Chapter 707: Destroying the Country (Asking for a Monthly Pass)

PS: The third update is here, asking for subscriptions, monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you for the tip!

In the face of the Chinese Empire's ambitions for the Hawaiian Kingdom, France chose to remain silent, although Britain was very dissatisfied with this, but given that Britain had no military strength in the Hawaiian Islands at the moment, it was naturally unable to organize the actions of the Chinese Empire. The U.S. minister will definitely send people back to the United States to ask for help as soon as possible, but it will take at least a month to come and go. The Chinese will certainly not occupy the Kingdom of Hawaii in more than a month. The weak military strength of the Hawaiian Kingdom could not withstand the attack of the Chinese Empire.

Soon, King Kameihameha III received news that the British Minister Bao Ling, although sympathetic to the Hawaiian Kingdom's plight, could only support the Hawaiian Kingdom spiritually, and they had no way to provide substantial help to the Hawaiian Kingdom. All the Minister could do was to report the matter to the British and wait for the decision to be made. Of course, he also knew that Britain was unlikely to go to war with the Chinese Empire for the sake of a Hawaiian kingdom. Although the geographical location of the Kingdom of Hawaii was very important, with the transfer of Australia to the Chinese Empire, Britain had little interest in the Pacific. The center of gravity of their interests is still the Atlantic coast. What's more, Britain's current national policy is to sit back and watch the tiger fight, and sit back and watch China go to war with Russia and the United States, so as to reap the benefits. The life or death of the tiny Hawaiian kingdom is naturally none of their business.

U.S. Minister Kent also said that there was nothing he could do about it, and he had already expressed the U.S. government's protest to Yang Wenhua, the Imperial Chinese Minister to the Kingdom of Hawaii. Even at the risk of war. However, none of this could change the determination of the Chinese Empire. Unless the U.S. government really goes to war against the Chinese Empire. There was no other way for him to do it. Does the United States really dare to go to war against the Chinese Empire? The Minister of Kent also knew that this was impossible. Although the United States promised King Kamehameha III of Hawaii that it would protect the Kingdom of Hawaii. However, when it comes to a power like the Chinese Empire, their promises are completely empty promises.

As a result, the Counsellor Richards, the advisor to the Kingdom of Hawaii, had no choice but to return to the Iolani Palace in despair and report the situation to King Kamehameha III. There is no doubt that the current situation is very critical for the Kingdom of Hawaii.

"His Majesty the King. The arrival of the Chinese was too sudden, the United States was not prepared for this at all, and we did not have enough strength to stop the Chinese for the time being. Therefore. Let's run away! Flee the Kingdom of Hawaii and wait until the American army arrives to drive the Chinese away. Pastor Richards said. Obviously, he got it. Now the Kingdom of Hawaii is simply unable to defend itself against the invasion of the Chinese.

"Run? Where can they escape? I am the King of the Kingdom of Hawaii. I want to be with my people! Kamehameha III said stubbornly. In addition, he looked at Pastor Richards with some hatred. It's all this guy, if he hadn't angered the Chinese, if it weren't for those American businessmen in the Kingdom of Hawaii who bullied the Chinese, maybe it wouldn't have come to this point. However, it is too late to say this.

"Come on, go and invite Minister Yang Wenhua. I'm going to talk to him. Kamehameha III said. Now, he found the Americans unreliable. I had to figure it out on my own. The only way, presumably, is to compromise with the Chinese.

"Your Majesty, what do you want to do?" Pastor Richards suddenly had a bad premonition.

"Your Excellency, now that the Chinese army is pressing, I have no other way, I can only compromise with the Chinese. Let those American businessmen who have encroached on the interests of the Chinese obediently make compensation! Otherwise, my country would be gone! Kamehameha III said angrily.

"No! This is absolutely not a no-go. The actions of American businessmen are legitimate business practices, and their interests should be guaranteed! Pastor Richards jumped up like a cat that had been stepped on by its tail.

"Your Excellency, there is no other way!" Kamehameha III said stubbornly.

However, the palace guards then told Kamehameha III that Minister Yang Wenhua refused to come to the Iolani palace. Moreover, the Chinese Legation has been put under martial law, and the guards of the embassy are even more ready for battle. This made Kamehameha III's heart continue to sink.

There was no way, Kamehameha III had to rush to the Chinese legation in person, and for the sake of his country, he could only make a last-ditch effort. This was his duty as king. He knew that if there was a war, the Kingdom of Hawaii would not have any chance of winning.

"Your Excellency, I am very sorry for the injustice suffered by the Chinese in the Kingdom of Hawaii. I have ordered a thorough investigation into this matter, and I will certainly do justice to those Chinese. From now on, it will never happen again. After meeting Minister Yang Wenhua, Kamehameha III hurriedly said, took the initiative to admit his mistakes, and made a lot of promises.

"Your Majesty, I gave you an ultimatum three days ago, and I have left you plenty of time. However, in exchange for nothing more than the repeated perfunctory behavior of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Yang Wenhua said coldly. Seeing Kamehameha III's low voice, he couldn't help but feel very relieved. This king usually relies on the Americans to support them, but he has never taken the Chinese in his eyes.

"Your Excellency, this is my negligence, and I promise that it will never happen again." Kamehameha III hurriedly said. He was also very aggrieved in his heart, and Minister Yang Wenhua did not say that the Chinese fleet would arrive in Honolulu three days ago. If he knew that this would happen, he would definitely not perfunctory Yang Wenhua. This is simply a pit man!

"Humph! I'm sorry, His Majesty the King. It's too late now. The Imperial Expeditionary Fleet is ready for battle. If you don't want to lose your life, His Majesty the King can choose to surrender to us. Minister Yang Wenhua said. This was the first time he had made a clear statement to King Kamehameha III of Hawaii. And it is to reveal the ambitions of the Chinese Empire.

"Ahh Your Excellency, do you really want to annex Hawaii? Kamehameha III was shocked. He originally thought that the Chinese Empire's army was only here to take revenge on the Hawaiian Kingdom. But I didn't expect that the Chinese Empire's ambitions would be so great that it would actually annex the Kingdom of Hawaii.

"This is not annexation, this is just to protect the interests of our Chinese!" Minister Yang Wenhua said with a smile. However, even fools understand what he means.

"Your Excellency, the Kingdom of Hawaii is an independent country recognized by the rest of the world, and the annexation of Hawaii by the Chinese Empire will cause dissatisfaction among other countries!" King Kamehameha III said. The country is weak, and in order to protect the country, it can only turn to other countries for help.

"Other countries? Haha, who would go to war for a tiny Hawaiian kingdom and empire? Minister Yang Wenhua said disdainfully.

Kamehameha III was speechless for a while, with the great strength of the Chinese Empire, there are really few countries that have the courage to go to war against the Chinese Empire.

"The United States is the backing of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and they will not sit idly by and watch the Chinese Empire annex the Kingdom of Hawaii." King Kamehameha III said.

"Americans? Hum! Compared to the Empire, the Americans are like a little child, and if they dare to come, the Empire will make them pay a heavy price! Minister Yang Wenhua said. These days, he also has a great hatred for Americans, and now is the time for revenge.

"The Hawaiians will not give in to you, and you will pay a heavy price if you want to invade the Hawaiian Kingdom. We will fight to the end! Kamehameha III said firmly.

"Your Majesty, follow my advice! If you don't come to your senses, you'll only pay a greater price. At that time, the population of the Kingdom of Hawaii will be further reduced. Minister Yang Wenhua said that with the way the Empire's * army fights, if these Hawaiian natives resist, they will definitely be slaughtered by the Empire's * army. This kind of thing, the Empire* army did not do less in the South Seas. Quite a few indigenous tribes were wiped out by the Empire* armies. In the eyes of the Imperial* army, there was no difference between these Hawaiians and Natives.

King Kamehameha III's voluntary compromise and concession still did not achieve any effect, and he could only leave the Chinese legation in hatred.

As soon as he returned to the Iolani Palace, he ordered the troops of the Hawaiian Kingdom to be put into combat readiness. By this time, the war had already begun!

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! "Three 'Shang-class' cruisers of the Chinese expeditionary fleet opened fire on the harbor's fortifications four kilometers from the port of Honolulu. Dense shells exploded in the harbor, enveloping the Hawaiian fortifications in smoke.

The military strength of the Hawaiian Kingdom was already very weak, and the fortifications in the port of Honolulu were only a few old guns. These artillery, which has not been used for a long time, are already rusty. It is simply impossible to rely on such fortifications to withstand the attack of the Empire* army.

The heavy artillery fire terrified the residents of Honolulu, who stayed at home and did not dare to go out, while praying that the shells would not fall on their heads.

The bombardment of the Chinese expeditionary fleet lasted only twenty minutes, and the port of Honolulu was in shambles, with many broken wooden planks floating on the sea, all left behind by accidentally damaged merchant ships.

After that, units of the 5th and 3rd battalions of the 4th Marine Brigade of the Imperial Army, began to land. The war against the Kingdom of Hawaii began. (To be continued......)