The cabinet members participating in the meeting quickly reached an agreement that the Chinese should be given a severe lesson.
However, at this time, the United Kingdom had not yet emerged from a severe economic recession, resulting in extremely tight financial expenditures. Therefore, if diplomatic pressure could be used to join in the solution, Chamberlain still did not want to use military force, so he ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue an ultimatum to the National Government.
In order to force the Nationalist Government to submit, Chamberlain also roped in eight other countries.
Speaking of which, this is not the first ultimatum issued by Western countries, but this time's ultimatum is essentially different from the previous ultimatum. The previous ultimatum was initiated by the ministers of the nine countries in China.
It is an ultimatum at the diplomatic level, but this time it is an ultimatum at the government level.
To put it more bluntly, one is just an ultimatum from the ambassador to China, while the other is an ultimatum from the British Prime Minister. Their power is completely different.
(Dividing line)
The ultimatum from the British government was quickly sent to China.
By this time, more staff had gathered at Chairman Chiang's residence.
Foreign Minister Wang Chonghui was reading aloud the British government’s ultimatum:
His Majesty King George VI of the British Empire and Prime Minister His Excellency Arthneville Chamberlain, have issued the most solemn ultimatum to your government, giving your government 24 hours to quell the Shanghai incident and the citizens of the nine countries detained by your army and
The officers and soldiers of all countries will be released immediately and unconditionally. The Chinese officers and soldiers responsible for the incident will all be executed as a warning. All economic losses caused by this incident and the pensions for the injured and injured citizens of the nine countries will be borne by your government. The specific compensation and
The amount of the pension will be jointly agreed upon by the nine countries, and will be reported to your government on a separate date. If your government is unable to repay, it can use tariffs as collateral for the loan.
After listening to Foreign Minister Wang Chonghui read out the ultimatum announced by the British government, the hall immediately became deathly silent, so quiet that only the gasps of the staff could be heard.
In fact, many people here have already expected this result. The British may not send troops, but they will definitely take this opportunity to severely rip off China. However, for the Chinese government, this result is even worse than the British
Directly sending troops to attack China would be even more painful.
If the British directly send troops, there is nothing to think about, just fight!
One sheep is being driven, and two sheep are being driven. After all, they are already fighting with little Japan, and they are not afraid of more Britain. And if Britain really comes to China's muddy waters, it may start fighting with the Japanese first.
Because little Japan has already regarded China as the fat in their mouth, how can they allow Britain to get involved again?
However, if Britain did not send troops but only used diplomatic pressure to extort China, then it would be in trouble.
Bai Chongxi couldn't help turning her head and glanced at Chairman Chiang, thinking to herself that she might have to give in this time.
Sure enough, seeing no one speaking, Chairman Chiang turned his attention to Chen Cheng, who had just returned from the Suizao front line. Chen Cheng, known as the Little Chairman, was very good at guessing Chairman Chiang's thoughts. Chairman Chiang looked at him and said,
Chen Cheng immediately understood and stood up and said: "Currently, China is already struggling to cope with just Japan as an enemy. If Britain, which is several times more powerful than Japan, is added to it, China will undoubtedly perish, so we must endure it!"
He Yingqin immediately echoed: "Yes, if we can't give the British an explanation this time, not only will the British come to war with us, but the United States will also break off diplomatic relations with us. But if we in China want to continue the war of resistance for a long time, we have to
It refers to the financial aid from the Americans, so no matter what, I can only endure it this time."
The two chief staff members made speeches one after another, which was almost a conclusion, and the other staff members also agreed.
Only Bai Chongxi sneered and said: "The problem is, even if we can endure our anger for a while, we may not be able to meet the British conditions. Let's not talk about compensation. We can't just severely punish the officers and soldiers who caused the accident. Is it difficult?
Can't we mobilize troops from the Third War Zone or the Sulu War Zone to Shanghai to wipe out the lone army camp?"
Upon hearing this, all the staff present immediately fell silent.
Yes, this point proposed by the British is really impossible to do.
The Lone Army Battalion is not just a few people, nor is it dozens of people, but there are more than 400 officers and soldiers. From their ability to completely annihilate the British Gorkha Royal Infantry Battalion, we know that this unit still maintains the same strength as before the Battle of Songhu.
With such a level of troops, it is absolutely unrealistic to expect the military hurricane team to suppress and execute them.
If they really do it, the military command of the Hurricane Team might not be enough to fill their teeth.
And if troops are transferred from the Third War Zone or the Sulu War Zone, it is impossible for the Japanese to agree.
Some people have thought about simply asking the British or US troops to take action shamelessly. But the problem is that even the Royal Gurkha Infantry Battalion was completely wiped out by the lone battalion. The remaining British troops or the US troops stationed in Shanghai will definitely do it? No.
In the end, the Lone Army Camp failed to be wiped out, but the Lone Army Camp was destroyed again. At that time, the situation became even worse.
In the silence, He Yingqin suddenly stood up and said: "Come to me, why don't we invite the Japanese army to send troops?"
"What a nonsense!" As soon as He Yingqin finished speaking, Bai Chongxi had already raised his voice, "Asking the Japanese to send troops? You can think of it! In order to deal with a group of former robes, and a group of veterans who have contributed to the country and the nation.
, you actually asked the Nationalist Government to pay the Japanese army to attack and kill them. If this matter is spread, what will the entire army, soldiers and civilians think? Are you trying to put the country's justice and the national justice at risk?"
He Yingqin's face turned red when he was told that, and he said angrily: "Then what good solution do you have?"
Bai Chongxi snorted and said: "If you ask me, if you have too many debts, don't worry. If you have too many lice, don't bite them. If the British are coming, just let them come. Let's not talk about whether they have the ability to mobilize troops from Europe thousands of miles away.
When they come to China, even if the British really have that capability, can the Japanese allow them to easily enter Shanghai?"
He Yingqin immediately retorted: "Jiansheng, you take it too much for granted. If Britain really goes to war with China, they won't attack Shanghai. Don't forget, the British can also march directly from Burma to Yunnan and attack the southwest! And now the big
The southwest is our only remaining rear base. If the southwest falls into the hands of the British army, China will really perish."
"Invade Yunnan directly from Myanmar?" Bai Chongxi said coldly, "Brother Jing, I'm afraid you haven't been to Yunnan, right? If you had been to Yunnan and the border between Yunnan and Myanmar, you would never think so. If the British really attacked Yunnan from
Myanmar attacks Yunnan, hahaha, even hundreds of thousands of troops are not enough to fill the gap."
He Yingqin frowned and said: "Brother Jiansheng's words are too arbitrary. Since we can build the Burma Road, the British can naturally build the Burma Road. As long as the road is open, the British heavy troops and logistics supplies can flow through the road.
How can our National Army compete with the continuous invasion of Yunnan?"
"He Jingzhi, you overestimate the engineering capabilities and logistical support of the British."
"Bai Jiansheng, I'm afraid you have seriously underestimated the strength of Britain. Don't forget that the British Empire is the most powerful superpower in the world today, and its national strength is several times that of Japan."
"He Jingzhi, you scare the British out of their wits."
"Bai Jiansheng, I think you are ignorant and fearless!"
Seeing his two most powerful aides turning from arguments to personal attacks on each other, Chairman Chiang immediately became inexplicably irritable. Just when Chairman Chiang was about to lose control of his attack, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something from the corner of his eye.
Dai Li, the commander-in-chief of the Military Command, poked his head outside the conference hall with an anxious look on his face.
At that moment, Chairman Chiang said that the meeting would be adjourned temporarily and then walked straight out of the conference hall.
Walking into the side hall, Chairman Jiang unexpectedly discovered that Mrs. Jiang was actually there, and her eyes were still red. She seemed to have just cried. Chairman Jiang was still very concerned about this wife who was ten years younger than him. He immediately went up
He asked with concern: "What's wrong, madam? What made you sad?"
Mrs. Chiang grabbed Chairman Chiang's arm and said excitedly: "Darling, you must save my brother."
"Your brother? Ziwen?" Chairman Jiang was a little confused when he heard this, and immediately turned his eyes to Dai Li standing next to him.
Dai Li rubbed his hands and whispered: "Commissioner, I have just received the news. After the negotiation, Minister Song was detained by the Lone Army Camp. He is still detained in the Italian Army Camp to this day!"
"What?!" When Chairman Chiang heard this, three black lines immediately appeared on his forehead.
Song Ziwen was actually detained? Gujunying actually held Song Ziwen hostage?!
Immediately afterwards, Dai Li said with an embarrassed look: "Commissioner, Gu Junying not only detained Minister Song, but also asked Wang Tianmu, the director of Shanghai District of Juntong, to write you a letter."
"Letter? Is it for me?" Chairman Chiang pointed to his nose.
Dai Li took out a telegram from his pocket and handed it over cautiously.
Chairman Chiang reached out to take the telegram and unfolded it. It read: "Dear Chairman Chiang: Hello, I am Private A, B and C of Gujun Camp. On behalf of all the soldiers of Gujun Camp, I am asking you to fight. The British devils are bullying me.
Too bad, all the soldiers of our Gu Army Camp are determined to take back the public concession occupied by the Westerners, and will never let an inch of the land fall into the hands of foreigners. In addition, Minister Song Ziwen feels the meaning of the soldiers of our Gu Army Camp, and decides to stay in Shanghai with our Gu Army.
All the officers and soldiers of the military camp live and die together. Sincerely, I salute you and look forward to February of the 28th year of the Republic of China."
Chairman Jiang's eyelids jumped wildly after reading this. No matter how slow he was, he could still see that this was a threat! Gujunying was clearly threatening Song Ziwen, threatening him to stand up in person to support Gujunying! If he refused to stand
When they come out, the Gujun Camp will probably threaten Song Ziwen and burn them together with their Gujun Camp!
"Darling!" At this time, Mrs. Jiang's voice sounded again, "You must save my brother, you must save my brother, please."