Wild North America 1846

Chapter 647 Breaking
1878. 3, 7

In Havana, the capital of Cuba, a tragic incident of Chinese nationals being injured happened. Hundreds of thugs and jobless people besieged the Funda Firm run by a Chinese businessman and ransacked the mansion not far from it, killing 10 people including the rich businessman and his family. Many Chinese were killed or injured.

The out-of-control mobs also attacked more than 10 surrounding houses, robbed property, and beat victims. The atrocities were heinous.

After this bad incident happened, the foreign affairs agencies and chambers of commerce of the Tang Empire in Cuba strongly condemned it, urging the Cuban Colonial Governor’s Office to act quickly to arrest the perpetrators, maintain local stability, and ensure the safety of the expatriates’ personal and property safety.

The Tang Empire government was furious when it learned of the incident, and issued a formal diplomatic note to the Spaniards, putting forward 13 demands.

This includes;
First, immediately arrest the thugs and the murderers who caused the tragedy throughout the city, make sure no one escapes, and earnestly protect the personal and property safety of the Datang expatriates, so as to ensure that such things will not happen again.

Second, severely punish the relevant thugs. Datang Empire will send criminal justice experts to track and monitor the progress of the case throughout the process, so as to ensure that all crimes are eliminated and criminals are punished.

Third, the Cuban Governor's Palace and Havana's police, political and security personnel must take responsibility for this.

Fourth, the property and personal losses of the Chinese merchants totaled 172 million Tang Yuan, which must be compensated in advance to comfort the traumatized hearts of the families of the victims and demonstrate a responsible handling attitude.

Fifth, in view of the ineffectiveness of the Havana Governor's Office in maintaining the safety of Chinese nationals, the Empire will send a guard force of appropriate size to Havana and other cities.

Sixth, the Tang Empire plans to requisition Guantanamo and its surrounding areas as military bases, with a lease term of 99 years.

Seventh, the government of the Kingdom of Spain needs to make a solemn apology for this incident that seriously harmed Chinese nationals, and spread the word through sufficiently influential news media.

eighth,……

One of the 13 requirements is more stringent than the other, and many of the sovereignty that has seriously damaged the governance of the Kingdom of Spain are simply impossible to agree to.

The Tang Empire blatantly threatened the Spaniards with a military invasion, and tried to force the Spaniards to bow their heads, which caused the situation in the region to suddenly become tense.

In March 1878, the heavy cloud of war shrouded Central America and the Caribbean Sea. The Tang Empire was like a hegemon in the entire Americas, and every move would affect the situation in the entire region.

At this time, the United Kingdom was in a stage of intense wrestling with the Tsarist Russian Empire. The "San Stefano Peace Treaty" that the Ottoman Empire was forced to sign on March 1878, 3 was flatly rejected by the world powers headed by the United Kingdom. Ask Tsarist Russia to spit out the fruits of victory.

in this anxious time

German Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck stood up and expressed his willingness to mediate, claiming to be an "honest intermediary, taking into account the demands and ideas of all parties."

Because the balance of power was extremely unfavorable to Tsarist Russia, Ying Tang united with Ottoman's attitude was extremely tough, and Tsarist Russia was forced to agree to reschedule the contract with the great powers, which was tantamount to a big concession.

nowadays

The powers of various countries are conducting intense and intensive diplomatic activities in Berlin. Regarding the relevant provisions of the "Berlin Treaty", the bottom line and bargaining chips among countries are testing each other to prepare for the next arrangement.

At a time when European affairs are entangled, London still expresses its views on the increasingly tense relationship between Tang and Xi;

"I hope that the two countries will uphold the purpose of maintaining regional peace and stability, and make political decisions that are conducive to the resolution of the incident as much as possible, so as to prevent Central America from falling into war again..."

the implication

I just hope that the government of the Kingdom of Spain will make a substantive compromise and stop carrying it to death. Once a war breaks out, you will die ugly.

The British know it well, knowing that the down-and-out Spaniard is far from being the opponent of the Tang Dynasty, and it will be ugly to die after the fight starts.

The issue is

After all, the Spaniards had rich ancestors. Although they are declining now, they still have arrogance after all. It is not easy for the eagles in the Pyrenees to be so subdued.

The foreign affairs negotiations between Datang and Spain quickly collapsed, and the Spanish Kingdom categorically rejected Tang’s unreasonable demands, expressing that they would deal with the violations against overseas Chinese in their own way.

1878. 4, 8

nicaragua canal
After ten years of large-scale construction, this world-renowned Genesis Project has undergone a trial navigation at the end of last year, and the ship lock facilities and canal project signal towers have been being debugged.

Today
The majestic Nicaragua Canal double-line three-level ship lock is like a giant beast, connecting the vast Pacific Ocean with a long winding canal. This is the most spectacular and grandest water conservancy project in the world.

According to the project plan, the Nicaragua Canal will be officially opened to navigation in two months and put into daily operation.

The wharves, warehouses, naval bases and shipyards along the lakeshore in Huwan City have been built in sevens and eighty-eight, with roads extending in all directions, and initially have sufficient capacity to receive large passenger and cargo ships from two oceans.

The seventh prince of the Tang royal family, granted to His Royal Highness Tang-Li Kun of Guangnan Wang, was dressed in the straight woolen uniform of the Lieutenant General of the Imperial Imperial Guard. Around him were full of senior generals of the land and sea armies, who were looking at him like a huge mountain. The "Zhendong" and "Zhennan" ironclad ships slowly entered the lock.

The huge gates were closed, and under the adjustment of the water, the two iron-clad giant ships slowly sank visible to the naked eye, and cheers came from the surroundings.

His Royal Highness Tang-Li Kun could not restrain the excitement in his heart. The world's top water conservancy buildings presented in front of him have been recorded in history, and the "Zhendong" class iron-clad giant ship is also a painstaking work of the Royal Navy, relying on it to compete for regional maritime hegemony. one of the ships.

Combination of both

The result is an unbelievable and surprising victory. The Atlantic task force led by the three iron-clad giant ships "Zhendong", "Zhennan" and "Zhenbei" will accompany their conquering army to sweep up the Spaniards. The fleet, bombarding the city with artillery fire, demonstrated the undeniable might of the Imperial Navy.

follow the oracle;

This will be a colonial expansion war independently completed by the Royal Guards. The two princes will lead the expedition, and they are only allowed to win, not to lose.

It is not only necessary to win beautifully, but also to win thoroughly, so as to make the enemy frightened.

Declare that the majesty of the Great Tang Empire is far and wide, and it is everywhere, and the national prestige is beyond thousands of miles of waves.

From the perspective of army and navy strength, the Imperial Expeditionary Force has a crushing advantage, while the Spaniards are exhausted and have reached the end of their strength.

What's more, the Tang Empire brazenly launched this invasion war under the banner of "liberating the Cuban people".

In Cuba and Puerto Rico, there are countless Cuban rebels looking forward to playing the role of the leading party and severely attacking the Spanish colonists.

As for after victory... Hehe, there has never been love without a reason in this world, and there has never been free bread falling from the sky.

after awhile
The ship lock dropped to a certain water level, and the huge gate was slowly opened, and the iron-clad ships "Zhendong" and "Zhennan" sailed out one after another, and the sound of firecrackers and gongs and drums sounded warmly and festively on the shore.

Behind these two iron-clad giant ships, there is also a large fleet and coal supply ships that are going to Cuba.

On this day, April 1878, 4

The Tang Empire has officially declared war on the Kingdom of Spain, and is sending troops to the Caribbean Sea through the newly built Nicaragua Canal, indicating that from now on;
The Tang Empire possessed the strength to deploy troops from both oceans. Regardless of the army or navy, they could be mobilized in one place in a very short period of time to deal a fatal blow to the enemy.

The potential strategic significance is enough to make everyone think twice.

"My lord, according to the latest information; the Spanish Bourbon government is unwilling to lose Cuba, the last colony in Central America, and has urgently dispatched 3.6 expeditionary troops and a large number of sailing warships to reinforce Cuba." Standing aside. The general reported in a low voice.

Guangnan Wangtang-Li Kun's eyes sharpened when he heard the words, flashing two sharp murderous intentions, and said with a sneer;
"It seems that these Spaniards don't cry when they don't see the coffin, and they come all the way to die, so let them do it.

pass on the king's order;

Immediately dispatch search ships to closely patrol the waters around Cuba. The king will personally lead the main force of the Atlantic Task Force to hover 200 kilometers northeast of Havana, waiting to attack.

Once the traces of the Spanish reinforcement fleet are detected, they must be reported as soon as possible to create a good opportunity for the main force of our task force to wipe out the enemy.

The Spaniards never imagined that the king would give such a big gift, right?

Ha ha ha ha……"

His Highness Tang-Li Kun burst out laughing, the laughter was full of invincible arrogance and high-spirited self-confidence, which infected a large group of senior generals around, and they also laughed.

The stale brains of the Spaniards never imagined that the elite armored fleet of the Tang Empire could be mobilized from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea in just a few days. This is not a fantasy, but a miracle.

It is only to blame that the upper echelons of the kingdom in the Madrid court have not adapted to the rapid development of today's world, and have not paid attention to the progress of the Nicaragua Canal.

Logically

It is impossible for the Spaniards not to know about the Nicaragua Canal project, but even if they knew, they did not follow up and pay attention to it all the time, let alone expecting that the canal project could already be put into trial operation and freely mobilize troops between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

In the outdated concepts of the Spanish bureaucrats, it is still believed that the main armored fleet sent by the Tang Empire needs to go south to bypass Tierra del Fuego, and it will take at least 4 to 5 months to come and go.

This may be the reason why they dared to send a large number of expeditionary forces and Spanish Royal Navy forces to Cuba, because the Spaniards had already found out;

In the main naval bases of the Atlantic Fleet of the Datang Empire, New York and Campton ports, most of the two Duke-class ironclad warships and the "Gust" class ironclad warships are in the port, and there is no sign of a large-scale deployment.

In today's era, fleet voyages are no small matter. At least the coal bunkers must be filled, and the fleet must be accompanied by several coal ships. It is not a matter of just leaving.

The Royal Naval Base on Long Island, New York is 2500 kilometers away from Cuba. In the vast Atlantic Ocean, the Spanish fleet has a high chance of overcoming the interception and successfully sending reinforcements to the island of Cuba.

(End of this chapter)