ps: Today's four watches are completed! Ask for a subscription, ask for a monthly pass! Thank you for the tips of the book friends for extreme deep-sea diving!

The government of Lubé in France fell, and the government of Falier came to power. As in France, the British cabinet of Arthur Balfour, the day after the fall of the Loubet government, the British parliament formally passed a motion of no confidence in the cabinet of Arthur Belfour. Prime Minister Arthur Belfour, announcing the general resignation of the Cabinet!

Two days later, Sir Henry Campbell, the leader of the Liberal Party, came to the stage to form a cabinet and form a new cabinet in the United Kingdom. After swearing allegiance to King Edward VII, Sir Benenan submitted a list of cabinet members and was given a tonguò. In the new Cabinet, in addition to Sir Benenenan as Prime Minister, in the previous Cabinet, Lord Lansdowne, Secretary of State for the Navy, Sir John Fisher, Secretary of State for the Navy, Sir Edward Gray, Minister of State for the Colonies, Austin Chamberlain, and Field Marshal Sir Henry Willy Norman.

The conundrum facing the new Prime Minister, Sir Benenenen, remains how to survive the current difficulties. Britain and France have already suffered a complete defeat on the battlefield in the Middle East. The U.S. Navy has left Britain and is heading home. The British Navy had only one battleship left in the Barrier, which was still in combat, and the battleship Majestic needed to be overhauled at the shipyard, which would take at least three months. The strength of the British Navy has once again fallen to the bottom. In addition, China's prisoner of war camps on the Red Sea held hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war of the British and French expeditionary forces. All this shows that Britain is no longer able to carry on the war, and must compromise with China, reach an agreement, and withdraw from the war. Because of the war, the Suez Canal was blocked, and a large number of supplies were obtained from the Indian and Australian colonies. It can only be transported back to the UK via the Cape of Good Hope, which makes the supply of goods in the UK start to have problems!

On the evening of 27 January, the new Prime Minister, Sir Benenan, convened his Cabinet to discuss how to resolve the current crisis. The reason why the Liberal Party was able to defeat the Conservative Party and form a government was entirely because the government led by the Conservative Party lost to China in the war, which greatly damaged the interests of Britain. The British people as the hegemon of the world. How can one accept a government that keeps failing?

"Gentlemen, I think we don't have much time left. If we can't reach an agreement with the Chinese to end the war, I don't want it long. Our current cabinet will also be kicked out of the Prime Minister's Office. I don't want to be the shortest-serving prime minister! Sir Benenan said.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I agree to compromise with the Chinese. It's just that the conditions of the Chinese are too harsh, and we have no way to agree! Lord Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary, said. His retention was undoubtedly to ensure the continuation of Britain's foreign policy.

"What are the conditions for the Chinese? Is there room for negotiation? Sir Benenan said. He knew that the war was lost. Britain wants to withdraw from the war without paying a certain price, that is impossible. Of course, this price. It must be within the limits of what the British Empire can accept!

"First, the Chinese demand that we recognize China's right to protect Kuwait! Second, the Chinese demanded that the British Empire withdraw from Persia and Afghanistan! Third, the Chinese want us to agree to the unification of the Arabian Peninsula by the Saudi Kingdom. Fourth. The Chinese want to control the Suez Canal. Fifth, the Chinese demanded that the British Empire compensate them for war losses of 500 million Chinese dollars! Lord Landsdownne said.

"Are the Chinese treating us as wronged? We can't agree to such conditions! Sir Edward Grey, the Colonial Chancellor, said with great displeasure. The strategic location of the Middle East is very important. Afghanistan was the northern barrier to India, while Persia was the base from which the British Empire slowly encroached on the Ottoman Empire. If these places were transferred to the Chinese, the British Empire's efforts over the years would be in vain. As for Kuwait, which is a small country full of desert and an area of less than 20,000 square kilometers, it can be transferred to the Chinese.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this war has already spent the last penny of the national treasury, and it is impossible for us to give the Chinese 500 million yuan in war reparations. We didn't declare war on them at all! Naturally, there is no question of Zài war reparations! Chancellor of the Exchequer Austin Chamberlain said!

"However, we have more than 200,000 prisoners of war in the hands of the Chinese. If we don't redeem these prisoners of war, their families will be enough to oust us! Field Marshal Sir Henry Willy Norman said helplessly.

Everyone couldn't help but have a headache, the families of 200,000 prisoners of war, at least millions. If these people make a fuss, the cabinet will inevitably fall!

"Gentlemen, in that case, we have no other choice, instruct the ambassador to China, the plenipotentiary to negotiate with the Chinese on behalf of the British Empire! Preserve the interests of the British Empire as much as possible! Prime Minister Sir Benenan said.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, I think the negotiations will not take place until a week at the earliest. Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year for the Chinese, and in addition to the military and some special departments, officials of the Chinese government will be given a week's holiday. If we want to negotiate with them, we probably have to wait until they return from vacation! Lord Landsdownne said.

"Well, there is no way around it, I believe the people can understand it. In addition, gentlemen, we have suffered very heavy losses in this war. The army lost hundreds of thousands of troops, and the navy had only two new battleships left. What's next? We must be responsible for the future of the British Empire! Sir Benenan said.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I believe that the strength of the British Empire has fallen to a freezing point, and we must shrink on a global scale and put the main forces in key places. After heavy naval losses, we were no longer able to suppress the Germans. This would be very dangerous for the British Empire! Lord Landsdownne said. The confrontation between the Entente and the Central Powers would also be at a disadvantage because of the heavy losses of Britain and France.

"Sir Fisher? When will the Navy be able to resume its responsibility for encircling the British Empire's maritime frontiers? Sir Benenan asked.

"Your Excellency, the Admiralty will speed up the construction of the next class of battleships as much as possible. It is expected that by the end of this year, and at the latest the beginning of next year, six 'Bellerophon-class' battleships of the next class will be able to enter service. The next class of 'St. Cent-class' battleships will also be able to enter service by the end of next year. By then, we will have 14 new battleships, two fewer than the German Navy. But our ally, the next class battleship of the French Navy, the 'Brittany-class' battleship, will also be commissioned next year. In this way, we will be able to gain strength no worse than the German Navy, which will be able to meet the challenges of the German Navy! However, in order to fully strengthen the strength of the British Imperial Navy, we must invest as much as possible in the navy. Construction of the latest 'Orion-class' battleships designed by the Admiralty has already begun. However, I would like to receive a special grant to increase the number from 4 to 8! Also, start designing new, more powerful battleships of the next class! Sir Fisher said.

Everyone frowned, the battleships of the Navy, but they burned money. If you invest more, this will strain the UK's finances, which is not a good thing for everyone here.

"Gentlemen, I know that the requirements of the navy are excessive, but you must admit that the strength of the British Empire is entirely based on the strength of the navy. Since the defeat of the Royal Navy by the Chinese more than three years ago, the British Empire has been in decline. If we do not pay attention to the development of the navy, I am afraid that the hegemony of the British Empire in the future will not be maintained! Sir Fisher said sincerely.

"Well, Sir Fisher, the glory of the British Empire cannot be lost in our hands. The Cabinet will fully support the Navy's revival plan! I will communicate with the main councillors and get the opportunity to build a ship for the parliament to pass the guò navy! Sir Benenan said. All of them came from the Victorian era. Victorian Britain is the hegemon of the world! Every Briton is proud of the strength of the United Kingdom. Now that they are the leaders of the British government, they are naturally unwilling to let the British Empire fall from the throne of world hegemon!

After that, the Cabinet made a resolution instructing the ambassador to China to reach an agreement with the Chinese side as soon as possible to end the war. At the same time, the exploitation of the colonies will be increased, and the funds obtained will be invested in the development of the navy, so that within five years, the Royal Navy of the British Empire will be restored from a new fù to the first in the world!

January 28, 1903, Chinese New Year. Wang Yuze held a grand New Year's reception in Xinhua Palace. Domestic military generals, principal officials of various provinces, and envoys of various countries in China all attended the reception. China has already achieved absolute superiority in the Middle East battlefield. Although Britain and France have not yet formally conceded defeat, they all know that it is only a matter of time before China wins the final victory. China, having once again defeated Britain and France, will undoubtedly be one of the most powerful countries in the world! This has made many countries eager to strengthen friendly relations with China, even if they cannot gain anything from China, but they must ensure that they will not become the next target of China's attack. Over the years, China's continuous outward expansion has terrified all countries. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is particularly worried that their Dutch Indonesian archipelago has always been a coveted target for the Chinese!

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the British Empire hopes to start armistice negotiations with China as soon as possible, and if the war continues, it will be a disaster for both of our countries!" At the reception, the British Ambassador to China, Zhu Erdian, found Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang and said sincerely!