The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 700: Mr. Chen is very aggrieved

After Li Xiwen arranged everything downstairs, he brought people upstairs.

"What happened?" Lin Changning asked.

"Brother didn't say that?" Li Xiwen glanced at Chen Zhengwei, and seeing that he had no objection, he repeated the matter in a low voice.

"Is this what he meant by being framed?" Lin Changning turned his head and glanced at Chen Zhengwei.

Well, that's his style.

"What are the identities of those people?" Lin Changning asked again.

"They are some famous British businessmen in Hong Kong." Li Xiwen said.

Lin Changning nodded, sat down in front of Chen Zhengwei, and asked after a while, "Does this matter have a big impact?"

"Will the British attack you directly?"

"It's not as serious as you think!" Chen Zhengwei waved his hand and said lightly, "Just a few businessmen."

Well, just a few dozen, including not only the heads of Asia’s largest foreign bank, Jardine Matheson, but also bankers and senior officials of the Governor-General’s Office.

These people are indeed of very high status, and this incident has a huge impact, but there is a solution.

The most important thing is to stall for time.

As long as the time is extended, many things will be easy to arrange, even a fight won't matter.

"Xiwen, send a telegram to Randolph Churchill and tell him that I was attacked in Hong Kong and I was targeted. Someone wanted to frame me, and the Hong Kong police tried to assassinate me. This matter is very likely related to the British diplomatic department, and the target is penicillin!" Chen Zhengwei said after thinking for a moment.

"80 pounds, and let him get them."

Penicillin was not only Chen Zhengwei's powerful weapon, but also Randolph Churchill's powerful weapon. He used penicillin to win over many allies in British politics.

On this point, the interests of the two are consistent.

Randolph Churchill did not want the production of penicillin to expand even more than Chen Zhengwei, so that the penicillin in his hands could play a greater role.

Although the current ruling party is the Liberal Party, money can do anything. Even if Randolph Churchill cannot settle this matter, he can at least slow down the response speed of the British Foreign Office.

Of course, Chen Zhengwei would not place all his hopes of resolving this matter on Churchill Randolph. The strength in his own hands is more reliable.

"Use our telegraph channel to send a telegram to San Francisco to expand the navy and recruit another 5000 people for training. At the same time, the shipyards and weapons factories should not be idle. They should build torpedo launchers and torpedoes and expand the shipyards. I want 20 torpedo launchers within half a year!"

Chen Zhengwei now has his own telegraph channel, which is the wireless telegraph channel from Warrior to Ryukyu to Hawaii to San Francisco. This route is the most secretive.

This torpedo launcher with a displacement of 500 tons can be built in about three months.

Given the current situation at the shipyard, with multiple ships being built at the same time, 12 ships should be able to be built within half a year.

This was mainly because there was another cruiser of the same class as the San Francisco, as well as several transport ships under construction.

If the scale is expanded further, even if we can't produce 20 ships, it won't make much difference.

Including the ones he has, there are a total of 27 torpedo launchers, which are powerful weapons.

If he were to command the fleet himself and find suitable weather, he would be able to send the East India Fleet, the North American Fleet and the Pacific Fleet to the bottom of the sea.

"Let Xu Yan find those Boers in New York. Can't they contact the Free Boers Organization? Contact them, $10,000 per life. If $10,000 is not enough, $20,000. I want ten people!"

"Call Chen Fenglu over again!" After Chen Zhengwei gave a series of instructions, he signaled Li Xiwen that he could leave.

Lin Changning could tell from Chen Zhengwei's instructions that this matter was of great importance, and his eyes were filled with concern.

Noticing her gaze, Chen Zhengwei waved his hand: "It's not as troublesome as you think. Just make some preparations in advance, just in case!"

"Even if a war really breaks out, as long as the East India Fleet, the Pacific Fleet and the North American Fleet are eliminated... Britain's strength in Asia and the Pacific will be completely empty, and the Mediterranean Fleet and the Home Fleet will not be so easy to move."

"As long as the cards are on the table, they will become the target of public criticism! Many people are watching the UK, including France, Germany, and Russia!"

Although Chen Zhengwei has a bad relationship with Russia, the relationship between Britain and Russia is even worse. The two sides are competing in many regions including Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Chen Zhengwei's nonchalant attitude made Lin Changning feel much more at ease.

"No matter what it is, it won't be difficult for you!" Lin Changning said gently.

"Nonsense! Do you think I would lose my temper just because I have no confidence at all?" Chen Zhengwei said angrily.

Damn it, because of that bunch of flops, I have to spend a lot of money this time, and I don’t know where to get it back!

But they don't give me face, they are so stubborn, what can I do?
What can he do? He was forced to do it!

We can only let them harden! Now not only are their bones hard, their whole bodies are hard!

Not long after, Chen Fenglu came over with a serious look on his face.

He heard some things when he came here just now.

"boss!"

"Don't be so serious, as if something important happened." Chen Zhengwei threw him a cigar.

"Tell me about the police chief! Does he like money, power, or life?"

Everyone has weaknesses, including the Governor, but it is too difficult to bribe him and the chances of something going wrong are too high.

So Chen Zhengwei changed his target.

"Boss, I think... he likes money, power and life." Chen Fenglu thought of a piece of gossip and said:

"Boss, I heard that Mr. Clark once worked at Scotland Yard... I don't know if he was sent here because he made a mistake or failed in the competition..."

Although Hong Kong was developing rapidly at that time, it was not a very developed city and its population was less than 20.

Being sent here from Scotland Yard is not usually a promotion.

It's more like being sent out after making a mistake or failing in competition, and then being transferred back after a few years.

This is a relatively mild punishment.

"What's his name?" Chen Zhengwei asked.

"George Clark!" Chen Zhengwei called his men and said, "Send another telegram to Randolph Churchill and ask him to check the situation of Hong Kong Governor Blake and Director Clark!"

"Tell him I want it today!"

Chen Zhengwei's thinking was very clear. The people in the club were of high status this time, so it would be easier to deal with it if we killed one or two of them, but if so many died at once, the quantitative change would lead to a qualitative change, and the impact would be worse than killing the Governor, so we had to deal with it from multiple aspects.

On the one hand, we need to deal with the Hong Kong police department so that they cannot put the blame on themselves and then find scapegoats for them.

On the one hand, Randolph Churchill can be used to deal with the British diplomatic department. As long as the British Foreign Office has no evidence, Randolph Churchill will have much more room to maneuver.

At the same time, strengthen naval armaments.

……

It's only 8 o'clock in the evening, but it's only noon in London.

Randolph Churchill spent every day these days attending various banquets and salons.

His business in Chicago made him very wealthy now, so wealthy that he kept two mistresses outside.

Penicillin also helped him win over many aristocrats and wealthy businessmen in London.

He had recently gone to the United States, met with Xu Yan, and became the agent for the production and sales of smokeless gunpowder in the UK, which made him even more arrogant.

Therefore, after the Liberal Party came to power, the seventh Duke of Marlborough became much more low-key, but Randolph Churchill became even more high-profile, and even wooed other young members within the Conservative Party, trying to seize power from the old guys in the Conservative Party.

Randolph Churchill was meeting and chatting with a member of the House of Lords in a high-end restaurant.

The other party was a not-so-rich hereditary baron. For some unspeakable reasons, he needed at least 12 doses of penicillin.

Randolph Churchill agreed readily, which made the two sides have a very pleasant conversation.

While chatting, Randolph Churchill saw his entourage appear in the restaurant.

Seeing Randolph Churchill looking at him, the young man raised the telegram in his hand.

Randolph Churchill immediately realized that the telegram was very important. After apologizing, he walked aside with his entourage.

"A telegram from Hong Kong!" The attendant handed him the telegram.

Randolph Churchill took a glance and his expression changed.

"Tell him not to be anxious. I need some time to understand the situation first. Don't be impulsive and don't escalate the matter!" Randolph Churchill quickly instructed his entourage.

Then he sat back at the dining table, chatted with the member of the House of Lords for a few more words, and then said goodbye.

Sitting in the carriage, Randolph Churchill had two thoughts in his mind.

£80, and penicillin.

"This guy's move is so big this time, it seems like he takes it very seriously!" Randolph Churchill thought to himself.

80 pounds is equivalent to 370 million US dollars, which is an astronomical figure.

"An explosion occurred in a high-end club, killing many wealthy British businessmen on the spot... and only Chen Zhengwei survived? Why does it sound like he did it?" Randolph Churchill muttered to himself.

"Of course, it is also possible that it was a frame-up as he said! Is the Earl so cruel now?"

"No matter what, no one can do anything to him!" Randolph Churchill quickly made up his mind.

Penicillin is an extremely important bargaining chip in his hand and he must not lose it.

After returning home, Randolph Churchill received another telegram.

"The Governor and the Commissioner of Police of Hong Kong?"

In the afternoon, Randolph Churchill took action. He first met with several people and asked about the news of the police chief.

Just as Chen Zhengwei and others had guessed, this person failed in his competition for the position of Executive Assistant Director of Scotland Yard and was kicked out to the colony of Hong Kong.

After asking someone to send the news from the Governor and Police Commissioner of Hong Kong to Chen Zhengwei, Randolph Churchill changed his clothes and appeared in an upscale cafe in St. James's district, where he had an appointment for afternoon tea.

After Randolph Churchill arrived at the cafe, he waited for more than ten minutes. Then a man in his thirties wearing a top hat and leaning on a walking stick walked into the cafe. After a quick glance, he put his top hat aside and sat down in front of Randolph Churchill.

"Why do you want to invite me for afternoon tea? Do you want to talk to me about something?"

"You've been very successful lately..." the other person said with a smile.

"There is a very important matter, so I will come straight to the point. Are you targeting China?" Randolph Churchill asked in a deep voice.

Hearing this, the other party looked surprised.

He poured himself half a cup of black tea, then slowly added milk to it, stirring it gently with a spoon. After a moment, he took a sip and then spoke:

"Although I can't tell you the details...but I can tell you, yes!"

"Tell me about your plan..." Randolph Churchill said.

"Although we are very familiar with each other, I cannot tell you the specific plan. You have to believe in my professional ethics!" the other party said.

"Can you stop the plan?"

"This is impossible. This plan was arranged a long time ago! And our Earl is personally paying attention to it. Even if I want to help you, I can't!" The other party refused directly.

"What is your purpose?"

"Don't worry too much. The Chinese guy won't die, but he will have to pay something." The other party said after thinking for a while.

"Damn it!" Randolph Churchill was really anxious this time.

……

PS:

The combined strength of the East Indian, Pacific and North American fleets is not as great as that of the British Home Fleet or the Mediterranean Fleet.

Even adding the Australian fleet wouldn't be enough.

The number of ships may be similar, but the quality is vastly different.

Britain's seven battleships today, as well as other modern warships, are in the Home and Mediterranean Fleets.

The main forces of the other four fleets are light cruisers, and the total number of warships with a displacement of more than 3000 tons does not exceed 15. (The Australian fleet can be ignored!)
But when combined with other small cruisers and frigates, their weak combat effectiveness is only against the British homeland and Mediterranean fleets.

Of course, the Home and Mediterranean fleets were facing European powers and could not be easily mobilized.

(End of this chapter)