Washington, D.C., inside the White House, inside the office of President Harding. President Harding summoned Secretary of State Hughes, Secretary of the Navy Edwin Demby, and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Robert Kunz to ask them what they thought of the decisive naval battle between the Chinese Empire and the British Empire.

"Gentlemen, our two main adversaries are about to engage in a fierce battle in the Indian Ocean. Both countries are the main enemies of the United States of America as a world leader. Originally, we thought that it would be a long time before the United States of America defeated them and became the leader of the world. But now it seems that this time is about to be brought forward. "President Harding has been in a very good mood lately.

After World War I, the United States, Britain, China, and France became the four major powers in the world, especially the United States, Britain, and China, which were the main countries facing world hegemony. Although the British struggled a lot, they retained their throne as the world hegemon. However, both the United States and China are eyeing the throne of world hegemony under Britain's ass.

As a country with the largest industrial output value in the world, the United States is even more determined to achieve the status of world hegemon. The previous Washington Conference was the first step for the United States to seize the throne of world hegemony. Originally, they hoped to use the Washington conference to contain China and close the gap with Britain. As a result, their plan seems to have succeeded. While the Americans were carrying out their plans step by step, a fierce conflict broke out between the Chinese Empire and the British Empire. It is very likely that a large-scale decisive battle will break out between the navies of both sides. This is undoubtedly extremely beneficial to the United States. If the Chinese Navy and the British Navy fight to defeat both, won't the United States be able to reap the benefits and become the hegemon of the sea ahead of schedule?

"Your Excellency, this is for us. This is indeed great news. Secretary of State Hughes was also smiling. The United States will become the world hegemon, and that seems to be just around the corner.

"Both, can you predict who will win the final victory in this naval battle, the Chinese Empire and the British Empire?" President Harding asked.

"Your Excellency. This time, both the Chinese Empire and the British Empire have done their best. In particular, the Chinese Empire threw all its capital ships into this naval battle. So, whoever wins in the end will definitely be a pyrrhic victory. That would be of great benefit to the United States of America. Navy Secretary Edwin Denby said with a smile. He seems to have seen that it won't be long before the U.S. Navy will be the number one in the world. And he, the Secretary of the Navy, has a position in the US Cabinet. It will also rise with it.

President Harding nodded, then looked at Admiral Robert Kunz. Admiral Robert Kuntz is the Chief of Operations of the U.S. Navy, and there is no doubt that he is the true professional of the man.

"General, what is your opinion?" President Harding asked.

"Your Excellency the President, there are twenty-four capital ships of the British Navy this time. Including four 'Admiral-class' battlecruisers, five 'Vengeance-class' battleships. Five 'Queen Elizabeth-class' battleships, two 'Prestige-class' battlecruisers, four 'Iron Duke-class' battleships, 'Tiger' battlecruisers and three 'Lion-class' battlecruisers. Plus heavy cruisers, cruisers of the first rank, light cruisers and destroyers. The entire fleet has more than one hundred and ten warships. Such a force is already equivalent to 70% of the strength of the British Royal Navy. On the other hand, the Imperial Chinese Navy concentrated all the capital ships, including three 'Three Emperor-class' battleships and two 'Pinghai-class' battleships. Five 'Five Emperor-class' battleships, four 'Zhonghua-class' battleships, two 'Longxing-class' battleships, two 'Longfei-class' battlecruisers, two 'Longteng-class' battleships and two 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers, as well as heavy cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers, totaling more than 100 ships.

Judging by the size and strength of the fleets of both sides, they should be evenly matched. It should be the lead ship of the Navy, although there are two more. However, the number of battlecruisers in the British Navy was too large. Their 'Admiral-class' battlecruisers and 'Prestige' battlecruisers, despite their great firepower, had poor armor defenses. In the event of a decisive battle of the fleet, the British would probably not be able to take advantage of anything. What's more, the Chinese Navy also has 'Three Emperor-class' battleships and 'Pinghai-class' battleships equipped with 410-mm guns. Even the 'Five Emperor-class' battleships of the Chinese Navy have certain advantages in the face of the British 'Revenge-class' battleships and 'Queen Elizabeth-class' battleships.

In this battle, if you want to distinguish the winner or loser, the key depends on the tactics adopted by both sides and the actual situation in the naval battle. It's hard to tell who will win. One thing is certain, though. That is, neither the Chinese Empire nor the British Empire will be the victors in this naval battle. The only victor will be the United States of America. Admiral Robert Kunz said.

"Haha! The general was so right. True, neither the Chinese nor the British will be victors. There is only one winner, and that is us! President Harding laughed.

Secretary of State Hughes and Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby also laughed. This result is undoubtedly exactly what they want to see.

"Your Excellency, there is generally not much difference between the victory of the British Navy's expeditionary fleet and the Chinese Navy. Therefore, in this battle between the navies of the two countries, it is very likely that both sides will lose. This will bring about tremendous changes in the future pattern of the world's navies. The US Navy becoming the number one in the world is just around the corner. Robert Kunz said with great certainty.

President Harding nodded, he had asked Robert Kunz to predict the outcome of the naval battle. However, I didn't expect Robert Kunz to come to such a conclusion. That's exactly what he wants to see, though. He also knew that there were too many objective factors in naval warfare. Perhaps whoever has better luck on both sides may also win. As a result, the forecast will be fraught with uncertainty. However, as long as it is a lose-lose outcome, it will be very beneficial for the United States.

The Americans now wish that the Chinese Empire and the British Empire would fight to defeat each other, in which case the supremacy of the sea would easily fall into their hands like a ripe peach. In this regard, the Americans opened their eyes wide and stared at this naval battle with great anticipation.

Java Island, Batavia, and military ports are densely moored with warships of the Chinese Navy. As far as the eye can see, the entire military port is full of warships. The main forces of the Imperial Navy have all been concentrated here. In addition to the Imperial Navy's battleships and battlecruisers, there were twelve 'Zodiac-class' heavy cruisers of the Imperial Navy, as well as the first four of the newest 'Solar Terms-class' heavy cruisers. Twenty-eight 'Nakshatra-class' light cruisers, seven 'Northern Seven Provinces' light cruisers, and the latest 'Gogaku-class' light cruisers. Forty-eight destroyers, including 12 destroyers of the 'B class', 12 destroyers of the 'C class', 12 destroyers of the 'D class' and 12 destroyers of the 'E class'.

There is no doubt that all the main forces of the Imperial Navy are gathered here, and once this fleet has any strengths and weaknesses, then the efforts of the Imperial Navy for more than ten years will be in vain.

After the First Sino-Japanese Naval War, China did not have a decent navy. When the Imperial Navy first began to develop, it started from scratch, from buying warships from abroad, to now being able to build the most powerful warships in the world on its own. In the future, the Imperial Navy will also form a naval force dominated by aircraft carriers. All this shows that the Chinese Navy has been at the forefront of the world.

Marshal Cheng Biguang, who was the commander of the Imperial Navy, was excited and excited, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel that the burden on his shoulders was very heavy. After all, this was a battle in which the Imperial Navy had exhausted all its main forces, and being able to command such a large fleet to engage in a decisive battle with the enemy was uncontrollable for anyone. Marshal Cheng Biguang also knew that this battle was a victory and not a defeat. If he fails, what face will he have to go back to see His Majesty the Emperor.

In addition, this time it was the British Navy that fought against the Imperial Navy. The British Navy's maritime hegemony for hundreds of years is not blown out, but there are real materials. Therefore, this war empire must be cautious. The slightest negligence could lead to the failure of the Imperial Navy.

"This battle may be the last battle of the main fleet of the Imperial Navy, right? No matter what, this battle must be fought well. Otherwise, I won't be able to forgive myself. Marshal Cheng Biguang said secretly.

After winning this battle, his personal prestige will also reach its peak. Even if he is allowed to retire at this time, he has no regrets.

On April 4, 4620 (22), the Imperial Navy, which had completed its replenishment, left Batavia and sailed into the vast Indian Ocean, preparing to meet the mighty British Royal Navy.

This war is directly related to the fate of the two countries, and it can be regarded as a war fought by the two countries in order to compete for world hegemony. The losing side will have no chance of world hegemony at all. Therefore, whether it is Britain or China, they will do their best to win this war.

While the Chinese Navy was departing from Batavia, the Royal Navy Expeditionary Fleet had also completed its replenishment in Bombay and set off for the south. (To be continued.) )

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