"There are two colonies on the territory of the Chinese Empire, Macau and Hong Kong, Hong Kong was occupied by the British from the Manchus, and Macao was Portugal from 1553 when the Portuguese colonists bought the Ming Dynasty Guangdong magistrates to obtain the right to live in Macao under the pretext of drying goods, and the Portuguese have been in Macao for more than 304 years. Pen %Fun %Cabinet www.biquge.info any normal government would not accept this...... From now on, China will fully recover the governance of Macau! ”

In the first year of Kaihong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a diplomatic letter not only a declaration of the recovery of Macao, but also a signal to the world that we will never regard Hong Kong as a legitimate occupation. Two weeks later, after the army crossed the Macao Gate, disarmed the Portuguese troops stationed in Macao, and fully regained the rule of Macao, the Portuguese chose to accept in the face of the Chinese government's toughness, and on this day, Zhu Yifeng, as the emperor of the Chinese Empire, stressed to the ambassadors and the outside world at a banquet celebrating the return of Macau that China would definitely recover Hong Kong, but to "avoid solving the problem by military means", and he "looked forward to the return of Hong Kong to China in the near future".

At that time, no one could have imagined that Hong Kong would be returned to China, because everyone believed that Britain would never make any concessions to Hong Kong without the use of military means, and even this was London's response.

But since that day, at the annual meeting of diplomats from the two countries, Chinese officials have always taken the initiative to raise the issue of Hong Kong's return, and although the British side has never given a direct response to the issue of restitution, it is an attitude, and in many cases, attitude determines everything.

This attitude even affected Hong Kong's development - unlike the British, who opened up Hong Kong as a trading base in the Far East, in China's plans, Hong Kong would be the largest naval base in the mainland, and even in Kowloon, the navy had already begun to build a military port during the Directory.

"China doesn't need Hong Kong as a trading port, for Lingnan, Guangzhou is enough!"

It was this radical difference in philosophy, coupled with the fact that after the Governor took control of Guangdong, the social unrest in Guangdong tended to ease, the society became more stable, and the number of immigrants to Hong Kong became scarcer, and since then, Hong Kong's population has remained around 60,000, and by the fourth year of Kaihong, Hong Kong's population still did not exceed 60,000.

For the thousands of foreign residents living in Hong Kong, a shadow has hung over their hearts since the first year of Kaihong -- when will the Chinese take back Hong Kong! Especially for those British officials, the issue is a lingering shadow for them.

On July 8, the fourth year of Kaihong, for Robinson, who was the fifth governor of Hong Kong, all his worries had been realized in the early morning of this day, with the arrival of a steamship sailing from the Kowloon Naval Base on the other side of Hong Kong.

"Your Excellency the Governor, in accordance with the instructions of the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I now submit to you an ultimatum from our government, ordering you to surrender within 24 hours, otherwise our army will attack Hong Kong in 24 hours!"

Facing the young naval lieutenant in front of him, Robinson finally understood why it was not the diplomats who came to deliver the ultimatum, but the soldiers who delivered the ultimatum.

The Chinese would not give him a choice, not even a diplomatic protest, and he would never doubt that in 24 hours the Chinese would attack Hong Kong - because he had received a telegram from the mainland just a dozen hours earlier - that China and Britain had clashed in Panama and the Imperial Navy fleet had suffered heavy losses.

In other words, China and Britain are now effectively at war, but have not yet declared war.

In the face of this ultimatum, Robinson did not hesitate, as the governor of Hong Kong, he knew very well that with the British power in Hong Kong, it was impossible to stop the Chinese attack, and in that secret telegram had already given him direct orders, in special circumstances, painful decisions could be made.

Now it is undoubtedly a "special situation", although it is not that London is telling him that he can surrender, but as an official, how can he not know the wordplay of the politicians in London, who will not directly tell him in the telegram that he can surrender, but the telegram is indirectly telling him that surrender is acceptable.

"Mr. Major, in accordance with the powers conferred on me by Her Majesty the Queen, I am willing to surrender to your army, and to order the British troops in Hong Kong to surrender their arms to you, but I ask you to treat every British officer and soldier in Hong Kong in such manner as his position and rank beseech."

The reason why he surrendered so sharply was not only because he had no strength to defend Hong Kong, but more importantly, because he knew that a decent surrender was the only option for him to fight for decent treatment.

"Of course, Your Excellency the Governor, you and the other surrendered British officers and soldiers will be treated with the same status!"

The negotiations between the "civilized nations" went smoothly, but only a few hours later, in the Governor-General's Palace of Hong Kong, a dignified surrender ceremony was held in accordance with the standards of a civilized country, at which Robinson and the British officers of Hong Kong surrendered to the Chinese officials in the manner of a civilized country, all in impeccable manner.

And when the reporters recorded this scene with their cameras, one thought came to everyone's heart - war broke out!

The war has broken out!

Although the British House of Commons is still discussing the question of whether to declare war on China, all the British newspapers are reporting a piece of news -- the Battle of Cologne. It was the most tragic naval battle since the establishment of the Royal Navy, and the outcome of the naval battle shocked all the British.

Who would have believed that the invincible Royal Navy would be wiped out in a naval battle, even though it was only a detachment, but the British, who were accustomed to the Royal Navy bullying others, could not adapt to this change.

How Britain will face!

Almost all the newspapers mentioned a way to respond - war!

Declare war!

Declare war!

The boiling of public opinion also led to the excitement in the House of Commons, but in the House of Commons, those MPs were also discussing and arguing, and in the discussion, the debate inevitably raised the question - how the Royal Navy would protect Britain!

The reason why the parliamentarians brought up this issue is because in the Battle of Cologne, they lost two of their most powerful ironclad ships, while the Chinese ironclad fleet lost none. As for now, the seemingly huge British Royal Navy does not have a single ironclad ship, only a pile of "Napoleonic rags", although this evaluation is more extreme, but people have to face the reality that their proud Royal Navy is likely to be unable to protect Britain and protect Britain's huge overseas interests.

Because of this, what should have been a seemingly simple declaration of war was discussed for a day, and still nothing came of it, but Britain was not silent, and British diplomats were negotiating on the European continent, especially with France, to negotiate together to block the expansion of the Chinese.

Because China and Britain are not yet at war, Wu Guodong, as ambassador to the UK, can still go out freely, and it is he who can come to Foreign Secretary John at lunchtime? In front of Russell, it was like meeting him unhindered.

"Mr. Ambassador, don't you know what's going on with your urgent appointment? I don't think Mr. Ambassador has had lunch yet! If you don't mind, I think we can talk while eating! ”

John? Russell asked with a smile, even in the face of the Chinese ambassador, he could still smile professionally, although just yesterday he had strongly protested to him, but now did not prevent him from talking to him as if he were a friend, Britain still needed time to prepare, to prepare for all this, such as stabilizing Russia, such as negotiating with France, and pulling the third emperor into the chariot.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kindness!"

John who refused? Russell invited and stroked his sleeve to look at his watch, then took the piece out of his bag and handed it over with both hands.

"Your Excellency, it is now 11:25 p.m. London time on July 8, 1861, and on behalf of my Government, I declare to the official declaration that the Chinese Empire and England are in a state of war with immediate effect!"

When he said this, Wu Guodong only felt that the resentment that had been suppressed in his chest for several years had been released, and he was in an unusually comfortable mood at this time!

He is fed up with dealing with these arrogant British with that kind of false diplomatic rhetoric every year, and in his opinion, the Hong Kong issue should have been resolved a long time ago, as for Africa, it is China's territory, and it is not the turn of the British to dictate, as for Panama, the British are even more doggy, and as for Hawaii, what bullshit does it have to do with the British.

Well, now it's all over!

Instant John? Russell almost felt as if he had misheard something.

“…… What the? ”

So much so that he could hardly believe what the Chinese were going to do in his ears, the Chinese? Shouldn't they be working at all costs to restore peace and resolve conflicts?

Why are they now declaring war on their own initiative?

"From now on, the Chinese Empire is in a state of war with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland!"

Repeating the content of the declaration of war again, Wu Guodong bowed slightly.

Looking through the pieces in your hands, John? Russell's heart has set off an unprecedented storm at this time, how is this possible?

China preemptively declared war on Britain!

John? Russell raised his eyes, still with a look of disbelief.

"Your Excellency, Ambassador! Are you sure...... This...... It's war! ”

When he said this, he himself did not even notice the surprise in his tone, which was indeed beyond his expectations, the Chinese declared war! War on Britain has been declared! How many people believe it?

"It's a pity! I can only obey the orders of my government! ”

Although there was regret in his mouth, Wu Guodong could not see a trace of regret on his face.

"We all believe that there is no other option in the current situation than war!"

Yes, there is no other choice, as a diplomat, Wu Guodong may have tried to redeem, 7 years ago, when he came to Britain with the delegation, he was full of good feelings for Britain, but now, the understanding of Britain, makes him know that for Britain, China is a potential enemy, an enemy that is very likely to threaten their interests, in this case, the check and balance against China will become the core of Britain's foreign policy, just like when the Russians defeated Napoleon, Although the Russians saved Britain, when Russian soldiers appeared in Paris, Britain saw the rise of another empire, and from then on, the core of British diplomacy was to accumulate and suppress a country that might pose a threat to it.

In the continuous dozens of suppressions, every time, in the face of British suppression, considering its own strength, Russia will always make concessions, but what does Russia's concession get back? Eventually, decades later, when diplomatic repression failed, Britain chose war and launched an attack on Russia in Crimea, which eventually made Russia hate Crimea.

British "friendship" is too expensive!

Not what the average country can afford, the Russians proved it with hundreds of thousands of lives and more than 500 million rubles, and of course 40 years to prove it.

The car ahead can be learned!

With the previous car, who would dare to expect British friendship?

At least as a diplomat, for Wu Guodong, he is more willing to choose to take risks, and he is more willing to force the other side into the battlefield through military adventures when the other side has not completed the preparations for war, which may also be an option.

Although this choice is somewhat frustrating, there is no other option for China.

Live or die!

That's a problem!

One thing is for sure, China has chosen a path full of risks, and perhaps this path is full of risks, but at least it is in line with China's will - it would rather die standing than kneeling!

"Your Excellency, this is war!"

John? Russell reminded him again, as if to tell him that now you still have room to redeem.

"Yes, Your Excellency, this is war!"

Wu Guodong nodded affirmatively.

"But we have no other choice, His Majesty the Emperor once said, although we are not willing to go to war, it does not mean that we are afraid of war, when the interests of the empire are harmed, for China, there will be no other choice but war, the United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland will fight for the interests of the country, then please do not doubt, the Chinese empire also has its own dignity, the same has its own interests!"

Staring at John? Russell, Wu Guodong said in a heavy tone.

"However, no one has ever listened to our voices, and I think that now that all means of peace have been exhausted, there is only one option left for the Chinese Empire -- we will defend our dignity with iron and blood, and only then will other countries not ignore the interests of the Chinese Empire! Excellency! ”

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