World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Balfour stubbed out his cigarette: "So, the final decision is: His Majesty the King will travel to Cairo to meet with Chen Feng. The Admiralty will be responsible for security along the way and for planning the itinerary. The core issues of the meeting are: First, where is the boundary of Lanfang's relationship with Germany? Second, what is Lanfang's attitude towards the Far East, especially towards Japan? Third, is Lanfang willing to establish a more stable cooperative relationship with Britain?"

"And fourth," Jackson added, "a subtle but clear warning to Chen Feng: the British Empire's patience has its limits. If Lanfang's actions threaten the Empire's core interests, then the Empire will respond, no matter the cost."

Betty nodded: "Understood. I will personally arrange for the battlecruiser HMS Malaya to serve as His Majesty's flagship, and deploy a full destroyer squadron for escort. From Portsmouth to Gibraltar, then to Malta, and finally to Alexandria, we will ensure safety throughout the entire journey."

"Where will the meeting take place?" Balfour asked.

“The Montaza Palace in Cairo,” Jackson said. “It’s relatively secluded, security is easy to control, and… on Egyptian soil, it serves as a reminder to Chen Feng that the British Empire is still a global empire on which the sun never sets.”

Everything was arranged. The three top British naval decision-makers stood in their office, gazing at the huge world map on the wall. On the map, the territory of the British Empire was marked in red, stretching from Canada to India, from Australia to South Africa, covering a quarter of the world's landmass.

But this vast red empire is now facing unprecedented challenges. The stalemate on the western front, the pressure on the eastern front, the ambiguity of the United States, the betrayal of Japan, and the unpredictable variable of Lanfang.

"Gentlemen," Jackson concluded, "we are experiencing one of the most dangerous moments in the history of the Empire. But remember, the Royal Navy has never let Britain down in three hundred years. This time, it will not."

Balfour and Betty nodded solemnly.

Outside the window, the rain in London had finally stopped. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining brightly on the wet cobblestones of Whitehall. Newsboys were hawking the midday extra edition, the front-page headline still faintly discernible:

His Majesty the King will visit Egypt – a new diplomatic initiative by the Empire.

The Battle of the Somme enters its second week – Valiant soldiers advance steadily.

The Ministry of Finance announced the issuance of new war bonds.

Ordinary Londoners read newspapers, discussing the weather, rations, and news from the front, continuing their daily lives. They were unaware of the decisions being made in Downing Street and the Admiralty, the betrayal in the Far East and the impending diplomatic maneuvering in the Mediterranean, and their king's impending secret journey that could determine the fate of the empire.

This is history. Decisions made by a few in a closed room eventually spread like ripples, affecting the fate of millions.

Meanwhile, in faraway Dubai, another secret meeting was taking place.

At 2 p.m. on August 1, 1916, four encrypted telegrams were sent from London, traveling along submarine cables to four corners of the world.

The first letter was sent to the British Embassy in Tokyo: "The note has been received, but the reply is insufficient. Maintain diplomatic pressure, but do not escalate for the time being. Continue to monitor the movements of the Japanese Navy."

The second letter, sent to the British High Commission in Cairo, Egypt, reads: "Prepare for the highest level of reception. His Majesty the King will arrive on August 10. Confidentiality is strictly required."

The third message was sent to the Gibraltar naval base: "The 'Malaya' and its escort fleet are ready to depart. Destination: Alexandria. Highest security level."

The fourth, and most important, letter was sent to Dubai, the capital of the Lanfang Republic, addressed to His Excellency President Chen Feng.

The telegram was concise and solemn:

His Majesty King George V of the British Empire cordially invites His Excellency Chen Feng, President of the Lanfang Republic, to meet in Cairo, Egypt on August 15th to discuss the friendship between our two countries and exchange views on the current international situation. I look forward to a face-to-face exchange with His Excellency.

—Edward Gray, British Foreign Office

The telegram was encrypted three times and sent to the Suez Canal by a special communications ship, from where it was handed over through Lanfang's consulate in Egypt.

1916年8月12日上午8时

The morning light pierced the eastern clouds, turning the sea into a fiery gold. The 41,000-ton steel hull of the "Huaihe" cut through the calm blue surface of the Mediterranean, its bow carving out white wakes hundreds of meters long. Maintaining a speed of 25 knots—the standard cruising speed for long-distance voyages—it was as easy as a stroll for this most powerful battleship in the world.

On the bridge, Rear Admiral Li Te stood before the observation window, his dark blue Lanfang naval officer's uniform crisp and clear. The veteran naval officer stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly fixed on the horizon ahead. Behind him, the navigation officer, helmsman, radar officer, and other duty officers performed their respective duties. In the bridge, only the slight hum of instruments and the occasional low-voiced reports could be heard.

"Heading 285, speed 25 knots, 420 nautical miles from Alexandria," reported Major Lin, the navigator, holding the latest weather map. "We expect to arrive at 4:00 AM tomorrow."

Li Te nodded without turning around: "Notify the engine room to reduce speed to 18 knots starting at 21 PM. Stay alert during nighttime navigation."

"Yes, General."

The driver's cab door was pushed open, and First Officer Colonel Zhao Gang walked in. He held a newly translated telegram in his hand, his expression somewhat grave.

"General, a encrypted telegram from Dubai." Zhao Gang handed the telegram to Li Te, lowering his voice, "The handover preparations for the 'Fuxing' and 'Guangfu' trains... have encountered some resistance."

Li Te took the telegram and quickly glanced at it. The telegram was encrypted using the Lanfang Navy's internal code, and its content was concise: a group of veterans of the "Fuxing" warship had jointly petitioned against handing the ship over to Britain. Their reason was, "The ship's spirit belongs to Lanfang; we would rather sink than hand it over to the enemy."

Li Te's fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the telegram. This situation was expected, yet still troublesome. The "Fuxing" and "Guangfu" were the first two Hood-class battlecruisers in the Lanfang Navy, serving for six years and participating in the East China Sea naval battles; they were symbols of the navy. Now, to be handed over to a former potential enemy, it was inevitable that the officers and men would be emotional.

"Does the President know?" Lee asked.

"The telegram was sent personally by Minister Liu Yongfu; the President should already be aware of it." Zhao Gang paused. "Minister Liu is asking whether to take coercive measures?"

Li Te pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No. Reply: The Naval Political Department will send people to board the ship to do ideological work. Make it clear that—first, this is a national strategic need; second, all officers and soldiers will be properly resettled and promoted before the handover; third, the ship names 'Fuxing' and 'Guangfu' will be permanently retained in the Lanfang Navy's order of battle, and more powerful warships will inherit these two names in the future."