"Cumbrian Breaking Waves".

Despite some minor obstacles, the world's fastest British cargo ship left the docks in Nanjing.

"From now on, your safety will be protected by us." Captain Schiller said frankly: "If you say in Shanghai, or in Nanjing, you can do whatever you want, but right now, you are in extreme danger. ”

Oh, yes.

Meng Shaoyuan was a little helpless.

This is the Yangtze River in China, but now it is Japanese warships that are running rampant on the river. On land, you can call the wind and rain, but when you get to this, you are nothing.

Just a person who needs protection.

"What a great place." Daniel lit a thick cigar: "It's a pity. What I'm worried about now is not you, Meng, but the three hundred and fourteen people in the hold. It's too easy to hide you alone on this steamer, but there are more than 300 people. If a Japanese warship is encountered, and the Japanese forcibly come on board to inspect it, it will soon be exposed. ”

"That's why I paid so much for you." Meng Shaoyuan didn't look worried: "We have an old saying in China, collect money from people and eliminate disasters for others. ”

Daniel shrugged.

That's why he made a strong request to come to China.

It is definitely a pleasure to work with Meng Shaoyuan. It may be dangerous, but if you want to make a lot of money, it is as dangerous as possible.

"Hey, hey." Captain Schiller raised his binoculars: "Discover Japanese warships, find Japanese warships!" ”

Meng Shaoyuan immediately took over the binoculars, and in the binoculars, the Japanese flag fluttering on the warship was clearly visible.

Daniel, you crow's mouth!

Captain Schiller was still very calm, and he glanced up.

The flag of the British Empire fluttered in the wind.

"Meng, are you going to go into the cabin, or are you going to stay here?"

"I'm a translator, and of course I need to stay here." Meng Shaoyuan didn't look scared at all.

What is there to be afraid of? The Japanese did not know that they were on this ship.

If you really know, where can you hide?

The Japanese ship approached quickly, and immediately raised a flag asking the "Cumbrian Breaking Wave" to radio to the designated channel.

It was the Japanese Navy's gunboat Seta, which asked the Cumbria Breaker to stop for inspection.

Captain Schiller repeatedly repeated that this was a cargo ship of the British Empire, which the Japanese Navy had no right to inspect.

However, the "Shiduo" believes that the "Cumbrian Breaking Waves" sailed from Nanjing, and it is very likely that it carried prohibited materials or Chinese officials.

This would be contrary to British neutrality.

Soon negotiations began.

As a result of the negotiations, Captain Hironan Nishizawa, the captain of the "Seta", would bring an interpreter on board to negotiate and not be allowed to carry weapons.

This is the most important point.

Once you bring a weapon on board, the meaning changes.

The British have all sorts of shortcomings, but they are not sloppy in the details.

The captain of the "Seta", Hiroshi Nishizawa, looks like he is in his thirties, so he should be young and promising in the Japanese Navy, right?

He was able to speak fluent English, and he carefully inquired why the "Cumbria Breaking Waves" went to Nanjing, where it was going, and what kind of supplies it was carrying.

"It's an empty ship." Captain Schiller said calmly: "We arrived in Shanghai from London, then took a special passenger to Nanjing, where we stayed for a while, and now we are ready to go to Chengdu. ”

His frankness surprised Honan Nishizawa a little: "Special guest? Can I know what kind of special guest it is? ”

"Me." Daniel opened his mouth and said: "Daniel, former police commissioner of the Shanghai Public Concession Ministry of Industry. ”

"Hello, Mr. Daniel." Nishizawa Honan said politely: "I can take the liberty of asking, why did you come to Nanjing, why did you go to Chengdu?" It's a time of war. ”

"You're just a lieutenant officer, and you're not qualified to ask these questions." Daniel took out the arrogance of the British: "But in order to get rid of your entanglement as soon as possible, I can tell you that my real destination is not Chengdu, but Chongqing." I went to Nanjing, met with senior officials of the Nationalist Government, and discussed the current situation with them.

I went to Chongqing to inspect the area and make an accurate assessment of the future direction of the war between China and Japan. When I come back from Tonkin, I will go to Shanghai again, and I will meet with your commander, Matsui Ishone, and likewise, I will have some necessary discussions about the Sino-Japanese war. Mr. Captain, are you satisfied now? ”

What a big breath.

One will be a high-ranking official of the Nationalist Government in Nanjing, and the other will be His Excellency Commander Matsui Ishine, what is the origin of this British?

Nishizawa Honan asked cautiously: "Even if you are still the police chief of the Shanghai Public Concession Bureau, it seems that these things are not in your hands, right?" ”

"Rude, rude!" Daniel looked dissatisfied: "Captain Schiller, send someone to my cabin and bring my suitcase." ”

The box was quickly served.

Daniel opened the box and took out the first document: "This is a letter of authorization from His Majesty Albert Frederick Arthur George VI, Ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, King of the British and British Empire, Emperor of India, and God-favored!" Below this is Prime Minister Chamberlain's signature and seal. ”

A long list of titles, said that Nishizawa Bonan is dizzy.

I took the document and looked at it carefully, and sure enough, it was a letter of appointment from King George VI of the United Kingdom, appointing Daniel as the observer of the Far East of the British Empire and the special envoy of His Majesty the King.

Observers are real, and what His Majesty's envoy is a title that the British are particularly fond of adding.

"And this document." Daniel took out a second document: "This is a certificate issued by Ambassador Judkan of the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Republic of China!" ”

Both documents were confirmed.

Nishizawa Honan was in awe.

In the event of a war between China and Japan, the United States and Britain and other countries remain neutral, but these European and American countries have such major interests in China, and they need to know how far the war will go and what impact it will have on their own interests.

And these so-called "observers" are actually to assess the situation in China and let the country know as soon as possible.

In December 1931, the League of Nations made a decision to send an investigation team to the Far East to investigate Sino-Japanese relations. In February 1932, the League of Nations investigation team set off for China. In September of the same year, the mission completed its report.

On February 24, 1933, the Congress of the League of Nations adopted a resolution essentially accepting the observations and recommendations of the report of the League of Nations Investigation and affirming that the puppet "Manchukuo" would not be recognized de facto or de jure.

Although the report did not take a completely impartial position in judging Japan's invasion and occupation of Northeast China, it still angered the Japanese side.

After that, Japan announced its withdrawal from the League of Nations.

Nevertheless, in order to avoid being isolated in the international community and to devote all their energy to aggression against China, after the full-scale outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese front-line commanders received orders from within the country to try their best not to touch the interests of Britain and the United States and other countries in China, to avoid contradictions, and to avoid finding excuses for Britain and the United States and other countries to intervene.

These observers were even more immobile.

Nishizawa Bonan respectfully returned the two documents to Daniel, and his eyes fell on Meng Shaoyuan, who had not spoken on the side: "Who is this?" ”

"My name is Shinichi Kudo." Unexpectedly, Meng Shaoyuan was actually fluent in Japanese.

"You, Japanese?" Hiroshi Nishizawa was surprised.

"Yes, the Japanese." Meng Shaoyuan smiled: "I am their translator, entrusted by the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai, to act as Mr. Daniel's translator. ”

With a fluent Kyoto accent and a calm attitude, Southwest Bonan has no doubts.

"Do these Britons understand Japanese?" Nishizawa asked.

"I don't understand a word."

"Okay, Kudo-kun, the all-out assault on Nanking is about to begin, these Englishmen are nosy, and I'm worried that they will have a negative impact on the Empire."

"Don't worry. They have the handle in my hand. Meng Shaoyuan smiled mysteriously: "Do you think these Brits are really so enthusiastic?" No, this ship carries a large amount of smuggled materials, which will multiply several times as soon as they arrive in Chengdu. They promised to give me a 10% of the profits, which they used to gag my mouth, so they would not care about the war that took place in China at all. ”

Nishizawa Bonan suddenly realized, and then smiled: "Then I have to scare them well." ”

"Hey, what are you talking about?" Daniel looked impatient.

Turning to English, Hironan Nishizawa said, "Despite your special mission, I must do my duty and conduct a full inspection of the ship. ”

Daniel's complexion changed suddenly, and his voice even raised: "If you want to forcibly check, this is a violation of the sacred rights and interests of the British Empire, and I can even see it as a war against the British Empire!" Protest, I would like to make the most solemn protest to the Japanese side. The British government, too, will issue the most severe warning! ”

These damn Brits, pretending to be public and selfish, have to put on a decent gentleman's face.

Nishizawa Bonan scolded in his heart, but his face showed a helpless look: "Mr. Special Envoy, don't get excited, since you are so insistent, I will give in, I will not check." But what's on board, you know, I know. An envoy of the King of the British Empire? If the Chinese know that you are using the war to make a fortune, it is not a glorious thing. ”

Daniel's face was blue and white for a while, but in his heart, he couldn't help but want to laugh.

Nishizawa Bonan didn't care about these Britons, and said to Meng Shaoyuan: "Kudo-kun, I'm going to work hard for you along the way." It's not a pleasure to deal with these Brits. ”

Meng Shaoyuan said lightly: "It's nothing, everyone is doing things for the Great Japanese Empire." ”

"Yes, the Empire will win!"

Meng Shaoyuan's answer was: "We will win!" ”