The Beiyang Navy and Army's street sweeping operations have lasted for three days with great vigor. As Lang Weili said, the Beiyang Army's retaliatory actions only targeted local indigenous mobs. There was no action against foreigners in Batavia City and the Dutch District.

Even if some natives fled into the Dutch area, the Beiyang Army Division did not pursue them. On the one hand, it was based on the consideration of limiting the escalation of the conflict. On the other hand, was Xu Jie fully confident that the Dutch would be defeated?

Hand over the thugs themselves. The Dutch army also adheres to the principle of "responsibility for defending the territory" and has built layers of defenses in barracks, police stations, government agencies and Dutch expatriate areas. But for the indigenous areas and Chinese outside who have become a mess,

District ignored it at all. With the help of the Chinese, Zhang Wenxuan became more and more courageous and even began to develop into the villages around Batavia. He began to move from the city to the countryside!!

But Xu Jie has always been unsure, because the most powerful force in the region has not yet expressed its stance, the United Kingdom! If the United Kingdom decides to support the Netherlands, Beiyang will definitely not be able to take advantage of it this time! Although it has made considerable preparations in the early stage

work, but he was still unsure of Britain's attitude. While Xu Jie was anxiously waiting for Britain's stance, the British government was also carefully weighing its own pros and cons.

No. 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British Prime Minister. Three people were sitting across from each other at a table.

"I think you all already know about the actions of the Qing Dynasty's Northern Fleet in Batavia. I didn't expect that our friends in the Far East would show such strong aggression." The British Prime Minister, the Marquis of Salisbury, lit a cigar and said.

"This is normal. The Dutch actually openly massacred Qing nationals when the Qing fleet patrolled Southeast Asia. This was a very serious provocation!! And the Dutch were not the first to massacre Qing nationals. The Beiyang Fleet's overreaction was also reasonable.

"The Lord of the Admiralty, Lord George Hamilton, said disapprovingly.

"An overly powerful Northern Navy is not good news for the British Empire." The Marquis of Salisbury frowned and said. "After all, Britain is too far away from the Far East."

"Then who does the Prime Minister plan to let fight against the Russians? Japan?" Hamilton said with a smile.

"This is a choice. And a good choice." said the Marquis of Salisbury.

"Then first the Japanese must defeat the huge empire in the Far East. And to defeat the Qing Dynasty, they must first defeat the Beiyang Navy. But currently, the Japanese do not have this strength at all." Hamilton said seriously.

"But Japan is a new capitalist country. It is full of vitality and has better development prospects, unlike the Qing Dynasty, which is just larger than India." The Marquis of Salisbury took a deep breath and said.

"At least for now, it seems that the Japanese have no chance. The Beiyang Fleet has ordered three new cruisers from Italy, which were completed by the talented designers Vittorio and Xu Jie. It is said that they are stronger than their predecessors.

The three coastal defense ships that the Japanese worked hard to build are simply not enough to fight against the newly purchased warships from Beiyang. Then consider the current Japanese fleet

There is a huge gap with the Beiyang Fleet. I am not optimistic about the Japanese. Moreover, there is now a quasi-alliance between the British Imperial Navy and the Qing Navy. The deputy admiral of the Beiyang Fleet is a British Royal Navy officer, and the Qing Customs is headed by Hurd.

Control. I really don’t understand why we still choose Japan?” Lord Hamilton said with a smile.

"The Japanese have decided to order three new dome-armored cruisers from Armstrong Shipyard, and two of them will be new ships designed by Sir Watts. This is enough to offset the advantage of the warships purchased by the Qing from Italy. And according to intelligence,

, the Japanese may also order larger warships." The Marquis of Salisbury said with a blushing face.

"Where's the money? I want to know if the Japanese can afford our shipbuilding expenses even if they spend the last gold coin in their treasury?" Lord Hamilton said sarcastically.

"They would issue public debt. That would be enough to complete the armament of the Japanese navy," Salisbury said.

"Does that mean the Japanese plan to use British money to defeat the Qing Dynasty?" Liberal Party leader William Gladstone, who had been silent, suddenly asked.

"This is just a business operation." Salisbury's face changed slightly.

"What if we lose? Does the British Empire want to lend money to a country that is destined to lose?" William Gladstone suddenly asked. "And we don't need to discuss these things now. What we have to decide is the British government's response to Palestine."

Your attitude towards the Davia incident. Prime Minister, don’t you think it’s a bit off topic?”

"Now, whether it is public opinion or legal principles, the Qing people have taken the initiative. The Dutch's oppression of the Chinese and the entire incident have been published in the Times for two days. If we insist on attacking the Beiyang Fleet, which holds the moral high ground,

To take action, I don’t know how to explain to the British people and Parliament why the guns of the Royal Navy will face their friends? Why will the British help the Dutch whose hands are stained with the blood of the Chinese? "William Gladstone is generous.

Chen Ci said.

"And Minister Xue Fucheng has submitted Beiyang's opinions. Their demands are very simple. Punish the murderer, pay compensation, allow the Chinese to have self-defense weapons, and establish an embassy. These are not excessive. And the Beiyang Fleet will return to the mainland after the matter is over.

, There is really no basis for the so-called aggressiveness of the Prime Minister." Lord Hamilton handed over a document.

"And Mr. Hurd mentioned in the call that Mr. Li Hongzhang of the Qing Dynasty was interested in bringing in more mechanical equipment and skilled workers from the UK. They bought Italian warships just because of their performance and price. If possible, Mr. Hurd said he would completely

Lord Li Hongzhang can be persuaded to install Armstrong rapid-fire cannons on those new warships and existing warships in the North Sea. And the import of various mechanical equipment is a big deal. The Qing Dynasty has never forgotten the British Empire." William Gladstone said.

"Okay, since both of you hold this view, we'd better hand the matter over to Parliament for discussion." Salisbury said sadly.

Two days later, in a vote by the British Parliament, the British government decided to support the Qing government's efforts to protect overseas Chinese, and decided to send ships to Batavia to protect the safety of British and other European citizens, and to assist the Qing and Dutch governments in eradicating "riots"

This seemingly ordinary resolution became the starting point for China's penetration into Southeast Asia, and also became the basis for the subsequent cooperation between Britain and China against Russia. Even 10 years later, a British

Chinese scholars wrote in a paper: "From the moment this resolution was signed, the outcome of the war between the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese had been determined. Although the Marquis of Salisbury was more inclined to Japan, there was huge pressure from the surrounding areas.

Due to the influence of poverty and inertia, he could not change the overall situation. After the Earl of Salisbury resigned sadly in 1892, facing the government of Prime Minister William Gladstone who supported the Qing Dynasty, the Japanese could no longer gain the British Empire.

Government support.”
Chapter completed!