Beiyang reactionaries

Chamberlain, who had just been elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for half a year, couldn't help but swear.

Chamberlain was very busy during this time, and went to Germany twice.Since Germany and Czechoslovakia clashed over the Sudetenland, Chamberlain was very anxious.After all, both Germany and Czechoslovakia began to mobilize for war, which made the whole of Europe shrouded in the cloud of war.

This is not in the UK's interest.

So on October 1937, 10, Chamberlain went to Berlin to meet Hitler.Chamberlain and Hitler held talks for three hours, and finally talked about a result.That is Hitler's guarantee that Germany will never take any military action until the two meet again.After talking with Hitler, Chamberlain immediately met with French Prime Minister Daladier and told Daladier the results of his meeting with Hitler.In order to avoid war, Britain and France began to put pressure on Czechoslovakia to solve the issue of national self-determination in the Sudeten area as soon as possible, and let them appease the problem in the Sudeten area.

But Czechoslovakia can't help it either.

The Germans in the Sudeten region wanted too many things, which were completely beyond the reach of the Czechoslovak government.If the demands of the German nation in Sudeten are agreed, then the Sudeten region will become a semi-independent country.The Czechoslovak government can no longer control the Sudetenland.Therefore, the Czechoslovak government certainly cannot agree.

So the problem stuck.

Because the problem was still unresolved, Chamberlain had no choice but to come to Germany again on November 1937, 11.Had a second meeting with Hitler in Gotesburg.During this meeting, Hitler put forward new conditions.All other German-speaking areas in Czechoslovakia were assigned to Germany, and the annexed territories were occupied militarily.Requires Czechoslovakia to settle the Sudeten issue by November 4, 1937.After that, Hitler announced that starting from November 11, 14, Germany would conduct a general military mobilization, and ordered the troops to make all war preparations before November 1937, 11.

Seeing this situation, Czechoslovakia categorically rejected Hitler's request.Germany has too much appetite.At first the Sudeten region was wanted, and now some other German-speaking regions are also wanted.Therefore, the Czechoslovak government also began to carry out a national mobilization in the country, preparing to use force to resist Hitler.Although Czechoslovakia has a small population of just over 1000 million people.However, Czechoslovakia inherited a large amount of industrial strength from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was known as the "heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire" in the early years, and its strength should not be underestimated.

For example, the Skoda arsenal in Czechoslovakia is the second largest arsenal in Europe, and there is no weapon that cannot be produced.Needless to say, guns, tanks, and aircraft can be produced.Therefore, Czechoslovakia does not lack troops, let alone weapons and equipment.If Czechoslovakia really conducts a national general mobilization, then there will be no problem mobilizing millions of troops.So Czechoslovakia is ready to fight hard.

The result is growing tension between the two parties.

Unexpectedly, Hitler suddenly let his troops enter the forward position, and it was a force of seven divisions.Although Chamberlain is not clear about the frontier situation, he also knows that the current situation is that war is imminent.

"Eduardo (Halifax), what do you think?"

"The conflict now is not good for us. The empire and France have not paid much attention to armaments these years, and their combat readiness is very weak. Compared with Germany, since Hitler took office, Germany has been developing its military industry. The current situation in Germany The army is well-equipped, well-trained, and full of fighting spirit. So I think it is not appropriate to have a conflict with Germany now, and should try to avoid conflicts."

British Foreign Secretary Halifax replied.

Halifax was born in the British aristocracy, his father was a Viscount, and Halifax also inherited his father's Viscount a few years ago.Of course, in the current British political arena, those who can reach high positions are basically of noble origin, and very few senior government officials of civilian origin.

Originally the British Foreign Secretary was Robert Anthony Eden Earl.

He was a man against appeasement.Eden asked Britain to increase its armaments, believing that only diplomacy with military backing is the correct diplomacy.No foreign policy can hope to succeed in this tense world without a military backstop.Therefore, he has always advocated that the United Kingdom prepare its army for war, backed by force, and suppress Germany and Italy, which are becoming more and more powerful.

Chamberlain was very dissatisfied with these propositions of his.So Chamberlain put the Foreign Secretary aside and directly intervened in the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.This made Aiden very dissatisfied, so he offered to resign.It just so happened that Chamberlain also thought he was not pleasing to the eye, so he promoted Halifax, who had the same views as himself, as foreign secretary.

"Give the Sudetenland to Germany?"

"Our country does not have many interests in central Europe, so we should not involve too much energy. We should give up some interests in the central part, shrink the front, and strengthen our country's local strength."

"Ah."

Chamberlain frowned.

shrink.

Since the First World War, Britain has actually been shrinking its front.Unexpectedly, some forces will be withdrawn from the European continent now, but they will not participate too much in the affairs of the European continent.

Halifax continued: "However, Hitler's ambitions are too great, and he can't satisfy them all. Especially Czechoslovakia, which is a European industrial powerhouse, has a strong industrial strength and a particularly developed military industry. Germany must not be allowed to annex Czechoslovakia. This should be the bottom line. If you let Germany control Czechoslovakia, the situation will be out of hand."

Halifax speaks out.

"The Asian Alliance led by China and Japan has just issued a statement. Although they say they do not support or oppose the request of the Republic of Indonesia, they still mean to support the Republic of Indonesia. Alexander, China and Japan in the Far East, if Irian cannot be successfully taken this time Island, will they really fight?"

Chamberlain was silent for a while, then suddenly changed the subject and asked Lord Alexander Cadogan next to Halifax.After Alexander Cadogan returned from the Far East, he was credited with stabilizing the situation in the Far East, plus he and Halifax have been partners for many years, and his views are very similar to Chamberlain.Therefore, he immediately served as the deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Soon after Foreign Minister Eden resigned, Viscount Vanstaedt, the permanent deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also left.Because Feinstadt and Eden have similar views, and they both hope that Britain will take a tougher approach to Germany's provocative behavior.

Feinstadt is definitely Alexander Cadogan's lucky star.

When Alexander Cadogan's official career was in a downturn in the early years, it was Feinstadt's recommendation that allowed him to go to China as a plenipotentiary ambassador.This time he had just returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and this one left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.What he left as Permanent Under Secretary was given to Alexander Cadogan.

Halifax and Alexander Cadogan were two men in Chamberlain's appeasement policy.

"It's hard to say. Let me talk about China first. The current actual controller of China is their cabinet prime minister Duan Xun. The political model of China is different from that of the empire. Duan Xun, the cabinet prime minister, has great power and can even be said to be a military dictator. Ren used to be a soldier who led troops to fight, and he became the prime minister by relying on the army. He was very courageous when he was young. In his early years, when he was just a general with tens of thousands of troops, he dared to bombard our warships , and shot many French businessmen and priests who smuggled opium. Later, when he took control of the Chinese regime, he dared to go to war with Japan. Although this man was very courageous, he was not an impulsive person. Judging from his fortune, This guy is good at seizing opportunities, he is good at attacking at the best time. I have been in contact with him, this guy is more like a sophisticated politician."

"It's a tough role to play."

"Yes. Therefore, I think that at this stage, China should be unwilling to go to war at will. But when I was in China, I carefully understood some situations in China. The industrial data released by the Chinese government may be exaggerated, but it is also well-founded. Their The industrial output is absolutely astonishing. Moreover, the Chinese military has always attached great importance to the cultivation of reserve personnel. According to China's situation, if a war really breaks out, it will not be too difficult for them to expand their army in a short period of time. Because their The population is too large, and there is no shortage of weapons and equipment. Therefore, I suggest that if possible, do not go to war with a behemoth like China. But what is more favorable at present is that there are not many conflicts of interest between China and China. China's current main The target is the Soviet Union, and a large number of troops are concentrated in the north."

"What about China's weapons and equipment?"

Chamberlain was a little surprised.

Alexander Cadogan was a very good diplomat.Having lived in China for many years, I must have a very good understanding of the situation in China.Chamberlain has been in office for half a year, mainly dealing with German affairs.I haven't had time to understand the situation in the Far East.

"A lot of data is confidential, and I don't have completely accurate data here. However, since 1934, all military academies in China, including army academies, naval academies, and aviation academies, have expanded their enrollment. Because the number of students enrolled in the college entrance examination in China is It is public, so we have accurate data. China's military academies have been increasing their enrollment since 1934, and their size has more than doubled. Especially the aviation schools that train pilots, compared to 1934 when I came back , an increase of nearly three times. This is just the school’s formal enrollment in the Chinese college entrance examination. In addition to this enrollment model, China’s pilot training also has short-term training courses held by these schools for several months. And those trained by China's civil airlines. Therefore, I think the number of pilots trained in China must have increased sharply in the past few years. If you want more accurate data, I will ask someone to compile a copy and give it to the Prime Minister."

Didn't say it directly, but said what should be said.

Why has China suddenly trained so many pilots in recent years?Of course, because the army began to equip a large number of aircraft, it will train a large number of pilots.Chamberlain thought quietly.

China is a country that is actually unfamiliar to the UK.

In the eyes of many British people, China is still the impression of decades ago.But Alexander Cadogan has already told Chamberlain that China is completely different.A country that can easily mobilize tens of millions of troops.

Even if their weapons are outdated, it's not easy to mess with.

Look at World War I, Russian Army shit equipment, shit logistics, shit combat effectiveness.But no one will ignore the Russian army.What is the biggest reason? The biggest reason is that Russia has a lot of people and a lot of troops.

The same is true for China.

Even if the weapons and equipment are not good, but if thousands of troops are put on display, who can ignore them.So Chamberlain frowned.Things in Europe have not been resolved, and troubles have begun in the Far East.

"And what about Japan?"

"And what about Japan?"

"meeting."

Alexander Cadogan nodded affirmatively.

Dao: "Once it fails to obtain Irian Island, Japan will definitely use war to solve the problem. With the support of the empire, Japan defeated the Qing Dynasty, won the Russo-Japanese War, annexed the Korean Peninsula, and controlled China's Northeast and Shandong. At that time, Japan's strategy was to swallow China's Manchurian and Mongolian areas, and had a chance to take over Russia's Far East. In this way, Japan will become a big country that owns this piece of land."

Alexander Cadogan produced a map of the Far East.

Introduced to Chamberlain: "But since the rise of China, Japan has lost most of their rights and interests in China, and even lost half of the Korean Peninsula. The rise of China has completely defeated Japan's original ideas and plans. Because Unable to continue the original plan, Japan turned around and took a fancy to the Nanyang region. Japan is very fanatical about colonies and land expansion. This is the same from their high-level officials to ordinary people. Japan's current cabinet prime minister Tanaka Yoshiichi This person is a fanatical soldier, but this person is smarter and knows when to attack and when to lie dormant. But the biggest problem in Japan is that not all of their front-line troops can be controlled by the Japanese high-level. The Japanese front-line generals There is a lot of power, and even they deliberately have friction on the front line, and then start a war to increase their merits. So Japan is very elusive, and it is possible to go to war if you don’t pay attention. Even if their prime minister is willing to be stable stable, but their military may not want to."

"That is to say, if the matter cannot be resolved this time, will Japan really go to war?"

"Yes."

Alexander Cadogan nodded.

Continued: "Compared to Germany, Japan is a more unstable factor in the Far East. If you can't get what you want, Japan will definitely dare to go to war. The Japanese Nanyang Fleet is superior in Nanyang, and those naval officers are even fanatical. Moreover, the Japanese nation is a nation that dares to take risks. Whether it is a war with the Qing Dynasty or a war with Russia, Japan has fought against the fate of the whole country. This is a terrible nation.”

"It's not safe."