London, 26 September 1725.

“…… God has given us great mercy to keep us safe, especially to support me, so that I can resist the many diseases in my body. I cannot imagine, nor can I understand, the unfounded accusations made against us by the gentlemen of the Cabinet and Parliament, who are so indifferent to the terrible situation in which we find ourselves. I can't even imagine whether it would be appropriate for the whole of the war to let the fleet sail on the vast Atlantic Ocean for such a long time. ”

But God's favor to us is something I will never forget, and although the storm we have encountered has demoralized my subordinates, God's favor has been greater than these setbacks. With untold courage and fury, all the officers and men of the task force are striving to search for our enemies in the depths of the ocean. None of us knows where the fleet of the Qi people is, and I and the brave soldiers will do our best to catch them and tear them apart. …… Oh, may God bless us! ”

Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford, England's First Chancellor of the Exchequer (i.e. Prime Minister) and Leader of the House of Commons, couldn't help but sigh softly after reading the letter from Admiral Nicholas Haddock, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy's Task Force.

Admiral Haddock led a task force of more than 90 warships to track down the Qi Expeditionary Fleet, and it has been more than a month now, and no results have been achieved. And the special list of the situation of the fleet attached to the letter contains a lot of frightening information:

The bow of the Fairfax was broken, eight feet below the bow break.

The Plymouth's gunpowder was all wet, and the end of the ship was leaking.

The "Vulster" complained that the living conditions were too bad, and that the bread and other food were broken.

The "Phoenix" lost its mainmast sail rim and several seams of the sail were badly damaged.

The Humbshire lost its foremast, bias sail and all sail rigging.

"Newcastle is leaking and needs to be pumped constantly.

“……”

"The vast majority of ships have been complaining about their masts since they set sail, and this complaint is increasing day by day."

"The Royal Navy will certainly have a lot of troubles, so how does the Qi Expeditionary Fleet that came from afar overcome these problems?" Walpole placed Admiral Haddock's letter on the table, tapping a few fingers lightly.

"After discussion, our naval committee believes that the Qi Expeditionary Fleet must have obtained a place for a short rest and replenishment on some island or a coastal port in the Atlantic." Count Edward Barlow, Commissioner of the Naval Commission, said: "Otherwise, they would not be able to continue to roam the North Atlantic and the North Sea region, frequently intercepting and attacking our merchant ships." By 10 September, at least eight merchant ships had missed their schedules and had not arrived in London as agreed. There must have been many reports of missed ships in other ports on the English mainland, and they should have been attacked by Qi warships in addition to excluding shipwrecks. ”

"Yes, in this situation, many councillors strongly suggested that the Royal Navy provide escort services for the merchant fleet to avoid being attacked by Qi warships." Walpole touched his forehead with his hand, and his face showed an indescribable trace of fatigue.

"Lord Walpole, we can't take the fleet apart." When Edward Barlow heard this, he immediately became a little anxious, "If the fleet is split up and escorted for the merchant fleet, it is very likely to be attacked by the fleet of the Qi State." The Battle of Algeciras and the Battle of Cape Verde have fully proved that the Qi warships equipped with steam engines far surpassed the warships of the Royal Navy in speed and maneuverability, and it was difficult to defeat them without absolute numerical superiority. ”

"It is because some of the warships of Qi are equipped with steam engines, which far surpass ordinary sailing ships in speed and maneuver, which makes our English merchant ships unable to even run away once they are targeted by Qi warships, and can only be captured. In this case, in order to avoid the loss of ships and cargo, which merchant ship would dare to sail into the Atlantic easily? ”

"The sea is vast, and what a merchant ship can intercept by a Qi warship after entering the Atlantic Ocean is ...... Minority. ”

"Lord Barlow, even if a small number of merchant ships are intercepted, it will mean a great disaster for the company and the shipowner."

"Does Lord Walpole mean that he wants to change the current strategic direction of the Royal Navy?"

"Our Royal Navy has gathered so many warships, but we can only search for the Qi fleet in vain in the depths of the ocean. I think this strategy is too passive, and we have to change another tactic, an aggressive and effective offensive tactic, to change our current disadvantage. Walpole looked at Edward Barlow solemnly, "So, we need your Naval Council to come up with a new battle plan." I don't think you're going to disappoint the Cabinet government, are you? ”

"......" Edward Barlow hesitated for a long time, and finally seemed to have made up his mind, took a deep breath, and said softly: "Our naval committee has designed a battle plan, but it is more risky, and the commissioners in the committee have debated for a long time, and so far no conclusion has been reached. ”

"......" Walpole nodded, looking at the other with encouragement.

"This battle plan is not something we actually came up with out of thin air." Edward Barlow said: "Decades ago, when our English navy attacked the Spanish treasure fleet in the Caribbean, we encountered a strong counterattack by the other side disguised as merchant ships with a number of warships, and lost a lot of ships and personnel. Therefore, the commissioners of our naval committee suggested that the Royal Navy could disguise a large number of warships in the form of merchant ships and swagger to North America or the Caribbean to lure the Qi naval fleet to attack. At that time, the escort fleet and the ships disguised as merchant ships echoed each other, and in one fell swoop, they severely damaged the incoming fleet of the Qi State. ”

"Lord Barlow, I think this battle plan is extremely bold and very creative." Walpole's eyes lit up, "We can even ambush a large number of army soldiers on a warship disguised as a merchant ship, and when the Qi people think they have captured our merchant ship and send someone to receive it, they will definitely surprise them." As long as our warships disguised as merchant ships are entangled with the sail warships of the Qi Kingdom, then the Royal Navy ships on the periphery can deal them a fatal blow. …… Oh, of course, I don't know much about specific naval tactics. But I think this battle plan is worth trying, and maybe it will bring us unexpected surprises. ”

"However, this combat plan also has its drawbacks." Edward Barlow's face showed a little embarrassment, "If we disguise a large number of warships as caravans, and mobilize the corresponding fleet to escort them, and then sail into the Atlantic Ocean to lure the Qi fleet to attack. But the ocean is vast, if the Qi fleet hidden in the depths of the ocean does not discover them, it will be in vain after all, and a lot of manpower and material resources will be wasted. Even if the camouflaged fleet attracted Qi warships, if they could see a hint of it, it was very likely that the Qi people would be able to escape from our entanglement and escape by virtue of the high speed and maneuverability of their ships. ”

"Dear Barlow, even though I have not been to the battlefield. But I know that no battle plan is perfect. However, we must not let this deter us from looking ahead and hesitating, and thus losing a fleeting opportunity for war. Walpole said in a deep voice: "After several months of war, our Royal Navy has not achieved any commendable results, and it has already caused a lot of discontent among the people in the country. More than a month ago, Liverpool was tragically destroyed by Qi artillery, causing extremely heavy losses in personnel and materials, which made public opinion even more turbulent. Now, the pressure on our entire cabinet government is increasing. ”

"I understand." Edward Barlow nodded, "Our naval committee will fully discuss this, and after consulting the Royal Admirals, we will initially formulate a practical plan to decoy the enemy." ”

"Good." Walpole said: "Our Cabinet Government, and indeed the entire Kingdom of Great Britain, will look forward to very exciting news from your navy!" ”

——

30 September, Faroe Islands, Vogue Island.

Located in the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Faroe Islands are made up of more than a dozen scattered islands, and the terrain is mountainous, ranging from rugged, rocky low mountains, to high and abrupt terrain, steep cliffs, and flat summits separated by deep narrow valleys. The islands have typical glacial erosion landscapes, with well-developed fjords and huge pyramid-shaped mountains. The coastline of each island is very tortuous, and the strong tide stirs the narrow waterways between the islands. Due to the northeasterly path of the depression, the whole Faroe Islands has been subject to strong winds and heavy rains, and sunny weather is very rare.

Since the collapse of the Kalmar Union in 1523, the archipelago has been under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. However, Denmark mainland was too far away from the Faroe Islands to be managed, and fewer than a hundred colonial officials and soldiers were stationed here to assert their sovereignty. Due to the poor geological soil of each island and the low summer temperature, only potatoes, sweet potatoes and some vegetables can be used as the main crops.

It was not a major trade route and was not very productive, and the Danish-Norwegian government did not really attach much importance to the archipelago, but only served as a supply point for distant-water fishing.

Every summer, many whaling ships hunt whales in the nearby waters. They are usually made up of dozens of small fishing boats, forming an arc in the sea where the giant whales are found, and then stirring up waves and bubbles to drive the whales to the shallows of the established bay, and then hand over to the fishermen with harpoons and knives on the shore to slaughter the stranded whales on the spot, and the whale blood will stain the entire bay red during the slaughter.

In the northwestern headland of Vogue Island, the bay has always been an ideal anchorage for whaling ships to shelter from sudden sea storms, as well as to use the flat shoals to process whale carcasses and boil whale oil.

And now, the once secluded and desolate island has suddenly become noisy and lively.

The calm harbor in the bay became a temporary anchorage for the Qi expeditionary fleet, and six or seven warships with various problems were docked at the seaside, and the accompanying craftsmen were carrying out extensive overhaul and maintenance of the steam engines at the bottom of the cabins. On deck, many sailors were also under the command of officers, replacing damaged planks, canvases, and cables. Several small boats shuttled back and forth between the shore and the anchorage of the battleship, transporting the ship's wet gunpowder and grain to the shore to dry and dry.

On the shore, hundreds of tents were erected next to the original whaling camp, and puffs of cooking smoke wafted over the camp and the smell of food spread into the camp.

Hannes Merton smelled the tempting scent, and subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva, causing his throat to roll, and his empty stomach gurgled uncontrollably.

"Damn the people of the Qi Kingdom!" He cursed in a low voice, poked his head out of the den, and looked towards the gate of the prisoner camp, hoping that the Qi people would hurry up and bring them food.

"Ahem......" Pat Hawke, who was huddled in the weeds, let out a violent cough, and subconsciously tightened the coat covering his body, breathing heavily, and occasionally letting out a few low moans.

Oh, poor Pat, he's been sick for days, and last night he had a high fever and all sorts of nonsense. Several of their companions had tried their best to wrap his clothes around him, trying to warm him up and ease his condition, but at this time, it seemed that his situation was still very unoptimistic.

There is a temporary medical center in the camp of the Qi people, and there are more than 30 doctors in it, who should be able to treat Pat's illness in a targeted manner. But as captured merchant sailors, they did not enjoy this treatment at all.

Because, in that infirmary, there are hundreds of sick and injured officers and soldiers of the Qi State, who are being carefully treated and cared for by those doctors.

As for these captives, I am afraid that they can only resign themselves to their fate and be blessed by God.

In the entire captive camp, more than 700 people were imprisoned, including English merchant sailors who were intercepted and captured by the Qi State, English fishermen who fished in the North Sea fishing area, and whalers from various countries who hunted whales in the nearby Faroe Islands. All of them, without exception, were declared prisoners of war by the Qi people and were all taken to this deserted island.

As for when they will be released, the Qi people did not say. But everyone speculated that perhaps only after the war was over would they be able to return to their homeland and see their loved ones.

But the whalers sadly told them that if the Qi people planned to use this island as their temporary anchorage, then in winter, the temperature here would drop to 3-4 degrees, and the bitter west wind and wet rain would surely freeze everyone to death.

Yes, the facilities of the entire captive camp were very rudimentary, because there were no trees on the island, only moss, weeds and mountain swamp plants, and it was simply not possible to collect enough materials to build the necessary houses. Moreover, in order to save food, the people of Qi only provided them with one meal a day, half a Hanzhou bread and a bowl of cold fish soup.

Perhaps, we will all die here.

Hannes Merton leaned against the half-concealed den, looking at the gray sky, and felt as if his life was passing endlessly.

This dirty and terrible war!

(End of chapter)