Everyone wants to say, doesn’t the United States still have a fleet?
But what's the use of a fleet without a landing force?
Americans can't just drive warships and wreak havoc along the coast of Japan. What's the point of that to the United States?
Everyone comes to the East to make money, and the reason for fighting is to earn more money and serve.
If we have to lose money if we fight this battle, who would be willing to fight it?
Fortunately, Mai Lian did not let the failure go to her head and stopped the war in time.
Perry, on the other hand, kept clamoring to take revenge on the Japanese and bombard Edo.
Not to mention the fort protection there, they couldn't even afford to offend the Huai Navy in Edo Bay.
Finally, after Mai Lian's repeated persuasion, Perry gave up the plan of revenge.
After drinking two large glasses of brandy, Perry finally calmed down a bit.
During a daylong exchange of fire with the fort, two of Perry's ships were severely damaged, and other ships were also damaged to varying degrees and were in urgent need of repair.
Mai Lian also lamented the uncertainty of war. It was fine when she left, but when she came back, only these few remaining soldiers were defeated.
I wanted to vent to Harris and ask him how he fought in the war, but that Harris himself didn't come back.
As a diplomat, his professionalism forced him to calm down.
If you can't get it on the battlefield, you can get it from the negotiation table.
But this sentence is for the victors.
For the defeated, they lost a lot on the battlefield and even more at the negotiation table.
Mai Lian's headache now is how to make the smallest concessions at the negotiation table.
Although the Marines failed, they still had a fleet and the powerful United States as their backing, which were their weight.
In fact, no matter how much they do, he and Perry will be punished domestically.
Regardless of whether they are at fault or not, they will ultimately bear the responsibility.
Those congressmen will impeach them for provoking war without permission, making mistakes in commanding operations, and mishandling emergencies.
Anyway, it is extremely easy to accuse a loser.
When Perry found the leader of the Huai Navy and asked him to mediate negotiations with the Japanese.
Mai Lian didn't see much sarcasm in his eyes, but he looked as if he had been waiting for her there.
This made Mai Lian very uncomfortable.
There was even a woman in military uniform standing behind that man. These Eastern officials really know how to play.
Mai Lian thought in her heart.
"Dear Governor, I'm sorry to come to see you again." Mai Lian said apologetically.
"Mr. Minister, there is no need to be polite. Since you are going to China to be the minister, you are my guest. You are welcome to trouble me when you have nothing to do." Dong Shuheng made a little joke.
"Sir, it's like this. Our Marine Corps and the Japanese had a huge misunderstanding and a conflict broke out. I hope your Excellency can mediate."
"You adults must know that we Americans came to the East with sincerity. We just want to do business with all countries on an equal footing."
"I understand what you mean, Mr. Minister, none of us are war mad."
"Living on the same earth, our goal is to enable all human beings to continue to progress and develop, so that all nations in the world can have enough to eat and live a civilized life. Isn't this better?" Dong Shuheng said
.
This statement sounded extremely strange to Mai Lian. No one had ever looked at the problem from the perspective of all mankind.
"Is this governor really broad-minded, or is he just saying such nice things to please others?" Mai Lian thought to herself.
After chatting for a while, Mai Lian left. Dong Shuheng wanted to arrange the next negotiation between the shogunate and the Americans.
Although the battle was won, the negotiation was not easy to negotiate.
Du Ji often appears in front of Dong Shuheng these days, and sometimes Dong Shuheng will talk to her for a few words.
Mai Lian came over today, and the matter happened to involve Japan, so Dong Shuheng left her aside to listen. Anyway, there was no private transaction.
"Atsushi, do you think the Americans have given up?" Dong Shuheng asked Atsushi next to him. He also wanted to test this woman. Everyone said that this woman was extremely intelligent, and he didn't know if it was the result of the beautification of Japanese history.
"Sir, I think this can only be regarded as a temporary compromise by the Americans. Since the Americans can send so many troops and warships to the east, it shows that they have more than this strength." Atsuki lowered her head and replied.
"This woman is very politically intelligent. People say big breasts mean no brains. Does that mean small breasts mean smart? No wonder this woman is so smart." Dong Shuheng complained in his heart.
"Atsuki, you are right. Although Americans are not as good as Britain and France, they are still an industrial country. If the domestic industrial production capacity of the United States is stimulated, it will be enough to crush Japan."
"For example, the Americans can produce tens of thousands of the advanced rifles we use in a day."
Duji's eyes widened and she was shocked by Dong Shuheng's analogy.
"You don't need to be too shocked. I'm just saying that the United States has such potential. Their national resources are in the hands of individual businessmen. If it is unprofitable, they will not let the factory produce rifles. The U.S. government has no money to buy them.
Lots of rifles.”
"Sir, what should Japan do?"
As a Japanese, Atsuki still thinks about Japan in her heart.
"So in this negotiation, Japan should not think about how much benefit it can get from the Americans. It will be good if it can guarantee its basic national policies." Dong Shuheng said.
Du Ji nodded after hearing this.
"Du Ji, is your father still the same these days?" Dong Shuheng looked at her and asked.
"Yes." Du Ji nodded, but did not look at Dong Shuheng after raising her head.
Although he noticed something strange in his heart, Dong Shuheng did not show it.
Without saying anything more, Dong Shuheng still had to prepare for the next day's negotiations.
Because China is the mediator, the negotiations will be held on a warship of the Huai Navy.
Dong Shuheng will naturally also participate.
The negotiation process was generally good. Before the negotiation, Dong Shuheng had already discussed the specific negotiation requirements with the Japanese.
He was mainly afraid that the Japanese would be carried away by the negotiations and open their mouths to the Americans, which would cause trouble.
Fortunately, the shogunate also wanted to put an end to the matter as soon as possible.
In the end, the United States only paid 100,000 silver dollars to redeem the prisoners and promised never to enter Edo Bay without authorization and to abide by Japan's no-sea policy.
In fact, Dong Shuheng also hopes that this conflict will end soon. He is actually very anxious because he has more important things to do.
Not to mention that the domestic Taiping Army is still watching with eager eyes, but the situation in the Far East is also worrying.
Now that we have entered April, the ice and snow in the north are beginning to melt, and Lao Maozi's revenge will soon come.
He had already planned to end it this time and let Bao Youzhi lead the squadron to escort the Fourth Division northward for support.
With only one garrison brigade and some militiamen, Dong Shuheng always felt a little weak.
Although the Russians are currently at war with Britain and France in Crimea and the Balkans.
However, the original military strength in the East was not mobilized, and basically all the Russians in the East were mobilized.
Those serfs and business groups can be armed as soldiers at any time and go to the battlefield.
Previously, Dong Shuheng's words to the British that he wanted to contain the Russians' 100,000 troops in the east were not entirely false.
The Russians can really mobilize an army of 100,000 in the East. This is by no means alarmist.
After handling the matter between Japan and the United States, Dong Shuheng did not stay in Japan any longer.
On April 10, after the U.S. fleet staggered away from Japan with the released prisoners and several damaged warships that had been briefly repaired.
The Huai Navy's navy also left Edo Bay. They will be divided into two parts in Satsuma Bay. Bao Youzhi's squadron will take away several supply ships and transport the fourth division to Vladivostok first. The latitude there is lower and has already begun.
Getting warmer.
The troops will repair there for a period of time, then observe the melting of the ice at the Heilongjiang Estuary, and then choose an opportunity to go to Temple Street.
When Bao Youzhi went north, he would also bring a large amount of food and supplies from Japan. With so many people and horses eating, everything had to be replenished from the rear, so naturally he could bring as much as he could.
"Duke Ji, do you really want to come back to China with me?" There were waves on the sea, and there was a lot of wind today. The white sails were bulging.
Driven by the strong wind, the pointed bow of the ship split the sea surface like a giant axe, stirring up layers of waves.
Du Ji stood behind Dong Shuheng, slightly hunched over.
Dong Shuheng recently found it quite interesting to chat with this woman. The humble attitude of Japanese women when they talk makes people very comfortable.
"Sir, Du Ji has made up her mind and will always stay with her father to take care of him." Du Ji did not answer directly, but explained from the side that she was going to China.
In fact, Atsushi is also looking forward to it. Most young people like to explore unknown areas.
Today's China is a place that has never been explored by Du Ji. She is full of curiosity about it.
In addition, the place she was going to now was under the jurisdiction of Dong Shuheng. Duji wanted to see this young strongman who had created a powerful army. What would the place under his governance be like?
After arriving in Satsuma, the fleet stopped briefly in Ibusuki.
Here the main fleet and Bao Youzhi's squadron are separated.
"Youzhi, this time you are going north again. The task is arduous. The Far East is related to our Huaihai Navy's northern strategy and China's northern territory in the future. Do you still remember our agreement to build a large national territory for future generations?"
"Yes, President, Youzhi will never forget it and will definitely complete the task. Please rest assured, President." Bao Youzhi saluted.
"Also, in the future, women outside the country will have to marry back home. We Chinese men cannot give up all the time. Having more children is also a contribution to China." Dong Shuheng said jokingly.
Bao Youzhi looked embarrassed and scratched his head, but he felt happy in his heart. It seemed that the president had forgiven him.
When the fleet left Ibusuki, Atsuki helped Qi Bin to stand on the deck for a while.
Qi Bin, who had been expressionless these days, had a rare trace of sadness on his face.