Declaring war directly on Britain? Yi Zhizu glanced at the two of them and said, "If you declare war directly on Britain, the British will definitely attack Maputo Port first. If we do not declare war, the British will have to attack Transvaal first."

"What is the difference between these two?" Yi Zhengxing asked in confusion.

"The difference is big." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Transva stayed away from Poe Town and Victoria Harbour, and there was no railway access, so heavy artillery was difficult to transport. In terms of light artillery and light weapons, we have an absolute advantage. The war broke out in Transvaal first, which could cause great casualties to the British army!

The situation in Maputo is different. British naval warships have many large caliber heavy artillery. Once war starts, Maputo is afraid it will be difficult to stick to it..."

Hearing this, Zhao Liewen had already reacted. When Transvaal started fighting first, the Qing Dynasty had the advantage, and when Maputo started fighting first, the British army had the advantage, one after another, there was no big difference in the war itself, but it had a great impact on the country, because Yuanqi had to deal with the domestic financial war!

As long as the Qing Dynasty took the lead in achieving a great victory in the Transvaal battlefield, the domestic financial war would be much easier. On the contrary, if Maputo was captured by the British army as soon as the war began, it would be even worse!

"It's still the boss who is considerate." Zhao Liewen said sincerely.

"It's not that I'm thinking carefully, but because I want to take this opportunity to get more gold." Yi Zhizu smiled and said, "The British took the initiative to deliver gold to their doorsteps, so we can't be polite."

Speaking of this, he looked at Yi Zhengxing and said, "As for the shares given to the court of 20% of the gold mine, this should be given. If it was not in the early stage of constitutionalism, at least 40% of the shares of the court should be given, and it will be increased slowly in the future."

Give the court 40% of the shares? And it should be? Not to mention Yi Zhengxing, even Zhao Liewen couldn't react for a while, "Why?"

"What else can it be? Naturally, let the court or the country become rich as soon as possible." Yi Zhizu took the cigarette box and took out a cigarette and lit it, and said slowly: "At present, Yuan Qi is rich and strong, and the court is poor and weak. This is not a blessing for the country. This must be gradually changed. The Transvaal Gold Mine is a good opportunity."

Zhao Liewen hesitated and said, "Didn't the big shopkeeper urgently need gold to promote the gold standard?"

"Give the court shares, the court may not be able to get gold." Yi Zhizu said quietly: "A new round of economic crisis is about to break out again, and our country is afraid that it will be difficult for us to stay out of the matter this time."

An economic crisis is about to break out again? Yi Zhengxing hesitated and said: "Didn't the economic crisis break out after the Civil War in the United States? How many years did it take to break out once every ten years on average?"

"Economic crisis has regularities and cycles, but it is not constant but will prolong or shorten with changes in the economic situation." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Whether constitutionalism or republic is a capitalist system, and economic crises cannot be avoided. You can study it carefully to see if you can find ways to resolve or avoid the occurrence of an economic crisis."

Find ways to resolve or avoid the economic crisis? Yi Zhengxing couldn't help but be stunned. Is this too difficult? He was a little confused. Could it have anything to do with the distribution of the imperial gold mine shares?

South Africa, Transvaal, Pretoria, southern suburbs, Qing army camps.

A dozen riders galloped into the camp like a wind. The riders dressed in a mess and knew that they were Boers. The sentries at the camp did not even raise their eyelids, allowing these Boers to enter the camp directly. As the British advance troops arrived in Kimberley, the atmosphere in Pretoria became tense day by day, and the Boers also frequently went to the camp. There were orders on it that small-scale Boers cavalry could enter the camp directly without reporting.

In the central army's tent, Feng Zicai stood in front of the large Transvaal map with a small purple clay teapot and pondered without saying a word. The translator quickly stepped in and reported: "General, Paul Kruger is looking for a meeting outside."

"Please--." Feng Zicai said, turning around and strode out. Paul Kruger was the commander of the newly established National Defense Forces in Transvaal. He came in person, so he couldn't neglect it.

As soon as the tent was released, Feng Zicai caught a glimpse of Paul Kruger strode. The guy looked at him in his early forties, with a beard, a burly figure, majestic expression, and seriousness. The two had already had a few deals, and they were familiar with each other. When they arrived, Kruger didn't even say a word of greeting and said straight: "The whistle detective came to report that about 22,000 British troops had arrived in Kimberley and were advancing north."

After listening to the translation, Feng Zicai reached out with a relaxed expression and said: "Talk in the account."

After entering the big tent, Kruger continued: "Kimberley is actually the place where our country is, the border between Orange and the British colonies. After discovering diamonds, the British were forcibly occupied by the British. Once they crossed Kimberley, even if the British army stepped into our territory, your army should be able to send troops, right?"

He had some resentment in his words. After receiving the information that the British army advanced towards Kimberley, he advocated taking the initiative and caught the British army off guard. After all, Britain had declared war on Transvaal, but the other party repeatedly shirked the responsibility and insisted on waiting for the British army to enter Transvaal before sending troops.

Feng Zicai ignored him and walked to the map before stopping the trail: "Where is the other British army now?"

"It is advancing towards Bloemfontein in Orange, with a force of about 16,000."

Feng Zicai pointed at the position of Bloemfontein and slowly shook his head. This place is not far from Kimberley. The two British troops can be said to be echoing each other from afar. He took the initiative to attack. His troops were really less. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Don't worry, let's get closer, and wait until the two British troops have enough distance."

Kruger said coldly: "What if the British army did not distance themselves?"

"Then keep your troops in motion!" Feng Zicai said in a deep voice.

"Don't move?" Kruger thought he had heard it wrong.

"Yes, keep the troops still." Feng Zicai nodded, "The other part of our army has been stationed at the Lebangbo Pass as an ambush. Let's do bait. If the British army besieged Pretoria, that part can go south and cut off the British retreat."

Is this trying to wipe out these two British troops, nearly 40,000 British troops? Kruger couldn't help but gasp. Are these Qing people crazy? He knew clearly that the Qing army had only 8,000 troops stationed at Laibangbo Mountain Pass, totaling 14,000 troops. Even if they were 8,000, they were only 22,000. I wanted to wipe out 38,000 British troops?

After hesitating, he said: "Our National Welfare Army is a cavalry but is not good at fighting field warfare."

"You don't need to fight a positional war." Feng Zicai said: "You are responsible for restraining them from the side. As long as you can restrain the British army in Pretoria, it is enough."

Kruger looked at him with a strange expression. He really couldn't figure out where the other party got the confidence. Pretoria did not have a solid wall like the Qing Dynasty's city. With this newly built position by the Qing army, how many days can it last for the six times the British army?

Feng Zicai said slowly: "Since the British army has entered the border, your army might as well dispatch to block and harass. Of course, it would be better if it could be inserted behind enemy lines, harassing or cutting off the enemy's supply line."

Kruger was stunned, "Deliberately delaying the opponent's marching speed, so that the two British troops could join forces to attack?"

"That's what it means." Feng Zicai nodded with a smile, and then changed his mind, "There is a saying in our country's military strategy. We know our enemy and our enemy, and we will never be defeated in a hundred battles. Who is the commander of the British army? Let's take a closer look at his situation."

Kimberley, British camp, command center.

Lieutenant General Robert Napier, who was in his early sixties, sat in front of a large South African map with his pipe in his arms, staring at Bloemfontein's position. He originally planned to join the two units and then steadily advance towards Transvaal, but received an urgent telegram, asking him to attack as soon as possible to test the Qing army's reaction. Despite this, he was not in a hurry, but sent two brigades to advance slowly towards the Witwaters, the Transvaal gold mine discovery site.

Although judging from the information currently obtained, the Qing army had only one brigade in Transvaal - a force of 6,000, he did not dare to be careless about the Qing army. The British Empire was beaten in a mess during the two Eastern Expeditions. None of the British Army dared to underestimate this opponent, even if he had an absolute advantage in military strength, he did not dare to be at all rash.

He was originally the commander-in-chief of the British Army stationed in India and was transferred to South Africa to serve as commander-in-chief. When he learned that his main opponent was the Qing army, he was a little worried. He was a engineer who had been in countless battles, and he could be said to have been promoted to the lieutenant general step by step, but he felt inexplicably uneasy about the Qing army.

He had been wandering around Asia and Africa and knew the Qing army better than the generals in China. The Qing army not only maintained a leading position in weapons and equipment, but also led European countries in the combat methods of hot weapons. In terms of weapons, Minnie rifles, rear-loading guns, metal bullets, grenades, mortars, and post-loading guns were all the first to invent and install. In terms of tactics, scattered lines, trench warfare, infantry and artillery cooperation, etc., were all the first to use them in actual combat by the Qing army.

What really made him uneasy was not these known things, but over the years, European countries have almost no idea about the background of the Qing army, whether they have developed new weapons and ammunition, and whether they have new tactics? They don’t know about these.

The plan to attack the port of Maputo before he suggested that the navy first attack the port of Maputo, and while cutting off the supply of the Qing army in Transvaal was rejected by the domestic veto. The reason was very simple. The parliament could not pass a declaration of war on the Qing country. Unless the Qing country intervened in the war in South Africa, the parliament could not agree to declare war on the Qing country.

"Report—." Napier turned around and took off his pipe and said, "Come in."

"Gen. General." A liaison officer came in to report: "General White pulled the horse and was harassed by small groups of cavalrymen in Boers."

"Boer?"

"Yes, sure it's Boer."

Napier pondered for a while before saying, "What gun did the Boers use?"

"Return to General, no mention."

It is normal to not mention it. Napier pondered for a moment before saying, "To them be vigilant, slow down the marching speed, and to speed up the laying of wired telegrams, and to try to contact the Boers. I hope to establish contact with the Boers president."

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Bookstore.

Ren An quickly walked into the study, saluted and said loudly: "The shopkeeper, commander of the British Transvaal Expeditionary Force, was the commander-in-chief of the British Army in India, Lieutenant General Robert Napier, known for his agility and tenacity..." As he said that, he handed over a document.

Known for being smart and tenacious? Yi Zhizu raised his eyebrows and took the information and read it quickly. He didn't say anything for a long time. Napier was indeed not simple.

In 1865, Napier was promoted to lieutenant general and was elected as commander of the Abyssinian Expeditionary Force in the same year, rescuing dozens of hostages detained by Ethiopian Emperor Theodore II.

Napier led 5,000 men, after 70 days of arduous march, crossing the unmanned land and mountain danger, and walked 400 miles into the Ethiopian plateau. He used his shrewd diplomatic means to announce that the British army was not here to conquer, but to rescue hostages. Then he used 5.27 million Austrian silver coins to buy the future emperor Johnnies IV and replenish the troops.

Finally, he led his troops to the Battle of Arnoki with the Ethiopian army. 9,000 Ethiopian troops were killed while only two British people died. Theodore II, who was defeated, committed suicide.

Pilna not only successfully rescued the hostages and set fire to the Majedada Castle, plundered a large number of precious historical and religious relics, and then led all troops to retreat safely.

Because of his achievements, Napier received praise from the British Parliament and a lifelong annuity of 2,000 pounds. In 1868, he was named Baron Majedada and joined the Royal Geographical Society of England.

The Ethiopian Plateau is known as the roof of Africa, and its climatic and geographical conditions are much worse than the Rand Basin in the South African Plateau where Transvaal is located. It is probably because of this battle that he became the commander of the Transvaal Expeditionary Force.

"Forward this information to Feng Zicai and warn them to be alert to Napier's diplomatic methods." Yi Zhizu ordered: "In addition, I will warn him again to never underestimate the enemy!"

When Ren An returned, he lit a cigarette and stood up and walked to the large map of South Africa hanging. The British army had 38,000, the Marines were 14,000, and the Transvaal National Welfare Army was 8,000. This was on the surface, but in fact, the Boers were much more than this little force. The adult Boers men could be said to be qualified soldiers, and the Boers' forces could reach at least 12,000.

The Boers must be stabilized. Once the Boers are lobbying by the British army, the consequences will be unimaginable. After a while, he walked to the phone and picked up the microphone and said, "Check the command of the East China Sea Fleet and find Xiao Mingliang."

Soon, Xiao Mingliang's voice came from the microphone, "Principal--."

"When will the Iron Craft Fleet set sail?"

"When I go back to the principal, I will have to wait until the end of February at the earliest." Xiao Mingliang seemed to have a premonition in his heart, and then tentatively said: "Is war going to South Africa?"

"It's almost done." Yi Zhizu's voice was a little dull, "Don't urge them, you go back to Shanghai first."
Chapter completed!