Chapter 1303 Give them hope (first update, please subscribe)

"…What kind of help can you give us?"

Connery's voice rang out in the room. He had been successfully persuaded by Mr. Zhou since he met him in the restaurant three days ago.

A free and independent Ireland for the Irish!

Isn't that what all Irish people want?

"We can help you a lot!"

Xu Lindong said in a calm tone.

"You all know the strength of the Ming Empire. With the help of the Empire, you can realize the dream that you have not realized for hundreds of years, gentlemen."

“I don’t play games that I’m not sure I’ll win.”

A moment later another voice was heard, it was Joseph who spoke, smoking a cigarette.

"We all know how powerful Britain is. It is impossible for Ireland to be independent just by relying on your so-called help. In the end, the Irish will still bleed."

"Mr. Joseph, independence cannot be achieved without bloodshed!"

Connery looked at Zhou Lanqin in front of him. He had reason to believe that this person was the legendary intelligence officer of the Ming Empire.

"Yes, Joseph, how could the British allow Ireland to be independent without bloodshed?"

"Connery, you know very well that the Ming Empire will not help us for no reason!"

Joseph looked at Xu Lindong and said.

"Why are you helping us? You have no conflict with Britain."

“Use your imagination.”

Xu Lindong said with a smile.

"What?"

“Yes, there is no conflict between us and the British now, but there are irreconcilable contradictions between us and the UK on many issues. We believe that supporting Ireland’s independence movement will help weaken the power of the UK, which is the fundamental reason why we support you!”

Connolly was secretly delighted when he heard this. As a philosopher, he knew very well that only when Ireland was useful would it get support from other countries, and only with the support of major powers would Ireland have a chance to gain independence.

"This cannot succeed. After all, we are facing the United Kingdom."

"The Boers succeeded. They won independence. And until now, they are still inflicting heavy losses on the British on the battlefield again and again. Gentlemen, don't you want to win national freedom and independence like the Boers?"

Xu Lindong said directly without any politeness.

"With the help of the Empire, you have a chance to win it all, and now is your best chance."

"But why go to South Africa? Why should we go to South Africa to help the Boers?"

Although some Irish went to South Africa with hatred for the British, most Irish people did not think they should go to South Africa.

"Because there, you can receive military training and gain war experience on the battlefield. When the war is over, the Irish will have their own army. Why did the Fenian uprising in 1867 fail? Because a group of farmers who have not received military training and have no war experience cannot defeat the army! But in South Africa, all this will change! This is your chance! It is also Ireland's chance!"

Faced with such an opportunity, who would miss it?

At least for these Irish people, they would not miss it. After all, this was the only time in hundreds of years that they could clearly see the hope of national independence.

Sometimes what the Ming Dynasty did was very simple - just to give people hope.

In the following period, various organizations, from the Irish Brotherhood to the Fenian Society, were contacted and supported by the imperial intelligence agencies. Through their support, the Boers once again gained a fresh force. In the following days, American newspapers were full of articles recalling the Great Famine. The newspapers were filled with hatred and hostility towards the British. Under such instigation, thousands of Irish people left New York by ship. They arrived in Africa, received military training, and then fought side by side with the Boers on the battlefield, gained war experience, and soon the news of the "Irish Brigade"'s successive victories on the South African battlefield reached the United States.

"Is this true?"

Patrick Joseph Kennedy read the news in the newspaper and looked at his friend Clenkin with some confusion.

"Why are there so many Irish people going to South Africa to fight? Didn't we Irish shed enough blood during the civil war? We once shed blood for the United States, so why should we shed blood for the Boers now?"

The reason why Kennedy said this was that when he was young, he saw too many Irish people being forced to sign enlistment forms as soon as they got off the ship, and then being sent to the battlefield. Hundreds of thousands of Irish people died on the battlefield before they even had the chance to start a new life in the New World. Too many Irish people died both in the North and the South.

"Patrick, it is true, but they shed their blood not for the Boers, but for Ireland!"

Connery said, looking at his friend.

"For Ireland?"

"Yes, for the independence and freedom of Ireland, our people will receive military training there and gain war experience there. When the time is right, they will return to Ireland and launch another uprising! Launch an uprising to win the freedom of Ireland!"

"What!"

Connally's words made Kennedy exclaim.

"Rebellion, my friend, what do you mean?"

"Yes, it's an uprising for the independence of Ireland. Patrick, you are a member of the House of Representatives and a politician. You must know what this means. When they return to Ireland, they will surely be able to repel the British and force them to agree to Irish independence."

Connery said, staring at his friend.

"Patrick, this is your chance too. Here, we are always Catholic and always Irish."

Connery said with certainty.

"People's memories cannot be erased. Maybe in the United States, we seem to be equal, but in their eyes, if you are born Irish, you will always be Irish. You can become a congressman or even a millionaire, but my friend."

Staring at Kennedy, Connally said:

“Born Irish, always an outsider.”

From the tone of Connery's speech, it can be heard that he is full of complaints, but this is not a complaint, nor is it a vent. He is stating a fact.

"Yes, that's true."

Kennedy rubbed his fingers gently over his cheek, trying to relax.

"I worked hard to become a state legislator from a businessman, but I will always be an Irishman. To the United States, we will always be outsiders. No one will think we are their own people, unless one day the president of the United States appears among us."

"That's obviously impossible!"

Connery made a "What a shame" expression. He knew the possibility of this was zero!

"You know, no American would vote for an Irishman to become president. But, my friend, if you stand on our side, maybe, in the near future, you or your child will become the president of Ireland, my friend!"

The President of Ireland!

Kennedy's expression showed surprise. He stared at his friend in front of him.

After a long while, he spoke in a tone full of doubt and expectation.

“Is this possible?”

"In an independent Ireland, everything is possible, my friend..."

(End of this chapter)