Just before the main force of the Japanese fleet left the Nagasaki anchorage and headed for the mouth of the Datong River, Xu Jie also secretly left Shanghai, where he had stayed for several months, and went to Hong Kong on the Edgar-class cruiser of the British Far East Fleet. The reason is very simple, the patrol fleet that Xu Jie has been waiting for for several years has arrived in Hong Kong, and has completed the relevant preparation work, and is ready to go north to fight at any time. And the addition of this force will undoubtedly have a subversive impact on the battle situation.

In order to better command this fleet, it is undoubtedly very important to go in advance to familiarize yourself with the warships and arrange the relevant work. So, leaving Lin Yongsheng and others to continue to be in charge of the work in Shanghai, Xu Jie went to Hong Kong to join up with Luang Weili Deng Shichang and others. Get ready for the next stage of operations in the fast fleet.

For the sake of secrecy, the flags and insignia on the three ships are still the same as those of the Royal Italian Navy. And in order to hide people's eyes, the people walking on the deck are also Italians. As for sailing alone on the high seas, only the officers and men of the Beiyang Naval Division who were holding in the cabin could come out to breathe. Drifting at sea for a long time, everyone's physical condition is not particularly good. But...... In addition to maintaining intense training, they also have to fight ......... boring life, capricious seas and loneliness.

However, in Luang Weili's opinion, this kind of life at sea is the best way to improve combat effectiveness, and the long voyage allows the sailors to learn to deal with all kinds of accidents. The lonely life made the sailors study the work in hand without distraction. And the double pressure of material and spiritual makes it possible for these newcomers to become real soldiers.

Today, the efforts of the 2,000 officers and men of the Luang Weili fleet for nearly half a year have finally paid off, and with the arrival of the supreme commander Xu Jie, the sheathed sword of the Luang Weili fleet is finally about to cut at their old enemy! There was no grand ceremony, and there was no cheering of the officers and soldiers, Xu Jie and the others just greeted the officers and soldiers who met after the ship. He walked straight to the conference room. There was so much to deal with there.

"Mr. Xu, hello." Xu Jie just walked into the conference room. Luang Weili was the first to stand up to greet him. Then Deng Shichang and Yang Yonglin also stood up. In fact, in terms of official positions, Lang Weili, who served as the deputy admiral and chief instructor of the Beiyang Fleet, obviously had a higher status, but out of trust and respect for Xu Jie. Lang Weili still took the initiative to greet Xu Jie.

"Everyone's done a great job. Xu someone, on behalf of the soldiers of the Second Beiyang Marine Division, and on behalf of Li Zhongtang, welcomed everyone's return. Xu Jie saluted and said..........

"Jericho? Tycho? Why are you here? Xu Jie saw Jericho and Tycho behind Deng Shichang and couldn't help but cry out.

"Colonel Jericho is the liaison officer between our fleet and the British Empire. Along the way, he made an important contribution to the return of the fleet. Tycho, on the other hand, came to the Far East as an observer for the Royal Italian Navy. Luang Weili explained.

"Are you two going to participate in the upcoming naval battle?" Xu Jie asked.

"If Mr. Xu doesn't mind, we will stay on the ship as an observer. I will continue to act as an intermediary between your ministry and the Royal Navy's Far East Fleet. Your Excellency," Jericho said with a smile.

"Okay. Welcome both. Let's get down to business. "Since they're here. It's impossible to blast away. Then get down to business. Xu Jie made a gesture of please.

"I'll start with a report on the state of the fleet. Until the battleships are officially named, I propose to temporarily name the two Gary Bō class armored cruisers after the two major bases of the Beiyang Naval Division. And named Gary Bōdi Improved Armored Cruiser after Tianjin. Luang Weili took out a document and said.

"That's not a problem. Let's talk about supplies and warships. Xu Jie nodded ..........

"The shells and accessories needed by the fleet were transported by a special fleet, and the acquisition of shells and other supplies mainly came from the British Empire. Mr. Jericho can vouch. Within 1 week, the necessary supplies for each ship could be transported to Arthur or Weihai under the protection of the British Imperial fleet. Of course, this is carried out in the name of ensuring the smooth flow of routes. Luang Weili greeted Jericho. Then he continued. …。

"Although the three main warships came to Daqing after a long voyage. However, they are well maintained and maintained in the supply ports along the way. Here I need to recommend someone to Xu Zongbing, before him, I always thought that there were only two people who were proficient in ships, you and Yan Boxun. Luang Weili said as he handed over a resume.

"This Chilean Chinese named Ding Wenbing used to work in the Chilean fleet. He is proficient in ship maintenance, so he was nicknamed by some people, called Master 18 Jieding. Lang Weili couldn't help but laugh.

"This name is very good, and I was also thundered.

But this man is really not in vain. Our fleet was under his maintenance, and 3 battleships kept a speed of 20 knots and walked for a whole day. This is already exceeding the Edgar class's 20-hour speed record at 20 knots. I think if it weren't for the boilermen's fatigue, we could have walked longer. ”。 …。

"As for the weapons systems of the battleship. Whether it's the turret...... The artillery and the ammunition supply system are very satisfying. In particular, it is a distance measurement system with a rangefinder and a data transmission system for the clock. At a distance of 2000 to 3000 meters, the hit rate is quite much higher. As for the officers and men, I think they have been studying for three years, and they have been sailing at sea for half a year just to fight the Japanese. Their courage and professionalism are absolutely trustworthy. Luang Weili said confidently.

"That's good, since the battleship is in good condition and the officers and men are full of confidence, there is no problem with logistics. Then gentlemen, I think we can specify the battle plan. Xu Jie said and opened a densely marked map.

"According to intelligence, the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet will reach the mouth of the Datong River on March 5 to carry out the blockade mission. In the eyes of the Japanese army, this will be an excellent opportunity to gather and annihilate the Beiyang fleet, after all, Beiyang cannot let tens of thousands of elite army troops be completely annihilated. Xu Jie pointed to the Datong River Estuary and said.

"This is indeed an opportunity for the Japanese army, and the remaining combat power of the Beiyang Fleet is indeed at a disadvantage. And the Japanese army is looking for an anchorage near the mouth of the Datong River, and it is indeed possible to wait for work. The odds are stacked. Luang Weili nodded in agreement, after all, if he was Shiki Kayama, he would naturally not give up this opportunity..........

"But as everyone knows, the real elite of the Beiyang Fleet has not yet appeared. If we can seize this opportunity and join up with the Beiyang Fleet, we will have an overwhelming advantage. Deng Shichang on the side said.

"That's right, I'm just going to take advantage of this opportunity to settle the Japanese Combined Fleet once and for all." Xu Jie's fist slammed into the arrow that marked the direction of the Japanese fleet.

"Then we now need to communicate with the main force of the Beiyang Fleet in Arthur. And I wonder how the 3 light armored cruisers of Lord Lin are doing now? Yang Yonglin asked.

"The situation on the Guiyuan is not good. I'm afraid I won't be able to participate in the war. The remaining 2 warships have now been maintained. You can go into battle at any time. Xu Jie replied. In the Battle of Gunsan Bay, the Guiyuan was hit the hardest, and Shanghai was not a place dedicated to repairing battleships, and even with the help of the British, the repair progress of the Guiyuan 3 ship was not satisfactory.

"But it's enough, 3 10,000-ton armored cruisers and 2 5,000-ton light cruisers plus the Beiyang Fleet itself. Defeating the Japanese army was not a problem. Deng Shichang comforted.

"We are not trying to defeat the Japanese Combined Fleet, but to completely destroy the Japanese Fleet. We want a war of annihilation, not a war of defeat. At least most of the battleships should be annihilated. Lang Weili was a little unimpressed by Deng Shichang's words..........

"Admiral Luang Weli is right, in order to be able to annihilate the Japanese fleet in one fell swoop, the first thing we need to do is to keep it secret. From now on, the fleet will avoid all major routes and move in the direction of Shanghai. Along the way, our ships will be on guard, and they will fire flares when they detect an alien ship. Prompt fleet detour. Xu Jie said, pointing to a road map drawn in advance. …。

"Supplies such as fuel and food, fresh water, etc., needed along the route will be provided by British merchant ships. The people in charge of the supply are veterans. Efficiency is still okay. Jericho chimed in.

"Then thank you to the Royal Navy for their help." Xu Jie nodded at Jericho and then said, "At the same time, we will send someone to Shanghai to inform General Lin to lead two cruisers to meet 70 nautical miles east of the Zhoushan Islands." Two days later, on the evening of March 5, the Beiyang Rapid Fleet will complete its formation. ”

"How do you get in touch with Admiral Nading?" Deng Shichang asked.

"The fleet will arrive at the Waichangshan Islands on the evening of March 8 to join the Beiyang Fleet with the main fleet. And go to the mouth of the Datong River together. Our scheduled time for the battle will be around 8 a.m. on March 9 with the Japanese. Xu Jie has his own purpose in arranging this. At this time, it was just after dawn. The Beiyang Fleet had a whole day to engage the Japanese army. If it's scheduled for late afternoon...... It is entirely possible that the battle, which is often fought for hours, will drag on until the evening, and it is inevitable that there will be ......... of fish that slip through the net.

"So how are the specific tasks distributed? I don't know if Mr. Xu has communicated with Admiral Ding? "Luang Weili is now more concerned about what role his fleet will play in the decisive battle.

"In order to ensure the total annihilation of the Japanese fleet. Admiral Ding and I were of the opinion that the fleet should disperse before entering the battlefield. Then the tactics of the enemy were adopted, and after the Japanese fleet led the Japanese fleet out, the Beiyang Fleet was first contained, and then the main force of the fast fleet cut into the battlefield. ”

Before Xu Jie came, he contacted Ding Ruchang and others many times by telegram. Both sides agreed that if the Japanese fleet discovered the 3 capital ships of the North Ocean. Will definitely choose to retreat. Even if the Beiyang Fleet used high speed to drag the Japanese fleet itself. Then the five clippers of the Japanese guerrilla fleet still had a chance to escape.

And if it is divided into two parts, not to mention Kurama and Yoshino, there is still a chance to throw off the Beiyang Rapid Fleet. If it were to fight alone, the combat strength of the Beiyang Fleet would hardly be comparable to that of the Japanese Combined Fleet. Therefore, in order to give full play to the combat power of the new ship, it is necessary to let the Japanese army gather together and annihilate it!

First of all, I would like to thank the book friend Kongchen for his support, and the monthly pass of 777 that has not changed for thousands of years, as well as ...... of tips. I wish you all a happy double festival~~ During the double festival, the Beiyang Fleet will be interrupted by the Japanese fleet, everyone will support a lot, and there will be a change in the evening!! (To be continued...... RQ！