Chapter 144: The Proud British

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"Also, Minister Wu, you can get in touch with the British consul. It would be great if the two sides could shake hands and make peace. However, it is necessary to ensure that the interests of western Sichuan will not be harmed. We now have more than 3,000 British prisoners of war in our hands, and even for the sake of these 3,000 people, the British side must consider it carefully! Wang Xiao said. It would be best if the war could be stopped.

"Yes, handsome! I'll meet with Consul Juerdian tomorrow! Wu Tingfang nodded. Now that Kawanishi has won the victory, the British side should not be so arrogant anymore! After all, now it is the western Sichuan side that has gained the advantage, and the British side has suffered heavy losses!

Regarding Wang Xiao's decision, cabinet members also agreed. After all, now that Western Sichuan does not have the strength to fully compete with Britain, it would be better to be able to accept it when it is good and end the war as soon as possible.

Early the next morning, the 13th Division of the Western Sichuan Army left the barracks and marched to the plateau. Although the 13th Division is a newly formed unit, these soldiers are mainly from retired veterans, and there is not much gap between their combat quality and the active soldiers of the Western Sichuan Army. After half a year of training, it is already on par with the main force in western Sichuan.

This time, the 13th Division was ordered to enter the plateau to support the battle on the border, and everyone was very excited. It is the responsibility of every soldier to protect the family and defend the country, and the commander can give this task to their 13th Division, which is worthy of their division! Although everyone knows that the environment on the plateau is very harsh and there is a possibility of dying on the battlefield, everyone is not afraid. Even a young marshal can command a battle at the border, let alone these people? The 13th Division, with more than 18,000 men, carrying only a small amount of artillery, rushed to the plateau area.

In addition, major newspapers such as "Sichuan West Daily", "Sichuan Daily", "Tianfu Morning News", and "Chengdu Evening News" in western Sichuan reported on the victory of the western Sichuan army on the border with large pages on their front pages. Although there are no photographs, there is only a large text throughout. But the detailed description of the causes, processes and victories of the war makes people not believe it. In addition, several major newspapers in western Sichuan have reported on it, which makes the people of western Sichuan even more convinced of this.

In the whole of Sichuan, there are very few people who know that Sichuanxi is fighting with the British. In order not to cause panic, the government has also deliberately blocked such news. After all, for the Chinese people who are accustomed to losing battles in foreign wars, if Kawanishi and the British face each other, it will inevitably cause everyone to panic. Now that western Sichuan is developing at a high speed, it cannot affect the construction of western Sichuan. Now that the Western Sichuan Army has won, it is time to officially report the news to everyone.

"Extra! Extra! My people in western Sichuan defeated the British army in Cuona County, Plateau Province, and annihilated more than 20,000 enemies! "The newsboys were shouting loudly in the streets.

"What? Fighting with the British? Still won? This news, for most people, seems like a dream. Although everyone knows that Sichuanxi is much stronger than the Manchus, they never thought that Sichuanxi would be able to defeat the great powers. With unbelief and a little panic, many people paid for newspapers. Later, they read the guò newspaper and understood the cause and effect.

"He's the best, those *** British devils, who are trying to occupy our territory by force, it's damn damned!" After finishing the newspaper, they scolded one after another. After decades of education by the government of western Sichuan, the people of western Sichuan now attach great importance to the concept of territory.

"The young marshal is really good. Only last year, he led the army to Beijing and almost pulled the emperors of the Manchu Qing Dynasty off the dragon chair. And now again the defeat of the British on the plateau. I have a successor in western Sichuan! ”

"More than 20,000 enemies were annihilated, but only more than 3,000 Britons were captured, and the rest were Indians. Here's a fierce battle ahead! "There are also many people of insight who realize that it is too late to talk about victory now. However, the victory at the beginning was also very exciting.

The most excited are the students. The colleges and universities in western Sichuan, as soon as they heard about this situation in the newspapers, were shaken and organized students to march in the streets to protest against the British attempt and celebrate the victory of the western Sichuan army. Their actions have also led people from all walks of life. The whole of Chengdu has fallen into this frenzied atmosphere and so on.

"Down with the British devils, get out of the western Sichuan!" A large number of students, gathered outside the British consulate, pulled banners and shouted slogans. Some of the more radical students threw rocks, rotten eggs, and rotten vegetable leaves into the consulate. The British guards at the consulate had to close the gates, as if they were facing a great enemy. Over the years, Britain has been rampant everywhere, where can such a situation be encountered!

"What's going on out there?" Zhu Erdian worked too late last night, so he woke up a little late this morning. However, while he was still asleep, he was woken up. As soon as the curtain was opened, a large crowd of protesters gathered outside the consulate, which startled Zhu Erdian. Despite the fact that he was still wearing pajamas, he ran downstairs.

"Your Excellency, the people outside are here to protest against our attack on western Sichuan. This is the major newspapers of the day, and they are all introduced on it. In addition, the newspaper also said that the Western Sichuan Army had won a heavy victory. Henry? Lord Wellesley was defeated, and less than 3,000 of the 30,000-strong army fled from the Chinese border. Our 2nd Infantry Brigade was wiped out! A staff member at the consulate said.

"What? Defeated? Zhu Erdian's eyes were dark, and he almost fell to the ground. He still remembers that when the conflict first began, he was so arrogant that he said to Wu Tingfang, the foreign minister in western Sichuan, "You will regret it." But I didn't expect that it had only been a long time, and the people who failed had become them, which made him arrogant how could he stand it.

Zhu Erdian grabbed the newspaper and began to read. He doesn't have any problems reading Chinese characters. After passing the newspaper, Zhu Erdian knew that this Britain was real. It is impossible for the western Sichuan side to joke about such an important matter. However, he was a little puzzled as to why the war that took place yesterday afternoon was in the newspaper today. Of course, this is only a minor issue. What matters now is how to clean up such a mess.

"Damn Henry? Wellesley, he simply disgraced the title of Duke of Wellington. Whoever comes, immediately report the matter here to His Excellency the Minister, and ask him how to deal with it. Zhu Erdian said. He is just a consul, and it is not his turn to call the shots for such a big thing. Even if it is Ogna, the minister to China, I am afraid that he will have to ask the country.

"Your Excellency, Minister Wu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Western Sichuan has invited you to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." At this time, a consulate staff member walked in and said.

"Hmph, those guys who came to western Sichuan thought they had a chance to win. Prepare the carriage for me and set off through the back door! Zhu Erdian said. He hurriedly went upstairs to change his clothes, didn't even have time to eat breakfast, and rushed directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in western Sichuan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Western Sichuan, located near Baihuatan, is a large compound covering an area of hundreds of acres.

When Zhu Erdian rushed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in western Sichuan, Wu Tingfang was already waiting for him.

"Your Excellency Zhu Erdian, I am very happy to see you again!" Wu Tingfang said with a smile.

"Your Excellency, I'm glad to see you!" Zhu Erdian said with a smile. However, his smile seemed so far-fetched. Comparatively, the British army has just suffered a big defeat, how can he be happy.

"Your Excellency Minister, I don't know what you came to talk about today?" Zhu Erdian asked straight to the point. Although he had already guessed Wu Tingfang's intentions, the basic diplomatic rhetoric still had to be used.

"That's right, Your Excellency Juerdian. The marshal believes that the armed conflict that is now breaking out on the plateau between our two countries is a disaster for both of our countries. Therefore, Kawanishi believes that we, the British, sit down and settle the dispute through negotiations, not by force! Wu Tingfang said with a smile, looking quite confident. The military victory gave him great confidence.

"Is this a good thing to accept if you want to see it?" Zhu Erdian thought secretly. However, how can Britain not fight back after suffering a loss? Otherwise, where will this leave Britain's face?

"Your Excellency, Minister. Such a heavy decision is not something I can decide. I will report back to His Excellency Minister Ogna. Zhu Erdian said.

"Alright then, then I'll wait for your Excellency's reply. We, the western Sichuan side, really want to maintain a good partnership with the British Empire. I hope that the conflict on the border will not affect the friendly relations between us! Wu Tingfang said.

"Of course, our British Empire has always attached great importance to friendly relations with western Sichuan!" Zhu Erdian also said with a smile.

Subsequently, Zhu Erdian said goodbye and left. As soon as he arrived at Wu Tingfang's confident smile, he felt very unhappy. However, this can not be helped, who called others to win on the battlefield? As soon as he thought of this, he couldn't help but curse Henry again? Wellesley, if he hadn't lost the battle, he wouldn't have been so embarrassed.

Ogna, who was far away in Beijing, was also shocked when he learned the news. On the one hand, it is urgent to contact the country, and at the same time, let Zhu Erdian stabilize the western Sichuan side. As for shaking hands and making peace, that is certainly impossible. Britain has never been one to suffer. Even if the war is lost now, the war is not over. If they want to negotiate peace, it has to be when the British have gained an advantage on the battlefield and then appear as a victor on the western Sichuan side. And not now, as a loser. This is the pride of the British Empire cultivated over hundreds of years, and it is also the pride of every British!

PS: The second update is here! (To be continued.)