But Campbell, in a ragged uniform, fled with less than 6,000 British troops to a small lake east of Calcutta, where he encountered Governor Canning, who was preparing to support him in the southwest.

Seeing Campbell and the other officers and soldiers, Governor Canning was like a lightning strike. Needless to say, he also knew that the main force of Great Britain, the most elite troops led by Campbell, the 4 infantry brigades of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Infantry Brigades of the British Army in India, a total of more than 20,000 officers and soldiers, only the five or six thousand people in front of him were left, and there were hundreds of people with some scars on their bodies, and they didn't know whether they were injured on the battlefield or when they fled, which made Canning feel very hurt!

In just half a day, everything has changed!

Just now, he received a report that the 10,000 British troops led by Robert Napier, who were stationed east of Calcutta, had been defeated by the 10,000 troops of the Chinese Empire, and only about 3,000 escaped in disarray, and the rest were either killed or captured. The news shocked and angered him, and he lifted his heart and pinned all his hopes on General Campbell's 20,000 British troops to the south.

In order to ensure victory on the battlefield in the south, he left an infantry brigade and two regiments to the east, and personally led 5,000 soldiers to the southwest, first, to meet the defeated Robert Napier, and second, to support Campbell's main force of 20,000 British troops.

It was not long before he met 3,000 British soldiers who had fled east of Calcutta, but Robert Napier was nowhere to be seen, and he did not know whether he had been killed or taken prisoner. At this time, he couldn't manage so much, and led his troops to continue to move forward, but he didn't expect that before he could reach the battlefield in front, he had already encountered Campbell and others who had retreated.

The point is that when Campbell said that the other party turned out to be 10,000 infantry to suppress Campbell's 20,000 infantry to the beginning of defeat, and then another enemy army was killed from the north and attacked in two phases, which was a big defeat, and Canning was furious.

But after listening to the other officers, Canning fell into a deep panic.

He didn't expect that the eastern country, which had always been considered backward, would be so powerful! Their rifles were much more advanced than those of the British Empire, and their messy tactics actually restrained Campbell and others to death. But even so, even if the rifles of Great Britain are inferior to those of the enemy, they cannot be defeated like this!

Canning grabbed Campbell by the collar and shouted angrily: "Campbell, I want to report to London that you are the one who caused us to lose our defeat, and caused Great Britain to lose Calcutta and India!" I can't figure it out, you are also a veteran of decades of fighting, and you also participated in the brutal Crimean War and won it, how did you become like this now? You are in charge of the four most elite infantry brigades of Great Britain in India, including the Royal Welsh Infantry Brigade of Great Britain, which is famous for its victories, and several Scottish Highland Battalions and Royal Fusiliers Battalions, all of which are the best troops in the world that Great Britain has ruled India and conquered the world.

Moreover, the key thing is that you still led 20,000 such troops, and you were defeated by an Eastern army that had just been able to hold a gun and had only been established for a few years, but the number of their soldiers was only 10,000, which was half of yours! You actually lost to such a force. You say, "What face do you have to flee back, and what face do you have to see Her Majesty?" ”

Campbell's face turned pale by Canning's words, and he laughed miserably, but it was more ugly than crying: "Mr. Governor, it's all my fault!" I will accept the responsibility for all failures, and let me bear all this! ”

"How can you bear it, can you bear it?" Canning had a straight face and rebuked with righteous words: "Your defeat will directly lead to our inability to occupy Calcutta, the complete loss of India by the British Empire, and the loss of the empire by Great Britain!" You, how do you say you bear? ”

Campbell naturally knew that the reason why Cunning said this was just to shirk the responsibility, put all the responsibility and guilt on himself, and set aside his own responsibility. But Campbell doesn't care anymore. He knew that he was indeed responsible, but he was too careless and underestimated the enemy.

The next moment, a dagger appeared in Campbell's heart, and scarlet blood burst out, splashing a trace of Canning's body, making Cunningho retreat.

"You, you, what are you doing?" Canning's face turned pale and he exclaimed.

"Canning, I'm taking responsibility with my life, are you satisfied?" Campbell gave Cunning a vicious look and began to curse, "You're not going to be better off than me." Do you think you'll be able to escape? India is the most important place in Great Britain and is much more significant than the island of Ireland. In addition to dying on the battlefield like Robert Napier, you may also be captured and tortured to death by the forces of the Chinese Empire, and even if you barely escape back to London, you will be court-martialed, and neither the Queen nor the parliamentarians will spare you! ”

Canning's face was pale, and his heart was also cold, how could he feel good when he was told the central matter.

Campbell began to cry and laugh, and finally said, "I'm so tired, I'm going back to the countryside of Hertfordshire to get some rest." After saying that, he began to twitch, his face was painful, but there was a smile on the corner of his mouth, which was indescribably weird.

Canning turned his head and didn't want to look again.

He couldn't have imagined that Campbell could be so strong. Thinking of death, Canning couldn't help but feel an inexplicable fear. Don't look at how righteous and awe-inspiring he said, how much he defended the interests of the British Empire, but this is because the British Empire gave him honor and status, and he was proud of it. But if he is really asked to sacrifice his life, he will still be like an ordinary person, afraid, afraid, and avoiding.

Campbell's scene made him even more terrified, and he was afraid of becoming a cold corpse. For Campbell, although he admired it a little, he also despised his pedantry a little. Without life, everything has no meaning.

And, as Campbell said, even if he fled back to Great Britain, what could he do, would he still be allowed to be in Britain? Even if he is judged and not executed, he is likely to be imprisoned for the rest of his life, and his title and property will be deprived, and even the reputation of the entire family!

Therefore, the originally absurd thoughts in Canning's mind were immediately stifled by his might. At present, it seems that there are several more roads in front of him, but no matter which one, he must not surrender. Among them, the best way to look is to die on the battlefield. This is the best for his family and his reputation. But as himself, he didn't want to do this, and at this moment, he admitted that he was afraid of death, and he didn't want to die.

As for the war, at this moment, he has completely understood! The 80,000 British troops originally stationed in Calcutta are now reduced to the 10,000 they originally led, plus the two defeated forces of Robert Napier and Campbell who escaped, a total of less than 20,000, and even if there are 20,000 British troops led by Lieutenant General Henry in the north who confront the Bengali rebels in the north, less than 40,000. In just one day, more than half of it was lost.

From here, you can see how strong those enemy forces are. Moreover, I heard from Campbell just now that 20,000 British troops like him were defeated by 10,000 soldiers of the other side. Moreover, the 20,000 British troops led by Campbell are still the elite among them.

The remaining 40,000 British troops were demoralized and could not have any chance of victory. Moreover, at this moment, Canning heard the continuous sound of guns and cannons in the north, and it seems that Lieutenant General Henry in the north cannot be intact, maybe there are no more than 20,000 troops.

Canning felt powerlessness and despair deeply. Calcutta is finished, the British Empire's troops in India are finished, India is finished!