Chapter 547: Shameless
Chapter 540 Shameless
The subsequent Guangdong Yong recruits who entered the battlefield endured physical discomfort and broke off the dog tags on the chests of the fallen Pao Ze. This was something that could prove the identity of these sacrificed Pao Ze.
The faces of most of the soldiers killed by shelling were blurred, making it difficult to identify them. Their identities could only be identified based on the information on their dog tags.
The guns used by the French army were also confiscated. The French army and the Guangdong Yong recruit battalion used the same type of rifles, and the ammunition could be used universally.
Fang Jianyuan, the magistrate of Xiangshan County, organized local gentry and civilians to come to the front line to deliver water and food, help clean the battlefield, and continue to build fortifications.
The local gentry people built coffins for these fallen soldiers at their own expense and held grand funerals. Regardless of whether the fallen soldiers were from Xiangshan, Guangfu or other provinces, they were treated as one.
In addition to recruiting soldiers from the local area, the soldiers of the Yue Yong also selected young and strong men from the refugees to join the army. Although the Yue Yong was named Yue Yong, there were actually many soldiers from other provinces.
"This is the feelings of the people of Xiangshan towards the brave soldiers of Guangdong."
Fang Jianyuan took his servants and carried property donated by people from all walks of life in Xiangshan to Liang Shaoqiong's command post at Xiangshan Port.
Fang Jianyuan has served as the magistrate of Xiangshan County since 1851. During this period, Fang Jianyuan had many opportunities to be promoted, but Fang Jianyuan did not leave.
There is no other reason. Xiangshan is too rich. Xiangshan is now the richest county in Guangdong and Guangxi. Its wealth is even worse than that of many wealthy state capitals.
But now, Fang Jianyuan saw something more valuable than gold and silver.
When he learned that the British and French forces were invading, Fang Jianyuan even prepared Bai Ling to hang himself, waiting for the county seat to be breached and then hanged himself to die for his country.
The heavily guarded provincial city of Guangzhou was unable to defend itself against the British army's strong ships and artillery, let alone a small Xiangshan County. Fang Jianyuan did not expect that the temporarily gathered village warriors could defend Xiangshan, so he arranged for his family to leave the city early and stayed in the county seat.
Unexpectedly, Yue Yong blocked the foreign guns with his flesh and blood.
"Guangdong Yong currently has ample food and salary, so I tell my fellow villagers that they don't have to spend any money."
Liang Shaoqiong declined, but then he thought about it. This was the wish of the Xiangshan natives. It would be a bit inappropriate not to accept it, so he said again.
"Just think of this money as the cost of hiring civilian laborers."
"I have done a lot of neglect in the past. I hope that Shilang Liang will not take it to heart. I would like to apologize to you. As the parent official of Xiangshan County, Fang owes Shilang Liang a lot."
Fang Jianyuan suddenly knelt down to Liang Shaoqiong.
Fang Jianyuan was a serious Jinshi, spent a lot of money, and waited for six years to get the job of magistrate of Xiangshan County. He had always been dissatisfied with Liang Shaoqiong, who was born in Juren County, but now he was truly convinced.
"What does Fang Zhixian owe?" Liang Shaoqiong pulled Fang Jianyuan up and asked.
"What is the situation in Xiangshan County? Is the public sentiment still stable? Does Liang need to deploy troops to assist in defense?"
If it were before the war, Fang Jianyuan would have wished Liang Shaoqiong had sent Yue Yong to the county town, but now, Fang Jianyuan takes personal life and death relatively lightly, and is not as timid as before.
As long as the Xiangshan Port was there, he expected that foreigners would not dare to attack Xiangshan County easily. Moreover, the essence of Xiangshan County is not in the county seat, but in Xiangshan Port. Attacking Xiangshan County would not be of much benefit to the foreigners.
"The soldiers and people in the county are united and courageous. Minister Liang does not need to worry. If foreigners attack the county, Fang will lead the local brave to resist with all his strength and sacrifice his life for the country." As he said this, Fang Jianyuan took out a joint letter.
"The local villagers asked Fang to convey that they are willing to bring their own weapons and join the Guangdong Army to fight the enemy without any official funds. This is a joint letter from the Xiangshan villagers."
"Liang is very relieved that the villagers have this intention. Please ask the county magistrate to tell the villagers to just protect their villages and towns. It will be a great help to Liang." Liang Shaoqiong said after receiving the joint letter.
Just as he was talking, Bai Gui, the governor of Guangdong, who had always been nestling in Guangzhou like a turtle with his head shrinking, also came to Liang Shaoqiong's command post.
"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, Minister Liang, I heard that you resisted the foreigners in Xiangshan, and the foreigners died and suffered countless casualties in Xiangshan! This is a great victory, and I am here to congratulate you." Bai Gui held out his pot-bellied general's belly, his eyes It has narrowed into a line.
"Where are the brave soldiers of Guangdong? I have come here specially to reward the troops and cheer for the soldiers on the front line. I will turn around to report the victory to the emperor and report the situation to show our loyalty and courage to defend the country. The emperor has always hated foreigners. Knowing this great victory, he must Long Yan is delighted, hahaha.”
"There is no need to bother Mr. Futai. The front line is very dangerous and the foreigners have not retreated. I am afraid that the foreigners will disturb Mr. Futai." Liang Shaoqiong sneered.
He ignored Xiangshan before the war, but came to reward the army after the war. Liang Shaoqiong knew very well what kind of thing Bai Gui was.
He is not Hong Mingxiang, is not controlled by the two governors of Guangzhou, and does not lack military merit. He does not want to take the opportunity to please people like Bai Gui.
Hearing that the foreigners had not left yet, Bai Gui turned pale with fright. After realizing that he had lost his composure, he hurriedly adjusted his demeanor.
Bai Gui used the pretense of rewarding the army to seize the opportunity, but Liang Shaoqiong refused, saying angrily: "Liang Shaoqiong! I am here to reward the army to give you face, you don't want to be shameless."
"There is no need for Mr. Futai to praise you. You and I are not subordinate to each other. You are one of Futai, and I am responsible for training the local warriors. I am doing this for Mr. Futai's sake. It would be better for you and me to have less contact with each other."
Liang Shaoqiong already disliked the Manchu and Mongolian bannermen led by Bai Gui and Guangzhou General Muten. These Manchurian and Mongolian bannermen are very active in taking away the people's support in the name of wiping out the Hongyang bandits and the Tiandihui rebels. If we really want them to lead troops into battle, they will run faster than a rabbit, Liang Shaoqiong said sarcastically.
"The Fa-Yi failed to attack Xiangshan. If they can't keep it together, they will attack Guangzhou City next. I hope that Bai Futai can still be in Guangzhou City to encourage the soldiers and civilians of Guangzhou City."
"Liang Shaoqiong! What a good Liang Shaoqiong! How dare you be so domineering with just a little bit of success! Even I don't take him seriously! Huh! Let's see!" Bai Gui was asking for trouble, so he had to say harsh words. The sleeves leave.
The Battle of Xiangshan boosted the morale of the soldiers and civilians in Guangfu.
Ye Mingchen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, was thinking about peace talks and issued an order to the forts along the Pearl River: In order to show his sincerity in the peace talks, the forts along the Pearl River were forbidden to fire on foreign warships without his own order. The Guangdong Navy responded by withdrawing all warships to avoid conflict with foreign warships.
At the same time, in order to put pressure on the foreigners and force them to negotiate, Ye Mingchen ordered the closure of Guangdong Customs and completely interrupted trade with all foreign merchants. He thought he had a grip on the foreigners.
After receiving the order that the naval warships should withdraw and the forts not fire without the governor's permission, Hong Mingxiang, the admiral of the Guangdong Navy, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. He hurried into the city and came to the governor's office, hoping that Ye Mingchen would take back his life.
Unexpectedly, Ye Mingchen was not in the governor's office at this time. After many inquiries, he learned that the governor was praying to God and Buddha in Nengren Temple. Hong Mingxiang was so angry that he couldn't laugh or cry.
Hong Mingxiang rushed to Nengren Temple in a hurry, but was blocked by Ye Mingchen's servants on the grounds that the Governor was praying for the people of Guangzhou and no one was allowed to disturb him, otherwise it would not be effective.
Hong Mingxiang was helpless. Ye Mingchen was his superior. He did not dare to force his way in, so he had to wait at the gate of the temple. After waiting for more than two hours, he saw Ye Mingchen slowly leaving the temple in a sedan.
"I sincerely ask the Taiwan Controller to take back my order! If foreigners invade Guangzhou, I am willing to lead the Guangdong Navy to resist to the death!"
Hong Mingxiang stood in front of Ye Mingchen's sedan.
"Bad luck! Our army has just won a great victory, and the foreigners have already lost their control. Who wants you to resist desperately?" Ye Mingchen scolded angrily.
"Didn't you clamor for peace with Shilang Liang last time? Now that I have the intention of negotiating peace, how about you stop me from negotiating peace? Are you deliberately trying to get into trouble with me?!"
"I have no intention of doing this in my humble position!" Hong Mingxiang hurriedly explained.
"The reason I suggested to negotiate peace with the British envoys in my humble position was because my subordinates did not know that Britain and France had declared war on our Qing Dynasty, and that the British and French armies had not yet arrived.
Now that Britain and France have declared war on the Qing Dynasty, and the armies of the two countries have gathered on Hong Kong Island, there is no possibility of peace, and the only way to go is to fight hard! I humbly ask you to think twice! Take back your life! "
"Hmph! You have served in the Guangdong Navy for many years and I think you know the consequences of disobeying military orders." Ye Mingchen snorted coldly and ignored Hong Mingxiang.
"Get up the sedan! Go back home!"
Records of successful achievements in the Guangzhou area flew like snowflakes to the Forbidden City in the capital.
One moment, 500 enemies were wiped out and 800 were captured. The next moment, 900 enemies were wiped out and more than a thousand were captured. Emperor Xianfeng was so excited that he personally offered sacrifices to the Ancestral Temple. I highly praise Ye Mingchen and Bai Gui as my heroes, the two pillars of the South Gate of the Qing Dynasty.
The ministers also took advantage of the situation, slapped Xianfeng's rainbow fart, and directly promoted Emperor Xianfeng as the master of ZTE. Emperor Xianfeng was very useful.
Liang Shaoqiong also explained the serious situation in Guangzhou. Emperor Xianfeng naturally believed that Liang Shaoqiong deliberately reported worries instead of good news in order to ask for money from him. When suppressing the Hongyang bandits in Jiangnan, Liang Shaoqiong repeatedly asked the court for military pay on the grounds that the war was unfavorable.
Emperor Xianfeng never liked Liang Shaoqiong, and he only used Liang Shaoqiong as a last resort. Therefore, Emperor Xianfeng selectively ignored Liang Shaoqiong's tricks.
Among the Manchu dignitaries, only Prince Gong Yi was still sober and doing practical things.
After the foreign cannons purchased from the United States arrived in Dagu, Yihe Bank and Tongfu Bank requested to go to Dagu Port to receive the cannons in person.
He also took the initiative to ask Ying to be responsible for supervising the repair of the forts in Dagukou and the training of gunners.
Taking advantage of Emperor Xianfeng's happiness, Yi took the opportunity to ask for 500,000 taels of Kuping silver to purchase additional artillery ammunition of larger caliber and repair the Dagukou fort.
Wu Shaorong, the helmsman of Wu Shaorong, transported the last batch of 40 12-pound cannons and ammunition to Dagukou and completed the delivery to Yi: "Your Majesty, the imperial court wants a lot of cannons, and they have all been shipped. These are the gunners that the prince wants. The veteran gunners specially selected from Yueyong's artillery camp can speak Mandarin, but like the younger ones, they are not good at Mandarin. "
This time when he came to Dagu, in addition to delivering the last batch of cannons to Yi, Wu Shaorong also brought 12 gunner instructors from Yi Yao.
"If you are careful, your Yihe Bank still handles things properly."
Yi nodded with great satisfaction. He was also careful that hiring foreign gunners to Dagu would arouse the dissatisfaction of the courtiers, and then expel or even kill these foreign gunners. Unexpectedly, Wu Shaorong was so thoughtful and hired Chinese gunners directly.
"Being able to serve the imperial court is a blessing for a villain." Wu Shaorong said sincerely.
"The imperial court is in urgent need of cannons. Mr. Liang cannot produce so many new cannons. Some of them are second-hand cannons urgently purchased from various parts of the United States. Although the cannons are second-hand, they do not affect their use. To express his apology, Mr. Liang specially presented thousands of foreign guns. Armed with 50,000 rounds of ammunition, a handgun and a repeating gun, I apologize to Prince Gong."
After saying that, Wu Shaorong held up two beautifully carved golden nanmu boxes, one large and one small. In the small box lay an ivory gun handle and a Colt revolver with beautiful patterns. In the large box was a custom-made volcanic stone rifle.
Yi took a quick look at the contents of the box and accepted it. Then he looked at the thousand Walter export rifles Liang Yao presented. Seeing that they were all new, Yi was particularly happy and ordered people to test-fire a few of them.
After the test-fire, Yi sighed: "American guns and cannons are more powerful than the guns and cannons that the British tributed to Emperor Qianlong in the 58th year of Qianlong's reign. These Americans are honest in doing business."
"Foreigners are good at attacking with strange skills and are proficient in unorthodox methods, so their guns and cannons are becoming more and more advanced." Wu Shaorong said very humbly.
"Have you heard about the war in Guangzhou along the way?" Yi asked.
"The small one came directly from Tanxiang to Shanghai via Dagukou, without passing Guangzhou." Wu Shaorong replied cautiously.
"Oh?" Yi was a little disappointed when he heard this. He wanted to know what the current situation and war situation in Guangzhou were like.
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The situation in Guangzhou was very bad.
On December 19, 1857, the British and French coalition forces gave up the tempting hard bone of Xiangshan and turned to attack Guangzhou City directly.
More than 20 warships of the British and French coalition forces set out from Hong Kong, assembled outside Humen, and then went upstream and entered the Pearl River.
The situation was urgent, and the admiral of the Guangdong Navy, Hong Mingxiang, did not care about the non-resistance order given to him by Ye Mingchen, and dispatched the only remaining bold-class warship of the Guangdong Navy, the Roland and its sister ships, and 8 loach ships to fight.
The two sides encountered each other in the waters of Humen and a naval battle broke out.
The sea and the sky met, vast and boundless, and the sun shone on the rippling sea, reflecting the glittering waves.
Eleven elite warships of the Guangdong Navy were lined up in the Humen Waterway to prevent the fleet of the British and French Allied Forces from entering the Pearl River Estuary.
The fleet of the British and French Allied Forces attacked in two waves, and the attack was relatively layered.
Major General Spence, the commander-in-chief of the British Army in Hong Kong, commanded the battle on the steam-hulled wooden battleship HMS Loyalty with a displacement of more than 4,800 tons.
The first wave of warships headed by the Loyalty included: Encontre, Nanjing, Hornet, Calcutta, Coromandel, Barracuda, Pearl, Pegasus, Punjab, Plover, Providence, 13 new and old warships.
The second wave of warships was mainly composed of French naval warships. The participating French warships included the flagship Courageous, which had a displacement of nearly 5,000 tons and was equipped with more than 50 large-caliber cannons.
The remaining French ships included: the Gull, the Diché, the Avalanche, the Marceau, the Fulé, the Primaire, the Dragoon, the Quickshooter, the Vengeance, the North River, and the Norzagara, a total of 12 warships.
As for the merchant ships and civilian ships requisitioned by Britain and France in Hong Kong, they were not included.
The British fleet rushed to the front line, and the French naval fleet served as a reserve, following the British fleet, ready to fight at any time.
Judging from the lineup of both sides, this was destined to be a battle with a huge disparity in strength.
The sum of the displacement of all the participating warships of the Guangdong Navy was not even as large as the two flagships of Britain and France.
The small boats of the Guangdong Navy lined up in front of the coalition warships that covered the sky and the sun, like giant beasts. They were as small and powerless as children facing adult villains.
A loud bang broke the tranquil sea surface. The first to open fire were the warships of the British fleet. The naval guns made a shrill roar, flames gushed out, and solid iron lumps shot towards the thin formation of the Guangdong Navy.