Chapter 977: The incident escalated

The fierce battle in Russia is going on, and another battle is going on

On Asik Island, in addition to fighting over the island, China and Britain are also making a big fuss about public opinion. Both the Chinese side and the British side blamed each other there, stating that it was the other side that provoked the incident in the first place.

On Assik Island, the failure of several attacks also made the British Straits Settlements authorities a little helpless. After all, the regular army cannot be used, otherwise no one can predict what kind of results will be caused.

And those Chinese on the island seem to be determined to stay here for a long time. No matter how much pressure from the outside world is, there is only one word for them:

Drag!

It's as long as it can be delayed! Even if there is still a Chinese on Asik Island, this is also Chinese land!

At the same time, the Chinese government has repeatedly held consultations with the authorities of the Straits Settlements, demanding that the colonial authorities guarantee the safety of all Chinese on Asik Island and that the Malaya military police immediately stop military attacks.

At the same time, a wave of support was also set off in China, and a large number of processions began to appear, demanding that the Chinese Government immediately take tougher measures to suppress the military offensive of the Straits Colonial authorities against the patriotic people of Asik Island and to show solidarity with the patriotic people on Asik Island, headed by Su Yangquan.

Even such cries as "where are our warships" began to appear.

Letters of petition after petition drifted into the presidential palace like snowflakes, and many college students and veterans used blood letters to urge the government to send troops immediately.

In the same day's issue of the China Times, an article written by an author signed "Bloody China" was published:

"What is our government doing? Where are our warships? Why does our government only protest when the righteous men who are struggling in the supreme interests of the country and the nation on Asik Island are in dire straits? Why not give the most direct help to the righteous in a tougher way"

The article pointed directly at the government, and implied that the government had lost its own blood and courage to face the challenge of the British head-on. The same article also caused a great response.

The article was quickly sent to Wang Hengyue, the president of the Republic of China, and Wang Hengyue smiled indifferently after reading it: "This is what I asked me to write"

Chen Lifu was not surprised, in fact, he had already expected that the article published in the "China Times" was written by the president, and he was silent there: "President, now that the call for the government to send troops is very high, I don't know how we should respond?" ”

"Wait." Wang Hengyue's mind doesn't seem to be all about this: "The time has not yet arrived, and the best time to send troops has not yet arrived." ”

Chen Lifu nodded silently, the president should know everything about how to proceed next

"Give Ma Qingwu electricity." Wang Hengyue thought for a while: "Continue to strengthen the power of Asik Island, and send some more people and guns to secretly enter Asik Island, and you can take advantage of this opportunity to spread your power to the surrounding areas." ”

A smile appeared on the corner of Chen Lifu's mouth, and it seemed that the president was not satisfied with just one Asik Island

Under the secret order of President Wang Hengyue, Ma Qingwu began to accelerate his actions. is just like his secretary Lin Yilong said, this time is a gamble. If you win, you can go down in history, and if you lose, you will become the biggest scapegoat.

However, Ma Qingwu became more and more convinced of this gamble, and was carrying out unsigned telegrams from the president in his favor, hinting at something to himself

The situation on Asik Island has become more complex and volatile...,

Perhaps the biggest headache at this time was not the British Straits Settlements authorities, but Lieutenant Rosen on the island. The lieutenant had nothing to do with the Chinese forces entrenched here, they had plenty of weapons and ammunition, and enough food and water to hold out for a long time.

"These damn Chinese" Lieutenant Rosen muttered cursed in his heart, what exactly do they want to do? How long are they going to stay here?

As long as they don't leave for a day, they will have to stay on this damn desolate island for a day!

But what Lieutenant Rosen didn't expect was that another bigger crisis was quietly approaching him, and this crisis would completely detonate the whole world situation

July 20, 1940, 15:00 p.m.

Unbeknownst to the exhausted Lieutenant Lawson and the Malayan military police, two converted gunboats were quietly heading towards Asik Island.

The famous "Asik Island 7.20 incident" broke out.

When the two gunboats appeared that day, Lieutenant Rosen and his men were defenseless. Their gunboat was then suddenly attacked by unidentified gunboats, which sank one of the gunboats belonging to the British Straits Settlements authorities and captured the other.

A large number of armed men then landed on Asik Island and quickly disarmed Lieutenant Lawson and the Malaya military police, and Lieutenant Lawson and his men became prisoners.

At this moment, Lieutenant Rosen's heart was filled with a sense of humiliation, he was an officer of the British Empire, and at this time, he was sadly taken prisoner with almost no resistance.

"Lieutenant Rosen, you and your men will not be harmed in any way." Su Yangquan, who had held out on Asik Island for many days, appeared in front of the lieutenant: "However, your weapons will be confiscated, and you will also leave our Asik Island in a gunboat with weapons removed." ”

In particular, he accentuated the phrase "our Asik Island".

"No, Asik Island of the British Empire." Although he has become a prisoner, Lieutenant Rosen has done his best to ensure the dignity of a British officer: "You are blatantly violating the territory of the British Empire. ”

Su Yangquan smiled: "Lieutenant, I respect your bravery, but I don't agree with your opinion. From any point of view, Asik Island or the whole of Malaya has little to do with you, at best you are playing the role of an aggressor."

Lieutenant Rosen's face flushed, and he protested loudly, but the protest at this time seemed so weak

The surprise attack shook the British government and the Straits Settlements authorities. The next day, the Straits Settlements authorities, who received the news, protested the most serious attack and demanded that the Chinese side immediately punish the murderers.

The Chinese government, on the other hand, categorically denied that the raid had anything to do with it.

The contradictions between China and Britain escalated suddenly.

At 17 o'clock in the afternoon of the 21st, the commander-in-chief of the British forces in Malaya, Lieutenant General Bai Sihua, issued a solemn statement that in this case, the British troops in Malaya would have to consider using the regular army to solve the problem by force against the occupiers of Asik Island!

This means that the regular army is finally being drawn into the dispute over Asik Island.

Less than an hour after Lieutenant General Blashua's statement, the Chinese government issued a-for-tat statement in which it solemnly warned the Straits Settlements authorities that if Britain landed on Assik Island as a professional soldier and posed any physical threat to Chinese nationals on the island, the squadron would also have to consider intervening in the dispute.

As soon as the statement came out, the public sentiment in China was excited. In the eyes of the Chinese people, after several days of solidarity and support for the patriots of Asik Island, the government finally decided to take action!

That night, Wang Hengyue, President of the Republic of China, once again addressed the people of the whole country and the British government: ...,

"Sino-British relations have reached a very dangerous point The Chinese government is trying every means to avoid unpleasant incidents, but this does not depend on a government, and any people have the right to express their rights, including the Chinese on Asik Island From a historical point of view, the dispute over Asik Island should not be intervened by the British, but should be resolved by the Malayan people, and Britain plays the role of an aggressor, a dishonorable role, and the Chinese government is against the war when it leaves, Whether it is a war in Europe or Asia, the war can only bring untold suffering to the people of the world."

Then he changed his words:

"We will do everything possible to defend our people from any bullying, if a government cannot even protect its own people, then it is not worthy of being called a government, it is not worthy to continue to lead the country forward, their leaders are not worthy to continue to sit in this position and talk eloquently, China does not need a weak government!

Here, I must solemnly warn those countries that attempt to provoke war not to challenge the bottom line of the Chinese government and not to use force to comply. We will do whatever it takes to defend our people. Defend peace and war in any way. Just as the people of the British Empire were insulted and bullied, Britain will also uphold the dignity of the country in this way, and this is the same for any government!

Lieutenant General Bai Sihua, commander-in-chief of the British forces in Malaya, of the Straits Settlements authorities, proposed a solution to the Asik Island problem by force, so I can solemnly announce that once Lieutenant General Bai Sihua fulfilled his promise, then it will usher in the fiercest retaliation of the squadron. Our warships will appear on Asik Island, and our soldiers will defend our people!

Not wanting to see war does not mean that you are afraid of war; Wishing for a peaceful solution to war does not mean giving up on preparing for war. The life of every Chinese on Asik Island must be guaranteed, and the Chinese government will pay any price to achieve this! ”

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