August 2, 1854, 5 p.m., London, England, in the Admiralty Building. Secretary of the Navy Charles. Sir Adam had been waiting in his office for the Mediterranean Fleet's report. Now the home fleet has departed, and in a few days it will be able to enter the Mediterranean. If the Mediterranean Fleet can annihilate the Spanish Navy, then it will be able to join up with the home fleet in time and fight the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy from afar. It can be said that this battle between the Mediterranean Fleet and the Spanish Navy is of great importance. If the Spanish Navy is not annihilated, the British Navy will not have an advantage in the face of the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy.

Of course, if the British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet suffered too many losses in annihilating the Spanish Navy, it would also cause the British Navy to lose its superiority. Charles. Sir Adam also knew that it would be very difficult for the Mediterranean Fleet to destroy the Spanish Navy at a very small cost. However, he believes that the Mediterranean Fleet will be able to do it. After all, the Mediterranean Fleet far outnumbered the Spanish Navy in terms of the number of capital ships. At the same time, the British Navy's Suzhì is even more incomparable to that of the Spanish Navy.

"Bang bang!" There was a knock on the office door, interrupting Charles. Sir Adam's Meditations.

"Come in!" Charles. Sir Adam said. He knew that it was the secretary who had sent him a message. Most likely, it was the battle report from the Mediterranean Fleet. In his heart, he secretly prayed to God that the Mediterranean Fleet would achieve a great victory.

After the door was pushed open, Charles. Sir Adam's secretary walked in.

"Your Excellency, this is a telegram from the Mediterranean Fleet to you!" The secretary put the telegram in Charles. Sir Adam's table. It's just that now Charles. Sir Adam had no time to pay attention to the telegram. Therefore. He seemed to have discovered something from the secretary's face.

"Is there something wrong? Didn't the Mediterranean Fleet be able to annihilate the Spanish Navy? "Charles. Sir Adam asked, suspiciously. In his opinion. This possibility is existential. It's just that compared to the possibility of a big victory for the Mediterranean fleet. Much smaller.

"Your Excellency, the Mediterranean Fleet has failed! The 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy appeared, and the Mediterranean Fleet was completely annihilated! The secretary had no choice but to bite the bullet.

"What? How is this possible? My God! Are you kidding me? "The news of the total annihilation of the Mediterranean Fleet was like a bolt from the blue. Sir Adam was utterly stunned.

"Your Excellency, this is true. The warships of the Mediterranean Fleet were sunk except for two 'Nelson-class' and two 'Orlando-class' warships that surrendered to the Chinese Navy! Houston. Admiral Stewart and Henry. General Codrington, too, was captured! The secretary continued. He also knew that the news was important for Charles. Sir Adam. What kind of blow is it.

Charles. Since taking office, Sir Adam has sought to speed up the development of the British Navy, so that the British Navy can surpass the Chinese Navy and regain its position as the dominant power in the seas. In fact, over the years, Charles. Sir Adam did a good job, too. Thanks to his efforts, the British Navy was replaced, and the old sail warships were replaced by new steam warships. Comparison of power between the British Royal Navy and the Chinese Navy. It's also shrinking. Still, not waiting for Charles. Sir Adam had completed his plan, and war had already broken out.

"Damn! Give orders to the home fleet and let them return to sea immediately! "Charles. Sir Adam commanded. Now that the Mediterranean Fleet has been completely annihilated. The home fleet rushed to the ground again, and it was nothing more than a sheep's mouth.

"Also, prepare a carriage for me. I need to go to the Prime Minister's Office right away! "Charles. Sir Adam added. After all, such a fiasco. The Prime Minister and other ministers must be informed. The Mediterranean Fleet was completely annihilated, and the British Navy no longer had the strength to defeat the Chinese Navy. This means that the control of the Mediterranean Sea and the sea to the east has been completely handed over.

"Yes, Your Excellency!" The secretary nodded, and quickly ran away.

Ten minutes later, Charles. Sir Adam got into a carriage and went to the British Prime Minister's Office.

When Charles. When Sir Adam arrived at the Prime Minister's Office, it was time to get off work. However, the Prime Minister, Earl Stanley, was waiting for him in his office.

"Sir Adam, what's going on?" Earl Stanley asked.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I have to tell you, I will tell you terrible news!" Charles. Sir Adam said with some frustration.

"What? Something is wrong with the Navy? "The Earl of Stanley saw Charles. Sir Adam couldn't help frowning.

"The 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy arrived in Spain earlier than we expected, and while the Mediterranean Fleet was fighting fiercely with the Spanish Navy, the Chinese took advantage of the situation. The strength of the Mediterranean Fleet is already inferior to the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy, and now, the Mediterranean Fleet is finished! All the battleships were either sunk by the Chinese or have already surrendered to the Chinese! "Charles. Sir Adam said.

"Oh God! That's terrible news! Earl Stanley was speechless, he really didn't think that it would be such news. He also attaches great importance to the Admiralty's plan this time. However, I didn't expect it to end up in a fiasco.

"Someone, go and bring in the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State for the Army, and the Secretary of State for the Exchequer!" Earl Stanley explained to the secretary.

Soon, the Earl of Granville, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Marquess of Anglesey, the Minister of War, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Benjamin. Disraeli rushed to the Prime Minister's Office. After learning the news that the Mediterranean Fleet had been destroyed, several people also looked at each other, a little caught off guard. Many of Britain's strategies were based on the annihilation of the Spanish Navy by the Mediterranean Fleet and then the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy with the Home Fleet. Now, the Mediterranean Fleet has actually been destroyed, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow to them!

"The Mediterranean fleet was completely annihilated by the Chinese. Now, I have ordered the home fleet to return. Without the cooperation of the Mediterranean Fleet, it would be difficult for the Home Fleet to defeat the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy, and it would even suffer another crushing defeat. Now the British Navy can no longer afford losses! "Lord of the Admiralty, Charles. Sir Adam continued.

"Oh God! What a disaster! Said the Earl of Granville, the Foreign Secretary.

"The Chinese have taken control of the Mediterranean, plus they now control the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The route from the UK to India has been completely cut off. In addition, the kingdoms of Sardinia and Austria-Hungary, as well as the Kingdom of Greece on the Mediterranean coast, will be within the range of the Chinese navy. This will be a heavy blow to the North Atlantic Military Alliance! The Earl of Granville was speechless and disappointed.

Originally, the position of the Kingdom of Sardinia was extremely unsteady. Britain and France paid a huge price to bring the Kingdom of Sardinia to the North Atlantic Military Alliance. As a traitor, the Kingdom of Sardinia will definitely be attacked by the Chinese Empire. Even if the army of the Chinese Empire no longer landed in the Kingdom of Sardinia, as long as the Chinese navy launched an attack on the coastal cities of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of Sardinia would not dare to act rashly. There is even a possibility that the Kingdom of Sardinia will rebel again.

And the Austro-Hungarian Empire, although the coastline is not long, the strength of the navy is also extremely poor. But in the event of a blow to the coast of Austria-Hungary, would Austria-Hungary still dare to defend against the Kingdom of Prussia and the Ottoman Turkish Empire? They may have to deploy large numbers of troops along the coast to guard against a surprise attack by the Chinese* army. This would effectively relieve the pressure on the Kingdom of Prussia and the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

As for the Kingdom of Greece, it was originally small. It took all the best efforts to mobilize 200,000 men, and without the help of Britain and France, even fending off the Ottoman Turkish attack would have been a problem. Not to mention that now that all foreign aid has been cut off, there is a possibility that it will be attacked by the Chinese navy. It is foreseeable that the Kingdom of Greece will most likely become the first member of the collapsed North Atlantic military alliance.

"Gentlemen, it seems that we have to send an army to the Kingdom of Portugal in advance. The Chinese navy has gained sea supremacy in the Mediterranean, and the Spaniards will certainly do it against Portugal soon. Without our help, the Portuguese simply would not be able to defend their country! The Marquis of Anglesey, Minister of War, also said.

"Apart from the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of Greece, there is another place that no one has considered. That's Gibraltar. The Chinese and Spaniards will definitely not let go of this opportunity! "Lord of the Admiralty, Charles. Sir Adam also said.

With the opening of the Suez Canal, Gibraltar became strategically important and became an important British military base overseas. If it were to be seized by China and Spain, Britain would lose the opportunity to intervene in the Mediterranean coast.

"Sir Adam, is there anything good about the Admiralty?" Earl Stanley asked.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, I will urge the major shipyards to let them build new battleships as quickly as possible, so that the 'Admiral-class' battleships can be put into service ahead of schedule. Also, if possible, I'd like to be able to add new ships, including capital ships and support ships, all of which are needed! "Charles. Sir Adam said.

This means a lot of money, after all, the battleship is originally a money-burner, and without enough financial support, it will not be able to play at all. Of course, now Britain has no choice, if the navy cannot withstand the attack of the Chinese navy, not only will it lose the war, but it is likely that even the mainland will be attacked. (To be continued......)

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