"Woo~Woo~"

At noon when the clouds were light and the wind was light, on the winding course of the Yangtze River, a fleet dragged the black smoke all the way through the water and headed towards Wuhu. The entire fleet, including the three 3,000-ton Dome cruisers, was at full throttle, billowing black smoke from the towering chimneys, and the river breeze blew and scattered the swaying plumes of smoke, and soon the top of the fleet was gray and black.

"Commander, all ships have come to report that the coal stock is exhausted, and only some coal face is barely supported. There was no fire in the light of smoke, and the boiler air pressure was insufficient, and the commander was implored for permission to reduce the speed of the ship to keep the formation intact. ”

On a three-thousand-ton cruiser at the head, the signal officer stepped forward with a wry smile and reported.

"Order all ships to report the specific situation, allow the speed to be reduced, and be sure to ensure the integrity of the formation."

A middle-aged officer stood on the foredeck in a distracted manner, looking at the rushing river, and said helplessly.

"Yes!"

The signalman's eyes turned red and he didn't say anything, saluted, and turned to leave. He could see that as the consular commander of the fleet, he wanted to preserve the dignity of the navy.

"My lord, the world is big, is there really no place for us?"

A faithful Ghosh looked at the head of the family with a sad face and said unwillingly

"Yes, the sky and the earth are big, but where can we go except the Yangtze River......

The middle-aged officer replied with a wry smile.

Tang Qianming, a native of Xishui, Hubei, the word casts a new one, the second son of Tang Pingxin, was born in the 11th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1885) in Niuhuangyuan, Nanliang Township, when he was a child, his father Tang Pingxin relied on debt to get through the day, fortunately his great-grandfather Tang Yingxin revitalized the family business, and Tang Qianming was able to complete his studies. In the 29th year of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1903), Tang Qianming graduated from Wuchang Wen Ordinary School; In the same year, he participated in the Hubei Township Examination, and Tang Qianming vowed to revitalize China by force. So he gave up the entrance examination to Beijing and was admitted to the Fujian Shipbuilding School. In the 31st year of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1905), Tang Qianming met Sun Yat-sen in Paris, and was introduced by Sun Yat-sen to join the Xingzhong Society. So Tang Qianming went to the Hengshengna Hotel in the eastern suburbs of Paris where Sun Yat-sen lived to get the membership letter and surrendered to Sun Baoqi, the Qing court's minister in Paris. After Tang Qianming finished his studies in France, he went to England to study naval knowledge. In the first year of Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty (1909), Tang Qianming returned to the motherland after finishing his study abroad career, and successively served as the captain of the Jingqing ship and the captain of the Nanchen ship. Contribute to the rebuilding of the Chinese Navy. In the 2nd year of Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty (1910), Tang Qianming was promoted to chief of staff of Sa Zhenbing, the commander of the navy.

After the Wuchang Uprising, the Qing court dispatched the naval commander Sa Zhenbing to lead a fleet led by two cruisers, Hairong and Haichen, to the Wuchang River to suppress the revolution. With the recovery of cities along the Yangtze River, the naval fleet blocked on the Yangtze River began to fluctuate. Seeing that the general trend had turned, Sa Zhenbing, the commander of the naval division, was unwilling to be a rebel and thief of the Qing Dynasty and unwilling to go against the unanimous wishes of the officers and men on the ship, so he left the fleet. Hop on a merchant ship and go.

As chief of staff, Tang Qianming automatically took over the entire fleet after Sa Zhenbing left. Facing the situation of internal and external troubles. It happened that the Yangtze River Detachment of the Navy, which had defected to the Anhui Army in the Nanjing Uprising, sent the news to the trustees. The various treatments of the Anhui Army and some of the purchases from the German Krupp side were tactfully expressed the meaning of solicitation. Tang Qianming, who was almost in a desperate situation, had no choice but to gamble with the entire fleet, sailed to Wuhu with the fleet, and defected to Hu Rui, the governor of Anhui. As for the rumored new cruisers ordered from Germany, I don't want to think about it, and it would be good to be able to find a safe place for a few thousand people in the Yangtze River fleet.

"Boom"

"Your Excellency. Look, it's Chu Qian's ship! I want us to salute and salute with flags! ”

The ship's signal officer shouted excitedly.

"Quick, get on the bridge! Give me the binoculars! ”

Tang Qianming looked stunned. Then he said excitedly. He shouted loudly as he ran towards the quiet.

On the river, the freshly painted Chu Qian ship was flexibly swimming on the river, and the Armstrong 120-mm main gun in the bow of the ship fired a salute, and the whole ship hoisted full flags in accordance with the highest etiquette of the navy. The signal men on the ship stood on the mast and waved the signal flag desperately, waving the flag and waving the flag.

"My lord, Chu Qianjian said that on behalf of Hu Rui, the governor of the Anhui Revolutionary Army, together with the entire Anhui Revolutionary Army, welcome our uprising! Anhui Governor Hu Rui and a staff member and representatives from all walks of life are already waiting at the dock, and the berth has been arranged, and Chu Qian's ship will lead us to the berth! ”

The first mate on the ship shouted excitedly when he saw the flag sent by Chu Qian's ship.

"Boom, boom, boom......"

The coastal defense artillery battalion on the shore also fired a 17-gun salute to express welcome.

"Quick, fire the salute in return! We can't afford to be rude! ”

Overjoyed, Tang Qianming clenched his fists excitedly and ordered excitedly.

In the distance, I only saw the red flag waving on the shore, and a huge banner swaying with the river breeze, with a strong reading on it

"A warm welcome to Brother Shuishi!"

Under the banner, a young man dressed in a green military uniform unique to the Anhui Army, with a tall, handsome figure stood out from the crowd of welcomers. Surrounded by a group of people and others, they looked at the naval fleet with a smile on their faces as they returned the salute.

"Hairong-class dome cruisers, after the First Sino-Japanese War, the Manchu government ordered from the German Volzen shipyard at a cost of 163,000 pounds. It was completed on December 1, 1897, and arrived in Dagu, Tianjin on August 24, 1898, and was organized into an army. The length of the ship is 100 meters, the width of the ship is 6.5 meters, and the full load displacement is 2950 tons. It is equipped with 4 coal-fired boilers, two four-cylinder three-rise reciprocating steam engines, 7500 horsepower, and a speed of 19. 5 knots. The establishment is 324 people, equipped with 3 Krupp 40 times diameter 150 mm rapid-fire guns (two in the bow and one in the stern), 8 Krupp 40 times diameter 105 rapid-fire guns (distributed on both sides), 6 37 mm Haas opening machine guns, 6 8 mm Maxim machine guns (arranged in the masts of two masts for strafing the deck personnel of enemy ships), 1 Krupp 60 mm camp gun, 3 457 mm torpedo tubes (one under water in the bow and one on the left and right sides). The maximum coal load is 580 tons, and the cruising range is 2100 nautical miles/10 knots. ”

Hu Ruimo read the data about this Hairong-class cruiser in his mind, as a military enthusiast. The Hairong class is really impressive! Stripped of the huge hood on the ship, judging from the type and appearance, this class of cruisers is really too much like the Chinese Navy's sworn enemy - the Yoshino!

"Lao Hu, Lao Hu! What are you talking about? ”

Sanniang, who was beside her, gently pulled Hu Rui's sleeve and asked in a low voice.

"It's nothing, I'm thinking that my little Sanniang did a good job this time! The weight of this fleet is not light, except for the visiting sea fold dome cruiser, the navy's lineup is basically complete! Sanniang, how about this gift as your dowry? ”

Almost effortlessly, he got the entire navy Hu Dashuai, and he was in a good mood. also squeezed his eyebrows and joked.

"You're beautiful! Do you see anyone who takes the fleet as a dowry?! Where's your dowry? Isn't it handsome, do you want the little girl to post upside down?! ”

has been mixing with Hu Rui for a long time, and the iceberg beauty Yan Sanniang has gradually melted. After getting used to someone's unbelievable behavior (referred to as convulsions) from time to time and flirting every once in a while, Sanniang gradually became accustomed to it. raised his eyebrows on the spot and asked-for-tat.

"That's what I said. Anyway, I seem to have already given it! At that meeting in Shanghai, Chen Qimei used the 1.5 million down payment for the sale of arms...... Ay. Don't pinch! Don't pinch! It hurts! ”

I'm not halfway there. Sanniang quietly stretched out a plain hand and climbed on Hu Dashuai's waist, and grabbed the soft flesh on his waist without saying a word. attracted Hu Dashuai's repeated confessions!

"That's the money I earned for the Ministry of Intelligence!! Besides, Hu Dashuai, is it possible that in your eyes, the little woman is only worth 1.5 million?! ”

Sanniang rarely showed a small temperament, raised her head and said proudly.

"It hurts! Don't pinch...... I was wrong. Sanniang, you are a fairy who is clear and jade, and has fallen into the mortal world, and a vulgar thing like money can't be compared with your box! ”

As a traverser, Hu Rui still has a lot of experience in coaxing sister paper. The hero does not suffer the loss in front of him, and hurries up to the high detour.

"Get down to business first. The rest will go back and settle accounts with you! ”

Sanniang nodded contentedly, glanced at her, and said in a low voice.

"Chu Qian, Chu Guan, Xingsu-class torpedo boats, Jianwei, Jingqing...... It's strange, why didn't Jiang Yuan disappear? ”

As the fleet gradually sailed to the berth, Tang Qianming, who had taken a reassuring pill, stood on the bridge, holding a telescope, and began to scan the entire anchorage. After some observation, the 13 ships of the Yangtze River Detachment of the Nanjing Uprising were the only ones lacking the Jiangyuan river gunboat.

"Quick, send a signal to ask! Where did Jiang Yuan go! ”

Tang Qianming was excited, pulled the first mate beside him, and said in a loud voice. The Qing Dynasty is gone, the great China is torn apart, and the navy has become a motherless child. At this time, as the acting commander of the fleet, Tang Qianming was instinctively concerned about the fate of each ship. It's all the goods that the navy has saved over the years, but it can't just be lost for nothing.

"Commander, Chu Qian's ship has come to report that Jiang Yuan is undergoing overhauls in the dockyard of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau in Shanghai. Raise freeboard, replace main guns and add aft building, along with cleaning the bottom of the ship and maintaining boilers. Chu Qian also said that all the river gunboats, including themselves, would have to be refitted when the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau officially resumed production and when the war had subsided. After refitting, their range of activities can be extended to the near sea! ”

After a while, the first mate rushed into the steering compartment with dark excitement and reported excitedly. Obviously, this is great news. Judging by the recent situation of the common detachments of the previous uprising, combined with the fact that Hu Rui, the governor of Anhui, personally greeted him today, at least the life in the Anhui army will not be too difficult in the future. This Hu Dudu is also a person who understands the navy, and lo and behold, this meaning also means reusing the navy.

"Ready, get up!"

"Forward forward, forward, our army shines on the earth of the motherland to the sun. Carrying the hope of the nation, we are an invincible Liliang ......"

"Stand upright, salute!"

While the military band played the military song, the officers and men of the honor guard who had been waiting at the pier for a long time stood solemnly along both sides of the red carpet, with their knives unsheathed and guns on their shoulders.

Hu Rui, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Anhui Revolutionary Army and the governor of Anhui, took the lead in the front in a general's dress and shiny military boots. Behind him, according to his status, he was followed by Berman, chief of the General Staff, Yan Sanniang, minister of intelligence, and Uncle Shan, who was in charge of local affairs.

"Report to the Governor, except for the ships that visited South America before, all the other ships of the Yangtze River Fleet have arrived! Please review it! ”

Tang Qianming can get mixed into the position of chief of staff of the fleet, in addition to his own ability, it also shows that this person is still a little smart. Before leaving the ship, Tang Qianming specially asked the captain of the strange Yangtze River Detachment before, and after figuring out the rules of the Anhui Army, he immediately concocted the same method. Facing Hu Rui and the others who came to greet him in person, he reported loudly.

"Good, good, good! Brother Cast has worked hard all the way! Not to mention anything else, it is a great joy for the brothers of the navy to come! Xiao Lian hereby assures you that this choice of the navy brothers is absolutely right! ”

Hu Rui returned the salute with a smile, and while secretly sighing in his heart that Tang Qianming was smart, he also opened his mouth for the first time.

"The governor is serious, my sailor brother is at the end of his rope, and when he is lonely, he is fortunate to be taken in by the governor, and he swears allegiance to the death!"

Tang Qianming was excited, and he also patted his chest and said impassionedly.

"Come on, pass the order, all the officers and soldiers of the sailor division who come to vote will be paid back for two months according to the military salary standard before the revolution!"

Hurui turned around and ordered.

The Navy is a jishu branch of the army, which is different from the army, and the recruits are trained for a few months, and they can shoot guns and drop bombs. Long before Anqing's move, Hu Rui had already made corresponding preparations, tightening his belt to ensure long-term capital investment. After the Xinhai Revolution in history, the navy of the Republic of China, which was born from the Manchu Qing Division, was also considered to have some family background, including four sea-shaped ships, with a total of nearly 50,000 tons of ships. But entering the Republic of China is the climate, and with the beginning of the warlord melee, the officers and men of the navy have been lost in the intricate political formation. With endless civil wars and thefts, time is wasted and the valuable service life of the ship is wasted. By the time the Anti-Japanese War broke out, the total tonnage of the Republic of China Navy was only less than 70,000 tons, and most of the 120 ships of all sizes were small boats of less than 500 tons. Tang Qianming's bold words just now sounded quite uplifting, but Hu Rui just glanced at it. After all, everyone has to eat, right? The navy is a very money-burning service, looking at the current country, in addition to him, Hu Rui is the only one who can have this courage.

In the final analysis, if you want the navy to swear allegiance to you, you still have to help Brother Kong Fang!

"All the sailor brothers on behalf of the lowly position, thank you for the handsome!"

Tang Qianming hurriedly returned the salute, it didn't sound for two months, but the whole fleet continued to use this money to appease people's hearts. For Hu Rui's move, including Tang Qianming, the entire fleet top brass present was grateful from the bottom of their hearts.

"Brother Zhuxin has worked hard all the way, hurry up and rest! The bottom and boilers of each ship were also maintained, and ammunition supplies were also transported from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau. Next, there will be a lot of places to use the water brothers! (To be continued......)