Chapter five hundred and fifty-three Nanyang (five)
Zhao Zhengyang sat on the white-washed chair. The cushion embroidered with golden jasmine flowers under his buttocks felt very comfortable. He looked at the celebrity oil paintings hanging on the wall and smelled the rich aroma of coffee in his nose. Zhao Zhengyang also felt in his heart.
I secretly praise those British people for enjoying it. But enjoyment is enjoyment. However, combined with the instructions sent by the political ax and the recent bills issued by the British political ax recently, he already roughly understood Churchill’s intention of inviting him to come. At this time, he was like Xu Shu entering Cao Cao.
Ying Ban said nothing, just savoring the taste of the cup of coffee in his hand.
Churchill, who was sitting aside, looked at Zhao Zhengyang, who had sat down and remained silent except for a polite greeting with his surname since entering the door. He was secretly angry. He thought that as the Prime Minister of the British Empire, which country's head of state, the President had met?
I didn't give him any face, but now this mere Chinese ambassador to Britain, who should have nodded and bowed when he saw me, actually turned his face away from me.
Churchill forcibly took a breath and said seriously to Zhao Zhengyang: "Ambassador Zhao Zhengyang, I came to you today to inquire about your country's fleet heading to Malaysia. Malaysia is a traditional colony of our British Empire.
Should I say hello to my big brother, the National Government Secretary, if I send the fleet there without permission?"
Well, the words finally came. Zhao Zhengyang put down the cup in his hand and looked at Churchill with a half-smile and said: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I just received an order from the government of our country because our overseas Chinese have been unfairly treated by your country.
, our South China Sea Fleet was ordered to go to Malaysia for evacuation operations, but I didn’t expect that it would trigger such a big reaction from your country’s government.”
"Evacuation of overseas Chinese" Churchill almost got his nose twisted. Does your evacuation operation require the dispatch of aircraft carriers, dozens of destroyers or even the entire South China Sea Fleet?
Churchill suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice: "Why didn't you notify our government when you went to Malaysia to evacuate overseas Chinese? What if it caused a dispute between the two countries?"
"Really? But just a few days ago, your country's House of Lords passed Bill No. 5072 specifically for Chinese expatriates. Didn't our country be notified? Therefore, should your country's government be responsible for the misunderstanding caused by this?" Zhao Zhengyang
He pushed it back with neither softness nor hardness. What a shame, you British people have introduced such a stupid resolution, trying to wipe out our Chinese enterprises and factories in Nanyang, and you didn't even notify us. Now,
You panicked when you saw our fleet approaching. What were you doing earlier?
Churchill was speechless for a moment. Once upon a time, the British Empire's resolutions were notified to the Chinese government. But judging from the current situation, it seems that the British government is really at fault. You are going to take away the property of other people's overseas Chinese. Why don't you allow them to come and evacuate the overseas Chinese?
"But by using armed forces on such a large scale to evacuate Chinese citizens from our colonies, aren't you afraid of causing unnecessary misunderstandings and serious consequences?" Churchill stared at Zhao Zhengyang and said word by word.
Seeing that Churchill still wanted to hold the Chinese government accountable, Zhao Zhengyang became angry. He stood up and replied resolutely: "The consistent position of our country is never to
Giving up the interests of our overseas nationals is a basic rule that a civilized country should abide by. Our government has never believed that there is anything wrong with our evacuation, so our position on this evacuation remains as firm as ever.
"
"you"
After listening to Zhao Zhengyang's words, Churchill was so angry that his hands were shaking. He kept reminding himself to calm down and not to be fooled by the hateful ambassador in front of him, causing irreversible consequences in the relationship between the two countries.
"Well, since it is a misunderstanding, I hope your fleet can return to its original station immediately and not enter Malaysia to aggravate the tension in Asia."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Prime Minister." Zhao Zhengyang shrugged. Our country's government's evacuation plan is beyond my control. Unless your country's government can immediately revoke the No. 5072 resolution passed a few days ago, then I can inform our country's government to continue.
Making new decisions, in short, the premise of all this depends on your country's political axe.
Churchill naturally understood what Zhao Zhengyang meant, and there was only one premise, that is, the next move of the Chinese government depends on whether the British government can revoke Bill 5072. If it cannot be revoked, then the Chinese fleet will continue to move forward as usual.
Malaysia.
Churchill, who felt suffocated for a while, could only helplessly end the meeting in a hurry.
In the early morning of November 13th, sea fog covered the sea, covering the piers and harbors along the sea coast. Every warship and cargo ship was intertwined with the waves, making it impossible to distinguish them.
Rear Admiral Bertrand Botja of the British Third Far East Squadron is currently commanding the Third Far East Squadron, including the battleship "Prince of Wales", the battlecruiser "Repulse" and twelve destroyers. They are marching in the sea fog, and the waves are in the air.
Roaring, impacting the hull and making a "clattering" roar.
Although he knew that the Chinese Fleet was coming, and that his Third Squadron was far from the Chinese Fleet's opponent in terms of quantity and quality, the pride of the British Royal Navy would not allow him to escape without a fight.
"Speed 15 knots with full right rudder, advancing in battle formation"
"That's fifteen knots, full rudder to the right."
Although the glory of the Sunless Empire is no longer as shining as it was decades ago, the heritage of being a maritime power still exists, and the entire fleet is still neatly following the orders of Major General Botjia.
Change formation neatly.
"Reporting that the fog ahead has begun to subside, visibility has now reached 500 meters." The report from the watchtower slightly eased Major General Botjia's uneasiness.
"Your Majesty, Major General, do we have to take the initiative to seek fighter planes?" Chief of Staff Colonel Braya asked with some worry. From the news coming from the Philippines, the officers learned that a group of thirty ships included an aircraft carrier and two cruisers.
A fleet of multiple destroyers is heading towards Malaysia at high speed, and my fleet, which is proactively going to be on alert, may run into each other at some point.
"Colonel Pulaiya, are you scared?" Major General Botjia glanced at this subordinate coldly: "Don't forget that the word fear has never been in the dictionary of the Royal Navy of the British Empire. Although the enemy's fleet is
The model is much larger than ours, but the Royal Navy has never had a tradition of bowing its head in front of a strong enemy, do you understand?"
"Yes, Mr. Major General, I will definitely put the entire fleet in the best state of preparation for war."
"As long as you understand, you must know that the more powerful the enemy is, the more powerful our fleet becomes. Although they have a large number of aircraft, our air defense formation can very well protect our battleships and battlecruisers.
Inside." Major General Botjia encouraged his subordinates promptly.
"Yes, General, I will immediately order the fleet to deploy an air defense formation."
As soon as Colonel Pu Laiya finished speaking, the shrill air defense sirens from the "Murphyri" destroyer on guard were heard from the front. The two looked at each other and their expressions changed at the same time.
Soon, a low roar of aircraft was heard in the sky, and soon the fleet in front asked for instructions whether to fire to expel the aircraft in the sky.
Major General Botjia's expression changed a few times. He knew that since he had discovered the opponent's aircraft, the location of his own fleet must have appeared on the opponent's fleet commander's desk. If his own side opened fire, it would probably attract an overwhelming attack from the opponent's fleet.
blow.
"Warn them immediately that this is the British Empire's fleet and ask them to leave immediately."
Soon, a radio wave spread to the sky, "This is the British Empire's Far East Fleet. You have broken into our warning range. Please leave immediately, otherwise we have the right to fire and shoot you down. Repeat, this is"
The two planes that received the warning did not leave. Instead, a reply came from the other side on the public channel: "We are the South China Sea Fleet of the Republic of China. We are performing an evacuation mission. According to international navigation laws, we have harmless passage through the South China Sea."
If we are subjected to any unfriendly actions or attacks, we will have to take self-defensive actions to defend our safety. Any unfriendly actions on your side will be counterattacked by us, repeat it again."
After receiving the reply, Major General Bertja immediately called for shore-based aircraft assistance without hesitation and ordered the fleet to maintain its course. The honor of the British Empire's Navy prompted him to choose to defend the honor of the Royal Navy.
Eighty nautical miles away from Rear Admiral Botjia, South China Sea Fleet Commander Zheng Xin also received the report from the reconnaissance aircraft ahead. Zheng Xin did not hesitate to order the takeoff of twelve F6F "Hellcat" fighters and eight Avenger torpedoes.
The bombers and four "Dreadnought" dive bombers took off immediately. His order to the pilots was: "If those British guys dare to fire first, give them a damn."
Looking at the gradually dissipating fog, Zheng Xin also ordered the fleet to launch a battle formation to search and move forward to guard against sneak attacks by the opponent's submarines or torpedo boats.
"Report, the forward reconnaissance plane has discovered that six British Spitfire fighter jets are flying towards our fleet at high speed." A sudden report broke the tense and solemn atmosphere in the war room.
"Order the "Hellcat" to take off immediately to meet the enemy. If the enemy does not listen to dissuasion, shoot it down immediately."
After issuing the order, Zheng Xin did not notice the sweat on her hands and issued another order. All torpedo bombers and dive bombers were to take off immediately. If our warships were attacked, they would immediately launch an attack on the enemy.