The plains of North America and Russia are our yù rice fields, Canada and Bo Roti are our forest areas, Australia is our ranch, Peru is our silver mine, South Africa and Australia are our gold mines, India and China are our tea plantations, East Indies are our sugarcane, coffee, spice plantations, and the southern part of the United States, which will be our permanent cotton huā plantations…

On the territory of the British Empire, the sun of the Golden Sè never sets...

"The Empire of the Sun Will Not Set"

Unlike the "little" British Empire in later generations, the "sun does not set" in this era is the title of Britain...

21 Fearless Class Battleships, 40 Quasi-Dreadless Class Battleships, 9 heavy cruisers and 97 light cruisers...

This is the powerful force that the British Navy possessed on the eve of World War I...

With such power, in Yuan Shikai's view, as long as Zhu Erdian is willing to help himself in the war, even if he just lets the British fleet in China solve the Sichuan navy and cut off the Yangtze River transportation line that is crucial to Yan Guang, the Guoshe army that is launching a fierce attack on Qianjiang will fall into a situation of self-defeat without fighting...

However, when Yuan Shikai expressed his idea of ​​wanting Zhuerdian to provide assistance, Zhuerdian's answer disappointed Yuan Shikai. [This chapter is provided by... for you]

"Sorry, my friend, I can't help you in this matter..."

That's right, it's not that I don't want to, but that I can't...

Although the British Empire's naval strength is strong in the world, in the western part of the European continent, the Second German Empire brought threats that the British Empire had never encountered since defeating its predecessor, the "Sun Never Set" Spain (in my territory, the sun will never set---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The naval fleet consisting of 15 Fearless Class battleships, 22 quasi-Fearless Class battleships, 5 combat cruisers and 44 light cruisers made the German Empire the second most powerful navy in the world. At the same time, the tonnage of the German Navy also increased from 88,000 tons in 1880 to 3 tons in 1912...

Such strength may be only one-half of the strength of the British Empire's naval strength, but according to the German plan, by 1920, Germany's latest battleships would reach an astonishing 80 ships, and this number could almost be on par with the British Empire. (In 1888, the German naval funding was 65 million marks, and by 1908 it was 420 million marks, which increased by more than 6 times in 20 years.^^net^e^view Free provided ^^ At the same time, the number of naval officers and soldiers also increased from 15,000 to more than 50,000...)

Because of this, the British hoped to stop expanding the army through a treaty (William II was the grandson of King Victoria of England). So in 1912, Britain and Germany held disarmament negotiations. During the negotiations, the British insisted that the ratio of the two countries' naval ratio should be 2:1, but Germany insisted that the ratio was 16:10. Because the requirements were too different, the final result of the negotiations could only end in a bad mood.

At this time, France, where revengeism was prevalent, had increased the number of people in the navy and army from 1910 to people, and Germany also increased from people to people today. It can be said that Europe is now full of fire and agraveo flavor. As long as someone clicks a small match, it will detonate the entire European continent...

In this case, Britain has focused all its attention on Europe. As for Asia? Unless India has a problem, Britain will not be idle at all, let alone just a fight between two warlords on mainland China?

Moreover, Zhu Erdian also has his own concerns, that is, is military intervention really useful?

Others may not be very clear about the strength of the KMT party, but Juerdian and the German ambassador to China Marzan are the clearest (some say agency), because in Sichuan and Guizhou, thousands of British and German engineers are working for Yan Guang...

Qijiang Iron Factory, Sichuan Arsenal...

That's right, the Yangtze River waterway is indeed a crucial lifeline for the Guoshe Army. As long as the imperial fleet stationed in China can defeat the 15 German shallow water gunboats of the Sichuan Navy and then cut off the Yangtze River supply lifeline of the Guoshe Army, then the Guoshe Army, which is currently fighting with the Beiyang Army in Qianjiang and occupying a certain peak, will only have the option of retreating back to Sichuan.

The question is, even if the empire helps Yuan Shikai repel the Guoshe Army from Qianjiang, can Yuan Shikai really win this war?

In this world, there are many things that are secrets to many people, but not to others.

How much real Yan Guang's wealth is? Not many people know about this matter. The content of the agreement he signed with Standard Oil? Not many people know about this matter. In fact, not long ago, Zhu Erdian himself also didn't know the content.

However, after Yan Guang announced that Sichuan and Guizhou provinces should be defeated and attacked the Badong defenders, Zhu Erdian, as the Minister to China, had to understand some things. Among them, Yan Guang's source of funds is naturally one of the things that Zhu Erdian must know...

The content of the agreement signed by Yan Guang and Standard Oil on the Tampico Oilfield is not known in this world because it was agreed by Yan Guang and Rockefeller. But for the British Empire's ambassador to China, it would not be difficult to learn the truth of the matter from it unless he does not want to know about such things.

Then…

"$50 million, no, it should be said that it is more than $50 million..."

Whenever he thinks of this value, a bitter smile appears on the corner of Juerdian's mouth.

According to the agreement signed with Rockefeller, Yan Guang can make 30% profits from the profits earned by Tampico's oil production every year, which means that at least $50 million in annual revenue. Moreover, with the increase in oil prices, Yan Guang's annual revenue from Tampico is still growing----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

50 million US dollars, equivalent to 12.5 million pounds at the exchange rate, which is equal to half of Yuan Shikai’s aftermath loan...

After living in China for many years, Zhu Erdian is somewhat of a Chinese master. Knowing that the road to Shu is difficult, it is harder than going to the sky. This statement is not a joke. Even if Zhu Erdian really helped Yuan Shikai repel Qianjiang's Guoshe Army, when the Guoshe Army retreated to Sichuan and Guizhou, could the Beiyang Army attack Sichuan and Guizhou completely wipe out the Guoshe Army?

You should know that in Sichuan, there are Qijiang Iron Factory and Sichuan Arsenal as support, and Yan Guang's personal financial resources, even if Yuan Shikai really besieged the Guoshe Army in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, Yan Guang, who has 60 million people and 650,000 square kilometers of land, can still be self-reliant and constantly accumulate strength...

And even if Zhu Erdian can really use his own strength to help Yuan Shikai now, what should we do after the European war begins?

Now the European continent is full of fire and agrave, and unprecedented wars may break out at any time. After the war breaks out, the naval power of the British Empire will be retracted to Europe to deal with the German high seas fleet. At that time, if the Kuomintang and the Social Army leave Sichuan again, who will be responsible for Yuan Shikai's safety?

And if Yuan Shikai fails again, because he has helped Yuan Shikai deal with Yan Guang, after defeating Yuan Shikai, will Yan Guang pose a threat to the empire's interests in China? You should know that at that time the empire fought a desperate battle with Germany in Europe and was unable to take into account what happened in China.

Yes, I am indeed Yuan Shikai's friend, and I do have a certain affection for Yuan Shikai, but I am also a British man and the British ambassador to China. When considering things, I must give priority to my own interests rather than my personal feelings...

As for dispatching the army to help Yuan Shikai fight, let alone whether Juerdian has such rights. In the event that a great war breaks out in Europe at any time, send valuable military forces to participate in China's civil war? If Juerdian proposes this, he promises that he will return to London to retire the next day.

You should know that the British currently has only 160,000 permanent army, and the combat effectiveness of the colonial army, especially the Indian colonial army, is not so reliable. At least in Juerdian's view, the combat effectiveness of the Beiyang Army and the Guoshe Army is definitely higher than that of the Indian colonial army.

So Zhu Erdian could only apologize for Yuan Shikai's request...

Of course, as Yuan Shikai's old friend, Zhu Erdian could not help without help. He also suggested that he could mediate Yuan Shikai and Yan Guang on behalf of the British Empire, and even put pressure on Yan Guang for Yuan Shikai, but those real aids were really helpless...

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Yuan Shikai watched Zhu Erdian leave with disappointment because all his British friend could help was verbal support, but this seemed useless to Yuan Shikai. At most, it could only scare the timid people...

However, just as Yuan Shikai looked at Zhu Erdian's back, Yang Shiqi, who was beside him, came over to comfort him.

"Mr. Gong Bao doesn't have to worry. Maybe things are not that bad. Qianjiang has just lost a line of defense after all, and there are more than 20,000 people in Feng Shijing who have not been involved..."

Just as Yang Shiqi kept comforting Yuan Shikai and making Yuan Shikai's brows relax slightly, Yang Du suddenly walked out with a telegram in the Presidential Palace.

"Xizi, what happened..." Although Yang Du didn't say anything, looking at his face, Yuan Shikai and Yang Shiqi could still realize that something must have happened. Thinking about the worst news for Yuan Shikai now, Yuan Shikai and Yang Shiqi almost changed their faces. "Say, is there something wrong with Qianjiang?"

Hearing Yuan Shikai's question, Yang Du took a few breaths first, then said anxiously. "Gong Bao, the news that had just been sent back, Qianjiang's second line of defense was also lost..."

"What?"

Not only Yuan Shikai and Yang Shiqi, after hearing Yang Du's words, several accompanying officials and Beiyang soldiers outside the Great M&EASE also changed their faces and egrave...

Just when Yuan Shikai, Yang Shiqi and others were all turning a sè for this news, Yan Guang was receiving a special guest in Yichang - Marzan, the German Minister to China...
Chapter completed!