"Help! Help me! ”

"Don't shoot, help me!"

Captain James, who had jumped into the sea to escape, and his crew shouted for help, begging the Qing Imperial Navy not to attack him, and at the same time to avoid being killed with the Yue army, and hurriedly swam outward.

The six Exocet-class hunting ships of the Fifth Sentai roamed the perimeter, attacking the drowning troops with rapid-fire guns and machine guns, and at the same time throwing lifebuoys to James and other American sailors, dragging them away.

The retaliatory action against the stubborn Japanese army lasted for several hours, and as the five American steamers sank completely, the more than 3,000 Japanese troops of the Fourth Division on board were either shot or drowned, and the remaining 300 or so Japanese troops were finally frightened and chose to give in and beg for mercy.

At half past eight in the evening, when the last rays of the setting sun also sink below sea level, the sea near Amami Island is completely submerged in the night.

Captain James and his crew were taken to Amami Island for detention and treatment, and the attack on the American fleet killed fifteen American sailors.

Deng Shichang sent Lin Jianzhang, chief of staff of the fleet, Chen Jinhua, captain of the Zhiyuan, and Cao Jiaxiang, chief of staff of the Zhenyuan ship, to visit James and his cadres.

Chen Jinhua and Cao Jiaxiang, both young children in the United States, have lived in the United States for many years and are familiar with American culture, and under the persuasion of the two of them, James expressed his understanding of the Qing Empire's sinking of five American troop carriers. However, he demanded that the Qing Imperial Navy compensate his five steamers and apologize publicly, otherwise it would be difficult for him to give an account to the Pacific Mail Shipping Corporation.

Lin Jianzhang naturally would not agree to this request, and he insisted that he had taken the American crew hostage, otherwise the Qing Imperial warship would not have fired a torpedo to sink the ship. If you want to compensate, you have to say that you have to compensate, and the Qing Imperial Navy will not compensate. As for the apology, Lin Jianzhang only said that he could express regret and regret for the death of 15 American sailors, but refused to apologize, saying that Ryukyu was a vassal state of the Qing Empire, and that the Qing Empire Navy had the right to sink any invading enemy ship and seize any ship that helped the enemy transport troops within the territorial waters of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

James insisted that he would go to the US arbitration court and resolutely seek justice, Lin Jianzhang stopped talking nonsense with him, and immediately sent someone to detain James and others, and the negotiations between the two sides broke down.

That night, Deng Shichang convened a meeting of captains to discuss the plan for dealing with the third batch of troop carriers in the Ming Dynasty.

According to the intelligence, the third batch of troop carriers will be 13 troop carriers under the command of the Admiralty, and the other two will be the escort warships Naniwa and Anyi. The third convoy of troop transports will arrive at Amami Island the morning after tomorrow, and the captains of the ships in the fleet are sharpening their knives and preparing for a big fight.

But at this time, Zhao Sheng, a staff officer of the fleet command, raised his concerns.

"Commander, Chief of Staff, my lords, I have another opinion."

Deng Shichang and Lin Jianzhang saw that Zhao Sheng was going to speak, so they looked at each other and smiled, and the latter smiled and said to Zhao Sheng: "Staff Officer Zhao has something to say, one more idea will be one more consideration, and the plan will be more perfect, which is also the instruction that Junzuo gave us." ”

Zhao Sheng is still very prestigious as a fleet staff officer, not only Leons praised him for his resourcefulness, but also the fleet command praised him.

Zhao Sheng immediately received the order and said, "Everyone, I think that if we continue to wait in the waters near Amami Island tomorrow, we may not be able to wait for the third batch of troop transport fleets of the Yue Army!" ”

As soon as the words fell, everyone was in an uproar, and Deng Shichang and Lin Jianzhang glanced at each other, both surprised.

Gao Erqian, a staff officer of the headquarters, asked at this time: "Why did Staff Officer Zhao say this?" Do you think the information is wrong? The information given to us by Junza indicates that the third convoy of troop transports will arrive at Amami Island the morning after tomorrow. We had attacked the first and second fleets for two days in a row, and they were all in line with the description on the intelligence, which shows that the information was accurate. ”

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

Deng Shichang and Lin Jianzhang also affirmed this, and they did not doubt the intelligence.

Zhao Sheng laughed and said: "Staff Officer Gao misunderstood!" I'm not suspicious of intelligence! ”

Lin Jianzhang asked, "Then what do you mean?" ”

Zhao Sheng then said: "I don't think I'm stupid, although China has not declared war, they should have expected that we might intercept their troop convoy." The first and second fleets hired British and American merchant ships, indicating that they were prepared. The reason why I dared to come to Amami Island was because I guessed that we would not attack the merchant ships of foreigners. But they weren't sure about it, so their fleet split into three batches, with more than a day in between. I think that they set out in batches and at intervals to prepare for us to actually attack their troop carriers. ”

Fleet staff officer You Xuekai immediately agreed: "I think what Staff Officer Zhao said makes sense!" I should be prepared! ”

Deng Shichang nodded and said, "Even if I am prepared, can their naval strength still be able to defeat us?" ”

Lin Jianzhang frowned and said, "Commander, this navy will definitely not be able to fight us, so they will avoid sending us to death!" ”

Deng Shichang asked, "You mean they will run?" ”

Lin Jianzhang nodded and said, "That's exactly what it means!" ”

Deng Shichang said with a smile: "There is no telegraph on Amami Island, how could I know that we are ambushing here?" ”

Zhao Sheng said at this time: "Commander, the troop transport fleet is divided into three batches, and there is an interval of several days between the first batch and the third batch. If the third group of the Katori does not see the first fleet return, or if the first batch of Katori is tasked with reconnoitring and does not report the return within the stipulated time, I think I will know that something has happened and I will not come to Amami Island again. ”

Now the big guys get it. Although he did not have a wireless telegraphy, he could not report the attack to the fleet behind him. However, if I had arranged emergency measures in advance, and seeing that the Katori and Mogami did not return, it would be very likely that the third group of ships would have returned halfway and would not have come to Amami Island again.

Zhao Sheng's concern attracted the attention of Deng Shichang and others, and Deng Shichang immediately discussed countermeasures with Lin Jianzhang and other staff officers, Lyons and other members of the advisory group, and the captains of various ships.

Eventually, everyone at the meeting was worried that the third convoy of troop carriers might have become suspicious and might turn around and return to Amami Island.

As a result, Deng Shichang immediately changed his tactics, and the whole fleet no longer waited for the rabbit on Amami Island, but followed the route of the Yuben troop transport fleet provided by the intelligence, and advanced in the opposite direction, directly facing the third batch of Yuben convoys. If he had already discovered and turned around and fled, the fleet would try its best to catch up and destroy as many of his troops as possible.

The meeting did not end until 11 o'clock in the evening, and after the meeting, Deng Shichang immediately ordered the whole fleet to set off and take the initiative to find the third batch of troop transport fleets.

At 11:35 p.m. on May 28, the three ships of the Fourth Combat Squadron of the Royal Navy of the Qing Empire, the Sea Scale, the Flying Thunder, and the Flying Eagle, together with the 12 Exocet-class hunting ships of the Fifth and Sixth Fleets, took the lead in forming a search fleet.

The Exocet-class hunting ships of the 5th and 6th fleets are fast and have strong search capabilities, but they are too small to be equipped with a radio system, so the Sea Scale is the flagship of the search fleet and is responsible for liaising with the main fleet.

Subsequently, five large armored cruisers of the Second Combat Force, namely the Yuyong, Courage, Douyong, Gangyong, and Yiyong, and the six protective cruisers of the Third Combat Force, namely Jiyuan, Jingyuan, Laiyuan, Zhiyuan, Jingyuan, and Pingyuan, formed a double formation.

Similarly, the six cruisers of the Third Squadron are all old warships of the Beiyang Naval Division, although they have been upgraded, and the artillery system and navigation system have been upgraded and maintained, but the radio system has not yet been installed, so the Third Squadron is not allowed to leave the fleet alone, but follows the Second Squadron and is controlled by the Captain Yuyong, the flagship of the Second Squadron.

Left behind are the three armored iron battleships of the first team, the same Weiyuan is equipped with a radio system, the fleet headquarters is still on the Weiyuan, Deng Shichang, Lin Jianzhang and other command officers are on the Weiyuan, and the Dingyuan and Zhenyuan two ships have become the left and right protectors of the Weiyuan.

The Qing Imperial Royal Navy fleet was divided into three echelons, each echelon was a speed gear, and the first warband, which soon fell behind, could only make radio contact with the second warband, and then communicate with the fourth warband's flagship Sea Scale through the second warframe, so as to control the overall situation.

On the morning of May 29 ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※, 200 nautical miles south of Miyazaki Prefecture in southern Kyushu, the third convoy of troop carriers was sailing in formation along the shallow waters of the Ryukyu Ridge. In front of the troop convoy was the Naniwa opening the way, and behind was the Anyi escort.

The third troop transport fleet was escorted by the Naniwa and Aki, and the troop carriers consisted of 13 troop carriers, including Shohe Maru (Xianghe [i]), Xianlin Maru, Phoenix Maru, Tachizo Maru, Kuaifeng Maru, Kaiyun Maru, Nagamaru (Nagamaru [i]), Osaka Maru, Hongqiao Ship, Xingsu Maru, Tokyo Maru, Hanrong Maru, Kata Maru, and Huayang Maru, carrying more than 8,000 troops from the Eighth Brigade of the Fourth Division of the Japanese Army, as well as a large number of light and heavy weapons, ammunition, and supplies.

On the Naniwa, the sailors were on their morning journey, and the captain of the ship, Masatoshi Uchida, accompanied Vice Admiral Okuho Gong of the 4th Division while visiting and talking.

Since the First Sino-Japanese War, the navy has been overstretched for funds, and as a last resort, the navy will salvage the Naniwa, which has sunk since it sank in the Yellow Sea, and return it to service after repair.

However, the Naniwa, which was more than ten years old, could not be used as a capital ship after major repairs, and could only be reduced to a second-class cruiser. However, the new 66th Fleet plan of the Navy has not yet been completed, so Nanisu still has to take on a big responsibility.

"Uchida-kun, you are very good at leading troops, and your soldiers seem to be well-trained."

Obao Gong was still very satisfied with the spirit of the officers and men of the Naniwa.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for the compliment!"

Uchida Masatoshi said with a smile on his face: "Don't hide it from Your Excellency the Admiral, in terms of naval combat quality, my soldiers are no worse than the British Royal Navy!" ”

Obao Gong nodded, he didn't know anything about the navy at all, he just watched it fresh.

Thinking of the war in the Ryukyu Islands and the annihilation of the 1st and 5th Divisions, Okuhogong's mood suddenly fell and said: "It would be good if the Combined Fleet was still there, and it would not be so easy for the Qing Imperial Navy to land on Naha Island, and the 1st and 5th Divisions might not be so defeated!" ”

Masatoshi Uchida also sighed, for him, there was nothing more pleasing to him than to rebuild the Combined Fleet.

"Soon we will re-assemble the combined fleet, this time General Heihachiro Togo went to the United Kingdom to receive two Fuji-class battleships, and when we return home, our navy will also have battleships."

Obao Gong asked, "Can you defeat the Qing Imperial Navy?" ”

Uchida Masatoshi smiled bitterly and said, "It is impossible to defeat the Qing Imperial Navy with only two battleships, but after we have two battleships, the Qing Imperial Navy will not dare to be as arrogant as it is now." ”

Okubogong said disappointedly: "Without the navy, it will be difficult for us to recover the Ryukyus!" ”

Uchida Masatoshi asked, "Then why do you insist on taking the 4th Division to Amami Island, General?" ”

Obao Gong smiled bitterly: "Do you think I am willing? First of all, there is the question of the face of the Imperial Army, and we have to balance the discontent within the military, which, if indifferent, will give some conspirators within the military an excuse to launch a military mutiny. The second is that Amami Island is relatively close to southern Kyushu, and if we control Amami Island, it is equivalent to building a bridgehead on the periphery of the empire, which can be attacked and retreated. ”

Uchida Masatoshi asked again, "Do you say there will be a military mutiny?" ”

Okubo Gong glanced at Masatoshi Uchida and smiled without saying a word.

Uchida Masatoshi smiled awkwardly and secretly asked questions that shouldn't be asked.

At this time, a staff officer of the Japanese army came over and reported: "Report, so far, the Katori has not been found to be returning!" ”

Uchida Masatoshi and Okuho Gong glanced at each other, and their faces suddenly darkened.

"It's past the scheduled time, and according to Ricuka to take the number and return safely to meet us!"

"If Katori doesn't come over on time to make peace with us, it means that something has happened on Amami Island or somewhere in the sea ahead."

Ao Baogong frowned and said, "Could it be that there are not enough landing ships and delaying time?" ”

Uchida Masatoshi shook his head and said, "After the Katori safely escorts the four British ships to Amamijima, they have to return to meet us immediately, so that we can know if the front is safe." Now that Katori has not returned, it means that something has happened to them. I suggest returning immediately, there may already be an interception by the Qing Imperial Navy ahead. ”

There are less than two days left on the sea route from Amami Island, and giving up at this time is a little unwilling.

"Could it be that Katori has a mechanical problem and can't get back on time?"

The Katori is an 18-year-old ship with a wooden hull, so it is not an exaggeration to say that it has mechanical problems.

Masatoshi Uchida said: "There is a possibility, but we can't take any chances, and before leaving, Commander Shikiki Kayama gave me an order to take the fleet back as soon as I noticed that something was wrong." ”

Ao Baogong was a little unwilling and said, "Wait a little longer, right? ”

Uchida Masatoshi persuaded Okubo for a while, but Okubo still insisted, so he had to retreat.

"We can wait, but we can only stay in place, and we can't go any further!"

Uchida Masatoshi compromised, and Okuho nodded in agreement.

In this way, the third convoy of troop transports stopped advancing and anchored on the spot. At the same time, Masatoshi Uchida ordered the fast cruiser Aki to go ahead to inquire about the situation, while Naniwa was on guard nearby.

In the afternoon, the Aki returned home, saying that it had not found Katori.

Masatoshi Uchida sensed that the situation was not good, and went to Okuho Gong to discuss.

"General, we've been waiting for a long time, and the Katori hasn't appeared yet, so please order the troop fleet to return with the ship immediately, and there will be a change later."

Obaogong nodded in agreement, and he was also worried about the attack on the troop fleet.

On the afternoon of the 29th, Okuhogong and his troop transport fleet turned around and sailed northwest, planning to go to the port of Shibushi in southern Kyushu.

Okuhoko didn't plan to return to Osaka Bay, but still had his luck and asked Uchida Masatoshi to send the Aki to continue sailing south to reconnoiter the waters near Amami Island.

Due to limited communications, even if the fleet was attacked on Amami Island, they would not get any information, and the Masaaxe of Moto was kept in the dark, so Uchida Masatoshi was anxious to know what was really going on Amamijima.

On the evening of the 29th, the cruiser Aki.

"Report! Your Excellency, Captain. Multiple columns of black smoke were found in the south! ”

The sentry on the watchtower immediately reported.

The captain of the Aki, Kiyoaki Kuroda, immediately picked up the binoculars and took a look. Sure enough, long trails of black smoke were spotted over the sea about 15 nautical miles to the south. But because the distance is too far, it is difficult to see what kind of ship it is. However, Kuroda Kiyoaki is certain that it is not the returning Katori and the British steamer.

Kuroda Kiyomei immediately ordered the adjutant on the side: "Turn around and return immediately!" ”

"Hey!" The adjutant was ordered to leave.

Kuroda Kiyoaki continued to order the sentinels to observe, and the Aki accelerated to make a U-turn at the same time.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ Kuroda Kiyoming found the Qing Empire warship Sea Scale, which was searching forward, but at the same time that the Aki discovered the smoke from the Sea Scale, the Sea Scale also discovered the black smoke coming from the Aki.

"Report, I found a ship, and it is making a U-turn!"

"Don't you see the other troop carriers?"

"Report, no!"

Chen Jiliang, the captain of the Sea Scale, suddenly wondered, didn't he say more than a dozen troop carriers? Now how can it be a ship?

"No matter, since the ship has discovered us, then he must have gone back to deliver the letter, and we must kill him!"

"I agree! Anyway, two ships have already been sunk, and the outbreak of the Qing War this time is inevitable! ”

Wu Daqing, the chief of staff next to him, was also confused, but he agreed with Chen Jiliang's view.

"Pass my orders, get ready for battle!"

"Notification from superiors! A ship was found and was in pursuit. ”

Chen Jiliang immediately ordered, and the Sea Scale suddenly sounded the battle alarm.

(To be continued)