Chapter 15: Showing power on the sea (4)

In Tokyo, two days after the war started, all kinds of unfavorable information flew to the emperor like snowflakes. Hokkaido Island had completely lost contact, and the waters near Kyushu Island were completely blocked. Now China has attacked Japan from north to south. What should Japan do? Should it surrender to China in a compromise, or do its best to fight against China. The Japanese cabinet was caught in a fierce quarrel.

The army headed by the Army Department strongly demanded a decisive battle with the Chinese landing troops on the ground on the ground. The navy headed by the Navy General Hirasaburo Togo believes that the strength of the Japanese navy is too far from that of China and has no advantage on the sea. As an island country, Japan cannot win the war with China. Instead of fighting with beasts, it is better to contact China and demand peace talks, so that it can preserve some vitality for Japan's future. The fierce quarrels have led to the sway of the Prime Minister's cabinet, and in the end, the right to decide whether to fight or to reconcile or be placed in front of the emperor.

The Emperor decided to convene an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the final resolution.

"Your Majesty! The Chinese army is coming from afar, and we are fighting on the local area again. I think we only need to stick to our local area for a year, and when the situation in Europe changes, everything will turn around. Victory will definitely belong to our Great Japanese Empire." Emperor Hiranuma, Minister of the Army, asked for a battle loudly.

"Tongxiangjun, is there really no possibility of victory in the Navy?" The Emperor looked at Hirasaburo Togo with anticipation.

"Your Majesty! According to the overall power comparison, our chances of victory are very small unless..." Hirasaburo Togo looked embarrassed and hesitant, not daring to look directly at the emperor's expectant eyes.

"Unless what? Tell me." The Emperor seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

"According to the information of our Navy Department, the Chinese Navy dispatched two major fleets this time, a total of 188 warships of various types, including 40 of the Fearless Class battleships. The goal we are now to go to sea as soon as possible, avoid the main force of the Chinese Navy, look for fighters on the sea, and fight maneuvering. Once the weakness of the Chinese Navy is discovered, they will immediately pounce on them and fight. Accumulate small victories into big victories, and eventually form a stalemate with the Chinese Navy. Once a stalemate is extremely unfavorable to us, as long as we find ways to pull the Americans into the water, we will have a chance to win. From the current situation, only when the United States participates in the war will the world war situation undergo fundamental changes."

"How likely do you think the United States is to join the war?" the emperor asked.

"It's so small that I suggest a peace talk." Hirasaburo Togo did not hide his point of view at all, although this point of view was pessimistic.

"Your Majesty, all the soldiers of our army are willing to fight to the death for the hegemony of the empire and will never surrender." The Minister of the Army Department Hiranuma immediately kowtowed and shouted when he heard Hirasaro Togo say this.

"Is that true? Are everyone willing to fight for the death of the empire?" The emperor looked around everyone, and even Zuohe, including Hirasaburo Togo, knelt down and said, "If Your Majesty needs it, we are willing to fight for Your Majesty."

"Okay, that's the decision. Even if there is one-ten thousand chance, we must strive for victory. If we don't defeat China, Japan will never stand out. Please work hard, please!" After saying that, the Emperor actually bowed deeply to everyone.

"I wish to die for Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty the Emperor!" Everyone shouted in unison.

The United States and the Senate have had a turmoil. 1895 was also a year of crisis for the United States. The European war caused by the economic crisis, followed by China's involvement in the war. As for the United States, all political forces in China are now constantly inciting the government for their own interests.

Three mainstream voices appeared in the two houses of the United States.

One is to ask the United States to participate in the war and join the British and French camps. This kind of shouting is the most loud, but there are not many responders. The second and the first type are completely opposite. They hope that the US government will recognize the situation. At present, due to China's intervention, the situation on the European battlefield has undergone tremendous changes. It is recommended that the US government and China join forces and everyone vote together. This voice mainly comes from the Jewish interest groups, but this faction has not received much response. Moreover, this faction is the most low-key, always sarcastically when pro-British and French parliamentarians shout. The third faction

It is completely neutral. They believe that the United States should not intervene in the war. The current war situation is still unclear. There will be no benefit from any side of the United States. Although the Chinese government has repeatedly protested against the United States and demanded that the United States stop trade activities with the Allies and stop transporting war materials to Britain and France, China itself did this a lot in the early stages of the war, which can be ignored. What this faction is most worried about is the German submarines on the Atlantic Ocean. German submarines are too rampant now. Regardless of nationality, as long as the fleet transporting materials to Britain and France are all within their targets of attack.

As for the current state of the United States, it is really not suitable to intervene in war. The United States currently has only 250,000 conventional army in service. Although the navy has hundreds of warships, its displacement and gun caliber are far inferior to Britain, Germany and China. In a word, the United States is not ready for war at all. Polls conducted by major American newspapers also show that the people are basically indifferent to the world war, and even to the point of not being concerned about it. If the United States really wants to participate in the war, then the people will not have a fuss.

On September 11, 1895, the two houses of the United States passed a resolution with a narrow advantage. Given the development of the world situation, the United States needs to strengthen its national defense force, and being prepared for any eventuality is the fundamental reason. The resolution increased the US military expenditure by another 10 percentage points. Of course, the happiest thing is the American arms dealers, and some of them have made money. As for whether they want to fight, they don’t care. As long as they can make money, what’s wrong with fighting?

"The pigeon calls the blue sky! The pigeon calls the blue sky, and the main forces of the Japanese joint fleet have all left Tokyo!..." A mysterious telegram was sent from Tokyo, leaping through the vast sea and reaching Beijing.

Beijing, September 15, 1895, Admiralty.

"That's great, so good, the pigeon calls..." Liu Yuan rushed into the war room excitedly, but soon shut up consciously. In the war room, Yang Yi was lying on the camp bed, Li Xiucheng leaned on a recliner, and the tripod was on the table on the sand table. Zhang Jian sat on the side, rolling his eyes and turning his eyes straight into Liu Yuan.

Although Liu Yuan shut up, it was still too late. With a click, Li Xiucheng's feet had fallen off the table. Yang Yi also sat up from the bed.

"As long as we destroy the Japanese fleet, the entire Japan is our past. At that time, we will fight wherever we want to? But I didn't expect that this Japanese was so impatient! Haha."

The Japanese Combined Fleet led by 19 Fearless Class Battleships finally came out in full swing. After leaving the harbor of Tokyo, they immediately headed south, trying to find fighter planes to attack the Chinese East China Sea Fleet. The Japanese Combined Fleet, who thought they were secretly operating, did not know that they had just left Tokyo, and two pocket submarines had quietly followed behind. Just when the Combined Fleet left the Tokyo Port, a Beiyang squadron composed of forty fast battlecruisers and light battleships had set off from Hokkaido to move south.

As soon as the Japanese arrived and the fleet moved, the two Chinese East China Sea and Beiyang fleets had already set their sights on them. At noon on September 16, 1895, the Japanese Joint Fleet. Hirasaro Togo formed a vanguard fleet with thirty fast warships as vanguards, and led the main fleet to follow behind. Hirasaro Togo did not control the Emperor's decision. According to Hirasaro Togo, the joint fleet should be broken into pieces, with 10 warships as a small unit to carry out guerrilla operations in the northern waters. Hirasaro Togo's plan was not approved by the Emperor. The emperor's order was that the human-oriented joint fleet should take the initiative to attack while the Chinese Beiyang fleet had not yet met the East China Sea Fleet, and the Japanese Joint Fleet should take the initiative to eliminate China's East China Sea Fleet. Hirasaro Togo understood the Emperor's meaning. This was actually a bet that the Chinese East China Sea Fleet, which was relatively weak in power, was not as good as the Japanese Joint Fleet in combat effectiveness.

The emperor had no choice because Japan did not have the economic strength to engage in a protracted war with China. Togo Hirasaburo fully understood this point, so the emperor did not seem to have much calculation order. Togo Hirasaburo could only obey and implement it firmly. Only by killing the Beiyang Fleet could Japan have the possibility of victory. As a naval general, Togo Hirasaburo had no choice either.

"Discover the Chinese fleet!" The Japanese forward fleet and a small Chinese fast fleet discovered the opponent almost at the same time. The naval guns of both sides opened fire at the opponent almost at the same time. The first round of confrontation was very short, and six Chinese warships quickly retreated. After the forward of the joint fleet reported the situation to the main force, they chased the Chinese warships.

"Discover the Japanese Forward Fleet!"

"Where is it?" Deng Shichang heard the report and immediately rushed to the chart. The combat staff quickly marked the waters where the Japanese fleet was discovered on the chart. Deng Shichang looked carefully and then said: "Immediately notify the Beiyang fleet and tell them that when the transaction is coming, we will try our best to hold the Japanese fleet and tell them to hurry up, otherwise they will have nothing to do."

"I order. Focus on 20 main battleships as the center, form a combat formation, target the Japanese joint fleet, and advance!"

The six Chinese warships fought and retreated, attracting the Japanese vanguard fleet to head south. At 1 pm, the main force of the East China Sea Fleet encountered the Japanese vanguard fleet. The Japanese vanguard fleet also discovered that the situation was wrong in time and immediately turned and retreated towards the main fleet.

At 1:40 pm, the main forces of both sides finally encountered the waters near Seed Island. In this battle, the Japanese Joint Fleet had 19 Fearless Class Battleships, 98 warships, 20 Fearless Class Battleships in the East China Sea Fleet, and 81 warships. Although the Chinese East China Sea Fleet was at a disadvantage in number, the East China Sea Fleet did not have much disadvantage in total tonnage, because most Chinese warships were better than Japanese warships in tonnage.

Both sides were ready for combat. After the first round of shooting, both sides were injured. Two light cruisers of the East China Sea Fleet were hit by several bombs and water was infiltrated in many places. The Japanese heavy cruiser "Renhe" rushed to the meeting and was immediately taken care of by Chinese battleships. More than 10 405mm caliber shells fell down, and the "Renhe" was immediately beaten to a semi-criminal. The disaster did not go alone, and the "Renhe" caught fire everywhere. Before the leaking water could recover, another 405mm caliber shell drilled into his engine compartment. With a rumbling sound, the "Renhe" immediately exploded into two sections. The 12,000-ton hull of the "Renhe" quickly sank.

"You have to fight a snake and you must fight seven inches. Notify other battleships to concentrate your firepower and sink me first (Yoshino)." Deng Shichang roared and pointed his hand in front. The East China Sea Fleet used 0 battleships as the central assault cluster and rushed towards the Japanese fleet.

"The Chinese say that to capture the thief first, capture the king, pass on my orders, concentrate firepower, and hit their flagship Feiyang." Hirasaburo Togo almost issued the same order.

After a short long-range shooting, the warships of both sides quickly entered a melee situation. At 2:00, the first of the central ship group of both sides collided head-on. The sister ship Dafeng, the flagship of the East China Sea Fleet, used its 508mm caliber 8 front main guns, and a volley fired. The main turret of the Shiguo battleship, with a displacement of 36,000 tons, was shot and detonated an ammunition compartment. The Shiguo suddenly lost most of its combat effectiveness.

The "Dafeng" battleship has a displacement of 63,000 tons. It is one of the latest battleships made in China. The displacement of its sister ship Feiyang also reaches 61,000 tons. It can be said that the Feiyang and Dafeng battleships represent the strongest equipment of the world's naval battleships today.

In contrast, Japan's battleships are obviously at a disadvantage compared to these two battleships in tonnage. Japan's largest battleship, the Yasukuni, has a displacement of only 45,000 tons and a caliber of 405 mm in front of the main gun.

The Dafeng took the lead and rushed to the front, and was immediately under the focus of attention of the Japanese warships. The shells and countless shells rushed towards the Dafeng. However, most Japanese shells hit the Dafeng armor and brought almost no damage. On the contrary, as long as a Japanese warship was greeted by the Dafeng's front main gun, thick smoke suddenly rose.

With the battleships between the two sides, the small warships of both sides also launched an attack. Unfortunately, the Japanese destroyer "Shi Inu Maru" approached the Dafeng by suicide in the melee. "Shi Inu Maru" was torn to pieces by the artillery fire of the Chinese warship within a few minutes, but "Shi Inu Maru" also desperately fired three torpedoes.

At 2:15 pm, the Dafeng was hit by two torpedoes, and two holes were blown out of the front end. The Dafeng was forced to withdraw from the battlefield and stranded three hours later near Seed Island.

The withdrawal of the Dafeng immediately boosted the morale of the Japanese Combined Fleet. In their opinion, the Dafeng was defeated, and the morale of the Japanese fleet suddenly rose sharply.
Chapter completed!