I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 777: One wave comes after another

The guards of the Nikolayevich Palace were all carefully selected Cossacks, with blue breastplates and black bearskin hats being their most notable features.

In order to ensure the safety of the Nikolayevich Palace, the road at the entrance of the manor is designed in a unique way. After entering, the car has to pass three bends before entering the parking lot.

Robert George's driver was also a bit reckless. After hearing the command to "rush in", he subconsciously stepped on the accelerator.

Several guards at the gate were startled. The guard blocking the car had no time to dodge and jumped onto the hood of the car in desperation. After rushing through the gate, the car crashed into a big tree beside the road.

Robert George, with a bleeding head, was dragged out of the car by the guards and pinned to the ground. Reporters waiting for news at the door happened to capture this scene.

The British deputy envoy drove his car to the residence of Grand Duke Nikolayevich, and tomorrow's newspapers will sell like hot cakes.

Little Nikolai was very angry and detained Robert George in the Nikolayevich Palace in the name of treatment.

Poor Chamberlain had just flown back to London and then flew back to Geneva without stopping.

Chamberlain arrived at the Nikolayevich Palace as soon as possible.

Little Nikolai was also a rude person. He parked a car with the British flag flying in front of the Nikolayevich Palace for people to visit. There were guards standing guard next to it. It looked like he was displaying trophies.

Chamberlain wanted to take Robert George away, but was rejected by little Nicholas.

"Your Excellency the Grand Duke, London's patience is limited and it will never tolerate repeated provocations."

Chamberlain believed that Russia was to blame.

Little Nicholas has a wide range of friends and even did not forget to send invitations to some countries in South America whose names he had never heard of. So why didn't he send invitations to the UK?
It was a blatant humiliation.

"You let me drive to Buckingham Palace once, and that's it."

Little Nicholas had nothing to fear with the hostage in hand.

"What on earth do you want to do? Do you want to provoke a full-scale confrontation between Britain and Russia?"

Chamberlain appeared to be strong on the outside but was actually weak on the inside, with a flash of confusion in his eyes.

Russia is different from all of Britain's previous opponents and Britain is facing unprecedented challenges.

In the past, both Napoleon and William II were defeated by Britain's Continental Balance Policy without any major consequences.

But if we take a closer look at Britain's strategy, we will find that it is inseparable from the cooperation of the Russian Empire.

If Napoleon had not been defeated in Moscow, Britain would have been completely marginalized.

Without Nicholas the Younger to hold them back, the British and French forces would not have been able to withstand the German attack.

It was precisely because of the existence of the Russian Empire that Britain had the opportunity to implement the Continental Balance Policy.

Now that Russia has become Britain's main rival, who will contain Russia for Britain?
“Comprehensive? Hahahaha——”

Little Nicholas burst into laughter. This is no longer the era when the British Empire can command the support of everyone.

In the past, Britain contained Russia by relying on geopolitics and taking advantage of the conflicts between Russia and its neighboring countries, not because Britain had any great advantages over Russia.

The World War was a watershed. With the demise of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire, the biggest beneficiary was not Britain, but Russia.

Before the World War, Britain took advantage of the conflicts between Russia and its neighboring countries and forced Russia to take a defensive stance.

Now Russia has not only broken through the blockade of the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, but also gained control of the Suez Canal. The offense and defense are completely switched. It is time to let Britain taste the pain of being surrounded and blocked.

Britain is now facing internal and external troubles. If we don't take advantage of the situation to kill Britain, once Britain has recovered, it will still find ways to target Russia.

"When will the Mediterranean Fleet lift its blockade of the canal?" Little Nicholas asked with every word.

"London is discussing—"

Chamberlain took a deep breath and endured it.

Little Nicholas looked at his watch: "48 hours left."

London was indeed discussing, not whether to lift the blockade of the canal, but how to appease the overseas colonies and dominions.

The collapse of the Commonwealth ultimately stems from the rapid decline in Britain's strength. The Royal Navy no longer has the deterrent power it once had, and the Commonwealth is no longer as attractive as before.

In order to ensure the deterrent power of the Royal Navy, the First Sea Lord David Beatty proposed a shipbuilding plan, hoping to build 10 new battleships within 20 years.

The plan was opposed by everyone.

Putting aside whether or not it has the ability to build them, if Britain builds 20 new battleships, it will break the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty, which will definitely trigger a new round of arms race.

Although Russia won a quota for 50-ton battleships at the Washington Naval Conference, it did not announce a shipbuilding plan after the conference. Instead, it announced a warship retirement plan and shifted its main focus to the army and air force.

Britain dared not follow suit because the United States was pressing forward.

So the current situation is that Russia wants to maintain its advantage in the army, the United States vigorously develops its navy, and the United Kingdom faces challenges from both Russia and the United States at the same time.

In the past year of 1924, the United States produced 4000 million tons of steel, Russia produced 3800 million tons, and the United Kingdom only produced 800 million tons. It would be difficult for any one country to compete alone, let alone two countries at the same time.

Stanley Baldwin was overwhelmed. Not only did he have to solve the above problems, but he also had to face new problems from Britain.

Although MacDonald served as prime minister for only 10 months, he left a rich "political legacy" to Britain. Both the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party have to face a series of new problems.

After MacDonald came to power, he built affordable housing for 50 poor British families, stopped the construction of overseas military bases, and began disarmament within the UK, which won him widespread praise.

This "praise" is very spiritual.

MacDonald's policies did provide some benefits to poor British families and reduce military spending.

But for Britain's national defense and security, the impact MacDonald had was negative.

After MacDonald, the British people had more stringent requirements for the prime minister. If Stanley Baldwin could not continue MacDonald's policies and continue to provide better welfare for ordinary British people, then Stanley Baldwin would not be able to serve as prime minister for long.

Stanley Baldwin's plan is to vigorously develop social insurance to provide protection for middle- and low-income families.

It is hard to say whether this plan is effective or not.

What is imminent is the Imperial Conference.

Unlike previous imperial conferences, Australia's attitude this time is very firm. If Australia cannot obtain complete trade autonomy, Australia will seek complete independence.

They are all dominions. South Africa can be independent, so why can't Australia be independent?
Don't say that the majority of the population in South Africa is Boers, and the majority of the population in Australia is Anglo-Saxons. Australia has been established for more than 100 years, and the new generation of Australians have no feelings for the British mainland at all.

This is not true either. It's not that there is no emotion, but that there is only hatred.

Especially for the officers and soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and their families.

Stanley Baldwin has been trying to appease Australia these days, tempting it with more favorable tariff policies, hoping that Australia will continue to remain in the Commonwealth.

The Australians are also taking active action. Not only are they resolute in their attitude, but they are also meeting frequently with representatives from Canada and New Zealand in an attempt to form an alliance of interests.

On June 6, just after the Mediterranean Fleet lifted its blockade of the Suez Canal, Australian representatives were shot in London.

(End of this chapter)