Amu Darya camp, Emperor Daoguang's residence.
Emperor Daoguang of Dajin was walking around in his study, just walking around and around. On the desk lay a map of Afghanistan (including Peshawar), an open book of "Kong Ming's Divine Calculation", a few divination coins, a star map... and a few mutton buns that had already cooled down. , a few pieces of cheese and a bowl of mutton soup with all the oil on the surface frozen.
Emperor Daoguang has been uneasy since yesterday morning when he witnessed twelve airships flying south. During this period, he also made a calculation for himself, used copper coins to perform divination, and even went out to observe the sky at night, hoping to understand some of the mysteries. It's a pity that it's all to no avail because his "algorithm" is not refined. We can only wait anxiously for the results of the Peshawar airborne operation...
In fact, the Ming army personnel who stayed at the airship field already knew the outcome of the Battle of Peshawar - they had radio stations to contact the airships, and they could even send the news back to Beijing through the radio. So now all the important officials of the Ming Dynasty in Beijing know the outcome of the Battle of Peshawar!
But Emperor Daoguang was still kept in the dark. Although he had received a secret report and knew that there was such a black technology as a radio station, he could not inquire about such secrets from Daming! And even if I inquired, they would definitely not tell me.
So he could only worry in the study alone.
When I was anxious, there was a burst of hurried footsteps outside the door, and then I heard the voice of Emperor Daoguang's most trusted eunuch Bai: "Your Majesty, please see He Shen, Mu Zhang'a, and Sai Shang'a!"
coming!
Emperor Daoguang's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and his fat face, which had lost a lot of weight, was filled with unconcealable nervousness.
The rise and fall of Dajin depends on this battle!
Emperor Daoguang took a few deep breaths and then said loudly: "Xuan!"
Then Daoguang heard Eunuch Bai who was standing outside saying, "Three of you in the middle hall, please come in."
Then he saw the door of the study room being pushed open, and the three secret ministers who were accompanying the army, He Shen, Mu Zhang'a, and Sai Shan'a, followed Eunuch Bai and filed in. Daoguang glanced at the faces of the three Tianji ministers, and his mood immediately improved.
Because the three of them all had surprises on their faces...not surprised and happy, but so happy that they were surprised. It seemed like they were very happy, no, they should be very happy!
"Your Majesty! We won!"
"Your Majesty! Great victory!"
"Your Majesty, God bless you!"
Sure enough, the three military ministers started to announce the good news to Emperor Daoguang as soon as they knelt down. The voice announcing the good news is shaking! It’s all on Douyin, how happy it must be.
"Quick, tell me, how is Wu Zhenfa's fight?"
Daoguang did not allow them to say any auspicious words. What other auspicious words could be compared to a great victory on the front line?
"Your Majesty," He Shen said, wiping his tears, "the airship that sent King Pingxi to Peshawar has returned... Peshawar Castle was knocked down by King Pingxi!"
Mu Zhang'a added: "Your Majesty, King Pingxi also captured a British major general named Elsfinton and brought him back in the airship. It is said that this major general is also the British commander in Peshawar!"
"Ancestors bless..." Daoguang cried with joy!
The enemy's commanders have all been captured. This victory is definitely a sure thing!
But the good things are not over yet!
"Your Majesty, there is more!" Saishan'a also cried, "Your Majesty, King Pingxi was too fierce this time. Divine soldiers descended from the sky and killed the Indian soldiers in Peshawar. He really did not dare to resist the heavenly soldiers, so he had to tie up Their British commander and white officers surrendered... So now in Peshawar, in addition to our more than 200 warriors, there are hundreds of surrendered troops. In addition, Peshawar Castle is also the old logistics camp of the British and Indian armies. , the underground warehouse is full of firearms, ammunition, and four six-inch howitzers!"
The British army in Peshawar was really defeated!
Not only was the headquarters ruined, but their four six-inch howitzers didn't even have a chance to be used, and they became trophies in the warehouse!
Emperor Daoguang was so happy that he immediately ordered: "Quick, go and bring that Elsfenton. I want to ask questions personally... By the way, is Zhuge Daozi back?"
"He's back, probably resting," He Shen said, "He and his airship soldiers are exhausted."
"Okay, when he has rested enough, invite him to my place for a celebration banquet!" Daoguang said with a smile, "I want to drink three hundred cups with him...!"
"嗻!"
...
Calcutta, East India Company Governor's Palace.
In Sir Amherst's private drawing room, the oppressive atmosphere almost solidified - how great the pressure was!
Everyone, including Sir Amherst, was stunned, holding a copy of the telegram and looking at it over and over again.
Of course, this telegram copy was not sent by the headquarters of Major General Elsfinton, because the telegraph and telephone lines of his headquarters were cut... so it was airborne by the Daikin Navy in Peshawar. When the soldiers raided, Elsfenton had no way to contact the several battalions stationed on the periphery. However, those British and Indian infantry battalions still found something was wrong!
There were airships in the sky, explosions on the ground, and many frightened Peshawar residents running out. Of course the troops guarding the outskirts of Peshawar knew something was wrong.
So they reported to Kabul and Calcutta while organizing troops to counterattack the city of Peshawar.
After receiving the news, Sir Amherst immediately asked Nelson, the commander of the Indian Grand Fleet, Hugh Gough, the acting commander of the East India Army, and the "imperial minister" Yilu from London to discuss countermeasures.
When these few people saw the urgent telegraph sent by wired telegraph from the defenders of Mardan City east of Peshawar, they were all so surprised that they were speechless.
Because this is too exaggerated!
Ground troops dropped from an airship to launch a surprise attack on the British headquarters in Peshawar - this was an air assault!
Can the Great Jin Kingdom do such a thing? There are no airships at all in the Kingdom of Jin, and everyone knows that the Ming Dynasty is the best player in airships in the world - both hot air balloons and airships were invented by them! The Zhuge family of the Ming Dynasty seems to be particularly obsessed with the matter of "flying to the sky". They are willing to spend money, but they have money to spend, and they themselves know technology.
Thanks to their efforts, Ming Dynasty has more airships than all other countries in the world combined. They are also extremely large, fly fast, and are more reliable. If there is anyone in the world who can use airships to carry out air assault missions, it is only Ming Dynasty.
This was clearly the action of Daming. Not only was Daming the mastermind behind Daikin, but he also directly provided the airship troops!
Sir Amherst finally broke the silence at this time, and only heard him cough: "Everyone, what are your opinions and suggestions?"
"Governor-General," Major General Hugh Gough, acting commander of the East India Company's army, was the first to speak, "we must regain the city of Peshawar as soon as possible, otherwise the army going deep into Afghanistan will face logistical supply problems. And the Sikhs and Afghans also have It may turn to Daikin."
George Yilu frowned and said with a livid face: "These airships must belong to the Ming Dynasty... The Ming Dynasty not only supported Dai Jin behind the scenes, but also directly participated in the attack on Peshawar. This is a sign of the British. The invasion of the empire! The British Empire must retaliate! I propose to immediately block the Strait of Malacca and interrupt all trade exchanges between India and the Ming Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty vassal countries!"
Amherst looked at Earl Nelson and said, "Earl, what do you think?"
Earl Nelson just shook his head: "If the Ming Navy's airships hang bombs to blow up the squadron parked in Singapore, and then drop infantry to attack the Singapore Fortress... what will we do?"
As soon as he said these words, the air in the living room became solid again. Everyone frowned and could not say anything. Because they all know that the battleships and fortresses of the British Empire are unable to deal with enemies from the air!
And the Ming Empire happened to have the ability to attack the British Royal Navy from the air!
When the people in the room were anxious, there was a sudden knock on the door of the living room, and then a secretary of Baron Amherst hurried in, holding a telegraph newspaper in his hand and reporting in a trembling voice. : "Your Majesty the Governor, Mardan's telegram... The troops that counterattacked Peshawar were defeated! They encountered the enemy's heavy artillery bombardment and the impact of the cavalry, and suffered heavy losses!"
