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Several radio stations in Yinghuiyuan Mechanical and Electrical Department were heard in a row, and messages were quickly transmitted to all places.

"In London, all international students, journalists, and merchants must leave within ten days."

"All international students, journalists, and merchants in Paris must leave within ten days."

"Lisbon, the mission will end its visit within three days and go to the United States."

"Dinghai, Xiamen, all officers and soldiers canceled their leave and entered the first-level combat readiness."

"Kowloon. Pay close attention to the movements of the British troops stationed in Hong Kong."

In Changle Bookstore, Yi Zhizu stood in the corridor with his jade cigarette mouth in his arms and looked at the cloudy sky. It seemed that there would soon be a heavy rain. He couldn't help but think of the famous saying in Gorky's "Sea Swallow" - Let the storm come more violently.

Since the British are looking for excuses to start a war, he doesn't have to be polite. He can't avoid what he should come. Since he can't avoid it, he can just give it a try and see who can laugh to the end!

Zhao Wenlie walked into the yard slowly and saw him standing in the corridor. He quickly accelerated his steps to meet him and bowed and smiled: "The cloud looks a bit ferocious, I'm afraid there will be a heavy rain."

"How can you see a rainbow without storm?" Yi Zhizu said and turned around and entered the study. Zhao Wenlie stumbled for a moment before following in the room. After sitting down, he said: "The big shopkeeper, the students are thinking that Britain and France have many merchants in Guangzhou and Shanghai. The railway from Xuzhou to Xi'an is also undertook the British. Moreover, Yuan Qi still owes huge debts to the British. They will inevitably oppose the launch of war. Britain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy..."

"Going forward." Yi Zhizu praised him and said: "It is precisely because of this reason that they need an excuse to start a war. Of course, it is not enough to have an excuse alone. They also need to expand the situation and then kidnap public opinion."

Zhao Wenlie hesitated and said, "Is the situation widening?"

"Yes." Yi Zhizuji said first: "Look, the British will soon expand the situation."

Hong Kong, Governor's Office.

Bao Ling put down the telegram in his hand, put his pipe in his mouth and sucked a few times. The telegram was sent by Prime Minister Bamaitun. There were mixed reviews in the UK about the "Dart Incident" that occurred in Lingdingyang. After all, the Guangdong navy was carrying out normal anti-smuggling missions. It encountered resistance and conflict. The reason for the loss was the Datechnician. Bamaitun asked him to expand the situation as soon as possible, otherwise it would be difficult for the parliament to pass a war bill.

After thinking for a long time, Bao Ling ordered: "Please come here for General Michelseymour."

West Malaysian Guli is the commander of the fleet in East India and China, the British Royal Rear Admiral, who controls the British East Indian Ocean Fleet and the Chinese Fleet. When he walked into Bao Ling's office, he said straight away: "Do you need to send a navy to threaten force?"

Bao Ling handed him the telegram directly, "It needs to be expanded."

After reading the telegram, Xima Shigao pondered for a while before saying, "Your Excellency, our fleet in Hong Kong only has twenty-eight warships, and its troops are only three thousand, so we can't pass the Humen at all."

"We don't need to pass the Humen." Bao Ling said in a relaxed tone: "Just just need to bombard the Humen, expand the situation, and make those members of parliamentarians who are full of justice, humane and conscience unable to oppose the war."

It only needs to shell the Humen, which is nothing more than a live-fire drill for the fleet. Xima Shiji nodded and said, "For the honor of Great Britain, the Navy is willing to obey your orders."

"No hurry." Bao Ling smiled and said, "Tonight, arrange a few broken ships to burn them, and declare that they were done by the Chinese on the other side of the strait. Only then can we make the case for the Humen to be bombarded tomorrow."

That night, a fire broke out in Hong Kong's naval port in Central, and five warships were ignited at the same time, and the flames soared into the sky. The next morning, Bao Ling was furious and sent a telegram to the Governor's Office in Guangdong and Guangxi in Guangzhou and the Nanyang Zongli Yamen in Shanghai, claiming that due to the Datuk incident, the Kowloon Regiment crossed the border at night and set fire to the five warships anchored in the Hong Kong military port, causing casualties of 23 officers and soldiers. This was a serious provocation to the British Navy!

At 10 o'clock in the morning, the British Royal Rear Admiral and the commander of the fleet stationed in East India and China, Ximali, led the fleet to Humen in a mighty manner!

Shanghai, Zhenhai Gongfu, Changle Bookstore.

After reading the telegram, Yi Zhizu glanced at Wu Changqing and said, "It's made of nothing, the thief shouted to catch the thief! The Kowloon Regiment's defense has called, and it was several broken ships that the British set fire to themselves."

Wu Changqing smiled wryly and said, "The problem is, no one will believe this if you tell it."

"No one will believe it?" Yi Zhizu smiled and said: "Newspapers are directed by public opinion, allowing newspapers of all sizes to expose the ugly faces of the British."

Wu Changqing said: "I mean the consuls of various countries."

"Whether they believe it or not has much to do with us." Yi Zhizu said unconsciously: "What we need to care about is the people's hearts, and we must let the government and the people know that it is not Yuan Qi causing trouble, but the British deliberately created trouble and expanded the situation in order to launch a war."

Wu Changqing hesitated for a while before saying, "The Nanyang Zongli Yamen also published a statement in the newspaper, protesting strongly and condemning the ugly behavior of the British?"

Yi Zhizuji said first: "Of course, this must be done!"

After Wu Changqing left, Yi Zhizu took out the jade cigarette mouth and lit a cigarette. Bao Ling's movement was so fast. I think it was because the information was transmitted quickly after the telegram was connected. Should we cut off the telegram line? With a flash of this thought, he denied it, at least it was not the time.

After thinking for a while, he glanced at Zhao Wenlie and said, "I planned two telegram orders - the telegram order Maitingzhang of Humen. The British ship is coming, fight back firmly, and don't be ruthless."

"I ordered Chen Hongming of Dinghai to lead the main force of the fleet south to capture Victoria City, Hong Kong, and wipe out the fleet stationed in Hong Kong, so as not to flee."

After hearing these two orders, Zhao Wenlie was stunned, but Wei Yuan said, "Sir, you must conquer Hong Kong, right?"

"What? Still have fantasies about the British?" Yi Zhizu laughed and said, "As soon as the Humen begins, Britain and France will inevitably declare war on the Qing Dynasty. There is no room for mediation. If that is the case, why should we look forward to it? Let's declare war on Britain first! First remove Hong Kong's supply stronghold, capture the British troops stationed in Hong Kong, and increase bargaining chips for future negotiations."

Wei Yuan pondered for a while before saying, "Sir, may the South China Sea Navy compete with the British-French joint fleet?"

"Of course, it's not possible." Yi Zhizu thought, but in his heart, why did Wei Yuan ask questions knowingly?

"Sir, I still remember that the British fleet traverses the southeast coast and frequently attacks coastal prefectures." Wei Yuan's voice sounded very low, "If Hong Kong is captured and the British army is angered, the tragedy of that year will inevitably happen again."

Zhao Wenlie couldn't help but interrupt and said, "If you don't capture Hong Kong, the British army will let go of coastal prefectures?"

"Impossible." Yi Zhizu said: "The British and French coalition forces came from afar, and the fleet needed supplies and harassed coastal prefectures and counties, which was inevitable."

"Hong Kong can provide supplies to the British and French fleets." Wei Yuan said in a deep voice: "It is better than the British and French fleets looting coastal prefectures and counties everywhere."

"Sir, although Britain, France and other countries claim to be civilized countries, their army is a robber. Even if Hong Kong is used as a supply base, they will also rob the people everywhere." Yi Zhizu said in a deep voice: "Ci is not in charge of the troops. Since the war breaks out, there is only one goal to win the war. For this, you can do whatever you want and do whatever you want!"

After hearing what he said, Wei Yuan was silent for a while. Yi Zhizu put his cigarette mouth in his mouth and looked at Zhao Wenlie. The other party quickly picked up his pen and wrote the telegram.

After reading it, Yi Zhizu signed the letter on it and then said slowly: "Sir, don't worry too much. Yuanqi monopolizes foreign trade. Later, I will meet with Bao Ling and ask him to do his best to restrain the British army."

After hearing this, Wei Yuan's face was a little calmer and bowed: "The people on the coastal areas will thank you for the Lord in the next generation."

Yi Zhizu smiled bitterly in his heart, but he just comforted him casually, and the other party took it seriously. Not to mention Bao Ling, even the Queen of England would not be able to restrain the army in the war. The cruelty of the war is unimaginable to outsiders.

Zhao Wenlie returned from the Mechanical and Electrical Department, Wei Yuan had left, and Yi Zhizu was standing in front of a large map of Southeast Asia to smoke. He stepped forward and tentatively said: "Is it a different meaning for the shopkeeper to remove the supply base of Hong Kong?"

Yi Zhizu turned around and looked at him, and said, "Did you see the reputation?"

Zhao Wenlie smiled, "The British fleet came across the ocean and must need a supply base. If it loses the supply base in Hong Kong, it must be searched for another." As he said that, he glanced at the map on the wall, "Is the shopkeeper forcing the British fleet to capture Manila?"

"Manila is one of the British military's must-attack targets." Yi Zhizu said with a slight nose: "Without the Hong Kong stronghold, the British army will pay more attention to Manila."

Guangzhou, Humen, Jingyuan Fortress.

As soon as it was dawn, Guangdong Navy Admiral Maitingzhang quickly stood up. He rested in the barracks of Jingyuan Fort yesterday. He knew very well that the British fleet would definitely arrive at the ocean near Humen early in the morning, and the battle might have started early in the morning. After washing and changing clothes, the personal soldiers brought breakfast.

It was the dinner he ordered last night. Before he could finish his breakfast, deputy general Cheng Wenshao rushed over and reported: "Report to the military gate, the call from Shajiao, the British fleet has crossed the Shajiao Fort."

The Shajiao Fortress has long been abandoned, but it has a lookout post and a wired telegram is installed. Maitingzhang nodded and said, "Transfer the order, after a quarter of an hour, each fortress must be ready and ready at any time."

On the bow deck of the British flagship "Coromandel", Ximali held a telescope and observed the Humen Fort in front. The Weiyuan Fort was obviously still under reconstruction and was messy, but on other forts, you could see the Qing army with braids busy back and forth. It was obvious that the other side was ready for battle.

"Send the order, lower half of the sails, slow down." Ximajigao ordered loudly. He knew very well about the Humen Fort. After more than ten years of continuous expansion, the Humen Fort has become a major fortress in the Far East. Not to mention the strong firepower, these Qing troops were well-trained and could not be chewed by his twenty or thirty warships.

Seeing that the British fleet began to slow down from a distance and finally parked outside the range of the heavy artillery, Maitingzhang curled his lips and was full of disappointment. It was obvious that the other party was not stupid, and it was probably just going through the motions, firing a few empty cannons, and then leaving. Before he could finish a cigarette, the sound of cannons rang out on the sea.

He could see clearly without a telescope. The shells fell near the upper and lower cross-rails, splashing a lot of water columns, but they were still far from the turret.

Not only was Mai Tingzhang disappointed, but the officers and soldiers of Guangdong Navy were all disappointed. They had been training hard for many years. Now, someone finally came to them to practice, but they were so far away, so why didn’t they feel depressed? Deputy General Cheng Wenshao came to Mai Tingzhang and said, “Military Gate, do you want to fire a few shots to scare them?”

"What's the hurry? Wait." Maitingzhang didn't give up. "Don't scare them away. What if they don't know how to live or die and keep getting closer?"

Xima Shigali obviously knew that just firing a few empty cannons could not achieve the effect of expanding the situation. Seeing the other party quietly, he hesitated for a while, and finally made a fuss and ordered: "First team, approach the artillery fire!"

As the flag was waving, the five British ships quickly rose up and left the formation and walked diagonally to the northwest. After entering the range of artillery, they drew an arc across the hull.

At the crossbar, a person stared at the signboard in front of him with a little excitement and whispered: "Note! The target is about to enter the a5 area."

President Qian Zhao Linsen raised the green flag in his hand and shouted loudly: "a5, prepare for shelling!"

"The target enters a5, and the target all ships enter a5!"

Zhao Linsen waved the green flag in his hand and shouted loudly: "Fire the cannon!"

"Boom boom boom boom." The cannons at the twelve doors fired volleys, making a muffled thunder sound. Seven or eight shells accurately hit the first battleship, and four or five other shells also landed near the battleship.

Looking at the battleships with wood chips flying across the beaten warships, Xima was stunned. The Qing army's artillery hit rate was so high?

He had no idea that the officers and soldiers on the Humen Fort had long divided this water surface into several areas, each area had corresponding artillery positions and corresponding artillery elements. When the warship entered this water area, it was simply a living target!

"Beautiful fight!" Maitingzhang saw a round of volleys in his telescope and snatched a British ship. He couldn't help but cheer. As soon as he finished speaking, another round of volleys in the upper cross-rack turret destroyed the second British ship. Immediately afterwards, three turrets on the west coast also fired.

Almost in the first round of artillery, the five British ships suffered severe damage to varying degrees. The officers and soldiers on the British warships behind were all gasping for air. When did the Qing army's gunners become so powerful? Even they could not do such a high hit rate!

The cannons on the turret were bore guns, which were loading ammunition slowly. Although the five British ships suffered heavy damage, they still stubbornly fired their guns and fought back. The sound of guns suddenly became dense, and the rumbling guns rang across the sea.

The five British ships were all fifth-level ships, and there were not many artillery on the ships, and the hit rate was not high when they were hasty counterattacks. Although they fired, the casualties caused to the artillery were limited. The hit rate of Qing army artillery was very high, so they were afraid of people. The two sides exchanged fire. In just three rounds, the five British ships were beaten and sank, and they didn't even have a chance to escape.
Chapter completed!