"Sir Humphrey, I wonder if there is any new progress on the Anglo-Japanese Alliance Treaty?" Chen Ke poured tea for Sir Humphrey while speaking. This was a high-quality bone china tea cup, a new product of the People's Party. Sir Humphrey knew his goods; just by picking up the tea cup, his expression changed slightly.

At Chen Ke's level, how could he not see these subtle differences? With no reaction on his face, Chen Ke was quite happy in his heart. Industry is a system, especially after the People's Party established the National Laboratory, technical exchanges within the same industrial system became very easy.

Steel mills tried hard to develop electric furnaces to achieve good temperature control. Whether it is 1320 degrees or 1380 degrees for bone china on Taobao, it is not a problem for steel mills. Steel mill temperature control technology can easily be used in porcelain firing. Craftsmen in Jingdezhen, industrial ceramic departments, and steel mills combined forces, and bone china was fired. Of course, the credit of the breeding industry providing cow bone powder cannot be erased. Slightly cheaper than British bone china, but actually quite expensive Chinese bone china also sold quite well in the US market.

Holding the warm bone china, he first tasted a sip of black tea. Sir Humphrey added two sugar cubes to the tea cup before taking a satisfied big gulp. After moistening his throat, Sir Humphrey said: "My country cannot accept China unilaterally changing the situation in Asia; this can only create tension in Asia."

Britain was not just talking; recently, British and Japanese warships frequently appeared at China's doorstep. Because Britain and China had a verbal agreement on warship maintenance, British warships unceremoniously entered shipyards in Shanghai, China, for a considerable period of "maintenance." Chen Ke had long received reports on this intimidating practice.

"I can understand Britain's position, but is there any new progress on the Anglo-Japanese Alliance Treaty recently?" Chen Ke continued to repeat the previous question. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance stipulated that both contracting parties recognized each other's right to protect their own interests in China and Korea. If Britain's "special interests" in China or Japan's "special interests" in China and Korea were threatened by other countries, or infringed upon due to "disturbances" within China and Korea, the two countries had the right to intervene; when one contracting party fought with a third country to protect the above interests, the other party should strictly maintain neutrality; if one contracting party was attacked by two or more countries, the other party should provide military assistance and fight together.

Taking advantage of Britain being tied down by World War I, the People's Party not only "threatened" the "special interests" of Britain and Japan in China, but also smashed these "special interests" to pieces. Britain has been very patient to endure until now without taking action.

Hearing Chen Ke repeatedly ask about the latest progress of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance Treaty, Sir Humphrey also felt quite helpless. Japan very much wanted major progress in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance Treaty. If it could be modified so that Britain took the initiative to send troops to attack China, that would be exactly what Japan wanted. However, Britain was not stupid; the British would absolutely not do things like sending hundreds of thousands of people to die in China.

You know, the crown on the British Emperor's head was the Indian Crown. Moreover, if China was pushed too hard and attacked Burma and India desperately, what then? Going by land, they wouldn't have to face the British naval advantage.

"Our British Empire firmly opposes any behavior that unilaterally changes the situation in Asia." Sir Humphrey said the honest truth very seriously. Since the current pattern had allowed Britain to receive huge benefits, what Britain had to do was to maintain the current situation, not break it.

"If Sir Humphrey refers to the economic cooperation between China and the United States, then the British side is overthinking. If the things provided by Britain are of better quality and lower price than the United States, Britain doesn't need to say a word; we naturally won't buy American goods. The problem is that the quality of British goods is not much better than American goods, but the price is much more expensive than American ones. In terms of cost-effectiveness, it is more cost-effective for China to buy American goods." Chen Ke replied frankly.

"Then your country should consider the friendly relationship with Britain at any rate." Sir Humphrey said to Chen Ke very seriously.

Chen Ke stared into Sir Humphrey's eyes and responded very seriously, "Business is business. We bear no malice towards any country."

"Chairman Chen, I think you should be more inclined to buy British products." Sir Humphrey advised earnestly.

Chen Ke also explained patiently: "Sir Humphrey, you can't just ask us to buy with empty words. Britain has industry, technology, and standards. The problem is that Britain never sends these products to China for us to see. We need to use them right now, and the Americans do very well in this regard. Whatever demand we have, the United States satisfies it immediately. Under such circumstances, who do you think I should choose?"

After such a full and frank exchange, both China and Britain roughly understood the other's bottom line in the near future. When the meeting time was up, Sir Humphrey could only get up and leave.

On the way back to the consulate, the entourage asked: "Is China determined to collude with the United States?"

Sir Humphrey did not draw a conclusion immediately. He felt the situation was far from simple. Japan was barking very loudly now, but in fact, Japan was extremely afraid of war. Japan provided a large amount of information to Britain, saying that China supported Korean traitors to attack the Japanese army in Korea. However, the intelligence collected by the British was that Japan massacred Koreans in large numbers in Korea, triggering fierce resistance from Koreans. Now military actions against Japan had broken out throughout Korea. In the north, Japan couldn't even get out of the control range of big cities. As long as the Japanese army entered outside the control range of strongholds, they would immediately be attacked by Korean guerrillas.

Seeing Sir Humphrey silent, the entourage couldn't help asking again: "Sir, why did you ask China to stop supporting Korea? Isn't this also the request of the Foreign Office?"

"There is no evidence for this matter. Besides, China raised the issue of Japan carrying out a massacre against Koreans; how should we answer?" The British were relatively clear about what Japan did in Korea. Britain didn't think there was anything wrong with the Japanese doing this, but times were different after all. Massacres could only be done in practice, not spoken about. China could totally ignore Britain's questioning. And even if this matter was brought to the League of Nations, it would still be Japan that lost face. It wasn't that the League of Nations could really stop Japan from slaughtering Koreans, but that Japan, after being forced to use massacre methods, still couldn't solve the Korean guerrillas, which would make countries laugh their heads off in their hearts.

"Judging from the performance of the Japanese side, they obviously can't hold on anymore. If China's support for Korea cannot be interrupted, in case Japan loses Korea..." The entourage was obviously very worried about this. Britain knew very well what Japan would become if it lost Korea. Korea would definitely throw itself into China's embrace again. Just looking at the map, with Korea pressing against Japan's waist like a dagger, one could understand Japan's anxiety.

Regarding Japan's incompetence, Sir Humphrey's voice sounded very angry, "Why does China want to send troops now? Hasn't Japan figured it out? China doesn't need to send troops to Korea at all!"

"China doesn't need to send troops to Korea at all." Chen Ke said at the Politburo meeting, "Imperialism can absolutely not win a people's war."

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Japan's atrocities in Korea aroused great resistance from Korea. Especially those death mines; almost every rescued Korean mine slave became the most determined resister and the most determined Korean restorationist. China was naturally happy to see this happen.

"But the Korean side has been begging us to send troops." Chen Tianhua said.

"In the current situation, we cannot send troops!" Chen Ke replied: "I asked the British Minister today. His attitude is very firm; he absolutely does not accept China sending troops to Korea. All we can do is help Koreans liberate Korea themselves. Militarily speaking, at least in northern Korea, the problem can be solved by squeezing Japan out of various strongholds in Korea. First let Korea establish a base area backed by China, a liberated area. At the same time, fight tit-for-tat with the Japanese to wrestle for land inch by inch. Of course, all the key lies in mobilizing the masses. If the guerrillas cannot become a real political party, it is impossible to truly defeat the Japanese aggressors."

"But Koreans have no interest in the socialist system at all. There are all kinds of factions among Korean patriots. Those who want to restore the Li family dynasty, those who want to engage in some local fiefdoms, and many are simply driven by hatred. The only common point among these people is that they hope to restore Korea with the help of powerful external forces." Chen Tianhua regretted this very much.

"Then let them continue to die." Zhang Yu sneered, "Back then, Korea welcomed the Japanese incomparably, thinking that with foreign intervention, they could get rid of China's control. These people are not dead yet."

Such a lack of compassion made Chen Tianhua very embarrassed, but no one supported Chen Tianhua's opinion. Even Shang Yuan, who had a quite "honest and kind" personality, did not support Chen Tianhua, "Only when truly standing with the people can an organization have vitality. We have undertaken all weapons for the Korean guerrillas, as well as most of the food supply. What else do they want us to do? A liter of rice breeds gratitude, a dou of rice breeds hatred (giving a little help brings gratitude, giving too much help brings resentment). Giving Korea too much is just asking for trouble for ourselves."

"Why do you say that?" You Gou was curious.

Qi Huishen replied: "Because Koreans only want the result of liberation now. If we satisfy this result directly, Koreans will think that begging strong countries is useful, and even think that they can play strong countries in the palm of their hands. Today they beg China for liberation; tomorrow, heaven knows for what purpose they will go to beg some other strong country. I don't think this is good for Korea either."

You Gou didn't like to beg for anything since childhood, and there was no such environment in the People's Party, so it took quite a while for her to have some basic concepts in her mind. When she figured it out, You Gou couldn't help laughing: "Indeed so. If Korea begs us again after liberation, asking us to help them build the country as rich as China, we certainly can't do it. Other countries take the opportunity to fool Korea, and I'm afraid they will follow other countries."

"Small countries are like this; it can't be helped." Shang Yuan laughed.

After discussing the Korean situation coldly, Chen Ke turned the targeting angle completely to Japan, "We reached an agreement with Russia. In order to help Russia attract firepower, they decided to recognize our sovereignty over North Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. A large part of these islands are under Japanese control. Now we are going to stir up a hornet's nest. The British are unwilling to unilaterally change any situation, so we can only maintain these disputes first."

"Should we drag the United States into the water?" Zhang Yu asked.

"No need to trouble the Americans." Chen Ke replied, "Besides, the United States has already entered the water long ago; where does dragging the United States into the water come from?"

"So, the United States might also stab us in the back?" Zhang Yu said a very serious topic with a relaxed expression.

"Ride a donkey and read the songbook—wait and see. As long as our own industrial development doesn't go wrong, nothing is a problem." You Gou was surprisingly confident about this.

You Gou was indeed right; the smooth development of industry could indeed solve most problems. The biggest reason why Japan was jumping up and down right now was that their industry had big problems.

After the end of World War I, an economic crisis soon appeared in the world. Except for the People's Party, other countries in the world that made a fortune in World War I all encountered economic crises.

The biggest characteristic of capitalist countries is "profit-driven." Government and capital consortia actively investing in long-term scientific research and development was something after the Great Depression. Now all scientific and technological research and economic actions revolve around profit as the sole purpose without exception, and it is short-term profit.

The United States was fine; after all, it had a huge industrial system and strong agricultural production. Europe lacked food after the war, and the US grain production sector obtained rich profits. But Japan had a thin foundation and weak industrial capability. Without orders flying like snowflakes, Japan immediately fell into a comprehensive economic crisis.

Takahashi Korekiyo immediately adopted corresponding economic adjustments, compressing military expenses, devaluing the yen, and the government coming forward to undertake the high-risk southward cooperation strategy. According to Takahashi Korekiyo's plan, Japan would solve Japan's domestic problems by increasing its share in the US and Southeast Asian markets.

However, this time he was not as lucky as last time. Not only was the Japanese Army opposing Takahashi Korekiyo, but even the Navy Department began to oppose Takahashi Korekiyo.

In the Western Pacific, there was not only the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. After the United States intervened in the Western Pacific and maintained a fairly close relationship with China, Japan, as Britain's strategic pillar, immediately felt strong pressure. There was the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army on land and the US fleet at sea. Even though the wolf-like northern neighbor Russia was in a bad situation now, Japan had no ability to occupy the lands in the far north.

The Army's northward plan was rejected. The Emperor's chamberlain simply mocked behind his back, "What are we conquering there for? To hunt bears for His Majesty the Emperor?"

Pressure from the Army was easier to deal with. To maintain strategic advantages over China, plus Britain's instigation, Japan participated in the shipbuilding competition with Britain. The Navy Department forcefully proposed a huge naval plan to establish two "Eight-Eight Fleets."

Takahashi Korekiyo strongly opposed it, which naturally encountered fierce backlash from the Navy Department. Seeing that the situation could no longer be changed, Takahashi Korekiyo simply announced that he would not run for Prime Minister again after his term expired. The Japanese political situation immediately became turbulent.