On June day, in the vast eastern Pacific Ocean, a huge fleet was sailing westward. The thick black smoke from the chimney of the battleship obscured the sky and the sun, like a huge dark cloud. The battleship streaked across the sea, leaving a trail of water.

This fleet is none other than the US West Coast Fleet. The fleet departed from the San Diego Naval Base yesterday to prepare for Hawaii to engage the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. Almost all the officers and men of the US Navy hope to defeat the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy this time. However, the actual situation is not very optimistic. Even though the strength of the US Navy has increased a lot, the strength of the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy has also been strengthened. Under such circumstances, will the US Navy still be able to win? At least, the commander of the West Coast Fleet of the US Navy, Admiral Mahan did not dare to guarantee it. The failure of two years ago is still fresh in our minds.

On the battleship "Illinois," the flagship of the US Navy's West Coast Fleet, Admiral Mahan, commander of the West Coast Fleet, stood on the side of the ship, looking at this huge fleet that was riding the wind and waves, and his heart was full of sighs. He didn't know how many of these warships would be left after the battle. Although, as the commander of the fleet, this idea of his is somewhat wrong. But Admiral Mahan had to think so.

In Admiral Mahan, now is not the best time for a decisive battle with the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. Either a little earlier, before the strength of the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet has been strengthened, a decisive battle with the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet will be held. At that time, the US Navy's West Coast Fleet was still able to occupy a great advantage. But now. The Chinese Navy transferred a number of warships from the home fleet to strengthen the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet. Even some old warships that have been in service for several years. But the performance of these warships is also far better than that of the warships equipped by the US Navy. Among other things, the performance of the 'Sichuan-class' battleships and the 'Chengdu-class' heavy cruisers equipped by the Chinese Navy is much stronger than the 'Illinois-class' battleships and 'New York-class' armored cruisers of the US Navy. Therefore, Admiral Mahan did not have the confidence to win.

Admiral Mahan prefers to fight the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet after the Chinese Navy and the combined British, French, and Russian fleets have won or lost. But, sadly, the military must be subordinated to the government. Britain put pressure on the United States. If the U.S. Navy remains unmoved, then Britain will cut off all the American aid. And, after defeating China, the United States will also be excluded from the ranks of the victorious powers. As far as the United States is concerned, this is absolutely intolerable. Therefore, after deliberations, the US Government decided to send the West Coast Fleet to the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy for a decisive battle. The West Coast Fleet of the U.S. Navy concentrated all the battleships and armored cruisers of the U.S. Navy, as well as half of the cruisers and destroyers. If the West Coast Fleet is defeated again. I am afraid that the flames of war will burn to the United States. Admiral Mahan knows. China has deployed nearly 200,000 troops on Hawaii. If the West Coast Fleet is defeated and these land forces reach the United States, how can the weak land forces of the United States withstand the attack of the powerful Chinese army? The Chinese Army, already on the battlefield, has verified their strength.

"General, are you still embarrassed? Since Theodore? Secretary Roosevelt had already given orders on behalf of the government, and we had no choice but to comply. And we have to find a way to win. Otherwise, it will be a great disaster for the United States! Vice Admiral Benson, deputy commander of the West Coast Fleet of the US Navy, came to Admiral Mahan's side and said. There is no doubt that if the war is defeated again this time, I am afraid that the current US administration will have no other way but to resign. In the last war, after the United States lost, it not only gave up Hawaii, but also compensated China with 80 million pounds, which hit the American economy hard. If the United States continues to lose this time, it will definitely pay an even heavier price.

"Benson, what are you doing about this war?" Admiral Mahan asked.

"General, although China has shown extremely strong combat power in this war. One country, fighting five powerful countries at the same time, and also holding the advantage. However, China has reached its limits, both militarily and economically. With just one defeat, the momentum that China has managed to accumulate will collapse. When the time comes, it will be very easy for us to win the war! Lieutenant General Benson said.

"Let China fail? Do you think this is possible? Is it us, or the British, the French and the Russians? A sneering smile flashed across Admiral Mahan's face. He was very dissatisfied with the government's orders. The government was too optimistic that the combined fleet of Britain, France and Russia would be victorious. If the United States does not intervene now, it will be a failure in the end. Therefore, the government could not wait to order the West Coast Fleet to defeat the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet before the Chinese Navy's home fleet was defeated by the combined British, French, and Russian fleets, in order to show the United States' contribution to the war.

"General, it's not that we don't have the strength to defeat the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy. Although the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy has been strengthened, we are not bad either. Moreover, the current US Navy soldiers have also been completely changed from two years ago. This time, we will definitely let the Chinese know that we are awesome! Lieutenant General Benson said confidently.

"Well, what about the decisive battle between the combined Anglo-French-Russian fleet and the home fleet of the Chinese Navy? Who do you think will win? Admiral Mahan asked.

"General, are there any doubts about this? The combined fleet of Britain, France, and Russia consisted of twenty-nine battleships and ten armored cruisers. The Chinese had only eight battleships and eight heavy cruisers. Britain, France and Russia have an overwhelming advantage. Even if the Chinese warships are more advanced, I believe that in the face of overwhelming numerical superiority, the advantage in the performance of battleships can be compensated! Lieutenant General Benson said with great certainty.

Admiral Mahan smiled and didn't say anything more. He knew that Vice Admiral Benson's view was the mainstream view of the United States, and the US government and the military all believed that the combined fleet of Britain, France, and Russia had won, but Admiral Mahan did not think so. He believes that the outcome of this naval battle will probably surprise everyone. Even as an American, he very much hoped that China would be defeated. However, he could not restrain this thought in his heart. Admiral Mahan was a little sad, he put forward the 'theory of sea power', but his motherland could not become a sea hegemon, which is indeed a very sad thing.

"Don't worry, Benson, for the sake of the United States, I will do my best to fight for this victory!" With a smile on his face, Admiral Mahan patted Lieutenant General Benson on the shoulder and said with a smile.

At this time, the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy also sailed from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and the huge fleet left the military port and sailed to the east to win another victory for the empire. The Pacific Fleet, which was strengthened, had five battleships, eight heavy cruisers, four light cruisers and 20 destroyers. The fleet's combat power is twice as strong as it was before it was strengthened. This made the commander of the fleet, Admiral Li Dingxin, and the chief of staff, Vice Admiral Gao Yihai, full of confidence in this battle. Although the strength of the US Navy's West Coast Fleet has also increased a lot, they still believe that the victory in this war must belong to the Pacific Fleet of the Chinese Navy!

Washington, the United States, has all the attention of the US government, and all the attention of the US government has been put on the upcoming naval battle. For the U.S. government, the war is also crucial. If it fails, including President William? McKinley, including McKinley, could not withstand the wrath of the people.

On the evening of June Washington, Washington time, U.S. President William? McKinley asked Secretary of the Navy Theodore? Roosevelt and Secretary of War Russell? Alger had dinner together, and then the discussion began. Although it has been three months since the United States chose to do so, this is the first time that the United States has taken military action against China. For this war, can it be won, to be honest, US President William? McKinley has no bottom in his heart.

"Your Excellency, this war has been going on so far, and the Chinese have won a great victory. On land, Russia was defeated and retreated, and the Russians lost the Far East, Eastern Siberia, and Central Asia, which cost Russia at least almost half of its territory. Although, these territories are barren land. However, with the love and desire of the Russians for the land, this was absolutely unwilling for Tsar Nicholas II to accept. It is foreseeable that the war between China and Russia will continue for a long time, and Tsar Nicholas II, the stubborn emperor, will definitely not give up. The British and the French, lost the South Seas. Now, too, the Chinese are on the verge of victory in the South Seas. The Japanese have lost all their navy and are now trapped on several small islands, and with the Chinese blockade of Japan, it is said that there is now a famine in Japan, and the situation is very critical. The British, French-Russian combined fleet expedition to China is almost everyone's last hope! Of course, I am very optimistic that the combined fleet of Britain, France and Russia will definitely win. After all, their advantages are just too obvious! "Secretary of War Russell? Alger took a sip of his coffee and analyzed.

U.S. President William? McKinley listened to Russell? Alger nodded after his analysis, and he himself was inclined to this view. Otherwise, the decision to send the US Navy's West Coast Fleet to launch a decisive battle against the Chinese Navy's Pacific Fleet would not have been made! (To be continued.) )

PS: The first update has arrived! Ask for a guaranteed monthly pass! Thank you for the glorious charter of the book friends and the reward of the roar of the north wind!