One man's resistance against Japan, I mobilized a million people to aid Shanghai.

London, Bald Eagle Embassy.

David stood by the office window, gazing at the gloomy London sky, holding a detailed report on the fall of Old Singapore in his hand.

His mood was heavier than the sky.

As a seasoned diplomat, he was all too aware of the significance of Singapore to Britain, and indeed to the West, in its Far East strategy.

Its fall was not merely the loss of a city, but the end of an era, a symbolic event marking the collapse of the authority of European colonial empires in Asia.

What worries him even more is that this shockwave will inevitably hit Washington.

However, with Washington currently striving to convert its enormous industrial potential into actual combat power, it is not the best time to launch an attack.

David felt that he was now in the eye of a storm, and could be subjected to diplomatic repercussions at any moment.

Sure enough, before he could come up with a solution, the phone rang shrilly.

It was the Prime Minister's private secretary at 10 Downing Street calling; his voice was as cold as ice.

"Ambassador David, the Prime Minister requests your immediate presence as there is an extremely urgent matter that requires in-person communication."

The word "hope" was used, but the tone was an unquestionable command.

David straightened his tie and took a deep breath.

What's meant to come will come.

The atmosphere in the Prime Minister's study at 10 Downing Street was even more oppressive than David had anticipated.

The flickering firelight from the fireplace could not dispel the raging fire that filled the air.

Chamberlain sat in the armchair in front of the fireplace, looking as if he had aged several years, but his eyes, fixed on David, burned with an almost obsessive light.

Foreign Minister Halifax, the First Secretary of the Navy, and several others were also present, all with solemn expressions.

There were no small talk, no formalities.

Chamberlain didn't even invite David to sit down.

"Mr. Ambassador,"

Chamberlain got straight to the point, his voice hoarse.

"I think you already know what happened."

"Old Singapore is gone."

"Our strongest Royal Far East Fleet is gone."

"Eighty thousand loyal soldiers, either died in battle or... disappeared without a trace."

"And all of this happened after your president solemnly declared a state of war and pledged to fight alongside us!"

David felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the other party had turned their anger and anger directly towards the bald eagle.

He bowed slightly and spoke in the most apologetic tone: "Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Lord Halifax, gentlemen..."

"Please allow me, first and foremost, on behalf of myself, to express my deepest and sincerest condolences and sympathy for the tragedy that occurred in Singapore and for the enormous losses suffered by your country's military and civilians."

"This is indeed a huge loss for the civilized world, and we feel it deeply."

"Empathy?"

Chamberlain abruptly interrupted him, standing up from his chair and leaning forward in excitement.

"No! You can't understand!"

"Mr. David, Old Singapore is more than just a city! It was the key to the empire in the East!"

"Without it, Malaya is like an oyster shucked, Siam's gates are wide open, and the Mughals are directly exposed to that butcher's army!"

"You're at Pearl Harbor, across the entire Pacific Ocean, so of course you can just watch from the sidelines!"

"But what about us? Our empire is bleeding! It's being dismembered!"

He waved his arms, spoke faster and faster, and became increasingly agitated.

"President Roosevelt's speech was brilliant, and your country's factories are magnificent."

"But what about the army? The fleet? The operations?!"

"Where was the mighty U.S. Navy when we alone bore the brunt of Zhu Ganglie's pressure in the Far East, using the flesh and blood of our soldiers to slow the advance of this demon?"

"Want to sunbathe in Hawaii?"

"Is this the meaning of allies? Using our destruction to buy you time?!"

David felt immense pressure, but he had to defend Washington's policies.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, please understand that the President and our government have absolutely no intention of sitting idly by."

"Our mobilization is underway on an unprecedented scale, and it will take time."

"Our Pacific Fleet bears the heavy responsibility of guarding the west coast of our homeland and Hawaii, and maintaining a presence of power in the Pacific. A hasty westward advance, without sufficient preparation and intelligence, could lead to a repeat of..."

"Uh, there might be huge risks involved, we're accelerating at full speed..."

"Risk? Haha!"

Chamberlain let out a bitter, cold laugh, full of sarcasm.

"You're talking about risk? What about our risks?"

"The risk of losing Singapore is now a reality! The risk is that we will soon lose the Mughals!"

"If the Mughals fall, Mr. Ambassador, where will our expeditionary force be resupplyed?"

"Are you in Australia?"

"By then, Zhu Ganglie's power had likely consolidated throughout Southeast Asia and even extended into the Indian Ocean!"

"You will be facing a colossal entity with limitless human and material resources!"

"This war will never end!"

Halifax chimed in at the opportune moment.

"Ambassador David, it is not that we do not understand the difficulties your country faces."

"But the reality is, time is not on our side."

"With each passing day, Zhu Ganglie's influence in Southeast Asia deepened, our resistance weakened, and the threat to the Mughals drew ever closer."

"The British Empire could not sustain itself for long."

"If...if the collective interests of the Western world in the Far East collapse completely due to slow action, then there will be no need for our alliance to continue."

"We could even turn eastward to persuade Zhu Ganglie to cease hostilities, do you understand?"

This is a blatant threat.

If the Bald Eagle does not take concrete action, the alliance may break down, and the British may be forced to seek other ways out, even if it is a compromise.

The Bald Eagle will face alone a formidable enemy that has integrated the resources of East and Southeast Asia.

David broke out in a cold sweat.

He knew that part of what the other person said was true; Britain had reached its limit.

But he was more aware of the situation in Washington: Nimitz's fleet was not yet ready, a large-scale amphibious landing force was far from being formed, and although domestic isolationist voices were suppressed, they had not disappeared. Roosevelt took every step with great care.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Your Excellency the Lord,"

David tried to remain calm, saying, "I will immediately and without omission convey your most urgent concerns and expectations to the President and Congress."

"I understand that your country is in a very critical situation."

"However, specific military operations, especially those involving the mobilization of the main fleet and offensive operations, require detailed assessments by the military and final decisions by the president."

"I cannot make any promises on behalf of the military..."

"We don't want any promises!"

Chamberlain practically roared it out; he completely abandoned all diplomatic protocol, his eyes bloodshot, like a trapped, desperate beast.

"We must act! Now! Immediately!"

"I demand—no, in the name of Prime Minister John Bull—that President Roosevelt order his Pacific Fleet to immediately depart from Pearl Harbor and launch a powerful attack on the western Pacific, on the area controlled by Zhu Ganglie!"

"Bomb his ports, raid his shipping lanes, and let that butcher know he's not dealing with an exhausted John Bull, but with the entire Anglo-Saxon world!"

"Only in this way can we force him to divert his troops from the Southeast Asian front, allowing us to regroup and buy ourselves the last bit of time for the expeditionary force to arrive!"

"otherwise......"

He paused for a moment, then used all his remaining strength to utter his last words.

"Otherwise, prepare to face a completely out-of-control Far East in the Indian Ocean, or worse!"

"Our cooperation will be built on the grave of empire, making us a laughingstock!"

The study was deathly silent, save for Chamberlain's heavy breathing.

Faced with this near-ultimatum, Ambassador David looked at Chamberlain's face contorted with despair and knew there was no turning back.

The British ship was leaking and sinking, and they were now frantically demanding that the nearby Bald Eagle ship not just throw lifebuoys, but directly come and block the gun emplacement, even if it might hit a reef.

He remained silent for a full half minute, his mind churning with intense conflict.

Ultimately, the rationality of the career diplomats and their assessment of the most dangerous aspects of the situation prevailed.

He knew that if he refused outright at this moment, the alliance between the two sides might really develop an irreparable rift, which would be a diplomatic disaster.

He slowly raised his head to meet Chamberlain's piercing gaze and said in a deep voice, "Your Excellency, I fully understand your request and... the grim prospects you described."

"I will convey all your opinions to Washington with the highest priority."

"Furthermore, I will attach my personal emergency assessment, emphasizing the extreme urgency of taking immediate substantive military action to alleviate pressure in the Far East."

"I will do everything in my power to urge our government... to make a positive response and deployment as soon as possible."

Chamberlain stared intently at him.

After a long while, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he slumped back into his chair, waved his hand, and his voice became tired and hoarse.

"I hope so, Mr. Ambassador."

"For our common cause, I hope so."

"The Empire... has nothing more to lose."

David bowed deeply, said nothing more, and turned to leave the suffocating study.

Walking down the dimly lit corridor of Downing Street, he felt his back was soaked with cold sweat.

He knew that the cooperation between the two sides had reached a precipice, and if Washington could not satisfy Chamberlain, then this alliance would immediately break down.

But is the homeland, far across the ocean, truly prepared for this devastating war?