ATPnovel Chapter 92 The Advance of the Royal Hong Kong Navy
Chapter 92 The Advance of the Royal Hong Kong Navy
Chapter 92 The Advance of the Royal Hong Kong Navy
Chinatown.
Zeng Tai leaned back in his recliner, rubbed his temples, and let out a long sigh.
"I never knew that buying people was such a troublesome thing; you have to deal with and prepare for it in every aspect."
"My lord, this is normal the first time. You'll get used to it."
Su Song, who was standing to the side, laughed and said, "However, we really should get our own piece of land in Hong Kong. That would make it easier to transport our compatriots to the United States in the future."
"I had Harvey handle the land, and I also sent a few of the engineers in charge of the architectural design to him. Next time, we won't need to use someone else's premises."
Zeng Tai sorted through the information in his mind and asked, "Su Song, do you think we should take full control of the piglet business on Hong Kong Island?"
Su Song thought for a moment and nodded: "The idea is feasible, but we have to take it slowly."
"Every now and then, kill one of those in the pig-farming business. If they can be converted, great; if not, let Harvey take over their business. Even the captains of those pig-farming ships can do this."
"However, in that case, we'll have to send a lot of people to Hong Kong."
Zeng Tai grinned: "What we have in abundance right now is manpower."
After reaching level 12, you can have an abundance of two summoning slots for assassins every day.
The assassins he summons now have three main destinations.
Research and production-type suicide bombers went to various factories, shipyards, mines, and logging sites in San Francisco; armed suicide bombers were added to the Van der Linde gang and Chong Yue's forces to continue killing white people; reconnaissance-type suicide bombers spread across the West Coast and began to spread to central North America and Canada.
Establishing a base in Hong Kong would be good, as it could serve as a springboard for attacking the Qing Dynasty later.
"Let's send a thousand people over first."
Zeng Tai said, "While robbing the piglet business, we also took the opportunity to unify the Hong Kong triads."
"Hong Kong triads?"
Su Song recalled the information and remembered those gangs that had at most a few dozen people, and nodded.
"This is indeed a side benefit, and it also makes it easier for us to understand the Chinese-speaking areas of Hong Kong."
Zeng Tai suddenly became interested and sat up straight, instructing, "Remember to remind me when they're chopping people up. I want to chop them up from Causeway Bay to Tsim Sha Tsui myself."
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"My lord, are you addicted to fighting gangsters? And where are Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui anyway?" Su Song complained.
"Don't worry about that."
Zeng Tai waved his hand and lay back down in his chair: "Just remember to remind me when the time comes."
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"Etoluba."
Although Su Song was puzzled, he still agreed to the matter.
He paused, then remembered something and said seriously, "By the way, my lord, there is another matter I have a question about."
"We really need to provide Li Wenmao and Chen Xianliang of the Red Turban Army with guns, food and manpower in the future."
'
He looked directly into Zeng Tai's eyes and advised, "Even if you want to rebel against the Qing, you can send one of our own people to raise an army. People's hearts are fickle, and I'm afraid that if I help them in the end, they will repay kindness with enmity."
Upon hearing this, Zeng Tai laughed and said, "Don't worry, it's just pure commercial trade."
"I admire their character and appreciate their strict discipline in managing their men. But that only means I'll lend a hand to save their lives when they're in danger."
"To truly save that homeland that has been impoverished and weak for hundreds of years, we ourselves must do it."
Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Island.
As twelve merchant ships entered the port one after another, the British and Chinese workers in the port witnessed a sight they had rarely seen before.
A dense crowd disembarked from the boat, surging onto the dock like a tide. They wore tattered clothes, their faces bearing the weariness and bewilderment of a long journey. There were men, women, and children.
They stood on this somewhat unfamiliar land, looking around blankly.
On the dock, people began to whisper among themselves.
There were brokers with shifty eyes, smugglers acting furtively, and pickpockets specifically eyeing the pockets of newcomers. Like sharks smelling blood, they slowly began to approach.
Just then, they heard a flurry of footsteps behind them.
Some people turned around out of curiosity and saw hundreds of tall, strong men dressed in uniform, marching in orderly steps into the dock.
Everyone who saw them looked astonished.
It wasn't just because of their imposing presence, but also because none of them had braids at the back of their heads.
In this era, anyone without a queue was either a foreigner, a Chinese from Southeast Asia, or a rebellious traitor who was willing to risk his life.
Neither of them are easy to mess with.
In the distance, Royal Navy soldiers responsible for maintaining order in the port saw this scene and couldn't help but frown.
Sensing the threat, they were about to blow their whistles to call for backup when a man who looked like an officer came over and stopped them.
"Never mind," the officer said calmly in English. "Let them go."
The soldiers looked at each other, but still obeyed the order.
The burly men paid no attention to the white people in the distance.
They walked straight up to the group of people who had disembarked from the boat, began to separate them from the group, and shouted: "We are from Xinghan Hall. Ten people per team, follow one of our leaders. Don't wander off or get separated from the team."
Meanwhile, at the naval base.
Harvey was sitting at his desk, communicating in his mind with the leaders of the assassins who had been summoned this time.
"Our target is the merchant ships of 1,000 tons or more currently anchored in Victoria Harbour."
He flipped through the notebook on the table and said, "We need to transport a total of 6,900 people. We need to provide enough space, and we can't let them be packed together like when we transported them from Jiujiang. So we'll need at least ten ships."
I'll send you the ship's name, captain's name, and departure time later. First, kill the captain and first mate, and see if you can convert them.
If we fail, we'll kill all the sailors on board and have our men take their place.
"Also, remember to deal with the people on those twelve boats I sent to pick up people on the West River. There are so many eyes out there; they might trace it back to me."
As he was speaking, there was a knock on the office door.
"Please come in."
A soldier pushed open the door and saluted him: "Lieutenant Colonel, the Commander requests your presence."
Earlier, at the Royal Navy base.
As Colonel William Frost entered the prison area, a stench of salty seawater mixed with the stench of human flesh assaulted his senses.
He frowned, covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and followed the jailer through the dimly lit corridor to the innermost cell.
The cell contained three men, all pirate leaders captured in Tai O. They were chained to the wall, their bodies covered in wounds, clearly having been tortured.
"Did they confess?" Phiros asked.
The Chinese prison guard shook his head and said in English, "Colonel, they're full of lies; not a single one of them is believable."
"Regarding the two merchant ships you asked me to inquire about, they kept changing their story, sometimes saying they'd seen them and sometimes saying they hadn't. Every time they described the characteristics of the merchant ships, they contradicted themselves. I've whipped them many times, but it's no use."
Phiros sneered, stood outside the cell door, and said, "Separate the three of them into different cells, and then tell them they can cooperate or remain silent."
If they all choose to cooperate, then I can set them free. If they all choose to remain silent, then they will be imprisoned for twenty years.
But if only one of them is willing to cooperate—”
He grinned and said, "Then that person will be freed and receive a sum of money. The other two will be sentenced to death and hanged tomorrow!"
Upon hearing this, the jailer imprisoned the three men separately and explained the terms of their detention.
A short while later, the jailer returned excitedly, saying, "Colonel, your method was brilliant! They've all confessed!"
Pheros wore an expression of complete entitlement and followed the jailer to the door of one of the cells.
The pirate imprisoned here is named Liu Qi. When he saw Firos coming over, he hurriedly said, "I'm willing to confess, I'm willing to confess."
Liu Qi took a few breaths and said, "We do recognize those two ships. The people on board were sent by the San Francisco Hongmen."
"San Francisco? America?"
Listening to the jailer's translation, Firos raised an eyebrow. "Is he sure?"
"Yes, yes, I'm sure!"
Liu Qi nodded several times in succession: "We were wondering at the time why the Americans were flying the British flag, but all the sailors were Han Chinese."
"Later, they were besieged by Liu Daba, but they turned the tables and killed many of Liu Daba's men. Before leaving, they even destroyed Liu Daba's stronghold, so we remember it very clearly!"
Phiros pressed on, "And then? Where did they go?"
Liu Qi said, "According to the boss, they came to do arms business with the Red Turban Army, so they should be heading towards Xijiang."
Phiros's gaze sharpened.
Xijiang, the Red Turban Army —
He turned and walked out of the cell, saying to his adjutant, "Keep an eye on these pirates, don't let them die."
Furthermore, compile this message into a report and send it to Commander Stirling immediately.
The adjutant saluted and hurried away.
Meanwhile, at the Thirteen Factories in Guangzhou, the British Consulate in Guangzhou.
In the afternoon, there was a knock on the consulate's door. An official dressed in Qing Dynasty robes stood outside, followed by a group of Green Standard Army soldiers.
The British consulate secretary opened the door, and upon seeing the scene, his expression changed slightly: "Sir, what is it?"
The official said with a stern face, "Governor-General Ye has important business to discuss and would like to invite the Consul to his residence for a discussion."
The secretary dared not delay and hurriedly went in to report.
A moment later, the British consul in Guangzhou hurriedly came out and, without asking any questions, followed the official to the governor's mansion.
No matter what it is, for him, being able to see Ye Mingchen is a good thing.
You know, he's been in Guangzhou for so long, and his term is almost over, yet he's never even met Ye Mingchen once.
When Guangzhou was besieged, he ordered British merchant ships to break through the blockade and deliver supplies, hoping to take this opportunity to meet Ye Mingchen and discuss issues such as revising the treaty and allowing the British to enter the city. However, he did not get to meet him.
Inside the Governor's Mansion, Ye Mingchen sat upright in the main hall, his face gloomy.
He was dressed in a dark blue official robe with a crane embroidered on his chest and an official hat with a peacock feather. Upon seeing the British consul enter, he gestured, "Consul, please have a seat."
The consul sat down, looked at Ye Mingchen, and said with a hint of probing, "I didn't expect that Governor Ye would finally agree to see me today."
"Consul, you British have caused such a huge mess that I have no choice but to see you!"
Ye Mingchen sneered, picked up a document from the table, and gestured for the clerk to hand it to the consul.
The consul took a look and his expression immediately changed.
That was a battle report from Shen Dihui, the salt commissioner of Guangdong.
It describes in detail his battle with the Red Turban Army outside Jiujiang Town, where he encountered the enemy's powerful rapid-fire weapons and suffered heavy casualties.
Most critically, the battle report also stated: "According to investigation, the firearms used by the Red Turban Army were transported to Jiujiang by merchant ships flying the British flag. The sailors on board were all Han Chinese, but the person in charge behind them must undoubtedly be British."
After reading it, the consul felt somewhat at ease.
"Governor Ye, there must be a misunderstanding. The British Empire has always supported the Qing government and would never provide weapons to the rebels."
He put down the documents and said slowly, "Moreover, I've never heard of such a weapon before; it couldn't possibly be us—"
"Consul, my men saw with their own eyes that the two ships were flying the British flag."
Ye Mingchen interrupted him, "Tell me, if it wasn't the British who provided the weapons, where did those Red Turban rebels get such powerful firearms?"
Before the consul could answer, he continued, "Consul, you must give me an explanation for this, and give the imperial court an explanation!"
"Master, show the guest out!"
Commander's office.
Major General James Sterling looked at the two urgent reports that had been delivered to his desk and rubbed his temples.
Both messages point to the same fact.
The two ships were American vessels disguised as British ships, and the people on board were Han Chinese. They used the British flag as cover to transport weapons to the Red Turban Army, and then sank the Rattlesnake en route.
He stood up, walked to the nautical chart hanging on the wall, and his gaze fell on the location of the Xijiang River estuary.
The Xijiang River flows into the Pearl River Estuary, mainly through three waterways: the Modaomen Waterway, the Hutiaomen Waterway, and the Yamen Waterway.
If those two ships are still in the West River, they can only leave by going out to sea through these three waterways.
"Is it a new weapon developed by the Americans?"
He lit a cigar and began to puff away. "In that case, we have to catch them."
Just then, someone knocked on the door, and Sterling turned around and said, "Come in."
Harvey walked in and saluted Sterling: "Commander, you wanted to see me?"
Sterling gestured for Harvey to come over and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Harvey, take a look at this."
He pointed to the estuary of the Xijiang River and said, "I just received two messages."
"First, Colonel Firos interrogated the pirates and learned that the two ships that sank the Rattlesnake were heading towards the West River."
Article Two: Governor-General Ye Mingchen of Guangdong and Guangxi sent people to question the consulate, saying that the Red Turban Army used powerful repeating weapons, and that those weapons were transported in by British ships.
He turned to Harvey: "So, the two ships that sank you were the ones transporting weapons to the Red Turban Army. They're probably still in Jiujiang now."
Harvey paused for a moment, then asked, "Does the Commander intend to send me aboard to identify those two ships?"
"That's right!"
Stirling nodded: "I will send ships to block the three waterways where the West River flows into the sea. You will go with the fleet and be responsible for identifying them."
Harvey stood at attention and saluted: "Yes, General."
Stirling waved his hand: "Go ahead, the fleet will depart in three hours."
Harvey left the office and walked down the corridor.
His expression was calm, but his mind was rapidly contacting Hongwu and others in Jiujiang.
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