Episode 41 Accusations

After returning from the walk, the guard handed a telegram to Xiang Xiaoqiang, saying:

"Your Excellency,....... It is the most advanced password. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang took it with some surprise, and had a hint of foreboding. This level of password is only available to Xiuxiu, Fourteen Gege, and a few henchmen to generate electricity for themselves. And it's not quite a big thing, they won't use this kind of cipher easily.

Xiang Xiaoqiang asked the guards to go out, then returned to the room and threw the message to Qiu Yun: "Translate for me." ”

Qiu Yu was also a little surprised when he saw this kind of password, but immediately opened the lockbox, took out the code book, and translated it word by word. After a while, the long message was finally translated.

"Princess Liaoyang is here."

Qiu Yun presented the telegram with a different expression. Apparently, she was surprised by the content of the message.

Xiang Xiaoqiang looked down at the message, looked at a few lines, and suddenly raised his head and said to Qiu Qiu:

"Listen to the radio!"

Qiu Yu understood what he wanted to listen to, ran out quickly, looked around a few rooms, and came back with a sad face:

"Xiaoqiang, all the radios in this hotel have been taken away by the locals, and none of them are gone......"

"Alas!" Xiang Xiaoqiang smashed his thigh and waved his hand, "Forget it, it's okay if you don't listen, anyway, I know what's going on...... Damn, it's not good for those natives to rob what, grab the radio, *** understand! Alas, we didn't hear the news for a day, and if it weren't for the telegram, we would have been cut off from the outside world...... How did I forget about this day? Really...... Let me tell you, Qiu Yu, at about four o'clock in the morning today, a group of officers in Tokyo, Japan, rioted, and former Japanese Prime Minister Saito Minoru was killed! Tibetan Prime Minister Takahashi is Qing let kill! Education Director Tataro Watanabe also let it be killed! This time is even more powerful than the time when the dog was killed! ”

Qiu Yu looked at him stunned, and said for a long time:

"How do you know? The telegram didn't say it that finely! ”

"Hey! You don't care how I know," Xiang Xiaoqiang patted his head, shook his head and smacked his lips, "It's so undeserved, I actually forgot what day it was today!" ”

"What...... What day? ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled: "February 26, 1936! It's 226 today! Don't you know about the 226 incident? Oh yes, you don't know...... Well, that's good! I know why Shen Ge suddenly sent a fleet south in the morning, and why he was so happy! Now that Japan is in the midst of a coup d'état, it will take several days for this coup to end, and for a long time after that, the Japanese military will be reshuffled and will have no time to take care of overseas. In recent times, the possibility of Japan attacking us is almost non-existent, so we can let go and do a fight in the South Seas! ”

The "226" incident that shocked the world in history was staged as scheduled. But at this time and space, the world's attention is attracted by the Batavia massacre and the tensions in Southeast Asia, and governments and analysts and the media are speculating whether the East Indies will change hands, and governments are trying to influence the course of events according to the size of their interests. On the contrary, the "226" incident, a coup d'état of a junior officer in Japan, has attracted less attention.

Not to mention that Xiang Xiaoqiang doesn't have a radio, even if he has a radio, most of what he hears are reports on the Nanyang incident. Because all he can understand is Chinese radio, and as long as it is a Chinese radio station, what he is most concerned about is definitely what is happening in Nanyang.

Qiu Yu was still muttering:

"But...... Xiaoqiang, how do you know. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang ignored her, then read the message, and slowly frowned, falling into deep thought.

"Qiuyun, Princess Liaoyang reminds me to pay attention," Xiang Xiaoqiang said slowly in contemplation, "She suspects that this time Shen Ge Lao suddenly sent a fleet to march in a big way, in addition to seizing the opportunity of the Japanese coup, there may also be a deliberate deterioration of the negotiation relationship, and the intention of getting rid of me by the hands of the locals." ”

Qiu Yu looked at him anxiously. She had already read it when she translated it, and knew what the fourteen grids meant. But among the few people under Xiang Xiaoqiang, she has the least thorough understanding of the relationship between Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shen Rongxuan. She has always thought that Shen Ge is a person with a good character, and when Fourteen Gege said this, he couldn't help but spend the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain. But after all, this is related to her husband's life, and Qiu Yu doesn't dare to jump to conclusions. In her mind, her husband is the smartest, much smarter than herself, and this matter is absolutely right for him to judge for himself.

Xiang Xiaoqiang flicked the newspaper with his fingers, squinted his eyes and thought, and slowly spit it out:

"Let me be the representative of the Ming Dynasty and negotiate on behalf of the Ming Dynasty...... That is, as long as there is no war, even in the last minute before the war, I can't leave, I have to keep an eye on the negotiation here...... In the end, it was suddenly announced that the negotiations had broken down, and the direct bombardment of Batavia, or the bombing of carrier-based aircraft, killing hundreds or thousands of locals, at this time I was not a negotiator, and the Dutch garrison had to be busy resisting, and there was still time to restrain the locals. Then, if we are lucky, we will be detained by the Dutch side, and we don't know which life we will be able to return to China; If you're unlucky, you'll be killed by a local mob. ”

Qiu Yun shuddered, and asked in disbelief:

"But...... Why is he? ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang continued to talk to himself:

“…… Well, everything happens naturally, and there is no trace of it on his side. Well, it should be his style. Shen Rongxuan completely used this kind of means. …… Damn, if it weren't for the fourteen grid reminders, I really wouldn't have thought of it. It's not as sophisticated as her...... However, Shen Rongxuan should not be determined to achieve this matter.

"He should understand that as long as I smell that the momentum is wrong, he can send a telegram to His Majesty to send me out of the Dutch East Indies and leave ahead of schedule. …… However, I will not be able to intervene in the situation in the Dutch East Indies at all, so I have to stand aside. ”

Qiu Yu said angrily:

"Xiaoqiang! Why did he do this to you? You didn't feel sorry for him. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled: "It's not that I'm wrong to call him, now in his eyes, although I am useful to Daming, I am also a restless person." That's why I said that he is not determined to win, this is not a nirvana, his transfer of the fleet to the south is mainly for strategic considerations, and by the way, he also wants to see the will of God, if I am killed or captured this time, of course it will be a threat. If I'm okay, it can be regarded as preserving a talent for Daming, hahaha. ”

Qiu Yu said anxiously: "That...... So what to do? Xiaoqiang, you send a telegram to Your Majesty and leave Batavia, we don't care about this mess in Nanyang, Shen Ge wants to take care of it, leave it to him. We...... Let's go to Germany then, and let's just don't have this kind of business. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang was amused by her, and said with a smile: "There is no such thing? Which is so easy! Well, it's not that time yet, and it will take four days for the landing fleet to get here, and there are still talks. If it really doesn't work by then, I will definitely send a report to Your Majesty, and we can't say anything to die here with those natives. ”

……

After submitting the conditions to Xiaoqiang in the morning of February 26, the Dutch cabinet met all day, and every official, from the prime minister to the minister, was anxious. In the evening, the newspapers even appeared with the words "We're Losing the East Indies!" Such an eye-catching big black title.

Prime Minister Clariant accepted the ministers' suggestion and called British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin to ask him to intervene in the current tensions between the Netherlands and the Netherlands.

British Prime Minister Baldwin sighed softly and said:

"Mr. Clariant, I don't know if you're listening to the radio in Nanjing, now Empress Zhu Yourong of the Ming Dynasty is speaking to the world. She speaks English. Your English is very good, and I suggest you turn on the radio immediately and listen to it first. ”

Clariant was anxious and eagerly said:

"Mr. Baldwin, you see, we are now ......"

"Listen first," Baldwin interrupted, "I suggest you listen first......

Clariant's eyes were bloodshot, and he pressed the anxiety in his chest, turned around and gestured, and told the secretary to turn on the radio and tune in to the fixed channel of the Nanjing Jinling Broadcasting Company.

On the radio, Zhu Yourong was choking up, reading a bloody and tearful complaint of a Chinese girl who was victimized in Batavia:

“…… We quickly entered the room and locked the door, only to hear many people kicking the door violently outside the door, and some women and girls screaming...... I knew they would come in sooner or later, and we would all be in a corner, leaving everything to God...... I heard our neighbor, a 10-year-old girl, crying and screaming, 'Mommy...... Mom...... It hurts, ......', I know she's being raped, but I don't dare go out and ...... After more than ten minutes, her voice became weaker and weaker, and finally there was no sound......

“…… Half an hour later, they finally slammed the door open, and they swarmed in...... There were fifty or sixty of the locals, and they tore the sheets and tied me up, and my father, and my mother, and my sister, and my uncle, and my aunt...... Dad asked them what they really wanted, but they just hit him...... They look like beasts...... One of them grabbed my sister and put her on the couch, and I knew my sister was in danger and screamed, but a local man slapped me and my dad was knocked unconscious with a stick...... My mom passed out when they threw her on the couch...... I can only pray that disaster will not befall me......

“…… My uncle said he was going to give them money, give them all the money, and begged them to spare our family...... But it didn't work at all, and then five locals raped my sister...... Before raping her, everyone shouted 'allhuakbar', an Islamic phrase meaning 'great god'...... Soon, nine men dragged me over, and the last time I saw them drag my aunt over...... And then I didn't know anything...... When I woke up, it was five or six o'clock in the afternoon...... I had a head wound and I was naked...... I saw my dad holding my mom's body, and my aunt was crying there...... I felt collapsed and passed out again......

"The next day I woke up and the riot had subsided, and my dad was by my side...... I endured the pain and asked him, 'Daddy, where's my sister?' Dad looked in pain, held back tears, and told me that my sister was dead...... He told me that after I fell unconscious, seven locals raped me and that my dad was beaten there with wooden sticks...... The locals repeated the rape of me...... And when my sister was raped, she kept resisting, and the locals kept beating her...... In the end, the mobs stabbed her sister's body with bamboo poles, stabbing in and out again and again...... In the end, my sister was covered in blood and died of pain...... My dad told me that my uncle was tied up by them at the time and was there watching their ** aunt...... That night, my aunt jumped from the upper floor......

“…… Oh my God, my mind was in a mess, and I was in tears and asked Daddy why? Why is this happening? Dad was so uncomfortable that he couldn't say a word...... In the end, he said a word: because our home country does not care about us...... Dear Her Majesty, I don't want to believe that what my father said is true, and I don't want to believe that Da Ming really doesn't care about us...... I am writing to you to let you know everything that is happening here...... I know that this letter will probably not reach you, but I write it anyway...... I'm still alive now, and there's only hope left for me...... I've seen you in the newspapers, I've heard you on the radio, and I know you're a kind person...... I know that if this letter reaches you, you will help us get justice...... For my mother, sister, and aunt...... There are so many people who have died unjustly......"

When Zhu Yourong read this, he couldn't stop crying. Clariant's face turned purple and she couldn't say a word into the phone. After a while, he held back a sentence:

"Mr. Baldwin, we are all adults, we are men, we are politicians, not little girls like Zhu Yourong. This kind of grandstanding shouldn't affect our ......"

Baldwin just let out a soft "shh......h

On the radio, Zhu Yourong choked up and said:

"I can barely see this letter...... She was also a British correspondent based in Batavia who sent a telegram to Nanking on her behalf...... Now I will say to her: I have seen the letter you have given me. I feel very sad...... I'm sorry that your motherland failed to protect you sooner, so that your mother, sister, aunt, and you, and so many others, suffered such a great misfortune...... On behalf of your motherland, Daming, I apologize to you...... I'm really sorry...... Your Motherland has sinned before, but today, she will not do it again...... I promise that she will protect you and get justice for you...... I promise that your motherland will avenge your mother, sister and aunt...... Believe me......

"Here, on behalf of the Ming Empire, I declare to the world that the Ming Empire has the determination and ability to provide protection for the slaughtered and bullied expatriates, and to seek justice and justice for them. The Ming Empire will use all means, including force, to make the planners, conniversers, and implementers of this tragedy pay a heavy price.

"On behalf of the Ming Empire, I hereby solemnly promise that the Ming Dynasty will uphold the consistent policy of friendship and respect for countries other than the Netherlands when carrying out this righteous action, and we will strictly abide by and actively safeguard all the interests of all countries in the Nanyang region...... Daming has always cherished the friendship with all countries, and we will wholeheartedly maintain it...... Regardless of whether the issue will be resolved through negotiation or force, the Ming Dynasty will protect and take care of the various existing interests of various countries in the South Seas...... If we cause inconvenience or damage to the interests of our friends due to unavoidable reasons, we will compensate you adequately......

"Finally, on behalf of the Ming Empire, I would like to say a word: we do not want to accept any mediation from a third country in this matter...... It will be a matter between our country and the Netherlands. We don't want to damage the hard-won and precious friendship that we have built up with our friends over the years. Because like you, I also hope that Daming will always be gentle and kind, and that the friendship with my friends will last for at least another century. …… That's all I have to say. ”

……

After listening to Zhu Yourong's speech, Prime Minister Clariant's face was like a blank sheet of paper, and his throat was dry. Baldwin seemed speechless. For a moment, there was silence on both ends of the phone.

After a long while, Baldwin sighed faintly:

"I ...... How so? It's not that I'm unwilling to mediate for you, it's just that ...... If you can accept the punishment of the two thousand murderers, the extradition of the governor, the indemnity, and the proper cession of a portion of the oil and rubber dealings, then perhaps...... I will be more confident when I mediate the issue of military ports for you...... It also shows that you are sincere. ”

Clariant was stunned. Suddenly, with patience in his rage, he asked:

"Empress Zhu Yourong passed your anger with you in advance, didn't she? You've got some kind of fit, haven't you? …… I know that of these conditions, except for the construction of a naval base that directly threatens your interests, the rest are irrelevant to you...... But I would like you to note that the Chinese problem exists throughout Nanyang, and there are also a large number of Chinese in your territory...... Today, the Ming Dynasty can take advantage of the Chinese issue to attack us, but do you know if tomorrow it will take advantage of the Chinese issue? ”

Baldwin sighed:

"Could you please consider my situation...... At present, most of our citizens are on the side of the Ming Dynasty...... It's all your fault, why hasn't this ever happened in our territory? I know that 90 percent of the information coming back from Batavia is true...... In the eyes of the people, it is not a question of national interests, but a question of right and wrong, between good and evil. And between good and evil, a head of state elected by the people must not be on the wrong side.

“…… Therefore, I suggest that you give up some of your interests appropriately to appease the anger of that mad girl in Nanjing...... You know, once a woman enters a hysterical state, it is the most unreasonable and the most difficult to communicate...... She has already announced to the world that she refuses to mediate, and while this is outrageous, what else can I do? …… Now the whole world sees that they are the victims, and you are the perpetrators. They're Little Red Riding Hood, and you're the big bad wolf. Let's give them a portion of the benefits appropriately. If, after that, they are still pressing, then at least it will seem that you have become victims, and other countries can speak for you. ”

Clariant felt that the last straw was far away. He nervously said a few perfunctory words and hung up the phone.

……

Dutch Royal Palace.

Queen Wilhelmina threw her book and screamed:

"Nope! We must not lose the East Indies! We must not extradite the Governor! We, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are ...... is the world's ...... We...... We must not bow our proud heads! This time, as soon as we give in to them, we will lose the entire East Indies in ten years! That's our last big overseas territory! That was passed down to me by my ancestors! I decided to defend it! ”

……

At ten o'clock in the morning of February 27, two light cruisers anchored in the port of Surabaya and set sail to begin cruising on the sea of Batavia.

At this time, the Daming battle cruiser detachment departing from Zhanjiang Military Port was still 20 nautical miles away from the two Dutch cruisers, and it would encounter it within an hour.