PS: I'm sorry, I had something at home two days ago, and I didn't have time to write. I'll make it up, and this is the first chapter to make it up.

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February 24, Republic 2760 (1919), Port of Benghazi, Libya.

The port of Benghazi originally belonged to Italy, but after Italy was beaten by the Allies in North Africa last year, the whole of Libya was lost and divided between Britain and France, and Benghazi was occupied by the British.

I am afraid that the port of Benghazi has never been so lively as it is today, and I saw thousands of ships inside and outside the port, like a mountain, standing like a forest. In this small port, there are actually dozens of battleships moored! These warships are flying the naval flags of China, Britain, France, Poland (Poland), and Siam (Romania).

Obviously, this is the combined fleet of the Entente in the Mediterranean, of which there are sixteen dreadnought battleships, these top crystallization of human industrial civilization, at this time there are so neatly arranged, and there are as many as twenty dreadnoughts in the front. In addition, there are aircraft carriers that have become the new favorite of the Navy in recent years, and there are as many as six of them here that have been active in recent naval battles. In addition, there are three temporary aircraft carriers of France.

With such a large fleet, the capacity of Benghazi Port will definitely not be able to stop, and even if all the civilian ships have been driven out now, at least more than half of the ships are still outside the port.

The Chinese and People's Revolutionary Union fleets arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, on February 21, and only arrived in Benghazi today to join the British and French. The journey from Cam Ranh Bay to Alexandria is about 13,000 kilometers, and if you follow the normal speed, you should arrive in about a month, and if you run faster, you can get there in 20 days. But it is clear that the Chinese Navy was not so active, and they tossed and turned on the road for two months, leaving Britain and France to wait.

Of course, there is a reason for this, because after all, they are still escorting a large number of merchant ships, so how can they run at high speeds? Not to mention anti-submarine warfare, although the German submarines in the Indian Ocean are far from being comparable to those in the Atlantic, they are not for nothing. While on the way, the Chinese Navy sank two German submarines. As we all know, once the fleet has anti-submarine work, this speed will naturally not be able to get up. This is really not our intention to grind foreign workers, you have to understand.

Of course, Britain and France understand, but if they don't, they can't do it. But thankfully, the Chinese have finally arrived now.

Before the Chinese fleet entered the Mediterranean, the British and French fleets in the Mediterranean were dominated by two Guba-class dreadnoughts, 40 ex-dreadnoughts, and 16 armored cruisers, while the Italian and Austrian fleets on the Allied side were dominated by 11 dreadnoughts, 7 ex-dreadnoughts, and 6 armored cruisers.

Although it seems that the capital ships of the Entente, both in number and tonnage, were much more numerous than those of the Central Powers. However, most of these capital ships are former dreadnoughts, while the Italians have four super-dreadnoughts! I believe that the Japanese Navy knows the best about what will happen if the dreadnoughts run to fight the superdreadnoughts, and the British, of course, know what will happen if they go to fight the dreadnoughts.

To say that with the cooperation of such a large number of dreadnoughts with aircraft, coastal defense heavy guns and torpedo boats, to hold the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, the British did not think it was a big problem, but they did not have the confidence to let them run directly to the Italian and Austrian fleets for fire. The two crushing defeats in Jutland and Corsica not only destroyed a large number of British fleets and elite naval officers, but also dealt a severe blow to the confidence and morale of the British, especially the naval officers and sailors. The British are reluctant to come forward, and the French are even more likely to come forward, they have fewer families, and they can't help but toss.

So before that, the balance of power between the two sides was slightly inferior to that of the Entente, who were on the defensive in the Mediterranean. Although Italy and Austria have the upper hand, the two Italian and Austrian feuds have their own small calculations, plus they also suffered a big loss in the first war of Gibraltar, and have given up their plan to completely control the entire Mediterranean, and they do not have the ability to completely destroy the British and French fleets.

At that time, the situation was that the Allies controlled most of the Mediterranean, while Britain and France still maintained a considerable sense of survival, although they were at a disadvantage, but they were not completely powerless to fight back. Italy, which had suffered from airplanes, would not stupidly run to the shore to be bombed, so although the Allied shipping in the Mediterranean was greatly affected, it was not completely cut off. Yiao would have liked, but unfortunately they didn't have the skills. And the Entente could not tolerate this situation, the route of the Mediterranean Sea was too important for the Entente, too important, and could not be overemphasized.

That's why Britain looked at the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal so closely, and in the later generations of the original time and space, Britain declined to the point that it was about to lose all its overseas colonies, and refused to give up the Strait of Gibraltar. Not to mention the Suez Canal, in order to keep this place, Britain actually pulled France to resist the two superpowers of the United States and the Soviet Union at the same time, and finally had to abandon it under the threat of nuclear sticks from the United States and the Soviet Union.

For Britain and France, it would be absolutely intolerable if the Mediterranean was to be controlled by the Allies all the time. But at that time, the strength of the fleet in the Mediterranean was insufficient, so it could only hold its nose and endure it.

For example, the three Dutch monarch-class ships that the British "bought" from the Netherlands last year were all deployed in the Atlantic and incorporated into the new home fleet, and several Nelson-class and admiral-class dreadnoughts completed in the past two years were also incorporated into the home fleet.

As for the fleets of the United States and Japan, they could not be transferred, and Britain and France alone could not stop the Germans. Besides, the strength of the Japanese fleet is average, and there is no guarantee that it will overwhelm Italy and Austria when it is all transferred, and in the last battle of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Japanese also fully demonstrated their unwillingness to die.

As for the Americans, in the two years since the Battle of the Faroe Islands, eight super-dreadnoughts, four regular aircraft carriers, as well as a large number of cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and various auxiliary vessels have been replenished, and the temporary aircraft carrier has exploded as many as 24, and its strength has once again become the first in the world. If the Americans were to go to the Mediterranean, the sea forces, dominated by twelve super-dreadnoughts and six regular aircraft carriers, would certainly be enough to provoke Italy. But Britain and France had to consider the political influence.

Britain and France have mixed feelings about the United States, a powerful ally, on the one hand, they are happy to have more cannon fodder, and on the other hand, they are worried that these Yankees are too deeply involved in European affairs. At that time, even if Erdezi is defeated, I am afraid that he will face the situation that it is easy to invite God and difficult to send God, and drive away a wolf, but a tiger comes, which is not what Britain and France want. The productivity of the Americans in the past two years is too impressive for them, and the British and French can't sleep well at the thought that the Yankees still have a whole dozen super-dreadnoughts under construction, and this year the construction plans for six super-dreadnoughts were announced. I've never seen such a crazy country, making super fearless is like making dumplings.

The United States has such a terrifying power, even if it is now an ally, it is extremely worrying for Britain and France. After all, the relationship between countries is to turn the other cheek, and the so-called covenant is just a piece of paper, which is simply unreliable. Even if you don't turn your face, if you rely on the power of the Yankees in everything, who will dominate Europe at that time, and who will have the final say?

For these two old powers, the balance of power is what matters. Especially the British, who has been a-stirring stick for thousands of years, is the best in the world in this regard. Since the Entente could not find a balance between the power of the United States within the Entente, it was necessary to bring it in from the outside. Looking at the world today, China is the only one that can meet this requirement. That's why they pulled China into the group at any cost, not only to defeat the Allies, but more importantly, after defeating the Allies, there was a force within the Entente that could balance the United States.

Of course, in the eyes of Britain and France, China is also not a good friend, and the territorial ambitions of this newly rising country are obvious, but in the past two years, they have eaten the Dutch East Indies in a row, and "bought" the vast Siberia and Central Asia from the Russians, which is obviously also overwhelmed.

Moreover, China is a typical continental country, and they have to put a lot of energy into land. Although with the strong rise of China, the power of Britain and France in the Far East will certainly not be maintained, no matter how strong China is, it is impossible to devote a lot of energy to Europe.

Relatively speaking, a well-fed tiger is obviously relatively safe, and China is now able to endure it, but the United States has not. Therefore, on the Mediterranean issue, Britain and France would rather have a hard time than let the Americans put their hands in. It is better to cede the interests of the Far East than to pull China into the water. After a series of mediations and deals, Britain and France finally succeeded in drawing China into the Entente bloc.

This was not only a diplomatic victory for the Allies, which completely changed the balance of power between the two warring sides, but also added a powerful weight to the terrible United States.

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Port of Benghazi, Provisional Command of the Entente Mediterranean Fleet.

The fleets of Britain and France also arrived only yesterday, and after the arrival of the fleet of the People's Revolutionary Union today, the high-level leaders of the three sides gathered at this temporary headquarters for a meeting.

For Britain and France, this kind of stay at home and guarding the door has been enough, and now the Chinese reinforcements have finally arrived. But with the addition of the Chinese fleet, the balance of naval power between the Entente and the Central Powers in the Mediterranean changed radically. The overwhelming Allied powers, of course, wanted to regain control of the Mediterranean, and the premise for this was that they had to eliminate or regain the Austrian maritime power.

Now is the right opportunity. As a result of Turkey's "rebellion", the allies were provoked to send the main fleet of Italy and Austria to the Aegean Sea to demonstrate, trying to get Turkey to change its decision. Unfortunately, this trick did not work, Kemal insisted on his position, and as the Chinese and mainly Allied reinforcements continued to pour into Turkey, Kemal was more emboldened. Although the navy is no match for Italy, Turkey's air force is very strong.

In particular, the Turkish Air Force has always been a descendant of the Turkish Socialist Party, Kemal's mastery of the Air Force is more thorough than that of the Army and Navy, and the equipment of the Turkish Air Force has always been the highest priority, and the treatment and training are all first-class level, although it is not as good as China and other top powers, but it is stronger than many countries. Now in the face of the main fleet of Italy and Austria, the navy can't beat it, and the army can't reach it, so the air force will go up.

The Turkish Air Force was indeed very competitive, entangled with the Italian-Austrian fleet for more than a month, and had more than a dozen confrontations, although it did not sink any large ships, but it also successfully prevented the Italian-Austrian fleet from shelling the coast of the Turkish mainland, and also sank and injured many ships.

The Italian-Austrian fleet now saw that it could not take advantage of Turkey, and learned that the Chinese fleet had entered the Mediterranean, and was ready to withdraw.

Now is the time when the Italian-Austrian fleet has failed to harass Turkey for the second time and retreats in disgrace, they have been in the Aegean Sea for more than half a month, a considerable amount of ammunition and fuel have been consumed, and the mental state of the officers and men is also very tired due to the long period of air defense operations. If they are blocked on their way home, then the battle that follows will undoubtedly have the upper hand.

Now the commanders of the fleets of China, France and Britain are gathered here to discuss this matter, and as for the commanders of Persia and Siam, they are not qualified to do so. The largest warship they sent was a light cruiser, and the highest rank was a colonel, who was qualified to participate in such a meeting.

"According to the information gathered from all sides, the Ito-Austrian fleet has left the Aegean Sea and is on its way back. Ladies and gentlemen, the Strait of Kithera will be their only route, and we will block them here......" Gao Yujie dotted on the map, he was now the commander-in-chief of the Allied Mediterranean Fleet. His rank of admiral was specially promoted for this purpose. Because Milne, the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, is an admiral, it is not good to send a vice admiral.

Admiral Milne, commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, looked at the map carefully, frowned and said: "Of course, it would be best if we could block them in the Strait of Kissila, but I'm afraid we won't have time to arrive." ”

"Yes, the Allied fleet is closer, and with the speed of both sides being about the same, it will be difficult for us to hold them off on the west side of the channel......" Admiral La Perel, commander-in-chief of the French Navy, also thought that he might not be able to catch up, and he paused and said: "Unless we leave behind the sluggish former dreadnoughts and other old ships......"

"It can't be like this, dividing troops is a big taboo......" Milne strongly disagreed with the idea. The British Navy has carefully analyzed the reasons for its defeat at the Battle of Jutland two years ago, and the division of troops is one of the most important. Milne didn't want to be a second Jericho himself.

This is Gao Yujie said with a smile: "Don't worry, we don't have to divide our troops at all, under the harassment of our planes and submarines, they can't go fast." Our planes and submarines have placed a large number of timed drifting mines in their routes, and it takes them a long time for them to clear them. Oh, it's the kind of No. 1 link mine invented by the Japanese......"

Before the Chinese fleet entered the Mediterranean, it let most of the submarines go one step ahead and run to the Aegean Sea to standby. After discovering that the Italian-Austrian fleet was about to slip away, they laid a large number of mines on the route. And, of course, the Turkish Air Force, whose heavy bombers also took part in the operation, and these bombers, although extremely ineffective in attacking warships, were able to lay mines.

"Well, in that case, we'll make plans for the decisive battle right now...... Milne said.