Chapter 321: An Exchange of Interests

London, England.

Churchill stared at the document in front of him with a worried expression, finally sighing and shaking his head. This was the third time he had submitted a naval operational plan. The first, which had been rejected, was for the navy to go to sea to attack German naval bases and annihilate the German fleet. The second, also rejected, was for the fleet to sortie into the English Channel to support the army’s operations in Belgium. And the third sortie plan, the one this time, was an operational plan to send the navy to protect Norway and Denmark.

And the reason Prime Minister Chamberlain had rejected Churchill’s plan was actually not complicated, because Churchill himself could not guarantee the success rate of these plans. But Churchill was more worried that Norway, having lost the protection of the British Navy, would be completely conquered by the German army, and such a consequence was something the entire British Empire did not want to see.

Because the iron ore that Norway was rich in could supply Germany for expanded production. These resources were enough for Germany to produce thousands of tanks and cannons, and could also allow Germany to produce dozens or even hundreds of warships, and these weapons of war were enough to arm the German army to the teeth.

So Britain had originally always had a plan to blockade the Norwegian sea route and to choke the throat of Germany’s war resources. But this plan, with the defeat off the coast of the Netherlands, with the heavy losses at Scapa Flow, had ultimately been aborted.

Now, Britain had lost the strength to blockade Norway, which had also given Germany an opportunity to plan the occupation of Norway. This opportunity was not deliberately left for Germany by the British, but was won by the German Navy with its own courage.

“Our spies have already detected that the German Navy’s High Seas Fleet had already left the naval port of Wilhelmshaven two days ago. Yet our navy still does not dare to make any move. No matter where this fleet ultimately intends to attack, we have no way to counter-attack in the first instance,” Churchill finally said after a long silence. “How do we deal with the Norwegian crisis? If Norway is occupied by Germany, the iron ore we import will be reduced, and Germany’s ability to resist the blockade will become even stronger.”

“What can I do? Hmm? Our fleet lacks the necessary air cover. If we sortie rashly and lose more ships, what will you use to defend the British mainland?” Chamberlain asked back helplessly. “Although our losses are not small, they are far from the point where we dare not fight. But our losses have been too concentrated, which has made it impossible for His Majesty the King and I to make up our minds for a decisive battle.”

“We cannot give up Norway!” Churchill pleaded, his voice even tinged with tears. “Once we give up Norway, then the German navy will have countless more sea exits. Even if our navy regains the initiative, there will be absolutely no way to trap the German navy in the North Sea again!”

Chamberlain sighed and said, “The assassination plan failed! We lost three of our best agents. It can be said that God is not on our side! We were so close to blowing up that monstrous bastard.”

Churchill thought for a moment and finally said what he had been holding in his heart. “Mr. Prime Minister! To pin our hopes of ending the war on those assassination attempts is fundamentally an act of opportunism! We should send out the army to counter-attack, not rely on tricks to exchange for peace.”

“Do you think I’m appeasing them? I’m protecting you, the elite of the war party!” Chamberlain slammed his fist on the table and roared. “If the navy fails again, even if I have to give up my position as Prime Minister, I won’t be able to save you as First Lord of the Admiralty!”

Churchill looked at Chamberlain as if he were seeing this dovish Prime Minister for the first time. He knew that Chamberlain had always been working toward European peace, but he did not know that this somewhat weak old man could actually say such words.

Only then did Churchill know that it was Chamberlain, the Prime Minister he had always secretly looked down on, who was shielding him from the wind and rain. Only then did he know why, after the battle off the coast of the Netherlands and the battle of Scapa Flow, he had still been able to sit securely in the position of First Lord of the Admiralty.

“Why… why?” Churchill asked with difficulty, looking at Chamberlain. To admit one’s own mistake is a very difficult thing, and to admit one’s own mistake in front of the person concerned is an even more difficult thing. Churchill knew that by asking this question, he was implicitly revealing his consistent view of Chamberlain, but his self-esteem forced him to ask.

“When you sit in my position one day, you will understand! The Prime Minister is not like the First Lord of the Admiralty. You only need to think about how to win the war,” Chamberlain said with a self-deprecating smile. “But a qualified Prime Minister, he not only has to consider winning the war, he also has to consider avoiding war, losing the war, and so on. I strive for peace because I myself do not want to see war. I keep a hardliner like you because I am not sure when the war will end.”

He stood up and gazed out the window, his voice carrying a lonely sigh of emotion. “It seems now that the war will not end in the short term. So I feel that even if Britain can do without a person like me, it should not lose a person like you.”

“But, Mr. Prime Minister! We still cannot sit by and watch the German army invade Norway! We must at least show our fundamental position of opposing German hegemony in Europe,” Churchill said, looking at Chamberlain and speaking his thoughts truthfully. “The navy must sortie. The victory or defeat in Norway is irrelevant. What matters is to show the whole world our determination to counter-attack Germany!”

“I am preparing to transfer you to the naval logistics department. Then I will put a scapegoat on the stage to carry out your third plan,” Chamberlain said, pointing to the documents on the table. “Churchill, I absolutely cannot agree to your plan to send out the battleship fleet. The only thing I can do is to allow the navy to send a small number of destroyers into the coastal waters of Norway.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand to stop Churchill from speaking and continued, “These destroyers are being sent to be eaten by the German Navy. Their loss is inevitable. The only difference is how much trouble they can cause for the German Navy when they are lost.”

“How can you…” Churchill almost jumped up. He was shocked by Chamberlain’s plan.

“Let me finish,” Chamberlain said with a wave of his hand. “This way, the scapegoat who replaces you will also have to resign in disgrace. And I, too, will be affected. This is all within my expectations.”

He smiled and, with his hands behind his back, walked to the window and looked at the sky outside. “And then I will propose to approve the American ‘Lend-Lease Act,’ to borrow 50 destroyers from the Americans in exchange for military bases, to make up for our losses in the Norwegian Sea.”

“By doing this, I am using a few broken ships to exchange for the most advantageous situation for you, the war party,” Chamberlain said with a few bitter laughs, then turned his head to look at Churchill. “Don’t be in a hurry to thank me. I am doing this more for my own selfish reasons than for the public good. In this battle, I, like all of you, cannot predict our outcome. So I dare not risk continuing to be this Prime Minister. I am afraid of becoming the first Prime Minister in British history to have to face the humiliation of defeat.”

“I am leaving a mess for you all,” Chamberlain shook his head and then asked, “Now I want to ask you. As a member of the war party, do you dare to take this hot potato that I am throwing to you?”

They were both old politicians who had been in high positions for half their lives. Of course, Churchill would not be fooled into tears and confidences by a few words from Chamberlain. After carefully weighing it in his mind, he knew that Chamberlain actually had other plans.

“I’m afraid there’s another meaning in this, isn’t there? At a time like this, to use a not-so-big reason to get yourself out of the center of power. If the situation gets out of hand in the future, you will become the far-sighted savior of Britain, and your prestige will be even higher and more stable than it is now!” Churchill said, looking at Chamberlain.

“I don’t deny that. This is my solution to the current situation. If you have any higher means, you can use them too,” Chamberlain nodded proudly, admitting Churchill’s speculation. “It just depends on whether you dare to take the move.”

“One stone, two birds! An old politician is indeed an old politician! I really have some admiration for you now!” Churchill nodded. “But what if we win? Won’t that mean you’ve just made a wedding dress for me?”

“Then that means you are truly capable, and I will have nothing more to say,” Chamberlain said with a shrug. “At that time, I will have at least opened up a great situation for you and can be considered one of the meritorious officials. I’ll just stay at home and retire. Who’s to say that I’m not being rather pessimistic now, feeling that it will be difficult for Britain to win this time?”

“Alright! We’ll do it as you say! But if we accept this ‘Lend-Lease Act’ from the Americans this time, then no matter if we win or lose, we in Britain will lose our current status,” Churchill said helplessly. “Although this is the best result we can strive for now, it also means that America’s plan to profit from our misfortune has succeeded once again.”

“We have to swallow this bitter pill now! After all, we can’t possibly resist the German invasion on our own now,” Chamberlain said. His plan had succeeded, and his mood had relaxed considerably. “The German army has already reached the vicinity of Amiens. Lord Gort has already sent several telegrams, urging us to send reinforcements. The last batch of reinforcements is already on standby. Including these soldiers, we have already committed a full 390,000 troops to Europe. This is all we can muster.”

“I will go back and draw up the operational plan. The navy will be ready to set sail,” Churchill said, getting up helplessly.

The next day, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Churchill, was transferred to the naval logistics department. The newly appointed First Lord proposed a new operational plan. Chamberlain approved this offensive plan. That afternoon, six naval destroyers left port and headed for the Norwegian Sea.

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