Wang Yi stayed in Keelung for two days, and then traveled to Kaohsiung in the south accompanied by Liu Mingchuan, where he met with more people, including representatives of northeastern businessmen operating in Taiwan, local Taiwanese businessmen, and representatives of ethnic minorities. Although he really wanted to go to Alishan and Sun Moon Lake, but because of the urgency of time, he had to give up.

Departing again from Kaohsiung, Wang Yi headed for Hainan Island. Unlike Taiwan, Hainan is now completely under the control of the Northeast Autonomous Region. The strategic location here is very important, not only to establish the seed research center of the Dashang Group, but also to build the first submarine base on the outer islands in Northeast China. Originally, the navy only bought three Merchant Whale 2 submarines from the Northeast Shipyard, but later in order to train submarine personnel on a large scale, the order was increased to six, and three of them were sent to Sanya, Hainan.

The Commercial Whale-3 submarine, which is truly capable of ocean-going warfare, is still in the process of being developed, and even the most optimistic estimates will not be able to conduct sea trials until three years later. However, the construction of submarine bases should be prepared in advance and corresponding adaptability training should be carried out, which is another reason for the Northeast Navy to purchase submarines.

When Wang Yi was on his way to Hainan Island, the latest news came back from the African side, and to everyone's surprise, Britain maintained an unprecedented restraint on the issue of conflict with the northeast, and said that it was willing to negotiate with the northeast on the issue of the distribution of interests in Zimbabwe.

As soon as the news came out, not only British public opinion was in an uproar, but even the rest of the world was dumbfounded.

Preventing the British government from launching a hardline policy in the Northeast were Admiral Alfred Ryder, and the head of the British Secret Service, Cumming, who advised Prime Minister Robert Gastin Cecil to stop hostilities with the Northeast in Africa. At first hearing this, the Marquis of Salisbury was very disdainful.

"When the empire began to fear difficulties and could not guarantee the interests of the common people of the empire in the world, our government would have no point in existing."

That's true, and the question is for whom. Alfred glanced at Cumming beside him, somewhat helpless, and then said: "Of course we agree with the Prime Minister's words, but before solving the African problem, please take a look at this." With that, he took out a brown paper bag from his purse, and when he opened it, he took out a thick stack of materials from it and handed it to the Marquis of Salisbury.

"What is this?" Britain is first of all unclear about that.

"The photo taken by Japanese spies from the waters off the northeast shows the newly developed warship of the Northeast Autonomous Region." Cumming introduced.

The Admiral continued: "It has been some time since the information reached us, and your predecessor asked us to assess the power of this warship and the threat to us based on the available information. ”

The Marquess of Salisbury's predecessor was William Jurte Gladstone, but within half a month of this information in his hands, this benevolent brother stepped down because the bill to help Ireland obtain limited autonomy was not passed by the House of Lords.

The Marquess of Salisbury picked out the corner of his eye, he did not have the slightest affection for William Yurt Gladstone, the two were the leader of the House of Lords and the other the leader of the House of Commons, and they were simply natural political enemies.

"What are the results of the assessment?"

Both Alfred and Cumming shook their heads in frustration. Alfred said: "After getting the news, we gathered experts from the Naval Construction Bureau, and also invited experts from major shipyards, as well as naval strategy and tactics, but the result was ...... Very pessimistic. ”

"To put it simply, with the current level of shipbuilding in the Empire, it will take at least ten years to build warships of the same level, and this is still the most optimistic estimate." Cumming's words were simple, but the Marquis of Salisbury gasped.

"But the other side is just a warship, and it is not enough to pose a threat to us."

"The empire is far ahead in terms of the tonnage of armored ships of the Navy, which can basically reach four times the size of the Northeast Autonomous Region, and as for the total tonnage of cruisers and other warships, the Northeast cannot be compared with us. So for the time being, the status of the world hegemon of our navy will not change. ”

Hearing this, the first heart was finally placed in the stomach.

"Then why did you two stop me from taking revenge on the Northeast? Our interests in Southern Africa have been strongly challenged by the Autonomous Region of the North-East. Moreover, the overall strength of the Northeast Autonomous Region is in an upward stage, and if we can disrupt their pace at this time, in some sense, it can also greatly restrain their development. ”

Cumming shook his head, clearly disagreeing with the prime minister.

"Mr. Prime Minister, perhaps you have a point. However, I would like to remind you that the Northeast Autonomous Region has always had revenge. Yes, Africa is closer to us, but don't forget that India, which is more important to the empire, is also within the range of the South China Sea Fleet in the Northeast Autonomous Region. And our newly acquired colony, Burma, even directly borders the northeastern motherland, and their land forces can directly attack Burma. As for the combat power of the Northeast Army, I think you should know that the strength that can fight against polar bears for many years and have the upper hand should be respected. ”

The Marquis of Salisbury did not speak, but sat in his leather rocking chair with a cold glint in his eyes. Unlike his predecessors, the Marquess of Salisbury was the quintessential post-hawk and the biggest driver of colonialism in the British Empire.

As a representative of the interests of the aristocracy, the only thing that can stop him is the tough strength of the other party. Marshal Alfred, who was aware of this, continued with Cumming's words: "Mr. Prime Minister, please do not forget that we still have a fleet in the Far East, which is surrounded by the forces of the Northeast. ”

"Hong Kong?"

"That's right."

Hong Kong's current position is rather awkward, and under the north-south squeeze of the Northeast Autonomous Region's native fleet and the South China Sea Fleet, it used to be able to rely on the ability of the fleet warships to maneuver with the northeast, but now the appearance of such a warship has completely broken the original naval posture in East Asia.

"Sir, once we start a war with the Northeast, Hong Kong will inevitably become their first target, and the Northeast Autonomous Region Navy, which has rich experience in naval warfare, cannot compete with a few warships of the Hong Kong fleet alone. In the same way, all our colonies in Southeast Asia will be under their attack. In addition, Burma, which is already on fire, will be attacked by them from the five provinces of Southeast Asia and the native army of the Qing Dynasty. What will greet us at that time will be not our punishment of the Northeast Autonomous Region, but a full-scale war with them! Alfred paused, then continued: "Another thing I must say is that there is another army in the Northeast that we do not have, and that is the Air Force!" I believe you should also know that the tragedy of the Japanese-French joint navy in Nagasaki at the beginning, the air attack, we can't prevent it! ”

The Marquis of Salisbury, who had been furious, finally began to calm down, but his dilated nostrils and flushed face showed that he was still angry.

"Northeast, these goddamn bastards!"

"Mr. Prime Minister, there is a sentence that I also said to your predecessor. There is no fundamental contradiction between us and the Northeast, and the distance between us is equivalent to spanning half the world. The fundamental interests of the empire are in Europe, and our real challenge is not the autonomous regions of the Northeast, but Germany, France, Russia, etc., and even the United States is a greater threat to us than the Northeast. The North-East is really at odds with us in the two territories of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Dewaziland in southern Africa. Although it is rich in resources, it is also a wilderness, completely unexplored and unexplored. It would be unwise to clash with our potential allies for the sake of a place like this. ”

Although he was reluctant, the Marquis of Salisbury still understood that the two in front of him were very reasonable, but even so, he did not give up his plan to carry out an armed conflict in Africa and the Northeast. When Alfred and Cumming left, the Marquess of Salisbury continued his office. In the evening, return to Arlington Street, where he lived. Although 10 Downing Street was the official residence of the First Chancellor of the Exchequer, a position that was later held by the Prime Minister, the Marquess of Salisbury, as Prime Minister, hated living there. In particular, the cabinet room was too small and stuffy to bear.

What was even more unacceptable to him was the eccentricity of his predecessor, William Jurte Gladstone, who often liked to take some young prostitutes back to Downing Street and talk to them in detail, hoping that they would abandon prostitution and become good. As a result, when Cabinet members visit Gladstone, they sometimes see young women coming in and out of Downing Street. The Marquess of Salisbury hated this, so he became the last British prime minister to refuse to stay at 10 Downing Street. He ceded the official residence to his nephew Arthur Befort, who later helped him become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

When the Marquis of Salisbury returned to his apartment on Arlington Street, the butler took his coat and hat, as well as his cane.

"Marquis, you're back."

The servants saluted him, and he just nodded, and then walked up the stairs and hurried to one of the bedrooms on the second floor.

"Annie, grandpa is back." No one would have thought that the Conservative Party leader, the Speaker of the House of Lords, the British Prime Minister, and the Marquess of Salisbury, who is usually unsmiling, would have such a human side, and his voice was very soft.

The room was quiet, and a young maid sat beside the bed, and on the bed lay a little pale girl, who was only four or five years old. The girl heard the voice of the Marquis of Salisbury, turned her head to look over, tried her best to squeeze out a smile, and said, "Grandpa, you are still here." ”

Looking at the girl's haggard smiling face, the bearded face of the Marquis of Salisbury showed a rare smile, but there was a little sadness in his heart.