Xiao Zhenlei stretched out his hand to the side, and Xiao Gao, the secretary who was making a record of the talks, immediately handed over two papers, Xiao Zhenlei took them and handed them to Hudson and said: "According to the reliable information sent by our intelligence department yesterday afternoon, when the Entente side learned that your East Asian Fleet was going to escort your troops stationed in Qingdao and its citizens in China back to China, it had arranged for two fleets to ambush on the road that your East Asian Fleet must pass to return home. With the combat strength of your East Asian fleet, if you encounter either of those two fleets, you will be completely annihilated! ”

This news was deliberately made out by Xiao Zhenlei at the request of the Iron and Blood Investigation Bureau, and he also discussed this matter with the British and French high-level officials, and the two sides worked together to make a false impression to deceive the German intelligence services, and the British and French authorities did organize two fleets, but these two fleets only went to sea to cruise, and did not really ambush on the road. Because Xiao Zhenlei sued Britain and France at the same time, China received reliable news in person that Germany was preparing to use the East Asian Fleet to break the war in the Pacific and India? What is a broken engagement? As the name suggests, it is a mode of warfare that disrupts maritime communications, specifically attacking merchant ships transporting supplies. The German High Command did have this idea, but it had not yet had time for the facts.

Britain and France learned that Germany was actually preparing to let the East Asian Fleet engage in a war in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, and immediately became worried, in fact, with the size and strength of the British fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean ~ much stronger than the German East Asian Fleet, but the problem is that the Pacific and Indian Oceans are too big, if the German East Asian Fleet drills into the Pacific Ocean. Where did the Anglo-French fleet go to find it? Moreover, Japan was also a member of the Allies, and the fleets of Britain and France in the Far East were far from the strength of the combined Japanese fleet. Coupled with the German East Asian Fleet, it will definitely not be able to beat. Since there is nothing to do with it, and there is no way to stop it from breaking the engagement, then we can only take Xiao Zhenlei's suggestion and make a plan to make the illusion that the two fleets are going to ambush the German East Asian Fleet, and then in the name of protecting the German East Asian Fleet, China will block it in Jiaozhou Bay and prevent it from going to sea, so as to do so. Xiao Zhenlei not only fooled Britain and France, but also deceived Germany, it can really be said that he is going up and down, left and right, and the Germans still have to be grateful to him? Britain and France should also be grateful to him! These countries were sold by him, and he was still counting the money for him.

Hudson quickly read the two papers, and read them carefully twice in a row before looking up and saying, "Your Excellency the President, are these two pieces of news true?" ”

Xiao Zhenlei's face was a little unsightly when he heard this, and he said unhappily: "Sir, do you think I will have nothing to do when I am full?" ”

"Oh, no, no, no. Your Excellency, that's not what I meant! Hudson hurriedly denied it, and said: "It's really too important for these two pieces of news to be true." I am going back to the embassy immediately to tell me these two news, Your Excellency, I am really sorry. I'll take my leave! ”

Xiao Zhenlei hurriedly said, "Wait, my chef is ready for dinner." Made just for you! ”

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Your Excellency, time is too short, I must rush back immediately, and as an atonement for my sins, I will definitely host a banquet for you next time! ”

??????

Potsdam, Germany, Forgotten Palace.

Built in the time of Emperor Frederick II, this palace was a fusion of late Baroque and Rococo architectural styles, and after completion, it became Frederick II's paradise of forgetfulness, and in Phileith II's dream, the palace should be a private residence for seclusion, not just a luxurious palace. From Frederick Wilhelm II until 1918, it was the residence of the German emperor.

At this time, Wilhelm II was discussing with his confidants and marshals the matter of the East Asian Fleet being blocked by the Chinese naval fleet in Jiaozhou Bay, and there must be a solution to this matter.

Wilhelm II was in high spirits at this time, because his army had achieved incomparably brilliant results on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, which made his self-confidence extremely full, and he was eager to declare war on China immediately to show his authority as Emperor of Germany and to show the strength of Germany, but the ministers and marshals stopped him in time, after all, he only had polio and was not as neurotic as Emperor Taisho of Japan, so the matter of immediately declaring war on China was abandoned.

Wilhelm II looked at the ministers and marshals sitting with a calm face, and asked, "My ministers and marshals, how can this matter be resolved?" We can't let the Chinese fleet keep blocking our East Asian fleet in Jiaozhou Bay, right? Also, why did Huaguo do this? What is their purpose? Did you know? ”

Prime Minister Theobaden? Feng? Bateman? Holwig said: "My esteemed majesty, the commander of the East Asian Fleet, Shi Pei, sent a telegram saying that the Chinese fleet was only blocked at the mouth of Jiaozhou Bay, and there was no sign of war against the East Asian fleet, and he also sent people to check, and found that all the ships of the Chinese fleet had not taken off their naval guns and gun suits, and the naval soldiers were not ready to fight, which shows that the other side has no hostile intentions, we will wait and see, maybe there will be new news soon!" ”

"Wait, wait, how when? Should my East Asian fleet be blocked and nothing can be done? Hua Guo is too much to deceive, although the strength of our German Empire in the Far East is limited, it is not something he can bully! Wilhelm II said with great irritation.

The chief of the General Staff, Moltke Jr., persuaded: "Your Majesty, I think you should calm down, only calm can you make a correct judgment, if China intends to start a war against our country, there is no need to do this at all, you can directly launch an attack on the unsuspecting East Asian Fleet late last night, and you don't need to block the mouth of Jiaozhou Bay!" ”

At this moment, a cabinet of foreign ministers walked in with a telegram and said: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister, and marshals, Hudson has sent the latest telegram!" ”

Prime Minister Bateman hurriedly took the telegram and read it, his face changed several times, and finally he raised his head and said to Wilhelm II: "Your Majesty, the situation has changed, things are not at all what we imagined, the Chinese intelligence department has received reliable information, the Entente has learned that our East Asian Fleet is going to escort the returning army soldiers and citizens, so it has prepared two fleets to set up an ambush on our return route, and the Chinese side has ordered the fleet to block Jiaozhou Bay for the safety of our East Asian fleet, It seems to be against us, but in fact it is protecting the East Asian fleet! ”

"Really? How so? Wilhelm II hurriedly grabbed the telegram and read it, and immediately said after reading it: "What's going on with these two news, why didn't our intelligence department get the news, check, go and check!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I'll send someone to check right away!" An official broke out in a cold sweat with fright.

The next day, German intelligence received the news, and the intelligence was quickly sent to Wilhelm II, who, after reading it, immediately summoned a meeting of the chancellor and marshals.

Wilhelm II took the telegram and said: "The news has been confirmed, the main fleet of the British Far East Fleet and the French Far East Fleet in India, Malacca, Cam Ranh Bay are gone, and a fleet of the British Royal Navy in the Atlantic Ocean is also missing, according to the analysis of intelligence officers, these two fleets are very likely to go for our East Asian fleet!" ”

Little Moltke sighed: "We are wrong to blame the Chinese government for saying this!" ”

Wilhelm II looked at the ministers and marshals present and asked, "Ladies and gentlemen, how can this matter be resolved now?" Should the East Asian Fleet remain in the Far East or should it be allowed to sail home as originally planned, escorting troop carriers and passenger ships to safe seas and then returning to the Indian and Pacific Oceans for a diplomatic break-up operation? ”

Prince Albert of Prussia, the younger brother of Wilhelm II and the chief inspector general of the navy, said: "According to the original plan, it would take them at least six days to set off from Qingdao, and the Far East Fleet formed by Britain and France could rush to the border between China and the Sea of Japan during this time, just in time to block the East Asian fleet!" ”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs rushed over with another telegram, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister and Marshals, Hudson has sent a telegram that the Chinese side has proposed to our country that our East Asian Fleet will be seized as a neutral country, and that our two sides will not be allowed to fight in the Far Eastern Seas, and they say that they will not take our troops and civilians as prisoners, but in order to block the mouth of the Entente, they must disarm those army and navy, and the naval officers and soldiers must also disembark, and all ships will be taken over by the Chinese side, and they will be returned after the war is over!" ”

This time, Wilhelm II rarely got angry, turned his head and glanced at the others, and asked, "What do you think?" ”

Prince Albert said: "If we set off according to the original plan, the East Asian Fleet will inevitably encounter the main forces of the British and French Far East Fleets, and we will have no chance of winning at all, and we will basically be completely annihilated!" ”

The prince only said the result, and did not express his opinion on Huaguo's proposal, but everyone else understood his thoughts, rather than the total annihilation, it was better to keep these people and ships, this is the expense of so many people in Qingdao is not a small amount, and Qingdao has been returned to Huaguo, and no more taxes can be collected, and these people have to pay for Huaguo's expenses in China.

Wilhelm II asked Prime Minister Bateman: "Prime Minister, what is your opinion?" ”

Bateman sighed, "Why do you do this when you know that if they set off as planned, they will be wiped out? This is a senseless sacrifice, not worth it, many of them are excellent soldiers, they should not die like this, I think let's follow Huaguo's suggestion, let Huaguo detain them, so that the Entente will have no excuse to attack them! ”

Although Wilhelm II was unwilling, he also knew that he could only do this now, so he agreed: "Okay, let's do it, Prime Minister, your cabinet will communicate with the Chinese side in this matter, try not to go wrong, as for the East Asian Fleet, Albert, give an order to the East Asian Fleet, let them not resist!" ”

"Yes, my majesty!" (To be continued......) R1292