"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, as Chancellor of the Exchequer of the Empire, I would like to draw your attention to the financial and economic difficulties. The impact of the recession on the empire is still not over, and although the economy improved in the second half of last year due to a surge in exports to China, the overall downward pressure is still very strong. Since January of this year, the empire's economy has once again lost its pull due to the decline in Chinese demand, and it has been in recession for five consecutive months. The Imperial Government's financial situation was also very bad, with deficits expected to reach their highest level since the end of the World War, unemployment rising sharply, and national anti-war sentiment soaring...... In this case, the empire simply could not afford a world war anymore. Even if the Empire is able to win the war, what awaits us will be complete financial bankruptcy! So I built a coalition government to reject the Chinese premier's request and sent special envoys to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, and Tokyo, the capital of Japan, to mediate the war. ”

The Prime Minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street in London, England, is brightly lit. After the telegram from the British ambassador to China, Frank Frank Lambsang, arrived at No. 10 Downing Street, British Prime Minister MacDonald, who was already the fourth cabinet to form a cabinet, immediately convened a cabinet meeting to discuss the Chinese premier's proposal for joint operations against Japan. At the beginning of the meeting, Chancellor of the Exchequer Neville, a member of the Conservative coalition government, was in charge of the meeting. Chamberlain objected to the first, and the reason was reasonable, the British Empire had no money!

The dignified empire on which the sun never sets, the hegemon of the world, now can't afford to fight a world war. It's unbelievable. But it is true, due to the factor of the war in India. The economy of the British Empire in this time and space is worse than it was historically. Moreover, the Great Depression that began in 1930 was not as severe as it was in history, but it still hit Britain very hard. Especially from the beginning of 1932, due to the significant reduction in orders from China. The British economy, which had managed to recover slightly, entered another recession, and at the same time as the recession, the struggle of the British working class began to rise again. Almost every day in front of Whitehall and Downing Street, there were protesters holding high red flags, which were incited by the British GCD against the war......

"What is the strength of the Japanese Navy? What are our chances of winning if there is a war? British Prime Minister John McDonald turned his inquiring gaze to First Admiral Bolton. Sir Monsel.

Sir Monsell replied, "The Japanese Navy has three new battlecruisers and battleships, of which the battlecruiser 'Akagi' has a tonnage similar to that of the 'Hood,' but has 10 410mm guns. The firepower is far more powerful than that of the Hood! Their two 'Kaga'-class battleships are also more powerful than our 'Nelson' class, which, according to intelligence, has a standard displacement of nearly 40,000 tons. It is nearly 6,000 tons more than the Nelson class, and it also has 10 410mm guns, and its firepower is slightly higher than that of the Nelson class. However, the remaining 7 Japanese battleships were not to be worried, all of them were dreadnoughts before the First World War. Any British battleship could easily destroy them.

At present, we have the battlecruiser "Hood", the battleship "Nelson", the battleship "Rodney", the battleship "Emperor of India", the battleship "Malbo", and the battleship "Iron Duke" in the Far Eastern Fleet. The overall strength is still weaker than the ten capital ships of the Japanese Navy. However, if it joins forces with the Chinese Navy, it should still be able to win. ”

"So you're in favor of joining forces with the Chinese?" MacDonald's brow furrowed tightly, as a Laborer-born politician, he didn't like war very much. And, as Chamberlain analyzed, Britain did not have the financial resources to deal with a protracted world war. Even if this kind of war is won, the empire will not escape the bad luck of bankruptcy, so it is better not to fight.

"This ......," said Sir Monsell, First Lord of the Admiralty, glancing at the Prime Minister. There was some embarrassment on his face: "Fredeke. Sir Fidel (First Sea Lord) proposed that we join forces with the Chinese and destroy the main forces of the Japanese navy first. This ensured that the imperial possessions east of Malacca would not be invaded in time of war. ”

"But there is no danger in the eastern territories of the empire."

Without waiting for MacDonald to speak. Sir Helsh, the War Secretary, who was sitting next to him, interjected: "It is not the South Seas and Australia that are really at risk now, but the Middle East and India!" Intelligence that the Soviet Union was sending more troops to Persia was a dangerous signal that Trotsky's Red Army was about to attack Iraq and India. Therefore, the establishment of the Imperial General Staff is that the immediate priority now is not to unite the Chinese to attack Japan, but to find ways to strengthen the defense of the Middle East and India. ”

"It is precisely because of the need to strengthen the Middle East and India that we should address Japan's wēixié before this so that we can concentrate our efforts." Sir Monsell retorted. "In fact, there is no contradiction between solving Japan's sea power and focusing on the defense of the Middle East and India, and it only needs to dispatch a fleet to solve Japan's sea power, and there is no need to use the army."

Before Monsell's words fell, Chamberlain spoke loudly: "But we can't ignore the financial problem, the Empire's purse is already empty, and if we participate in another world war, no matter what the result is, the Empire will completely lose its hegemony because of the financial crisis!" And we cannot ignore the will of the people in Britain, now no one will agree with the government to start a war! ”

Listening to Chamberlain's somewhat excited words, the Secretary of State for Indian Affairs, Samuel . Sir Hall protested loudly: "Mr. Chamberlain, are we going to watch India and the Suez Canal fall into the hands of the Soviets?" Now that the red polar bear has stretched out its claws, is the British Empire going to back down in the face of the Soviet wēixié? ”

"It's not a retreat, it's a strategic contraction, and it's not unacceptable to give up India for the time being for the sake of the long-term interests of the empire."

"God! Mr. Chamberlain...... Are you crazy? MacDonald and a few cabinet members almost jumped, India is the jewel in the crown of the British Empire, and losing India is equivalent to losing the empire! Chamberlain actually dared to propose to abandon the construction of India!

"Mr. Prime Minister, Sir Hall. Have you not noticed that India is already a burden to the British Empire rather than a wealth? Chamberlain glanced at the prime ministers and ministers in the conference room, and said, "Since Gandhi's assassination. Since the Indian rebellion, it has not been a gem, but a bottomless pit that has drained the empire's finances and national power, and since 1924 the empire has spent more than 500 million pounds on military spending in India! If you want to stop the Soviet Red Army from invading there, I am afraid that it will cost a huge military expenditure of 1 billion or even 2 billion pounds! ”

"As long as you can keep the empire, even if it costs 10 billion pounds, it's worth it!" Sir Hall shouted.

"Nope. I don't think that keeping India will keep the empire! Gentlemen, this notion should be changed! ”

"It is necessary to defend India, and the population and wealth of India must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Soviet Union. Otherwise we risk losing this war! ”

Chamberlain argued: "That's something for Germany and China to consider!" The empire only needed to control the Suez Canal, Singapore, Ceylon, and British New Guinea, ensure the security of Australia and New Zealand, and then support Italy and Greece to block the Soviet Union on the northwest shore of the Mediterranean. Let the Chinese and Germans solve the rest! Gentlemen, China and Germany are not only allies of the British Empire. Also one of the contenders for world hegemony in the British Empire! If there is really no way to avoid a world war. Then we should also let China, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Japan consume each other, wait for them to be exhausted, and then come forward to clean up the mess, instead of investing our limited strength too early! ”

The room exploded because everyone was shocked by the strategy that Chamberlain had proposed. According to Chamberlain, Britain was not only about to give up India, but also to most of the Middle East, British Burma, and the whole of Malaya except Singapore. Shrink to the "last line of defense" of Singapore, Ceylon, Suez and British New Guinea, and then sit back and watch the Sino-German, Soviet-Japanese war begin...... It sounds good, but isn't it too despicable and shameless to calculate allies like this before the war has begun? And after the seizure of the Middle East, India and most of the South Seas. Was Trotsky's strength too strong? If China and Germany were defeated, it would not be a question of whether the British Empire could be saved. It is a question of whether the whole capitalist world can survive!

"What if China and Germany are defeated?" Sure enough, someone raised this question.

"And the United States! Gentlemen, do you think the United States will watch the flag of GCISM spread across Eurasia? "British Foreign Secretary John . Sir Simon was clearly supportive of Chamberlain. "Aren't the lessons of the last world war deep enough? The same mistake, the British Empire could not afford to make a second mistake. In addition, China and Germany are very strong militarily and are not so easily defeated by the Soviet Union and Japan, and France and Italy can also help in the war at a critical moment. In this world war, the British Empire should play the role of the United States in the last war, not rush to the front line! ”

This is a good wishful thinking, British Prime Minister MacDonald is already a little moved, to be honest, he is tired of the big trouble of India, and really does not want to invest money in this bottomless pit anymore. Thinking of this, he nodded slightly: "If the empire really doesn't have the strength to defend India, you can also consider giving up...... However, the control of the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal must not be lost! ”

Chamberlain and John. Simon glanced at each other, their strategy had been adopted by Prime Minister MacDonald. Chamberlain immediately said: "The British and Indian governments still have a large amount of gold and silver in their hands, which should be shipped back to London immediately, and the British-funded enterprises in India must also be evacuated as much as possible, and all valuable machines that can be transported must be transported away, and those that cannot be transported must be destroyed, and cannot be left to the Soviet Union!" Anglo-Indian troops should also be prepared to move to Ceylon and the Suez Canal, and troops stationed in Burma and Malaya should also be prepared to withdraw to Singapore. ”

Hearing Chamberlain's remarks, the War Secretary Sir Helsh, the Admiral Sir Monsell, and the Indian Affairs Secretary Sir Hall all had unhappy expressions on their faces.

"Well, the question of how to retreat from India, the Middle East, Malaya and Burma will be discussed later." Prime Minister MacDonald also sensed the dissatisfaction of the Navy and the Indian minister, and quickly changed the topic: "So, how should we refuse the Chinese's demands?" ”

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door to the conference room. Coming in was Sir Fidel, First Sea Lord.

"I have just received a telegram from General Cunningham, the general adviser of the Chinese Navy, that the main fleet of the Chinese Navy has lifted anchor and left the Guangzhou Bay station and is heading for the Taiwan Strait! He was accompanied by dozens of large transport ships. There is a high probability that there is a landing force on board! Prime minister...... Should our Far Eastern Fleet be dispatched? ”

"Ascend...... Landing force? What do the Chinese want to do? Prime Minister MacDonald took a breath and asked rhetorically.

"It's obvious that the Chinese are going to attack Japan!" Sir Fidel replied: "The main forces of the Japanese army are in Korea, and the defense of the Japanese mainland, the Ryukyu Islands, and Jeju Island is very empty!" If we send the Far Eastern Fleet to fight side by side with the Chinese, we will definitely be able to defeat Japan! As soon as Japan fails, the Soviet Union is likely to retreat, so that the British Empire can survive this crisis! Your Excellency the Prime Minister. Excellencies, please make up your minds! ”

This term of the British government was a coalition government, with the National Labour Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the National Liberal Party all participating. Combined, these parties controlled the majority of the seats in Parliament, so with a nod from the heads of several parties in this room, the British Empire could plunge into a conquest of Japan.

"No, the Empire can't go to war so hastily. It's not going to work. MacDonald shook his head. Rejected Sir Fidel's suggestion.

"So...... Your Excellency, we should at least send the Far East Fleet out in order to put some pressure on Japan to stop their attack on North Korea, and at the same time send people to mediate the war between Japan and Korea. "Sir Fidel probably knew that MacDonald would not fight, so he had prepared a second plan.

The Prime Minister glanced at the ministers present. Simon was the first to speak: "There is nothing wrong with bluffing, but the Far Eastern Fleet must not really participate in the battle. ”

Chamberlain also said: "Mr. Prime Minister. I also agreed to send the Far Eastern Fleet, I think that would have fulfilled the obligations of an ally. As for...... China's request to use ports under our control in wartime. I think we can agree, after all, we are behind China and Germany. ”

……

In the early morning of June 29, 1932, the rapid telephone bell woke up Takeda Heng, who had just fallen asleep for a while.

The main fleet of the Chinese Navy and the Far East Fleet of the British Royal Navy were actually dispatched at the same time!

The news was so unexpected that it could be said to have come as a complete surprise to him. A strong sense of crisis that has never been felt before came to his heart, although he is not very proficient in the navy, but he also knows that the strength of the main fleet of the Chinese Navy and the British Far East Fleet together still exceeds that of the Japanese Navy, at least in the ratio of the number of capital ships is 12:10, and the Chinese Navy also has two very good carrier-based aircraft J-2B and Attack 2B, while the carrier-based aircraft of the Japanese Navy are some old-fashioned goods, and the latest P.7 series carrier-based aircraft have just been equipped with troops, and have not yet formed combat effectiveness.

"According to the information we have so far, we are convinced that the entire Chinese main fleet has been dispatched, and the Zhanjiang military port is empty, not only the vast majority of the combat ships have already attacked, but even dozens of naval transport ships in the port have disappeared, and it is estimated that the landing force has been loaded and dispatched together with the Chinese main fleet......

Two hours later, the conference room at Gyeongbokgung Palace was filled with senior generals of the Japanese Red Army, and the new NKVD Hiroshi Kato reported the news he had just received to everyone present. However, he did not dare to say that his spies had no way to approach the Zhanjiang Military Port, so he could only disguise himself as fishermen and observe from a distance in Guangzhou Bay, so he could not figure out whether there were landing troops on the dozens of transport ships, so he could only vaguely estimate them.

"Have you contacted the Commander of the Combined Fleet?" Takeda asked.

"Having been contacted, Commander Yamamoto has strengthened the defense of Okinawa, Jeju Island, Kyushu Island and the west coast of North Korea." Muto Nobuyoshi replied with a frown.

"Why strengthen the defense of those areas? Can't the Combined Fleet go out to defeat the enemy? Takeda Hen roared: "After spending so much money on building the navy over the years, why can't it be of any use at a critical moment?" ”

There were no representatives of the Japanese Red Navy in Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, so no one could answer Takeda's questions either. Seeing that no one squeaked, Takeda Heng snorted coldly again, looked at the Soviet military adviser Blyukhel, who was also at a loss, and said, "Comrade Blyukhel!" What now? Fierce battles are still raging in Pyongsan, Sariwon, Namgang and Dongsan-ri, the North Korean puppet army has not yet been defeated, and Chinese imperialism and British imperialism are about to join forces to launch an attack on the Japanese mainland! Their navy is stronger than the Japanese one, what should we do? You say, what are we going to do? ”

Blyukhel was sweating profusely, and now that the Korean campaign was reaching a critical moment of intractability, no one could take a step back, otherwise they would lose this one. However, the west coast of Korea and Jeju Island cannot be defended, and if the Chinese are allowed to land behind their backs and cut off the retreat of millions of Japanese Red Army, it will not be a question of failure in the attack on North Korea, but a question of the survival of the entire Soviet Japan!