On the battlecruiser HMS Hood, the flagship of the British Navy, after the sun had risen, Marshal David Beatty got up. After a night's rest, he looked much better and not like a lost dog like yesterday.

However, when he glanced at the capital ships in the fleet, his brow furrowed.

"And what about our 'prestige-class' battlecruisers? Why haven't they joined us yet? Marshal David Betty asked. At this stage, the two 'prestige-class' battlecruisers are already an important part of their combat power.

"And Brigadier General Thomas has been in a row. They had a lot of fog, so there was a trek and they were reorienting. Expect to be able to meet us in three hours. Chief of Staff General Charles Madden reported.

"Idiot! Let's hope they won't miss our big deal. Marshal David Beatty couldn't help but curse.

"Chief of Staff, send our light cruisers and destroyers out to look for traces of the Chinese. Today is the time for us to fight them to the death. The glory of the British Empire must be defended by us. Marshal David Betty ordered.

Admiral Charles Madden nodded: "We expect to send two light cruiser formations and two destroyer formations to search for the Chinese, and when we find them, we will decide when to attack." ”

"Hmmm! However, I hope that we will give priority to the discovery of the main fleet of the Chinese. If we can get rid of them in one fell swoop, then we've won. Marshal David Beatty said.

Admiral Charles Marden smiled and said nothing. He already knew something about Marshal David Beatty's paranoia. He did not want to oppose the decision of Marshal David Beatty. Otherwise, there will definitely be another quarrel. For the current Royal Navy expeditionary fleet of the British Empire. It can't stand the two of them anymore. The only thing General Charles Madden could do was to pray to God that Marshal David Beatty's plan was correct and that they would succeed. Other than that, it seems that you can only resign yourself to fate.

At this moment, a communications officer walked in anxiously.

"Your Excellency, Marshal. Your Excellency Chief of Staff, urgent telegram from Brigadier General Thomas. Said the communications officer.

"What?" Field Marshal David Beatty snatched the telegram from the communications officer's hand and read it. But then, his face became extremely ugly, as if someone had cuckolded him.

"What's wrong? Marshal. Admiral Charles Madden couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. He also realized that something bad seemed to be happening.

"Thomas: They were surrounded by the main fleet of the Chinese. Now, the Chinese' 'Three Emperor-class' battleships and other powerful battleships are besieging them. Marshal David Betty said with a gloomy face.

"What? Besieged? How is that possible. Thomas, that idiot, the 'Prestige' battlecruiser has a top speed of 31.5 knots! So you will be surrounded. That part-time job is completely unthinkable. Admiral Charles Madden exclaimed.

"How far away are we from Brigadier Thomas and them?" Marshal David Betty asked. Now the two 'prestige-class' battle cruisers led by Commodore Thomas were in crisis, and he could not fail to show it. What's more, he already learned from the telegram that the main fleet of the Chinese Navy had appeared. Isn't that officially the target he wants to attack?

"Marshal, we are about forty nautical miles away from General Thomas." A staff officer reported.

"Forty nautical miles? That's not too far. Marshal David Beatty said. If it were at the maximum speed of thirty knots of the 'Admiral-class' battlecruisers, it would only take an hour for them to reach the battlefield. Even in the heat of battle. The 'Prestige' battlecruisers led by Commodore Thomas escaped some distance, but they were able to reach it in two hours at most.

It's just that. This is in the case of the 'Admiral-class' battlecruisers. Among the capital ships of the British fleet, the speed of the 'Admiral-class' battle cruisers was already considered fast. The maximum speed of the 'Revenge' battleships was only 21 knots, the 'Queen Elizabeth' class battleships was only 24 knots, and the 'Iron Duke' class battleships were only 21.25 knots. As a result, the speed of the expeditionary fleet was severely slowed down by these slow battleships. It would take them at least two hours to get to the warring sea. Or even longer. And will the two 'prestige-class' battlecruisers be able to hold out for two hours under siege from numerous capital ships of the Chinese Navy? That is clearly unrealistic. Unfortunately, before they arrived, the two 'prestige-class' battlecruisers had already been sunk.

"Order the fleet, increase the speed to twenty knots. Rush to the area of battle as soon as possible and rescue Brigadier General Thomas. Also, telegraph Brigadier General Thomas to move as close to us as possible. Marshal David Betty ordered. In this way, you may be able to save time.

"Yes, Marshal." Admiral Charles Madden nodded.

"Let's get all our ships ready for battle. This time, it will be the final showdown between us and the Chinese! The one who wins, will win this naval battle. And the loser will be the loser of this naval battle. "Marshal David Beatty has clearly made up his mind.

Subsequently, the main fleet of the expeditionary fleet began to speed up and accelerate towards the battlefield. And a telegram asking Brigadier General Thomas to move closer to them had already been sent. It's just that after Brigadier General Thomas got such a telegram, he could only shake his head and smile bitterly.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! "The three 'Three Emperor-class' battleships of the Chinese Navy have all moved from test firing to salvo firing. The three battleships have already completed the straddle shooting of the two 'prestige-class' battlecruisers of the British Navy.

Not only that, but three 'Zhonghua-class' battleships approaching from the east, as well as two 'Pinghai-class' battleships and one 'Zhonghua-class' battleship approaching from the south, also opened fire. Suddenly, cannonballs rained down around the two 'Prestige' battlecruisers, splashing water jets that drenched the decks of the two 'Prestige' battlecruisers.

Only the four 'Zodiac-class Improved' heavy cruisers to the west did not join the shooting. However, this does not mean that this direction is safe. Around these four heavy cruisers, there are six light cruisers and more than a dozen destroyers. If Brigadier General Thomas tried to escape from this direction, he would be greeted by a dense lightning strike.

Brigadier General Thomas had tried it once before. However, because of the lightning strike of the destroyer of the Chinese Navy, they were forced back. If it is hit by a torpedo, it is undoubtedly dead.

"Send a telegram to the marshal, and we will hold on as long as we can. However, we may not be able to hold on for much longer. Please rest assured that for the glory of the Royal Navy, we will fight to the death and inflict as much damage as possible on the warships of the Chinese Navy. Brigadier General Thomas said.

He knew very well that this time he was estimated to be nine deaths, and there was almost no hope of escape. However, he hoped that even if he died, he would have to pull two cushions. In this case, the main fleet led by Marshal David Betty may be able to occupy a slight advantage in the next showdown with the Chinese Navy. In order to inflict as much trauma as possible on the Chinese Navy, Commodore Thomas chose to attack the Chinese Navy's 'Three Emperor-class' battleships. After all, of all the capital ships of the Chinese Navy, the 'Three Emperor-class' battleships posed the greatest threat to the British fleet. If these 'Three Emperor-class' battleships can be damaged, it may be able to create a chance for the main fleet to win.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The three twin 381-mm guns of the battlecruiser 'Prestige' were firing heavily. The brave Royal Navy officers and men continued to fight even in desperate situations.

The shells, weighing more than 700 kilograms, flew fiercely towards the battleship 'Fuxi' of the Chinese Navy under the action of tremendous kinetic energy. It's just that the British Navy's quasi-head is really a little flattering. Perhaps because of the excessive nervousness, even at this moment, they have not yet been able to form a straddle shot, let alone hit the battleships of the Chinese Navy.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The battleship 'Fuxi' fired another salvo, nine shells weighing more than a ton, and flew towards the battlecruiser 'Prestige'. Most of the shells fell into the sea, and there was no other effect except for splashing up columns of rushing water.

However, in this round of salvo fire, one shell successfully hit the target. A 410-mm shell hit the apostilla of the battlecruiser 'Prestige'. After the shell exploded, it swept almost the entire left apostle, and the two secondary guns were blown away, leaving a large hole in the amidship. From a distance, it looked as if the battlecruiser Prestige had been bitten by a monster.

When he was hit, Brigadier Thomas was thrown to the deck at once, and the fall was not light, and even his arm was broken. However, after scolding, he was concerned not about his own injuries, but about the injuries of the battleship.

"How's the loss?" Brigadier General Thomas asked aloud.

"General, the left side was hit, two secondary guns were lost. However, fortunately, the place where it was hit was above the waterline and did not cause fatal damage. The officer in charge of loss control reported.

Brigadier General Thomas breathed a sigh of relief. (To be continued.) )

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