The six-dimensional pictures of emperors of all dynasties were exposed, and the ancestors panicked

Chapter 755 I must fight!
On the canopy.

In the courtyard with daylight shining through.

A group of officials sat around.

"The British are now on the surface of Dinghai!"

“Why didn’t Zhoushan Island issue a defense notice?!”

"Zhang Zhentai! Where is your Dinghai Navy?!"

An official could not help but slam the table and shout.

The elderly official sitting in the main seat covered his face with his sleeves in shame and said in a muffled voice:

"It always happens that foreign ships are blown here by the wind... I..."

The official was about to speak, but the official sitting next to the old man interrupted him:

"Lord Luo, this is not the time to talk about this."

"The British have half an hour to reply. If they do not surrender, we will fire our artillery at the island and the fort, and lead our soldiers ashore."

"I thought about it, it's too late to deploy defense now."

"It is better to withdraw the troops into the city, block the key points and wait for reinforcements."

Everyone pondered for a while.

Lord Luo said:

"The British are good at ships and guns, which are good at water but not at land."

"If we withdraw our troops completely into the city, we may be accused of abandoning our land and failing to fulfill our responsibilities."

"It would be better to withdraw half of the navy to Banlu Pavilion, one mile away from the city, to block the key point."

"The other half will retreat to the city to defend it."

At this time, the old man lowered his sleeves that were covering his face and said to the two officials with a sigh:
"When the time comes, the soldiers on the island will be gathered together and handed over to Yao Yizun to guard the land route."

"As for the rest...there's nothing I can do."

"It is not the navy's responsibility to defend the city. As the navy's commander-in-chief, I must guard the seaport and prevent the British from landing."

"After so many years of peace, who would have thought that the British warships would suddenly come to Dinghai!"

"You can't defend the city and you have no choice but to die for your country. Isn't it the same for me?"

"I'm afraid that we will just have to accompany the navy ships to the sea and be buried."

……

Dinghai County was first established in the 1687th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign () and governed the Zhoushan Islands. It was later changed to Dinghai Prefecture.
{It is surrounded by mountains on the east, north and west, and faces the sea on the south.}
｛Daotou Port is two or three miles south of the city. Its three ports, Jixiang, Zhushan and Daqu, are gateways for foreign countries to enter the port.｝
｛To the south of Daotou Port, there are many islands, including the Big and Small Wukui Mountain, the Big and Small Panzhi Mountain, the Big and Small Qu Mountain, etc., which are surrounded by the sea.｝
{Zhoushan Island faces Zhenhai County across the sea, and it controls the north-south sea passage, so its strategic position is very important.}
｛Because Dinghai is a natural harbor, the British coveted it very much.｝
{When Macartney was on a mission to China, he formally proposed to occupy a small island near Zhoushan.}
{When Britain decided to send troops, Elliot had suggested that the British government use force to occupy Zhoushan Island.}
{On February 1840, 2, the British Foreign Secretary Palmerston issued his final instructions to Elliot, clearly instructing the British army to occupy the most suitable island in the Zhoushan Islands for long-term occupation after the blockade of the Pearl River.}
{From the end of June to July 1840, 6, Boehme led five warships, the Willisley, Conway, Alligator, Cruiser, and Aguilin, two armed steamships, the Empress and Atlante, and ten transport ships carrying the 7th, 4th, and 5th Army Regiments, to the Zhoushan waters, with a total of about 18 amphibious soldiers.}
{Zhoushan Island is so important, why doesn't he deploy defenses?}
{Defenses were deployed. The Qing government stationed a naval garrison here, which governed the three battalions of the town flag, the left, and the right, stationed on various islands in Zhoushan.}
{Two thousand four hundred and eighty-one soldiers, equipped with seventy-seven large and small boats, and one hundred and fourteen cannons on land.}
{A fort was set up in the southeast of Dinghai County, with eight guns and fifty soldiers.}
{However, when the British ships first arrived off the coast of Dinghai, the Qing navy was completely unprepared and did not intercept them.}
{As for the reason... Zhang Chaofa, the general of Dinghai Town, said, "It is common for foreign ships to be blown here by the wind. There is no need to be too surprised."}
……

Ming Dynasty and Zhengde Period
"You can't fight like this now."

Zhu Houzhao's face flushed, and his eyes were hazy as he said:

"Look! Dinghai City is surrounded by mountains on the northeast, west and east sides, and there are mountains on the east and west sides extending to the seaside!"

"That...Dao...Daotou Port, there is Wukui Mountain on the east side of the sea outside the port, and Panzhi Mountain on the west side!"

"This will immediately divide the waterway into three routes!"

"The water on the east and west sides is shallow, so ships with a slightly deeper draft cannot pass at all."

“Only the waterway in the middle can accommodate large ships.”

"But a large ship like the British can't get in at all."

"Put them in and catch them in a trap! Scatter them and annihilate them, harass them when they set up camp, cut off their food and water supply, and if there is a source of water nearby, use laxatives!"

"Go to the surrounding villages and counties. Every villager is here to explore."

"Set up camp and secretly send people to watch the situation. The enemy sent spies to catch their mouths."

"After three to five days, send small boats at night to destroy their large ships."

"Drill holes! Apply oil and set fire to it, destroy its stern rudder!"

"Rather than giving up the advantage of the terrain and using our own weaknesses to attack the other side's strengths as we are doing now."

Zhu Houcong kicked the wine jug at his feet a little further away.

Are you drunk?
Look carefully!
Their hulls are all covered with tin!
Will the bottom of the boat be spared?!
Fire attack...

……

Qing Dynasty and Qianlong period
“Incompetent officials are really causing trouble!”

Qianlong could not help slapping the imperial desk and said angrily:
"It can be seen that this general has no idea about the national situation. All he has in his mind is probably eating, drinking and having fun!"

"The first reaction of a local military commander when he saw the enemy ship was that it was blown by the wind!"

“I don’t know whether this is funny or sad!”

He Shen stepped forward, clasped his hands and said solemnly:
"Your Majesty, since the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, we have never fought a naval battle except after we recovered Taiwan."

"Besides, how many people in the entire Qing Dynasty know the true purpose of the British?"

"The entire court, the entire world! Are all still intoxicated in the dream of the Celestial Empire!"

"Pride brings harm, while humility brings benefit!"

Something is wrong... One hundred and twenty percent is wrong!
The ministers couldn't help but look at Heshen sideways.

Did these words come from your mouth?
Aren’t you also not doing the job of giving advice?

unless……

"Your Majesty, I am about to take a risk!"

He Shen took off his hat and feather, lifted his robe and knelt down, saying with a firm face:

"Your Majesty, I beg you to open the customs and build a navy!"

"Slave! Die!"

After saying this, he bowed his head.

Qianlong was furious! He slammed the table and stood up!

"You are such a good Heshen!"

"How dare you make irresponsible comments on the rules that the Holy Ancestor himself said!"

"Aren't you afraid that I will chop off your head?"

He Shen raised his head, his forehead was already purple, but he still said firmly:
"Slave! I only wish that the Qing Dynasty will last for billions of years!"

"I am willing to sacrifice my entire fortune to build the Qing Dynasty's national defense navy!"

"Please remember the responsibility of the Qing Dynasty's territory and people!"

"A hundred years later, I am willing to grind my bones and scatter my ashes to repent for my ancestors!"

As soon as the words fell, the whole court was in an uproar!

They were not afraid of acting, so the emperor and Heshen just acted.

But when it comes to your performance...

They stole a glance at the Emperor.

Emmmm...His Majesty is intimidated by you.

They should ask themselves, they are not capable of performing to this level!

He Shen, ah, He Shen...

We are really not jealous of you making money.

……

【Dinghai County Magistrate Yao Huaixiang and General Zhang Chaofa discussed the matter with the civil and military officials.】

[Due to different opinions, it was finally agreed to divide the land and water forces. Zhang Chaofa led the navy and Luo Jiangong organized the camps outside the city and gathered at the port to stop the enemy on the water and on the shore. Yao Huaixiang led more than a thousand soldiers to defend the city.]

[Zhang and Yao agreed with each other:
"Those outside are responsible for fighting. Even if they are defeated, they cannot enter. Those inside are responsible for defending. Even if they are defeated, they cannot leave."

...on the sky.

A line of white words appeared on the background of a warship.

"On June 1840, the 7th year of Daoguang's reign, at 5: p.m. on July , , the Battle of Dinghai began"

As the font slowly disappeared, the British warships, riding the rising tide, also sailed out of the harbor and formed a battle formation.

The first row is "Willisley"

Seventy-four cannons slowly emerged from the interlayer of the ship's wall.

To the east is the HMS Conway
On the west side is the "Algirin".

An equal number of guns were deployed and aimed at the port.

Then the second row and the third row.

"Oh!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Willisley fired first.

There were flashes of fire on the two-story gun tower and artillery shells were fired one after another.

The shells exploded when they hit the ground, pieces of iron flew everywhere, and several people fell to the ground in an instant, either dead or injured.

The other ships also opened fire!
At the same time, the Dinghai Navy and four artillery batteries also opened fire in retaliation.

"Boom! Boom!"

"General! General!"

An officer wearing a hat came running over, looking dusty and dusty, knelt on one knee, pointed at the rumbling warship over there with tears in his eyes, and said sadly:
"Military!"

"Our guns! Can't reach them!"

The old man with white hair and beard took a step back slightly, and the officer beside him hurriedly supported him.

The old man looked at the tall warship towering over the sea like a mountain.

There was a confused look in his eyes.

And at this moment...

"Oh!"

Iron pieces flew!

"Military!"

……

[June 1840, the 7th year of Daoguang’s reign (afternoon of July 5, )]

[When British commander John Bowmer saw that Dinghai showed no signs of surrender, he ordered the "Willisley" and other ships to open fire and attack. Zhang Chaofa led the Qing navy to resist.]

[However, the Qing army discovered that no matter whether it was the gunboats or the artillery batteries, the shells they fired could not reach the British ships in the sea.]

[More than 100 guns of the British ship fired at the same time, with great power and rapid firing rate, especially the Willisley.]

[The first round of attacks by the Willisley were all focused on Zhang Chaofa's flagship. The first shell blew Zhang Chaofa into the water. After more than a dozen shells, the largest warship of the Dinghai Navy had been broken into two parts and sank diagonally on the beach.]

[The soldiers on the warships all jumped into the water, swam to shore, and fled in twos and threes.]

[The British warships selected their respective targets and fired calmly.]

[More than 20 warships of the Qing navy were sunk, and the four artillery batteries were silenced. The entire port fell in less than half an hour, and there was almost no resistance.]

[Navy General Zhang Chaofa was wounded in the left thigh by British warship gunfire and died that night due to his injuries.]

[In the early morning of the next day, the British army broke through the east gate. Yao Huaixiang went out of the north gate to the foot of Puci Mountain and threw himself into the Fangong Pond. Dianshi Quanfu cursed the British invaders and was killed. The soldiers defending the city were defeated and Dinghai fell.]

After the British army arrived in Dinghai, they sent Army Commander Burley to manage Dinghai's naval affairs, and missionary and opium dealer Guo Shili to manage Dinghai's civil affairs.

[They carried out large-scale killings, looting and rape in the Dinghai area.]

[“They came in groups of dozens or hundreds of people, and went through every village and valley, snatching clothes, silver, livestock and food at will. If they resisted, they would be beaten with swords and guns. … The area near the city was particularly poisoned. Some died from their wounds, while others were seriously injured. The suffering was too great to be listed.”]

【As a result, the city became a ruin.】

[On June 7 (July 28), Elliot, Elliot, and Bettencourt led five warships, a steamer, and three transport boats to continue northward.]

……

{Here is a little-known fact: many documents from the Qing Dynasty recorded that the acting county magistrate Yao Huaixiang boarded the British warship to negotiate, and Zhang Chaofa, the second-rank military attaché and the highest commander of the Dinghai Navy, was thrown into the corner of history.}
{However, looking through the British documents currently available, no matter whether it was the supreme commander of the First Dinghai Campaign, British naval commander Admiral John Boehm.}
{Or the memoirs of British Army Commander Bully, who was in charge of the landing battle, or the military secretary Jocelyn, Lieutenant Colonel Mountain, Lieutenant Ochterone of the Engineer Corps, who participated in the entire battle.}
{Regarding the main Qing figure who boarded the British warship to negotiate, there are three records of his identity: general, vice admiral, and fleet commander.}
{And without exception, they all point to only one person: Zhang Chaofa, the general of Dinghai Town.}
{According to British records, the British army sent Sir Harry Darrell to paint on the spot, which was later made into a print and published in 1842. Currently, there is also a copy in the collection of the Brown University Library in the United States.}
{The painting is titled "Conference between Sir Gordon Boehme and Admiral Chang, Commander of the Chinese Fleet"}
｛The text area below the painting is equipped with an introduction corresponding to the characters.｝
{With Guo Shili in the center of the picture as the center, to his right are Boehm and Bulli, and military secretary Jocelyn and others standing behind the two.}
｛The person on the left hand side of Guo Shili has English labels below the painting, which are "Commander of the Chinese Fleet (Governor of Zhoushan)", "Captain of his flagship", and "Zhoushan County Magistrate". The English below it indicates that the surname of this "Commander of the Chinese Fleet" is Chang. ｝
{From the details of the hats, official uniforms, court beads, etc. of the civil and military officials in the painting, we can also judge that the leader of the Chinese side should be General Zhang Chaofa.}
{In the British writings, the Dinghaizhen general boarded the "Willisley" without fear. He left a tragic and resolute statement in front of Bourmey, which made the British stand in awe.}
{"We see your strength and know that resistance would be folly, but I must fulfill our duty and must do this."}
{The book "China's Wars" wrote: "Their duty and loyalty to the emperor forbade them to surrender...so they had to resist."}
{In 1840, the Chinese Repository selected and published two letters from officers and soldiers who participated in the Dinghai Campaign. One of the letters reads:
"On Saturday, July 7, Gordon Boehme... demanded the surrender of the town.

Later, there was further news: Chinese officers said they were weak and the British were strong, but they could not surrender, nor could they guarantee not to shoot, the British must come to occupy it, and they must fight. ”
{Another letter says: "It seems that on the 5th day, the Chinese naval vice admiral and other officers were invited on board the 'Willisley'. ... A cannon was pointed out to them and the irresistible effect of a battleship's flank attack was explained to them.

To all this the Vice-Admiral (who was a dull, boring man) merely replied:

'You are strong and I am weak, that is true. I know resistance is useless, but I must fight. '"
……

Song Shenzong Period
"It has to be done..."

Zhao Xu was lost in thought for a moment when he read these words.

"I must do this", "I must resist", "I must fight"

Different ways of expression point to the same core meaning.

I can't retreat!

……

Ming Dynasty Yongle Period
Zhu Di looked at this slightly awkward translation and sighed:

"Obviously, this sentence should be said by the general. Only he can say this on behalf of Zhoushan as the highest military commander of the navy."

"And from this sentence, we can also see that the general is clearly aware of the huge gap in strength between the two sides."

"But at the same time, he clearly realized that as a soldier, he could not relieve himself of his responsibilities."

"So, he has to do it."

……

Qing Dynasty, Xianfeng Period
"Cough! Cough!"

Xianfeng covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and coughed vigorously.

"Ugh……"

When foreign enemies invade, they use their flesh and blood to stand in front of the powerful enemies.

Zhang Chaofa is already better than eight out of ten Qing officials.

Xianfeng looked at the sky and thought about it.

Behind him is the land of the Qing Dynasty, on the shore are the subjects of the Qing Dynasty, and on his shoulders are the duties and responsibilities of being an official appointed by the court.

He knows how to do it and he "has to do it"

pity……

This sentence is so powerful and righteous that it is enough to be remembered by the entire Qing Dynasty.

Lost in the depths of the Qing Dynasty.

……

{As for this disagreement, some people analyzed that Zhang Chaofa was convicted after the Dinghai Campaign, and naturally he could no longer be portrayed in a positive light in subsequent official narratives.}
{I know this. After Zhang Chaofa's death, he was used as a scapegoat by the imperial commissioner Yili Bu and others. They put all the blame for the loss of Dinghai on Zhang Chaofa alone. According to the law of losing a city and a territory, he was originally planned to be executed.}
{Daoguang was unaware of the situation and severely reprimanded Zhang Chaofa in his imperial edict, refusing to grant him an official title or posthumous title, and even not allowing his coffin to be returned to his hometown for burial.}
{It was not until Emperor Xianfeng ascended the throne that Zhang Chaofa was cleared of all charges and posthumously awarded the title of General Wuxian. His coffin was escorted back to Fujian by his son for burial.}
{Zhang Chaofa’s hometown, the people of Fuding built the “Zhejiang Dinghai General Zhang Chaofa’s Tomb” at Yanjiao Pavilion in Guayuan Village at the foot of Taimu Mountain.}
{In front of the tomb, a memorial tablet with the words "I have returned to the sea, but I will not rest until I kill the whale" was planted as a memorial.}
……

Ming Dynasty - Tianqi Period
Zhu Youxiao was so confused that he couldn't express it in words.

When I saw Daoguang's operation, I couldn't help but frown.

"This operation...why does it look so familiar?"

Fifth brother? Is that you, Fifth brother?!
……

Tomorrow...I will probably take a day off.

No reason, just to ease the mood.



(End of this chapter)