At Chu State’s Friendship Port, warships lined up on the sea.
General Ge Hongliu of the Chu Navy stood on the deck of the battleship Changping, the flagship of the Chu Navy.
Next to him is the battleship Dawn of the Chu Navy.
Next to the two battleships of the Chu Navy, there were more than ten cruisers and more than thirty destroyers.
The Chu Navy had a total of three battleships. Two were dispatched for this operation, leaving only one battleship and a small number of other warships to guard the homeland. It can be considered an outpouring of troops.
The size of Chu's navy would not even rank among the top three in Europe's current arms race, let alone the powerful naval fleet of Song.
The Song Navy had eight battleships, each of which was equipped with three cruisers and several other fleets.
One of the special things about Chu's navy is that there are more than 300 small warships in the fleet that are much smaller than destroyers.
These small warships only require less than ten people to operate, compared to the huge battleships next to them.
That's the difference between ants and elephants.
But these warships are the torpedo boats, the killer weapon of the Chu Navy.
The warship formed a protective circle around the perimeter, and inside the protective circle were troopships and transport ships.
Xi Sen, the army general of the Chu State, was leading 20,000 elite troops of the Chu State, preparing to go out in a transport ship.
King Lu Chenyang of Chu stood on the dock and ordered: "Beat the drum."
Passionate drums sounded on the pier, and the soldiers of Wei Yuanzheng saw off.
Ge Hongliu, the navy general of the Chu State, heard the sound of drums and immediately gave the order to set sail.
The battleship Changping remembered the sound of a huge whistle. Driven by the propeller, the battleship began to slowly accelerate towards the south.
The moment the whistle sounded, the Chu soldiers standing on the deck all saluted the military salute in the direction of the port.
King of Chu Lu Chenyang and other senior officials of Chu State also paid military salutes to the soldiers on the expedition.
The King of Chu, Lu Chenyang, knew that by taking this step, Chu was gambling on the fate of the country.
Torpedo boats have been tested and can indeed pose a threat to battleships.
But what kind of accident would happen during the war? No one could have predicted it.
In the mind of Chu King Lu Chenyang, Chu's victory in this war was only 60% certain.
If the war bet is won this time, the Chu army's prestige will surely attract talents from all over the world to invest.
The Chu State also occupied resource-rich colonies, giving wings to the development of the Chu State.
If this war is lost, the Chu State will be in ruins and unable to become a regional hegemon.
People of his generation will definitely have to hide their capabilities and bide their time, and Chu will even become a vassal of other countries.
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The Chu navy's campaign was so big that it could not be hidden from the eyes of those who were interested in the port.
As radio waves were sent out, news of the Chu navy's expedition immediately spread to the outside world.
The news spread to the empire, and stock investors focused on the news.
If a war breaks out in Europe or Africa, it will also affect the empire's stock price.
Some well-known casinos in the empire even opened betting markets for gamblers to bet on who would win the war between Chu and Song.
Representatives of the interests of all parties, using the war between Chu and Song as a platform, began to compete for the right to speak in major newspapers.
The previous wars between the Fujian, Yue, and Jin Kingdoms were relatively small-scale, and these people were not happy.
The scale of Chu's army dispatched clearly indicated that it was conducting a national war.
This attracted a lot of people's attention, and some military commentators defined this war in newspapers as the most representative war since the birth of the ironclad.
The Song Dynasty prospered, and Song King Zhan Tie soon received the news that the Chu Kingdom was sending troops.
He immediately summoned Prime Minister Jin Kuohai and Chief of General Staff Lu Tingfang.
King Zhantie of the Song Dynasty pointed at the map, frowning and said: "We must determine as soon as possible whether the main direction of Chu's attack is our Song country's mainland or the Jinhe colony.
The country must be prepared for a large-scale war. The Chu State is in full swing. This war will definitely not be so easy to accept.
Unless there is an overwhelming advantage, neither I nor Chu King Lu Chenyang will give up easily."
Jin Kuohai, Prime Minister of the Song State, replied calmly: "Your Majesty, after discovering that the Chu State was preparing for war, our Song State also entered a state of war preparation under the mobilization of the cabinet.
Except for agricultural production in the Song Dynasty, it was not greatly affected. All domestic industries have been turned to serve the war.
The weapons and ammunition produced in our country are sufficient for the early stages of the war.
The cabinet has dispatched officials to actively contact foreign arms dealers and is preparing to purchase large quantities of ammunition and supplies.
The cabinet also cooperated with the Metropolitan Governor's Office and recruited a large number of new soldiers."
Lu Tingfang, the chief of general staff of the Song Dynasty, had a strategizing expression.
"Your Majesty, the Song Kingdom has prepared for battle according to your previous instructions.
Of the four major fleets of the Song Dynasty, two fleets were waiting for an opportunity in the Atlantic Ocean more than 80 kilometers away from West Africa, and two fleets were on the mainland.
Once the Chu State's goal is determined, I will immediately send reinforcements to support it.
Even with half of Song's fleet, I am confident of defeating Chu."
The Chief of General Staff of the Song Dynasty, Lu Tingfang, was in charge and introduced the arrangements for the Song Dynasty fleet.
Song Wang Zhantie was very happy after hearing this.
He was now so arrogant that he believed that Song State only needed to dispatch half of its fleet, even if it could not easily capture Chu's fleet.
They could also hold back Chu's fleet and wait for Song's other fleet to arrive on the battlefield.
The Song State tried its best to encircle the Chu State on the sea, and Song King Zhan Tie had enough confidence to defeat the Chu State.
In naval warfare, big means strong, and battleships are in an absolute position.
When the kings and ministers of the Song Dynasty were discussing the war.
The latest intelligence came from the front line. The Chu Navy's goal had been determined. They did not choose the Song mainland, but went south to the Jinhe Colony.
Song Wang Zhantie said in a contemptuous tone: "Chu King Lu Chenyang is still a little timid, I thought he really wanted to start a great melee in Europe.
After Chu King Lu Chenyang did this, I am really curious whether the empire will send troops to suppress it and mediate the war between the two countries."
Jin Kuohai, Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, stroked his short beard and said: "Your Majesty, King Lu Chenyang of Chu is not sure of victory, and he will never take risks.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! A war broke out between the Chu State and the Song State because of the competition for colonies, even though the scale of the war was quite large.
Based on the empire's previous performance, it should not interfere in this matter.
But if the Chu State really dares to attack the Song State, it is provoking the bottom line of the empire.
No one knows what choice Emperor Su He will make.
Chu State probably cannot afford this price."
Song King Zhan Tie just laughed at Chu King Lu Chenyang for being timid. In fact, he did not dare to challenge the authority of Emperor Su He.
These vassal states were still too weak to bear the thunderous wrath of Emperor Su He.
Song Wang Zhantie ordered: "Inform the fleet to take action according to the planned plan on the third day."
After the Song Navy fleet received the order, they immediately began to encircle and suppress the Chu Navy according to the established plan.
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4357 (1660 AD), March 1st.
On the battleship Changping, the generals of the Chu expeditionary army held a routine military meeting.
Admiral Ge Hongliu listened to the staff briefing report.
He made relevant marks on the sand table and said excitedly: "It looks like there are only four battleships chasing us behind us.
I have been worried that eight battleships from the Song Dynasty would launch an encirclement and suppression campaign against our army.
The effect of the torpedo boats is still unclear. If we encounter an encirclement and suppression by eight battleships, our army only has two battleships, and the level of naval training is not as good as that of the Song Dynasty. This battle is impossible to fight.
Now that Song has only sent half of its fleet, our army can still give it a try."
Army General Xi Sen frowned and said: "This may be a strategy of the Song Navy, and the rest of the army is hidden in the vast sea.
Once we take action, we will immediately enter the pocket formation arranged by the Song Navy."
General Ge Hongliu shook his head and said: "The probability is not high. The Song State did not know where our army would attack before.
With Song's arrogance, they would probably choose to divide their forces.
These people think they can defeat us with only half the navy."
When General Ge Hongliu said this, he was very angry.
The performance of the Song Navy was to bully the Chu Navy for its incompetence.
General Ge Hongliu asked General Xi Sen: "If General Xi were the navy of the Song Dynasty, when would he launch an attack on us?"
Xi Sen did not hesitate and said directly: "Of course it is when our army attempts to land at Jinhe Port.
At that time, Jinhe Port had coastal defense forts, machine gun positions and other fortifications, which could not only kill the landing army, but also contain the navy.
The navy of the Song Dynasty came out at this time and attacked it halfway across the river.
Even if our army wanted to retreat at this time, it would not be able to do so.
They could only fight to the death with the Song army.
In this scene, the powerful strength of the Song Navy was fully displayed.
They could also use fortifications to cover up the weaknesses of the Song Army's weak strength.
If this happens, even if our army wins against the odds, it will pay a very heavy price."
General Ge Hongliu nodded and said: "General Xi is right, if this happens, our entire army will probably be wiped out.
Then we will betray the king's trust in us.
As leading generals, we must not be rigid and make correct choices based on the ever-changing situation on the battlefield.
Our army must take the initiative to choose the battlefield, and the Song Navy proudly divides its forces. This is the most critical point for our victory.
Our army is likely to encounter the entire strength of the Song Navy in the future, and now we are taking the initiative to confront half of the Song Navy.
Even if another part of the Song Navy is hidden around, our army has only encountered what may happen in the future in advance.
But this battlefield is the battlefield we choose.
Even if the navy cannot defeat it, some warships can withdraw from the battlefield, leaving a spark for the development of Chu's navy."
General Xi Sen has understood what General Ge Hongliu wants to do.
He wanted the Chu Navy to take the initiative to fight the Song Navy.
In this way, even if the war goes unfavorably, the Chu navy will definitely suffer heavy losses.
But it would be extremely difficult for the Song Navy to annihilate the Chu Navy on the vast sea.
After the Chu navy failed, it could leave behind some firepower that had experienced large-scale naval battles.
As generals, they all know that a soldier who has experienced the flames of war is completely different from a soldier who has never been on the battlefield.
Every Han soldier knows the story on paper.
A general who has not experienced the test of the battlefield, no matter how famous he is, cannot be trusted.
Everything General Ge Hongliu did was completely in the interests of the navy.
Xi Sen smiled bitterly and said: "General Ge, the navy has chosen to take the initiative to face the enemy. What should we, the landlubbers who cannot help us in the naval battle and have to hold us back, do?"
General Ge Hongliu pointed to the inner coast of the west coast of Africa.
“Before I took on this task, I was thinking about how to break the situation.
The best place for the navy and army to cooperate is Jinhe Port.
The risk of this choice is too great. If you make one mistake, everything will be lost.
If the navy looks for opportunities to take the initiative along the way, what should we do with the transport ships transporting armies and supplies?
The navy of the Song Dynasty was stronger. They could let the main force hold back the navy and send out a partial division to capture the troop transports and transport ships that were basically defenseless.
I thought for a long time before I came up with a solution to the problem.
There is no need for the army to land at Jinhe Port.
There is the mouth of a large river here, and the army and some transport ships can enter the inland river.
The navy will send destroyers to protect it. In the inland river, the powerful strength of the Song Navy cannot be exerted at all.
If the navy is victorious and can defeat the Song navy and has the strength to protect the troop transport, then we will continue to go south to seize the Jinhe area.
If the navy was defeated by the Song Navy, this place would not be a colony of any country, only a small port built by some slave traders.
The army cannot leave here under naval escort, so it is entirely possible to establish a colony there.
No one comes to this place, mainly because the land is relatively barren and not many resources have been found on it.
But in this situation, the most important thing for the Army is to survive.
No matter how powerful the navy of Song Dynasty is, its warships cannot go ashore, and it poses no threat to the army hiding inland."
Xi Sen and other army generals' eyes lit up after hearing this.
Their army participated in the Southern Expedition, and all the soldiers had written suicide notes.
The army landed at Jinhe. The disadvantages of this war were well known to the generals who had a little understanding of the strength of Chu and Song.
Now according to General Ge Hongliu's method, no matter what happens to the navy?
The army has a high probability of surviving, which is the greatest benefit to the army.
Xi Sen said excitedly: "I will not accept your fate.
The king does not understand the rapidly changing battle situation clearly enough.
I agree with this combat plan on behalf of the Army.
The king takes the blame, and I bear the main responsibility."
General Ge Hongliu smiled, the development of the situation was in line with what he had expected.
When the Army heard about this plan, they would never give up.
The Chu State's southern expedition army reached a consensus and immediately began to implement the new plan.
General Ge Hongliu watched as the troop transports and some transport ships, escorted by destroyers, entered this unnamed river to rest.
He led all the warships of the Chu Navy and began to turn around, taking the initiative to confront the Song Navy fleet that was pursuing them.
General Xison saw the navy retreating.
He immediately sent a telegram to King Lu Chenyang of Chu, saying that they had begun to implement the new battle plan.
But the king of Chu, Lu Chenyang, must be informed.
Otherwise, due to lack of information, greater troubles will be caused and harm will be caused to the Chu State. They will be the sinners of the Chu State.
General Xi Sen is confident that Chu King Lu Chenyang may be angry.
But it will definitely not stop the Chu Navy from making a choice.