Although William II was not concerned about the tricks of his Russian cousins, he kept hiding them even though he was not concerned about them.

The situation was closely linked. When he received a general mobilization of Serbia, he angrily wrote a comment about "How cunning the Slavs!" After Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia, he was overjoyed and wrote a special book, "The brave Austrians are worthy of being Germanic!" When he was having dinner that day, he received a report from Russia to issue a general mobilization order. Fortunately, he couldn't help but start anger from his heart, regardless of the fact that there were still followers, and cursed: "Damn Nikola, you are you fighting, bastard! You are bastard!"

The showdown day for Germany is about war or harmony. After convening an emergency meeting in the imperial court, William II made a conclusion in the early morning: "In order to fulfill his alliance obligations, the empire is determined to fight at all costs!"

With the issuance of the order of William II, at noon on July 30, the German armed forces were ordered to enter a state of war alert. The German government then issued a Tongdian to the Russian government, demanding that Russia cancel the general mobilization within the time limit. It also sent a note to the French government, asking the French government to ask whether France strictly adheres to neutrality and responds within 18 hours. As the deadline came, neither Russia nor France responded, and the German government immediately announced the general mobilization order. That night, the German government's ambassador to Russia delivered a note to Russia, announcing that Germany and Russia entered a state of war from 7 pm on August 1, 1914. After hearing that Germany ordered a general mobilization, the French government also ordered a general mobilization that day.

The European war is about to begin, and major markets in London, as political vane, are experiencing upside-down changes. In the morning, the stock market fluctuated sharply, and stocks such as luxury goods manufacturing, tourism and hotel industries fell sharply, and stocks such as military industry, steel, and raw materials rose sharply. Subsequently, in the foreign exchange market, all currencies involved in the war fell to varying degrees, and huge amounts of safe-haven funds flocked to precious metals such as gold and the US dollar, and the British pound and other monetary systems temporarily out of the matter. The francs fell sharply, especially bonds based on francs fell sharply, and the gold price soared. The exchange rate of the pound and the US dollar premium was about 10% compared with other European countries. In the futures market, steel rose by 65%, and copper products rose by 55%.

"Continue to close the position of 120 GB, but exchange it for US dollars or silver."

"Why not exchange it for gold?"

"Didn't you see that the market funds are snatching gold? If we spend such a large amount, it will attract attention immediately." Zhang Jiayu's face was calm, "Go quickly, otherwise the price of silver will surge soon..."

Since gold is the currency standard of European countries, the increase is huge. Therefore, the exchange ratio between gold and silver has increased sharply in a short period of time. There is a natural arbitrage space for China's currencies focusing on the silver standard, but the lag reaction time will be very short.

After filling out the delivery form, he looked at the numbers above. He smiled slightly: "It means he has earned another Imperial Guard back." A total of 400 British troops, the more than 70,000 troops of the Imperial Guard, and all the huge equipment, were settled...

Near Shandong, the army has all entered designated locations, and the navy has taken their place.

The basic fleet with the "Four Seas" as the main force cruised the Bohai Bay. The guerrilla fleet formed by four light cruisers ordered from Germany, Beixing, Beining, Beigu and Bei'an, covered the transport fleet and practiced the scene of transporting combat materials from Dagukou to Yantai Port. Although all the boxes were loaded with stones, the navy soldiers participating in the drill were still very serious. They were very serious. During the voyage, all the exercises were in accordance with the combat mode and without any slackness.

In addition to the main ship, a large number of shallow water gunboats and torpedo boats majesticly provide relay relays, barriers the navigation of the ship when it runs.

"As per instructions, the Navy has initially controlled the waters from Liaodong Island in the north and from Lianyungang to the south. According to our understanding, the German Far East Fleet stationed in Qingdao has quietly left the port last night."

"Does Japan know this news?"

"I probably don't know. These turtle grandsons are staring at us all day long, so how can they greet the Germans?"

"Very good, let them stare at it and see what tricks they can do?" Sa Zhenbing looked righteous, "Tell the naval officers and soldiers that all the guns will be in place, and the lightning will be in the tube. If the Japanese act rashly, we will fight."

"I heard that the Japanese main fleet is starting to mobilize secretly. I'm afraid the visitors are not good?" Cheng Biguang did not take the Japanese ships on the Chinese water surface seriously, and stared at the opposite side of the sea.

"When they come out, we will almost retract." Sa Zhenbing and Cheng Biguang smiled knowingly - as part of the ice plan, the reason why the navy exercised vigorously was to cover the implementation of the two sub-plans: the first was the mine plan: a large number of mines were secretly laid in the Bohai Bay area in northeastern Shandong, which were weapons deployed in the mainland of China's territorial waters; the second was the black plan, which used the cover of surface ships 4 submarines imported from Germany quietly sailed away from the Zhoushan Port base and rushed to the target sea area...

At around 1 a.m. in the Far East, the German Ambassador to France declared that Germany and France entered a state of war. After that, hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers from the Second Empire were on standby on the border between Germany and Belgium, waiting for the 12 hours agreed by the ultimatum. The above stipulates that Belgium either gave up the passage and allowed Germany to attack France; or was attacked by Germany first. Time passed, in the direction of Artsas, the German and French soldiers had already handed over the fire, and the German vanguard had also arrived at a position close to the Liege Fortress.

Belgium never dared to resist the Germans. The only thing they could do was to ask for help from the British. According to Great Britain's consistent national policy, no European country would be allowed to control the Low Countries. However, the 12-hour negotiation time became an opportunity for the British to use double-faced methods. The British cabinet first made a gesture to the Belgians, saying that the UK was willing to maintain Belgium's stability and neutrality, and persuaded the Belgians to ignore Germany's ultimatum. On the other hand, the UK refused to publicly issue relevant statements supporting Belgium, but wanted to "persuade" Germany.

After the 12 hours were over, Belgium certainly would not agree to Germany, but Germany was persuaded by Britain - the two countries of Derby were naturally in a state of war. Late at night on the 84th, Great Britain's Foreign Minister Sir Grey announced that "the German Empire government set the British Empire's repeated advice and trampled on international conventions, brazenly attacked the territory of the Belgian Kingdom, and destroyed its permanent neutral status. In order to safeguard the dignity of the treaty and protect the independence and neutral status of the Belgian Kingdom." The British Empire government announced that it had been in a state of war against the German Empire since 23 on 84, 1914" as the grounds that "23 AD will be in a state of war against the German Empire."

Britain's participation in the war revealed the continued expansion of the European war. Not only did the German side, which was not much mentally prepared, but even the London market was in chaos.

At this time, the followers of the Imperial Bank and Bank of China had to admire Zhang Jiayu's vision and foresight. Although the futures market was still rising steadily, the pound had not hesitated to join the depreciation process. The most popular products to preserve value in the market were gold, silver and the US dollar. With the British joining the war, the London government announced a ban on capital outflows, and all precious metals were stopped, and all large-scale foreign exchange exchanges were also stopped - but it was too late! Six hours before the ban was issued, Zhang Jiayu had remitted the last batch of profits earned from the futures market to the island country and completely included it in China's own financial system. In this changing situation, the Imperial government received more than 30 million pounds >: 40% of the income - although the bird's breath of Boxer's indemnity has not been fully discharged, it has been almost recovered.

At noon that day, Foreign Minister Liang Dunyan urgently made an appointment with German Ambassador to China Xin Ci.

"Mr. Ambassador, in view of the sudden changes in the situation in Europe, I am urgently appointing you at the order of the despise government." Liang Dunyan is a veteran diplomat from the British and American system and speaks with a stern look. He is not like Yi Li in the past. Yuan Shikai made a lot of misunderstandings when he controlled the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the other party dared not underestimate him.

"In view of the good relationship between the imperial government and the German government, and also the close friendship between the emperors of the two countries, some things do not need to be publicly explained on the table..." Liang Dunyan explained his views in slow words. "For example, the drills of the sea and land forces of the defence forces of the despised country's defense force in Shandong. Although there were repeated diplomatic inquiries, the government responded to it with diplomatic rhetoric. Now I can tell the ambassador privately that this is by no means targeted at Germany."

"Thank you very much!" Xin Ci had already received the relevant order from the German Emperor, asking him to do everything possible to mobilize China to join the Allied Group. It would be even better if he could delay some of Russia's troops in the Far East - similarly, the German Ambassador to Japan also received such orders.

Unfortunately, before he could say it, Liang Dunyan closed the door: "The government and the emperor of the country deeply regretted the European war, and at the same time firmly guaranteed that the country would abide by the neutrality and would never join any belligerent group to oppose other countries. This mood and position hoped to be understood by your country."

What else can I say? Xin Ci knew that this must be the last reply from China, otherwise there would be no need to give a diplomatic appointment so serious.

"Of course, I have another matter to communicate with your ambassador in private."

"Please say that based on the local information we have, Japan is very likely to express hostility to Germany based on the 'British-Japanese Alliance', and at the same time, it will first aim the war's finger at Qingdao..."

"This..." Xin Ci was speechless. Although he had imagined this possibility, Liang Dunyan said it so conclusively, and it seemed too certain.

"Thank you for your reminder. The despised government and the Japanese government have also had a long friendly exchange. I want to come..."

Liang Dunyan thought to himself that 20 years ago, Germany, France and Russia oppressed Japan and returned Liao, and this hatred was long ago. Now there is such a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation, how can we not be moved? Friendship is originally just one

It's right.

"No matter how the Japanese government makes a statement, the imperial government has only three statements. First, strictly adhere to neutrality and prohibit any participating country from launching attacks on other countries based on Chinese territory and territorial waters; second, comply with the contracts that have been reached, such as the double emperor bonds, and despise the parliament to repay interest on time; third, defend its own territory, and no matter what country violates the imperial sovereignty for any reason, the imperial government will never sit idly by!"

The loud words were published on the Imperial Daily, which attracted a lot of praise and also attracted the attention of the ambitious country...

Domestic in Japan.

After Britain and Germany declared war with each other, the veteran Duke Inoue Shin-kun was very happy and said proudly in his letter to Yama Prefecture Aritomo and Daige: "This great disaster in Europe is a blessing for the development of Japan's national destiny in the Taisho era... The development of the Taisho New Deal will promote Japan in parallel with the European and American powers. The world problem cannot lay the foundation for Japan to be out of the way. Japan should immediately unanimously agree to the whole country, stop political struggles, and reclaim all requirements for the interests of one party and one faction, such as tax reduction and abolish taxes. Consolidate the national financial foundation, unite with Britain, France, and Russia, and establish Japan's rights in the East."

The frustrated Great Britain, accustomed to remote control command, issued a note to Tokyo based on the "British-Japanese Alliance". A note was denounced by Juerdian as a "small and bastard" and asked the Japanese side to participate in the Allies.

Yamamoto Kyotoe, who was then Prime Minister, was a naval faction and an absolute "British and American faction". The outbreak of the European war also made him overjoyed, and even opposed the custom of sending all diplomatic documents to the elders. He held a cabinet meeting and decided to stand on the side of the United Kingdom to participate in the war. If the mainland minister who represented the Changzhou faction had notified Yama Prefecture Akito, the elders would have been kept in the dark. In order to save the situation, on the evening of 9, Masayoshi and Nishimotoji Gongwang attended the cabinet meeting in person to discuss policies toward Germany. Yama Prefecture Akitoe started from the existing feelings of the army and strongly emphasized that Germany was a "friendly country" of Japan's proposal to carefully consider the declaration of war on Germany, but was openly opposed by foreign minister Kato. Both sides were tense and almost fell apart.

Since Nishimotoji Gongmai also represents pro-British and American forces, he actually agrees with Kato Kaming and others' opinions, just for the sake of the "face" of the elders. He pretends to scold the cabinet members for a few empty words of "not knowing the general and disregarding the overall situation". Yamamoto Kobuyuki knew it well and kept allowing Kato Kaming and Yama Prefecture to argue with others, without any intention of compromise. He was so angry that he called Kato Kaming and "he was simply British!"

But the differences between the two factions of Japan are only differences between the targets of invading the aggression. They do not affect their agreement on the expansion of foreign aggression. In order to take care of the interests of the Changzhou faction, and to show the target orientation of the Satsuma faction. In the end, the cabinet and the elders reached an agreement: Japan declared war on Germany, but the target was limited to Qingdao and the German islands in the Pacific. In fact, they did not intervene in the European war situation; Qingdao will cooperate with the army and the navy, and the Pacific islands will be fully responsible for the navy. Of course, the army also received compensation from them. In the absence of 4, the army will expand four standing divisions and regiments.

In such a turbulent situation, Japan finally defeated the minority opposing the declaration of war against Germany. It issued a final communication with Germany on August 17, requiring all German warships and armed ships in Japan and China to completely disarm, and transfer the leased land of Jiaozhou Bay to Japan before September 15, and Japan "transferred" it to China after the war.

After learning about the news, the Imperial Daily issued an emergency statement, pointing out: "...Japan issued an ultimatum yesterday, not so much to maintain East Asia peace, protect China's rights and neutrality, but rather to say that it was the ambition of Japan's wolfish ambition, reflecting Japan's covetous and invading Chinese territory. This cannot but make people feel indignant, nor can we let people rise up to fight!" All newspapers read all over the newspapers, with words such as "protest", "indignation", and demanding that the government firmly resist. The call for rejecting Japan's rude requests accounted for the vast majority. Only a few newspapers made a request to Britain and the United States to resolve the Sino-Japanese dispute. There were even radicals who demanded to join the German-Austrian alliance to jointly break the old order of inequality.

After the imperial government learned that Japan issued an ultimatum to Germany, Liang Dunhiko urgently summoned Japanese ambassador to China, Nichiei, and angrily denounced: "Japan's relevant policies and statements seriously violated the laws of the People's Republic of China and trampled on diplomatic norms. This minister was ordered to raise the strongest protest."

With a disgusting smile on his face, Hibiki read Japan's statement in a script: "...In order to maintain peace in East Asia, safeguard the neutral status of the Chinese government, and at the same time fulfill the international obligations of the British-Japanese alliance, our government has submitted a memorial letter to the independent government, namely Germany, requiring all warships and armed ships in the waters of China and Japan to be disarmed. The rights and interests of the independent country in Jiaozhou Bay of your country will be temporarily entrusted by our government and will be transferred after the war is over."

This is invasion, naked invasion!
Chapter completed!