Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 452: A Hundred Years of Fear
The evolution of the situation in Central America made King Zheng Guohui of Chu realize that he must effectively restrain the power of France to prevent it from spreading around the world, and he had to reach a tacit understanding with the British government on this.

As a result, transoceanic secret telegrams between Manila and London were exchanged frequently. This was a layout specifically aimed at France, extending from the Indochina Peninsula to Central America, and even affecting the situation in North Africa.

After Britain occupied Cyprus, France immediately sent troops to occupy Egypt's neighboring country Tunisia in 1881, which aroused strong dissatisfaction from Britain, which believed that this action would lead to the unlimited expansion of France's advantage in the Mediterranean region.

In some ways, it affected Britain's maritime hegemony.

In any way, the British did not really like the French, and they did not hesitate to stab their ally in the back before the Franco-Prussian War, completely betraying him.

However, due to the changes in the European situation after the Franco-Prussian War, Britain had to assist the declining France in order to achieve the strategic goal of "European balance", which was a forced business.

The French government of Féjouri pursued an active expansionist colonial policy, aiming to make its own products flourish outside the country. It used its achievements in foreign colonization to reduce the pressure of confrontation from the European bloc and win the welcome and support of the French people.

On the one hand, he tried his best to expand the Algerian colony in North Africa, and on the other hand, he sent troops to invade Tunisia and once again took the lead in launching a war in Indochina, which made the British Gladstone Cabinet dissatisfied.

Through the active communication of the Chu government, Britain acquiesced to Chu's military operations in Indochina, but only required that they be kept within necessary limits and that they not seek to expand the Central American colonies or divide the existing Colombian government territory.

If the epic project of the French Interoceanic Canal Company could be hindered, that would be a situation that the British would welcome.

It might be a good thing to let the French take a small setback and realize the limits of their abilities.

From the beginning to the end of May 1883, which lasted for 5 days, the Second French Aggression against Vietnam was declared a failure and the French suffered a heavy blow on the defense line of Vinh City.

In this battle, the Black Flag Army used the Chu Army's specialty of earthen city defense line tactics, built four front and rear earthen defense lines on the front line of Rong City, defended the city, and fought a bloody battle with the French army.

There is no such thing as a city being useful or not.

When the British and French forces invaded northern China, the defenders on so many tall city walls almost surrendered at the first sign of trouble, and the invading British and French forces marched in without firing a single shot.

When attacking the capital
The hundreds of thousands of defenders of the capital were almost not on the city walls, and the British and French forces climbed over them with ladders, which was as easy as eating and drinking.

No matter how strong the city wall is, if the defenders do not have the tenacious belief to fight to the death, it is just a layer of window paper that can be broken with a slight poke.

The Black Flag Army inherited the iron-blooded and fighting spirit of the Chu Royal Army very well. Therefore, every time they broke through the earthen defense line, the French army had to pay a heavy price in blood.

Relying on the advantage of artillery fire, the French army launched a six- to seven-hour bombardment on the earthen city defense line, leaving gaps everywhere in the earthen city defense line and causing heavy casualties to the Black Cavalry defenders.

But whenever the French army attacked, these Black Flag Army would miraculously crawl out of the mud and ruins, fighting with guns, slashing with knives, and defending the front line with their lives.

A line of defense for an earthen city often went through several battles, with the blood of both sides dyeing the positions red and the fighting being extremely brutal.

The elite Seven-Star Black Flag Army under Liu Yongfu totaled more than 4,000 people, led by the brave generals Wu Pengnian, Wu Tangxing, Wang Debang (died in battle), Wang Debiao, Xiao Sanfa, Wu Rongbang, etc. They continuously broke into the French positions from the flank, destroyed artillery, and fought hand-to-hand battles with the French.

Among them, Wu Pengnian was seriously injured, Wu Tangxing broke an arm, Wang Debang died in battle, Wu Rongbang died in battle, and Bai Zhengcai died in battle. After more than ten days of bloody fighting, only less than 800 people were left in the Seven-Star Black Flag Army, and the rest were either dead or injured.

The tenacious resistance of the Black Flag Army was beyond the expectations of the French Commander-in-Chief Courbet. After the French army suffered more than 5300 casualties, 166 officers were killed, and 91 artillery pieces were lost, he had to lead the remaining troops to retreat and return to Hue for rest and recuperation.

After nearly a month of bloody battles and suffering repeated heavy losses, the French expeditionary force lost its offensive momentum and was unable to continue fighting.

After this battle
The Black Flag Army won a tragic victory with 8792 casualties, but was also seriously injured. After all, the French army's fierce artillery fire was not to be underestimated, and more than half of the casualties came from this.

The bones of the Guangxi cousin were very hard, and the French army kicked him and broke his leg bones immediately.

Only post-war compensation

The estimated loss is more than 1800 million francs, not including the loss of military supplies and other war expenses. It is really a loss of both the wife and the army.

On the other hand, the Black Flag Army is no longer the weakling it once was.

Today's Black Flag Army has money, territory, and people. After suffering heavy losses, it quickly replenished its troops, recruited tens of thousands of new soldiers for training, and combined with the large number of captured French weapons, equipment and artillery, it quickly recovered its strength.

This was another crushing defeat, and the news caused an uproar when it reached Paris, shocking France.

The French Parliament rejected the military spending increase bill by 306 votes to 149. The Féjouri government, which had actively advocated colonial expansion, became the scapegoat and fell in disgrace amid the growing anger of the people in Paris.

The expansion of the French Saigon Governor-General's Office in Indochina suffered another setback. The Black Flag Army became an insurmountable obstacle to the French army's northward invasion, protecting the southern coastal provinces of China.

July

When France's first plan failed, it tried another one. The French Parliament once again approved a war budget of 5000 million francs to the Saigon Governor-General's Office. The domestic anger turned to the northern court, and voices clamoring to continue the war were endless in society.

The French representative, Foulnoy, handed Li Hongzhang an excerpt, informing him that France had sent Baudon as its plenipotentiary minister to China to discuss the detailed terms of the meeting.

They also demanded harsh punishment for the Black Flag Army, accountability for its commanders, and recognition of France's full colonization of Vietnam by the imperial court, along with the demarcation of a neutral zone to force the withdrawal of northern imperial forces from Vietnam, including the Black Flag Army. As the saying goes: picking on the weak.

Compared to the iron-willed Black Flag Army, the northern court was easier to control, and the French wanted to make a breakthrough through it.

After learning the news, King Zheng Guohui of Chu couldn't help but curse "shameless". He really would do anything to achieve his goal and even didn't care about his reputation.

At this time, Chu's war preparations against Columbia had reached the final stage.

Lieutenant General Huangshan and the participating naval formations are all in place. All participating Royal Army units are fully equipped and staffed, and are undergoing intensive training, ready to embark on the journey south at any time.

The finances of the Chu royal family and government are abundant, the international situation is favorable to us, domestic public opinion has been warmed up, and many passionate people are willing to spontaneously go to the Central American battlefield to fight to defend the dignity of the motherland.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

"Let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs make a final diplomatic effort to force the Colombian president and senior government officials to stop and face reality, and not single-handedly destroy the current good situation of peace and stability in Central America."

"I obey your command and will present the imperial edict immediately."

"Well, war is only the last resort. I hope they will come to their senses and turn back."

"Your Majesty is so kind and has given us many opportunities to come to our senses. How could a mere native South American country like Colombia understand such kindness? Its president, Vareb, is so stubborn that even nine oxen can't pull him back."

"Just courtesy first, then force. Go and execute it."

"Wei Chen obeys your orders."

Royal Secretary General Li Jinghui saluted again, took a few steps back, turned around and left quietly.

King Zheng of Chu looked at his departing back and couldn't help but sigh. He was speechless about this nonsensical war.

This is a battle to establish authority, a battle of punishment, and also a war that could have been avoided.

In response to the Chu State's actions in Central America, including the exclusion of white people, the massive suppression and enslavement of the indigenous Indians of Central America, and the marginalization of local mixed-race white people, various unreasonable restrictive policies were formulated.

The countries in Central and South America watched this with a feeling of indignation, as if the rabbit had died and the fox had grieved.

But only Colombia dared to openly point fingers at Chu and criticize it. The other countries were either indifferent or too busy to care about it.

Neighboring Peru and Bolivia have lost the war for the resources of the Atacama Desert and are currently under military occupation by the Chilean army, leaving them unable to take care of themselves.

Paraguay had been badly beaten in earlier wars. At its worst, there were fewer than 3 men in the country, including all men from 7 to 70 years old.

After the victory, Paraguay not only ceded territory, but was also subjected to long-term military occupation by Brazil and Argentina, suffering enslavement and severe humiliation. It has been more than seven years now, and there is still no end in sight.

Brazil, a major South American country, was a major customer of the Chu State Congo River Company's slave trafficking business. Almost half of the slaves were trafficked to Brazil, which was extremely short of labor, and were widely welcomed by local farmers.

Argentina and Chile are typical white regimes with a minimum bottom line, and they are not crazy enough to provoke a world power at will.

No matter from which angle you look at it, it's a losing deal.

Under the current circumstances, only the Colombian government jumped out and frantically accused the State of Chu. The most fundamental reason was the dispute over interests in the Grand Canal.

But the top leaders of the Colombian government didn’t think about why they should compete with the State of Chu?

What King Zheng Guohui of Chu has to do now is to "kill one to warn the hundred" and never tolerate this bad habit. Before these Central and South American countries speak, they have to think carefully about whether they can withstand the wrath of the Chu military strike?

Otherwise, if you just follow others, how can you survive?
The situation in Central and South America will not always be the same. When the regional situation is tense, there will naturally be times of relaxation, with different democratic governments coming to power with different political views.

It is impossible for the Chu State to guarantee that every senior government official in Central and South America will abide by diplomatic norms and not speak nonsense, but it can guarantee that those irresponsible countries that make a fuss will pay a heavy price.

To be honest, which powerful country doesn’t have a lot of dark history?
Americans are now slaughtering Indian tribes everywhere in North America. This is one of the largest systematic and organized genocides in history. Does it count as a dark history?
Britain is suppressing the protesting masses in Egypt and brazenly subverting the democratic autonomous regime. Is this not considered a dark history?

France launched colonial wars in Indochina time and time again, suppressed and enslaved the people of Indochina, and even attempted to get involved in the northern continent. Does this count as a dark history?

The powerful countries are stirring up trouble in the international arena. No powerful country has stood up to uphold justice or speak up for weaker nations and countries. This is the law of the jungle that the powerful countries tacitly uphold.

It's just Colombia. When will it be your turn to uphold justice?

It was precisely for this reason that the Chu State felt it was imperative to launch a punitive war, aiming to "fear Columbia for a hundred years." (Note: The original words of King Zheng Guohui of Chu.)
(End of this chapter)