(Thanks to book friend Fuyun Ye for the reward, and thanks to the monthly pass for a game that belongs to history!)
Henry Wellesley had difficulty escaping from the Volta Mountains in the strategic military town of Tezpur in northeastern India, and finally escaped here on the morning of the 17th. Fortunately, the Western Sichuan Army pursued them to the border and saw Henry Wellesley and others fleeing there.
After entering the Indian territory, the pursuit was stopped, which made the escaping British and Indian troops heave a sigh of relief.
Looking at the remnant army of less than 3,000 people, Henry Wellesley wanted to cry without tears! The 30,000-strong army ambitiously crossed the border and attacked the Shannan area in western Sichuan. As a result, after a month,
Only a few people were left and they fled back in embarrassment. Thinking of the Western Sichuan Army's rapid charge, shouting "Capture the British Duke alive", Henry Wellesley felt a little frightened.
At noon, more than 200 defeated soldiers of the 28th Infantry Brigade of the British Army also returned to Tezpur. After being attacked by the 9th Brigade of the Western Sichuan Army, they saw that the situation was not good and retreated early. When they returned to Volta Mountain
Later, they learned that Volta Mountain was also occupied by the Western Sichuan Army. This frightened them and they quickly fled back to India.
Only then did Henry Wellesley know the tragic experience of the 28th Infantry Brigade. Originally, he still had a lot of resentment towards Brigadier General French. But when he thought that he was much luckier than Brigadier General French, at least he
He did not enter the prisoner-of-war camp of the Western Sichuan Army like French, which made his resentment towards French dissipate a lot. He learned from the remnant soldiers of the 28th Infantry Brigade who escaped back that they were in the circuitous semi-circle.
Encountered the Western Sichuan Army on the road. Obviously, the Western Sichuan Army also had the same idea, to go behind the British and Indian troops and completely annihilate them. This made Henry Wellesley break into a cold sweat. If French hadn't sent troops
, if they start a fierce battle with the Western Sichuan Army's roundabout troops, they might be surrounded by the Western Sichuan Army at Volta Mountain, let alone successfully escape. Therefore, Henry Wellesley has to thank Brigadier General French.
That's fine, otherwise, he might really be captured by the Western Sichuan Army. Only then will Duke Wellington's reputation really be discredited!
In the afternoon of the same day, the reinforcements sent by the Governor-General of India, Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, arrived in Tezpur. They included two British Army infantry brigades, the 21st Infantry Brigade and the 32nd Infantry Brigade, a Donkh Infantry Brigade, and another
There were 30,000 Indian native troops, a total of more than 40,000 people. After the reinforcements arrived, Henry Wellesley breathed a sigh of relief. However, it also rekindled his confidence. It would be impossible for him to admit defeat just now.
He still had troops on hand and could continue to fight. It was still unclear who would win the final victory. Therefore, Henry Wellesley held a combat meeting that night to review the previous battles.
At the same time, he also encouraged the troops who came to help, and assured everyone that they would be able to defeat the Western Sichuan Army.
Henry Wellesley's wishful thinking was to win a victory to cover up his defeat before the British mainland knew the news of his defeat. As far as he knew, the communications on the plateau were very backward. The Western Sichuan Army
It would take at least several days to send the news of the victory back to Chengdu, and it would be at least ten days before the British knew about his defeat. In this case, he would have enough time to win a victory.
, thus getting rid of the negative influence on him. He did not know at all that Western Sichuan had been equipped with radios and had already sent the news of the defeat of Henry Wellesley back to Chengdu. The British Minister to China, through submarine cables,
The news was sent back to London.
London, Whitehall, 10 Downing Street, British Prime Minister's Office. Due to the time difference, the British received the news of Henry Wellesley's defeat at... oclock in the morning. The current British Prime Minister, the Marquis of Salisbury, was in bed
I was woken up by the staff of the Prime Minister's Office and the Prime Minister's Secretary Diem. The Marquis of Salisbury is a famous British politician. This is his second time to form a cabinet and serve as the British Prime Minister. At the same time, he also serves as the British Prime Minister.
Foreign Secretary, this is his third term as Foreign Secretary. He is a Conservative aristocratic politician, Frankenstein, honorary president of Oxford University, and president of the Royal Society. During his reign, the British colonial empire expanded widely.
The 62-year-old Marquess of Salisbury has been suffering from insomnia recently. He finally fell asleep tonight, but was woken up again, which made him as angry as a bull.
"Dear Dim, I hope this time it is really urgent. Otherwise, you will clean the toilets of the Prime Minister's Office for me for a month!" the Marquis of Salisbury said very dissatisfied.
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency Prime Minister, it seems that you can't get what you want. This time, something really urgent happened." The Prime Minister's Secretary Dim, a young man who is only 30 years old this year, is a top student at the School of Political Science at Oxford University in the UK.
He had already worked in the Prime Minister's Office five years ago and became the secretary to the Marquess of Salisbury when he was elected Prime Minister for the second time.
"Okay! What happened? Did those damn Boers rebel again?" The Marquis of Salisbury put on a piece of clothing outside his pajamas and opened the door.
His action woke up the Prime Minister's wife, a beautiful woman in her thirties. "Oh, dear, baby, I'm so sorry for waking you up. Please continue sleeping, I have something to deal with!" Sol
The bearded face of the Marquis of Isbury came close to kiss the beautiful Prime Minister's wife on the forehead, and then closed the door.
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I have just received a telegram from His Excellency Ogner, the Minister to China. Our military operation in southwestern Sichuan has failed. Duke Henry Wellesley was defeated by the Western Sichuan Army. There are only less than 3,000 soldiers left in the 30,000-strong army.
They fled back to Tezpur in embarrassment. The 28th Infantry Brigade was almost completely wiped out, and the brigade commander, Brigadier General French, was captured!" said Diem, secretary to the Prime Minister.
"God? Are you kidding me? Henry Wellesley, that stupid pig, suffered such a disastrous defeat?" The Marquis of Salisbury's sleepy eyes suddenly opened. He looked forward.
We are not used to Henry Wellesley, a guy who has no ability and just relies on his ancestors. Regarding the plan of the Governor-General of India, Henry Petty Fitzmaurice and Henry Wellesley, to invade the plateau, the Prime Minister's Office is very
Opposed. Now Britain's strength is in decline, and Britain's enemies are rising rapidly. This makes Britain not want to establish a strong enemy in the Far East. However, unexpectedly, the Governor-General of India, Henry Petty Fitzmaurice and
Henry and Wellesley violated the will of the Prime Minister's Office and sent troops to western Sichuan without informing the homeland. Now, they have suffered such heavy losses.
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, all this is true. Western Sichuan has met with the Consul in Chengdu, His Excellency Zhu Erdian, and has expressed goodwill to us, hoping that the conflict can be ended!" said Dim, the Prime Minister's Secretary.
"End the conflict? Now we have suffered a big loss. How can it end like this? Inform the Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Anthony Hoskins, and Field Marshal, Earl George Charles Bingham, and ask them to come to see me immediately. Immediately, immediately
!" shouted the Marquess of Salisbury.
"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister!" Secretary Dim immediately went to make arrangements.
After the Marquis of Salisbury drank a cup of coffee, Lord of the Admiralty Sir Anthony Hoskins and Field Marshal Earl George Charles Bingham rushed to the Prime Minister's Office. However, both of them looked a little unhappy.
They were all elderly people, and they were really dissatisfied with being woken up in the middle of the night. In addition, they had been told what happened when they came. As for Henry Wellesley's failure,
The two of them were also very dissatisfied. In the hundreds of years since the British Empire had spanned the world, when had it ever suffered such a loss?
"You two, you already know the matter! So, what should we do? Should we accept the goodwill of Western Sichuan?" asked the Marquess of Salisbury.
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, this is just a temporary defeat. The fighting is still going on. Isn't it too early to compromise with Western Sichuan now!" Field Marshal George Charles Bingham said. Although Henry Wellesley
His performance was very poor, but he could still be considered a member of their army.
"If we failed in the first battle, can we still win in the future? Don't forget that Western Sichuan has an extremely powerful army." said Lord of the Admiralty Sir Anthony Hoskins.
"Then your navy will bring the warships ashore? To defeat Western Sichuan?" Field Marshal George Charles Bingham said dissatisfied. In the UK, the navy is the Royal Navy and receives national attention. The army, however, is not recognized by the Royal Navy.
The title and various benefits are much inferior to those of the Navy, and the annual military expenditure is even pitiful. The dispute between the Army and the Navy has always been very serious.
"That's because there is no coastline in western Sichuan. Otherwise, the Far East Fleet alone would be enough to let them know how powerful our Royal Navy is!" Sir Anthony Hoskins, Lord Admiralty, said proudly. The British Royal Navy is the number one in the world.
, no country can compete!
"Okay, you two, this is the Prime Minister's Office, and this is not for you two to quarrel." The Marquis of Salisbury said with some dissatisfaction.
Lord of the Admiralty Sir Anthony Hoskins and Field Marshal Earl George Charles Bingham finally closed their mouths angrily.
"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I don't think we can negotiate peace with Western Sichuan for the time being. Although the Governor-General of India, Henry Petty Fitzmaurice and Henry Wellesley, violated the orders of the Prime Minister's Office and attacked Western Sichuan without authorization, the responsibility has now been investigated.
It has no effect. Their failure also represents the failure of the British Empire. For the sake of the global interests of the British Empire, we in the UK remain tough on Western Sichuan!" said Field Marshal Earl George Charles Bingham.
PS: The third update is here! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to (this site) to subscribe, reward, and your support is my biggest motivation.)