The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 578: Dispatching Troops to Colombia
The Colombian ambassador did not expect that the United States would be so tough and want to resolve the issue by force. He was immediately confused and wanted to try to explain.

But William Everts didn't listen to his explanation at all.

The reason why they contacted him three days after the fleet left was to prevent the Colombian government and the international community from having time to react.

Let’s make the matter a done deal first.

William Everts stood up and left the meeting room.

Later, President William Wheeler held a press conference directly.

William Wheeler held a newspaper in his hand and showed it to the reporters in front: "I believe you have all read this newspaper!"

"Just a few days ago, an inhumane and outrageous atrocity occurred in San Francisco, California!"

"A group of thugs rushed into the streets, shooting at innocent passers-by with guns at random, and throwing bombs into the streets!" William Wheeler said sternly.

"You can't imagine how I felt when I heard the news."

"Those people are our friends, neighbors, and ordinary people who work hard every day to support their families. They are all kind people and they don't deserve to encounter such things!"

"According to our investigation, these brutal thugs are from Colombia!"

"As soon as the incident happened, we summoned the Colombian ambassador, expressed my indignation sternly, and demanded that they give an explanation!"

"But after so many days, all we have received is constant excuses!"

"This is a blatant mockery of the United States, freedom and democracy!"

"So today, I decided not to wait any longer!"

"Since Colombia won't give us an explanation! Then we will go get one ourselves!"

"We will send soldiers to capture the mastermind behind this bloody massacre!"

After William Wheeler finished speaking in a resounding voice, the surrounding reporters burst into an uproar.

No one expected to hear such news suddenly, and a reporter immediately asked loudly:
"Mr. President, do you mean to start a war?"

"No, we are just sending soldiers to catch the real culprit behind the scenes. At the same time, I am warning here and I also hope that the Colombian government can cooperate with us and hand over the real culprit! To prevent things from getting worse!" William Wheeler said with a righteous look on his face.

"We are not invaders! But as the US government, our duty is to protect the American people. If someone commits atrocities against our people, then we must fight back resolutely!"

William Wheeler's words were very tough, completely forgetting that hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana were still suffering from the disaster.

But that's Democratic territory, and the people there are protected by the Louisiana state government, so there's nothing wrong with that.

Wow!
The reporters below were infected by William Wheeler's emotion and applauded while asking for details.

However, William Wheeler didn't say much and ended the press conference quickly.

The news that the United States sent troops to Colombia immediately caused an uproar.

In addition to Colombia's direct protest against the United States' hegemonic behavior, envoys from other countries in the Americas also publicly opposed it, believing that the United States had violated the sovereignty of other countries.

At the same time, Britain also expressed opposition, believing that the US actions violated the sovereignty of other countries and would worsen the situation in the Americas.

Because this move by the United States is very dangerous.

This shows that after experiencing various internal turmoils, they began to turn their attention to the outside world.

Especially when Chen Zhengwei had just signed the Panama Treaty and the Lima Agreement.

However, their position is not so tenable. It should be noted that in the Chilean-Chilean War, Britain has always supported Chile internationally.

As for France and other European countries, most of them maintain a neutral attitude towards this. After all, the United States has sufficient excuses and their interests in America are not that great.

They are just worried that the US actions will affect their trade interests.

France's focus now is on Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, while Germany's focus is on Africa.

As for the American people, they were almost indifferent to sending troops to Colombia.

It’s none of your business, and it’s none of my business.

However, what William Wheeler said at the press conference that the responsibility of the U.S. government is to protect the American people has been supported by many people.

……

A few days later, merchant ships could be seen traveling on the waterways in the northern waters of Colombia.

This route is very busy.

A British merchant ship loaded with quinine and gold was sailing on the waterway when the sailor suddenly shouted, "There's a fleet ahead!"

The captain and the merchants on the ship immediately came to the steering platform and looked into the distance with telescopes.

"It's actually the American fleet! Why are they there?"

"Is that... the Warrior? I've seen this lion-like ship before... I heard that it was sold to the Chinese!"

"Chinese?" The businessman who was looking around nearby immediately changed his expression.

“Avoid them!”

Merchants like them were well-informed, so they had all heard of the Chinese man.

Or, Chinese Americans.

Chen Zhengwei has become notorious now.

……

"Why did that ship turn around and run away when it saw us? Would I eat people?" Chen Zhengwei pointed at a British merchant ship that was deviating from its course in the distance and said with dissatisfaction.

"After all, we have such a large fleet, those small merchants will definitely be worried!" Liu Guanchang said beside Chen Zhengwei.

"Boss, in half a day, we will reach Santa Marta!"

"Our destination is not Santa Marta, let's go directly to Cartagena!" Chen Zhengwei stood at the bow and looked forward. The climate here is much more comfortable than that on Cape Horn.

The sun was a bit too strong and Chen Zhengwei looked a lot darker.

However, even though he was blown by the sea breeze all day, his skin did not become rough.

"Look for the Columbian warships along the way, and then blow them up for me!" Chen Zhengwei puffed smoke from his cigar. "Do you know that if I don't kick a dog when I see one, they will thank me for my kindness! How dare you come and cause trouble for me?"

The United States' target was Santa Marta, and his target was Colombia's navy and shipyards.

Cartagena is a naval base in northern Colombia.

"By the way, send a telegram tonight to inform Aaron and the others to set off for Houston!" Chen Zhengwei said to Su Ya behind him.

Half a day later, when Chen Zhengwei's fleet appeared in the waters near Santa Marta, the Santa Marta government officials who had received the news in advance were immediately alarmed. Then the soldiers of the entire city were mobilized and began to be on high alert.

"Is it the U.S. Navy, or is it that Chinese guy?"

"They are all iron steamships, 13 in total, and they belong to that Chinese man!"

The officials of Santa Marta looked even worse after receiving this news. That Chinese was more dangerous than the US government!

The US government will still consider the international impact, but the Chinese will not.

Many people's faces changed constantly, and they were struggling in their hearts.

Should I escape directly, or put up a little resistance before escaping?
At the same time, the ships anchored at the port of Santa Marta also received the news, and the captains shouted and shouted angrily, calling on the sailors to get on board.

Even if the supplies have not been replenished, they can't take care of it.

The whole port was in a panic.

However, their movements soon stopped.

Chen Zhengwei's fleet did not stop at all, but continued to move forward.

This surprised the officials of Santa Marta, as they thought Chen Zhengwei's fleet would attack Santa Marta.

They had been engaged in a psychological struggle for a long time.

I didn't expect the other party to just leave.

After breathing a sigh of relief, their expressions immediately changed.

"Oh no, his target is Cartagena!"

……

"It seems that the Colombian navy is waiting for me in Cartagena!" There was a chair at the bow, and Chen Zhengwei was lying on the chair with his legs crossed and a cigar in his hand.

Although Chen Zhengwei did not encounter the Colombian navy along the way, he already knew the other party's plan.

The other party must have received Santa Marta's telegram.

The Colombian navy consists of only a dozen small boats and has almost no combat effectiveness at sea.

They must want to rely on the artillery batteries in Cartagena for defense.

The truth was exactly what he thought.

The fleet arrived near Cartagena Bay in the evening, and saw two pieces of land extending from both sides of Cartagena, like a crab's claws, surrounding the port of Cartagena.

This is called Boca Chica Channel.

On the land on both sides of the strait, there are two tall stone fortresses.

Although the fort was not built on a cliff, it allowed the cannons to cover the entire Bay of Cartagena.

In other words, if you want to attack the port, you must first take down these two fortresses.

Seeing this scene, Chen Zhengwei frowned a little. After all, it was his first time here, and this situation was not marked on the map.

This frustrated his original plan to come and bombard the Cartagena port and then leave.

But the people on the ship were all sailors who had been trained with great difficulty. Even if Chen Zhengwei had a brain drain, he would never ask them to attack the fortress.

Chen Zhengwei stood up and walked around twice, then sat back in his chair after a while: "Go back!"

He felt that he should collect some maps of various countries again. He had made such a big mistake and had wasted all his time.

First go back and join the US Navy to take Santa Marta, then persuade the US government to attack Cartagena.

As long as we take down the two fortresses outside, we can directly block the port of Cartagena with the help of the fortress's cannons.

Moreover, the fortress's solid bunkers and cannons were enough to resist the counterattack of the Colombian Army.

By then, one of the two northern ports will be captured and the other will be blockaded.

Colombia's export routes to Europe have been almost completely cut off.

"Send a telegram to San Francisco and ask them to forward it to the White House!" Chen Zhengwei said after thinking for a moment.

……

When daybreak came, Chen Zhengwei's fleet appeared again outside the port of Santa Marta, but he did not rush to attack. Instead, he let the fleet wait there.

It was not until a day later that another fleet consisting of four wooden gunboats and three transport ships appeared on the sea surface.

The other side fired two cannon shots first, and then fired another one two minutes later.

Then he moved closer to Chen Zhengwei.

"Is this the Atlantic Fleet? They look like old ships from the last century!" Chen Zhengwei laughed as he looked at the wooden warships in the distance.

It has to be said that the US Navy is now at best third-rate in the world.

Not as good as the Qing Dynasty.

Especially...several warships were blown up by Chen Zhengwei last winter.

This made the already poor US Navy even worse.

At the same time, the commander of the Atlantic Fleet was also looking at Chen Zhengwei's fleet through a telescope.

"What the hell!"

(End of this chapter)