The British stationed on the ironclad destroyer "Spring Moon" had a total of five officers, a Commodore Phillips of the Royal Navy, a Colonel Henry Hughes, a Major Campbell and two captains, all of whom had British aristocratic backgrounds, and the most important was the status of noble concubines.

The aristocratic concubine mentioned here is only to distinguish the eldest son who has the right to inherit the noble title, and it is also from the noble lady of the main family, and is in the second, third or fourth male heir of the family, not the child born to a lover or concubine, which are two concepts.

Since the Middle Ages, the English aristocracy has followed the "primogeniture" system, and the other sons have to find another way to eat, and they can inherit very little property from the family.

The Royal Navy is a place where the children of the nobility gather, and even His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, is gilded here and proud of his experience in the Royal Navy, which is a testament to its status.

The disruptive technological advantages of the steam ironclad battleships combined with the new breech guns shown by the Royal Navy of the Tang Empire in the naval battles of the North American War have attracted great attention from the British Royal Navy, so it is really well-intentioned to send this very high-level military observation team to accompany the ship.

"I hope so, my dear General." Brigadier General Phillips inevitably shrugged his shoulders and leaned back on the console, which would relieve the soreness of his feet for a long time.

Since the early morning departure

He had been standing here for more than four hours, an hour before lunch, but he was already hungry.

In the steel-clad bridge of the battleship

Only the captain or the Supreme Commander of the fleet has a command position, which is a free-standing high chair similar to a bar, fixed to the floor. Located a little behind the helmsman to the left, the command position has a higher view than standing, giving you a very clear overview of the whole situation.

Now this command position belongs to Rear Admiral Mo Chengcai, commander of the Third Fleet and captain of the "Spring Moon", and Rear Admiral Mo Chengcai did not sit in the command position, but stood upright, also from early morning to now for more than four hours, even with the wind and waves bumping and his feet like nails without moving.

Brigadier General Phillips admired from the bottom of his heart the excellent military qualities of Major General Mo Chengcai and his outstanding command and combat ability. When the two were communicating, he restrained the British Royal Navy's usual arrogance and conceit, and it was rare to talk with an equal attitude, which was really extremely rare.

It is more difficult to get a senior officer of the Royal Navy of the British Empire not to exude arrogance than to ascend to the sky.

The French were the European naval fleet that cooperated the most with the British Royal Navy, and the Anglo-French combined fleet could often be seen in the Crimean War, in the Second Opium War that invaded China, and in various crises that intervened in South Asia and the Near East.

Even so

The arrogance of the British Royal Navy still made the nose of the French Marshal Duke Berthier smoke and could not help but curse insultingly; "I swear I'll never work with that across the strait again, and for God's sake, I'm really going to live 10 years less."

Commodore Phillips was able to communicate with an equal attitude, just because the Royal Navy of the Tang Kingdom won respect with its strength, and in the field of steam ironclad warships, unlike the British Royal Navy groping in the dark, they were already on the right path.

Major General Mo Chengcai took the copper monocular in his hand to carefully observe the sea, the sails off the coast of Virginia are dotted, there are many cargo ships coming and going on the sea, this is an important route for transporting cotton from the south to Europe, and more than a dozen or even more cotton ships sail through here every day.

Coupled with some other coastal trading ships and transoceanic cargo ships of the Tang Kingdom, this golden sea area is very lively.

There is a fixed lookout post at the top of the mast of the ironclad destroyer "Spring Moon", and the people who can serve as the lookout post are all highly experienced sergeants, who require sharp eyes, far beyond ordinary people.

Their daily meal standards are the same as those of the vice-captain, and they eat meat, offal and fish three times a day, as well as a special supply of cod liver oil, in order to maintain a sharp gaze in the glimmer or at night, and be the first to detect the enemy, commonly known as "Eagle Eye".

The navigator and the operational staff officer on the warship had the duty to search for the enemy's situation, but it was only a supplement to the lookout post, and there was no need for Major Admiral Mo Chengcai to go into battle in person, but he did it anyway, showing a meticulous and responsible attitude.

"Excuse me if it's convenient, Mr. General, the atmosphere in your bridge is so dreary, I think I can talk about something light." After enduring it for a long time, Brigadier General Phillips still spoke.

With hunger in his belly, both feet were sore, and he felt more and more that every minute of this silent bridge was torment, so long that it was almost impossible to see.

"What do you want to talk about?" Major General Mo Chengcai put down the monocular in his hand and looked over.

Commodore Phillips' expression immediately jumped with joy, although he had served in the British Royal Navy for many years, the lazy arrogance of the noble children in his bones was everywhere, and after a little thought, he said;

"Anything, you can talk about the current situation in British Canada, Prime Minister Temple has promoted the passage of the British North America Act in Parliament, trying to merge the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia into a federation, becoming a Dominion under the United Kingdom, and seeking to let other provinces join, the Tang Kingdom has no opinion on this? And what about the tendencies of the general himself? ”

"Hmm...... I myself don't want to comment on the affairs of the British, but in Quebec, where the French are the majority, I'm afraid the opposition is strong, right? ”

"That's right, General, at least in the next 5~10 years, I don't think Quebec will join the Canadian Federation, in fact, no one in the British upper class cares about Quebec, those French guys are good for nothing but perfume and women, maybe their lover culture is still a little interesting, what do you think?"

"Please forgive me for saying that in Eastern culture, a lover is a heretic who is immoral, and is unanimously criticized by social customs, and any official and nobleman in the Tang Empire who is contaminated with a lover will be ruined, so I can't agree with your opinion." Major General Mo Chengcai replied bluntly.

His words suffocated the somewhat lively atmosphere at the moment, and Brigadier Phillips looked at him with bara bara eyes, not believing that the topic had died so quickly.

So, the forcibly recovered dry cough said twice; "Ahem, the cultural differences between the East and the West are really impressive, and it reflects the importance of continuing to deepen mutual understanding. But before we move on to a new and interesting topic, can we have a hot cup of coffee? It's even better with a little snack. ”

"No problem, Mr. Star Officer, please take a trip." Major General Mo Chengcai simply agreed, and immediately ordered.

The lieutenant star officer immediately put his legs together, saluted with a "snap", and replied with a repeating order; "Yes, sir, a hot cup of coffee with a snack."

"Yes, that's right."

"Wait, I'll be right away."

Not for a while

The lieutenant officer came in with a tray padded with a white cotton cloth on which were placed two coffee cups and a pot of coffee, as well as a small plate of fried buns filled with scallion oil and meat, and a small plate of biscuits.

Two cups of coffee were naturally the commander and the most honorable Brigadier General Phillips, and as for Colonel Henry Hughes and Major Campbell, who were standing in the back, they could only say sorry.

Here, after all, is a bridge for combat ships, not a café.

"God testifies, I love these little buns to death, and now I find that the Royal Navy of the British Empire can borrow more from its peers, such as cooks......"

Between words

The two fried buns with scallion oil and meat stuffing have been eaten by Brigadier General Phillips, and he can't help but lick the oil stains on his fingers, which are so delicious!

This action made Colonel Henry Hughes, who was standing behind, couldn't help but twitch, and silently turned his gaze to Major Campbell, and his lips moved slightly.

It should be said; Be a man, General!

If you're a chief, you can eat, or you have to smack in front of us, is this particularly appropriate?

The most impressive thing for the British is the deliciousness and strange tricks of Chinese food, the British really don't understand why there are so many spices in Chinese food, and the different ways of cooking food, the same ingredients can present different flavors, it's amazing.

Nowadays, there is a popular trend among the upper class of London's aristocracy, that is, to hire an extra Chinese cook, who can cook a Zuo Zongtang chicken for the guests during the annual autumn fox hunt, plus a dim sum spring roll, and if it is a fried rice, it will be even better, and it will definitely win a full house.

The rapid rise of the Tang Kingdom in North America has also brought Chinese, Chinese medicine and Chinese food culture into the European and American world earlier, forming a very strong radiation influence.

Major General Mo Chengcai raised the coffee cup in his hand to signal; "I wish the friendship between the Tang Empire and the British Empire will last forever, long live!"

"OK, it's worth taking a big sip." Brigadier General Phillips raised his coffee cup and took a big sip, smacking the taste before nodding and saying; "Well, the authentic Colombian fine coffee, but the brewing is a little less hot, and it doesn't fully bring out the rich and deep taste of the coffee itself, and I won't pay a penny for such a waiter."

The British really had a poisonous tongue and inadvertently hurt the innocent lieutenant star officer next to him. The young man could only pretend not to hear, and looked intently at the busy sea conditions in front of him, but his face stiffened.

Major General Mo Chengcai looked at each other with some tears and laughter, and there was a bunch of MMB in his heart, but he still maintained a social smile on his face and said; "Not everyone is qualified to use a lieutenant as an acolyte, and frankly, I think the coffee is brewing well, and we can enjoy it as a battle coffee."

"No, no, no...... Your Excellency, Honorable General, do not lower the standards of nobility at any time, this is my advice to you. Brigadier General Phillips replied in a very smug tone, and then pointed to the fried buns with his hand; If you don't mind, I'll keep moving. ”

There were only five of them in this small plate, and Brigadier General Phillips killed two as soon as he came up, leaving three left, and was polite out of basic courtesy.

"Mr. General, please, this is the snack for you." Major General Mo Chengcai was not ready to touch these snacks at all, so he replied politely.

"Great, then you're welcome." Brigadier General Phillips immediately got straight to the shot......

Colonel Henry Hughes, who was standing in the rear, couldn't bear to look at it directly, not only a bunch of MMBs in his heart, but also countless grass and mud horses flying over his head, he really couldn't bear it!

The tempting aroma of the fried minced buns made him swallow several times of saliva, and the seduced belly became more and more hungry.

Suddenly, the alarm bell rang

The lookout post at the top of the mast reported through a brass horn; "Report to the Commander-in-Chief; In the direction of 40 degrees in front of the right side of our ship, a three-masted galleon was found, suspected to be an armored battleship of the US Northern Federation Navy, heading northeast, 36 chains away, whether to pursue, please indicate. ”

"Combat alert, 40-degree pursuit on the right rudder." Major General Mo Chengcai immediately and decisively gave the battle order.

"Obedience, combat alert, 40-degree pursuit on the right side."

After the lieutenant star officer repeated the order aloud, he immediately rang the brass bell in a hurry.

The battle alarm issued by the brass bell spread throughout the ship, and the officers and men of the ship who were resting in the cabin immediately rushed out of the cabin and rushed to their combat positions, and the atmosphere of the whole ship instantly became tense.

"Raise the battle flag."

"Obey the order, raise the battle flag"

"The boiler room was pressurized, and the whole ship pursued at a speed of 13 knots."

"Obey the order, the boiler room is pressurized, and the whole ship pursues at a speed of 13 knots."

"Readiness to report from each gun position?"

"Report to the sir, the main gun of the bow No. 1 is good."

"Report to the sir, the No. 2 main gun in the bow is good."

"Report to the sir, the No. 3 main gun in the stern is good."

"Report to the chief, the No. 4 main gun in the stern is good."

"Report to the sir, the port side secondary gun is good."

"Report to the sir, the starboard side secondary gun is good."

"Report to the chief, the No. 1~6 boiler in the boiler room continues to increase the pressure, and the current speed is 9.5 knots, and it is expected to reach the pursuit speed of 13 knots in 20 minutes, and the report is complete."

A series of reports from various combat positions were crisp and neat, showing extremely high combat training quality, and in just seven or eight minutes, the whole ship quickly entered a state of first-class combat readiness.

Thick black smoke rose from the two tall and thick chimneys of the ironclad destroyer "Spring Moon", drawing a clear turning track on the sea surface and pursuing it in a northeast direction.

The two ironclad destroyers "Cold Ice" and "Cold Night" immediately noticed the abnormality, and the battle flags raised by the flagships had already explained everything, and the two ironclad destroyers also quickly raised the battle flags, sounded the battle alarm, and the chimneys followed with billowing smoke.

After participating in the war for more than a year, this expeditionary third squadron has experienced more than a dozen naval battles, large and small, and carried out hundreds of military patrol missions, and has already tempered its keen combat instincts.

To put it bluntly, the navy is a few hundred people playing a ship, and the shortest version affects the upper limit of the combat level of the entire ship.

This includes the navigation department, the marine engine department, the observation department, the combat gun positions and the commander's command ability, and the shortcomings of any one department will affect the combat effectiveness of the whole ship.

The high-quality combat capability displayed by the expeditionary fleet of the Tang Empire was seen and remembered by Commodore Phillips, and finally a detailed report was formed and submitted to the British Royal Navy Headquarters for evaluation.

This is not only to evaluate the overall combat capability of the fleet of the Tang Kingdom, but also to evaluate the development route and potential of its steam ironclad warships, to evaluate the power of artillery and armor-piercing capabilities, to evaluate the opponent's naval combat capabilities, and to evaluate whether it is applicable to the development route of the British Royal Navy in the remaining nearly 40 years of the 19th century.

In this regard, the Royal Navy has a deep heritage.

They have never been stingy to learn from the advanced navies of various countries in the world, and in the era of sail warships, the British Royal Navy borrowed the advantages of Spanish sailing ships and Dutch sailing ships, and achieved the glory of crossing the world's oceans.

Today, this excellent tradition has been carried down and has long been a common practice.

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