"Then I'll go find Butler." Steve gritted his teeth and said, "Please ask the French army to send troops. The British army, the American army and an infantry regiment from the French army should be enough. I don't believe it can't be suppressed."
Steve waved his hand and said: "Let's not talk about whether it can be suppressed. Let's make a hypothesis. Suppose that the combined forces of Britain, France and the United States can really suppress the Lone Army Camp. So what? Can you guarantee that the Lone Army Camp will not be suppressed?
Will all the hostages be killed before they are eliminated by the coalition forces? If all the hostages are killed, we will be finished."
Ferguson immediately became speechless. Yes, if all the hostages were killed, the political future of both of them would definitely be over. Not only would he be fired, but Steve, the minister abroad, would also not be able to serve as a foreign minister. Because Steve was from a noble family,
There may not be any chance of recovery in the future, but it will be difficult for him, Ferguson, to get ahead.
After a long while, Ferguson said very depressedly: "Is there really no other way?"
"I'm afraid it's really gone." Steve shook his head and said, "Actually, recruiting security is also a good way. It can not only ensure the safety of all hostages, but also preserve the national dignity of the British Empire. Of course, it is not necessary.
Frankly speaking, doing so can save both of our political lives."
Ferguson said: "But the conditions they proposed are too harsh."
But Fergoff waved his hand and said: "Negotiation is nothing more than asking for prices and counter-offering. What the person named Xu said may not necessarily be the lowest price, and the cabinet may not necessarily reject it. Anything has not been tried before.
, Never jump to conclusions, General, are you right?"
Ferguson said: "Then, try it?"
Steve nodded and said, "Try."
Steve and Ferguson decided to give it a try, so they tried to send a message to the cabinet. In the message, Ferguson and Steve introduced the cause and process of the Lone Camp incident in detail. In the message, Ferguson downplayed the British military.
The disastrous defeat they suffered can only be said to have been a shameless sneak attack by the lone army camp and thus failed.
Steve's capture turned into a situation where he entered the tiger's den alone to negotiate with the lone army camp, and then was brutally detained. With this change, Steve immediately changed from a passive and timid prisoner to a selfless person.
, a lone hero who goes into danger alone, his whole image immediately becomes taller.
Immediately afterwards, the two men focused on the Japanese's shameless conspiracy in their speeches.
Of course, this conspiracy must have been judged by Steve and Ferguson based on the various changes of the Japanese army and Wang Puppet No. 76, and then it was Steve who used his sharp tongue to persuade the Lone Army Battalion to cooperate with Gor
The Ka camp fought side by side and worked together to thwart the Japanese conspiracy.
In the middle of the speech, Steve and Ferguson very sincerely proposed a plan to solve the Lone Army Camp incident. This plan was to recruit security personnel and transform Lone Army Camp into a patrol camp, responsible for the security of the area west of Niyin Road in the public concession.
, and at the same time, military pay, weapons and ammunition were issued by the Public Settlement Industry Bureau.
In the end, Steve and Ferguson proposed in a very subtle way that the Lone Army Battalion hoped that the cabinet or the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau of the Concession could provide a "relatively appropriate amount" of settlement expenses. This so-called settlement expense was what Steve and Ferguson planned.
used to purchase machinery, equipment, weapons and ammunition.
Obviously, both Ferguson and Steve believed that it was extremely inappropriate to directly include the provision of supplies for three divisions and a complete set of equipment for a small arsenal in the negotiations. There was no way the cabinet would agree to it. Only the two of them would be able to do so.
Caught in the middle, I was in a dilemma, so I had to find a way around it.
As long as the cabinet agrees to provide this settlement fee, the rest of the things will be easy to handle. As long as they have money, they can purchase weapons, ammunition, and mechanical equipment from the United States, and they can make things perfect, even if the settlement fee is not enough
It is also an unwritten rule that all expenses can be paid from other sources. When the cabinet allocates funds overseas, it will never pay the full amount. Instead, it will only allocate a small part, and the remaining part will be figured out by itself.
Therefore, solutions are forced out.
(Dividing line)
Steve and Ferguson's speeches were soon placed on the desk of British Prime Minister Chamberlain.
However, when the beautiful female secretary placed the message on Chamberlain's desk and explained that it was about the Shanghai Lonely Camp Incident, Chamberlain waved his hands extremely tiredly, frowned and asked: "Anna, who wrote this message?"
What did it say? Tell me."
Chamberlain's implication was that he was not going to read the speech.
In fact, Chamberlain does not have the energy now.
Because MI6 just intercepted a piece of top-secret intelligence between the Soviet Union and Germany yesterday. The intelligence showed that the Soviet Union and Germany were secretly negotiating closely and preparing to conclude a non-aggression treaty! This is very important to the British, especially to those who have always pursued appeasement.
For the British Prime Minister Chamberlain, this policy was like a bolt from the blue!
Chamberlain has always adopted a national policy of appeasement and connivance towards Germany, and his purpose is very clear, which is to lead Germany's troubles to the Soviet Union. But now, Germany actually wants to conclude a non-aggression alliance with the Soviet Union. This
What does it mean? It means that Germany must shake hands with the Soviet Union and make peace. It also means that Germany must concentrate its efforts on conquering Western Europe. It also means that Chamberlain’s appeasement policy is completely bankrupt!
The only good thing is that the Soviet Union and Germany only held consultations and did not formally sign a treaty.
But even so, Chamberlain's focus has completely turned to this matter. The first thing is to determine whether the Soviet Union and Germany are actually secretly negotiating such a non-aggression treaty. If it is confirmed that there is, then the next work is
, sabotaging the negotiations between the Soviet Union and Germany at all costs, and they must not be allowed to sign such a treaty!
In the evening, Chamberlain held a night meeting with more than a dozen cabinet staff to discuss this matter.
Therefore, now, Chamberlain really has no energy to care about Shanghai's affairs anymore, because compared with Germany's affairs, Shanghai or China's affairs are simply insignificant, because China will not threaten the survival of the British Empire in any way, and
Germany can actually threaten Britain's survival.
Anna opened the message and talked to Chamberlain about the main points.
After hearing this, Chamberlain waved his hands impatiently, and then said: "The strategic focus of the British Empire is in Europe, and the Far East is not its core interest. Since Minister Steve and Brigadier General Ferguson said that they can recruit peace, then go ahead and do it anyway.
From the British Empire’s point of view, it’s okay, and the Japanese must issue a stern warning.”
Chamberlain was still very wary of the Japanese, because the Japanese could also threaten Britain. Although Japan could not threaten Britain's survival like Germany, it could threaten Britain's position in the world order. This is because if Japan
Troops were sent to occupy Shanghai and Hong Kong, but Britain was unable to provide a strong counterattack. This would inevitably severely weaken Britain's prestige and status in the international community.
At this time, Britain's attitude towards China and Japan was similar to the attitude of the United States towards small countries such as China and the Philippines in later generations. The United States in later generations was often very harsh towards China. Any small move by China would lead to fierce action from the United States.
reaction, but is very tolerant of small countries such as the Philippines.
And this is the offshore balancing policy of the world hegemon.
Therefore, if the Japanese make even the slightest rash move, the British will give a stern warning.
Okay, the female secretary agreed, then turned around and left the office with the message in her arms.
Soon, the reply from the British cabinet reached Shanghai. The cabinet agreed to the plan of recruiting security, and entrusted the British Minister to China Steve and the commander of the British forces in Shanghai, Brigadier Ferguson, to be the ambassadors to discuss the recruitment matters with the isolated army battalion.
, the Lone Army Camp incident that caused a huge uproar was calmed down just like that.
Therefore, imperialism is all paper tigers.
(Dividing line)
Two days later, in Chongqing, at the official residence of Chairman Chiang Kai-shek.
"Is it over?" Chairman Chiang looked at Foreign Minister Wang Chonghui and said in disbelief, "Is it over like this?"
"It's over." Wang Chonghui spread his hands and said with a wry smile, "Now there is no solitary military camp, but only the patrol camp in the western part of the concession. I really didn't expect that the trouble would end up like this."
"Patrol camp?" Chairman Chiang said with a dark face, "Isn't it a patrol room? Why is there a patrol camp?"
Wang Chonghui said: "This patrol camp in the West District of the Concession is different from ordinary patrol houses. The inspectors, sergeants and senior patrol officers or patrol officers in the patrol house are all foreigners, and they are also under the control of the Police Department. But this patrol camp in the West District,
From the patrol sergeant down to the ordinary patrol officers, they are all Chinese and are not under the control of the police department."
"Niang Xipi." Chairman Chiang couldn't help but cursed, "Then it won't become an independent kingdom?"
Wang Chonghui smiled bitterly and said: "Yes, basically speaking, it is almost an independent kingdom."
Chen Cheng, He Yingqin, Bai Chongxi and other staff standing nearby were also dumbfounded. What happened? The Shanghai Public Concession was originally a state within a state, but now it has become a state within a state? What is even more unbelievable is that,
It is really incredible that this country, China, is still ruled by the Chinese.
Of course, the patrol battalion adapted from the Gujun Camp was already nominally part of the public concession and had nothing to do with the National Government, at least legally.
Chairman Chiang's cheeks twitched, and he turned to Wang Shihe and asked: "Gujun camp, oh no, it's a patrol camp. Has the military commander found out the origin of the commander of the patrol camp?"
Wang Shihe said: "There is no news yet."
"Mother Xipi!" Chairman Jiang was immediately furious after hearing this. He paused with the crutch in his hand and said in a deep voice, "You call Dai Li right now and ask them to move faster."
