North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 284 Not only did they not surrender, but they dared to resist?

Bai Gui, the governor of Guangdong, was a member of the Plain Yellow Banner of the Mongols.

During the Second Opium War a year or two later, Bai Gui was the first to defect to the enemy and formed a joint military committee with Harry Parkes and other British and French invading forces to jointly govern Guangdong.

This was the first puppet regime in Chinese history supported by foreigners, and Bai Gui became the first puppet official supported by foreigners.

Calling him a traitor wouldn't be an exaggeration... By the way, this Bai Gui, he's not Han Chinese...!
……

Ye Mingchen looked around and found that most of the officials were there, but Bai Gui, the Guangdong governor whose official rank was second only to his own, was missing.

The officers behind him couldn't help but exchange glances, and one of them blurted out, "Your Excellency, I think I saw... that cannon shot just now seemed to have exploded right where Governor Bai Gui was standing...!"

Ye Mingchen was stunned for a moment: "You mean...!"

The officer stammered, "Your Excellency, that piece of minced meat just now was most likely... Lord Bai Gui...!"

"This...this...!" Ye Mingchen was utterly shocked: "A high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court, a powerful regional governor, just...just like that...gone?!"

"Lord Bai Gui...I'm afraid...he's really gone!"

Jiang Guolin, the Guangdong Provincial Governor, was also wounded in the left arm by a shell. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, but only scratched by shrapnel. Two subordinates were busy bandaging him.

Jiang Guolin was from Dazhu, Dazhou, Sichuan. In that era, he was an extremely rare official who was honest and diligent, and had an excellent reputation.

After Bai Gui defected to the enemy, Jiang Guolin was promoted to Governor of Guangdong. He was later impeached by treacherous officials and died of grief and indignation not long after being dismissed from office.

After his death, in the "Three Sages Shrine" in Huizhou, Guangdong, his spirit tablet was placed alongside that of Su Dongpo, and he received incense offerings from the people.

Despite the pain from his wounds, Jiang Guolin said in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, the most urgent task at hand is to defend the inner city of Guangzhou and protect the people of the city from the ravages of war!"

Once he came to his senses, Ye Mingchen replied, "Judging from the enemy's firepower, none of them, whether it be the Eight Banners Army, the Governor's Brigade, the Green Standard Army, or the Navy, are a match for them."

"Most of the troops in Guangdong are already near Guangzhou. It is impossible for the troops of Guangdong province alone to defend Guangzhou. Requesting reinforcements from the imperial court is of utmost urgency!"

Upon realizing this, Ye Mingchen quickly wrote a memorial and dispatched an urgent messenger from the north gate of Guangzhou to the capital to request assistance.

But the officials present knew in their hearts that most of the imperial court's elite troops were currently engaged in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, and there were hardly any capable soldiers left.

Even if there were some elite troops, by the time they arrived in Guangdong from thousands of miles away, Guangzhou, or even the entire province, would have already been lost!
The "massacre" that just happened at Dananmen has completely overturned everyone's understanding.

While holding firm in the inner city of Guangzhou and seeking aid from the imperial court, the officials present couldn't help but start thinking about their options.

Even Ye Mingchen, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, was included.

Don't forget, his family members have already fallen into the hands of the "enemy"!
Ye Mingchen is actually a man of great integrity!
During the Second Opium War, Guangzhou fell and Ye Mingchen was captured. However, he resolutely refused to surrender and was eventually sent to Calcutta, India by the British, where he died of starvation.

Ye Mingchen is quite tough.

……

While the officials were in a state of unease, the commanders sent to recapture the two forts, along with the Green Standard Army and the navy, all suffered heavy losses and fled back in disarray.

The more than 3,000 officers and soldiers, along with more than 5,000 Green Standard Army soldiers and naval personnel, who attacked the East and West Forts suffered heavy casualties totaling more than 2,000 in less than an hour.

After suffering a defeat, Guangdong Admiral Tao Yu and Naval Admiral Wu Yuanyou appeared dejected and disheveled in the main hall of the governor's office.

"Your Excellency, it's not that we're unwilling to fight to the death, but the enemy's firepower is too overwhelming... We... we couldn't even get close before we all fell under the enemy's artillery fire!"

Tao Yu reported dejectedly, "In my decades of military service, I have never witnessed such powerful artillery fire!"

"The enemy force clearly numbers only about two hundred men, but our Green Standard Army and navy, totaling over five thousand, simply cannot break through their defenses...!"

"The Green Standard Army and the navy's arquebuses can only fire within 150 paces. But the enemy's artillery can often fire fiercely from 700 or 800 paces away, and the firepower is extremely dense and extremely accurate...!"

"And then there are those exploding shells that can accurately fire from two or three thousand paces away... One shot from them and our Green Standard Army and naval brothers suffer extremely heavy casualties...!"

Tao Yu said dejectedly, "Your Excellency, this battle... is simply unwinnable...!"

Even if Tao Yu hadn't said anything, Ye Mingchen had personally witnessed that terrifyingly powerful firepower and knew that under such firepower, even someone with a head of bronze and arms of iron would have no chance of survival.

"Alas...!" Ye Mingchen sighed deeply, "Admirals, bring all your soldiers into the inner city!"

"It's hopeless to retake the outer city and the forts!"

"From this moment on, the most important thing is to defend the inner city."

Then, under Ye Mingchen's arrangement, all the Qing troops near Guangzhou retreated into the inner city.

His command post was the most elite of all the Qing troops, responsible for defending the north gate and holding the only way out.

The Green Standard Army and the Navy were responsible for defending the South Gate, which faced the greatest pressure.

As for the Eight Banners, they were responsible for defending the west gate, while the city defense battalion was responsible for defending the east gate.

Because the largest granary—Yongfeng Granary—had also fallen into enemy hands, all the government offices in the inner city began to mobilize, urgently scavenging for provisions and preparing for a protracted defense of the city.
-
On the other side, dozens of nautical miles away, on the vast sea.

Standing on the command platform of the "Guangzhou", Shi Dakai took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

"It's almost time!"

Shi Dakai said in a deep voice, "Xu Lin's 127th Regiment should have already captured the landing zone...!"

The staff officer behind him couldn't help but ask, "Commander, what if something goes wrong during the 127th Regiment's operation to seize the beachhead...!"

"No surprises!" Shi Dakai said calmly. "Even if there were surprises, the Qing army's resources wouldn't be enough to stop our army from landing. At most, they would just have to pay a little more price."

"Pass on my order: the entire army is to march!"

"The Guangzhou and Fuzhou have the thickest armor and the largest gun barrels. Put them at the forefront and blast away all the gun emplacements along the way."

"Twelve frigates followed closely behind, escorting the merchant ships and eliminating any remaining resistance."

"Target: Guangzhou Port!"

Shi Dakai said coldly, "By evening today, I want to see the entire city of Guangzhou surrounded by our army!"

"Yes, sir!!"

……

Moments later, the massive fleet of over two hundred ships began to weigh anchor one after another.

Countless tall chimneys spewed out black smoke, like dark clouds obscuring the sun and blocking out a large part of the sky.

Such a massive fleet made the vast Pearl River Estuary appear incredibly crowded!
A few hours later, the lead ships, "Guangzhou" and "Fuzhou", arrived first at the first line of defense outside Guangzhou – Shajiao and Dajiao Forts!

Before the shore guns of the two batteries could fire, two armored cruisers, ten thousand yards away, fired the first shot.

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

Dozens of 203mm and 155mm guns on the two armored cruisers roared with earth-shattering fury.

Dozens of heavy shells roared towards the Shajiao and Dajiao forts, which were 10,000 yards away.

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

Before the Qing soldiers inside the two forts could figure out what was happening, a hail of cannonballs exploded around the forts.

At that moment, the earth trembled and the sky changed color!

Although only a few of the first rounds of artillery fire directly hit the fortresses.

Even so, the powerful shockwave from the explosion instantly blasted the two gun emplacements into countless holes.

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

The two armored cruisers approached while continuously firing.

When they got within 8,000 yards, the 100mm naval guns began to unleash their fury.

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

Hundreds of naval cannons opened fire simultaneously, a scene that shook the entire Pearl River.

In just a short time, the two forts, Shajiao and Dajiao, were completely destroyed, and the hilltops on which they stood were leveled by several feet!
Of the hundreds of Qing soldiers stationed at the two forts, most were blown into the air during the first three rounds of shelling, except for a few who managed to escape.

As for the dozens of cannons deployed in the fort, they were blown to pieces, a truly horrific sight!
After bombarding the Sand Point and Big Point forts, the massive fleet did not stop for a moment.

More than two hundred huge ships filed into the Pearl River and passed two forts.

Only the last two escort ships and two merchant ships of the convoy docked near the left side of the fort.

Two battalions of soldiers from the Second Army landed directly and then seized the deserted Shajiao and Dajiao forts.

After capturing the fort, the soldiers of the two battalions immediately began to rebuild their fortifications to guard against any possible enemy from the sea.

……

In the following hours, led by the "Guangzhou" and "Fuzhou", the fleet followed suit and broke through the Weiyuan and Zhenyuan forts of the Humen Fortress, and sent two battalions to seize them directly.

By 3 p.m. that day, the massive fleet had finally arrived safely at Guangzhou Port.

The first ship to arrive, the "Guangzhou," was led by Shi Dakai, who led a group of guards down the gangway.

Xu Lin, who had been waiting there, quickly stepped forward and snapped to attention with a salute.

"Greetings, Commander!!"

Shi Dakai nodded and said directly, "Report on the battle situation!"

"Reporting to the commander, my 127th Regiment's two battalions have basically taken control of the outer city of Guangzhou and the two forts on the east and west sides."

"Our regiment repelled the Qing army's counterattack. According to incomplete statistics, we killed or wounded more than 4,000 Qing soldiers!"

"Our regiment suffered over a hundred casualties, most of which were inflicted during the attack on the two forts...!"

"Currently, the Qing army is holed up in the inner city, holding firm and refusing to come out...!"

Shi Dakai continued, "What about the officials? Did they capture Ye Mingchen?"

Xu Lin replied, "Reporting to the commander, Ye Mingchen happened to be in the governor's office in the inner city today, so we were unable to capture him."

“But we arrested more than 30 officials, including the Guangzhou Customs Superintendent, as well as Ye Mingchen’s family members.”

Shi Dakai said, "So what if we didn't catch it? It's not the point!"

"As long as our main force can successfully land, the outcome will be decided!"

……

More than 200 merchant ships lined up in an orderly fashion, unloading more than 50,000 soldiers and 6,000 logistics, engineering, industrial and administrative personnel at Guangzhou Port.

Then came mountains of ammunition and various supplies.

After the Second Army successfully landed, it had no time to rest and immediately surrounded the vast city of Guangzhou.

However, the Second Army did not rush to launch an attack, but instead sent Wu Qingfeng into the inner city to negotiate.

……

The main hall of the Governor's Office in the inner city of Guangzhou.

Most of the high-ranking officials in Guangdong, including Ye Mingchen, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, were concentrated here.

Wu Qingfeng led only two soldiers and marched straight in.

"This junior, Wu Qingfeng, greets Governor Ye and all the esteemed officials...!"

Wu Qingfeng clasped his hands in a salute to Ye Mingchen without even bending his waist.

Ye Mingchen and most of the officials present knew Wu Qingfeng.

During his two years at the Hong Kong representative office, Wu Qingfeng had a lot of dealings with these Guangdong officials.

Whether it's immigration matters, or California-produced penicillin, artemisinin, various advanced machinery, fertilizers, and so on, to ensure smooth passage, one must cultivate good relationships with these officials, both officially and privately.

For Huamei Company to transport large quantities of tea, porcelain, and silk from Guangzhou, it was equally important to win over these officials.

Therefore, the officials present, including Ye Mingchen, were quite shocked to see this familiar young man from the Wu family.

"Second Young Master Wu, how...how did you get involved with the bandits?"

Shocked, Ye Mingchen quickly pressed for an answer: "What brings you here? And what is the origin of the bandit army outside the city?"

Wu Qingfeng replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Reporting to Governor Ye, the army outside the city is my Restoration Army...!"

"The Restoration Army...?!!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingchen and the other officials were shocked: "What Restoration Army? Where did this Restoration Army come from?"

"Expel the Tartars, restore China! This is the Restoration Army!"

"How dare you...!"

"presumptuous……!"

"You are rebelling...!"

Upon hearing this, the officials were immediately enraged and began to rebuke him.

"Heh heh...!" Wu Qingfeng glanced coldly at the assembled officials: "I observe that most of you officials are Han Chinese."

"The Manchu Qing dynasty usurped the legitimate Chinese tradition and oppressed and exploited the Han people for two hundred years!"

"Let's not discuss the merits and demerits of the Manchu Qing dynasty over the past two hundred years."

"But China today is beset by internal and external troubles and is declining day by day. Incompetent officials hold high positions in the government, corrupt and conservative people occupy high posts, and the people are poorly clothed and starving."

"Our 400 million compatriots in China have no land to stand on in life and no place to be buried in death."

"To the north, Tsarist Russia was eyeing us covetously; to the east, Britain and France were invading us. To the south, the Taiping Rebellion was causing trouble; and to the north, the Nian Rebellion was raging!"

"The Chinese nation of today, after two hundred years of rule by the Qing Dynasty, has come to an end."

"Most of you are Han Chinese. How can we allow the Manchu barbarians to ride roughshod over us Han people?"

"We Han Chinese number a full four hundred million, while the Manchu Qing dynasty only has a few million. How laughable and shameful it is for a mere million to command four hundred million!"

Wu Qingfeng continued, "My lord's surname is Li, given name Zunian. He was born in Taishan, Guangdong, and rose to prominence in California, North America."

"In just five years, my lord has amassed a fortune of trillions, commanded millions of troops, and even personally invented penicillin and artemisinin, saving billions of lives around the world!"

"My lord is the chosen one, only twenty-three years old. Although he lives in North America, his heart is with his homeland!"

"Expelling the Tartars and restoring China is the lifelong ambition of my lord!"

"Though separated by thousands of miles and countless mountains and rivers, it will not hinder my lord's will!"

"My lord has assembled a million-strong restoration army to drive out the Tartars and restore China, and is on a long expedition to Guangdong."

As he spoke, Wu Qingfeng turned around and pointed to the outside of the city: "My lords, you should all see that at this moment, my 200,000 Restoration Army has completely surrounded Guangzhou City."

"With just one command, ten thousand cannons will fire simultaneously, and Guangzhou will be destroyed in an instant!"

"But my lord has the world in his heart, and prioritizes benevolence and righteousness, and does not wish to commit further bloodshed!"

"Therefore, I give you one day to lay down your weapons, open the city gates, and surrender to my Restoration Army!"

"Our Restoration Army treats prisoners of war well; anyone who lays down their weapons will not be killed."

"As long as they lay down their weapons and are willing to return home, our army will not only let them pass, but also provide them with travel expenses."

"Anyone who wants to join my Restoration Army can become a member of my Restoration Army after rigorous selection and training."

At this point, Wu Qingfeng's gaze swept across the faces of the officials one by one: "As for you superiors, as long as you are willing to surrender, regardless of whether you are Manchu or Han, you will not be killed!"

"But a thorough investigation is needed. All officials who have been corrupt, lawless, or disregarded human life should be stripped of their official positions and expelled from Guangdong!"

"As for good officials who are honest, upright, and diligent in their duties, we not only treat them with preferential treatment, but also train and educate them before entrusting them with important responsibilities...!"

“But…!” Wu Qingfeng said coldly, “If by tomorrow evening we do not see the city gates wide open and the Qing army lay down their weapons, my Restoration Army will fire ten thousand cannons at once.”

"With the superior firepower of our army, Guangzhou will surely fall in no time!"

"The day the city falls will be the day you all become prisoners, or even be beheaded...!"

"How dare you! How arrogant! You damned traitor...!"

As soon as Wu Qingfeng finished speaking, several Eight Banner officials were immediately enraged. They stepped forward, drew their swords, and were about to slash him down.

"I'll chop you down, you traitor who has no ruler or father, and who is so arrogant and rebellious...!"

The Han Chinese officials present could tolerate it, but how could the Manchu officials of the Eight Banners tolerate it?

Several Manchu officials drew their swords and pounced on Wu Qingfeng.

Upon seeing this, Wu Qingfeng remained unfazed and quickly retreated several steps.

The two soldiers behind him stepped forward and blocked Wu Qingfeng's way.

Although the firearms and weapons were unloaded before entering the main hall.

But these two soldiers were not ordinary people at all; they were "Hidden Knights" selected by California and rigorously trained for several years!
Compared to the original Freemason "Hidden Knights," the "Hidden Knights" trained in California are far more capable in direct combat. Whether it's marksmanship, knife skills, or hand-to-hand combat, they are absolutely top-tier experts!
But then they saw two "soldiers," unarmed, facing several Manchu officials who rushed at them with swords, their faces expressionless, and a disdainful sneer curling at the corners of their mouths.

The two "soldiers" rushed forward unarmed, their figures moving with ease amidst the gleaming blades.

The Manchu officials' long swords couldn't even touch the hem of their clothes, but every time these two "soldiers" threw a punch or a kick, someone would be sent flying high into the air...!
“Plop, plop, plop…!”

In the blink of an eye, all seven or eight Manchu officials in the hall were sent flying, falling to the ground, groaning in pain, unable to get up for a long time.

"Ouch...ouch...!"

"Openly assaulting officials, this is outrageous... Oh dear... Governor Ye, why don't you order these traitors arrested immediately...!"

A group of Manchu officials, knocked to the ground, groaned in pain while continuing to shout arrogantly.

The two "soldiers" hooked their feet, and the long swords that had fallen to the ground flew into the air and were caught in their hands.

"Clang...!" The two "soldiers" brandished their swords, and two gleaming longswords were immediately placed against the necks of the two leading Manchu officials.

"Uh……!"

In that instant, all the shouting and cursing vanished.

The two "soldiers" said menacingly, "If you dare say another word, we'll chop off your two Tartar dog heads first!"

"Clang... Clang...!"

Upon seeing this, all the officers and soldiers in the hall were about to draw their swords.

"presumptuous……!"

Ye Mingchen had just uttered two words when he suddenly saw two soldiers wielding sharp blades turn to look at him, their eyes filled with an undisguised chilling killing intent.

Ye Mingchen couldn't help but shiver. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he suddenly changed his mind and asked, "What are you doing?"

"In war, envoys are not to be killed! Let's talk things out!"

"Put down your knives, all of you put down your knives!"

When the governor gave the order, all the officers and guards of the governor's garrison dared not disobey and quickly sheathed their swords.

Only the two "soldiers" remained unmoved, their knives cutting two bloody grooves into the necks of the two leading Manchu officials.

"Spare their lives for now!"

Wu Qingfeng spoke up at the right moment, and the two soldiers then sheathed their swords.

They twirled their swords twice, stepped back two paces, and stood behind Wu Qingfeng, swords at their sides.

"Young Master Wu, your men are all fierce and ruthless!"

Ye Mingchen gave the two people behind Wu Qingfeng a deep look and said meaningfully.

"Hehe!" Wu Qingfeng smiled faintly: "My lord's men are all elite soldiers who have been tempered and trained to be the best!"

Wu Qingfeng continued, "Today, the Guangzhou army, including the Governor's Army, the Eight Banners Army, the Green Standard Army, and the Navy, totals more than 10,000 men, which is ten times the number of my vanguard force."

"But I believe you have all seen the result of today's battle."

"Now, our main force has arrived. Two hundred thousand troops are ready to strike. How can any of you present possibly escape unscathed?"

Wu Qingfeng said coldly, "That's all I have to say. I urge you all to reconsider!"

"Remember, if the city gates are not wide open by tomorrow evening, all Qing soldiers must lay down their weapons... Heh heh!"

Wu Qingfeng gave a cold laugh, clasped his hands in a salute, and then led the two men behind him away.

……

After Wu Qingfeng and his two companions left, the governor's hall fell into a deathly silence, with no one speaking for a long time.

"Gentlemen...!" Ye Mingchen finally spoke up, "Let's discuss this. Whether it's war or peace, we need a plan!"

"What's the point of discussing anymore...!"

The Manchu official, whose neck was still bleeding, retorted, "That Wu family traitor just now made it very clear that they were openly plotting to rebel against our Great Qing and uproot our Great Qing!"

"These traitors deserve to be killed by everyone!"

"Although the rebel army is powerful, Guangzhou is a well-fortified city and not so easy to breach."

"As long as we hold out for half a month, we will surely be able to receive reinforcements from the imperial court."

"When the time comes, we will surely be able to defeat the enemy army by attacking from within and without!"

"Heh!" Jiang Guolin, the Guangdong Provincial Governor, chuckled coldly: "Hold out for half a month... Let alone the fact that a messenger from the capital would come and go in half a month. Besides, where would reinforcements come from?"

"Hundreds of thousands of imperial troops are engaged in suppressing the Taiping Army. Where would they find reinforcements to deal with the 200,000 Restoration Army?"

"Jiang Guolin...!" the Manchu official shouted, jumping up and down. "What do you mean? Are you going to surrender?"

"If you dare surrender, I'll chop you up first!"

“Ulantai, I was just stating the facts. Where did I go wrong?” Jiang Guolin retorted defiantly.

The leading Manchu official was originally named Ulantai, the Deputy Commander of Guangzhou, a second-rank official.

Ulantai was born into the Manchu Plain Red Banner. After General Mu Te'en of Guangzhou was killed by a cannon, all Manchu officials took him as their leader.

"Shut up, everyone!"

Ye Mingchen had no choice but to step forward and stomp on the matter: "Let's stick to the facts and stop making baseless accusations!"

Ye Mingchen continued, "Ulantai, you and I both know that we absolutely cannot count on the imperial court for reinforcements!"

"Let alone holding out for half a month, even if we hold out for a month, the imperial court will not be able to send enough reinforcements."

"Even if reinforcements arrive, you've all seen the firepower and combat strength of the Restoration Army today. How can we possibly win?"

"Alas...!" Ye Mingchen sighed: "During the day, the Restoration Army only had a little over a thousand men, while my Commander's Army, the Eight Banners, the Green Standard Army, and the Navy, totaling thirteen or fourteen thousand men, were completely unable to defeat them."

"Now that the enemy's main force has arrived, even if it's not 200,000, but even 100,000, or even 50,000... Ulantai, tell me, how can we possibly win?!"

“I…I…!” Deputy Commander-in-Chief Ulantai was speechless, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

But he still refused to give up, saying, "Even if we can't win, we'll just die... There will only be Eight Banners soldiers who die in battle, absolutely no Eight Banners soldiers who surrender! Hmph...!"

"Since that's the case...!" Ye Mingchen said coldly, "Then I'll trouble Commander Wu to lead the Eight Banners troops out of the inner city tonight and fight the Restoration Army to the death, while also probing the enemy's strength and weaknesses, what do you say?"

"I can't ask for it!"

Ulantai gave Ye Mingchen a slight bow, then turned and left angrily.

Behind him, all the Eight Banners officials followed step by step, and in the blink of an eye, they were all gone.

"Ugh……!"

Watching the departing figures of the Eight Banners officials, Ye Mingchen sighed, "Regardless of the outcome of this battle, neither of us can escape the label of being cowardly and afraid of the enemy!"

"When the court punishes us, losing our official hats is a small matter; I'm afraid we won't even be able to keep our heads!"

Jiang Guolin replied in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, our lives and honors are of little importance; the lives and property of the people of the city are of paramount importance!"

"At this critical moment, hesitation will only lead to further chaos!"

Ye Mingchen turned to look at Jiang Guolin: "Lord Jiang, what do you mean...?"

"kill……!"

Jiang Guolin raised his palm and chopped down diagonally.

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingchen and the group of Han officials immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"Lord Jiang, be careful what you say... This is a crime punishable by the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your entire clan!"

Jiang Guolin remained calm and resolute: "To save the people of the city, we must kill these Manchus like Wulantai... Otherwise, if we allow them to launch a surprise attack outside the city, the generous terms offered by the Restoration Army will definitely be nullified."

"At that time, everything will perish! Regardless of our own life, death, honor, or disgrace, how many of the city's inhabitants will survive the ravages of war?"

"This...this...Lord Jiang, isn't this...too extreme?" Ye Mingchen was sweating profusely, feeling extremely uneasy.

Jiang Guolin continued, "As Young Master Wu said, the Manchus have ruled for two hundred years. Regardless of their merits and demerits, it is a fact that their national destiny has come to an end."

"I observe that the Restoration Army consists entirely of Han Chinese men, and their military discipline and appearance are extremely strict, and their combat effectiveness is extremely strong!"

"Let alone Guangzhou, given time, the Qing dynasty will be in grave danger!"

"As for the lord Li Zunian that Young Master Wu mentioned, I have heard quite a bit about him in recent years."

Jiang Guolin then recounted in detail Ah Zu's experiences overseas over the past few years.

After hearing the legendary story of that "lord," the many Han officials present were as if they were listening to a heavenly book, and could hardly believe that there was such an extraordinary person in the world.

"Lord Jiang, what you said... is it all true?" Ye Mingchen couldn't help but ask to confirm.

Jiang Guolin nodded calmly: "Of course it's true! Not only do overseas Chinese say so, but foreigners traveling to and from Guangdong also say so, so it can't be faked."

"Right now, the powerful army of that chosen one is at the city gates. Who would dare not believe it?!"

Ye Mingchen's eyes gleamed as he stared at Jiang Guolin: "Lord Jiang, may I ask you a question? How do you know all this so clearly?"

"Did you... have contact with this Restoration Army before this?!"

Jiang Guolin hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded: "More than a year ago, that Young Master Wu visited me."

"After several attempts, I know everything about that chosen one."

"Moreover, Young Master Wu's words implied that the chosen one wanted to fight his way back to the country."

Jiang Guolin said in a deep voice, "I just didn't expect this day to come so quickly, so swiftly and fiercely!"

"Governor Ye, you and I both know that the Qing Dynasty is currently beset by internal and external troubles, and its fate is sealed."

"Peasant uprisings are erupting one after another within the country! Foreign powers are eyeing us covetously!"

“Just over a month ago, Hong Bing in Guangdong started an uprising and almost destroyed Guangzhou.”

"And the Taiping Army, in the Jiangnan region, has become so powerful that it is difficult to suppress."

"The Nian Rebellion still rages in the north... The domestic situation is in such a terrible state, what can be done?"

The so-called Hongbing refers to the uprising of the Hongmen of the Heaven and Earth Society in Guangdong, which besieged Guangzhou and almost breached the city.

Ye Mingchen was trapped in an isolated city and could only seek help from the powers of Britain, France, and the United States.

The siege of Guangzhou was lifted only after a joint crackdown by Chinese and foreign forces, but the Hongbing uprisings that have spread throughout Guangdong have not yet been completely quelled.

Seeing Ye Mingchen bow his head and remain silent, Jiang Guolin continued, "The Qing dynasty's fate is sealed, and the Taiping army's foundation is not solid, making it difficult for them to achieve great things."

"On the other hand, that chosen one who is rising overseas has a solid foundation and his momentum is already established!"

"In my humble opinion, perhaps that person is the true chosen one!"

"Only he can save us from this unprecedented upheaval, save hundreds of millions of people from suffering, and truly expel the invaders and restore the glory of China!"

Over the past year, Wu Qingfeng's primary target has been Jiang Guolin, the Guangdong Provincial Treasurer.

Not only because Jiang Guolin was a rare honest and capable official, but also because he was not a conservative or old-fashioned person. He had an active mind, a broad vision, and was willing to accept new things from the outside world.

In retrospect, Wu Qingfeng's efforts over the past year have not been in vain.

Ye Mingchen pondered for a long time, unable to make up his mind.

Unlike Jiang Guolin, who had undergone more than a year of brainwashing education, it was really too much to ask Ye Mingchen to accept such a huge change in a short period of time.

Seeing his hesitation, Jiang Guolin was really anxious, so he said, "Governor Ye, if you really can't bring yourself to do it, then just don't care about anything at all...!"

As he spoke, Jiang Guolin turned his gaze to Guangdong Admiral Tao Yu and Naval Admiral Wu Yuanyou.

"Lord Tao, Lord Wu, what are your thoughts?"

Tao Yu and Wu Yuanyou had personally experienced the powerful firepower and combat capabilities of the Restoration Army, and knew that if war broke out, they would have no chance of winning.

Even without Jiang Guolin saying it, these two commanders knew that surrender was the only way to survive!
Tao Yu and Wu Yuanyou exchanged a silent glance and made up their minds.

Prior to this, Wu Qingfeng had also been in contact with them, but not as deeply as Jiang Guolin.

But at least, they were fully aware of how powerful that "chosen one" was overseas!

So, without hesitation, the two nodded emphatically and said, "Lord Jiang, just tell us what we should do!"

Seeing that Ye Mingchen remained silent, Jiang Guolin had no choice but to step forward and say, "Lord Tao, Lord Wu, you two should lead the Green Standard Army and the navy to surround the entire city...!"

"Once the city is surrounded, no one is allowed to enter or leave; otherwise... kill them on sight!!!"

The Mancheng in Guangzhou was the place where the Manchu Eight Banners lived. It was located on Guangta Street, which is now Guangta Road.

As long as the city is surrounded, the Manchu Eight Banners cannot come out, and naturally they cannot cause trouble or create problems.

As for how to deal with it afterwards, that's up to the Restoration Army to worry about.

Tao Yu and Wu Yuanyou exchanged a glance and nodded emphatically again: "Okay, let's do it this way...!"

"etc……!"

Ye Mingchen, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, letting out a long sigh, and said, "Now it seems that I have no choice in the matter at all...!"

"Wonxiong...!"

The officer in charge of the military police following behind Ye Mingchen stepped forward and knelt on one knee in front of Ye Mingchen.

"The mark is placed at...!"

Ye Mingchen took out a token from his pocket, handed it to him, and said, "Take my token, lead the Imperial Guard, and together with the Green Standard Army and the Navy, surround the entire city!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Yuan Xiong accepted the heavy golden token with both hands.

"As Lord Jiang said, all people are prohibited from entering or leaving; otherwise, they will be killed without exception!"

"Yes, sir!!"

"Lord Tao, Lord Wu, thank you for making this trip in person!"

Tao Yu and Wu Yuanyou stood up, clasped their hands in greeting, and said, "Your humble servants obey your orders...!"

"Go...!"

Ye Mingchen waved his hand listlessly, and the group of officers immediately led their men out.

……

After the officers left, only civil officials remained in the governor's hall.

Ye Mingchen looked at Jiang Guolin and asked in a deep voice, "Lord Jiang, is that person... truly as you say, the one destined by Heaven?"

Jiang Guolin nodded solemnly: "That person started from scratch and built such a empire in just five years. There is no other explanation but that he was destined for greatness!"

"What's even more remarkable is that he was a man of profound learning, both in China and the West. His invention of penicillin and artemisinin saved countless lives; and the guns and cannons he invented and manufactured were extremely powerful, even surpassing those of Westerners!"

"Even Tsarist Russia, Prussia, the United States, and Austria had to purchase weapons from him... This gives you an idea of ​​his influence!"

Jiang Guolin continued, "In recent years, hundreds of thousands of people have immigrated to California from Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and other places. As far as I know, those who immigrated there have all lived a prosperous life with plenty of food and clothing."

"And this Restoration Army was organized entirely by people who immigrated there in recent years!"

……

After listening to Jiang Guolin's introduction, Ye Mingchen fell silent again. After a long while, he sighed, "Is the world really about to change?!"

Ye Mingchen, a man from later generations, would rather die than surrender to foreigners.

But the Restoration Army was different. They were, after all, his own countrymen. Under the banner of "Expelling the Tartars and Restoring China," Ye Mingchen felt much less burdened.

Although he was still reluctant to surrender, he had no choice but to comply due to the circumstances.

His officials and generals all defected to that side, so what could he, as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, do?
Moreover, with his own family in the hands of the Restoration Army, how could he not surrender?
……

Half an hour later, it was already dark, but around Guangta Street, where Mancheng of Guangzhou was located, bursts of gunfire and shouts of killing rang out.

Gunfire and shouts of killing continued until late at night!

At 11:45 AM, Tao Yu and Wu Yuanyou, covered in blood and exuding a murderous aura, returned to the brightly lit governor's hall, wearing heavy armor.

"Reporting to the Governor-General, the Manchu rebellion has been completely wiped out...!"

With a crash, the teacup Ye Mingchen was holding fell to the ground and shattered into pieces!
……

As dawn broke, Ye Mingchen, Jiang Guolin, and other civil officials, along with Tao Yu, Wu Yuanyou, and other military officers, opened the heavily fortified south gate.

Behind them, thousands of officers, soldiers, and naval personnel filed out and laid down their weapons outside the city gates.

Shi Dakai, Wu Qingfeng, and the others, who had been waiting outside the South Gate, watched Ye Mingchen and his group approach with calm expressions.

"Ye Mingchen, the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi under the Qing Dynasty, led all civil and military officials of Guangdong to surrender the city...!"

As he spoke, Ye Mingchen bowed and presented the governor's seal, which was wrapped tightly in red silk, with both hands.

Shi Dakai accepted the large and heavy governor's seal with both hands, his face expressionless.

"Lord Ye, you made a wise choice, saving yourself, your family, all the civil and military officials, and the entire population of Guangzhou!!"

Ye Mingchen straightened his back and replied, "We care little for life, death, honor, or disgrace; we only wish that the general will treat the millions of people of Guangzhou and Guangdong kindly!"

Shi Dakai nodded solemnly: "Lord Ye, rest assured, we will definitely do better than you!"

At this moment, Tao Yu and Wu Yuanyou stepped forward and handed over two blood-dripping packages with both hands.

"General Shi, these are the heads of General Mutern and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Guangzhou, Ulantai!"

Tao Yu and Wu Yuanyou continued, "The Manchus in the city not only refused to surrender, but were also preparing to rebel... In order to protect the people of the city, we had no choice but to kill them!"

Shi Dakai understood that this was a pledge of allegiance from the civil and military officials in the city.

From this moment on, these civil and military officials had no way out and could only stand in the same trench as him.

"You guys did a great job!"

Shi Dakai gestured, and the soldiers behind him immediately stepped forward to take the two blood-dripping heads.

"Then let us join hands and work together to build a new Guangdong where people can live and work in peace and contentment, and where prosperity and strength reign supreme!"

(End of this chapter)