After returning from the walk, the guard handed Xiang Xiaoqiang a telegram and said:
"Sir, this is from the headquarters...it is the highest level password."
Xiang Xiaoqiang took it over in surprise, with a hint of ominous premonition. The only passwords of this level are Xiuxiu, Fourteen Grid, and a few confidants who use them to generate electricity for themselves. And it's not a very important thing. They don't know how to do it.
It's easy to use this kind of secret power.
Xiang Xiaoqiang asked the guard to go out, then returned to the room and threw the message to Qiu Qiu: "Translate for me."
Qiu Qiu was a little surprised when he saw this kind of code, but he immediately opened the code box, took out the code book, and translated it word for word. After a while, he finally finished translating this long message.
"Princess Liaoyang is here."
Qiu Qiu presented the telegram with a strange expression. Obviously, she was surprised by the content of the telegram.
Xiang Xiaoqiang lowered his head to look at the message, read a few lines, then suddenly raised his head and said to Qiu Qiu:
"Go listen to the radio!"
Qiu Qiu understood what he wanted to hear, so he ran out quickly, looked around several rooms, and came back with a sad face:
"Xiaoqiang, all the radios in this hotel have been taken away by the locals, and there is not one left..."
"Oh!" Xiang Xiaoqiang slapped his thigh and waved his hand, "Forget it, it's fine if you don't listen. Anyway, I know what's going on... Damn it, what are those natives doing to grab the radio? Damn it.
Do you understand? Alas, we couldn’t hear the news for a day. If it weren’t for the telegram, we would be really isolated from the outside world... How could I forget this day? Really... I tell you, Qiu Qiu,
At around four o'clock in the morning this morning, a group of military officers in Tokyo, Japan, went into trouble. Former Japanese Prime Minister Saito Minoru was killed! Tibetan Prime Minister Takahashi Korekiyo was killed! Education Director Watanabe Taro was also killed! This time it was better than before.
The time I killed the dog and raised Yi was even more powerful!"
Qiu Qiu looked at him blankly, and then said after a long time:
"How do you know? The telegram didn't say that in detail!"
"Hey! Don't worry about how I knew it," Xiang Xiaoqiang patted his head, shook his head and smacked his lips, "That's so inappropriate, I actually forgot what day it is today!"
"What...what day is it?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said: "February 26, 1936! Today is February 26th! Don't you know about the February 26th incident? Oh, by the way, you don't know... Okay, very good! I guess I know why Shen Shen
Mr. Ge suddenly sent the fleet south in the morning, why are you so happy! Japan is currently undergoing a coup. It will take several days for the coup to end. For a long time after that, the Japanese military will be reshuffled and will have no time to take care of overseas affairs.
In the recent period, the possibility of Japan attacking us is almost non-existent, so we can go free and fight in Nanyang!"
The "February 26" incident that shocked the world in history took place as scheduled. But in this time and space, the world's attention was attracted by the Chinese massacre riots in Batavia and the tensions in Southeast Asia. Governments and analysts from various countries
, the media are all speculating whether the East Indies will change hands. Governments of various countries are showing off their magic powers according to the interests involved, trying to influence the course of the incident. On the contrary, in the "226" incident, this junior military officer in Japan
The coup, on the other hand, is less noticeable.
Not to mention that Xiang Xiaoqiang does not have a radio, even if he has a radio, most of what he hears are reports on Nanyang events. Because the only Chinese radio stations he can understand are Chinese-language radio stations, and as long as they are Chinese-language radio stations, what he is most concerned about is definitely what is happening in Nanyang.
.
Qiu Qiu was still muttering:
"But...Xiaoqiang, how did you know."
Xiang Xiaoqiang ignored her and continued to read the message. He slowly frowned and fell into deep thought.
"Qiu Qiu, Princess Liaoyang reminded me," Xiang Xiaoqiang said slowly and thoughtfully, "She suspects that Mr. Shen Ge suddenly sent a large fleet to attack this time. In addition to seizing the opportunity of the Japanese coup, he may also deliberately worsen the negotiation relationship and take advantage of the local It is my will to be removed by human hands.”
Qiu Qiu looked at him anxiously. She had read the telegram when she translated it and knew what the fourteen grids meant. But among the people under Xiang Xiaoqiang, she knew the relationship between Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shen Rongxuan. The least thorough one. She has always believed that Shen Ge was always a very good person. When Shi Shigege said this, she would be judging a gentleman with a villain's heart. But after all, this was related to her husband's life. Qiu Qiu didn't dare to jump to conclusions. In her mind, her husband was the smartest, much smarter than herself. This matter made his own judgment absolutely correct.
Xiang Xiaoqiang flicked the telegraph newspaper with his fingers, squinted his eyes and thought, then slowly spit out:
"Let me be the representative of the Ming Dynasty and have full power to negotiate on behalf of the Ming Dynasty... That means that as long as there is no war, even at the last minute before the war, I can't leave. I have to stay here to negotiate... Finally, I suddenly announced that the negotiations had broken down and directly bombarded Bada. Via, or carrier-based aircraft bombing, killing hundreds or thousands of locals, at this time I am no longer a negotiator, and the Dutch garrison will have to be busy resisting, and there will still be time to restrain the locals. Well, if we are lucky , he will be detained by the Dutch side and will never be able to return to the country; if he is unlucky, he will be killed by the local mob."
Qiu Qiu shuddered and asked in disbelief:
"But...why did he?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang continued to talk to himself:
"...Well, everything happened naturally. He was impeccable and there was no trace at all. Well, it should be his style. This method, Shen Rongxuan was able to do it... Damn it. , if it weren’t for Shi Shigege’s reminder, I really wouldn’t have thought that she was not as experienced as her after all... But Shen Rongxuan probably wasn’t determined to win this matter.
"He should understand that as long as I sense that the momentum is not right, I can send a telegram and ask His Majesty to issue an order to transfer me out of the Dutch East Indies and escape early... However, the situation in the Dutch East Indies... I can no longer intervene at all, so I have to stand aside."
Qiu Qiu said angrily:
"Xiaoqiang! Why did he harm you like this? You didn't feel sorry for him."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said: "It's not that I feel sorry for him. In his eyes, although I am useful to Ming Dynasty, I am also a restless person. So I said that he is not determined to win. This is not a sure-fire situation. He The main reason for moving the fleet south is strategic considerations, and by the way, we also want to see God's will. If I am killed or captured this time, of course it will be a threat. If I am fine, it can be regarded as saving a talent for the Ming Dynasty, hahaha."
Qiu Qiu said anxiously: "Then... what should we do? Xiaoqiang, please send a telegram to His Majesty and leave Batavia. We don't care about this Nanyang matter. Shen Ge always wants to take care of it, so leave it to him. We … Let’s go to Germany next and just pretend that this is not a problem.”
Xiang Xiaoqiang was amused by her, and he laughed and said: "It's not that easy? It's not that easy! Well, it's not that time yet. It will take four days for the landing fleet to arrive here. There's still talk. If that happens then If it doesn't work anymore, I will definitely send a report to His Majesty, saying that there is nothing we can do to die here with those natives."
…
After submitting the conditions to Xiaoqiang in the morning on February 26, the Dutch cabinet held a meeting all day long. From the prime minister to the ministers, every official was very anxious. In the evening, there was even an eye-catching slogan like "We are going to lose East India!" in the newspaper. word title.
Prime Minister Clarian accepted the advice of the ministers and called British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin to ask him to come forward to mediate the current tense situation between the Netherlands and the Netherlands.
British Prime Minister Baldwin sighed softly and said:
"Mr. Clarian, I don't know if you are listening to the radio in Nanjing. Empress Zhu Yourong of the Ming Dynasty is now speaking to the world. She is speaking in English. Your English is very good. I suggest you turn on the radio immediately and listen to it first. "
Clarian was extremely anxious and said eagerly:
"Mr. Baldwin, you need to understand that we have now..."
"Listen first," Baldwin interrupted, saying warmly, "I suggest you listen first..."
Clarian's eyes were bloodshot, and he suppressed the anxiety in his chest. He turned around and gestured, instructing his secretary to turn on the radio and tune it to the fixed channel of Nanjing Jinling Broadcasting Company.
On the radio, Zhu Yourong was choking with sobs as he read a blood-and-tears indictment of the Chinese girl victimized in Batavia:
"... We quickly entered the room and locked the door. We only heard many people outside the door violently kicking the door, and some women and girls screaming... I knew they would come in sooner or later, and we were all huddled in the corner. , I can only leave everything to God... I heard our neighbor, a ten-year-old girl, crying and screaming, 'Mom... Mom... it hurts...', I knew she was being raped, But I didn't dare to go out and talk to her... After more than ten minutes, her voice became weaker and weaker, and finally there was no sound...
"...Half an hour later, they finally broke open the door and swarmed in... There were fifty or sixty locals. They tore up the sheets and tied me, my father, my mother, my sister, and my uncle. , aunt... Dad asked them what they wanted, but they just beat him... They looked like wild beasts... One of them grabbed my sister and pushed her to the sofa. I knew my sister was in danger. I screamed, but a local slapped me in the face, and my father was knocked unconscious by them with a wooden stick... My mother was thrown on the sofa and passed out... I can only pray, pray that disaster will not come... …
"...My uncle said he would give them money, give them all the money, and beg them to let our family go...but it was no use, and then five locals raped my sister...each of them raped- Before assaulting her, I had to shout 'allhuakbar', which is an Islamic phrase meaning 'great god'... Soon, nine people dragged me over, and the last thing I saw was that they dragged my aunt with them. Come here... Then I didn't know anything... When I gradually woke up, it was already five or six o'clock in the afternoon... I had a head injury and I was naked... I saw my father holding me My mother’s body was there, and my aunt was also crying there... I felt exhausted and passed out again...
"I woke up the next day, the riot had subsided, and my father was beside me... I endured the pain and asked him, 'Dad, where is my sister?' My father seemed very painful, holding back tears, and told me that my sister was dead... He told me that after I fell into coma, seven locals raped me, and my father was beaten there with wooden sticks... The locals raped me repeatedly... and my sister was raped. When she kept resisting, the locals kept beating her... In the end, the mob stabbed the sister's body with bamboo poles, thrusting in and out again and again... In the end, the sister was covered in blood, and she died of pain... My father told me that my uncle was tied up by them and watched them rape my aunt...that night, my aunt jumped from the building...
"...Oh God, my mind was in chaos. I shed tears and asked my dad why? Why did this happen? My dad was very sad and couldn't say a word...Finally, he said: Because of us
Our mother country doesn’t care about us... Dear Her Majesty the Queen, I don’t want to believe what my father said is true. I don’t want to believe that Ming Dynasty really doesn’t care about us... I am writing this letter to you to let you know.
Everything that happened here... I know that this letter will probably not reach you, but I wrote it anyway... I am still alive, and the only thing that supports me is hope... I have seen you in the newspaper, I
I heard you on the radio, and I know you are a kind person... I know that as long as this letter can get into your hands, you will definitely help us seek justice... For my mother, sister, and
Aunt... there are so many people who died unjustly..."
Zhu Yourong burst into tears after reading this. Clariant's face turned purple and he couldn't say a word into the phone. After a long while, he held back a sentence:
"Mr. Baldwin, we are all adults, men, and politicians, not little girls like Zhu Yourong. This kind of sensationalism should not affect us..."
Baldwin just softly said "Shh..." into the receiver, indicating that everyone should continue listening.
On the radio, Zhu Yourong choked and said:
"I almost didn't see this letter... It was a British reporter stationed in Batavia who telegraphed it to Nanjing for her... Now I want to say to her: I saw the letter you gave me.
.I feel very sad... I'm sorry that your motherland failed to protect you earlier, so that your mother, sister, aunt, you, and so many others suffered such a great misfortune... On behalf of you,
The motherland, Ming Dynasty, apologizes to you... I am really sorry... Your motherland has committed crimes before, but today, she will not do it again... I promise that she will protect you and seek justice for you... I
I guarantee that your motherland will definitely avenge your mother, sister and aunt... Believe me...
"Here, on behalf of the Ming Empire, I declare to the world that the Ming Empire has the determination and ability to provide protection for the massacred and bullied overseas Chinese, and to seek justice for them. The Ming Empire will use all means, including
Force has made the planners, condoners, and perpetrators of this tragedy pay a heavy price.
"On behalf of the Ming Empire, I hereby solemnly promise that when Ming Dynasty carries out this just action, it will adhere to its consistent policy of friendship and respect for countries other than the Netherlands. We will strictly abide by it and actively safeguard the rights and interests of various countries in the Nanyang region.
All interests of the Ming Dynasty... Ming Dynasty has always cherished the friendship with all countries, and we will sincerely safeguard it... Regardless of whether this issue will be resolved through negotiation or force, Ming Dynasty will protect and take care of the various existing interests of various countries in Nanyang...
If due to unavoidable reasons, any inconvenience or damage is caused to the interests of your friends, we will provide adequate compensation...
"Finally, I would like to say something on behalf of the Ming Empire: We do not want to accept any mediation from a third country in this matter... This will be a matter between our country and the Netherlands. We do not want to damage our relationship with our friends because of this matter.
It is a hard-won and precious friendship accumulated over the years. Because like you, I also hope that Ming Dynasty will always be gentle and kind, and hope that the friendship with my friends will last at least another century... This is what I want to say."
…
After listening to Zhu Yourong's speech, Prime Minister Clariant's face turned white and his throat was dry. Baldwin seemed speechless. For a moment, there was silence on both ends of the phone.
After a while, Baldwin sighed lightly:
"What...what should I say? It's not that I'm unwilling to mediate for you, but...if you can accept the punishment of the two thousand murderers, the extradition of the governor, compensation, and the appropriate transfer of a portion of the oil and rubber management rights to them, then...
Maybe... I will be more confident when mediating the military port issue for you... and it will also appear that you are more sincere."
Clarian was stunned. Suddenly, he suppressed his anger and asked:
"Did Queen Zhu Yourong express her anger with you in advance? Have you reached some kind of agreement?... I know that among these conditions, except for the construction of a naval base, which directly threatens your interests, the rest have nothing to do with you... But I hope
You have noticed that the Chinese problem exists throughout Nanyang, and there are a large number of Chinese in your territory... Today, the Ming Dynasty can use the Chinese problem to take action against us, but who knows whether it will use the Chinese problem to take action against you tomorrow?"
Baldwin sighed:
"Please consider my situation... At present, most of our citizens are on the side of the Ming Dynasty... This is all your fault. Why has this never happened in our territory? I know that in Badawi
Ninety percent of the news coming back from Asia is true and credible... In the eyes of the people, this is not a matter of national interest, but a matter of right and wrong, justice and evil. And between justice and
In the midst of evil, a head of state elected by the people must never be on the wrong side.
"... Therefore, I suggest that you give up some of your interests appropriately to calm the anger of that crazy girl in Nanjing... You know, once a woman enters a hysterical state, she is the most unreasonable and the most difficult to communicate... She has already
I announced my refusal to mediate to the whole world. Although this is outrageous, what else can I do?...Now in the eyes of the world, they are the victims and you are the perpetrators. They are Little Red Riding Hood and you are the big bad wolf.
Let's give them some of the benefits. If they still press on after that, it will at least appear that you have become a victim, and other countries can speak for you."
Clarian felt that the last straw of life was far away from him. He nervously muttered a few words and hung up the phone.
…
Royal Palace of the Netherlands.
Queen Wilhelmina threw her book and screamed:
"No! We must not lose the East Indies! We must not extradite the Governor! We, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are... the world... we... we must not lower our proud heads! This time, once we surrender to them, we will
Lose the entire East Indies within ten years! That is our last big overseas territory! It was passed down to me by my ancestors! I decided to defend it!"
…
At ten o'clock in the morning on February 27, two light cruisers parked in Surabaya Port pulled anchor and set sail and began cruising on Batavia Island.
At this time, the Ming Dynasty battlecruiser squadron departing from the Zhanjiang military port was still 20 nautical miles away from the two Dutch cruisers and would encounter them within an hour.