diymy Chapter 774, Part 5: This is just the beginning.
Chapter 774, Part 5: This is just the beginning.
Asquith remained silent for a long time.
The firewood in the fireplace crackled, and the sound of the waves crashing outside the window drifted in intermittently. Time ticked by.
Finally, Asquith raised his head.
"Your Excellency, I understand."
Wilson nodded. "That's good."
He stood up, walked to his desk, took a document from the drawer, and handed it to Asquith.
"This is the agenda for tomorrow's meeting. Please take a look."
Asquith took the document and turned to the first page. It read—
"Cyprus Conference Agenda":
10:00 AM: Opening ceremony, President Wilson delivers a speech.
11:00 AM: The League of Nations concept was proposed by President Wilson.
2 PM: Speeches by various countries.
4 PM: Closed-door consultation.
6 PM: Signing of the Cyprus Convention.
Asquith stared for a long time. Then he looked up at Wilson.
"Your Excellency, the contents of the convention..."
Wilson nodded. "Yes. You guessed right. The five permanent members of the Security Council, with veto power. Lanfang, Meilika, France, Germany, and Great Britain."
Asquith took a deep breath.
He knew that once this convention was signed, the world would be completely changed. Britain would no longer be Britain, Germany would no longer be Germany, everything would change.
But he also knew that this was the best outcome.
At least, Britain is still on the table.
Asquith left at 10 p.m.
He descended the gangway, stood on the dock, and glanced back at the white cruise ship. The ship was brightly lit, and soldiers were still patrolling the deck. Wilson stood at the ship's railing, talking to someone.
Asquith stared for a long time, then turned and walked toward his dwelling.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back again.
He recalled Wilson's last words: "Learn to bow your head, and you will survive."
He gave a wry smile.
Britain really has to bow down.
Late at night on June 19th, Cyprus.
The delegations from the five countries were stationed in different locations on the island. The ship belonging to the French delegation was docked in the port, the hotel in the city center was in France, the villa in England was by the sea, the accommodations in Germany were in the suburbs, and the villa in Lanfang was hidden in the bay on the east side.
At this moment, in five different places, five different people are all looking at the same night sky.
The residence of the Lanfang delegation.
Chen Feng stood on the terrace, gazing at the shimmering sea in the distance. Moonlight spilled across the surface, creating patches of silvery shimmer. Waves surged rhythmically onto the beach, making a soft, lapping sound.
Wang Wenwu walked onto the terrace and stood beside him.
"Your Excellency, it's all confirmed. Tirpitz has replied that William accepted your suggestion. Wilson has also reached an agreement with Asquith. Clemenceau has remained silent, making no move."
Chen Feng nodded. "The French are shrewd. They know when to speak and when to shut up."
Wang Wenwu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "President, do you really think the five permanent members of the UN Security Council can be stabilized?"
Chen Feng looked at him and remained silent for three seconds.
"It can't be stabilized. But it's better than nothing."
He turned around and looked at the dark sea in the distance.
"This war is over, but the next one will come soon. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are not the end, but the beginning. It is a period of preparation before the next war."
Wang Wenwu was stunned. "Commander-in-Chief, you mean—"
Chen Feng nodded. "The Germans are not convinced. The British are not convinced. The Americans haven't really fought yet. This ceasefire is just a chance to catch our breath."
He turned to look at Wang Wenwu.
"Therefore, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council are not a solution to the problem, but a way to buy time. Give everyone a table to sit down and talk, let them argue at the table, instead of retaliating on the battlefield. Let's drag it out for as long as possible."
Wang Wenwu was silent for a few seconds. Then he asked, "When will the next war come?"
Chen Feng looked at the dark sea in the distance and did not answer.
After a long while, he said softly, "They will come when everyone is ready."
The French delegation's residence.
Clemenceau sat at his desk, a document spread out in front of him. It was a report on the movements of various countries, compiled by his intelligence department.
Wilson met with Asquith tonight. Tirpitz secretly visited the Lanfang residence last night. Back in Germany, Wilhelm II may be abdicating.
He looked at it for a long time, then closed the file.
Pi Xiong stood to the side and asked softly, "Premier, what's your opinion?"
Clemenceau looked up at him.
"How do you look at it? Look at it while sitting down."
He stood up and walked to the window.
"Pi Xiong, do you know what the most important thing is at tomorrow's meeting?"
Pi Xiong shook his head.
Clemenceau pointed to the night sky outside the window.
"It's not the League of Nations, not a permanent seat on the Security Council, not a veto power. It's the tacit understanding between Chen Feng and Wilson. We'll eat the cake the way they divide it. If they fight, we'll take sides."
Pi Xiong paused for a moment. "Then which side should we stand on?"
Clemenceau turned around and looked at him.
"Don't take sides. Try to please both sides. Don't offend either side."
He walked back to his desk and sat down.
"France is no longer a superpower. We have to learn to dance between two giants. If we dance well, we can get a share of the spoils. If we dance poorly, we'll become the next Britain."
British delegation's residence.
Asquith sat at his desk, the agenda Wilson had given him laid out before him. He had read it three times already, and each time his heart raced.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Veto power. Britain is still on the table.
But what's the cost?
Abandoning compensation. Bowing one's head and admitting defeat. Reading people's expressions.
He stood up and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the Cypriot night was deep, the distant mountains appearing and disappearing in the moonlight. He recalled the high spirits he felt ten years ago when he first became Prime Minister. Back then, he believed that Britain would always be powerful, always the world's number one power.
Ten years later, Britain is almost finished.
Gray pushed open the door and came in, asking softly, "Prime Minister, you haven't rested yet?"
Asquith shook his head. "I can't sleep."
Gray walked over to him and stood beside him.
"Prime Minister, tomorrow..."
Asquith interrupted him. "I know. Sign it tomorrow."
Gray was silent for a few seconds. "Are you willing to accept this?"
Asquith looked at him and gave a wry smile.
"Resentful? Of course not. But what can we do?"
He turned around and continued looking out the window.
"Grey, remember this day. From this day forward, Britain is no longer Britain. We must learn to bow our heads, to read people's faces, and to survive in the cracks."
Gray nodded. "I understand."
The German delegation's residence.
Tirpitz stood by the window, gazing at the dark night in the distance. His hand rested on his chest, where William's telegram lay close to his body.
"Accept the advice. Prioritize Germany."
He recalled William's expression as he signed the document. The once spirited emperor, the once invincible monarch, now had to bow his head and relinquish power.
He suddenly felt a pang of heartache.
But more than anything, I feel fortunate.
Thankfully, Wilhelm is still alive. Thankfully, Germany still exists. Thankfully, there's still a chance.
The chief of staff walked up to him and asked softly, "Marshal, tomorrow...?"
Tirpitz nodded. "Tomorrow, sign."
The chief of staff hesitated for a moment. "Marshal, can we really become one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council?"
Tirpitz turned around and looked at him.
"Chen Feng will definitely keep his promise."
He paused.
"But becoming one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council doesn't mean everything is settled. The real competition has only just begun."