"Since ancient times, wars have always paid attention to terrain. The geographical environment of high buildings has a very obvious bonus to the military. If the Russian forces completely occupy Afghanistan, they can look down on the entire Ganges Plain. Your British navy is powerful, but your army What level is it? I think you, Prime Minister, know much better than me..."
"Haha, please listen to me. The topic goes back to the Siberian Railway. Now the Russians have to support Central Asian agents to invade Xinjiang. The fundamental reason is that their own military strength and material transportation capabilities are not up to par. If Moscow's The railway line can reach the Pamir Plateau, I think they will not mind doing it themselves..."
"This railway has brought about more than just changes. You should still remember that after the Crimean War, they took advantage of the British and French forces to capture Beijing. The Russians took advantage of the situation and extorted one million square meters from the Qing Dynasty. Kilometers of land, and therein lies a great gift that makes the Russians ecstatic!”
"What is that? I hope the Prime Minister will tell me the answer... Yes, it is Vladivostok. The Chinese call it Vladivostok!"
The Earl of Derby is still half as arrogant as before, and his facial expression has become more and more serious. After all, he is an old politician and has received an elite education since he was a child. He has already guessed the subtext of Xiao Letian's words. Ten.
At this time, Xiao Letian seemed to be talking to himself, pouring himself a glass of wine while talking, "Vladivostok is an excellent deep-water port. Warships of any size can dock safely, and there are only three ice periods in a year." Yue...hehe, you British people don't like this kind of geographical environment, but for the Russians, it is already a big treasure..."
"Look at how smart the Russians are. They sold Alaska to the United States, won the support of the Americans, and then found such an excellent military port in the Sea of Japan. What are they doing? This is the rhythm of their struggle for hegemony in the Pacific... …”
"Dream!" The Earl of Derby slapped the table and stood up. At that moment, he forgot about the gout in his ankle and walked around the rose bushes without even using a cane.
"That's enough, stop being alarmist. The Russians want to snatch maritime interests from our British Empire. That's just a dream! The only fate for these polar bears and double-headed eagles is to eat frozen meat in the Arctic Ocean. If they want to follow Our British Empire is fighting for warm seas, but they are just dreaming..."
When Xiao Letian saw that the heat was coming, he also slapped the table. "That's right! These Russians who overestimate their capabilities actually dare to challenge the maritime interests of the British Empire. How dare they meddle in the Pacific Ocean? They simply overestimate their capabilities!"
"But I also want to ask, doesn't the UK have any responsibility for causing the current situation? If you hadn't given these Russians a severe lesson in the Black Sea, would they have set their sights on the East?"
"What do you mean? Did we teach the Russians the wrong thing in Crimea? Are you scolding us?" Earl Derby's eyes suddenly stood up.
"No, no, no, of course I don't mean that. I'm just showing you the fact that the Russians have extended their hands to the Pacific Ocean. Is the British Empire ready? Are you willing to fight fiercely in the Pacific Ocean? What lessons should be taught to the Russians? Where does the Pacific occupy in your national strategy?"
The Earl of Derby was speechless for a moment. He blinked and looked at Xiao Letian, but this time there was no ridicule or contempt anymore. He had completely understood the true intention of Xiao Letian's words.
The United Kingdom in this era is indeed powerful, but it is not so powerful that it single-handedly controls the world. In the British national strategy, different regions have different importance.
The Mediterranean and the North Atlantic are the most important areas controlled by the UK. After all, this is the doorstep of the country and it cannot be defended. Just like the Crimean War, the Russians just touched the doorframe of the Mediterranean and the British and French were Chopped.
The South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean are the second most important areas controlled by the UK. Black Africa and the Indian subcontinent have too many national interests for the UK, and the UK will not give up its dominance in these two waters.
The third most important region is East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia. The core of this huge region is Hong Kong. As for the broader Pacific Ocean? Uh... The British really can't think of any benefits.
From such a ranking, we can find that the British military power is actually the lowest in East Asia, and the Pacific people are simply too lazy to pay attention to it. If according to Xiao Letian's judgment, the Russians are prepared to increase their efforts in building the Pacific Navy, then the British Empire will follow suit and increase investment.
Sigh... The Earl of Derby gets a headache just thinking about this. Although the UK has a big business, it has too many places to spend money. It is really not worth it to engage in an arms race with the Russians in the Pacific.
Prime Minister Derby's lips moved several times. He wanted to say something but could not form the words.
It was only then that Xiao Letian finally found the long-lost negotiating initiative. He felt secretly happy and began to continue pouring medicine. "Haha, of course, the Pacific is nothing to Britain. It doesn't matter whether it is for Russia or the United States. This Except for a few worthless islands in this empty sea area, there is no interest at all to attract you..."
"However, I still have to remind you that the Russians are not whales. They cannot live by drinking seawater. Building a powerful fleet is ultimately for profit...either commercial interests or simply territory. The greed of the tsars of all ages. The British don’t understand yet?”
"It is foreseeable that when the Siberian Railway is completed, the naval base in Vladivostok will develop rapidly, and they will even build the railway to the areas outside the Manchu and Qing Dynasty... Don't look at me with this look, to satisfy The Qing court was so cowardly that I don’t think they dared to stop it..."
"At that time, the Russians will cross the Korean Peninsula and the Sea of Japan and directly seize a port in China's Liaodong Peninsula. I think the Russians are already eyeing that place... That is Lushunkou! An excellent natural deep-water port Freeze Harbor!”
At this point, Earl Derby suddenly snapped his fingers at the secretary in the distance and shouted "Map!" Soon several thick maps were brought over, and the one Derby picked out East Asia was on the long side. The long dining table was spread out, not caring about the greasy seafood underneath.
"Where is Lushunkou... exactly? Point it out to me, and why do you say that the Russians have been watching this place for a long time?"
Xiao Letian smiled bitterly and pointed at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula with his finger, "It's right here... As for why? Is there any need to ask? This is a natural deep-water ice-free port, and based on this geographical location, it's up to you to choose whether you want it or not. ?”
The Earl of Derby asked no more questions. Even a third-rate military expert could see the importance of the pincer-shaped geographical location of the Liaodong Peninsula and Shandong Peninsula. If the Russians have a naval base here, I'm afraid there will no longer be a place for the British to stay in North China.
"If Lushunkou is turned into a modern naval base, not only China, but also North Korea and Japan will become the sphere of influence of the Russians..."
"Wait!" The Earl of Derby suddenly raised his hand to stop Xiao Letian's words. "Mr. Xiao, I don't understand. You keep exaggerating the threat of the Russians. How does this have anything to do with our negotiations this time?" Do you mean...you can deal with the Russians? Or can you protect the interests of the British Empire? Hahaha..."
An old fox is an old fox. He was not confused by such a complicated circle. He still understood Xiao Letian's subtext until the last moment.
However, Xiao Letian didn't care if his plan was discovered. He didn't answer immediately but poured himself a glass of beer. After finishing half the glass, he said with a smile, "Why not?"
"Hahaha... I laughed to death. I admit that you Chinese people did a great job in the two battles on the French-Swiss border and Shiqiao Highlands. It really impressed us... Hahaha, but now you say you can Block the Russians? Hahaha..."
The Earl of Derby seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world. He couldn't stand up straight. "I admit... I admit that you can think of such a breakthrough in negotiations... Indeed, it is indeed very innovative... But, ha. Ha ha……"
Xiao Letian's face gradually became serious as he listened to the other party's ridicule. After more than three minutes, he suddenly dropped his wine glass on the table.
"Okay, please pay attention to your identity as Prime Minister. This is nothing funny... Do you think I am bragging? But I don't think so!"
"Under the sky of East Asia, who else can stop the Russians? Are you counting on the Qing Dynasty? Aguba has already reached the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. They have not even seen reinforcements, and there is no fire of civil war in the Central Plains. Completely extinguished, do you think you can rely on them?”
"Who is left? Japan or Korea? They are worse than the Manchus... In the whole of East Asia, let me not say who is the most powerful. Let me ask, Mr. Prime Minister, whose ideas are the most advanced in East Asia? Who has the most advanced ideas? Who best understands the essence of modern civilization? Who understands the power of industry? Who knows what sea control is?"
Xiao Letian raised his thumb and said to himself, "Only me, only me in the whole of Asia!"
"Only I, Xiao Letian, know how to make a country rich and strong in East Asia, and only I know how to systematically develop industry in East Asia... The most important thing is that I, Xiao Letian, am the only one who knows how to fight modern war, and in Europe fought a battle in person..."
Xiao Letian roared extremely arrogantly, "Who else can you choose in East Asia? Who else can you count on? If you British are willing to send more troops to East Asia and are willing to confront the Russians for ten or twenty years, if you are willing to engage in this It’s an arms race like a bottomless pit, even if I, Xiao Letian, didn’t say anything..."
"However, as long as you British people cannot teach the Russians a lesson personally, and as long as you still need a strong man to maintain the stability of East Asia... then I will tell you clearly that this ally has no other ally except me!"
"Raise your head and take a good look at me. My name is Xiao Letian, and I am the strongest man in East Asia!" Xiao Letian shouted almost with all the strength of his lungs, "Don't you want to imprison me in Europe? I don't care, I am very I am willing to watch with my own eyes the defeat of you British people in East Asia!"
...
