"The difference in strength is too big, no matter how you fight, the result is the same, and the Russians still have to fall to this point in the end."

Yang Hao, who was on vacation in the capital, learned of the final battle situation, and commented disapprerovingly, not wanting to provoke a little wave in his heart.

The outcome of the Sino-Russian war was predestined from the beginning, no matter how much the Russians struggled, they were a moth that fell into a spider's web, and in the end they could only become a meal for others, and it was impossible to get rid of the fate of the victims.

The seemingly well-intentioned help of the British was only a straw that looked beautiful, far from being a lifeline that could pull them out of their predicament. No matter how many second-hand weapons are sent to the battlefield, they will not be able to play a positive role in the end.

Under the air force strikes that were ahead of their time, the Russians had no choice but to sigh and sigh.

At the same time that the Northern Army launched a full-scale siege, two peculiar shipyards were rapidly built from Kyakhta and Ulan-Ude, both upstream and downstream of the Selenga River. Four slipways were quickly erected with custom-built shipbuilding equipment, and then hull parts were quickly assembled from thousands of miles along the eastern coast.

It is expected that by the time the snow melts completely and the river resumes navigation, at least four ships are expected to be operational by May. They are all shallow-water gunboats with a displacement of at least 2,000 tons to 8,000 tons, carrying two 203mm guns or 406mm single guns!

That's right, it's this kind of special floating water battery with a very shallow draft, very strong firepower, huge range, and very fast speed!

This is a super water fortress tailored for the Baikal region! With a small physique and a large main gun, the armor thickness is comparable to that of the local battleships, and it can not only output lethal force on the water at will. At the same time, it can also act as a temporary troop carrier.

There are only four such fierce ships operating on Lake Baikal. The railway network built by the Russian army along the lake area is also good. All the way to Irkutsk, and even to the small link along the Angara River downstream, or even all the way to the Yenisei River basin, will become the scope of its ravage.

In the future, if China completely occupies Eastern Siberia, it may start construction of a waterway that connects the Ob River horizontally. At that time, even the Tangnu-Ulianghai Sea and even the northeastern part of Kazakhstan will build an unimpeded river defense network.

And so it goes. All the fortifications built by the Russian army in the area will be turned into tofu scum, unable to withstand the close attack of super-caliber heavy artillery, but there is no way to blast away the heavily armored hull that swims on the water.

However, the Chinese army, which was temporarily blocked on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal due to the interruption of the railway, was calmly transported to the other shore in formation, and under the cover of water artillery fire, it organized its army in an orderly manner and launched an attack.

The worst thing is that the Russians don't know anything about it. By the time they had struggled to support them until May, reinforcements from St. Petersburg were unlikely to arrive. Even if the time comes, there will be a terrible situation in which Irkutsk has fallen and the front has been pushed forward to the north of the Tangnu-Uliang Sea!

Yang Hao could imagine that the sad Russian army was suddenly faced with battleship shells flying out of thin air. What an ugly face. Without the natural barrier of Lake Baikal, they have more troops to move thousands of miles. It will only be a refueling tactic.

And by now, the Tsarist army has lost a full half a million!

This is not a reserve, but a regular army on active duty, which includes ninety percent of the Russian army's vital forces in Siberia and even the Far East, accounting for one-third of the country's active forces. The remaining two-thirds are deployed in the European direction. It is equivalent to saying that the forces of the Russians in this direction were hollowed out!

How hard is it to prepare for a large-scale campaign?

In order to fight China in the Far East, the Russians spent ten years building and amassing 300,000 troops. After a raid was exhausted, 200,000 in Irkutsk and Chita were hastily brought up, and they were confiscated again.

If they want to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people to fight, it will take at least half a year to a year, and the quality of the soldiers will certainly not be as good as what they have lost, and there is no hope of victory.

The most terrible thing is that the Russian government is now so poor that I am afraid that even the guns and equipment of the new troops may not be able to be assembled immediately. Counting on them to go to war? It's so mysterious.

Now, the tsar and the government should have received the bad news that the Far Eastern Army was under siege, and how to rescue them would be the most worrying problem at the moment. Unless China unilaterally declares victory in the war of annihilation, Nicholas II's urine will surely bite the bullet until the day when defeat is proven.

Until then, the diplomats in China who had cultivated the Thick Black Sect to the realm of a grandmaster would keep fooling around, shouting "peace rather than war" and creating the illusion that "we are about to be unable to support it" to the Russians.

The British, who can clearly see the truth, will definitely not remind them much, they wish that the European threat of Tsarist Russia, which is strong, will be weakened a little, and the province may become the hegemon of Europe.

Yang Hao can conclude that the day when the four shallow-water gunboats sail to Irkutsk will also be the moment when the region and the entire Tangnu-Uliang Sea will be reincorporated into Chinese territory. At that time, the new Northern Frontier Corps will also be fully operational, and Russia's threat to China's north will be a thing of the past, and the coveting of the northwest frontier will be weakened by at least seventy percent.

At that time, it was not that China was always worried about being ridden south by Russia from the north, but on the contrary, they had to be always vigilant against China's push back to the west, and maybe they would even push the frontier to the line of Lake Balkhash and the Ob River.

Pushing the national border north of the Tianshan Mountains -- the Altai Mountains -- is also a territorial plan set by New China early on, and it will be the largest in its history, and the country's land security will also be enhanced several times as a result. As for resources and national living space, that is the most basic.

"At this point, the large-scale war on the B plane is about to come to an end."

Yang Hao was a little relieved, and a little lost. He is such a lively person, in fact, he really wants to see the Russians continue to throw troops into their deaths. It would be great if we could hone China's million-dollar army and millions of reserves.

But it's unlikely to think about it, unless the Balkan powder keg doesn't explode. Otherwise, Russia will definitely abandon the Far East and focus on Europe and Central Asia. That's where they are based. But it is absolutely impossible to exhaust the national strength in the quagmire of war in the Far East.

However, it is necessary to say that this will affect the imminent outbreak of the great war in Europe. That is by no means what the new Chinese government is happy to see. In order to ensure that the world war broke out as scheduled, they had to continue to keep their hearts black and push the precarious situation.

Of course, this kind of key action is naturally indispensable for Yang Da's special envoy to handle it, and he himself is happy to do this kind of dirty work. One day in late February 1910, Yang Hao quietly left the capital and took a ship from Tianjin to the completely military-controlled Lushun Military Port. There, a special secret mission has arrived. They were the German admirals and soldiers who came to China in batches after they were disguised!

Lushun Military Port, one of the best ice-free ports in the north, became the most important nest of the Chinese Navy in the late Qing Dynasty, and after the First Sino-Japanese Naval War, it took the opportunity to blockade and isolate the outside world, creating a military restricted area all the way to Dalian Bay.

In the past 15 years, it has not stopped expanding, and with the addition of Weihai Weijun Port, it can not only accommodate the large and small ships of the entire North Sea Fleet, but also build a large-scale shipyard. and a range of heavy machinery manufacturing industrial entities.

For people all over the world, this place is mysterious and unknowable. Hidden in it is the secret of the strength of the Chinese Navy. After the reunification of the whole country, the industrial facilities that had been established in Rizhao and Jiaozhou Bay were transferred there one after another, and it was basically impossible for outsiders to take a second look at the good things from this world.

Foreigners don't even have a chance to get close, so naturally they don't want to figure out what's going on there. Obtaining photographs of the Lushun Military Port has become one of the most difficult tasks for the intelligence communities of various countries.

For the first time in more than a decade, a foreigner has appeared in a military port.

The secret mission of the German Navy to Raf. Maximilian. Feng. Rear Admiral Spee headed the head. He led a number of outstanding German naval officers, as well as his two sons, Otto and Hans.

As the Chinese warship they were aboard slowly sailed into port, Rear Admiral Spee's eyes widened, greedily scanning everything in sight, lest he miss a single detail.

China and Germany have never concluded an open alliance, and in the future, if Germany wants to become a hegemon in Europe and even in the world, it will have to collide with China sooner or later. At that time, no matter how good the cooperation is, it will become a yellow flower of yesterday, and there will be only one overlord. And the great Germany will not be able to give it to others.

With a conflict likely to erupt in the next decade or less, Major General Spee must have as much information as possible. Because by that time, he would most likely become the commander of the German Navy. Only by knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent can one win a hundred battles.

The reality did not disappoint him. After the expansion, Port Arthur is full of warships of all sizes, and all the models that have appeared on the tour of the world are all here. But what is really open to all countries is only the lone ship of the "Tianjin".

The opportunity to observe other ships up close is something Rear Admiral Spee should not miss.

Soon, however, he and the others were drawn to the sight of four majestic battleships!

They were four behemoths that were extremely similar in appearance to the "Hebei-class" battleships that China showed to the outside world, and they were about the same size and size. The difference is that the deck superstructure is not completely completed, and there are signs of dock outfitting remaining. The surface paint of the hull is not very different from the color used in China, and it looks very new.

These are four brand new ships that are nearing completion!

With half a lifetime of experience, Major General Spee came to the conclusion at a glance. What made him even more excited was that the Chinese naval officer accompanying him calmly introduced: "That is the four new battleships that will be delivered to your navy." ”

"Our battleships?!"

The officers next to him widened their eyes in disbelief and exclaimed in unison!

Rear Admiral Spee held back the excitement in his heart and nodded vigorously and calmly: "That's right, our battleship!" Battleships built by Chinese friends exactly to their level! It is also the most powerful warship that the Empire has so far! ”

For a while, everyone's heads, including his two sons, exploded!

This news is like a thunderbolt from the sky, it is unimaginable!

The Chinese-made battleship represents the strongest naval supremacy weapon in the world today! It can be verified over a period of ten years and confirmed as a powerful and advanced attack weapon, which is a powerful existence that the navies of other countries have to admit.

Over the years. Countries don't know how much envy, jealousy, and hatred they have over this. And rush to catch up. The so-called transcendence model that has been developed so far is still on the slipway. Even if it is put into service, in addition to the caliber of the main gun, it is still unknown whether the lethality can be surpassed. In this regard, no one dares to pack tickets.

It is not that all countries have not thought of seeking cooperation, but the result is a resolute denial.

I never thought that it would be today. At the critical time when the situation in Europe was about to collapse, when the German shipbuilding competition had actually failed, it unexpectedly gained so much!

Excellent naval officer von Murray. Colonel Miller couldn't help but exclaim: "General, that's a Chinese battleship in active service!" How could they possibly sell to us? ”

The same question in everyone's eyes.

In the pre-dreadnought period, it was very normal for industrial powers such as Britain and Germany to sell advanced warships to foreign countries, and the Qing Dynasty at that time, and the Chilean Navy until now, were their important customers.

But today, when the battleships with all main guns are becoming more and more mature, the competition for European shipbuilding is in full swing. Countries will no longer dare to easily export new warships that may reveal the level of their military equipment. And the expensive cost of millions of pounds at every turn is really not something that small countries can afford.

And so it goes. The battleships of various countries, which were constantly renewed, de facto became a secret intelligence secret. That's why when the Chinese Navy visits the world, it causes such a stir. Compared with the appearance of the four "Hebei-class" battleships and the "Tianjin" heavy cruiser, the so-called "Great White Fleet" of the United States is simply weak.

However, countries still do not have enough information. They only further affirmed that it is an indisputable fact that China is strong in building advanced warships.

It was a brilliant live advertisement, and the Royal Navy was very cooperative in making the most appropriate comparison.

Germany desperately fought for the victory of the shipbuilding competition, but was pulled farther and farther away by the British, they almost had to give up, but suddenly got the light before the darkness, how can they not be surprised!

In response to the questions of the young officers, Rear Admiral Spee replied with an unusually mixed feeling: "This is no longer the most advanced warship in China." Moreover, they are confident enough that they will not be hit by weapons made in their own country. And this is precisely the strategic weapon that we desperately need. ”

Everyone also saw the confidence of Cheng Zhu on the faces of the accompanying Chinese officers. The sale of the "Hebei-class" battleships to the Germans would not pose any threat to the Chinese Navy.

Where faith comes from, of course, is not to be told.

Once it was confirmed, an irrepressible desire hung over the hearts of all the German officers. There was no room for anything else in their eyes, and their necks and bodies twisted in response to the change in the angle of their gaze until the battleship they were riding on docked at the berth.

Young Otto and Hans couldn't help but ask, "When can we go up to those ships and have a look?" ”

The Chinese officer replied with a smile: "Please don't worry, you will be able to go up soon." ”

On the dock, Yang Hao, as a special envoy, led some generals of the North Sea Fleet, as well as Jiao Hai, the chief engineer of the Dalian Naval Shipyard, to calmly welcome the arrival of German buyers.

He smiled and shook Major General Spee's hand, and said lightly, "Welcome." His Excellency the General and the excellent German soldiers have traveled thousands of miles to see your lovely treasures. So, we might as well save the time for greetings and use it for more important things? ”

This played into the hands of the Germans. No matter how reserved Major General Spee was, he could not refuse such a thoughtful suggestion. After expressing his solemn gratitude, he couldn't wait to take the officers to the dock where the four battleships were moored by the transport car and boarded the battleships.

Seeing the Germans rubbing the brand-new battleship with a happy face, they couldn't help but marvel at the heavy inward tilt and outward bow, the towering 356mm turret, the towering bridge, and the smooth-running power system. Yang Hao and Jiao Hai's faces showed meaningful smiles.

Four newly-built battleships that are extremely similar to the "Hebei-class" are naturally not exactly the same thing. It can even be said that, in addition to the similarity in appearance, from the steel used for ships, armor steel, to the internal structure and the entire power system, as well as the construction technology, are two completely different things.

In fact, this is the highest level of verification that can be achieved by the first comprehensive integration of the B plane heavy industry after more than ten years of development.

As early as last year, in anticipation of the inevitable outbreak of all-out war in Europe, Yang Hao, the head of state, personally ordered the construction of four battleships and supporting ships to be secretly started. The drawings of the B-plane ship design team led by Jiao Hai were rebuilt with a full set of steel plates, armor, steam turbines, transmission systems, diesel engines, main guns, etc., as well as electronic equipment and optical instruments for electron tubes.

In terms of the essence of the battleship, of course, it cannot be compared with the finished product of the 21st century in sectional welding. The power system, electromechanical facilities, optical instruments, armor strength or something, not to mention a level.

However, compared with the level of shipbuilding in contemporary countries, there is no doubt that it is far exceeded.

And these four battleships were booked from the very beginning with a buyer - the Germans.

It was expected that Germany would lose the shipbuilding competition. No matter how much they strengthen their industrial capacity, historical debts cannot be paid off in just ten years. In terms of financial and industrial capacity, they were still inferior to the British Empire. The Germans' excessively rigorous work attitude also led to their shipbuilding efficiency always reaching only two-thirds of that of the British, and delaying time or something became an incurable disease.

The inability of the German Navy to play a role in containing or even attacking the British Navy in an all-round way had a direct impact on their eventual defeat of the war, which China did not want to see. A Germany that is more capable of fighting and resisting can drag the entire Western world into the abyss. For this reason, strengthening Germany's military power became an inevitable choice.

The emergence of four new battleships is an important part of this strategic plan. (To be continued.) )