Chapter 116 British Envoy Visits
Wenhan slowly exhaled and said.
"The situation in the south of the Qing army is too bad now. Even if we, Great Britain, intervene militarily, the Qing Empire may not be able to keep Guangzhou."
"If the Qing Dynasty fails to keep Guangzhou, we must be prepared to engage with the rebels."
"Of course, the rebels are different from the Qing Dynasty after all, so it's okay to give them harsher conditions."
To put it bluntly, Wenhan is preparing to bet on both sides.
Even if the Qing Dynasty agreed to his request, he would not necessarily send troops to help the Qing Dynasty, but would wait and see the conditions offered by the rebels.
He would help whoever offered better conditions, the Qing Dynasty or the rebels.
That's how foreigners are.
They are profit-driven and forget about morality when they see profit. All they care about is profit. As long as there is profit, reputation is just a piece of toilet paper.
Upon hearing this, Bao Ling bowed slightly and replied "yes", then turned and left.
……
After leaving the Governor's Mansion, Wu Chongyao did not stop, but rode at full speed back to Guangzhou City and returned to the Guangzhou General's Mansion to report.
"Reporting to the general, the British have agreed to our request for the Qing Dynasty to borrow troops to help suppress the rebellion."
"But they put forward some very harsh conditions..."
Wu Chongyao came to Mutten, Ye Mingchen and Bai Gui to report.
Upon hearing this, Mutten asked.
"What conditions? How harsh can they be?"
He had been the general of Guangzhou for so many years and had had a lot of contact with the British. He was mentally prepared for their greed.
Upon hearing this, Wu Chongyao began to repeat the request made by Wenhan.
"First of all, the British are asking the Qing Dynasty to cede territory again..."
After a moment, after hearing the British's request, Mutteen, Ye Mingchen and Bai Gui all looked at each other.
They had imagined that the conditions proposed by the foreigners would be harsh, but they did not expect them to be so harsh.
Even Bai Gui, a notorious traitor and capitulator in history, found it hard to accept for a moment.
"This...this British barbarian is going too far, isn't he?"
Ye Mingchen said nothing, just had a cold face and did not express his opinion at all.
Judging from his behavior of "not fighting, not making peace, not defending, not dying, not surrendering, not leaving" when the British army captured Guangzhou in the Second Opium War, as well as his refusal to eat British millet after being captured, he was actually a very awkward person.
They are afraid of death, but also care about their reputation. They are unwilling to take responsibility, but still want to have a good reputation.
It is precisely because of this that his actions appear contradictory.
But now, his side that values his reputation but is afraid of death began to show.
Ye Mingchen did not want to be called a traitor for agreeing to the British's unreasonable demands, but he also did not want to reject the British's demands, which would lead to the British refusing to lend troops and causing Guangzhou to fall into the hands of the British.
Therefore, he remained silent.
No matter who asks, Ye Mingchen will not make any statement on this matter.
Mutten couldn't help but grin.
"The British's demands are really too much. I cannot agree to these conditions."
Mutteen was somewhat hesitant to agree to the British demands. Firstly, he was afraid of subsequent accountability from the DPRK, and secondly, he was afraid of being called a traitor.
After a moment, Bai Gui gritted his teeth and spoke.
"Why don't we gather the militia to guard it first?"
"What if Guangzhou can be defended?"
"If you really can't hold on, it won't be too late to agree to the British's conditions and borrow troops."
Upon hearing this, Mutten could only nod.
"That's all we have to do!"
"Send the order and gather all the generals to discuss the defense of the city."
After thinking for a while, Muttern spoke.
"Send a message to the Humen Shajiao and other artillery forts, asking them to transport all the coastal defense guns on the forts to Guangzhou to be used as city defense guns."
"The gunners should also come together to help defend Guangzhou..."
……
Outside the city of Zhaoqing, the Restoration Army gathered in large numbers.
Looking at the city in the distance, Li Yi asked with high spirits.
"Generals, who is willing to take this city for me?"
Generals such as Li Sheng, Wang An, and Zhao Xiang all requested to fight.
Luo Dagang also spoke.
"General, I have led my army to surrender here, but I have not achieved any success. I am ashamed to be in this high position now."
"Please give me a chance to serve you!"
After hearing this, Li Yi thought for a while and then said.
"it is good!"
"Then let Brigadier General Luo fight this battle."
"We must win this battle without any mistakes."
Upon hearing this, Luo Dagang immediately clasped his fists.
"I humbly obey my orders!"
Li Yi nodded slightly, then turned to the artillery commander of the Restoration Army, Bai Guangzhen, and said.
"The artillery must also be prepared to provide fire cover for our siege troops."
Upon hearing this, Bai Guangzhen immediately clasped his fists.
"Don't worry, Grand Commander. Our artillery has just acquired two 15-jin cannons. Now, we can use Zhaoqing City to practice."
The 16-pound cannon is the latest product of the Restoration Army Arsenal, and is designed to compete with the Western -pound cannon.
Including the artillery itself, as well as supporting facilities such as the gun carriage, the total weight reached an astonishing 3000 kilograms.
Artillery of this caliber can no longer be called field artillery and is generally only used as fortress guns and naval guns.
The power when it opens fire is quite amazing!
It’s a pity that this type of artillery is still in the stage of technical exploration and has not been finalized for mass production.
These two 15-jin cannons were sent to the front battlefield for technical verification.
Once the technology is verified, the arsenal will start preparing for finalization and mass production.
Li Yi heard this and nodded slightly.
"very good!"
"Go get ready!"
……
boom! boom!
Accompanied by two deafening bangs, two 15-jin heavy cannons roared at the artillery position of the Restoration Army outside Zhaoqing City.
Two shells whizzed towards the low Zhaoqing city wall.
boom! boom!
The shell hit the city wall, and cracks spread like a spider web with the point where the shell landed as the center.
Bricks and stones fell down with a thud!
Immediately afterwards, there was a round of rumbling artillery fire.
The five-jin and ten-jin cannons deployed by the Restoration Army outside Zhaoqing City also began to fire one after another.
A dense barrage of artillery shells was fired towards the top of Zhaoqing City.
When Luo Dagang's troops saw this scene, they couldn't help but be amazed.
"Where did our Grand Admiral get so many cannons?"
"This cannon is really fierce."
"Yes, this is much more powerful than the cannons of Bitian Kingdom and Qing Yao."
"..."
Luo Dagang was also full of admiration when he saw this scene. More artillery is a good thing.
When the cannon sounded, the infantry charged forward with more confidence.
After several rounds of artillery fire, Luo Dagang's troops also received the order to advance.
Soon, as Luo Dagang's troops advanced, the artillery units of the Restoration Army began to raise their guns and, under the guidance of hot air balloons, launched extended fire into Zhaoqing City.
They wanted to use this to prevent the Qing army in the city from reinforcing the city walls!
Although firing cannons into the city might injure civilians by mistake.
But, when you're at war, you don't have time to think about so many things.
Boom boom! Boom boom boom!
The shells flew over the city wall and landed in the Qing army's formation behind the wall. As they rolled and spun, broken limbs and arms were thrown around at random.
Those Qing troops who wanted to reinforce the city wall collapsed instantly.
Under the cover of artillery bombardment, Luo Dagang's troops rushed to the city wall and began to set up ladders to climb the wall.
At the same time, a demolition expert rushed to the city gate with explosives and lit the fuse.
The next moment, an explosion was heard, a cloud of black smoke rose into the sky, and a big hole was blown in the gate of Zhaoqing City.
Through the big hole, one could vaguely see the Qing army behind the city gate disintegrating.
Seeing this, Luo Dagang was greatly excited and shouted loudly with his arms raised.
"Soldiers, follow me and kill!"
"Kill the Qing monsters, divide the land, kill them!"
"..."
Amid shouts and cries of killing, Luo Dagang's troops charged forward and broke into Zhaoqing City, cooperating with the troops climbing the city wall and killing their way into the city.
Wherever they passed, the Qing army defenders almost collapsed!
The whole city is full of bravery!
Well, the one who runs away after encountering the enemy is the most courageous.
The Restoration Army captured Zhaoqing very smoothly.
The Restoration Army rested in Zhaoqing City for a day, and Li Yi ordered the army to continue marching eastward.
On the third day of October, the Restoration Army arrived at Sanshui County.
The navy of the Restoration Army began to turn along the West River into the North River, preparing to turn to the Southwest Creek and head to the city of Guangzhou through the Southwest Creek waterway.
Li Yi stood on the bank of the Xijiang River and looked into the distance.
Faintly, he seemed to be able to see the city wall of Guangzhou.
There was a surge of blood in his chest.
Just at this moment, a communications soldier came on horseback to report.
"Report! Report to the Grand Commander."
"The British in Hong Kong have sent an envoy to ask to see the Grand Governor."
When Li Yi heard this, the faint smile on his face disappeared.
Instead, there was a gloomy look, and he knew that some troublemaker was about to show up.
After thinking for a while, Li Yi finally spoke.
"Go and bring the person here. I want to see what the British want to do."
Although he and the British had a sworn hatred for the murder of his father, they were mortal enemies.
But since he is an envoy, there is no harm in meeting him.
Li Yi is now the leader of a faction. There are many things he needs to consider, and he cannot act on impulse.
Not long after, the British envoy was brought before Li Yi.
"Rodel, the British East India Company's ambassador to Hong Kong, greets His Excellency the General."
The Englishman named Rodel was brought in front of Li Yi, but he still had an arrogant look on his face. He bowed slightly and spoke.
Britain in the Victorian era was at the peak of its national power. At this time, Britain was truly the empire on which the sun never set.
They suppressed France in Europe, conquered India in the Far East, defeated the Eastern Empire of the Qing Dynasty, and had British colonies everywhere in America, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The plains of North America and Russia are their cornfields, Canada and the Baltic are their forests, Australia is their pastures, Peru is their silver mines, South Africa and Australia are their gold mines, India and China are their tea plantations, the East Indies are their sugar cane, coffee, and spice plantations, the American South is their cotton plantations...
This is not just talk, but a fact, an irrefutable fact.
Britain in this era was the true world ruler, and almost the entire world was shrouded in the shadow of the British Empire.
The envoys of their country would naturally appear very proud when facing Li Yi, a small rebel leader in the Eastern Empire.
Li Yi was wearing a neat military uniform, his hand on the sword at his waist. He glanced at Rodel coldly and asked calmly.
"I wonder why the messenger came to see me?"
Upon hearing this, Rodel grinned and spoke in a condescending tone.
"I am here on the orders of the Governor-General to discuss the opening of the port with His Excellency the General."
"I hope that after the general captures Guangzhou, he can fully satisfy the interests of Great Britain."
"In this case, Great Britain can guarantee to remain neutral between you and Qing."
Li Yi felt a little unhappy when he heard this.
What do you mean? Threatening me?
You are neutral only when your interests are met.
So if I can't satisfy your British interests, you will stand on the side of the Qing Dynasty to deal with me?
The British guys' arrogant attitude is really annoying!
But he didn't get angry, he just continued speaking calmly.
"Really? Then how do you want me to take care of your interests?"
Upon hearing this, Rodel took out a document from his arms and said.
"General, please sign this agreement and guarantee its execution."
Rodel had no intention of negotiating or bargaining with Li Yi.
In his opinion, Britain was already doing a great favor by giving the rebels a chance to sign an unequal treaty.
As for the content of the treaty, what? Do you still want to bargain?
You can sign it or not, there are so many people who want to sign but don’t have the opportunity to do so!
Li Yi took the agreement and started to read it.
The first one made Li Yi frown.
【First, Hong Kong will expand its boundaries, and Kowloon, San On, Xiangshan, etc. will be placed under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong. 】
Then each of the following items made Li Yi even more annoyed.
【Second, after the Restoration Army occupied Guangzhou, they would abolish the coastal artillery batteries and promise not to build coastal defense fortifications.】
【Third, Britain will station troops in Guangzhou and divide Guangzhou into concessions under British jurisdiction.】
【Fourth, Li Yi must announce his conversion to Christianity and be baptized.】
Apart from these four conditions, the rest include open trade, extraterritoriality, agreed tariffs, free missionary work, unilateral most-favored-nation treatment, etc.
As for unequal treaties, most of them follow this template.
As for requirements such as surrendering to Britain, becoming a British vassal state, and declaring allegiance to the Queen, the British did not mention any of them.
It was not because they knew Li Yi would not agree, but because the British looked down on Li Yi, and even more so on the Restoration Army.
how to say?
You, a small rebel, want to become a vassal of Britain?
Look in the mirror, are you worthy?
Just be a good colony!
Li Yi looked at the agreement, and even with his shrewdness, he couldn't help but show anger on his face.
He didn't even dare to think about what his reputation would be like in the future if he signed this agreement!
The title of the biggest traitor in modern Chinese history is probably going to be transferred from the head of the old Buddha to the head of Li Yi...
Damn it!
However, although Li Yi was angry, he still did not flare up and just frowned.
"I need to think about this for a while before I can give you a reply..."
Of course, it is impossible to agree to it.
What Li Yi is thinking about now is to pretend to be friendly with the British for the time being, and then concentrate on attacking Guangzhou. After taking Guangzhou, there is a possibility of turning against the British...
(End of this chapter)