Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 647 Descending to Jinling!
'Buzz~ Buzz~'

On the great river, several large airships circled the East India Company's paddle steamers.

At the stern, several figures were being dragged along by ropes.

These figures in tuxedos left long trails of splashes on the river.

'Pfft!'

On the converted fishing boat, the two interpreters were beheaded and thrown into the river.

Lin Dao picked up the walkie-talkie and said, "Go around a few more times, just leave one alive so he can relay messages."

“A bunch of opium dealers, how dare they swagger in front of me.”

"Hundreds of years ago, you were all serfs."

"If the Central Plains hadn't been ravaged by Tungusic boars for two hundred years, would you have the audacity to act so arrogantly in front of me?"

"After we deal with the wild boar hide, we'll teach you a lesson about what it means to be the eternal boss of XX!"

He turned to Yang Xiuqing and instructed him to "order all ships to adjust their gun positions and extend the gun barrels."

Before long, the cannons on the paddle steamer were moved to their positions.

However, the people on the ship soon realized that the Taiping Army ships around them had long ago pointed their cannons at them.

After weighing the vast difference in the number of ships and cannons, as well as their relative positions and distances, the cannons on the paddlewheel wisely chose to remain silent.

There's no other way; if we don't remain silent, we'll just sink into oblivion.

They only had a dozen or so cannons, while the surrounding ships had hundreds of cannons!

The technological gap in artillery at that time was not as significant as it would be decades later.

Even if each of the East India Company's cannons could fire with the power of Bismarck's main gun, they could only destroy a few dozen ships at most.

But if hundreds of cannons were to bombard it, this wooden paddle steamer would be riddled with holes in no time.

These Englishmen are quite wise.

Dragged along by the large airship, the East India Company scum quickly fell silent.

Only then did the large airship gradually slow down and pull the people up using ropes.

After some rescue efforts, two people were saved.

"The leader said that only one messenger needs to be left."

Immediately, someone stepped forward, grabbed an opium dealer who was still vomiting, tied an anchor to his leg with a rope.

Amidst a series of "NONONO" sounds, they were thrown into the river, anchor and all.

The last one in the tuxedo was so frightened that he vomited uncontrollably.

Fortunately, he was lucky and became the actual messenger.

The letter, wrapped in a waterproof tarpaulin, was stuffed into his hands.

The large boat approached the paddlewheel, attached a swimming ring to him, and pushed him into the water.

Once the boat was taken away, the people on board quickly threw down ropes to rescue the people.

The Taiping army fleet that had previously blocked their path now made way.

The paddlewheel dared not linger and hastily sped away, its wheels spinning rapidly on both sides, stirring up the river water and splashing everywhere.

"Just a broken paddle wheel, and it's made of wood."

Lin Dao grinned and said, "Just you wait. When I get to the Thames, I'll show you what an ironclad warship is all about!"

"At the latest next year, no more foreign ships will be allowed on the Yangtze River."

"Although Dajiang often strikes with his elbows silently and leaves no survivors."

"But this great river belongs to the Central Plains; other ships are not allowed to come here!"

The English paddle steamer hurriedly sailed down the river to Shanghai.

After docking, the people on the ship boarded carriages and entered the consulate.

"Ridiculous."

After reading Lin Dao's reply in both Chinese and English, Consul Ali Guo in Shanghai casually threw the letter away.

“These barbaric natives are not worthy of basking in the Queen’s glory.”

"I will recommend to the cabinet that another military operation be launched against the Qing Dynasty."

"While attacking the Qing Dynasty, we must also exterminate all these barbaric natives!"

"Before that, we can ask Governor Wenhan to exercise his governorship and gather an elite army to teach these native savages a lesson."

Today, under the Queen's leadership, the English are expanding their influence across the world, becoming a true empire on which the sun never sets.

In the process of frantically plundering colonies, various losses were naturally inevitable.

From merchants who would sell their lives for money, to missionaries who traveled around with scriptures, to diplomats and even lobster soldiers.

England suffered significant losses during its rise to global dominance.

The English are not afraid of losses because they can retaliate and also reap huge profits.

They were just a bunch of short, indigenous people with pigtails.

Once Her Majesty's invincible army and Royal Navy arrive, they will be wiped out!
The British navy is given the title of Royal Navy.

The army, however, did not receive the title of Royal Army because Cromwell's regime was too harsh on the royal family.

For England, launching a military campaign against the Qing Dynasty would be a troublesome matter.

First, the cabinet must agree, then Parliament must approve, and finally Her Majesty the Queen must sign before a large-scale war can be launched.

Considering the long journey from England to Qing China, the time required would be measured in years.

However, before that, the Governor of Hong Kong Island could also mobilize nearby troops to carry out small-scale punitive actions.

It should take about a few months to prepare.

At that time, troops will be drawn from India, Singapore, Hong Kong and other places to teach these natives a lesson about what it means to have awe for the British Empire!
Caishiji, on the river surface.

The cannons roared and the shouts of battle shook the heavens.

The Taiping navy and the Qing navy engaged in fierce artillery battles and close-quarters combat on the wide river nearby. Every now and then, burning boats would gradually sink into the river.

Countless lives were swallowed up by the undulating river.

"The preferences of us Chinese people really haven't changed in thousands of years."

Lin Dao, on the boat, looked towards the shore and said with a smile, "No matter when, I'll never lack the desire to watch the drama unfold."

While a fierce battle raged on the river, many ragged and thin civilians gathered on both banks to watch the spectacle.

The common people were just watching the spectacle; they were truly just watching.

Even when Qing soldiers fell into the water and swam to shore, the people ignored them and showed no intention of helping them.

This is the most obvious example of losing popular support.

Historically, when foreign devils attacked Beijing, the common people did not help resist; instead, a large number of them helped to carry ladders to attack the city.

Why is this?

Of course, it's because people's hearts have been utterly lost!
The Manchu Qing dynasty, which seized power through brutal massacres and incredible luck, was never recognized by the people from the very beginning!

The Manchu colonizers, on the other hand, distrusted the people even more.

If it weren't for the full support of the local gentry, they would have been finished long ago.

Currently, Lin Dao will expedite this process as quickly as possible.

The support of the gentry?

No need!
Abandoning the gentry and embracing the common people can also bring about a new look for the world!

"almost."

Seeing the few remaining Qing army ships, they turned around and fled in disarray. Lin Dao sat back down on his stool.

"The various units will proceed with the siege of Nanjing City according to the original plan."

"Leader!"

Jinling City is the premier city south of the Yangtze River.

To a certain extent, this place is a symbol of Jiangnan.

Two hundred years ago, the Ming Dynasty nobles, who had shared the fate of the nation, chose to surrender.

Now, within the same city, the Manchus have chosen to fight to the death.

It wasn't that they were more principled than the nobles of the Ming Dynasty, but that they had no other choice.

Lin Dao: I will not accept surrender; they must die!

"Human activities have caused too much damage to the environment."

Outside Jinling City, Lin Dao paid no attention to the deafening roar of cannons and the earth-shaking shouts of battle within the city. His gaze swept over the barren land around him, and he sighed repeatedly.

"We can't do without vegetation."

Before the industrial age, the primary source of fuel was wood.

Humans cut down trees to obtain timber.

As the population increases, the demand is also growing, far exceeding the rate at which vegetation can recover.

In this situation, the public mountains have long been cleared of timber, and even the private mountains have very little timber left.

Large areas of forest are usually only found in deep forests far from human settlements.

The population density in Jiangnan was probably at its peak during that era.

Everywhere you look, it has been completely chopped up.

"We need manpower to start mining."

"Only by mining more coal can we alleviate the demand for timber and repair the damage to the environment."

Lin Dao pondered, "How about capturing more prisoners to use for mining?"

Advanced mining equipment is certainly available, but the problem is that most people don't know how to use it.

He can only provide tools like pneumatic picks at most; coal mining still relies mainly on manual labor.

The demand for manpower is enormous under high-intensity work conditions.

"Forget it, keeping these people around is just a menace."

As for labor...

Lin Dao's gaze drifted into the distance.

"There are plenty of people outside."

“Apart from those on Fusang Island who must die, the rest can be used as labor.”

Turning his gaze away, Lin Dao looked back at Jinling City.

"The grudges of this city may be forgotten by those who come after, but I remember them!"

The urgent military report, delivered by express courier, traveled 800 li (approximately 400 kilometers) all the way to the capital.

When news of the fall of Nanjing spread, the whole country was shaken.

Many people have already sensed that the Qing Dynasty's two-hundred-year reign is about to end.

Emperor Xianfeng was so frightened that his heart trembled and he was about to run to Chengde.

This is clearly a plan to escape back to their hometown outside the Great Wall.

In the end, he was persuaded and stopped by the civil and military officials and nobles.

After all, the Taiping army is still in Jiangnan, not in Tianjin!

They have been making these preparations since they entered the pass two hundred years ago.

Now, we're finally close to the point where we need to put it into practice.

Unfortunately, no matter how far they fled, even to the ends of the earth, Lin Dao would not let them go.

Two hundred years of accounts must eventually be settled thoroughly!

(End of this chapter)