Although Colonel Ross had good reasons, he was also awarded the James. Sir Dundas's approval, but the old-fashioned James. Sir Dundas never made an exception for Colonel Ross, and he always believed that the Mediterranean Fleet could only operate at the behest of the Cabinet or the British diplomatic ambassador to the Ottomans.

Otherwise, James. Dundas is undermining the sacred discipline of the British Navy, and the noble Royal Navy cannot learn from the Army.

Facing the old-fashioned James. Sir Dundas, Colonel Ross can only choose to continue to wait and see.

On April 1st, the morning sun rises over the sea level.

At the port of Malta in the heart of the Mediterranean, a French-flagged steam boat is approaching from the northwest.

The steam cruiser in charge of Malta's vigilance quickly approached the steam clipper as soon as it spotted the French steam clipper.

After about 5 minutes of travel, the steam clipper and the cruiser met in the sea less than 2 nautical miles from Malta.

The captain of the cruiser immediately sent sailors to ask why the steam clipper was close to the port of Malta.

"We are the 1st Squadron Patrol Fleet of the Mediterranean Fleet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and you have trespassed into the patrol area of our Mediterranean Fleet, please leave immediately! Please leave now! "Standing at the bow of the ship, shouting vigorously in the direction of the steam clipper, in this era of radio underdevelopment, the orders between warships and warships, warships and civilian ships either rely on military flags or roars.

The former is suitable for short, flat and fast delivery of valid instructions, and the latter is suitable for the current scenario.

Shouting at the top of their voices is undoubtedly the most laborious thing, and many sailors prefer to solve the other side with one shot rather than asking the other party's identity.

If the steam clipper on the opposite side is not flying the French flag, then the cruiser has every reason to dispose of the opposite ship as a spy.

In the case of flying the French flag, British warships had to be handled with caution.

The slightest carelessness can trigger an unexpected political crisis.

After a while, a voice came from the steam clipper flying the French flag: "I am the British ambassador to the Ottomans, Stratford. Canning, who now needs to travel to the Malta military base, is in tune with James. Lieutenant General Dundath meets! ”

Hearing the response from the steam clipper on the opposite side, the sailors on the cruiser looked at each other, they did not understand why the British ambassador would appear on a steam clipper flying the French flag.

One of the sailors poked the sailor next to him with his elbow and whispered: "What are you doing in a daze!" Don't go and report to the captain yet! ”

The sailor who has not yet come back to his senses said "um", turned around and went to the captain's room to report, he suddenly reacted halfway through, why should he report, the sailor stopped and turned to look at the companion behind him, the companion standing at the bow waved his hand at him when he saw this, signaling him to go back quickly, and the sailor could only show a helpless smile to report the news to the captain.

"Are you sure you heard it right, the other person's name is Stratford. Canning? When the sailor told the captain the news, he was immediately questioned by the captain.

"I'm sure I heard you right! He said he was the ambassador of Great Britain and that his name was Stratford. Canning! The sailor replied to the captain with an oath.

"Forget it! I'll see for myself! The captain who had met with Canning decided to go to the bow to see if he was the ambassador he knew.

Led by sailors, the captain with a lookout glass set off from the captain's cabin and soon arrived at the bow.

The captain standing at the bow of the ship saw Canning standing on the bow of the steam clipper through the lookout glass, and this time the captain no longer suspected the identity of Ambassador Canning, he hurriedly shouted at Canning on the other side and said, "Ambassador Canning, please come with me!" ”

"Good!" Canning on the other side immediately responded.

At the captain's command, the steam engine mounted on the cruiser was activated again, and the other steam clipper was also restarted.

The cruiser and the steam clipper entered the port of Malta, and after the ship docked in the port of Malta, a wooden staircase was slowly lowered and a pedestrian passage was being built to connect the clipper to the pier.

The families of the sailors living in Malta watched the French-flagged steam clipper with curiosity until the wooden staircase was completely on the ground. Canning slowly descended the stairs.

As Canning put his feet fully on Maltese soil, the wooden staircase was once again retracted by the sailors on the clipper, and now the captain on the deck near the dock side headed to Stratford on land. Canning waved goodbye.

Stratford. Canning smiled and waved at the captain.

The hum of steam reappeared, and the steam clipper with the French hanging slowly left the Maltese port.

The Cruiser Fleet also followed them to escort them out of Malta, and of course, the Cruiser Fleet was supposed to escort them, but in fact to prevent the steam clippers from wandering around the waters off Malta.

Looking at the steam clippers and the cruising warship Stratford. Canning withdrew his gaze and turned away from the harbor.

Led by a naval officer stationed in Malta, Stratford. Canning not only met with the commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, James Murphy. Sir Dundas, and also met with his own Colonel Ross at the Ottoman Embassy.

James. Dundas glanced at Stratford. Canning, looking at Colonel Ross again, his eyes full of doubt, he didn't understand that since Stratford. Ambassador Canning has already arrived, why does Colonel Ross have to come over in one more move.

"Your Excellency...... What are you doing here? Why didn't you notify me before you came? Colonel Ross looked at Stratford in front of him with a look of surprise. Canning.

If he had known that Ambassador Cunning would be returning in the near future, he would not have had to go to Malta to persuade James. Sir Dundas.

"Didn't you receive a telegram from Britain?" Stratford. Canning also asked suspiciously.

"Nope!" Colonel Ross shook his head in denial.

After thinking for a moment, Canning suddenly realized that he seemed to have arrived a few days earlier than originally planned.

According to the procrastinating character of the British Cabinet, it is estimated that it will never disclose its news to the Ottoman embassy until the end.

This led to Colonel Ross coming to Malta without receiving a telegram from the Cabinet.

It's all the fault of the French! Who made their trains so punctual!

But what is Ross doing in Malta?

A brand new question appeared in Colonel Rose's mind, and he looked at the deputy in front of him and asked, "What are you doing in Malta?" ”

"That's right......," Colonel Ross told Stratford of his conversation with the former Ottoman foreign minister two days earlier. Canning.

Upon hearing what Colonel Ross was saying, Stratford immediately smelled a hint of conspiracy.

Based on the diplomat's sixth sense, he was told that the former foreign minister of Colonel Ross seemed to be hiding part of the truth, especially on the French side.

During Canning's journey through France, he saw a group of men in French uniforms at stations along the railway in the south-west of France; Seeing that many supplies were being transported by rail to Lyon and Marseille, and in the course of his exchanges with the passengers of the train, Canning heard the owner of a Marseille fleet company complaining that his fleet needed to be at the disposal of the committee, so that he had lost a lot of money.

There are indications that France is mobilizing to a limited extent.

Although the magnitude of its mobilization is like that of ants moving, it still cannot escape Stratford. Canning's "fiery eyes".

In terms of the intensity of France's mobilization, if it were not for the advance preparation for entering the Near East, Stratford. Canning couldn't figure out why he had to prepare so much supplies.

So when he heard Colonel Ross with Fouad. After Edifin's conversation, it was concluded that the former foreign minister was hiding something from them.

"Your Excellency Canning, the Mediterranean Fleet is at your disposal!"

Now the man who can command the Mediterranean Fleet has arrived, James. Sir Dundas was naturally willing to listen to Stratford. Canning's order to act.

"Mediterranean Fleet ......" Stratford. Canning muttered before James. Sir Dundas said, "Don't move for now! ”

Colonel Ross looked at Stratford with a look of astonishment. Canning, he didn't understand why Ambassador Canning wanted the warship to stand still for the time being.

"There's a lot we don't know about, so it's best not to act rashly!" Stratford. Canning replied vaguely that he didn't want to embarrass his assistant too much in public.

Colonel Ross, who had been with Ambassador Cunning for many years, immediately realized what Ambassador Canning had discovered, but did not refute him for the sake of his face.

"Yes!" Colonel Ross was very grateful to Ambassador Canning.

On the afternoon of April 1st, Stratford. Canning and Colonel Ross left Malta on a steamboat.

The ship arrived in Constantinople in the early hours of April 2.

Looking at the city in front of him, which had been separated for nearly five months, Canning was full of emotion.

The two returned to the embassy and washed up briefly, then fell asleep.

April 2, 10 a.m.

Stratford. Canning appeared from the embassy and soon arrived at the home of former Prime Minister Reheed.

After a long absence, old friends exchanged pleasantries for a while, and immediately entered the whole

"Please tell me! What steps have you taken in the time I've been away! "Stratford. Forde asked the former prime minister in front of him with a serious face.

"Canning, you should ask the current Prime Minister about this question, not about me as a lost old man! Now I just want to live the rest of my life in peace! ”

Please know that the website of this book: 123 Reading Pen Mobile Version Reading:

『Click here to report error』『Add to bookmark』