"If you don't take action in one, nine, two, nine, four, nine, and six, looking at willows along the river, seven, nine, and eight, nine, and geese will come, nine, nine, and nine, and oxen walk everywhere."

Zhao Erniu walked through the streets and alleys where he could not even see a figure, humming the little song "Nine-Nine Songs" from his hometown. His home is by the Yellow River. Now it should be cold and cold in this season, but Penang is the same as in summer.

With the withdrawal of the Nanyang Navy fleet and forcibly forced all the people here to move, Penang, which was originally prosperous, is now no different from the ghost town. Apart from the team members of the telegram surveillance site left behind, there was no one else. Zhao Erniu just came down from the observation point on the Flag-Supering Mountain.

Although it was broad daylight, he felt a little panicked when walking alone in the empty streets and alleys, so he sang to enhance his courage. He barely walked outside the yard of the temporary residence and saw a figure rushing out. Out of instinctive reaction, he quickly pulled out the pistol from his waist.

"What's so nervous?" squad leader Li Shisan said with his footsteps: "Hurry up the mountain with me."

"Ah?" Zhao Erniu was stunned, and he had just changed shifts from the mountain. Li Shisan raised his hand, "What are you still stunned? The British fleet is coming!"

The British fleet is here! Should they end their hard days? Zhao Erniu was delighted and quickly followed.

The flag-supering mountain said it was high or low, and it was absolutely not low. It was four or five miles from the foot of the mountain. It took more than half an hour to climb to the top of the mountain. As soon as they arrived at the observation point on the top of the mountain, the two soldiers on duty came up to salute and report: "The squad leader, there are a large area of ​​black, at least hundreds of ships..."

Li Shisan took the telescope and looked at it. It was indeed a large number of sail shadows. Seeing this, he was afraid that he would not be able to observe the details within one or two hours. After pondering for a moment, he ordered: "Erniu, go and bury those two shells under the flagpole. Dogs dare to lower the flag and blow him to death."

Zhao Erniu was originally from the Hunter family, and digging pits and traps was a good move. Burying this new type of touch fuse shell was effortless for him. He responded happily, glanced at the dragon flag flying high on the flagpole, and ran to get the guy.

In the afternoon, a large area of ​​sails gradually became clear. From the telescope, you can clearly see the flags flying on the mast, warships and supply ships flying on the top of the mast. "The rice flag... the three-color flag... this tm is also a three-color flag, even the same color. Well, the three-color flag... and the red and yellow flags, and the four-national coalition fleet has gathered together."

Song Zigui, who was in charge of the record, couldn't help rolling his eyes. Can't he speak well? It's not necessary to say that the national flags of Britain and France are well known to everyone. The national flags of Spain and the Netherlands have also been introduced in detail. Besides, do their fleets dare not make up a piece? The British East India fleet is a living example.

"Damn it, this is more than just hundreds. Even supply ships, I'm afraid there will be thousands. This time it's a big fight!"

"Squad leader——." Song Zigui couldn't help but say, "Don't be careful, let's count it quickly..."

"What are you counting?" Li Shisan said: "There are people on the other side of the shore, so we have to withdraw quickly. The patrol fleet that attacked the vanguard has arrived."

"Ding bei bei bei bei." The sending and receiving newspapers in the military intelligence room of the Groba Telegraph Bureau were heard. After carefully comparing the telegrams, Tang Zaosheng couldn't help but gasp. The size of the four-country joint fleet of England, France, Spain and the Netherlands reached 280. The South Ocean Navy's treasure-like third-class ships had 32, and the supply ships of various sizes were as high as 600, and the navy's strength alone was expected to be between 70,000 or 80,000.

After lit a cigarette, taking a deep breath, he said in a deep voice: "The electricity will allow all observation points to monitor closely. Even if the fleet has passed, it must not relax!"

After saying that, he strode to the map and stared at Penang, the port where the joint fleet was stationed. With such a huge force, it would definitely be a disaster if he swept across Java Luzon first! I hope the boss's judgment is correct, and the joint fleet of four countries will not attack Java first.

Shanghai, Zhenhai Gongfu, Changle Bookstore.

After reading the telegram sent from Groba, Yi Zhizu frowned. The size of the four-country joint fleet was not beyond his expectations. As early as when he learned that Erkin led the fleet to Colombo, he expected that the size of the fleet should be about 300.

The reason is very simple. Even if France wants to drink soup with England, the scale of its troops should not be too shabby. Spain and the Netherlands must not spend much money if they want to retake Luzon and Java. In this way, the scale of the four-country joint fleet will naturally not be small.

He frowned because the four-nation fleet sent troops during this period! At this time, the Bohai Sea was in a freezing period. It was obvious that the four countries of Britain and France came for Guangzhou and Shanghai!

Wei Yuan obviously saw this and said slowly: "Sir, the four-country fleet may attack Hong Kong first."

After hesitating a little, Zhao Wenlie said: "It should be possible for Manila."

"I won't fight Manila." Wei Yuan said confidently: "As a supply port, Manila is too remote. In addition, whether to divide the troops to garrison is also a difficult problem to capture Manila. If you don't defend, there is no need to fight at all. Spain will not be willing to destroy Manila into ruins. How many troops will be left to garrison? It's not possible to have less or too much. Therefore, they will definitely not waste time and ammunition in Manila."

Jiang is still old, Zhao Wenlie secretly admires her. This analysis is indeed thorough, and Yi Jingzu also said: "It's still the gentleman who can see it thoroughly."

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "Hong Kong has no danger to defend. Those prisoners of war should have been transferred, right?"

Those prisoners of war were bargaining chips for negotiations in the future. Yi Jingzu naturally attached importance to it. He had already transferred them to the mainland. He nodded slightly and then said: "The Four-Nation Alliance should be very clear that Guangzhou must be heavily guarded, and the Humen Fort is the number one fortress in the East. It will fight head-on as soon as the war begins. This does not seem to be like the British and French style..."

Malacca, Penang, Harbour.

Erkin didn't rush to get off the boat, raised his telescope and looked around, and found that it was indeed an empty city as reported before, but there was almost no damage. His face was a bit ugly. The Qing army did too much and did not leave them any thoughts. Needless to say, the situation in Malacca and Singapore should be the same as that in Penang.

"Your Excellency, is that the national flag of the Qing Dynasty?" Hebu pointed to the Qing Dynasty dragon flag fluttering in the wind on the Flag-Supering Mountain. Erkin turned around and looked at it, and said, "It should be true that the Qing people regard dragons as their respect." As he said that, he ordered, "Send someone to raise the national flag of our British Empire!"

Two hours later, just as smoke was rising in the harbor, a dull explosion suddenly came from the Flag-Chengshan Mountain. Two shells buried under the flagpole were detonated almost at the same time. A small team, more than a dozen British troops who were standing too close to each other without any warning, were killed in the explosion, and only two soldiers who were behind were spared. The two lucky ones thought they were attacked by the enemy and lay on the ground for a long time and dared not get up.

The sudden violent explosion alarmed the warships and ships inside and outside the harbor. The officers and soldiers, who were unknown, thought it was an enemy attack. Various military horns sounded, and the entire harbor was in chaos.

Soon, everyone discovered that it was a false alarm and there was no enemy attack at all. It should be that the Qing army buried landmines near the flagpole of the Flag Mountain. Landmines were not novel in Europe. They had been used as early as the siege war in the 156th century. However, they lacked interest in this insidious and vicious and injustice, and they had not developed vigorously.

After understanding the whole story, Erkin, Hebu and Grant felt that they were blind. They had just entered the Strait of Malacca. They died of the lives of more than a dozen soldiers for a flag. However, what made them secretly relieved was that the dragon flag of the Qing Dynasty also fell down in the explosion.

The two shells used as landmines on Shengqi Mountain left a vicious and lack of light in the Four-Nation Alliance. The consequence was that the joint fleet no longer docked along the coast and headed straight to Hong Kong.

The reason why the joint fleet went straight to Hong Kong was to follow the order of British Foreign Minister Clarlandtown. In the order, the first item proposed by Clarlandtown was to recover Hong Kong. Then, it was to conduct diplomatic negotiations with the Qing Dynasty. If you can obtain satisfactory results through negotiations, there was no need to use force. Negotiations could not solve the problem, so use force!

Humen Town Wharf, Guangzhou.

Guangdong Navy Admiral Maitingzhang, wearing an official robe, led a group of subordinates to stand on the dock and wait. Seeing five steam gunboats hanging with the Golden Dragon Flag slowly sailing over, he was excited and whispered: "Here you come, cheer me up."

The gunboats leaned on the dock, and Yi Zhizu walked onto the deck. He saw Maitingzhang and his party greeting him on the dock. He did not delay, and quickly stepped onto the springboard and boarded the dock. Maitingzhang hurriedly led the crowd to greet him respectfully, "I will wait until I welcome you."

Yi Zhizu quickly stepped forward and helped him, "There is no need for much politeness in Mai Junmen." He raised his hand, "Please get up with everyone."

Upon getting up, Maitingzhang smiled and said, "Mr. I've already eaten in Hong Kong. Should I go to the fort first or go to the camp first?"

"I have been on the boat for a few days and am about to take a walk. Let's go and see the fort first." Yi Zhizu said with a smile. He also wanted to see the Humen Fort that had been rectified. The battle is about to be fought. He is really unsure if he doesn't inspect it himself.

As he headed to the fort, Maitingzhang deliberately opened the distance a little, and then he tentatively said: "The big shopkeeper came to Humen at this time, but the British fleet arrived?"

Yi Zhizu didn't hide it, and said, "The fleets of Britain, France and other four countries have already passed through Malacca. They should have rushed straight to Guangzhou, but are they ready for a big battle?"

"A big battle?" Maitingzhang said excitedly: "I have been prepared long ago, just wait for the order from the shopkeeper!"

Yi Zhizu said slowly, "Your troops are not enough. I have to transfer three or four more brigades to support Humen."

Three or four brigades? Ma Tingzhang knew the strength of Yuanqi's brigade. Three or four brigades had 20,000 to 30,000 troops. He was really a little scared, "How many warships did the other party come?"

"There are 300 warships of all sizes and sizes, and the navy's strength is about 70,000 or 80,000." Yi Zhizu said with a smile, "Isn't you scared, right?"

"I was really scared." Maitingzhang said with a bitter face: "Is there a little less to transfer three or four brigades here..."

"No matter how many troops are, the Humen cannot be opened, right?" Yi Zhizu said in a relaxed tone: "Can you even use the new artillery skillfully?"

When talking about the new artillery, Maitingzhang felt full of confidence. However, when he thought of the opponent's huge fleet, he hurriedly said: "The new artillery is really nothing, but the number is a little smaller. Can we add thirty or forty new artillery to Humen?"

"No." Yi Zhizu said simply without thinking: "Guangzhou is not the only target that the opponent will attack."

Mai Tingzhang quickly shut up. He knew very well how important Guangzhou was to Yuanqi. Moreover, when defending Guangzhou, the Guangdong Navy was not the main force, and the real main force was Yuanqi's troops. If new artillery could be drawn, Yi Zhizu would never be ambiguous at all.

The capital, the Forbidden City, the Qianqing Palace, and the Western Warm Pavilion.

Xianfeng put down the telegram in his hand and was secretly happy. The Bohai Sea was in the freezing period. The coalition forces of Britain and France and other four countries made large-scale attacks at this time, obviously heading for Guangzhou or Shanghai. How could he be unhappy? For the court, the best result was that Yuan Qi and Britain and France and other countries were both defeated.

However, after calming down, he felt a little worried again. He looked at Sushun, who was kneeling down, and said, "The total strength of the Four-Nation Alliance is really 100,000?"

"One hundred thousand is just a conservative estimate." Su Shun said in a deep voice: "The navy has 70,000 to 80,000 troops, and the army will definitely not be short. At least 30,000 to 40,000, and more than 600 supply ships, and 200 should be troop transport ships."

The more Xianfeng heard it, the more worried he was, "Will the navy's strength be overestimated?"

"No, according to the slave, it should be at least 80,000." Sushun said confidently. He had been with the navy for many years and naturally knew the relationship between warships and troops.

Xianfeng was a little uneasy or nervous. Yuan Qi and Yangyi were fighting for both losses, which was naturally what he wanted to see most, but if Yuan Qi was defeated, who would help defend in Tianjin? If even Yuan Qi was not an opponent of Yangyi, could he still rely on the Beiyang Navy and the Eight Banners New Army?

Sushun was very good at understanding Xianfeng's thoughts. Seeing that he didn't say anything, he said, "Yiguocheng is known for its long-term vision. Judging from the measures taken in the past two years, Yuan Qi should have made arrangements for the battle against the British. In this battle, the servant dared to guarantee that even if Yiguocheng is defeated, it will not be defeated!

Even if the war in Guangzhou is unfavorable, Yiguocheng will inevitably be able to severely damage the coalition forces of the four countries, making it unable to continue to attack Shanghai or Tianjin. The railway transport force is convenient and the coalition forces cannot gain an advantage in force."

Xianfeng was extremely sensitive and asked: "In this way, will the coalition forces take Guangzhou as their main target?"
Chapter completed!