Add Bookmark | Recommend this book | Back to the book page | My bookshelf | Mobile Reading

Free Web Novel,Novel online - All in oicq.net -> Historic -> chinese fourth empire

Piaotian Literature of the Fourth Empire of China www.piaotia.com Chapter 716 The Last Effort

Previous page        Return to Catalog        Next page

    "Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kuwait is a British protectorate. Jaber came to power through a coup, which is illegal. The protection treaty he signed with China also has no legal effect. As for the Suez Canal, it belongs to the Suez Canal Company.  .According to the proclamation of the Constantinople Congress in 1888, the Suez Canal is a neutral zone under the protection of the British Empire. China cannot take away the Suez Canal!" Ambassador Zhu Erdian retorted.

    "No matter what, the Kingdom of Kuwait is now under the rule of Jaber. The Kingdom of Kuwait got rid of British colonial rule and became a protectorate of China. Then, our country must protect the security and interests of the Kingdom of Kuwait. Any invasion of the Kingdom of Kuwait is  Invasion of China! As for the Suez Canal, if the British cavalry had not stationed in the Suez Canal in 1882, would the canal have been controlled by the British? Now, the Chinese army has captured the Suez Canal and wants us to give up. This is impossible!" Wu Tingfang was determined.  said.  The importance of the Suez Canal is self-evident. Whoever controls the Suez Canal can control this transportation artery!

    "The British Empire purchased the shares of the Suez Canal Company in 1875 and sent troops to the Suez Canal. That was only natural!" Zhu Erdian said.  At that time, the Egyptian Khedive, forced by foreign debt, transferred its shares in the Suez Canal Company to the United Kingdom.  Therefore, the British sent troops to the canal openly.  However, China obviously will not admit it.

    "Your Excellency Ambassador, Egypt's current Khedive Abbas II said that Britain used unfair means to seize Egypt's shares in the canal. Now, Egypt is willing to take back the shares in the canal at the original price. At the same time, Egypt will  Invite our army to station in the canal and protect the canal!" Wu Tingfang said with a smile.

    "This is impossible! The British Empire will not sell its shares in the canal!" Zhu Erdian said immediately.  Not to mention, I bought it at the original price at that time.  You must know that with the increase in trade between the East and the West, the canal company's annual income is a huge fortune. The shares of the canal company held by the British have increased several times, and the British will not give up at all.

    "Then there is no other way!" Wu Tingfang said helplessly. Anyway, the Suez Canal is now in the hands of China.  Even if it cannot completely occupy the Suez Canal, China still has a foot in it.  It is simply impossible to get China to give up the Suez Canal.

    The meeting had reached this point where it became clear that they would not be able to agree on anything.  Obviously, diplomatic efforts have still failed.  The British Ambassador to China Juldian and the French Ambassador to China Pierre could only say goodbye to Wu Tingfang, and then report the results of the negotiations to the country.  They have already tried their best, but as for how the country decides, that is beyond their control.

    "Your Excellency Zhu Erdian, the Chinese are too greedy. If they want to protect the interests of our two countries, it seems that diplomacy will not work!" Pierre said to Zhu Erdian after leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

    "Now the Chinese have the absolute advantage, and of course they want to gain more benefits. As for the means of war, this has been proven to be unworkable. The Chinese have occupied the Suez Canal and have cut off the communication between us and the coalition forces.  Supplies are in. In half a month at most, the coalition will collapse due to lack of supplies!" Zhu Erdian shook his head and said.  Obviously, he is not optimistic about the continuation of the war!

    "Yes, the Chinese have shown strong combat power. However, after all, China has just embarked on the road to industrialization. If we fight a full-scale war with China, with the strength of Britain and France, we will have to gain the final victory.  Victory is absolutely no problem!" Pierre was a little unwilling to give up.

    Zhu Erdian shook his head, and then said: "The country will not agree to a full-scale war with China. We are not ready yet. At least in terms of navy, we have no advantage in facing China. In addition, our most important thing is  The enemy is not China. Even if we can defeat China, we will suffer heavy losses. By then, the leadership of the European continent will fall into the hands of other countries!"

    Pierre¡¯s face looked a little ugly. The navy was undoubtedly a pain in the hearts of the French.  During the Battle of the Red Sea, two of the French Navy's four 'Gourba-class' battleships were sunk and two captured.  This resulted in the loss of all the French Navy's cutting-edge battleships.  Before the French Navy puts into service the next-level 'Breton-class' battleships, the French Navy can only rely on the old-fashioned 'Dandong-class' to support the scene.  However, France is a continental army country after all, and the army is the most important.

    "Are we just going to let the Chinese make harsh demands on us? If the Suez Canal is controlled by the Chinese, our connection with Asia will be completely cut off!" Pierre said.  France doesn't care about this. France no longer has many interests in Asia.

    ¡°The Chinese will not succeed!¡±Zhu Erdian said.  The Suez Canal is very important to the United Kingdom. The resources the United Kingdom obtains from India and Australia need to be transported back to the country through the Suez Canal.  If the Suez Canal is controlled by China, the consequences will be disastrous!

    After returning to the embassy, ??Zhu Erdian personally sent a telegram to the country, sending all China's reaction and his suggestions back to the country, hoping that the country could make the right decision.

    December 26, just after Christmas, British Prime Minister Arthur?  Balfour summoned his cabinet ministers to discuss the current trouble.  This Christmas is probably the most uncomfortable Christmas that the British cabinet ministers have ever had.  Although the coalition forces in Saudi Arabia currently have sufficient supplies, it is obvious that they cannot hold on for long.  Horatio, the allied commander?  Herbert?  General Kitchener has ordered to reduce the daily food supply for coalition soldiers, but even so, they can only last about twenty days at most.  Admiral Kitchener's telegram for help appeared in the hands of the heads of government of Britain and France every day, causing them great misery.

    "Your Excellency Prime Minister, our ambassador to China has contacted the Chinese. However, the Chinese's asking price is very high. They actually want to occupy the Suez Canal! This condition is something we cannot agree to. Therefore, diplomatic efforts can definitely be a failure.  Yes!" Foreign Secretary Lord Lansdowne said helplessly.

    "For the benefit of the British Empire, the Suez Canal cannot fall into the hands of the Chinese!" Colonial Secretary Edward?  Gray said.

    "So, what should we do now? The coalition can't hold on for much longer?" Arthur?  Prime Minister Balfour rubbed his sore brow and said tiredly.  In the British Parliament, the opposition parties have begun to initiate a motion of no confidence in him. This makes Arthur?  Balfour was difficult to deal with.  If it is not handled well, he may have to step down!

    "We can order the British and French coalition forces to retreat to the Suez Canal. According to the coalition's current supplies, the coalition forces in the center and south can retreat to the Red Sea coast. The coalition forces in the northwest can retreat to the Sinai Peninsula. If we can retake it within this time  Control of the Suez Canal, then we still have a chance!" Field Marshal Neville?  Powers?  said Lord Chamberlain.

    "Can we take back control of the canal?" Arthur?  Prime Minister Balfour no longer believed in the combat effectiveness of the British army.

    "The 100,000 reinforcements we sent have arrived in Alexandria. The 100,000 French troops will also arrive today. Using 200,000 troops to attack the Suez Canal is not without a chance. We do not seek to completely defeat the Chinese, as long as we can  Just seize control of the northern part of the canal. However, this requires the cooperation of the navy. In particular, the US Navy must participate in the war!" Sir Chamberlain said.

    "Can the navy participate in the war?" Arthur?  Prime Minister Balfour looked at Admiral John?  Sir Fisher.

    "The Navy has already communicated with the United States. The U.S. Navy will fully assist us. However, the main force of the Chinese Navy has always stayed in Port Said. Their submarine forces are deployed in nearby waters. If a war breaks out there,  We have to take a big risk!" Sir Fisher said with some worry.

    "Even if we take the risk, we have no choice. This battle must be won. Otherwise, we will have to accept the harsh conditions of the Chinese! I will contact the French President. We must work together in this battle!"  "Arthur?"  Prime Minister Balfour has made up his mind.  If he fails again, he will have no choice but to step down.  He was very unwilling, so he had to give it a try.

    "Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister, we will try our best!" Sir Chamberlain and Sir Fisher both replied.

    December 27, Alexandria, northern Egypt.  All the troops dispatched from the country by the British and French allied forces have gathered here.  Two hundred thousand people in all, one hundred thousand each in England and France.  By British Field Marshal Frederick?  Roberts became commander.  At the same time, in the Mediterranean Sea, there is also a huge fleet composed of four 'Dreadnought-class' battleships of the British Navy and six 'Connecticut-class' battleships of the US Navy.  By British Admiral Edward?  Sir Seamus is the commander, and U.S. Navy Admiral Benson is the chief of staff.

    According to the plan, the British and French coalition forces will attack Port Said, defeat the Chinese army stationed here, and control the northern part of the Suez Canal.  The Navy will engage in a decisive battle with the Chinese Navy in the Mediterranean waters north of the Suez Canal, defeat the Chinese Navy, gain control of the Mediterranean and even the Red Sea, reconnect with the British and French coalition forces as far away as Saudi Arabia, and avoid the collapse of the coalition forces due to lack of logistical supplies.  !  (To be continued. Please search Piaotian Literature, the novels will be better and updated faster!)
Didn't finish reading? Add this book to your favoritesI'm a member and bookmarked this chapterCopy the address of this book and recommend it to your friends for pointsChapter error? Click here to report