Shanghai was still cold and damp in early spring, and with the Qing Dynasty declaring war on Britain, France, Germany, Austria and Italy, the atmosphere in Shanghai also became tense, and demonstrations organized by various chambers of commerce, trade unions, and student unions to protest against the barbaric invasion of the Transvaal and boycott of foreign goods took place almost every day, and the number of military and police officers maintaining order increased significantly, and heavily armed military police patrolling the streets and alleys could be seen everywhere.

There was also a marked increase in the number of street notices, but the content was to promote the protection of the personal safety, property safety, and personal freedom of foreigners, and newspapers continued to publish relevant articles, calling on the people to look at the war rationally and calmly, and to treat all foreigners stranded in the Qing Dynasty rationally, because the Qing Dynasty also had a large number of citizens in Western countries.

Although the order in Shanghai did not fall into chaos because of the war, and the foreigners who declared the Warring States were not deliberately targeted and restricted, all the foreigners consciously reduced their activities to go out, and many chose to leave the Qing Dynasty and return to China by boat.

Many foreign teachers from universities and high schools, foreign scholars from research institutes, foreign technicians from factories, and some missionaries have all embarked on the journey back to China, and many foreign-funded factories and businesses have closed their doors, and foreign banks that have not closed their doors have also carried out a large number of layoffs, and of course, there are also those who have benefited from the war - all ocean-going ships are hard to find.

"The departure of a large number of foreigners has had a great impact on our country." Zhao Liewen said slowly: "The impact on the stock market is the most obvious, these days the large-cap stock index has been falling, and many research institutes have had to suspend ...... research projects due to the loss of researchers. ”

"Don't worry, don't interfere." Yi Zhizu waved his hand, "Today's Shanghai not only has the most favorable conditions and treatment, but also has the most relaxed atmosphere, once the war is over, there will inevitably be a large return of talents and funds." ”

Zhao Liewen said tentatively: "How many years is it possible that this war will last?" ”

"It's not going to be too long." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "It has lasted too long, and it is not a good thing for my country....... ”

Before he finished speaking, Yan Yangtian hurriedly came in and reported: "Headmaster, reinforcements have arrived in Maputo. ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "The telegram ordered Yi Zhengxing and Feng Zicai to strive to eliminate the coalition forces in the Transvaal before the arrival of reinforcements from European countries, and take the annihilation of the living forces as the main task." ”

Mozambique, Maputo, Qing army camp, headquarters, war room.

In front of the huge sand table, Feng Zicai pointed to several towns such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Stedton, Bloemfontein, and Springfontein with small blue flags: "With the fall of the capital Pretoria, the Transvaal can be said to have completely fallen, and now the forces of the coalition forces are mainly stationed in these five strongholds.

The largest number of troops stationed in Johannesburg, up to 20,000 troops, mainly from France and Austria, it is worth mentioning that the railways in the Transvaal, especially the one connecting Maputo, have been basically destroyed, and it is no longer possible to use the railway to transport troops and logistics, and to achieve a quick victory. ”

Yi Zhengxing said slowly: "What is the situation of the Transvaal Defense Force? ”

"The Boers fully implemented the strategic guiding ideology of the big treasurer to save people and lose territory, and took the initiative to abandon the evacuation of the towns attacked by the coalition forces, and the casualties of the Wehrmacht were not large." Feng Zicai said approvingly: "With the complete fall of the Transvaal, the Wehrmacht has carried out two expansions, and the strength of the Wehrmacht has increased significantly, and now it is as high as more than 50,000.

However, the Boers were born cavalry and were good at guerrilla warfare, because they were highly mobile and suitable for harassment operations, and the strength of the coalition forces was mainly concentrated in the above five strongholds, which is why the Boers were naturally cavalry and good at guerrilla warfare. ”

Looking at the sand table and muttering for a while, Yi Zhengxing said: "The railway is seriously damaged, if you want to fight a quick battle and completely annihilate the coalition forces in the Transvaal, I'm afraid it will be a little difficult to ........" ”

"My opinion is that, for the time being, leave Bloemfontein and Springfontein aside, and march quickly to recover Johnburg, Pretoria and Stedton." Feng Zicai said in a deep voice: "While marching, quickly repair the damaged railway. ”

Yi Zhengxing nodded, "Prepare a battle plan and report it to the General Staff, and in addition, contact the Boers." ”

On the banks of the Limpopo River, the Boer camp.

In the green shade of the river, President Pretorius Jr. sat on a small bench with a leisurely face fishing, and he was completely relieved when he learned that the Qing State had openly declared war on Britain, France, Germany, Austria and Italy.

After the fall of Pretoria, the Transvaal high-level people were panicked, fearing that the Qing would retreat because of the strength of the coalition forces, and some people even proposed peace talks with the British to annex the Transvaal into the British colony.

However, after the Qing State openly declared war on the Five Nations, everyone's opinions were unprecedentedly unified, since the Qing State did not give up on them, they first followed the Qing State to declare war on the Five Nations, as for whether the result was lost or won, it no longer mattered, and the worst result was nothing more than being divided by the five European countries, as long as there was hope, the Boers would not surrender without a fight.

There was a sound of horses' hooves coming from afar, and Vice President Paulus Kruger turned over and dismounted and strode over, "How's the harvest?" ”

"The fish are scared away by you." Pretorius laughed, and then asked, "Something?" ”

"Stuffy panic." Kruger said and sat down on a rock, took out a cigar and lit it slowly, "Over the years, the Qing people have been guarding against our ........ ”

"Normal." Pretorius said disapprehantly: "As early as the discovery of the large gold mine, I said that for us Boers, the gold mine is a great disaster, according to the words of the Qing people, it is a three-year-old child who takes gold through the city, who can not be moved?"

The Qing State is still good, just to prevent us from strengthening our military strength, but recognizing our independence, and the mining tax that should be paid is not a lot, just ask, who doesn't want to occupy the world's largest gold mine for a long time? ”

"I mean, will the Qing people also be unkind?" Kruger said faintly: "The Qing people will all evacuate after the German army has been severely damaged in Stedton, leaving us to face the invasion of 60,000 allied troops alone. ”

"Do you want to say that the Qing people want to kill people with knives and borrow the hands of Europeans to consume our strength?" Pretorius asked rhetorically, and then shook his head, "If the Qing people had saved this idea, they wouldn't have advised us to save people and lose land." ”

Kruger said: "Our Boers have a small population, and we cannot afford such ....... consumption. ”

"Are you worried that the Qing State is only verbally declaring war, but it is slow to send reinforcements?" Pretorius interrupted him and said firmly: "Qing reinforcements will arrive soon, the Qing State has frequently expanded abroad in recent years, it can be said that it is invincible, even the British are not their opponents, this time not only lost the gold mines in Johannesburg, but also killed and injured tens of thousands of people in Stedton, how can you be willing?"

Besides, the Qing State did not just declare war verbally, but at the same time as declaring war, it sent troops from Bengal, and even the British who were hiding behind it did not let go, how could they let go of Germany, France, Austria and Italy? ”

Before the words fell, a rapid sound of horses' hooves reached the ears of the two, and soon, the Minister of National Defense, Paul Kruger, appeared in the eyes of the two, "It seems that there is news!" ”

"Maputo Call ——。" Kryugel hurried up with joy on his face and said: "Qing reinforcements have arrived, it is said to be 100,000, I hope we will cooperate fully to recover Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Stedton." ”

100,000 reinforcements! The German, French, Austrian and Italian troops in South Africa now have more than 60,000 troops, and there is no doubt that this is to be packed up with the British, Pretorius raised his eyebrows, and said loudly: "Go, go back to the camp." ”

Kruger frowned, "At present, the Qing Navy does not have an absolute advantage, if the European coalition forces are completely annihilated, the five European countries will inevitably increase their troops in a big way, and at that time, our country will become a ......battlefield where hundreds of thousands of troops are fighting, I think it is best to promote peace with war and end the war as soon as possible, rather than expanding the war." ”

"We don't have a choice." Pretorius said while packing up the fishing rod: "It is impossible to influence or influence the decisions of the two parties, involving the world's largest gold mine with a gold output of more than 100 tons a year, whether it is the Qing Kingdom or the five European countries, it is impossible to stop easily, what we can do is to preserve our strength as much as possible." ”

Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

Yan Yangtian walked into the room quickly and said, "Principal, there is a call from Moscow, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Austria and Italy are all going to London, and Germany is gathering troops, and it should be ....... to increase troops in South Africa." ”

"Is there any movement in the English Navy?" Yi Zhizu asked directly, Germany's increase in troops in South Africa was expected, and he was sure that with the increase of German troops, with the development of the war in South Africa, France, Austria and Italy would also increase their troops one after another, but he was more concerned about the British Navy, and the reason why he sent troops from Bengal was to provoke England.

"There is no news of the movement of the English Navy for the time being." Yan Yangtian said softly: "However, there are signs of the Italian and French naval fleets assembling towards the French Toulon military port. ”

"England has learned wisely this time." Yi Zhifen snorted coldly: "Let them pay close attention." ”

Zhao Liewen said unhurriedly: "The British should suspect that we are hiding the combat power of the navy. ”

"It's normal." Yi Zhishu nodded, "The power of the torpedo is too great, in the first battle of the Mozambique Channel, the British were broken, and for eight years, our country just drummed up a torpedo boat, they naturally had some doubts, but as long as Britain participated in the war, its navy would still be the main force of the European coalition navy." Besides, since it is an open declaration of war, there is no need for us to limit the battlefield to South Africa. ”

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