Under Zhao Xuening's expectant gaze, Li Chuang, who looked most like a real orangutan in both appearance and behavior among the Lanfang group, was the first to stand up and live up to expectations.
"The president is right. At the beginning, we were just a broken ship with more than a hundred people, but now? We have built a country, and we have accomplished the impossible. If the Qing Dynasty really plans to attack us, Even if I, Li Chuang, risk my life, I will fight to the end!"
Chu Teng stood up immediately.
"The navy fought first, the navy was exhausted, and the Qing Dynasty landed. Even when my army stepped forward to fight, even if I, Chu Teng, fought to the last man and a gun, I would definitely die standing and would never kneel. Beg for mercy!"
Li Chuang laughed.
"Aren't you going to compete with me now?"
Chu Teng also smiled.
"When that time comes, you must be in front. You have fought hard before it's my turn. But you don't have to worry. You take the first step and I will be there soon. Let's keep arguing on Huangquan Road."
"Okay, I believe you."
Li Chuang punched Chu Teng with a smile.
The statement of General Hengha obviously had an effect.
Chen Qilong sighed and stood up.
"Although I am in charge of diplomacy now, I was once a soldier. If the Qing Dynasty really comes over, diplomacy will be useless. By then I will be a member of the navy, and every one I kill will count as one!"
The old guy Tang Wenshan also stood up.
"I, an old man, have offended court officials. If the Qing Dynasty comes over, I will definitely die. Although I am old and have no fighting ability, I can still fire a few shots."
Fei Yongfeng also stood up.
"The same goes for me. I didn't plan to survive when I escaped here. Now I have lived for so many years and become a high official. That's enough. If the Qing Dynasty comes, I will never survive. I might as well fight to the death!"
Chen Luofu also stood up.
"Similarly, I am also a criminal. I will die anyway, so it is better to die in battle!"
Morris quickly stood up.
"Although I am not Chinese, I am also a citizen of Lanfang. I no longer have my original home. Now Lanfang is my home. The Qing Dynasty is going to destroy my home. I have no other choice but to join the navy and fight them. It’s over.”
Albert also stood up.
"I hate Britain and don't want to go back. Lanfang is my country. Until the last moment before the arsenal is occupied, I will insist on making guns at my job."
Jeffrey shook his head helplessly.
"I am a traitor, where is the way out? When that time comes, the only thing I can do is fight to the end, right?"
Zhao Changan also smiled.
"As the younger brother of eldest brother, how can I not die before eldest brother? Brother, don't worry, I will never embarrass our old Zhao family!"
Shinbei Shimada, who was staying in the corner, also spoke.
"The President is my master and has great kindness to me. It is an honor for a samurai to fight and die for his benevolent master. President, I will protect you until the last moment of my life!"
…
…
…
Everyone expressed their opinions one by one.
Regardless of whether he will actually do it at that time, his will at this moment is real.
The will of Lanfang's leadership was unified.
They cherished the children they raised with their own hands, and they cared very much about the country they had built with their own blood and sweat, so they would never compromise easily with the tyrannical Qing Empire.
If the Qing Empire shows hostility to their existence, it will never surrender even if it fights to the last breath.
And to be honest, most of the Chinese people in Lanfang have already cut off their braids, and now they have straight-inch hairstyles. With this hairstyle, they would be considered traitors to the Qing Dynasty.
It is not an empty talk to keep your hair or not. Emperor Qianlong still saw this clearly. Therefore, the money rat tail hairstyle is still the absolute mainstream in the current Qing Empire. The real change will have to wait until Jiaqing. era.
"Having said that, we can't talk about going against a behemoth until the last moment, so we still have to continue to collect intelligence about the Qing Dynasty."
Zhao Xuening said slowly: "I think the Qing Dynasty may not be aware of what happens here, but it may not necessarily pay attention to it. So in any case, we must not be king and hegemon here first, and we cannot let the Qing Dynasty do this. Doubts arise, so it is necessary to adhere to the republican system.”
Zhao Xuening once again emphasized the necessity of a republican system, which was unanimously recognized.
This is not only about Zhao Xuening's ideals, but also about everyone's practical survival. You have to agree even if you don't agree.
"Han Qing, you must also pay close attention to the intelligence work. The transmission of information within the Qing Dynasty cannot be interrupted. Any news about our Lanfang within the Qing Dynasty must be delivered to us as soon as possible."
Zhao Xuening looked at Chen Qilong and gave him an important task.
Lanfang's intelligence system has always been under the charge of Chen Qilong, the foreign affairs chief. Ever since Zhao Xuening decided to develop Lanfang's intelligence network within the Qing Empire, he organized a team of people to operate in Guangdong and Fujian in the name of smugglers.
Through these activities, over the past few years, those smugglers have accumulated some connections in Guangdong and Fujian. They not only attracted some refugees to Lanfang to go south to Borneo Island, but also helped to establish several saltpeter smuggling businesses.
Fishing for people, smuggling saltpeter and collecting intelligence are the three major missions of this intelligence team.
From the current point of view, they have done a very good job in this matter and achieved very good results. Zhao Xuening was also able to control some public opinion trends within the Qing Empire.
For example, at the beginning of this year, Emperor Qianlong Hongli began his fifth southern tour. The expected destination is Jiangning and Hangzhou. It is said that he will also pay homage to the mausoleum of Zhu Yuanzhang, the ancestor of the Ming Dynasty.
During this period of time, Lan Fang could not make too much noise, at least not use troops. He had to wait until Hongli returned before moving troops, and he had to do it quickly, trying not to arouse the vigilance and attention of the Qing Empire.
One thing that is more troublesome is that Zhao Xuening lacks the intelligence of the upper class of the Qing Empire, so he is not sure how much the Qing Empire knows about the current situation in Nanyang. It is also not sure what the Qing Empire will do after learning that Lanfang is a country established by the Han people. reaction.
What he can be sure of is that Hongli is old and doesn't want to cause trouble. He just wants to maintain the status quo and enjoy the glory brought to him by Qianlong's prosperous era.
And even when he was in his prime, he had no reaction or intervention to the Hongxi Massacre, which fully proved that Hongli was not very interested in developing southward.
But if the largest force in Nanyang changes from Europeans to Chinese, or in other words, becomes a group of Han people, then what thoughts and actions will Hongli have?
Zhao Xuening did not choose to march to the Philippines before because of this concern.
But now, he feels that he can worry less about this.
If you want to join the torrent of this era and slightly change the foreseeable national tragedy a hundred years from now, then you have to work hard for that pitiful hope, even if you spend everything for it.
In this era where one person's heart is the heart of millions, he would never allow Hongli to destroy the entire country by himself.
Therefore, he is determined to win the Philippines!
In the future Northern Expedition, he will never back down!
The small meeting in the evening is over, and so is the first day of Zhao Xuening’s presidential term.
After seeing off all his subordinates, Zhao Xuening rubbed his temples, looked at the time, and sat down to deal with state affairs for half an hour. He finished the unfinished business during the day, and then dragged his tired body back. At home in the White House.
Little Anton was already asleep, sleeping soundly in his nursery. Anne was reading a book in the living room and waiting for Zhao Xuening. Zhao Xuening first went to the room to look at little Anton, then came out and sat opposite Anne.
Annie looked at Zhao Xuening's slightly tired look and reached out to touch Zhao Xuening's forehead.
"You didn't seem to eat much at the dinner, right? Are you hungry now? Can I make you some midnight snack?"
Zhao Xuening held Annie's hand, smiled and shook his head.
"No, I never eat late-night snacks. It's okay to be hungry."
"Then go to bed early."
Anne said gently: "You have been busy all day, it's time to take a good rest."
"I need to have a good rest tonight."
Zhao Xuening nodded slowly, then paused, and slowly said: "Annie, there is something I want to tell you."
"What?"
"I will start a war against Batavia in three months at the latest. This war will be fierce and resolute until all the forces in the Netherlands in the Spice Sea are wiped out."
Annie was stunned. Looking at Zhao Xuening's serious expression, she knew that he was not joking.
"Isn't it enough now?"
"It's not enough, and neither the British nor I think it's enough."
Zhao Xuening shook his head and said: "This time Cornley and Marek are here to convince me to stand on their side. Cornley wants me to go to war against the British, while Marek wants me to go to war against Batavia." .”
"So you chose to go to war with Batavia?"
Annie sighed: "Although I have also thought that this might be the result..."
"I have no better choice."
Zhao Xuening held Anne's hand tightly: "Britain is too strong. The Netherlands will not be Britain's opponent. Only by standing with Britain can we protect Lanfang's interests to the greatest extent. I am Lanfang's president. I cannot follow the rules." Personal preference decides a thing, Anne, I’m sorry.”
Annie was silent for a while, then looked up at Zhao Xuening.
"Then what should my father and mother do?"
"I will ensure their safety. After the war starts, I will bring them to Seoul. We will be reunited as a family. From now on, we will live here and never go back to the Netherlands. The UK has basically decided to Deran went to war.”
"Really?"
Anne was surprised: "Will Britain go to war with the Netherlands?"
"Are you worried?"
"Of course, although my family is here, my friends are still in the Netherlands."
"Although there will be a war, your friends should not be in much danger."
"hope so……"
Anne said with a sad look on her face: "But even if I don't care about things in Europe, will my father accept the status quo?"
"He has been abandoned by the Netherlands."
Zhao Xuening said slowly: "Ke Enli was entrusted by William and the Seventeenth Gentlemen. He is fully responsible for the negotiations with Lanfang and the affairs of the East India Company. If we cannot bring my father to Seoul, what if he is Cornley is sent back to the Netherlands and he will be sentenced."
"this……"
Annie immediately held Zhao Xuening's hand: "Xue Ning, you must save him and don't let him be sent back to the Netherlands!"
"Don't worry, he is your father and my father."
Zhao Xuening said with a smile: "Coenli can't even go back, let alone take his father back. Every move in Batavia is under my strict surveillance, and Coenli can't do anything."
Anne felt relieved.
Zhao Xuening stood up, walked behind Annie, and hugged Annie.
"Annie, don't worry. I said I would be responsible for you and your relatives. I am responsible for these things. I will never make you sad."
Annie felt Zhao Xuening's strong arms, leaned on his chest, and slowly closed her eyes.
"I trust you."
