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In London, England, Downing Street Prime Minister's Office, a large number of Liberal Party supporters holding signs and chanting against Prime Minister Arthur Balfour protested outside the Prime Minister's Office. After the British and French navies were defeated by the Chinese navy in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, it immediately caused an uproar in Britain. The political enemies of the Conservative Party, the leaders of the Liberal Party, have openly attacked the policies of Arthur Balfour's cabinet on various occasions. This made the support of the Conservative Party decline rapidly, and Prime Minister Arthur Belfour and others were even more anxious.

Not only the Liberals are opposing Arthur Balfour's cabinet, but even the Conservative Party is also very dissatisfied with the imminent defeat of Britain and France this time, and the call for Arthur Balfour to step down is very high.

In the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Arthur Belfort held a cup of coffee and looked at the protesting crowd outside through the window of his office, his heart full of bitterness. He didn't want to lead the British Empire to strength, but, contrary to his wishes, the British Empire had inevitably begun to decline! Now, the situation is developing in an unfavorable direction, and Prime Minister Arthur Belfour knows that it may not be long before he will have to leave the Prime Minister's Office.

At this moment, two carriages entered it through the back door of the Prime Minister's Office. Field Marshal Neville Powers Sir Chamberlain and Lord of the Admiralty, Sir John Fisher.

Seeing the two people who arrived in a hurry, Prime Minister Arthur Belfour couldn't help frowning, he knew that the situation of the war in the Middle East must have changed again, and it must still be a change that is not conducive to Britain.

"You two, please be seated! I don't know about you guys this time. What bad news will it bring me? Prime Minister Arthur Balfour asked with a wry smile. Obviously, the bad situation has gradually made him lose confidence.

"Your Excellency, Port Said has been captured by the Chinese. The entire Suez Canal has fallen into the hands of the Chinese. The back roads of the hundreds of thousands of coalition troops we have deployed in the Kingdom have been cut off by the Chinese. Even more strictly, after the logistics supply line is cut off, the current supplies of the coalition army can last for half a month at most. Half a month later. They're going to run out of ammunition! Field Marshal Sir Chamberlain said with a stern face. In order to maintain the hundreds of thousands of allied troops fighting in the Kingdom, Britain and France have done their best. Now that the logistics supply line has been cut off, it is undoubtedly a catastrophe for hundreds of thousands of coalition troops!

"So what should we do now? Is there a way to open up logistical supply lines? Prime Minister Arthur Belfour asked.

"Very difficult, we were in Egypt. There are less than 30,000 left! The reinforcements sent are still on the way. Moreover, even after going, it is estimated that it will be difficult to defeat the Chinese. The Chinese have deployed almost 200,000 troops near the Suez Canal. Moreover, they were able to receive fire support from the naval fleet to defeat the squadron. We have to commit at least 400,000 troops. However, it will take time, at least two months before we can assemble these troops. And the reinforcements in Saudi Arabia can only hold out for half a month! Sir Chamberlain replied.

"Hell. How so? What about the Navy? Hasn't the US Navy already arrived in Egypt? Together with our four 'Dreadnought-class' battleships, there are already ten new battleships, can't they still beat the Chinese Navy? Prime Minister Arthur Belfour said hatefully.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese are in the waters near Port Said. Submarines were deployed. We already have two armored cruisers sunk by their submarines. And the main battleships of the Chinese were deployed around Port Said. The Americans used this as an excuse. Refuse to fight a decisive battle with the Chinese Navy, and we have no other way! Sir John Fisher said.

"Can we only watch the Suez Canal fall into the hands of the Chinese, and hundreds of thousands of troops on the front line are starved to death by them?" Prime Minister Arthur Belfour asked angrily.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, we can still work on it, and the 100,000 reinforcements we have sent will arrive in Egypt in three days. The French government's 100,000 reinforcements would arrive in four days. It's just that we still don't have an advantage. However, Egypt has 100,000 troops that we have built, and if we can convince the Egyptian Khedive Abbasid II to join us in the war against China, perhaps we will have a chance to reconnect with the expeditionary force! Sir Chamberlain said.

"Egyptian Khedive Abbasid II? Will he agree to join us? Prime Minister Arthur Belfour frowned. Abbasid II was not a fool, and now that England and France were clearly at a disadvantage, he would certainly not join the side of Britain and France unless he was kicked in the head by a donkey.

"Abbasid II always wanted Egyptian autonomy, and we can make it conditional on supporting Egypt's autonomy by allowing him to join us. Maybe it will work! Sir Chamberlain said.

"Well, we can give it a try! Come, go and invite Lord Lansdorne to the Prime Minister's House! Prime Minister Arthur Belfour ordered.

"What about the Navy? Is there a way for the Navy to defeat the Chinese Navy? Prime Minister Arthur Belfour asked. Without sea supremacy, it is almost impossible to recapture the Suez Canal.

"We will try to negotiate with the Americans and let them join us in launching an attack on the Chinese Navy. As for the threat of Chinese submarines, we can only send more destroyers to the Middle East, and once the Chinese submarines are found, destroy them as much as possible! Sir John Fisher said. Now there are no effective means of dealing with submarines. At most, when building a battleship, an anti-mine compartment can be added. At the same time, on the sides of the battleship, anti-mine nets were hung.

"Sue the Americans, if they don't agree to fight with us, we will stop providing them with technical assistance!" Prime Minister Arthur Belfour said. In order to get the Americans into the fight, Britain paid a huge price! Now that the Americans have received benefits, they actually want to not fulfill their promises, how can this work!

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister. There are several key technologies that we have not yet handed over to the Americans. As long as the Americans still want to acquire these technologies, they should not regret it! Sir John Fisher said.

Lord Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary, soon arrived at the Prime Minister's House. It's just that his face is also very ugly. Apparently, he was also informed of the defeat at the front.

"Your Excellency, we intend to launch a war against the Chinese in Egypt and retake the Suez Canal. We need the support of the Egyptian Khedive, can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send people to support the Egyptian Khedive and try to draw him into our camp. If the Egyptian Khedif can help us, we can support their self-government! Prime Minister Arthur Belfour said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I was about to report to you on Egypt's problems. Our consul in Egypt has placed the Khedive Abbasid II of Egypt today and asked him to cooperate with the Anglo-French forces in the war. However, our request was rejected by Abbasid II. According to the information we have received, Abbasid II has already made contact with the Chinese. The Chinese must have promised him benefits, that's why he refused us! Lord Landsdownne said.

"Damn, how did you do it, it was preempted by the Chinese again!" Prime Minister Arthur Belfour scolded!

"So, what do we do now? Or should you start a war against the Chinese and retake the Suez Canal? "Prime Minister Arthur Belfort looked at Sir John Fisher and Sir Neville Chamberlain.

Both men were silent, and if they continued to fight, they were not sure that they would retake the Suez Canal. If the army is lost again, the situation of Britain will be even more difficult.

"Your Excellency, it is very difficult for us to win this war. Fortunately, we have never declared war on the Chinese. In my opinion, let's find a way to make peace with the Chinese and end this war! Lord Lansdownne said. Since the means of war have obviously failed, it is time to find a way to end the war by diplomatic means and avoid greater losses.

"To end the war, of course we want to end the war. But will the Chinese agree? They now have the complete upper hand, and our hundreds of thousands of troops in the Kingdom have become turtles in the urn. The Suez Canal also fell into the hands of the Chinese, and there is absolutely no need for them to make peace with us! Prime Minister Arthur Belfour said with some frustration.

"Your Excellency, you are negotiable. Although we are at a disadvantage, our country and France are not without the strength to continue fighting. If we do our best to fight to the death with the Chinese, even if we lose, the Chinese will definitely suffer heavy losses. The Chinese may not dare to fight to the death with us! Lord Landsdownne said. In addition to Britain, France and China, there are other countries in the world. Britain, France and China are obviously not desperate. Otherwise, after exhausting the national strength, it will not be cheap for other countries!

"Well, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to make peace talks with the Chinese. However, try to protect the interests of the British Empire! Prime Minister Arthur Belfour said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, if we want to end the war, I think we will have to pay a certain price." Lord Landsdownne said. Now that Britain is taking the initiative to sue for peace, then it is obviously impossible for Britain to end the war without paying the price!

Prime Minister Arthur Belfour frowned, and then said: "Our bottom line is to take back the Suez Canal, and then, keep India." Other places can be abandoned for the time being! ”

India is the most important British colony, so it has rich mineral resources, agriculture is also very developed, and the annual output is not even less than that of Britain. If India is lost, the British Empire will collapse! Therefore, Britain had to keep India. Otherwise, Britain would rather fight to the death!