The Cossack Expeditionary Fleet had just traveled tens of thousands of nautical miles and was engaged in high-intensity combat before taking any rest. In addition, the warships had been used for too long and had already reached the point where they should go to the factory for overhaul, and their combat effectiveness was only 50% of the usual level.
On the other hand, the Chinese leading fleet had high morale and was supported by powerful warships. Although the number was small, it was unable to fight back against the Cossack fleet.
Seeing that there was no hope of victory, Marshal Bagramyan ordered the flagship to hoist the flag of an emergency retreat and breakout to the south, and turned and fled with several escorting warships.
Seeing that the opponent's fleet began to evacuate, the cruise fleet led by Zhang Haiyang was not to be outdone. They immediately broke away from the opponent's cruise fleet and got close to the armored fleet for a torpedo battle. Several Cossack armored ships that were not checked for a while were seriously injured by them.
.
The Cossacks, who had no desire to fight, did not engage Zhang Haiyang's cruiser fleet at all. They fled in all directions. After a fierce battle, ten ironclads and fourteen cruisers finally broke through, and the rest of the Cossack navy was captured by the Chinese.
The leading navy was sent to the bottom of the sea.
Liu Junguo did not block the withdrawal of the Cossack expeditionary fleet, but ordered the fleet to disengage and followed from a distance to maintain pressure on the Cossack fleet.
The reason why Liu Junguo was powerful and fearless was because of Sun Xiaohu. It turned out that as early as the beginning of the war, Liu Junguo saw dozens of supply ships of the Cossack Expeditionary Fleet leaving, so he used the radio to give Sun Xiaohu a mission and ordered the outside
Several cruising ocean-going torpedo boats cooperated.
As a result, Sun Xiaohu easily completed the task. With two cruisers and the help of several torpedo boats, he quickly sank two escorting Cossack cruisers and captured all the cargo ships. Only three cargo ships did not listen to the warning and planned to break out by Sun Xiaohu.
Xiaohu hit the bottom of the sea with a cannon.
Having captured all of Marshal Bagramyan's supplies, the Chinese leading fleet has nothing to worry about. Now it only needs to continue to monitor and wait patiently to see how long the Cossacks can endure.
No supply fleet was found at the designated location, which surprised Bagramyan. Now each ship has insufficient ammunition and coal. If this continues, the remaining warships will become iron coffins on the sea. He and the fleet will not give up.
I walked around twice and found nothing.
At this moment, Liu Junguo sent someone to deliver a letter to Marshal Bagramyan in a small boat. The letter said that his supply fleet had been captured and he hoped that the Cossack fleet would surrender immediately.
After reading this letter, Marshal Bagramyan felt as if he had been doused with cold water in winter, and his head was as cold as his toes. Although he was not convinced, he understood that he had no chance of winning.
He also wants to go to the colonies of the Saar Empire for help, but now let alone the Saar Empire will not take him in, even if they are willing to take him in, the coal on his ship will not allow him to go that far. The only feasible option is to go to China.
The leading fleet or the Lanfang Empire's first fleet surrendered, otherwise they could only wait to die.
Marshal Bagramyan, who now hated the Chinese leadership fleet, thought of a poisonous plan in a blink of an eye, and he immediately led the fleet to sail south.
Arriving near Quanzhou Port, where the Lanfang Empire's First Fleet was stationed, Marshal Bagramyan quickly sent people by transport boat to contact the Lanfang Empire's First Fleet, claiming that he was willing to surrender to the First Fleet.
After receiving the surrender letter from Marshal Bagramyan, Marshal Xiahoumin fell silent. Logically speaking, since he did not participate in the naval battle, he was not qualified to accept the surrender, but these two dozen armored warships were really eye-catching.
If you have these warships, you can completely ignore the Eastern Continental Fleet of the Saar Empire and the Nantes Empire, and the Imperial Navy will become the largest fleet in the East.
Although he knew he shouldn't, Marshal Xiahoumin still ordered someone to invite Marshal Bagramyan to his flagship for a talk. Although he went to invite someone, Marshal Xiahoumin still couldn't make up his mind. He wandered on the deck over and over again,
Thinking about the consequences of doing so.
While Xia Houmin was thinking about the great gains and losses, the Chinese fleet arrived. Seeing that the Cossack Navy wanted to surrender to the Imperial Navy, Zhang Xiaobing, who had a hot temper, was about to open fire.
His order was stopped by Liu Junguo: "We cannot conflict with the Imperial Navy now, as this will cause trouble for the lord."
Zhang Xiaobing said angrily: "Are we just going to watch the fruits of our victory be taken away by the officers of the Imperial Navy?" Zhang Xiaobing has always been resentful about being kicked out of the Imperial Navy, and he also felt a little bit towards the entire Imperial Navy and Marshal Xiahoumin.
hatred.
Liu Junguo said coldly: "I'm going to take a look. Leave this place to Zhang Haiyang's command. Don't act rashly until I come back."
Zhang Xiaobing asked anxiously: "What if they detain you?"
Liu Junguo shook his head and said: "They don't have the guts. After all, I have you behind me. Besides, we are all soldiers of the Lanfang Empire. They will not do such a thing that offends the public."
"Report to the marshal, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Navy, Liu Junguo, requested to board the ship." Just when Xiahoumin didn't know what to choose, he heard that Liu Junguo was coming. Although he was unwilling, he agreed to Liu Junguo's request to board the ship.
When he came to Xia Houmin, Liu Junguo saluted first and expressed his greetings to his old boss. After Xia Houmin signaled to him, Liu Junguo went straight to the seat opposite and greeted Marshal Bagramyan beside him.
Not even a glance out of the corner of his eye.
"What's the matter with Junguo's visit this time?" Xia Houmin asked with a forced smile on his face. Liu Junguo said lightly: "I came here specifically to discuss with the marshal the issue of jointly annihilating the Cossack fleet."
Hearing Liu Junguo's words, Marshal Bagramyan Huo stood up and said, "I protest. I have now surrendered to the Imperial Navy. According to international conventions, I demand the treatment of prisoners."
Liu Junguo said disdainfully: "I think Marshal Bagramyan should re-learn some international conventions. According to international conventions, the participating parties can only surrender to each other. Your surrender to the neutral party is invalid. Our army's annihilation of you is completely
Comply with the provisions of the Convention.”
Marshal Bagramyan quibbled: "You all belong to the Lanfang Empire. As long as I surrender to the Lanfang Empire, I will not violate international conventions."
Liu Junguo smiled and said: "But the Imperial Navy has declared neutrality before the war, and your attack on our Chinese navy is not considered an attack on a neutral country. Mr. Marshal, you must know that if you attack a neutral country without any reason, we have the right to treat you as a war criminal, that is
The Cossack Empire has nothing to say if we shoot you now."
"This..." Marshal Bagramyan no longer knew how to answer. Seeing that the other party was speechless, Liu Junguo turned to Xia Homin and said: "Marshal, according to the "Lords' Convention" of imperial law, you can only participate in the war.
We have the right to allocate the spoils of war based on merit. Last time we fought against the Japanese, we strictly followed the convention. And before the war, the emperor had issued a decree ordering the Imperial Navy not to join the dispute. Marshal Xiahou must have remembered it."
The meaning of Liu Junguo's words couldn't be more clear. If you break the laws of the empire, you will be dismissed from your post and punished. Although this convention signed by the emperor and the lords is more beneficial to the imperial government, it is binding on both parties.
If the imperial government does not abide by the convention, then the lords also have the right not to abide by it. This problem is very serious.
If Xia Houmin accepts surrender in the name of participating in the war, he will be resisting and disrespecting the imperial decree. This will be brought to the capital. The charge of resisting and disrespecting the imperial decree will definitely result in the death penalty.
"But after all, the Cossack fleet surrendered to us." Xia Houmin was a little unwilling to give up.
Liu Junguo said: "In this case, we are still at war with the Cossack fleet. Since you refuse to surrender, we will not accept prisoners."
After Liu Junguo waved his hand, one of the two adjutants brought behind him took out a small red flag from his arms and raised it above his head and waved it.
A moment later, the warships of the Chinese leadership suddenly opened fire at the cruiser 'Vaga' at the outermost edge of the Cossack fleet. Four large-caliber shells were fired into the cruiser's body, which was directly blown into two pieces and began to sink slowly.
The soldiers were blown into pieces before they could react, and the few remaining survivors were sucked into the vortex caused by the sinking warship.
The nearby Cossack fleet was in chaos, but Marshal Bagramyan had strict orders before arriving. They did not fire back except to stay as far away from the Chinese leading fleet as possible.
"You, you are seriously violating international conventions. I want to protest." Marshal Bagramyan's eyes were red. Lieutenant Colonel Xiahou Zhen behind Xiahou Min also stood up: "You are not giving the marshal face." He said.
He started to reach for the pistol.
The two adjutants behind Liu Junguo suddenly took out their pistols and pointed them at Xiahoumin and Bagramyan respectively. Xiahoumin said in surprise: "Liu Junguo, what do you mean?"
There was no smile on Liu Junguo's stern face: "I should ask you what you mean by the marshal's people wanting to draw their guns first." Xiahoumin knew that he was in the wrong, and he didn't want to make the matter a big deal, so he immediately waved his hand and told Xiahouzhen to retreat.
Come back.
Seeing Xiahou Zhen retreating, the two adjutants also retracted their pistols. Liu Junguo turned to Marshal Bagramyan and said: "As for you, Marshal Bagramyan, we seem to be still at war. Is there any international convention that stipulates that we are not allowed to attack the enemy?"
Was he the one who fired the cannon?"
Marshal Bagramyan was so anxious that he was sweating: "What on earth do you want to do?"
Liu Junguo said: "My conditions are very simple. Surrender to the Chinese navy immediately, otherwise we will completely annihilate the Cossack fleet." Liu Junguo stated his conditions categorically.
Marshal Bagramyan looked at the indifferent Marshal Xiahoumin. He knew in his heart that his plan had completely failed. Originally, he wanted to fight to the end with the Chinese fleet so that he could gain a good reputation even if he died, but after many years of