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Text Chapter 514 The wind is high and the sea is rough

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    November 8, Sasebo.

    After the Sino-Japanese War, this natural harbor was known as the bridgehead of Japan's mainland policy. There were many masts in the harbor, including Haruna, Kirishima, Kawachi, Settsu, Hizen, Mishima, Okishima, Shikishima, Asahi, and Mikasa.  The number, the Aso number, the Ikoma number, the Hayami number, the Akitsusu number, the Chitose number, the Soya number, the Tone number, the Chikuma number, the Hirado number, the Yagi numberand so on!  A total of 67 warships were murderous.

    ? 2 Kongou-class ships were damaged, the Kurama sank, and the Nagato-class was ill-fated due to a shortage of precious metals!  Now the Chinese National Defense Force is taking advantage of the time difference between the Japanese navy's build-up and desperately transporting troops to Taiwan!  In any case, this is a humiliation to the Japanese Navy!  When the combined fleet, regarded as a national force, angrily assembled, the powerful Japanese navy finally showed its true strength!  The Haruna raised the flagship flag. Lieutenant General Gentaro Yamashita, commander of the combined fleet on the bridge, turned to look at the charred Hiei in the distance, and stamped his command sword on the deck.  The crisp crashing sound is the signal.  All Japanese officers and sailors looked there. Not everyone can trample on the glory of the Imperial Navy!  Defeating the stupid army does not mean defeating the navy or the empire!

    Let¡¯s attack¡­.

    A long whistle sounded from the bay. Haruna was the first to send out the signal of "Reappearance of the National Spirit", and Kirishima also sent out the signal of "Promote the National Prestige of the Empire".  The Kawachi "awaits our triumphant return", the Settsu "Emperor onboard"  One after another, the majestic warships rushed out of the waterway with various encouragement signals. The sailors on the deck were high-spirited and the entire formation stretched ten thousand meters away!  During the Sino-Japanese War 25 years ago, the same flag language made Japan a major power in Asia.  In Tsushima 15 years ago, it was still these flags that made Japan a world power!  So this time, will they triumph?  On the high seas, after seeing this scene, the hurriedly arriving American cruiser immediately sent a telegram to Shanghai and Honolulu: "Japanese combined fleet dispatched! Confirmed discovery of 8 battleships (battlecruisers), 2 coastal battleships (heavy artillery coastal defense ships),  13 cruisers, 44 destroyers and torpedo boats.¡±

    crazy!

    When the news spread across the world via radio waves, countless people who were paying attention to the situation in the Far East gasped!  In addition to the 4 British battlecruisers that are being renovated.  In addition to the two Nagato-class battleships under construction, the two Fuso-class battleships that are regarded as powerful weapons for the country, and the Tianlong-class and Kuma-class, which are just starting to be built, the Japanese navy is almost in full force!  Thick black smoke clouds completely obscured the sky, and the cold light of naval guns shone on the ocean in the Far East.

    that moment.  The British Empire suspended mediation, thinking that it should first let the growing Chinese suffer some hardships.

    At that moment, the United States was worried from top to bottom. The Japanese navy was too powerful.

    At that moment, Moscow cheered and saw the hope of China¡¯s withdrawal from Siberia.

    At that moment, the generals¡¯ fingers moved back and forth on the map.  Is it the Bohai Strait, or the Taiwan Strait?

    On the Bohai Strait, more than ten naval transport ships and hundreds of civilian ships and fishing boats were assembled, and one by one they scattered the mines stored in Lushun, Dalian, Tianjin and other places into the sea!  "Grandpa, why do we block our sea route?" In the distance, a young man on a returning fishing boat thought that the navy should attack and defeat Japan.  The grandfather's wrinkled old face was a little disappointed, and he touched the boy's head: "Let's tie up the fence first. There is always hope to build more big ships in the future."

    The young man nodded: "Grandpa, I want to be a navy when I grow up."

    "Okay, when you grow up, you will go to the navy. In the future, you will be a commander."

    During the conversation between grandfather and grandson, the warships of Lushun, Yantai and Dalian were evacuated to the Bohai Bay, and heavy anchor mines were pushed into the sea, looming with the waves.  The sailors bit their lips and their eyes were red.  Because what pushes you down is not the glory but the frustration of not being as good as your opponent.  The navy is a naturally offensive service, but now it needs to use mines to block itself in the harbor because of its lack of strength.  What is the difference between this and the Ottoman Navy which did nothing during the European War?  While they were laying mines, they secretly swore in their hearts!  This is the last time, no matter what, it is the last time. In the future, the navy must attack in addition to attacking.  Almost at the same time, intensive mine-laying operations were also carried out east of the Taiwan Strait.  As many as 300 cargo ships and civilian ships tried their best to spread mines in the strait.  No one cares about how to clean them up in the future, and no one cares about blocking their own roads. At this moment, everyone knows that a huge fleet has rushed out of the harbor.

    The navy of the Republic of China was very clear about its status from the beginning. Compared with Japan, which had been accumulated for twenty years, the equipment, personnel, skills and tactics were all weak.  Mines, torpedo boats and submarines are considered the best defense measures. The General Staff has also deduced this situation a few years ago, so it has already stocked up on sufficient mines.  The largest mine-laying operation in Asia was carried out day and night. A total of 13,000 mines were dropped in just a few days, including two important mines.The Ministry of National Defense has once again placed an order for 30,000 mines to all domestic factories at 11 locations including the Xiamen Gorge.

    The night of November 9th.

    Nanjing energized the country and newspapers, announcing a complete ban on navigation in the Bohai Sea and Taiwan Strait!

    The whole world was shocked when the news came out!  We must know that the Taiwan Strait is the most important trade channel in the Far East. Billions of dollars worth of goods and trade flow through this golden waterway every year. Now it is blocked by mine arrays because of the new war. How much benefit will this delay?  The most anxious among them was the United Kingdom. The mine-laying blockade meant that the most convenient passage between the Yangtze River Basin and Hong Kong was cut off.  Whitehall was the first to sit still!  The Taiwan Strait is the most important strategic channel in the Far East. If mines are blocked, Yang Qiu can easily transport at least two to three army divisions to Taiwan Island in a short time, and then let the navy hide in the bay or use submarines to hide and seek with the Japanese navy. Moreover,  With Japan's current army capabilities, there is absolutely no way it can stop so many troops.  So the generals began to discuss whether it was necessary to use the Far East Fleet to ensure British interests and continue the alliance.

    At the same time, Downing Street was also facing pressure, and Prime Minister Lloyd George frowned and thought hard.  Once the Far East loses control and Japan is eventually expelled from Taiwan, North Korea and Sakhalin, it will mean Japan's overall decline.  This will go against the continental balancing policy that the UK has always implemented, but if it favors Japan, it will definitely break up with China, because this incident was entirely instigated by Japan!  Can the British Empire still have enough prestige after losing its justice?

    what can we do about it?

    Just as he was thinking hard, Edward Gray knocked on the office door: "Prime Minister, I think we have very bad news." He was about to leave office and fulfilled his final obligations faithfully, spreading the telegram on the table: "  This has just been received. The Chinese government and the United States have signed an oil field development agreement. They will purchase tens of millions of dollars worth of refining equipment from the United States, and will exchange 10% of the shares for technical assistance, and American oil companies will help build the refinery.  .¡±

    Although the amount of an oil refining project is huge, it is not so serious, right?  Lloyd George picked up the telegram without reading it.  When he was about to make fun of the old man, Gray already sighed: "As an additional condition, the U.S. government promised to lease two Nevada-class battleships to the Chinese Navy for training! It is also planning to purchase 4 of these battleships.  Negotiations are ongoing. In additionthe Chinese Congress passed a total of 200 million yuan in emergency naval appropriations yesterday morning, and their naval generals have begun discussions and negotiations on whether to purchase all four French Normandy-class battleships."

    "God!"

    Lloyd George almost jumped!  The post-European arms race did not end, but became more and more intense. Japan began to work on the Amagi and Kaga projects, while the United States had 4 Colorados, 6 South Dakotas and 5 Lexingtons under construction!  France.  Italy is embarking on a naval plan. Faced with such a scene, the British Empire, which has been unable to carry out a naval competition, has to start preparing to bring together various countries for negotiations. Now that the negotiations have not started, the Chinese have joined in again!

    ? 8 battleship procurement plans at one goAre they crazy?  !

    What should Edward Gray or even Lloyd George be worried about? The European War has depleted the vitality of the British Empire, and the Irish problem has aggravated the disaster. The huge Royal Navy is only on the surface, and even the Chinese have seen the weakness inside!  How else would they dare to do this?  After thinking about it for a while.  Before leaving office, he gave his final advice: "George, we cannot let the situation worsen. We cannot organize an expedition. It is even impossible to send troops! It is no longer ten years ago. Appropriate strategic contraction can buy us enough time to go  Healing the wounds.¡±

    After he finished speaking, he put down the telegram and left the office with a smile.

    Lloyd George looked at his back, picked up the telegram again, and finally slowly lowered his raised hand.

    While he was making a difficult decision, Bernard also came to see Yang Qiu again and put the telegram on the table.  The out-of-control situation made him very angry. He pointed at the no-sail order and said: "Your Excellency, Vice President, what is this? Blocking international straits is an inhumane act! Your country will bear all the consequences!"

    Bernard is not as lighthearted as his predecessor, even though he has lived in China for more than ten years.  But he was obviously much more impatient than Zhu Erdian, and he believed more in the British Empire's backers.  So his tone is very urgent, and you have to listen carefully to distinguish the words.  But he also had difficulties. It would be fine if he only blocked the Bohai Strait, but the Taiwan Strait involves most of the interests of the British Empire in the Far East. This strait is densely covered with mines.  The Far East fleets of Singapore and Hong Kong will need to detour overseas from Taiwan, and the huge British business interests in the Yangtze River will also have to detour. The transportation cost alone will increase by at least 10%.

    Yang Qiu looked at the well-dressed British ambassador coldly, and gently pushed the telegram back to him: "Please see clearly, you have no choice! This is not ours."The choice is a war imposed on our country by others!  Mines are weapons, and rifles are also weapons. Does your country want to deprive our country of even its most basic right to self-defense for the sake of the interests of its allies?  If that's the case, then there is no need to continue this negotiation!  I will tell Nanjing to cancel all dialogues.  If we really have to bear the consequences, I think we soldiers are willing to take the initiative!  "

    Bernard¡¯s eyes flashed, and he was really worried.  India cannot be lost, and Japan cannot fall. This is the bottom line that the UK must stick to, but now this bottom line is being challenged!  China's military operations in the northwest have threatened India's security.  The new confrontation between China and Japan, which is about to break out, should not be said to have already broken out, will challenge the second bottom line.  This is something the UK never wants to see. He said: "Your Excellency, Vice President, I think we don't need to talk in circles. In your country's words, we might as well open the skylight and speak clearly."

    "It's very simple" Yang Qiu stood up and put his hands on the table, saying: "We are willing to accept all mediation from your country and are willing to accept your opinions, but before that, we hope that the British Empire will stand on the side of justice.  Position! If there is no justice, then there is no need for us to continue to sit here."

    ??????????????????? Just?  How is it fair?

    Since it has not agreed to terminate all unequal treaties, it cannot be said to be fair. Moreover, Britain still maintains the Anglo-Japanese alliance agreement. Under such circumstances, mediation cannot win the trust of the Chinese government.  Suddenly, the China he had eight years ago was completely different from the one eight years later. Not to mention the growing industrial capabilities, the battle on the Western Front that shocked the world showed that this country already had a capable army.  The army that ensures territorial security!  Although their navy is still weak, even if they lose their entire navy, who can really talk about blocking China, which has a vast territory and is completely self-sufficient?

    Bernard took a deep breath and touched his fingers habitually: "Okay, let's listen to the suggestions from both sides."

    With this sentence, Yang Qiu immediately said: "Completely terminate the unequal treaties during the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, ensure our country's garrison and immigration rights in the Northwest 5, but we can reduce the number appropriately, and sign a peace treaty on issues such as India and the Northwest,  We will ensure that we do not infringe on your country¡¯s interests in these areas.¡±

    These conditions have been stated countless times, and Bernard was not interested in continuing to struggle and asked: "What about Japan?"

    "Withdraw from Taiwan, North Korea and Sakhalin Island, and compensate our country for losses of 100 million yuan."

    The harsh conditions made him frown immediately, but he was surprisingly expressionless and nodded: "I will tell our government, but before that"

    "Before this, we will not stop any self-defense actions. This is the most basic right of a country!" Yang Qiu straightened up and took a step forward: "Your Excellency, Ambassador, I understand your country's concerns, so I have called the President to renew  Considering the issue of Zhambyl State and the number of immigrants stationed in the northwest This is my greatest sincerity! From the beginning to the end, my country and I have never expanded outward. Our army only obeys your country's command to attack.  Outside the Poor Party, we are still guarding the territory. You may not believe it, but you still want to say that for our generation, the most important thing is to build a good country."

    "We China don't need colonies!".

    (To be continued)

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