Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 493 The Civil War Begins!
When he arrived at the gate of the Congress, Huang Weiqi looked up and saw an acquaintance.

Lord Hunt, British Ambassador to the United States!

Hunter looked very stylish at this time, wearing a well-tailored tuxedo, gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, a top hat on his head, and a cane in his hand, looking like an old-fashioned British gentleman.

Huang Weiqi, on the other hand, was wearing a Ming-style round-necked red robe, a black gauze hat, and a jade belt around his waist, and he also had an extraordinary demeanor.

Although the Tang Dynasty is promoting the simplification of clothing, officials still like to wear traditional official uniforms in formal occasions like this.

The two looked at each other, then walked up to each other, hugged each other, and exchanged greetings.

"Hey, Hunter, my friend!"

"Huang, long time no see, how have you been lately?"

During the greetings, Huang Weiqi spoke English while Hunter spoke Chinese.

Although the British of this era were very proud, they knew how to restrain their edge when facing the Tang Dynasty.

Otherwise, the Tang Dynasty will not tolerate them!

Of course, respect is mutual, otherwise the two people would not greet each other in each other's language.

After a brief greeting, the two walked side by side towards the temporary parliament.

On the way, Huang Weiqi spoke.

"Hunter, are you waiting for me at the door?"

Hunter nodded.

"Yes, my old friend."

"I think we need to reach a unified voice before we officially meet with the Americans..."

Although Tang Dynasty and Britain now have the idea of ​​jointly intervening in the American Civil War, they have only reached a common intention.

As for the specific details, they have not yet been discussed.

Huang Weiqi nodded and said.

"Hunter, your idea is correct. It would be best if we could reach a consensus."

"In that case, I will first state the demands of the Tang Dynasty."

Hunter nodded and motioned Huang Weiqi to continue.

Huang Weiqi didn't hesitate to smile and continued speaking.

"First, the Allied Nations must fully open their markets to the Tang Dynasty."

"The agricultural products and mineral products of the Alliance must be given a certain discount when they are exported to the Tang Dynasty."

"In order to facilitate the export of special products from the Alliance to the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty needs to build a port in the coastal concession of the Alliance to facilitate the docking and replenishment of Tang Dynasty ships."

"At present, Datang's requirements are just these three points."

Simply put, the Tang Dynasty's current interests in the South are mainly focused on opening up markets, obtaining primary products such as crops and minerals, and concessioning ports.

They are all relatively simple and not over the top!

The reason why the Tang Dynasty did not make territorial demands was not because it was not interested in the land in America.

It’s because the North and South of the United States have not yet officially gone to war, and the people on both sides haven’t yet fought each other to the point of being brainless.

If the Tang Dynasty made territorial demands at this time, the allied countries would certainly not agree.

When the fighting reaches a fever pitch, with corpses piled up like mountains and blood flowing like rivers, there will be no room for regret.

It’s not too late for the Tang Dynasty to raise its territorial demands again!
At that time, the Allied Powers will have no choice but to agree to this option.

Hunter thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, Great Britain will fully support the interests of the Tang Dynasty."

"And Britain's interests are also very simple..."

In fact, the British side’s demands are very simple. What they need is also the American market, primary products, etc.

It can be said that the interests of both parties are consistent in this regard.

Everyone needs to open up the American market!
Moreover, since the current US market is still a blue ocean, both parties do not have to worry about market saturation in the short term.

Naturally, there is no need to worry about conflicts over market share after the market is saturated.

Since their interests are aligned, there will be no conflict for the time being, and they can naturally work together to reap the benefits.

Soon, the two reached a consensus in a few words.

Prepare to put pressure on the Allies together and force them to agree to their demands for interests.

Soon, the two met the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, in a meeting room.

As soon as the two sides met, they held a cordial and friendly talks.

After a while of arguing, Huang Weiqi spoke first.

"Mr. President, I personally fully agree with your country's basic principle that private property is sacred and inviolable."

"Those slaves are the private property of the slave owners. The northern states have no power to liberate their property on behalf of the slave owners. This is robbery and barbaric robbery!"

"As a civilized country, Tang Dynasty cannot accept such a thing!"

"If the northern states dare to rob the southern states of their property today, they will dare to rob the private property of the citizens of the Tang Dynasty and the United Kingdom in the future."

Huang Weiqi made a righteous and stern statement.

Of course, he was not talking nonsense. To a certain extent, the North's demand for abolition was indeed robbing the South of its property.

The slaves of the Southern slave owners were bought with their own money. Why should the Northerners give the slaves freedom with just a decree?
Now that the slaves have run away, who will be responsible for the loss of interests of the slave owners?

As Huang Weiqi finished speaking, British Ambassador Hunt also spoke.

"Yes, Mr. President, this kind of barbaric and unreasonable behavior is unacceptable to civilized countries around the world."

"Britain is willing to work with Tang to contribute to the independence of the Allied Powers."

Huang Weiqi continued.

"The Tang Dynasty can publicly express its support for the independence of the Allied Powers, and even provide certain assistance to the Allied Powers."

"However, the allied countries also need to satisfy the interests of the Tang Dynasty..."

"First, the Allied Nations need to fully open their markets to the Tang Dynasty. Second, when the Allied Nations sell their primary agricultural products and mineral products to the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty hopes to receive certain preferential treatment."

"Finally, the Tang Dynasty hopes to lease a port along the coast of the Allied Powers to facilitate Tang Dynasty ships to dock and resupply."

Upon hearing this, Jefferson Davis did not agree directly, but asked in return.

"I wonder what support the Tang Dynasty can give our allies?"

Huang Weiqi raised three fingers when he heard this.

"First, the Tang Dynasty can publicly express its support for the independence of the Allied Powers."

This is political support!

"Second, the Tang Dynasty will impose trade sanctions on the northern states. Under the trade sanctions, the Tang Dynasty and its vassal states will cut off trade with the northern states."

This is financial support!
"Third, the Tang Dynasty can send military instructors to help the Allied Forces in combat, and can also accept officers sent by the Allied Forces to study and receive training at the Tang Dynasty's military academies."

This is military support!

Well, after the Tang Dynasty defeated Britain head-on, the Tang Dynasty’s military academies are now among the most prestigious in the world.

What's more important is that the Tang Dynasty is the only country in the world today whose army has thoroughly completed the reform of rear-loading weapons and explored a mature and reliable rear-loading weapons combat system.

Moreover, it is the kind that has experienced the test of war!
There is no need to mention its value!
At the very least, it is much more valuable than the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The Tang Dynasty was willing to send military instructors to the Allied Powers and accept officers from the Allied Powers to study in Tang Dynasty’s military academies. This level of support was considerable.

Jefferson Davis heard this and asked, stroking his chin.

"Then I wonder if the military trade between the Tang Dynasty and the northern states can be cut off?"

Jefferson Davis knew how useful and popular the Tang Dynasty's military equipment was.

If the Tang Dynasty could cut off its military trade with the northern states, then it would be much easier for the Allied Powers to win the war.

Huang Weiqi heard this, his expression remained unchanged, and he just spoke.

"Most of the military trade orders between the Tang Dynasty and the northern states have already been signed, and the Tang Dynasty has already received the deposit."

"The only promise I can make is that unless something unexpected happens, Datang will not sign new orders with Northern States. However, Datang will not and cannot breach the previous orders."

Unlike Western countries, which are completely shameless when it comes to interests and don’t care about credibility or bottom line.

As the Celestial Empire, the Tang Dynasty still has to maintain its dignity.

Now that the peace treaty has been signed, there will be no regrets.

Of course, this actually also means putting pressure on the Allies.

It would be great if your allies agreed to the demands of the Tang Dynasty.

But if you don't agree, don't blame me, the Tang Dynasty, for taking action.

If the Allied Powers do not obey, the military trade treaty between Tang Dynasty and the Federal Powers may not be renewed!
You know, in the conditions Huang Weiqi put forward before, regarding the severance of military trade with the Northern States, he did not make any final statement, he just said that there would be no unexpected events.

As for what this accident was?
Haha, of course it’s a surprise that the allied countries cannot satisfy the interests of the Tang Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Jefferson Davis did not give a direct reply to Huang Weiqi, but instead looked at the British Minister Sir Hunter standing beside him.

"So what does Daying want?"

Sir Hunter said with a smile on his face.

"The needs of Great Britain and Tang Dynasty are basically the same. Great Britain also needs the markets and resources of the Allied Nations."

Upon hearing this, Jefferson Davis pondered for a long time, then nodded vigorously.

"Okay, gentlemen, I will carefully consider your requests and conditions."

"However, I hope that you two gentlemen can attend my inauguration ceremony. At that time, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

Huang Weiqi and Hunter looked at each other when they heard this, and they both saw what the other's eyes wanted to express.

It seemed that Jefferson Davis was ready to agree to their conditions.

The reason why he did not agree directly but waited until the inauguration ceremony was that, in addition to wanting to pull them around, he probably still needed to convince the senior officials within the alliance.

Huang Weiqi and Hunter left the Capitol together.

However, the two did not separate, but got into the same car.

Hunter suggested while sitting in the back seat of the car.

"Dear Huang, I have a great idea here."

"Perhaps Great Britain and Great Tang can cooperate..."

Huang Weiqi raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Hunter, if you have something to say, just speak up. If it's appropriate, Datang will naturally consider it."

Hunter smiled and then said.

"Does the Tang Dynasty think that it is too much trouble to connect the east and west coasts of America by sea and sea because it requires going around the entire American continent?"

Huang Weiqi first nodded in agreement, and then showed a thoughtful expression.

"So, your country wants to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama?"

Hunter nodded slightly after hearing this. "Yes, if we want to speed up the transportation of goods between the east and west coasts of America, then opening a canal in Panama is the best way."

"Panama today belongs to the Republic of Gran Colombia."

"If our Great Britain and Tang Dynasty work together to put pressure on Colombia, I think the Panama Canal should be opened soon."

When Huang Weiqi heard this, the expression on his face showed that he was clearly lost in thought.

After a moment, he asked.

"After the canal is completed, who will own the sovereignty?"

Again, it’s okay for everyone to work together, but before doing anything, how to distribute the benefits must be negotiated in advance.

Otherwise, cooperation may turn into conflict at any time!

Hunter said with a smile.

"Britain and Tang will jointly provide funds and technology. After the canal is completed, both sides will send people to manage it and share the canal's profits equally..."

"What do you think, Ambassador Huang?"

Influenced by the French plan to open the Suez Canal, Britain also prepared to build the Panama Canal.

But since Panama has now been incorporated into the Republic of Gran Colombia, the local situation is more complicated.

The forces of Britain, France, the United States, Spain, and local indigenous forces are complex and intertwined.

If you want to build a canal, you will face great resistance, and it is beyond the capacity of Britain alone to do it.

Therefore, we are planning to bring the Tang Dynasty into the fight.

In the eyes of the British, if the Tang Dynasty and Britain stand together, it will be enough to solve 99% of the world's problems.

There is basically nothing that these two countries cannot accomplish if they are determined to push forward.

Huang Weiqi did not respond rashly after hearing this, but looked thoughtful and replied after thinking for a moment.

“The opening of the Panama Canal is indeed of extraordinary significance.”

"But this matter is of great importance. I need to report it to the court before a decision can be made..."

Hunter heard this and said with a smile.

"No hurry, no hurry!"

"Just take your time!"

……

Time passed, and soon it was the day of President Jefferson Davis' inauguration.

Jefferson Davis stood on the podium, put his hand on a Bible, and solemnly swore to God that he would do a good job as president and lead the Confederacy to resist the tyranny of the Federal Republicans and move towards independence and strength.

After Jefferson Davis' speech.

Huang Weiqi and Hunter appeared together for an interview with the newspaper, and both publicly expressed their support for the southern states to use all means to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

Among a group of foreigners in suits and ties, Huang Weiqi, wearing a scarlet robe, was quite conspicuous.

However, unlike the contempt and discrimination faced by Chinese diplomats abroad during the same period in history, the foreigners in the conference hall looked at Huang Weiqi with eyes full of respect and admiration.

Especially when he spoke in Chinese and expressed that the Tang Dynasty supported the Allied Powers, the whole audience burst into thunderous applause.

No one thought Huang Weiqi’s outfit was funny!

This is the impact of national strength.

As a powerful country that can compete with Britain, the Tang Dynasty must respect its traditions, no matter whether they understand it or not!
After becoming president, Jefferson Davis quickly made arrangements for the current situation on the American continent.

His first presidential order was to order the Confederacy to recruit and form a volunteer army of 100,000 people to deal with the aggressiveness of the northern states.

As a result, 1080 of the 286 active officers in the Union Regular Army resigned or were dismissed and joined the Confederate Army.

Of the 824 active-duty graduates of West Point, 184 joined the Confederate Army and 900 of the 99 retired.

With these core officers, the Southern Army was quickly formed and began to actively carry out pre-war training.

The conflict between the North and the South is on the verge of breaking out!
……

1861, April 4.

Pierre Beauregard, commander of the Confederate Army in South Carolina, led his troops to attack Fort Sumter.

Be prepared to pull out this nail that the North has planted in the heart of the South before the fierce battle begins.

Brigadier General Pierre led his troops to the outside of Fort Sumter.

Looking at the bastion-like building in the distance, his eyes were quite solemn.

"Major Ailon, send someone to ask the garrison to hand over their weapons, give up resistance, and surrender to us!"

"I swear in the name of God, as long as they surrender, I am willing to guarantee their lives!"

Upon hearing this, Major Ailon saluted immediately.

"General, I will arrange for someone to do it right away."

While Ailon arranged people to persuade them to surrender, Pierre continued to order his soldiers to prepare for an offensive.

One cannon after another was pulled out, with the black muzzles aimed towards the fortress.

Among them, there were even several new breech-loading rifled guns that used explosive shells.

Among these breech-loading rifled cannons, some were from the Tang Dynasty and some were imported from Europe.

Over the years, with the military innovation of the Tang Dynasty, Europe was forced to be involved in the arms race and entered the era of rear-loading weapons ahead of schedule.

Those small countries may still continue to use muzzle-loading guns, but major countries such as Britain, France, Prussia, the Netherlands, Spain, etc. have begun to replace them with breech-loading weapons on a large scale.

Industrial powers such as Britain, France and Prussia already have the ability to mass-produce breech-loading weapons.

Although they cannot yet compare with the Tang Dynasty in terms of output, their industrial capacity should not be underestimated.

Export is what it should mean, naturally.

However, before the Southern Army had time to complete preparations for battle, Major Aaron, who had just left, came back to report.

"General, the defenders of Fort Sumter have refused our advice to surrender."

"Major General Robert Anderson's attitude is very firm!"

Upon hearing this, Brigadier General Pierre took a deep breath and then spoke.

"Very good, if that's the case, then there's no need to hesitate."

"Pass the order down, order our artillery to open fire immediately and bombard the Union troops in Fort Sumter!"

"Hit me hard!"

Soon, as Brigadier General Pierre made up his mind, the bombardment began.

Boom! Boom!
The deafening sound of artillery fire echoed across the plain.

Amid the smoke, shells were fired at Fort Sumter.

The solid shells hit the fortress wall with a dull thud and splashed up a handful of sand, but they failed to cause much damage to the main body of the fortress.

boom! Boom boom!

The explosive shells fired by the breech-loading rifled cannon landed on the fortress, and the explosion sounded immediately, making the defenders inside the fortress dizzy.

My ears were buzzing and everything in front of me seemed to be shaking.

After several rounds of bombardment, the outer wall of the fortress was almost blown loose, and the bricks and stones began to fall off when solid shells hit it...

Of course, the defenders in the fortress did not sit idly by.

They also continued to fire back.

Outside Fort Sumter, there was a loud sound of artillery fire.

It’s a pity that Fort Sumter was too small and had only 90 garrisons.

It is called a fortress, but in fact it is just a small bunker with very limited defensive capabilities.

Under the heavy bombardment of the Confederate artillery, Fort Sumter soon began to collapse...

Seeing this, the garrison commander, Major General Robert Anderson, had no choice but to lead his troops to evacuate.

Unlike the Battle of Sumter in history which lasted for several days, now due to the intrusion of breech-loading weapons, the Battle of Sumter was decided in less than half a day.

After Robert Anderson led his men back to New York.

Just the next day, President Lincoln issued a written statement declaring that seven southern states had violated US laws and launched a rebellion.

On the 19th, he ordered a blockade of the coastline from South Carolina to Texas and mobilized 75000 militiamen from northern states.

Of the eight slave states that remained in the Northern Union, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas subsequently announced their joining the South, while Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware had not yet taken action.

Lincoln then issued a presidential order, ordering Irving McDowell to lead his troops to attack Richmond, an important southern city only 160 kilometers away from Washington.

McDowell led the 35000-man Army of Northeastern Virginia toward Richmond.

Robert Patterson's 18000-man Army of the Pennsylvania was sent to confront Joseph Johnston's Army of the Shenandoah, about 100 kilometers northwest of the Manassas railroad junction.

The intention was to cut off the Confederate Army's supply lines and open the road to Richmond.

At this time, Confederate General Beauregard, leading the 22000-man Army of the Potomac, was stationed at the strategic Manassas railroad hub.

At this point, the first large-scale battle in the Civil War, the Battle of Manassas, is about to begin!

……

Tang Dynasty, capital!
Unlike the United States, the national atmosphere was somewhat tense due to the outbreak of the civil war.

An atmosphere of impending storm permeates the entire country.

On the Tang Dynasty side, however, it was still thriving due to the explosive industrial revolution.

Especially the capital city, as the capital of the Tang Dynasty and the political, economic, cultural, industrial and technological center, it developed rapidly.

Factories are springing up around the capital.

Skyscrapers, asphalt roads, trains and cars, these labels unique to the industrial age, are increasingly appearing in this ancient yet new city, Beijing.

Old Summer Palace!
Datang Royal Hospital!

Today is Concubine Yun’s due date.

Li Yi put down the government affairs at hand and ran to the delivery room to wait for news.

He sat in a chair, his expression serious and worried.

Next to him, an elegant, handsome, graceful old man with three long beards was saying something to Li Yi very respectfully.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. The queen is in good health. This time, both mother and child will be safe..."

The handsome old man who was speaking was named Yu Shuhua, and he was Yun Fei’s biological father.

Although this guy is a fool, he has a good appearance. Otherwise, he would not have given birth to a daughter as outstanding as Concubine Yun.

Upon hearing this, Li Yi just nodded slightly and did not respond to Lao Yu.

His eyes were still fixed on the direction of the delivery room without blinking. Listening to the screams coming from inside, his heart couldn't help but tighten.

Although Concubine Yun was not very smart, and could not be described as a kind-hearted lady, she was indeed beautiful, and Li Yi really liked her.

Besides, even cats and dogs will develop feelings if you keep them around for a long time, let alone humans?
Listening to Concubine Yun's screams in the delivery room, Li Yi's heart was really unable to calm down.

(End of this chapter)