On the fifth day after Xu Jie led the Beiyang Rapid Fleet to attack the port of Yokosuka, the Russian fleet, which was revising in Batavia, welcomed a mysterious guest.

"Honorable General Makanov, I would like to know that your fleet can go to the East China Sea to fight with the Qing Naval Division when it is mysterious, and this is related to the Far Eastern planning of His Majesty the Great Tsar." A tsarist envoy under the pseudonym Ivan said dissatisfiedly.

"Your Excellency, Honorable Envoy, if I can, I would still like to be able to suspend this combat mission, for I am afraid that Japan will no longer have a port to provide logistical support for the Rurik before the fleet I lead arrives in Japan. In this case, large battleships became disposables. Once damaged, it will lose its combat power. Vladivostok also does not have the ability to repair such a huge battleship, not to mention the fact that without the protection of batteries, the fleet cannot be replenished with peace of mind. After much hesitation, Makanov still spoke his heart.

"Are you vetoing the order of His Majesty the Tsar? Your Excellency, Commander, you have the most elite cruiser formation in the Empire. Are you still afraid of the Qing country's fast fleet? You have in your hands one armored cruiser of more than 10,000 tons, Rurik, three armored cruisers of more than 7,000 tons. The envoy almost snarled.

"Are you doubting my professionalism? The combat power of the armored cruiser Rurik is comparable to that of the PISA class of the Italians, while the combat power of the armored cruisers of the Sea of Azov is inferior to that of the armored cruisers of the Garibaldi type. Makanov said excitedly.

"What's more. The current Beiyang Fast Fleet is already experienced in a hundred battles, how can the quality of officers and men be comparable to those rookies in the fleet? The Beiyang Fleet has two well-defended military ports in Weihai and Lushun for rest. With a large supply of supplies and skilled workers from the British, what do I have? A military port in ruins by naval shelling? Logistics that can't even guarantee supplies? Makanov's face was full of grief and loneliness.

"Your Excellency, please forgive me for my rashness." Faced with Makanov's questioning, Ivan Dao apologized. "But you should know it. The stakes were high, and Russia had waited too long to secure an ice-free port in the Far East. And this time, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the will of His Majesty the Tsar cannot be violated. But Russia will do everything in its power to help your fleet defeat the Qing fleet. Immediately. Ivan changed his mind.

"For the glory of Russia, for the sake of His Majesty the Tsar, I will do my best, and I need His Highness the Tsar to help me do two things, first, to find a secluded harbor where large warships can be berthed, and this port must be far away from the war zone. Of course I know. This may be a bit high, but with the fleet in my hands alone, we can at most have a tie with the Beiyang Fast Fleet. Makanov said earnestly.

"I want to know Your Excellency, why do you have to find a port far away from the war zone? The port of Muroran has not yet been attacked, and we can strengthen the defense there. Ivan said suspiciously.

"In the whole East, except for the fact that the Beiyang Fleet could not break through the British Far East Fleet base in Singapore, no military port could last one day under the attack of the Beiyang Fleet. Although the Beiyang Rapid Fleet did not enter Tokyo Bay, the Uraga waterway was completely blocked by mines and shipwrecks and was no longer functional. Now the hastily strengthened shore fortifications are simply useless, and it is not like this. It is better to choose a remote place where large ships can dock for simple replenishment and maintenance. Makanov explained. Since it will be destroyed if it is discovered, the best way is to make it impossible for the other party to even find out. …,

"If you want to stay away from the battlefield, you also need to be able to dock large ships, and there really is a place like this." Ivan thought for a moment and said.

"This place is called the Ryukyu Islands, and here, we can secretly build an improvised dock and put some ammunition and supplies there." Ivan said, pointing to one of the bays. "The hydrological situation here is complicated, though, so if you can, you'll need to be careful with the helmsman how you can set it up as a temporary supply port."

"Is there nowhere else? If not, then this is the place. But be sure to do a good job of secrecy. Makanov nodded, expressing satisfaction.

"Rest assured, since the empire moved into Japan, it's not just Hokkaido that has been on the spot. I can get someone to send a report today to prepare for this. Ivan said with some smugness.

"Now let's talk about the strengthening of the fleet." Makanov said.

"I can only be very sorry for Your Excellency, Russia can no longer send new warships to reinforce Your Excellency, and all the warships that can go on an expedition have been assembled under your command. And it is too late from the point of view, you have to get to the combat area within 10 days. Ivan categorically rejected Makanov's proposal.

"I only need a battleship, I don't care where it came from, since there is no hope from the mainland, can His Majesty the Tsar buy one or two better warships from the French Far East Fleet?" Makanov did not have much hope for this proposal, firstly, it was a little too late, and secondly, the French were not necessarily willing to wade into this troubled water.

"It's a very creative and bold plan. But it's really hard to achieve, but I wonder if you need those ships from the French Far East Fleet? Ivan couldn't help wiping a cold sweat and said.

"High-speed cruisers, I am interested in the two ships currently in the French Far East Fleet, one is the ISLY protective cruiser, with a tonnage of 4,300 tons and a dome thickness between 6.5 and 5 inches. The armament is 5 6.4-inch guns and 6 5.5-inch guns, the main engine power is 8000 horsepower, and the speed is 19 knots. THE OTHER IS THE CHANZY ARMORED CRUISER, WITH A DISPLACEMENT OF 4,600 TONS, 3.6-INCH WATERLINE ARMOR, ARMAMENT OF 2 7.6-INCH GUNS AND 8 5.5-INCH GUNS, THE MAIN ENGINE POWER OF 8,000 HORSEPOWER, AND A SPEED OF 19 KNOTS. Makanov didn't have much hope for this plan, though. But Ivan was informed of the relevant data.

"To be honest, even if we can buy these two ships, I'm afraid the corresponding crews will not be matched, after all, this is in the Far East, not in Europe." Ivan said helplessly.

"I hope Your Excellency will work for the sake of Russia's tomorrow. Do your best. Makanov replied. What Makanov did not expect was that in the end, the Russians bought these 2 battleships from the French. However, it was not used against the Qing Kingdom!

"Then Your Excellency the Commander can make a more detailed battle plan?" Ivan asked.

"I want to know how big a war His Majesty the Tsar intends to fight?" Instead of answering, Makanov asked rhetorically. After all, war is in the service of politics. If it is only for the sake of exploiting the benefits of the Japanese, then there is no need to fight to the death, if it is to inflict heavy damage on the Beiyang Fleet and pave the way for future Russian operations in the Far East, then it is another matter.

"The Empire will not formally declare war on the Qing State, and Your Excellency's fleet will be a force hired by the Japanese to engage the Qing fleet under the pretext of defending the safe navigation of Russian and American merchant ships in the western Pacific. Defeat the Beiyang Fleet as much as possible. When he said this, Ivan also felt very awkward. What kind of positioning is this?

"I don't quite understand what that means?" Makanov was blinded at once.

"You should know that the vast majority of the Empire's supplies in the Far East were used to support the Japanese army, with the exception of the sea force in your possession. There was no longer the military power that could be used, so His Excellency the Tsar did not want to provoke the Qing state too much and leave some room for maneuver in future diplomatic activities. Ivan replied with a little embarrassment. …,

"Personally, I think that both mercenary fleets and privateers are history, but I didn't expect my fleet to be the last to be mercenary. What a peculiar war! Makanov said with a slight sarcasm.

"I want to know, can the Japanese fleet enter the war?" Makanov asked.

"It should be impossible, the Japanese fleet has only 3 warships left, and they are badly damaged, and the only port of Yokosuka that can be fully repaired has been destroyed. Therefore, the Japanese fleet basically did not have to count on it. Ivan's words revealed a deep contempt!

"That's a shame." Makanov shook his head and said.

"Alright, tell me about your plan, General. I need to report to His Majesty the Tsar. Ivan said embarrassedly.

"If the Beiyang Fleet is not dispersed, I will not have any chance to attack. However, this is extremely unlikely, because the Beiyang Fleet needs to deploy their fleet on as large a scale as possible, and only in this way can Japan's sea transportation lines be completely locked. Makanov paused and continued.

"I will look for opportunities to engage the Beiyang Fleet and try to inflict heavy losses on my opponents. If my fleet is lucky enough, after this battle is over, my fleet will still have the ability to play hide-and-seek at sea with that Admiral Xu's fleet. In this way, the strength of the Beiyang Fleet will be contained and the pressure on Japan's sea transportation will be reduced. But defeat is absolutely impossible. If I run into the Beiyang Fast Fleet first, I will choose to avoid it. Makanov said as he gestured on the chart.

"Your Excellency, I have to say that your plan is too conservative." Ivan said with a frown.

"If you want to win this war, Your Majesty the Tsar needs to give me 2 more Rurik and 2 Azov-class armored cruisers, do you think those 3 large warships of the Beiyang Fleet are so easy to deal with? Although Dingyuan and Zhenyuan are old, they are not 8-inch guns that can be dealt with! There was a hint of anger in Makanov's words.

"Then how long do you think you can hold off the Beiyang Fleet?" Ivan asked.

"Two months at most, after two months, my fleet will be unfit for combat, there will be no supply ports, there will be no sufficient ammunition, the fleet will be just an ornament. Don't forget, my fleet has traveled half the world to fight the enemy on the other side of the planet! Makanov said.

"So the Japanese have to open the situation in 2 months?" Ivan asked.

"It's better to be 1 month, 2 months is the limit, the senior generals of the Beiyang Fleet are not mediocre, they won't give me that much time." Makanov said with a blushing face.

Thanks to the book friend techie81 for the tip. And eternal silence, Taishang Hongmeng Patriarch's monthly ticket support, today weekend, double watch, there is a chapter in the evening, everyone support it!! Xie Lu thanked him. (To be continued......)