"Your Majesty, the Military Intelligence Bureau has received definite news that the Japanese fleet will set off from the southern British military port of Portsmouth in a week's time, on January 18, and return to Japan via the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca! The entire voyage will take two days.
It is more than 10,000 kilometers and is expected to take about fifty days," Wei Zhiyong, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, reported. Because warships generally sail at a cruising speed of 10 knots, and they stop for supplies along the way, it will take a long time.
Wang Yuze nodded, and then asked: "Has the specific route been determined?"
"The information we have received so far is that the Japanese fleet will go from the Strait of Malacca, through the South China Sea, and return to Japan through the Bashi Strait. However, after our analysis, we think it is a bit impossible. The Japanese would not have thought that we would intercept and kill their fleet halfway.
"If you go to the South China Sea at this time, you are simply seeking death! Therefore, we think this is probably a fake news released by the Japanese!" Wei Zhiyong said.
"So, can we get the exact route?" Wang Yuze asked.
"This is very difficult. The Japanese are very secretive about the fleet's return to China. Only a very limited number of people know about it. Our intelligence personnel can't find out yet!" Wei Zhiyong said.
"Okay, it doesn't matter at all. The Japanese fleet will always return home. Zhang Aiqing, the navy has sent warships to wait in the Indian Ocean, the Strait of Malacca and other places. As long as the Japanese fleet is discovered, they will follow them. I don't believe they can still run away.
Drop it!" Wang Yuze said.
"Yes, Your Majesty! The Navy Ministry has already planned to dispatch our 'Tianshui-class' light cruiser to perform this task. With the speed and endurance of the Tianshui-class light cruiser, this task can be easily completed!" Zhang Cheng said. "Tianshui-class light cruiser
-class light cruiser with a displacement of 4500
tons, the ship is 90 meters long, 12 meters wide, and has a draft of 5.4 meters. It will be powered by 6 drum boilers and a steam turbine. The main engine power is 12,000 horsepower, two-axis propulsion, and the maximum speed is 30 knots. Even if
Even the destroyers equipped in the Japanese fleet cannot catch up.
"That's good! At the same time, the home fleet must be ready for battle. Once traces of the Japanese fleet are discovered, they must be prepared to sink them all, and not a single Japanese warship can be allowed to return to Japan. In addition, the two domestic fleets in Japan
Battleships also need to be monitored. Once they make any changes, they must respond immediately!" Wang Yuze said.
"Yes, Your Majesty! This time, the Navy Ministry plans to use two 'Sichuan-class' battleships and four 'Chengdu-class' heavy cruisers to monitor the Japanese mainland fleet. Once they are discovered to go to sea, they will be followed. As soon as the war starts, they will be
Sunk! Japan's returning fleet used four 'Zhonghua-class' battleships
We have to deal with the battleships and 8 'Beijing-class' heavy cruisers. No matter which aspect we have, we have an absolute advantage!" Zhang Cheng replied confidently. Although the current Chinese Navy's home fleet only has 6 battleships,
However, its combat power is much higher than that of the Japanese Navy. Defeating them is not a problem at all.
"The Pacific Fleet also needs to be prepared. Once the naval battle between us and the Japanese begins, the United States will definitely declare war on us due to the agreement. The Pacific Fleet needs to be prepared for war and at the same time monitor the movements of the U.S. West Coast Fleet. I don't
I hope to receive a telegram that Pearl Harbor was attacked!" Wang Yuze said seriously. Hawaii has become an emperor.
The country is in the Eastern Pacific region and is the most important strategic location to deter the United States. If lost, it will have a very big impact on the future strategy of the empire. Therefore, he must give this reminder. In history, the Japanese sneak attack
Pearl Harbor caused huge losses to the Americans. But this time, the Americans may not think of such a strategy.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I will contact the Pacific Fleet!" Zhang Cheng was also nervous. Compared with the home fleet, the Pacific Fleet is slightly weaker than the current U.S. West Coast Fleet. The Pacific Fleet only has three battleships.
and four heavy cruisers, while the U.S. West Coast Fleet already has 6 battleships and 3 armored cruisers. Regardless of combat power or speed, the Pacific Fleet is not
gain the upper hand. If a war breaks out, the Pacific Fleet is likely to suffer a defeat, putting Hawaii in danger. Therefore, the strategy the Imperial Navy intends to adopt is still to avoid a war with the U.S. Navy by the Pacific Fleet and wait until the naval battle in the Far East ends.
Then a part of the force was sent to Hawaii to support the Pacific Fleet operations. In one fell swoop, it established an advantage over the U.S. Navy and won victory.
"That's good! The Army also needs to be prepared. Once our maritime war with Japan starts, it will be time for us to go to war with Japan and even the entire Pacific Alliance. The Northeast Military District, Northern Military District and Northwest Military District of the Army must be ready for battle. At the same time
, the troops in North Korea must also be prepared, and the four divisions formed by North Korea must also enter combat readiness immediately!" Wang Yuze ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty! The Ministry of War has issued an order, and all ministries are ready for battle! However, due to the current climate, even if we go to war with Russia, I am afraid that the actual outbreak of the war will be delayed until around April, not
Now in the ice and snow, the Russians have suffered enough from the battles some time ago!" Cai Yun replied.
"The General Staff and the Army Department must be prepared to integrate the troops of the Northeastern Military Region, the Northern Military Region and the Northwest Military Region into a group army, which will make it easier to command. In addition, if the scale of the war expands, more troops will continue to be invested.
Therefore, reinforcements must also be prepared as best as possible!" Wang Yuze reminded. This war is a war that stakes the future of the country, and there is no room for sloppiness.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xiong Wuye and Cai Yundu replied.
"Everyone, the success or failure of the empire depends on the next battle. Although the enemy is very powerful, I believe that the final victory must belong to us!" Wang Yuze said firmly.
"The empire will win!" everyone shouted.
Portsmouth, the largest military port in southern England, has always been the main anchorage of the British Cape Fleet. In 1805, British Navy Commander Nelson commanded the British naval fleet to set out from Portsmouth Military Port and conduct a battle with France.
A crucial naval battle. The fleets of both sides met in the sea off Cape Trafalgar, Spain. The decisive battle was inevitable. The battle lasted for 5 hours.
Outperforming the British in command, tactics and training, the Franco-Spanish combined fleet suffered a decisive blow, with its commander Villeneuve captured and 21 battleships captured. The British commander, Admiral Horatio Nelson, was also killed in the battle.
After this battle, the French navy lost all its elite and never recovered. Napoleon was forced to give up his plan to attack the British mainland. The British maritime supremacy was consolidated.
At the British Cape Fleet headquarters in Portsmouth, a stocky Eastern man was talking to a British man in a tuxedo. The two men spoke in an exciting voice, as if they were quarreling. The two men were talking.
They are Vice Admiral Togo Heihachiro, Commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, and Lord Walter Kerr, the British Second Admiralty. It is rumored that he will soon become the British First Lord of the Admiralty.
"Your Excellency, Lord Admiralty, according to the information we have received, the Chinese Navy is ready. Their four 'Zhonghua-class' battleships have entered the dock and begun pre-sea maintenance. Once my fleet appears in the South China Sea
When the time comes, we will face their attack. And my fleet has no way to compete with the Chinese Navy's 'Zhonghua-class' battleships. Therefore, please give your navy a try.
We will definitely send warships to arrive in Japan together with our navy! Please!" Vice Admiral Togo Heihachiro bowed. Japanese Foreign Minister Aoki Shuzo once again contacted the British side, hoping that they could send a fleet to escort the Japanese fleet back home. However, the British
They still refused. Togo Heihachiro did not give up and wanted to make a last-ditch effort. And Lord Walter Kerr came to see the Japanese fleet off.
"I'm very sorry, Commander. Our government has made a decision and I cannot change it. When your navy passes through Chinese waters, it can fly the flag of our navy. I don't think the Chinese navy has the guts to attack the British navy!
"Lord Walter Kerr said. This is completely telling lies with his eyes open. Even he himself would not believe such a bad thing.
Excuse. Japan, the United States and Russia, under the leadership and support of Britain and France, formed the Pacific Alliance and prepared to take action against China. How could China sit still and wait for death? All fools know that this time the Japanese fleet returns home, which is an excellent opportunity.
China will definitely not miss this opportunity. Britain's purpose is to let Japan compete head-on with China.
"Your Excellency, the Minister of the Navy, the Chinese are extremely ruthless, and they will definitely attack our fleet. Once our navy fails, no country in the entire Far East will be able to pose a threat to them. I am afraid that your country's 'Chinese Fleet' and Pacific Fleet,
You will also be threatened!" Togo Heihachiro suppressed the anger in his heart and continued to persuade,
"I'm sorry, I can't agree with you on this issue!" Lord Walter Kerr still said.
Togo Heihachiro had no choice but to leave. Without the support of Britain, the Japanese navy would have no chance to develop. It stands to reason that everyone in Japan should be grateful to Britain. However, Togo Heihachiro hated it terribly. He knew that this
It was Britain who planned to use Japan as a pawn to fight against China. Now, it was time for them to be pushed onto the battlefield. Thinking of this, Togo Heihachiro felt sad.
On January 18, 1899, the Japanese fleet set sail from Portsmouth, England, and embarked on its journey back to China. However, all the Japanese had already guessed what was waiting for them along the way.
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