November 20, 1894 in the Yellow Sea. Liu Buyun looked at the main force of the Beiyang Fleet sailing in two columns, and was full of emotion. There is both the excitement and excitement of the time of the battle, but also a hint of unease. According to the previously formulated battle plan, the Beiyang Fleet was divided into two teams, the first of which was composed of six ships: Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, Jiyuan, Guangjia, Laiyuan, and Jingyuan. Divide into 3 two-ship formations and fight in the old chaotic mode. The second detachment consisted of Zhenhai, Zhiyuan, Jingyuan, Hailong, Haihu, and the sea lions and seals of the Penghu Naval Division. As for Chaoyong, Yang Wei, Pingyuan, and the two mosquito cannon ships in Zhenzhong and Zhennan were put into battle as reserves because they were too slow.

By the way, take 8 torpedo boats with it. As for Guang B and Guang C. Because the Japanese also learned quickly, some improved armed merchant ships appeared off the coast of the Qing Kingdom. In order to ensure the smooth flow of the transportation line, the two warships Guangyi and Guangbing cooperated with the three unprotected cruisers in the South China Sea to ensure the safety of the communication line. Although the performance was really not good, these unprotected cruisers were useless in the task of defending the lines of communication when the Japanese Combined Fleet was incapable and the guerrilla fleet suffered heavy losses.

In the past four months, the most that the Beiyang Fleet has done has been escorting. From Asan to the Dagushan landing ground, almost all the Beiyang Army landing sites have been visited. During this period, because the Japanese fleet wanted to ensure sea supremacy in the Korean Strait, the guerrilla fleet and Xu Jie's fast fleet fought and lost. So there is no danger.

The Japanese fleet did not dare to go north. However, the Beiyang Fleet did not dare to go south, not to mention whether it could defeat the Japanese Combined Fleet itself, but those mines in the Korean Strait could put a lot of pressure on the Beiyang Naval Division, which did not have professional minesweepers. To be on the safe side. Ding Ruchang and Xu Jie both built a wait first. After all, as long as the Luang Weili fleet can sail back smoothly, the Beiyang Naval Division will have an absolute advantage at that time. Therefore, the Beiyang Fleet was in no hurry to fight a decisive battle with the Japanese fleet. But now things have changed.

The Japanese fleet actually went north! And build a landing ground in the mountains! When the two warships in charge of reconnaissance, the Sea Lion and the Seal, brought the news back. It really worries the Beiyang Fleet. The mountains are already very close to Asan Mountain. If the Japanese fleet suddenly appeared in Asan, then it would be a devastating blow to the Asan anchorage! And if Japan cut off the sea supply of Asan Chenghuan, it would be a fatal blow to Nie Shicheng's department!

Therefore, the Beiyang Fleet must stop the Japanese army's attempt, so Ding Ruchang and Liu Buyun decided to take all the belongings of the Beiyang Fleet and go to fight with the Japanese Navy. At least keep the Asan landing ground safe! In this way, 16 warships, large and small, of the "Great Qing Combined Fleet" poured out (mosquito gunboats are not counted as battleships) in two columns, cleaving the waves on the Yellow Sea and killing the mountains.

In fact, before departure, Ding Ruchang and others received a telegram from Xu Jie, in the telegram, Xu Jie strongly opposed the Beiyang Fleet to find the Japanese fleet for a decisive battle at this stage, after all, according to Xu Jie's calculations, even the strength of the Japanese fleet is higher than that of the Beiyang Fleet, although there are three warships of more than 7000 tons in Beiyang, and Japan only has 2, but among the next class warships, Japan has 3 4000-ton Sanjing ships, and there is not a 4000-ton warship in Beiyang, except for 5 2000+tons of cruisers, the rest are 1500 tons of 3rd class protection cruisers, these battleships seem to have okay firepower, but because of their own tonnage, the strike resistance is still very limited. As for the old ships? Don't look at Fuso is an old ship that served before the 80s, but its hard fight is still higher than all other Beiyang warships except Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, and Zhenhai, plus Japan also has a large number of torpedo boats, although this thing was extremely unreliable at the time, but it can't stand much.

But Ding Ruchang and others also have their own considerations. The Beiyang Fast Fleet has won successive battles, which has put them under a lot of pressure on the old people of Beiyang. And some people in Qingliu have begun to impeach Ding Ruchang and others passively avoiding war. And after the imperial court's salary came down this time, the clear streams in the center were even more beneficial. Ding Ruchang and others must take action, this is a political problem, not a problem that can be solved by the military. And Liu Buchan and the others feel good about themselves, although the performance of the battleship is worse, but seeing that Xu Jie can fight a draw with the Japanese guerrilla fleet even in the case of absolute disadvantage, so Liu Buchan Lin Taizeng and others feel that this battle can still be fought after discussion. And the Japanese army's approach to Asan gave Beiyang a reason to attack, so the Beiyang Fleet decided to fight! …,

The leader of the team is naturally the Dingyuan, the flagship of the Beiyang Fleet, and the Zhenhai, the flagship of the Nanyang Fleet. It is the most powerful two-class warship of the Great Qing Kingdom so far. Its heavy iron armor and forest-like artillery symbolized the Qing Empire's sea power in the Far East. Behind Dingyuan is its same class ship Zhenyuan, and then behind it is Jingyuan, Laiyuan, Jiyuan and Guangjia. This was followed by the Chaoyong Yang Wei Pingyuan 3 ship that served as a reserve. Behind the Zhenhai ship is the protective cruiser formation of the "Great Qing Combined Fleet", and Zhiyuan Jingyuan is needless to say, the leader of the Beiyang Fleet. And Zhiyuan was the hero of the Battle of Toshima, dragging the Japanese cruiser to death, providing time for Xu Jie to severely damage the Japanese ship. The four 1,500-ton third-class protected cruisers in the back were the best warships in the hands of the Guangdong Navy Division and the Penghu Navy Division. Although the tonnage is not large, the firepower of the five 4.7-inch guns on the side chord is still not to be underestimated.

As the first battle of the Beiyang Fleet, Ding Ruchang and Liu Buyun and others are still relatively confident. Since Xu Jie can use 3 cruisers against the 5 warships of the Japanese guerrilla fleet, then under the condition that the strength of the two sides is equal, it is also possible for the Beiyang Fleet to defeat the Japanese Combined Fleet, at least Liu Buyun thinks that his level will not be below Xu Jie. Although Lang Weili has not been in Beiyang in the past few years, Liu Buyun still clearly remembers the bet with Xu Jie. It's not relaxing at all when I train. "Jishi, you played very well, it's time to watch me!" Liu Buyun said in his heart.

And just when the Beiyang Fleet was killing the mountains, the Japanese Combined Fleet, under the leadership of Shiki Kayama, was also maneuvering towards Asan. According to the original base camp plan, while the army landed in Wonsan, the navy had to build a landing ground in Gunsan to shorten the supply line. Under the heavy pressure of the Army, Hirobumi Ito, and others, Shiki Kayama had no choice but to go to the mountains without the guerrilla fleet being repaired.

And the distance between the mountains and Asan is too close, but it is a bit rude to visit, thinking of the Japanese Combined Fleet in the port of Incheon blocked by the Beiyang Fleet for a violent beating, Kayama Shikiki is angry! Therefore, after establishing a landing ground in Gunsan, Shikiki Kayama took all the belongings of the Japanese Combined Fleet to Asan to kill them. But he really didn't plan a decisive battle with the Beiyang Fleet,

Ding Ruchang is waiting for Lang Weili, and Huashan Shiji is waiting for Pingjing Hangsan. In addition to one Takachiho repaired, the other four battleships are still lying in the dock. Especially the Kurama, there was no good place in the entire hull, and there were large holes in the 8-inch and 6-inch guns, and small holes in the 12-pounder guns. There was also a destroyed wheelhouse. The pride of the Japanese Navy turned into a dead dog. However, what makes Kayama Shiki a little balanced is that Xu Jie's 3 warships are also lying in the dock. The threat of the Beiyang Fast Fleet can be ignored for the time being.

In fact, the strength of the Japanese Combined Fleet is higher than that of the main force of the Beiyang Fleet. From the point of view of formation, the Japanese fleet was also in two columns, starting with the Fuji (Brute) and Yashima (Nasimonov) purchased from Britain and Russia respectively, the two ships were similar in performance, so they were grouped together. Behind are the famous Sankei ships and Chiyoda, two ships in a group, Matsushima and Hashidate in front, and Itsukushima and Chiyoda in the back. This is followed by the Izumi purchased from Chile (historically purchased from Chile on November 15th. It arrived in Japan only in February of the following year, and in this book Japan purchased it in advance in order to compensate for the losses of the fast fleet) and the original guerrilla fleet cruiser Takachiho. The last three were the two old cruisers, the Fuso ironclad and the Hiei Kongo.

In addition to these 11 battleships, there are two unprotected cruisers in the back, the Tenryu and the Kaimon, as well as four 600-ton gunboats in Maya Atago, Torishima Oshima, and 16 torpedo boats!! It can be seen that Kayama Shiki is still very empty in his heart, and the ship behind him is when the consumables go up to delay the Beiyang Fleet and then run away by himself when it is necessary. After all, the two battleships in Dingzhen are a lingering shadow in the hearts of the Japanese, and the huge 12-inch main gun is quite deterrent. And the successive defeats in the war also made the Japanese Navy really not much morale to speak of. …,

In this way, the Beiyang Fleet went south, and the Japanese fleet went north! The Beiyang Fleet left earlier, and the Japanese Fleet left later, and as a result, the two sides met in the mountains and the sea, in the mountains and bays. At that time, the warships were all coal-burning, and it can be said that during the day, the fleets of both sides did not have to make much effort at sea to know whether the main fleet of the other side was coming, and the chimney spewed out this billowing smoke. Who doesn't know that the main fleet has been coming from afar? So almost at the same time, both the Beiyang overseer and the Japanese fleet discovered each other's deposits!

"Here, Junmen." Liu Buyun pointed to the Japanese fleet in the distance and said.

"Pass the order down, prepare to change formation. Raise the battle flag! Ding Ruchang didn't talk nonsense, and ordered directly. Then the Beiyang Fleet began to change formations, and the second detachment led by the Zhenhai ship began to move to the left flank. Provide space and cover for the first detachment to turn into a melancholy scale formation. And then Dingzhen, Jiyuan Guangjia, Laiyuan, Jingyuan, 6 warships turned into three teams of twos and twos, while Pingyuan, Chaoyong, Yang Wei and gunboats in the back immediately increased their speed as much as possible to keep a distance, and the torpedo boats were looking for an opportunity to attack at the edge of the battlefield at any time.

At the same time, the Japanese fleet began to be grouped. Relative to the formation of one vertical and one horizontal in the Beiyang. The Japanese fleet is a real long snake formation! The 11 capital ships lined up in a column and quickly cut diagonally. Unprotected cruisers and gunboats and torpedo boats were also waiting on the periphery of the battlefield to prepare for an attack. This is exactly the same as the playing style of the Beiyang Fleet. Thus began the naval battle of the world's first large-scale steam warships. The sheer size and importance of both countries made it inevitable that this naval battle would go down in history.

The main force of the navy collided for the first time, so let's support it~~ At the same time, I would like to thank the book friends Frozen Yelang and Dreamposter for their rewards. As for the book friend Cold Moon Star Scar HD's reminder ticket--! It can only be said that the author is not a professional writer--! But I also thank the book friends for their support~~.