, 850 The sunset of the old empire for a period of three years

London, 2 April 1939.

Just when Luo Yaoguo and Hitler were intriguing in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire, London welcomed several distinguished guests from across the ocean.

A few Rolls with the Star-Spangled Banner. The Royce limousine appeared at the entrance of No. 10 Downing Street, and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Secretary of the Navy Winston Churchill, and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Admiral Edsside, were already putting on faces full of spring breezes under the spotlight of reporters, as if the British Empire's army had won a great victory on the front.

The door of the sedan opened wide, and down stepped a very tall U.S. Army general and a pale, elderly white man. Journalists who had long been familiar with the situation in the United States recognized it at a glance as General MacArthur, Chief of the General Staff of the US Army, and Harry Brown, Secretary of the US Department of Commerce. Hopkins.

"Mr. Admiral, Mr. Hopkins, welcome to England. The journey on the Atlantic Ocean has made the two of you hard, you must know that this season is not the best season to sail on the Atlantic. ”

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain took a few steps forward with a smile and stretched out his right hand to shake hands with the two American guests one by one. Then the prime minister raised his right hand, stretched out two fingers, and posed a V-sign symbolizing victory in front of a large pile of flashing magnesium lights.

"Mr. Prime Minister," a reporter-like man in a black suit with a pen and notebook in his hand asked in a loud voice, "Mr. Prime Minister," said a man who looked like a reporter in a black suit and holding a pen and notebook outside the guards' cordon, "Can you tell us about the Pacific War?" Will the British Empire unite with the United States of America against the two militaristic powers that seek to undermine peace in the Pacific? ”

This sudden question made Prime Minister Chamberlain slightly stunned, and then the head of the British Empire turned his head, nodded at the tall Admiral MacArthur, and said with a smile: "I think this question should be answered by Mr. Admiral, right?" Now the entire British Empire is looking forward to fighting alongside the United States against the enemy who destroys world peace. What do you think, Mr. Admiral? ”

MacArthur frowned slightly, glanced at Hopkins beside him, and then smiled faintly and said, "George. Admiral Marshall is leading 30,000 American officers and soldiers to garrison the front line in the South Pacific, and any enemy who dares to invade there, no matter who it is, will be resolutely attacked by the American ** team......"

"What if it's Chinese? If the Chinese attack Australia, will the United States fight with the British? The reporter didn't wait for MacArthur to finish speaking, and rushed to ask again.

MacArthur glanced at the British reporter, who was very good at catching the handle, and curled the corners of his mouth, "Of course! Any military that dares to invade an area guarded by the US military is an enemy of the United States! ”

This statement seems to be a bit ......

There was a burst of applause at the scene, and the reporters could not help but applaud without bothering to record General MacArthur's words. Although the Admiral's statement was completely ambiguous, it sounded like a voice of hope to the ears of the British, who were almost desperate for the situation in the East.

In the midst of such applause, Chamberlain, MacArthur, Hopkins and others waved at the magnesium lamp, and slowly walked into the two black wooden doors with a spring breeze on their faces. However, as soon as they entered the gate of No. 10 Downing Street, the faces of several British and American imperialists brushed the floor, as if they were playing with a change of face.

"Mr. Admiral, then, don't you Americans plan to declare war on China and Germany?" British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain tightened his eyebrows, as if he was making some major determination, and said in a deep voice: "If Britain can send 1 armored division and 5 infantry divisions to the United States to defend the west coast of the United States, is it possible for the United States to choose war against China and Germany?" ”

"1 armored division and 5 infantry divisions...... Mr. Prime Minister, where are you going to draw from? France? Will our French friends say yes? MacArthur reminded unceremoniously:

"Mr. Prime Minister, France is the key! If in the event of a defeat for France, Germany will rule the entire European continent, and then Africa will also fall into the hands of the Germans. In this way, China and Germany will already control most of the world, and even Britain itself will be invaded at some point in the future. ”

"We don't think so." Churchill, the British Admiralty, took a puff of his cigar, exhaled a round of green smoke, and smiled: "The key to the future is neither France nor the Pacific, but some secret weapon of great power." As he said that, he and Prime Minister Chamberlain glanced at each other, and then continued: "We also know some secrets about uranium bombs, although we seem to be a little behind in this project, but that doesn't mean we don't know anything!" In fact, as early as 1937, we set up a research unit in Liverpool to secretly develop uranium bombs, codenamed 'Alloy Tubes'. ”

In fact, in another time and space, Britain was also one of the countries that immediately invested in the research of the atomic bomb. It was only due to the limitations of national strength and the indiscriminate bombing by the Germans that Britain finally reluctantly gave the entire project to the United States. However, in this time and space, because Luo Yaoguo used the golden finger of the "unpredictable prophet", China, Germany and the United States took the lead in atomic bomb research. However, this does not mean that Britain does not pay attention to this project, on the contrary, after learning of the phenomenon of "nuclear fission", Britain immediately set up an atomic bomb research team headed by Rothblatt to take full responsibility for this work.

And these British scientists soon discovered that there was already a special equipment for separating isotopes in the world - gas diffusion machines! As a result, a joint venture between Britain and France for isotope separation was built at an undisclosed location on the east coast of Canada. However, the overall progress of the British and French atomic bomb programs still lagged far behind that of China, the United States, and Germany.

As they spoke, the group had arrived in a narrow conference hall, and after the guests were seated, the topic of conversation between the two sides still revolved around the atomic bomb.

"Mr. Prime Minister, Britain's atomic bomb program is not a little backward, but ...... Very far behind. "Harry. Hopkins took a sip of his coffee and said with a wry smile:

"It's unbelievable to say that China is leading the way in this area! And they used the advanced industries in the United States and Germany to get all the critical equipment needed to build an isotope separation plant. According to our survey, China can assemble at least 6,000 gas diffuser machines for the relevant equipment imported from the United States! That is, since 1937, they should have produced more than 100 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium-235 per year. Now they have an estimated 250 kg to 300 kg of weapons-grade uranium-235 in their hands, which should make 5 to 10 atomic bombs! ”

"So speaking of which, the Chinese already have an atomic bomb?" The muscles in Prime Minister Chamberlain's face trembled a little. Britain is currently in a state of war with China, and if China already has an atomic bomb, wouldn't that be ...... Could this London be destroyed by China and Germany at any moment!

"Probably not yet." MacArthur frowned and shook his head slightly, he thought for a while, and then said: "Last month, we used this technology and 50 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium-235 to test China, Japan and Germany, from which we can get a glimpse of the answers to some key questions. ”

"It turned out to be a temptation, we thought you were really crazy...... "Qiu Fat Man muttered a few words in a low voice with a gloomy face.

"Of course it's a temptation, or what else would it be?" Hopkins winked at Churchill and smiled: "Through this test, we can basically determine that China has not yet built an atomic bomb, although they are already standing on that threshold." But...... China is actually quite a backward country, and even if it has a sufficient amount of weapons-grade uranium-235, it will take some time to design an atomic bomb, unless they plan to contract the project to General Electric. ”

"But they've recruited a lot of Jewish scientists, and those brains are the smartest in the world." Churchill gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. Although he had received some information about China's atomic bomb project from the intelligence department before, he did not expect the Chinese to go so far in this regard!

"Yes, so they will still have the atomic bomb. But the enthusiasm of those Jews when they work for the Chinese cannot be compared with the enthusiasm they have when they work for their homeland. Hopkins tilted his head, thought for a while, and said, "If the Chinese already have the atomic bomb, then they will definitely respond to our blackmail with a public test explosion." ”

"It's also possible that it will be openly tested in London!" Churchill said coldly.

Hopkins smiled and said, "I think London is still very safe now, so the Chinese should not have that thing." However, we estimate that Hitler will have enough weapons-grade uranium-235 to make an atomic bomb within a year! Because, without hesitation, the Japanese did not hesitate to reject our proposal, and did not even want to get from us part of the information about the refining of uranium-235 and the creation of an atomic bomb...... This is very unusual, we reckon that Hitler offered the same conditions to Japan! ”

"That's great news!" Churchill almost snapped the butt of his cigar cigarette as he glared at Harry. Hopkins said: "So shouldn't we Brits enjoy these few months?" Then wait for Hitler to kill us all with an atomic bomb! ”

"Actually, it's not that bad." MacArthur raised his eyes and glanced around the room with a few dead-faced Brits, took a slow puff of his pipe, exhaled a circle of white mist, and then said lightly: "By the end of March 1939, 6,000 gas diffusion machines had been installed in our isotope separation plant in Tennessee. By the end of June this year, another 4,000 units will be installed. By the end of the year, that number will be 20,000 units! Moreover, our atomic bomb design work began at the end of 1937, and it is estimated that the first atomic bomb in the United States will be tested by the end of May 1940 at the latest. ”

"In other words, the key to determining the outcome of this war is ......" the British Chief of the General Staff, Admiral Edsside, shook his head violently as soon as he was halfway through his words. No, the Chinese would probably be the first to have an atomic bomb, and although they did not threaten the air force airfields in Britain and France, they could give the atomic bomb to the Germans. ”

"Will it? I don't think so. Hopkins smiled, "There are no eternal enemies in the world, only eternal interests, what good can it be for China to help Hitler rule Europe?" ”

"They can get Australia from the British Empire!"

"Hehe, what good is it to Germany to help China get Australia?"

"Germany will win the war."

"Mr. Admiral," MacArthur took over the topic and sighed helplessly. "Do you think the Germans will still lose the war if it is fought to this extent?"

There was a dead silence in the conference room, and all the Englishmen had gloomy faces and glared at MacArthur. However, although MacArthur's words are very unpleasant, they still seem to make sense when you think about it. At present, it is obvious that the situation of the world war is that China, Germany, and Japan have the upper hand, especially in the backyard of Latin America, and the United States has no interest in the war in Europe. And without the strong aid of the United States, Britain and France can hold the French mainland without losing, which is already the limit! Even, in the eyes of the elite of the British Imperial General Staff, with the strength of the Anglo-French alliance, it was very difficult to do this! Therefore, Britain is already quietly preparing for a defensive war at home.

And to the despair of the British, China and Germany looked like they were going to have the atomic bomb before Britain and France! At that time, even if the United States defeats Japan, stabilizes the backyard of Latin America, and frees up its hands to aid Britain, I am afraid that it will not be able to save the overall situation. The end of the British Empire is probably not far off!

"Mr. President thinks," said Harry. Hopkins broke the dullness in the conference room by tapping his fingers lightly on the tabletop as if to gauge the words. "Winning the war now seems impossible...... The madness of the Japanese bought China and Germany at least a year of freedom of movement. During the year, the United States had to defend the Americas, and then Europe. Will Britain and France be able to hold on to a draw in Western Europe in the coming year? Will Britain be able to keep India and Australia? If we can keep it, then we can end up with a defeat that is not too ugly. ”

"President Roosevelt meant ......" Churchill seemed to hear something, he looked up at the two Americans, and said in a deep voice: "Is the United States ready to provide the atomic bomb to Britain?" ”

"Yes, as long as the United States succeeds in developing the atomic bomb, Britain will be able to share this superweapon at the first time! With it, Hitler would not have dared to attack the British mainland and would not have dared to use the atomic bomb against Britain! MacArthur replied lightly.

"But Britain did not dare to use the atomic bomb against Germany!" Churchill said hatefully: "If that thing is really as destructive as Professor Rotblatt said." ”

"So the war would end when the United States and Germany possessed atomic bombs at the same time, and the world would be shaped for decades to come." Harry. Hopkins sighed softly. "As a staunch ally of Britain, the United States sincerely hopes that the British Empire will be able to keep as much as possible of what belongs to her."

"That is, we have a year to defeat China and Germany?" Admiral Edsside asked in a deep voice.

MacArthur raised his eyes and looked at his British counterpart, who seemed to be a little funny, and said coldly: "It should be that China and Germany have a year to defeat you, as well as the French...... Continental Europe, Australia, India, and possibly North Africa and the Middle East are all areas that China and Germany will target. I think that the British side should have a comprehensive plan to delay time, and if it can be delayed until May 1940, the United States will guarantee that it will be able to produce atomic bombs to Britain. And not only the British should do everything possible to delay, the French would do well to adopt the same tactic. ”

Edseid frowned and thought: "In fact, the battle plan we are currently formulating is trying to delay, and our goal in the eastern battlefield is to use India as the main battlefield, deplete the strength of the Chinese, and at the same time try to ensure that Australia is not lost." And on the European continent, the battle plan drawn up by Marshal Gammelin of France was also quite conservative.

Now about 22 fortified and infantry divisions held the Maginot Line, blocking the main route of the German offensive...... The main force of the Anglo-French coalition army has 63 French infantry divisions, 12 French armored divisions, 18 British motorized infantry divisions, and 2 British armored divisions, with a total of 7 army groups, 35 armies, 95 divisions, about 2.2 million people, 7,000 artillery pieces, and 6,500 tanks. In the event of a German attack on Belgium, they would cross the border to fight alongside the Belgian army, which had 22 divisions. In addition, we and France have concentrated a total of 2,500 aircraft from 100 fighter squadrons and 80 bomber squadrons to provide air cover for the upcoming French campaign.

In addition, the French kept reserves of more than 5 corps and 20 divisions near Paris. A reserve force of nearly 3 million troops has also been mobilized and is currently being trained intensively. In just three months, our total number of troops that can be put into use immediately on the Western Front will reach an unprecedented 5.5 million to 6 million! And this figure does not include the troops that Belgium and the Netherlands can provide, as well as the hundreds of thousands of troops left behind in Britain. ”

MacArthur and Hopkins couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they heard that Britain and France had such a large number of troops on the battlefield in Western Europe, and they thought that they had an army of 6 million, but also 2,500 aircraft, 6,500 tanks, and at least tens of thousands of artillery pieces. Even Germany won't win easily, right? In this way, the United States will be able to concentrate its forces and send all those damned Japanese devils to hell first!

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