Kowloon wins

Chapter 1128 Operation Closing the Door ([-])

Temasek is located at the southern mouth of the Strait of Malacca. It is adjacent to Peninsular Malaysia across the narrow Johor Strait. Aboriginal people lived on this small island as early as the beginning of the third century. In the fourteenth century, the Sultanate of Malacca was established. It was burned down by the Portuguese in the early [-]th century, and it became a semi-abandoned island. In the first year of Chengde, the British East India Company used powerful force as a threat to trade with the Qing Dynasty and took it from the Portuguese. Bought this place at a symbolic price of one hundred pounds, and forced tens of thousands of laborers from the Malay Peninsula to build a port and a castle fortress.

Over the years, not only the "Eight Banners Merchant" fleet from the Qing Dynasty must come here for large-scale transactions every year, but also many cargo ships from the Qing people come to trade, and even cargo ships from Western countries that have stolen Nanyang often come here to replenish fresh water, etc. In just a few years, Temasek has developed into the most important port city on the Straits of Malacca, with a permanent population of tens of thousands. In order to defend the sovereignty of this port, the Kingdom of Great Britain has spared no effort to add There are many forts, and a battalion of more than [-] soldiers was sent to the port permanently. In the fifth year of Chengde, Viscount George Green was appointed as the first governor of Temasek.

The so-called success and failure of Xiao He, Temasek's rapid rise is due to its large-scale trade with "Eight Banners", but for some unknown reason, in the past two years, the fleet of "Eight Banners" has never come again However, although there are many sporadic cargo ships from the Qing Dynasty who come to trade here and there, for the originally prosperous Temasek, it is just a drop in the bucket, and the original prosperity will inevitably decline. Merchant ships from various Western countries provided supplies to barely maintain the operation of the port, and it was no longer the grand gathering of giant merchants like in previous years.

Temasek's economy has been in depression, but the importance of its strategic position has not diminished. There is nothing else to do. Controlling the island will also guard the Strait of Malacca, the most important passage between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The shrewd Britons Naturally, this port will not be completely abandoned because the "Eight Banners Company" does not appear. On the contrary, because of the need to control Southeast Asia, and to deal with this expedition to Japan, an additional battalion of troops from India was specially sent here. Temasek, this makes Temasek's defense a bit more fortified than usual. On the tall lighthouse at the port, there is a squad of soldiers on duty at any time to ensure that it will not be attacked by foreign enemies. No, two ships The medium-sized cargo ship flying the Qinglong flag had just appeared on the ocean ten miles away, and the lookout post on the lighthouse had already transmitted the news to the Governor's Mansion and the office of the East India Company.

"Show the flag and let them stop the ship for inspection!"

Before the two large clearing ships entered the port, a British sloop cruiser drove out of the port at high speed. On the front deck, a tall and fat middle-aged man looked at the large clearing ship with satisfaction and greed. After a while, he waved his hand arrogantly and gave a loud order. This person was James Kent, Temasek Harbor Officer, a member of the East India Company.

"Stop the boat!"

Although the galloping Great Britain sloop cruiser is really pitifully shabby, equipped with a total of only a dozen light artillery pieces, but it represents the official Great Britain after all. The cargo ship did not dare to neglect it, no, just after the flag of the Britannia was raised, a short and strong black-faced man on the leading cargo ship "Chengfeng" raised his hand and shouted. It is Du Shunsheng, the captain of the "Chengfeng", a native of Guangzhou, who has been sailing the sea for many years.

"Hey, isn't this Mr. James? I haven't seen you for a year, and you are still so rich. I am so envious."

Du Shunsheng began his career in Southeast Asia when the sea ban was lifted in the last years of Kangxi, but at that time he was only a fledgling half-child. After nearly 20 years of experience, he is now the owner of two medium-sized cargo ships. He has learned many languages. Speaking of it, he has not been to Temasek Port once or twice. He has long been familiar with James and other members of the East India Company. Before the two ships are completely close, Du Shunsheng bowed his hands to James Kent on the cruiser with a smile on his face, and politely greeted James Kent in fluent English loudly.

"Ah."

Facing Du Shunsheng's warm greeting, James Kent just nodded reservedly, gave a soft noncommittal, followed the hastily set up springboard by the British sailors, led a dozen soldiers, and stepped onto the board with three steps. "Chengfeng".

"Mr. James, it's the old rules. The two small ships are all bulk cargo. The list of cargo owners and cargo list are here. There is absolutely no contraband. Please take care of me."

As soon as James Kent boarded the "Chengfeng", Du Shunsheng immediately greeted him with a smile on his face. While saying flattering words, he sent a few pieces of paper and a small cloth bag that he had prepared in advance to James Kent. Kent stuffed it in his hand.

"Well, that's good, you guys go to the cabin and check to see if there are any contraband."

It was not the first time for James Kent to accept bribes from Qing businessmen like Du Shunsheng. He just weighed it and knew that the money in the small cloth bag was full of money, and he immediately felt better. He stuffed the small cloth bag into his trouser pocket, waved his hand pretendingly, and let the soldiers who followed on board go to the cabin for a cutscene.

"Hey, Mr. James, look at what you said, the little one knows the rules, how could he hide any contraband, to tell you the truth, this cabin is full of high-end goods such as silk and ceramics, if it is damaged , the small ones are not easy to explain to the consignors, or else, you see..."

Seeing that group of vicious British officers and soldiers were about to go into the cabin with their guns pointed, Du Shunsheng couldn't help feeling a little anxious. He quickly grabbed James Kent and quietly delivered a heavy small cloth bag.

"Oh, dear Du, let's go back to the boat!"

Ever since the large fleet of the "Eight Banners Merchant" stopped coming to Temasek, those Qing merchant ships who came scattered here are the most coveted guests of the East India Company. They have long been explained by their superiors and should not be offended at will. This is an iron law. Come on, as a member of the East India Company, how dare James Kent violate it so easily? The reason why he insisted on searching earlier was just a posturing, and what he was waiting for was Du Shunsheng's bribery again. With a small bag of silver in hand, James Kent could not be dissatisfied, so he gave Du Shunsheng a face without even conducting a superficial search, and led a group of British soldiers back to the cruiser .

"Hey, damn it, you'll spit it out sooner or later after eating it!"

Du Shunsheng greeted the departure of the British cruiser with a smile all the time, until the cruiser had gone far away, he cursed angrily, then waved his hand to signal the sailors to continue sailing, while he himself walked into the cabin quickly Among them, he went directly to the second floor along the stairway, stopped in front of an extremely concealed cabin door, reached out and knocked a few times lightly and twice.

A wooden door at the same height as the cabin slid silently to the side with a small gap, and a vigilant eye stared at Du Shunsheng through the small gap, and then pushed open the sliding door, revealing There is a lot of space inside, and there are more than a dozen big men holding revolvers who are guarding a middle-aged man who is nearly fifty years old. This man is the commander of the first brigade of the Qing Marine Corps. Wang Kuan!
"Old Du, how's the situation?"

Seeing that Du Shunsheng had arrived, Wang Kuan, who was originally sitting on the chair, got up immediately, but he didn't say any greetings, but asked a straightforward question.

"General Wang, don't worry, everything is normal, at least until tomorrow, nothing special will happen."

Du Shun stated that he was the owner of the two cargo ships, but in fact, he was a general of the Overseas Intelligence Bureau with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In the past few years, he was in charge of liaising with the local Temasek branch of the Overseas Intelligence Bureau. This time, the officers and soldiers of the Marine Corps, who were ordered to cooperate with a reinforced company led by Wang Kuan, seized the forts of Temasek. They have already made relevant preparations, and now they are answering Wang Kuan's question. Very confident.

"Well, that's good. I'd like to ask Lao Du to inform, so that the boys outside can cheer up. If anyone shows their feet, they will be dealt with as a whole!"

Even though Du Shunsheng had already made a promise, Wang Kuan still did not dare to take it lightly. No one else, most of the sailors and merchants on these two cargo ships were marine officers and soldiers pretending to be soldiers. But Wang Kuan did not dare to guarantee that there would be no mistakes, so he gave a cautious order.

"Yes!"

Since Wang Kuan gave the order, Du Shunsheng didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest, so he hurriedly and respectfully complied, and went to arrange related matters without mentioning it.

"Immediately send a report to General He, saying that our department has arrived at Temasek on time, and the scheduled battle plan remains unchanged. General He please give instructions."

Wang Kuan ignored Du Shunsheng's departure, and after silently contemplating for a moment, he raised his hand and gave the order with a firm face. Sent out.

"Reporting to the commander, Wang Kuan, commander of the [-]st Brigade of the Marine Corps, is calling."

At four o'clock in Shenshi, at [-] nautical miles northwest of Temasek, a large-scale fleet was slowly heading southeast. Under the tall mast of the flagship "Singing", the new commander of the South China Sea Fleet, He Lin, stood solemnly. His eyes were staring at the distant ocean, and he was meditating when he saw a communications officer rushing up to him and reporting aloud.

"Read!"

He Lin glanced at the communications officer, and didn't say much, just spit out a word calmly.

"Yes, Commander He Junjian, our department has successfully arrived at Temasek, and will act according to the predetermined combat plan. Please Commander He expressly, this telegram is Wang Kuan, commander of the [-]st Brigade of the Marine Corps."

Hearing He Lin's order, the communication officer didn't dare to neglect, and hurriedly agreed loudly, and hurriedly reported the message.

"Call back, agree!"

Upon hearing that Wang Kuan had successfully arrived at Temasek, He Lin's face was calm as usual, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes. Without him, the only one left in the three major fleets of the Qing Dynasty was the South China Sea under his command. The fleet has nothing in hand, and He Lin, who has always been proud and arrogant, can't bear it. Now, a great opportunity is in front of him, and he can't help but yearn for freedom...

(End of this chapter)