"Your Excellency Foreign Secretary, the Chinese Navy's unreasonable seizure of a U.S. merchant ship is a provocation to U.S. sovereignty and a violation of commercial freedom. The United States hoped that the Chinese Empire would immediately release the seized merchant ships, compensate the merchant ship owners for their losses, and guarantee that similar incidents would not occur in the future. Otherwise, the United States will retain the right to take all measures. U.S. Minister to China Reinsch complained angrily.

Tang Shaoyi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Empire, listened to Minister Ruienshi's protest with a smile on his face. However, in my heart, I didn't think so.

"Your Excellency, I'm sorry that it was the Imperial Navy that seized American merchant ships. Moreover, it was the American merchant ships that forcibly intruded into the no-sail zone set up by the Imperial Navy, which is why the Imperial Navy seized these merchant ships. In addition, according to the information we have, these American merchant ships are transporting war materials. We have reason to believe that this is the United States providing war materials to Japan. And this is a serious threat to the security of the empire. Tang Shaoyi said with a cold face.

"Slander, this is absolutely slander. American businessmen are law-abiding businessmen who are just going about their normal business activities. Those merchant ships carried nothing more than food and medicine, as well as some fuel and industrial equipment, and could not be called war materials at all. In addition, the Chinese Navy has set up a no-sail zone in Japan, which is itself illegal. Minister Rui Enshi said unreasonably.

Even if the real intention of the United States is to support Japan in continuing to contend with China, these are well-known secrets that must never be revealed. Otherwise, it will have a great impact on the relationship between China and the United States.

"In addition to food and medicine, the merchant ships of your country transported steel, oil, and machinery and equipment that the Japanese urgently needed, all of which were necessary to enhance Japan's war potential. For the sake of peace in the Far East, and for the sake of an early end to the disputes between China and Japan, the Chinese Empire hopes to start now. The United States was able to stop the shipment of these war materials to Japan. Otherwise, our relations will be affected as a result. Tang Shaoyi said. The ambitions of the Americans are clear. They wanted to weaken the empire by turning Japan into a quagmire of war and then plunging the empire into it. Such a trick can be described as quite vicious.

"Nope. Your Excellency the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. According to the information we received, there was a famine on the verge of famine in Japan. The United States provided food to Japan out of humanitarian considerations. What's more, isn't there no war declared between China and Japan yet? There are many belligerents between China and Japan, so naturally those materials cannot be characterized as war materials. Minister Reinsch quibbled.

It's just that, no matter how much Minister Rui Enshi quibbles, the attitude of the Chinese Empire is very tough and will not change in the slightest. Those American merchant ships that were seized. It won't be released. Unless it is after the conflict between China and Japan is over. Otherwise, if these merchant ships were to transport war materials to Japan again, the Chinese Empire would lose a lot. As for the blockade of Japan by the Chinese Empire, it is even more unlikely that it will be lifted. If Japan does not accept China's conditions, China will not lift the blockade. It would be great if Japan could be trapped to death. Of course, the Chinese side also believes that once it is impossible. The Japanese will make the right choice.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese Empire has ignored the protests of the United States. If we insist on going our own way, this will seriously affect the relationship between the two countries. Minister Ryan threatened. You must know that although China and the United States tend to be antagonistic politically, economically, the exchanges between the two countries are very close. Little by little, China's huge market is being developed. A large amount of American capital has been invested in China, which has accelerated China's development. If American capital withdraws. China's industrialization will be seriously affected.

"China cherishes its friendly relations with the United States. However, this does not mean that China will sacrifice its own interests. I think that the main reason for this incident is not in China, but in Japan. If Japan can accept the conditions proposed by the empire as soon as possible. Well, everything is well solved. Tang Shaoyi said with a smile.

Rui Enshi looked angry and didn't say a word. The Chinese originally wanted to knock the Japanese hard. If the United States does not help Japan, then Japan will no longer have the strength to turn over. Therefore, the United States hopes that Japan's losses will be as small as possible. In this case, the United States may be able to rearm Japan without giving it much support. In addition, the United States does not want China to gain too much from Japan. In this case, China's development speed will be seriously affected. At that time, the United States will undoubtedly be much more likely to defeat China and become the hegemon in the Pacific region.

Minister Reinsch's protest had no effect. Those merchant ships are still being seized by the Chinese navy. And, as time went on, more and more merchant ships that were bound for Japan were seized. There were not only American merchant ships, but also merchant ships of other countries.

These countries have protested to the Chinese Empire. However, the attitude of the Chinese Empire was very tough. He claimed that China would never release these merchant ships until the end of the Sino-Japanese conflict.

There is no way for countries to take China, and even the United States cannot make the Chinese empire compromise because of this, let alone them.

Eventually, the countries had to give up trading with Japan, and Japan's overseas trade routes were completely cut off.

After the overseas trade routes were completely cut off, major problems began to arise in Japan. As food prices have risen, so has the conflict and confrontation between ordinary people and the Japanese government. Many cities have imposed martial law in order to avoid conflict.

At the same time, the attitude of the Japanese government has gradually changed. Originally, Japan wanted to use the support of Britain, France, and the United States to continue to fight against China. But now, the support pledged by Britain, France, and the United States is not reaching Japan, and the domestic crisis is getting worse. If this continues, there may be a real possibility that Japan will collapse.

Some senior Japanese officials have raised the question of whether negotiations with China can be resumed. Although the asking price proposed by the Chinese Empire was very high, it was always able to find a way to reach an agreement when the asking price was overwhelmed. After all, Japan lost this time. It would be unrealistic to want to end the conflict at no cost. Although the appetite of the Chinese Empire was great, it was better than the collapse of Japan and the destruction of the country.

It's just that the people in power in Japan are not willing to want to compromise with the Chinese Empire like this, and they still want to hold on and see if there is a turnaround. However, for every day of delay, Japan's situation will be more difficult, and the losses it will pay will be greater.

In the Pacific Ocean, a huge fleet is sailing. All ships in this fleet fly the American Stars and Stripes. This fleet is the same American fleet that is preparing to go to the western Pacific from the west coast of the United States.

The flagship of this fleet is the battleship "New York", which is a powerful battleship with a displacement of more than 28,000 tons, a maximum speed of 21 knots, and five twin 45 times caliber 356 mm main guns, which is one of the most powerful battleships in service with the United States Navy.

Inside the bridge of the battleship 'New York', Vice Admiral Evans was analyzing the information he had received. Their original destination was Manila, a Philippine colony of the United States. However, after the seizure of American merchant ships by the Chinese Navy, they received the latest order to go to Tokyo to deter the Chinese Navy. So, the fleet had to temporarily change course.

Lieutenant General Evans was somewhat resistant to orders issued at home. The U.S. Navy seems to be very strong, but when compared with the Chinese Navy, which has just defeated the Japanese Navy, the gap is not half a point. The biggest gap is undoubtedly the gap in the quality of officers and men and in terms of actual combat experience. In addition, in terms of the performance of warships, the warships of the US Navy are not superior. Under such circumstances, it is undoubtedly very difficult to deter the Chinese Navy.

"Bastard, which bastard made a statement to His Excellency the President, asking us to go to Tokyo to intimidate the Chinese Navy? Isn't that what we're going to hell? Rear Admiral Thomas, Chief of Staff of the Fleet, looked angry.

"Man, there's no way around it, who made us soldiers? We can only follow orders from within our country. Lieutenant General Evans said helplessly.

"Your Excellency Commander, do you think that with our fleet, you can scare the Chinese?" Major General Thomas asked.

Lieutenant General Evans smiled, then shook his head. Although, their fleet had ten powerful battleships. However, the Japanese Navy, which had just been defeated, also had ten capital ships, but only six battleships and four battlecruisers. Of the 10 capital ships of the Japanese Navy, only one is now lying on the slipway for repairs. The rest were all sunk by the Chinese Navy. It can be seen how terrifying the strength of the Chinese Navy is. Vice Admiral Evans is even worried that if China and the United States become hostile, the Chinese Navy will not take the risk and eat the US fleet in one fell swoop. In this case, the US Navy will lose most of its combat power. I am afraid that it will no longer be a threat to the Chinese Empire for several years. If it were him, he might have really taken such a risky action.

"We can't go to war with the Chinese. I think the Chinese don't want to go to war with us either. Lieutenant General Evans said.

"May it be so, may God bless us." Major General Thomas said. (To be continued.) )

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