Fifty-Eight Counterattack

Looking back at Arcador, Colonel Smith stepped back two steps, came to Arcador, and sighed: "This time the Wehrmacht has really gone too far, the British intelligence has always been able to find that you violated the Treaty of Versailles. There are traces of privately developing armed forces, and this time France seems to have discovered more, your development has made our two countries very uneasy."

"Then what do you think personally?" Accardo asked, staring at Colonel Smith. "Do you also think that the German army is a threat, even though it has been completely destroyed by the Treaty of Versailles? Do you think a hundred thousand Wehrmacht can be Fully qualified for Germany's two-line defense? Don't forget, Mr. Smith, that on our eastern neighbor there is a communist state just born."

"That's why we have been turning a blind eye to the small actions of the German Wehrmacht, do you really think you are hiding everyone?" Smith shrugged and made an indifferent gesture: "You must know that our country's intelligence officers and French intelligence. Everyone knows that you have a "Pluto Project", this plan is to secretly expand the size of the Wehrmacht, so that it can respond to the French army and the threat of the Polish army. And the size of the Wehrmacht is almost no less than 200,000, but we still do everything. did not see it."

"We just want to protect ourselves! Is such a request too much?" Arkado said angrily. No matter which world it is in, it is very difficult for a country to seek dignity from the outside world. If the war is won, then it will naturally have dignity. If the war is lost, the fate of Germany and China is the same, that is, humiliation.

"It's too much." Smith took the conversation proudly: "You must know that you are a defeated country, and your life and death are in our hands. You can only protect yourself when we allow you to protect yourself! Understand! Is it?"

Akado was silent, this is the power of a victorious country, this is the arrogance and domineering that a country that has won the victory should have. As a human being, Akado was born on the weak side twice. This kind of humiliation is unforgettable. This time, Akado can feel the mood of those notorious Manchu officials when they signed various contracts-every If they still have a little self-respect, the taste will be heart-wrenching.

However, he was not allowed to shrink back or stand there feeling sentimental, so he raised his head again, continued to stare at Colonel Smith, and asked word by word: "You? The word 'we' you said contains Many countries, like France! Are the British Empire and France always one?"

"Of course, we're always with strong allies. Oh, maybe that's inaccurate, so to speak—we're always with justice and truth!" Colonel Smith shook his index finger. said.

"When France may dominate the whole of Europe, reproduce the glory of Emperor Napoleon, and threaten the hegemony of Britain in the world, I hope you will still say so." Accardo said as he turned and walked down the steps: "Germany This time I was defeated by the French, and I only lost one Arcade Rudolph, but after the French dominated the mainland, it was His Majesty George V who fell."

"Wait!" Smith stretched out his hand to hold him back, and said loudly, "Please wait a moment."

Akado stopped, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

...

In the Netherlands, the royal palace, the office door of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was knocked, and then several royal ministers and parliament officials walked in together.

"Her Majesty, this time the French condemnation has been studied and we have decided to ignore it.

"A parliamentary official stepped forward and said: "This move is a decision made to safeguard the fundamental rights and interests of the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I hope you can support it." "

"I've said long ago that the French are a bunch of guys who don't know how to be satisfied." Queen Wilhelmina put down the pen in her hand, looked at her subjects, and said slowly: "They once asked me to hand over His Majesty Emperor Wilhelm, I Refused."

She stood up, walked in front of the ministers, and said firmly: "Then now they ask me to hand over the technology and assets owned by our people, and I will certainly refuse. Long live the Kingdom of the Netherlands."

"Your wisdom shines in the stars! Long live the Kingdom of the Netherlands." All the ministers and officials bowed their heads and said respectfully.

A few hours later, the Dutch government issued a brief statement: "The great Kingdom of the Netherlands has decided not to interfere in the technical cooperation between any company or individual in the country and a German enterprise, nor will it interfere with any company or individual in establishing a joint venture with Germany to serve the Dutch people. The unreasonable demands made by the French government against the Kingdom of the Netherlands will be completely ignored by the Dutch government, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands is disappointed and regretful at the arrogance and self-righteousness of the French government."

Krupp's strategy was successful. When he initially established the IVS company in The Hague (the famous shipbuilding engineering office), he sold 49% of the company's 49% shares to Dutch businessmen, including Clark. The big Dutch capitalists, including the French, are now coming here to destroy the company and take away the company's technology and workers. Of course, they are hated by these Dutch businessmen who have long received benefits and made a lot of money.

Taking money from someone is like killing one's parents. This is a mortal feud. The Dutch business group did not disappoint the Germans. They launched a frantic counterattack against the French without waiting for the news in Germany. First, they were condemned by international public opinion. French arrogance and dominance, followed by a series of economic threats, brought a momentary dismay to a French government that thought it was well-prepared and was planning how to carve up the fruits of victory.

...

At this moment in Berlin, Germany, in front of the British embassy, ​​Akado and Smith are still standing on the steps one after another. stare at each other.

"You are right! General Arcador Rudolph, a European continent dominated by France is not in the interests of the British Empire. I am convinced by you." Smith finally broke the silence, nodded and said, "I will generate electricity. Report back to the UK and inquire about the handling of this incident."

"It's not too late, I think I know the answer now, so that I can let go of the French who want to dominate Europe." Accardo said: "Do you mind if I go in and sit?"

"Of course! At least you are still my distinguished guest of Smith, please come with me! I have prepared a very delicious coffee for you." Smith made a gesture of please and said.

Half an hour later, Arcardo was still drinking the coffee that Colonel Smith had grinded and boiled comfortably in the room. Smith was called out of the reception room by the secretary and received the top-secret telegram sent from the British mainland - it was not a password without translation. Originals, but fluent English sentences.

Smith opened the telegram folder, which read: "Colonel Smith, the British Empire is unwilling to face a France that has lost its shackles, and is even less willing to see a powerful France dominate the European continent, and a Germany with a certain strength is in line with The fundamental interests of the British Empire, the attitude of the Dutch government has been clear, the French should not succeed, we always stand on the side of the winner, so this time the Empire decided to support the German side. God bless the British Empire and His Majesty George V Long live."

After closing the file, Smith handed the folder to his female secretary: "Destroy it immediately! Burn it yourself!"

Seeing the female secretary nodding and walking away in the corridor, he put on a smile and reopened the door of the reception room, and said in a very kind and friendly voice to Akado who was drinking coffee on the opposite side, "Would you like to come again? A cup? It's a very nice day, isn't it?"

Arcador put down his coffee cup, nodded and said, "It doesn't look like you were ordered to shoot me. Right?"

Smith nodded and said with a smile: "The French won't get the support of the British Empire this time! They don't have enough evidence at hand, at least that's what the intelligence we got in the UK shows. So this time your Wehrmacht is surprised. Danger... Well, now it's the turn of the Germans to be friendly to us, General Arcador Rudolph, England has helped Germany this time, what is Germany going to do to England?"

"The German Navy originally planned to build 5 ironclads, and now 3 are under construction, while the other two 'Prussia' and 'Admiral Ludwig' we will cancel the construction to prove that we have no intention to challenge the British Empire Sea power in the Atlantic Ocean." Arcador took out the document from Syndra and handed it to Smith: "Germany will not launch naval ships above heavy cruisers for three years, what about this proposal?"

"Your generosity is beyond my expectations! General Arcador, I really hope that you will continue to be in power in Germany, so that the British Empire and Germany will become very friendly partners." Smith obviously did not expect Arcado. The son came up with such an attractive offer, and immediately said with a smile.

"Of course, this is not all quid pro quo. This condition also includes that the maximum artillery caliber of the German Navy destroyer will not be greater than 88 mm - in this way, the German Navy will become a regional force, rather than an ocean-going decisive force." Akado laughed He added: "So Germany is no longer a challenger to British sea power, but a supporter of British sea power to protect its own rights and interests."

"Supporter! I like this word very much! Since the National Defense Forces have prepared such an attractive bargaining chip, let's talk about your conditions." Smith's eyes lit up, looking at Arkado and said. This condition could not help but make him unexcited, because if the German navy succumbed, then Britain could save more power to deal with the rising Japanese navy in the Far East and the US navy that was eyeing the ocean.