Chapter 530: The European War the Meilika People See Is the War the British Want Them to See

"Not only that." Wilson lowered his voice, "I've heard rumors that Yingguo intelligence departments are forging evidence. Photos of Bilishi civilians being slaughtered, German soldiers' 'Atrocity Diary', even 'secret documents' of Deguo's plan to invade Meilika… these are being leaked to Meilika media through 'reliable channels'."

"Purpose?"

"Make Meilika people believe that Deguo is a barbaric demon, Yingguo is a civilized guardian. Then…" Wilson made a gesture, "let us join the war."

The office fell silent. From the distant printing workshop came the roar of machines, the tomorrow newspaper being printed. The headline had already been set: "Degjun Atrocities Escalate Again, Poison Gas Attacks Innocent Civilians."

"Editor‑in‑chief, what shall we do?" Wilson asked, "Continue publishing these… processed news? Or try to Breakthrough the blockade?"

James remained silent for a long time. Outside, the sky darkened, and New York's lights lit up one by one. The city's media shaped the perception of millions, and those perceptions were being manipulated by people in a censorship office far away in London.

"Publish," he finally said, his voice weary, "but add a note from the editor: the source of this article has been relayed, our office cannot independently verify it. Also, Tom, activate the backup plan."

"Backup plan?"

"We still have reporters in Switzerland, and also in Sweden. Have them find a way, through neutral‑country channels, to send back uncensored reports. Do not use telegrams, use diplomatic mailbags, private couriers, any method that can bypass Yingguo surveillance. Even if it takes a week or two later, we must let readers see the other side of the truth."

"That would offend Yingguo, even the Meilika government…"

"The primary duty of the news is to report the truth, not to please the government," James readjusted his glasses, "Go ahead. Be careful."

After Wilson left, James sat alone in the office. He took an old photograph from the drawer—1900, when he, as a young reporter, was sent to London to study, posing with the grandson of Reuters founder Paul Reuters. At that time they talked about press freedom, information without borders, and the lofty mission of the media as the "fourth power."

Sixteen years later, the war had twisted everything. Truth became the first casualty, and the media became a weapon of war.

The phone rang. James answered.

"Editor‑in‑chief, this is McCarthy," the voice on the other end sounded slightly distorted but urgent, "I've just received explosive news, but the Yingguo censorship office won't let me publish. They say…"

A harsh interference hiss came through the line, followed by a busy tone; the call was cut off.

James set the receiver down, gazing at New York's nightscape. Beneath the dazzling lights, a war without smoke raged fiercely. One side controlled cables, telegrams, printing presses; the other side had only pen and paper, and an ever‑shrinking space to speak.

But even so, he had to make a sound.

Even if it was just a faint cry, almost lost in the storm of propaganda.

January 3 1917, London, Naval Department Intelligence Bureau basement.

The room had no windows; the walls were soundproof cork, and the only door was a heavy steel door that required two keys turned simultaneously to open. This was Yingguo's codebreaking center—the "Room 40"—where the world's top code experts worked, deciphering Deguo, Ottoman, and even neutral nations' diplomatic and military codes.

Today, the atmosphere in the room was unusually tense.

Sir Alfred Ewing, Cambridge mathematics professor and head of the codebreaking center, stood before the main workbench, holding a freshly decoded Encrypted Telegram. His hand trembled slightly, not from cold but from excitement.

"Gentlemen," his voice hoarse, "we may have obtained… the most important piece of intelligence in the war."

Around the workbench, a dozen people held their breath. Among them were mathematicians, linguists, a chess champion, and even a crossword designer—Yingguo's government had gathered every talent skilled at cracking patterns and codes.

Ewing placed the telegram on the desk, securing its four corners with magnets.

"This is an Encrypted Telegram from three days ago, sent from Berlin to the Deguo embassy in Mexico City. It was transmitted via the Swedish Foreign Ministry's relay, using Deguo's newest '0075' diplomatic code."

He paused, letting everyone see the telegram: dense strings of numbers, each group of five digits, a total of one hundred forty‑two groups.

"We only partially cracked the 0075 code two months ago, and it was unstable. But this time…" Ewing's mouth twitched into a smile, "the Deguo made a mistake. They encrypted two messages of different lengths with the same key, giving us a chance for a cross‑break."

He pointed to another document, a routine diplomatic briefing intercepted from Stockholm, sent from Berlin to the Swedish Foreign Ministry, also encrypted with 0075, but its content was known—it was Deguo's request for Sweden to help transport medical supplies.

"By comparing the two telegrams, Mr. Williams—" he looked at a young man with thick glasses, "found the key pattern. Then, Ms. Mobri—" a woman in her forties, modestly dressed, nodded, "reconstructed the cipher wheel."

Ewing picked up a red pencil and began annotating the telegram.

"The decoded content… gentlemen, please see for yourselves."

He stepped back. The nearest code expert leaned forward to read, eyes widening. The second and third people crowded in, and a suppressed gasp rose in the room.

Telegram body:

"To the Deguo envoy to Mexico, von Eckhart: Top secret. We plan to commence unrestricted submarine warfare on February 1. This may cause Meilika to join the war against us. Under these circumstances, please, pending President Karansa's consent, propose a German‑Mexican military alliance. Proposed plan: Mexico and Deguo jointly fight the United States, Deguo provides financial aid, Mexico commits to 'recover' the lost territories in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona. Probe the Mexican government's intentions, but be cautious, avoid premature exposure. This concerns the empire's survival; utmost prudence is required. Zimmelman."

A death‑like silence.

For a full half‑minute, no one spoke. Only the low hum of the ventilation system and someone's heavy breathing.

"God…" finally someone broke the silence, "this is… a declaration of war. If Meilika people see this…"

"They would go mad," Ewing replied, "Texas, New Mexico, Arizona—those states are part of Meilika, ceded after the 1848 Mexican‑American War. Deguo is plotting to split Meilika's territory."

Another code expert—a former Yingguo military attaché in Deguo, familiar with Deguo's diplomatic style—furrowed his brow, "But this telegram is too… blunt. Zimmelman is a career diplomat; why would he use such explicit language? Moreover, sent via Sweden, he knows we might intercept it."

"Perhaps he wanted us to intercept it," someone suggested, "to enrage Meilika, to draw Meilika into the war? That makes no sense."

"Unless…" Ewing moved to the world map on the wall, "unless Deguo is already desperate. They know unrestricted submarine warfare will inevitably pull Meilika into the war, so they want to court Mexico early, light a fire in Meilika's backyard, and tie down American forces."

He turned to face the group.

"Motives are irrelevant. What matters is that this telegram is now in our hands. What we must do is make it appear before Meilika people at the most appropriate time and in the most suitable manner."

"But how do we explain that we intercepted Deguo's diplomatic cipher?" someone questioned, "It would expose our codebreaking ability, and Deguo would immediately change their cipher system."

Ewing smiled—a smile of seasoned scheming.

"Who says we have to admit we intercepted it? We can stage an 'accidental discovery.' For example… a low‑ranking staffer at the Deguo embassy in Mexico, a informant for Yingguo intelligence, who 'happened' to see the telegram and, 'out of a sense of justice,' copied it and sent it to us through secret channels."