After the Battle of Sri Lanka, China and Britain received their own naval views on warships, and both sides basically shared the same view: "larger caliber, more firepower, and thicker armor." ”

In this era of heavy ships and giant artillery, everyone is pursuing this. The British Admiralty also did not punish the defeated commander of the Indian Ocean Fleet, and the new artillery tactics of smashing the deck dazzled the British Navy. The Chinese again went ahead of the British, and this is really the direction of future naval warfare. The only question is when the UK will be able to catch up with China's R&D progress.

The design of the Sovereign-class battleships was almost complete, and China's new artillery tactics had to allow the Sovereign-class battleships to fire again. At least take into account the damage caused by a direct hit of the deck by a large-caliber gun. Although this redesign necessitated the construction of the Sovereign-class battleships for a period of time, it was better than being empowered by Chinese warships in a real naval battle.

How to build ships and how to solve technical problems are all tasks that Britain can do on its own. The Battle of Sri Lanka was not fought by Britain alone, and how China, as a participant, wants to deal with this matter will have to be handled by Britain itself.

The Chinese ambassador to the UK, Lu Cheng, was invited to the British Foreign Office, where he first patiently listened to the British Foreign Minister's nonsense. When the British Foreign Minister finally stopped, the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, Lu Cheng, asked, "Are you finished?" ”

Looking at the faint mockery on the face of the Chinese ambassador to the UK in his thirties, the British foreign minister understood that his statement did not have the desired effect at all. The British side hoped to make China frightened by Britain's anger, and seeing that the Chinese ambassador was not moved at all, the British foreign minister immediately turned to a rational negotiation attitude.

"Don't you consider yourself responsible for the current situation?" The British Foreign Minister asked in a calm tone.

According to Lu Ben's own thinking, China itself is the world, and every piece of land that China swallows has become Chinese territory. Even if there is responsibility, it is China's responsibility to its own people. China has a Mao responsibility for the world situation! However, as a public servant, ambassadors cannot dictate the external work with their own opinions.

Holding back the unhappiness in his heart, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Lu Cheng said in accordance with the instructions at home: "Britain has a great responsibility for the turbulence of the world situation. China's view on this is rather unoptimistic, and it is impossible for the world situation to change fundamentally until Britain finally settles the contradictions with China. ”

"In Central Asia, in North America, in Africa, in South Asia, your country has taken rash and reckless actions, and I can ask if your country really has a bottom line." The British Foreign Minister asked with some reluctance. It has always been Britain that decides the fate of the world, and now we have to admit that China, which was violently beaten by Britain 20 years ago, is the equivalent existence that determines the fate of the world.

Lü Cheng did not make the slightest concession, "The Central Asian issue has been resolved, and we have divided the border between the two sides with Russia. As for South Asia, we need a transit point between us and the cultivated land in the African concessions. Given the relationship between our country and Great Britain, it is impossible for Britain to allow us to resupply in South Asia. Our country has an interest factor, and your country also has a great responsibility. As for the question of North America, I have to say that the unilateral demarcation of the border by your country depends on your strength. We are also relying on our strength to draw borders. If your country wishes for stability, I do not think that unilateral demarcation is a wise option. ”

The British foreign minister almost wanted to scold that China and Russia did not think of discussing with Britain when they carved up Central Asia. Why does Britain need China's approval to determine its territory in North America? And this recognition means that China will not spit out what it eats, and China will also make territorial claims in North America.

"And what are your country's requirements in North America?" The British Foreign Minister asked.

"We want to border the United States, so my country thinks that the 61 Colombian area of England should be owned by China. Of course, since the UK has a certain presence in these areas, we can also pay a certain fee to the UK. Lu Cheng was very happy when he talked about these issues, because a few years ago China signed a contract with Russia for millions of square kilometers of land. If Lü Cheng can sign a tenure of millions of square kilometers with the British, then Lü Cheng can also go down in history.

The British Foreign Minister almost trembled with anger, and China's demands were so arrogant that it could be said that the British Empire had never been insulted. The British foreign minister, who was much more knowledgeable than the young Chinese ambassador Lu Cheng, forcibly suppressed his anger and asked Lu Cheng in a rather calm tone, "Why do you believe that our country will agree to such a request?" ”

Lu Cheng replied very cheerfully: "Your Excellency, Comrade Wei Ze, the Emperor of our country, admires Britain very much, and in his diplomatic work, he has said more than once that Britain is a very good country, and it is necessary for China to maintain peace with Britain. If our policy is aimed at bringing down the British, there is no need for us to negotiate with the British in this part of Canada. China only needs to make full use of its territory in Central Asia and Burma, which borders India, to launch an attack on India. When Britain lost India, it lost colonies and markets for hundreds of millions of people. Britain would then have to return to Europe, fight desperately against the European powers, and face heavy pressure from the increasingly powerful United States. I believe that the Americans will be closer to Britain than to China. And to buy this land, we can pay for gold. ”

"It's not about the money." The British Foreign Minister resisted the urge to beat Lu Cheng violently and said in an angry tone.

"Our country is well aware that Britain is building a new fleet. I can also tell you clearly that our country is also building a new fleet. A full-scale conflict between these two fleets will break out and a big war will come. Decide who is the strongest fleet in the world. If the current situation continues, this naval battle is inevitable. If your country wants to talk about this issue after the war, we will continue to negotiate with Britain. Of course, I can convey the views of our emperor now, and even if we talk about it again, this is what we will talk about. The attitude of our Emperor has always been that we respect British rule in India, and we are even happy to see effective British rule in India. And our country has no intention of destroying British dominance in Europe. There is a bottom line to our country's demand for territory. Lu Cheng said frankly.

The British foreign minister does not believe in this kind of nonsense, and China's expansion over the years is obvious to all, although China has seized rotten land where birds don't, but this appetite is appalling enough. Will China be content to acquire these rotten lands? It's hard to say whether other countries believe it or not, but Britain definitely doesn't believe it anyway.

The talks lasted half a month, and the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, Lu Cheng, finally negotiated with the British an approximate idea of North America, in which China could be content with expanding in the north, including the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, where the British had not really arrived, and the northern part of the Columbia region of England 61. In the face of China's request to buy the southern part of England's 61 Colombian region in order to meet the border with the United States, the British side is not too opposed. The United States has more fertile and warm land than Canada, and China, an ambitious country, shares a border with the United States, which is bound to cause concern throughout the United States. With the personality of the United States, a military conflict with China is a matter of time. This kind of misfortune is in line with Britain's diplomatic philosophy.

Of course, Britain is not a poor ghost like the Russian Maozi who has never seen the world. Even though the land was less than the land ceded by Russia, the British opened their mouth to 200 tons of gold, and Britain separated sovereignty from governance, and Britain still had sovereignty over this land. No matter what Lu Cheng said, the British did not budge. Lu Cheng can only express regret about this. Compared to the Russians, the British were undoubtedly more arrogant. After the border between China and Russia was determined, the two countries entered a period of peace. A period of peace between China and Britain seems to be far away.

The Russians were unaware of the arduous negotiations between China and the British, and they could be sure that China was not as greedy for land expansion as the Russians, and that the Chinese army was simply advancing to the agreed borders, and then stopped and began to set up posts on the new frontiers.

Even if it does not dare to fully trust China, Russia can only temporarily believe in China's sincerity. At this time, Russia's greatest enemy was the Ottoman Empire, and the stalemate of the war was unbearable for Russia. Although the Russian army made a slight breakthrough on the Caucasian front, the Ottoman Empire stubbornly fought the Russians in Armenia.

In the Danube region, more than 300,000 allied troops could not capture the city of Pleven and break through the passes of the Balkan Mountains. Even in Russia, there were voices of an armistice. Russia and the Ottoman Empire eventually signed an armistice, and Bulgaria suffered heavy casualties but was unable to gain independent status. The Ottoman Empire made it conditional on the recognition of Romania's independence in exchange for Russia's return to the Caucasus to its original borders.

In January 1879, the Russian army finally withdrew in the cold winter, and Suleiman Pasha's army finally arrived in the city of Pleven. It was a full 18 months late to Suleiman Pasha's promised arrival date. At this time, there was not much food left in the city of Plevin, and it could only last for less than two months.

Seeing the steady stream of Ottoman troops entering Pleven City, Li Weiren was not excited, his legs were weak, and he had to lean against the wall of a fire point. The tragic siege and defense of the city of Pleven was a war of the Ottoman Empire, not a war of Li Weiren. At first, he only came here because he wanted to make a career and practice his fortress concept. The practice of war and the prestige had been realized at this time, and Li Weiren had only one thought in his heart, to leave Pleven City quickly. Wherever you go, just leave the Pleven Fortress.

In February 1879, the Ottoman 61 Nuri Pasha entered Istanbul in a crowd of people. This great hero of the Ottoman Empire resisted more than 300,000 Russian troops with 30,000 people, not to mention in the Ottoman Empire, and became a legend in the entire European military circles.

The role of Leviren Pasha was not publicized partly because of the Chinese request, and partly because the Ottoman Empire did not want a foreigner to share the glory of its heroes. The absence of propaganda does not mean that the Ottoman Empire did not know about Li Weiren's exploits, and the Ottoman 61 Nuri Pasha was not a small-bellied person, and he also reported Li Weiren's exploits to the Ottoman court.

The Ottomans soon reached an agreement with China to build a railway to the Ottoman Empire through Iran, which would communicate with the future Basra to Constantinople rail network. It became an important line of communication for the Ottoman Empire.

For Leviren Pasha, the Ottomans appointed him as the governor of the Sultan, who was responsible for the Ottoman Empire's control of the African lands. Although the appointment was opposed by Britain and Egypt, the Ottoman Empire did not waver.

The Tenth Russo-Turkish War finally came to an end after two years of fighting. The nations of Europe saw the combined power of fortresses, machine guns, and magazine-type rifles. All countries wanted to be able to engage in military exchanges with the Ottoman Empire. France and Germany at the same time extended invitations to Ottoman 61 Nuri Pasha in the hope that he would be able to visit and give lectures.

The Ottoman Empire and the Ottoman 61 Nuri Pasha declined the gracious invitations of the nations. Ottoman 61 Nuri Pasha and Leviren Pasha spent less than a month in Istanbul when they were ordered to go to the Caucasus to build a border defense with Russia. The entire Ottoman Empire was convinced that these two men would be able to build a steel line against the Russian invasion.

On the Ottoman Empire's military construction schedule, after the Ottoman 61 Nuri Pasha and Leviren Pasha completed the construction of the fortress group in the Caucasus, they would go to Europe and establish a new defense line on the European territory of the Ottoman Empire. While these two men were holding the fortress of Plevin, the Ottoman army had already bloodily annihilated the rebels of Serbia and Negro in Hemen.

Bulgaria suffered a terrible sacrifice, but was abandoned by Russia and ultimately failed to gain independence. On the contrary, Romania became independent from the Ottoman Empire at no cost, and Bulgaria, which was greatly damaged, did not dare to continue to resist the Ottoman Empire. Bulgaria was very disappointed in Russia and full of hostility and hatred towards Romania. In the eyes of the Bulgarians, the Romanians gained their independence by sipping Bulgarian blood. Under such sentiments, the story of the vampire Count Dracula soon became a household name in Bulgaria. From this time on, over the next hundred years, Romanians became known as "vampires" in Bulgaria.

After this war, the situation in Europe also stabilized, and the Balkans remained under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire also saw value in wooing China, a powerful Eastern empire that had brought the ancestors of the Turks to the Turkish region, and could now serve as a temporary reinforcement for the Ottoman Empire.

Of course, the Ottoman Empire would not be naïve to think that China was an angel who did not ask for anything in return, and handed over Sudan and the region south of Sudan to the Chinese, which would not only allow China to build an important railway network for the Ottoman Empire for free, but also add to the blockage of the Egyptian governor. The Ottomans thought the deal could be done.

Weese's greatest hope at this time was no longer to expand his territory, and he even gave up on taking Australia and New Zealand for the time being. As long as the goal of bordering the United States is accomplished, as long as southern Tibet and the Assam provinces are recaptured, Weize is ready to honestly stay at home and engage in construction. Birds don't lay eggs and take too much rotten land, and it's time to digest these lands. It's time to straighten out the domestic construction. Because of the war, Weser has made compromises with too many people and things in the country, and this feeling of being stuck in his throat is very bad.

In March 1879, the laying of keels began on eight Sovereign-class battleships at the naval shipyards and civilian shipyards almost simultaneously. Britain will not be able to endure any longer, and not only for Chinese reasons. According to British intelligence, the United States, Germany, and France have all begun to build new warships that look similar to Chinese warships. Even Russia began to build cruisers with thick armor. It looked like a Chinese cruiser of more than 4,000 tons.

The warships of the British Navy used to be the bellwether of warships throughout Europe and were the imitators of the navies of various European countries. Now all European countries, including the United Kingdom, have found a new direction, and all countries are on the same page. For the UK, this is by no means good news.