Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 451 The complicated world situation

The State of Chu was truly offended. Between March and April 1883, it issued more than ten formal protests, each one more severe than the last. It demanded that the Colombian president and senior officials formally apologize for their irresponsible words and deeds, and threatened to use all options in the future.

At this point, other countries probably saw the clues.

It is clear

The Chu State was somewhat annoyed by Colombia's provocative remarks. Its threat of war was not an empty intimidation, but it was really preparing for an expedition to Colombia.

The United States, however, was afraid that the matter would not be serious and was making trouble in a sarcastic way. U.S. Secretary of State Woodrow Wilson officially stated:
"It is regrettable that such an unpleasant incident occurred. To maintain peace and stability in the Caribbean region, the United States hopes that both parties to the dispute will engage in more self-reflection and less mutual accusations, so as to prevent the dispute from sliding out of control."

Both parties are responsible for the implicit meaning of the words. Stop pretending to be innocent and just calm down.

Because the development rights of the Panama Canal were lost, the US government was also severely criticized by Colombia. Naturally, it felt resentful and hoped that both sides would fight to the death.

However, considering that Chu's military strength was obviously much stronger, a real war might be one-sided, so the US statement also left room for maneuver and did not say too much.

France opposed the military threat from Chu, mainly because it was afraid that it would affect the Panama Canal, which had just begun construction. The Paris-based Rouféry government stated:
"Paris is closely watching the evolving situation in Central America. As one of the leading forces in the international community, France opposes any crude or simplistic actions that alter the status quo and urges the State of Chu to maintain regional stability and peace."

"The Chu State openly threatened Colombia. This is unacceptable."

"Paris will continue to pay close attention to regional developments and urge both sides to resolve their differences rationally to prevent the situation from sliding into the worst possible outcome."

German Chancellor Bismarck expressed his opinion on this, saying:

"Germany has noted the disputes in Central America, which is regrettable. We urge both sides to exercise restraint and resolve differences rationally, which is the natural mission of responsible members of the international community."

The London government, through a high-level statement, said:

"London has noted the differences of opinion in Central America and is actively seeking communication. We believe that all parties concerned will act responsibly to bridge the differences and seek solutions."

Overall
Except for France, other European powers are not very concerned about the disputes in Central America. The only one that cares about it is the United States, which actually hopes that Chu will teach Colombia a lesson.

This thing is so disgusting, there is no sense of contract at all.

If possible
The United States also does not want Chu to interfere in the affairs of Central America. However, it is an indisputable fact that Chu has included Nicaragua and Honduras and has already landed in Central America.

In the future, any affairs related to Central America will not be able to bypass the Chu State.

Since it cannot be changed, the United States easily accepts reality and tries to coexist with another non-regional power, although it is difficult.

The secret order sent by the Chu royal family to the Governor-General of Central America arrived in mid-March. The transoceanic telegram sent from Manila arrived with a delay of 1 to 2 days, which was very convenient.

The order received by Governor Wang Hai from the King of Chu was to actively cooperate with the Royal Ninth Division in war preparations, expand manpower and supplies, and strengthen conscription training, and it must be completed before June.

By this calculation, there are only less than three months left.

The Royal Ninth Division rapidly expanded from more than 3200 people to a fully equipped and staffed one. After being equipped with the wartime supply regiment and the replenishment regiment, the total strength of the division reached .

In addition to the five independent regiments, the military strength has been strengthened as the regional situation changes. Nearly 5 new recruits are needed and need to be recruited and trained immediately in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Together with the more than 2000 officers and backbones from Hawaii, the total force is about 2.3 people, and there are more than 1.5 armed militiamen accompanying to ensure the battle.

This scale of war is the largest that the Central American Viceroyalty can currently launch.

After more than a decade of continuous Chinese immigration, the entire Viceroyalty of Central America has a total population of approximately 155 million Chinese families (Note: including Central American women who married into Chinese families, the total number is close to 37.6). This is because the local population structure is mainly composed of Chinese immigrant men, and the overall age structure has a median age of 3.8 years old, which means there are more soldiers suitable for mobilization.

Modern warfare has evolved from simply piling up troops to placing greater emphasis on firepower and battlefield mobility, emphasizing battlefield discipline and training, and placing higher overall demands on soldiers.

Central American affairs were handled by the three leaders, with overall responsibility being held by Governor-General Wang Hai, who held the rank of Major General. Military affairs were handled by Colonel Dong Jiasheng, who commanded the 9th Royal Division, while colonial affairs were solely overseen by Fan Zongjie, with clear divisions of labor among the three.

This secret order from the King of Chu clearly stated that Colonel Dong Jiasheng was promoted to the rank of major general. As the deputy commander-in-chief of the Central American Expeditionary Force, he would assist the commander-in-chief, Lieutenant General Huang Shan, who had traveled thousands of miles from Manila to Central America, in commanding the expeditionary force and making intensive preparations for the punitive war against Colombia.

Fan Zongjie was promoted to the position of Director of Civil Affairs of the Governor-General's Office of Central America, in charge of war supplies and logistical preparations.

The King of Chu gave an order

The huge and tight war machine of the Chu State was immediately put into operation. The young and brave men who were recruited entered the military camp one after another. These villagers who had the foundation of armed militia immediately received rigorous military training.

In a flash, they transformed from militia into regular soldiers. Armory and material warehouses were opened one after another, and a large amount of supplies, from clothing to weapons, were distributed. The situation in the area around Managua suddenly became tense and entered a state of pre-war preparation.

3.8 soldiers and militiamen entered more than a dozen military camps and began intensive military training. There was constant gunfire on the training ground all day long.

King Zheng Guohui of Chu was right in his estimation. When facing the threat of war from the State of Chu, the Colombian government remained stubborn and even made provocative remarks.

It is a joke to say that he is not afraid of war and will not be scared by some Oriental people with pigtails.

Perhaps, this is the confidence that the French bring them.

1883 was destined to be a turbulent year. At the beginning of May, the French army, unwilling to accept defeat, once again organized 5 troops to invade Hanoi to the north, and the Second Franco-Vietnamese War officially broke out.

Liu Yongfu, commander of the Black Flag Army, personally led 32 battalions totaling more than 17800 soldiers to engage in a fierce battle with the French army on the front line in Rong City. The artillery fire was continuous and the battle was extremely brutal.

Huang Qifan, the chief of staff of the Black Flag Army, led more than 10,000 reinforcements from Quang Ninh Province and rushed south, rushing to the front line in Vinh City overnight.

Faced with the urgent request for help from Liu Yongfu of the Black Flag Army, the court's Yunnan Army, Guangxi Army and Guangdong Army stationed in the Red River Delta, totaling 40 battalions and more than 2.2 troops, remained motionless, planning to sit on the mountain and watch the fight between the two tigers.

On the one hand, these Green Camp officers and soldiers of the imperial court looked down on Liu Yongfu, a member of the Black Flag Army who came from a bandit background, and had no brotherhood with him.

In addition, the court's attitude is ambiguous, so we might as well just watch the show. The more we do, the more mistakes we make. Who knows what the court officials are thinking?

It might be a good idea to use the French to weaken the Black Flag Army, which is currently in full swing.

On the other hand, these imperial Green Camp soldiers had all suffered losses at the hands of the French army and were inwardly afraid of the foreign army, saying, "The advantage of French artillery is something I have never seen in my life."

His words and deeds all revealed a sense of cowardice.

in egypt

The British colonial conquest war against Egypt, launched on July 1882, 7, lasted intermittently until May 11. During this period, a large number of Egyptian patriotic soldiers, led by Arabi, were wiped out, and Cairo and surrounding areas were completely occupied.

The British Consul General in Egypt, Belling, thus became the real behind-the-scenes ruler of Egypt, and began a long history of ruling Egypt for 25 years until the outbreak of World War I.

During this period
The British army suppressed the Egyptian resistance forces everywhere, incorporated this long-coveted North African land into colonial rule, and completely ignored other local affairs.

Germany, on the other hand, focused on Africa and had sent as many as 13 African adventure survey teams to conduct comprehensive investigations and surveys of North Africa, Northwest Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa in preparation for the next step of colonizing Africa.

The German adventure survey team's footprints covered all parts of Africa, even including the Congo River basin, which had already been clearly colonized, and Portuguese Angola in the south. Portuguese Angola and Namibia in the south, Namibia, were German Southwest Africa where German warships landed in large numbers a year later and began to expand comprehensively.

At this stage
The Germans were preparing to colonize Africa, intending to tear off several large pieces of meat from Africa to make up for the serious shortage of German overseas colonies.

In the view of many senior German officials, this is completely inconsistent with Germany's current identity and status as a world-class power, and is a shortcoming that needs to be addressed.

Over the past few years, the German adventure survey team has circled the entire Pacific Ocean countless times, but has not found even a decent island. There are traces of the actual territory of the Chu State almost everywhere, and there is no chance to intervene.

Forced to do so, they had no choice but to focus their colonization on the undeveloped Africa.

Large-scale foreign colonization was very controversial among the German high-level officials. Bismarck, the famous German Iron Chancellor, was very opposed to it and believed that it was a futile effort.

If a European war breaks out

Then countries like Britain and France, which have vast colonies overseas, can easily cut off the lifeline of Germany's overseas colonies and reap the benefits.

All the efforts Germany is making now are actually making wedding clothes for others.

have to say
Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor of Germany, had a great insight into time. His predictions came true one by one more than 30 years later. He was simply a god-like existence.

But this could not stop the hardliners in the German leadership who advocated Greater Germany and a small number of fanatical advocates of foreign expansion and colonialism, including the German Crown Prince William, who ascended the German throne six years later.

The Crown Prince William is now an ardent advocate of foreign colonization. Some Pan-Germanists and hardliners surround him, forming a positive force.

Even with the authority of German Chancellor Bismarck, he could not stop these fanatical supporters who advocated that Germany should have colonies all over the world, and he had no choice but to compromise.

None of these world powers really pays attention to Central America; they have more important things to do.

(End of this chapter)