The heavy cruiser Heilongjiang, the Imperial Navy, was sailing at a speed of up to twenty-three knots. The slender hull, streamlined design and unique bow bulbous nose, combined with strong power, allow this huge ship with a displacement of nearly 10,000 tons to sail at a top speed of 26 knots, far exceeding any warship in service in the enemy's country. Therefore, in Austria Emperor Franz. After Joseph I and Count Andrách boarded the battleship, there was no one left to threaten them.

Franz. Joseph I and Count Andráhi were placed in the captain's cabin as a tribute to them. Although Franz. Joseph I was a dead king, but after all, he was once the emperor of a powerful empire. What's more, the Reich will assist him this time, which makes Franz . Joseph I was useful. So naturally, the empire should treat him well.

"Your Majesty, I've seen this battleship. It deserves to be the world's first power! This battleship of the Chinese Empire was very fast, much faster than the German 'Brandenburg-class' battleships. According to the information we have received, the maximum speed of the German 'Brandenburg-class' battleships was only seventeen knots. Said Count Andrahi. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire was destroyed, these nobles never really submitted to the Germans at all, and they always wanted to resist. However, Germany is the hegemon of Europe, and although the Chinese Empire is strong, it is far from Europe. It was very difficult for Austria-Hungary to use the power of the Chinese Empire against Germany. Privately, however, they were still gathering German intelligence so that they could be of use in the future. Now the Chinese will Franz . Joseph I rescued the Germans from house arrest. It's a good start. At the very least, the two sides can cooperate in this area.

"Hmmm! But. The firepower of this battleship was not inferior to that of the German 'Brandenburg-class' battleships! "Franz. Joseph I said. Although, the Austro-Hungarian navy was equal to a blank slate. But. This does not mean that Franz. Joseph I did not want to create a strong navy. It's just that Austria-Hungary didn't have enough strength.

"Your Majesty, the main guns of this battleship are only 210 mm in caliber, but there are as many as nine main guns. Even if it can't compete with the battleships of the German Navy, it can at least deal with other small warships of the German Navy. I estimate that such a warship should belong to the second-class capital ship of the Chinese Navy. There is no shortage of battleships in the Chinese Navy, which are really capital ships. After all, the legendary number of capital ships in service in the Chinese Navy has reached sixteen, which is four times as many as the active capital ships of the German Navy! Count Andráhi looked envious.

In the second half of 1858. The first batch of 'Early Tang class' battleships of the Imperial Navy were commissioned, and by the first half of 1859, four additional 'early Tang class' battleships were also put into service. This brought the number of capital ships of the Imperial Navy to sixteen. Of course, in the second half of the night, the German Navy's four 'Caesar. Frederick III's class battleships will also be in service. The size of the capital ships of both sides will once again be reduced to two to one.

"The Chinese have already taken the lead, they have the world's first navy and army, and the world's largest population and land, and the Germans want to compete with the Chinese for the status of world hegemon, that is simply delusional!" Franz. Joseph I said. He now hated the Germans very much. If it weren't for Germany, perhaps Austria-Hungary would not have fallen. Although the war was lost, if Austria-Hungary paid a little price, it would undoubtedly be able to ensure the continued existence of the country. Outcome. The Germans actually directly annexed Austria-Hungary, which undoubtedly hit Franz hard. Joseph I was slapped in the face. Now, Franz. The goal of Joseph I's anger was to rebuild the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Restore the glory of the past.

"Yes, the war of the future. The victor is still estimated to be the Chinese Empire. The Germans challenged the Chinese Empire, but they were just looking for death. But. This was a good thing for Austria-Hungary! We can rebuild the empire with the support of the Chinese Empire! Said Count Andrahi. His eyes were full of hope, and although he was Germanic, he did not have the slightest sense of identification with the German Empire. There was only one homeland, and that was the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or rather, the Austrian Empire! As for Germany, they were nothing more than aggressors.

Franz. Joseph I nodded, this time to be able to escape from the Germans, he had already thought about it. Of course, he knew that the reason why the Chinese would save him would not be so kind must have a plan. However, Franz. Joseph I did not care. As long as he can rebuild the Austro-Hungarian Empire and make him emperor, he will be enough.

"Your Excellency, what do you say the Chinese want from Austria-Hungary?" Franz. Joseph I asked.

"Your Majesty, the Chinese definitely want to fight the Germans. The Germans had become the hegemon of Europe, and if Austria-Hungary could split from Germany, the German hegemony would be shaky. In addition, I suspect that the Chinese will certainly not be willing to allow a strong state to emerge in Europe. It's like the British's policy of continental equilibrium, once a great power emerges in Europe, they will unite with other countries to fight against that power. The Chinese Empire was even further away from Europe. Therefore, they undoubtedly carry out this policy as well! Said Count Andrahi.

Franz. Joseph I nodded, knowing that this trip to China would determine his future fate. However, he hopes that this time he will get what he wants. Even if it is to sell the interests of the country, or to sell the interests of the Western world.

"Damn Germans, damn Hohenzollerns, you want to annex my country, then, I will make you pay! Let the Chinese destroy your dreams! "Franz. Joseph I said secretly. He knew that with his own strength, whether it was to take revenge on Germany or rebuild the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was impossible, and the only way was to rely on the Chinese Empire.

Therefore, Franz. Joseph I was full of expectations and hopes for this trip to China, and he knew that this was his only chance. If he misses it, he and the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire will never have another chance.

In Austria Emperor Franz. By the time Joseph I sailed to China on a warship of the Chinese Empire, the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire was already in chaos. The German Army stationed in Austria-Hungary had gone mad, and they searched Franz everywhere on the orders of their superiors. The hiding place of Joseph I. The situation in Austria-Hungary was also turbulent as a result.

Many of the original Austro-Hungarian nobles were dissatisfied with the annexation of Austria-Hungary by the Germans, and now, the Austrian emperor has fled, which is tantamount to giving them a hope! Therefore, many of the nobles of the Austro-Hungarian Empire began to secretly connect, and everyone was looking forward to the Austrian Emperor Franz. Joseph I returned to Austria-Hungary and led them to the Germans.

There are also those in Austria-Hungary who think that Franz. Joseph I was killed by the Germans, who wrote and exported this farce in order to divert the realization of the people. This led to a struggle against the oppression of the Germans, and Germany had to send more troops to Austria-Hungary in order to stabilize the situation in Austria-Hungary.

Austrian Emperor Franz. The aftermath of Joseph I's successful escape has begun to manifest itself step by step.

In Berlin, the capital of Germany, in the imperial palace, Kaiser Wilhelm I was angry, although he was old, but after becoming the German emperor, his spirit was getting better and better, and even the anger was getting bigger and bigger.

"What the hell is going on? How could a big living person disappear out of thin air like this? We have so many people stationed at the Belvedere Palace, Franz. How can one believe that Joseph I disappeared without a sound? After so many days, I haven't been able to find any clues, where the hell is that guy hiding? Kaiser Wilhelm I roared angrily. A large part of the reason why Germany became strong so quickly was that after annexing Austria-Hungary, after acquiring the industry and population of Austria-Hungary, Germany's strength immediately swelled by nearly half. If the situation in Austria-Hungary was to deteriorate, it would not only not be a help to Germany, but would become a burden to them. William I absolutely did not want to see such a thing, so he tried his best to control the situation.

"Your Majesty, our people are searching everywhere, but so far they have not found any clues. However, we speculate that Franz. The reason why Joseph I was able to leave the Belvedere without a sound has not been discovered by us for so many days, and there must be the support of those nobles of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and maybe even foreign forces have intervened! Count Moltke said.

"Do you mean the Chinese also intervene?" Kaiser Wilhelm I frowned. If the Chinese do intervene in this matter, the situation will undoubtedly be more complicated and troublesome. After all, if it can be determined that the Austrian Emperor Franz. Joseph I fled to the Chinese Empire, and they wanted to re-establish Franz. Joseph I took it back, and it was impossible.

"It's not certain yet. However, there is no doubt that the Chinese have a large active duty. Now our two countries are already blaming each other, and the Chinese used to use the affairs of Austria-Hungary to cause controversy. With the character of the Chinese, in retaliation for our actions in the Japanese rebellion, they had every reason to participate in the fight against Franz. Joseph I's rescue! Count Moltke continued. (To be continued......)

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