The Northern Army actually raised an army of more than 1.1 million people without a sound, which was undoubtedly a huge shock to Sir Zhu Erdian and Minister Lin Quanzhu.

Britain's pocket army is naturally not comparable with the Northern Army. Even the Japanese Army, with a total of 25 divisions and regiments, is less than 600,000 men, only half of the Northern Army. The last war has proved that the firepower of the Northern Army is very strong, and the Japanese army of the same size cannot be compared with the Northern Army at all. This undoubtedly also shows that if Japan wants to intervene in this war, the price it will pay will probably be greater than they expected.

"Your Excellency, it is indeed surprising that the Northern Army has such a powerful army." Sir Jurdian took a deep breath, and although such a result did not benefit Britain, he had to put an end to it.

"Your Excellency, although the Northern Army has built up a powerful army, we will use it more to defend the interests of the country than to expand abroad. Please rest assured of this, Your Excellency. Wu Haoxuan reassured.

Sir Zhu Erdian naturally will not take Wu Haoxuan's guarantee to heart, the promises of politicians never count, and they can be reversed at any time. At present, the overall strength of the Northern Army is not strong, and it is very good to be able to protect its own interests, so naturally it will not expand to the outside world. But once the Northern Army unified China and its strength further expanded, who would dare to guarantee that they would not expand outward?

Minister Lin Quanzhu's eyes when he looked at Wu Haoxuan were full of jealousy. The total strength of the Northern Army was already more than 1.1 million, almost twice that of the Japanese Army. Even if there is a war with Japan and Russia at the same time, it will definitely be able to hold on. Unless Japan can mobilize and participate in the war at any cost, it will not want to win the Northern Army at all. Not to mention the population that the government of the North now controls. Much more than in Japan. They can also arm more armies. As for the industrial strength, in addition to shipbuilding, the rest of the heavy industry, the Northern Army is not necessarily much worse than Japan. Especially in terms of steel production, the northern government is already far ahead of Japan.

Minister Hayashi seems to have seen the way for Japan's expansion into Chinese mainland. It has been completely cut off because of the strong rise of the Northern Army. As long as the northern army does not seek its own death, Japan will have no hope of expanding into Chinese mainland after all. Such a result naturally made Lin Quanzhu a little difficult to accept. However, this is the case, and he does not accept it and has no way.

"Also, Sir Sir, the Northern Army has completed the reserve system in the Northeast. If the war warrants, we can raise the strength of the army to two million. I think. In such a situation, we have enough strength to unify China. Wu Haoxuan continued.

Sir Zhu Erdian frowned, he could tell that it was Wu Haoxuan demonstrating to him. However, there is really nothing he can do about it. Britain is strong in the navy, and no matter how powerful the navy's warships are, it is impossible to go ashore. With the British Army alone, the Northern Army had no way at all. Even if you add the Japanese, you want to win. Estimates are also not so easy. More importantly, the current international situation. Britain would not be allowed to get involved in a large-scale war. Therefore, I am afraid that Britain's policy in China will have to change dramatically.

Sir Zhu Erdian and Minister Lin Quanzhu left Pukou, leaving with a deep sense of unwillingness and anger. This has also directly led to a tremendous change in the policies of Britain and Japan toward China. As for the Beiyang government. Although Britain and Japan did not want to abandon them. However, they don't seem to have any other way.

After learning that the Northern Army had strongly rejected the British and Japanese proposals, and that the Northern Army's land force had expanded to more than 1.1 million people, Yuan Datou and the senior officials of Beiyang were all as pale as earth. The Northern Army actually had so many powerful troops. Then if they want to resist the attack of the Northern Army, it is undoubtedly impossible at all. Some high-ranking officials of the Beiyang government have even begun to find a way back for themselves. After all, the big ship of Beiyang has begun to leak everywhere, so there is no need for them to be buried with Beiyang!

When Sir Jurdian returned to Jinling, he sent a long and detailed report to London. In his report, he claimed that the reunification of China by the Northern Army was inevitable. The northern government, which has more than 1.1 million elite troops, is fully capable of unifying China, and even if other countries interfere, it will no longer be able to stop them. Unless the Western world can organize another Eight-Nation Alliance. Otherwise, we will have to sit back and watch the rise of the northern government step by step.

Moreover, even if the Western world unites, it will be very difficult for the Western world to win if the northern government further expands its army and increases the strength of the army to two million or more. Moreover, the price to be paid for this is heavy enough to make any Western country timid. In a sense, it is no longer realistic to want to destroy or defeat the Northern Army. China's terrifying population base allowed the Northern Army to gain a large number of soldiers. If you want to defeat them on land, it will be harder than ascending to the sky.

In addition, the Western world was already divided, and Germany and the United States were clearly pro-Northern governments. They wished that the Northern Army would have a war with the Entente, in which case they would be able to replace the old powers such as Britain and France. For this reason, Britain must change its policy in China.

Sir Zhu Erdian claimed that the actual controller of the Northern Army, Major Marshal Wu Haoxuan, was a very shrewd man. He has a keen sense of the international situation. He believed that the pro-German and American governments of the North were merely superficial in order to ensure their own interests, more precisely to protect themselves and to obtain funds and technology for development.

If Britain changes its policy toward China and actively woos the northern government, it may not be impossible to pull the northern government out of the arms of the Germans. After all, what the Germans were able to give to the government in the north, the British were equally able to give, and much more. The only thing that the British can't accept is that the fat in their eyes no longer exists.

Sir Jurdian's report was sent directly to the British Foreign Secretary, Edward Edward. Sir Grey's hand. And Edward. After carefully reading Sir Jurdian's report, Sir Grey immediately went to the Prime Minister's House in Downing Street to meet with Prime Minister Herbert. Henry. Asquith.

"Your Excellency, do you think Sir Jurdian's report is correct?" Prime Minister Asquith asked, after reading Sir Jurdian's report.

As the prime minister of the world's most powerful country, Asquith is undoubtedly one of the most powerful people on the planet. It's just that with the rapid rise of Germany and the aggressive challenge to Britain, Prime Minister Asquith is a little anxious. The Far East was too far away for Britain to be taken into account for a while. Now the center of gravity is Europe, which is the center of the world, and only by ensuring the stability of Europe can the British world colonial system not collapse. Otherwise, Britain will be completely finished.

"Your Excellency, I think Sir Jurdian's point is very reasonable. Now that the government in the north has a million-strong army, this already shows that it is impossible for us to subdue them by force. So, it's time for a change of attitude. "Edward. Sir Grey said.

Prime Minister Asquith nodded.

"In addition, we must not allow a united China to completely fall to the Germans. That would be a disaster for the entire Entente. Although China is industrially backward, they have a strong army. The huge population base can provide them with millions or even tens of millions of land forces. Once the Germans and Chinese flanked Russia. Then, there is a good chance that Russia will collapse. Once Russia collapsed, there was no way for the French alone to stop the Germans on the European continent. Once the Germans occupy the entire European continent, if we want to contain the Germans any longer, it will be impossible. "Edward. Sir Grey said.

Prime Minister Asquith's face became serious. Sir Grey's description is undoubtedly a little too terrifying. If all of Europe were occupied by the Germans, then Germany would be the strongest country in the world without a deserved. Even if the British Navy was able to maintain superiority for a short time. But once Germany consolidated the industrial power of the whole of Europe, the Germans were able to quickly catch up with Britain in the navy. Once Britain did not have a strong navy, not only would the system of overseas colonies that had been so hard to maintain collapse but even the mainland would be greatly threatened.

"Russia must not collapse. We cannot sit idly by and watch a united and powerful China fall in favor of the Germans. Then, it seems that it is time for a change in China policy. "Prime Minister Asquith has finally made up his mind.

Edward. Sir Grey nodded, which meant that they might have to abandon the Beiyang government of Yuan Datou, who had always been pro-British, and instead compete with the Germans for the northern government.

"In addition, we need to find a way to get the northern government to end the war with the Russians. The Russians have already been defeated, there is no need to fight any more. If we continue to fight, it will only be a waste of the strength of the Entente. Prime Minister Asquith continued.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, we will find an opportunity to mediate once again. I believe that the Russians will also recognize the reality when the time comes. "Edward. Sir Grey said.

With the change in Britain's policy toward China, the difficulty of the Northern Army to unify the whole country has dropped considerably. (To be continued......)

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