The Great Purge in the Soviet Union had been rumored to be almost supernatural in its intensity, and the Chinese representatives had heard some news about it. However, the People's Party had an internal requirement not to discuss this matter publicly. This did not mean that Chen Ke or the Central Committee of the People's Party approved of Uncle Steel's methods. The People's Party placed great emphasis on clear and formal laws, especially the protection of the people's rights as stipulated in the constitution. No matter how much the People's Party detested those who opposed them, everyone at least knew to say verbally: "Opposing the People's Party is not a crime, but merely a personal opinion."

Uncle Steel's iron-fisted tactics had indeed scared the comrades of the People's Party into a cold sweat. The People's Party also emphasized iron discipline, but those who could not stand this discipline were free to leave. So far, there had been targeted rectification campaigns at intervals, but there had never been targeted elimination of a specific person or group. Nor did it exist that someone would be designated as a counter-revolutionary just because they were an associate of XXX. Of course, this had a certain relationship with the strict adherence to the party committee system within the People's Party; if a party committee's decision was wrong, those who agreed with it were punished together. There was no such thing as certain individuals receiving special treatment.

While this approach certainly caused many problems of bureaucracy and personnel struggles due to shirking of responsibility, these did not lead to mass killings of certain factions. After all, the People's Party also had the "People's Internal Affairs Committee," and these secret police institutions were a bottom line for maintaining fairness. As a deterrent and a counterweight to the bureaucratic system, the role of these institutions was quite outstanding.

Regardless of the widespread discussion within the People's Party, or the intense reaction of some with ulterior motives, the Chinese side was still unwilling to evaluate the affairs of the Soviet comrades. The result of trying to interfere would only be to trigger baseless suspicion from the Soviet comrades. The idiom "suspecting the neighbor upon losing an axe" has been spoken for thousands of years, teaching everyone not to press a warm face against a cold backside. Self-righteousness is the express lane to digging one's own grave.

However, the world never lacks people who treat provocation as communication, and this is even more of a norm at the national level. The Chinese side had repeatedly stated its position, yet the foreigners still relentlessly tried to pry and inquire. The head of the Chinese delegation could only implicitly suggest, "Why was the Soviet Union not invited to this meeting?"

Neither the host, the United States, nor the other countries could answer this question. They actually did not want to invite the Soviet Union; inviting the Soviet Union would be tantamount to asking for trouble. The major capitalist countries of the world were quite dissatisfied with the Soviet Union, this communist country close at hand, far more so than with China, this pink trading partner. It was obviously inappropriate to let the Soviet Union participate in such an important naval conference.

The conference eventually had to move on to the main topic, and all countries discussed a new naval limitation treaty. Theoretically, all countries hoped to limit naval armaments. The British side's desire for this was particularly strong. The Chinese representative expressed agreement with this. At the meeting, the Chinese representative earnestly put forward China's suggestion: "On the issue of the naval limitation treaty, we in China are willing to work with countries around the world to maintain world peace. To express our sincerity, we are willing to raise our naval tonnage to the same level as Britain and the United States. China is a peace-loving country; our country had a saying thousands of years ago: 'Those who are warlike will inevitably perish.' Therefore, China is willing to dedicate its own strength to strike at all aggressors."

This brazen attitude shocked all the participating countries except Japan. The Chinese reason for demanding an increased naval share was stated with such righteousness that, for a moment, the countries could not even think of a reason to oppose it.

After a good while, under the gaze of the representatives of various countries staring at the Chinese representative as if he were a monster, the American representative asked somewhat stammeringly, "Why doesn't China adopt the method of reducing naval armaments to promote peace?"

The Chinese representative continued to look like an angel of justice as he said seriously, "We are only asking to increase the ratio, but our side believes there is no need to talk about tonnage. If the countries feel that this tonnage is insufficient to protect their own national security, then we can increase the tonnage of all treaty signatory countries. Whether it is twice, three times, five times, or ten times the current amount, it doesn't matter. This is entirely negotiable!"

Such tough rhetoric unambiguously told the countries that China was prepared to play the game of a shipbuilding race with them. If the countries did not accept China's request to increase its naval ratio, China would absolutely not submit.

China's tough attitude immediately triggered strong opposition from all countries. In the days that followed, the Soviet issue was thrown to the winds, and all countries made various moves centering on China's attitude.

Britain naturally tried to persuade the Japanese representative, hoping that the Japanese side could resume cooperation with Britain. The British representative even spoke bluntly: "If China continues like this, we in Britain will transfer the Mediterranean Fleet and the Indian Ocean Fleet to the Pacific."

If Britain hadn't said this, the Japanese side might not have been able to make up its mind. With Britain's attitude being so tough, the Japanese side immediately made a decision—no matter what, they had to drag the British into the mire.

If China was subjected to huge external pressure, it would naturally try to be as friendly to Japan as possible when it could be friendly. If China really couldn't withstand the pressure, Japan could also rely on selling out China in exchange for benefits. Of course, if China really wanted to move against Britain, the best time would be when the British fleet was gathered in the Pacific. During the "Sino-Japanese Joint Exercise," the powerful combat effectiveness displayed by the Chinese Navy had left a deep impression on the Japanese representatives.

So when the American representative negotiated with the Japanese representative afterwards, the Japanese representative relayed Britain's attitude to the American side word for word. Originally, the American representative did not have much confidence in persuading Japan to cooperate with the United States. After all, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance had not yet been terminated, and in terms of distance, China and Japan were closer, making it more convenient for the two countries to unite. Upon learning of the British tough attitude, the American representative immediately changed his attitude. "Are you sure Britain's attitude is not a joke?" the American representative asked.

What the Americans feared most was not China, nor Japan, nor even the Soviet Union; what the American side feared most was still Britain. Back when Germany took out France, it immediately began trying to make peace with Britain. The United States supported Churchill to the death, treating the hardline Churchill better than its own son. Just as Britain immediately sent its navy to destroy the French fleet after France surrendered, what the Americans were most worried about at that time was that Britain and Germany would really reach a peace agreement, and then Britain, France, and Germany would join hands to attack the United States. At that time, the US Navy was frantically planning how to fight against the British fleet.

Listening to the Japanese representative's words, the American representative suddenly felt that if things really developed into a life-and-death naval battle between Britain and China, this would be great news for the United States. In the view of the American side, no matter how awesome China was, its naval power was limited. Britain could not fight its way into China's homeland, so the war between the two sides would be a comprehensive war of attrition at sea. The Japanese Navy had already been weakened to a considerable extent. If China and Britain had another comprehensive naval battle and consumed these two naval forces cleanly, the United States, watching the tigers fight from the mountain, would remain unscathed while the absolute proportion of its naval power in the world would naturally rise. The American representative suddenly had a hope that the Chinese and British navies would go to war right now.

No matter how strong China's army forces were, or as the news transmitted back by the Pacific Fleet suggested, that China had a powerful air force, neither of these two branches of the military could cross the vast Pacific Ocean to hit the American homeland. Any war of attrition between China and Britain was good news for the United States.

The attitude of the Americans changed because of the change in the British, and the French also did not get along with Britain. As for Italy, the British Mediterranean Fleet was the object the Italians hated most. If this fleet left the Mediterranean for the distant Pacific, the Italians would naturally be happy. If this Mediterranean Fleet was sunk by the Chinese in the Pacific, perhaps the Italians would jump for joy and sing the praises of the Chinese Navy in their hearts for ridding Italy of a scourge.

The only one who genuinely supported Britain was the Netherlands. They did not want Britain to fail in a war with China. But they hoped that Britain could deal a heavy blow to China in the Pacific, helping the Netherlands regain Borneo and other places taken by China.

Thus, unbeknownst to the countries, China seemed to have become the target of public criticism, but all countries were trying by hook or by crook to make China and Britain come into direct conflict. The countries clearly supported Britain, and intentionally or unintentionally pushed Britain to the front line of direct confrontation, or even war, with China.

The British were naturally as cunning as ghosts. As soon as the wind of the negotiations changed, the British felt that something was wrong. Britain only wanted to scare China, not really to wipe China out. Britain was currently the world boss and had global interests; the British naval fleet had to control key points everywhere. To fight a war with China for this ghostly place of the Western Pacific, the British were not that stupid. With that bit of energy, Britain might as well guard well against the ill-intentioned United States, suppress Italy in the Mediterranean, and watch out for Germany, which was ready to make trouble.

Since the Chinese attitude was tough and the countries wanted to roast Britain over the fire, the British immediately began to sell out their teammates. The British representative immediately softened his stance and began to seriously discuss with China the question of exactly how much military force was needed to maintain world peace. The negotiations started with the Chinese representative's tough attitude, went around in a big circle, and returned to the Chinese representative's tough attitude.

However, Britain was the world boss after all, and the harsh words that needed to be said still had to be said. "If China builds one battleship, then we will add one battleship."

"Oh?" The Chinese representative looked at the British representative with a contemptuous look, as if looking at a little doll. "Then does the British side need us to provide you with a detailed list? We only request to possess the same naval ratio as Britain; we do not care how many warships the British side has."

The Chinese representative's consistent attitude made the negotiations truly impossible to continue at this point. Finally, the American side had to propose a recess. This recess lasted for half a year. The second meeting was a matter for June 1938.