In London, England, even though it is already summer, the weather is still a little cold in the early hours of the morning. On the street, there was not a single pedestrian. Only factories in the suburbs are still working night shifts. The roar of the machine was faintly heard. As the situation became more and more tense, Britain also began to strengthen its war preparedness, and many factories related to the military industry received huge orders, and they began to work overtime.

In the building of the British Foreign Office, the officer on duty is lazily yawning. Every night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leaves a staff member on duty. After all, when it's night in the UK, it's already daytime in the rest of the world. There is a good chance that an emergency will come back.

That was it tonight, the telegraph in the telegraph room was ticking. The telegrapher quickly translated the telegram, but the contents of the telegram shocked the telegrapher. If the Chinese Empire actually declared war on Russia, then, as an ally of Russia, Britain will inevitably be involved in the war. This meant that the world war began.

The duty officer of the British Foreign Office immediately rushed to the residence of the Earl of Granville, the foreign secretary, to report the news to him.

An hour later, the British Prime Minister's Office, several important ministers of the British Cabinet, all gathered here. They were all woken up in the middle of the night, so everyone's faces were still a little tired.

"Gentlemen, believe it or not, war has broken out since the beginning of the war! The Chinese Empire has declared war on Russia, then, as allies of Russia, we cannot sit idly by and wait for the Chinese to defeat Russia. In that case. We will no longer be able to balance the Chinese Empire, and it will be a disaster for the whole world! British Prime Minister Earl Stanley said with a gloomy face. Britain hoped that the outbreak of war would be postponed a little, so that Britain's preparations for war would be more adequate, and the navy's capital ships would be at least a few more. In this way, in the face of the powerful navy of the Chinese Empire, the British Royal Navy will also have the strength to fight a war.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister. The war has begun. From now on. The main powers of the British Empire will revolve around war. Our goal will be to win the war. Said the Earl of Granville, the Foreign Secretary. Now that the war has begun, then. Besides, the rest is no longer interesting. Britain will fight for the final victory in the war.

"From now on. The army and navy of the British Empire were brought to the highest state of combat readiness. Army and Navy. Start mobilizing now! Earl Stanley said.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Prime Minister!" War Chancellor, Marquess Anglesey, and Admiralty Chancellor Charles Anderson. Sir Adam said.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I request that the military expenses for the war be appropriated. The army should strengthen India's strength as much as possible. At the same time, the troops on the home side will be expanded. We need more funding. Said the Marquis of Anglesey, Minister of War. The navy has been given additional military funds for the construction of warships on several occasions, much to the displeasure of the Marquis of Anglesey, who is the Minister of War.

"Yes, I'll find a way to convince the council!" Count Stanley nodded. India is very important to Britain and is an important battlefield for Britain to contain the Chinese army. The stronger India's war power, the more China will be able to contain, which will be a good thing for Britain and the entire North Atlantic military alliance.

Secretary of the Navy Charles. Sir Adam opened his mouth, but did not ask for military money again. After all, the military spending of the Navy is already enough. What they lack now is not military spending, but time.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I propose to withdraw the Indian fleet. The Indian fleet is weak, and if it stays in the Indian Ocean, it will only be annihilated by the Chinese navy. Even I have reason to believe that the Chinese Navy has now gone to the station of the Indian fleet. In addition, the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet must immediately launch an attack on the Spanish Navy, and after destroying the Spanish Navy, we can ensure sea supremacy in the Mediterranean and prevent the Chinese from reinforcing Europe. "Lord of the Admiralty, Charles. Sir Adam said.

"The affairs of the Navy are the sole responsibility of the Admiralty, and the Cabinet will not interfere too much." Count Stanley nodded.

The War Minister Marquis Anglesey was somewhat dissatisfied, and if the Indian fleet was withdrawn, it would be equivalent to handing over the entire coast of India to the Chinese. Once India is blocked, they will not be able to provide more help to the troops deployed in India. Of course, he also knew that the weak Indian fleet had no chance of winning against the powerful Chinese navy.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, is urgently in contact with our allies. Now that the war has begun, everyone must fulfill the covenant! Earl Stanley continued. The North Atlantic military alliance is a whole, and problems cannot arise because of this.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister. In addition, we will intensify our contact with the Kingdom of Sardinia. If the Kingdom of Sardinia is willing to join us, this will be a serious blow to the Eurasian military alliance. Said the Earl of Granville.

The Earl of Stanley nodded, Britain and France had been planning for a long time. Although, in order to win over the Kingdom of Sardinia, they will pay a certain price, but if they can draw the Kingdom of Sardinia into the North Atlantic Military Alliance, it will be worth it.

On the morning of July 23, 1854, London time, the Prime Minister of the British Empire officially announced that the Chinese Empire had declared war on Russia, which was also a declaration of war on the British Empire, given that Russia was an ally of the British Empire. From now on, the British Empire and the Chinese Empire will be at war.

Before Britain declared war, Russia also officially declared war on the Chinese Empire. The armies of the Chinese Empire had already launched a surprise attack on Russia, and even if they wanted to avoid declaring war, it would be impossible.

Following Britain, other members of the North Atlantic Military Alliance also began to declare war on the Chinese Empire.

At noon on July 23, the Austro-Hungarian Empire formally declared war on the Chinese Empire in accordance with the Covenant. The Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of Greece also officially declared war. The United States is lagging behind because of time zones.

It can be said that on the day of July 23, all the member countries of the entire North Atlantic Military Alliance declared war on the Chinese Empire. The Chinese Empire declared war on Russia, which was like stabbing a hornet's nest.

And the allies of the Chinese Empire, the members of the Eurasian Military Alliance, also immediately responded. The Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Belgium, two hardcore allies of the Chinese Empire, declared war on the North Atlantic Military Alliance for the first time. The two countries accelerated their mobilization, and large numbers of troops began to march to the border.

The Kingdom of Prussia, as the second only great power in the Eurasian military alliance after the Chinese Empire, did not hesitate after the start of the war. After receiving the authorization of Wilhelm I, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Prussia, Otto. Feng. Bismarck, speaking on behalf of the Kingdom of Prussia, officially declared war on the North Atlantic Military Alliance.

In the afternoon of the same day, Pasha Ali, the chief of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, also officially declared war on the North Atlantic Military Alliance on behalf of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

So far, among the members of the two major military alliances, there are already 13 countries involved in the war, and only the Kingdom of Sardinia has no news yet.

Of course, except for the Chinese Empire and Russia, where war has already broken out, the rest of these countries are still mobilizing. Their army is rushing to the border. The domestic reserve is also going to the barracks to report. If the war is officially started, it will take some time.

Cavour, the prime minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia, has already arrived at his head. After the Chinese Empire declared war on Russia, the ambassadors to the Kingdom of Sardinia from other member countries of the Eurasian Military Alliance came to the door one after another, demanding that the Kingdom of Sardinia fulfill its covenant and immediately declare war on the North Atlantic Military Alliance.

However, Prime Minister Cavour could not make a decision, which required King Vittorio to make a decision. Emanuele II nodded. And now, the British and French ambassadors to the Kingdom of Sardinia are meeting with Vittorio. Emanuele II. This time, they brought more lucrative conditions. As long as the Kingdom of Sardinia joins the North Atlantic Military Alliance, then the French army will be unconditionally withdrawn from the Papal States, and the North Atlantic Military Alliance will support the Kingdom of Sardinia to unify Italy. In addition, Britain and France jointly provided the Kingdom of Sardinia with an interest-free loan of 10 million pounds to enable the Kingdom of Sardinia to develop its armaments.

Such conditions can be said to be very generous. As long as the Kingdom of Sardinia was willing to join the North Atlantic Military Alliance, then their unification of Italy seemed to be imminent. The British and French are both mentioned yì and let Vittorio. King Emanuele II was very impressed.

For this, Vittorio. Emanuele II summoned Prime Minister Cavour to try to convince him. In addition, Pilimont, the Minister of War of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and other ministers agreed to accept the terms of Britain and France, betray the Eurasian military alliance, and join the North Atlantic military alliance.

Although Cavour argued, he could not convince them. Cavour had to sigh that these guys were a bunch of short-sighted people. Once the Kingdom of Sardinia betrays the Eurasian military alliance, it will inevitably suffer a blow from the Eurasian military alliance. Once the Eurasian military alliance wins the war, then what awaits them will be completely destroyed. It's just that the arrogant Vittorio. King Emanuele II seems to have decided that once the Kingdom of Sardinia joined the North Atlantic Military Alliance, the North Atlantic Military Alliance would be won, and the Kingdom of Sardinia would be the victor in the war.

On July 24, 1854, King Vittorio of the Kingdom of Sardinia. Emanuele II announced. In the interests of the country, the Covenant signed with the Eurasian Military Union is abolished, and from now on, the Kingdom of Sardinia joins the North Atlantic Military Alliance! (To be continued......)

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