On the evening of the 21st, the Beiyang Fleet, which returned to Jiaozhou, received information that the army had cleared up the landing of the Third Army in Rongcheng Bay. Deng Shichang is fierce, and he was said by the emperor again. Another piece of information indicates that the Combined Fleet is still blockading Weihai. The decision was made that night, and the next morning a sneak attack on the Yue army.

The next day, when the Beiyang Fleet sailed to Rongcheng Bay, it saw a dense crowd of military transport ships coming and going between sea and land, and only a few gunboats patrolling the open sea. The Beiyang Fleet, which was overjoyed, immediately used the Dingzhen Second Ship to cover the gunboats and plunged directly into Rongcheng Bay to bombard the land forces on the shore. Lai, Jing, Jing, Guangyi, and Guang C ships surrounded them from the outside. Except for the Yamato, which was obviously defeated, the northeasternmost side hurriedly went back to report the news, and the other ships actually counterattacked.

Looking for death? Then I'll give you a ride. Just over ten minutes later, the army's attempt to stop it was shattered. Then the Beiyang Fleet began artillery training, and one after another wooden troop carriers were hit, and the hit troop carriers were either broken in two or turned into fireballs drifting on the sea. Countless soldiers fell into the water, wailing for help. But the ships in the North Ocean turned a blind eye. It is even more exaggerated to come far away, and when pursuing enemy ships, he actually chose the place where the army fell into the water most intensively as the route. Behind him, a long blood-red band was brought out by the propeller.

Lang Weili wanted to stop this inhumane behavior, but was dispelled by Deng Shichang's words: "There is an old Chinese saying that if you lose your life in the way of others." Have you forgotten the Ascending Number? Deng Shichang immediately ordered the flag to be hung out: "Don't forget the Gao Sheng." ”

The encouraged ships were concocted according to the law as far away, and long blood-red bands formed on the sea surface of Rongcheng Bay. A naked massacre unfolded in Rongcheng Bay.

On the sea in the eastern part of the Shandong Peninsula, the main force of the Combined Fleet is heading southeast at full speed. An anxious look unabashedly emanated from Togo Heihachiro's face. When did the Qing Beiyang fleet slip out? Heihachiro Togo, he carefully recalled the previous information.

First of all, it was said that the combined fleet blockaded Weihai, and at that time it was certain that the Beiyang Fleet was on Liugong Island. Because the fleet had to be resupplied and returned to the capital, and at the same time escorted the third army for the conquest. During this interruption, only Yoshino and Naniwa, two cruisers known for their speed, patrolled and monitored outside Liugong Island. The two ships of Yoshino and Naniwa are because they are fast, and they can't beat them. During this period, the Beiyang Fleet went to sea many times to encircle and suppress Yoshino and Naniwa with more fights and less, and also came up with the idea of using the night to encircle them, but they all had no chance because of the fast speed of Yoshino and Naniwa. There is nothing surprising about the mediocre performance of the Beiyang Fleet these times, and it did not even open fire. And all the ships are in the field. Heihachiro Togo, who was puzzled, suddenly discovered a phenomenon.

17 The two fleets were entangled until nightfall, and when the Beiyang Fleet withdrew, even the wounded Pingyuan came out and dragged Jiyuan behind. Because the night was dark, Yoshino and Naniwa didn't dare to get too close for fear of being surrounded. If this is the case, the Beiyang Fleet does have a chance to slip out at this time. On the 18th, the Beiyang Fleet did not go to sea, and on the 20th, the main forces of the Combined Fleet arrived. It must be so, so in the past few days, only two ships can be seen in Jiyuan and Pingyuan. But the Shandong Peninsula is so big, how can the Beiyang Fleet be sure that the landing site of the empire was chosen to the south?

In the distance, the end of the Shandong Peninsula has appeared, just bypass. The Combined Fleet would be able to protect the landing grounds. Four days have passed since the landing operation began on the 19th, and the 2nd Forward Division, which had to make an all-out raid on Weihai without heavy equipment, should have landed all the personnel and most of the supplies. So what is the fate of the 6th Division, which is now landing? Across the mountains, Heihachiro Togo could still see the smoke and explosions over Eisong Bay. Now we can only go all out for reinforcements.

Judging from the course of the Battle of Arthur, the Dingzhen No. 2 ship withstood almost all the firepower of the Combined Fleet. Although it was still not sunk, the deck of the Dingzhen Second Ship was already very damaged. Judging from the big hole in Pingyuan that has not yet been repaired, the Beiyang Fleet, which lost Lushun, also lost its ability to repair. As long as there is no Dingzhen Second Ship, then the Qing Beiyang Fleet can be completely annihilated.

When the fleet turned around the Shandong Peninsula, what unfolded before Togo Heihachiro was a picture of Shura Hell.

Except for the three warships, Lai, Jing, and Jing, who were still chasing the troop transports that were fleeing in all directions, the other Beiyang warships were shelling the landing site. The shore has been covered by the corpses of the soldiers in black military uniforms that have covered the entire beach and hillside. At sea, the Akagi is blazing with soaring flames, spinning the sea. The King Kong and Sanjing are sinking. The Amagi, Katsuragi, and Musashi have long since disappeared. Only a few flaming troop carriers rushed to the road. The entire sea was littered with broken planks and the corpses of officers and men of the 6th Division. On both sides of several staggered blood-red ribbon-shaped tracks, there were severed limbs and stumps of the army.

This sight stunned all the officers and men of the Combined Fleet.

"Ordered the ships to move with the flagship and cut between the Beiyang Fleet and the landing force. Separate them and protect the landing site. Then attack the Beiyang Fleet with all your might......" The angry Togo Heihachiro slammed his fist on the table: "Sink them all at once." ”

Although the deck of the second ship of Dingzhen has been repaired, the scars on the side of the ship are still there. Heihachiro Togo glared angrily ahead, such a dilapidated warship dares to sneak out of the harbor and attack, this time I must sink you.

"Report, the United Fleet has appeared, and it is still 10,000 meters away from our ship." Observations were reported from the lookout.

Lang Weili then said: "Ladies and gentlemen, the speed of the army is faster than our ship, if our ship retreats now, it will be attacked by the ship's tailing. It's impossible to get out of it now. Only by defeating them can we return safely. Pass the order, gather the ships, and meet the battle with all your strength in the battle line. "Five against nine, there's not much chance.

With the return of the Beiyang ships to the main formation, when they lined up in battle, they were less than 5,000 meters away from the combined fleet. Heihachiro Togo watched the two fleets get closer and closer, and thought to himself, nine against five, we must sink them all.

4000 meters. The voice of the mast came again: "Report, this fleet has divided four cruisers, the Yoshino, Takachiho, Akitsuzu, and Naniwa, and come from the outside. ”

"Leave them alone." Luang Weili said calmly. They said that they had made a big mistake, and they were still afraid of the ironclad ships, and they wanted to avoid the ironclad ships and knock out the three cruisers from both sides first. In this way, the huge gap between the guerrillas and the main formation of the army widened, and following Lang Weili's fingers, Deng Shichang also saw the huge gap.

"As long as they rush towards here, the main formation of the Yue army is also exposed to the 305mm main guns of Dingyuan and Zhenyuan. Although the rate of fire of our ship's main guns is very low, as long as I am said to have taken a shot, it will lead to very serious consequences. This may be the only chance for our ship to retreat safely. Deng Shichang hurriedly said.

"No, why didn't our ship seize the good opportunity to destroy the opponent's main formation? They had already made the same mistake once in Dadonggou, but unfortunately we couldn't take the opportunity. Now, concentrate all your firepower to defeat the flagship of the Japanese army, the Matsushima. ”

The army still adheres to the principle of a 3,000-meter engagement line and is still in the front. But at 3,500 meters, as the Beiyang Fleet opened fire, columns of water rose to the left of the Songdao. The first three rounds of artillery in the fleet battle have basically no hit rate, but the ability to quickly hit the first three rounds can not only create a preemptive momentum, but also adjust the shooting of Zhu Yuan more quickly.

In the main turret of Dingyuan, in the quickly opened gun chamber, a yellow and clear bullet shell jumped out. Before it could hit the ground, the bombardier next to him slipped another shell into the chamber. The gunner, who closed the chamber, looked up at the gunner, and waited for an order to shoot the vengeful cannonball.

In the era when there was no unified fire control system, the belligerents mainly relied on the experience of the gunners, and the method of letting each artillery group calculate and coordinate the firing elements on their own was undoubtedly the best.

"Zhuyuan has been adjusted. Three rapid fires. The gunslinger gave the order. Before he could finish speaking, the entire ship was shocked, and the second round of 305mm shells sped away, and without seeing if they could hit, the second round of shells had already begun to be loaded.

Finally, a 305-mm shell accurately hit the bow of the Matsushima, three thousand meters away, and the power of the new armor-piercing shell was revealed. The cannonball exploded only when it hit the lower deck, and a huge wave of blast air swept through the entire foredeck, and the fire spread from below deck in an instant.

The explosion of the shell made the entire Matsushima tremble. The second ship of Dingzhen is still too strong, and Heihachiro Togo, who only stood firm on the table, couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. We can only take advantage of the fast speed of our ship first, first defeat the other cruisers of the Beiyang Fleet, and then try to sink the ironclad ship. Heihachiro Togo immediately ordered: "Left rudder, let the first guerrilla group join the main formation, and first besiege the small ships of the Beiyang Fleet with all their might." Destroy all the peripheral branches of the Dingzhen Second Ship. ”

Boom, another 305-mm shell from Zhenyuan hit Matsushima again, this shell exploded in the tail of Matsushima, and the huge explosion blew a large hole in the port side of Matsushima. The sea is pouring in like crazy.

"It was reported that the port side stern was badly damaged and the boiler compartment was badly flooded. Unable to plug the leak, a boiler is useless. An urgent call came from the engine room.

"Yaga." The loss of one boiler means that the speed of the ship will drop to ten knots: "Let Hashitachi take over the command, and Matsushima will withdraw from the battle for the time being." ”

The army lost one warship, but the Beiyang Fleet, which was attacked from both sides, was not happy.

"Come far and be far away, and be slightly injured. Jing Yuan was wounded, lost an artillery, and could continue to fight. Guangyi was seriously injured and was losing speed. ”

"Report, said the ship's left rudder. It's approaching our ship. ”

The reports of the staff officers came one after another, Lang Weili frowned slightly, the second ship of Dingzhen may not be afraid of fighting, but the other ships will be in trouble: "Guang Bing covers Guang Yi and withdraws first." The second ship of Dingzhen advanced to block the artillery of the other ships. The left rudder of the fleet and the battle with the ships in battle. ”

The whistling shells flew back and forth between the two fleets, and the column of rushing water still could not wash away the smoke in the sky. In the smoke of gunpowder, countless fires flashed from the two fleets, and the fire tormented the two fleets at the same time. The misty smoke of gunpowder became thicker and thicker, and the Beiyang Fleet, which was at the downwind, could no longer see clearly the combined fleet that was close at hand.

"Right rudder, out of the smoke area in the direction of the open sea. Turn around and fight again. Seeing that the Dingzhen No. 2 ship was hit by more than 100 rounds of bullets and still drove and fired normally, Lang Weili decisively gave an order.

"It's not that easy to run. Catch up, be sure to annihilate the Beiyang Fleet, and avenge the 6th Division. "The Matsushima, which had just finished plugging the leak, was following behind the Combined Fleet at a speed of ten knots.

The army wanted to completely annihilate the Beiyang Fleet, but the Beiyang Fleet simply did not run because it could not outrun. At this time, the Dingzhen Second Ship was only 2,500 meters away from the Japanese ship, which was almost a close artillery battle, but the main gun of the Dingzhen Second Ship was too slow, and they could only use their thick armor to block most of the shells for the cruiser fleet 500 meters behind. Although the ship's guns had a fast rate of fire, the power of the guns was not enough to have a fatal impact on the Dingzhen No. 2 ship, and the battle was so scorching.

The sound of continuous bombing sounded, and the ship Qiujinzhou was hit by 305-millimeter shells in succession, and could no longer be prevented from sinking into the sea, and the other ships were also scarred. On the other hand, the Beiyang Fleet, although not a single ship was sunk, the Jingyuan tail rudder was injured, resulting in an increase in the turning radius, and it was destined to be unable to join the battle line. The deck of the second ship in Dingzhen was like being gnawed by dogs, and even the command tower was hit by several pits from shells.

Far behind on Matsushima, which did not have enough speed, Heihachiro Togo looked at the scorching battlefield and sighed: "The second ship of Dingzhen is too hard. This time, it is necessary to completely destroy the Beiyang Fleet, and then let the second ship of Dingzhen return to the port for repair, then the empire will have no peace. ”

"Report, the Qing army, Jiyuan and Pingyuan are coming to me at high speed from the rear." The voice of the lookout was heard.

Heihachiro Togo didn't expect that the Beiyang warships left behind would dare to follow. Although Matsushima was injured, as long as the Yamato assisted, Matsushima, who had lost his speed, would not be afraid: "Let the Yamato come back and counterattack the Qing Army's Jiyuan and Pingyuan ships together with our ship." (To be continued.) )