A few rejoiced and some were sad, and the gratitude of the Confederates was a disaster for the United States.

Especially for the U.S. fleet of the United States, which is blockading the sea, it is the Chinese fleet that they are the first to face. It's just that for the American fleet at sea, they simply don't know what is happening.

"Where are we targeting?"

In the Caribbean, in the midst of a huge fleet, Trenholm, known as the legendary smuggling captain in the South, frowned slightly.

"Could it be Mobile?"

Trumholm was arguably one of the best sailors in the South, having grown up in Charleston and was familiar with every cove, sandbar and reef on the Carolina Coast near the harbor, as well as the waters around Wilmington.

So he never lost a small boat or was forced to abandon a shipment. When the war broke out, he suddenly came out of obscurity and bought a small speedboat with the money on hand, and now, the profit on the cargo of the blockade line has increased to dozens of times, and soon he also has four boats. He hired good drivers for good wages, and they secretly left Charleston and Wilmington in the dark with cotton and headed for Nassau, England, and Canada. The British cotton mills were stalling there, the workers were starving, so every merchant who had crossed the blockade of the Yankee fleet could ask for as much as he wanted.

But now, with both places occupied, Mobile is the only port to enter, and he came here with the ship to find an opportunity to return to the Federation from other ports, and he just happened to be in time for this "humanitarian rescue".

As he spoke of Mobile as the captain, the nearby sailors said.

"How is this possible? Don't they know that while Mobile is still in our possession, it can't be used anymore? ”

Mobile was still under Confederate control, but after last year's Battle of Mobile, after losing the protection of the fleet, the coastal defense fortifications around Mobile Bay were exhausted. First, Fort Powell at the northern tip of Prince Island was blown up by the defenders themselves. Then the Gannis fortress surrendered. Then, the defenders of Fort Morgan raised the white flag. At this point, Mobile's outer defenses completely collapsed, and the Union Army completely cut off the cotton smuggling routes here. Since Sherman had already taken Atlanta, there was no need for the Union Army to continue attacking Mobile. As such, the city has always been under the control of the Alliance, but the port is like a prison - the jailers are the defensive fortress on the perimeter of the port.

Despite what the sailors say, they apparently don't know why the Chinese Navy chose to do so – because there is no other option for the fleet than Mobile.

"Since the outbreak of the war, the United States Navy has completely blockaded the north and south ends of the southern Atlantic coastline, and in the Gulf of Mexico, not only New Orleans, but also the entire Mississippi Delta is under the control of the Northern Army. However, there are still three southern ports that continue to trade with the outside world, and large quantities of cotton can leave freely from here, and the three "lucky" ports are Charleston, Wilmington and Mobile, who occupied Charleston on the 18th of last month, and then Wilmington, so there is no other option for us. ”

Standing on the bridge of the armored cruiser "Edo", Ding Ruchang's expression seemed very calm, his eyes were fixed on the sea, as if he wanted to see through this sea/

"But what if the U.S. Navy intercepts it?"

The chief of staff's inquiry made Ding Ruchang sneer unceremoniously/

"Then let's ......"

That's a very simple answer!

"But now ......"

Looking at the sea, Ding Ruchang said in a very calm tone.

"We are carrying out humanitarian relief, and our basic principle is that I will not fire the first shot! We are peacekeepers! ”

Yes, this is a peacekeeping force, and if they could, they certainly wouldn't have fired first!

"Not even God can pursue a just cause in China!"

Standing on the side of the board with a pipe in his mouth, Trenholm looked at the seemingly calm sea in the distance, and recalled the newspaper reports he had seen in Cologne, although they were in Chinese, but it did not prevent him from learning about the contents of the newspaper through translation.

It is China's responsibility and obligation to maintain world peace, carry out humanitarian relief and prevent large-scale humanitarian crises.

"Maybe God can't stop this fleet, but ......"

Trenholm immediately thought of the northern warships on the blockade line, which did not have the slightest gentlemanly demeanor, and they would definitely block the flotilla from entering the port of Mobile.

"Captain, I think something doesn't seem right in the atmosphere."

First mate Karl walked up to the captain's side, and as the voyage continued, they found that they were getting closer and closer to their destination, and the crew members of the ship, who had been shouting "let the Yankees die", were no longer arrogant before, and most of them became nervous, and those crew members stood nervously by the deck guns.

Because merchant ships can encounter all kinds of dangers at sea, they are equipped with guns, even ocean-going passenger ships such as the "Great Eastern", and smuggling ships are no exception.

As in the past, as the first mate, Karl searched the sea with a telescope, although the Chinese warship "escort", but it was still difficult for him to put his mind at ease, who knows what those northerners like mad dogs will do, in the past few years at sea, he has heard too many legends of the Yankee navy, although he has not yet encountered it. But everyone knows what will happen when they run into them.

"Captain, do you think the Yankees will be waiting for us at the front?"

"Carl, look at that!"

Trenholm, with his pipe in his mouth, pointed to the armored cruiser "Edo", which was at the far front of the left side of the fleet, which seemed to him to be a very beautiful warship, and pointed to the sun and moon flag fluttering above him.

"As long as this fleet is flying this flag, the Yankees will not dare to act rashly! As for us...... Don't we have them yet? ”

Trenholm looked at the three Chinese warships, although there were only three, but they represented the existence of the Chinese Empire's maritime power, and any warships of other countries that tried to get close to the fleet had to think twice, after all, no one knew what would happen if they got closer, and perhaps, what awaited them would be a disastrous naval battle.

"But who knows what those northerners will do?"

Karl muttered.

"Captain. At 310 degrees on the port side, a Yankee warship is approaching! ”

The shouts of the lookouts rang out on the ship, and the crew, who had been relaxing on the deck, rushed towards the ship's gun emplacements almost immediately, knowing that the most dangerous moment had come.

Trenholm also immediately picked up the binoculars and looked at the sailboat flying the Yankee flag. At this time, everyone's hearts were sweating at the same time, what will these northerners do next?

"Dut...... ...... all."

The alarm sounded from the flotilla on the calm sea, and the protective cruiser "Incheon", which was sailing on the starboard side, drew a beautiful arc on the sea, passed through the fleet, and quickly headed towards the port side. The nervous sailors on the merchant ship, who were sailing on the port side, were relieved to see the cruiser Incheon sail to the port side.

"Sir, the cruiser USS Brooklyn of the United States Navy has sent a signal asking us where we are sailing. Ding Ruchang, who was standing on the bridge, just glanced at this cruiser with contempt, this is a wooden-hulled warship, he doesn't even need to use the main gun, he only needs to use the gunwald gun to sink him!

"These Yankees are simply asking knowingly!"

Wang Xin'an, who commanded the "Incheon", casually complained that anyone could judge by the course of the current fleet, and their goal was Mobile.

"Sir!" USS Brooklyn "Signals Again for ......"

Wang Xin'an casually interrupted the first mate's report.

"Got it! Tell them that this is the Caribbean Detachment, and we are ordered to escort the merchant fleet with humanitarian relief into Port Mobile! ”

Within a few tens of seconds, the news came from the signalman again.

"Sir, the USS Brooklyn "asks to accompany the voyage and at the same time asks the fleet to adjust course......"

There was no need for the signalman to finish speaking, and Ding Ruchang, as a naval colonel, certainly knew what the Americans were talking about.

"Let them fuck off!"

After casually issuing an order, Ding Ruchang once again set his eyes on the front, and in his eyes, the "Brooklyn" was not a threat at all.

As the chief of staff of the fleet, he looked at the commander in some surprise, did he really want to reply to this signal? A soft reminder.

"Sir?"

"I know, tell them that, under public international law, the merchant fleet of neutral nations has the right of freedom of navigation in the zone of war! We entered Mobile to stop a massive humanitarian crisis! ”

Ding Ruchang's words fell. Immediately, the lookout's somewhat nervous shouts rang out from the ship

"Sir! Multiple plumes of smoke were found right in front of you, and it was a fleet! ”

Picking up the telescope, Ding Ruchang saw more than a dozen columns of smoke from the telescope, and it was indeed a fleet!

"Order the fleet to immediately prepare for battle. Pull the battle alert! If the Americans do it, I will see the Yankees disappear from the sea in ten minutes! ”

At the same time, the USS Brooklyn once again issued a warning signal. The fleet was required to immediately change course and to accompany the voyage.

"Quick! Quick,"

As the rapid whistle sounded over the warship, the sailors who received the order immediately rushed to their combat posts, and after rushing into the gun position, they immediately shook the twin 210 mm main gun and the 150 mm side of the sail to point the barrel at the enemy ship.

After seeing the Chinese fleet into combat readiness through the binoculars, as the commander of the fleet, Farragut, who had won the Battle of Mobile, knew that everything could not be avoided.

"Notify the fleet to prepare for interception!"

When he gave this order, his heart was filled with an inexplicable sorrow, for his fleet was not an ironclad fleet, but an old wooden fleet. And what he has to face is an extremely formidable opponent.

If it were to be fought, it would probably end up in a naval battle of Cologne, which would have been catastrophic.

"Yes. Sir! ”

When the U.S. fleet was put into combat readiness by order of Rear Admiral David Farragut,

Rear Admiral David Farragut, who was standing there, had a deep helplessness on his face, because his fleet was backward, not only wooden-hulled warships, but even used front-loading guns, how could such a warship fight against the Chinese Navy! They don't even need to open fire, they just need to accelerate and crash into it, and they can destroy his fleet.

In the past few years, he has been calling for the creation of ironclad ships, but Washington has rejected his suggestions again and again, and only built ironclads that are used to blockade inland rivers and attack fortresses, but are not suitable for long-distance sea voyages.

Now in the face of China's ironclad ships, how can they be stopped?

"If they were to attack Mobile, all their efforts would be in vain......"

David Farragut thought to himself that he didn't know what kind of "humanitarian relief supplies" were being transported on these ships, but a few hours earlier he had received a telegram from Washington that "the Chinese fleet might escort a merchant fleet into Mobile."

Although it is not known what "humanitarian relief supplies" are, if these supplies are obtained by the South, the military strength of the South will be further strengthened, especially when large quantities of supplies arrive. It will inject a shot in the arm for the south. Convince the rednecks in the South who are desperate for war that the Federation is no longer able to control the seas! More importantly, they will believe that with the help of China, the South will win the war!

And no more despair than before!

"Intercept this fleet!"

Washington's order was clear that the fleet could not be allowed to enter the port of Mobile, but the president's order was ambiguous, on the one hand to stop them, and on the other hand not to attack first!

Don't be the first to attack!

Thinking of this order, Farragut couldn't help but feel a little big. Do the people in Washington think that after the warships sail towards the Chinese fleet, they will obediently obey and then stop sailing to Mobile?

"May God bless ......"

At this time, Farragut's only reliance is probably the fleet he brought, ten wooden-hulled warships, of course, this is not all his strength, his real strength is four armored ships. However, because their speed is too slow, they are still slowly approaching here.

The only hope now is. The Chinese are in the face of a powerful deterrent. Obediently returned home and abandoned the attempt to aid the South. But how likely is that? Farragut didn't know it, but he knew very well that Washington was not willing to open fire right now!

"Sir, the artillery of the Chinese fleet is already pointing at us!"

Speechless's new book "Daming Iron Bone" has been distributed, this is a full of blood and passion, I hope you can continue to support Speechless, if you have a recommendation ticket in your hand, please also support, and then collect it by the way, thank you again!