In Huaxia City, the capital of the empire, General Sun Hao, chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Liu Zhongming, chief of operations, Lieutenant General Zhao Xingkai, director of logistics and equipment, and General Luo Hongtao, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, came to report to the emperor Long Yufei the latest intelligence and the next battle plan of the General Staff. Now, the main task of the General Staff is to send a large number of land forces to Europe in preparation for a counterattack after the onset of spring. The second is the plan for a decisive battle between the navy and the British navy.

"Your Majesty, according to the information we have received, four 'Admiral-class' battleships of the British Navy have been commissioned. The four 'Nile-class' battleships under construction have also been started, and after rapid outfitting and sea trials, they are expected to be able to enter service in half a year. The second batch of four additional 'Admiral-class' battleships and four 'Nile-class' battleships were only half completed. It is estimated that before the end of this war, none of these eight battleships will have a chance to be built! General Luo Hongtao, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, said.

"His Majesty, the British's 'Admiral-class' battleship, with a full load displacement of 13,000 tons, armed with five twin 11-inch guns, and a maximum speed of 16 knots. Compared with the Imperial Navy's 'Western Han class' battleships, the British Navy's 'Admiral-class' battleships have a lower displacement of more than a thousand tons, which means that their 'Admiral-class' battleships are weaker in armor and defense than the Imperial Navy's 'Western Han class' battleships. In addition, in terms of speed, the British 'Admiral-class' battleships were also one section lower than the 'Western Han-class' battleships. Overall, the 'Admiral-class' battleships were slightly inferior to the 'Western Han-class' battleships of the Imperial Navy! Lieutenant General Zhao Xingkai, Minister of Logistics and Equipment, said.

Long Yufei nodded, the British naval skills are indeed very good. Even though the empire was much ahead of the British. However, after the British began to catch up with all their might. It's still catching up gradually. If the British were given a few more years, the naval strength of the two sides would be almost equal. Therefore. The Imperial Navy had to interrupt the British naval development. Only in this way will it be possible to ensure the superiority of the Imperial Navy.

"What about our 'Eastern Han-class' battleships? When will it be ready for service? Long Yufei asked. Eastern Han class 'battleship. This is the latest battleship of the Imperial Navy. For the first time, the three-seat triple 305mm main gun was used, which made the firepower of the 'Eastern Han class' battleship more powerful. Although the number of main guns is one less than that of the 'Western Han class'. However, the firepower has increased instead of decreasing.

"Your Majesty, the 'Eastern Han Dynasty-class' battleship is undergoing sea trials, and it is expected that it will be commissioned one after another from January next year!" Lieutenant General Zhao Xingkai said.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Navy's 'Eastern Han Class' battleships are too powerful. However, the General Staff believes that it is better not to send the 'Eastern Han class' battleships to Europe for the time being. Otherwise, the British will not have the courage to come out and fight us in a decisive battle. They blindly cowered in the military port. Under the protection of the fortress artillery, the Imperial Navy was never able to destroy them. Without destroying the British Navy, we cannot ensure control over the world's oceans! General Sun Hao, Chief of the General Staff, said with a smile.

"Haha!" Long Yufei laughed. Indeed, the current strength of the Imperial Navy alone has overwhelmed the British. If the eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships were commissioned and then sailed to Europe, the British would no longer have the confidence to win. This battle is even more difficult to fight.

"With four more 'Admiral-class' battleships, do the British have the courage to go to sea for a decisive battle with us?" Long Yufei asked.

"Your Majesty, the main forces of the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy are in Europe. Although the number of battleships of the British Navy increased to 12. But. Overall, it still can't be compared with the Imperial Navy. So, if the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy join forces, then. The British Navy is not going to go to sea to fight a decisive battle with us. Unless the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy were separated, the British would see an opportunity to take advantage of it. will fight us in a decisive battle! Lieutenant General Liu Zhongming, Chief of Operations, said.

"However, if the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy are separated. Will we still be able to defeat the British Navy? At that time, the ratio of the capital ships of the two sides will reach eight to twelve! Long Yufei frowned.

"陛xià. According to the calculations of the General Staff, even if the 1st and 5th fleets were separated, we would be sure of victory. After all, we still have killer features that we haven't used. When the British Navy arrives in a hurry for a decisive battle, it will surely surprise them! General Sun Hao, Chief of the General Staff, said with a smile.

"You mean torpedoes?" Long Yufei immediately nodded. If it had been torpedoes, it might have been possible to really inflict heavy damage on the main fleet of the British Navy. At that time, Britain will be able to defeat the British Navy with the strength of only one fleet.

"Since the General Staff thinks there is confidence in defeating the British Navy, then do it!" Long Yufei said.

Even if the plan fails, the Imperial Navy loses. After all, a fleet was lost, and the Imperial Navy still had a fleet. Moreover, the eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships in China were soon put into service, and even if the Imperial Navy suffered a defeat, it would be able to recover its strength as soon as possible.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" General Sun Hao, Chief of the General Staff, and the other generals immediately replied.

Next, Admiral Sun Hao, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, gave orders to the 1st and 5th Fleets far away in Europe, and the 1st Fleet remained in the Mediterranean Sea to protect the safety of the route from the Empire to Europe. And the main forces of the 5th Fleet all went to the military ports on the Azores. Using the Azores as a base to cut off British shipping routes in the North Atlantic.

In order to ensure the supply of various agricultural products and mineral resources in the country, the British merchant ships were constantly transporting various goods from South Africa and North America to Europe. If the route was cut off, Britain's war potential would be greatly reduced. This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the British.

In addition, the Imperial Navy did this so that the British could see an opportunity to defeat the Imperial Navy. When the time comes, they will take the initiative.

Gibraltar in the Mediterranean Sea is now an important stronghold of the Imperial Navy in Europe. The battleships of the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy were almost anchored here. The buildings that had been destroyed during the war had been almost repaired, and the waterways had been cleared. Gave the Imperial Navy a port of call. The Imperial Navy is negotiating with the Kingdom of Spain that after the war is over, the Imperial Navy will deploy a fleet in Gibraltar so that the Imperial Navy can maintain its influence in Europe and the Mediterranean for a long time.

To the request of the Imperial Navy, the Kingdom of Spain did not refuse. After all, the Kingdom of Spain was a hardcore ally of the Empire. Had it not been for the support of the Empire, the Kingdom of Spain would have perished long ago. Not to mention, the Imperial Navy was stationed in Gibraltar and was also able to protect the security of the Kingdom of Spain.

In the temporary headquarters on the shore, Admiral Wei Yong, commander of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy, and Vice Admiral Xu Hai, chief of staff, Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, and Vice Admiral Ye Feng, chief of staff, were gathering together to study the orders and battle plans issued by the General Staff.

"Finally it was our turn. During this time, in addition to shelling the enemy's coastal cities, it was to attack the enemy's merchant ships, which was really boring. Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet, said excitedly.

"Haipeng, this time the task is not light! You, the 5th Fleet, are almost going to defeat the main forces of the British Navy on your own! "Admiral Wei Yong, commander of the 1st Fleet, is still so cautious.

"Brother Wei, isn't it the British Navy? They have been scared by us before, and they don't dare to come out to fight. Even if they had four more 'Admiral-class' battleships, so what? I can assure you that they are still no match for us. By doing this, the General Staff is just digging a pit for the British, waiting for the British to jump off themselves! Otherwise, it would not be so easy for the Empire to send troops directly to the west of Europe! Although Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng was a little impulsive, he was not stupid at all.

"Yes! The British wanted our two fleets to be separated, so that they could give them a chance to break through. So, now let's get what they want. When the time comes, the British will know that even if we are separated, it will be impossible for them to defeat us! Vice Admiral Xu Hai, chief of staff of the 1st Fleet, also said with a smile.

In order to ensure that the killer features of the Imperial Navy were not known to the British, the destroyers and cruisers of all types of the Imperial Navy did not fire a single torpedo since the beginning of the war. In order to wait for the British's capital ship to take the bait. Now, it's finally time for them to perform!

"Haipeng, this time is an opportunity for the Imperial Navy, you must seize it! However, the first thing to do is to ensure that the strength of the Imperial Navy does not suffer too much loss. As soon as you encounter the main force of the British, send us a telegram at once. When the time comes, the 1st Fleet will arrive at once! Admiral Wei Yong said. He said this, naturally, to ensure that the Imperial Navy must win, and if the 5th Fleet missed, then the 1st Fleet would immediately make up for it, and in any case, the capital ships of the British would not be allowed to escape back to the military port.

"Hmm!" Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng nodded solemnly, now he is past the age of impulsiveness. He naturally knew the importance of this battle for the Imperial Navy. After taking out the British, the Imperial Navy will become a veritable sea hegemon! Therefore, there is no room for loss in this battle. (To be continued......)

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