Although they were reluctant to stand up and play this round, for the sake of the whole meeting, the French finally stood up―――――― especially when the eyes of a third of the people in the venue fell on themselves, even if the French did not want to stand up, they had to stand up. After all, so many eyes fall on yourself, and the pressure caused is really unimaginable...

No matter how thick the nerves of the French are, it is impossible not to feel the slightest feeling. What's more, the French are sitting here now who are naturally sensitive and proud?!

After standing up, the French spoke kindly and persuaded the Chinese and American representatives in the venue.

As mentioned earlier, the French still have some face in front of the national government. And Charles himself, despite his deep annoyance, also needed a step for him to come down. Therefore, under the pacification of the French, the atmosphere in the venue was finally eased, which also made many people breathe a sigh of relief. Especially Charles himself.

As mentioned earlier, the so-called "Washington Conference" is mainly composed of four parts.

These are the so-called four parts: the Four-Power Treaty, the Treaty on the Limitation of Naval Armaments, the Defense Treaty with the Soviet Union, and the Far East Peace Treaty.

Of the four treaties, there are at least three that require the involvement of the national and social governments, and in some ways the most important ones. Among them, the importance of the Treaty on the Limitation of Naval Armaments can be described as significant. The importance of the Defense Treaty with the Soviet Union and the Peace Treaty for the Far East is no less self-evident.

Although the Four-Power Treaty has been successful now, if it fails. It is difficult to say whether the latter two treaties will succeed.

It is even difficult to say whether this meeting will be successful or not.

And if this meeting fails...

Understand that as the host country of the entire conference. In particular, even the home of the conference is in the capital of the United States. The United States has not only received many honors, but also assumed a lot of responsibilities. If it can be successful, it is naturally great. Similarly, the US Government, which hosted the conference, will receive many honors because of the success of the conference, and even its international prestige and status will be greatly enhanced. But if this meeting fails, then the United States, which has already increased its prestige because of this war, is likely to be greatly affected by this. After all, this conference was hosted by the U.S. government, and now that the conference has failed, even if it doesn't have much to do with the Americans, it is easy to be angered by others―――――― until that time. It was certainly the British who were happy.

The British would not be willing to let the United States (Germany, Russia, and France), which was originally under them, or even only one of the several great powers before the war, reach a position equal to themselves. It's just that current affairs are not up to people. So no matter how helpless I am in my heart. The British could only choose to accept it.

However, if the conference fails, then those who have many hopes for this conference will inevitably feel disappointment and regret. It is even possible to anger the country that undertook the meeting, which is now the United States.

At that time, even if there will be no change in the real strength between Britain and the United States, the decline in the prestige of the United States is inevitable―――――― and from a certain point of view, prestige can be regarded as a kind of soft power, isn't it?

Therefore, now the whole situation can get a fairly good ending. Even Charles himself felt a little fortunate.

Of course, previously as the main force to belittle China. Charles himself is not unclear about what the result will be if he doesn't get it right. It's just that he never thought that the reaction of the Chinese would be so fierce, even to the point that he had already threatened to tear his face as soon as he opened his mouth...

Such a violent reaction from the Nationalist government was not expected by Charles.

"These damn yellow-skinned monkeys!"

scolded viciously in his heart, but on the surface, Charles pretended to be indifferent, with a gentlemanly demeanor. Although Charles still feels embarrassed in his heart until now because of what happened just now, as a politician, shamelessness is the most basic skill.

It's not even too much to say that very few people with a face will run away to be politicians...

Therefore, no matter how embarrassing what happened just now was for Charles himself, Charles, who was very thick-skinned, could adjust his expression in the shortest possible time. Even though the bottom of my heart is about to erupt like a volcano, it seems calm on the surface...

After noticing this, even Gu Weijun and others, who were sitting in the seat, had to deeply admire Charles.

After all, such a shameless person, even Gu Weijun, they haven't seen a few in the past.

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The atmosphere in the venue in front of him eased down, and he sat silently on the side, just beside the Imperial Privy Council President Arthur? Lord Balfour finally spoke.

In fact, it was Arthur who took the lead in attacking the Nationalist government before? Balfour, however, was a shrewd man, and he simply stirred up the subject. Then he handed over the whole thing to Charles, and he just sat behind his back and watched Charles perform in front of him.

Originally, this was nothing, but since Charles was already a little unable to hold the table, Balfour should naturally stand up.

"Perhaps what I just said is indeed a little unfair to your country. However, I believe that your government cannot deny one thing, that is, although your country's overall strength is very strong, the navy is your country's biggest shortcoming. Isn't it not true that the strength of the navy is not on a par with that of the great powers, and that it would be unfair to the other countries participating in the conference to ignore the facts and arbitrarily raise your country's evaluation and the conditions that come with it? ”

"That's right," said the Italian. It is an indisputable fact that your navy, although it is stronger, is the weakest among the countries participating in the Conference. If you ignore this fact because of the words of your Government, it is not for my country and several other countries here. It's also unfair..."

The remarks of Balfour and the Italians aroused a lot of approval in the venue.

Leaving aside the overall strength of China today, at least the naval strength is indeed the weakest of the above-mentioned countries―――――― of course, only the surface fleet.

If the real strength rating has changed just because of the words of the Chinese, then for other countries, especially France and Italy. It's a little too unfair.

"Having said that, but you should also admit a fact..."Stopping the step that wanted to stand up, Gu Weijun coughed lightly. He spoke in a faint voice. "Although our navy is the weakest of the six countries at the level of capital ships, the strength of the underwater fleet has become the strongest underwater force in the world after the defeat of Germany, consisting of hundreds of the world's most advanced submarines. It's definitely not something that can be compared with a few battleships or battle cruisers. ”

"Not to mention anything else. At present, the performance of the four super-dreadnoughts that China has started to build can be said to be the top at present, and only these four super-dreadnoughts need to be launched to immediately reverse the current shape..."

"What is particularly important is that China has become one of the six countries with the greatest development potential. What is lacking is only time, and it is not very difficult for the navy to catch up with the countries as long as there is enough time. ”

Gu Weijun's words. Some people in the audience nodded slightly.

Not only because Gu Weijun's words made some sense, but also because everyone present did not want this meeting to break down because of this incident.

However, Gu Weijun's words didn't last long. I heard someone speak in a disdainful voice.

"Underwater fleet? Is that thing any use?! There are also capital ships that have not yet been completed, can they also be called combat effectiveness? ”

Hearing this, there was a hint of anger on Gu Weijun's face.

After glancing in the direction where the voice came from, it turned out to be a representative of the Japanese delegation, that is, the Minister of the Navy, Biao Tsubabe.

After discovering that the words just now turned out to be said by the Japanese, Gu Weijun's expression became slightly disdainful. "The underwater fleet is useless? Then please tell me Mr. Finance why your navy lost more than half of its naval fleet in the Battle of Longkou Bay in the Shandong Campaign seven years ago, and how your country's battle cruiser King Kong became one of the main ships of the National Defense Navy. Also, in the later stages of the Shandong Campaign, why did your country write to our country, asking us to prohibit the use of submarines as a weapon, and at the same time stop attacking your country's sea transportation lines? ”

"In addition, according to what you just said, Mr. Minister, if the capital ships that have not yet been completed are not considered combat effectiveness, then what about the two Nagato-class battleships currently under construction in your country!"

Hearing Gu Weijun's words, the expressions of Finance Biao and the other members of the Japanese delegation behind him suddenly became ugly.

The Battle of Shandong and the Battle of Longkou Bay can be called a permanent pain for the Japanese. Especially for the Ministry of Finance Biao himself, if it weren't for the Battle of Longkou Bay that year, the current position of Minister of the Navy may not be his turn to sit in the Ministry of Finance.

That's right, he is indeed capable, and his qualifications and background are sufficient. But compared with the fleet commander of the year, Yuzaburo Kato, there is a world of difference.

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Not to mention that Gu Weijun himself is a very good diplomat, since he has taken on such a heavy responsibility this time, Gu Weijun will certainly not be able to collect more information and do more understanding before leaving.

Especially military-related information, even if it is political, it is impossible for Gu Weijun to ignore it, as a career diplomat, Gu Weijun will not understand. But in terms of military affairs, Gu Weijun can only be regarded as a layman in this regard―――――― at least compared with Bu Zigao and Sa Zhenbing and others, especially the navy is still a very professional branch of the army.

Of course, this does not mean that the professionalism of the army is relatively poor, at least the professional nature of the arms such as artillery or armored troops is still very strong.

It's just that compared with the navy, the high-end arms of the army are of course very professional, but some of the lower-end arms are compared with the navy. It's going to be a lot worse.

For example, ordinary infantry and so on, although this does not mean that infantry is not important, nor does it mean that infantry is not very powerful. The point is that the entry base of the infantry is simply too low. Those veterans naturally crawled out of the mountain of corpses and the sea of blood, but what about ordinary recruits? It only takes three months to train a whole bunch of them.

Especially in a critical situation, there is no need for even training, only one gun per person is needed. Compared with the navy, which does not know how to use the equipment if there is no training for a period of time, the entry requirements are indeed too low.

Therefore, before leaving, Gu Weijun specially made a point of understanding.

The Now Word. Of course, he can only be regarded as a layman compared to professionals, but compared with politicians like Charles who don't even want to understand, he is much stronger.

In addition, Gu Weijun himself is a very clever diplomat. Naturally know how to attack the enemy's weakest points―――――― especially those weak points.

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Hearing Gu Weijun's words, Cai Minbiao's expression suddenly changed and became extremely ugly.

Apparently he also remembered that in the Battle of Shandong. How big were the losses of the Japanese army in the Battle of Longkou Bay. Especially in the later stages of the Battle of Longkou Bay. The submarine forces that frequently attacked almost made the Japanese want to cry without tears.

Every day, a transport ship bound for Shandong was sunk by a submarine, and the supply of the Japanese troops in Shandong was not very sufficient. The defeat of the Japanese in Shandong at the beginning also has a great deal to do with this.

Later, the Japanese government even sent a note demanding that the Kokusha government stop using submarines, a 'despicable' weapon.

Of course, Yan Shao would never have taken care of them, so the submarine was used as usual. The losses of the Japanese army were also increasing day by day.

As for the two Nagato-class battleships ...

In fact, despite the fact that in the past the Japanese Navy built a number of battleships. In particular, the ultra-dreadnoughts have the Fuso-class and the Ise-class. However, since the previous Japanese battleships were British designs or changes based on British designs, the Nagato-class battleships designed entirely by Japan were regarded as 'first-class battleships of pure Japanese origin'.

It should be noted that the Nagato-class had the fastest sailing speed of a battleship at that time, with a maximum speed of 26.7 knots, and the Japanese Navy took secret measures for the speed index of the Nagato-class, so the announced speed was 23 knots.

At the time of the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, most of the ships of the Combined Fleet concentrated in Bohai Bay to carry out joint exercises. However, in the waters off Enshu Beach in Japan, it happened to encounter the Danae-class light cruiser Dispatch of the British Royal Navy, and in order to avoid being detected by foreign warships at great speed, the Nagato slowed down and sailed slower than the Dispatch into the port of Yokohama.

However, in fact, although both the Fuso and Ise classes were launched and put into service during this period, the two Nagato-class battleships, the Nagato and the Mutsu. Among them, even the Nagato, which has the highest number of completed projects, is far from reaching the Chengdù in service, let alone the Mutsu.

Therefore, according to the Japanese, if according to the Japanese, the battleships that have not yet been completed are not considered combat effectiveness, then the Nagato and Mutsu obviously cannot be regarded as combat effectiveness.

In fact, even in history, the Japanese have been in danger because of this.

Historically, because the Washington Conference was held at the end of 1921, in the 1921 Washington Conference, the United States and Britain demanded that Japan destroy the Mutsu that had been launched and had not yet been completed.

Of course, the Japanese also paid some price for this, otherwise Britain and the United States would not be so kind...

At this time, due to the early convening of the Washington Conference, it was clear that neither the Nagato nor the Mutsu had yet to be completed. If, according to the Ministry of Finance, the unfinished battleships are not capable of combat effectiveness, the first thing to be dismantled are the two super dreadnoughts of the Japanese.

If this were to be done, it would be clear that the Japanese would have suffered a lot more than the Kokusha government.

After all, the two Japanese ships are basically almost completed. But the four ships of the Communist government are different, although they seem to be very powerful, but in fact they have only just started construction, and they are only in the embryonic form...

In other words, even if the four ships of the Commune government were dismantled, the financial losses would not be very large. Anyway, it's just starting to build, and even if it doesn't cost a lot.

However, the Japanese are completely different, and if the two battleships that are basically almost completed are dismantled, it will definitely make the Japanese who are not particularly financially good-looking feel very distressed.

It's just that if it is not completed just now, it is not considered combat effectiveness, after all, it was said by the Ministry of Finance Biao himself, so the Ministry of Finance Biao himself does not know how to answer.

As for letting others come up and help the Ministry of Finance say a few words? But there's no need to count on that.

The British didn't care, but for the Americans, they didn't want the Japanese navy to be too strong. Therefore, if they do not fall into the trap in this matter, the Japanese should already be grateful.

As for the French and Italians?

These two countries are already unhappy that Japan will be ranked higher than their own, so how can they stand up and speak for the Japanese...

―――――――――――――――――――――――― (To be continued......)