In 1898, history once again twisted and changed the original trajectory, and rapidly developed towards a new and unknown path. When the Chinese Empire occupied Japan militarily in only five months, it forced the Japanese government to surrender unconditionally. Once again, the Chinese military's invincible offensive capability has been indisputably proven, and its shock power is unparalleled. In particular, the forcible, helpless, and embarrassed retreat of the coalition forces to the Japanese mainland undoubtedly declared the failure of the Pacific defense circle. Major changes in the Japanese archipelago. In particular, Japan's rapid submission led to a rift in the Liberal Shijie Alliance.

At the end of the year, the Spanish governor of the Philippines was released by the Chinese army. This guy returned to Spain and immediately caused a shock in the Spanish dynasty. Just after the New Year, the King of Spain summoned all the ministers to discuss that there was no longer Spain's interest in Asia, and where would Spain go? Frankly speaking, this shijie is a common interest, and when the interests are gone, the so-called morality and responsibility will disappear. In just one month, the Chinese army beat rabbits with grass and took the Philippines lightly. The Spanish Army can be said to be the most elite unit in the Philippines, but the 80,000 Spanish troops did not fight a decent battle, and they lost their armor and collapsed.

Originally, the rapid surrender of the Spanish army shook the whole country. When the headquarters of the coalition forces retreated to the Japanese archipelago and the Pacific Fleet of the coalition forces did nothing, the Spanish dynasty, including the ministers, unanimously believed that the coalition group led by Britain and the United States was no longer able to defeat the rising Chinese empire. In particular, Spain lost the Philippines, the only colony in the Far East, and it can be said that Spain no longer has any interests in Asia. on this. It is no longer meaningful for the minister to continue to follow Britain and the United States.

On this day in the Royal Palace of Spain, the splendid palace was magnificent, but the Spanish dignitaries seated in the palace. But he was depressed and his face was gloomy. The Spanish emperor did not say a word, and the governor of the Philippines, who was soon released and returned to Spain, walked in with a fat body. This guy came to the Spanish emperor and bowed slightly: "Dear bixia, the guilty minister has no face to face you, but I must come back to report to you." Then the Philippine governor gave a detailed report on the situation in the Philippines, focusing on the process of the U.S. military abandoning its allies and fleeing without authorization.

The fat governor said reverently: "Dear bixia, this is the president of the Chinese Empire. Let the letter forwarded by the criminal, please bixia read it. One of the guards took the letter and handed it to the emperor. Letters are written in Chinese and Spanish. The emperor read both sides carefully, put down the letter with a blank face, pondered for a while, and said, "The emperor of the Chinese Empire promised in the letter. As long as Spain withdraws from the alliance, the Chinese Empire can release all Spanish prisoners of war and treat the legitimate interests of Spanish expatriates and merchants well. ”

Then. A minister stepped forward and said, "Bixia." The Americans are known as the leaders of freedom, but when we were facing a crisis in the Philippines, the US military actually retreated without authorization, throwing away all the oaths of the allies, without any regard for the safety of the allies. What is the future for us with such allies? "Bixia, Asia no longer has our interests. Since the President of the Chinese Empire has taken the initiative to reconcile, we should withdraw from the alliance without hesitation. And to remain neutral, so that the suffering soldiers can return home sooner. ”

At the beginning, the ministers made statements one after another, almost with one purpose, that is, to withdraw from the alliance, but not to publicly express their support for the Chinese Empire. The Emperor of Spain breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that all the ministers were in agreement, and Zuihou solemnly announced that he would withdraw from the alliance and not join the war. A few days later, the Emperor of Spain issued a declaration that he would withdraw from the alliance and no longer support the war, and called on the Shijie countries to stop the war and return Shijie to a peaceful life. One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the rebellion of the Spaniards made waves in the freedom of Shijie.

The rebellion of the Spaniards was resolutely opposed by Portugal, the Netherlands, and Russia, and to great surprise France expressed regret, Germany expressed understanding, Austria-Hungary did not make any statement, and the other European countries remained silent. Needless to say, there is a situation in which European countries have their own agendas. Britain thought that the allies would strongly condemn Spain, and the British came out to clean up the situation, but Britain's purpose was frustrated, and it had to issue a painless condemnation.

A few days later, U.S. President Cleveland and Secretary of State William urgently traveled to the United Kingdom for consultations. Originally, the US president's visit to Britain should have been grand and even grand. But the British blocked the news, and everything was quiet. In London's Buckingham Palace, U.S. President Cleveland and Secretary of State William had solemn expressions, and the two and Empress Elizabeth entered into substantive negotiations after their courtesy greetings. "Dear Mr. Cleveland, Mr. William, Spain's decision to withdraw from the alliance without authorization is completely a rebellion against freedom, and I think Spain should be severely punished and sent a fleet to coerce Spain into submission."

At critical moments, Queen Victoria showed her iron-blooded side. Cleveland said: "Empress Bixia, send warships to threaten Spain." At present, the European allies have their own evil intentions. The rebellion in Spain represents a certain trend of thought, and we cannot add fuel to it, and the use of force and coercion can only exacerbate the rebellion. We abandoned the Japanese archipelago, causing shock and unease in Europe. Germany, in particular, has ambitions and is on the sidelines. Successive defeats, problems in France, strikes in various places, and a very unstable political situation in France. At this time, the use of force and coercion can only be counterproductive. ”

Elizabeth was immediately deflated when she heard this: "There is a rift in the Allied forces, and the future of freedom is bleak, and it is difficult for us to watch the Chinese army gradually encroach on us, and Zuihou bows at their feet, I can tell you two that the British Empire will never give in." William said: "Empress Bixia, the United States will not give in." But a grim situation arose. Spain chose neutrality, and we can accept it. Now is a time of crisis, and we must not let Spain and other countries become our enemies, this is a conspiracy of the Chinese. ”

"Netherlands, Portugal. France has huge interests in the South Seas, and there are no problems for the time being. Once the South Seas were occupied by Chinese troops, it was a matter of time before they withdrew from the alliance. As long as there are no problems at home in Russia, we don't have to worry, because Russia has its own security at stake. At the moment we are most worried about Germany. After several years of war, Germany remained unscathed, and its national economy developed rapidly. In particular, Germany's weapons manufacturing and shipbuilding industry are developing rapidly, and Germany is the biggest variable. ”

US President Cleveland sighed and said: "If Germany has ambitions, Europe will be in flames." So we have to be prepared. The United States and Britain are iron-clad allies, and the Chinese Empire will not give up in the next step, and a decisive battle against the ocean and landing on the American continent is their ultimate strategy, so the core of our defense is the American continent. Elizabeth asked, "What about Australia?" "Empress Bixia. Australia must defend, but it is not the core of the defense, and we can use Australia to delay the offensive of the Chinese army. Gain time for the defense of the American continent. ”

Seeing Elizabeth's hesitation, the President of the United States said: "Empress Bixia, the abandonment must be given up under the current situation." Once there is a sea change in Europe. We have no time to take care of Europe, we can only compromise, we must give up Australia, and we will concentrate on Liliang to surround the mainland. The Pacific Ocean is vast, and even if the Chinese Navy can control it, it will have to pay a certain price. Moreover, the Chinese Navy lacks ocean-going combat capabilities, and we must use the natural barrier of the Pacific Ocean to fight out the victory or defeat in the ocean. ”

Elizabeth said: "Originally, the United States and Britain were the core of the coalition, even if their withdrawal had little impact. The United States and Britain are brothers, and the Chinese have a proverb that says it well. Fight tiger brothers, go into battle father and son soldiers, let us work together. Together against the Chinese Empire. But Australia must hold on, and the British Empire will never give up on Australia. Seeing Victoria's resolute attitude, Cleveland had no choice but to give up, but in fact, their goal was achieved.

Two days later, the United States and Britain issued a joint statement agreeing that Spain would withdraw from the coalition and remain neutral. At the same time, the Chinese Empire also issued a statement welcoming Spain's withdrawal from the coalition and maintaining neutrality, and announced the release of all Spanish and German prisoners of war. The intention of the released German prisoners of war was well known to everyone in Sima Zhao's heart.

The number of German prisoners of war was small, just over 1,000. The move has made waves in Europe again. The German press openly expressed gratitude and spoke highly of the civilized actions of the Chinese Empire. However. This is only a superficial article. On this day, the wind in Berlin, Germany, was bitingly cold, and the streets and alleys were covered with snow. There were not many pedestrians on the streets, and a horse-drawn carriage stopped in front of the German Imperial Palace. After the carriage came to a stop, a tall, burly man stepped out of the carriage with the help of the guards. It was none other than the German iron-blooded Bismarck.

The Prime Minister's sudden and secret visit to Kaiser Wilhelm must have been to negotiate a major matter. In William's chamber, after the two were seated, Bismarck bluntly said: "Bixia, the Chinese Empire has risen, and we must face this inexorable truth. The next step for the Chinese army will definitely be to set off stormy waves in the Pacific Ocean and then land on the American continent. Their target is the United States of America. At present, the United States is already a shijie power, and the Chinese will never let the United States become a strong country. ”

"If the Chinese can land on the American continent, they can't land in Europe?" Kaiser Wilhelm was confused. Bismarck analyzed: "If the Chinese Empire wanted to conquer Europe, it had to attack on land. The first step was to occupy Russia before marching into Europe. Not to mention how vast Russia's strategic depth is, the lessons of Napoleon are familiar to the Chinese, so I judge that the westward expansion of the Chinese Empire has not succeeded. Moreover, the sudden release of German prisoners of war by the Chinese Empire, coupled with the release of German prisoners of war in Xinjiang a few years ago, is a clear signal that the Chinese Empire wants to be friends with us. ”

"Be friends?" Kaiser Wilhelm was even more confused. Bismarck said confidently: "Bixia, there are no eternal friends and no eternal enemies on Shijie, only eternal interests. Ask the Chinese how big the benefits are, how long they will take, and how heavy the losses will be, and they know very well that the Chinese are not fools. I propose to send secret emissaries to test the attitude of the Chinese, and if China and Germany reconcile, our German opportunity will come. ”

"Taking a step back, we took advantage of the opportunity of the Chinese Empire to attack the American continent and dominate Europe in one fell swoop, and even if the Chinese attack Europe, we have enough capital to counter. Bixia, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the German nation, please think twice. Kaiser Wilhelm pondered for a while and said, "All right! You send an envoy to the Chinese Empire, and if the attitude of the Chinese is clear, we will formulate countermeasures. "Bismarck was a careerist, and he saw an opportunity for Germany's rapid rise. (To be continued......)

PS: There are no eternal friends on shijie, only eternal interests.