The Dutch did a decent job in the war.

They only had a few old warships here, and in the face of the Japanese navy, which was far superior to them, the Dutch chose to fight in order to defend the little glory they had lost! When the Dutch fleet attacked, they pinned their last hopes on the Americans and the British. They hoped that the American fleet would come to their aid, and that the British would stop the war at the last moment.

However, when the Dutch miraculously held out for eight hours with the help of land artillery fire with those wrecked ships, the American Navy, which had promised to give the Dutch all the necessary support before the war, was nowhere to be found, and the British fleet remained in the ports of Malaysia.

In the case of four of the Dutch's ships sunk by the Japanese Navy, they all held out until a torpedo hit their flagship.

The navy of the Great Japanese Empire once again won the foreign war.

Then, the Japanese First Army, led by Naogami Matsubara, landed on Bangka Island and launched an attack on Jakarta.

The ground war between the two sides, like the naval battle, was also without any suspense. The Japanese have long begun to do all kinds of work, not only in Indonesia there are some Japanese ronin to serve the Japanese army, under their propaganda many Indonesians also joined the Japanese army's battle sequence, leading the way for the Japanese army, providing the Japanese with information about the Dutch colonial army, the Dutch could not resist at all, and the defeat was decided.

It's not that the British Empire doesn't want to help the Dutch, just like their position in the Sino-Russian conflict, if conditions permit, the British would rather send troops directly to solve the problem with the Russians, so that Yuan Shikai also knows what the fate of resisting the British Empire will be.

Isn't it really not allowed now?

There is credible information that the German side is also developing tanks. And they also got the data of the "Shenwu No. 1" that the Chinese provided them with great trust, and these data helped Germany to make a breakthrough in the development of giant artillery.

All this made the already very strong German Army seem to have become even stronger, and in the case of Russia's energy being held back by the Chinese in Asia, France alone supported the military pressure of Germany and Austria very hard.

Compared with Europe, Asia's problems can be put aside.

And because the negative sentiment in Britain caused by the Boer War had not yet subsided, there was great resistance within the British Empire to form another army and spend a lot of money to fight a battle in China that might be more difficult than the Boer War.

So although Count Bannerman felt that it was time to find a way to change the current situation. He knew that all problems lie with China. The most crucial reason why the Japanese dare not give face to their big brother now is that they see that the British side has no way to take that blatant challenge to the world of civilization.

The door to the Prime Minister's office was gently pushed open, and Mr. Sadaoyi walked in from the outside: "Mr. Campbell, do you have anything to do with me?" ”

Count Bannerman hurriedly stood up: "Oh. You may be seated, Mr. Sadoyi. Sorry to call you so late. I need your opinion now, and I find it tricky on the issue of China. Mr. Zhu Erdian's work in Beijing has not gone smoothly, and the Chinese have no sincerity in negotiating at all. I would like to know that from your point of view, what way should we get the Chinese to end the war against Russia now? ”

Sa Daoyi smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid this is a little difficult. Mr. Campbell. I also discussed with General Mandel this afternoon the current situation in China. The general told me very clearly. When the Chinese Fourth Front broke through the Russian army and came out of Daqingshan, the Chinese had the possibility of completely annihilating the Russian heavy army group. Now many generals of our military are optimistic about China in this war, they say. One of the largest encirclement battles in modern warfare may be fought on Mongol soil. ”

Count Bannerman's brow furrowed: "What if we let Russia win the battle and return Mongolia, or even more land, to China, and then we will come forward to guarantee that the Russians will never invade China again?" Will the beast stop? ”

"Probably not, based on what I know about him. There was not much trust between him and us, and it would be better for him to guarantee the treaty we signed for him, but to leave the Russians with corpses. ”

Henry Campbell Bannerman's face was very depressed: "Does God know what happened to Lu, how it will develop like this?" Mr. Sadaoyi, we need China to stop the war immediately, we need the Russians to put pressure on the rear of Germany! I know that this is a very difficult job, and Mr. Zhu Erdian is struggling in Beijing, and he has repeatedly wanted to meet Yuan Shikai to discuss in person, but he has been refused. I want you to go back to China and help the British Empire deal with this. ”

Mr. Sadaoyi's face was suddenly a little surprised: "This, Mr. Campbell, your decision may be a little hasty, you must know that I am being criticized by many people in China now. ”

Some people in Britain put all the blame on Mr. Sadaoyi, and Sadaoyi did not explain anything. Earl Bannerman immediately said: "You don't care what those people say, Mr. Sadaoyi, it is the fault of many people in London to make the situation like this, and it is also because the Russians have taken the initiative to provoke the incident. Now we need you, and I believe that there is no second person in the British Empire other than you who is capable of making the Chinese more honest at the negotiating table. ”

Mr. Sadaoyi slowly stood up under the gaze of the Prime Minister: "Okay, Mr. Campbell, I'm willing to try again." But please don't give me any official position, I think this time I will go to China in a private capacity, maybe Yuan Shikai will remember his promise to receive me. ”

The prime minister was really very pleased, and Mr. Sadaoyi's proposal could be said to coincide with him, but it was only because Campbell felt that not giving Sadaoyi a title was a suspicion of not giving the horse grazing and letting the horse-drawn cart go, so he didn't say it.

Going in a private capacity can first avoid the embarrassment of Britain in the international community, after all, the British Empire has just severed diplomatic relations with China. On the other hand, it will also avoid some opposition voices in the country.

"Thank you, Mr. Sadaoyi, for your demeanor that I admire very much. You can give me a list of what entourages to bring with you to China this time. I hope you succeed, and the least we have on condition is that the Chinese side stop the war with the Russians, and if you can alienate them from Germany, it will be the best. ”

"I will do my best, but what kind of conditions can we offer the Chinese? Mr. Campbell, I don't think it's going to be a diplomatic revival right now, and that leverage won't be able to impress China. In addition, Germany has given China a lot of help this time, from technology to materials, especially technology, China is largely dependent on Germany. If we want them to be farther away from Germany, we have to change our policy towards China. ”

Count Bannerman nodded: "I have already thought about it, and it is still uncertain what conditions they will give them to leave Germany, but I think we must try to communicate with them." This is not only for the Russians, but also for the sake of Japan! Mr. Sadaoyi, we initially wanted to use Japan to control Asia, but now it seems that we were wrong. ”

Mr. Sadaoyi knew that there was some anger in Britain against Japan. This time, Little Japan did not leave any face for the British Empire, which made many Britons recognize the nature of the Yamato nation. The current British Empire has not yet fallen, but it is just in some trouble. If the British Empire really mixed up with the Dutch, would the Japanese still call them big brother?

Although all alliances between countries are interests, such as Japan, is it a bit too much. The British realized that the Anglo-Japanese alliance might not have been created as a partner in maintaining their interests in Asia.

Count Bannerman's words have been made very clear, although the British government has no intention of abandoning the Anglo-Japanese alliance, but when the Russians are no longer of great use, it is also necessary to use China to contain Japan.

Mr. Sadaoyi will once again embark on a passenger ship to China, and he thinks very clearly that if China's affairs are to be handled well, a gap should be opened from Yuan Shikai's body. Yang can't beat that guy, Mr. Sa Daoyi doesn't want to have too much contact with him, because in Sa Daoyi's opinion, it is a waste of time to talk to such an uncivilized person.

Before leaving, he sent a telegram to Yuan Shikai, saying that he had nothing to do in England now, and that he had not been to other places in China for a few years except Beijing, and had not visited some places of interest.

Mr. Sa said he would like to return to China as a tourist if he could.

After Yuan Shikai received this telegram, he immediately sniffed out a trace of smell, and Lao Yuan immediately called back, sending a warm invitation to Sa Daoyi, and said that if Mr. Sa Daoyi returned to China, he would not arrange any hotels, but would live in his own house, and he would arrange all the trips for Sa Daoyi, and at the same time, if he had time, he would like to travel with Sa Daoyi to the famous river.

The telegram came and went like an invitation between two old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time, but whether it was Lao Yuan or Sa Daoyi, they both clearly knew what the other party wanted to express. The message was well-intentioned, the British conveyed their desire to improve relations, the Chinese responded unequivocally, and both sides knew that when Mr. Sadaoyi set foot on Chinese soil again, it would bring an opportunity to melt the ice of Sino-British diplomacy.

Beijing.

The joy brought to China by the liberation of Wuchuan had not yet dissipated, and another exciting news came out from the Chinese side, that is, the ceremony of the first year of the republic would be held as scheduled on January 1, 1908.

This is a big deal for the Chinese. (To be continued......)