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On the calm and calm Zero Ding Ocean, a flying clipper sailed half-upside down, saying that like most American clippers, they would transport tea from Fuzhou to London, and on the return they would sail north with the Cape of Good Hope all the way to the Red Sea, where they would buy cheap Turkish tobacco, and then ride the wind and waves all the way to China, where they would ship opium to China in exchange for silver. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

More than 40 years ago, Philadelphia merchants discovered a source of opium in Turkey on their way across the Indian Ocean from Europe through Africa, and merchants from all over the world began to regard Turkish opium as an essential commodity and transport it to China along with other goods. Although due to the large and long opium trade of the British, almost no one noticed the opium buying and selling business of the Americans. Now cheap Turkish tobacco is slowly replacing Indian tobacco soil.

As in the past, after sailing into the Lingding Ocean, Captain Henry took a telescope and carefully searched the sea, the closer to the sea, the more you can't take it lightly, the pirates in the Pearl River Estuary are more offshore pirates, they like to rob opium ships the most, because opium is the best-selling "foreign goods", although these flying clippers are equipped with artillery, but when the pirates row dozens of sampans to besiege them, those seemingly inconspicuous sampans will become deadly weapons.

"Be careful, everybody!"

Captain Henry commanded the sailors on deck.

Just last year, a British merchant ship was sacked by swarming pirates, losing thousands of boxes of opium. So after sailing into the sea, Captain Henry became more and more cautious.

Soon when he saw the barges moored on the sea, Captain Henry finally breathed a sigh of relief, now it is safe, although the barges are also the target of pirates along the river, but because the barges are guarded by armed soldiers and equipped with guns, so pirates who have suffered losses many times will always avoid such targets.

Just as Captain Henry was directing the steamer to approach the "Husted" barge, the sailors on the barge sent a signal.

"Let's go, let's go!"

The sailors on the barge shouted loudly in horror.

"Get out of here! Chinese Here comes ......"

Although it was not clear what was going on, Henry, who had always been vigilant because he was engaged in smuggling, immediately adjusted his course and ordered Zhang Fan to try to sail away from this area.

"They can't go!"

Standing on the "Xiangyu", looking at the clipper ship that had opened its sails, the corners of Li Tianfang's lips raised slightly.

"Full speed ahead! Diagonally from its left side! Starboard ready for battle. ”

After Li Tianfang's order was issued, while the steam engine of the "Xiangyu" gunboat was pressurized and increased, the gunners on the starboard side immediately rushed to the side of the gun position, and the once 12-pounder gun has now been replaced by a Chinese-style 105-mm naval gun.

"Send a signal to them, this is China's territorial waters, order them to stop the ship for inspection!"

While preparing to cook, Li Tianfang ordered the other party to stop the ship for inspection according to the basic rules of the sea. But the smuggling ships, accustomed to getting rid of Chinese warships by virtue of their speed advantage, have no intention of stopping for inspection.

"Captain, they want to escape! Do you want to fire now? ”

"Press them to the right, force them into the inland sea, get closer, get closer and fight again!"

Li Tianfang had a sneer on his face, and each captain had received a direct order from the commander, and found that the smuggling ship had forced them into the territorial waters of three nautical miles as much as possible, and then fired cannons to force them to stop. Although the standard for a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea has been announced, there are certain things that must be impeccable.

Like a cat playing with a mouse, the "Daddy Mac", which was squeezed by the "Xiangyu" gunboat, was constantly squeezed into the mouth of the Pearl River, and just as Henry tried to rush to the sea, the cannon suddenly rang out......

Like a hero!

When Commodore Matthew, commander of the U.S. East India Fleet? When Perry's seven warships sailed into Hong Kong, even though it was an American fleet, not a British one. But they were still greeted like heroes in Hong Kong.

Because Perry is knocking on the door of Japan!

For merchants from all over Hong Kong, what they saw was not the American fleet led by Perry. What they saw was that when there was a knock on the door of Japan, merchants from all over the world could come to Japan to do business in the open. Just like in China, if it weren't for the British knocking on the door of China with their fleet a dozen years ago. There is a chance to have the current five-port trade.

For this reason, when Perry's fleet arrived in Hong Kong for repairs, the officers of the fleet were greeted by a welcome ball and banquet arranged by the merchants, who greeted them like heroes.

Almost everyone in Hong Kong is talking about the success of Perry's fleet, and they knocked on the door of Japan not only. The same knocked on the door of the Ryukyus. It can be said that the entire Far East has opened its doors to them, at least soon, to merchants of various countries. For these wealth-chasing businessmen, there is nothing more to celebrate.

But these merchants don't know. The reason why Perry came to Hong Kong this time was precisely at the invitation of Charles, the US consul in Hong Kong, and if it were not for Charles's request, I am afraid that he would have now embarked on the return journey.

"Now that the Chinese are banning tobacco in Guangdong, many American businessmen are very worried about whether this will lead to the same thing as 15 years ago."

Inside the consular office, Charles said as he handed Perry the cigarette of his cigar.

"What is our position?"

Perry asked, looking at the consul.

"Will we abide by the treaty between us and the Chinese, or will we protect the interests of American businessmen at any cost?"

In the Sino-American Treaty of Wangxia, special provisions were made on the issue of opium smuggling. Whoever commits any unauthorized trade or smuggling of taxes into a port that is not opened elsewhere, or carries opium and other prohibited goods into China, shall be punished by the magistrates of China, and the officials and people of the United States shall not be allowed to give the slightest protection; If the vessels of other countries engage in illegal trade under the banner of the United States, the United States shall seek to prohibit it.

Because he knew about this treaty, Perry asked that.

"Treaties are always only written on paper, Your Excellency General, you have compelled Japan to open the country so that American whaling ships may have a supply port in the Far East. This is for the commercial interests of the United States, and the old family film is also the commercial interests of the United States, although in a way, it is not legitimate trade. But Your Excellency, one thing we must see is ......"

Taking a puff of his cigar, Charles looked at Perry in front of him and said in an extremely helpless tone.

"The United States needs China's rustiness, tea, but we can't provide the Chinese with the goods they need." The U.S. trade deficit with China is now close to $10 million a year, if profits from the opium trade belt are lost. Then it will undoubtedly be a disaster for the American business community. ”

Of course, Charles didn't mention another fact - in fact, he was a businessman and a shareholder in a number of American companies. That's why he worries about the current smoking ban in Guangdong.

"And what do you mean, Your Excellency Consul?"

For the Navy's mission, Perry is well aware that the Navy exists to protect U.S. commercial interests.

"Now the Chinese have demarcated their territorial waters, 12 nautical miles! This is completely beyond the traditional habits of various countries, and they even forced our merchant ships at the mouth of the Pearl River to leave, and even issued an ultimatum! ”

It was a few hours earlier that Charles had received news from the mouth of the Pearl River that the Chinese had issued an ultimatum to American merchant ships.

"So at this time, I, and all American businessmen in the Far East, hope that His Excellency the General will show the Chinese the power of the US Navy."

Charles made his request with a smile, and given the successes in Japan, he believed that the presence of the fleet only in Guangzhou would force the Chinese to change their decision.

"It is necessary to let those arrogant Chinese know who they are dealing with and let them abide by international rules!"

Charles's international rule refers to the 3 nautical mile territorial waters, whether it is the United Kingdom or the United States, this standard is adopted, because the maximum range of the cannon is about 3 nautical miles, so it is accepted by all countries. But now the Chinese are brazenly demarcating a 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, which is clearly contrary to international rules.

"Your Excellency, can you be sure that our merchant ships are on the high seas?"

Perry made Charles smile awkwardly.

"I think at least some of the merchant ships are on the high seas, Your Excellency, and the problem now is that when the new Chinese government comes to power, we have to show them the power of the United States, not only for the benefit of some of the merchants, but also for the benefit of the United States, and to ensure that the old treaties are respected."

Charles replaced his righteous words, as if everything he said was for the benefit of the United States and had nothing to do with his personal business interests. Perry only shrugged his shoulders noncommittally, except for being a minister of a major country, a career diplomat sent by the ****** or the president, most of the American consuls in other regions were businessmen. They think first and foremost about their own business interests.

"So you mean that we should show them our power, right?"

When Perry asked rhetorically, he deliberately emphasized

"You have to be clear that unless they attack first, we can't risk starting a war and clash with the Chinese."

Just as Perry's words fell, there was a sharp knock on the door of the consular office. The office door was pushed open, and a consulate worker, also an employee of Charles's company, hurried in.

"Your Excellency, Consul! Something big happened, the Chinese Navy intercepted one of our ships at sea and captured all the people on board! ”

"What? Is China's ultimatum two days away? ”

Charles screamed and stood up, seemingly angry at the Chinese for breaking their promises.

"Your Excellency, you see this is the Chinese. They treacherously attacked our merchant ships! (To be continued.) )