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Early the next morning, newspapers headed by prisoners began to report extensively on the ongoing peace negotiations between the French and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In the report, the prisoner revealed the fact that the two young princes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had promised Roquesas and Lorraine to the French without the consent of the Germans.
The reports caused an uproar.
It is conceivable that when the world war is in a stalemate, one of the parties participating in the war is actually negotiating peace with the enemy in private. This must have a huge sensational effect.
Almost on the same day, some newspapers forwarded the news, and some even issued special editions.
Of course there are also German newspapers here.
In fact, German newspapers published these news almost at the same time as the prisoners. For the Germans, France has no secrets. The battle plan formulated by Nivelle the day before would appear on Ludendorff's desk the next night.
.
The Germans were extremely shocked by the private actions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially its handling of Alsace and Lorraine.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire has always been a vassal of the German Empire. Now the Austro-Hungarian Empire is actually conducting such peace talks independently of the German Empire, and it is still using Alsace and Lorraine as the conditions for negotiation. This is incredible to the Germans.
In the eyes of the Germans, Karl I was too presumptuous.
Karl I was also aware of this problem at this time, so he began to accuse the French of making things up. He had never sent any negotiating delegation to France, let alone negotiate with Alsace and Lorraine.
This aroused dissatisfaction among the French, so in French newspapers, Karl I was not only described as a fool, but also a liar.
The peace talks finally broke down.
Waiting for everything to settle, it’s almost March.
Qin Zhiyuan was in no mood to care about the farce that happened in the newspapers. His energy was completely focused on the destroyer he ordered, and he could not spare any more energy.
As early as when he was in Rome, Qin Zhiyuan ordered four Acorn-class destroyers through the Wanderer Alliance Shipyard in Portsmouth. Qin Zhiyuan had even paid a deposit and was waiting to receive them after the outfitting was completed. For this reason
, Qin Zhiyuan also hired more than 100 technical personnel from the UK through Gaspard and asked them to be responsible for the technical work on the destroyer.
Of course, Qin Zhiyuan has also prepared a group of Chinese who have grown up on the coast to join the navy and learn various techniques from British mercenaries to prepare for independent operations in the future.
British mercenaries. This is not a concept originated by Qin Zhiyuan. Europeans have a tradition of being mercenaries. They are not resistant to the profession of mercenaries. As long as someone gives money, they can fight for the devil. As a traditional maritime power,
There are countless navigators and sailors in Britain. The country now has more people and fewer ships, so it gives Qin Zhiyuan a loophole to exploit.
At that time, Gary Parker promised a week, but when the time came, he sent a telegram to Qin Zhiyuan, requesting an extension of the delivery date because the four destroyers had been requisitioned by the British Navy.
It is said that these four warships were originally built for the British Navy, but the delivery date agreed with the British was still early, so the directors of the shipyard found Qin Zhiyuan and wanted to sell these warships to Qin Zhiyuan first, and then
Then re-produced for the British.
For the Wanderer Alliance Shipyard, this really doesn't take much effort. It only takes a month at most from laying the keel to launching a warship, but in the United States, this time can be shortened to half a month.
There was nothing wrong with the British commandeering these four warships. But Qin Zhiyuan decided to make a fuss anyway.
Only children who cry get milk.
So Qin Zhiyuan approached Churchill, the newly appointed British Minister of Commerce.
Winston Churchill, this is another giant.
Potential giant, not yet.
Before the war, Churchill served as Lord of the Admiralty. On August 1, 2014, when Churchill learned that Germany had declared war on Russia, Churchill couldn't wait to issue a naval mobilization order. This order was not ratified by the cabinet until the next day. Perhaps Churchill did this
It was because he hated the Germans too much, but it also left an impression on the parliament that he did not obey orders and acted arbitrarily.
After the Battle of the Dardanelles, the British Navy paid a huge price, but did not capture the strait. Instead, Britain lost its early advantage in the war. Churchill was severely criticized for this, and finally lost his post as Lord of the Admiralty and was transferred to the Ministry of Indifferent Affairs.
minister.
I don't care about the department, I really don't care about anything, I don't have any real power, I'm like a mascot.
Churchill resigned in anger and took his servants, drivers, housekeepers, and dozens of boxes of daily necessities with him to the French front line to serve as the commander of the 6th Battalion of the Scottish Mauser Rifles.
Last September, the Dardanelles Maritime Investigation Commission was established and released its investigation report around Christmas. Churchill was successfully exonerated and had just been appointed Minister of Munitions by Lloyd George.
Well, maybe Churchill also had a good-looking head that would impress Lloyd George.
It seems that Qin Zhiyuan's reputation is indeed growing day by day. At least after reporting his name, Qin Zhiyuan was received by Churchill.
Qin, I don't remember that there is a navy in your army. Churchill looked at Qin Zhiyuan leisurely, his eyes full of inquiry and curiosity.
This is the British Ministry of Munitions, located in London, the heart of the British Empire, the economic center of the world in the early 20th century, and can also be regarded as the political center.
Its existence is reasonable. If necessary, there may be an Air Force organization in the future. Qin Zhiyuan smiled.
Whenever he faced a legendary giant, Qin Zhiyuan was always full of interest, especially someone like Churchill, who was rare at this level.
But when Qin Zhiyuan smiled at Churchill, Qin Zhiyuan was wary in his heart.
Churchill did have a good reputation in another time and space, but he also had a huge stain, which was his racism. When suppressing the Kenyan uprising, Churchill once signed an order requiring the elimination of local black people.
Including the grandfather of the later black president of the United States. When the black president of the United States later took office, he returned the bronze bust of Churchill that had been in the White House office during the Bush era to the British. This is why the idea came about.
Later, during World War II, Churchill also forced India to export grain, but when the Indians fell into famine, Churchill ignored it and watched 3 million Indians starve to death.
Indians and Chinese are both Orientals. This is Churchill's attitude towards Indians. You can imagine his attitude towards Chinese people.
Oh, it seems that you are very interested in new things like airplanes. Churchill was also interested.
When Churchill was serving as Minister of the Navy, Churchill personally approved the research plan for tanks and designated the naval term tank to refer to this weapon of war.
Churchill was always interested in new things, which is why he became an evergreen figure in the political arena.
Maybe everyone has two sides, one is an angel and the other is a devil.
