Unidentified fleet discovered!
Soon, the Spanish fleet remaining on the Chincha Islands figured out the identity of the opponent - the fleet of the American Company.
On September 21, 1864, in the north of Chincha Islands, the two fleets were less than one nautical mile apart and aimed their cannons at each other.
The sides of the "Flying Dragon" and "Qinglong" were knocked down by the five-foot-high bulwark, and the black muzzle of the 210mm naval gun was pointed directly at the Spanish.
Confrontation!
When the confrontation at sea occurred, diplomatic mediation was also going on on the deck of the "Madrid".
"You need to go to the island to investigate!"
Captain Muoni looked at Mario with an extremely complicated expression.
In the past five months, the fleet has been blocking the ports of Peru, but ten days ago, when the fleet of the American Company came in a mighty manner, he could only watch helplessly as it sailed into the port of Lima.
.
Why is this happening?
Because they are armored ships!
The only ironclad ship in the fleet, the "Numancia", is currently visiting Chile. As for the Peruvian side, only the "White Queen" and the "Madrid" are left, which are just the most common steam frigates. To fight against the ironclad ships... he also
I really don't have the courage.
"Yes, we received a distress letter indicating that some immigrants' relatives were kidnapped to the island by unscrupulous businessmen and suffered inhuman abuse. Colonel, according to international public law and the company's laws, I have an obligation to investigate this matter!"
Mario's tone seems quite conceited. What is the basis of his conceitedness?
Of course they are the two armored ships behind us!
In fact, the Spanish fleet is extremely important and powerful. This fleet consists of 7 warships and 7 auxiliary ships. It has more than 252 cannons, 126 of which are 68-pound or above cannons, and the most powerful "Nun"
"Mancia" is a 7,500-ton ironclad ship with as many as 34 200mm cannons. It can be called one of the most powerful ironclad ships in the world. This fleet is basically the most powerful fleet assembled in the Pacific Ocean.
Already.
But the problem is... now, there are only "White Queen" and "Madrid" here. Although their tonnage is as high as more than 4,000 tons, they... are just two wooden-hulled warships.
Compared with Mario's confidence, Captain Muoni has no loyalty. Even though his ship "Madrid" has a rating of 4478 tons, it is a wooden hull ship!
Staring at the two cutting-edge ironclad ships in the distance, Captain Muwonny did not imagine the outcome of the war. He was a soldier and would never be afraid of war or death. However, he was not willing to make unnecessary remarks.
Sacrifice, besides, in his view, this is completely an opportunity.
Have the Chinese workers on the island suffered any abuse?
Of course, Captain Muoni is very clear about this. In his opinion, Guano Island is a complete hell. In such a place, it is even difficult to breathe, but what does this have to do with him?
It has no relationship. But it has a direct relationship with the Peruvians. After making up his mind, Captain Muoni said.
"Mr. Special Envoy, first of all, I need you to understand that Spain has no relationship whatsoever with the Chinese workers on the island!"
Now, of course, we need to distance ourselves from the relationship with Spain.
"Yes, we all know that you just came here,"
Mario said,
"What we are investigating is how they were kidnapped here and how they were mistreated by the Peruvian side. If I remember correctly, you arrested the officials and supervisors on the island, and we also need to interrogate them. All this is completely consistent with
the requirements of public international law.”
Mario's answer brought a smile to Captain Muoni's face. He seemed to have seen the conflict between the fleet and the Peruvians because of the encounter of the Chinese workers, so he said sternly.
"Of course, we are willing to provide you with the necessary convenience! After all, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of expatriates is an issue of common concern to us! This is also the reason why we sent troops to Peru!"
"What a cunning guy."
When leaving the "Madrid", Mario said to himself.
How come Spanish people are so easy to talk to?
To put it bluntly, they just want to divert the troubles from the people to the west and let the Peruvians shoot themselves in the foot!
…
As early as decades ago, in order to mine the guano here, Peru, which has an underpopulated and extremely short labor force, did not hesitate to bring in a large number of Chinese workers from across the ocean. It was these Chinese workers who mined the guano on this hell-like island.
Peru has brought a steady stream of financial resources.
These Chinese guano diggers were forced to dig out 4-5 tons of guano every day, or load and unload hundreds of trucks of guano, working for more than ten hours. But now even the former supervisors have been replaced by Spanish soldiers. These
Compared with the past, the life of the Chinese workers with shackles around their necks has not changed much. They still work exhaustingly digging for smelly bird droppings.
Today, while the Chinese workers were working in the guano pit, the supervisor suddenly shouted loudly.
"Stop work, stop work, everyone stop work, clean it up quickly, hurry up..."
How is this going?
In the past two years, the Chinese workers, who had become accustomed to working like slaves, all looked at the supervisors blankly.
No need to work today?
As an isolated island, there is no fresh water resource on the island. The water they use is brought from the land. Each of them can only get a few liters of water per day. This water is very precious on the island. They have to use it.
These liters of water should be simply rinsed after work, otherwise bird droppings will cause harm to people.
In the past, you could only wash your hands after a day's work. What happened today?
"Uncle Zhuzi, tell me, what kind of peace of mind does this foreigner have?"
"That's right, what happened today? How come those foreigners are so kind?"
Just when the Chinese workers returned to the simple work sheds on the edge of the island amid the shouts of the supervisors for no apparent reason, they saw two more warships on the sea, with a somewhat unfamiliar Western flag flying on the warships.
However, they only took a glance at it, but when they arrived at the work shed, they unexpectedly saw officers and soldiers who looked the same as them. They were wearing Western-style military uniforms, carrying foreign guns, and were surrounded by several big shots. One of them had a
When he saw them, he bowed his hands.
"Everyone is suffering, we are late!"
For a moment, everyone was stunned. A Chinese worker looked at them and asked in fluent Mandarin.
"You, you are, are, officials from the imperial dynasty..."
Although these people were dressed strangely, they spoke in Mandarin, almost subconsciously, and the man knelt down and cried.
"Master Qingtian, I finally meet Master Qingtian. Please make the decision for us. We are suffering..."
This chapter has been completed!