Chapter five hundred and forty-eight the desperate Britain
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The army also paid a huge price in this war. The army's casualties have reached 100,000 people. Although there are only more than 60,000 people killed and seriously injured, with the high pension of the Chinese Army,
This is also a very large expenditure. In addition, the expansion of territorial area makes China also need more
The army has seventy-three infantry divisions and numerous brigade-level units to guard these territories. Although the total strength has reached 1.8 million, plus the Guards and other troops, the total number is 2 million.
There may seem to be a lot of people, but if spread over a vast territory, this is nothing.
China's territory is now the largest in the world, stretching from Alaska to the east, the Ural River to the west, Southeast Asia to the south, and the Arctic Ocean to the north, covering an area of more than 25 million square kilometers. Although, these territories are very large.
Some of them are areas with relatively harsh natural conditions, but many border areas require troops to be stationed. In addition, if the transportation conditions have not improved, retaining an army of two million is actually not much. If a war breaks out,
Perhaps further expansion of the army is needed.
In terms of the Navy, the Pacific Fleet suffered heavy losses in the battle with the U.S. Navy. This also proved that the old battleships are no longer suitable for future wars. Therefore, in the next few years, the Chinese Navy will need more capital ships to replace them.
These old battleships, together with the Navy's preparations to establish a new Indian Ocean Fleet, will continue to expand the size of the Navy. Each of the Navy's battleships is very expensive to build. To maintain the strength of the Chinese Navy, huge investments are needed in this area.
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Regarding the air force, although its performance in this battle was very small, in future wars, the air force will definitely become the main force. Therefore, investment in the air force will also become larger and larger, which will make China's future
Military expenditures are rising steadily. Therefore, the financial pressure in the next few years will still be very great.
"Although we won the war this time, our enemy was not completely defeated. Therefore, whether it is domestic construction or the development of armaments, we cannot relax. As for how to coordinate, no matter how slow the cabinet and the military are,
Negotiate slowly. In addition, in the subsequent negotiations with the British side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still needs to find a way to obtain at least 100 million pounds in war compensation. In this case, our pressure will be less." Wang Yuze said.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang. This made Wu Tingfang feel great pressure. One hundred million pounds is four hundred million Chinese yuan, which can already do a lot of things.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will do my best!" Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang replied. China's previous asking price was 200 million pounds, but the British side did not agree. If the war compensation is reduced to 100 million pounds, the British side may agree. In addition
With the help of the Military Intelligence Agency, Britain will soon be in trouble. By then, Britain should not reject China's good intentions.
"Your Majesty, why don't we attack now? The war against the United States and Russia is over. We don't need many troops to fight Japan. We can definitely use troops against India and Australia!" Finance Minister Wang Wenhua asked. India is a country.
In a prosperous place, the wealth that the British obtain from India every year is also very considerable. If China can swallow up India, China will be able to obtain this wealth.
"Master Wang! It's not that I don't want to fight, but the empire's troops are very tired now. In addition, India can be said to be the lifeblood of the United Kingdom. If we attack India, the British will fight China to the end regardless. Now
The empire has acquired a vast territory, and it is time to digest these territories. When the empire has digested these newly occupied territories, it will no longer have to be afraid of them. By then, the empire will not have any of these fat pieces.
We will let it go!" said Xiong Wu, Chief of General Staff.
Today's China is like a person who has eaten enough and needs to be digested. Fortunately, China has the largest population in the world and can quickly occupy these territories through immigration. Wait until the Chinese people in these areas
After the place thrives, no one can take away the land!
"In the next few years, the most important task of the empire is to digest these territories. Siberia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia will be immigrated as much as possible. Now the population of the empire has almost reached 500 million people. There is not enough land for cultivation in the empire.
If it does not provide a broader living space for the people of the empire, the empire will not be able to feed these people. In the next few years, the cabinet must complete the immigration plan for at least hundreds of millions of people!" Wang
Yuze said seriously. Although the environment in Siberia and Central Asia is worse, the land is vast and sparsely populated. Tens of millions of immigrants should not be a big problem. The land in Nanyang is fertile, but it is all occupied by the indigenous people. Now Nanyang
Except for Thailand and the Dutch East Indies, everything is already under China's control. As long as the indigenous people are driven away, tens of millions of people can immigrate there at will. This will greatly alleviate the domestic population pressure.
"Yes, Your Majesty, immigration work will become a key task of the cabinet in the future!" said Yang Hua, Prime Minister of the Cabinet. He also knew that this was a very difficult task. However, after the imperial army completed the expansion of its territory, the remaining
The work should be completed by the cabinet. Of course, when dealing with the indigenous people, the army must be dispatched.
"Well, let's end today's meeting here!" Wang Yuze said.
With everyone shouting long live, the imperial meeting ended. The cabinet began to prepare for the next infrastructure construction and immigration, and the military began to prepare for the war against Japan and the division of new defense zones for each force. Wang Yuze, on the other hand, was idle.
During the war, he had been very nervous, but now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister sent a telegram asking when can we reach an agreement with the Chinese?" Zhu Erdian, the former British Minister to China, handed the telegram to Lord Lansdowne. Except for the United Kingdom, the rest of the countries have already reached an agreement with the Chinese.
China has signed a treaty, and now they are left to stay in Beijing and fight alone. This puts Arthur Balfour's government under great pressure.
"Damn it! Those guys only know how to put pressure on us. The Chinese are offering war compensation of 200 million pounds. If they can agree, then we can sign a treaty with the Chinese immediately!" British Foreign Secretary Lord Lansdowne
Roared angrily. China's condition is that Britain transfers Burma and the Straits Settlements to China, and at the same time compensates China for 200 million pounds in war compensation. The British know the former.
After these colonies were occupied by China, they would definitely not come back unless they defeated China on the battlefield. However, in terms of war reparations, the British cabinet also believed that China was opening its mouth in a big way, so it asked Lord Lansdowne and China to
Negotiate to reduce the war reparations, preferably to waive them completely. However, China is also very tough, which makes Lord Lansdowne very embarrassed.
"Then, Your Excellency, what should we do now? As the United States and Russia withdraw from the war, China's powerful military strength will soon be transferred to us. During the negotiation process, they will become more and more tough." Zhu Erdian
He said with some worry.
"The idiots in the country don't understand the situation at all and only know how to put pressure on us." Lord Lansdowne complained. Indeed, the situation faced by Britain now is getting worse and worse.
"Zhu Erdian, help me make an appointment with Wu Tingfang tomorrow, and I'll talk to him again to see if we can make some progress!" Lord Lansdowne said.
"Okay, Your Excellency!" Zhu Erdian nodded.
On the morning of September 1, Lord Lansdowne and Zhu Erdian came to Wu Tingfang's office again. However, the mood of both parties was completely different now. China had achieved a huge victory, and in front of Britain, it was even more difficult.
They have all the advantages. However, the UK has fewer and fewer cards to play, and they are just hanging on.
"Your Excellency, Mr. Zhu Erdian, please sit down! I'm very happy to see you again!" Wu Tingfang said with a smile on his face.
"Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, we are also very happy to see you again!" Lord Lansdowne also said reservedly.
Soon, Wu Tingfang's secretary gave him some tea and then left. Only the three of them were left in the office.
"Your Excellency, don't you know why you are here this time?" Wu Tingfang asked knowingly.
"Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulations on your country reaching an agreement with the United States and Russia respectively, and achieving a great victory!" Lord Lansdowne said with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Excellency! All of these are what our country deserves!" Wu Tingfang said humbly.
"But, Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, I know that your country has a clear saying that one bite cannot make you fat! Therefore, I think it is better for your country to accept it when it is good. Otherwise, I am afraid you will have problems due to indigestion!" Lan
Lord Stone continued.
"Haha, your lordship is really good at joking. However, I want to tell your lordship that our digestive system is very good! We also have enough ability to get what we want." Wu Tingfang replied tit for tat.
Lord Lansdowne felt Wu Tingfang's toughness and looked a little ugly. Once upon a time, the British Empire was the most powerful country in the world, and China was just a decadent country with a pig's tail behind its head. But now
, but China made the British Empire suffer a lot. This world is changing so fast that it is completely unbelievable!