Chapter 982: Joint Operations

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Makarov sighed, got up and followed the officer to the deck. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

"After the storm, it's good weather again." The officer said, "The storm just now, if the British catch up, will be enough for them." ”

Makarov listened to him and did not think so in his heart, but he did not say what he thought.

He didn't want to undermine the confidence of his men.

According to his understanding, the British Navy needs to be deployed all over the world, except for some warships used for coastal defense in the home fleet, the ships used for ocean-going operations, whether ironclads or cruisers, have good seaworthiness, plus excellent sailors, there should be no problem in the face of storms like the one just now.

In contrast, many of the warships of the Russian Navy are of the French type, and their stability is poor, and the quality of the officers and men of the Russian Navy is much worse than that of the British Navy.

Makarov did not dare to imagine what would have been the result if the Baltic Fleet had encountered this storm.

"Two warships were found right ahead!" The lookout shouted.

Makarov immediately raised the telescope on his chest and saw two small black dots shining on the distant sea in the bright moonlight.

Since it was moving in the opposite direction of the "Vistula", the other party quickly showed its true colors, and Makarov immediately recognized that it was a brand-new warship of the British Navy, the cruiser "Savage", which had just been in service for less than three months.

Despite some damage to the sail cordyard during a terrible storm, the Savage was as good as new overall.

After a while, one after another British warships appeared, and because there was no light control, the British warships were all moving forward with their lights on, and for a time the sea was like a group of stars.

In addition to the "Savage", Makarov also observed the figure of 4 large ironclad ships.

"Did you see that? Sir? It's the Grand Fleet of the British! The officer's voice trembled, "The storm didn't hurt them at all!" ”

"The British fleet was not Xerxes' Persian navy (Xerxes's expedition to Greece had been stormed and badly damaged)." Makarov said in a deep voice.

"What are we going to do? Sir? ”

"Return immediately, we have to inform the base of the news as soon as possible!"

Russia, on the outskirts of Petersburg, Gatchina Palace.

"The British fleet has entered the Baltic Sea, and our reconnaissance ships have already spotted them." Colonel Grigerovich, Chief of Intelligence of the Admiralty, said to Tsar Alexander III that "there were twenty warships, of which four were large ironclads and eight large cruisers. ”

"What do the British want to do?" Annoyed, Alexander III stood up from behind his desk, his eyes searching the map, "Are they really going to fight us for a few spies and that Qianguo?" ”

War Minister Vanovsky and Navy Minister Mikhail? Grand Duke Nikolayevich glanced at each other, and each saw a hint of panic in each other's eyes.

Although Alexander III continued the military reforms of his father Alexander II after his accession to the throne and continuously strengthened Russia's armaments, Alexander II's trusted Admiralty and Alexander III's uncle Konstantin? After Grand Duke Nikolayevich resigned due to "liberal tendencies", the progress of the "mine-shore artillery" coastal defense project of the Russian Navy has been very slow and has not been completed until now, so in the face of the powerful fleet of the British Navy, the new Minister of the Navy Mikhail? The pressure on Grand Duke Nikolayevich can be imagined.

Constantine? Grand Duke Nikolayevich was one of the few outstanding figures in the Russian imperial family, and Mikhail, who succeeded him? Grand Duke Nikolayevich (another uncle of Alexander III) did not possess his wisdom and talents, and although he worked diligently as Minister of the Navy, he was too struggling to perform his duties well, even with the help of a number of outstanding men of the Naval Volunteer Regiment, such as Colonel Makarov.

"The British are bluffing, Your Majesty." "Of course, they could also be probing. ”

"Tempting what?" The Tsar asked, looking at the Minister of War and the Minister of the Admiralty.

"Temptation...... Our naval strength. "Mikhail? Grand Duke Nikolayevich stammered and replied, "We sent a ...... to the east Many warships, they probably think...... The strength of the Baltic Fleet is declining......"

"Maybe it was because they heard the news that we were going to form an alliance with Germany that the British reacted so violently this time." Sergei? Witte went on to say, "The British were also acting in a demonstration against the Germans. ”

"What I want to know is how this crisis should be resolved." Alexander III's gaze swept over the important ministers and attendants in the office, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Of course, not at the expense of the dignity of the Russian Empire. ”

After the accession to the throne of Alexander III, his diplomatic activities have always borne traces of a distinct personality. Day after day, he was personally involved in foreign affairs, but the Foreign Office was always wary of the Tsar's actions, and his bluntness and his recklessness often caused some embarrassment, and they feared that further developments would cause unpleasantness in international relations. However, the danger of Alexander III's character was corrected by the fundamental ideas of his foreign policy. Alexander III personally participated in the Crimean War, and he was deeply aware of the bloody cost of war and the impact of war on the country and dynasty, and had an instinctive desire to oppose it. So during the Afghan war that took place last year, Alexander III sensibly chose to speak diplomatically instead of with artillery, avoiding a military conflict with Britain. This time the same was true of Alexander III.

"As His Excellency the War Secretary has said, the British are bluffing, and we need not be afraid, but we must not make any moves that provoke the British fleet." Witte glanced at Vanowski and said, "The British are just showing us their attitude, not to go to war with us, we just need to give them the proper steps." For example, we can admit that there was espionage, but it was all about the people below who acted without authorization because of the rampant activities of the traitors, and the Imperial Government did not know about the situation, and we have punished the people involved, and expressed to the British that they are willing to compensate for their losses, and the British fleet will leave. ”

After listening to Werther's answer, several important ministers understood that they were going to launch a few "scapegoats", and they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Regardless of the unlucky ones chosen by the Tsar, it will certainly not be these few people in today's house.

"I see, Sergey, thank you." The Tsar nodded, approving Werther's proposal, and at this moment he had already considered the "scapegoat".

"However, Your Majesty, I think that what we should be concerned about now is not the actions of the British fleet, but the actions of the Qianguomen." Werther's words made the people in the room tense again.

"The actions of the Qianguo?" The Tsar was stunned.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Witt nodded, his expression was very serious, "The British are likely to have been instigated and supported by the Qianguo people this time, and if the Qianguo Navy takes action in the east, the situation will become very complicated." ”

"Are you worried that the Qianguo Navy will threaten Japan or Vladivostok like the British Navy?" The tsar understood.

"Yes, Your Majesty. As you know, the current Qianguo is not a sane country, and the conservatives are extremely xenophobic, and they are likely to take this opportunity to stir up trouble, and the final outcome will be very difficult. "The Japanese Navy has not yet recovered its strength, and our fleet in the Far East is not sufficient to deal with the joint aggression of the Navy of the Dry State and the British Far East Fleet." ”

"Bützer, this guy, hasn't given me even a little useful information right now!" Remembering that the Russian minister in Beijing, Butzer, had not heard from him recently, Alexander III could not help but be a little annoyed.

Koukou

Koukou )

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