The U.S. Navy's round-the-world fleet consists of 16 elite battleships and 7 small mine-striking ships (the predecessor of destroyers), with 14,000 officers and men. In order to make the whole fleet more conspicuous, Roosevelt specially ordered all ships to be painted in a gorgeous and festive white, so the world called it the "Great White Fleet."

In addition, there are several military auxiliary vessels, including the supply ships "Kargau", "Glacier", the coal carrier "Ajax", the repair ship "Leopard", the destroyer supply ship "Shuishen", the steam-powered sailing ship "Yankton".

At the end of April 4607 (09), the "Great White Fleet" set sail from the Hampton Naval Base in Virginia. President Taft personally led the Manchurian civil and military forces to the scene to see him off. Under the sunshine of the Chesapeake Bay, 16 glittering and majestic warships sailed past the "Mayflower" motorboat on Taft's ride one after another, and the salute of all ships was fired, the national anthem was played, and the majestic honor guard on board the ship lined up to salute the president. Looking at the powerful fleet in front of him, which had poured countless efforts into the United States, Taft waved his top hat in greeting, and excitedly said to Rear Admiral Evans, the commander of the fleet beside him: "Have you ever seen such a fleet and thought of such a moving day?" ”

The absolute main force in the Great White Fleet is 16 elite battleships. The 16 battleships are divided into 4 ship groups, and the first squadron is the most elite "Connecticut" class of the US Navy, including "Connecticut" (flagship of the Atlantic Fleet, flagship of the First Squadron, and flagship of the Great White Fleet), "Kansas", "Vermont", "Louisiana"; The second detachment was of the "Virginia" class, including the "Virginia". "Georgia" (flagship of the 2nd Detachment), "New Jersey", "Rhode Island"; The 3rd Squadron consisted of the USS Minnesota of the Connecticut class (the 3rd Detachment flotilla), 3 ships of the Maine class "Ohio", "Maine", "Missouri". The Fourth Squadron consisted of two Illinois-class ships of the USS Alabama (the flagship of the Fourth Squadron), the USS Illinois and two ships of the Chilshaji-class USS Kentucky and USS Chilshaji.

These battleships all have a displacement of more than 10,000 tons, and the largest 'Connecticut-class' battleship has a displacement of 16,000 tons. Other battleships also generally had a displacement of 12,000 to 13,000 tons. Because these battleships were all former dreadnoughts, their main guns were basically two twin-mounted main guns, and the caliber was mostly 305 mm and 343 mm. Only the 'Chilshach-class' and 'Illinois-class' battleships were armed with two twin 343 mm guns. The other battleships were armed with 305 mm guns.

Even a former dreadnought. But the number of as many as sixteen ships could still make the navies of other countries except the British and German navies frightened. Even Japan, an emerging power in East Asia, would never have been able to come up with so many battleships. If its combined fleet were to face the US Navy's Great White Fleet, the disparity in strength would be too great.

Of course, the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy was not without advantages. The United States is bordered by two oceans, and its navy is to be deployed in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, respectively, and the pressure on Japan is very limited. Not to mention the fact that the U.S. Navy came across the Pacific Ocean and traveled long distances. The combat effectiveness is certainly inferior to that of the Japanese, who are waiting for work at ease. The defeat of the Russians in the Battle of Tsushima is a lesson from the past!

The Great White Fleet of the U.S. Navy sails around the world. For the Chinese Empire, it did not have much effect. They set off more than a year later than the historical Great White Fleet. Because the Panama Canal has not yet been opened, the "Great White Fleet" set off in a mighty way, and then went south along the Atlantic Ocean, visited Brazil and Argentina, and then crossed the Strait of Magellan and headed north. After Chile, Peru, Mexico, and finally to San Francisco, a city on the west coast of the United States. After a two-month break in San Francisco, we visited New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. If you want to get to East Asia, it will take more than a year.

The current Chinese Navy. Although there was not a single battleship. However, by the end of the year, the battleships ordered from Germany would arrive. At that time, the Chinese Navy was also a powerful fleet with two battleships and two battlecruisers. Of course, although this little strength cannot be compared with other powers, it is also a powerful navy in East Asia second only to the Japanese Navy. Especially since the Japanese Navy does not have dreadnoughts, the Chinese Navy may not be afraid of them.

Not to mention the U.S. Navy's Great White Fleet, which began to sail around the world, the focus of the confrontation between the Chinese Empire and the Western powers is still the abolition of unequal treaties and the increase in tariffs. As Germany and the United States compromised one after another, they abolished the unequal treaties and gave up their special interests in China. Their goods have entered the Chinese market and are on sale. As a result, there has been a rift in the Western countries directly, and it is impossible for them to unite and jointly put pressure on the Chinese Empire in this matter.

With Germany and the United States, many small Western countries could not hold on. Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy, two German allies, renounced the unequal treaties with China and returned those concessions to China, while also waiving the reparations of the Treaty of Xincho. Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and other small countries have also chosen to compromise one after another.

In late April, the French government relented. Although France has a lot of interests in China, it is completely possible for them to give up these insignificant interests compared to China's vast market. Besides, the Chinese Empire also came up with a large number of orders, and 100,000 kilometers of railways to be built. If France could join in, how much profit they could make from it!

France gave up its four leases in China, and the Yangcheng Bay they forcibly leased was also returned to China. As a result, the only countries that continue to hold on are the United Kingdom and Japan.

Because other countries have betrayed, this has put great pressure on Britain. The British government saw that the rest of the country had compromised, and there was no point in holding on any longer. It's just that the British are still a little ungreedy and completely withdraw from China. In particular, Xiangjiang, as their colony, was an important foothold for Britain in East Asia, and they were unwilling to give it up no matter what.

Wu Haoxuan didn't want to push the British too quickly on this issue. The willingness of the British to give up all concessions and special interests in China and recognize the customs autonomy of the Chinese Empire was already a great victory. As for Hong Kong, it can be put on hold for the time being. The current Chinese Empire is still too weak. When the Chinese Empire became stronger, Xiangjiang was naturally not a problem. Or, after the weakening of the First World War, did the already powerful Chinese Empire still need to be afraid of the British?

At the end of April, after several days of negotiations, the British agreed to renounce their special interests in China and return all seven concessions to China. As for the Xiangjiang issue, the two sides have put it on hold for the time being.

Since then, all the other powers, except for the Japanese, have compromised. As for the Japanese, Wu Haoxuan didn't believe that the Japanese would last long. Without the Chinese market, this will be a heavy blow to Japan's economic development.

"Your Excellency, your country's customs office has refused to allow our merchant ships to enter the port and our goods to enter the Chinese market, which is a provocation to the Japanese Empire, which will lead to war. The Empire of Japan would like your country to think about it. The Japanese Minister to China, Hayashi Quansuke, yelled angrily. These days, there are countless Japanese merchant ships intercepted outside Chinese ports, putting the Japanese government under tremendous pressure. Every day of delay, these merchants will pay huge losses, which will also cause a huge blow to Japanese industry and commerce.

Perhaps because of being too anxious, Minister Lin Quanzhu had blisters on the corners of his mouth. The Japanese government instructed him that the Chinese must give up the interception of Japanese merchant ships, and absolutely cannot let this huge market close the door to Japan.

However, the Japanese were unwilling to give up the conditions put forward by the Chinese Empire. Japan has a total of five independent concessions in China, as well as a public concession on Gulangyu Island. In addition, Japan's special interests in China allow them to enjoy a lot of privileges. It would be a shame to give up like this.

However, the attitude of the Chinese Empire is very tough now, and if the Japanese do not agree to give up those special interests in China, the Chinese market will be completely closed to Japan. In this case, the Japanese government will lose the most.

"Your Excellency, our conditions are clear. Japan's special interests in China must be abandoned. Japan must also recognize the tariff autonomy of the Chinese Empire. In this case, we will open up the market to Japan. Imperial Foreign Minister Tang Shaoyi said patiently. Now, he is not in a hurry at all, even the British have compromised, and the remaining Japanese are not to worry at all. Anyway, even if it drags on, it will be more beneficial to the Chinese Empire.

"It can't be! How can Japan give up those special benefits at a huge cost? You are violating the treaty and acting immorally. Lin Quanzhu said angrily.

"Then I can't help it. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has decided that as long as Japan does not give up those special interests for a day, Japanese goods will not want to enter the Chinese market. Tang Shaoyi said coldly. (To be continued......)

PS: The first update arrives, asking for subscriptions, monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you for the book friend 150607052533321, Liannan Snow Wolf, Happy Party, and Liu Lijin of Dongshan Village, Ningxiang County! Thanks to the book friend Wild Wolf 1978, I am Xiaobai 555, the king of flying, YLYL, Mr. Anti-Japanese, Sandaofeng, and the monthly pass of the data sprinkler!