A shrill battle siren suddenly sounded on the pier, and the sailors of each ship who were watching the excitement quickly entered their posts. Then the turrets on the five cruisers slowly rotated, and the black muzzles were all pointed at the coast.
The Hawaii police who were about to go up to arrest the servants were frightened by this scene. They looked at the muzzles of the guns pointed at them, their faces turned pale and they were at a loss what to do.
The sound of the alarm also frightened Dole, who had just arrived at the Iolani Palace and was chatting and laughing with Li Hongzhang about to walk in. He almost tripped and fell on the steps. Fortunately, Li Hongzhang pulled him up.
"Be careful, Mr. President." Li Ergui said with a smile. He had already guessed what was going on. When we were on the boat, Chen Fang said that all ethnic groups in Hawaii, regardless of Chinese, Japanese, or indigenous people,
They all have a deep fear of the Americans. If they want them to disobey the wishes of the Americans, they must severely slap the Americans in the face in public. It seems that this old man with an unruly nature has taken action. The matter of Hawaii is left to Yang Feng.
Chen Fang is fully responsible and he has no right to interfere.
"Your Excellency, what is this?" Dole calmed his mind and looked at Li Hongzhang and asked. It goes without saying that this voice must have come from a Chinese warship, no matter who he asked.
"Maybe there will be some minor conflicts. You also know that these soldiers have a bad temper. Last time in Japan, they almost caused some trouble. They got into a fight with the Japanese over some trivial matters. They even almost bombarded Nagasaki and Shaokawa.
, you go and help deal with it, what should we do if our people make a mistake, how to deal with it, if it is none of our business, it is not an unreasonable place to come to Hawaii." Li Hongzhang turned to Tang Shaoyi and said.
Tang Shaoyi immediately turned around and left.
"Your Excellency, there is no need to pay attention to such trivial matters. The people below can handle it." Li Hongzhang then said to Dole.
It was a trivial matter in his words, but it was no small matter in the eyes of the Hawaiians. Five cruisers aimed dozens of large-caliber naval guns at their own port. The sight of the black muzzles made people shudder, and there was panic on the dock.
There were crowds of people running around everywhere. As for the few servants, they looked at the policemen with disdain, pushed aside the people in front of them, and walked away proudly. However, they did not go far, but returned to where they had stopped.
In the queue in the distance.
The Americans on the Baltimore were also frightened. They had long been ordered by Stevenson to be wary of the Chinese Navy. They should show toughness when necessary to cheer up the Hawaiian government. But how do you expect us to show toughness in this situation? We are so close.
The armored cruiser Haiqi's four 240mm Armstrong rapid-fire cannons were watching eagerly. The Marauder had even begun to leave its berth, preparing to go around to the other side of it. If it really tried to be tough, it would be humiliating itself.
Fortunately, Tang Shaoyi, who was responsible for handling the matter, arrived at this time. He and the accompanying Hawaiian officials first went to Liu Buchan to ask him why he raised the battle alarm and what was going on with aiming the muzzle at someone else's port.
Liu Buchan told him angrily that three white men beat up a Chinese in the street, and the Chinese were forced to fight back in self-defense. However, the Hawaii police turned the tables on the Chinese and wanted to arrest the Chinese. He was so angry that he sounded the alarm and demonstrated.
Tang Shaoyi immediately protested righteously to the accompanying Hawaiian officials, and then of course there was an investigation. Anyway, the three white people who were beaten and the servants, including the one who was lying on the carriage dying, of course. Both sides insisted on their own opinions.
I can’t tell who is right or wrong, but one thing is certain, the white man made the first move, so there is nothing to say. Since you made the first move, then we have the right to defend ourselves, which is supported by the law everywhere.
Under the threat of cannons, the Hawaiian police had to take away the three white men in humiliation.
Seeing this scene, the fleet at sea also turned its guns back, and the conflict was successfully resolved. It was just a small matter, and it did not affect Li Hongzhang's talk about China-Xiamen friendship at the Presidential Palace in Hawaii. However, this incident made all ethnic groups in Hawaii
The people knew one thing. Even the Americans had to stand aside in front of the Chinese naval guns. Their fear of the United States collapsed instantly.
Especially the Chinese, after this incident, they completely let go of their status as inferior people. They began to really hold their heads high and face the white people. Even the white people had to restrain their condescending expressions in front of the Chinese. After all, this
This is an era that values strength, and any strong person will be respected, regardless of race or color.
"Robert, I heard that you were almost executed?" While Li Hongzhang was exchanging glasses of wine with the top figures in the Hawaiian government and parliament at Iolani Palace, Chen Fang was also entertaining his guests at his home. He held up his wine glass and smiled.
Said this to Royalist leader Willscock, who had launched a restoration coup not long ago.
"They didn't dare to kill me. The court sentenced me to death, and Dole pardoned me." Wilscock said with a sneer. He is also a famous figure in Hawaii. His father is an American, his mother is an old Hawaiian royal family, and he graduated from an Italian military academy.
, has carried out coups three times in his life, and has lost every time. He can be considered a senior rebel.
"They seem to have tried Her Majesty the Queen, right?" Chen Fang said. In fact, the Queen of Hawaii is still under house arrest, although she has been pardoned in name.
"This is a disgrace to the Kingdom of Hawaii!" Wilscock said sullenly. He has always been a supporter of Liliuokalani. During Kalakaua's reign, he conducted two coups in favor of Liliuokalani.
"I'm not laughing at you. Where is your courage? Everything that His Majesty Kalakaua has worked hard for throughout his life has been wasted because of your cowardice. What about the Polynesian Union! Now even the Kingdom of Hawaii is gone. If it weren't for Prince Yang
Because of interference, I am afraid that even Hawaii has become part of the territory of the United States now. We Chinese believe that people will enter another world after death. If this is true, I am very curious about how you will face the late king at that time." Chen Fang said with a sarcastic face.
explain.
"As for you, you ran away just like that. The late king was much stronger to you than to me." Willscock said with a sneer.
"So now I'm back." Chen Fang said calmly: "The purpose of my coming back is very simple, to restore the Kingdom of Hawaii and let the Queen return to her place, instead of being under house arrest in the Washington Palace like she is now.
I admit that I am behind Prince Yang, but Prince Yang is not an American. He does not need Hawaii. The sugar industry here is not worth mentioning to him. All he needs is a country that does not belong to the United States and will not allow it.
The United States has stationed its fleet in Hawaii, thus completely cutting off the United States' reach to Asia.
Dole's government is a puppet of the Americans and does not serve his interests. An independent Kingdom of Hawaii is in his interest, so I came with his mission. If you are still loyal to the kingdom, then act like a real man.
If we stand up, the powerful fleet at the port will ensure our success."
"What happens after success?" Wilscock said.
"After success? The Queen will be restored, remain a constitutional monarch, formulate a constitution that truly belongs to Hawaiians, all Hawaiians regardless of race will have the right to vote, form their own army and even navy, and then complete the unfinished business of King Kalakaua. Of course, that
It's your business. I don't want to leave my old bones in Hawaii. If Prince Yang hadn't invited me out, do you think I would be willing to travel eight thousand kilometers?" Chen Fang said.
"Tell me, what do you want to do?" Wilscock said with a ferocious smile. Chen Fang is a close confidant of Kalakaua. In fact, the two sides are not the same. As long as he does not stay in Hawaii after success, then this guy's last concern
There is no more.
"First of all, I need a demonstration to demand the restoration of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the return of Her Majesty the Queen to the throne. A peaceful demonstration, but there may be some conflicts in the middle. The radio station and newspaper under the name of Prince Yang will convey the voice of the Hawaiian people to
All over the world." Chen Fang said.
"I'll organize this," Wilscock said impatiently.
"Then you submitted your request to the consulates of various countries in Hawaii on the grounds that the government of the Republic of Hawaii has brutally suppressed the people's calls for justice, requesting a referendum on Hawaii's political system under the supervision of the international community." Chen Fang continued.
"Will this help?" Wilscock asked doubtfully.
"It's useless. Dole won't agree, but it allows us to stand on the moral high ground. Don't they talk about democracy and freedom? We want real democracy and freedom, the democracy and freedom of all people in Hawaii, not just American immigrants."
, since they disagree, it means that the democratically elected government they claim to be is a lie." Chen Fang said.
Willscock laughed.
"Then what's next?" he asked with a smile.
"Then you can justifiably launch an uprising, use force to defend your rights, and use force to overthrow this undemocratic and unfree government. I will provide you with everything you need. If necessary, the Chinese military at sea can use it to protect you."
I think this is enough for you to overthrow Dole's government if you land on the grounds of expatriates.
Don't worry about American interference. They can't protect themselves now! Moreover, they still need Prince Yang to provide them with weapons against the Spanish army. They have neither the ability nor the courage to interfere in Hawaii. As for the Baltimore at sea, it is not worth mentioning.
If they dare to fire the cannon, the Chinese fleet will send it to the bottom of the sea." Chen Fang said.
Wilscock nodded and smiled happily.
"Is this all right?" Wu Wenjie asked curiously after he left.
"No." Chen Fang said.
"Why?" Wu Wenjie asked blankly.
"Because his uprising will fail." Chen Fang said lightly.