Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 508 The expeditionary force sets out!
Taking a deep breath, Robert Lee finally made a decision.

"Well, Jackson, you're right."

"But how are we supposed to retreat?"

"The Potomac River is too deep and too fast for us to wade across."

"But building a pontoon bridge will take time, and the Northern Army will most likely not give us that much time..."

Jackson said through gritted teeth.

"General Li, I am willing to lead the troops to cover the retreat of the army..."

Jackson has a nickname, called Stonewall.

The reason for this is that he is good at defensive operations and his defense line is as indestructible as a stone wall.

Robert Lee nodded after hearing this and finally expressed his approval.

"Very well, thank you Jackson..."

……

After agreeing on these, the Confederate Army began to prepare for a breakout.

Robert Lee even personally led people to repair the pontoon bridge in preparation for crossing the river.

When the next morning came, the war started again.

The Northern Army launched a massive offensive towards Sharpsburg.

Robert Lee looked back at Jackson who was leading his troops in battle and shouted loudly.

"Hurry up, move faster, the Northern Army is coming!"

"Boys, hurry up and fix the pontoon, or we'll be stuffed with sandwiches..."

In the chaos, the battle continued for another half a day.

Finally, the pontoon bridge was repaired, and Robert Lee led his troops to break out immediately and reached the other side of the Potomac River through the pontoon bridge.

Behind them, Jackson also began to lead his troops to retreat.

In the chaos, the Confederate Army on the battlefield began to collapse, and each unit scrambled to grab a pontoon bridge for retreat.

Countless people were crowded on the pontoon bridge, guns and artillery were discarded everywhere, and from time to time someone would fall into the river with a splash. A wave would hit them, and they would sink instantly and never come up again.

boom! Boom boom!

The deafening roar continued to sound.

The sound of gunfire was continuous.

The dense crowd was perfect for fire attacks, and the Northern Army could not wait to add insult to injury, causing casualties among the Confederate soldiers.

The pursuit lasted for half a day. Fortunately, the Confederate Army blew up the pontoon bridge after retreating across the Potomac River, thus cutting off the Union Army's continued pursuit.

Robert Lee retreated southward with the Confederate Army, which suffered heavy losses.

McClellan was standing on a hill by the Potomac River observing the battlefield when his lieutenant-general came up to him and asked.

"General, are you no longer pursuing us?"

McClellan just waved his hand and said when he heard this.

"How can we chase them if the floating bridge has been blown up?"

"By the time we repair the pontoon bridge, the Southern Army will have already retreated to who knows where. So stop bothering us."

"Send a message to the boys, let them have a good rest..."

Upon hearing this, the adjutant first clasped his fists to show that he understood, and then trotted forward to convey the order.

……

Robert E. Lee was a qualified and experienced general, although he was defeated at Sharpsburg and forced to retreat.

But he did not lead his men in a sudden defeat. Instead, he led his troops to camp near Fredchristburg, where he began to rest and prepare for the next round of fighting.

After arriving at Fredericksburg, Robert Lee ordered a brief count of the troops and discovered some extremely disappointing news.

After the Battle of Sharpsburg, the Confederate Army suffered 1.3 casualties, including more than killed in action and almost countless seriously injured and disabled people.

The Virginia Corps under his command suffered nearly half casualties and has now almost lost its combat effectiveness.

Robert Lee's Virginia Army was the most elite force in the entire Confederacy.

The Virginia Corps lost its combat effectiveness, which meant that the Confederate Army's advantage on the Eastern Front might not last long.

This was undoubtedly despairing news for the Allies.

……

Soon, the results of the Battle of Sharpsburg were reported back to Richmond.

In the city of Richmond, the Confederate high-ranking officials who were originally jubilant about the victory of the Second Battle of Manassas were directly poured with a bucket of cold water on their heads.

It just brought them into collective silence!

Jefferson Davis just sat there and said with a serious expression.

"General Robert E. Lee was defeated at Sharpsburg and has now retreated back to the Confederacy."

"The federal army could move south again and approach Richmond at any time."

"Everyone, tell me, how should we deal with this?"

As soon as Jefferson finished speaking, there was silence in the venue and no one stood up to speak.

Jefferson Davis took a deep breath and looked at Secretary of State Alton Coolidge.

"Orton, is there any progress in your work?"

Given the current situation of the Allied Powers, the only thing they can hope for to turn the tide of the war is intervention from external forces.

Upon hearing this, Orton Coolidge nodded first, then spoke.

"In reply to your Excellency the President, the diplomatic work of our alliance country is not going smoothly at the moment."

"Britain refused to send troops to help us resist the invasion from the north. Although Tang agreed, it put forward quite harsh conditions..."

At present, the main diplomatic focus of the Allied Powers is diplomacy with the Tang Dynasty and Britain.

Jefferson Davis' expression darkened when he heard this, but he still asked.

“Why did Britain refuse to intervene militarily?”

Alton Coolidge said with a wry smile.

"The British ambassador said that our Confederate slavery policy was inhumane, and workers in Great Britain held a march to protest against the British government's intervention in the North American war."

"So, Britain called off its plan to intervene in the war in North America..."

Although it was unwilling to interfere in the North American war in order to suppress France and the Tang Dynasty, it was even prepared to disrupt the coalition forces organized by the Tang Dynasty and France.

However, this did not prevent Britain from using a high-sounding reason to reject the Alliance.

Well, I, Daying, also need to save face!
Upon hearing this, Jefferson Davis immediately realized that Britain was unreliable, and then began to ask.

"What about the Tang Dynasty? What conditions did they propose?"

Alton Coolidge took a deep breath.

"First of all, the Tang Dynasty asked us to support the Indians in establishing an independent nation."

"Secondly, the Tang Dynasty requires us to cede the Port of New Orleans to the Tang Dynasty and completely open the Allied market to the Tang Dynasty."

"Besides that, there are conditions such as mineral development and land sales..."

Jefferson Davis couldn't help but look conflicted when he heard this.

Things like opening up trade and ceding ports are easy to deal with.

Support Indians to establish an independent nation...

This made Jefferson Davis feel a little confused.

"Why do the Tang people support the Indians in establishing an independent nation? What is their relationship with the Indians?"

Upon hearing this, Orton Coolidge spoke up.

"In reply to your Excellency the President, according to what the Tang ambassador said, those Indians are descendants of the Shang Dynasty, a dynasty in their history."

"Those Indians were defeated in the war with the Zhou people and then migrated to America."

"In a way, the Indians are close relatives of the Tang people, so they are ready to support the establishment of an Indian nation."

When Jefferson Davis heard this, he first thought it was nonsense, but then he realized that it didn't matter whether the Indians were the so-called descendants of the Shang Dynasty.

What’s important is that the Tang Dynasty was prepared to use the power of the Indians to intervene in America, and even to carve out a territory in America to rule it.

But finally, Jefferson Davis spoke up.

"Promise him, promise him everything!"

Seeing this, the congressman couldn't help but want to persuade Jefferson Davis to think twice.

But at this moment, they suddenly discovered that Jefferson Davis' eyes became as ferocious as a hungry wolf.

"Everyone, don't say anything!"

"The Alliance now has no more choices."

"If we don't get help from the Tang Kingdom, the Northern Army might soon enter Richmond..."

Upon hearing this, everyone had no choice but to agree.

……

Chinatown, Richmond.

A car was approaching slowly, and pedestrians on the roadside spontaneously dodged.

Because the flag flying on this car is the national flag of the Tang Dynasty.

Although the Tang people today are not the superior people in the Allied Nations, they are still treated preferentially in many places.

When ordinary people from the Allied Countries saw the Tang people, they would subconsciously avoid them and dare not look them in the eye.

Finally, the car drove all the way to the outside of the Tang Dynasty Embassy.

With a squeak, the car braked to a stop.

After the car door opened, an Indian native wearing coarse cloth and animal skin clothes and a bird feather crown on his head got out of the car.

His eyes darted around for a while, his eyes were fierce.

But beneath his outwardly ferocious appearance, he actually concealed an inferiority and cowardice that was difficult to conceal.

Life for Indians in America is really hard. The white people don't treat them as human beings at all.

Therefore, they are accustomed to using ferocity and brutality as their protective color.

"Little Crow Leader, please follow me!"

"His Excellency the Ambassador is already waiting for you in the reception room."

A secretary came forward to greet them, and the translator helped translate.

Upon hearing this, the little crow just nodded and followed.

Soon, he was taken into a reception room.

The reception room was bright and clean, with a soft carpet on the floor. On the coffee table in front of the sofa, there was a pot of tea and a few plates of snacks.

Several pretty and slim white maids were busying around.

A middle-aged man in a neat official uniform and with an extraordinary demeanor was sitting on the sofa, looking around with a deep and majestic look.

The little crow was brought to the sofa and sat down. Huang Weiqi pushed a cup of tea to him and motioned him to drink it.

Looking at the other party's clumsy movements, Huang Weiqi spoke with a sighing tone.

"After thousands of years away from home, I have forgotten even the etiquette and clothing passed down by my ancestors."

"It's really hard for you!"

The translator began to translate, and the little crow looked skeptical.

"Your Excellency Ambassador, are we really the remnants of the Shang Dynasty?"

"Why is there no relevant record in the clan?"

Huang Weiqi just smiled when he heard this.

"You have been stranded in a foreign country and have forgotten even the language, etiquette, and clothing of your ancestors."

"Isn't it normal that there is no relevant record?"

"But it doesn't matter. You don't have records, but the Tang Dynasty does!" "That's enough!"

The profound meaning of Huang Weiqi's words is very clear.

The Tang Dynasty needs you, and the Tang Dynasty can also give you what you need.

So, is it really important?
The little crow took a deep breath and then continued to ask.

"Is the Tang Dynasty really willing to support us, the Dakota people, in establishing an independent nation?"

Little Crow is the leader of the Dakota people, an important branch of the Sioux, the largest Indian ethnic group in North America.

Later, the U.S. states of South Dakota and North Dakota were both named after the Dakota people.

It can be imagined that the Dakota people are quite powerful!

Huang Weiqi heard this and responded immediately.

"Not just the Dakota people, but the entire Sioux tribe, the entire Indian people. The Tang Dynasty will help you Indians build a nation."

"As for the reason? Haha, God helps those who help themselves!"

"Since you guys are brave enough to shoot at the white guys, then the Tang Dynasty will certainly not hesitate to support you..."

There was a reason why the Tang Dynasty chose to support the Dakota people instead of other ethnic groups.

The Dakota had fought a war with the Confederacy a few months earlier.

Although the Dakota people lost the war in the end and were expelled to Minnesota, they also caused considerable casualties to the Americans in this war.

Historically, this war was called the Dakota War by Americans.

It is a battlefield, not a conflict, so you can imagine the intensity of this war.

And in this war, the leader of the Dakota people is the little crow in front of you.

To put it bluntly, it was because the Dakota people proved their courage and bloodiness through this war, and proved that they were not hopeless, that the Tang Dynasty chose to support them.

As I said, if you want to join a gang, you have to prove that you can fight first, and then the big brother will accept you.

If you just talk big and get cowardly when things get tough, no gang will want you.

When the little crow heard this, his eyes suddenly turned red.

"Thank you, Your Excellency the Ambassador!"

"Thank you for choosing us Dakota people. I... I can finally avenge my people..."

The Dakota people originally lived in the eastern part of the country where there was abundant grass and water and rich resources.

But with the US invasion, they lost their farmland, their houses, their pastures, their cattle and sheep...

Even his family members lost their lives in the battle with the white men, and their heads were cut off.

With no other options, they had to move to the desolate West to make a living...

Now, the little crow finally sees hope of revenge on the white man, how can he not be excited?
Huang Weiqi saw this and continued to smile.

"Don't get excited yet. I will take you to meet Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy."

"Now, your main enemy is the Confederation. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I think you can get some support from the Confederation."

Although the Tang Dynasty is willing to support Indian independence, the Confederacy's coastline is still blocked by the North.

Before the Tang Dynasty's fleet arrived in North America and broke the blockade, the Tang Dynasty had no way to support the Indians.

In this situation, the only ones we can count on are the Allies.

Although the Confederation is far inferior to the Federation in national strength, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse after all.

Any little that slipped through the Confederacy's fingers was enough to feed the Indian tribes.

Upon hearing this, the little crow just nodded to show that he understood.

He was a little excited, as he could never have imagined that one day he would be able to meet a big shot like the President of the United States.

Well, even if the other party is just the president of an allied country, he is still a big shot in front of him.

Soon, Huang Weiqi took Little Crow to meet Jefferson Davis, and Jefferson Davis decisively gave Little Crow certain support.

The reason was, apart from agreeing to the conditions of the Tang Dynasty.

The more important reason is that the Dakota people lived in the north.

It’s the backyard of the Federal Republic!

It would actually be a good thing for the Confederacy if it could support the Dakota people to cause trouble for the Federation in its backyard.

Since they couldn't defeat the Dakota people on the front battlefield, they could only think of using underhand tactics.

……

It was the seventh year of the Kaitai reign of the Tang Dynasty, October 1862 in the Western calendar.

Tianjin!

Bohai Fleet Base!

With the diplomatic work of forming alliances and making coalitions completed, the Tang army officially prepared to go on the expedition.

The troops mobilized from various places gathered in Tianjin and prepared to board the ship.

The fleet also assembled and began to load various supplies.

Boxes of weapons, food, supplies, medicine, bedding, etc. were loaded onto the transport ship.

The fleet sailors began the final overhaul of the fleet.

Li Yi personally set out from the capital and took a train to Tianjin to see the soldiers off.

On the parade ground of the Bohai Fleet base, officers of all ranks gathered and stood in positions designated in advance.

Li Yi walked up to the crowd and said with a smile.

"The soldiers are about to set out for battle. I am here today to cheer them on."

“I wish the soldiers a successful expedition to North America and a triumphant return!”

As he spoke, Li Yi raised the wine glass in his hand and said loudly.

"Gentlemen, let us drink this cup together!"

As soon as Li Yi finished speaking, the officers in front of him responded in unison.

"The general will obey the order!"

As they talked, everyone drank up the wine in their glasses.

Li Yi walked to the front of the array and sat down on a chair. Feng Zicai and Yang Yuebin stood behind him respectively.

Officers of all ranks also stood according to their height and rank, with their chests puffed out and their heads held high, appearing very energetic.

After everyone was standing in place, Li Yi called to his personal photographer.

"Come, take a photo of me and the soldiers!"

The photographer came forward and placed the camera in front of Li Yi and others, and then a click sound was heard.

A burst of white smoke came out of the spotlight!
Then the scene in front of my eyes was instantly frozen on the film.

After Li Yi took a group photo with officers of all ranks, the expeditionary force began its oath-taking ceremony.

After all preparations were completed, Li Yi stepped onto the platform.

He looked around, came to a loudspeaker, and spoke loudly.

"Comrades, our Chinese civilization has a long history, from the Xia and Shang dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, it has been thousands of years now."

"When King Wu defeated King Zhou and replaced the Shang Dynasty with the Zhou, the descendants of the Shang Dynasty fled eastwards through the Bering Strait to the New World, and became the Indians."

"These remnants of the Shang Dynasty took root and survived in the New World. After thousands of years of reproduction, their population grew quite large."

"It's a pity that the foreigners are cunning. They took advantage of the kindness of the Shang Dynasty survivors to gain a foothold in the New World. After they grew stronger, they began to slaughter the Shang Dynasty survivors at will, and even cut off their scalps to commemorate their military achievements..."

"This is intolerable, what else can we not tolerate?"

"The Tang Dynasty has ordered its troops to attack the Confederate States of America in North America, vowing to bring justice to our compatriots who died tragically."

"Today, I am here to see off the soldiers and wish them a successful start and a triumphant return!"

Li Yi's voice was amplified through the loudspeaker, echoing in the ears of every Tang army soldier, deafening.

As soon as Li Yi finished speaking, the Tang army soldiers on the training ground in front of him couldn't help but shout in unison.

"A victory at the start, a triumphant return!"

"A victory at the start, a triumphant return!"

"..."

Seeing this, Li Yi took another deep breath and spoke loudly.

"Pass on my military order, march out!"

As soon as Li Yi finished speaking, soldiers from various units began to board the ship one by one.

After everyone was on board, with a deep, powerful and highly penetrating horn sound, the fleet slowly sailed out of the Tianjin Naval Port.

Li Yi stood at the port and watched the Tang army's expeditionary fleet leave.

As the fleet went farther and farther away, his expression became somewhat complicated.

The sea breeze blows and the sea surface sparkles.

Before we knew it, the red sun had set and the fleet had turned into a few small black dots.

"Your Majesty, the sun is setting, the weather is cold, it's time to go home!"

Wang Zhong walked up to Li Yi and began to persuade him.

Li Yi nodded slightly and then said.

"Well, come back!"

As he spoke, he withdrew his gaze and walked towards the convoy parked at the dock.

After Li Yi got on the car, the convoy set off towards the post house in Tianjin city.

Li Yi planned to rest in Tianjin for one night and then set off for Beijing tomorrow morning.

……

The Tang Dynasty expeditionary fleet set out from Tianjin on October 6th.

We first went south and arrived in Shanghai on the tenth day of October.

After joining the expeditionary force sent by Japan in Shanghai, they continued their journey southward on October 15th.

After obtaining the approval of the Tang Dynasty to join the coalition, the Tokugawa shogunate began to prepare for war.

After some discussion, the Tokugawa shogunate sent a brigade of 5,000 new shogunate troops to join the war.

For the shogunate, which only had one division of new troops, sending out a brigade at once was already considered quite courageous.

Then, it’s Vietnam.

The Tang Dynasty expeditionary fleet arrived in Guangzhou on October 23, and after joining up with the expeditionary force sent by Vietnam, it continued to move south.

On the eighth day of November, the expedition fleet passed through Malacca.

On the 12th, they joined up with Burmese troops at the Dhaka military port in Myanmar, and then continued eastward.

Like Japan, Myanmar and Vietnam each sent a brigade of troops to participate in the war.

It is worth mentioning that the coalition forces participating in the war have unified logistics.

All countries need to do is pay money to the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty will guarantee the logistical supply of each department.

Of course, if countries want to send out their own fleets to ensure logistics, that is also possible.

However, in today's Asia, except for the Tang Dynasty, other countries cannot provide logistical fleets capable of ocean-going transportation.

So, this option seems to exist, but it actually does not exist.

The Tang Dynasty made a small fortune by providing logistics for expeditionary forces from various countries.

The fleet passed through the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and then headed north towards Europe.

In fact, the Suez Canal has not yet been opened.

Otherwise, taking the Suez Canal would really save a lot of effort.

The African continent is so vast that it would take at least a month to go around it...

(End of this chapter)