The reports of the Transvaal incident and the Cape Town incident in major newspapers caused great sensation in the government and the opposition. The imperial court purchased overseas territory from Portugal in South Africa and acquired gold mining rights in Transvaal, which were the first to be disclosed. The bad nature of the Cape Town incident and the tough words of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have aroused the strong national self-esteem of the Chinese people.

Demonstrations of varying scales broke out in Guangzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, Shanghai, Tianjin, and the capital. The demonstrations in Shanghai were the largest in scale. The demonstrations consisted of merchants, workers, students and citizens shouted slogans such as "severe punishment of the murderer", "resisting British goods", and "defending sovereignty". Teams passed by the British consulate in Shanghai.

The gate of the consulate was closed, and the policemen who maintained order outside the door were arranged in two rows of human walls to prevent accidents. On the balcony facing the street on the second floor, the Minister to China Weituo and the Consul in Shanghai Mai Huatuo looked at the orderly parade with a gloomy face.

"Appoint it, I'll go back to Beijing tomorrow." Weituma's voice was filled with fatigue and helplessness. The two countries successively guided public opinion and made great efforts. It was sooner or later for war. He no longer had to stay in Shanghai. Perhaps fighting in South Africa would be the best choice for both countries.

Zhenhai Road is not clean, and there are also demonstration teams shouting slogans. However, when the team passed by Zhennan Prince's Mansion, Yi Zhengxing walked into the study with a telegram and said aloud: "Father, Wu Changqing called to ask if he needed to notify England and the embassies of the overseas colonies to organize the evacuation of the overseas Chinese?"

"No need." Yi Zhizu replied without hesitation.

Yi Zhengxing tentatively said: "Will the scale of the war be expanded?"

"Unless we are defeated in South Africa, the scale of the war will not be expanded." Yi Zhizu said confidently: "I have confidence in the war in South Africa."

After pondering for a moment, Yi Zhengxing said: "Since England will expand the war after winning South Africa, why don't we?"

"The expansion of war is not good for us." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Our expansion has taken too much in recent years. As the saying goes, "We cannot eat too much, so there is no need for us to continue to expand. The most urgent task is to consolidate and digest the occupied land, develop industry, develop economy, and accumulate energy."

Yi Zhengxing nodded and asked, "Will the war in South Africa break out early in this situation?"

"This is a bit hard to say." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The British may take the initiative to launch a war in South Africa in advance. However, it is more conducive to us to strive for international and domestic public opinion support. We only need to ensure the results."

In the port of Maputo, South Africa, the Daqing dragon flag flying high on the pier declares the sovereignty of this port and this land. In the harbor, ships with the Daqing dragon flag hanging from the dragon flag are busy entering and leaving, and a large amount of food, machines and military material are continuously transported, and the entire Maputo is busy and hustle and bustle.

The north bank of the Mabudo River estuary in the southwest of the port is also a bustling scene. Countless black and Chinese people are mixed together to build coastal defense forts. Xiao Mingliang has to go to the construction site to inspect the progress of the project every morning and evening. Once war starts with Britain, as the most important port on the east coast of South Africa, the British army will inevitably be the primary target of attack, so he naturally does not dare to take it lightly.

"The big shopkeeper called and war broke out in South Africa is inevitable, and the war may break out at any time." Xiao Mingliang stood on a small slope overlooking the huge fortifications. "In one month, at most one month, the main fortifications must be completed."

One month? Guan Changhai hesitated and said: "In one month, the construction period is too tight, this ghost place is too hot, the black people are too lazy, and the passive slacking situation is serious..."

"In extraordinary times, take extraordinary measures." Xiao Mingliang said in a deep voice: "Tell them clearly that the work cannot be completed on time. Once the British call comes, they will not sweat, but bleeding!"

After a pause, he continued: "Also, the laying of wired telegraphs from Maputo to Transvaal and the construction of roads must also be accelerated. Before the war begins, wired telegraphs must be connected, and the roads must be opened. At least the road must be opened, so that the carriages must be able to pass, otherwise the logistics will not be guaranteed."

"We have recruited local strong black people as much as possible." Guan Changhai said frowningly: "However, black people are really not reliable."

"Let the officers and soldiers of the army participate in the construction." Xiao Mingliang said in a deep voice.

While Maputo was preparing for the war, Shestone, the British envoy sent to Transvaal, secretly arrived in Pretoria. Because he was not sure about the purpose of the British, Transvaal President Pretorius Jr. asked Vice President Boggs to come forward to receive it.

After meeting with British envoy Shestone, Boggs immediately reported to Pretorius Jr., "The British proposed to follow the example of the North American and Canadian Federation and combine various South African regimes to build a Federal Republic of South Africa..."

"To put it nicely, it's just that I want to annex us." Little Pretorius sneered: "In the end, it was just for our gold mine."

"If our country does not agree, the British will declare war on our country." Boggs whispered.

"What are you afraid of when declaring war? Isn't there still a Qing army?" Little Pretorius said without any concern: "In order to protect the gold mine, the Qing army will definitely actively resist."

Unlike most Boers who had not received any formal education and had a limited vision to his own small circle, Bogs graduated from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. His wife was Scots and he tended to incorporate into the British colony. Seeing that the other party was blindly dependent on the Qing army, he carefully said: "War broke out in our country, and even if the Qing army would actively resist, we would not be out of the matter.

Besides, the Qing people were not a good man and a trustworthy woman. They have been expanding frequently over the past decades and are the same as the British. Once a war breaks out, whether the British defeat or the Qing people win the battle, our country will have only one result - the country is destroyed!"

Little Pretorius glanced at him and said coldly: "If the British defeated us, we will destroy our country. If the Qing people defeated us, we may not destroy our country. At least there is a short chance!

As for war, it is impossible to avoid it. If our country agrees to incorporate into the British colony, the Qing people will also go to war, because the Qing people will not give up on the mining of our gold mines!"

"No." Boggs said in a deep voice: "The Qing people may not have the courage to declare war on Britain."

"You underestimate the country very well." Little Pretorius said: "If the Qing people did not have the courage, the Qing naval fleet would not dare to send troops to the Persian Gulf, would not dare to sign a security treaty with our country, and would not have sent five thousand troops first!"

Borgs immediately stopped talking. Whether it was Britain or Qing, they were all giants for Transvaal. They could destroy their existence by plucking their hair. After a while, he spoke: "If war is unavoidable, we should also choose to stand with the winner."

This is a question that must be considered. Little Pretorius nodded slightly. As a small country, they must rely on the strong, otherwise they will not be destroyed, and they may even be destroyed! After pondering for a moment, he murmured: "Do you think the British have a greater chance of winning?"

"This is undoubtedly." Boggs said: "Maybe the Qing army is stronger than Britain, but the navy is far from an opponent of the British navy. It was the navy, not the army, who decided the victory or defeat in this battle. I am naturally optimistic about Britain."

"I don't think so." Pretorius little shook his head, "You can see that the navy is the key to the victory or defeat in this battle. Can't the Qing people see it?"

Boggs seemed to hear a funny joke, "Your Excellency, don't you think the Qing Navy can compete with or even defeat the British Navy?"

"Nothing is impossible." Pretorius said little: "When the Franco-Prussian War broke out, no one was optimistic about Prussia. What was the result? The Qing Dynasty dared to come to South Africa to seize gold mines, so naturally it would not be afraid of the British navy!"

This is a fact. When the French-Prussian War broke out, no one in Europe was optimistic about Prussia, but the result was that France was vulnerable. But would this result happen to Britain? Boggs looked at him coldly and said, "English is not France, especially the navy, which is even more impossible!"

"Let's not argue about this issue for the time being." Pretorius young waved his hand, "What we need to confirm now is the attitude of the Qing Dynasty. If the Qing people can ensure the final victory and ensure our country's independence, we are worth taking risks!"

Pretoria, southern suburbs, Qing army camp.

In the central army's tent, Feng Zicai stood in front of the large South African situation map with cigarettes and silently examined several black indigenous kingdoms. The situation in South Africa was a bit complicated and could be roughly divided into three forces, British colonies - Cape, Nata, Glicqualanci, Boer regimes - Transvaal and Orange, South Africa's indigenous black regimes - Xhosa, Zulu, Swazi, Soto, Wanda, Bedi, Tswana, etc.

There are not many Boers in South Africa, and the number of Boers in Transvaal is only more than 40,000, but the number of blacks is more than one million. The situation in Orange is similar to that in Transvaal.

The Marines went west from Maputo and fought against the Bedi people entrenched in the eastern part of Transvaal along the way, because the Kingdom of Bedi was on the only way from Pretoria to Maputo. However, it was all small and small. The Bedi people in the primitive state had no ability to fight back when facing the well-equipped Marines. They were destroyed and unstoppable.

Feng Zicai was not interested in the black indigenous regime at first, but now he urgently needed labor to build roads and transport materials. The Boers could not count on them at all. The number was too small, and the only ones could make up their minds. Now his troops were sweeping around the nearby black tribes.

"General." The inspector came in to report: "President Transvaal was looking for a meeting outside the camp."

"Please come in and teach the translator." Feng Zicai casually ordered. After thinking about it, he strode out of the tent. At present, many things must rely on the Boers, and the courtesy they should have must be left.

Little Pretorius rode his horse and only leaped off in front of the big tent. After he sat down at the ceremony, Feng Zi smiled and said, "I heard that Britain has sent a special envoy to come?"

The other party actually knew about this? Pretorius was secretly surprised and immediately tentatively said: "The British threatened to start a war..."

"Don't worry, Your Excellency the President." Feng Zicai smiled and said, "The British came for the gold mine, that is, for our country. If a war breaks out, your country stands by and sends troops to your country, and we are ready to start the war."

After hearing this, Little Pretorius seemed to have a reassurance, but he still asked: "Does our country need to send troops to help?"

Feng Zicai said affirmatively: "No need."

After hesitating, Pretorius said: "If Britain provokes a war and decides the outcome of the war, it should be the navy?"

"Your Excellency the President has no confidence in our navy?" Feng Zicai smiled and said: "My country and Britain have fought two battles, and they have never lost neither naval or land battles. If they are not sure, how dare our country come to South Africa?"

Seeing the other party was full of confidence, Pretorius was completely relieved. In fact, what made him most relieved was that the other party did not allow the Boers to participate in the war at all. As long as the Boers did not participate in the war, he would have nothing to worry about. Even if the Qing people were finally defeated, they still had room for negotiation with the British. After all, they did not participate in the war directly, and the worst result was to merge into the British colony.

If the British agreed to incorporate the British colony now, the British would never let them be out of trouble like the Qing people. Moreover, even if the British agreed, the Qing people would not be out of trouble. For Transvaal, the best choice is to trust the Qing people!

After receiving a telegram and learning that Transvaal had clearly refused to incorporate into the Cape Colony, British Foreign Secretary Granville proposed a proposal to increase troops to declare war on Transvaal in Parliament. After debate, the Parliament passed the war appropriation of declaring war on Transvaal with an absolute advantage of 331 votes to 202.

The parliament passed the debate on the war in the Transvaal Republic established by the Boers. The reason was very simple. The South African Cape Town colony played an extremely important role in maintaining the British overseas route and was not allowed to be threatened. Transvaal, with the strong support of the Qing Dynasty, already posed a serious threat to the British colonies in South Africa.

Furthermore, Kimberley, which has been discovered to have huge diamond veins, is also under the threat of Transvaal. When diamonds, Transvaal, Orange, and English were discovered, they had a fierce battle over the ownership of Kimberley.

Another one is the gold mine with a huge reserve of Transvaal. It must not only pose a serious threat to the South African colonies, but also seriously affect the British pound hegemony!
Chapter completed!