Chapter 555: Opportunity in Troubled Times

"Why don't you keep a reserve team?"

Liang Shaoqiong was puzzled when he saw that Liang Yao was like a gambler and put all his troops into the battle without even leaving a battalion of reserve teams.

"Faced with these British troops, can a regiment or a battalion reserve team turn the tide of the war?" Liang Yao asked rhetorically.

"cannot."

Liang Shaoqiong had to admit that with their current strength facing the British and French coalition forces of nearly 10,000 people, it was really useless to have a reserve force of 1,000 or 800 people.

"The British are smarter than we thought. As long as the casualties in the first wave of attacks are too great, they will not fight us to the death." Liang Yao analyzed calmly.

"Xiangshan, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong Island are not their main targets. For the same reason, we are not their main target in this expedition."

Palmerston's clamor in Parliament that not entering Guangzhou means not entering the Qing Dynasty is just a political slogan. Naturally, the goal of the British and French coalition forces will not be as simple as entering Guangzhou.

Their ultimate goal is to enter the capital and establish an embassy in the city. Justifiably, it extended its economic tentacles along the great rivers to the hinterland of the Qing Dynasty.

To achieve this goal, it is useless to conquer Guangzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo, and even Zhenjiang and Nanjing like the first time.

Only armed visits to Dagukou and even the capital city of the Qing Dynasty made the men of the capital city afraid to go out for a walk and felt personally threatened.

Only then did the central government of the Qing court be willing to sit at the negotiating table and seriously discuss the establishment of an embassy in the capital city of the Qing Dynasty with the special envoys of Britain and France.

Otherwise, even if the British and French forces destroyed the entire south, the Qing rulers would not care.

"The Emperor of the Capital" Liang Shaoqiong is a smart man and he reacted quickly.

"Exactly." Liang Yao nodded and said to Liang Shaoqiong seriously.

"In these troubled times, this is a golden opportunity for our Liang family."

This risky trip to Xiangshan was not only to push Liang Shaoqiong to protect the interests of the West Coast region in the Far East. Liang Yao's most important goal is to obtain a stable dumping market with a comparative advantage. So that after losing part of the local market in the future, the economic myth of the West Coast region can continue.

If the economic myth of the West Coast region is to continue and thrive, there must be a large enough market to digest the products of the West Coast region.

At this point, Liang Yao and Ying France have the same goals.

The point of disagreement is that Britain hopes that the Chinese market will be dominated by the British Empire, while Liang Yao hopes that the United States will dominate. The British wanted to sell longevity ointments and cotton textiles, while Liang Yao wanted to sell kerosene and arms.

"You mean King Qin?" Liang Shaoqiong asked.

"Yes, King Qin, in the whole world, even in the great Qing Dynasty, you are the only one qualified to be King Qin." Liang Yao said.

Liang Shaoqiong was born in Juren, and his fame limited Liang Shaoqiong's progress in his official career.

If you want to climb to a higher position in a short period of time and form your own political force, it is not enough for you to be just a minister of the Ministry of War or the right minister of the Ministry of War.

The merit of King Qin’s protection is the best way for Liang Shaoqiong to overcome the barriers of fame and fame.

In the late Qing Dynasty, it was not that there were no Han ministers who took the position of high official in the feudal territory with the reputation of being a civil servant. It just depends on whether Liang Shaoqiong has this courage and ability.

This is why Liang Yaoming knew that the war in Guangdong would be very difficult, but still did not suggest Liang Shaoqiong to transfer the main force of Yue Yong back to Guangdong to fight.

The main force of Guangdong Yong departed from the Jiangnan area to go north to Qinwang, which was more convenient and faster than starting from Guangdong to go north to Qinwang.

"The British and French allied forces are too powerful. Even if I use all my strength and the main force of the Guangdong Yong, I still can't defeat them." Liang Shaoqiong said matter-of-factly.

"Besides, the brothers in the old camp are all veterans who have been with me for many years. I can't bear to let them die as cannon fodder."

"King Qin, King Qin, protecting the emperor's integrity is the primary goal, and fighting the British and French forces is only secondary." Liang Yao said.

"Those who can achieve great things don't stick to trivial matters. With the financial resources of our Liang family, let alone a few Yueyong old camps in the future, even if they are twenty or thirty, we can even afford them and support them."

Liang Shaoqiong paced back and forth in the courtyard. He didn't expect Liang Yao to think so long-term.

Going further, he really wants to go further, and King Qin is indeed a shortcut for him to go further.

Even if he wiped out all the Hongyang bandits, in the eyes of the Manchu dignitaries and the Manchu emperor, his unparalleled contribution to suppressing the rebellion was far less important than the merits of King Qin. .

After all, King Qin represented his loyalty to the Manchus, and what the Manchu dignitaries valued most about a Han official was not how capable he was, but his loyalty.

Some of the Manchu dignitaries in the capital must know what Ye Mingchen did in Guangzhou.

But so what? Ye Mingchen is not yet able to secure his position as governor.

The reason why Ye Mingchen can be the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi is not because of Ye Mingchen's ability and qualification for this position, but because Ye Mingchen is good at maneuvering and knows how to show his loyalty to the court. While showing his loyalty, he also pleases the court with some achievements that are not his own.

Loyal but capable of causing trouble, which leader of the Qing Dynasty wouldn't like such a subordinate?

Liang Shaoqiong still understands this truth. But before that, he was unwilling to join the ranks of Ye Mingchen and others.

Hong Mingxiang's death deeply touched him. After this war, he suddenly realized that Ye Mingchen and Bai Gui were the ones who understood their lives best.

"I understand. As soon as King Qin's edict arrives, I will immediately mobilize troops to serve King Qin!" Liang Shaoqiong paused, and he finally made up his mind to serve King Qin.

"Once the imperial edict arrives, it will be too late." Liang Yao shook his head.

"Guangzhou fell in less than a day. How long do you think the capital can hold out? You don't have control of the sea. The army can only go by land and must leave in advance."

"What about Xiangshan? What about you?" Liang Shaoqiong was a little worried about Liang Yao's safety.

The Liang family can be what it is today thanks to Liang Yao. Liang Yao is the backbone of the Liang family. Anyone in the Liang family can get into trouble, but Liang Yao cannot. If Liang Yao gets into trouble, the consequences for the Liang family will be disastrous.

"I am the plenipotentiary envoy of the United States. Britain and France will not kill me." Liang Yao smiled indifferently and pointed to his head.

"My head is not so easy to take. Just focus on serving the king. With me in Xiangshan, there will be no big chaos.

Also, if the British and French forces ask for negotiations in the future, you must come out to talk, right? Otherwise, Hong Kong, which we have finally taken, will be returned to the British.

Remember, the goal of the British and French troops this time is to set up an embassy in the capital city. You should strive for the cession of land and compensation, and you should not give in easily, especially Hong Kong Island. There is no reason to spit out the meat you have eaten."

"I am the only one in the court who understands foreigners best and can communicate with them normally. When necessary, I will come out to talk to the British and French." Liang Shaoqiong sighed and added.

"Even if I have to bear the infamy and be criticized by thousands of people."

In fact, Liang Shaoqiong did not know much about Western countries and foreigners, but as of now, he is the most knowledgeable person in the court. Let those corrupt scholars who are deaf to the outside world and only read the books of saints talk to foreigners will only suffer greater losses.

Since the Southeast Campaign, negotiating and signing contracts with foreigners has been the most despised and despised job.

None of the three people who signed the Jiangning Treaty had a good ending. Qiying fell out of favor, Ili Bu died of depression, and Niu Jian, the second-rank governor of Liangjiang, was directly demoted to the seventh-rank river official to make meritorious contributions.

It would be a miracle if someone was willing to take on such a thankless task.

——————

Seymour was shocked to see that Victoria Harbor on Hong Kong Island was destroyed and the Qing army flag was flying on the island.

After joining forces with the remnants of the British and French coalition forces in Guangzhou City.

After discussion, the British and French coalition forces decided to retake Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong Island is the logistics base for the coalition forces to advance and the strategic fulcrum of the British Empire in the Far East. It cannot be lost so easily.

Victoria Harbor had been destroyed in advance by Liang Yao, and the port's docks were also blocked by sunken ships. It is not suitable to attack from the front of Victoria Harbor.

After investigation, the British and French coalition forces decided to land on the beach in Taigu Village, where the Qing army had landed.

At the Taigu Village position, half of the machine gun regiment was on full alert, ready to resist the attack of the British and French coalition forces at any time.

"The Qing army only sent so few people to guard such an important position?"

Grant raised his telescope and looked at the scattered defenders at the Taigu Village position, feeling very strange.

Six or seven hundred people were responsible for guarding such a large position, and the position was very scattered. A dozen people were responsible for a position that was hundreds of meters long and tens of meters deep.

Even the British and French coalition forces would need a company of troops to be responsible for such a long position.

Grant had been in the military for decades, and he had never seen a commander who was confident enough to arrange the position like this.

If his subordinates dared to arrange the defensive position like this, he would be dismissed on the spot and sent to the military court.

"Maybe our army has arrived, and these rats know that they can't defend Hong Kong Island and are no match for our British army, so they just give up." Spencer, the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces stationed in Hong Kong, requested to go to war.

"Your Excellency, please allow me to lead the troops to recapture Hong Kong Island!"

The commander-in-chief of the three armed forces stationed in Hong Kong lost Hong Kong Island, which was the biggest stain in his career.

Spencer now wanted to rush to Hong Kong Island and tear the Qing soldiers on Hong Kong Island to pieces to relieve his hatred and wash away the shame of losing Hong Kong Island.

If his colleagues in London knew that the Qing army had captured Hong Kong Island during his tenure, I wonder what kind of cold jokes they would make up to make fun of him.

"Rat? They are rats, so what are you for losing Hong Kong Island? Are the soldiers of my British Empire not even as good as rats?"

Grant was very dissatisfied with Spencer for losing Hong Kong Island.

The loss of Hong Kong Island completely disrupted his battle plan, and he had to spend extra time and energy, and even suffered casualties to recapture Hong Kong Island.

"Your Excellency! That's not what I meant!" Spencer hurriedly explained.

"If it's useless, don't say anything more. I've also heard about Liang Yao. He is extremely cunning and uses troops in a strange way. You'd better be careful. Hong Kong Island may be a trap he prepared for us." Grant interrupted Spence without hesitation. He didn't want to waste words with Spencer any more.

"Since you have the heart to recover Hong Kong Island and make meritorious contributions, I will give you this opportunity. Bring your Hong Kong garrison troops, and I will give you an infantry regiment of the Madras Regiment. Go out and take Hong Kong Island immediately."

After India's independence, in order to decolonize and wash away the colonial imprint, many regions were renamed, and Madras was one of them.

Madras is Chennai in India in later generations. It is the largest port city in Tamil Nadu, South India, and one of the most stable regions ruled by the British East India Company in India.

It is said that the cause of the Sanyuanli conflict was that the Indian soldiers of the Madras Regiment molested local women and aroused public anger.

The truth of this matter is unknown, but it is indisputable that the local soldiers of Madras were willing to serve as the vanguard of the British Indian colonial authorities.

From the First to the Second War, the Madras region was the most active in responding.

"Thank you, sir!" Spence was very excited, and he was ready to show his skills.

"I'll go too!"

Eager to make merit, the young Montoban also applied to fight.

Considering that Britain and France are now sending troops together, and the old Montoban also wants to train the young Montoban and accumulate military merits for the young Montoban, he still let the young Montoban take three companies with the British army to recapture Hong Kong Island.

Montoban thought that this time the British army was large in number, with strong soldiers and horses, strong ships and powerful guns. There would be no mistakes in following the main force of the British army to recapture Hong Kong Island.

Montoban understood the importance of Hong Kong Island to the British. No matter how bad the British were, they would not let up in the battle to recapture Hong Kong Island.