On February 23, 2220 (4620 AD), Yang Du, the prime minister of the empire, announced that the Chinese Empire had officially accepted the request of Ahmad Shah, the king of the Kingdom of Iran. From now on, the Kingdom of Iran became a vassal state of the Chinese Empire.

At the same time, Yang Du also urged Sai Jiyaddin and Reza Pahlavi, who were plotting to usurp the throne, to immediately confess their guilt and surrender to the law. Otherwise, the imperial army marching into the Kingdom of Iran will make them pay a greater price for the exhibition.

The Chinese Empire accepted the request of the Kingdom of Iran to make it a vassal state of the Chinese Empire. There is no doubt that the full-scale confrontation between the Chinese Empire and the British Empire began at this moment. The eyes of the world are focused on the Chinese Empire and the British Empire, and almost everyone is speculating what kind of sparks the Chinese Empire and the British Empire will spark this time. Will these two world-class powers go to war because of this?

Japan, the old enemy of the empire, rejoiced at this moment. They issued statements in support of the legitimate practices of the British Empire. And used the "Anglo-Japanese Alliance" as an excuse to claim that Japan would send troops to help Britain as long as Britain was in need. There is no doubt that the Japanese wished that the Chinese Empire and the British Empire would fight, preferably in a full-scale war. In this case, Japan will undoubtedly be safe. If Japan can unite with Britain to defeat China, Japan will be able to reverse the current situation and rise again in one fell swoop.

On the one hand, the United States, another powerful country in the world, has called on both China and Britain to calm down, and it is best to resolve this conflict through peaceful negotiations. But other than that, they didn't do anything else. For the United States, both China and the British Empire are strong opponents for their hegemony in the world. If a fierce war breaks out between the Chinese Empire and the British, and both countries lose as a result, then. Isn't the throne of world hegemon like a ripe peach easily falling into the hands of the United States of America? Therefore, the Americans also wish that China and Britain would fight, and the more fierce the fight, the better.

Some pessimistic people even think that the Second World War is about to break out because of this, and the whole world is terrified.

London. In the Prime Minister's House in Downing Street, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George summoned all his cabinet ministers to discuss an emergency, despite the fact that it was still two o'clock in the morning London time. The Chinese Empire has declared that it has accepted Ahmad Shah's request and has agreed to make the Kingdom of Iran a vassal domain. Soon, Chinese troops will enter the Kingdom of Iran to quell the rebellion. For the UK, there are not many options available to them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Chinese have declared that they have accepted the Kingdom of Iran as their vassal state. So, what do we do now? It's a counterattack. Or is it a compromise? David Lloyd George said.

Britain is undoubtedly faced with a dilemma. If they choose to fight back strongly, then they must be prepared for war with the Chinese Empire. Even if it is not a full-scale war, I am afraid that it will be a big war around Iran, and even the navy may enter the war. Although Britain is still the world hegemon, their strength has been seriously weakened. At the most. It's just a paper tiger. And the Chinese Empire, the military strength is very strong. If war breaks out. The British Empire's chances of victory may not be great. If the war is lost, then the British Empire will pay an even greater price. And their current cabinet, I'm afraid, can only announce the general resignation.

If we had compromised and retreated, we would have avoided conflict or even war with the Chinese Empire. But will the people in the country be able to accept their approach? Angry British people. It will definitely be very dissatisfied. And the opposition parties will definitely not let go of this opportunity. Therefore, I am afraid that their current cabinet will still not be able to avoid the end of resignation.

"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, what is now before us. What a dilemma indeed! No matter what we choose, it will be very bad for us. The Chinese obviously saw this, so they pressed step by step. Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour sighed.

David Lloyd George nodded and looked at the other cabinet ministers.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, we can no longer compromise and give in. Otherwise, the British Empire will become the laughing stock of the world. And the Chinese Empire will also gain an inch because of our concession this time. Therefore, we must fight back strongly against the Chinese. The Kingdom of Iran was the northwestern barrier of India and an important line of defense to protect the Indian colonies. If the Chinese survive the Kingdom of Iran, then they will have a border with India. With the greed of the Chinese, will they let India go? That's obviously impossible. Therefore, even to defend India, we must thwart the Chinese plot against the Iranian kingdom. Indian Affairs Minister Edwin Samuel Montague said.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister, I support that view. The Kingdom of Iran has always been our colony. The Chinese are now brazenly attacking the Kingdom of Iran, which means that the ambitions of the Chinese have been further inflated. If we do not respond correctly, the ambitions of the Chinese will certainly continue to expand in the future. When the time comes, they will definitely attack the other colonies of the British Empire. Walter Lang, the Colonial Secretary, also said. Britain's colonies in Asia and Oceania are all on the lips of the Chinese Empire. If the Chinese Empire wanted it, it could bite it down at any time. This was undoubtedly a great threat to the British Empire. The best way to protect these colonies is to thwart the Chinese's plot before Chinese is just making a move. Let them know that the British Empire is not easy to provoke. Only in this way can it be guaranteed that the Chinese will no longer have ambitions for the colonies of the British Empire.

"India is our most important colony, and it is true that there is no room for error, at all times." David Lloyd George said. The British annually plundered a large amount of wealth from India. This wealth enabled Britain to quickly recover from the wounds of war. India is rich in natural resources and has a total population of more than 300 million. This is undoubtedly an excellent raw material source and commodity dumping market! It can be said that if something happens to India, then the British Empire is finished. Not to mention maintaining the position of world hegemon, even if you want to continue to become a first-class power, it is extremely unrealistic.

"Your Excellency the Minister of War, can we defeat the Chinese in the Kingdom of Iran?" David Lloyd George asked.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, we are in the Kingdom of Iran, and we do not have a single soldier. As for the army of the Kingdom of Iran, the total strength is only about 100,000. And Cy Giadin was only able to control just over half of them. The Chinese Empire was around Iran, but it had two armies and 300,000 troops. Even if they only used a small army, the rebels of the Kingdom of Iran would not be able to resist it. What's more, there is Ahmad Shah. It is estimated that after the Chinese* army enters the Kingdom of Iran, those troops will rush to surrender to the Chinese and submit to Ahmad Shah. The Earl of Derby was pessimistic.

"What about mobilizing troops from India into the Kingdom of Iran to fight?" David Lloyd George asked.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, we have only more than 200,000 British and Indian troops in India. That little army may not be a problem to maintain law and order in India, but to let them go to the Kingdom of Iran to fight the Chinese is undoubtedly to send them to death. Said the Earl of Derby.

"So what are we going to do? Do not do anything and watch the Chinese enter the Kingdom of Iran? David Lloyd George was annoyed.

"Your Excellency, perhaps we can send some troops from India to southern Iran, control southern Iran, and form a buffer zone with the Chinese. After that, we will negotiate with the Chinese. If the Chinese can acquiesce in our occupation of the southern part of the Kingdom of Iran, then this conflict will be over. If the Chinese refuse, then we will have to use other means to let the Chinese know our determination. Arthur Balfour said.

"Oh? What means? David Lloyd George's eyes lit up. Although this method will lose most of Iran's territory, it will at least be able to retain some of it. Most importantly, the British Empire will not completely lose face.

"The Royal Navy can force the Chinese by sending its main forces into the Indian Ocean to make a posture to cut off the shipping lanes between the Chinese and the Middle East." Arthur Balfour said.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, the Royal Navy is now in great disarray, and in accordance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Naval Armaments signed at the Washington Conference, we are mothballing those ships that exceed the limit. The remaining capital ships must ensure the security of both the homeland and the vast colonies of the British Empire in the world, and it is really difficult for us to send a main fleet to the Indian Ocean to scare the Chinese. Admiral John Jericho objected.

"Sir Jericho, we are only trying to scare the Chinese, and we will not really go to war with them. So, don't worry at all. Arthur Balfour said.

"What if the Chinese don't think so? Once they gather the main forces of the navy to start a war with us, it will not be a joke. Sir John Jericho clearly thought it was a risk.

"If that's the case, then even if I didn't say anything." Arthur Balfour shrugged helplessly.

In the end, the decision was made in the hands of Prime Minister David Lloyd George. As Prime Minister of the British Empire, he had to make a decision.

After much deliberation, David Lloyd George made the decision: "Let the Anglo-Indian army draw troops into the Kingdom of Iran and occupy the southern part of the Kingdom of Iran." At the same time, the main forces of the Royal Navy entered the Indian Ocean to deter the Chinese! (To be continued.) )

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