Avoiding the awkward topic, everyone's eyes collectively turned to the sea in the north, and a black spot at the end of the pale blue sea water gradually became clear.

The Duke of Newcastle stood by Jae-chun's side and explained to the young emperor the history of Portsmouth Military Harbour and its geography, interspersed with some tidbits from the history of naval warfare.

I have to say that the duke is a very amiable person and very eloquent, and Jae-soon was quickly attracted to him.

Now, not only Xiao Letian, but also the people around Xiao Letian have also felt the 'special care' of the British side, and everyone has noticed the sense of distance exuded by the duke.

You still can't say what's wrong with this, from the etiquette, you find any fault with the duke, after all, Jaechun is the emperor, Xiao Letian is just a Chinese head of state who has not been recognized by the European powers, or another identity emperor.

It's actually normal to be more enthusiastic about Jae-chun and less for Xiao Lotian, but the problem now is not just a question of who to talk to a lot, but a discord hidden by the Duke of Newcastle.

Constantly boasting about Britain's strength to Jae-soon is not just boasting, but hoping to instill the impression that Britain is invincible, and trying to exert influence on Jae-soon by showing his strength.

Being able to make a thirteen-year-old emperor of the Great Qing Dynasty a British fan would be of great benefit to the negotiations and business between the two countries in the future.

At that time, the reform of the Qing Dynasty will draw a lot of lessons from British experience, use British standards, borrow British funds, and adopt British talents...... At that time, the British capital power will be able to hold a large number of shares in the enterprises of the Qing Dynasty, or joint ventures, or sole proprietorships, anyway, with the support of the emperor, won't this market be opened?

Shiploads of British industrial goods began to be dumped along Chinese mainland, and more and more pounds poured into the Qing Dynasty to become shares that could eat dividends forever for a hundred years.

You have me, I have you, this kind of cooperation is a model of semi-colony, ruling China with the Manchu royal family, digging this endless gold mine of the Han people...... I can wake up with a smile when I think about it.

In order to achieve this goal, the Duke of Newcastle had to spare no effort to instill in Jae-soon the strength of British industry, the friendship and closeness between the nobility of the two countries, and of course, the great British naval power.

Who else is willing to deal with these people of the Hua clan at this time? The duke's saliva could only be sent politely, and ninety percent still had to be sprayed on Zaichun's body, and the compliments and polite words rushed towards Emperor Tongzhi like waves.

Xiao Letian maintained enough diplomatic etiquette on the surface, and there was still a smile on the corner of his mouth, but he had already begun to scold his mother in his heart.

"Dog, it's too fearless, really take my Chinese people as a dish, is it so obvious to dig the foot of the wall?" But slander is slander, Xiao Letian also has to admit that Britain in this era has the strength to dig into your corner.

"Your Majesty, please take a look...... The Royal Fleet has formed a phalanx waiting for your review...... Thirteen times nine...... A full 117 first-class warships are waiting for His Majesty to review ......"

Everyone on the deck grabbed the binoculars on their chests and looked at the blue sea three kilometers away, just off the coast of the Isle of Wight, on the sea of the English Channel, and the endless battleships had formed a phalanx.

All of them are first-class capital warships, facing the United Fleet head-on is the latest ironclad steam warship, although it is not a pure ironclad battleship like the Zhiyuan, but this wooden-hulled hull covered with ironclad design can still be regarded as the world's advanced warship at that time.

Behind these ironclad steamships are a series of sail battleships full of historical mottlings, among which there are even rare five-masted galleons, the gun doors on both sides are all open, and the cannons look like the eyes of a sea monster.

Farther away were the large cruisers, battleships known for their cruising speed, with larger sails and more slender hulls, although on the surface they had fewer guns than battleships and were slightly less combative.

But in the eyes of naval experts, these cruisers were the heroes of British maritime interests.

The reason is very simple, because Britain at this time has absolute control of the maritime supremacy, and no one in the European powers dares to challenge the British Royal Fleet, which means that a naval battle like Trafalgar's will not occur for a period of time.

In this way, there was much less use for battleships, and on the contrary, these cruisers, which had fast speed, long cruising time and good firepower, began to become popular.

The vast ocean requires them to swear British force, and it is certainly not appropriate for pirates like flies to count on battleships to strangle, and cruisers are needed to teach them a lesson.

Even on special occasions, these fast-moving cruisers can make a temporary cameo appearance as a pirate, striking at rival merchant ships on the vast uninhabited high seas.

Anyway, the use of cruisers is very great, and a large number of them are shown today.

Getting closer and closer, Jae Chun's excited hands trembled, where had he ever seen the spectacular scene of so many warships gathered together.

The Chinese officials were also silent at the moment, and the anger that had just accumulated because of the Duke of Newcastle's request was replaced by a chill in their hearts.

"Oh my God, it's too many, it's too much...... 117 ships? There are 117 ships...... "Luo Huo, who was born in the army, was originally unfamiliar with the navy, and perhaps in his mind, thirty or forty warships gathered together was already a very powerful fleet.

Unexpectedly, today Britain directly put on a more spectacular scene, 117 warships anchored in the open sea, just like soldiers standing in a military posture to form a neat phalanx.

Xiang Ying's finger bones pinching the telescope were already white, and he said excitedly, "You don't understand...... You don't know the foundation of the British Navy, wooden warships are like this, as long as they are properly maintained, even if you use them for a hundred years, they will not be broken!"

"The Europeans began to explore the seas in the fifteenth century, and you can imagine how many warships the British had to save over the years? Not to mention 117, I wouldn't be surprised if the number tripled now!"

The Combined Fleet is getting closer and closer to the parade sea area, gradually approaching from three kilometers to two kilometers, one kilometer, 800 meters, and 600 meters......

In the end, one didn't even need a telescope to see the proud sailor on the opposite deck, almost all of the British officers and men had been on the eastward journey, and God knows how long their arms had been raised.

The entire phalanx was arranged on the sea surface into a rectangular phalanx of nine by thirteen, and this phalanx did not face the Zhiyuan in a cross-section, but at an oblique angle to the Zhiyuan.

At first, no one knew what was important about such a formation, but when they got closer, everyone present was stunned!

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