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The British Army was driven out of the Great ** Area by the troops of the Chinese Empire, so it wanted to save some face in the navy. So he sent 15 warships of the British Far East Fleet from the Yellow Sea to the Bohai Sea and went straight to the port of Tianjin, hoping to deter China. After all, the British Navy in 1908 was still the first in the world, with a gross tonnage of 355,000 tons.

However, because the German navy also reached 315,000 tons, the British navy at this time focused on Europe to guard against the German navy. In the summer of 1908, unlike most politicians of his time, Churchill, the 34-year-old British Admiralty, foresaw the European crisis and the massive war that would follow.

On July 23, 1908, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia to surrender Kosovo and the present-day Republic of Macedonia in the south, or go to war. Germany supports this. France and Russia, for their part, expressed their support for Serbia completely. The British Cabinet then began to seriously study the possibility of a full-scale outbreak of war in Europe.

On 24 July, Churchill heard the news of the ultimatum and felt the seriousness of the situation, and returned to London that night. In Churchill's view, in the event of a conflict, it would be in Britain's interest to support France and Russia. Churchill envisioned a "nightmare timetable" of the war against Germany, and he even envisioned how Germany would "occupy" Britain: Germany would land in Newcastle and Herichs when the British Expeditionary Force set out to help France, German troops would storm the suburbs of London, the British government would fall, and then a provisional government would emerge to defend the country.

So at this time. Churchill believed that the strategic focus of the British Navy was not in Asia. China has set up a large ** region, and the British government only regards it as a small-scale regional conflict. There was no declaration of war on China. The British government was also not fully prepared for the rise of Germany and the great war in Europe at the moment. Beginning on July 24, the British Cabinet met incessantly to discuss countermeasures to avoid getting involved in the war.

But there was an agreement between Britain and France in 1904 that Britain would help France in the event of a war between France and Germany, and Britain would not sit idly by and watch France be occupied by Germany. Churchill's position was also the main war, and he was a warmonger at the beginning. As Lord of the Admiralty, he commanded the Royal Navy. There is already enough combat power to cope with the war.

On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, this day. Churchill wrote pessimistically in his diary: "We are all sleepwalking in a state of numbness. ”

As Lord of the Navy, Churchill immediately drew up a 17-point contingency plan to deal with the crisis. On July 28, the day he took the most important step, ordering the Royal Navy fleet to enter combat positions in the British places such as Scapa Flowe. That day. The fleet passed through the Strait of Dover with the lights turned off at night. Churchill reported to the King: "All the 'precautions' have been put in place. ”

On 2 August, the British Cabinet made the crucial decision to honor the agreement with France to protect the northern and western coasts of France from German attacks, which in the eyes of Germany was, in fact, a declaration of war. Shortly after midnight, Churchill went to 10 Downing Street to report to the Prime Minister. Churchill "smiled and strode towards the Cabinet's room with two doors". But for the next war, Churchill was not so clear. He predicted that the war would not last a year at most.

When the troops of the Chinese Empire swept across the entire region, Churchill ordered the British Far East Fleet to "give the Chinese a little color, but not completely provoke the Chinese", because the British government did not want to completely turn on China at this time.

Song Xiaofei ordered Liu Buyun to let the Chinese Navy arrange twenty-five warships to the Bohai Sea, including three 15,000-ton Democracy, Republic, and Science, as well as ten U-shaped submarines, Jiaolong No. 1 to Jiaolong No. 10, these U-boats are powered by diesel engines, and two battle cruisers, which are capital ships, in addition to these, there are also some supply ships to guard the port of Tianjin.

Because it was a battle between the two great empires of China and Britain, according to the contract, the honorary commander of the Chinese Navy, 65-year-old British Navy Lieutenant Lang Weili, announced his retirement. Song Xiaofei personally attended his retirement ceremony, clasped his hand, and awarded him the Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor of the best in the middle school, "Major, don't be surprised, I still have the habit of calling your old friend a major, thank you for your training of the Chinese Navy for so many years, Chinese people will always remember you." ”

The gray-haired Lang Weili burst into tears and said, "How I don't want to see a war between the Chinese and British navies in my lifetime!" ”

Song Xiaofei said: "We Chinese people have never liked war, but whoever wants to come to our doorstep to make trouble and invade China's territory, even if it is an island, the Chinese people will never agree." ”

"I will do my best to convince our government," Luang said. ”

Song Xiaofei expressed his gratitude: "No matter what happens in the future, you will always be an old friend of the Chinese people." ”

In 1908, Song Xiaofei also asked Hurd, the chief of the Chinese Customs and an Englishman, to leave his post and return to China, and in recognition of his contribution to presiding over the Chinese Customs for nearly half a century, he was still granted the title of the General Department of Taxation, which was equivalent to an honorary title.

After that, China began to prepare for the Bohai Sea. The naval battle was personally led by Deng Shichang and Sa Bingzhen, Deng Shichang with the 3,000 officers and men of the Beiyang Fleet, standing on the deck of the flagship Republic, he said: "For so many years, we have been studying the regulations of the British Navy, and the drill is the same as that of the British Navy, and our equipment is not worse than them, I hope you will let go of the war, this battle is a major battle that determines the national fortunes of our Chinese Empire, we must not lose, I hope you can witness the victory of the Chinese Imperial Navy with me!" ”

The 3,000 navy replied sonorously and forcefully: "To defend the sea frontier, the ship is in the people, and the ship is dead." ”

When Deng Shichang heard this, he was not happy, and said, "Bastard, who taught you this?" No one is allowed to die, the ship is not there, but the people are there. Our president often says that if there are no warships, they can be built again, and if the navy is gone, there will be nothing, you are the most valuable wealth of the Chinese Navy, and China still needs you to teach more naval talents, and the Chinese Navy still has a long way to go. So, let me come back alive, not a single one! ”

After hearing this. The officers and men of the Navy were very moved. In fact, they also know that there will definitely be casualties in the war, because the concept of the general ruling army is different from others, emphasizing the supremacy of officers and soldiers, people first, and they are not willing to see anyone sacrificed. A Navy recruit asked Deng Shichang: "Commander, you say." Will we be able to defeat the British Far Eastern Fleet? ”

"This is China's waters, and one step back is our fathers and fellow villagers, so we can only win. But then again. Most of the British Far East Fleet are warships from ten years ago, and there are not many new warships, not to mention that our navy still has advanced U-boats as a secret weapon. You just do what you are told. Deng Shichang said confidently.

And in the vicinity of Bohai Bay. Deputy Commander of the British Far East Fleet, Alver Brown. Vice Admiral Revenslo was on the deck of the flagship Elizabeth, discussing a battle plan with his officers. Revenslow said contemptuously: "China dares to challenge the authority of the British Empire, the damned army has lost the face of the empire in **, we must give the Chinese a heavy blow!" I believe that the Chinese Navy is certainly not our opponent! I heard that they starved instructors, who used to be a major in our British Imperial Navy, major. Ha ha. ”

One is named Carl. The rear admiral of Lotus stood up and said, "General, I'm afraid we can't underestimate the enemy. According to the information from the Imperial Intelligence Department, some warships in the Chinese Imperial Navy are more advanced than those of our fleet, as well as advanced submarines, so we should be cautious. ”

Someone poured cold water on the head, Alf. Revinslow was very unhappy and said angrily: "Yes, damn it, our fleet hasn't updated a few warships over the years, aren't these colonies in Asia important?" However, the important thing in naval battles is command, Rome was not built in a day, and a good navy is not enough with warships. ”

The British Far East Fleet drove two armored cruisers this time, including two "Nelson-class" armored cruisers, namely "Nelson" and "Northampton", with a displacement of 7,473 tons and 7,630 tons respectively, 6,600 horsepower, a maximum range of 14 knots, and eight 228-mm naval guns, six 20-pounder guns, six six-pounder guns and eight 3-pounder guns. Two warships with a displacement of 8,500 tons and a maximum voyage of 16 knots. The main guns were 4 234-mm naval guns, 6 152-mm naval guns, 4 6-pounder guns.

An "Orlando-class" armored cruiser "Aurora" with a displacement of 5,600 tons, a length of 91.5 meters, a width of 17.07 meters, and a draft of 6.68 meters. The power is 5600 horsepower, the top range is 17 knots, and the short-term emergency can reach 18 knots.

The latest armored cruiser of the British Far East Fleet is the "Elizabeth", with a displacement of 15,800 tons, the main armament is four 350mm guns, launched in October 1897, 128m long, 23m wide, 8m high, and three Edgar-class first-class protective cruisers.

The Far East Fleet sailed mightily towards Bohai Bay, but they did not know that their every move was under the supervision of Chinese reconnaissance submarines, and the two Chinese submarines followed them after seeing the British Far East Fleet. When they enter the Bohai Bay,

Deng Shichang, who was studying the naval battle map on the "Republic", received the information, he took it and looked at it, walked to the deck, and said to the flag bearer: "Tell the other warships that the British Navy has entered the Bohai Sea, and all ships are ready for battle!" ”

The Chinese Navy ships were urgently checking the equipment, and the soldiers were a little nervous because it was the first time they were facing the navy of the world's number one power.

"The main gun is ready."

"The secondary cannon is ready."

"The torpedo compartment is ready."

……

A loud report was heard along the submarine cable to the bridge of each warship, and then through the flag-waving flags and the ticking of radio waves into the control tower of the "Republic".

"Report to the commander, all ships are ready."

Twenty minutes later, hearing these words, Deng Shichang's hanging heart fell to the ground, and he immediately ordered the attack to begin, firing at the British Far East Fleet.

A sea battle has begun! The sound of "boom" and "boom" guns continued to come out from the guns of the Chinese warships, the sound lingered in the sky above the Bohai Sea, the water column as high as more than ten meters rose into the sky on the sea surface, some battleships were hit and emitted thick black smoke, and a ball of fire rose on the British battleship, and together with the sunset moving in the sky, the entire Bohai Sea was reflected red! (To be continued......) u