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"Order the ships and keep the jǐng ring. In addition, the battleships of the Italian Navy, which had already been controlled, immediately returned to their shores. Let the battlecruiser 'Wang Ben' escort these battleships back to Port Said with a few light cruisers and destroyers! Admiral Li Haitao ordered. Although Austria-Hungary is now considered an ally of China, the sudden appearance of the Austro-Hungarian navy in this sea area is better to be cautious without figuring out their true intentions. Originally, the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy planned to flank the Italian Navy together with the Austro-Hungarian Navy, but it did not expect that the Italian Navy would come to seek death by itself, and the Austro-Hungarian Navy also chose to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight. Therefore, this made Admiral Li Haitao have a hint of jǐng in his heart towards the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although, the likelihood of an attack by the Austro-Hungarian navy against them was very small, almost non-existent.

"Yes, Commander!" Lieutenant General Wu Zhiyuan, chief of staff, immediately issued the order. In less than ten minutes, the four battleships of the captured Italian Navy, as well as some armored cruisers and light cruisers and destroyers, began to sail southeast, preparing to Port Said. Port Said has become an important base for the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy, but there is no large dockyard, only a few small warships can be repaired. The battered battleships had to go to the large shipyards in Singapore to be repaired.

The battlecruiser "Wang Ben" with several light cruisers and destroyers also escorted these captured battleships, and also monitored these battleships. Although the Indian Ocean Fleet had sent a number of officers and men aboard the captured ships and collected the weapons of the Italian naval officers and men on the ships. But at the moment the Indian Ocean Fleet does not have enough manpower to drive these ships. So we still have to rely on the Italian naval officers and sailors. Merely. They will only be watched by armed Chinese naval officers and soldiers.

Several battleships of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy also adjusted their positions. Lined up in a battle line, keeping the jǐng ring. At the same time, they contacted the Austro-Hungarian navy and asked them about the purpose of their visit.

Appearing in the north of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy was none other than the Austro-Hungarian Navy, which consisted mainly of four 'Combined Forces' battleships, along with nearly thirty cruisers and destroyers. After the main fleet of the Italian Navy left Willis and headed south, the main fleet of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, led by Archduke Ferdinand himself, set out from Yaste and shelled Venice, an important coastal city in northern Italy. Merely. The Austro-Hungarian navy did not take advantage of it here. Although the main force of the Italian Navy has left, the coastal defense units of the Italian Navy are still very strong here. In the port of Venice, the coastal defense units of the Italian Navy deployed dozens of large-caliber coastal defense guns, and the firepower was very powerful. Although the Austro-Hungarian navy destroyed many of the coastal fortifications of the Italian navy, it itself suffered a lot of artillery shells and lost several light cruisers and destroyers. In order to avoid further losses, Archduke Ferdinand had to lead the Austro-Hungarian navy to stop the attack on Venice. However, he did not want to return to Yaster. So, he chose to go south. In the opinion of Archduke Ferdinand, the strength of the main fleet of the Italian Navy and the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy should not be much different. The naval battle between the two sides will certainly be very tragic. After the defeat of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy and the main fleet of the Italian Navy, the Austro-Crarian Navy will be able to wait for work. Pick up a big bargain. But he did not expect that when he led the Austro-Hungarian navy to the battled seas, the battle was over, and of the six battleships of the Italian Navy, except for two that were sunk, the remaining four surrendered to the Chinese Navy.

On the battleship Combined Forces, the flagship of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, Archduke Ferdinand regretted it greatly. He did not expect the Italian Navy to be so vulnerable, and the Chinese sank two battleships of the Italian Navy without sinking a single capital ship, and also captured four battleships. If the Austro-Khail Navy had not had so many concerns before and had directly engaged in a decisive battle with the Italian Navy, perhaps the Austro-Hungarian Navy would have won a brilliant victory. If the Austro-Crarian Navy could also capture four Italian battleships, then the Austro-Hungarian Navy would be able to add four more powerful battleships and even dominate the entire Mediterranean.

Archduke Ferdinand was a staunch supporter of the navy, and it was with his support that the Austro-Hungarian navy was developed, and it was his long-standing hope to transform Austria-Hungary from a land power to a maritime power, to become the hegemon of the Mediterranean, and now he saw the opportunity slip away from him, which made him very angry.

Archduke Ferdinand was the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Emperor Joseph I's younger brother Karl. Son of Grand Duke Ludwig. The emperor's only son, Crown Prince Rudolph, became the heir to the throne after committing suicide in 1889. Because he advocated the annexation of the Kingdom of Serbia through Guò, the expansion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the dual empire of Austria and Hungary to the triple empire of Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. In 1898, after becoming deputy commander-in-chief of the Austrian army of Archduke Ferdinand, he actively promoted the expansion of Austria-Hungary into the Balkans in an attempt to establish the United States of Austria. At the same time, Archduke Ferdinand also actively developed the navy in an attempt to establish the maritime supremacy of Austria-Hungary in the Mediterranean. In particular, after Germany began to build battleships on a large scale to challenge Britain's maritime supremacy, Austria-Hungary also followed suit with the construction of 'Combined Forces' battleships. However, due to financial constraints, Austria-Hungary only built a battleship called the 'Combined Forces class'. Fortunately, the navies of the countries near the Mediterranean Sea are not very strong, and the four 'combined forces' battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Empire are also considered a very strong force.

After the outbreak of the world war, the main jīng force of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was focused on the war against Russia, because the fuse that ignited the war was different, and Archduke Ferdinand was not assassinated. However, the war with Russia on land was in charge of the generals on the army side, and Archduke Ferdinand had to work with the naval commander Anton Fernan. Feng. Admiral House commanded the Austro-Plenum Navy together. It's just that, due to the influence of strength, the Austro-Hungarian navy can only spin in the small pond of the Adriatic Sea. This time Italy's accession to the Entente was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for Austria-Hungary. But Archduke Ferdinand never imagined that he wanted to pick up the bargain, but in the end he couldn't get anything.

"Your Royal Highness, the Chinese drove away those captured Italian battleships!" Anton. Feng. Admiral House came to Archduke Ferdinand's side and said. Looking at the departing battleships of the Italian Navy, his eyes were also full of regret.

"Damn! Those Italians are also too unbeaten, and it is a shame for Westerners to surrender to the Chinese so quickly! Archduke Ferdinand scolded.

"Your Royal Highness, what should we do now? The Chinese have already telegraphed asking about our intentions, how should we reply to them? "Anton. Feng. Admiral House asked.

"Damn! Did those yellow-skinned monkeys really regard the Mediterranean Sea as their inland sea? The Austro-Hungarian navy had the right to sail in the Mediterranean. Sue sù them, the Austro-Hungarian Navy is on a normal cruise! Archduke Ferdinand said angrily.

"Well, Your Excellency, China is, after all, our ally. Moreover, the strength of the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy has greatly surpassed ours, and we need to ease relations with China. In addition, the consumption of the empire in the war is very large, and His Majesty the Emperor is already planning to ask China for help, so that China can transport all kinds of war materials to us through the Mediterranean, if it offends the Chinese navy, it will cause great trouble to the empire's plans. "Anton. Feng. Admiral House reminded.

When Archduke Ferdinand heard this, his brow immediately furrowed. The current Austro-Hungarian Empire is also in danger, although Austria-Hungary is one of the main countries of the Central Powers, but in fact it is only a follower of Germany. Moreover, the Austro-Hungarian army was weak, and if it had not been for the support of Germany, they would have been defeated by Russia long ago. Relying on the assistance of the German army, the Austro-Hungarian army won several battles in succession and held the territory. And now, the Italians have betrayed, plunging the southwestern frontier of Austria-Hungary into war again. In addition, the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Greece were also stupid, and these were always threatening the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The expansion of China's influence into the Mediterranean was also a great help to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At the very least, the kingdoms of Greece and Serbia did not dare to act rashly. China's capture of Sicily and the annihilation of the main force of the Italian Navy gave these two countries a great shock. If they dared to join the Entente at this time, they would inevitably be besieged by Austria-Hungary and China. With the strength of these two small countries, they simply can't hold on. Therefore, the war launched by China in the Mediterranean Sea can be regarded as a great favor for Austria-Hungary.

"Send a telegram to the Chinese and congratulate them on their victory in this naval battle. In addition, I would like to meet with their commanders to discuss the next joint defense against the Allied navies in the Mediterranean, as well as an attack on Italy! Archduke Ferdinand, after suppressing the anger in his heart, made the right choice. To be able to become the crown prince of this huge country of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he is not a fool, and naturally knows that he can't lose a big one because of a small one. (To be continued......)