Chapter 220 Help, Lord Qingtian (Fifth update, please subscribe)
Unknown fleet spotted!
Soon, the Spanish fleet stationed in the Chincha Islands figured out the identity of the enemy - the fleet of the America Company.
On September 21, 1864, north of the Chincha Islands, the two fleets were less than a nautical mile apart and aimed their cannons at each other.
The sides of the Feilong and Qinglong were knocked down by the five-foot-high wave-breaking bulwark, and the black muzzles of the 210mm naval guns were pointed directly at the Spaniards.
Confrontation!
While the confrontation at sea was taking place, diplomatic mediation was also taking place on the deck of the Madrid.
"You need to go to the island to investigate!"
Captain Muonni looked at Mario with an extremely complicated expression.
For the past five months, the fleet has been blockading the ports of Peru, but ten days ago, when the fleet of the America Company came in a mighty manner, he could only watch helplessly as it entered the port of Lima.
Why is this happening?
Because it is an ironclad ship!
The only ironclad ship in the fleet, the "Numancia", is now visiting Chile. As for Peru, only the "White Queen" and the "Madrid" are left, which are just the most ordinary steam frigates. He really doesn't have the courage to fight against the ironclad ships.
"Yes, we received a letter asking for help indicating that relatives of some immigrants were kidnapped to the island by unscrupulous businessmen and suffered inhuman abuse. Colonel, according to international public law and the company's laws, I am obliged to investigate this matter!"
Mario's tone sounded quite conceited. What was the basis for his conceit?
Of course, it’s the two ironclad ships behind!
In fact, the Spanish fleet was extremely powerful. This fleet, consisting of 7 warships and 7 auxiliary ships, had more than 252 cannons, 126 of which were 68 pounds or more. The most powerful of them, the "Numancia", was a 7,500-ton ironclad ship with as many as 34 200mm cannons. It was one of the most powerful ironclad ships in the world. This fleet was basically the most powerful fleet assembled in the Pacific Ocean.
But the problem is... now, there are only the "White Queen" and the "Madrid". Although their tonnage is as high as over 4,000 tons, they are just two wooden-hulled warships.
Compared to Mario's full confidence, Captain Muonni has no loyalty. Even though his ship "Madrid" has a tonnage of 4,478 tons, it is a wooden ship!
Gazing at the two cutting-edge ironclad ships in the distance, Captain Muonni did not imagine the consequences of the war. As a soldier, he was absolutely not afraid of war or death, but he was not willing to make unnecessary sacrifices. Moreover, in his opinion, this was a complete opportunity.
Were the Chinese workers on the island abused?
Captain Muonni was of course well aware of this. In his opinion, Guano Island was a complete hell. In such a place, even breathing was difficult. But what did this have to do with him?
There is no relationship. But it has a direct relationship with the Peruvians. After making up his mind, Captain Muonni said.
"Mr. Special Envoy, first of all, I need you to understand that Spain has no relationship with the Chinese workers on the island!"
Now of course we have to distance ourselves from Spain.
"Yes, we are all well aware that you have just arrived here,"
Mario said,
"We are investigating how they were kidnapped here and how they were abused by the Peruvian side. If I remember correctly, you arrested officials and supervisors on the island, and we also need to interrogate them. All of this is in full compliance with the requirements of international public law."
Mario's answer brought a smile to Captain Muonni's face. He seemed to have seen the scene where this fleet had a conflict with the Peruvians because of the experience of the Chinese workers, so he spoke seriously.
"Of course, we are willing to provide you with the necessary convenience! After all, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese is a matter of common concern to us! This is also the reason why we sent troops to Peru!"
"What a cunning fellow."
Mario said to himself as he left the Madrid.
How come the Spanish are so easy to talk to?
To put it bluntly, they just want to divert the trouble to the west and let the Peruvians shoot themselves in the foot!
…
Decades ago, in order to mine the guano here, Peru, which had an insufficient population and a shortage of labor, did not hesitate to bring in a large number of Chinese workers across the ocean. It was the guano mined by these Chinese workers on this hellish island that brought Peru a steady source of wealth.
These Chinese workers were forced to dig 4-5 tons of guano or load and unload hundreds of truckloads of guano every day, working for more than ten hours. Even though the former supervisors have been replaced by Spanish soldiers, the lives of these Chinese workers with shackles on their necks have not changed much compared to the past. They are still working hard digging stinky guano.
Today, as the Chinese workers were working in the guano pit, the supervisor suddenly shouted loudly.
"Stop work, stop work, everyone stop work, clean up quickly, quickly..."
What's going on?
Over the past two years, the Chinese workers, who had become accustomed to working like slaves, all looked at their supervisors in confusion.
No need to work today?
As an isolated island, there is no fresh water resource on the island, and the water they use is delivered from the land. Each person can only get a few liters of water per day, which is very precious on the island. They have to use these liters of water for simple washing after work, otherwise the bird droppings will cause harm to people.
In the past, I could only take a shower after finishing a day's work. What happened today?
"Uncle Zhuzi, what do you think this foreign devil is up to?"
"That's right, what happened today? Why did those foreigners become so kind?"
Just as the Chinese workers were returning to their simple shed on the edge of the island amid the shouting of their supervisors, they saw two warships on the sea, flying a somewhat unfamiliar Western flag.
However, they only took a quick look. When they arrived at the work shed, they unexpectedly saw the same-looking soldiers as them. They were wearing Western-style uniforms and holding foreign rifles, and were surrounded by several important figures. When one of them saw them, he bowed.
"You folks have suffered, we are too late!"
In an instant, everyone was stunned. A Chinese worker looked at them and asked in unfluent Mandarin.
"You, you are, are, are the officials from the Imperial Dynasty..."
Although these people were dressed strangely, they spoke Mandarin. Almost subconsciously, the man knelt down and cried.
"My Lord, I finally see you. Please help us. We are suffering..."
(End of this chapter)
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