Chapter 146: The Last Chance

Listened to Field Marshal George? Charles? After Earl Bingham's words, the Marquis of Salisbury nodded, Britain is now the world hegemon, and if it compromises with Kawanishi, it will inevitably make Britain lose face in the world, which is absolutely not allowed to happen to the British Empire.

"Anthony? Sir Hoskins, you are Lord Chancellor, what is your opinion? The Marquess of Salisbury asked.

"Your Excellency, I would like to ask, does the strength of the British Empire still allow us to establish a formidable enemy in the Far East? Otherwise, in the last war between Western Sichuan and the Qing Kingdom, we would not have sat back and watched Western Sichuan defeat the Qing State and develop stronger! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins said. Although he did not express his position clearly, the meaning of his words was very clear.

The Marquess of Salisbury was silent, and now the British Empire's global power was in decline, despite the fact that the British Empire had the largest colony in the world and the most powerful navy. However, this does not hide this fact.

In Europe, after the reunification of Germany, a rapid revival was achieved, and German industrial products flooded all European countries, which severely affected the sales of British products. In addition, Germany is also competing with the United Kingdom on a global scale. Germany's army is undoubtedly the first in Europe, and although there is a big gap between the German and British navy, it can be seen that the Germans are catching up. Although the proud British did not believe that Germany had the strength to challenge Britain's maritime supremacy, it also made them wary. In the Americas, the rise of the United States is also squeezing Britain's living space in the Americas. Coupled with the fact that the Boers in South Africa were ready to move, the indigenous people of India did not stop resisting after the failure of the great uprising. The British colonial system is full of loopholes, which greatly constrain Britain's strength.

"The strength of western Sichuan is not comparable to that of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. If we want to defeat western Sichuan, I am afraid that we will have to invest more than 500,000 troops, which are still the real British ** army, not the army of the colonies. The navy also had to completely block the foreign trade routes in western Sichuan. In that case, we will pay a huge price. It is undoubtedly unwise to cross half the world and fight a battle with such a powerful force! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins said again. It was clear that he was not in favor of investing too much in the Far East, and that Britain was focused on Europe rather than on the backward and barbaric Far East.

"Are we going to sit back and watch the barbarians in western Sichuan slaughter our army?" Field Marshal George? Charles? The Earl of Bingham said with some dissatisfaction. What did he say about the Admiralty Anthony? Sir Hoskins's cowardly appearance was very unaccustomed.

"Your Excellency, don't forget, it's Henry? Wellesley's idiot sent it to the door to be killed! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins said disdainfully.

"Your Excellency Chancellor, the grandson of Her Majesty the Queen, the German Emperor with a disability and a bit of madness, is building powerful warships one after another. Their latest construction of the 'Brandenburg' class battleships is no worse than our 'Sovereign' class battleships. If we don't pay attention any longer, the maritime supremacy of the British Empire will be challenged! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins reminded.

"If the Germans want to catch up with our navy, I'm afraid it will take another twenty years!" Said the Marquis of Salisbury.

"I admit it. However, we need to keep it important. Don't forget, the relationship between western Sichuan and Germany is quite close, and perhaps Germany would like us to have a big fight in the Far East and western Sichuan! In this way, they will be able to quickly close the gap with us! "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins said.

Suddenly, the Marquis of Salisbury was shocked. As the foreign minister, he naturally knew the relationship between Germany and Kawanishi. If Germany really instructed Kawanishi and Britain to start a major war in the Far East, so as to achieve the goal of dragging Britain down, then Britain would be really dangerous. According to the news from the embassy in China, Britain already knew the strength of the western Sichuan army, and if Britain wanted to defeat western Sichuan on land, it would probably have to pay a huge price.

"Are we just going to do nothing? Just gritted your teeth and swallowed this loss? For example, we can block overseas trade in western Sichuan and teach them a lesson. "Field Marshal George? Charles? The Earl of Bingham was very dissatisfied, and said hatefully.

"Haha! Your Excellency, don't forget that we are not at war with Kawanishi. If we block their overseas trade, then what do we do if they attack India and the Middle East? To start a full-scale war with them? Don't forget, there are hundreds of thousands of troops in western Sichuan. They could even arm a million well-armed troops if they wanted to. "Admiral Anthony? Sir Hoskins reminded solemnly.

"Well, I know what you mean. We cannot fight an all-out war with western Sichuan, and we must strictly control the scale of the conflict. However, we are now in a disadvantageous position, and if we negotiate peace with Kawanishi, it is estimated that we will not be able to take advantage of it. So what, order Henry? Wellesley, so he had to get a win no matter what. Otherwise, he will wait to be court-martialed! Said the Marquess of Salisbury. If they can gain an advantage on the battlefield and negotiate peace with western Sichuan at that time, they will not be so passive. There is even a little bit of benefit. Not to mention the cession of land, it would be good to ask Kawanishi to pay a little war reparation.

"I agree!" Secretary of the Navy Anthony? Sir Hoskins said. Peace talks with western Sichuan after gaining an advantage on the battlefield would undoubtedly be very advantageous for the British Empire.

"Well, I agree!" Field Marshal George? Charles? The Earl of Bingham had no choice but to nod.

"Well, so be it! Diem, in my name, to Henry, the Viceroy of India? Patty? Fitzmaurice and Henry? Wellesley, warn them that the mistake they made this time should be remembered first. The most important thing now is that victory on the battlefield must be achieved no matter what. Otherwise, the two of them will prepare to return home! Said the Marquess of Salisbury.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Prime Minister!" Tim, the secretary, nodded, and went to draft the telegram. He knew, Governor General of India, Henry? Patty? Fitzmaurice and Henry? Wellesley, these two guys are going to be out of luck. It's okay to say if they win, but if they lose, then they'll probably have to move from where they are now. Or even Henry? Wellesley had to retire from the Army.

On the afternoon of the 7th, the Viceroy of India, who was far away in Delhi, Henry ? Patty? Fitzmaurice received a reprimanding telegram from home, which gave him a great headache, and he seemed to realize that this time with Henry? Wellesley's planned operation will not only not bring them any benefit, but will also cause them trouble.

"Someone, send a report to Henry? The Honourable Wellesley, sued him that the Cabinet was very unhappy with his failure. If you don't want to go home to court-martial, try your best to win the battlefield! Also, sue him, I have supported him as best I can, and if he still wants soldiers, there will be none left! "Governor General of India, Henry? Patty? Fitzmaurice said. The total number of British and Indian troops was only 200,000. This time, he sent a total of more than 70,000 troops to Henry? Wellesley is already the largest force he can mobilize. India is a vast country and has a very large population, only a little less than the big country in the Far East. These ignorant, backward, and lazy inhabitants of India have been going on for a long time lately, and they need a large number of troops to defend them. If another great uprising broke out, what would be the Viceroy of India, Henry? Patty? Fitzmaurice may have to roll back to his hometown.

Viceroy of IndiaViceroy Henry, Viceroy of India? Patty? Fitzmaurice's telegram to Henry? Wellesley was in the hands of a military council when he had just finished a military meeting. In particular, the telegram of the cabinet reprimanded him made him sit on pins and needles. Originally, he thought that it would take some time for the news of the defeat to reach the cabinet. But I didn't expect that I was defeated only yesterday, and now the Cabinet's reprimand telegram has come.

However, fortunately, the cabinet gave him a chance, and it was also the last chance, and if he failed again this time, he knew very well what would await him. I'm afraid, he will have to take off his military uniform and even go to a court-martial. Starting a war without permission, losing it, and losing a large number of troops was enough to spend the rest of his life in prison. Even if he can avoid prison with the influence of his family, from now on, he and his family will definitely become the laughing stock of British high society.

At the same time, the news of the defeat of the British ** team and the loss of nearly 30,000 people also spread all over the world. Almost all countries, after receiving this news, their first reaction is not to believe it. But after confirming the source, they were immediately shocked. Could it be that Kawanishi is already strong enough not to be afraid of Britain? This is not a good thing for the countries of the Far East, especially the Manchus and Japan!

Of course, there are also people who are ecstatic about it. William de Wongwillem II openly stated that Britain's invasion of the territory of other countries should be condemned. Germany will stand by Kawanishi, and they will support Kawanishi in defending its rights.

Lucas, the German consul in Chengdu, even visited Wang Xiao, the ruler of western Sichuan, and said that the German side could provide support to western Sichuan. The implication is very obvious, Germany wants a big war between Kawanishi and Britain, so as to drag Britain down and give Germany more time to develop. However, Kawanishi is not fooled, they will not take advantage of others for the sake of others.

PS: Today's four watches are complete! (To be continued.)