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At nine o'clock in the morning on December 11, Washington time, in the White House, President Theodore Roosevelt's office, all cabinet ministers arrived. The United States, as one of the Entente powers, is also very concerned about the ongoing war between China and Britain and France in the Middle East.

"Gentlemen, it looks like our allies are in trouble. According to the intelligence we received, a few hours earlier, the Chinese had broken through the defenses of our allies in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Chinese used submarines to sneak attack, and the British and French navies suffered heavy losses. Now the battle is over, and the Anglo-French Navy has lost six new battleships! U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt said.

"The fact that the Chinese broke through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait so quickly really surprised everyone. Moreover, the tactics of the Chinese in using submarines are indeed worth learning. In addition to building new types of battleships, our US Navy should also strengthen the study of submarines. The Chinese are also our great enemies, and we will inevitably fight with the Chinese in the future! Secretary of the Navy William Henry Moody said.

"It's good that the Admiralty is responsible for this problem!" President Theodore Roosevelt said. He also served as Secretary of the Navy and knew the gap between the U.S. Navy and the Chinese Navy. If the United States wants to defeat the Chinese navy in a future war, it will have to keep up with China in all aspects. And then take advantage of the great industrial power of the United States, surpassing China!

"I brought you here today because I have a question to discuss. Our allies saw that they were about to lose, and the British side proposed to ask our fleet to enter the Mediterranean and, if necessary, join the war against the Chinese! What do you think? President Theodore Roosevelt said. Obviously. On this issue, he could not make up his mind. This war is no better than the United States, and there is absolutely no need for the United States to join the war.

"Your Excellency, this war is a war between China and Britain and France for the Middle East, and it has nothing to do with us. Although in the past three years, we have regained our strength. But. At this time, it is completely unnecessary to join the war with China. The lead ship of our Navy has already gone to Europe. If we join the war, the Chinese will definitely retaliate against our West Coast! War Minister Eli Hurut reminded. The Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet has always posed a serious threat to the west coast of the United States. And according to the armistice treaty signed at the beginning. The US Navy is not allowed to deploy warships of more than 10,000 tons on the west coast, which makes the US Navy's West Coast Fleet only have one armored cruiser, light cruiser, and destroyer, and has no chance of winning against the powerful Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy!

"Your Excellency, I also do not approve of the involvement of the United States in this war. According to our previous agreement with the British. Our navy went to England, and I defended the British against the Germans. The strength of the Chinese Navy has already been proven, even if six of our battleships join it. I'm afraid the odds aren't very good. There is no need to take this risk! Secretary of State John Hay said. After the end of the last war, isolationism regained in the United States. Although the US Government has pursued a policy of developing armaments and expanding armaments for warfare, it has been a shameful one. It attracted the support of some Americans and joined the Entente. But there are still a lot of Americans. I hope to honestly guard the American soil and live a stable life.

"Gentlemen, that's not the point, the point is, what do we get if we join this war? British, what price are they ready to pay? Finance Minister LM Shaw said. Specific interests are the key points, and between countries, the most important thing is tangible interests. As long as the British can pay the price that satisfies the United States, the United States may not be able to join the British and French sides in the war against China!

"The British promised to provide us with a full set of design drawings for the Orion-class battleships, as well as the technology for the production of the latest British 343-mm naval guns!" The Orion-class battleship is a new generation of battleships designed by the United Kingdom, and will have more powerful combat power than the previous battleships! The British were willing to hand over to us the blueprints for the design of this battleship, as well as to provide us with the technology of the latest 343-mm naval guns, which, in general, was quite satisfactory! Theodore Roosevelt said. He knew where the shortcomings of the US Navy were, the lack of design talents for battleships, and the technology of new naval guns and even armor, all of which seriously affected the development of the US Navy!

"Your Excellency, if the British agree to provide us with new armor steel technology and technology related to large oil-fired boilers and steam turbines, we will agree to help them!" Secretary of the Navy William Henry Moody said. The design drawings, naval guns, armor steel and power system are available, which will raise the strength of the US Navy to a higher level, which is very helpful for the subsequent development of the US Navy!

"Well, Your Excellency, you can get in touch with the British and make our request to them. If they agree, then our fleet can go to the Mediterranean. However, the navy should try to avoid fighting the Chinese. The Chinese are not easy to deal with, and in the event of a war, the navy will inevitably suffer huge losses! President Theodore Roosevelt said. I have to admit that the whole United States has a fear of China, and even President Theodore Roosevelt is no exception!

The Americans are deliberating whether to get involved in the war and rescue their allies. Germany, an ally of the secret agreement with China, is also negotiating the Battle of the Red Sea and China's demands on Germany.

Kaiser Wilhelm II convened a council of the Imperial Cabinet and convened important ministers of the Reich for discussion.

"The Chinese have officially made a request to us for the Imperial Navy to patrol the North Sea and deter the British. Avoid the U.S. Navy in Britain entering the Middle East and joining the war. What do you think about this? Wilhelm II said with a blank face, no one knew what he was thinking.

"Your Majesty, according to the secret agreement we signed with the Chinese, we seem to have no reason to refuse their demand!" This was stated by German Prime Minister Bernhard von Bilo.

Kaiser Wilhelm II nodded, then looked at the others. Clearly, Germany, as an ally of China, should do the same. However, Kaiser Wilhelm II did not seem willing to fulfill his obligations as an ally.

"Father, we can't agree to the Chinese's request. Now it seems that there is no longer any suspense that the Chinese will win the war in the Middle East. The victory of the Chinese will certainly weaken the strength of Britain and France, which is also very beneficial to the empire. However, a strong China is also a huge threat to the empire! Crown Prince William said. After a half-year trip to China, Crown Prince William has always been very wary of China. Now that China has easily defeated Britain and France, and is about to seize the Middle East, Crown Prince William will be jealous to death. If the Middle East is a barren barren land, then forget it. But a lot of oil has been found in the Middle East! Germany also has a huge demand for these oils.

"Your Majesty, will this cause a rift in the relationship between us and China?" Prince Heinrich said with some concern.

"Your Majesty, Britain and France have lost six new battleships in this war. And, there is the possibility of losing more. This is undoubtedly excellent news for the Imperial Navy. With eight battleships, we have become the most powerful navy in Europe. However, as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said, China's strength is too strong, and originally, they are in East Asia, thousands of miles away from the empire, and they will not pose a threat to the empire. But once China wins this war, and they seize the Middle East and even Egypt, then China's power will penetrate into Europe. The Empire has to defend against it! Secretary of the Navy Alfred von Tirpitz also said.

"So, are we going to reject the Chinese? But if we refuse the Chinese's demands, will we still be able to get oil from the Middle East? In addition, will this have a bad impact on the intimate relations between China and Germany? Kaiser Wilhelm II was hesitant. His ambition is also very big. Tens of millions of Germans cannot be confined to the European continent, they need a wider living space. Originally, in Kaiser Wilhelm II's plan, Germany could defeat Britain and France in a future war, and then seize the huge British and French colonies in Africa, and as for Asia, it was Chinese. But now, China's expansion is so rapid that it threatens German interests, much to the displeasure of Wilhelm II. But at the same time, he didn't want to turn against the Chinese. After all, with the strength of Germany, it was impossible to defeat Britain and France, and it was necessary to unite with China.

"Your Majesty, the relationship between us and the Chinese is very complicated. However, the current situation is that we cannot do without the Chinese, but the Chinese cannot do without us either. Although China is strong, it does not have the strength to compete with the Entente on its own, so they have to join forces with us. I think that even if there are some small contradictions between our two countries, it will not affect the overall situation! "said the head of the German General Staff, Count Alfred von Schlieffen.

"Good! Then tell the Chinese that the new battleships of our Navy, the boilers need to be repaired, and there is no way to patrol the North Sea for the time being! Kaiser Wilhelm II said!