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November 8, Sasebo.

After the First Sino-Japanese War, this natural harbor was known as the bridgehead of Japan's continental policy, and there were many masts in the harbor, including Haruna, Kirishima, Kawachi, Settsu, Hizen, Mijima, Okishima, Shikishima, Asahi, Mikasa, Aso, Ikoma, Awata, Akitsuzu, Chitose, Soya, Tone, Chikuma, Hirado, Yashi, and so on! A total of 67 battleships were murderous.

2 Kongo-class ships were damaged, Kurama sank, and the Nagato-class was ill-fated due to a shortage of precious metals! Now the Chinese National Defense Forces are taking advantage of the time difference between the Japanese Navy and the build-up to desperately send troops to Taiwan! In any case, this is a humiliation of the Japanese Navy! When the Combined Fleet, which was regarded as a national power, was assembled in a rage, the powerful Japanese Navy finally showed its true strength! The Haruna raised its flagship flag, and Vice Admiral Gentaro Yamashita, commander of the Combined Fleet on the bridge, turned his head to look at the blackened Hiei in the distance, and stomped his command knife on the deck. The crisp sound of impact is the signal. All Japanese officers and sailors looked there, the glory of the Imperial Navy was not something that anyone could trample on! Defeating a stupid army does not mean defeating the navy and defeating the empire!

Let's strike.

A long whistle sounded from the bay, and the Haruna took the lead in signaling that "the national spirit has reappeared", and the Kirishima also sounded the flag of "raising the prestige of the empire". The Hanoi "awaits us in triumph" and the Settsu "the emperor is on board". One by one, the majestic warships rushed out of the waterway with all kinds of encouraging signals, and the sailors on the deck were in high spirits. The entire formation stretches 10,000 meters away! Twenty-five years ago, the same flag slogan made Japan a great power in Asia. Fifteen years ago, Tsushima was still the same flag that made Japan a world power! So this time, will they still triumph? On the high seas, the American cruisers, who had arrived in a hurry, saw this scene and immediately sent telegrams to Shanghai and Honolulu: "The Japanese Combined Fleet is dispatched!" The detection of 8 battleships (battle cruisers), 2 coastal battleships (heavy artillery coastal defense ships), 13 cruisers, 44 destroyers and torpedo boats was confirmed. ”

Lose your marbles!

When this news spread to the world through the airwaves, countless people who were concerned about the situation in the Far East gasped! In addition to the 4 British battlecruisers that were being remodeled. In addition to the two Nagato-class battleships under construction, the two Fuso-class battleships that are regarded as the sharp weapons of the town, and the Tenryu-class and Qiuma-class, which have just started construction, the Japanese Navy has almost poured out! The sky was completely obscured by black smoke clouds. The seas of the Far East shimmered with the cold light of naval guns.

At that moment, the British Empire suspended mediation, thinking that it should first make the growing Chinese suffer a little.

That moment. The United States is worried that the strength of the Japanese navy is too strong.

At that moment, Moscow rejoiced, seeing the hope of the withdrawal of Chinese troops from Siberia.

At that moment, the generals' fingers moved back and forth on the map, was it the Bohai Strait, or the Taiwan Strait?

On the Bohai Strait, more than 10 naval transport ships and hundreds of civilian and fishing boats were assembled, and one ship by ship threw the mines stored in Lushun, Dalian, Tianjin, and other places into the sea! "Grandpa, why are we blocking our own sea route?" Far away. A young man on a returning fishing boat thinks that the navy should attack, that it should go to defeat Japan. Grandpa's wrinkled old face was a little lost, and he touched the young man's head: "Let's tie the fence first, there is always hope to build more big ships in the future." ”

The boy nodded: "Grandpa, I want to be a navy when I grow up." ”

"Good. When I grow up, I will go to the water division, and I will be a pipe belt in the future. ”

During the dialogue between the grandfather and grandson, the warships of Lushun, Yantai and Dalian were evacuated to the Bohai Bay, and heavy anchor mines were pushed into the sea, looming with the waves. The sailors bit their lips and their eyes were red. Because it is not the glory that is pushed down, but the grievances that are not as good as the opponent. The Navy is a branch of the armed forces that are born to attack. Now, because of his lack of strength, he needs to block himself in the harbor with mines. What is the difference between this and the Ottoman Navy, which did nothing during the European war? While laying mines, they swore secretly in their hearts! This is the last time, and in any case the last, and the future Navy will have to attack in addition to attacking. Almost at the same time, intensive mine-laying operations were also being carried out east of the Taiwan Strait, with as many as 300 cargo ships and civilian vessels desperately spreading mines into the strait. No one cares how to clean them up in the future, and no one cares if they block their own way, and at this moment everyone knows that a huge fleet has rushed out of the harbor.

The navy of the Republic of China was very clear about its position from the very beginning, and when Japan, which had accumulated over the past 20 years, was in a situation where the armament and personnel were generally weak in terms of technology and tactics, mines, torpedo boats, and submarines were considered the best defensive measures, and the General Staff had deduced this kind of situation several years earlier, so it had already stockpiled sufficient mines. A total of 13,000 mines were dropped into 11 locations, including two major straits, in just a few days, and the Ministry of Defense placed another order for 30,000 mines from all factories in the country.

On the night of November 9th.

Nanjing telegraphed the whole country and newspapers, announcing a complete ban on navigation in the Bohai Sea and the Taiwan Strait!

As soon as the news came out, the world was shocked! You must know that the Taiwan Strait is the most important trade route in the Far East, and billions of dollars worth of goods and trade flow through this golden waterway every year, but now it is blocked by mine arrays because of the new war. And the most anxious of these is the United Kingdom, the mine-laying blockade means that the most convenient passage between the Yangtze River basin and Hong Kong is cut off. Whitehall was the first to sit still! The Taiwan Strait is the most important strategic passage in the Far East, and with mines blocking it, Yang Qiu can easily send at least two to three divisions of the army to the island of Taiwan in a short period of time, and then let the navy hide in the bay or use submarines to play hide and seek with the Japanese navy. So the generals began to discuss the need to use the Far Eastern Fleet to ensure British interests and continue allied relations.

At the same time, Downing Street is also under pressure, and Prime Minister Lloyd George frowns. Once the Far East gets out of control, Japan's eventual expulsion from Taiwan, Korea, and Sakhalin will mean Japan's total decline. This would be contrary to the policy of continental balancing that Britain has always pursued. But if it favors Japan, then it will definitely be turned over with China, because this incident was completely provoked by Japan! Without the impartiality of the British Empire, can it still have enough prestige?

What to do?

While he was meditating, Edward Gray knocked on the office door: "Prime Minister, I think we have very bad news. As he was about to leave office, he dutifully fulfilled his last duty and spread out the telegram on the table: "This is what I just received. The Chinese government and the United States have signed an agreement for the development of oil fields. They will purchase tens of millions of dollars worth of refining equipment from the United States, and they will exchange 10 percent of the shares for technical assistance, and American oil companies will help build the refinery. ”

An oil refining project though the amount of money is huge. But it's not that serious, is it? Lloyd George picked up the telegram and didn't read it, and was about to tease the old man a few words, Gray had already sighed: "As an additional condition." The U.S. government promised to lease 2 Nevada-class ships to the Chinese Navy for training! Negotiations are also being prepared for the purchase of 4 battleships of this type. In addition, yesterday morning, the Chinese Congress approved a total of 200 million yuan in emergency naval appropriations, and their admirals have already started discussions and negotiations on whether to purchase all four French Normandy-class battleships. ”

"God!"

Lloyd George almost jumped! The post-war arms race in Europe did not end, but became more and more intense, Japan began to work on the Amagi and Kaga plans, and the United States has 4 Colorado and 6 South Dakota-class and 5 Lexington-class ships under construction! France and Italy are embarking on naval plans, and the British Empire, which is no longer able to conduct a naval race in the face of such a scene, has to begin preparations to negotiate with various countries, and now the negotiations have not yet begun, and the Chinese have joined in!

8 battleships in one breath procurement plan are they crazy ?!

What Edward Gray and even Lloyd George feared, the European war had exhausted the vitality of the British Empire. The Irish problem has aggravated the disaster, and the huge Royal Navy is only the surface, and the weakness inside even the Chinese have already seen it! How dare they do it? After thinking about it, he finally persuaded before leaving office: "George, don't let the situation worse. We can't organize an expedition, not even send troops! It's not 10 years ago, and proper strategic contraction can buy us enough time to heal the wounds. ”

After he finished speaking, he put down the telegram and left the office with a slight smile.

Lloyd George looked at his back, picked up the telegram again, and finally slowly lowered his raised hand.

Just as he struggled to make a choice. Bernard also came to see Yang Qiu again and put the telegram on the table. The out-of-control situation made him very annoyed, and he pointed to the no-sail order and said, "Your Excellency Vice President, may I ask what this is?" The blockade of the international straits is a violation of humanity! Your country will bear all the consequences! ”

Bernard did not have the weight of his predecessor, and although he had lived in China for more than ten years, he was obviously much more impatient than Zhu Erdian, and believed more in the backer of the British Empire. So his tone was very hurried, and he had to prick up his ears to listen carefully to discern the words. However, the Taiwan Strait involves most of the interests of the British Empire in the Far East, and if this strait is densely covered with mines, the Far East Fleets of Singapore and Hong Kong will need to make a detour to Taiwan, and the huge British business interests on the Yangtze River will also have to make a detour, and the transportation cost alone will increase by at least 10 percent.

Yang Qiu looked coldly at the well-dressed British ambassador, and gently pushed the telegram back to the other party: "Please see clearly, Your Excellency, we have no choice!" This is not our choice, it is a war imposed on our country by others! Mines are weapons, rifles are weapons, and for the sake of the interests of our allies, should your country deprive our country of even the most basic right of self-defense? If that's the case, then there's no need for this negotiation to go any further! I will tell Nanjing to cancel all dialogue. If we really want to bear the consequences, I think we, the soldiers, are willing to take the initiative to carry it! ”

Bernard's eyes sparkled, and he was really anxious. India cannot be lost, and Japan cannot fall, this is the bottom line that Britain must stick to, but now this bottom line is being challenged! China's military operations in the northwest have threatened India's security. It is about to break out, and it should not be said that the new Sino-Japanese confrontation that has already broken out will challenge the second bottom line. This is something that Britain never wants to see, and said: "Your Excellency, I don't think we need to go around in circles, and in your country's words, we might as well open the skylight and say something." ”

"It's simple." Yang Qiu got up and propped up the table with both hands, and said, "We are willing to accept all the mediation of your country, and we are also willing to accept your opinions, but before that, we hope that the British Empire will stand on a fair stand!" If there is no justice, then there is no need for us to continue to sit here. ”

Fair? How can it be just?

In the absence of an agreement to terminate all unequal treaties, it is naturally impossible to say the word of justice, and since Britain still maintains the Anglo-Japanese alliance agreement, it is impossible to conciliate under such circumstances as the Chinese government can be trusted. Suddenly, his China eight years ago was completely different from eight years later, not to mention the growing industrial capacity, just the battle on the Western Front, which shocked the world, you can see that the country already has an army that can guarantee territorial security! Although their navy is still weak, even if they lose all their navy, who can really talk about blockading a completely self-sufficient China with its vast territory?

Bernard took a deep breath and habitually touched his fingers: "Okay, let's listen to the suggestions of both sides." ”

With these words, Yang Qiu immediately said: "Completely end the unequal treaties of the Manchu Qing period, ensure the stationing of troops and immigration rights of our country in the northwest 5, but we can appropriately reduce the number, and sign a peace treaty on issues such as India and the northwest, we will guarantee that your country's interests in these regions will not be violated." ”

These conditions have been said countless times, and Bernard has no interest in continuing to dwell on them, asking, "What about Japan?" ”

"Withdraw from Taiwan, North Korea and Sakhalin Island, and compensate our country for 100 million yuan in losses."

The harsh conditions made him frown, but he was surprisingly expressionless, and nodded: "I will tell my government, before that." ”

"Until then, we will not stop any actions of self-defense, which is the most basic right of a country!" Yang Qiu straightened up and took a step forward: "Your Excellency, Ambassador, I understand your country's concerns, so I have called Your Excellency the President to reconsider the issue of Zhambyl Prefecture and the number of immigrants stationed in the Northwest This is my greatest sincerity!" From the beginning to the end, my country and I have not expanded outward, and our army has been guarding the territory to this day, except for obeying the command of your country and fighting against the poor party. Maybe you won't believe it, but I want to say that the most important thing for our generation is to build a good country. ”

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