"Your Majesty, our intelligence officers discovered that last night the Austro-Hungarian Navy had already left the Trieste naval base. I have already ordered the Combined Fleet to rush in pursuit. "Something so big has happened, Reinhardt? Of course, Admiral Scheer didn't dare to slack off, and rushed to the palace as soon as possible to report to Qin Tian.

"Has the Austro-Hungarian Navy finally moved? Information obtained by the Intelligence Bureau also indicated that Karl I had also traveled to the Trieste naval base. I think Karl I must have been in the Austro-Hungarian Navy at this moment. Qin Tian said.

Reinhart? Marshal Scheer nodded, and from the information he had obtained so far, it was undoubtedly very likely that Karl I would be in the fleet.

"Send a telegram to General Hipper, this time to deal with the Austro-Hungarian Navy anyway. It would be best if they knew each other and could surrender. If they don't surrender, then kill them all. As for Karl I, live or die! Qin Tian said.

Although, Karl I can be regarded as Qin Tian's opponent. However, for this opponent, Qin Tian didn't recognize it very much. In his opinion, Karl I did not look like an emperor at all, except for his stubbornness and conceit. Although, because of Karl I, a pig-like opponent, Germany was able to quickly destroy the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, he still kept sparing Karl I. If Karl I can be captured, then what awaits him is probably a lifetime of captivity. If you can't take him prisoner, send him to hell! For the sake of the country, even if it is to bear the infamy for this, Qin Tian will not hesitate to do it.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Reinhart? Marshal Scheer nodded. Of course, he knew very well that Germany wanted to annex Austria in peace, and then gradually digest it, so that Karl I could continue to exist. Otherwise, there will always be some safety hazards.

"Without the assistance of aircraft carriers, will the Combined Fleet be able to eat the Austro-Hungarian Navy this time?" Qin Tian asked. In this regard, he still has some worries. After all, the strength of the Austro-Hungarian Navy was not weak, although it was not as strong as the German Navy, but it could be regarded as the hegemon of the Mediterranean. There are so many decisive factors in naval warfare that the slightest carelessness can lead to problems.

"Your Majesty, even without the assistance of the aircraft carrier fleet, we will have no problem gathering the three main fleets and taking out the Austro-Hungarian Navy. As for casualties, there may be. However, it will definitely not be too big! "Reinhardt? Marshal Scheer, for the combat effectiveness of the combined fleet, is very confident. After all, the three fleets combined, they already have a great advantage in the number of capital ships. Not to mention, every capital ship is capable of crushing any capital ship of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. In particular, the 50-caliber 410 mm guns of the four 'Caesar-class' battleships were able to tear through the armor of all capital ships, severely damaging or even sinking them. With such a powerful fleet, the Austro-Hungarian Navy wanted to escape from the Mediterranean, it was simply a dream.

Qin Tian nodded reassuringly, although the strength of the German Navy is the first in the world, if it is deployed in the world's oceans, its strength is still a little stretched. This time, in order to deal with the Austro-Hungarian Navy, it was necessary to assemble more than 60 percent of the German Navy's strength after deducting the aircraft carrier fleet. Even the Atlantic Fleet and the aircraft carrier fleet were deployed in the Atlantic Ocean to contain the US Navy and indirectly participated in this big war.

Although the German Navy has already established aircraft carriers as the main direction of future development. However, it is subject to the influence of technology. There are still great restrictions on the range and bomb load of carrier-based aircraft. Therefore, the combat effectiveness of aircraft carriers cannot really be brought into play. Once carrier-based aircraft can attack targets hundreds of kilometers away and are capable of carrying heavy aviation armor-piercing shells and heavy aviation torpedoes, that is the time for aircraft carriers to dominate the oceans. At that time, the German Navy can use these aircraft carriers to further establish maritime supremacy. Of course, that will also make future naval battles even more tragic.

In the Mediterranean, the combined fleet of the German Navy had already departed from Gibraltar with ships from the Home Fleet, the Mediterranean Fleet and the Indian Ocean Fleet, all in one. Four 'Caesar-class' battleships, four 'Brandenburg-class' battlecruisers, four 'Helgoland-class' battlecruisers, three 'Moltke-class' battlecruisers, four 'Nassau-class' battlecruisers and three 'Blucher-class' battlecruisers. Together with other small and medium-sized warships, the size of the entire fleet has exceeded one hundred and fifty ships. In the face of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, it had an overwhelming advantage.

Immediately after leaving the Gibraltar naval base, the combined fleet of the German Navy accelerated to the Adriatic Sea. However, although the speed of the fleet was increased to 18 knots. However, it was clearly unlikely that the Austro-Hungarian Navy would have been intercepted before it left the Adriatic.

This forced Admiral Hipper to order the fleet to prepare for an encounter with the Austro-Hungarian navy. In addition, a number of light cruisers and destroyers were dispatched to speed up and go hundreds of kilometers in front of the fleet, so that once the Austro-Hungarian Navy was discovered, the main force of the fleet could be immediately notified to prepare for battle.

In addition, Admiral Hipper bought orders for light warships and submarines deployed in the waters bordering the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, keeping a close eye on the movements of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. At the same time, seaplanes, taking off from Sicily, also flew to the Adriatic Sea to closely monitor the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

On the evening of 1 February, Admiral Hipper received news that the Austro-Hungarian Navy was about to sail out of the Adriatic Sea and into the Mediterranean. At this time, the combined fleet of the German Navy had just arrived in the Balearic Islands. There are thousands of kilometers to go from the Adriatic Sea.

Originally, Admiral Hippel didn't care. He believed that as long as the Austro-Hungarian Navy wanted to enter the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar, it would definitely meet them. However, what he never imagined was that, at the request of Karl I, the Austro-Hungarian Navy had changed its course, and did not intend to enter the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar, but was ready to make a detour through the Indian Ocean and then enter the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, as the case may be.

At 11 o'clock in the evening of the same day, the Austro-Hungarian Navy entered the Mediterranean. The two destroyers of the German Navy followed them from a distance. However, when they discovered that the Austro-Hungarian navy did not turn to the west, but sailed in the direction of the east, they also realized that something was wrong and immediately reported the anomaly to the flagship.