Eunuchs who traveled through the Qing Dynasty

"There is no shadow, isn't this unfair!"

Ergin was so angry that he was overwhelmed by the gossip, his old face flushed, and he roared: "Sophistry. It's pure sophistry! Do you think you can shirk responsibility with your few words? How can I, the British Empire, be a bluff? Made it..."

"Fooling? Hahaha!" Xiao Ran laughed loudly, and said: "My lord consul, right and wrong are fair, and you have your own conclusions. If you don't believe me, there is nothing you can do. Just remind your lord, don't want loved ones to suffer, enemies to be quick, let go I ran away from the real culprit, I regret it!"

Elgin's heart skipped a beat: There is clearly something in the words!Turning his eyes, he said, "Mr. Xiao, do you know the inside story?"

Xiao Ran shook his head.He said with a deep expression: "To be honest, I don't know. I just heard about the disappearance of your country's warships and soldiers. But I always feel that there is something strange here!"

Nonsense, such a big matter, even a fool knows that there is something wrong with it.But these words were very useful to Erjin's ears.Looking at Xiao Ran's eyes again, he eased up a bit.I only heard Xiao Ran continue: "It's May weather, and there is no typhoon, and the sea is calm, so why did so many people disappear all of a sudden? Could it be that the ship sank due to hitting a rock or an accident..."

Speaking of this, Gui Liang made a long sound on purpose, and said with a pat on his palm, "It must be so!" Erjin said angrily, "Nonsense! How is it possible!"

Xiao Ran said: "It doesn't look like it to me either. Your country's warships have traveled countless times on the route from Dagu Port. Besides, your country's warships are so strong, and the sailors are all experienced. How could four ships go together Such a low-level accident happened?"

Yi neck, pour out the words behind him.However, Elgin was satisfied with what he heard, and said anxiously: "Mr. Xiao's words are very true. Then according to your Excellency, this incident is not a natural disaster, so it must be man-made?"

As a matter of fact, with Elgin's shrewdness, what Xiao Ran said was already guessed.It was also because of this that he insisted that it was the navy of the Qing Dynasty who did it. It was nothing more than hiding the old warehouse, pretending to send the British army away, and then came to kill the British army halfway and ate the British army. Because of his status as a Chinese consul, he ran to the Prime Minister's Office to make a fuss.

Xiao Ran frowned, and said in deep thought: "Although that is the case, the British Empire has strong ships and powerful guns, and it spans the world. May I ask which country dares to go to the tiger's mouth to pluck its hair without knowing life or death?"

day!Even Wen Xiang and Gui Liang, everyone wanted to make a contemptuous gesture to Xiao Ran.After talking about it and TM going back, I feel

Yi means..."

"pirate?!"

These two words were called out by Elkin himself.After Xiao Ran's reasonable and well-founded analysis just now, his brain seemed to become a lot brighter, and his judgment also greatly improved, and he suddenly came up with this idea that he had never thought of before.

Since the 16th century, pirates in China's coastal areas have gradually become rampant. Until the 18th century, Western colonists such as Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom continued to

Expansion, invasion and harassment of China's coastal provinces, piracy of travel, plunder of merchant ships, all kinds of crimes, even robbing young women on the beach, kidnapping Chinese and transporting them to India and Europe as slaves.

In addition to these Western colonists, since the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Japanese Muro Shogunate has existed in name only, unable to control the political situation in the country, and the princes have their own affairs, especially the southern feudal lords, who regard the plundering of mainland China as a profit.Japanese coastal daimyos (such as Ouchi and Hosokawa) saw that they were profitable, so they supported them, thus forming an organized aggression.Some Japanese samurai, ronin, pirate merchants, and bankrupt peasants were organized in this way to continuously harass the coastal areas of China and Korea. They not only plundered merchant ships, but even invaded the interior, burned, killed, looted, plundered people, and burned cities.

When it came to the Jiajing Japanese Rebellion, it was recorded in "Qiantai Japanese Compilation": March of the 33rd year of Ming Jiajing.The thieves went deep into the interior, killing and looting very badly, within hundreds of miles, everyone fled and died, and the hardships were extremely severe.In April, Yuanhua Town was plundered.Burning robbery is very tragic.In May, they attacked Hanpu without stopping, killing thousands of men and women to vent their anger, and destroying tens of thousands of households.In June, the thieves retreated to Shitiao Street, looted and set fire to houses that burned hundreds of miles away.

It is recorded in "The Story of Japanese Changes": On the third day of the first month of the 34th year of Jiajing, bandits attacked Jiashikou Town.After setting fire for three days, countless people died.After attacking Chongde, they robbed the local silk cotton factory.Chang'an town was committed in May, the civilian casualties blocked the road, and the bustling paradise turned into a wilderness overnight.Offended the market in Huzhou, wantonly destroyed and plundered, murdered without count, bleeding for dozens of miles on the edge of the city...

It was precisely because of the rampant Japanese pirates and the invasion of pirate gangs such as Portugal that the Ming Dynasty announced the suspension of all trade.The implementation of the ban on the sea cut off many foreign trades at sea that had flourished since the Tang Dynasty.And the promulgation of this ban on the sea has brought irreparable disasters to China in history!

Until the late Ming Dynasty, that is, the Warring States Period in Japan, the daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued the "Hachiman Boat Prohibition Order" (that is, the ban on piracy. From the Japanese room period to the Edo period, Japanese pirates used "Hachiman Bodhisattva" as their banner. Therefore, Hachiman Ships are also synonymous with Japanese pirate ships), and the activities of Japanese pirates began to decrease.However, driven by huge interests, there are still many Japanese pirates who gather to occupy the islands, prepare warships, expand their forces, and continue to stir up troubles, causing disasters on the sea.

Among the pirates of all countries.The Japanese pirates and Portuguese pirates are the most notorious. Slave. It couldn’t be more appropriate. Donkey note).The atrocities committed by pirates also aroused the anger of Chinese patriotic soldiers and civilians, and many Chinese also organized to fight against foreign forces.The most famous ones are Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Chenggong and his son, as well as Shi He, Lin Feng, Zheng Yisao, etc., all of which are well-known pirate leaders in Chinese history.Most of these Chinese pirates were fighting Japanese pirates and foreign aggression, including Zheng Chenggong and Zheng Yisao, who successively recruited for the imperial court.

Needless to say, Zheng Chenggong regained Taiwan, and Zheng Yisao, a well-known generation of chivalrous women and the leader of the Red Flag Gang, repeatedly defeated the Qing navy, severely damaged the Portuguese-Australian fleet, and severely beat the British warships. Hearing the news, he was terrified.Later, after recruiting for the Qing court, he also advised Lin Zexu against the British army in the first Opium War, which can be called a legend.Xiao Ran once watched a TV series from Hong Kong and Taiwan, which was devoted to the story of Mrs. Zheng. At that time, she still longed for it. If she travels back to Mrs. Zheng's era, she must admire this heroine, what kind of demeanor is she? ♀

The topic is far away, but among the Chinese pirates, there are still some forces that have not been recruited, which was also a major safety hazard at sea at that time.Compared with the ignorant and decadent navy under the Qing government, the pirates traveled all day at sea and had a broad vision. Therefore, whether it is Japan, Portugal or China, any pirate force attaches great importance to learning and introducing advanced science and technology.Pirates' ships are always equipped with the latest cannons, and they have accumulated rich combat experience through years of raiding and fighting.Even Britain, the maritime hegemon, dare not underestimate this point.But whether the pirates were really rampant enough to dare to openly challenge the British warships and fight to the death, Elgin was still dubious.

Blinking his eyes and pondering for a long time, Elkin said: "Then what do you think should be the forces that attacked our warships of the British Empire?"

Xiao Ran looked rather hesitant, and said: "Well, I haven't seen it with my own eyes, so I don't dare to guess. But..." After a pause, he suddenly said: "As far as I know, the most rampant pirate force in China's coast is currently , one is Portugal, one is Japanese pirates, and the other is Chinese pirates.”

Yi didn't dare to intervene at this time.Erjin pondered for a while, then said: "Then from what you've seen, among these three factions, who would have such courage?"

Xiao Ran observed his words and saw that Erjin was nodding his head slightly at this time, so he knew that his words had moved him.But at this time, it was time to whet his appetite, and to hand over the truth all at once, which aroused suspicion instead.At that moment, the smile on his face was suppressed, he raised his hand, and said: "My knowledge is shallow, I'm just talking nonsense.

How, I really dare not guess randomly.But..."

Gui Liang, Wen Xiang and the others were listening intently, their necks stretched out, and they almost stretched their necks when they gave him such a big gasp.Elgin was impatient.Said: "But what, you should say it quickly!"

Xiao Ran deliberately paused, and said: "As far as I know, these pirates probably have their own sphere of influence, I don't know if they are?"

As he spoke, he glanced around.Minister of Military Aircraft Cao Yuying has been listening behind the scenes.Meeting Li Ran's eyes, narrowing his eyes slightly, he took a step forward and said, "That's true!"

The others immediately agreed again and again, waiting to hear the following.Xiao Ran coughed lightly and stopped talking.

Regarding the division of China's coastal forces, as the consul of a maritime power, Elgin naturally knows it well.After giving Xiao Ran this point, his mind immediately spun: Portuguese pirates.It occupies the Strait of Malacca, at most it radiates to the Guangdong area; Chinese pirates occupy the islands around Taiwan, and it seems impossible to flee to Tianjin Port; but this time the British ship disappeared, but it was near Dagu!Elgin, who is half a hand in China, also knows that the Dagu Fort in China was built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty to resist Japanese pirates.So, do you mean...

"I know!" Erjin slapped the table violently, gritted his teeth and said, "I dare say, it must have been done by the Japanese!"

Xiao Ran was surprised and said: "Why did the consul make such a statement? Don't wrong a good man!"

"Wronged? Hmph!" Erjin couldn't restrain the anger in his chest.Roaring: "Except for them, no one will dare to attack my British Empire! Portugal is a vassal state of my British Empire, forgive them for not being an enemy of my British fleet; and Chinese pirates, at most, are in Guangdong , Fujian area, which is also the place where the commercial port trade is the most developed, how could it be possible to go to Tianjin Port! Needless to say, it must be these damn Japanese! Despicable Japanese slaves, it must be them! It must be them!!!”

Xiao Ran clapped his hands and sighed: "Yes! As expected of the consul of the British Empire, this insight is truly unmatched! Well, yes, it must have been done by Little Japan!" Then he turned his face to look at Yi, and said: "Six princes, what do you think?"

Yi said: "Exactly! The consul is quick-witted and guessed right. It's not Little Japan. Who will come?"

Without waiting for Erjin to speak, Xiao Ran took the lead in attacking, burst into anger, slapped the book table, and shouted: "*** Japanese devils, even my allies of the Qing Dynasty and the British Empire dare to provoke them! What's even more hateful is that these guys actually framed them and tried to frame them. I am on the land of the Qing Dynasty! If the Consul was not so witty, he saw through the tricks of the traitors, and replaced anyone else, but prevented the Sino-British rift and loved ones to turn against each other? His mother is a bitch, in our Chinese language, it is simply Whether it is tolerable or unbearable!"

After adding oil and vinegar, Erjin trembled all over with anger, and said: "Okay, okay! The Japanese are so insidious and vicious, how do you say that Chinese sentence? Ah, this is called Tai Sui's head breaking ground! Hmph , How can I allow others to play with my mighty British Empire? I will show them what will happen if they dare to offend my British Empire!"

"Should, should! Exactly so!"

All the people echoed in one voice.Elgin suddenly held Xiao Ran's arm, and said: "Mr Xiao, what happened today was originally a misunderstanding, I hope you don't mind. I didn't expect you to be so sincere, please allow me to announce on behalf of the supreme queen, Mr. Xiao, you will never A friend of my British Empire!"

Xiao Ran excitedly said: "Of course, of course! Not only me, but the hundreds of millions of people in the Qing Dynasty will always be your country's most sincere friends! In a word, water comes and goes, and fire comes and goes!"

Erjin was taken aback for a moment, and said, "What do you mean by water...fire?"

Xiao Ran said: "It means that we are willing to obey the command of the British Empire. This time the Japanese conspired and plotted, and wanted to frame it. It is really outrageous. We must seek justice!" After a pause, he continued: "But I don't know how the consul is going to deal with this matter?"

"Deal with it? Of course, send troops! Only in the face of powerful artillery fire can everything be resolved! Japanese pirates are roaming the seas, and it is estimated that it will be difficult to find them. But the Japanese government is to blame for the Japanese invasion! Hehe, the Japanese , This is your own death!"

"Yes! To deal with the Japanese, that's what you should do!" Xiao Ran shook Erjin's palm vigorously, and said, "Master Consul, the Qing Dynasty has always regarded your country as its most honored friend, so of course we can't just sit back and watch what happened today." Ignore it. As long as you say a word, go to the mainland of Japan, and our Qing Dynasty will spare no effort to pacify this shitty island country!"

"Ah? This..." Elgin seemed to have sensed something, his eyes were rolling non-stop, his head was shaking like a rattle, and he said, "You mean, your Qing Dynasty is also going to attack Japan? No, no No, Mr. Xiao! This is my British Empire's own business, we will solve it ourselves, and we don't need anyone to intervene."

♂ Volume 8 in the harem ♀

→Chapter 141 - Secret Conquest to the Japanese Slave Country←

Although I don't have much interest in history, I only care about the moment before and after the Meiji Restoration in Japan.On the one hand, it was because the Meiji Restoration marked the full opening of Japan's seas and the beginning of Japan's modern trade. Xiao Ran just studied this topic when he was studying trade in his previous life; That's why he was so "concerned" about this neighbor who was so close to him.In fact, since the last time Russia was taken care of, Xiao Ran's next target fell on the Wonu Kingdom without any surprise, and he collected a lot of information for this purpose.

In modern history, the two countries that brought the heaviest disasters to China were Tsarist Russia and Japan.And the heinous crimes committed by Japan in China are especially heinous!

In the middle of the 19th century, when Japan was in the last shogunate, the Tokugawa shogunate also implemented a closed-door sea ban policy, prohibiting foreign missionaries, businessmen and civilians from entering Japan, and only allowing businessmen from the Netherlands and the Qing Dynasty to grow in the only port open to the outside world. Saki activity deals.However, in 1852, American Commodore Matthew Perry led a fleet into the country and gradually knocked on the door of Japan. In 1854, ~ signed a treaty of goodwill, allowing trade in Hong Kong, and capitalism began to sprout.The rapid division of the class led to the formation and rapid growth of the power of the shogunate, and finally in 1867, Emperor Meiji, the power of the shogunate collapsed.

In 1868, the new government of Emperor Meiji promulgated the famous Meiji Restoration, which quickly transformed Japan from a feudal country ruled by the shogunate lords to a feudal capitalist country, and used its strong national power to gradually abolish relations with Western powers. The unequal treaties signed, regained national sovereignty, and got rid of the crisis of becoming a colony.

But while the country is getting richer and stronger.The New Deal implemented by the Meiji Restoration also pushed Japan onto a militaristic road of crazy foreign expansion and military aggression, making it a powerful empire that dominated Asia for a while, and brought an unprecedented crisis to many countries in the world. catastrophe!And China, as a close neighbor of Japan, has suffered even more from the flames of war, and was even almost destroyed by the country!

Xiao Ran clearly realized that in such a country devoid of humanity.The only way to stop it is to fundamentally curb its development, and finally destroy it completely!With such a bestial neighbor sleeping soundly on his pillow, China will never have a day of comfort!

It is now 1862 A.D., which is the Qing Dynasty|The shogunate is struggling for its final survival.According to the information collected, the Emperor of Japan at this time is Emperor Komei, and Emperor Meiji has not yet come to power.The forces of the shogunate in the country are fighting fiercely with the forces of the fall of the shogunate, and they are in a mess.The powers of Britain and the United States are pressing harder and harder.Internal and external troubles, the current situation is very chaotic, this is also an excellent time to fish in troubled waters!

Of course Xiao Ran would not let go of such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.This time, killing the British devils and framing it on the Japanese slave country was also a deliberate plan by him.Provoked the dispute between Britain and Japan, and took the opportunity to send his own forces to get involved in Japan.This approach is indeed a bit despicable and indecent, but for the Japanese slave country, we must do everything we can!Xiao Ran was still vaguely anxious. In history, when the British bombarded Satsuma and started the "Samo-British War", it was probably in the third year of Wenjiu, that is, next year.Anyway, they are going to fight.I just helped out a year earlier, so it's no big deal.Early death and early birth!