1850 American Gold Tycoon.

At dawn the next day.

The sea around the port of Hong Kong Island is as calm as a mirror, reflecting the faint moonlight and twinkling stars.

The six warships left by the British and French forces to guard Hong Kong Island were anchored here, standing quietly in the night.

The peaceful night was broken by a sudden noise.Suddenly, unusual waves of water filled the night sky, but the sailors on watch did not alert themselves.

The first person to notice the abnormality was a sailor who got up at night. The sailor came to the deck comfortably and was about to take off his pants and take a plunge into the sea.

Suddenly, he saw the giant beast suddenly appearing in front of him.

A large ship, a large ship with a displacement of at least 4000 tons, appeared in front of him, and behind the big ship was a fleet of ships that appeared like a ghost in the moonlight.This massive fleet floated quietly around the British fleet.

Just when the sailor who got up at night thought that this was the friendly force attacking Guangzhou City returning to Hong Kong Island for supplies.The naval gun suddenly opened fire, the flames pierced the dark night, and the shells roared.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The sailor who got up from the night ran to the alarm bell in three steps and two steps, and hurriedly sounded the alarm bell, but the chaos was irreversible.

Their ship was hit by fierce artillery fire, the sound of splintering wood was intertwined with the splash of water, and the dark night was instantly lit up by a raging fire.

The Hong Kong defenders who were still dreaming were awakened by the sudden sound of artillery, and looked confused.

Not only the ordinary Hong Kong Island defenders and Hong Kong Island soldiers were confused, but even the Hong Kong Governor Bonham, who woke up in surprise, bleary-eyed and still wearing silk pajamas in the Governor's Mansion, was full of doubts and confusion.

Did the Qing army attack Hong Kong Island?
It's incredible to think about it. What blind Qing commander would dare to attack Hong Kong Island even if he wanted to die?
Wenxian hurriedly sent people to find out the truth and find out what was going on.

I have to admit that the training level of the British Navy is indeed high. Even if it is stationed in Hong Kong, there are still crews staying on the warships to keep watch, and they can respond very quickly when encountering a sneak attack.

The four British ships stationed in the harbor quickly entered combat mode, and the reaction speed of the other two French Navy gunboats was a beat slower than that of the British warships.

Even so, the four British ships left behind on Hong Kong Island still endured five or six rounds of bombardment from the Hong Kong Island fleet before moving there.

The British flagship Reconnaissance received special attention from the other party. The mast in the middle accurately caught a cannonball flying from the darkness. It was smashed to pieces and almost fell down.The sail hit by the explosive bomb also quickly burst into flames.

Fortunately, the Scout was a new ship that had just been launched in 1856. The ship was in good condition. Although it was suddenly severely damaged, it was not completely paralyzed and lost its combat effectiveness.

The Incitement, built in 1834, did not have such good luck. The appearance of this 23-year-old three-masted sailing warship was mottled, and the sails were full of wind cracks and full of traces of time.

The artillery shells of the Hong Kong Island Fleet broke through the air and hit the old warship accurately again and again.

With a loud noise, the hull on one side of the Incitement exploded, filling the air with smoke and flames, and the flying sparks ignited the sails.The ship's mast was crumbling, and the ship's hull began to slowly tilt to the right.

The British sailors howled on the chaotic deck. Some were blown away by the shells, some were swallowed by the flames, and some jumped into the sea and merged with the water.

The guns on the side of the Incitement were still smoking, but there were only a few naval guns that could continue to fire.Sea water quickly poured into the cabin, and the lights in the cabin quickly went out after submerging into the sea level, plunging into darkness.

This old battleship slowly sank into the sea, leaving only a blood-red sea surface and floating wreckage, as well as a few surviving sailors who struggled to survive holding on to the floating objects.

The rapid fire rate and high accuracy of the enemy's naval guns in the sneak attack frightened the British sailors. They did not expect to encounter such a powerful enemy in the Far East, a naval depression.

"Quickly fight and quickly eliminate the remaining enemies!"

On the Pioneer, where the cannons were ringing loudly, Liang Yao gave the order.

After the British and French forces under Guangzhou learned that Hong Kong Island was under attack, whether it was a feint attack or a main attack, they would definitely return reinforcements at all costs.

Victory or defeat is no longer the key to this naval battle. The only suspense is how much time it will take to finish the battle so that more warships can be released to assist the Pearl River Fleet at the Pearl River Estuary.

In the light of the fire, the half-disabled battleship HMS Reconnaissance of the British Navy struggled to move its hull, and finally pointed its side at the Pioneer, adjusted the shooting angle, and fired its side guns at the ironclad Pioneer one after another.

Three or five solid iron lumps hit the Pioneer's armor plate, creating dazzling sparks and echoing like Duang~Duang~Duang~.

The Pioneer's strong armor seemed to be an invincible shield, easily deflecting the shells.

The hit Pioneer was unscathed, but the hull trembled slightly provocatively, as if to say: Weak strength, food?

This scene shocked the crew of the Scout and they couldn't believe their eyes.

We failed to penetrate enemy armor? !
Especially the gunners on the lower deck were so stunned that they forgot to reload and fire.

The enemy ship that was hit just now was a 64-pound naval gun!It is the 64-pound naval gun of the Royal Navy of the British Empire that spans the four oceans, killing gods when God blocks it, and killing Buddha when Buddha blocks it!Unable to hurt the opponent at all?

Fear, an unprecedented fear surged in the hearts of British sailors. For the first time, they felt the breath of despair at sea.

In the past, this feeling was only felt by their opponents.

The ship was towering and indestructible, like a moving fortress, which greatly shocked the British sailors.

This is the first battle of the ironclad Pioneer.

The ironclad ship is Liang Yao's top-secret weapon, and the ship's parameters are kept strictly confidential.

The two British and French spies, Gibson and Le Goff, were just lucky enough to have a glimpse of the Vanguard class, and they only warned the country that the San Francisco Shipyard could build huge ironclads.

As for the specific parameters and performance of the ironclad ship, they did not know and could only guess based on thin air.

The British Navy did not know that their 64-pound naval gun could still penetrate the Pioneer's armor within 500 meters.

It's time for the Pioneer to fight back!
The guns of the ironclad Pioneer all turned towards the Scout, and the strong sense of oppression suffocated the British sailors on the Scout.

The next second, the fire jumped out of the huge running tube like a ferocious ghost, making an earth-shattering sound.

The fire was like a dragon, the gunfire was like thunder, and the barrages poured down towards the reconnaissance ship intensively, one after another.

Destroyed by the intensive firepower of the Hong Kong Island Fleet, the Scout's injuries gradually worsened. The hull was torn apart by shells, the fire raged, and the screams of the sailors echoed on the sea.

The British army was half-dead, and the four battleships and gunboats that were firmly suppressed in the port were like lambs swept away by the flood. Facing the ironclad Pioneer and a group of Bold-class frigates, the Loach-class gunboats were helpless against the ruthless attacks.

At the same time, the sea area north of Taikoo Village.

Thousands of elite soldiers of the 11th Regiment (California Regiment) boarded the landing craft, like crossbow bolts, already charged, waiting for the commander's order, ready to fly to the coast of Taikoo Village at any time.

"Sir, the time has come! It's 5:50 in the morning!"

Liang Yao's brother-in-law, an outstanding graduate of the Infantry Section of West Point Military Academy, and deputy commander of the 11th regiment trainee, Washington stared at the time on his pocket watch until the minute hand accurately adjusted to the Roman numeral XI (11).

This was Washington's first time participating in actual combat, and Washington, who yearned for military life, was very excited.

"It's finally 5:11." Acting team leader Peng Shimao straightened his collar.The former commander of the California Infantry Regiment stayed in California to serve as the principal of the California Army Sergeant School, so the position of commander of the 11th Regiment was temporarily held by Lieutenant Colonel Peng Shimao, the former deputy commander.

Peng Shimao is an old man who has followed Liang Yao since his days in Sacramento.

This was the first time that Peng Shimao led troops to the war as the military commander of a regiment. Peng Shimao was as excited as Washington, who was participating in the war for the first time.

"Everyone is here! The special envoy has ordered to take Taikoo Estate immediately! March into Victoria City! Residents of Hong Kong Island who dare to obstruct our military operations, regardless of whether they are Chinese or foreign, will be shot to death!" Peng Shimao roared sonorously.

"Anyone who dares to obstruct our military operations, regardless of Huayi, will be shot to death!"

"Anyone who dares to obstruct our military operations, regardless of Huayi, will be shot to death!"

The shouts of the soldiers of the 11th Regiment exploded like thunder, shaking the earth and echoing on the sea for a long time.

"set off!"

Peng Shimao issued the final attack order.

Hundreds of landing craft were like arrows, flying impatiently to the coast of Taikoo Village not far away.

The sound of cannons and shouts had already awakened the residents of Taikoo Village.

The ragged boatmen, porters, coolies, and fishermen from Taikoo Village gathered on the coast to watch the rare excitement.

"The Qing Dynasty has invaded Hong Kong Island?"

In the cool morning breeze, a boatman with his hands retracted into his sleeves said while looking at the menacing landing craft on the sea.

"It's new. I've seen foreigners fighting against the Qing Dynasty in recent years. This is the first time I've seen the Qing Dynasty fighting against foreigners. It's really eye-opening."

Another porter sniffed the clear snot from his lips.

"Did they just shout something? Kill them without mercy?"

"Yes, I heard it too. It doesn't matter whether they are Chinese or foreigners, they will be killed without mercy."

"Then why are you still watching the fun? Why don't you run away!"

At this point, some timid people dispersed.

"Even if they run away, those who obstruct their actions will be shot and killed. We only watch the fun and don't block their way."

Instead of walking away, one of the coolies stretched his neck.

"Yes, that makes sense. Hong Kong Island is owned by the British. I have to move goods at the pier. Hong Kong Island is owned by the Qing Dynasty. I also have to move goods at the pier. What's the difference?" another coolie expressed. Agree.

"I'm not sure, it might be the Liang family's world. Look, these soldiers seem to be the mercenaries of the Liang family's umbrella company that I saw in Xiangshan. They don't have braids."

As the landing troops got closer and closer to the coast, sharp-eyed people gradually saw clearly the uniforms of these soldiers.

As Liang Yao expected, there were no British troops stationed in Taikoo Village, and the landing force occupied Taikoo Village without any blood.

Washington boarded the small pier in Taikoo Village and led a group of soldiers with live ammunition to the shack closest to the small pier.

Seeing that the shack was closed, Washington politely knocked on the door.

"Fellow, fellow, are you at home?"

The door was opened carefully, but only a crack was exposed. The fishermen inside looked at the red-haired and blue-eyed Washington in surprise. He was obviously a ghost. They were very puzzled: How could this ghost speak Mandarin so well? ?
When he saw clearly that this ghost guy was followed by a group of soldiers carrying foreign guns, he was immediately trembling with fear and asked in a trembling voice: "What are you doing, bosses?"

"We would like to temporarily commandeer your house."

Washington said politely.

This shack was closest to the small dock, and Washington wanted to commandeer the house to store military ammunition.

"If the boss wants to use it, you can just use it." The fisherman said hurriedly.

"I'll make room for the boss right now."

It's December now, and the winter in Hong Kong Island can't be said to be too cold, but living by the sea and blowing the salty sea breeze will inevitably make you feel cool.If someone in the family catches a cold, they may have to fight for a few days, or they may have to spend money to see a doctor and buy medicine.

Therefore, the fisherman was unwilling to give up his shack for these soldiers of unknown origin.

But there's nothing you can do about it. How do ordinary people like them have the right to say no?

It was Washington's first time in Asia. After the fishermen opened the door, Washington glanced at the inside of the shack. It would be an exaggeration to describe it as a house with bare walls.

There is no floor in the house, and the ground is as bumpy as a military sand table, with mountains, valleys, and ravines.

There were very few things that could be called furniture. There was a table with four legs of different lengths and an uneven top. Not even a few greasy particles could be seen on the table.There are also a few bamboo chairs and an old box.

As for the extra rooms, there were no extra rooms. A family of six, two adults and four children, slept on a pile of straw covered with straw mats.

Washington, who was born into a wealthy family, had never seen poor people. He had also seen many poor people in New York. When he was attending the military academy at West Point, he even visited the home of a classmate from a poor family.

In his opinion, his classmate's family was already shabby enough, but it was only after he came here that he opened his eyes to the fact that poor people could be so poor.

Although his poor classmate was poor, at least he still had a relatively sturdy wooden house, 6 acres of barren land, a bed, a self-made bookshelf, and a pinewood table that could serve many purposes, with dirt on it. Xixi, greasy putty that can only be scraped off with a knife.

The slaves of the well-meaning slave owners in the South lived better than these people.

Washington thought so.

His nose felt sour, he looked down at the five quarter-dollar (25 cents) silver coins in his right hand, then reached into his pocket and took out a 10-dollar gold coin.

Washington put the gold coins into the hands of the fishermen: "We and the 11th Infantry Regiment have disciplinary regulations. During wartime, we must pay for requisitioning civilian supplies and renting land and houses."

The fisherman was holding a heavy amount of gold and silver coins in his hands. Not to mention renting his shack, the money was enough to buy a few acres of land in a remote county in Guangfu.

The fisherman looked at Washington with a crazy look, and then said: "Does the boss want other houses? I know all the neighbors."

"We all want the houses nearby." Washington nodded.

The main force has not yet arrived at Victoria City, and he has no idea how long the siege will last. Since the regiment leader asked him to be responsible for the logistics of the entire regiment, it is still necessary to rent more private houses in Taikoo Village.