1890 King of Southeast Asia

"I've had enough! That Liu only used half of our navy and one-fifth of our army to solve the entire war." Theodore shouted at his generals in a grumpy tone.

"And our navy is still playing hide-and-seek with the Spanish navy, and the army's casualties in one battle are higher than their entire war! What can you do!"

On June 7, Liu Yiming sent a telegram to McKinley, claiming that Nanhua had completely controlled Manila and Nanhua's battle against Spain was over.

McKinley looked at the war progress announced by Nanhua, and then looked at his own...

"In short, we must be more active and proactive in launching attacks, and we must show results in a short period of time!" Theodore defined this meeting, and the American navy became more active.

A group of naval generals looked at each other. They knew the actions of the Atlantic Fleet and arrived at the Port of Santiago on May 17.

But they were hiding in the port, cooperating with artillery and mines. What kind of active actions could they take? Charge against mines?

"Mr. Samplin, you are the commander of the fleet. In your opinion, do we have any measures to make the outside world think that we are actively fulfilling the sacred mission given by God?" A man with two stars on his shoulders asked Samplin, who had only one star on his shoulder.

"Chervila hid the fleet in the port. In addition to blocking the port and preparing for landing, I don't know a more positive idea..." Samplin shrugged. He had proposed it a long time ago, but it was rejected.

"Then let the Marines go! We need positive news, gentlemen..." Theodore began his speech again.

"If the enemy breaks through, can we keep them?" After Theodore finished speaking, the lieutenant general quickly changed the subject.

"The Spanish fleet is not useless. The main force is a cruiser fleet composed of 20-knot large cruisers. We must ensure that the east coast is not attacked and must keep or expel its fleet." Theodore is also very concerned about this.

The recent naval battle experience is the naval battle experienced by Nanhua. Nanhua happens to be based on large cruisers as the main force, and the configuration is surprisingly similar.

Spain has four patrol ships, three 7,000-ton Princess Theresa-class ships, and one 8,000-ton Garibaldi-class armored ship, the Columbus.

However, the Princess Theresa-class ship has been launched for five years, and the logistics level of the Spanish Navy is only slightly better than that of the Beiyang Navy... The Columbus is even more outrageous. Because of a dispute with the Armstrong Company, the Columbus's original 254mm main gun was not in place, that is, this is a warship without a front main gun.

And the Americans only took a week to figure out this intelligence clearly, and Cervera knew the current situation of this fleet even more clearly. This is destined to be a Don Quixote-style battle, just like the phrase "for the glory of the king"...

"No problem, if the plan is passed, they will not have any chance to escape." Samplin said confidently.

If this fleet roams on the sea, then he has no way to deal with it, and he has to use most of his main force for maritime defense. Now...

"Let's do it. We have spent $300 million on the war so far. If we continue like this, the gentlemen in Congress will have something to say again..." Theodore muttered.

…………

On June 7, after getting the complete battle report and the progress of the battle, Liu Yiming met Cyril in the villa. As for the Spanish representative who was originally preparing to negotiate, he had already slipped away on a British merchant ship overnight.

"Sir, where is the Spanish representative? I still want to talk to him about ending the war." Liu Yiming saw Cyril coming to the appointment alone, with a look of loss on his face.

Cyril was choked. Why don't you know that I am the only one?

"Mr. President, you won. The combat effectiveness of your army is beyond imagination." Cyril held the civilized stick, and his tone did not fluctuate much.

"Thank you for your praise. The South China Army is the foundation for ensuring national defense security." Liu Yiming went with the flow.

"But without a navy, the army can only be divided on various islands, so Nanhua must develop a navy that is sufficient for self-defense. There is no other way." Liu Yiming shrugged.

Cyril seemed to agree with this sentence very much, and kept nodding: "Britain especially hopes that Nanhua will reach a reconciliation with Japan, so that Nanhua will not have to fall into a meaningless arms race."

"Japan frequently sends its navy to our coastal waters and constantly provokes us. What can I do?" Liu Yiming wished he could hold on a little longer.

According to intelligence, in the first half of 1898, Japan had hundreds of rice riots with more than 100 people. The number of newborns could not be counted, but it was visibly decreasing.

This level of confrontation costs tens of millions of yuan every year. Although it is expensive for Nanhua, it is acceptable. For Japan, it is simply an unbearable burden.

"And don't you think Japan is going in the wrong direction? They are not peaceful at home. I prefer that the two sides sign a treaty to reduce the size of the navy. Two battleships are enough to protect national defense security." Liu Yiming knew that the more he said this, the less Britain would allow it.

"Japan is not willing to give up the battleships they purchased at a high price. Unfortunately, the two sides seem to be unable to reach an agreement." Cyril regretted it every day, and this was not the first time.

The reason why Britain brought in the Germans was to contain South China, and the island transaction was also facilitated by the British.

"I would like to ask, what does Britain think about the future of the Far East? After this, we are the only one left in Southeast Asia." Other countries are just strongholds and will not pose much threat.

"What do you think?" Cyril looked at Liu Yiming in surprise. Britain has an idea, but you don't want to listen!

"Britain doesn't have that much energy."

Liu Yiming took out a killer weapon: "My friend in the Qing Dynasty gave me a letter about the Tsar's desire to sign a boundary demarcation treaty and is willing to exchange part of the land in Central Asia for the Tsar's land line to Korea."

Bang! Cyril couldn't control the water cup in his hand for a moment.

Liu Yiming smiled evilly: "As far as I know, the Tsar promised to abolish the Treaty of St. Petersburg signed by both parties in 1881 and exchange 70,000 square kilometers of land for a 400 square kilometer corridor, and agreed to sign a non-aggression treaty between the two sides."

Cyril stared at Liu Yiming: "Mr. Yuan Shikai, you can't talk nonsense about this kind of thing."

Liu Yiming really didn't talk nonsense. The whole situation has completely changed, because the Qing Dynasty retained the last face and expanded the navy, and it is still maintaining its shelf at the moment.

But the little father of the gray animals really didn't want to endure it, and he had a grudge against the Japanese (he was assassinated by the Japanese), so it was understandable that he chose this path.

"What does Nanhua want?" Cyril couldn't judge the correctness of the intelligence.

But Liu Yiming had no reason to lie to him with such things. As long as the treaty was signed, the Tsar would not just watch these lands.

"It's very simple, equal treatment. It is foreseeable that if you want to stop the Tsar, you can only start from the land. Nanhua can reach a reconciliation with Japan and not station main battleships in Ryukyu, but maintaining the current fleet is the most basic requirement, and Japan is not allowed to send main battleships within 50 nautical miles of Ryukyu.

Similarly, Nanhua will build a main navy that is sufficient to protect itself to resist the German interference in Nanhua. Next, the Nanhua Inland Sea will be fully controlled. I hope Britain can understand." Liu Yiming did not ask for too much, and he also pointed out the contradiction between Nanhua and Germany.

This will make it easier for Britain to accept Nanhua's control over the inland sea. After all, to some extent, there is a wide area of ​​high seas in the middle of the Java Sea, which is very unfavorable to Nanhua.

Liu Yiming thought that Cyril would have to think for a while, but he didn't expect Cyril to agree at once: "Your requests are all reasonable, London will support you, but the scope of control should not include merchant ships."

Yes, the route from Britain to Australia passes through here, so what? That is something that future autonomous government officials should consider, not him as an ambassador or foreign minister, unless they ask for help from the prime minister.

The voices of autonomy in Turkey and Australia are getting louder and louder, and Britain is unable to continue to maintain it. Cyril knows all this clearly. These people are all white, and it is not convenient to suppress them bloodily. Maybe this will make him realize the benefits of colonies?

"If there is nothing else, I will leave first. The British Empire will remember your contribution." This is the best attitude of Cyril since Liu Yiming went to war with Spain.

"Of course, please."

After Cyril went out, Xu Hui came down from the second floor.

"Isn't this matter a dead end? Is it really okay to reveal this matter?" Xu Hui looked at Liu Yiming who was laughing secretly.

"Don't worry, the Qing people are unstable, and the dispute between the emperor and the empress is getting more and more intense. They will accept this treaty." What can Liu Yiming say? Can you say that the Tsar's condition is to support the old witch?

Victoria is old, and the British Empire will soon fall into the quagmire of the Anglo-Boer War, and then there will be a comprehensive strategic contraction. In this case, how much energy can be spared is really an unknown.

"Then why only these?" As for Germany, after reading the comprehensive naval strategy, Xu Hui was not worried.

"What can we ask for? There is nothing to ask for. Territory? Britain will not give it, technology? Too cheap, funds? It's better to leave it as it is."

Xu Hui thought about it carefully, and it was really the case. This kind of intelligence that can affect the strategy would be too cheap to sell.

As for Liu Yiming's requirements? Except for the inland sea strategy, the others are what the British are willing to see.

"The next strategy is to hold on to our allies and stand firmly on the side of Britain. We will develop slowly. Our chance is coming!" Liu Yiming stretched himself.

"By the way, the Ministry of Commerce should find a way to do business in Thailand and find out the situation in Thailand, but don't act rashly." Liu Yiming is quite interested in the only virgin land in Southeast Asia.

And this is just preparation. It will not be formally launched for at least ten years. After all, it is an independent country, which is different from a colony.

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