In the Far East, in the large dining room of the Japanese battlecruiser "King Kong", people were in a happy mood and frequently raised their glasses. In contrast, on the distant other side of the ocean, Americans do not have such a good mood.

I don't know when the Japanese and their navy have become the "demons" that undermine the stability of the Pacific Ocean in the eyes of the US government and the people, and the Clipperton Island crisis is not the first time, and this Combined Fleet crisis will not be the most serious!

"We cannot sit idly by, with the current situation, war is likely to come within 6 months!"

In the presidential office of the White House, in front of Woodrow Wilson's desk, U.S. Secretary of the Navy William Brown? General S. Benson looked very excited.

"Indeed, the situation is very unfavorable for us! Admiral Conway once told me that the Japanese navy was now very strong, and if our main fleet and their main fleet had an encounter, the odds would be half of the odds, but if it was another Lushun-style sneak attack, we would definitely lose! The president was frustrated and puzzled, "But is that nation that relies on buying parts and salvaging sunken ships really capable of defeating us?" ”

Benson shrugged, "I'm sorry, Mr. President, but there's no doubt about it!" Salvaging and repairing a sunken battleship is sometimes as difficult as building a new one, considering that the Japanese captured and repaired a total of 6 Russian battleships and a whole host of other ships! Moreover, their shipbuilding technology was largely supported by the British, and now with the Germans! We are in a terrible situation! ”

Wilson leaned weakly back in his chair, his face resolute, but his heart was not so calm. Since President Theodore Roosevelt, the basic national policy of the United States has been "a carrot in one hand and a stick in the other," but now that stick seems to be insignificant.

"In that case, we will continue to ask Congress for additional appropriations! God, I remember that in the last 10 years we have built 10 of the latest battleships, minus the two that were sold to the British. We have 8 more ships! Oh, General, how many ships are there for the Japanese now? ”

"Uh...... 4 are already in service, and 2 are about to be commissioned! Furthermore...... The Russians had 4 ships, and the Germans had 20! Benson raised the volume of "20" in particular, which is not only more than twice that of the US Navy, but also recognized as world-class in combat effectiveness.

"But, my general. The capital ships of the Russians and Germans are in Europe! As long as they remembered the failed expedition of the Russian fleet ten years ago, they would not have sent those battleships to the Pacific Ocean! Wilson paused and flipped through a document on the table, "Moreover, according to our shipbuilding plan, in another Hunan year, that is, by 1919, our naval strength will be doubled, that is, 10 new capital ships and ...... will be added."

"Mr. President, I have to remind you. The strength of our opponents is also increasing year by year! ”

General Benson interrupted Wilson realistically. Although the financial capability and comprehensive national strength of the Japanese are far inferior to those of the United States, they have invested a lot in military spending, and more importantly, they have invested a lot in military spending. "It seems that the Japanese will not leave so much time for us, especially after having the support of Germany and Russia, they have no worries in the Far East! Moreover, although the number of new capital ships of the combined fleet in the South Japan Sea is inferior to that of our navy, they are still surpassing ours in terms of rapid mobility! ”

"Do you have to fight?"

This was the first time Wilson had asked about the possibility of war in such a tone, and in order to establish and consolidate the control of the United States in Central America and the Caribbean and the Panama Canal, the Wilson government did not hesitate to use force to threaten Mexico, Nicaragua, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, etc., and President Wilson always firmly said, "Fight when you need to!" Good lessons, them! ”

"Mr. President, I'm just thinking about these things from my point of view! Whether the two countries will go to war or not, I'm afraid the decision does not lie with our navy! Benson pulled a document out of his briefcase. Then he gently placed it in front of Wilson, "My duty is to prevent this possible war and make the best possible battle plan!" ”

"Project Orange?"

Wilson picked up that document, a copy? A plan for the war zone between the United States and Japan was drawn up two years ago. There is no doubt that this plan is outdated!

"This is just a reference, the Admiralty will come up with a new orange plan as soon as possible! But, Mr. President, I earnestly advise the Government to avoid this war through diplomatic means until we are sure of superiority at sea! ”

"I see! Thank you. Checkmate! ”

Wilson waved his hand to signal that General Benson could leave, and he looked gloomy.

Four days later, on 28 September, after visiting most of Europe, U.S. Secretary of State Ryan led a delegation back to Washington. As soon as he got off the ship, Ryan was urgently summoned by the president.

"What is the current situation in Europe?"

Wilson motioned for Ryan to sit on the sofa on his right-hand side, there were only two of them in the office at this time, there was a pot of tea on the small coffee table in front of the sofa, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.

"The situation looks pretty good! With the exception of the United Kingdom, which is not yet very stable, the countries have largely returned to their daily order. Germany, Austria, Russia, Turkey, and Bulgaria have announced the lifting of their state of combat readiness, and a large number of military personnel are being demobilized one after another! The Gibraltar dispute between Germany and Spain has been settled through negotiations, and most people are optimistic that Europe is about to enter a period of prosperity and stability! ”

Ryan said unhurriedly, and then, without waiting for the president to speak, he picked up the small teacup in front of him and took a sip.

"Well, good tea!"

"In the past, we were most worried that the war in Europe would affect us, but now that Europe has stabilized, we can't rest easy!" The president drank his tea in a daze, "Why did the Allies and not the Entente win?" ”

To this question, which is unquestionable for the current situation, Ryan did not answer and could not answer.

"Oh! What do the royal families and heads of state in Europe think about the formation of a joint fleet by Germany, Japan and Russia? ”

"Basically...... No view! Helplessly, Ryan shook his head, "They don't think it has anything to do with them!" ”

Wilson was neither surprised nor surprised.

"Vienna sees it that way, too?"

Ryan stopped shaking his head, but added some disdain to his tone, "They actually want to join that damn Combined Fleet, too." It's just that at the moment they have no base in the Far East and no fleet! ”

"It seems that the Europeans are determined to follow Germany!" Wilson cursed this damned war over and over again in his heart, if there was no war, then the European countries would have restrained each other and reached relative equilibrium, and it was a pity that now the Allies were the dominant powers.

"Well, let's start with the Germans!"

"Start?" Ryan looked puzzled.

"Yes, you also know the threat that the Combined Fleet poses to us, but our navy tells me if there is a real war. There's a good chance we're going to lose! Therefore, we must get out of this unfavorable situation through diplomatic negotiations! Of course, we can't go directly to the Japanese, that will only make the Japanese more proud, and we will never be able to satisfy their greed! ”

"So, you want to ask the German government to mediate?"

In the past, the United States has always played the role of mediator, but at this time, Wilson needs someone else to mediate, which has to be said to be a great irony of the so-called neutrality and isolation policy of the United States government.

"I'm afraid...... That is true! Wilson gave an affirmative look. It was a look of helplessness and loss.

"Okay. I understand! Ryan, who was in charge of foreign affairs, had to take on the new assignment, but he was not averse to it, because he was a complete pacifist. From the bottom of his heart, he hated war.

"According to the opinion of the Admiralty, we need at least 3 years of peacetime for the construction of the Navy. By that time, we will have a navy as powerful as that of Germany and Austria-Hungary, capable of galloping the fleets of the Atlantic and the Pacific, and making it difficult for all those who seek to break the peace to retreat before us! Wilson roughly relayed the words of the Secretary of the Admiralty, and then said with some embarrassment, "If it is just simple mediation, I am afraid it will not last that long, and what is worse is that Germany is also a major member of the Central Powers, and there is not enough benefit." They're probably not going to help us either! ”

Ryan was silent for a while, "Mr. President, as you say, just give the Germans enough benefits!" ”

The two looked at each other for a few seconds, and it was Ryan who spoke first.

"The £1 billion worth of supplies we lent to the German government during the war is now a good weight! Besides, I think we can first throw out a plan for a massive expansion of the navy, and then negotiate with the German government on the condition of abandoning this plan and get the Germans out of the combined fleet! ”

"That's a good idea!" Wilson thought for a moment. The Secretary of State's proposal was quickly affirmed.

Money is not the biggest problem for the U.S. government now, and although the war in Europe lasted only a short year, the U.S. government made a lot of money, from the arms, equipment, and food sold to the French to the large deals with the British. However, it was also in the course of this year that the world situation changed too quickly, and after the defeat of Britain and France, the military forces in the Pacific region were suddenly much reduced, and those warships flying the St. George's Cross flag were basically extinct.

"In addition, relations between Austria-Hungary and Germany do not seem so impregnable in recent times! We should also take advantage of this, Austria-Hungary is currently very short of money and food! Ryan whispered a reminder.

"Hmm...... Well...... At the end of the day, we have to make ourselves as strong as possible, and that's the solution! ”

Wilson said yes, but he thought of something more important. The supporter of colonialism and expansionism, who was also the president of the United States of America, had been most worried about more than just the threat from Japan since the end of the war. Even before the outbreak of the war, the German ambitions for the American colonies were already obvious, and there were several times when there was friction between Germany and the United States. The most unstable of these is Mexico, which has been waiting for revenge since the 1948 Mexican-American War, which is now ruled by a Kasalan government that has an inexplicable ambiguous relationship with the Germans.

"Then I'll do it!"

Before Ryan could turn around, President Wilson suddenly woke up from his dream and stopped him.

"Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Turkey, we should all try! Although they were all staunch allies of Germany on the surface, who knows what the hell they were secretly working on! ”

After the dictation, both of them showed a relaxed look.

Over the next two days, Wilson convened a series of meetings of the main Admiralty and War Department generals, the contents of which are unknown, but it is said that the senior generals came out with either excitement or a heavy face.

On September 23, President Wilson, in a speech to Congress, said, "The era of peace in Europe has arrived, but it does not mean world peace!" At present, in all parts of the world, especially in the Pacific region, the hidden danger of war still exists, and it is very likely that Germany, Japan, and other countries will take large-scale military action against the areas controlled by the British government-in-exile, and it is difficult for the United States to ensure that it can stay out of it forever! Therefore, the United States should be armed as soon as possible to deter any country that attempts to endanger the national security of the United States with strong military strength! ”

In addition, Wilson believed that the decisive factor in the war was still the navy, and that it was by virtue of the First Battle in the North Sea that the Germans laid the foundation for their victory. Although the United States does not want to get involved in any war, it should still build a two-ocean fleet that can not only ensure the inviolability of the coasts and colonies of the United States, but also ensure the stability of the Pacific and Atlantic under a balance of power!

This was the first time Wilson proposed an "expansion" in Congress, and this proposal was immediately supported by the military, arms dealers, and some politicians. The reaction of the American public was not enthusiastic at first, but a few days later, the "Pacific Fleet" led by Japan appeared in the ocean east of the Philippines, and public opinion in the United States took the opportunity to hype up "Tokyo's ambitions approaching the Philippines." The people panicked and turned to support Wilson's military expansion.

A week later, the president's personally led marches in New York and Washington, D.C., initially attended by just over 10,000 people, and within a few days that the number multiplied so much that this fall, "expansion" was the most talked about word in Americans, even more so than the focus on crop harvests.

In early October, under the auspices of United States President Wilson, the United States Congress passed the National Defense Act, which doubled the standing army, reorganized the National Guard and provided for the training of officers in academies and summer camps. At the same time as the defense law was passed, a new naval expansion plan was submitted to Congress that would double the U.S. Navy's strength within three years to meet or exceed the level of Europe's leading naval power.

For a time, the United States was no longer a "businessman" who always remained neutral in the eyes of the people, and governments and public opinion were divided on this, but at least no one thought that this would be a sign of peace.