Downing Street, British Prime Minister's House.

Delegates from the British General Chamber of Commerce gathered to petition the government to reverse the adverse trade policy with China.

Since the defeat of the Second and Third Yabo Wars, Britain's trade with China has begun to have a significant trade deficit. Since the victory of the First Yabo War in 1840, Yabo merchants, made large-scale production by the East India Company, have expanded their production on a large scale, planted millions of hectares of Yabo, and dumped them into China to make huge profits. Now China has banned smoking in a completely banned manner and the illegal trade in Yabo has caused heavy losses to British opium merchants and countless people have gone bankrupt and jumped off buildings.

Originally, under the instigation of the East India Company, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries blocked the Qizhou Ocean Sea (South China Sea), blocked China's export trade, robbed passing Chinese merchant ships, and implemented anti-retaliation measures against China's smoking ban. However, not long after, the British royal family and the aristocratic family forced the British Navy to abandon the Qizhou Ocean sea operation and resume import and export trade with China in order to obtain China's special life-saving medicine.

The giant Yabo East India Company failed to make a plan, so it led hundreds of Yabo merchants to instigate the entire British Chamber of Commerce members to put pressure on the British government and bribe British public opinion to create momentum, claiming that the UK-China import and export trade deficit is huge, and the annual deficit of tens of millions of pounds flows into the pockets of the Chinese. The cowardly British government is giving the British hard-earned money to the Chinese.

The British people were in an uproar. The defeat of the two Yabo Wars was not only because the British government was lost, but the British people were also very embarrassed. The dignified British Empire was invincible. It was defeated by China and lost twice in a row. How could the British people feel?

Under the influence of this general environment, the British people have also begun to support the Chamber of Commerce and put pressure on the British government.

Because the British royal family obtained the import quota for Chinese special medicines (Big Huan Dan, Little Huan Dan), they made a fortune in gold and silver every year by selling Chinese special medicines, and gained huge benefits. Therefore, they were very friendly to China, especially during a severe cold period when Queen Victoria almost died. She felt that she was about to die. After taking Chinese special medicines, she recovered quickly. She specially sent a telegram to express her gratitude to Chinese Emperor Li Weiguo, and maintained a good relationship with the British royal family in China.

Now facing the accusations of British public opinion, the intervention of the British royal family has no longer worked. The conservative Earl Derby was forced to resign, and the liberal Viscount Palmston came to power and took over as the new Prime Minister.

The liberals are radicals. They advocate toughness to the outside world. The culprit behind the supporters are British Yafan giants such as East India Company.

Palmston held an interim cabinet meeting, which was because the trade deficit between Britain and China was too huge, seriously affected Britain's import and export trade, resulting in a large amount of wealth outflow in Britain, and asked the government to take measures to stop it.

"If the annual deficit of 10 million pounds, twenty years later, all the wealth accumulated by the British Empire in hundreds of years will be given to the Chinese. At that time, we British will be penniless. Even the black boys in Africa are not as good as those in Africa!"

This is the truth. The trade deficit will seriously affect a country's comprehensive national strength, weaken wealth accumulation, and ultimately lead to national poverty.

China has not been able to make a comeback in history for a century, and the culprit is the huge trade deficit brought by the Yapin trade and its physical and mental harm to the people.

Now this kind of thing is reversed. Obviously, Britain is not the Qing Dynasty, and they will not sit still and wait for death.

"What do you want to do? Do you have to do the Fourth Commercial War (Ya Phoenix War) again?" I thought the royal family asked back. He didn't want to fight with China again, as it would affect his interests because he was one of the British distributors of China's special medicines.

Palmston replied: "I don't like the way of war to solve it unless there is no way. I suggest that China resume legalizing the Yapin trade, but obviously the Chinese emperor's ban on smoking is very firm and cruel, and it is probably difficult to persuade him by peaceful means."

"The legalization of the Yapin trade? What a lie, no country will agree with it!" Another royal MP sneered.

"Didn't the Qing Dynasty agree before?"

"Because the Qing Dynasty was too weak, we were forced to agree to it!"

"Then let's defeat them again!"

"I think you are militants!"

"You don't understand, we are safeguarding the honor and interests of the British Empire!"

"I have lost two wars in a row. Do you want to lose another one?"

"Don't worry, we won't lose again this time!"

The conservatives and liberals immediately started arguing, and the two sides quarreled endlessly, which made the Prime Minister's Mansion instantly turn into a vegetable market.

It’s a pity that the conservatives stepped down, the liberals ruled and had absolute voice.

In the end, liberals gained the upper hand, advocating tough measures against China, and not excluding resorting to force.

However, conservatives also played a check and balance role, making it impossible for liberals to directly bypass parliamentary restrictions to actively start war against China.

The final result of the compromise between the two sides was that Britain could not provoke a war against China, but could erect trade barriers and impose a 2OO% tariff on goods exported by China to the UK, trying to use this method to reverse the trade deficit problem.

However, the liberals were not willing to accept it. With the secret support of the big merchants of Yapin, they quickly bribed the top leaders of the British Royal Navy and instructed the British Royal Navy to launch freedom of navigation operations in coastal areas around China, deliberately provoking the Chinese Navy, trying to create a justification for the war, directly kidnapped the British government and dragged it into a state of war.

At the same time, British liberal politicians also lobbied the governments of Spain and the Netherlands, instructing the Netherlands and Spain to create trouble in the Dutch East Indies and the Western Philippine Islands respectively, provoke anti-Chinese incidents, and lure China into intervening, thereby creating conflicts.

Once the conflict escalates, war is inevitable. Even if the conservatives oppose it, the liberals can still fight in accordance with the British Constitution.

The liberal conspiracy was soon implemented. There were also a large number of erotic film merchants in Spain and the Netherlands. They actively cooperated with the British's actions and soon lobbled the Spanish and Dutch governments to succeed in preparing to create anti-Chinese incidents in the Dutch East India and the Philippines in Western Sichuan and provoke conflicts.

At the same time, the Suez Canal was opened, and the British Royal Navy finally had no need to detour the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The sea distance was reduced by half from Europe to reinforce Asia. It used to take half a year, but now it only takes three months.

In this way, the Royal Navy no longer has to worry that once a war starts with China, the huge logistics supply pressure will no longer be the main problem.

Therefore, the British Royal Navy ordered the commander of the Asian fleet, Klaus, to go to China's coast to carry out "freedom of navigation" operations and carry out war provocations.

Klaus was captured during the Battle of Shanghai in the Third Yabo War. This was the greatest shame in his life, and he vowed to take revenge.

After receiving the order from the British Admiralty, Klaus immediately transferred Marin from the Indian Ocean Fleet as his deputy and ordered Marin to lead a fleet to the coast of China to provoke.

Marin and Klaus are inmates. Both of them were captured on the battlefield of the Battle of Shanghai in the Third Yabo War. They were locked up in concentration camps together. They worked hard all day long and formed deep friendships. They were definitely good friends.

After receiving Klaus' order, Marin immediately led a fleet of five ironclad ships to leave Singapore and head for China.

At the same time, news of the opening of the Suez Canal also spread to the Forbidden City.

Li Weiguo immediately convened a meeting of imperial fronts, and officials from the six ministries of the Empire and intelligence departments were present.

"Your Majesty, news has been reported by the Egyptian Intelligence Station that the Suez Canal, which was presided over by the French, has been opened. The voyage from Europe to Asia has been reduced by half. It used to take at least six months, but now it only takes three months. According to the intelligence, the British government has secretly obtained shares in the Suez Canal, but it has not made it public. It may be because it does not want to stimulate the French emperor and affect the relationship between Britain and France." Li Jing, director of SHIELD, gave a briefing to everyone on this matter.

Shang Wu Yong of the Ministry of War immediately said: "The opening of the Suez Canal means that Britain, France and other countries will conduct expeditions to Asia again, and the pressure on logistics supply will be greatly reduced, from six months to three months. The risk of European powers fighting against China will be greatly increased, and the empire should be prepared as soon as possible."

This is natural. Li Weiguo had long expected that the opening of the Suez Canal would become the critical point for the outbreak of war. Five years ago, he made this prediction. The Imperial Navy's 15th Plan and the 99th Fleet proposal were to prepare for the war that could break out.

"The relationship between Your Majesty and the British royal family has been maintained in good shape in the past two years. The war should not break so easily!" Shang Fu Xuexian from the Ministry of Revenue was a little nervous. He didn't want the war to break out, because the war was too expensive, so it would be better not to solve it without a war.

Li Weiguo was not too worried, but smiled and said, "No matter whether there will be a war or not, the Imperial Navy's 15th Plan is to control the sea power in East Asia and the Western Pacific. If Britain does not let go, this battle will be inevitable."

Li Weiguo said it very clearly. Whether it is the delay in economic and trade between China and Britain, or the hatred of the three Sino-British wars, the strength of the Chinese navy is destined to control the sea control power in the waters around China. The control of the sea control power in the Western Pacific is just a basic demand for China's rising national strength. If the UK does not agree, it can only be a war to resolve the problem.

Chen Jingnan, the Minister of Justice, agreed: "Yes, what Your Majesty said is very much. In fact, no matter how the relationship between the empire and Britain is improved, it is superficial. There are no friends between countries, only interests. The rise of the empire is destined to challenge Britain's world hegemony. Whether it is peace or war, Britain will not sit idly by and watch China rise, just as Britain will not sit idly by and destroy the United States with all means. The war between China and Britain is inevitable. This is basically implemented. Don't have any luck, otherwise you will suffer a big loss."

Just fight, it’s best not to spend too much money. Being a Ministry of Revenue is not easy, it’s not easy, it requires money everywhere!

Fu Xuexian immediately smiled bitterly, and the last glimmer of hope in his heart was shattered.

Wu Yong said: "Please rest assured that the Imperial Divine Army is fully prepared. As long as the British dare to provoke, they will know how powerful we are!"

Li Weiguo was still very confident in the Shence Army, but said: "The first two Yabo wars were only local wars at best. As long as one victory in a major battle is enough to force the British and French powers to give up because they have difficulty in logistics supplying and cannot afford a full-scale war. But this time it is different. The Suez Canal was opened, and the logistics supply during the expedition is no longer a problem. Therefore, once a war breaks out, it is likely to be a full-scale war, and all departments must prepare for a full-scale war."

Wu Yong asked, "Your Majesty means that it is possible to go to war for 6?"

Li Weiguo nodded and said, "The possibility of this is not ruled out. Tsarist Russia lost the Far East and will never give up. If our war with Britain is in a stalemate, Tsarist Russia will probably take advantage of the situation. In addition, after the empire unification, Tibet, Ili, Yunnan, Myanmar, Nanzhang and other regions bordered the British colonies, and the possibility of Britain sending troops from the 6th is not ruled out."

Zhang Xiaoliu's eyes suddenly shone when he heard this and almost jumped up happily. Fortunately, Wu Yong grabbed him in time, otherwise he would be scolded by Li Weiguo.

At this time, Chen Jingnan suddenly said: "There is still Japan that needs to be prevented. In recent years, with the support of the United Kingdom, Japan has greatly enhanced its national strength. It is not ruled out that Japan takes the opportunity to send troops to North Korea, Ryukyu, Taiwan and other places to restrain the imperial energy."

Lin Jiyun added: "There is still the direction of Qizhou Ocean (South China Sea). There is still a Lanfang country problem between the Empire and the Netherlands and the Netherlands. Before, the Netherlands and Spain helped Britain cause trouble in Qizhou Ocean. If the war breaks out, it is not ruled out that the Netherlands and Spain will also be involved."

Li Hongzao, Li Hongzhang, Wang Kaitai, Zhou Fu and other officials looked at each other, their eyes full of surprise. They never thought that the surrounding environment of the empire was very complicated, and they might be beaten up by a group.

Li Weiguo smiled and said: "If a newcomer in a company wants to continue, he will inevitably be excluded and troubled by the elderly. The rise of a country will inevitably be suppressed by the old country. There has never been an easy thing in this world. We just need to do our duty and deal with it calmly!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers responded in unison.

With psychological preparation, the imperial front meeting went smoothly, mainly concentrated in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry of War was responsible for preparing for war, while the Ministry of Revenue mobilized money and grain reserves to support the military in fighting at any time.

A week later, the Spanish Philippines and Dutch East India in Southeast Asia continued to riots in anti-Chinese riots, with a large number of Chinese shops and homes smashed and looted. The Spanish and Dutch authorities ignored them and even secretly supported them. The situation quickly escalated and turned into burning, killing, looting, and looting of Chinese by local indigenous people, killing, and wounding a large number of Chinese.

Li Jing, director of SHIELD, rushed into the palace to meet Li Weiguo and informed Nanyangsheng about it.

"It's outrageous! Is there no one in China to deceive me?"

With a bang, Li Weiguo smashed the tea bowl in his hand and became angry.

"Transfer my order, and the Minister of War and the Right Minister of War will come to see me!" (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!