Chapter 392: Nanyang Storm (Third update, please subscribe)
Nanyang is changing every day!
The changes are so great that they are even beyond imagination. Others may not know it, but Lin Shaojie, who was born and raised in Surabaya, has witnessed Ma Chen's changes with his own eyes.
Three years ago, when the Japanese surrendered in Machen, Machen was like a backward small town compared with Surabaya, but what about now?
But in just three years, Machen has developed into a metropolis with a population of millions, with high-rise buildings, not only factories everywhere, but also universities. This time Lin Shaojie came from Surabaya The boat ride to Machen, no, it should be called Yong'an, is to visit my son who is studying at Yong'an University.
After getting off the ship, while Lin Shaojie was waiting in line to go through customs, he saw someone shouting in front of him. He saw a Javanese wearing a badi shirt shouting excitedly.
Although he spoke Javanese, Lin Shaojie could still understand what he was saying, and basically refused him entry. Even though he held a Dutch passport, he was refused. This was obviously irritating. The man was dissatisfied and he explained loudly that he was a businessman and was here to do business.
At this moment, he was suddenly thrown to the ground by the police. Regardless of his resistance, the police shouted loudly while controlling him.
"Sir, your behavior has violated the "Security Law", we will hand you over to the appropriate agency..."
The man was soon controlled and dragged out. As for Everyone else became cautious or even wary, but Lin Shaojie didn't find it strange.
Lin Shaojie, who travels between Nanyang and Surabaya and even Batavia all year round, knows that it is almost impossible for Javanese to enter Nanyang. Even war refugees cannot even think of entering Nanyang. Even if they know that this place is like a paradise, it has nothing to do with them. relation.
This is similar to the Surabaya Special City. Three years ago, when the Japanese surrendered, the Nanyang Army entered Surabaya and established the Surabaya Special City. For the first time, the Tang people in Surabaya took control of municipal power and had their own police force. . In the past three years, Javanese have been moving away from Surabaya, not because they want to leave, but because of tax and other reasons.
Anyway, many places are slowly changing.
Ten minutes later, when he left the customs hall and waited for the bus on the roadside, the shouts of the newspaper seller at the newsstand not far away reached Lin Shaojie's ears.
“The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for the restoration of the government of the Republic of Java.”
"The United States stopped aid to the Netherlands and demanded that it immediately withdraw its troops and transfer all sovereignty to Java."
The sudden news stunned Lin Shaojie. He was originally looking forward to meeting his son, but he suddenly became nervous. stand up.
"The Dutch are leaving! So, what about Surabaya?"
While worried, Lin Shaojie could only place his hope on Nanyang. After all, Surabaya has Nanyang's air force. Base, with their troops.
“Nanyang will not ignore Surabaya!”
In fact, not only will Surabaya not be ignored, but there are also more requirements for the Dutch-Indian region and Southeast Asia.
......
"Our opportunity has come!"
In December last year, the Dutch army conducted "Operation Crow" in East India. Occupied the city of Yogyakarta, where the temporary capital was located. Soon its president, vice-president and all but six ministers were captured by Dutch troops and exiled to Bangka Island on the east coast of Sumatra.
"Operation Crow" seemed to be very successful, but it allowed Nanyang to see an opportunity, because the Netherlands signed a ceasefire agreement with it at the beginning of the year.
"International public opinion will be outraged by the Dutch's perfidy. Soon, the United Nations will ask it to evacuate East India, and the United States will ask the same. Our opportunity has come..."
So, on Christmas Eve last year , Li Guoren came to London as the special envoy of the King of Sarawak. At this time, London, it should be said, Britain was no different from the past.
The 1949, which is about to begin, will be the tenth year of austerity for the British. Almost all consumer goods, such as food, fuel, alcohol, electricity, and clothing, were subject to strict rationing, which was only slightly less stringent than during the war. Some newspapers even ran articles suggesting ways to recycle toilet paper suggested by humorists.
“Tighten your belt and beat the cold!”
This is the new slogan shouted by Britain after defeating Hitler.
During Christmas, only one out of five households can purchase a turkey. Due to rising toy prices, many children's shoes are left empty in front of the fireplace. On store shelves and in windows there were often "Sold Out" notices, and people could no longer buy potatoes, wood, coal, cigarettes and bacon.
Facing the miserable situation on this holiday morning, the famous British economist John Maynard Keynes bluntly pointed out:
“We are a poor country, so we must Learn how to live. "
This is Britain - post-war Britain is still poor and difficult. In order to save military expenses, not to mention the army, and even the pride of Britain, the Royal Navy was also wielded with a big knife. One warship after another was mothballed, and tens of thousands of naval personnel were unemployed.
In a word...the glory of the empire is already the glory of yesterday. Let alone maintaining the Royal Navy, even India, which is the crown of the Emperor of the British Empire, will also be abandoned. Now the issue of India's independence is in the final stages. discussion.
It was at this time that Li Guoren came to London, the former capital of the world, as the king's special envoy.
Early that morning, a black Austin car drove quietly toward the city center. The car passed Buckingham Palace and then turned onto Mull Street. Li Guoren, who was sitting in the back seat, stared at the Imperial Avenue passing by in front of him. At this moment, and looking at the current situation in Britain, he couldn't help but fall into reverie about the past: Once upon a time, Great Britain celebrated its glorious victory here. Half a century ago, Queen Victoria, in her prime, rode in a resplendent carriage through this avenue to attend a grand ceremony celebrating her fiftieth wedding anniversary.
How powerful was the British Empire at that time? No, even ten years ago, the British Empire was still unchallengeable. Li Guoren clearly remembered the impression this place gave him when he first came to London, and How Britain held on tenaciously as all of Europe fell over the next few years.
“Who would have thought that the empire would decline so quickly?”
Finally, the black Austin Spy car quietly appeared on Mull Street - the car stopped in front of No. 10 Downing Street. It goes without saying that this was the most photographed gate in the world by journalists. During the six-year war, the press around the world often associated this official residence with a familiar image: he wore a black top hat, a thick cigar in his mouth, a cane in one hand, and a tall man in the other. Raise it high to make a "V" sign for victory.
Winston Churchill had already evacuated this apartment before the war was over. He fought two major battles here, one to defeat Hitler and the other to defend the British Empire. .
He won the former, but the latter... Now, how will he feel when he sees the Labor cabinet looking like a prodigal, ready to throw away India?
"I guess you are scolding those guys for being bastards, don't you feel heartbroken!"
With this thought in mind, Li Guoren smiled, he didn't care about India at all. No matter how much you care about India, it's just a matter of care and attention. It's not necessary.
The reason why I came here is for another thing. Things closely related to Nanyang.
After getting off the car, Li Guoren paused deliberately for the black wooden door that is famous in the world.
He had been here once upon a time, but at that time he was only qualified to stand downstairs.
And now he is about to walk in here to discuss some issues with the British Prime Minister!
Destiny is really magical sometimes.
Sighing in his heart, Li Guoren immediately walked into No. 10 Downing Street...
(End of this chapter)