This collision between the Chinese Empire and Great Britain in the Kingdom of Iran attracted widespread attention. In the end, it was clear that the Chinese Empire had won. This has once again damaged Britain's face. Many countries seem to see that Britain after the First World War seems to be less powerful than before. In the face of the top powers, it has begun to weaken. And this seems to be a sign that Britain is weakening step by step.

The United States, on the other side of the ocean, seems to have seen this clearly. Therefore, in the diplomatic exchanges with the United Kingdom, it has become more and more powerful. It's as if there is a knock-on effect.

"The current Britain, although still the world hegemon. However, their supremacy is already shaky. Although, they are not willing to lose their hegemony and will do everything they can to maintain their hegemony. However, this does not avoid this. The world of the future will be an era in which the Chinese Empire and the United States compete for world hegemony. Emperor Wu Haoxuan said at a royal meeting.

"Your Majesty, you have long said that the greatest enemy of the empire is not the declining Britain, but the thriving and rapidly developing United States. Over the years, we have also regarded the United States as a target to catch up and surpass. After more than ten years of construction, the empire has completed industrialization. Although in terms of scale, it is not as good as the United States. However, in many cutting-edge fields, we are no worse than the United States, and even stronger. Imperial Prime Minister Yang Du said in high spirits. If it weren't for the facts, no one would have believed that the Chinese Empire would have been able to develop to this point in just a dozen years. Before, more than ten years ago, the Chinese Empire was still a backward agricultural country!

Wu Haoxuan nodded, the speed of development of the Chinese Empire was indeed beyond his expectations. Right now. China's industrial output is barely half that of the United States. However, in the whole world, it is already an industrial power second only to the United States. If it had not collapsed, the Chinese Empire would have been the second industrial power behind the United States and Germany. But. Germany's total defeat in the war left its industry in trouble. On the contrary, the Chinese Empire took advantage of this opportunity to successfully take Germany and take away a large number of industrial equipment, skilled workers, scientists and engineers from Germany, which raised the industrial strength of the empire to a new level.

Especially in the research and development of weapons and equipment, the Chinese empire is far stronger than the United States. Coupled with the scientific and technological support from Germany, the Chinese Empire was equipped with both army equipment and naval warships. Or the planes of the Air Force, they are all at the world-class level. And the United States is fundamentally second-rate, and it can even be classified as a third-rate rank.

Although, now the industrial output of the Chinese Empire is not as good as that of the United States. However, the Chinese Empire developed much faster than the United States. After the end of the war, a large number of military products lost orders, which greatly affected the industrial development of the United States. China, on the other hand. It has already taken the lead in developing the domestic market. The huge market of more than 400 million people and nearly 500 million people gave the industrial development of the Chinese Empire a huge domestic market to support. This was the reason why the industry of the Chinese Empire was able to develop rapidly. At this rate, perhaps twenty years from now, the industrial output of the Chinese Empire will not be inferior to that of the United States. Of course, Wu Haoxuan knows that the economic crisis is coming soon. When the time comes, the world's economies will be hit hard. And China. It can rely on the huge domestic market to avoid this crisis. At that time, the empire may be able to overtake the United States in a shorter time to become the world's number one industrial power.

If you want to become a world hegemon, you must have the most powerful industry to support it. At a time when no one could shake the world hegemony of the British Empire, Britain was also the world's largest industrial power. And Britain was challenged by Germany. It also began mainly after Germany's industrial output surpassed that of the United Kingdom. It can be seen that it is an indispensable condition for the Chinese Empire to become the new world hegemon and the world's largest in terms of industrial output value.

"In the future, the focus of the empire will continue to be on expanding the domestic market and developing industry. This is the foundation of the empire's strength. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The ministers nodded their heads.

"By the way, this time in the face of the challenge of the Empire, the British flinched. Well, it seems that we can also show that we can be a little tougher. We have been talking with the British for so long about the Xiangjiang issue, and it is time to have a result. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a showdown with the British, must return Xiangjiang to us. If they want to break their word, it's absolutely impossible. Wu Haoxuan said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Tang Shaoyi nodded.

When the Chinese Empire joined the Allied Powers in the war, the British promised to return Xiangjiang after defeating the Central Powers. However, now a year and a half have passed, and the British have been prevaricating. Fools can guess that the British want to pay their debts. After all, the geographical location of Hong Kong is too important. Having a base along the coast of China will undoubtedly be able to play a very strong role. It's a pity that now that the Chinese Empire has become stronger, it is naturally impossible to allow its territory to be occupied by other countries. South Australia has already returned before Hong Kong. This time, the empire said that it was not good to back down again.

It has been almost 80 years since Xiangjiang fell into the hands of the British after the Opium War. That's more than half a century!

After the outbreak of the First Opium War, the British forcibly occupied Xiangjiang Island, and afterwards the Qing government tried to recover it by force, and the Daoguang Emperor issued many edicts for this, but the Qing Dynasty was never able to defend its territorial integrity. At that time, the Qing army had already been beaten down by the British. If you want them to recover Xiangjiang, it is undoubtedly more difficult than ascending to the sky.

After the defeat of the Opium War, the Manchu government and Britain signed the Treaty of Jinling on August 29, 1842, ceding Xiangjiang Island to the British. Since then, China has been sinking step by step.

A few years later, the Manchu government was once again defeated by the British and French forces in the Second Opium War. On October 24, 1860, the Treaty of Yenching was signed with the British, ceding the territory south of Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula to the British.

On June 9, 1898, Britain once again forced the Qing government to sign the "Extension of the Boundary of the Hong Kong River Ordinance" to lease the area north of Boundary Street on the Kowloon Peninsula and 262 nearby islands for a period of 99 years. At that time, the Manchu government was already rotten and completely became a demand from the great powers. Maintaining their own rule is the top priority, and as for those insignificant territories, they don't matter at all, as long as they can satisfy the foreign lords, they can take them.

After the establishment of the Chinese Empire, it has always wanted to recover Xiangjiang. It's just that the country has just been established, and its strength is still very weak, and it is not at all an opponent of a world hegemon like the British Empire. The attitude of the British is very tough. Therefore, the empire could only put aside the issue of Xiangjiang for the time being.

Finally, the empire has finally become the world's first-class power, and it is naturally impossible to allow the British to continue to occupy Xiangjiang.

On April 2, 4618 (20), the Imperial Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi summoned the British Ambassador to China, Sir Zhu Erdian. After the end of World War I, China became one of the four great powers in the world, and even the British had to recognize the great power status of the Chinese Empire, even if the British tried every means to make it difficult. The relationship between the two countries has also been elevated from minister to ambassador. Sir Tonjuerdian of China served as the first ambassador to China.

Although his rank has risen elevated, of course. But the power now is not as good as when he was the minister. Especially during the Manchu Qing Dynasty, Zhu Erdian, as the leader of the legation, was simply a figure like the emperor in China. Even the Manchu court had to grovel to them. It's a pity that after the establishment of the empire, such good days are gone forever. If the great powers want to ride on China's neck to and pee again, it is absolutely impossible. Even Britain, the world hegemon, had to put down its noble head, put down its shelves, and interact with the Chinese empire on an equal footing.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, good morning. Spring in Yanjing is so beautiful. If it weren't for your Excellency's important business, maybe I would have gone to the suburbs. Sir Jurdian smiled.

Yesterday, the Imperial Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the British Embassy in China that Foreign Secretary Tang Shaoyi had urgent matters to meet with Sir Zhu Erdian, so that Sir Zhu Erdian had to rush to the Imperial Foreign Office early in the morning. Of course, Sir Zhu Erdian also knew a little bit about what Tang Shaoyi wanted to talk about.

The conflict between China and Britain in the Kingdom of Iran has been resolved, and the only contradiction that still exists between the two sides is the Xiangjiang issue. This is an inescapable problem between China and the United Kingdom.

The already powerful Chinese Empire would not be willing to let the British occupy Xiangjiang. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, is unwilling to give up Xiangjiang, which is simply an unsolvable problem.

"Your Excellency, you are really at ease! I was born to work hard, but I don't have that time! Of course, if your country can raise your noble hand and make it convenient. Perhaps, I will be able to stop being so busy and find time to go green. Tang Shaoyi said.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, you are the Foreign Minister of the Empire, an important minister in the cabinet, and a minister relied on by His Majesty the Emperor of China, how can you not even have this little time?" Sir Jurdian pulled around.

"Alright, Your Excellency, Ambassador, let's stop going around in circles. I believe you, you also know the reason why I want to see you today. Your Majesty said yesterday that it's time for Xiangjiang to return! Tang Shaoyi said directly. (To be continued.) )

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