On May 28, 1876, on the sea outside Tripoli, the French colony of Libya.
32 battleships and armored ships were moored quietly. The ships were like mountains, the masts were like forests, and the guns were like branches.
Each ship is covered with colorful triangular flags from bow to stern, and huge national flags are flying on the masthead and bow and stern, including the tricolor flag of France, the tricolor flag of Russia, and the flag of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Of course,
There is also the sun and moon flag of the Ming Empire - yes, this huge fleet comes from the Ming Empire, the French Empire, the Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. History will record the gorgeous name of this fleet: the Imperial Alliance Fleet.
The Imperial Alliance Fleet is a fleet jointly formed by the four empires. There are as many as 32 battleships and armored ships alone!
Twelve 10,000-ton giant ships from France, Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were organized into a group of four, linked end to end, anchored and turned off, forming a long steel wall of several kilometers along the coastline on the Tripoli side. Between the long walls
Inside, Shikoku's Nanhua-class, Haiyang-class and other 7,000-9,000-ton secondary warships are lined up, and further inside are the Rinkai-class and other armored ships.
As for small warships such as light cruisers, they are magnificently ignored here! In front of the big cannon ship, they are like little mice.
Five days ago, in the Bay of Coon in Marseille, France, the French Emperor reviewed the neatly arranged French Imperial Fleet - 16 battleships and ironclads, which constituted their main force. On that day, with these 16 battleships as the core,
The "French Fleet" officially set sail and sailed to the newly annexed Libya.
What will be waiting for them here?
It came from the Ming Empire. Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire also sent the main force of their respective navies. The Ming Dynasty sent eight of the ten battleships, while Russia sent all six battleships. The Austro-Hungarian Empire
Two ships were dispatched!
After they met here, according to the orders of the four emperors, they temporarily formed the "Imperial Alliance Fleet"!
This is the most powerful fleet ever built,
It does not belong to that country, but to an alliance - the Imperial Alliance!
"When the power of the four empires are combined, the whole world will tremble!"
Facts have proved that the whole world is indeed trembling!
At this time in Tripoli, various ships and wooden sailing ships were coming and going near the fleet. The sailors from various countries on board all looked at these warships with a variety of emotions... joy, surprise, shock, envy, jealousy,
Of course there is also hostility!
After all, the United Kingdom, as the world's most powerful maritime power, owns almost one-third of the world's merchant ships, and there are many British sailors here.
However, regarding their hostility, the sailors on the "Imperial Alliance Fleet" ignored them at all.
After all, no matter what they think of it, the power of this fleet is unquestionable!
The naval officers and soldiers of the four countries on the battleship all have this idea, because they know very well that the battleship they are on has the most powerful power in the world.
This could not be seen more clearly from their opponents, the British. When the British Royal Navy learned that the "Imperial Alliance Fleet" was formed, at this moment, they had established a new alliance since Nelson's era by defeating the French and Spanish fleets.
The proud and aloof mood collapsed instantly.
What a huge fleet this is!
This fleet is so huge that it has exceeded the entire maritime power of Britain.
In the past ten years, what has been the founding philosophy of the British Navy?
That is, the overall strength is equal to the sum of the second and third maritime powers. But now the total tonnage of the fleets of the four empires far exceeds them. They even go around half of Europe and across the turbulent Atlantic Ocean to take them
The latest warships have been sent to the Mediterranean!
Britain, which once had the most powerful maritime power in the world, could think of nothing in the face of such maritime power?
They suffered an unprecedented heavy blow!
But the British are not afraid of being hit. They will only become more courageous with every setback. The spirit of the Royal Navy of the British Empire is more dazzling and eternal than the power of this alliance fleet.
Almost on the day the fleet was formed, at the Imperial Parliament in London, the Prime Minister, the Lord of the Admiralty and other officials made a speech - "We will make all countries that try to challenge the Royal Navy realize - they will always win.
I can’t win this competition.”
What kind of competition is it?
It is a naval arms race. On that day, the Imperial Parliament passed a naval expansion plan to build 400,000-ton capital ships in the next five years. Who is this huge naval expansion plan aimed at?
Of course it's the Four-Nation Alliance.
But all this takes time.
"We sadly discovered the fact that we currently do not have enough power to confront the Imperial Alliance!"
While the London press was discussing this reality with a tone full of sadness and helplessness, off the coast of Tripoli, the Imperial Alliance Fleet began to hold their first joint exercise, which required them to devote 100% of their energy.
After all, this fleet was established to deter their most powerful and dangerous imaginary enemy - Britain!
The most important purpose of forming this fleet is to force Britain not to dare to interfere with Turkey through a display of strength.
For a moment, the main guns at sea roared, and the sea and sky were filled with the roar of twelve-inch and ten-inch naval guns, and heavy shells continued to hit the distance.
Amidst the sound of artillery that resounded across the sea and air, Lin Yuehu, the commander of the left wing, just quietly observed the friendly artillery skills with his binoculars.
"Their gunnery seems pretty good!"
"I can only say that it's quite peaceful, but the Russian side is a little bit worse."
At this moment, a thousand miles away on the cruiser "Tripoli", British Navy Lieutenant Commander Standing almost held the same view.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hans, have you noticed? The Russian gunnery seems to be the worst among the Allied fleets!"
"Yes, the Ming Dynasty has the best artillery skills. Their rate of fire is faster and more accurate!"
Lieutenant Colonel Hans had a cigar between his fingers as he spoke.
This cruiser is a "yacht" specially prepared by France for visitors from various countries. It is a 3,000-ton yacht. Its name commemorates the occupation of Tripoli.
"However, this is not important. What is important is that they are now a whole!"
A whole!
This is the most feared thing about the Four-Nation Alliance. They are not afraid of any one of them, but when the Four-Nation Alliance comes together, since it is as powerful as Britain, they have to be cautious.
At this time, 32 Shikoku battleships and armored ships once again adjusted their formation according to the order, and then they once again bombarded the suddenly encountered target ahead.
"See? This is what they're trying to achieve - we're here, either get out of the way or face the consequences."
When the deafening sound of cannons sounded again, the huge group of battleships in the distance spewed out streams of white smoke, making them look more like mirages disturbed by clouds and fog. People who witnessed this fleet at this time could all guess
Bring out the power they store - this power is powerful!
It is enough to make any country awe and fear it, and of course it will also awaken some potential power!
Awakening some forces that have not yet been awakened in other countries. Of course, it will take time for these forces to be awakened.