There is no suspense anymore.

When the Japanese Navy, under the pretext of searching for the missing soldiers, swaggered two destroyers to the gates of Dili, Britain immediately realized that the Saudi crisis had evolved into a direct confrontation between the old and new worlds, and that the Versailles system established after the European war was on the verge of falling apart. At this moment, as the drafter of the Versailles system, Britain began to urgently need Yang Qiu's cooperation to continue to maintain this already crumbling international system.

Compared with the serious Sino-British contradictions, the interests of the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean colonies under the Versailles system were more important to Britain.

So when he learned that the Japanese Navy had entered East Timor, MacDonald's last obsession in his heart instantly came to naught, maintaining the Verdun system is to maintain the global hegemony of the empire, and continuing the Saudi crisis is tantamount to telling those countries that are trying to break the system that the empire is "very busy" and can't take care of them now. Under these circumstances, MacDonald had no second choice and immediately authorized Henderson to enter into full-fledged negotiations to resolve the crisis as quickly as possible.

And the most worrying is the former East Indies little overlord, when Japan controlled Guinea and Rabaul, they did not feel in danger, because of the gap between British Guinea, but when the Japanese navy appeared in East Timor, they found that because the Chinese and British navies continued to confront Malacca, the 21st task force also contained more than 20 warships in the Indian Ocean, including Rodney, prestige and counterattack, the only British Far East Fleet that could quickly intervene in the Asian situation could not even pull out a gunboat at this time, The entire Dutch East Indies were exposed to the Japanese Navy's naval guns.

From the establishment of the Free Trade Zone in West Borneo, to the riots in Sumatra, to the recent Saudi crisis and the news that the United States is preparing to withdraw from the Southwest Pacific, the Netherlands has deeply felt the great changes in Asian geopolitics. With the rapid rise of China and Japan's growing greed due to its lack of land, it is uncertain whether the East Indies will be able to be saved, so they need Britain to stand up and protect them. Similarly, the protection of the Netherlands was a must and could not be changed by the British, and the two Low Countries across the North Sea were the lifeblood of the British Empire. As it became increasingly overwhelmed, Britain desperately wanted China to put pressure on Japan to ban it from going south.

From serious confrontations to sudden need for cooperation, international geopolitics has shown its bizarre, even comical, side.

In the face of Britain's urgency, Yang Qiu's answer was simpler.

Negotiate first!

Despite everyone's eagerness, the negotiations are still not smooth, mainly because of how to substantively ensure the safety of China's offshore oil lanes. The Chinese negotiating delegation led by Yang Du insisted that Britain hand over jurisdiction over the Maldives' Addu Atoll to the Chinese navy. Insist on automatic right to garrison the Persian Gulf in times of crisis. The UK, on the other hand, wants to sign the agreement without any substantive requirements.

This huge divide led to the collapse of the negotiations after only two days.

On March 21, a grain convoy of 11 10,000-ton ships of China Merchants Shipping Company set off from Guangzhou, and they will provide the first batch of grain to the Saudi government, which is mired in economic crisis and lacks food, in accordance with the provisions of the "Arab China Petroleum Agreement" to help the Saudi people, who are struggling to survive. In order to ensure the safe arrival of the fleet, the Chinese Navy announced that it would send battleships to escort it.

The use of battleships to escort the grain fleet is obviously a drunkard's intention, not alcohol.

Faced with the fleet slowly heading for Malacca, the Royal Navy's Far East Fleet was on the verge of a great enemy, and even the Rodney, which was searching for Task Force 21 in Ceylon, accelerated towards Malacca. to ensure that Singapore is not attacked by surprise. When the two sides were again on the suffrage, the negotiations in Beijing also quietly resumed, and at the suggestion of Wang Zhengting, they were rescheduled to Qingdao.

Finally, after 11 days of quarrelling, China and Britain finally reached an agreement on ensuring the safety of China's overseas oil and ensuring the freedom of normal trade activities. On the morning of April 3, in the hall of the General Cai Yi Memorial Hall, which had just been completed. Wang Zhengting and Henderson signed the Sino-British Qingdao Maritime Security Agreement Treaty on behalf of their respective governments.

The treaty clearly stipulates that Britain will recognize China's oil rights in the Persian Gulf region from now on, allow China to trade in mineral resources necessary for national construction such as oil exploration and mineral investment in the region, recognize China's right to free trade in the region, and at the same time promise to ensure the safety of China's sea lanes, recognize the right of free passage of civilian vessels, and have the obligation to provide humanitarian assistance when Chinese ships are in danger. Chinese companies in the Persian Gulf are allowed to form security teams in accordance with local civilian police standards to ensure that investments are not infringed. Allow China to be threatened in its offshore oil lanes and trade lanes. And the right to automatically station troops in Saudi Arabia when Britain is unable to provide the necessary protection! China is allowed to open regular civil flights in the air between Riyadh, China, and Tehran, China, in the future.

At the same time, in order to express the sincerity of the British government, the British Navy handed over its naval supply depot in Addu Atoll in the Maldives to the Chinese Navy to monitor the implementation of the treaty and ensure maritime security. But at the same time, it is also stipulated. No warships of more than 5,000 tons are allowed to be stationed in the Addu Atoll Naval Station, submarines are not allowed, and only 6 escort destroyers and 6 seaplanes are allowed to be stationed at most, and they are subject to inspection by the British Navy, and are obliged to provide shelter for the Royal Navy.

The treaty stipulates that China has once again reaffirmed its position on the date of entry into force of the treaty and recognized the special rights of the United Kingdom in the Asia-Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Pledge not to intervene in the political activities of the above-mentioned areas and not to illegally sell offensive weapons to these areas in excess of actual needs. It is not permissible to arm and support national independence movements in these areas, to strictly crack down on the smuggling of weapons and opium and other things along the border, and to establish a Sino-British border radio call hotline in order to jointly deal with crime.

and so on, a total of 41 agreements dealing with the safety of sea lanes and the division of interests.

Finally, as the mediator and monitoring representative, the US ambassador to China, Nelson Jensen, also signed the contract on behalf of the US government, promising that the Washington government would strictly monitor the implementation of the treaty and ensure that China and Britain coexist peacefully.

The signing of the Qingdao Treaty not only relieved China and Britain, but also relieved the nerves of the whole world

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The port of Dammam is crowded with people, and Saudi people from nearby crowd the harbor to the water. In front of the berth of the port's only deep-water wharf, Saudi King Ibn Saud, dressed in traditional Arab robes, looked anxious, and his thin cheeks showed a deep tiredness.

Although more than four months have passed since he personally announced the founding of the country, this period of time has been the most torturous years of his life, especially after Britain decisively intercepted the Chinese ** ship and oil tanker, which almost put the Saudi family in a desperate situation. But he didn't regret it. This is the most important period for Saudi Arabia and the Arab world as a whole. The Arab world, which has suffered from colonization for a hundred years and is severely technologically restricted by Britain and France, needs external assistance too much! However, Britain was strong before the European War, and the Versailles system was strong after the war, so it had to continue to accept British jurisdiction in humiliation.

Wait! Stay up! Until one person shows up and sends an incredibly big contract! Until the outbreak of the global economic crisis.

Billions of dollars and a contract that could turn Saudi Arabia into an Arab power in no time! What could be more enticing than this? Although the other party wants oil, it wants two-thirds of the land exploration rights. To be explored after the right to manage. Asking for docks, banks, tax supervision, etc., was almost equivalent to giving up half of the country for 60 years, but in the end he resolutely signed the agreement. Because he understands that there is no reward without giving. In this era, it is impossible to build a nation without the support of a great power, just look at Persia and Iraq, which are still under British control, without the support of a great power, independence is as fragile as a castle built on a grain of sand.

And the choice of China was also well thought out. Although China is not as powerful as Britain, France and the United States, it has the advantage that they have no possibility of colonizing the Persian Gulf and are not greedy for land, which is a good opportunity for Saudi Arabia, which is desperate to get rid of Britain.

However, the crisis almost shattered all dreams. Fortunately. All the torment and waiting finally passed, so after the crisis began, he also rushed to the news in person, and Ben Aziz behind him kept standing on tiptoe, hoping to see the fleet four months late earlier.

Time passed minute by minute, and just as the crowd was gradually anxious, a loud whistle finally came from the sea! "It's coming, it's coming. It's the Chinese fleet! After all, the young Aziz couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart. Pointing to the Chinese grain convoy composed of 11 10,000-ton ships, he shouted loudly. At this moment, all Saudis remembered China, and even Ibn Saud excitedly hugged Song Ziqing fiercely, thanking China for its support to the Saudi family and the Saudi kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has finally become a truly independent country!

Maybe it's to add to the celebratory atmosphere. Perhaps in a show of strength, when the first steamer carrying much-needed food came to the dock, a group of dazzling silver dots suddenly leaped out from behind its massive steel body. Hundreds of warhawks from the 21st Task Force formed a spectacular formation of geese and flew overhead in the stunned eyes of everyone! The sheer size and size of the force made even Ibn Saud a little stunned.

When the group arrived, someone finally recognized the national flag logo on the fuselage. So they began to shout and wave their hands. "These bastards!" Even Song Ziqing scolded with a smile, because he didn't expect Bingwen to come to this hand. Looking at the group of planes circling overhead like flowers, listening to the cheers and shouts around him, he, like all the Chinese present, felt a strong sense of pride in his heart.

Back to Qingdao.

The memorial hall built in honor of General Cai Ye has been quiet, and the three-meter-high statue of Cai Ye in the hall looks dark blue and makes a sword draw. Yang Qiu stood quietly in front of the statue, as if he had returned to the tragic battle of Qingdao, smelling the familiar gunsmoke.

Miao Luo walked over, raised the telegram in his hand, and smiled: "Yuqiu asked me to give it to you, she said, it is news from the United Kingdom, and their Prime Minister MacDonald has officially submitted his resignation to the British king." ”

"He's refreshed." Yang Qiu took the telegram, and instead of looking at it, he stared at the statue again, and muttered to himself in a low voice: "Songpo, have you seen it?" I did it, I pry this era up! Soon, Roosevelt and Hitler will appear on the stage one after another, and the most magnificent era of blood and fire is coming! It's a pity you're not there. If you know something, please continue to protect this nation! Believe me, and you will eventually see the answers I bring to the nation and the nation. ”

"This is my promise and my responsibility! Even if no one can understand it, I have to go on. The voice grew softer and softer, mingling with the firm footsteps of the drum, and faded away.