Chapter 340 San Francisco
On January 6, 1941, the weather in San Francisco was clear, with thin clouds and breezes and pleasant temperatures. With the sound of the whistle of the loading and unloading machine starts, the coastal dock area began a noisy and busy day.
"Although I'm unwilling to admit it, the gap between the British Empire and the United States has been put on the table. I really hope that the smart people in Parliament can face this fact as soon as possible and come up with a solution to the problem." Henry Logan stirred the silver spoon in a pastel porcelain cup, and then put the spoon on the edge of the saucer gracefully.
"I don't know what the gentlemen in the London Parliament think, but I know the answer has been hidden in your heart for a long time." Welbert shook the newspaper in his hand and flipped over a new page.
"I don't understand what you're talking about at all." Henry picked up the teacup and turned his eyes away from the terrace.
"You know what I'm talking about, dear Henry," Welbey folded the newspaper and placed it on the edge of the table, then picked up the silver coffee maker at hand.
"Now let me guess what your answer is." Welbe held the pot in one hand and held the lid in the other hand, slowly pouring hot coffee into the cup in front of him.
"It's a war." Welbe looked up at Henry opposite him, and saw the other party putting the black tea cup back on the cup and the saucer with a calm expression. A cunning smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"War can destroy everything, it can create everything. In history, great empires often rise with war, and war can also lead to the demise of a world's power. A recent example..." The German glanced at his British colleagues, and was very proud of his face and did not continue.
"America naturally has geostrategic advantages, and it also has enough strength to deal with a modern war." Henry picked up the folded napkin at his hand, opened it and stuffed it into the collar room.
"What if it was a total war of great scale?" After saying that, Welbe took a sip of coffee, then frowned. He felt that the sugar he had just added seemed not enough.
"How grand do you think it will be?" Henry picked up the knife and fork beside the dining plate.
"Enough to trigger the National Mobilization of the United States." Welbe lowered his head and added a piece of sugar to the cup.
“This is unlikely.”
"What if I say there is this possibility?"
"What do you know? Welbet." Henry asked, staring at his fellow travelers' eyes.
"As much as you know, Henry." The German took another sip of coffee, and this time he raised his eyebrows with satisfaction.
"I still think this is ridiculous." Heng poked the fried egg on the plate with a fork: "Even if the expected war really breaks out, the interests of the British Empire will be threatened, and we are too involved in Southeast Asia."
"Didn't you start preparing?" Verbe shook his napkin.
Henry hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly and shook his head and said, "It's not enough at the moment."
"You should know Japan more deeply than us." Welbe began to cut the bacon from his plate.
"The information we have is long gone, and the Japanese have always been on guard against us. Those idiots who sit in the office and give orders actually thought that everything is still under their control." Henry was loyal to the British Empire, and he saw that the proud British Empire would fall to this field today because the group of waste in Whitehall was too incompetent.
Speaking of which, he should actually hate Verbet, a German colleague, but after contacting him during this period, he was surprised to find that there were many common languages between the two. It seems that the words of those predecessors are right, and the enemy may be the one who knows you the best.
"To be honest, I really didn't expect the Military Intelligence Agency to send you here this time, Henry." Welbe forked a piece of bacon into his mouth.
"Who did you think it would be?" Heng used a napkin to wipe the corners of his lips.
"That playboy Steele." Verbe chewed bacon, his eyes full of smiles.
"Why is it him?" Henry's movement stopped.
"Because I feel that even if that guy dies in Japan, there is nothing worth pity." Verbe swallowed Bacon, he was very satisfied with the jokes just now, looking overwhelmed.
"It's so regretful." Henry shrugged seriously, and then laughed: "We may not see the stallion for a long time, Welbet, who had hooked up with Sir Wiesen's niece some time ago."
"Really? That Wesson in the House of Lords? Then he really doesn't know how to live or die."
"Who said no? By time, he should have been on a passenger ship to Mumbai now."
"I'm transferred to India now? The old guy is so cruel." The German said with a pout.
"Who said no?" The British nodded with a deep sense of agreement.
"I remember you stayed in Japan for a while." Verbe cut the fried egg, then pulled off a small piece of white bread and dipped it in the flowing egg yolk.
"Yes, I did mention it to you. I've been in Japan for about six months."
Welbe put the bread at his mouth: "I remember you said you went to inspect."
"Your memory is fine. I was a trainee lieutenant in the Royal Navy at that time." Henry said, shaking the butter knife in his hand.
"This is the first time I've been to Japan, but I've read a lot of relevant information. What do you think there is? What kind of country is that?" Welber asked with a little curiosity.
"It's hard to say it clearly in words. Welbe, after all, I haven't been there for a long time. This country has a very special... How to say it...it should be charm. It's a feeling that you can only feel it after you go to this country in person, then look at it with your own eyes, listen with your ears, talk with them, and experience everything yourself.
You know I have been to many countries, but I swear that no country ever gave me the same feeling as Japan. To be honest, I was fascinated by this ancient, elegant and mysterious oriental country at that time, and made many Japanese friends, some of them even kept communicating with me until I entered the Military Intelligence Bureau.
But now when I look back, I begin to wonder if what I saw back then was their real face. The Japanese were so good at disguising, and I was just a proud young officer at that time." Henry's tone was full of emotion, which made him recall his youthful era.
"Well, I hope you can find the answer there this time." After saying that, Weirbet picked up the coffee and drank it all.
"You believe they'll really be so crazy and declare war on Europe and the United States at the same time?" Henry asked.
"From the current situation, this possibility is getting bigger and bigger, so we must make the worst plan in advance..." Welbe straightened his back.
"Germany's biggest opponent is the Red Bear. Once a war breaks out in the Pacific region, we will not be able to devote too much energy to this battlefield. Then the pressure on you Britain will be quite high."
"This is what I'm most worried about now, so if Japan turns its focus to the United States..." Henry pulled the napkin from the collar, wiped the corner of his mouth and threw it on the table.
"It's too early to say this. I think the most important question we need to consider at the moment is how to fulfill our mission, Henry." Welbe stood up from the dining table, looked at the British agent, and then slowly walked towards the fence of the terrace.
"If the United States had lost in the early stages of this war..." the British stood up.
"Unless the Japanese launched a blitzkrieg, don't forget that the Pacific Ocean is separated by the two sides, not the Ardennes Forest." Welbet answered with the fence: "This is not a question that people like us need to consider. Let the big men in London and Berlin have a headache."
"As I said, I do think too much sometimes. From here I see the location of this hotel is really good." Henry leaned against the fence and took out the cigarette case from his pocket.
"Yes, there are many hotels facing the port area, but like this..." Welbe took out a cigarette from the cigarette box, then pointed to the harbour outside the terrace and said, "Even if you have money during this period, you can't book it."
Just opposite the sea not far from the hotel, a huge battleship was quietly anchored there. On the terrace, you can clearly see the beautiful gray, black and white three-color folding line camouflage painted on the hull. On the top of the high mast, a huge German Empire naval flag was fluttering in the wind.
PS: Thank you for your support, the author will continue to work hard.
Chapter completed!