"Can we make peace now?" In a white villa in Pretoria, on the small balcony of the garden on the second floor, Wang Fan, who came here from Cape Town, put down the teacup in his hand, looked at Zhang Cheng opposite, and asked softly.

Because of the incredibly brilliant results achieved in the war against the Boers, Zhang Cheng's reputation and status immediately skyrocketed. Even if Wang Fan does not belong to the military department. Tong also unconsciously used a soft tone. Zhang Cheng, who was sitting on the rattan chair opposite him at the moment, lazily basking in the sun, was a man of the year in the world recently.

The super-rich, the upstarts in the military, this is nothing. Zhang Cheng's pioneering efforts to create an invincible new army aviation and invincible armored forces are the reason why he is famous all over the world. Countless experts are studying everything about Zhang Cheng.

"Someone came into your house with a gun and robbed it, would you have a good talk with him?" Zhang Cheng withdrew his gaze from the parliament building where the sun, moon and golden dragon flags were hung not far away, and a playful smile flashed in his eyes.

"That's not the way to talk?" Wang Fan frowned, "Then let me do it?" I'm a diplomat. ”

"You're going to be a diplomat for the rest of your life?" As soon as Zhang Cheng's words changed, Wang Fan was stunned.

"Now that the mine has officially started production, it will soon become the most important overseas mining area. You. Zhang Cheng curled the corners of his mouth and said softly, "Are you interested in being the governor of the newly established Transvaal Governorate?" ”

Wang Fan's hand shook uncontrollably. Although there is no wave in the ancient well on his face, his heart has turned over at this moment.

The matter of the Rand gold mine is not a secret to Wang Fan. This is the front line of the confrontation between Shousuke-sama and the business alliance. With such a large supply of gold, Shousuke-sama will soon be able to grasp the economic situation in the country. The suppressed business alliance will certainly not be reconciled, and the fierce collision between the two sides is just the beginning.

Wang Fan was shocked that his identity could be regarded as a member of the business alliance, after all, he was also a member of the Wang family, even if he was only from a partial house. And Zhang Cheng's body has been marked with the mark of Lord Shoufu. Such a direct invitation was clearly trying to win him over. This made Wang Fan feel very confused.

"I'm from the Wang family." After a while, Wang Fan lowered his head and said softly, "Are you sure you want to recommend me?" ”

"Hey." Zhang Cheng smiled and shook his head: "People from the Wang family? You are yourself. Go your own way, I will provide you with this opportunity, whether you want to grasp it depends on your choice. There was a pause. Zhang Cheng looked at Wang Fan with a strange expression, and said softly, "Lord Shoufu's age is not young. If you accept such an important position, you may have a chance to become the successor of Shousuke-sama in the future. Wasn't Shousuke-sama also a member of the royal family of Songjiang Prefecture when he was young? ”

"What do you want to do?" Wang Fan looked at Zhang Cheng with a complicated expression. He had to admit in his heart that Zhang Cheng's words like a devil's temptation moved him. Become the heir of Shousuke-sama!

"There's a lot I want to do." Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes, "If you want, I will support you." I'm not going into politics myself. because my mind is all on the army. ”

"I want to think about it." After a moment, Wang Fan answered softly.

"No problem." Zhang Cheng picked up the wine glass on the table and looked at Wang Fan with a smile: "It's always difficult to make a decision. ”

Neither Zhang Cheng nor Lord Shoufu had ever thought about such a thing as peace talks. In their hearts, they had already counted the entire Transvaal into the pocket of the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Cheng's outstanding performance has greatly improved the current situation of Lord Shoufu, and Lord Shoufu also values Zhang Cheng more.

January 25, 1933, Chinese New Year's Eve. Zhang Cheng, who was in South Africa, spent this meaningful night with his soldiers. Zhang Cheng has accumulated enough politics for himself. Governance of capital. When he returns home, he will be able to make a big difference.

In early February, two infantry divisions from mainland China finally arrived at the port of Durban. The two infantry divisions, which were originally planned to be the main forces of the battle, were reduced to the role of cleaning up the battlefield while they were still floating on the sea. By the time they disembarked, the war between the Ming and the Transvaal was coming to an end.

The Boers had asked for peace talks several times, but the Ming had refused. Tens of thousands of infantry reinforcements began to clear the remnants of the Boers. At the same time, the navy had already begun to blockade the coasts, and the passage of reinforcements to the Boers had been blocked. The Boers were already exhausted.

Generals Joubert and Kronje led the last Boer army in a desperate resistance. They fought many fierce battles with the Ming army, and even struck a fierce blow at the Ming infantry near Kimberley, and achieved more than 1,000 casualties through a classic night raid. But it's all just a flashback. No reinforcements, no supplies. Even the Boers, who were suppressed later in terms of mobile space, could not escape defeat in the end.

Soon after taking possession of the city of Pretoria, Zhang Cheng carried out a census of all the Boers in the Rand Gold Mine area and reclassified the living areas. A large number of young and strong laborers were forcibly recruited to work in the gold mines. In doing so, he greatly reduced the likelihood that the Boers would launch a guerrilla war. At the same time, coupled with a large number of captives in their hands, these low-cost laborers largely satisfied the high-speed production of the mining area.

Zhang Cheng and his armored troops shrank in the mining area and did not move. Reinforced infantry divisions, under the cover of army aviation, swept away the Boer resistance and cornered the last Boer army under General Joubert.

After fierce battles, the last formed Boer army, which had been bombed by the air force and encircled on the ground, finally collapsed. Numerous militia members can no longer endure the hopeless torture and threat of death, and many choose to quietly leave the army and return to their homes. As for that gold mine, to hell with it!

"We can't hold on anymore." President Grant of the Transvaal came to General Joubert's humble headquarters and looked helplessly at General Joubert who had been wounded in an air raid and could only lie on his bed and wait for his death.

After a moment of silence. General Joubert, whose wounds had begun to suppurate due to lack of medical treatment, asked in a hoarse voice: "What about the assistance of various countries?" ”

"There's no help left." President Grant shook his head with a wry smile: "After the occupation of Pretoria, all countries have almost stopped all aid. Moreover, whether it is sea or land transportation, it is strictly blocked by the Ming Dynasty, and even if there is still assistance, we will not get it. ”

"Even if you get it, you won't use it." General Cronye, who was standing next to him, exclaimed angrily: "Those damned air devils don't spare anything. Even if it's just a machine gun, they'll attack with a bombshell! This bunch of lunatics, these bunches of rich bastards! ”

General Cronye's anger was not unfounded. The Ming Dynasty, who ruled the skies, circled around the heads of the Boers all day long. Unless it's raining. Otherwise air strikes would have been launched almost every day on the Boers.

In the vast wilderness of South Africa. The Boers, who were mostly light infantry, could not avoid the pursuit of the planes at all. Not to mention what kind of heavy weapons it is, even if there are too many people, it may attract a fierce attack! Bombs are expensive, and shipping is not cheap. However, Zhang Cheng's order was to drown the enemy with a huge amount of ammunition.

The fact that the Boers were able to hold out in this situation was really the effective command of General Joubert.

"Peace talks?" General Joubert, with a miserable face, coughed a few times and spat out a mouthful of saliva with thick blood. He looked at President Grant with a look of anticipation.

"Denied." President Grant shook his head and smiled bitterly, "The Ming do not accept any form of peace talks, they only accept unconditional surrender." ”

"Surrender." The seventy-year-old general closed his eyes in pain.

It's not that the Boers don't work hard, but the Ming is too strong! Airplanes in the sky, combat vehicles on the ground. The Boers, who were still riding horses and using rifles, had no way to resist even if they wanted to use their flesh and blood!

"Then surrender." After a moment of silence, General Joubert spoke softly. And this is also the last sentence of his life.

After General Joubert was seriously wounded and died, President Grant of the Transvaal sent a telegram to Daming that he was willing to accept all of Daming's conditions. General Kronye, who succeeded General Joubert as the new commander, also gave his first and final order: "All the Boer troops lay down their arms and surrender to the Ming army." Thus ended the two-month war.

It took less than two months for the Ming army, which was expected to be dragged to death in the vast wasteland of South Africa, to destroy all resistance. Nearly 40,000 enemy soldiers were killed and captured. And the casualties themselves were very small. The biggest reason for this result is the brand-new Ming Army Aviation and mysterious armored forces that have been born in front of everyone.

As a result of this war, almost all countries began to vigorously develop new aircraft and armored units. For these countries in the position of chasers, they can only work hard and earnestly. Because they don't have the opportunity to splurge.

The war is over, but things are not over. Zhang Cheng ordered all prisoners of war to be sent to work in the mines for five years to compensate for their resistance to the Ming Dynasty. As for the local youths who were captured, they turned to hiring jobs at low prices. The Boers, who had just experienced the ravages of war, had no choice.

Because Daming was in dire need of gold, the working conditions in the gold mine were very harsh. Even local staff are often injured or even killed in accidents. Then not to mention these Boers.

According to statistics many years later, in the first few years of large-scale mining of the Rand gold mine. At least tens of thousands of miners have died underground. Not one of those captives will eventually return home alive!

The Transvaal was converted into a new colony, with former Foreign Affairs Assistant Wang Fan as the first governor. All the troops who participated in this operation were greatly appreciated by Lord Shousuke. Especially Zhang Cheng as a commander.

In addition to the traditional medals, allowances, holidays, accumulation of merits. As a commander, Zhang Cheng was also exceptionally promoted. Although the rank is still a major general, Zhang Cheng has already begun to do the work that only a lieutenant general can do.

For this outstanding young man, both Lord Shoufu and Marshal Yang Zhuo all attach great importance to it. They also paved the way for Zhang Cheng as much as possible.

For these elderly politicians. Rulers. Choosing good young heirs is even better than maintaining the right. Force is even more important! (To be continued......)

PS: PS: Thank you book friends for the monthly pass support of I'm a lewd dragon, wong_sjm, Sha Jin, Haibin 007, and Zhang. Thank you to all friends for your great support.

Continue to ask for subscriptions, ask for all kinds of tickets. Ask for collections. Three shifts today, two shifts tomorrow. If there is a deposit, I will definitely add more. Thank you for your support.