Wang Chonghui had a big quarrel with the envoys of the Nine Kingdoms, and both parties broke up unhappy.
Soon, the tough attitude of the Chinese government was conveyed back to Europe through the ministers of various countries. Among them, several small countries such as the Netherlands and Luxembourg were soy sauce, while France and the United States had a relatively peaceful attitude and acted as if the matter had nothing to do with them. Only the United Kingdom and Italy reacted the most fiercely.
What’s more interesting is that Britain and Italy are not on the same side.
Although the three countries of Germany, Italy and Japan have not yet signed a military alliance treaty, everyone can see that the formation of the Axis Military Alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan is a certainty and will be difficult to reverse. The reason why the three countries of Germany, Italy and Japan have not signed a contract yet is simply that Because there are differences in the terms, everyone wants to strive for more rights and less responsibilities.
The United Kingdom, like the Soviet Union, is the main enemy of this upcoming military alliance! Britain hoped that this soon-to-be-formed military alliance would target the Soviet Union and pursue a policy of appeasement. It would tolerate many of Germany's excessive behaviors and would even sign the Munich Agreement to betray the Czech Republic.
Therefore, fundamentally, it is impossible for the nine Western countries to act in unison.
Seeing that scaring was useless, several small countries immediately decided to give up.
The United States and France also began to stay out of the matter. In fact, the United States and France were full of sympathy for China, and they also deeply sympathized with the experience of the Lone Army Camp, because this was basically caused by the British's betrayal. If it hadn't been for the British How could things happen today if he was treacherously detained in the Lone Army Camp
Therefore, the only countries that really cannot come to Taiwan are Italy and the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom is particularly embarrassed. No matter what, the United Kingdom is the only superpower in the world today. Although the industrial manufacturing strength of the United States has surpassed that of the United Kingdom, when it comes to comprehensive national strength, especially military strength, it is far behind the United Kingdom. Germany and the Soviet Union China's industrial strength is also very strong, but its international influence is far less than that of the United Kingdom.
Therefore, the UK is embarrassed by the Chinese government's toughness.
Based on past experience, the British thought that as long as they threatened China, they would give in. But who would have thought that this time, the Chinese did not give in at all, but instead spit out two rows of wolfs. Teeth, pretending to compete with the British, this is very embarrassing.
The Chinese's reply reached London, and Chamberlain immediately convened a cabinet meeting.
Chamberlain was not a militant, so he tolerated Germany's aggressiveness again and again. However, this does not mean that Chamberlain was a good man. In fact, if it were not for the Germans' industrial strength and military, Chamberlain would never be able to tolerate it. He's so easy to talk to.
China, in Chamberlain's eyes, has always been weak and can be bullied.
The two Opium Wars destroyed the Chinese people's self-confidence when facing Westerners, but also boosted the British self-confidence when facing the Chinese. In fact, Chamberlain never looked at China seriously. , in his eyes, China is a dumping ground for British goods, a weak country that allows itself to be bullied.
Therefore, after receiving the reply from the minister in Chongqing, Chamberlain still wanted to go to war.
However, fighting a war is not an easy task. First, where will the troops be allocated from
In addition to the local six armies, the British army also has servant armies from India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The situation in Europe is now extremely tense. It is obviously not possible to mobilize troops from the mainland. Moreover, the distance from the mainland to China is too far. It takes several months on the road, and the daylilies are cold by the time we get to China.
The most feasible option is to transfer troops from Hong Kong or Singapore.
However, Hong Kong originally only had a garrison of 10,000 troops, which was insufficient to defend against the Japanese army in Guangdong. As a result, troops had to be transferred from Singapore. The garrison in Singapore was sufficient, with 50,000 troops!
However, to transport Singapore's 56,000 troops to Shanghai requires the use of a large number of ships. This cannot be accomplished by the Far East Fleet alone. The fleet in the Indian Ocean also needs to be transferred there. But if the fleet in the Indian Ocean is transferred there, , and will inevitably cause a backlash from Japan, so diplomatic negotiations must be carried out first.
In addition, the military expenditures for using such a large navy and army are also very huge. Although after the Sino-British War, it can be compensated through indemnities from the Chinese government, but at the beginning, this military expenditure must be paid by the British government first. Advance payment is a huge burden for the British government, which is already financially strapped.
The Minister of Finance began to cry loudly: "Your Excellency, I regret to inform you that there is no more money in the financial account. It cannot support such a large military operation, let alone using two fleets to transport five ships. It is already very difficult for the 60,000-strong Army to go to the battlefield in China, thousands of miles away, and even to transfer a division of troops to India."
"Money is not a problem, we can issue public debt." Chamberlain waved his hand and said, "The only thing we have to consider is the reaction of the Japanese. If the Japanese step forward to interfere, it will be a bit tricky."
"The Japanese will not stand up to interfere. After all, it will only benefit them and not harm them." The Foreign Minister shrugged and said, "The question is, Mr. Prime Minister, are you really planning to do that? Have you never thought that once the British By intervening in the Sino-Japanese war and siding with the Japanese, China is likely to be quickly defeated."
"If China dies, then it dies. It doesn't matter." Chamberlain said solemnly, "As long as Japan targets the Soviet Union after annexing China, I think this is still very possible."
"I don't think so." The Finance Minister shook his head and said, "From a strategic point of view, the Japanese cannot obtain the oil, steel, rubber and other resources they urgently need by attacking the Soviet Union northward, but if they go southward and attack Southeast Asia, they can immediately Access to rubber, crude oil, steel and other resources makes it more likely that Japan will go south after successfully annexing China.”
There was a fierce debate in Britain as to whether the Japanese would go north or south after annexing China.
Chamberlain retorted: "Didn't the intelligence department say that Japan's Kwantung Army is making intensive preparations to fight against the Soviet Union?"
"That was just a tentative action by the Japanese." The Minister of Military Intelligence continued, "If the results are ideal, it does not rule out that the Japanese will launch a full-scale war with the Soviet Union, but I think this is unlikely. The Japanese military adventure , it is likely to end in failure, and even if it is a victory, it will definitely be a tragic victory."
Chamberlain said depressedly: "Doesn't this mean that we cannot go to war with China?"
"I think so, Your Excellency." Several ministers at the meeting nodded and said, "The Chinese's tough stance only caused a little loss of face, but if Japan is allowed to annex China and spread the war to Southeast Asia, it will It will undoubtedly lead the upcoming Axis Alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan to the empire, but this is a crisis related to the life and death of the empire."
"Okay." Chamberlain said dejectedly, "Then let the Americans mediate."
(Dividing line)
At the same time, in Chongqing.
Chairman Chiang spent the entire day restless.
Although the possibility of the British government sending troops is very small, nothing is absolute. What if the British government really sends troops? That would be nothing less than a disaster for China!
Therefore, the statement was made, but Chairman Chiang was still extremely uneasy in his heart.
None of the staff members left either. They all stayed at Chairman Chiang Kai-shek's official residence waiting for the latest feedback.
Time passed slowly in the suffocating waiting, and the sky outside began to gradually darken.
Chairman Chiang raised his head and looked at the clock on the wall. He saw that the hour hand pointed to seven o'clock in the evening. He then turned to ask Foreign Minister Wang Chonghui: "Liangchou, it should be almost noon in London now, right?"
"Yes, delegate." Wang Chonghui replied respectfully, "It should be about eleven o'clock in the morning in London now."
"It's eleven o'clock, and the internal review meeting should be over." Chairman Jiang said quietly, and then added, "The results should be out soon, right?"
Wang Chonghui smiled bitterly and said, "It should be like this."
Chairman Chiang looked around at the dozen or so staff members present and asked, "Do you think the British will go to war with us?"
"Definitely not." Bai Chongxi said firmly, "Unless the British are crazy, they can't go to war with us."
"I don't think so even for lower-level people." He Yingqin and Chen Cheng also rarely agreed with Bai Chongxi's judgment. Nothing else, because Chairman Chiang wants to hear this now, but in their true hearts, He Yingqin and Chen Cheng don't think so. , they believe that the British will definitely go to full-scale war with China.
After a few words, the conference hall fell silent again.
Fortunately, the silence did not last too long. Not long after, the captain of the bodyguard Wang Shihe came in excitedly and reported to Chairman Chiang with excitement: "Commissioner, Ambassador Johnson called and said that he I will come over soon to mediate this dispute between us and the British."
"Jason is going to come forward to mediate?"
"It's actually an American who came forward?"
"The British themselves won't come?"
"Didn't you hear just now? This is a dispute!"
“The Americans’ characterization of this incident is a dispute!”
"Haha, it seems the British don't want to go to war with us."
"I have told you before that the British will not and dare not go to war!"
The dozen or so staff members present were all excited after hearing this.
Diplomatic victory, this is definitely a major victory on the diplomatic front!
The arrogant British finally lowered their proud heads in front of the Chinese!
Chairman Chiang's face could not help but glow with a flash of red. Faced with Western intimidation and blackmail, Chairman Chiang rarely acted tough. This time he was forced to be tough, but this was the only time he was tough. It has achieved unexpectedly good results. With such a result, we really can't ask for more.