Just when the Beiyang Naval Division and the Japanese Combined Fleet were grinding their fists and preparing to deal a fatal blow to the opponent, the two countries that did not participate in the war but were extremely concerned about the outcome of the war were also doing their own thing. Except for the politicians and generals who are sitting in conference halls in London and Moscow discussing how to maximize their interests. The commander of the British Far East Fleet, who was being revised in Shanghai, and Makanov, who was battling the wind and waves in the Atlantic, would have a direct impact on the course of the war.

"Mr. Aven, are the supplies and personnel our friends need?" Felimante asked, taking a sip of brandy. According to the plan, in order to restore the combat strength of the Beiyang Fleet as soon as possible after the decisive battle, the British Royal Navy ordered the Far East Fleet to raise a special group of supplies and shipwrights so that it could provide help at any time.

"There are no problems, we will reach Weihai on D-1." Evan said with a smile.

"Hiss" Felimante couldn't help but gasp, others don't know what the D-day means, but Felimante knows very well that D-day is the scheduled decisive day of the Beiyang Fleet.

"Don't look at me like that, I'm just a legitimate businessman, of course I have a backstage boss called MIA," Evan explained as he looked at Felimante with a strange expression on his face. As he spoke, he took out his credentials.

"Uh, what do you do?" Fremante looked at the high-level intelligence officer who suddenly appeared in front of him and asked a little crampedly.

"I would like to know what Mr. Lieutenant General Lu Dao thinks about this war." Evan said slowly.

"At least the Qing people will not lose this war, and no matter how bad they are, they will try to draw on the battlefield like the Qing-French War. However, given that Japan is an island nation, it is only a matter of time before its land forces collapse if it loses its navy. "Fremantle is right.

"Judging by the current situation, the elimination of the Japanese Navy is really not a problem. And what is even more ridiculous is that the Japanese are still being kept in the dark. However, I would like to remind Your Excellency the General that perhaps the enemies of the North Ocean are not only the Japanese. Evan said with a weird smile.

"You mean the Russians? By the way, I remember, the cruiser fleet of the Russians is rushing to the Far East. Will they really go to war? It's unlikely, right? Although Fremante felt that the Russians' action was very abnormal, he definitely did not expect the Russians to cross half the world to fight a naval battle with the Beiyang Fleet, which was crazy.

When the British Empire and the Kingdom of France launched the Second War against the Qing Dynasty, the Russians took the opportunity to acquire large areas of land, including Sakhalin Island and Vladivostok, and now the Qing and Japan are both defeated. There is no reason why the Russians should not take advantage of the opportunity. Evan said calmly.

"Of course, it could be a threat of force, or it could be a direct entry into the war, the specific method of which is to be determined."

"Do you think that the Qing Dynasty will succumb to the pressure of the Russians?" Felimante asked with interest.

"The emperor and empress dowager of the Qing State maybe, but the Lord Li Hongzhang of Beiyang and the forces and allies of Beiyang he represents will not give in. His recent rhetoric has been a message of no compromise," said Aven.

"But that Lord Li generally tends to make big things big and small things when dealing with foreign affairs." Felimante wondered, what was the situation that made Li Hongzhang so tough in the Qing-Japanese War?

"The reason is simple, in order to give you a deeper understanding of the Queen's government's intentions, I have decided to provide you with some internal information for your reference." Evan said as he pulled out a document.

"First, in order to prepare for this war, the local government of Beiyang had borrowed 1.2 million pounds from European countries before and during the war, not counting Beiyang's domestic debts in the Qing State and the funds provided by the Nanyang Chinese. If he can't get the compensation, Lord Li will be crushed by a huge debt! ”…,

"Second. Objectively speaking, Beiyang's preparations for war were indeed sufficient. With Xu Jie's help, Master Li not only integrated the old Huai military forces, but also gained the support of Nanyang Chinese and local merchants. Needless to say, the navy side is not too much. Everyone already knows the way, and in terms of the army, the old army of the Beiyang New Army plus the new army of Liu Mingchuan, the governor of Taiwan, and the new army of Liangguang. Beiyang finally has an army of 100,000, all of which gives Master Li the capital to fight. ”

"Third, there's politics involved. As the most powerful faction in the Qing Dynasty. Lord Li's Beiyang was hostile and dissatisfied with various forces from the central to the local level. And this war. It just happened to give these dissatisfied people a chance, as long as the strength of Beiyang was damaged or defeated, then the emperor and the empress dowager of the Qing State could justifiably take out Lord Li and let him bear the responsibility for the defeat, so for the sake of his political life and his reputation, Lord Li must hold on to the last day. Evan explained with great seriousness.

"Is that all?" Felimante asked.

"These are only superficial reasons, and the most fundamental ones are the internal problems of the Beiyang alliance system. From the Beiyang Navy and Army all the way to the merchants who provided funds for Beiyang, the factory owners who provided various materials for Beiyang. They all hoped that Beiyang would gain a lot of benefits from this victory, and that they would be able to get rid of the restrictions imposed by the Qing State Center on industrial development. And as the titular leader of this alliance. Master Li must do what is required within the alliance. Evan said meaningfully.

"Then you mean, in a way. Lord Lee was kidnapped by someone from within the Alliance? Feliman was taken aback and said, this is too shocking in the hierarchical Qing Kingdom.

"This is not surprising, since Xu Jie returned to the Qing Kingdom and served in Beiyang, this change has begun. The more force is introduced, the greater the force of Beiyang. However, it was precisely because of the diversification of forces that the authority of Lord Li as the leader of Beiyang was greatly weakened. And this trend has a tendency to spread. Evan paused, giving Felimante time to appreciate what he had said.

"A Qing state that was politically more Western-leaning, more civilized, stronger, and friendly to the British Empire was necessary for the British Empire to contain the actions of the Russians in the East. So....... Evan glanced at Felimante.

"I will do my duty as commander of the Royal Navy's Far East Fleet. I will do my best to help the Beiyang Fleet win the naval battle against Japan. In addition to the direct use of force. Felimante stood up and assured.

"No, it's not enough, as it was said at the beginning, Beiyang will not succumb to the pressure of the Russians, but in the eyes of the Russians. The battered Beiyang is definitely a prey to try. So the enemies of the Beiyang Naval Division were not just the Japanese. The Russian fleet, which came from afar, would also be the enemy of the Beiyang Fleet. Evan said.

"I'll negotiate with the Beiyang side, and I think that Lord Xu should also be aware of this potential enemy." Felimant said solemnly.

"He will naturally be clear, otherwise he would not be in a hurry to fight the Japanese. For the Beiyang Fleet, defeating the Japanese fleet was not a real victory, but a complete defeat and ensuring its own fleet to the greatest extent was a victory. This Mr. Xu has a lot of difficulties. Evan smiled.

At the same time, the Russian cruiser squadron was sailing around the clock in the Atlantic. In the light of the moon, six Russian battleships marched in columns, with the flagship of the fleet, Makanov's ship Rurik at the forefront. Behind are 3 Azov-class cruisers. Bayan, Turquoise and Pearl. The last two dominary cruisers were the 5,800-ton Admiral Korninov and the 3,500-ton Leda cruiser. …,

"Can the two ships be faster?" Makanov looked at the cruisers Admiral Kornino and Leda with mixed feelings. These two warships, which were commissioned before 1890, retain a strong atmosphere of the sail era. The Kornino even has a full set of sail rigging! It is a steam-powered, sail-based, and supplemented by sail power. When it entered service in 1888, it was able to run at a speed of 17.5 knots, but now it is estimated that even 14 knots is not guaranteed. The endurance is also not very good.

Supposedly, a warship like this should not be part of this long-distance fleet that spans half the world, especially if you are in a hurry! But the great tsar decided that simply sending four cruisers would not be enough to deter the Qing or Japan. So he "reminded" the Minister of the Navy that it was not necessary to bring a few more ships.

In accordance with the Tsar's decree, the Admiral and the Admirals went through the list of naval ships several times. It was found that apart from 4 battleships and the Yashima, which had already been sold to Japan, the Russian Navy really did not have any armored cruisers that could come up with it. Some people may ask, isn't the tonnage of the Russian Navy the third in the world? How hard is it to assemble a fleet?

It is true that the world is third, but the Black Sea Fleet cannot cross the Dardanelles. So it was just planed. And in terms of ship types. In order to ensure the supremacy of the Baltic Sea and the factors that are limited by access to the sea, the Russians built a large number of coastal defense ships and battleships, which were designed according to the requirements of coastal operations at that time, and were much inferior in terms of endurance and sea trials. In addition, Britain and other powers were reluctant to allow the Russians to resupply along the way. So it was difficult for these powerful battleships to reach the Far East. And the cruiser? This thing could not be fought near the sea, and before 1890, the Russians did not pay attention to it at all.

So looking around, the Russian Navy really couldn't find more cruisers to arm this fleet. But His Majesty's will must be carried out, and if you can find it, you can send it, and if you can't find it, you have to send it! In desperation. As a result, Rozdvinsky tentatively handed the data on the Korniv and Leda to Makanov.

When Makanov saw the two ships. The first reaction is that these two are strong and dry goods. Don't look at the Admiral Korninov, which has a displacement of 5800 tons, and don't look at the 14 6-inch guns on it. The former is obviously a typical waste of tonnage, and the latter is still equipped with 14 6-inch 35L guns! Isn't this a cheat? What other use can it be than to scare people?

But after all, the navy is a navy under His Majesty, and Makanov's arm can't twist the thigh of the troll! So in the end, it was Makanov who compromised. However, there are also requirements for compromise, at least the battleship should be thoroughly maintained and then replaced with boilers and artillery!!

Since the first admiral of the Russian Navy has asked for it, the Admiralty naturally has to agree. However, there were a lot of problems during the execution, and in the end, on the grounds of time constraints and heavy tasks, a few rapid-fire guns were replaced. The boiler was not changed at all!。 So this battleship, which has been in service for 7 years, embarked on a journey of 10,000 miles! As for the Leda? This thing is also a third-rate level in the Japanese Navy. Do you still expect it to deter Qingri? What's hairy?

However, after much hardship, the Makanov fleet finally set off. All the way. The Russians still got some information from the supply ports and passing merchant ships. And most of them are good news. One of the best is that the Japanese Combined Fleet fought two major battles with the Beiyang Naval Division, after the Battle off the Sea of Izu and the Battle of Gunsan Bay. Except for the strongest ships and some of the more fortunate ones, the other ships were either killed or wounded. This is great news for the Russian fleet, which has only 6 warships. The worse the two sides, the more deterrent the Russian fleet can play. The top brass of the Russian government who heard the news have already begun to think about how to reap the benefits from both sides at the same time! …,

And the bad news, that is, the increasingly close relationship between the British Far East Fleet and the Beiyang Fleet. At first it was just solidarity, and later it turned into the supply of ammunition and parts. Now even the British dockyard is open to Beiyang battleships! It's hard to say whether you will roll up your sleeves directly and work with the Beiyang Fleet after reaching the most!! If the strengthened British Far East Fleet were on the side of the North Ocean. Russia and Japan are completely hopeless!

Even if the Russians and the Japanese could barely handle the Northern Fleet and Felimante's Far Eastern Fleet. The British Empire had warships. Are you afraid that you won't be able to handle Russia and Japan? Don't say it's impossible. The Crimean War bluntly told the Russians that if it violated the vital interests of the British Empire, or threatened the British Empire's domination of the seas, the British Royal Navy would definitely not hesitate to kill them!!

So before coming, the Tsar's instructions to Makanov were to be temperate. Blackmail the Qing country, that's a certainty! But not too ruthlessly. "What kind of instruction is this?" As soon as he remembered the tsar's order, Makanov was like a scolding mother. It's done. It was the wise guidance of the tsar. If things are messed up, that is, you Makanov can't understand it properly, and you will be responsible for the black pot!!

Overall, though, the errand wasn't too difficult. According to Makanov's estimates, if the two sides fight again, I am afraid that the remaining battleships can be counted on 2 hands. When the time comes, the Japanese side will have Russia, a new force, to join, and it will naturally gain absolute superiority. And Russia, not only as an ally of Japan, could benefit from the Qing state. Even if you are Japanese, you have to express your gratitude for whatever you say.

But the Russians had more important things to do than just looting. That is, to build the port of Muroran into a new base for the Russian Far Eastern Fleet! This port is a bit too much compared to Vladivostok, first of all, an ice-free port alone is enough to make the Russians salivate! It also has easy access to the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. At the same time, it can also control the connection between Hokkaido and the island of Honshu. Out of the Pacific Ocean can be controlled by the Sea of Japan. You can beware of the betrayal of this little brother in Japan!

Of course, all this was done in secret, and a lot of equipment and supplies have been secretly transported from Vladivostok and Europe to the port of Muroran. In addition to some of the equipment and ammunition for the expeditionary fleet, other supplies were intended to build Muroran Port into a real military port.

I have to say. The Russians did a really good job of timing it. The Qing and Japanese sides are fighting to the death. The Russians are neutral countries, and even if the Beiyang Fleet dares to fight again, they will not dare to hit the port of Muroran, which is leased by the Russians. And the Japanese? Whether it is army equipment or warships, Russia has provided a lot. Therefore, even if the Japanese were aware of it, they could only swallow their anger during the war.

However, it seems that even after the war, the Japanese government will not be able to do anything to the Russians. Not to mention that Japan now needs to rely on the strength of the Russians. Postwar. Just what little possessions were left of the Japanese fleet. How can the Russian Far Eastern Fleet be handled? In the eyes of the Russians who believe in "boxing". The Japanese without the navy are a toothless tiger. Even if Japan received reparations and developed its navy at any cost, the Russians would have had enough time to build the port of Muroran. And the completion of the main railway line in the Far East. When the time comes, Japan will only become a vassal of the mighty Russia!

controlled Japan, which had no navy, and then went to control the Qing Kingdom, which had been beaten. Even His Majesty the Tsar thought it would take hundreds of years to control the Far East, because the Russians benefited the most from the struggle between the two regional powers.

"In the words of the Qing people, it is the crane and the clam compete for the fisherman's profit!! I'm afraid that even if I die, the Qing and Japanese countries can't imagine that Russia will be the biggest beneficiary, right? As soon as Makanov thought about the whole plan, he couldn't help but feel excited. The plan to control the entire Far East will begin with me. Thinking of the great exploits of the Duke of Amur (that is, which guy seized 1 million square kilometers of territory from the northeast of the Qing Dynasty), Makanov couldn't help but be excited. Even the incompetent government. It didn't seem so odious to him. After all, this plan is indeed quite clever!

But in fact, many people still expected this. Whether it's the British government or Xu Jie. They were well aware of the ambitions of the Russians. And this is the basis for the cooperation between the two sides. Giving the Russians a solid ice-free port and access to the Pacific was unacceptable to the British. The aggressive tactics of the Russian Navy had already unnerved the British, combined with the national character of the Russians. Once the Russian fleet was strong enough to a certain extent, either with Germany or with France. It was a huge challenge to Britain's sea power!

And Xu Jie's purpose is even simpler, it is enough to defend the country alone, so under the premise of resisting the Russian-Japanese alliance, the relationship between Britain and Beiyang has jumped directly from partners to allies!! In order to ensure that Beiyang could win this war, Britain actually used all other means except direct participation in the war! Funding, materials, maintenance and technical support, all that can be provided are provided!

Thanks to the book friend Mardine's reward, as well as the monthly ticket support of the book friend Heitian Tribe, Zhuzi, Dongyan and others, 5000 words of war are offered, I wish you all a happy eleventh ~~ (Wenchang Academy.wenchangshuyuan.Your support is my biggest motivation.) )