The Navy Conference was held in the Independence Memorial Hall in Washington. From here, the Independence Memorial looks a bit majestic. After China's founding, some people suggested building a martyr's monument, but this matter was rejected by Yang Rui. The best destination for the martyrs is the Taimiao, where only the incense can be enjoyed forever. The monument outside is not for commemoration to the dead, but for today's people to see; there is nothing shit in China. The day of great righteousness every year is just a day of national sorrow. Our happiness is because of the sacrifice of our ancestors, so we should not only not be happy, but should be sad on this day.

Lieutenant Colonel Chen Honglie, the General Staff Naval Office, looked at the American Independence Monument outside for some reason, and did not pay much attention to what was being said at the meeting. At this time, it was the Italian representative who was speaking. They belonged to the Mediterranean with France. Although the navies of both countries did not have much strength, the Italian representative still demanded the same tonnage as France.

After the Italians finished speaking, the French were dissatisfied. After all, France was also a world-class "powerful country". How could Italy be on par with itself? However, when the French representative spoke, he not only looked at Hughes, the Chief Representative of the US delegation, and Lord Arthur Belfer, the Foreign Minister of the UK delegation, for fear that his words would anger their free and proud France had become like a ** who could only observe his words after losing his ally.

"Does the Japanese delegation have any opinions?" U.S. Secretary of State Hughes, who presided over the meeting, asked kindly. France and Italy are not important. Britain had already stated to itself that they would stand on the US position, and the key was Japan and China.

"In line with the principle of peace, I accept the view before the meeting that the tonnage of the main battleship of the Japanese Navy is 60% of that of the United States or Britain..." Before the chief representative of the Japanese delegation and the Minister of Navy Tomosaburo Kato had warm applause from the British and American representatives present. However, Lord Belford of the British delegation had a bad premonition.

Sure enough, it was when it was the turn of the Chinese delegation Yang Du to speak, the situation changed.

"This meeting has no benefit to our navy. We will not only give us any gains, but we will dismantle nearly 100 submarines. Then, our Prime Minister can only agree to this in order to seek eternal peace in Asia..."

The applause rang again, especially the Americans, from Secretary of State Hughes to the clerk at the bottom, were all happy. Yang Du said without caring applause: "But our country has two conditions for this. First, our shipbuilding industry is weak and the quality of warships is low, so these warships must be demolished and rebuilt within 15 years; second, when our country hopes to rebuild these main ships, it has the right to change the type of ship according to needs, that is, aircraft carriers can be changed into battleships, and vice versa, but the total tonnage will not exceed 230,000 tons, and a single ship tonnage will not exceed 35,000 tons of battleships, and an aircraft carrier will have a meeting limit of 27,000 tons."

After Yang Du said that, he sat down. After a while, Theodore Roosevelt, the assistant to the Admiralty Department in the US delegation, stood up and asked, "May I ask, is it a plane carrier converted into a battleship or a battleship converted into an aircraft carrier?"

"I don't know yet." Yang Du laughed, "This can only be based on the actual needs of our country. In fact, I am not afraid of everyone's jokes. I don't know how to build battleships..."

"Haha..." The Chinese told the truth, which made the delegates laugh. Anyone would build the armor of the battleship if they spend money to buy patents from Krupp. They would do it; not to mention the hull, the steam turbine only needs to buy patents or original equipment, and it would be possible in the end; but it is not so easy to build the main gun. Although China has a 10,000-ton hydraulic press, the art of making the gun cannot be built without gold, and even if it is built, it will fall behind various countries. Because the technology has been updated long ago.

Now the Chinese navy has more tonnage than France and Italy, but his battleships are captured rather than built by themselves. He can only build aircraft carriers without armor and main guns. It can be said that their naval strength is the weakest.

Yang Du did not blush at everyone's laughter. Instead, he spread his hands and said with a smile: "Actually, I think there is no need for my country to participate in this conference. With the strength of my country's navy, a country that can't even build a main gun for battleships will not pose any threat to anyone. However, all countries value it, we must participate. If the navy's tonnage is not enough, we can't never build a battleship, right?"

While everyone laughed, Theodore Roosevelt, although he had a smile, did not look down on China. He said: "So, your country will turn all those aircraft carriers into battleships when rebuilding?"

"This is not necessarily the case." Yang Du shook his head, "If you can build a battleship, it is naturally good. It is larger main gun and thicker armor. But if you still cannot meet the standards of various countries, don't imitate it. It is not good to still be an aircraft carrier. In fact, the reason why our country wants to maintain such a navy is just to protect the safety of overseas Chinese." Speaking of this, Yang Du bowed to the east and said again: "His Majesty Min is kind to the people, knowing that overseas people are hard to survive, and they are not safe, so they specially ordered the navy to build an aircraft carrier. This kind of ship is fast and has planes, so it is not okay to fight wars, and it is the most suitable to save people. Our navy is serious about it, just the overseas Chinese rescue guards are not a real navy at all."

The jokes I lied to the Japanese yesterday now have a different flavor. There are overseas expatriates in all countries. An important task of the navies in various countries is to rescue the expatriates. Some representatives couldn't help but applaud when they saw Yang Du's seriousness in cheating. Yang Du would not be deceived by himself. He said again: "My shipbuilding technology is backward. Other warships can last for twenty years. My country probably can only last for ten or fifteen years. This is the reason for reconstruction. My country wants to build battleships, but if it cannot be built or it is inappropriate, it is better to continue to build aircraft carriers, because the navy was originally designed to protect overseas expatriates."

After Yang Du's performance ended, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. could not help but shake his head. Although the current aircraft carrier is weak, according to the predictions of some generals in the navy, it will eventually replace the battleships and become the overlord of the ocean. However, this is only a few generals' statement. Judging from the bombing tests conducted by the US Navy with seized and allocated German ships, the advantages of the aircraft carrier are not specifically reflected. The Chinese Navy now looks the weakest, but if the aircraft carrier can really replace the battleship, it will be the strongest. Perhaps some adjustments should be made accordingly on the terms of aircraft carriers of various countries.

After the question of Theodore Roosevelt Jr., after a slight upset, the chief representative of the US delegation and Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes coughed twice and asked: "So, does your country agree and promise to not sign an alliance treaty with any country, or become an ally in practice, thus threatening the security of the Pacific region?"

After the British surrendered, the ultimate goal of the Americans to hold this meeting was to break up the Sino-Japanese alliance. Whether in terms of geopolitical security or economic market, the United States did not allow a sea and land power to be born on the other side of the Pacific; even as long as China does not join forces with the Japanese, the United States can agree that its naval tonnage exceeds Japan and give it the main gun technology of the second-level battleship. It can be said that this time, he found so many high-level extras and made so many suggestions, and just waited for the Chinese to say that China and Japan would never form an alliance.

The entire venue calmed down. The foreigners looked at Yang Du with bright eyes. In their expectation, Yang Du smiled and said, "Mr. Hughes, you cannot interfere with our power to make friends."

"Oh..." The foreign devils' faces changed drastically, but Yang Du continued: "My navy is very weak, with only two battleships. The aircraft carrier can only rescue overseas Chinese and reconnaissance the enemy's situation. Nothing else can be done. A navy as weak as ours must make friends in order to protect itself."

After Yang Du finished speaking, the venue was in chaos. Mr. Hughes hit the table to calm the venue. He said with dissatisfaction: "What I must remind you is that the world war that just ended was caused by alliances. If your country and the Japanese form an alliance, it will inevitably cause another world war!"

"No! No! What I want to correct your Excellency is that the world war that just ended was caused by the struggle for world hegemony and overseas colonies, and alliance was just a form. Our alliance with friendly countries is not for overseas interests and world hegemony, but for self-protection. Do you believe that a country that cannot even build a main gun of a battleship will compete for world hegemony?" Yang Du asked back.

"This is possible after an alliance," Hughes stressed. "The United States is completely opposed to an alliance that will cause another world war in the Pacific. I can guarantee that if it appears, for the sake of permanent peace in the Pacific, the United States will break it up in any way before it provokes the world war!"

"I think Mr. Hughes is talking about the alliance between China and Japan." Yang Du said bluntly, "What I am very curious is that according to the agreement of the previous meeting, China only accounts for 30% of your naval main ships, while Japan only accounts for 60%, which is only 90% of your total. Among them, China has only two battleships that are outdated or about to be outdated. Such a force can also be called provoking a world war? I would like to ask Mr. Hughes, the tonnage of the main ships of both sides is 9 to 10, why wasn't the war initiated by your country?"

"Because America loves peace," Hughes said. "We cannot tolerate any threats in peace?"

"We think so too, Mr. Hughes." Yang Du fought back before the Americans finished speaking. "Nine to ten is a threat, and your country cannot tolerate it. So when we face a huge gap of ten to six and ten to three, this threat should be tolerated? Is it true that in Mr. Hughes's view, only when your country has an absolute advantage and only holds the gun in your country's hands, the Pacific can be peaceful?"

In the debate, Hughes was no match for a strategist like Yang Du. He was already confused by Yang Du. He did not mention that the US Navy belonged to the two oceans. According to the current arrangement, if China and Japan form an alliance, the Pacific's strength comparison is five to nine, rather than ten to nine. When facing Yang Du's machine gun-like questioning, he naturally said: "Of course, because America is God's elector. Since it is God's elector, he should have absolute advantages at any time so that the Pacific can be peaceful."

"Mr. Hughes, this is serious discrimination! This is easily extended to the conclusion that only Christians can live, and pagans, and even Catholics should die. But faith is free. I strongly condemn you for this discrimination. For the next time, I will withdraw from today's meeting to protest..."

Before Yang Du finished speaking, the venue was really in chaos. The United States has always regarded itself as a elect of God. The saying of the divine destiny has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. They are rejected by pagans, even Catholics. Yang Du extended it and brought Catholic France and Italy in, but his most outstanding thing was to immediately withdraw from the meeting to protest and not explain Hughes at all.

Yang Du and his men stood up and left the venue. Arthur Belford, the chief delegation of the British delegation, pretending to be a peacemaker, was about to dissuade him, but the Japanese also left under the leadership of Tomosaburo Kato. From this point of view, today's meeting was considered a failure. Lord Betty, who was standing on the side, said in a disgusting manner: "Things have been ruined!"

"No, it's not that bad!" Belfort shook his head, "we can also put pressure from Japan, or from China."

The Lord said so confidently, but in fact he had no confidence in persuading China and Japan. Although China and Japan were also participants in the war, they not only did not lose much in the war, but also made a lot of money and had new colonies.

Today, the Chinese market that countries withdrew from is being occupied by the Japanese. With the strength of the Chinese government to develop the economy, it will eventually become a supermarket like the United States. Japan does not need an external market. One Chinese market is enough for all factories in other countries to operate at full capacity. China's wartime super profits have turned it into a large construction site. Agriculture and industry are developing rapidly, and it can completely implement isolationism like the United States used to.

Representatives of China and Japan withdrew to protest, and the meeting naturally ended here. Secretary of State Hughes, who just claimed that "the United States is a elected person of God", did not feel that he had said anything wrong at all. He said to Belford in disappointment: "A yellow-skinned monkey who does not understand civilization!"

"Charles, you're too anxious." Seeing that representatives from other countries had withdrawn, Belfort couldn't help but blame him.

"No, it's because the pagans are too rampant. They thought that uniting together could threaten America, which was impossible! The world can only be controlled by white people. Once a yellow-skinned monkey is threatened, it will be suppressed. At most, they will become our slaves. That's all!" Hughes felt that he was tolerant enough just now. He still felt disgusted when he remembered the aggressive appearance of the Chinese people just now.

"But this means a war." Balfour thought about the final failure of the Navy Conference, and recalled the specific terms of the British-Japan and British-China Alliance Treaty. He hoped that China and Japan would fight immediately, while Britain would use the loopholes in the treaty to strictly maintain neutrality and clean up the mess after the war; but he was worried that the war would not begin immediately, so Britain had to start an arms race with the United States, Japan and China. This was something that Britain could not support after the war, and that it would lose world hegemony if it could not be supported. This was something that any British citizen could not accept.

"If the Sino-Japanese alliance is not broken up, war will happen sooner or later," Hughes replied. "The United States will never tolerate the Pacific's fertility of a huge threat, which is even more terrible than the Germans!"

"War is sin," said Belfort. "For world peace, I am willing to dissuade them again from sliding into war."

"Then I'll wait for the good news from Lord." Hughes said happily. He put on his top hat. He knew very well that Britain was vulnerable at this time. In order to maintain part of the hegemony, they were willing to sacrifice anything, as long as it was not theirs.

When Yang Du left the venue, he saw that the Japanese also left the venue. He was satisfied and waited halfway. When the Japanese delegation's car drove closer, he asked the driver to follow the Japanese back to the Shorem Hotel again. Unlike yesterday's excitement, everyone looked solemn today.

"How many battleships do the Americans have?" Yang Du asked Chen Honglie.

Unexpectedly, before Chen Honglie answered, Kato Tomosaburo said, "There are eighteen ships, and we, including the capture, have eleven ships in Japan and two of your country."

"Is this a super dreadnought?" Yang Du was stunned when he heard that the numbers were so different from what he guessed.

"Yes, the drainage is more than 20,000 tons. The main gun caliber is more than 305mm." Tomosaburo Kato is actually the chief of staff of Hirahachiro Togo and is very clear about the power of the navies of various countries. "There are forty-five ships in the UK."

"The UK doesn't have to consider it." Yang Du said, "his best strategy is to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight."

"That was when we were about to go to war with the United States soon. If the United States asked him to join the war, he might not have watched." Kato Tomosaburo said.

"Then the British Empire is waiting to disintegrate." Yang Du sneered. During the World War, the British and Indian troops sent overseas had 1.4 million [Note 118], and nearly 200,000 were killed or injured, which consumed countless wealth. The local national elites had long been dissatisfied with this, and the theory of autonomy had evolved into the theory of independence. Other British autonomous lords also tended to be centrifugal because of being armed. If there was another world war, Britain would definitely not be able to bear it.

"Where is Chilu?" Yesterday, Yang Du threatened Red and Russia to explain the importance of compromise to the United States. Now Tomosaburo Kato uses his son's shield to attack his son's spear. His exit today is due to the situation that he cannot tolerate discrimination against yellow people. Although this is a fact, when protesting, the Japanese must not compromise.

"The factional battles within the Red Russia caused the Polish battle to fail. After several years of war and civil war, although his current army is large, he has no combat power at all. It is said that they are just like us, and they must vigorously develop their economy." Yang Du said. "He is not a threat within three to five years. What we are really worried about is the United States. Mr. Kato, can we win?"

"The United States is harder to fight than Lucia." Kato Tomosaro said in everyone's eyes. "But if the war starts now, I believe we will definitely not lose. However, there are thirteen super-dreadnoughts in the US dock, and we..., Japan only has eight..."

"We..." Yang Du saw the Japanese looking at him. He knew what he meant. He didn't know what was in the Jiangnan Shipyard and the Nanjing Shipyard dock, so he had to look at Chen Honglie.

"We did not build battleships." Chen Honglie said as soon as he spoke, he disappointed those who looked at him. "There are two aircraft carriers that have just been laid with keels in Nanjing Shipyard, and there are two 10,000-ton cruisers in Shanghai."

"Do your country really think aircraft carriers can replace battleships?" Kitisho Kishiro, who is not very familiar with the navy.

"It cannot be replaced now, this is just a trend." Chen Honglie knew that the real killer weapon of aircraft carriers was the rare dive bomber that appeared in combat. Although the British found that the s.e.5a could be used for dive bombing, because the air force's strength was insufficient, the top leaders of the Air Force believed that this would not be worth the loss. The repeated improvements of the Fresh Army's ghost bomber in the war were now the ghost 5. The engine has a power of 400 horsepower and can carry a maximum of 20 kilograms of bombs, but this is almost no threat to the battleships.

As for torpedo bombers, the problem of high-altitude and high-speed water entry into the water has not been completely solved, so as long as the battleships have relatively dense air defense firepower, they will be difficult to pose a fatal threat to them. What the torpedo bombers can do is a surprise attack. However, according to the optimistic estimate of the General Administration of Naval Equipment, aircraft carriers can gain the advantage over battleships in at least five years, and battleships can be completely eliminated in ten years. If a war occurs now, the role of aircraft carriers can only wash the decks for battleships in addition to reconnaissance.

Chen Honglie's trend words made everyone even more disappointed. China's real contribution to the Sino-Japanese Joint Fleet was only two battleships, and one of them was captured by Japan.

"Maybe it's still good to start the war now, and all the battleships under construction in the United States have been launched. As a result..." Kittoriki Toyhara said deflated.

"Hmph! I would rather the entire navy be broken than bow to the United States!" Kato Kiyoji, who had been holding back his anger, said. "The Americans are very clear about their ideas. Only when they have the advantages in his hands will they stop, even if we are only 90% of their fleet."

"The navy is the last line of defense in the empire. How can one say that the jade is broken? " Kato Tomosaburo scolded him after hearing the voice. He turned to Yang Du and said, "Mr. Xizi, I'd better ask me to report to Tokyo first before discussing with you."

"Okay." Yang Du had no objection to the Japanese's reaction. He reminded: "Don't forget. The diplomatic code has been deciphered, so be very, very careful."

"I understand!" Kato Tomosaburo said gratefully. Although there was nothing to prove that his password was deciphered by the Americans, he believed it without doubt.

Leaving the hotel where the Japanese stayed, Yang Du took Chen Honglie back to the hotel and reunited with Liu Guanxiong. Thinking of the current situation on the way, he looked at Chen Honglie uneasy and asked, "Chengzhang, you are familiar with the navy. Do you think that if the Americans really start a war, can we win?"

"Mr. Xizi, it depends on when to fight?" Chen Honglie was also thinking about this question repeatedly.

"Is this related to time?" Yang Du didn't understand military affairs.

"It's related, Mr. Xizi." Chen Honglie said, "If the war starts in five years, we will win. If it is next two years, it will be unpredictable."

"Oh!" Yang Du didn't expect there was such a joint. He said wonderingly, "Is this the most important thing for us to delay time?"

Chen Honglie said: "Yes, at least this is what we see from a tactical perspective. The further time goes by, the greater the power of the aircraft engine and the greater the bombs mounted. Five years later, the aircraft carrier will have a certain advantage over the battleships. Now we need time." (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!