The British cabinet soon began to think about how to formulate a plan against China in the future, because if China, a country with a population of 400 million, launched a foreign war, it would be an incomparably huge power, and the British were very afraid. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info so they feel that this China must be difficult to deal with, so they must be cautious.

"I think China's population is too big and its economy is very strong, and we can't easily compete directly. Otherwise, we in England will be very dangerous too! The Duke of Wellington said militarily.

The Duke of Wellington has a lot of influence in the cabinet, and many people have agreed with this suggestion, especially if Britain goes to war with China alone, which is the way to die! Britain was able to take advantage a few years ago, and they themselves know in their hearts how much luck they have occupied. From the beginning, the Manchus did not realize that Britain would start a war for the sake of merchants, and the British also forced the Manchus to make peace by cutting off the Manchus' fortunes. In addition, the Manchus belonged to a minority regime, and they were far more protective of internal enemies than invasions, so this was the result of a combination of factors.

The British were not so stupid as to be lucky again, and could easily get a second chance of success. Especially betting on the fortunes of a big country, this is very stupid, but it will cheapen the French and Germans.

Soon, though, there were smart people in this cabinet.

"Guys, I just looked at the map, and we want to contain China. We must control the seas, because at present, the whole world is relying on overseas colonization, and if we want to control overseas colonies, we must have a strong navy. It must be said that the Chinese are clearly a backward place in terms of the navy. Because they are a continental civilization, it is not surprising that the navy is weaker. Of course, we must take advantage of their weakness and curb their potential for our European expansion. Palmerston said.

John Russell asked, "Palmerston, what do you have to do?" ”

"I have an idea, which is to strategically contain China's expansion in Europe and even the Middle East and Africa through island chains." Palmerston said.

On the other side, at 49 Portland Street, Xu Qing and his female assistant Hu Ling were studying the world map. Of course, this map of the world is actually more accurate than that of the United Kingdom, and as a career diplomat for more than ten years, he can draw the outline of the map of the world very well even with his eyes closed. Of course, this map cannot be easily exposed, otherwise it will be a big loss.

Xu Qing pointed to this place in the South Seas, and then said: "Hu Ling, if I were British, let me think about it from another perspective, I could consider taking advantage of the biggest weakness of our Chinese navy's weak strength to strategically contain our China's expansion towards the Middle East and Africa." Because of the means of transportation of this era, we can only expand to the west, and the east is the endless Pacific Ocean, and the current navigation technology cannot meet the needs of such a long distance. ”

"And if we want to expand to the west, we have to go through the Strait of Malacca. However, the current control of the Strait of Malacca lies with the British. They will inevitably make a fuss in the Strait of Malacca as the first line of defense, which is the most important line of defense, to contain our expansion. ”

British Cabinet

"We can use the islands in the Strait of Malacca as a strategic line. To contain China's breakthrough through the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Malacca is dangerous, and there are many archipelagos, so once we control the Strait of Malacca, we can almost completely lock the evil dragon of China in the Far East. ”

"Although the Chinese may have a large number of army numbers, if the navy is not strong, it will still not be able to break through the blockade of the Strait of Malacca." As long as the Strait of Malacca is blocked, then we in Europe will be able to guarantee Africa and the right to occupy the New World. This can be used as an opportunity for us to get the most results at the minimum cost! ”

Palmerston introduced it like this, which made the British people feel bright, this method is very novel! You must know that using geographical islands as a "chain of islands" can indeed curb China's expansion towards the west, take advantage of the biggest weakness of China's weak navy, and make reasonable use of the advantages of the strait to curb China's expansion. Once China, the evil dragon of China, is completely locked in the Far East, then Africa, the Americas and even the Middle East will belong to Europeans.

"Palmerston, that's a great way to do it. It would be great if this island chain could really be used to lock China down. But there is still a way to do everything, so what do you do next? John Russell asked.

Palmerston was quick to reply: "I have a backhand, because the second island chain is still there." ”

Xu Qing pointed to the map and said, "Hu Ling, the next second island chain is mostly based on the Anda Sea after we just came out of the Strait of Malacca, we have just left the Strait of Malacca, but they can stop us in the Strait of Kadu." In this way, we will also be constrained, and this should be their second island chain. This second island chain is another island chain to deter our China from continuing its offensive, and it is also a second island chain that has practical significance. ”

British Cabinet

"The second island chain is in the Kado Strait, and it is the second island chain that we have in the UK that has a real meaning. If this island chain is broken by Chinese, then we will ......"

Palmerston's words let everyone know what they meant, because behind this island chain was India, the most important British colony. If the second island chain is lost, India will face a strong threat from China as a whole. The wealth that India brings to Britain every year is incomparable, and it will bring great wealth.

"So once the second island chain is lost, our only option is to use Ceylon as the core base and desperately block the Chinese from India." Otherwise, we in India will inevitably be threatened, and this will be very bad for us. Once the Chinese break through to India, the army that can be mobilized with China's strong population, even if it is of slightly inferior quality, will have almost no problem sweeping India! ”

"So once the Chinese break through the second island chain, we must stop the Chinese navy as much as possible in the third island chain, that is, with Ceylon as the core." Because the army cannot fight at sea, as long as we block the Chinese navy, it means that China's expansion is contained! ”

But one guy asked a lot of words: "What if you can't even hold Ceylon?" ”

On the other hand, Xu Qing also came to an analytical conclusion.

"Most of the third island chains planned by the British are located in Ceylon, which means that they are basically at the end of their rope. They will do everything they can to stop us, especially in the navy. And once we land, India will basically be in our pocket, and it can even further deter the Middle East and Africa. ”

"The whole of the Middle East and Africa is basically safe for us, and we can land at any time. Even if we pass through the Arabian Strait, we can land in Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea is within our radiation. ”

"At that time, the whole of Europe was under tremendous pressure from us."

British Cabinet

"If we can't stand Ceylon, we're basically finished. Because once the Chinese conquered Ceylon, it meant that India's loss became inevitable. Once India falls, the Chinese will be able to expand into our Middle East, and our strength in the Middle East is already weak, and not even necessarily stronger than the Chinese. ”

"They can further pass through the Arabian Sea and deter us in the Mediterranean. The pressure on us is enormous, so we can only block as much as possible in the first and second island chains. If China is allowed to strategically control the first and second island chains, then we are very dangerous. ”

Palmerston predicted that if China broke through the first and second island chains, it would be a catastrophic consequence for the entire European country. At that time, Britain's India will be completely lost, Africa will also be shrouded in China's deterrence, and the Middle East will almost be completely exposed to China's military edge.

Even once China threatens the Mediterranean, it will be even more cheating!

"You know, here in Suez, Egypt has a history of building canals for thousands of years. In fact, it is possible to build a canal in this Suez area, and I have heard that the French have always wanted to build a canal in Suez, and even have a corresponding plan for rough money. However, due to the current serious economic crisis in France, the so-called plan to build the Suez Canal is completely empty. ”

"But we also have to consider whether the Chinese will break through to the Mediterranean Sea along the Suez Canal once this Suez Canal plan is launched, so that all our Mediterranean countries will be completely finished."

However, there are still many cabinet members who do not agree with this, saying: "Palmerston, this is just your alarmism. This is just your assumption, knowing whether the Chinese can break through the first island chain, the second island chain or even the third island chain is a huge problem. Do you think this is possible? The Chinese Army may still have potential, but in terms of the Navy they are weak. Their navy is too weak to match ours. Even their only fleet, the Guangdong fleet, is vulnerable, so what reason do we have to worry that China will be able to break through the first island chain and the second island chain? ”

This was also echoed by many members of the British cabinet, because they knew what China's naval strength was. China's army may have a lot of potential for development, but it will not be able to catch up with the navy for a while. Whether China can break through these island chains is actually meaningless.

Palmerston nodded and said, "Actually, I don't think that the Chinese navy can break through our three island chains, and I'm not worried about that." But I think we can be prepared, at least have a detailed strategic plan, so that we can safely protect our European interests. Otherwise, once China starts to expand in the future, if we don't even have a plan, won't we be in vain? ”

Forty-Nine Portland Ave

"Lord Xu, if we really want China to expand abroad, how can we expand westward? There are Dutch in the south, the Straits of Malacca is controlled by the Dutch and the British, and in this case, our imperial sailors will not be able to break through! Hu Ling said.

Xu Qing recognized Hu Ling's judgment, and Xu Qing knew that China's navy would inevitably be a shortcoming in a short period of time. This navy does not mean that it can catch up, Xu Qing does not think that he can be like those other traversers, with a god-like golden finger, so that the navy can catch up with Western countries in a short time.

The navy is the most high-tech branch of the military, and Xu Qing actually does not think that in just a few decades, China's navy can compete with the whole of Europe. Maybe it's okay to contend with one or two countries, but it's still impossible to contend with the whole of Europe. The most important thing in the Navy is not what warships are, but the quality of personnel. Xu Qing didn't think that he could really get a navy by sending a few students to the UK to study the navy.

Things are not so simple, there is no army and no country in the world that can be replicated. The rise of a country and an army is irreproducible, and the ancient Chinese said that if you learn Wang Xizhi well, you are Wang Xianzhi, and you are the son. Without its own unique path to rise, it is impossible to surpass other countries.

"Our Chinese navy is certainly not their opponent, and what we have to do is to play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. As long as we can give full play to the superiority of our army and use the navy as a secondary auxiliary, we will not be without hope of breaking through the blockade of the British island chain. Because of this British island chain blockade, there is a loophole. ”

Xu Qing knew that the British would inevitably think about blockading China through the island chain, and you must know that this set of routines, in fact, the famous US Secretary of State Dulles once proposed it, and even did so in the next few decades, and this routine has always been used vividly from the blockade of the Soviet Union to China.

In the same way, Palmerston's diplomatic vision is definitely not weaker than Dulles's, not to mention that the British will inevitably adopt a similar method with such geographical advantages.

"The British may not have discovered that there is a big loophole in this island chain plan. Taking advantage of this loophole, this so-called three island chains is actually a big joke. Xu Qing thought to himself.

Xu Qing doesn't care about this island chain, because this island chain is actually quite a bit of a loophole. The British were weak in the army and strong in the navy. What Xu Qing wants to do is to make use of his strengths and avoid weaknesses, and in the future, he will use more of the advantages of the army and less of the inferior navy, which is the core.