While the British Cabinet was deliberating on how to appease the anger of the Chinese Empire and prevent further escalation, the Chinese Empire also received the news of the sinking of the merchant ship Rising Sun. The radio station on the merchant ship Rising Sun could only send telegrams to the embassies of nearby countries, which in turn sent them back home. It can be said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Staff of the Reich received the news at the same time.

Although, at this time, it was already 3 o'clock in the morning. However, neither Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi nor Marshal Shi Tianhan, Chief of the General Staff, dared to slack off, and immediately went to the imperial palace to meet the emperor Wu Haoxuan.

Tang Shaoyi and Shi Tianhan met in front of the palace, and the two hurriedly explained the intention of the palace guards, and soon, Lieutenant General Zhao Hu, the chief of the guard, appeared.

"Two adults, what's going on? His Majesty has long since rested. Lieutenant General Zhao Hu said.

"Chief Guard, we have urgent matters to report to Your Majesty. One of our merchant ships, sunk by the British Navy. Tang Shaoyi said.

Zhao Hu was stunned for a moment, he also knew that this was a big deal, so he said: "I'll go and tell Your Majesty, you go to the imperial study and wait first." ”

Soon, Wu Haoxuan, who was dressed in clothes, came to the study. It's just that his face is not very good-looking. The Empire's merchant ships were sunk by the British Navy, which is a big deal! Isn't it impatient that the British dare to provoke China at this time?

"See Your Majesty." Tang Shaoyi and Marshal Shi Tianhan hurriedly saluted Wu Haoxuan.

"No courtesy. What's going on? Wu Haoxuan asked.

"Your Majesty, the Rising Sun is a merchant ship that transports steel, copper, and grain to Germany. However, just before arriving in Germany, the British navy, which was trained, discovered it. After that, the cruiser of the British Navy pursued the Rising Sun and sank him with cannonball. Marshal Shi Tianhan said.

"The British, this is an old birthday boy who eats arsenic. Don't you want to die? Could it be that they still think that when they are fighting with the Germans, they can still defeat us at the same time? Wu Haoxuan said with some annoyance.

You know, the Empire has now become a decisive force that can influence the tide of war. As long as the British had not been kicked in the brain by a donkey, they would not have torn their faces with the Chinese Empire at this time. That's why the Reich turned a deaf ear to the no-sail zone set up by the British. But. The tough reaction of the British, this time made the empire a little unbelievable.

"Your Majesty, the actions of the British are indeed very unusual. However, it is a fact that our merchant ships were sunk. In doing so, the British were a complete provocation to the Empire. We can't just leave it at that. Tang Shaoyi said.

As the Foreign Secretary of the Empire, he has a powerful Imperial backing that allows him to stand tall in the face of other countries. No longer like during the Manchu government or the Beiyang government. Groveling to foreigners.

"Huzi, bring in the Prime Minister, the Minister of War, and the Minister of the Navy." Wu Haoxuan commanded. The British sank the Empire's merchant ships, much to his anger. However, before making a specific decision, he still needs to consult the ministers first. If you act arbitrarily, if you make a decision that is not good for the Empire, you will be in trouble.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Hu nodded. Immediately went to arrange it. He knew that tonight must be a sleepless night.

Soon. Yang Du, the Prime Minister of the Empire, Marshal Zhao Xifu, Minister of War, and Marshal Sa Zhenbing, Minister of the Navy, arrived at the palace. The tiredness on their faces showed that they had been woken up from their beds. However, for these important ministers of the empire, it is obviously common to stay up late for state affairs. After a cup of strong tea goes down. You'll be able to be in good spirits.

On the way here, everyone also learned what was going on. Everyone also thinks that this is really weird. The British were a bit too risky to do so. After all, after offending the Empire. Nothing good will come of it for them.

"Your Majesty, this matter is too strange. It is impossible for the British not to be unaware of their situation, not to be unaware of the attitude of the Empire. If you offend the empire at this time, it is obviously self-deprecating. Yang Du said.

"Who knows what the British really think? Perhaps, their decision-makers have been kicked in the head by a donkey. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Your Majesty, the war in Europe has now entered the most critical moment. The Germans were trying to make a final attack. If their offensive fails, it will be impossible for them to win the war. Therefore, the British did this, apparently in order to cut off the Reich's material supply to Germany, so as to help them win the final victory. Marshal Zhao Xifu said.

"Your Majesty, according to the latest news we have received, in addition to the sinking of the merchant ship Rising Sun, more than a dozen merchant ships, large and small, have been seized by the British. Obviously, the British really wanted to completely cut off Germany's overseas trade routes and trap the Germans to death. Marshal Sa Zhenbing also said.

"So, now let's talk about what we should do." Wu Haoxuan asked. Obviously, the Imperial merchant ship was sunk by the British, and he would not rest on his laurels. Although the British Empire claims to be the hegemon of the world, the hegemon of this world has long been a foreign power. The Chinese Empire, which was booming, surpassed the British Empire, and that was just around the corner, and I didn't care too much about their attitude at all.

"Your Majesty, this matter must not be counted like this. The British must be testing our attitude. If we don't ask, then the British will definitely get an inch. We have to fight back. Marshal Shi Tianhan, Chief of the General Staff, suggested.

"If you rush to fight back, will it further expand the situation?" Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi was a little worried. After all, the national policy that the empire had drawn up at the beginning was to join the war after the war situation became clear and get a piece of the pie. Based on the initial assumptions, the Entente was likely to have the upper hand. In other words, it is very likely that the empire will join the Entente in the future. Making things big now would be extremely detrimental to the future of the Empire.

"It doesn't matter whether the British deliberately sank the merchant ships of the Empire, or just a misunderstanding. It is impossible for an empire to pretend to be deaf and dumb. Since the British dared to provoke the Empire, the Empire needed to protest by the strongest means. Only then will they know that the Empire is not something they can bully at will. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Your Majesty, you mean that we are going to take revenge on the British?" Yang Du asked.

"Yes, launch a limited retaliation against the British, let them know the determination of the Empire." Wu Haoxuan said.

The other military and political ministers, after thinking about it for a while, all expressed their support for Wu Haoxuan's words.

"Your Majesty, there happens to be a detachment of the Imperial Navy's South Sea Fleet in the Indian Ocean, which can make their move against the merchant ships of the British. Since the British have sunk one of our merchant ships, we have to pay their respects. Admiral Sa Zhenbing said.

"Well, okay, let the Nanyang Fleet do it." Wu Haoxuan nodded.

"Your Majesty, if this is the case, I am afraid that the relationship between us and the British will become very bad, and if it is not good, we will really go to war because of this." Tang Shaoyi said.

"The British are not stupid, they are not going to go to war with us for a few merchant ships. Unless, they really get impatient. However, from now on, both the Imperial Army and the Imperial Navy must be combat-ready. If the British take the risk, we must be able to deal with it. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Marshal Shi Tianhan, Chief of the General Staff, Marshal Zhao Xifu, Minister of War, and Marshal Sa Zhenbing, Minister of the Navy, all nodded.

Wu Haoxuan ordered revenge on the British, and the Imperial Admiralty immediately issued an order to the Nanyang Fleet to fight.

After the end of the war against Japan, the pattern of the Imperial Navy also underwent some changes. Although, the Pacific Fleet is still the well-deserved main fleet of the Imperial Navy. But with the increasing number of cutting-edge warships, the Pacific Fleet is becoming more and more powerful. Compared with the Pacific Fleet, the strength of the South Sea Fleet is only a fraction of that of the Pacific Fleet.

Therefore, the empire made adjustments to the two major fleets of the navy. The two 'Longteng-class' battleships and two 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers, which originally belonged to the Pacific Fleet, were assigned to the South Ocean Fleet. In addition, the 'Qinglong-class' light cruisers and the 'B-class' destroyers were all assigned to the Nanyang Fleet, which more than doubled the strength of the Nanyang Fleet.

The Pacific Fleet, on the other hand, now has two 'Pingkai-class' battleships (the hull of the Japanese Navy's 'Nagato-class' battleships continued to be built), five 'Five Emperor-class' battleships, four 'Zhonghua-class' battleships, two 'Longxing-class' battleships, two 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers, twelve 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers, seven 'Suzaku-class' light cruisers, seven 'White Tiger-class' light cruisers, seven 'Xuanwu-class' light cruisers, 12 'C-class' destroyers, and 12 'D-class' destroyers.

Such strength can already enable the Pacific Fleet of the Imperial Navy to ensure absolute superiority over the Japanese Navy. Even if the Japanese were to develop their navy on a large scale again, it would be impossible to confront the Imperial Navy in a short period of time.

In the Indian Ocean, the battlecruiser "Longfei" of the Nanyang Fleet of the Imperial Navy is carrying two "Qinglong-class" light cruisers and two "B-class" destroyers for ocean-going training. With the incorporation of the Dutch East Indies into the Empire, the Imperial Navy was able to travel to the Indian Ocean without passing through the Strait of Malacca. For the sake of future operations, the South Ocean Fleet of the Imperial Navy has begun to make regular voyages to the Indian Ocean, and at its farthest point, it even crossed the Cape of Good Hope and reached the South Atlantic. (To be continued.) )

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