Chapter 661: The Old Cow Gnaws on the Tender Grass
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At 12 noon on March 27, the Chinese and German fleets had crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Atlantic. The British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet only sent two light cruisers to follow from afar. From this, it can be seen that the British Navy seems to have given up on the follow-up action, and the British Navy's interception of the German returning fleet ended in failure.
"Hooray! We won, the British succumbed to it! "On the four 'Nassau-class' battleships of the German Navy, thousands of German naval soldiers cheered loudly, and everyone's face was filled with joyful smiles. The blockade of the British Navy in the Strait of Gibraltar made them feel angry and more helpless. But in just one day, they managed to break through the Strait of Gibraltar, which made them breathe a sigh of relief! The determination to confront the British Navy has also become even stronger. Once these four 'Nassau-class' battleships returned to Germany and joined up with the four German-built 'Nassau-class' battleships, after a period of running-in, the combat power of the battleships was fully brought into play. At that time, Germany would once again be able to have a greater advantage over the British navy.
"Your Excellency, Your Excellency Admiral, Your Excellency Alfred von Tirpitz, Secretary of the Admiralty, has called us to speed up our journey to the Bay of Biscay and join the High Seas Fleet!" Major General Helder reported to Lieutenant General Franz von Hipper.
"Oh? Could it be that the British also failed in the interception of the English Channel? Franz von Hippert asked in surprise. In addition to mobilizing six 'Dreadnought-class' battleships in the Strait of Gibraltar to intercept the German repatriated fleet, the British also concentrated more than a dozen old battleships, mainly six 'old man-star' battleships, in the English Channel to intercept the German High Seas Fleet and avoid the convergence of the German High Seas Fleet and the Repatriated Fleet. Original. The plan was so effective that the German Navy did not dare to fire first, allowing the British Navy to act with impunity. However, now the plans of the British Navy have been abandoned by the forced passage of the Chinese fleet and the German fleet.
"Yes, Your Excellency, Lieutenant General. After we passed the Strait of Gibraltar, the British fleet, which had been deployed in the English Channel, also began to retreat westward! The High Seas Fleet is heading south! Major General Halder said.
"Then, the crisis can finally be resolved." Lieutenant General Franz von Hippert was completely relieved. The British took the initiative to give in and retreat. This time the crisis has become invisible. In fact, this is the best ending for both Germany and the UK. After all, neither country is ready for war, and if it starts now. It's just going to hurt both sides.
"Thanks to the Chinese! If they hadn't been the first to act, the British wouldn't have dared to stop them. Then we don't know how long we're going to be blocked! Rear Admiral Halder looked at the Chinese fleet sailing in front and said with some emotion. Although the Chinese fleet consisted of only one battlecruiser, one cruise ship and two light cruisers, they dared to force a breakthrough of the British naval blockade, while the German navy had four 'Nassau-class' battleships. But he didn't dare to make such a determination. From this, it is also possible to see the gap between the navies of the two countries.
"The Chinese have enough confidence that they expected that the British would not dare to embarrass them. If the British dare to make a move, the main force of the Chinese Navy will kill the British. When the time comes. Even if the British Navy gathers all its strength, it may not be able to fight. Therefore, the Chinese have no fear. Perhaps, it won't be long before. Our German Navy can also have such strength! Lieutenant General Franz von Hippert said. The strength of the Chinese Navy made him very envious. That's what he's working towards. After all, China and Germany are now on a honeymoon, but who can say what will happen in the future? Although Lieutenant General Franz von Hippert did not want to be an enemy of China, for the sake of his country, he could only obey orders at that time. After all, it is the national interest that matters most.
The news of the forced passage of the Chinese and German fleets through the Strait of Gibraltar soon spread around the world. Originally, many countries thought that this conflict would last for a long time, but they did not expect that it would end in just one day.
When the Chinese Emperor Wang Yuze got the news, he smiled happily, and he was very happy to be able to make the arrogant British deflated. At the same time, he issued an order to the General Staff so that plans for the Middle East could begin to be prepared for implementation.
Kaiser Wilhelm II was also very satisfied, and even openly announced to the German ministers that in this confrontation, Britain had lost and that Germany, with the help of its allies, had won. The only thing that made him a little dissatisfied was probably that in this process, the help of the Chinese fleet played a very big role. If one day the German Navy could rely on its own strength and also be able to dominate the British Navy, that would be his happiest.
Compared with the happiness of China and Germany, the whole of Britain, especially the British Admiralty, is like a dead father. The government's weak concessions made them questioned by the majority of the British, making Prime Minister Arthur Balfour very wolf-like. And Sir John Fisher, the British Admiralty, was completely lifting a stone to hit himself in the foot, and originally wanted to give the Germans a dismount, but he ended up trapping himself. Just as he was about to take some more drastic action, Prime Minister Arthur Belfour sternly warned him. Prime Minister Arthur Belfour demanded that the British Navy should not take the initiative to provoke the Chinese fleet and the German fleet until the British Navy was absolutely sure. Especially the Chinese fleet, the British Navy's focus now will be on the Germans, and it cannot provoke the Chinese at this time.
On the afternoon of 29 March, the Chinese Greeting Fleet and the German Fleet joined the German High Seas Fleet in the Bay of Biscay. Admiral Henning von Holdendorff, commander of the German High Seas Fleet, thanked the Chinese fleet for its help and had a brief exchange with the Chinese Foreign Minister. Immediately after the convergence, the fleet sailed towards the already. The German repatriation fleet also joined the ranks of the German East Sea Fleet. For a time, the eight 'Nassau-class' battleships of the German Navy lined up in a long battle line, and under the sunshine, they looked so majestic and mighty, which made people's blood boil. Many German naval officers and sailors were also completely shocked. The German Navy started late, and they never imagined that in such a short period of time, they would be able to have such a powerful fleet. This fleet is enough for them to challenge the British Navy now.
The rest of the voyage was much easier. When the fleet reached the English Channel, only a few British and French light cruisers and destroyers appeared, and the capital ships did not have a single one. This may also be the reason why the British Navy knew that after all the German Navy's 'Nassau-class' battleships converged, the British Navy could no longer bargain.
On the afternoon of March 31, the fleet arrived in Hamburg, Germany. The head of the German Admiralty, Alfred von Tirpitz, personally came to the port to welcome the fleet home. At the same time, it also expressed the gratitude of the German Navy to China. If it weren't for the help of the Chinese Navy, the return of the German fleet would not have been so smooth.
In the afternoon of the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang, the plenipotentiary envoy of the Chinese Emperor Wang Yuze, accompanied by the German Admiralty Minister Alfred von Tirpitz, went to Berlin. The main purpose of this time is to marry the princess back.
The German side was also ready, and the future king of the Kingdom of Bavaria, Ludwig III, and his family were already waiting in Berlin. Because the Chinese Navy helped the German Navy this time, the German side did not embarrass the team sent by China to welcome relatives.
On April 3, Chinese Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang successfully completed the task, taking the bride of Emperor Wang Yuze from Hamburg and embarking on the way home. The future king of Bavaria, Ludwig III, and his children, also boarded the ship 'Emperor of the East'. German Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and Prince Heinrich will also travel to China as representatives of the imperial family to attend the wedding of the Chinese Emperor Wang Yuze and the seventh princess of the Kingdom of Bavaria, Helmchud.
After the group boarded the 'Oriental Emperor' cruise ship, the luxury of the cruise ship and the complete facilities made these Germans feel very shocked. In particular, Ludwig III, the future king of the Kingdom of Bavaria, was very satisfied. Although China is very strong, what he values more is whether his daughter can live a happy life. After all, this is just a political marriage, and there is no emotion as a basis. Even more so, the Chinese emperor was able to legally have several wives, which made him even more worried. And the luxurious greeting team sent by the Chinese side also made him very satisfied, so that the entire Bavarian Kingdom was very face-saving.
There was no delay on the way back from Germany to China, and the entire fleet was sailing at a high speed of 18 knots, except for occasional stops to replenish supplies. In this way, the voyage of more than 20,000 kilometers took only one month. On May 3, the fleet arrived at the Dagu wharf in Tianjin, where Prime Minister Yang Hua personally greeted him. The emperor, Wang Yuze, was waiting at the Xinhua Palace in Beijing.
That night, Wang Yuze once again met the seventh princess of the Bavarian Kingdom, Helmchud, a little girl who was only sixteen years old this year. And Wang Yuze, who is now 30 years old, is almost twice the age of the seventh princess Hailmchud, and is completely a typical old cow eating tender grass! For the seventh princess Hailmchude, Wang Yuze is still quite satisfied, which proves that Queen Xiong Menghan's vision is very good. At least physically, yes!