On April 22, 1854, the main forces of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy arrived in the Alvoran Sea. Here, the Spanish Navy joined the Imperial Navy, and the navies of the two countries conducted a live-fire exercise in the Strait of Gibraltar. All of a sudden, the entire strait was blocked. The already very busy route suddenly became congested.

The Spanish Navy grew in strength after acquiring two 'Qin-class' battleships, six 'Trotto-class' cruisers and eight 'Tiangang-class' destroyers ordered from the Empire. Coupled with their previous naval strength, it was enough to compete with the British Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet.

According to the opinion of the Chinese Empire, the Spanish Navy will form a separate fleet of these new warships ordered from the Chinese Empire. The remaining warships of the Spanish Navy are all old-fashioned warships. Although the firepower is passable, the speed is not good. If it is mixed with a cutting-edge warship, it will undoubtedly affect the performance of the battleship. Only in this way will it be possible to fully bring out the performance of the battleship. Once the war starts, the British Navy wants to wipe out the Spanish Navy at the first time, it is simply impossible!

The exercises between the Imperial Chinese Navy and the Spanish Navy were held just outside Gibraltar. It was a British colony and the home port of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet. After the opening of the Suez Canal, Gibraltar's status has improved considerably. In the event of war, this would be a serious threat to this busy shipping route. Thus, the Imperial General Staff was already planning the capture of Gibraltar by the Imperial Navy and the Marines, in conjunction with the Army of the Kingdom of Spain, after the start of the war. That's the case. The entire Strait of Gibraltar was under the control of the Empire. When the time comes, the entire Mediterranean will become the inner lake of the empire!

"Damn! Those damn yellow-skinned monkeys, they dare to show off their might in front of us! "Commander of the Royal Navy Mediterranean Fleet Houston. Admiral Stewart said through gritted teeth. As a noble admiral of the British Empire, when he received such an insult, he was eager to immediately send the fleet out to fight a big battle with the navy of the Chinese Empire. Of course, with the strength of the British Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, I am afraid that it is far from being comparable to the main force of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Chinese Navy.

"General, the Chinese are trying to provoke us, and the domestic order is to let us be patient. You can't clash with them! "Chief of Staff of the Mediterranean Fleet Henry. Admiral Codrington said. After all. Now the British Royal Navy is not yet an opponent of the Chinese Navy. In the event of a war, the British Royal Navy probably would not have a chance of winning. The inability to win at sea made it difficult for Britain to win the war.

"Bastard!" Houston. Admiral Stewart. After slamming the telescope in his hand to the ground. Turn away.

Henry. Lieutenant General Codrington shook his head speechlessly. Continue to observe the performance of the cutting-edge warships of the Chinese Empire, and then prepare to report back to the country.

The British Royal Navy, which was once invincible in the world, is now forced to show off its might at the doorstep. This is indeed a deep shame for them. However, for the sake of future victory, they had to endure it.

After the exercise, the main forces of the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy, through the Strait of Gibraltar, entered the Atlantic. The fleet needed to rush to the Kingdom of Belgium as soon as possible. On the way here, because of the survey and mapping of nautical charts and understanding hydrological data all the way, the fleet's itinerary has been delayed for a long time. If you're going back, you'll have to speed it up. Otherwise, you will miss the best time.

While the main force of the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet passed through the English Channel, the main force of the British Navy's Home Fleet set sail from Plymouth Military Port to accompany the Imperial Chinese Navy's operations. This is like a kind of insight of the British Navy into the Imperial Navy, and more like the British Navy showing their great strength.

There are a total of 12 battleships in service in the British Navy of 3 classes. With the exception of two ships of the first and second ranks, which were assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, the remaining eight were all owned by the British Navy's Home Fleet.

Of course, the British Navy's 'ravage-class' battleships, 'Ajax-class' battleships, and 'Giant-class' battleships seemed to be a little behind in front of the Imperial Navy's 'Qin-class' and 'Western Han-class' battleships. Although the firepower is similar, it is smaller. In addition, the speed could not catch up with the warships of the Imperial Navy.

"Commander, if there is a war, is the 1st Fleet sure that the British on the opposite side will be eliminated?" On the flagship of the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet, the Han Gaozu, Foreign Minister Wei Yuan asked. The main force of the British Navy's home fleet consisted of 8 10,000-ton ships, while the Imperial Navy's 1st Fleet also had eight battleships.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, if there is a war, the future winner will inevitably be the Imperial Navy!" Admiral Wei Yong, the commander of the fleet, said firmly. He has a firm belief in the Imperial Navy. Although the number of capital ships on both sides is the same, however, the Imperial Navy's warships are undoubtedly more performant. In addition, the application of the fire control system, especially the gun-aiming airship, will greatly increase the hit rate of the fleet's artillery bombardment. Although the British Navy is the best in the world, the Imperial Navy relies on advanced technology as its support, and it is no worse than the British Navy!

"Commander Wei, it would be best if you could have confidence. In the future, the empire depends on you to win! Wei Yuan nodded. As the Foreign Secretary of the Empire, he was well aware of the current situation. Now it's getting closer, and maybe it won't be long before war breaks out. This is especially true at a time when the two major military alliances are beginning to expand their armies frantically. When all countries transfer their national strength to arms expansion and warfare, spending money is like running water. Soon, the finances of the countries will not be able to support it, and when the time comes, war will inevitably break out.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, is there any new news?" Admiral Wei Yong was a little surprised. Wei Yuan's words sounded like the war was about to start.

"Commander Wei, it's always right to prepare early. After His Royal Highness the Crown Prince marries the princess of the Kingdom of Belgium, war may break out! Wei Yuan said.

Wei Yong was a little puzzled, as if he didn't know why Wei Yuan was so sure.

"The Empire's preparations for war are almost over, and now, the Empire's army and navy have the advantage. If war breaks out now, the empire will undoubtedly have an absolute advantage. In addition, with mental arithmetic or not, the chances of victory for the empire will be greater! Wei Yuan said. Of course, this is just his own analysis, and he even thinks that this time the empire will take the initiative to provoke a war.

Wei Yong nodded thoughtfully, sometimes, the words don't need to be too obvious, as long as they can understand the meaning.

Wei Yong made up his mind that after returning this time, he must make the 1st Fleet ready for battle, and once the war starts, the Imperial Navy must win the war.

The 1st Fleet of the Imperial Chinese Navy, escorted by the British Navy's Home Fleet, navigated the English Channel. Not long after entering the strait, the French Navy also appeared. It's just that compared to the British Navy, the French Navy is even weaker. After losing the technical support of the Chinese Empire, the development of the French navy was very slow. Even if the construction technology of the 'Nelson-class' battleships was introduced from the British, but before these battleships were launched, the 'Qin-class' battleships of the Chinese Empire were already in service, and at the same time, the British Navy was also building battleships on a large scale, which made the French Navy once again lag behind. After the Spanish Navy ordered two 'Qin-class' battleships from the Chinese Empire, the French Navy was already lagging behind the Spanish Navy!

On April 28, 1854, the 1st Fleet of the Imperial Navy arrived in Ostend, Belgium. At this moment, King Leopold I of Belgium, Queen Louis. Mary and Princess Mary. Charlotte, along with several of Leopold I's sons, was already waiting here.

According to the wedding process agreed before, the Belgian king's family will go to the Chinese Empire to attend the imperial crown prince Longhua and Mary. Princess Charlotte's wedding. After that, King Leopold I would return to the Kingdom of Belgium and lead the Kingdom of Belgium into this great battle. The queen and several princes will remain in China until the end of the war.

This was the safest thing Leopold I could think of. After all, after the outbreak of war, the Kingdom of Belgium will be in extreme danger. Only by leaving the family in the Chinese Empire is the safest.

After receiving the Belgian king's family, the fleet began to return after replenishing coal and fresh water. This time, the speed of the return voyage was fast, and there were basically no stops along the way, except for supplies.

On May 22, 1854, the fleet returned to the imperial capital, Huaxia. The Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet, Lin Zihao, went to the port to greet the Belgian King and his family on behalf of the Empire.

On June 2nd, the Imperial Crown Prince Long Hua and the Belgian Princess Marie. Charlotte's wedding took place, and this was already the second time in a few months that the envoys of various countries had attended the wedding of Crown Prince Longhua.

Compared with the previous wedding, this wedding has been reduced in specifications. After all, the last time I married the crown princess, and this time I married the crown princess.

Immediately after the wedding, King Leopold I returned to the Kingdom of Belgium. The queen and several princes remained in China. Before leaving China, Leopold I had a detailed conversation with the Emperor of the Chinese Empire, Long Yufei. It was this conversation that strengthened Leopold I's confidence. Long Yufei promised him that even if the Kingdom of Belgium fell in the war, after the war was over, the Kingdom of Belgium would be rebuilt and would get more territory! (To be continued......)

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