Battleships, with large-caliber naval guns as their main weapons, have strong armor protection capabilities and strong assault power, and are large surface combat ships that undertake ocean-going combat missions. In the era before the advent of airplanes, the battleship was the backbone of naval battles, it was the hegemon of the sea world, and it dominated the blue.

Battleships are the largest and most complex weapon systems ever created by mankind, and giant ship cannons have always been a symbol of a country's technological and financial strength. Battleships are the only strategic weapons platform in this era with long-range means of attack, and the power of destruction is hidden in the muzzle of the black hole. Battleships were mobile fortresses at sea, and their powerful firepower and thick armor gave them the key to victory or defeat at sea. The battleship's huge body and hideous gun barrel gave them a natural sense of coercion. Within the range of their guns, they stood like kings wherever they went, and whoever dared to seize their territorial waters would destroy all invading enemies with the heaviest artillery fire.

This is a battleship, extremely powerful and unreasonable. All countries that aspire to have a place on the sea are indispensable to such a powerful weapon as a battleship. Especially a new type of battleship with a comprehensive performance that surpasses the existing battleships of various countries in all directions, even if you build only one, even if you only park it in the harbor, it is a real strength. Because if you can build one, you can build ten, twenty.

That's why it's extremely important to have a battleship built yourself, which not only marks the world's best industrial capacity. It also means that you have the right to challenge regional and even global hegemony.

Step out of the yellow earth and into the deep blue ocean. This is not only the ideal of Guangxu as the emperor, but also the ideal of all the ministers up and down the Guangxu court. We don't think we're stupider than foreigners. We are more industrious, hard-working, and better at learning than foreigners, why can't we go to the deep blue?

On October 30, 1902, the north wind was bleak. But all the people in the entire Huludao shipyard were on fire. The factory, which had been closed for a year and a half, opened its long-closed doors, and the first domestic battleship of the Qing Dynasty slowly left the dock under the towing of a tugboat.

Looking at the towering bridge and stroking the hideous turret, Guangxu's heart was excited. Since the 18th year of Guangxu, he began to send overseas workers, from cargo ships to cruise ships. From 700-ton destroyers to eleven thousand ton heavy cruisers. Eight years of hard work, eight years of dedication. Finally, in exchange for the launch of this battleship today.

With a standard displacement of 13,000 tons/full load of 15,000 tons, a length of 128 meters, a width of 25 meters, and a draft of 7.8 meters, four 40L/naval guns are installed on the central axis of the hull to show his strength, and 14 75mm rapid-fire guns protect the battleship from torpedoes. Broadside straps. With an 80mm deck, the turret's thick armor effectively protects the hull from its own shells. The coal-oil hybrid boiler set allows the third-generation trans steam turbine to provide 20,000 horsepower, driving the hull to move the hull at a maximum speed of 19 knots.

Yes, in addition to the artillery, this battleship still has a certain gap compared to the latest British fast class, after all, the Qing Dynasty does not have the British naval experience accumulated for hundreds of years. Being able to build his own battleships after just eight years has already made Guangxu very satisfied. At least we can loudly announce to the world that everything on this battleship, from the big guns to the small screws, is made by the Qing Dynasty itself.

Just as Guangxu named the battleship the Foundation. This is the basis for the Qing Dynasty to begin to build its own capital warships. In the Qing Dynasty, in the Ryukyus, and in Taiwan, docks for the next batch of new warships have been built, tall hydraulic presses, and various gantry machine tools. Warehouses full of steel ingots, mountains of coal, full of oil tanks, everything that has been done in five years is ready for the construction and use of new warships. As long as the base completes sea trials, as long as the base completes the bomb test, all test results will further refine the new warship that is already on the drawings. Then it is time to build new warships to repel the challenge from the West and lay the foundation for China's true rise.

"One-third full speed, right full rudder--" Commander-in-Chief Wu Deren personally gave the order to activate the Foundation.

The steam makes a high-pitched whistling sound through the valve. Drive the steam turbine to start rotating. The paddles stirred up the sea, making the stopped ships faster and faster.

"Right full rudder-" when the base number travels to the fastest 19.2 knots. Wu Deren gave the order to make a sharp turn. As the Foundation drew a beautiful arc on the sea surface, the various sea tests of the Foundation began. Facing the eight main guns of the base ship of the target ship, the huge recoil directly shifted the hull of the ship several meters. Based on the calculations provided by the observers, the adjusted muzzle accurately hit the target ship at a distance of 8,000 meters......

"The spindle is overheated, and it can only meet 90% of the design requirements. Request a slowdown. ”

"There was an abnormality in the fastening, and one of the ventilation ducts was loose. Eliminate exceptions after rehardening. ”

"The boiler is normal, the control valves are normal, and the steam turbine is running normally. There was no unusual noise. ”

"There is no abnormality in the hull structure, and the watertight hatches are working normally."

……

As the results of the inspection of the various compartments are summarized to the bridge, the weapon system is still being tested.

"The rapid-fire guns are normal."

"The main gun is all right."

"The main gun ammunition lifting system is normal, but there is a slight difference in the lifting speed of each gun position."

"The 10,000-meter shelling test is normal, and all shell impact points are within the required range."

……

As the battleship as the main force of the battle, the main gun is naturally the focus of inspection. Except for the difference in the speed of ammunition lifting, the ship's weapon system is normal. But that's it, inside the bridge, Wu Deren is still worried. He stomped his foot heavily and said: "The hull swings obviously, which has a great impact on the accuracy of artillery shooting. This is not qualified. "As the commander-in-chief of the Navy, the only non-conformity point of the foundation number was proposed.

Guangxu didn't ask, but walked up to McKinson, the chief designer of the foundation, who was summarizing various data, and asked, "How is the development of the stabilizer fin?" ”

McKinson shook his head and said, "The stabilizer fin has been developed." But it has not yet been able to catch up with the construction of the foundation. And through testing, the anti-roll effect of the stabilizer fin is not very prominent. ”

"At least it can meet the requirements of our Commander Wu." Guangxu smiled and patted McKinson's shoulder and said, "The effect of the fin reduction may be almost bad this time, but it will definitely improve next time." Don't be discouraged. If you don't get the effect you expected this time, try making another one. The progress of science always progresses in failed experiments! ”

The three-day navigation and artillery tests were all carried out openly in the Bohai Bay, and the Qing Dynasty did not hide it, except for the safety of the demarcation of an area to prevent the ships from entering, and if you were willing to stay outside the protective line and watch, you would not be driven away.

"A good warship, built to blow him up? How did the emperor raise such a group of losers in the navy. On a passing merchant ship, an old man pointed to the Haichen, the flagship of the Qing Navy, which was shelling the Foundation. And not only this elder. Other people on board are also accusing the Navy of this failure. The captain even hung out the flag: Why did you sink the warship defending the coastal defense, and asked for an explanation.

Fortunately, the captain asked more calmly, asking for an explanation. Otherwise, Liu Buyun had to sink it, how could the navy strategy be asked by a flat-headed common man? But this question is enough to make Liu Buyun blow his beard angrily and stare at him, Liu Buyun said angrily to the intercom tube: "Why do you want to shell the foundation, don't you need to say it again from this official?" ”

"No, you don't." The cabins replied in the affirmative. This time, it was a student of the Dalian Naval Academy who carried out the bomb test on the foundation. Before the start, they had been clearly told that it must be the first self-built battleship of the Qing Dynasty, and no one knew the effect of really putting it into naval warfare, so they had to simulate the real situation of being bombed as much as possible to test whether the battleship built by the Qing Dynasty could withstand a fierce naval battle.

If it was just one or two civilian ships and then asked, but Bohai Bay is a busy bay, especially the test site is the seaway that leads to Yingkou, the largest civilian cargo distribution terminal in Northeast China.

But no matter how it is explained, it cannot satisfy the people of the Qing Dynasty outside the safety line. Because it is said that the construction of this warship cost more than five million. And it was built to sink him? In their opinion, this is the biggest loser. In the bridge of the Tingfeng that was watching the bomb test, Wu Deren was extremely angry and ordered to stop the test. Because there are already civilian ships that want to force their way through the security line, they have to ask clearly, the emperor spent millions to build a warship, and you are so ruined?

"We can't let the admirals go to war in a warship that could be sunk at any time." In the face of the representatives of the people who came to question, Wu Deren could only persuade with good words, and he persuaded with good words with a smile.

Distance. The base number, which had been hit by six shells on the starboard side, started slowly, turned around and sailed quickly to the Huludao shipyard at a top speed of 19 knots. I saw that the base number drove away like no one. These representatives of the people let Wu Deren go, and after all, the safety of the soldiers came first. Although Wu Deren wanted to throw them into the sea, considering the possibility that the emperor would throw him into the sea as well, he could only respectfully send these delegates away.

Also leaving was Philistine, commander of the British Far East Fleet, who rushed from Hong Kong to Bohai Bay as soon as he learned that the Qing had built a special battleship. He did not get to see the Basic's sailing and shelling tests, but he did see the bomb tests and the Foundation's departure. Judging from the shelling performance of the Qing Dynasty in the past, once the Qing State completes all the tests, it will inevitably build a large number of such battleships. After the Qing State completed the construction, his Far East Fleet had to force the Qing State Fleet

The world's first all-heavy artillery battleship with eight guns and a speed of 19 knots appeared. His appearance meant that all the battleships in active service in the countries of the world were not opponents.

After receiving a telegram from Philmantle returning home, Fisher, who had just become the first admiral of the British Empire, rushed to White as soon as the parliamentary meeting was over.

"You said that if I go to Qingguo now to seek the position of chief designer of naval warships, can I take that McKinson down?" White said with some self-deprecation, picked up the wine bottle and took a big sip. The wine is good wine, and it is Moutai from the Qing Dynasty. A gentle smash at last year's World's Fair. It has become the world's No. 1 liquor. The aroma of the wine is strong and heavy, but it is a headache after drinking too much. But now White can't care about that, he just wants to be drunk forever. Forever......

"Don't drink it!" Fisher, who was a good friend, reached out and grabbed the bottle, but in the scramble he accidentally hit the bottle on the table, and Fisher picked up a cloth and began to wipe the wine spilled on the table. On the table is a design drawing of a warship, this is a new warship with a standard displacement of more than 15,000 tons, this battleship is equipped with five twin 45L/naval guns on the front and back, and Fisher, who saw this design drawing, couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said with some complaints: "White." If there is such a design plan, why not come up with it. For the foundation of the Qing Kingdom, the Congress has been quarrelling, and at this time you can come up with such a design. It's definitely a slap in the face of the Qing Kingdom. ”

"Drink as a head? Hehehehe...... Are you going to take a warship with a speed of only 15 knots to go to the Qing country? I think you are using a target for Qing Guo to conduct artillery drills. White picked up the bottle and tried to take another sip, but the bottle had already spilled out of the bottle.

"White, you have to pull yourself together. At least the Qing people have not yet solved the ability to install a triple main gun. Fisher stopped White, who was about to get wine, and said: "The British Empire has the most powerful industrial capacity in the world and the most abundant resources in the world. White. Don't get tired, believe that the warships of the British Empire are the best. ”

White laughed a few times but didn't speak. The fact that an obscure McKinson designed and built the world's first all-heavy artillery warship with the full support of the Qing Emperor was a fatal blow to White, who was known as the world's number one ship designer, because there was already talk in Congress questioning his design ability. White staggered down on the couch, chattering quietly, and after a while there was a snoring sound.

Fisher shook his head and walked out of White's design room, leaving his wife to take care of him. Only White kept chanting the word power in his dreams like a dream.

The appearance of the Qing Foundation not only made Britain dare to threaten, but also made other countries like a thorn in the back. According to the combat power assessment, one Basic is enough to challenge two of Britain's newest Fast-class battleships. Not to mention the battleships that are not as good as the British fast class. So should these already clearly backward warships continue to be built? Britain, the United States, Germany, France and other countries have all slowed down the construction of their own warships. Only Tsar Nicholas II roared: no matter how powerful the Foundation is, there is only one, and if the two ships of the great Russian Navy cannot defeat the Foundation, then three or four. Defeat him with overwhelming numbers. Tsar Nicholas II again borrowed 200 million francs from France to start building more battleships.

Russia's move provoked all the countries of Western Europe. In response to Russia's warship construction plan, Kaiser Wilhelm II again revised the naval law to speed up the construction of five Braunschweig-class battleships and make concessions for the five Deutschland-class ones that were about to be put on the slipway. Between the German-Russian moves, France also passed the bill for the construction of six Danton-class battleships again. Even Italy had two Neapolitan-class battleships under construction, and Austria-Hungary was clearing the docks for the two battleships to be built. The Ottoman Empire also has one under construction. The United States, far across the ocean, also reacted: three of the six Maine-class battleships that had not yet been put on slipways were cancelled and eight of the latest Virginia-class battleships were built.

"In this regard. We should learn from Russia. The quantity that the British Empire now needs. "At the British Parliament, First Admiral Fisher made the above statement. His statement was quickly unanimously approved by Congress, and eight Edward VII-class battleships were put on the slipway, and four Sir Nelson-class battleships were budgeted.

Because of a new warship of the Qing State, which was backward in the eyes of whites, the whole of Europe and the United States resounded with intensive riveting sounds. But what is surprising is that the Qing State, which was the first to build an all-heavy artillery battleship, has been slow to build new warships. While European and American countries are busy building old-fashioned warships, they can't help but let their respective ministers in China figure out what the Qing Kingdom wants to do now.

Guangxu didn't have time to care what the foreigners were doing, he didn't even look at the bomb test of the base number and left. The Guangxu Islands, as the territory of Guangxu that was forcibly purchased back in the First Sino-Japanese and Qing-Japanese War, are the first time they have landed on the island in so many years.

Guangxu raised his head and looked at the wooden shelves flying in the sky, very happy. And as the designer and pilot of the "Romantic" aircraft, Clement? Adel personally drove the "Romantic" aircraft around the island in front of the Qing Emperor for half a circle, and then stopped smoothly on the runway.

"Good, good. Adel, you didn't disappoint me. Guangxu said with satisfaction: "Since human beings have thoughts, whether myths or legends, flying has been the pursuit of human beings for thousands of years. Now you are fulfilling this dream for the whole of humanity, not only for you personally, but for the whole of humanity. Are you Crément? Adel has wings for humanity to fly into the sky. ”

Clement? Adel thanked Guangxu for his support in accordance with the etiquette of the Qing Dynasty: "Your Majesty, we have built a monoplane with two automobile engines according to your idea. ”

In the huge warehouse, a monoplane with engines hanging under the wings is parked inside, made of all-steel skeleton and skin, which is already eighty percent similar to the fighter plane in Guangxu's impression. Guangxu gently stroked the streamlined wings of the plane and asked, "Can it fly?" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Adel stepped forward: "It has two 75-horsepower engines, and the propellers are enough to take it into the sky, and it is higher and farther than the "Romantic" flying, even when it lands, it will still ask, and several pilots have been injured. ”

"If there is a problem, solve it one by one. Don't rush, make sure to put safety first. ”

Guangxu stayed on the island for three days and then rushed away. During these three days, he went swimming in the sea with the island's military police guards, discussed the future of the aircraft with the designers and test pilots, and had Adel take him up for a lap on his "Romantic". Guangxu had suggested that they move away from the island, because it would be more convenient to provide all kinds of equipment and materials inland. Adel refused, just because this is an island, and once the plane breaks down in the air, jumping into the sea is still a certain amount of safety compared to jumping on land.

Guangxu was not reluctant. As he was leaving, Guangxu said to Adel: "If you have any ideas, try to implement them, and I will provide you with whatever you need." ”

After boarding the ship, Guangxu put the telegram from the imperial court informing him that Europe was engaged in an arms race, put it in the briefcase and forgot about it. Standing on the bow of the ship and watching the warship break through the waves, he happily said to himself: "Build it, build it." When Lao Tzu's plane is ready, it will all blow you up and sink in the sea. (To be continued)