Three Hundred and Twenty-One Benefit Exchange

London, England.

Churchill stared at the documents in front of him frowningly, finally sighed and shook his head. This is the third time he has submitted a plan for the navy to go to war. The first time it was rejected was that the navy go to sea to attack the German naval base and wipe out the German naval fleet. The second time the content was rejected was that the naval fleet sailed into the English Channel to support the army in Belgium. And the third attack plan, which is the plan this time, is to dispatch the navy to protect Norway and Denmark.

The reason why British Prime Minister Chamberlain rejected Churchill's plan is actually not complicated, because Churchill himself cannot guarantee the success rate of these plans. But Churchill was more worried that Norway, which had lost the blessing of the British navy, would be completely conquered by the German army, and such a consequence was something the entire British Empire did not want to see.

Because the iron ore rich in Norway can supply Germany to expand production, these resources are enough for Germany to produce tens of thousands of tanks and cannons, and it can also allow Germany to produce dozens or even hundreds of warships, and these weapons of war are enough Let the German army be armed to the teeth.

Therefore, the United Kingdom has always had a plan to block the Norwegian sea route and choke the throat of Germany's war resources. However, with the defeat off the coast of the Netherlands and the heavy losses in Scapa Flow, this plan was finally aborted.

Now that Britain has lost the power to block Norway, it also gives Germany a chance to plan to occupy Norway. This opportunity was not deliberately left to Germany by the British, but was won by the German Navy with its own courage.

"Our spies have detected that the High Seas Fleet of the German Navy left Wilhelm Naval Harbor two days ago, and now our navy still dare not take any action. No matter where this fleet will eventually attack, we have no way Counterattack for a while." Churchill was silent for a long time, and finally said: "How do we deal with the Norwegian crisis? If Norway is occupied by Germany, our iron ore imports will be reduced, and Germany's ability to resist the blockade will be stronger .”

"What can I do? Huh? Our fleet lacks the necessary air defense cover. If we attack rashly and lose some ships, what do you have to defend the mainland of our British Empire?" It's not small, but it's far from the point where we dare not fight, but our losses are too dense, which makes it impossible for me and His Majesty the King to make up our minds for a decisive battle."

"Norway, we can't give up!" Churchill even said with a hint of tears: "Once we give up Norway, the German navy will have countless more outlets. Even if our navy regains the initiative, there is no way to take it back The German navy is dead in the North Sea!"

Chamberlain sighed and said: "The assassination plan failed! We lost three of our best agents. It can be said that God is not on our side! We almost killed that criminal bastard."

Churchill thought for a while,

In the end, he finally said what he was holding back in his heart: "Mr. Prime Minister! We pinned our hope of ending the war on those assassinations. It was an act of opportunism! We should dispatch troops to fight back, rather than relying on some tricks to exchange for peace."

"Do you think I'm compromising appeasement? I'm protecting you, an elite of the war faction!" Chamberlain slapped the table and shouted angrily: "If the navy fails again, I will fight for the position of prime minister, and I won't be able to keep you." Lord of the Admiralty!"

Churchill looked at Chamberlain, as if he knew this peacemaker prime minister for the first time. He knew that Chamberlain had been working hard towards peace in Europe, but he didn't know that this weak-looking old man could actually say such words.

At this time, Churchill realized that it was Chamberlain, the prime minister whom he had been secretly looking down on, who was protecting him from the wind and rain. Only then did he know why he was still able to sit firmly as the Secretary of the Navy after the Battle of the Dutch Offshore and the Battle of Scapa Flow. this position.

"Why...why?" Churchill looked at Chamberlain and asked with difficulty. You must know that admitting your mistakes is a very difficult thing, and it is even more difficult to admit your mistakes in front of the person concerned. Knowing that he asked this sentence, Churchill expressed his consistent views on Chamberlain in a disguised form, but his self-esteem made him have to ask.

"When you sit in my position one day, you will understand! The Prime Minister is not like the Secretary of the Navy. You only need to think about how to win the war." Chamberlain said with a self-deprecating smile: "And a qualified The Prime Minister, he not only has to consider winning the war, he also has to consider avoiding the war, losing the war and so on. I went to fight for peace because I don’t want to see war. I keep the main fighters like you, yes Because I'm not sure when the war will end."

He stood up and looked out of the window, his tone full of lonely emotion: "It seems that the war is unlikely to end in a short time. So I think that even if Britain can live without people like me, it shouldn't lose people like you." people."

"However, Mr. Prime Minister! We still cannot sit idly by and ignore the German army's invasion of Norway! We should at least express our fundamental position against Germany's domination of Europe." Churchill glanced at Chamberlain, and said his thoughts truthfully: "The navy must attack , Norway's victory or defeat is irrelevant, but to show the world our determination to fight back against Germany!"

"I'm going to transfer you to the naval logistics department. Then transfer a scapegoat to carry out your third plan." Chamberlain pointed to the document on the table and said, "Churchill, I absolutely cannot agree with your plan to send a fleet of battleships." Plan, all I can do is to allow the Navy to send a small number of destroyers into the Norwegian sea.”

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to stop Churchill from speaking, and continued: "These destroyers are given to the German Navy to eat, and losses are inevitable. The difference is only how much trouble the German Navy can cause when these warships are lost. "

"How can..." Churchill almost started, he was already shocked by Chamberlain's plan.

"Listen to what I have to say." Chamberlain waved his hand and said, "In this way, the scapegoat who replaced you will have to take the blame and resign. And I will also be affected. These are all within my expectations."

He smiled, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and looked at the sky outside: "Then I will propose to agree to the "Lease Act" of the United States, and borrow 50 destroyers from the United States by replacing military bases to make up for it. Our losses in Norwegian waters."

"What I did was to use a few broken ships to exchange for the most advantageous situation for you, the main combat faction." Chamberlain smiled wryly a few times, then looked back at Churchill: "Don't rush to thank me, In doing this, my selfishness is greater than the public good. I, like all of you, have no way of predicting our results in this battle. So I dare not take the risk of continuing to be the prime minister. I am afraid of becoming the first person in British history who needs to face defeat and humiliation prime minister."

"I left a mess to you." Chamberlain shook his head, and then asked, "Now I want to ask you, as the main combat faction, do you dare to accept the one I threw to you?" A hot potato?"

They are all old politicians who have spent half their lives in high positions. Of course, Churchill would not be fooled by Chamberlain's few words to the point of crying and confessing his heart. After careful consideration in his mind, he knew that Chamberlain actually had other plans.

"I'm afraid there is another meaning in it? At this time, use a not-so-big reason to send yourself out of the power center. If the situation gets out of hand in the future, you will become the far-sighted savior of Britain, and your reputation will be higher and more stable than it is now! "Churchill looked at Chamberlain and said.

"I don't deny this. This is my answer to the current situation. If you have any higher means, you can use it." Chamberlain nodded triumphantly and acknowledged Churchill's speculation: "It depends on whether you dare to accept it." Recruited."

"Two birds with one stone! The old politician is indeed an old politician! I really admire you a bit now!" Churchill nodded and said, "What if we win? Then you are saying that you made me a wedding dress ?”

"That's because you are really capable, so I have nothing to say." Chamberlain spread his hands and said, "At that time, no matter what I say, I will open up a good situation for you, and I will be regarded as one of the heroes. Just stay at home for the elderly. Who It makes me more pessimistic now, thinking that it will be more difficult for the UK to win this time."

"Okay! I will do as you say! But if we accept the Lend-Lease Act of the United States this time, whether we win or lose, we, the United Kingdom, will lose our current status." Churchill said helplessly: "Although this is what we can now It is the best result to strive for, but it also means that the U.S. plan to take advantage of the fire has succeeded again."

"Now we have to suffer this boring loss! After all, we can't fight against the German invasion alone now." Chamberlain's plan succeeded, and he relaxed a lot, and said: "The German army has already reached the vicinity of Amiens, and Sir Gott has launched an attack. Several telegrams came, urging us to reinforce. The last batch of reinforcements is already on standby. Counting these soldiers, we have already invested a full 390,000 troops in Europe, which is all we can afford.”

"I will draw up a battle plan when I get back, and the navy will be ready to sail." Churchill stood up helplessly and said.

On the second day, Minister of the Navy Churchill was transferred to the Naval Logistics Department. The newly appointed Minister of the Navy proposed a new combat plan. Chamberlain agreed to the attack plan. In the afternoon, six naval destroyers left the port and headed for the Norwegian waters.