"Cambria Breaker".
Despite some minor obstacles, the world's fastest British cargo ship left the dock in Nanjing.
"From now on, your safety will be protected by us." Captain Schiller said frankly: "In Shanghai or Nanjing, you can do whatever you want, but now, you are in extreme danger."
yes.
Meng Shaoyuan was a little helpless.
This is the Yangtze River in China, but what is running rampant on the river now is Japanese warships. On land, you can control the wind and rain, but now, you are nothing.
Just someone who needs protection.
"What a great place." Daniel lit a thick cigar: "What a pity. What I'm worried about now is not you, Meng, but the three hundred and fourteen people in the cargo hold. You are going to be hidden on this ship. One person is too simple, but there are more than 300 people. If we encounter a Japanese warship and the Japanese forcefully board the ship for inspection, it will be exposed soon."
"That's why I paid such a high price to hire you." Meng Shaoyuan didn't look too worried: "We have an old saying in China, take people's money and help them eliminate disasters."
Daniel shrugged.
This is why he strongly requested to come to China.
It is absolutely a pleasure to work with Meng Shaoyuan. It may be dangerous, but if you want to make a lot of money, the more dangerous the better.
"Hey, hey." Captain Schiller raised the telescope: "Found a Japanese warship, found a Japanese warship!"
Meng Shaoyuan immediately took over the telescope. In the telescope, the Japanese flag flying on the warship was clearly visible.
Daniel, you have such a crow’s mouth!
Captain Schiller was still very calm and looked up.
The flag of the British Empire flutters in the wind.
"Meng, do you want to go into the cabin or stay here."
"I'm a translator. Of course I need to stay here." Meng Shaoyuan looked not afraid at all.
What's there to be afraid of? The Japanese didn't know they were on this ship.
If you really knew, where could you hide?
The Japanese ship approached quickly and immediately issued a semaphore requesting the "Cambria Breaker" to switch the radio to the designated channel.
It was the Japanese Navy gunboat "Sado" and asked the "Cambria Breaker" to stop for inspection.
Captain Schiller repeatedly repeated that this was a British Empire cargo ship and the Japanese Navy had no right to inspect it.
However, the "Shiduo" believes that the "Cambria Breaker" sailed from Nanjing and is likely to carry prohibited materials or Chinese officials.
This would violate British neutrality.
Soon the two sides began negotiations.
The result of the negotiation is that Captain Nishizawa Bonan, the captain of the "Sado", will bring an interpreter on board for negotiation and is not allowed to carry weapons.
This is the most important thing.
Once you bring weapons on board, the meaning changes.
The British have all kinds of shortcomings, but they are not sloppy at all in details.
The captain of the "Sita", Nishizawa Bonan, looks to be in his thirties. He should be considered a young and promising person in the Japanese Navy, right?
He could speak relatively fluent English. He carefully asked why the "Cambria Breaker" went to Nanjing, what its destination was, and what kind of supplies it carried on the ship.
"This is an empty ship." Captain Schiller said frankly: "We arrived in Shanghai from London, then took a special passenger to Nanjing, stayed in Nanjing for a while, and now we are going to Chengdu."
His frankness surprised Nishizawa Bonan: "Special guest? May I know what kind of special guest it is?"
"Me," Daniel said, "Daniel, the former police chief of the Shanghai Public Settlement Bureau of Industry and Commerce."
"Hello, Mr. Daniel." Nishizawa Bonan said politely: "I can take the liberty to ask, why do you want to come to Nanjing and why do you want to go to Chengdu? This is a war period."
"You are just a lieutenant-level officer, and you are not qualified to ask these questions." Daniel showed the arrogance of the British: "But in order to get rid of you as soon as possible, I can tell you that my real destination is not Chengdu. , but Chongqing. I went to Nanjing, met with senior officials of the National Government, and discussed the current situation with them.
I went to Chongqing to inspect the place and make an accurate assessment of the future direction of the war between China and Japan. When I come back from Chongqing, I will go to Shanghai again. I will meet with your commander, Matsui Iwane, and also have some necessary discussions on the Sino-Japanese War. Mr. Captain, are you satisfied now? "
What a loud tone.
One was a senior official of the Nanjing National Government, and the other was Commander Matsui Iwane. Where did this British man come from?
Nishizawa Bonan asked cautiously: "Even if you are still the police chief of the Shanghai Public Concession Industry Bureau, it seems that these matters are not under your control, right?"
"Rude, disrespectful!" Daniel looked very dissatisfied: "Captain Schiller, send someone to my cabin to get my box."
The box came quickly.
Daniel opened the box and took out the first document: "This is the ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, the Emperor of India, and the favored by God. The letter of appointment given to me by His Majesty Sir George VI! Below this is the signature and seal of Prime Minister Chamberlain."
The long list of titles made Caesar Bonan dizzy.
After taking the document and looking at it carefully, it turned out to be a letter of appointment from King George VI of the United Kingdom, appointing Daniel as the British Empire's Far East Observer and His Majesty's Special Envoy.
Observers are real people, and His Majesty the King's Special Envoy is a title that the British particularly like to add.
"There is also this document." Daniel took out a second document: "This is a certification document issued by Ambassador Jadegan of the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Republic of China!"
Both documents were authenticated.
Nishizawa Bonan was in awe.
A war breaks out between China and Japan, and the United States, Britain and other countries remain neutral. However, these European and American countries have such important interests in China. They need to know how far the war will go and what impact it will have on their own interests.
And these so-called "observers" are actually in China to assess the situation and let the country know as soon as possible.
In December 1931, the League of Nations made a resolution to send an investigation team to the Far East to investigate Sino-Japanese relations. In February 1932, the League of Nations investigation team set out for China. In September of the same year, the investigation team completed its report.
On February 24, 1933, the League of Nations General Assembly passed a resolution, basically accepting the opinions and recommendations of the League of Nations investigation mission report, and affirming that it would not recognize the pseudo-Manchukuo in fact or in law.
Although the report did not take a completely impartial stance when judging Japan's invasion of Northeast China, it still angered Japan.
Afterwards, Japan announced its withdrawal from the League of Nations.
Nonetheless, in order to avoid being isolated internationally and to devote all their energy to the invasion of China, after the Sino-Japanese war broke out, the Japanese frontline commanders received orders from home to stay away from contact as much as possible. to the interests of Britain, the United States and other countries in China, to avoid conflicts and to avoid giving Britain, the United States and other countries excuses to interfere.
These observers are even more immobile.
Nishizawa Bonan respectfully returned the two documents to Daniel, and his eyes fell on Meng Shaoyuan who had been silent next to him: "Who is this?"
"My name is Kudo Shinichi." Unexpectedly, Meng Shaoyuan spoke fluent Japanese.
"Are you Japanese?" Nishizawa Bonanda was surprised.
"Yes, Japanese." Meng Shaoyuan smiled: "I am their translator, entrusted by the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai to act as Mr. Daniel's translator."
With his fluent Kyoto accent and calm attitude, Nannan Bonan had no doubts.
"Do these British people understand Japanese?" Nishizawa Bonan asked.
"I can't understand a word."
"Okay, Kudo-kun, the all-out attack on Nanjing is about to begin. These British are nosy, and I am worried that they will have a negative impact on the empire."
"Don't worry. They have something in my hands." Meng Shaoyuan smiled mysteriously: "Do you think these British guys are really so enthusiastic? No, this ship carries a large amount of smuggled materials. Once it arrives in Chengdu, these materials will be turned over Several times the price. They promised to give me 10% of the profits to keep my mouth shut, so they don’t care about the war in China at all.”
Nishizawa Bonan suddenly realized, and then smiled: "Then I have to scare them well."
"Hey, what are you talking about?" Daniel looked a little impatient.
Nishizawa Bonan switched to English and said: "Although you have a special mission, I must fulfill my duties and conduct a comprehensive inspection of the cargo ship."
Daniel's expression suddenly changed, and his voice even rose: "If you want to force inspection, this is a violation of the sacred rights of the British Empire. I can even regard it as a war against the British Empire! I will protest to Japan. The most solemn protest. The British government will also issue the most severe warning!"
These damn British guys are pretending to be public servants for their own benefit, and they still have to act like gentlemen.
Nishizawa Bonan cursed in his heart, but put on a helpless look on his face: "Mr. Special Envoy, don't get excited. Since you insist so much, I give in and I won't inspect it. But what is on the ship? You You know, I know too. The special envoy of the King of the British Empire? If the Chinese know that you are using the war to make money, it will not be a glorious thing."
Daniel's face turned blue and white, but in his heart, he couldn't help but want to laugh.
Nishizawa Bonan ignored these British people and said to Meng Shaoyuan: "Kudo-kun, you will have to work hard along the way. It is not a pleasant thing to deal with these British guys."
Meng Shaoyuan said calmly: "It's nothing, everyone is working for the Japanese Empire."
"Yes, the empire will win!"
Meng Shaoyuan's answer was: "We will win!"
