"Left full rudder!" The navigating officer recited aloud in the chart room. With the sharp rotation of the steering wheel, the battleship tilted violently and changed course sharply. The naval officer hurriedly held on to the thing beside him so as not to fall.

In the cabin deep below the turret, people also felt the sharp tilt of the warship, and they all had to hold on to things to keep their balance. With the sound of ping-pong and the "click" of the chain swinging back and forth on the roller, a shell slipped out of the chain and rolled down into the gunner, causing a series of screams.

Suddenly, a shell came out of nowhere, and it miraculously penetrated the deck, pierced through the bulkhead, happened to pass through the weak part of the armor of the "Katori", and fell along a narrow unprotected path to the ammunition compartment under the turret, where it exploded along with hundreds of tons of high explosives. In the blink of an eye, the gunners were reimbursed before they had time to figure out what was going on.

The huge explosion broke the "Katori" in two, and the battleship quickly disappeared into the sea with all the officers and men on it.

Admiral Lut and Captain Frank stood on the bridge of the "Kaiser Wilhelm", observing the artillery fire with binoculars. On the water antenna, over the site of the sinking of the battleship "Katori", a large amount of smoke remained. Not far away, the silhouette of the "Kashima" is almost covered by thick smoke and water columns.

"It's a battleship, and it's starting to want to escape," said Admiral Luth, "a lot of smoke, yes!" It's casting a smoke screen to escape. ”

"Catch up! Sink it! Frank yelled.

Just as Captain Frank finished speaking, a loud bang was heard, and the "Kashima" suddenly rose up a tall column of smoke.

"Hit!" A staff officer shouted excitedly.

There was another series of violent explosions, and the smoke that continued to rise completely enveloped the "Kashima", and after a while, when the smoke gradually became thinner, the people on the bridge of the "Kaiser Wilhelm" could clearly see that most of the battleship had already been submerged in the water, and only the bow was raised high on the sea.

Little by little, the sound of the cannon fell silent. A staff officer reported on the phone in a very formal manner: "The target has sunk. ”

Admiral Lut and Frank lowered their binoculars at the same time, turned to look at each other.

"Sir, we've won again!" Frank smiled and said, "This is a beautiful battle of annihilation, we have sunk 4 enemy battleships in such a short time!" ”

Admiral Lut smiled and nodded, shook Frank's hand, and the rest of the staff officers stood beside him, all smiling happily.

"The British organized an interception of us at the first time, but they sent some old guys who didn't use it." Looking at the smoke that had not yet dissipated from the sea in the distance, Admiral Lut said, "Maybe it is true that the Chinese battleships have left, as our intelligence says." ”

"But there is also a possibility that these Chinese battleships are chasing our battle cruisers and taking them for us." Captain Frank said.

"In any case, both of these possibilities are beneficial for our future actions." Admiral Lut said with some melancholy, "Although we have achieved a victory, we have not yet plucked the fruits of the flower of victory. War means taking risks. "We have crossed the English Channel, and what has just happened has proven that the British cannot come up with decent forces to intercept us, and we should move on!" We've got rid of that nasty British cruiser now, and we're actually free. Sir, think of the British transports and landing sites at your fingertips. ”

"Yes." Admiral Lut used his index finger to arc the chart. From time to time, he said to himself, "It's up to me to make this decision." My decision will change the history of the world, determine the fate of the nation and determine the future of Germany. Hundreds of thousands of people will lose their lives as soon as my order is issued. ”

"That's right, sir." Captain Frank said with some excitement, "Actually, we can only move forward now, and this can't be changed. ”

"This is our fate." A bitter smile appeared on Admiral Luth's face, "Then let's accept the arrangement of fate and the favor of Lady Luck!" ”

London, Admiralty Operations Hall, Great Britain.

"Sir, the 'Edinburgh' is calling." A young officer read the message in a somewhat somber tone: "The 'Katori' and 'Kashima' have also sunk, and the German fleet continues to sail in a southwesterly direction. ”

"They're coming so fast!" Said a rear admiral.

"It is already clear that it was the German battlecruisers who fought against Betty, and we all let their telegrams trick us at first," said Studdy, putting down the telegram in his hand, "and the Germans sent all four of their battlecruisers in order to confuse us." ”

"Your Excellency, do your best. I'm afraid the 'Republic' is already quite far from our shores. Hamilton said.

An officer came in front of the chart and marked the new position of the main fleet on it.

"Betty's fleet is there." "If the Germans continue on course, Betty will meet you tomorrow," Studdy said. Please calculate the exact time of the encounter. ”

After a while, an officer who was sketching the map replied, "Sir, tomorrow at 9 a.m." ”

"If the Germans keep their course...... No, we must mobilize all the warships at our disposal to intercept it. There was the 'Marlborough', let it break away from the convoy and change course to intercept it. The Remilis also allowed to leave the convoy. Another telegram was sent to the 'Revenge' to set fire and order the 'Monarch' and 'Remilis' to break away from the convoy and go to the English Channel. By the way, and the 'Malaya', how is it doing? ”

"Sir, the Malaya is also at sea."

"Okay, let's see where these ships can go by this time tomorrow."

"Okay, sir, I'll do the math right away."

On the other table is a chart. An officer began to plot on the map the routes of the German fleet, the main Allied fleet, the "Marlborough", "Remilis", "Malaya", "Revenge" and "Resolve".

Judging from the diagram, it gives a deep impression that the British Navy is concentrating its absolute superiority to intercept the German fleet. In fact, it shows the dilemma of the British Navy after the Battle of Deland.

"It looks like it's almost full." The vice admiral said self-deprecatingly: "Draw up the order immediately." ”

"There's an urgent telegram from the 'Edinburgh'!" One of the officers suddenly shouted, "It is under fire from the German fleet!" ”

The cruiser "Edinburgh" continued to move at full speed in the misty sea, and it sailed out of one fog barrier and then into another. Although the wind and waves were still fierce, the lookouts on the deck were still engrossed in observing the sea, and did not dare to slack off in the slightest. The bow of the warship broke through the splashing waters of the waves, and from time to time it hit them, and they searched the sea around the warship with their binoculars in spite of their balance.

"15 degrees on the starboard side! Discover the warship! One of the lookouts in front suddenly shouted loudly.

With his shout, a German battleship quickly sailed out of the fog and rushed straight towards the "Edinburgh".

"Left full rudder!" The captain shouted loudly and calmly.

The helmsman immediately turned the wheel and watched the dial in the compass rotate smoothly. The "Edinburgh" changed course dramatically with a huge roll.

The "Edinburgh", which was moving at full speed, began to cast a smoke screen as it turned. All kinds of longitudinal valves are opened to the maximum position. A stoker opens the valve, allowing smoke to come out in large quantities. Through the peephole in the hearth, you can see the tumbling incandescent flames, which instantly turn a deep black.

Daniel was standing on the bridge at this time, and he did his best to keep his body steady as the warship tilted. Holding up the binoculars, he saw the clear silhouette of the German battleship leaping into his field of vision, and at the same time clearly saw the fire and smoke of the German ship's shooting.

"It's firing at us, guys!" Daniel shouted. As soon as he finished speaking, a huge column of water stirred up by the cannonballs rose on the surface of the sea.

"Didn't hit our ......," I don't know who said excitedly.

Ignoring the splashes on his body, he looked up and saw that behind the warship, a dense smoke screen had formed at this time. However, the German ships continued to approach. Suddenly, on the sea near the "Edinburgh", another row of high water columns rose. This was the second salvo made by the German ship, which almost hit the "Edinburgh". The cannonballs poured down the warship, and Daniel scrambled to wipe away the water that had been splashed on his eyes and binoculars. At that moment, another volley was heard, and the cannonballs whistled overhead like lightning, like a train passing through a tunnel.

And this time, the good fortune of the "Edinburgh" came to an end.

With a thunderous roar, a huge column of smoke suddenly rose from the thick and black smoke screen.

"We hit them."

On the bridge of the "Kaiser Wilhelm", Admiral Lut and Captain Frank looked at the thick and black smoke screen across the sea and the fire that glittered behind the smoke, and their faces were full of excitement.

For them, the sense of accomplishment of taking out this British cruiser was no worse than the sinking of four Allied battleships in succession just now.

"Finally got rid of this nasty fellow." Admiral Lut said, "Captain, please return to your original course. ”

"Yes, sir."

Then, Frank gave the order.

"Now, the British have no way to follow us." Admiral Lut let out a sigh of relief and said, "The most dangerous moment has passed. ”

"Anyway, sir, so far, we have not met decent resistance, and we will complete the task without hindrance." The chief of staff of the fleet said happily.

"If it is Hipper, hold the enemy, hopefully he will hold out a little longer." Admiral Lut nodded and said.

Battleship "Republic", bridge.

"Just received a telegram from the Admiralty, sir. The main fleet of the Germans had already broken through our interception, passed through the English Channel and was sailing in a southwesterly direction. ”

"It can't be!"

Listening to the report of the communications officer, Betty pointed to the huge shadow of the ship shrouded in water and smoke in the distance, and said in annoyance, "Say it the main fleet of the Germans again!" If the main forces of the Germans are in the English Channel, then who are we at war now? ”

As soon as Betty's words fell, a huge explosion was heard, and the side of the "Republic" immediately lifted a high wall of water, and the huge waves crashed against the hull of the ship, and the waves even splashed into the command tower and flew into Betty's face.

At this time, the dense fog on the sea surface has been blown away a lot by the strong sea breeze, although the visibility has improved, but it is still impossible to accurately distinguish the enemy ship, at this time, the acting chief of staff of the fleet Colonel Evans stared closely with a telescope at the huge hazy shadow of the six evil dragons on the sea surface that was constantly spitting flames, and fell into deep thought little by little.

"It was the Germans who fought with us that were clearly the main force of the Germans." A staff officer couldn't help but sigh when he looked at the accurate artillery fire fired by the German ships, "How can they hit so accurately in such weather!" ”

"What do you think? Composed? Betty handed the telegram in her hand to Xu Zhenpeng and asked.

Xu Zhenpeng carefully read the telegram and said quietly: "Perhaps, the news from the Admiralty is accurate. ”

"Do you also think that the Germans will risk crossing the English Channel to attack our landing grounds?" Betty asked.

"If we're still in Scapa Bay, of course they wouldn't dare." "But now that we've left, there are few warships guarding the strait that are no match for the Germans." ”

"That's right. If the main forces of the Germans were really there, the French coast was really dangerous. Evans suddenly said, "Even if we know that the information is wrong, we should not stay here, we should rush to the English Channel." ”

"What did you say?" Betty looked at Evans in some surprise, "You say we should go to the English Channel now?" ”

"Yes, if the French coast is attacked, the army will most likely collapse as a result, which means that we have lost the war." "We'll go back now, and if we find out that the other side is not the main force of the German navy, we'll destroy them, and if so, it will give us a chance to annihilate them." ”

"And what about these German [***] ships? They are also likely to attack our coasts and ports, and even convoys. Betty pointed to the German ships on the sea and said, "There are six German capital ships here, and you want us to let them go and play hide and seek with the Germans in the English Channel?" ”

"Our task now is not to sink them." Evans knew the temper of Betty, who was deeply affected by Nelson's "attack on sight", and tried to persuade in a tactful tone, "Our task is to maintain superior sea power and ensure the success of the army's counterattack, the army is the shells fired by the navy, but once these shells are gone, it will be meaningless for us to sink as many German [***] ships." ”

"Yes." Xu Zhenpeng said, "Sometimes, we can't replace the role of the army. ”

"Okay." Betty remembered Jericho, who had been sleeping at the bottom of the sea, clenched her fists, and nodded, "We'll go back now." ”

At this time, Betty did not know that the outcome of this world war had already undergone a historical change because of his decision.

"Come, let's see which way we go closest." Betty said.

Night fell.

It's a rare and cheerful evening for the port of Cherbourg, located in the north of France. The US Navy forces here, half on duty, half on holiday. The bar room was filled with American sailors drinking and having fun, and the streets were filled with American GIs wandering aimlessly. The cinema was crowded, and some footage was shown on the screen, causing the sailors to lean forward and laugh. Suddenly, the picture cuts off, and the sound of music and singing stops abruptly. Everyone thought there was something wrong with the projector, and immediately erupted in bursts of cheering and boos. But when a crookedly written notice was projected onto the screen from the slide projector, the audience suddenly fell silent.

The notice reads: "All naval personnel, report back to the ship immediately." ”

Seeing this notice, the movie theater immediately erupted in a burst of discontented shouting and scolding.

After the lights were turned on in the theater, the gendarmerie soon appeared in the theater.

"The holiday is cancelled! Get back to your warship! ”

The American sailors shoved and shoved out the doors of the movie theater and into the street, where they saw the gendarmerie break into the bar and rudely urge the people inside to leave immediately. The streets were full of sailors hurrying back to the warship. Some were crammed into horse-drawn carriages, some were sweating profusely along the road, and some were crammed into small rowboats .......

The battleship "Texas" was parked in the harbor. Groups of sailors are constantly boarding the gangway and returning to the ship. An oil tanker is refueling it. Supplies of all kinds are being loaded onto the ship at an accelerated pace. There was also a barge leaning on the port side, and the ship's crane was lifting fourteen-inch shells.

"How many more?" An officer on the deck beckoned down.

"There's only one!" The staff member in charge of loading on the barge waved a finger in response.

The crane lifted the heavy shells from the barge, raised them to the deck of the battleship, and then lowered them through the deck. There was a group of soldiers who were responsible for loading the shells into the ammunition depot.

At this time, the order to return to their respective posts and prepare for the voyage had been issued. Signal lights flickered everywhere in the harbor. On the bridge, a signalman reported: "Sir, the destroyer has set sail." ”

(To be continued)