Chapter 263 The Last Time

"Boom..."

The violent explosion came from the direction of the river bank. When the explosion came, the people on the ship could clearly see the rising smoke and dust of the shogunate mountain.

"This fort can be repaired quickly!"

The passengers on the ship knew what was going on the shogunate mountain. It was the engineers of the restoration army building the fort. Unlike the fort in the past, the fort was completely built in the tunnel of the shogunate mountain, which was part of the ruling axe preparation plan. The lock river fort built by Liu Kunyi in those years was further improved. The old-style frame The retreat gun was replaced with a new type of rapid-fire gun.

Outside Nanjing, a large number of projects have been suspended, and all construction raw materials and construction workers have been put into the construction of the capital's national defense project. Although the people inevitably panic, on the other hand, the whole country has formed in this intense preparation for self-defense. In Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shandong and other places, The forts were strengthened, and a large number of restoration troops were transferred from the inland to the coast. At least in the eyes of the outside world, the Chinese are unexpectedly preparing for a war, a "war that the imperialist powers want to impose on China".

Although I don't want to admit it in my heart. But Guna, who came to Nanjing from Shanghai, had to admit a fact. China has undergone a fundamental change, and compared with the earth-shaking upheavals in China in the short term, countries have ignored the current changes in China and have failed to adjust their attitude towards China.

"Maybe this is the root of all the problems!"

As a China Express, Guna understands that the root cause of the current diplomatic crisis in the Far East is by no means China's brazen demand for the recovery of tariff rights and interests despite diplomatic credibility. This is just a fuse. The real reason is precisely because the countries have not adjusted their attitude towards China from time to time. They still look at the country with old eyes, which is the root of the crisis.

"Who would have thought that in four years, this country would once again prepare for war against all countries?"

Looking at the marching groups coming and going from outside the car and the Chinese soldiers who were building fortifications on the street, Guna couldn't help sighing. Not only did the country become torn apart by this "strong war" and declare its neutrality to the last place, but all parts of the country expressed their insistence on the ruling axe.

"Anti-Japanese War to the End!"

When the car will drive into the ruling axe, a slogan on the wall once again reminds Guna that the Chinese people's attitude towards this possible war is a "a battle of blood and flesh-and-blood struggle for the protection of national power!"

Are they willing to fight this war?

No! They are unwilling, and the Minister of the Treasury has shown their willingness in contact with the U.S. consular office in Nanjing.

But are they willing to compromise?

"Mr. Ruling, if Britain, France, Germany and other countries are unwilling to give up the agreed tariffs, is your country really going to wage a war?"

Looking at Chen Muran in front of him, Guna raised his own questions. This was not Guna's first contact with the young man. As early as in Shanghai, the two had a lot of personal friendship. This time, when he came to Nanjing, Guna sent a signal to Nanjing on behalf of the American political axe. The United States was willing to deal with China held talks in Peiping.

"Before your country's reading war, your country sent representatives to Europe to petition the emperor to get fair treatment, but they were treated savagely and even failed to enter the Platinum Khan Palace. What about us?"

Chen Moran said in a helpless tone.

"We tried to negotiate with various countries. At first, we followed a gradual approach, implementing additional taxes and striving for tariff autonomy, but our requirements were treated savagely. Just like the reading heroes of your country, when you were treated savagely, the patriots of your country chose reading. Similarly, when I When we are treated savagely, we can only choose to achieve tariff autonomy as the bottom line, in short, make a plan for war, and strive for a peaceful result!"

Listening to Chen Moran's sigh, Guna can certainly taste the helplessness in his sigh. In the private correspondence between the two, he has talked about his helplessness many times.

"China wants to seek justice in the world, but the world regards me as fish!"

When Chen Moran compared the American reading war with the tariff autonomy, Guna just nodded. The reading war was also rooted in tariffs. Now the Chinese are also preparing for a "reading" war because of tariffs, a "reading" war for the reading power of various countries, and this metaphor won him invisibly. Sympathy.

"Mr. Chen, the United States is looking forward to establishing an equal and friendly international relationship with your country, which is also the attitude of the United States all the time!"

"Equal treatment is exactly what we pursue. Among the countries, the attitude of the United States towards China is undoubtedly the most friendly. Just like three years ago, the United States is the only country that opposes the extortion of compensation. We will never forget the friendship of the United States. This is also when sending international students, education One of the reasons why the Ministry chose the United States as the main dispatching country!"

Chen Moran said with a smile that the so-called equality is only relative. The United States does not have a concession in China, but that is because of the opposition of the United States. Just like this time, didn't they still transfer warships from the Philippines to Shanghai? If it hadn't been for the previous tough statement, even if the United States, out of its global strategic considerations, would not be willing to contact Nanjing first in order to take the opportunity to establish diplomatic advantages with China!

Isn't the same reason why I choose to shake an olive branch to Guna through private letters, is it also taking advantage of the mind of the United States?

"Mr. Chen, to some extent, China has agreed to your country to levy tariff surcharges and realize tariff autonomy. Of course, the specific issues can only be negotiated with the minister of Rou Keyi after Minister Guan Mingtang arrives in Peiping, but..."

Guna's words looked at Chen Moran in front of him and threw out a condition given by the White House.

"The United States needs China to make a guarantee that it will never use force!"

"Guna, is this promise that when the enemy hits the cannonball on my head, can't you fight back?"

"Mr. Chen, the White House means Peiping, Tianjin and Shanghai! Before the [***] teams open fire, your army must not open fire!"

Listening to Gunner's request, Chen Moran could vaguely guess the reason why they made this request. They did not want the war caused by the stalemate of other countries after the United States agreed to tariff autonomy, which made the United States return to the original point after giving up the agreed tariffs.

"I can guarantee this, but Mr. Gunner, you must understand that the British are preparing to intercept my warship, and my wife and daughter are still on the warship. Who can guarantee their safety?"

After a few seconds of silence, Chen Moran suddenly put forward his request.

"If I can ensure their safety, I can fully guarantee that I will not start a war in Peiping, Tianjin and Shanghai!"

"Hmm...this..."

It seems to be meditative, but Guna smiled cunningly.

"If your warships pass through the Strait of Malacca, the United States can fully guarantee that you will never be intercepted!"

There have always been only interests!

For countries and countries, the international community gives priority to their own interests. George, the commander of the British East India Fleet? Atkinson? After the tariff incident, in the face of China's preparations, he publicly announced to the outside world that he would intercept the two ships "Zhenhai" and "Dinghai" on the way back home based on the interests of the United Kingdom, and the international self-interests often change with the change of the situation.

When the main force of the Chinese fleet in the Singapore naval base rushed out towards the Sunda Strait, Sir Anderson in the Governor's Palace of the Singapore Straits Colony was chatting with Zhang Bishi, the Consul General in Singapore, talking about people's livelihood and economy. Neither of them was affected by any external factors.

"...Now the Chinese fleet is transferred from Singapore, and the maritime security of Singapore and even the entire Strait of Malacca is not optimistic. The fleet is far away from the port to the Sunda Strait, but pirates are rampant. I'm afraid Yuchanghe's Guangfu ship should be more careful!"

Sir Anderson, who shook his glass, was full of worries when he spoke. He was full of worries, but only he knew that after six days of quarreling in London, he finally made a decision. The instructions from London were very clear. For the two [***] ships, they could not stop them, but they did not Can stop it.

If you don't stop, the face of the British Empire is not there. Stop it, London is still worried that the duchess will burn all the jade. At that time, I'm afraid that the situation will really develop into an endless situation. Britain is not prepared to fight a full-scale war with China at all, or even an idea, so it has to send a signal to the Chinese people.

"Oh, Governor, although the fleet has left the port, the situation in Malacca is not like this! After all, there is also the coast guard!"

When asked rhetorically, Zhang Bishi repeatedly thought about the governor's words in his heart. Although he had seen the governor many times before, the governor had no reason to worry about pirates. Those pirates were just the role of robbing fishing boats and sailboats. It was really unheard of to rob large ships, and he also specifically mentioned Malacca.

"Oh, there is a coast guard, but the coast guard's ships have been old for a long time. This is well maintained in the dock. Originally, the cruise around Malacca was the responsibility of the early Chinese fleet, but now the fleet has gone to the Sukda Strait, and the whole strait will not exist for warships for at least the next ten days!"

Sir Anderson deliberately aggravated the last sentence. He hoped that the consul general in front of him could understand the meaning of his words.

At this time, Zhang Bishi could not understand the meaning of the governor's words. It was to tell him to be careful of the pirates in Malacca. It was clearly to tell him that the two ships could safely sail through Malacca, and Britain would not intercept them. With joy in his heart, he asked another question.

"Mr. Governor, what if a foreign [***] ship accidentally approaches Singapore!"

Raising his eyelids, Anderson shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

"I don't have a warship to send!"

(to be continued)