Vice Admiral Philip, commander of the German Navy, led four 'hamburg-class' light cruisers and six 'Kiel-class' destroyers to escort more than 20 merchant ships carrying more than 12,000 officers and men of the German Army's 29th Infantry Division and all their equipment, from Wilhelmshaven into the rough North Sea. This was the first time the German Navy had made a long voyage, and it was to the unknown waters of the Indian Ocean. Along the way, they will pass through multiple enemy defense zones. This will undoubtedly be an extremely difficult task for the German Navy.

With such a large-scale sortie of the German Navy, it was naturally inevitable that it would be discovered by others. At a time when Germany was desperately developing its navy, it was only natural that the Reich would focus on the German navy. Almost as soon as the German Navy left port, the Reich intelligence officers sent back the information.

When the Imperial Military Intelligence Bureau learned of this, it immediately notified the General Staff and the Admiralty, and at the same time reported it to the Emperor Long Yufei. Long Yufei immediately realized that the Germans were going to send troops to Persia. Now that the Afghan army is fighting back in Dhamgan, it will undoubtedly have a great impact on the tide of the war if the German* army enters the Persian kingdom. Therefore, the emperor demanded that the navy must intercept the German navy, and that it was absolutely impossible for their army to enter the kingdom of Persia.

In addition, the empire notified the Kingdom of Afghanistan and asked them to intensify their offensive against the Kingdom of Persia. As long as the Kingdom of Persia can be destroyed before the intervention of foreign* armies, then it will be impossible for other countries to intervene in this war again. Of course, the Imperial Army and Navy were equally prepared. As soon as the German Navy left Wilhelmshaven, it was immediately followed by the Reich Navy's allies.

When the German Navy entered the North Sea, the Belgian Navy operating in the North Sea immediately discovered this fleet, and the Kingdom of Belgium purchased two 'Western Han-class' battleships, two 'Qin-class' battleships, as well as five 'Trotto-class improved' light cruisers and eight 'Tiangang-class' improved destroyers from the Empire. Although, in terms of the total number of battleships, there was not as much as the German Navy. But the strength of the two sides is very different. Although the 'Western Han-class' battleships and the 'Qin-class' battleships were both eliminated by the Empire, the 280 mm main guns would not be too powerful in the decisive battle of the fleet. But for the light cruisers and destroyers of the German Navy, there was not the slightest pressure. Therefore, after discovering the German Navy, the Belgian Navy immediately dispatched two 'Xihan-class' battleships, two 'Trotto-class' improved light cruisers, and four 'Tiangang-class improved' destroyers to spy on the German Navy.

"General, the battleship of the Belgian Navy is only ten kilometers away from us, and the main guns of the other side are aiming at our battleship!" A staff officer said to Lieutenant General Philip.

"Damn! These damned Belgians dare to flaunt their might in front of us! Lieutenant General Philip slammed his fist into the table where the charts were placed. The German Empire is the second most powerful country in the world, but the Kingdom of Belgium, a small European country, dares to rely on warships purchased from the Chinese Empire to humiliate them, which is simply an insult to the German Empire.

If he could, Vice Admiral Philippe would be eager to attack the navy of the Kingdom of Belgium at once. However, he did not dare to do so. After all, in terms of strength, the German Navy was completely at a disadvantage. If the war starts, they will only be slaughtered. What's more, the German Army infantry division of the transport ship did not have any ability to counterattack. If the war starts, they will probably be driven into the sea to feed the fish.

"General, we can get rid of them at an accelerated pace! The Chinese Navy's 'Western Han-class' battleships had a maximum speed of only 17 knots, while our 'Hamburg-class' light cruisers and 'Kiel-class' destroyers both had a maximum speed of more than 20 knots. "A German naval officer built yì road.

It's just that throwing off the Belgian Navy with speed will not work at all. Although the warships of the German Navy had a speed advantage, those transports, which could only sail at a speed of 12 knots, if they left, what would they do in case the Belgian Navy attacked those transports? Therefore, even though he knew that the Belgian Navy was insulting the German Navy, Vice Admiral Philip could only grit his teeth and insist.

"They don't dare to attack us, that means war. Their navy is stronger than ours, but their land forces are no match for us. If they dare to attack, our army can easily destroy them! Lieutenant General Philip said bitterly to everyone, the only way to appease everyone is to use guò. However, his fists were clenched together, so hard that his nails almost punctured the skin of his palms.

"Damn Belgians, you wait, wait until our 'Brandenburg-class' battleships are commissioned, and see if you dare to be so arrogant!" Lieutenant General Philip swore secretly. The German Navy had four Brandenburg-class battleships and were armed with five twin 305 mm guns, which were more powerful than the five twin 280 mm guns of the West Han class. Once the Brandenburg-class battleships were commissioned, the German Navy would immediately surpass the Belgian Navy, or even be only slightly weaker than the Chinese Navy. Of course, before the 'Brandenburg-class' battleships were commissioned, the German Navy could only be a man with a tail between them.

The Belgian Navy couldn't help but laugh when it saw that the Germans did not dare to make any counterattack in the face of their own provocations. After the establishment of the German Empire, the Kingdom of Belgium came under great pressure. The German Empire was like a mountain weighing on the head of the Kingdom of Belgium. After all, the Kingdom of Belgium was too weak compared to the German Empire. If it weren't for the support of the Chinese Empire, or even the direct deployment of an army group in the Kingdom of Belgium, they would not have had the courage to confront the German Empire.

The navy of the Kingdom of Belgium had an advantage over the army. Although, this advantage will disappear in just over a year. But the Belgian Navy can at least continue to flex its muscles against the German Navy.

When the German navy entered the English Channel, the Belgian navy, which had been following them, left. However, the warships of the 51st Detachment of the Chinese Navy met them. The two 'Eastern Han class' battleships like a hill, as well as the light cruisers and destroyers with fast speed, gave the German Navy a great shock.

"The gap between the Imperial Navy and the Chinese Navy is still very large! If you want to catch up with the Chinese Navy, it will take a long time! Lieutenant General Philip said secretly.

Although the German Navy is frantically building warships, the Chinese Navy is not at all slower than the German Navy in building warships. The four 'Brandenburg-class' battleships of the German Navy will not be able to enter service until the end of next year. The first batch of four 'Chu Tang-class' battleships of the Chinese Navy will be able to enter service by the middle of next year. The second batch of four 'early Tang-class' battleships will also be commissioned at the end of next year.

The German Navy added eight battleships per year, while the Chinese Navy also added twice as many battleships every year, except for the first year. Together with the eight 'Eastern Han class' battleships that the Chinese Navy is now in service, even if all 24 battleships of the German Navy are in service, the number of battleships in the Chinese Navy will reach a terrifying 48. In such a situation, how can the German Navy compare with the Chinese Navy? Both in terms of the number and quality of warships, the German Navy was far behind.

Of course, the German Navy wanted to stop now, and there was no way, they could only bite the bullet and go all the way to the dark. The Chinese Navy built twice as many battleships as the German Navy, which means that the Chinese Navy also spends much more on the Navy than the German Navy. Germany hoped to use this to bring down the Chinese navy. That seems unlikely, though. China's annual gains from India alone would be enough to support a massive expansion of China's navy.

On July 29, 1857, after a long journey, the German navy finally entered the Arabian Sea, not far from the shores of the Kingdom of Persia. Along the way, the German Navy was successively tracked by the Belgian Navy, the 5th Fleet of the Chinese Navy, the Spanish Navy and the 1st Fleet of the Chinese Navy. This put the German Navy under great pressure at all. However, the Kingdom of Persia will soon arrive. And their task is about to be completed.

In the northern part of the Arabian Sea, just over 100 nautical miles from the southern coastal city of Jabak of the Persian Kingdom, the warships of the 11th Detachment of the Chinese Navy intercepted the German Navy. Two 'Eastern Han-class' battleships of the Imperial Navy's 11th Fleet, with three 'Nakshatra-class' light cruisers and four 'Disha-class' destroyers, stood in front of the German Navy.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese have sent a telegram in clear code, asking us to leave this sea area. They claimed that in order to maintain strict neutrality, ships of any country were not allowed to enter the Kingdom of Persia! A communications officer reported to Lieutenant General Philip.

"Abominable Chinese! Tell them, this is the high seas, the German navy has freedom of navigation, they don't have any right to intercept us! Lieutenant General Philip looked angry.

However, then the Chinese Navy sent them a tough reply. The Chinese navy claimed that if the German navy had to go to the Persian kingdom, it would allow the Chinese navy to board the ship for inspection, and that it would not let the German fleet go until it was confirmed that the German fleet was not transporting war-related items.

The German Navy, of course, would not agree to this. Their transport ships were transporting troops and equipment from an infantry division of the German Army! R1152