Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 279: Morality is something you talk to people about!
Guangzhou, Tang Palace!

The generals of the Tang army gathered together to discuss the battle situation.

"According to the news coming back from the various prefectures along the coast of Guangdong, the Eight-Nation Alliance did not completely withdraw after their defeat at Humen Shajiao."

"Instead, they divided their troops into dozens of groups and randomly landed in various coastal prefectures of our Tang Dynasty to carry out harassment and looting."

"There have been several urgent reports from the local area."

"So far, 11 coastal towns and villages in Huizhou, Chaozhou, Zhanjiang, Gaozhou and other places have been robbed and massacred, and thousands of people have been killed."

Zuo Zongtang spoke up and informed the generals of the current situation.

Although the Tang Dynasty called on the people along the coast to organize themselves into militias and build strongholds for self-protection based on villages, towns and clans before the war.

But there is a gap between the militia formed by villagers and a real army.

Not every militia could win against the foreigners like the one in Pinghai Town.

On the contrary, most of the militias suffered losses for various reasons, and only a few were able to win.

"In addition, the Qing army in Fujian sent troops to harass Jiaying and Chaozhou, seemingly cooperating with the foreigners in the war."

"The garrisons in Jiaying and Chaozhou had to face both the invasion of the Qing army and the harassment of foreigners, so their manpower was inevitably stretched to the limit."

Zuo Zongtang then repeated the battle report.

When everyone heard this, they were all silent. They looked at each other and then turned their eyes to Li Yi who was sitting in the main seat.

Li Yi was silent for a while, then started to make arrangements.

"First, mobilize all cavalry units in our army to rush to the coastal states in urgent need and annihilate any coalition forces that dare to land."

"Second, take advantage of the fact that the Eight-Nation Alliance is harassing the fleets of the various prefectures along the coast of the Tang Dynasty and the main forces of the fleets are dispersed. Order our naval fleet to attack immediately, find the isolated coalition fleet, engage in a decisive battle with it, and annihilate it."

"If the main forces of the fleets of the Eight-Nation Alliance gather together, our Tang Dynasty cannot defeat them, but since they dare to disperse, we can still fight them."

"Third, go and pull out some of the officials around the British and French ministers or business representatives detained by the Tang Dynasty, and chop them all off."

"Then, send the heads to the fleet of the Eight-Nation Alliance."

"Tell those beasts who are worse than pigs and dogs that war is a matter between soldiers. If they dare to plunder the coast of our Tang Dynasty again and kill and injure our Tang people, I will kill all the foreigners in the Tang Dynasty and bury them with the Tang people who died!"

Although it is a bit despicable to use the enemy's envoys to threaten the other side during the war.

However, those foreign devils came to the territory of the Tang Dynasty to kill and injure civilians and rob people. Is Li Yi still trying to talk about morality with them?

Morality is something we talk about with people.

The Eight-Nation Alliance, which could not defeat the Tang army and so ran to bully the people of the Tang Dynasty, are a bunch of beasts.

It’s no use talking about civilization and morality with beasts. The only language they can understand is the roar of guns and cannons.

Only when you hurt them will they listen to reason with you.

Besides, at least Li Yi was just doing what an official does and he didn’t intend to kill foreign businessmen in China.

Compared with the Eight-Nation Alliance who directly attacked the people and plundered civilians, even if they cannot be called saints, they can definitely be called morally noble.

Hearing what Li Yi said, Zuo Zongtang on the side couldn't help but speak up to advise him.

"Your Majesty, when two countries are at war, envoys should not be killed!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi just snorted coldly.

"Then don't kill them. Cut off one hand of each minister and consul from each country, and then send them to the bastards of the Eight-Nation Alliance. Tell them that if they attack the people of the Tang Dynasty again, they will be beheaded next time."

"This doesn't count as beheading the envoy, does it?"

Upon hearing this, Zuo Zongtang opened his mouth, unable to refute.

He could see that Li Yi was really angry and had made up his mind.

Not to mention him, even if all the generals tried to dissuade him together, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to make Li Yi change his mind.

When the others saw this, they all responded in agreement.

The Chinese of this era actually did not take foreigners seriously, and naturally did not think that offending foreigners to death was a big deal, so they did not object to Li Yi's decision.

……

French Legation.

Bulblom was sipping red wine and reading a book, looking relaxed.

Although he had already known about the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance and the successive setbacks in Hong Kong and Humen, Bulblom still believed it was a good thing.

As long as the coalition forces arrive, no matter whether they win or not, they will have to negotiate in the end.

As soon as the peace talks are over, his house arrest will naturally be lifted!
How could this not be considered a good thing for him?

Although he was provided with food and drink by the Tang Dynasty during his confinement, the feeling of having his freedom restricted was still suffocating.

Today, Bulbulon is like a bird trapped in a cage for a long time, looking forward to the freedom he has been away from for a long time.

At this moment, the door of his study was pushed open from the outside, and the servant Victor rushed in in panic.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, something has happened!"

"Tang soldiers broke into the embassy and are heading towards you..."

Upon hearing this, Bulbulon's expression changed.

"What's going on? Why did the Tang army suddenly break into the embassy?"

You know, although the Tang Dynasty restricted Bulbulon's going out in the past, the Tang army soldiers could only stand guard outside the embassy at most.

Normally, people would not break into the embassy!

It can be considered as giving a little respect to Minister Bulbrunn.

Victor took a deep breath, but before he could explain, there was a sound of footsteps outside.

A Tang army officer wearing a military cap and a sword on his waist walked in from outside, walked up to Bulbulon and said in a cold voice.

"No need to ask him. I will explain it to the Minister."

"Your coalition forces were defeated by our Great Tang Heavenly Soldiers in Humen, Hong Kong, but you still don't know the destiny." "You harassed and plundered our Great Tang coastal areas, killing and injuring a large number of our Great Tang civilians. You are shameless and heartless."

"The king has ordered that I lend you my hands to give it to those beasts who are worse than pigs and dogs as a warning to them."

"War is a military matter. If they dare to attack the people of our Tang Dynasty again, we will kill all the foreigners in the Tang Dynasty and avenge the people who were killed."

As he was speaking, several Tang army soldiers rushed forward and pinned Bulbulon to the ground.

"Squad leader, should we chop off the left hand or the right hand?"

A Tang army soldier looked up and asked.

Upon hearing this, the officer in charge spoke without any hesitation.

"Right hand!"

Li Yi only said to cut off one hand, but did not say which one.

In this case, they naturally thought of the more serious aspect and defaulted to cutting the more important right hand.

Well, unless the other person is left-handed!
The Tang army hated these foreigners who could not defeat the Tang army and so bullied the Tang people.

Immediately afterwards, Bulbron's right hand was pulled out.

Bulbrunn struggled and shouted hard, but he was unable to break free from the grip of several strong soldiers.

"No! You can't do this!"

"I am the minister, I am the minister of France. What you are doing will only further intensify the conflict..."

However, the Tang army soldiers ignored Bulbulon's shouting and continued to act on their own.

With a "swish" sound and a flash of knife light, Bulbrunn's right hand was cut off at the shoulder.

Blood spurts out!

Bulbron looked at the arm that had been separated from his body, horror and disbelief still lingering in his eyes.

I couldn't help but let out a scream!
"Oh! my hand, my hand!"

The Tang army officer picked up the arm that he had cut off at the root, and took it out again with the box that he used to hold the hand.

After a brief gesture, he found that he seemed to have cut too much.

He didn't care too much. He raised the knife and cut the wrist of the broken arm again. Then he picked up the severed hand and put it in the box.

As for the remaining arm, he kicked it aside casually.

It was obvious that he did it on purpose.

In fact, if you want to chop, just chop off the hands.

However, in order to take revenge on these damn foreigners, he simply chopped off their arms as well.

Although it doesn't make any sense, it's a good way to vent!

After doing all this, he casually ordered the military doctor who came with him to stop Bulbourn's bleeding. The group left the French embassy without looking back and went to the palace to report.

……

With flags waving and sails reaching the sky and the sound of war drums resounding, the Tang army's naval fleet set out to attack.

They sailed out of the Humen estuary, drove along the coast, and headed straight towards Huizhou Prefecture.

The combat objective of the Tang army fleet in this battle was very clear, which was to harass the Allied fleet in Huizhou Prefecture.

The reason why this squadron was chosen as the target.

One reason is that Huizhou is close to Guangzhou.

The second reason is that the Tang army has already discovered that the commander of the coalition forces, Earl Elgin, is now in this squadron.

If the Tang army could annihilate this squadron of the coalition forces and capture Earl Elgin, perhaps the war could be ended in one fell swoop.

Standing on the deck, Fang Haiyang looked into the distance with a dim gaze and an emotional tone.

"I hope this trip will go well!"

Wu Quanmei on the side spoke to comfort her.

"Why worry so much, Commander?"

"In the previous Humen Sea Battle, our Tang Dynasty was able to win even with fewer troops against more."

"This time we are only dealing with a small fleet of the enemy. We have the advantage and we will win this battle!"

Wu Quanmei once served in the Qing army, but later surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.

Although he and Fang Haiyang had been enemies and fought each other, they later became friends. They had similar interests and got along very well.

Today, Wu Quanmei is already Fang Haiyang's deputy.

After hearing this, Fang Haiyang nodded and said.

"All of America is right!"

"This battle will surely win for us, Tang Dynasty!"

After saying this, he turned around and gave instructions.

"Order the fleet to speed up and rush to the battlefield as soon as possible."

"This battle will not end until victory!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Tang army fleet set sail and headed towards Huizhou Prefecture at full speed.

Countless people across the fleet shouted in unison.

"Tang Dynasty will win forever, we will not return until we win!"

"Tang Dynasty will win forever, we will not return until we win!"

(End of this chapter)