(Thanks, Longzhong pp, sleepingun two brothers for their monthly ticket encouragement, thanks to the reward of the sword brothers in the chest, the fish head is full of motivation!) ）

Early the next morning, newspapers led by The Prison Man began to report on the ongoing peace negotiations between the French and Austria-Hungary.

In the report, "The Prison Man" revealed the fact that the two little princes of Austria-Hungary had promised "Lockus and Lorraine" to the French without the consent of the Germans.

These reports caused an uproar.

One can imagine how sensational it would be when a world war was in a stalemate, and one of the parties participating in the war was actually privately negotiating peace with the enemy.

Almost on the same day, some newspapers reposted the news, and some even added a special issue.

Of course, there are also German newspapers.

In fact, the German newspapers published the news almost at the same time as the Prison Men. For the Germans, France had no secrets, and the battle plan that Nivelle had drawn up the day before would appear on Ludendorff's desk the next night.

The Germans expressed extreme shock at the private actions of Austria-Hungary, especially with regard to Alsace and Lorraine.

It was inconceivable that Austria-Hungary, which had always been a vassal of the German Empire, should now leave the German Empire alone and make such peace talks on the condition of Alsace and Lorraine.

In the eyes of the Germans, Karl I was too presumptuous.

Karl I was also aware of this problem at this time, so he began to denounce the French as a fabrication, and he had never sent any negotiating delegation to France, let alone made Alsace and Lorraine a condition for negotiations.

This, in turn, caused dissatisfaction among the French, so it was published in French newspapers. Karl I was not only described as a fool, but also as a "liar".

Peace talks finally broke down.

By the time the dust settles, it's almost March.

Qin Zhiyuan was not in the mood to care about the farce that happened in the newspapers, his energy was completely focused on the destroyers ordered, and he couldn't spare any more energy.

As early as Rome, Qin Zhiyuan passed through the Wanderers Alliance shipyard in Portsmouth. Four Acorn-class destroyers were ordered. Qin Zhiyuan had even paid a deposit and was waiting for the outfitting to be ready to receive it, so Qin Zhiyuan also hired more than 100 technicians from Britain through Gaspard to take charge of the technical work on the destroyer.

Of course, Qin Zhiyuan has also prepared a group of Chinese who grew up on the seashore since childhood, let them become navy ships, learn various techniques of British mercenaries, and prepare for independent operation in the future.

British mercenaries. This is not a concept pioneered by Qin Zhiyuan. Europeans have a tradition of being mercenaries, they are not resistant to the mercenary profession, as long as someone gives money, they can fight for the devil. As a traditional maritime power, Britain has countless navigators and sailors, and the country is now more crowded and less shipped, so Qin Zhiyuan was given a hole to exploit.

Gary Parker had promised a week, but it came. But he sent a telegram to Qin Zhiyuan, asking for an extension of the delivery period. Because those four destroyers have already been requisitioned by the British Navy.

It is said that these four warships were originally built for the British Navy, but it was still early before the agreed delivery date with the British, so the directors of the shipyard found Qin Zhiyuan and wanted to sell these warships to Qin Zhiyuan first, and then re-produce them for the British.

For the Rover Alliance shipyards, it really doesn't take much effort. It only takes a month at most for a warship to be launched from laying the keel to launching it, while in the United States, this time can be shortened to half a month.

The fact that the British forcibly requisitioned these four warships was understandable. But Qin Zhiyuan decided to make a fuss.

Only crying children have milk.

So Qin Zhiyuan found the newly appointed British Quartermaster Churchill.

Winston Churchill, this is another giant.

Potential giants, not yet.

Before the war, Churchill was the Secretary of the Navy, and on August 1, 14, when Churchill learned that "Germany declared war on Russia", Churchill could not wait to issue the order of the Navy Commander-in-Chief, and this order was not endorsed by the Cabinet until the next day. Perhaps Churchill did this because he hated the Germans too much, but it also gave the impression that the parliament did not obey orders and acted arbitrarily.

After the Battle of the Dardanelles, the British Navy paid a huge price but did not capture the strait, but instead deprived Britain of the advantages of the early stage of the war, Churchill was fiercely criticized, and finally lost the post of Admiralty and became the Minister of Justice.

Regardless of the ministry, it really doesn't care about anything, doesn't have any real power, it's like a mascot.

Churchill resigned in anger and took his servants, drivers, butlers, and dozens of boxes of household items to the French front to serve as the commander of the 6th Battalion of the Scottish Mauser Rifle Regiment.

Last September, the Dardanelles Maritime Commission of Inquiry was set up and its report was released around Christmas, and Churchill was acquitted of his crimes, having just been appointed Quartermaster by Lloyd George.

Well, maybe Churchill had a good head shape to make Lloyd George look good.

It seems that Qin Zhiyuan's reputation is indeed increasing day by day, at least after his name was reported, Qin Zhiyuan was received by Churchill.

"Qin, I don't remember that you have a navy in your troops." Churchill looked at Qin Zhiyuan for a long time, his eyes full of inquiry and curiosity.

This is the British Quartermaster's Department, located in London, the heart of the British Empire, the economic center of the world at the beginning of the 20th century, which can also be counted as a political center.

"Existence is reasonable, and if necessary, there may be an Air Force in the future." Qin Zhiyuan smiled.

Whenever he faces a legendary giant, Qin Zhiyuan is always full of interest, especially someone like Churchill, this level is rare.

But when Qin Zhiyuan smiled at Churchill, Qin Zhiyuan's heart was vigilant.

Churchill did have a good reputation in another time and space, but he also had a huge stain, and that was his racism. During the suppression of the Kenyan uprising, Churchill had signed an order to "purge the local blacks", including the grandfather of the future black president of the United States, who later returned the bronze bust of Churchill, which had been kept in the White House office during the Bush era, to the British.

Later, during World War II, Churchill also forced India to export grain, but when the Indians fell into famine, Churchill ignored it and watched 3 million Indians starve to death.

Indians and Chinese belong to the same Oriental, Churchill's attitude towards Indians is like this, you can imagine his attitude towards the Chinese.

"Oh, it looks like you're interested in something new like airplanes." Churchill was also interested.

When Churchill was Secretary of the Navy, Churchill personally approved the research program on tanks and designated the naval term "tank" to refer to this weapon of war.

Churchill was always interested in new things, which is why he has become an evergreen in politics.

Maybe everyone has two sides, one is an angel and the other is a devil.

(To be continued.) )