The lake is wide and ripe, and the world is full. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

This sentence is really not blown, while the hinterland of Hubei has been disturbed by the Twist Army to a certain extent, Huashana and Wu Chaoyue can still support the Hubei Navy Division to launch the Eastern Front War, and fight with the main force of the Taiping Army's Water Division to fight for the right to control the river in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It's just a pity that the outcome of the war was not satisfactory.

The key reason for the unsmooth eastern front is still the lack of strength, just as Wu Chaoyue said to Du Xing'a, this battle is actually the strength of a provincial naval division in Hubei, single-handedly challenging the Taiping Army's naval division, even if the Hubei naval division has the advantage in the quality and firepower of the ships, the number of ships and the strength of the army are still at a disadvantage, and it is naturally difficult to successfully seize the right to control the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

In order to control the main force of the front line for the Manchu court, Hua Shana chose to let Du Xing'a serve as the front line commander. Although Du Xing'a has the advantages of honesty and integrity, courage and good fighting, and is qualified and capable of being the commander, he suffers from the fact that he has never fought a water war and has a serious lack of experience in the water battlefield.

The most typical example is the assault battle against the Taiping Army's Shizhongshan defense line, in order to enter Poyang Lake and get the opportunity to fight a decisive battle with the main force of the Taiping Army's naval division, Du Xing'a personally supervised the attack, but even with the strong artillery cover of the Loyalty and Renyi, and had an absolute advantage in firepower, the inexperienced Xiangyang Naval Division was still unable to break through the Taiping Army's heavy anchor iron cable defense line, and several attacks were repelled by the Taiping Army's land artillery fire.

In a hurry, Du Xing'a actually took his own lead like a land battle, leading the flagship to charge, but it was immediately focused on by the land firepower of the Taiping army, and then the Taiping army suddenly sent a contemptuous cable that could be moved, and the main force of the sailor division that had been gathering momentum for a long time counterattacked, and suddenly killed the mouth of the lake with the help of the rapid water, and almost killed Du Xing'a's flagship directly. Later, in order to cover the retreat of the panicked Hubei Naval Division, even the flagship Loyalty was set on fire by the Taiping Naval Division, losing more than 10 sampans, and the casualties were greater than the Jiujiang Battle in the New Year.

Afterwards, Du Xing'a apologized to the Wu Army's sailors, and learned some lessons, and did not rush to fight anymore, but also listened to Zuo Zongtang's suggestion, and took the Yangtze River channel north of Zhangjiazhou to go around to the north of Hukou, to attack the Taiping Army's Balijiang camp in Jiangbei, seize this important stronghold, cut off the water connection between the Taiping Army at Hukou and the downstream, and also forced the Taiping Army's Sailors to take the initiative to go out of the lake for a decisive battle. As a result, the main force of the Taiping Army's naval division was forced out, but the Qing Army's naval division still only fought a defeatable battle with the Taiping Army's naval division, and was forced to retreat under the condition of mutual losses.

Then, in the case of choking the Taiping Army's Balijiang Gate, the Xiangyang Navy Division did not need to go against the wind and water to impact the Taiping Army's heavily defended Shizhongshan defense line, as long as he wanted to fight with the Taiping Army's Water Division, he could use the method of storming the Balijiang camp at any time to force the Taiping Army to go out of the lake to fight, but several battles were won and lost, and no breakthrough was made. At the same time, the Taiping army also invested a small amount of picric acid weapons bought from foreigners, which greatly offset the firepower advantage of the Qing army, and also frightened the main warships of the Wu army, the Loyalty and Renyi, which were made of wooden hulls, so that they did not dare to fight close to the side of the battle, and could not provide more help to the Xiangyang Naval Division, so the Hukou battlefield has always been in a stalemate, and no one can help anyone.

Fortunately, Hubei's financial and material resources can still afford Duxing'a to fight a stalemate, and after constantly gaining actual combat experience, the combat effectiveness and experience of the Xiangyang Navy Division are also constantly improving. Therefore, even if the war is not very satisfactory, the Qing army still has a slight advantage on the Jiujiang side, and it is optimistic in the long run.

The situation on the water is slightly better, but the land is a mess, Hunan Chu Yong, who was ordered to reinforce the Jiangxi battlefield, met the Taiping army fierce Shi Zhenji on the battlefield of Linjiang, and was forced to retreat to Qingjiang after two defeats, counting on the Hunan army to help in the follow-up, who would have thought that the current Hunan army is no longer the original Hunan army, Wang Xin, the general of the Hunan army who led the army into Jiangxi, did not even rush to Qingjiang, and was defeated by the Taiping army on the road, and fled to Fenyi in embarrassment.

Then, Shi Zhenji did not storm Xinyu, but decisively pointed the blade to the south of Ji'an Mansion, quickly captured the two cities of Xiajiang and Jishui, and the soldiers came to Ji'an Mansion to govern the city of Luling, Liu Changyou and Jiang Zhongji had no choice but to hurry south with Chu Yong to reinforce them, but they were once again attacked by Shi Zhenji's head-on, and the army was defeated and retreated to Anfu, and the Shizhen Ji army also successfully took Luling, and since then it has completely taken root in southern Jiangnan.

The Shizhen Ji army alone had already blocked Chu Yong and the desperate Hunan army, and the other main force of the Taiping army in southern Jiangxi, Lai Guiying's army, was of course even more invincible, like entering no man's land, almost swept the southeast of Jiangxi with the autumn wind sweeping away the leaves, and connected the many small pieces of control of the Taiping army that had been isolated in southern Jiangxi into a large area. Li Wen'an and Li Hongzhang father and son went south to attack Fuzhou, in a vain attempt to cut off the left and right communication of the Taiping army in southern Jiangnan, but because they were not good at attacking fortifications, they could not live or die against the Taiping army's few defenders of Fuzhou Jiancheng, and the only bit of new weapons was exhausted, and letters pleading with Wu Chaoyue for ammunition were constantly born in Li Hongzhang's pen.

By the time the long-held city of Jiangxi and Guangxi was broken by Lai Guiying's own army, the Qing army's control of Jiangxi was actually only the three prefectures of Ruizhou, Nanchang and Jiujiang in the northwest. Under such circumstances, Jiangxi Governor Wen Jun actually had only a matter of time left on the ground, and Wu Chaoyue also began to fight for Yang Wending to take over as Jiangxi Governor early on, but just after sending out a letter begging Su Shun to act on behalf of the court, someone suddenly came to report outside the door, saying that Xiao Bao Ling, the son of Hong Kong Governor Bao Ling, came to the door to ask for a meeting.

Eager to grasp the news of the trend of the Ercrow War, Wu Chaoyue of course immediately welcomed Xiaobao Ling into the back hall and sat down, but Xiaobao Ling was also very direct, and said straight to the point: "Wu, I am here to inform you of the news, in view of the barbaric behavior of your country's officials who have seriously violated diplomatic conventions, and your government's refusal to respond to the protest documents we submitted, our National Assembly has made a decision to launch a punitive war against your imperial court again. ”

After that, Xiao Baoling added another sentence and said: "Also, the French Diet has also passed a resolution to go to war against your country, and Britain and France will act together to attack your government forces!" ”

"It's time to come, it's finally here."

Wu Chaoyue sighed lightly, and then asked with a wry smile: "Dear Mr. Bao Ling, so to speak, we are going to become enemies in the future?" ”

"Nope." Xiao Baoling shook his head and said, "Our main punishment target is your country's Guangdong army, unless your country's imperial court openly declares war on us, we will not attack the other armies of the Qing country, nor will we terminate and cancel all commercial and trade contracts signed between us." ”

"In exchange, of course." Xiao Baoling added: "Wu, I hope you can protect the lives and property of our expatriates in Hubei, as well as their freedom of trade. ”

"That's fine." Wu Chaoyue agreed, "As long as the imperial court does not give an order, your expatriates can continue normal trade and trade in Hubei." As for the safety of their lives and property, Mr. Bao Ling, you don't have to worry, I can make a written promise, even if it is ordered by the imperial court of our country, I will never harm the expatriates of your country or confiscate their property. ”

"Wu, you are the only Chinese who understand the world."

Xiao Baoling nodded with satisfaction, and then put away his diplomatic rhetoric, and said to Wu Chaoyue with a relaxed attitude: "Wu, don't blame us, this war, we were also forced to start, we don't understand until now, how can your court be stupid to this point?" Why did we not agree to let our diplomatic envoys be stationed in Beijing, and why did we have to seal off the country and not allow the Qing people to live on an equal footing with us foreigners and come and go freely? ”

Seeing that the left and right were confidants, Wu Chaoyue said a few words that were heartfelt, and said: "Dear Mr. Bao Ling, first, because they are stupid and unwilling to learn the advanced technology and culture of the West. Second, because they are treacherous, they are afraid that after too much contact with the outside world, the Chinese will stand up against their brutal rule and settle their blood debts accumulated for more than two hundred years. ”

"Settle the blood debt they have accumulated for more than two hundred years? What do you mean? ”

Xiao Bao Ling, who did not know Chinese history, was confused, and Wu Chaoyue was not polite, and directly introduced to Xiao Bao Ling the atrocities of the Manchu Qing Dynasty after entering the customs, as well as the brutal oppression and vicious exploitation of the Chinese people by the Manchu court, as well as the Manchu court's heartfelt fear and fear of gunpowder weapons. In the end, Wu Chaoyue said: "Dear Mr. Bao Ling, there is a saying in Europe that gunpowder crushes the knight class, although our court has certainly not heard of this sentence, but it also understands this truth. They are afraid of being crushed by gunpowder weapons, which is why they are so afraid of you who brought advanced gunpowder weapons and the advanced cultural system you brought, so they hate and resist you so much. ”

Xiao Bao Ling, who had probably reviewed the history of the Qing Dynasty in China, nodded again and again, although he did not believe the superficial truth introduced by Wu Chaoyue, but he also thought it was true, and then Xiao Bao Ling suddenly asked: "Wu, since you know the West so well, and know so well the advanced culture and science and technology of the West, why can't you stand up and lead the Chinese people to resist the ignorance and brutality of your imperial court, and accept and learn from our advanced Western science and technology culture?" ”

"Dear Mr. Bao Ling, you must not say this casually outside, you are instigating me to rebel, and our court will definitely kill you." Wu Chaoyue replied with a wry smile.

"Wu, I will remember your advice." Xiao Baoling nodded, and asked in a deep voice: "Wu, I just want to ask you now, are you willing to do this?" My father and I will do our best to help you if you want to. ”

Wu Chaoyue hurriedly snorted, shook his head again and again, and then Wu Chaoyue said to Xiao Bao Ling: "Dear Mr. Bao Ling, I happen to have a gift for you, I am going to order three medium steam gunboats with a displacement of more than 1,300 tons from you, please make a price." ”

Wu Chaoyue turned the topic to business, for the money to come to China Xiao Bao Ling of course was bright-eyed, immediately began to bargain with Wu Chaoyue, the result of the business was quickly negotiated, Wu Chaoyue, who had accumulated a batch of silver, also promised to pay the deposit immediately at the same time as the contract was signed, and Xiao Bao Ling ended this pleasant conversation.

It was not early, Xiao Bao Ling who still had a lot to do in Hankou declined Wu Chaoyue's invitation to the dinner party, and returned to Hankou with farewell. ”

"Dear Mr. Bao Ling, there is no answer, it is my answer." Wu Chaoyue replied in a low voice in English.

Although he didn't like the Oriental subtlety, Xiao Baoling, who had been in China for a long time, still understood what Wu Chaoyue meant, so he patted Wu Chaoyue on the shoulder and whispered in English: "Wu, my father and I will definitely help you." ”

“thankyou。” Wu Chaoyue nodded in thanks, and then whispered in English: "Dear Mr. Bao Ling, as a Cantonese person, I must make a plea to you, when your army takes force to retaliate, can you not vent your anger on the innocent people of Guangdong?" It is our stupid court that has caused all this, and they should be the ones you should really take revenge against. ”

"Wu, I will relay your words to my father and ask him to consider it carefully."

Xiao Baoling nodded in agreement, Wu Chaoyue nodded in thanks, and muttered in his heart, "Fellow countrymen, I have done my best to help you, and when I really start my army in the future, you must remember to repay my favor." ”

It must be added that when it was time to officially sign the contract with Xiaobaoling for the purchase of a steam gunboat, Wu Chaoyue also took the first photo of this era. Excited, Wu Chaoyue bought another suit, put on the suit and took a photo as a souvenir. Not to mention, the dry and thin Wu Chaoyue was unsightly in a Manchu zombie costume, but after putting on modern clothes, he looked quite energetic, and he looked a little chic, but not only Zhao Liewen and Wu Dadao and other henchmen were full of praise, but even Xiao Baoling couldn't help but praise, "Wu, you are so handsome in our costumes, and your temperament is much better than that Hong Renji of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom." ”

"Hong Renji?" Wu Chaoyue asked casually: "Mr. Bao Ling, when did Hong Renji also wear a suit?" I remember that in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the rules on clothing were stricter than those in the Qing Dynasty? ”

"Some time ago, he passed through when he was visiting my father in Hong Kong." Xiao Bao Ling also answered casually.

"Hong Renji went to Hong Kong some time ago? What did he do when he went to see your father, Sir Bowing? Wu Chaoyue hurriedly asked again.

Xiao Baoling refused to answer, saying that it was a diplomatic secret. But even if Xiao Bao Ling did not answer, Wu Chaoyue vaguely guessed some of the reasons why Hong Renji went to Hong Kong to contact Lao Bao Ling, the British Minister Plenipotentiary in China, and understood why he couldn't contact Hong Renji some time ago. In addition to his consciousness, Wu Chaoyue couldn't help but smile a little, and said secretly: "I have grown up, and I can know that I have united with foreigners to fight against the Qing Dynasty." It seems that helping Yang Xiuqing to kill the scourge of Wei Changhui is the right move, and the Taiping Army will only be stronger than in history in the future. ”

Coincidentally, on the same day, three steam paddle gunboats, which were not very uncommon off the coast of China, crossed Wusongkou and sailed towards the upper reaches of the Yangtze River with a long whistle, because the three steam gunboats were all flying the British flag, and the decks were full of blond and blue-eyed foreigners, and at the same time, no prohibited smuggled goods were found in the cabin.

However, what Wu Quanmei's Qing army never dreamed of was that the three steam gunboats with a displacement of more than 600 tons entered the area controlled by the Taiping Army, and immediately lowered the British flag and raised the yellow dragon flag representing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom! At the same time, Hong Renji, who had disappeared for a long time in Nanjing, also appeared on the deck of the first steam gunboat, and laughed wildly in the direction of Shanghai, which was shaped like an isolated island, "Dog Qing Demon, I didn't expect it!" Our heavenly army will be able to get on a steamer so soon?! ”

After the news that the Taiping army was finally equipped with steam cannon ships reached Beijing, Emperor Xianfeng, who already hated foreigners to the bone, smashed the pseudo-dragon case on the spot, and roared with a black face, "Foreign devils, your ancestors!" My country is so in danger, you still sell the steamer to the long-haired bandits! You must die of my country, don't you? I don't share the sky with you! Implacable! (To be continued.) )