Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 274 The Nature of Robbers

In fact, Elgin did not want to negotiate with the Tang Dynasty.

But he can't help it!
For this expedition, the British army mobilized only one native regiment and three Indian colonial regiments to participate in the war, with a total of about 5,000 people.

But in this Battle of Humen, the Allied Forces responsible for the landing operation were the British Army in addition to the indigenous vassal troops in Southeast Asia.

In this battle, the British army deployed a native regiment and two colonial regiments. Now all of them have been defeated on the battlefield and none of them have been withdrawn.

In other words, Elgin now only has one Indian regiment left.

And everyone must understand the fighting power of the Indians.

Our main force has been wiped out, what’s the point of fighting?
Everyone looked at each other, and the coalition deputy commander Gro asked.

"It's not that peace talks are impossible, but our army has no bargaining chips at the moment."

"If we want to negotiate with the Tang Kingdom, I'm afraid it will be difficult to gain an advantage."

In two consecutive fierce battles in Hong Kong and Humen, not only the British army suffered heavy losses, but the French army also suffered considerable casualties.

Therefore, Gro was now willing to negotiate and spoke up to help Elgin break the current deadlock.

When everyone heard this, they all looked at Gro, as if asking for his opinion.

Elgin nodded and said.

"Sir Grog has a point."

"We must make the Tang Kingdom realize that we have the ability and capital to threaten them, so that the peace talks can be peace talks."

"That's something to talk about!"

"Otherwise, it would be a one-sided request for peace from us."

After speaking, Elgin asked.

"What does Lord Grog think?"

Groh stroked his chin and thought for a while, then spoke.

"Although the Tang army won this battle, it also exposed one of their weaknesses."

"That is because the navy is too weak."

"With the current naval power of the Tang Kingdom, it may be possible to defend the mouth of the Pearl River with the help of artillery batteries, but it is absolutely impossible to fight a decisive battle in the open sea with our coalition fleet."

"Therefore, our advantage in the navy is the key to breaking the deadlock in this battle."

Ergin seemed to understand something, raised his eyebrows and spoke.

"Sir Gro means that we can use our maritime advantage to harass the coastal towns of the Tang Dynasty, causing losses to the Tang Dynasty, and then force the Tang Dynasty to actively seek peace with us?"

Hearing this, Ge Luo nodded slightly.

"Indeed."

In Gro's opinion, the coalition forces' combat effectiveness was indeed inferior to that of the Tang army.

However, the coalition forces had absolute advantage at sea.

In other words, the initiative of the war was on the side of the coalition forces from beginning to end.

Whether to fight or not, when to fight and where to fight are all decided by the coalition forces.

The coalition forces were indeed no match for the Tang army.

However, if we can’t defeat the Tang army, can we still defeat the people of the Tang Dynasty?
Wait for the coalition forces to harass the coast, capture a few more coastal towns of the Tang State, and kill more people...

When the Tang Kingdom can no longer bear it, it will naturally take the initiative to seek peace with the coalition forces.

By then, although the Tang State, which had taken the initiative to seek peace, would not allow them to have whatever they wanted, they would still be able to take a little bit of Tang State's meat if they wanted to.

Palu, the representative of the Kingdom of Sardinia, also spoke up.

"That's a good idea."

"Moreover, we can also replenish the logistics and food supplies needed for the army's operations while harassing the Tang country's coast, and slightly recover the losses of the coalition forces during the long expedition."

Palu’s meaning was very clear, rob him!
Grab is earn!

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Even Elgin's originally depressed mood became cheerful again.

The nature of a group of robbers is fully revealed!
……

Humen, Shajiao.

Wounded Barracks!
Although the war was over, there were still some wailing sounds in the camp.

This is a military doctor of the Tang army treating the wounded.

Although the Tang army won a great victory in this battle, there were also casualties.

It is now dark, but the wounded soldiers are still busy, which is the best proof.

Yang Yuebin was lying on the hospital bed. The pillow and mattress under him were very soft, and there was a smell of freshly-exposed sunlight, making him sleep very comfortably.

But because of the severe pain from the wound on his thigh, he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

He was captured by the Tang army in Changsha.

After being captured, he was a prisoner of war for a period of time before surrendering to the Tang army.

After surrendering, Yang Yuebin was transferred to the Dongting Lake Fleet which was being formed at that time, and started as an ordinary soldier.

Later, he made great contributions in the suppression of bandits in Dongting Lake and the war in the east to the south of the Yangtze River, and was promoted to the captain of a warship.

Then, he was transferred from the Dongting Lake Squadron to the Pearl River Squadron, where he remained as captain.

Today was the first time he witnessed a real naval battle.

To be honest, Yang Yuebin was scared.

Before this, he had never realized that naval battles could be fought like this!

From beginning to end, there was no close combat between the Tang army and the coalition forces, and both sides were always using artillery to bombard each other.

They've been fighting each other all the time!
In such a war, the personal strength that he was proud of had almost become completely useless.

Although he was lying on the hospital bed with his mind in a mess, he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

He couldn't help but wonder if there would be any future for a brave general like himself.

Should I learn something about naval command?

Yang Yuebin was deep in thought when suddenly a cheer came from outside. Yang Yuebin pricked up his ears to listen, but he couldn't hear what was being shouted outside.

Finally, the door of his ward was pushed open from the outside, and a man walked in with a smile on his face.

Yang Yuebin looked carefully and recognized the person.

This is his superior, Chen Guotai, who was also a surrendered general. However, because he surrendered relatively early, he is now the deputy commander of the Pearl River Squadron and is considered a senior figure in the Tang Dynasty Navy.

Since both of them were surrendered generals, they were closer to each other and had a good relationship.

"Commander, why are you here?"

"You look so smiling, but is there anything good happening?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Guotai just smiled and said.

"Hahaha, of course there's something good."

"Our army won a great victory in the Humen Campaign. The king was extremely happy to hear the good news and wrote a letter to express his appreciation to our frontline soldiers. Do you think this is a good thing?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuebin couldn't help but ask.

"Your Majesty's handwriting?"

"What did you write? Commander, please don't keep me in suspense!"

Chen Guotai continued to laugh heartily.

"The king personally wrote [Valiant warriors, the pillars of the country] to commend our frontline soldiers."

"Hahaha, I never thought that I, Old Chen, would be rewarded by the king one day. It's such an honor."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuebin couldn't help but smile.

For soldiers who are used to being looked down upon and despised in this era, this kind of respect and praise from their superiors is really exciting.

After they laughed, Chen Guotai patted Yang Yuebin on the shoulder and spoke.

"My Tang Dynasty values ​​military merit the most, especially military merit in external wars."

"With this battle at Humen as your qualification, it will be much easier for you to get promoted in the future."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuebin also nodded vigorously.

I can't help but enjoy the future.

After thinking for a while, Yang Yuebin spoke.

"Commander, I heard that the king is going to set up a naval school in Guangzhou?"

"I want to go there for further studies. Can you introduce me to someone?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Guotai was stunned at first, then he spoke.

"Well, you can."

"How about this, I'll ask the higher-ups for you later, and you wait for my news."

"This shouldn't be a big problem."

"However, I heard that the Naval Academy is preparing to train ordinary sailors and marines. We are officers now, so we may not be able to learn anything if we go there."

"Besides, you're about to get a promotion. If you go to school, won't that delay your future?"

Yang Yuebin scratched his head and said.

"Thank you, Commander."

His attitude was very clear, he just wanted to learn.

Chen Guotai patted Yang Yuebin on the shoulder and said with a smile.

"Take good care of your injuries!"

"I go first."

After saying this, Chen Guotai left the ward.

Yang Yuebin fell into deep thought.

He knew that if he chose to go to school at this time, it might delay his future.

However, Yang Yuebin knew that if he did not study, it would be difficult for him to adapt to the current naval warfare mode in the future.

In order not to fall behind, he could only comfort himself that sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood.

……

Huizhou Prefecture, Pinghai Town!
Today, Mr. Liu in our town is getting married and is hosting a buffet.

As long as the townspeople could go to the mansion and say a few auspicious words, they could sit down and eat and drink.

Although there were no delicacies from land and sea or other delicacies in this buffet, but only ordinary home-cooked dishes, it was a rare delicacy for the common people who seldom eat meat and oil on weekdays.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhang Tian left Liu's residence, staggering toward home.

Zhang Tian drank a lot of wine at the banquet today. He felt dizzy and dazed. In a trance, he unknowingly walked into a forest.

Then, he hit his head against a big tree that was so big that two people could hug it. Then, he fell headfirst beside the tree and fell asleep.

When he woke up again, he was woken up by the urge to pee.

Zhang Tian opened his eyes and looked up at the sky, only to see the stars and the moon hanging high in the sky, with the cold moonlight filling the world.

Zhang Tian shuddered subconsciously. He couldn't hold it any longer, so he got up from the ground, held on to the tree in front of him, untied his belt and started to ejaculate.

Accompanied by a burst of rustling sounds, Zhang Tian's head, which was dizzy from a hangover, finally regained some clarity, and only then did he remember to look around.

Looking at the unfamiliar dense forest around him, Zhang Tian couldn't help but smack his lips.

"Fuck you, where am I doing?"

He continued to look around, and suddenly, through the dense woods, he saw a dark sea in the distance.

Suddenly, I was in a daze and realized that I had run to the beach.

Looking again, he saw a dense mass of light spots appearing on the sea.

At first glance, it seems that the stars in the sky are reflected on the sea.

But if you look closely, you will find that they are actually clusters of fire, which are quite conspicuous against the pitch-black sea.

(End of this chapter)