London, one day in October 1914, the sky was drizzling. (Please remember the free novel

Clouds of water mist drifting from the Atlantic Ocean blow all the way from the Thames River estuary to London, making London a veritable fog city. The fog here often lingers for several days in a row, and the sky is filled with white for several days in a row.

Vast small water droplets. The steeple churches and high-rise buildings on both sides of the Thames River have been covered up, leaving only some castles in the air.

This fog is not white mist, it is yellow, and there is a choking smell in the fog. This is yellow fog. The Industrial Revolution of Great Britain, supported by coal, made London full of factories and households burned coal for heating.

, the smoke and fog mix and turn into yellow-black, which often hangs over the city for many days, making the day look like night.

Although this yellow-black fog makes people feel very uncomfortable and even makes them unable to breathe smoothly, for many foreigners, this yellow-black fog that lingers all day long symbolizes industry, power, and

...Wait a minute, if the person who visited London was a poet, he might write a poem about London's fog, praising the magnificence of the yellow-black industrial fog in the poem, and of course praising Britain's strong national power.

Of course, for more people, this fog is just fog. However, in London at the end of October, the weather seemed quite cold due to the fog, forcing many pedestrians to raise the high collars of their woolen coats.

Sitting next to an elegant dining table in a hotel near the Admiralty in London, was a middle-aged man. His black pea coat was tailored very well, his shirt was white, and his leather shoes were shiny. He was six feet tall, had a handsome manner, and had light yellow hair.

Showing a complete gentleman's style, after the waiter brought him the martini cocktail and dry roasted veal, he drank it himself.

After two glasses of wine, just as he was sprinkling pepper on the veal, an Oriental man came over under the guidance of a waiter. The man who looked like an "Oriental gentleman" wearing a valuable suit bowed slightly.

After bowing he asked:

"Under the shade!"

Churchill raised his head. He raised his head. Although the Admiralty had a British arrogance on his face, he still said:

"Please sit down, Mr. Hao."

Obviously, the two of them have known each other for a long time. The person who came here is not tall, but compared with most Westerners, he is not necessarily short. The style of his clothes is the most popular in London. It is obvious that he is sitting at work.

They were made by a famous artist. Although the shoes on his feet were carefully polished, the edges of the shoes were still stained with mud. It seemed that he was in a hurry.

After sitting in front of Churchill and ordering a serving of Roma wine and sausage and scrambled eggs, my rapid breathing gradually calmed down.

After picking up the wine glass and studying the British Lord of the Admiralty in front of him for a while, Hao Meng, the chairman of Imperial Chemicals in London, suddenly spoke.

"Mr. Churchill, please allow me to invite you to toast the decisive victory achieved by my motherland squadron in the Yellow Sea.

When Hao Meng said what he said, Churchill was taken aback. He carefully looked at the man in front of him. What was he talking about? Decisive victory? The Chinese won? Is it possible?

As the British Lord of the Admiralty, he certainly knows that the current conflict between China and Japan due to the former German concession, although the conflict has a tendency to expand, almost everyone in London believes that even the Chinese in Jiao'ao

Having gained a certain advantage, it was only temporary, and based on the information he had, Japan dispatched their most elite First Fleet to open up another battlefield.

China's decisive victory is simply a joke. The man in front of me, Mr. Hao Meng, has repeatedly expressed his hope that the British government will intervene in the past period of time. Although Imperial Chemical has solved the problem of acetone manufacturing and helped Britain survive the "

"The Artillery Crisis", although the British government is grateful for the help of his Imperial Company and the Chinese chemist, but intervening in the Sino-Japanese conflict is not what the UK can do now, although the UK hopes to curb Japan's ambitions in China

Although there is an alliance treaty between Britain and Japan, as early as three years ago, Japan and Britain concluded the third alliance treaty to safeguard their respective colonial rights in China, Korea, India and other places. However, the purpose of renewing the treaty between the two countries has nothing to do with

There are obvious differences between the first two treaties. The UK mainly wanted to deal with Germany's challenge in Europe, and in the Far East, it had to rely on Japan's power to safeguard its vested rights and maintain the relatively stable and favorable situation in the Far East; Japan wanted to take advantage of it.

This alliance expands its influence in China and seeks a dominant position in China's interests.

This combination of different interests led to discord and conflicts between the two countries. Before the outbreak of the war, the Japan-British alliance was on the verge of collapse.

The edge. The differences between Japan and Britain in their China policies were particularly prominent during the Revolution of 1911. After the outbreak of the Wuchang Uprising, Japan tried to maintain the status of the Qing regent Zaifeng in order to maintain the monarchy system of the Qing Dynasty, while the British supported Yuan Shikai's control

The Qing regime forced Zaifeng to abdicate; on the issue of China's political system, Japan advocated the implementation of a constitutional monarchy. Although the British also believed that a republican system was not suitable for China, in the face of the tough attitude of the revolutionaries, in order to quickly stabilize the situation in China, they later

Gradually turn to approval

A republic with Yuan Shikai as president, and forced Japan to give up its attempt to intervene with force; after the Revolution of 1911, the great powers fought

In the competition to seize China's right of way, Japan stepped up its economic penetration into the Yangtze River Basin, which was within the British sphere of influence, and even encountered British opposition.

Strong resistance. All of this has put the alliance between the two countries in an increasingly tense state.

All of this has put the alliance between the two countries in an increasingly tense state. In fact, as early as the beginning of 1912, Japanese public opinion circles have been attacking Britain and criticizing the Japan-British alliance, believing that the Japan-British alliance has become a "

"Zombie", demanding that the government adopt an independent policy on the issue of China. By the time of the third Katsura Taro cabinet, the Japanese government once determined a new diplomatic policy of abandoning the Japan-British alliance and turning to the Japan-Germany alliance.

Just at this time, the European War broke out. Faced with the withdrawal of the traditional European powers from Asia, Japan immediately showed its ambitions towards China. Now, this war has caused the United Kingdom to devote all its energy to Europe.

Not Asia. Although Britain is wary of Japan's expansion in China and tries to stop them, but now that it is unable to look eastward, Britain can only say "I hope China will seek its own blessings"!

Now, is Mr. Hao Meng using "decisive victory" to tell him that now is the time for Britain to intervene?

Churchill's doubts and disbelief made Hao Meng smile. He knew that they would definitely doubt. Maybe they had not received confirmation from the embassy in China and the minister in Japan, but soon they would understand that China defeated

Japan, and it is the field that Japan is best at.

"Sir, I remember you once said in private that Britain needs Japan as an ally. Britain needs Japan's fleet. At least it needs Japan's fleet not to fall to Germany, right?"

Hao Meng had a smile on his face. In the process of persuading Britain to support China, he learned too many secrets from Churchill and Roush George. For example, why Japan participated in the war? Of course, it was to seek opportunities in China.

Expand its own sphere of influence. Then why does Britain support Japan, and Japan uses secret negotiations with Germany to blackmail Britain into acquiescing to its expansion of power in China.

Churchill didn't say anything. He put down the knife and fork in his hand, lit a cigar, and then looked directly at the Chinese businessman. Two hours ago, he called his secretary and wanted to make an appointment with him, so he decided to meet in this restaurant.

When I met him, he spoke in fluent English:

"Just a few hours ago, through the Chamber of Commerce, we got news!"

At this point, Hao Meng's voice suddenly became louder and he took off his top hat.

"We, our squadron, achieved a decisive victory in the Yellow Sea!"

He once again emphasized "decisive victory."

"uh-huh?"

Churchill looked at the other party's dark eyes with his sparkling brown eyes. From the other party's eyes, he knew that this man believed in all this and believed in the so-called "decisive victory". Maybe the Chinese defeated another Japanese unit.

, but what's the use? If it weren't for Britain's help, perhaps Japan would have used its navy to carry the war to South China instead of being limited to Shandong as it is now. This is the only thing Britain can do now.

"Sir, maybe you don't believe that we defeated the Japanese fleet at sea."

Hao Meng laughed, his smile was very bright, and while laughing, he poured the wine from his bottle into Mr. Churchill's empty wine glass.

What?

What is he talking about?

"Sir, we not only defeated the Japanese fleet, but also sunk all eight battleships of the First Fleet. Even powerful battleships like Kongo and Hiei were sunk by us, and we even sank

We have dozens of troop transport merchant ships. It can be said that now we have won this war. Without the navy, the Japanese army in mainland China has no possibility of victory. I believe that soon, we will

A comprehensive counterattack will be launched, and by then..."

Hao Meng drank a glass of wine with some excitement, and then he looked at Churchill who was still looking in disbelief. Obviously he still didn't believe it. It was okay. He would receive a telegram from the embassy soon.

"I personally think it's time for the UK to get involved!"

Hao Meng blinked at Churchill.

"Britain once needed Japan's fleet. For Japan, their fleet was their greatest capital. Now, the fleet they are proud of has been sunk by us, the Chinese. Mr. Churchill, I think,

Japan has lost their bargaining capital."

"Listen to me, Mr. Hao,"

Churchill ordered another whiskey, and then asked doubtfully.

"So, can you tell me how you achieved victory? If I am not mistaken, China does not seem to have a fleet worth mentioning at all."

"Your Excellency, perhaps, countries can sacrifice China's interests for their own interests, but as Chinese, we are willing to defend our country and safeguard China's interests at all costs."

Hao Meng did not directly answer Churchill's question.

"Now, for the UK, this may be the return of peace to East Asia, and it is also the last moment for the UK to show its influence. Your Excellency, this may be the last chance for peace!"

Then, Hao Meng said word by word.

"Now that our military has gained an advantage, whether to continue the war or stop the war, I think Britain needs to make a choice and choose their side."

At this time, Hao Meng's eyes radiated a flame, like an enraged lion.

"I can tell you clearly, Your Excellency, if our interests are betrayed again, we will have to cooperate with some mainland countries. You hope that we can make the right choice!"

After saying that, Hao Meng paid for the meal directly. Amid Churchill's surprise and confusion, he left the hotel. When he left the hotel, he looked at the yellow fog and suddenly said meaningfully.

"British guys, sooner or later they have to pay the price for their choices!"

"The Japanese finally paid the price for their ambition!"

When Churchill hurriedly returned to his office and put down the telegram in his hand, he was full of joy in his misfortune.

Although after the war broke out, Britain invited Japan to join the war, and later hoped that Japan would postpone the declaration of war. Later, it was forced to agree to Japan's participation in the war, but it still required Japan to declare that it would not attack areas of China outside the German-occupied areas, nor in the South China Sea.

and take combat operations in the Pacific." The British intention was to sacrifice China's Jiaozhou Bay in exchange for Japan's guarantee that it would not move southward. However, Japan did not give any guarantee. Instead, it used the compromise made by Britain on the Jiaozhou Bay issue to hurriedly "

On the grounds of "maintaining the interests of the Japan-British Alliance", an ultimatum was issued to Germany.

It can be said that Britain has always been wary of Japan's participation in the war. Britain, which had no intention of Japan's participation in the war at first, under Japan's stubborn request, in order to prevent Japan from turning to the Allies, Japan declared war on Germany under the guise of the "Japan-British Alliance".

The British had always had a grudge against Japan's "sincerity" in participating in the war, and were particularly worried that Japan would take the opportunity to seize the German Pacific islands. British concerns were confirmed by Japan's actions after participating in the war.

After the Chinese local government took over Jiaozhou Bay, it did not hesitate to start a war with China and expand its sphere of influence in China. After seizing the German Marshall, Caroline and Mariana islands in the Pacific, it had no intention of sharing the war.

The heavy burden of the German war. The Allied Powers, led by Britain, had repeatedly urged Japan to send troops to fight in Europe. However, the Japanese government declined, saying: "The Japanese are not used to the climate conditions in Europe", "Japan is too far from the front", and "Japan's army was built

"The purpose is to defend the motherland" and so on, and refused to send troops.
To be continued...