Volume 3: The Richest Man in the World Chapter 76 Epilogue
Guangzhou Bay, Humen.
This is China's southern gate, the empire's maritime gateway to the South China Sea. Three British ships suddenly appeared here.
Du Luli stood on the deck, with his back to the sea, looking towards the distant coastline.
He knew that beyond that was the closed, magical, rich and vast continent!
If it can be opened up, this market will be equivalent to two Europes!
If it could be conquered, this empire would be worth five Indias!
The future was tempting, but the resistance was also huge - although he boasted a lot in his letters to London and belittled the Qing Dynasty's military equipment, after all, China was a behemoth whose size alone was daunting.
Moreover, Dululi's rear was also unstable. Milton told him that the man called "Hao Guan" had returned from Beijing. It was said that he had brought the emperor's "secret order" with him. He was now using all his wealth and connections to stop the British navy from advancing.
Just a few days ago, Macau began to experience unusual movements. Many of the channels that originally provided food and water to the Portuguese were suddenly cut off. After the British army temporarily took over Macau on behalf of the Portuguese, they also took over the Portuguese supply channels. Now these supply channels suddenly had problems. Although they could not be in a predicament in the short term by relying on stored food and water, it was hard to say what would happen in the long run.
At the same time, Milton also brought a piece of news to Dululi. It was said that the official was putting pressure on London, asking the gentlemen in London to boycott the British Navy's actions in the Far East and even conduct a thorough investigation and hold them accountable.
Dululi didn't believe it. A Far East businessman could influence the decision in London? He thought Milton's words were nonsense.
However, the changes in Macau made him feel that he could not delay any longer. So he took this military action. He dispatched three huge ships, ready to force the Huangpu and make a tentative attack.
"This isn't India after all." Thinking of the various obstacles he had encountered recently, Dululi muttered, "But I still have to give it a try."
Yes, you should give it a try.
Many of the actions of European colonists in America, Africa, and India were initially carried out with an adventurous mentality of "giving it a try". However, after trying, they found that the enemy was defeated, so they went with the flow and carried out massacres, suppression, and conquests time and time again.
“Maybe it’s the same in China.”
If everything goes well and the Qing Empire is really as weak as the Inca Empire, then they can march into Guangzhou and force the other side to open the sea or even surrender. If this is not possible, then they can use military force to intimidate the Qing government into agreeing to let Britain replace Portugal in Macau.
If that doesn’t work… let’s talk about it later.
The ships continued to advance northward and were about to cross Humen and advance towards Huangpu.
"Prepare to change the flag!" Du Luli ordered.
Yes, until now, the British Navy still flies the Portuguese flag in Macau. This is a kind of self-deception, but in world history, this kind of self-deception has always happened again and again, and sometimes the political forces on all sides have accepted it.
And just at this moment——
Suddenly, boom, boom, boom, there was a cannon shot. It was a blank shot, a warning!
Du Luli's face changed slightly!
He was a veteran who had been on the sea for many years, so he would not be frightened by the sound of a few backward empty cannons. But the sound of cannons here showed that the other side was obviously prepared!
Now this sea area happens to be a corner of the Lingdingyang, with the coast on the right and several small islands on the left. The sea area gradually narrows, which is conducive to the movement of small boats but not conducive to the movement of large ships.
"Oh no, this is an ambush!" Du Luli thought.
Then, the shouts of thousands of people were heard.
It was like a charge, like a shout, like a roar.
Flags were erected on the right coast, and countless small boats appeared on the left island.
"There is indeed an ambush!"
Du Luli's expression became extremely solemn.
The Portuguese flag was already lowered, but the British flag was only halfway raised.
Should we continue to rise or stop?
At this moment, he faced the biggest choice of his life: if he continued to move forward, if he could break through the ambush in front of him, if he could successfully enter Huangpu Port, then he would have the opportunity to complete the greatest conquest in British history.
But what if it fails?
If the British naval fleet was entangled in this narrow and shallow sea area, or even suffered losses, Britain's prestige in the Far East would suffer a severe blow, and even Britain's influence in this sea area might never recover.
Advance? Or retreat?
The sailors who raised the flag looked at their rear admiral, waiting somewhat at a loss.
Du Luli gritted his teeth and raised his hand. He was ready to gamble!
At this moment, a huge ship appeared from the direction of the island.
Du Luli's expression changed again: "The other side also has a big ship?"
The ship hadn't come close yet, but from its size and arc, it could be determined that the vessel approaching was not a coastal vessel from a backward area, but an ocean-going giant warship that would be considered advanced even in the UK, and its displacement was even greater than that of the three warships he led!
The hand that had just been raised stopped in mid-air again.
On the Hua Cha, Wu Chengjian saw the stagnation and hesitation of the British warships through the telescope.
All the flowers, plants, swings and other toys on the deck of the ship have been cleared away, and now they are no longer under his control, but have been handed over to the navy.
Behind him stood Charlie and John.
After Wu Chengjian returned triumphantly from Beijing, Charlie stood firmly on his side. John, who had just made a fortune in the United States and came to China again, was also very happy to board Wu Chengjian's ship.
"Officer Hao, the enemy ships are scared, haha, they are scared!" Charlie, a shameless man, talked about enemy ships all the time and almost forgot his own origins.
"Well, it's better not to fight if we can." Wu Chengjian knew how much wealth his country had now, but he smiled and said, "Who doesn't want to make money peacefully and happily? But just because we don't want to fight doesn't mean we are afraid of it! If your fellow countrymen really want to fight, then let's do it vigorously! At the border of this country, are we afraid?"
The wind continued to blow, and the warships on both sides were approaching step by step.
A naval battle that may lead to a major change in the entire military and political landscape of the East may be abdicated or may break out.
To the north of this sea lies the continent and history.
To the south of this sea area is the sea and the future.
(End of the book)
