The conflict between the Chinese Empire and Britain ended peacefully. Britain lost four merchant ships, while China lost one. In this way, Britain suffers.

You must know that the British have never suffered losses, and only others have suffered. However, this time the British had no choice but to suffer this dumb loss. Otherwise, they will lose even more.

"Your Excellency, since Britain has promised to release our merchant ships. So, they can sail freely in the North Sea, right? Tang Shaoyi asked. Most of those merchant ships were transporting war materials for Germany. If it is completely cut off by the British, then Germany's combat power will definitely be greatly affected. In this case, it would not be conducive to the empire's plan to shed the blood of all the great powers of Europe.

Sir Jurdian immediately frowned, China had supplied Germany with a large amount of supplies, which caused serious damage to British interests. I don't know how many British soldiers died under the weapons and equipment of the Chinese. In order to defeat Germany at an early date, the British government had already made a decision to cut off the sea routes for China to transport war materials to Germany.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary. The waters off the coast of Germany have become a no-sail zone established by the Royal Navy of the British Empire. Outside of here, Chinese merchant ships can sail at will. Sir Jurden said.

"This is your war with Germany, and it has nothing to do with the Chinese Empire. The Chinese Empire was merely engaged in legitimate trade, and Britain had no right to obstruct normal trade with China. Tang Shaoyi said angrily.

"Your Excellency Foreign Secretary, the waters off the coast of Germany have become a war zone, and if Chinese merchant ships go there again, it is very likely that they will be affected. The British Empire did this for the sake of those Chinese merchant ships. Sir Jurdian said without changing his face.

Seeing Tang Shaoyi's angry and corrupt appearance, Sir Zhu Erdian was actually very relieved in his heart. To know. When the conflict broke out between China and Japan, didn't the Chinese navy also arbitrarily turn Japan's coastal waters into a no-sail zone to prevent merchant ships from other countries from entering? This dashed the hopes of countries such as Britain and the United States to provide resources for Japan. Now they are finally able to use the same means against the Chinese.

"Your Excellency, you are the British Minister to China. You should be aware of how rapid China's industry and commerce are developing right now. Thereinto. Much of this was born out of the sudden demands of the war in Europe. With so many factories, the production capacity needs to be digested. If Britain were to cut off the trade routes between China and Germany, the factories would have closed down because of the backlog of products. Tang Shaoyi said with a serious face.

Sir Jurden nodded, he seems to have seen quite a few Chinese factories close down because they could not sell their products. But what does that have to do with the British Empire? On the contrary, it may be something that the British Empire would like to see. After all, the rapid development of industry in the Chinese Empire was already a looming threat to Britain. What Britain wants to see is an industrially weakened China. And not an industrially powerful China.

"Your Excellency, if that really happens in China, then I'm afraid we will have to take some extreme measures in order to consume that production capacity." Tang Shaoyi said with a cold face.

"Extreme way?" Sir Zhu Erdian was stunned for a moment, and then his face became very unsightly. Is there any other means to consume that industrial capacity? I'm afraid it's just war. In order to divert domestic attention and consume those industrial capacities, China may have to engage in war. So. Which side will China choose to join? I'm afraid that the Entente were not the first choice. Instead. They would also be hostile to the Entente. After all, it was because of Britain that it was the cause of the situation.

If China chooses to join the Allied bloc, it will probably be a disaster for the Entente. A country like Britain, which has a vast colony in Asia, may be the first choice for China to attack.

"Damn, these yellow-skinned monkeys are threatening us." Sir Jurdians cursed secretly. But. Even if it's a threat, they can't do anything about it.

"Your Excellency, I need to report this situation to the country." Sir Jurdian said.

Tang Shaoyi nodded: "Your Excellency, please Britain had better give us an answer as soon as possible." Otherwise. If it drags on too long, we have less room to turn around. ”

Sir Jurdian nodded, then took his leave.

Upon his return to the Legation, Sir Jurdian immediately sent a telegram to his country. In the telegram, he claimed that the Chinese Empire had no intention of joining the war for the time being. However, if Britain had cut off the trade routes between China and Germany, resulting in a large-scale factory closure in China, perhaps China would have made the decision to participate in the war. In this case, it is very likely that the object of China's participation will be the Allies. Therefore, Sir Juerdian hopes that the country can come up with a solution as soon as possible, so that China can be appeased.

When Sir Jurdian's telegram reached the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, it was morning at work.

After reading the telegram, Sir Edward Grey did not dare to slack off, and immediately went to the Prime Minister's House in Downing Street to consult with Prime Minister Asquith.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, overall, our diplomatic efforts have been effective. At the very least, the Chinese are willing to remain neutral. However, the question of their industrial capacity raised by the Chinese is indeed a big problem. If the solution is not good, the Chinese may really use this as a reason to declare war on us. Sir Edward Grey said.

"So, what should we do? Is it possible to abandon the blockade of Germany? In that case, how many other lads will die under the weapons of the Chinese, or under the hands of the Germans armed with war materials transported by China? Asquith asked instead.

Thanks to the supposed strong navy and the vast British colonies, they could trap the Germans to death by blockade. This is the only way they can win the war.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese have never played their cards according to common sense. If we insist on intercepting their merchant ships, they will surely push the tide of domestic factory closures on our heads. When the time comes, the angry Chinese will surely demand that their government declare war on us. Once the Chinese really declare war on us, all the efforts we have made will be in vain. War Secretary Richard Haldane reminded.

There is intelligence that proves that the Germans, having found themselves unable to defeat the Russians on the Eastern Front, once again turned their attention to the Western Front. This is not good news for Britain and France. To do this, they had to be prepared to fight desperately on the front lines with the Germans. If China declared war on Britain again at this time, it would be a disaster.

"Damn! So what should we do? "Prime Minister Asquith is very aggrieved.

Prime Minister Asquith is very uncomfortable, why is it that when others are prime ministers, the world hegemony of the British Empire is very stable, and the powerful British naval fleet is showing off its might on the ocean, and no one is invincible. However, when he was prime minister, he encountered such trouble. Not only did the Germans provoke Britain, but even went to war directly, hoping to defeat Britain through war. In addition, the Americans on the other side of the ocean, as well as China in the Far East, are eyeing the position of world hegemon under the ass of the British Empire.

If Prime Minister Asquith had known that he would face so many problems when he took office, he probably wouldn't have run for office in the first place.

It's just that if you want to back down now, it's simply impossible. Now that he has become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he must take on the corresponding responsibilities.

"Your Excellency, no matter what, we'd better not go to war with China. Otherwise, all the advantages we have now gained so hard will be lost. The chances of winning will also become very slim. Lord Chancellor of the Admiralty, Sir John Fisher, also reminded.

Although the British Royal Navy is the strongest in the world, it is already very difficult to deal with the German Navy. If you want to deal with a powerful Chinese navy, there is no chance of victory.

"In any case, our blockade of the Germans cannot be lifted. This was our only chance to trap Germany alive, and it was also our chance to win the war at the lowest cost. Prime Minister Asquith insisted.

"Your Excellency, there is a way that may meet the needs of the Chinese." Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George said.

"Oh? What's the solution? Prime Minister Asquith asked.

"In order to make war money, the Chinese are constantly producing war materials. Originally, these war materials were sold to the Entente and the Central Powers, respectively. Now, we want to cut off the supply lines of the Chinese to the Allies, and in order to avoid a rebound from the Chinese, there is only one way, to buy the war materials that the Chinese sold to the Germans. In this case, the Chinese will have no reason to go to war against us. Chancellor of the Exchequer George said.

"Good way, anyway, we all have to consume a lot of war materials, who is not buying? Just buy a little more war materials for the Chinese. Anyway, we have plenty of money for the war. War Secretary Richard Haldane said.

The other ministers also nodded their heads as a good idea. Even Prime Minister Asquith agrees with this.

"So, how do we explain to the Americans?" Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, asked.

"Americans, I can't care so much about it first. Let's solve the urgent need first. Prime Minister Asquith said. (To be continued.) )

PS: The third update is here, ask for monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you book friends for the monthly pass at an altitude of 1.75!