C2326 Dublins Port (1/2)
Dublin was the largest port city in the Ireland, it was the heart of British rule over the entire Ireland, it was the busiest port in the whole of Ireland, every year there were 40-50 thousand merchant ships coming and going, occupying one third of the total overseas trade of the Ireland.
However, due to the lack of lighting technology during that era, apart from especially urgent business, very few ships chose to unload their cargo at night. Thus, even the busiest port would appear unusually quiet during the night.
The tallest building on the pier was the three-storey British Customs Office. The British flag on the roof fluttered in the night wind, faintly outlined by the gas lamps. It looked like a soul summoning flag.
It had been a long time since the Great Famine recovered, but the economy of Ireland had yet to recover completely.
Irishmen in ragged clothes walked past the Customs building and stared hatefully at the flag, but when they saw the bright lights of the sentries and the arrogant British soldiers, they lowered their heads and quickened their steps to avoid the flag.
There was a hubbub in the port tavern, where Irish workers had toiled all day to drink cheap beer and whisky, and those who had just worked the night shift were wolfing down stew and potatoes. The entire plate of stew was mashed with mashed potatoes, with the exception of a slight meaty taste.
Only the rich and powerful districts in the distance, the residences of the British businessman s, garrisons, and administrative officials could make out any hints of a bustling scene. Where the denser the streetlights were, the more carriages and more luxurious.
With the night breeze and the music drifting in, it was unknown who's family was hosting the ball.
No one would have thought that just at around 9 PM, under the secret cover of the Irish Underground Union at the docks, more than a hundred armed men had already snuck into the warehouse of the port and were waiting for midnight to come.
Paul, you will bring 60 warriors with you to take care of the most difficult Customs building. Starting the attack at midnight, you will only be given half an hour's time.
”After the mission to destroy the Customs building is completed, all of you should immediately head towards the west. By then, the British garrison should have already started moving, you all must block them for half an hour before being able to retreat …”
Paul looked at the scrawled map and nodded his head, ”Although my battle here will be more intense than yours, you need more manpower. It's enough to just give me 40 people if I don't bring 60 people with me.”
”You have to be in charge of burning the whole container area's export grains. This area is too big, you don't even have enough 40 people! 120 tons of wheat, 200 tons of potatoes, more than 30 tons of bacon, barbecue, sausages, salted meat, and thousands of live livestock … ”
”Almost half of the warehouse district needs you to destroy it, you can't lose your manpower!”
Pierre shook his head. ”I have a lot of work to do here, but I don't need too much battle experience. Furthermore, I have more than 20 comrades from the association helping me, so it should be …”
”Furthermore, we are still in Ireland. Once chaos breaks out, I don't believe that no one will help us out …”
Beside Pierre were a few local people wearing dirty old suits. These people were the Leader s who were recognized by the British Government as members of the illegal trade unions. One could imagine how their lives had been over the years just by looking at the clothes they wore.
The leader, Huai Te, was a famous crane mechanic. He was fondling the half aged revolver that Pierre had just given him, and he liked it like it was his own lifeline.