡¯s make an appointment tomorrow.¡±

    Wetoma was extremely surprised. He didn't expect things to go so smoothly, but he always felt that there must be some hidden secret behind the success of things.  In fact, there is no big secret. As a representative of the pro-China faction, Midile's detailed report is extremely important. He can represent the aspirations of some businessmen who hope for peace, justice, and fair trade in the Far East. Although the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is not afraid of what will happen next  British and French retaliation, but the efforts of these people are still needed to avoid a full-scale expansion of the war.  So it is very necessary for Wetoma and Midile to meet.  As for whether Midile would leak the Taiping Army's deployment, Tao Enpei and others were not worried.  Gordon's foreign gun teams also conducted several reconnaissance operations, but the Taiping Army's military siege of the concession was quite tight.  They didn't get much intelligence at all.

    After a night of silence, Witoma stayed at the Military and Political Department for a night, but the Taiping Army did not embarrass them.  Early the next morning, Weitoma and Midile met. Tao Enpei had no intention of sending anyone to attend. He arranged a private room for the two to meet alone.

    After the meeting, Midile briefly explained the situation in the concession, specifically explaining that the Taiping Army had not cut off the supply of food and other materials in the concession, but that the purchase price was a bit expensive.  Everyone in the concession has money and can survive.  It's just that Gordon's foreign rifle team and the troops stationed in the concession were very short of ammunition and found it difficult to withstand even a large-scale attack by the Taiping Army.

    After finishing speaking, Midile took out petition letters from various factions of businessmen in the rental estate. Some supported the war, some hoped that the British government would negotiate to end the war as soon as possible, and some hoped that the navy would come to pick them up. In short, it was very messy, but they all represented  their respective interests.

    After Wade hurriedly read some letters.  The letters of Alexander of Jardine Matheson and the letters of Clifford, the youngest son of the Rothschild family, are the most intriguing. Alexander's letter mentioned his wish not to expand the war. He believed that the expansion of the war would not be beneficial to Britain and the Rothschild family in the Far East.  interests, but in the arrogance of the British.  Alexander also felt that the government should end the war decently, which meant immediately negotiating with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom after winning a battle.  As long as both sides can accept it, they might as well follow the example of the concessions made to the Russians at the Paris Peace Conference.  Clifford's letter firmly pointed out that the war must be expanded.  Send more expeditionary forces to the Far East to completely conquer the Far East.

    After reading this.  Witoma asked strangely: "Aren't Alexander and Clifford both representatives of the Rothschild family? How come they have such different opinions?"

    Midile smiled bitterly and said: "I don't know, but I find that Clifford's hatred for the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom seems a bit paranoid. Even Gordon, the most determined resister in the concession, doesn't think we can conquer the Far East. This is pure nonsense.  Let¡¯s talk, China is not India!¡±

    After pondering for a moment, Wetoma asked: "Mr. Midile, what's your opinion?"

    Midile smiled bitterly and said: "I have always disagreed with the swings in government policies. We British have industrial technology and economic advantages. Why do we have to use force to ensure the interests of the Far East? I would rather use our economic and technological advantages to gradually penetrate  and control this country, this is more in line with our interests. When one day, our capital can control the Far East market, our technology becomes indispensable to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and our culture can influence them, we will be able to see  A pro-British government controls the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Many areas of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom have just started, and we can influence them. Take the customs, for example. You haven¡¯t seen that Li Taitai and others have done a great job. They have made the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom¡¯s customs become as satisfactory as before.  The customs of the Qing Dynasty are different, and we can influence them. But now that the change in China policy has led to the outbreak of war, the Taiping Rebellion will not change its position on unifying the country. I hope those in the country will give up their unrealistic ideas.  Think about it, stop trying to establish a force in the north that rivals the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, otherwise we will not be able to reach peace with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom."

    Midile sighed and continued: "The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom now controls all the provinces south of the Yangtze River except Hunan, and the north will soon be captured by them."??The population they control is 20 million, almost 30 million!  The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's mobilization ability is very terrifying. If a full-scale war breaks out, they will immediately be able to arm millions of rural soldiers. Unless we send all our troops to the Far East, victory will be possible, but that will not happen unless Lord Palmerston  And all the congressmen went crazy.  Mr. Witoma, you have to know that expanding the war is not in the interests of many people. If the war lasts too long, the United States and other countries may also protest. I am even worried that the French may make peace with the Taiping Rebellion alone!  "

    Midile's words made Wetoma deep in thought. After Midile finally finished speaking impassionedly, he concluded: "I suggest that the country should not send large-scale troops to the Far East. The navy should adopt harassment tactics and restrict peace at sea.  It is best to annihilate their navy, and then take advantage of this victory to seek peace talks with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and end the war decently. This is in our best interest!" (To be continued, please search Piao Tian Literature, novels are better  Update faster!
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