"24 capital ships? Do we still have so many capital ships? Viscount Peel, the Minister of Indian Affairs, exclaimed.

Although everyone knows that the Royal Navy Expeditionary Fleet has failed badly this time, they don't know how strong the Royal Navy is now. Unexpectedly, there are still 24 capital ships! That's not a small amount!

"Since there are so many capital ships, we and the Chinese may not have the strength to fight. Of course, the Chinese navy is very strong, and it would be best if war did not break out. The Duke of Devonshire, the Colonial Minister, also said.

Lord Chancellor Roslyn Williams shook his head: "Gentlemen, it is not as easy as you think. Although we have 24 capital ships, we still have to deduct a lot. ”

The ministers looked at Sir Roslyn Williams in amazement, wondering why he would say this.

Roslyn Williams explained, "Ladies and gentlemen, some of the 24 capital ships we have now have been sold as scrap steel. These include the second ship of the 'Giant-class' battleship, the battleship Hercules, the lead ship of the 'St. Vincent-class' battleship, the battleship of the 'Bellerophon-class' battleship, the battleship Reckless, the battleship 'Intrepid', the second ship of the 'Invincible-class' battlecruiser, the battlecruiser Indomitable and the third battlecruiser Indomitable. In addition, the battlecruiser "Hood" was badly damaged and needed to be repaired for at least half a year after returning. After deducting these ships, we can only use 17 capital ships. More importantly, except for the battlecruiser Hood, which was armed with 381 mm guns, and the King George V-class battleships and Orion-class battleships were equipped with 343 mm guns, the rest of the capital ships were equipped with 305 mm guns. If such a warship goes to confront the powerful Chinese Navy. That's simply looking for death. ”

Suddenly, the ministers fell silent. Obviously, everyone learned the truth about the Royal Navy. Although the Royal Navy seems to be still very strong, it is actually a foreign power. If the Royal Navy was able to be regarded as the world's top navy before. Well, now the Royal Navy has been reduced to a second-rate navy.

"Those ships that have been sold must be recovered and put into service as soon as possible. The British Empire's vast overseas interests needed to be protected by the Royal Navy. Prime Minister Andrew Bona Rau said. Although, the use of battleships that were almost dismantled as scrap steel was somewhat detrimental to Britain's face. But is there anything else they can do? If there is no military deterrence from the Royal Navy. Well, Britain's vast colonies will certainly attract the prying eyes of other countries. When the time comes, more troubles will happen.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister." Sir Roslyn Williams said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, after this crushing defeat in the Royal Navy, we urgently need to build more and more powerful capital ships to defend our interests." Sir Roslyn Williams took the opportunity to say. After all. The strength of the Royal Navy is no longer commensurate with their status. In order to maintain the supremacy of the Royal Navy and defend Britain's vast overseas interests. The Royal Navy will have to build more and more powerful capital ships.

"Your Excellency, the Treaty on the Limitation of Naval Armaments signed at the Washington Conference at the time of the Conference stipulates that no new capital ships can be built. If we do this, I am afraid that it will cause a backlash from Chinese and Americans, right? When the time comes, a new round of the arms race will begin again. The Foreign Secretary, the Count Curzon, objected. After all. The British Navy had only suffered a defeat, and if warships were to be built on a large scale, the situation would inevitably become more tense.

Sir Roslyn Williams tried to say something, but was stopped by Prime Minister Andrew Bona Law.

"The construction of new battleships will be postponed for the time being. We need to think long-term. However, we lost so many capital ships this time, and to build a more powerful battleship, the Chinese and Americans should not have much opinion. However, the premise is that we must first resolve the conflict with the Chinese, and this is the most important thing. Andrew Bona Rau said.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister, that's the trickiest part. Although, there is no declaration of war between us and the Chinese. However, the fact that the two sides dispatched such a large fleet for a decisive battle can actually be called a war. If we continue to fight, we will have no chance of winning, and we will pay a heavier price. Therefore, it is only through diplomatic means that we can end the conflict with the Chinese. Said the Foreign Secretary, Count Curzon.

"I am in favor of peace talks with the Chinese. We can't fight any longer, and if we continue to fight with the Chinese, we will only lose our colonies in Asia and Australia. That's very bad for us. War Secretary Stephen Walsh also said. It should be said that the British Army was most opposed to the outbreak of war with China. Because, on the land battlefield, the British Army had almost no chance of winning. It will only cost them even more.

"However, the Chinese are also salivating over our vast colonies. If we take the initiative to negotiate peace with them, the Chinese will definitely open their mouths. The Duke of Devonshire, the Colonial Minister, said with some concern. The greed of the Chinese Empire, which was known all over the world.

The many ministers were immediately silent, and they were worried about whether the Chinese Empire would put forward conditions that they could not accept. After all, after the Chinese Empire won victories in all foreign wars, it almost always opened its mouth.

"Anyway, let's get in touch with the Chinese first. Let's take a look at their bottom line first. If their demands are not high and the British Empire can accept them, then we will talk to them. If their asking price is too high for us to accept, then we have to think long-term. Prime Minister Andrew Bona Rau said.

In fact, there is nothing the British government can do about it. If the Chinese Empire had to seize the British colonies, then the British would have to fight to the end except to accept them. In the event of a full-scale war with the Chinese Empire, Britain would not necessarily have a chance of winning. However, it was able to use this to scare the Chinese Empire.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, we may be able to get in touch with the Americans. Our Navy was defeated by the Chinese, which should have put great pressure on the Americans. If our losses can be smaller, it will also be conducive to continuing to suppress China in the future. Nor will the Americans watch the Chinese Empire grow stronger and stronger. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for the Americans to defeat China in the future. The Count Curzon, the Foreign Secretary, proposed.

"The Chinese Empire and the United States are potential enemies, that's very clear. But if we unite with the United States to put pressure on the Chinese Empire, will it make the Chinese angry? In case it is self-defeating, it is not good. The temper of the Chinese emperor was very stubborn. Said Viscount Peel, the Minister of Indian Affairs.

Andrew Bona Law nodded: "Let's not be busy with the Americans first." Let's first let the ambassador to China contact the Chinese and see how they react. If the conditions of the Chinese are too harsh, we will contact the Americans. ”

"Yes. Your Excellency the Prime Minister. I will send a telegram to the embassy in China. Count Curzon nodded.

Yenching, the capital of the Chinese Empire, the British Embassy in Beijing. These days, the embassy staff can be described as terrified. When they went out, they found that the Chinese were pointing fingers at them. Some even unabashedly ridiculed them. The staff of other embassies in Dongjiaomin Lane also looked at them a little strangely. The staff of the British Embassy in China knew that this was because their navy had suffered defeat. The Royal Navy's expeditionary fleet was almost wiped out, which was undoubtedly a great shame for Britain. It also made the whole world think that the British Empire was no longer strong. Their position as the world hegemon is probably going to be handed over. This naturally led other countries to have other views of the British Empire.

The British ambassador to China, Sir Jurdian, has been as black as the bottom of a pot these days. At the beginning, when he went to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi, he kept saying that the Chinese Empire would regret it. However, now it seems that it is not the Chinese Empire that will regret it, but the British who will regret it! The result of the naval battle was like a slap in the face to Sir Juerdian, making him almost ashamed to go out to meet people. What made him even more embarrassed was that the Royal Navy suffered such a heavy defeat. Even the cabinet of David Lloyd George has fallen. Then, with the urine nature of the British government, it will inevitably find a way to end this conflict.

That is to say, soon the British Cabinet will issue an order for him to come into contact with the Chinese Empire and seek the possibility of a peaceful settlement of the conflict. To put it bluntly, the British Empire can't hold on and wants peace talks. This was undoubtedly more uncomfortable for Sir Jurdian than for him to eat a fly. It's all about letting him bow to the Chinese!

Once upon a time, when the British Empire was still the hegemon of the world, and China was still a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country to be slaughtered by others, he was the leader of the legation, equivalent to the emperor of this country! Even the Chinese government did not dare to offend him. What now? Everything had changed, and it had become strange to Sir Jurdian. (To be continued.) )

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