Grand Palace, Mumbai, India.

"His Majesty the Emperor, His Majesty the Emperor...... An emergency call to the fortress of Sommasek! ”

He was looking down at the Marquis Nelson and George in his office. Emperor Wilhelm, who had just brought a copy of the design of a new battleship submitted by Barrow Company, heard from Charlie Brown. Yilu's words, the excited didn't even care about the battleship plan, and jumped up from his chair towards Charlie. Yilu walked over, and then snatched the copy of the telegram from the other party's hand. I first read it at a glance and ten lines, and then read it again word by word, and after reading it, my brows furrowed.

Marquis Nelson and George. When Yilu saw the emperor's expression, he knew that the fortress was not good. On this matter, the Marquis of Nelson and George. Yilu had been expected for a long time - the rapid loss of the Malay Peninsula had already indicated the future of the island. And the frequent failures of long-wave radio stations on the island are even more ominous!

It was precisely because they expected that the island might be lost soon, that they repeatedly urged the Barrow shipyard to come up with a new battleship plan as soon as possible. And the engineers of the Barrow shipyard were also very good, and in a very short time, they made a plan for a 30,000-ton battleship that seemed to be quite feasible.

The battleship will use a 30,000-horsepower steam engine as the main engine, and will still use coal as fuel. With such a configuration, of course, the speed cannot be fast, and it is 20 knots without strong pressure ventilation.

The main guns of this class of battleships were based on a conservative five-seat twin 13.5-inch 45-caliber scheme, but for the first time, a front-to-rear turret design would be adopted, with five batteries placed on the central axis of the battleship. This way, when they fire at the side of the battleship, they can throw 10 13.5-inch cannons at the same time!

This firepower ...... Definitely number one among known battleships!

In addition, Barrow will reserve room for upgrades. Once the 14-inch gun has passed the acceptance, an upgrade can be arranged.

The battleship will also focus on strengthening air defense and mine protection, installing a large number of high-level dual-purpose guns and anti-aircraft machine guns on the deck, installing a large number of lightning protection barriers under the waterline, and designing hundreds of waterproof compartments. To ensure that the battleship could withstand a hit from 10 torpedoes!

This defense is enough to be called the first among known battleships!

In other words, this class of battleships is exchanging power for the double superiority of firepower and defense. And because the 30,000 horsepower steam engine and 13.5-inch rapid-fire gun are all mature technology, the design of the knapsack turret is also perfect, and the Ming battleships with the same design have already entered the battlefield!

Therefore, the production of this class of battleships should not be difficult, if the construction starts immediately, the first ship will definitely be able to sea trials in 15 months, the first ship can be delivered in 20 months, and 4-8 ships will be completed in 24 months....... If the 14-inch main gun is developed in this process, then as long as it takes 1 to 2 months in front of you, these 4-8 battleships will be able to complete the rearmament, and the speed may be slightly reduced by then, but the firepower will be more powerful!

However, even if this option was adopted, the British Empire would inevitably have to endure a period of 20-24 months of naval weakness.

Originally, it was expected that the island could support it for 12 months, but now......

"The fortress can't hold on......," Kaiser Wilhelm sighed, "Viscount Bellsford is powerless, his 92,000 Indian soldiers have no fighting spirit, and they have been hit by the psychological warfare of the Ming army, so they will collapse at the first touch." Now the defense line of the Strait of Johor has completely collapsed, and the coastal defense batteries on the southern shore of the island have all been abandoned...... Only the core of the fortress was left to hold out for a week or two, and the defenders were only more than 10,000 people left. ”

Marquis Nelson and George. All of them were astonished.

"What? There are just over 10,000 people left...... That's too fast, right? ”

"That is, what do those Indians eat? Are they stupider than pigs? Even if there are 90,000 pigs, the Ming army will have to catch them for ten days and half a month, right? ”

Emperor Wilhelm did not pick up the stubble of these two men, but said to them: "After the Ming army seized the coastal forts on the island of Shanmaxi, they were not in a hurry to attack the fortress, but sent people to contact Viscount Bellsford. ”

In fact, by taking the fort on the south shore of the island - even if the artillery has been blown up, the Ming Dynasty has already opened the Strait of Malacca. Therefore, there is indeed no need to storm the fortress of Xiangmaxi, and it is most advantageous to persuade them to surrender and take them all. Although the fortress is seventy or eighty years old, the facilities in the fortress are still very complete. If it can be taken in its entirety, then the South Sea Fleet ...... Or the command of the Western Fleet can be stationed immediately.

"Your Majesty," asked the Marquis of Nelson, "what do the Chinese want?" ”

Kaiser Wilhelm's face turned pale, "They want us to retreat with honor!" ”

"From Malacca?" George. Yilu asked.

"From India and Malacca!"

The Marquis of Nelson asked, "Did they mention Australia and Oregon?" ”

"No," Emperor Wilhelm gritted his teeth, "but once the empire loses the jewel in the crown of India, Australia will not be able to hold ......."

Kaiser Wilhelm was not wrong about this. With the loss of India, communication between Britain and Australia was difficult to maintain. If the Ming Dynasty attacked Australia, the British Royal Navy would have to start from its homeland, bypass Africa, and run more than 20,000 kilometers to help...... The fleet has to run so far, and there are no ports to maintain in between, and it is difficult to maintain the state.

In another timeline, the reason why Australia will remain in the Commonwealth is because of the United States, the rebel son of Great Britain. But Australia is in fact a vassal of the United States, not a pawn of the United Kingdom.

"Marquis," said Kaiser William, "perhaps we can give up Australia...... to preserve India. ”

"No," Marquis Nelson quickly shook his head, "Your Majesty, we should not choose between India and Australia!" Because we lose India, Australia will not be protected. And the loss of Australia...... It also lost the key stronghold to contain the Ming Empire. Getting Australia's Daming will use all of her main naval forces in the Indian Ocean, which is by no means a two-choice question! ”

George. Yilu also hurriedly echoed the Marquis Nelson and said: "Your Majesty the Emperor, our Australian colony is not only the Australian mainland, but also includes many surrounding islands, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the New British Isles, from where it is only two thousand or hundreds of nautical miles north to the coast of Japan...... As long as we deploy a fleet there, we can pose a threat to the Pacific shipping routes of the Ming Dynasty, and even harass the coast of Japan. If we give up Australia, then the Pacific Ocean will become an inland sea of the Ming Dynasty, and they will be able to concentrate all their forces on India! ”

Kaiser Wilhelm seemed to be persuaded by the two, and he nodded, "That's right, it's not a multiple-choice question.

Moreover, Australia is a colony of the United Kingdom, not of the Indian Empire. I have no right to give up Australia in order to protect India......

But on the question of how to defend itself, the focus should undoubtedly be on India. Because of the loss of India, it is impossible for Australia to hold on.

On the contrary, as long as we can hold India, there is a possibility of a counteroffensive to recover Australia. ”

George. Yilu immediately offered a compliment and said, "Your Majesty the Emperor, you are really too wise. ”

The Marquis of Nelson also said, "Yes, Your Majesty, we should indeed garrison India with the main force...... But we must also use Australia as a base to fight back.

Only in this way can the pressure on India be relieved, after all, India is the most important thing! ”

"That's right, India is the most important thing." Kaiser Wilhelm nodded, "So, how should we reply to the Chinese who want to liberate India?" ”

"This ......," said the Marquis of Nelson, "I advise you to adopt a strategy of delay. ”

George. "Yes, we need time, and every day is precious from now on!"

In order to gain time, I think we can first hand over the fortress to show our sincerity, and then ask the Jin, Austria, and Rakshasa to mediate and convene a peace conference in Vienna. ”

"Good! Just do it! Kaiser Wilhelm nodded heavily, "Now we must find a way to pull all the countries of Europe into the water, and the Vienna Peace Conference is an opportunity." ”