Maui is between Molokai and Hawaii, it is the second largest in the Hawaiian Islands in terms of size, larger than Oahu as the center of the Hawaiian Islands, which was once the former capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, at the end of the 18th century, Kamehameha I led 1,200 wooden boats and 10,000 soldiers to occupy Maui, and then unified the entire Hawaiian Islands and in 1795 established the capital Lahaina to become the first king of the Hawaiian Kingdom, nearly half a century ago the Hawaiian Kingdom moved its capital to Honolulu. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

In the early 19th century, the demand for whale oil in Western countries increased explosively, and a large number of whaling ships from the United States poured into Hawaii, and the sailors on the whaling ships took Lahaina, the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom on Maui, as the center of the whaling base, but unfortunately the good times did not last long, and the emergence of kerosene greatly reduced the demand for whale oil, and by the end of the 1860s, the whaling industry had died in name. The former capital was rapidly declining.

Since Captain Cook landed, the indigenous population has been declining from infectious diseases such as smallpox, influenza, measles and scarlet fever, and by the 90s, there were less than 1,000 Native Americans left in the whole of Maui, and Lahaina, once a bustling port, has almost become a ghost town.

The abandonment of Lahaina is not surprising, as the port at the foot of the volcano has no safe haven, and although the surrounding islands block the waves of the Pacific Ocean, it still does not provide good shelter for merchant ships during storms, which is why the capital of Hawaii was moved to Honolulu.

However, since last year, Lahaina, a city that was abandoned due to the decline of the whaling industry, has once again welcomed whaling ships. However, unlike the whaling ships that used to fly the Stars and Stripes to track whales in the Pacific Ocean for whale oil, most of the red flag whaling ships welcomed this time are equipped with well-equipped cold storage. These whaling ships were there to get whale meat, and they came to Lahaina to get ice and transfer their whale meat, tuna and other catches to transport ships for domestic shipments.

In fact, as early as the departure of the first whaling ship of the Beiyang Fishery Company, the fishing company began to try to find a foothold in the Pacific Ocean, and the declining ghost town of Lahaina naturally fell into the company's eyes. For a low price of less than $50,000, the entire Lahaina and surrounding land were purchased to serve as a transit point for ocean-going whaling ships in the Pacific. Freezer plants, cold storage, and other facilities were built here, making it a base for whaling and replenishment in the Pacific Ocean.

In Lahaina in April 1893, several whaling ships were moored along the wooden bridge jutting out into the deep sea, and the brothels near the harbor were filled with merry-seeking whaling sailors. The unbridled fist strokes of the sailors and the laughter of the Japanese **. Echoing in the brothels and taverns, and behind the seemingly joyful laughter, near the harbor there were groups of armed sailors with loaded guns and ammunition, looking vigilantly at the sea, and even several breech-loading guns pointed directly at the sea on the harbor batteries.

In the European-style stone building in the center of the city, the mayor of Lahaina, Chen Xidu, the third son of Chen Fang, the former consul in Hawaii and an overseas Chinese businessman, looked a little nervous, and the reason for the nervousness was very simple. Once again, the Beiyang Fishery Company rejected the request of the provisional government tax officer to be stationed.

"Jack, you have to know. They're just a bunch of fishermen! ”

Looking at Chen Xidu, the third son of the Chen family, Lorenzo spoke of the fishing company in an extremely contemptuous tone, and he always had a natural psychological advantage when facing people of color.

"Even if they have rifles, they can't resist the attack of the U.S. Marines!"

What a bunch of yellow monkeys who don't know whether to live or die!

As a member of Hawaii's four major families, the Binghan family, Lorenzo is also a member of the Hawaiian Legislature and an official of the Provisional Government, and the reason why he came to Maui again was entirely because this group of yellow monkeys did not know whether to live or die, and did not want to face the reality that the kingdom had been overthrown.

According to the agreement reached with the queen when the Beiyang Fishery Company bought Lahaina last year, they only need to pay $2,000 in taxes a year, and for Hawaiian American immigrants, they know that they can get more taxes from Lahaina, almost on the day of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the establishment of the provisional government, the provisional government sent tax officials to Lahaina to announce the new tax law. But what they didn't expect was that their request was denied, and the tax officer and customs officer were blasted out of Lahaina.

Not only that, but the vulgar fishermen declared the mutiny illegal, denied the Provisional Government, organized arms, and seized the Lahaina Battery, which was taken by Hawaiian soldiers at the behest of Lahaina Mayor Chen Xidu, whose mother was also a Hawaiian princess, and who arrested American officers at his behest and thus took control of the battery.

"Hmmm......"

Responding lightly, Chen Xidu didn't say anything, although he was very nervous in his heart, he didn't flinch, but said in a deep voice to Lorenzo's gaze.

"If Lahaina is attacked by the U.S. military, then the citizens of the city will defend the city at all costs, and Lahaina will become the Alamo City of the Pacific......"

Unquestionable determination to beat Lorenzo's heart for a hundred days, and the Provisional Government had not made any progress on the question of Lahaina, and even if it had made concessions on some issues, it had not made much progress.

If it could, the Provisional Government would organize militias to attack the city, but the more than 700 militias of all ages that the Provisional Government relied on, even to defend Honolulu, would need the help of U.S. Marines and armed sailors to attack Lahaina? Major Anlis would not risk provoking war by sending Marines or shelling the city, after all, now that the Chinese government has protested, perhaps he can despise these Chinese, but that does not mean that he does not understand that the provisional government is not strong enough to challenge the Chinese diaspora, let alone a country.

Now that the Provisional Government had no other choice, it had to resolve the issue as soon as possible - in exchange for a compromise from the Chinese diaspora, the Provisional Government even recognized their agreement with the Queen not to increase taxes. But such generous terms were still rejected.

"Perhaps, the Charleston can destroy Lahaina, and you can kill everyone in the city. But Lorenzo, my friend, who knows what the future holds? Indeed, the United States has warships, and China likewise has its own warships......"

For a long time, China's dispatch of warships can be said to be Chen Xidu's only expectation, and the reason why he has been able to hold on until now. It is to believe that the governor of the Northeast, who has never met, will send a warship, and sometimes, that trust is always inexplicable.

"......"

There was a pause. Lorenzo asked rhetorically in a mocking tone.

"Where are your warships?"

Just as Lorenzo's words had not yet fallen, there was a sudden burst of cannon fire in the distance, and the sound of cannon only made the faces of the two of them change suddenly at the same time.

"That's ......"

Tom, standing on the deck of the Hawaiian customs ship "Kalami", looked at the warship that appeared in sight. His face was full of surprise. This is a warship of that country?

He was not flying the Stars and Stripes, it was obviously not an American warship, who else could it be besides an American warship?

When Captain Valentine on the bridge of the "Karami" saw the red flags flying on the three warships through the telescope, his seemingly calm face suddenly showed a look of fear.

"It's Chinese!"

The Chinese sent warships to Hawaii, which completely exceeded Valentine's expectations, and even everyone's expectations. Although unexpected, the pride of the Caucasian race does not allow Valentine to cower here like this. He immediately ordered.

"Flag warning them, this is Hawaii. Without the invitation of the Provisional Government, warships of other countries are forbidden to enter the port! Ask them to sail to Honolulu ......"

When Lahaina appeared in the telescope, Huang Zhongying breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the red flag fluttering on the pier.

Thankfully, the port was still under their control.

"Sir, the other party sent a flag ......"

Facing the flag signal sent by the "Karami", the corners of Huang Zhongying's lips raised slightly.

"Tell them that China has established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Hawaii and will never recognize the so-called "provisional government", and that this fleet entered Hawaii to protect overseas Chinese and prevent them from being harmed by the military coup mob! ”

All this is just diplomatic rhetoric, for Huang Zhongying, his task is to enter Lahaina and transport the marines ashore to carry out the mission of protecting the overseas Chinese, as for not recognizing the "provisional government" is just to find a legitimate name for the whole operation, including the protection of overseas Chinese, just to ensure the military power and the existence of Hawaii. This is the best strategy - to maintain the status quo in Hawaii through the mutual existence of military forces from being annexed by the United States. Moreover, the military presence is also a fundamental guarantee for a diplomatic solution to the Hawaiian problem.

"Captain, what should I do?"

The Chinese fleet's intransigence made all the American immigrants on the "Kalami" dumbfounded, the "Kalami" was not a warship, but an armed merchant ship of less than 400 tons, and his weapons were only two pitiful six-pounder guns, which were completely impossible to stop the Chinese warship.

"Again, signal again for them to stop!"

Looking at the Chinese warship heading towards the port, Valentine pretended to be calm, but his trembling hands revealed the panic in his heart.

"Sir, the other party has signaled again! Ask us to stop the ship! ”

"Implement combat readiness!"

At the moment when the order was issued, the three warships of the ocean-going fleet, with the "Jiyuan" armored cruiser as the main force, immediately became busy, and the sailors and midshipmen rushed to their gun positions one after another, aiming their guns at the "Karami."

"Did they get out of the way?"

After getting a negative answer, Huang Zhongying's brows frowned, and he ordered in a deep voice.

"Speed up, if the other party doesn't get out of the way, ...... Prepare for the impact! ”

Perhaps at the time of departure, the commander has the principle of "the first shot will not be fired by me", but it does not mean that there is no other choice, and the implementation of the collision when necessary is the most basic encounter principle.

There was no accident, almost without any concession when the Chinese warship rushed towards the port, the "Karami", which had tried to block its movement, finally chose to avoid it, and for the Americans on board, almost at the moment when the Chinese warship appeared, they knew that everything was no longer within their control.

"As I said, the marshal will definitely send warships, and the marshal will definitely send warships! You see, you see......"

Pointing to the three warships approaching the port, Zheng Guolin looked very excited, as the manager of the Lahaina branch, he is also a business leader, in the past 100 days, he has woken up from nightmares many times, for fear that after waking up from a dream, Lahaina will be controlled by the Americans.

If he is just the manager of the company, he doesn't need to worry about this, but he is still the consul in Hawaii, not only that, he is also an intelligence officer, and the "Hawaii Plan" is being promoted by him, but the work has only just begun, and the discord between the overseas Chinese, mainly the Cantonese and the Hakka, has just been resolved, but the Americans have launched a coup d'état first, and they have not even waited for him to deploy in Honolulu, so the only thing he can do is to defend Lahaina and ensure that this advantageous area of the Chinese is under his control, At the same time, information is sent out to the country, and until a decision is made in the country, his duty is to stay here and defend the city.

Fortunately, neither the Provisional Government nor the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Charleston, which supports the American diaspora, had no intention of triggering a war and thus creating a pretext for China to intervene in Hawaii, so it has been able to hold on to the present.

Well, from now on, you don't have to worry about it yourself!

Warship!

Is this the warship of Tangshan?

Although his mother is a Hawaiian princess, Chen Xidu is more like a Chinese, and at this time, when he saw a Chinese warship for the first time, he also looked very excited, and even the tears were rolling in his eyes.

The dock was already crowded with people, and the sailors and overseas wanderers who had been away from their homeland for months left tears of excitement at the moment they saw the warship from the motherland, especially those immigrants who only knew the Cantonese and Hakka people, and at the moment they saw the warship, they seemed to understand why Consul Zheng kept telling them that there was no so-called Cantonese and Hakka, and in the eyes of foreigners, they were just Chinese, just Chinese who could be bullied casually.

Now that the warships of the motherland are coming, do those foreign devils dare to bully them again?

"Toot ......"

The whistle echoed in Lahaina, on Maui, and the side of the warship was full of heavily armed marines, who had been tossed in the ocean for more than twenty years, and finally saw their long-awaited land, and when they appeared in people's sights, they turned their eyes to Lorenzo, who was pale, and Chen Xidu said in a triumphant and proud tone.

"Lorenzo, didn't you ask me, where are the Chinese warships? Now, I can answer you - right here, right in front of your eyes! (To be continued.) )