Prime Minister's Office, Downing Street, London, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Asquith was frowning at the damage report sent by the Admiralty, and in just two days, Britain had lost more than twenty more merchant ships. Almost every day, a dozen or so merchant ships were sunk. This is undoubtedly a huge loss for the UK. Although the shipbuilding industry in Britain is very developed, the newly launched merchant ships cannot match the speed of loss!

"Damn! Those damned Germans, aren't they going to force the British Empire to death? "Prime Minister Asquith is getting a little messed up. He even wanted to quit. It's just that because the situation in the UK is very bad now, the election was postponed.

In the history that Wu Haoxuan is well aware, Prime Minister Asquith has stepped down. However, in this time and space, Britain has suffered even more. In order to defeat the Germans and maintain policy coherence, Asquith continued to serve as prime minister. Of course, once the war is over, or the situation of the war is improved, he, the prime minister, will definitely be replaced.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, please see you." At this time, the secretary walked in and reported.

"Please." Prime Minister Asquith was shaken by the spirits. Sir Edward Grey's Foreign Office was now mainly working to liaise with the Chinese Empire and the United States to find a way to draw them into the Entente. Now, Sir Edward Grey has asked for an audience, and there must be news of this. If it can be said that the Chinese Empire and the United States can join the camp of the Entente, even if only one country joins the camp of the Entente, the victory of the Entente in this war will be guaranteed.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister." The secretary nodded, as if he understood Prime Minister Asquith's urgency.

Soon, Sir Edward Grey pushed the door open. on his face. With a hint of a smile, it made Prime Minister Asquith even happier in his heart.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, have the United States and China responded?" Prime Minister Asquith asked eagerly.

"Your Excellency, the US side has not yet responded, and they continue to think about it. After all, a democracy like the United States. The president's power is greatly constrained, and he does not do whatever he wants. President Wilson, however, does not seem to be averse to going to war. Sir Edward Grey said with a smile. This was indeed good news for the British Empire.

"Great! Well, so it seems. The entry of the United States into the war is a foregone conclusion, it is only a matter of time. When the United States enters the war, our crisis will be alleviated. Prime Minister Asquith smiled.

"By the way, what about the Chinese? Has their attitude changed? Prime Minister Asquith asked.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister. Chinese attitudes have also changed. However, they were unhappy with the conditions we had proposed. They re-proposed some of the conditions, and claimed that if we accepted them, they would join the Entente in the war. On the contrary, they will remain neutral and do not even rule out the possibility of joining the Allies in the war. Sir Edward Grey said.

The smile on Prime Minister Asquith's face disappeared and his expression became serious. He knows it. This may be a threat from China to the UK. If China remains neutral, forget it. But if China joins the Allies, it's for Britain. It is undoubtedly a heavy blow that will have catastrophic consequences. After all, Britain's important colonies are all under the mouth of China.

"What conditions did the Chinese put forward?" Prime Minister Asquith asked. In fact, he has already decided in his heart, as long as the conditions proposed by China are not too harsh. are all acceptable.

"Your Excellency, there are five main conditions put forward by the Chinese, the first is to return Xiangjiang to them. Second, the transfer of the Kuwaiti colony to them. Third. In the future distribution of post-war benefits, China's interests must be fully considered. Fourth, Germany's colonies in the Pacific are already China's inherent territory, and other countries are no longer allowed to talk about these colonies. Fifth, the Allied powers must be responsible for all the troops, logistical supplies, and equipment that China sends to the battlefield. In addition, allowances and pensions were also to be paid by the Entente countries. Sir Edward Grey said.

Prime Minister Asquith's brows were tightly furrowed, and the conditions put forward by the Chinese side were actually nothing. However, why did the Chinese want to colonize Kuwait? Is there some conspiracy in this?

"The Kuwaiti colony is nothing more than a barren land. Why do the Chinese want Kuwait? Could it be that there is some conspiracy in this? Prime Minister Asquith asked. As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he has to think about these things. If, because of his decision, Britain was brought into the abyss of defeat, then he would be doomed.

"The Chinese don't necessarily have to be Kuwait, they also proposed that if we don't agree, it can be changed to Sri Lanka." In my guess, the Chinese must want a base around the Indian Ocean to facilitate their access to the Indian Ocean. Sir Edward Grey said.

"Sri Lanka cannot be given to the Chinese, and if they station troops in Sri Lanka, it will seriously threaten our Indian colonies." Prime Minister Asquith made his decision immediately. After all, India was the most important British colony.

"Someone, get the rest of the cabinet and hold an emergency meeting." Prime Minister Asquith commanded.

Soon, the rest of the cabinet rushed to the Prime Minister's Office. Sir Edward Grey also made a statement of the conditions of the Chinese Empire.

"Do the Chinese want to gain a foothold on the shores of the Indian Ocean? No, you can't promise them. All other conditions are easy to say, and this second article must not be agreed to them. Otherwise, the interests of the British Empire in the Indian Ocean would be seriously threatened by the Chinese. Lord Chancellor John Fisher said.

You know, the British have always used the Indian Ocean as their bathtub. Especially at a time when the strength of the British Navy is shrinking globally, if China joins in, it will be a big problem.

"If we reject the Chinese's terms, then they will not only remain neutral, but may even join the Allies in the fight." That was the deadliest for the British Empire. Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George said.

"What do other people think?" Prime Minister Asquith asked.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese have long had ambitions to enter the Indian Ocean, and we cannot easily contain them. After all, having acquired the Indonesian archipelago, they actually have a foothold in the Indian Ocean. Instead of forcing the Chinese into the arms of the Germans, it is better to agree to their conditions. In any case, Kuwait was nothing more than an insignificant colony. War Secretary Richard Haldane also said.

Britain had many overseas colonies, and Kuwait was just one of the most inconspicuous. There is absolutely no need to offend the Chinese Empire for the sake of this colony.

Prime Minister Asquith nodded, in fact, he was also inclined to agree to the Chinese side's conditions.

"Your Excellency, if the Chinese gain a foothold in the Persian Gulf, will they take the opportunity to expand around the Persian Gulf?" Colonial Secretary Lewis Vernonshire was worried.

"The most important thing before the British Empire now was the defeat of the German-led Central Powers. Rather than worrying about the expansion of the Chinese in the future, it is better to concentrate on defeating the Allies first. After that, it is strengthening military deployment in this area to contain the Chinese. What I am most concerned about now is how many troops the Chinese will be able to send to fight after they join the Entente to fight. Richard Haldan said.

The British Expeditionary Force had already suffered heavy losses, and if China could send reinforcements to join the European theater in time, it would be great news for Britain and the entire Entente. After all, the Chinese population is so large that they can mobilize millions of troops to fight if China wants to. There was no problem at all in sending millions of troops to fight in Europe.

Prime Minister Asquith agreed with Richard Haldane's view: "Ladies and gentlemen, it would be good news for the Chinese Empire to join the Entente in the war. We can even convince the Americans with this. In this case, the possibility of the United States joining the Entente to fight is even higher. Our army has already suffered heavy losses. The strength of the Chinese Army is also famous all over the world. If they can send a large number of troops into the war, then we may be able to win the war soon. ”

The rest of the cabinet members did not refute it. After all, for Britain now, winning the war, this is the most important thing.

Subsequently, the British side immediately communicated with the Chinese side. They accepted the Chinese offer in its entirety, but they also made a demand. That is, after China enters the war, it needs to send at least half a million troops to join the European theater.

In this regard, the Chinese side did not refuse. Although, if you participate in the war, it will inevitably lead to casualties. However, Wu Haoxuan also hopes that the Chinese* army will test its combat strength in the most tragic battlefield. In this way, the combat strength of the Chinese Army can be guaranteed. The army that participated in the world war will become the backbone of the future army of the empire. Prepare for the Empire's complete rise in the next war.

On February 9, 4615 (17) of the Yellow Emperor Era, the Chinese Empire officially announced its entry into the Entente and declared war on the Central Powers. The reason was that Germany's ongoing unrestricted submarine warfare had sunk Chinese merchant ships. (To be continued.) )

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