There are several flowers, one on each branch. The Northern Expeditionary Army's strategy to break the blockade of foreigners in the coastal seas, which was originally scheduled to be launched in August, had to be postponed to late September due to successive typhoons. At present, the 40 torpedo boats of the 1st Torpedo Boat Group are fully capable of actual combat. The 2nd Torpedo Boat Brigade, on the other hand, has already been formed and is not yet capable of combat, and it needs to be run in for a while.

At the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army in Guangzhou, Deng Zixuan said to the admirals present: "Ladies and gentlemen, the coastal attack originally scheduled to start in early August, due to the bad weather caused by the typhoon, our sea sharp knife operation had to be postponed to late September. I know that everyone's desire to fight is very high, but everyone should be mentally prepared for the cruelty and uncertainty of fighting at sea. I have two demands: First, to achieve the goal of the campaign, to smash the blockade of our coastal waters by warships of Western countries, and to restore sea transportation lines. Second, in order to avoid a large number of casualties, it is necessary to do a good job of rescue work during the operation, and in times of crisis, the crew can abandon the torpedo boat and jump into the sea to save themselves. You must know that it is not easy for us to train a qualified sailor, so we have recruited a large number of experienced sailors at Mawei Military Port. Remember, Article 2 is particularly important. ”

Deng Zixuan continued: "Our offshore strategy lasts for one year, no matter how difficult it is, at this time next year, I will ask the sea transportation line from Shanghai to Guangzhou to be restored. Chief of Staff Pei Gejin stood up and walked to the chart and said: "Everyone, after repeated research by the headquarters, our coastal strategy is not to try to sink how many coalition warships, but to break the naval blockade of the coalition forces. According to the proposed operational jihua, our offshore strategy is divided into three stages. ”

Pei Gejin solemnly continued: "In the first phase of Operation Sharp Knife, first of all, we will open up the mouth of the Lingding Ocean, so that the coalition warships will not be able to haunt the Lingding Ocean. In the second phase of the hunting operation, control the Qiongzhou Strait, capture Hainan Island, and then form a coastal defense zone in the waters around Hainan Island and the waters of the Beibu Gulf. The third stage is to open up the transportation line, and then form the smooth sea transportation line from Shanghai to Guangzhou and even the Beibu Gulf, as well as the formation of coastal defense. ”

"The key to how to accomplish the strategic goal is whether the deterrent power and powerful attack power of our wolf pack at sea can be formed. In the first phase of Operation Sharp Knife, we put in 40 torpedo boats, and in the second phase we put in another 40 torpedo boats. In the third stage, we put in another 80 torpedo boats, bringing the total number to 120 torpedo boats. It will also form an offshore defense zone from Shanghai to the Beibu Gulf, and completely smash the coastal blockade of the coalition forces. Next, I would like to invite Liu Buzhan, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the junta military government and commander of the torpedo boat fleet, to give a briefing on the situation between us and the enemy. ”

Liu Buzhan stood up and said solemnly: "The combat jihua of the headquarters, I feel a huge pressure. According to the information we have, the coalition forces are currently divided into two blockade fleets. The headquarters of the Eastern Blockade Fleet is located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with a total of about 125 warships of all types, and the commander is the Frenchman Ben An. The Southern Blockade Fleet has about 160 warships of all kinds and is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. ”

Liu Buzhan continued: "The commander of the Southern Blockade Fleet is Field Marshal Doyle. The 1st Squadron of the Allied Blockade Fleet was stationed on Hainan Island and had 60 warships of various types, and the commander of the detachment was the Englishman Eisenken Belle. Eisenken Belle, you may be familiar with it, this guy once led a LinkedIn warship to launch an attack on our Dongguan Industrial Zone. The 3rd Allied Fleet was stationed in Cam Ranh Bay, Annam, with 50 warships, and the commander of the detachment was the Frenchman Larry. The 2nd Squadron is located at its headquarters in Manila, and the main targets we face in the next step are the 1st and 3rd Fleets of the coalition forces. ”

Liu Buzhan continued: "Commander-in-chief, chief of staff, I am going to divide into four squadrons, each squadron is divided into two detachments, and form 8 sharp knife detachments to enter the first phase of the operation. Deng Zixuan said: "How to fight, you draw up according to the actual situation." I have only one request for you, you can't go into battle in person, remember that you are a senior commander, and the entire torpedo boat brigade needs your command. "Commander-in-Chief, I understand!" Liu Buzhan held his chest and promised.

Deng Zixuan said with a smile: "For the sake of concealment and secrecy, we don't do any ceremonies. The chief of staff and I will not go to the torpedo boat base. "Yes! Subordinates understand. Liu Buzhan raised his hand and saluted and turned to leave. It seems that Liu Buzhan is under a lot of pressure! Pei Gejin looked at Liu Buzhan's back and said worriedly. Without the test of blood and fire, it is impossible for our commanders to grow rapidly. The pace of the Chinese Navy began with torpedo boats, and advanced towards our goal of galloping across the ocean. Deng Zixuan's face was resolute and his eyes were deep.

After the rainy season, the water of the Pearl River returns to its former clear and clean face. A heavily guarded dock on the shore was the base for torpedo boats. At this time, the dock was lined up with dense torpedo boats, which seemed quiet. The occasional green smoke coming out of the chimney of the steam boiler signaled that the torpedo boat was on alert. At this time, there were 4 young men dressed in white officer deputies sitting in the cabin of ship 0010. The owner of the boat, Dai Hui, is talking eloquently, and the other three are: Wen Biao (captain of the 0016 torpedo boat), Sun Dingbang (the captain of the 0021 torpedo boat), and Zheng Haitao (the captain of the 0026 boat).

Since the military government stabilized half of the rivers and mountains south of the Yangtze River, the Fuzhou Shipbuilding School was divided into two, one part became the Shipbuilding Engineering College, and the other part became the Naval Ship Academy. The four torpedo boat captains graduated early from the Naval Academy at the beginning of the year as outstanding cadets (the semester of the Naval Academy is three years, and they are assigned to the newly formed torpedo boat group as captains.

"Hey! You have found that in the past two days, it has been announced that the normal exercise will be stopped, and I judge that there is action. Dai Hui said mysteriously. I don't know if this is true, I still need to say it. Our torpedo boat brigade has been in existence for more than a year, and the training has been going on for seven or eight months, so we should also make a difference. Wen Biao agreed. To tell you the truth, I really have to take action, and I'm a little nervous. I usually look forward to attacking, but I am a little nervous when I really want to attack. "Sun Dingbang told the truth." You're not afraid of death, are you! I can tell you, these words are not to be heard by my subordinates. Zheng Haitao laughed at him.

"Did I say I'm afraid of death? It's just a little nervous, I don't believe you're so calm! Sun Dingbang's face turned a little red. Look at what you're anxious about, it's just a joke. Zheng Haitao gave Sun Dingbang a punch. The two of them suddenly fell into a mess. "Alright, don't make a fuss. Dingbang is right, once the fight starts, the battle will definitely be cruel, and we must all be mentally prepared. Dai Hui's dark and red face became serious.

Wen Biao said: "Do you still remember the school motto of Commander-in-Chief Deng when we entered the Naval Academy?" "Shoulder the mission, study hard, train hard, and fight to build a strong navy!" Contribute to the galloping ocean! Sacrifice for the strength of China! The four men put their hands together and said in unison. At this time, a whistle sounded outside, and several people hurriedly ran out, only to see an officer on duty shouting: "All captains, immediately go to the ship's headquarters to hold a military meeting!" ”

That night, the 1st Torpedo Boat Detachment was the first to attack. At the end of the military meeting, Dai Hui was appointed as the commander of the 1st detachment. Wen Biao and Sun Dingbang were also named team leaders. In order to test the actual combat capability of the torpedo boats, Liu Buzhan decided to initially set up a detachment of torpedo boats to attack the British patrol gunboats and test the actual combat capability of the torpedo boats. After careful study, Dai Hui took the lead in the expedition.

The sea was hazy and mysterious, and Dai Hui led five torpedo boats out of the mouth of the Pearl River into the Lingding Ocean and went to the patrol area of the coalition warships. At this time, Devin stood on the command platform of the 0010 torpedo boat, looking out into the sea ahead. The torpedo boat command station was located in the middle front, completely exposed, the bridge was located in the rear and communicated. The battleship broke the waves and advanced with a roar, followed by four torpedo boats in a column. The white waves formed by the battleship quickly spread to both sides, and there were very beautiful white ripples.

"Right full rudder, forward two!" Dai Hui looked at the charts under the oil lamp, and then gave instructions to the microphone in front of him. The torpedo boat made an arc and began to slow down, and then advanced dozens of nautical miles, reaching the predetermined sea area, and Dai Hui ordered to stop advancing. Then the roar died down and the patrol boat began to drift on the waves. Coalition patrol gunboats often appeared in the waters in this area, and the torpedo boats entered this area with the aim of waiting for the rabbit and using sneak attacks to catch the enemy by surprise.

In Haikou, Hainan Island, at dusk that day, in the courtyard of the former prefect of the headquarters of the 1st Squadron of the Allied Forces, the commander of the detachment, Eisenkenbell, was leisurely drinking tea, and a subordinate came in to report, "Commander, today the fortress fortifications across the strait suddenly shelled our patrol gunboat, and now it is confirmed that it is a large-caliber fortress gun. Patrol gunboats have been ordered not to approach the opposite shore so as not to be hit by the enemy's fortress artillery. ”

"Commander, I didn't expect the fortress artillery of the Northern Expeditionary Army to have such a long range, and it actually hit the patrol channel of our gunboats, and it seems that our patrol route will be revised." The adjutant was a little surprised. "It is not surprising that the Northern Expeditionary Military and Industrial Enterprises have the ability to design and manufacture long-range fortress artillery. Immediately change the patrol route and avoid the blows of the fortress artillery. Commander Eisenkenbell calmly gave the order.

"Your Excellency, the two Dutch gunboats that are patrolling the waters of Lingdingyang today have set off on time. On patrol in the area of the 5th were two Portuguese gunboats・・・・・・" replied a staff mechanic. The seemingly boring maritime patrol mission made them unable to lift their spirits at all, and even a little numb. The so-called patrol is aimed at coastal fishermen, and fishing boats that are fishing in the sea are destroyed as soon as they are discovered. Eisenken Belle seemed a little impatient to listen to the report, and said that he understood.

At the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army in Guangzhou, late at night, Deng Zixuan was still in the headquarters and refused to go back. Neither he nor Pei Gejin went home that night, after all, it was the first time the torpedo boat attacked, and they couldn't rest assured. "Commander-in-chief, it's the first time I've seen you uneasy, it's not like your style," Pei Gejin said as he broke the silence. Deng Zixuan smiled bitterly and said: "This is the first time we have fought against coalition warships at sea, and we only dispatched 5 torpedo boats, which is weak!" Whether or not we can play morale in the first game is very important, and to be honest I am really worried. ”

"Commander-in-chief, I know how much effort you have put into the design, construction, and training of torpedo boats. If you want to say that you are worried, I will worry about you, but there is no way but to wait patiently. Pei Ge comforted. It looks like we're going to stay up all night, and whether it's good news or bad news, we're waiting to pick it up! ”