Chapter 68

Amidst the twinkling stars and the rising moon, the Thames River flows gently and continuously, reflecting a shimmering luster under the moonlight. On both banks, the bustling and opulent metropolis has already fallen into slumber, except for a towering giant clock that continues to move tirelessly, undeterred by wind or rain.

Overlooking London, the city appears grand and vast. In a spacious room within an exquisite building, an elderly man in his sixties, holding a pen, sits casually at the central desk. He is tall and somewhat overweight, with a long beard that accentuates the shiny bald spot on his head. Beside him, a middle-aged man in his late forties sits upright, though dressed simply, exuding a unique aura from years of military service.

With the sound of the pen cap clicking shut, the elderly man with the Mediterranean-style beard finished his work. Turning his head, he looked at the familiar face beside him, coughed, and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "Prentice, what brings you to me so late? Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

The middle-aged man, Prentice, bowed slightly and apologized, "I apologize, Lord Cecil, for disturbing your peace at this hour. However, I believe it would be better for you to know about this matter now rather than 12 hours later."

The elderly man, Cecil, pressed a button on his desk, and shortly after, a waiter entered with two steaming cups of coffee, placing them respectfully in front of the two men. The aroma of the high-quality coffee made the elderly man close his eyes in contentment. He picked up the cup, took a sip, and after a moment of savoring it, reluctantly said, "What is it? Go ahead."

"Lord, according to the latest intelligence, just five days ago, Russia placed an order for warships with Germany," Prentice said, eager to get to the point now that Cecil had finished his coffee.

Cecil nodded slightly, "I expected the Russians to do something like this. Their industrial base is weak, and they are only a second-rate power among the great nations. To have warships that can rival those of the British Empire, they must rely on foreign technology..." He paused, then asked in surprise, "You said Russia ordered warships from which country?"

"From Germany, Lord. From the German Empire, ruled by Queen Victoria's grandson, Wilhelm, who suffers from polio," Prentice replied.

"Hmm?" Cecil frowned, setting down his coffee cup. His eyes suddenly gleamed with a sharpness that belied his age. Though he remained seated, Prentice felt as if the elderly man was a sleeping lion, ready to awaken with an overwhelming presence that left no room for resistance.

"I thought the Russians, based on the Franco-Russian Alliance, would order ships from France. I never expected they would choose Germany," Cecil's hoarse voice echoed in the dim room, adding a sinister tone. "That little Nikky (Nicholas II was only 26 when he ascended to the throne, making Kim Jong-un, who took power at 29, seem weak in comparison) is always acting recklessly, not following the rules. I wonder if he realizes the consequences of ordering warships from Germany now. France has invested so much capital and shares in Russia; how can they order warships from their mortal enemy, Germany, before France? Prentice, do you have any specific details about this order?"

Prentice nodded, "After sacrificing a male intelligence officer's charm, we obtained partial information about the order. Under the Germans' proactive marketing, Russia ordered a large armored cruiser from the German Wilhelm Shipyard. Once completed and delivered, it will be assigned to the Pacific Fleet. The design displacement is 10,700 tons, equipped with 8 210mm main guns and 8 150mm secondary guns. Unfortunately, due to the limited knowledge of the Russian officer, we only have this much information and no details about the ship's speed or armor."

Cecil's gray eyebrows twitched, and after a moment, he said, "I had a slight inkling that Russia might order warships from Germany. After all, six months ago, Germany, despite having few interests in the Far East, joined the Russian-led intervention, helping the Russians significantly. As a return favor, Russia ordering a warship from Germany isn't a big deal. What I didn't expect was that the Germans would actively seek out Russia to sell warships. Could it be that Germany, after that incident, is eager to strengthen ties with Russia?"

"Lord, in my view, this is not a good sign for the British Empire," Prentice said with concern. Cecil glanced at him, signaling him to continue.

"For the past thirty years, Russia and the Empire have been in a covert struggle, especially intense in the Far East. Russia wants to annex the northeastern territories of Qing China, extend their influence to East Asia, and secure a warm-water port. The Empire, for its own interests, has been actively preventing this. Previously, the Empire had the upper hand in the conflict with Russia, but now, the situation is changing in a worrying way."

Prentice's expression grew serious, "In recent years, Russia and France signed a defensive alliance treaty. Although this treaty is aimed at Germany, the massive loan France provided to Russia has bound the two countries together. The Empire and France also have irreconcilable conflicts in Africa. Therefore, not only in the defense against Germany but also in the confrontation with the Empire, these two countries are like a pair of conniving scoundrels, ready to team up at the slightest provocation. With France's support, Russia's power has increased, and the Empire must be more cautious in its response, no longer able to act as freely as before."

"And if that were all, the British Empire could still handle Russia and France. However, the Germans, at this critical moment, have also inserted themselves into the situation. Most infuriatingly, they chose to support the barbarians of Russia. I don't know what's wrong with that polio-afflicted fellow! The intervention of the three countries six months ago forced the British Empire to make concessions, a significant diplomatic humiliation. If Germany, for the sake of Far Eastern territory, also sides with Russia, the British Empire will find it difficult to curb Russia's advance in the Far East," Prentice said solemnly.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —