On the morning of June 15, 1849, a thick fog rose in the Gulf of Aden. However, as soon as the sun rose, the fog began to dissipate.

A British fleet, flying the flag of St. George, was sailing on the calm seas. This fleet is none other than the East African Squadron of the Indian Fleet of the British Royal Navy, which departed from Mogadishu, Somalia.

"General, in three hours, we will arrive at Socotra!" On board the fleet's flagship 'Narcissus Boy', a staff officer reported to Rear Admiral Murphy.

"Hmmm! I know. Let the fleet, get ready for battle! Major General Murphy gave the order with a calm face.

"General, are we going to fight with the Chinese? We only have two 'Orlando-class' warships and four 'pearl-class' warships, and we are facing the main force of the Chinese Navy's 5th Fleet. If we go to war, we don't have the slightest chance of winning! The staff officer was a little surprised.

"I know, but the interests of the British Empire need to be defended with our lives!" Major General Murphy said firmly.

"Yes, General!" The staff officer nodded. However, from his face, the horror was clearly visible.

Rear Admiral Murphy was able to understand this, after all, the strength of the East African Fleet was too weak to compete with the main force of the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy. Over the years, however, the Royal Navy has recovered rapidly and has dozens of advanced warships. However, in the direction of the Indian Ocean, under pressure from the Chinese Navy, the British Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet has only about 20 warships in total. The rest of the warships were deployed in the Atlantic. Protecting the British homeland.

The 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy has a series of cutting-edge warships, especially the powerful 'Dongzhou-class' warships that can compete with the 'Nelson-class' warships. It is even more overwhelming for the East African fleet. Their most powerful warships are only two 'Orlando-class' warships.

"Hopefully, the Chinese can take the initiative to retreat!" Major General Murphy said secretly. He can only pin his hopes on this, if he really wants to fight, there is only one final fate for the East African warship, and that is to be destroyed. He wouldn't have given the order to fire unless he had to. If. It would have been best if the Chinese fleet had taken the initiative to retreat after the British navy had taken a hard line.

At 10 a.m., the East African Fleet of the British Navy arrived in the waters near Socotra. It was immediately discovered by the warships of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy on patrol. The battleship immediately reported to the flagship, and the entire 5th fleet immediately began to move. One by one, the warships set fire to anchor and sailed off the coast of Hadib to carry the transports of the Marine Corps. then sail to the eastern waters of Socotra. Avoid being attacked in the event of a war.

Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, and Vice Admiral Ye Feng, chief of staff, stared west on the flagship battleship 'King Zhou', waiting for the appearance of the British Navy.

Soon, the British Navy's East African Fleet came into view. Two 'Orlando-class' battleships were at the head, followed by four 'Pearl-class' cruisers. The 'Orlando-class' battleships were powerful warships shot by the British Navy that could compete with the 'Western Zhou-class' battleships of the Imperial Navy, with a displacement of nearly 5,000 tons, and were equipped with powerful twin 210 mm guns. The attack power is very strong. Of course, compared to the 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships of the Imperial Navy. The Orlando-class ships are not a class of warships. Only the 'Nelson-class' warships of the British Navy were able to fight.

"Commander, the British have contacted us by telegram in clear code, claiming that Socotra is British territory, and asking us to evacuate here immediately and return Socotra to them. Otherwise, it would be an invasion of the British Empire. The communications officer reported to Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng.

"Shit! Tell the British that Socotra Island is clearly the territory of the Sultanate of Mahri. Now the empire launched an attack on the Sultanate of Mahri, occupying the island of Socotra, which had nothing to do with the British. Socotra is already the territory of the Empire, and the British fleet must leave the nearby waters immediately, otherwise it will be regarded as an enemy of the Empire! Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng said-for-tat.

"Yes, Commander!" The communications officer hurriedly had Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng's words sent by telegram to the British fleet.

The fleets of both sides began to confront each other. The distance is getting closer and closer, and the main guns of the warships on both sides have also begun to aim at each other. However, the British Navy's East African Fleet had only six warships, while the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet consisted of two 'Eastern Zhou-class' warships, two 'Western Zhou-class' warships, four 'Temperary-class' cruisers, and four 'Tiangang-class' destroyers.

"General, the Chinese demanded that we leave this sea immediately, claiming that this was their attack on the Mahri Sultanate and had nothing to do with us. Otherwise, they will see us as provoking them again! A staff officer reported to Major General Murphy.

"Hell! Those damned Chinese, do they really think that the entire Indian Ocean is theirs? Major General Murphy was very annoyed. In general, after the rise of the Chinese Empire, British influence was not only expelled from the Far East and the South Seas, but also in the Indian Ocean, Britain could only maintain control over India's periphery. At sea, the British Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet has been suppressed by the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy.

"General, the Chinese have aimed the main guns of the fleet at us!" Another officer reported.

"Damn! Warn those guys, are they trying to provoke a war with the British Empire? Major General Murphy was shocked.

When the distance between the two sides approached 5,000 meters, the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy began to accelerate and seize the advantageous position. The British Navy's East African Fleet also began a counterattack, trying to avoid falling under the superior fire of the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet.

"Commander, these Brits, insist on not giving in, what should we do? Is it really going to be fired? Once fired, war really broke out! Vice Admiral Ye Feng, Chief of Staff of the 5th Fleet of the Imperial Navy, was a little worried.

'Humph!' The battleship 'Zhou Xi Wang' aimed at the right side of the British fleet and opened fire about a thousand meters. A warning to those British. If they don't know what to do, the next time, the shells will fall directly on their heads! Lieutenant General Lu Haipeng ordered.

"Yes, General!" The captain of the battleship 'King Zhou' nodded.

The three twin 210-mm guns of the battleship 'King Zhou' began to slowly adjust their bearings.

With the order of the gunner, the three twin 210mm guns began to roar.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! "Crimson flames shone from the muzzles of three twin 210-mm guns, and six shells of more than 100 kilograms flew towards the East African Fleet of the British Navy in the distance. The shells exploded on the surface of the sea, splashing columns of water that soared into the sky.

"General, the Chinese have opened fire!"

"Hell, those Chinese, do they really want to go to war? Order the fleet and strike back now! Major General Murphy was shocked.

However, the subsequent landing of the shells made Rear Admiral Murphy's face look a lot better, which was clearly the warning fire of the Chinese fleet. However, if the British Navy did not accept the warning of the Chinese fleet, the next moment, perhaps the war would begin.

"General, what are we going to do?"

"General, the Chinese sent a telegram asking us to leave immediately. Otherwise, they will attack! A staff officer reported to Major General Murphy.

"Damn! Send a telegram to the country, asking for their instructions! Major General Murphy said exasperatedly.

As a noble British admiral, in the face of such an aggressive provocation by the Chinese fleet, he did not dare to give the order to return fire, which was a complete shame for him. However, as the commander of the fleet, he needs to be responsible for the lives of thousands of officers and men of the fleet, and if war starts, the East African Fleet is definitely not the main opponent of the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy. There was only one final result, and that was the elimination of the East African fleet. Such consequences are definitely not what he wants to see.

After an hour of standoff, under pressure from the Chinese Navy's 5th Fleet, the British Navy's East African Fleet chose to retreat after receiving orders from home. Although the geographical location of Socotra was very important, Britain was not prepared for war with the Chinese Empire at this time. Moreover, the British Navy's East African Fleet did not have any advantages, and if it fired, it would definitely be annihilated.

After the departure of the British Navy's East African Fleet, the main force of the Imperial Navy's 5th Fleet continued westward, escorting two battalions of the 2nd Marine Brigade to land at Tajoura Bay. After the landing, the Imperial Marines defeated the local indigenous forces and took the entire Tajjra Bay under control. Immediately, a large number of engineers entered to prepare for the construction of permanent military bases in Tajoura Bay and Socotra.

Of course, the British are not going to rest on their laurels. The main force of the British Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet began to depart from Calcutta and head to the Gulf of Aden, preparing to reinforce the East African Fleet and strengthen the British Navy's control of this area. The British Minister to China, Bonham, also formally protested to the Imperial Foreign Secretary Wei Yuan.

"Your Excellency, your navy's brazen invasion of the territory of the British Empire is a challenge to the British Empire and an act of war. The British Empire was very angry about this, and strongly demanded that the Chinese troops withdraw from Socotra, otherwise, the British Empire would maintain the right to pursue further investigations! Sir Bonham was furious.

"Your Excellency, the island of Socotra is not a British territory, it is the territory of the Sultanate of Mahri. This is the war between the Empire and the Sultanate of Mahri, and it has nothing to do with the British Empire! Imperial Foreign Minister Wei Yuan insisted.

In the end, Sir Bonham had no choice but to leave angrily. (To be continued......)

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