On 11 May, when six all-steel battleships of the First Fleet of the Northeast Navy and eight ironclad battleships of the Second Fleet were intercepting the remnants of the Italian fleet, the White House in Washington received a telegram from Manila.

When the staff member in charge of receiving the telegram in the White House saw the contents of the telegram, he immediately jumped up in panic and immediately handed the telegram to Dennis, the director of the White House office.

When Dennis saw the contents of the telegram, his hands suddenly weakened in shock, and he dropped the telegram on the ground, and then he immediately picked up the telegram, took the telegram and ran all the way into the President of the United States, William? McKinley's office exclaimed: "President, it's not good, it's not good, our Asian detachment and the Italian fleet, together with the fleet under Lin Daxin, who bought the Philippines, broke out in a large-scale naval battle in the Gulf of Manila, and the result was ......."

"How did it turn out?" U.S. President William? McKinley immediately asked.

"As a result, our Asian squadron was wiped out in the battle in the Gulf of Manila, Commander George? Major General Dewey was captured. Dennis replied in a deep voice.

"What? Where did you get the news? Is the message accurate? "President William? McKinley suddenly stood up from behind his desk and asked with a panicked face.

Dennis smiled bitterly and said, "This is George, the commander of the Asian detachment? Dewey's telegram to you from Manila, George? Major General Dewey wrote all the situation on the telegram. ”

After saying that, Dennis handed it to President William? The telegram McKinley was holding in his hand.

President William? McKinley hurriedly took the telegram and looked at it carefully, and his body shook a little.

The commander of the Asian detachment, George? Dewey's telegram said. In the naval battle of Manila Bay, 9 of the 12 American warships were sunk. The remaining 3 all-steel battleships were captured by the enemy, more than 3,700 American officers and men were killed or missing, and more than 3,000 others were taken prisoner, and the Italian fleet also suffered heavy casualties, and the remnants of the warship wolf bèi fled.

George? Dewey did not know that the remnants of the Italian fleet had all surrendered to the Northeast Navy, and only 2 fast protection cruisers did not follow the remnants of the main fleet and escaped the fate of being captured.

George? Dewey also said on Telegram. Lin Daxin asked the United States to send people to discuss the joint attack on the Philippines by the United States and Italy. Dewey listened to Lin Daxin's meaning, if Lin Daxin was not satisfied with the result of the discussion. It is likely that he will send a fleet to the Pacific coast of the United States.

U.S. President William? McKinley did not expect that the powerful combined fleet of the U.S. Navy and the Italian Navy would be defeated by a local fleet of a backward country, and that the Asian squadron, which accounted for half of the main force of the U.S. Navy, would be completely wiped out in a naval battle. McKinley even wondered if it was April Fool's Day.

William? McKinley shouted to Dennis, the chief of staff, "Quick! Bring the Vice President, the Secretary of the Army, and the Acting Secretary of the Navy to my office! ”

Now the U.S. war in Cuba is at a stalemate. The U.S. Army attack on the city of San Diego was met with stubborn resistance from the Spanish defenders. Although the Atlantic Detachment of the U.S. Navy had 6 powerful all-steel battleships, 4 large armored cruisers, 4 protective cruisers, and 8 torpedo boats, it did not attack the harbor and the Spanish fleet smoothly in the face of a cobweb-like mine array in the port of San Diego.

In the end, several high-level U.S. government officials reached an agreement and immediately authorized Consul Fidner of the U.S. Consulate in Singapore to rush to Manila as much as possible to discuss a solution to the dispute with Lin Daxin. Rescue more than 3,000 captured U.S. Navy officers and men. If possible, it would be better to redeem 3 captured all-steel battleships.

and hinted that Fidnall must stabilize Lin Daxin. Don't let him send a fleet to the Pacific coast of the United States. Also, William? President McKinley also asked Fidiner to test whether Lin Daxin could sell the Philippines to the United States, which is very important to the United States' global strategic layout.

The British in Singapore were the first to get the news of the outcome of the Battle of Manila Bay, and then immediately transmitted the results of the battle back to Britain. The British were very surprised that Lin Daxin's fleet had a great victory over the powerful combined fleet of the United States and Italy, which had 20 powerful all-steel battleships, as well as 8 large armored cruisers and 6 protective cruisers.

Such a powerful combined fleet was defeated by the Northeast Navy under Lin Daxin, and the strength of Lin Daxin's Northeast Navy made the British Royal Navy, the boss of the world's navy, have some scruples.

After the Northeast Navy's 6 all-steel battleships of the First Fleet and 8 ironclad battleships of the 2nd Fleet escorted the remaining 3 all-steel battleships and 4 large fast cruisers of Italy back to the port of Manila, the whole world was stunned by the results of this naval battle.

The British Royal Navy also began to target Lin Daxin specifically because Lin Daxin's Northeast Navy completely annihilated the combined fleet of the United States and Italy, and captured a large number of all-steel battleships.

The powerful combined fleet of the United States and Italy sank 11 all-steel battleships, 4 large armored cruisers and 4 protective cruisers, captured 9 all-steel battleships and 4 large fast armored cruisers, only the Italian Navy's Chaona and Kuferla, and 2 fast protection cruisers fled all the way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, because Lin Daxin has not declared war with the United States and Italy, and the Chaona and Kufeila easily replenished food and water in Kuala Lumpur, Then the captains of the two warships no longer wanted to stay in sad Asia and went back to the Italian mainland.

Lin Daxin was overjoyed to know that he had captured the remnants of the Italian warships intact and hurried to the port of Manila to admire his spoils.

Lin Daxin happily looked at the six Italian Queen Margaret-class all-steel battleships, three American Illinois-class all-steel battleships, and four Dotnaro-class large fast armored cruisers captured in the harbor.

Lin Daxin turned his head and smiled and said to Sun Xitao, Jiang Chen, and Jiang Hui, the commanders of the three fleets that followed him: "The warships captured this time not only make up for our losses. And the strength of our Northeast Navy has become a little stronger. I have ordered the Fifth Fleet to come to the Philippines and take over the defense of the Philippines, Guam, and Wake Island, and your 3 fleets with 13 large warships that have been captured. Return to Dalian Shipyard and Weihaiwei Shipyard respectively and let the injured warship enter the shipyard for repairs! ”

Jiang Chen frowned and said, "Principal, the strength of the Fifth Fleet is not strong, it is better for us to leave more warships, and the Philippines is not very stable around here!" ”

Lin Daxin thought for a while and nodded: "In this way, the warships that participated in the Battle of the Gulf of Manila are more or less damaged, and there is no dock here in Manila that can accommodate any of your warships." Your damaged warships and captured warships will return to the Qing Dynasty. Guam and Wake Island, which just returned today, eight large general-class fast cruisers remained in Manila, and the other two submarines, the Bayonet and the Sharp Knife, also remained in Manila. Plus the Fifth Fleet. Even the Royal Navy Singapore Fleet in Singapore, and I'm not afraid of them! ”

Jiang Hui, the commander of the Third Fleet, said: "Marshal, then I will stay in Manila, right?" ”

Lin Daxin nodded, and then said to Sun Xitao and Jiang Chen: "Let Wei Han of Dalian Shipyard." and Xu Chi of Weihaiwei Shipyard. If the shipyard is short of manpower, the warships under construction in the shipyard can be stopped first, and Wei Han and Xu Chi can wait for our injured warships to be repaired before continuing to build. ”

Sun Xitao and Jiang Chen nodded.

After that, Lin Daxin returned to the Governor's Palace in Manila from the port terminal in Manila, and at this time, soldiers of the Guards Division reported to Lin Daxin. An American representative came to the Governor's Palace in Manila and asked to see Lin Daxin. When Lin Daxin came to the Philippines. Chen Ergou, the commander of the Guards Division, transferred a regiment from the Guards Division to follow Lin Daxin to protect Lin Daxin's safety, and the Governor's Mansion is currently guarded by the officers and soldiers of this regiment.

After Lin Daxin returned to his office in the Governor's Palace, he instructed Chen Ergou: "Take the commander of the Asian Detachment of the US Navy, George? Major General Dewey, please come to me, and then bring the American representative again! ”

When Fidnall, the consul of the American Consulate in Singapore, was invited into Lin Daxin's office, he found that in addition to several Qing Dynasty soldiers in black uniforms, there was also an American wearing a rear admiral's uniform of the United States Navy.

Lin Daxin smiled and said in English: "Mr. American representative, I am Lin Daxin from the Philippines, and this is the commander of your American compatriot Asian detachment, George?" Major General Dewey! ”

Fidnal immediately bowed and said, "Governor Lin, Major General, hello! I am the Consul of the American Consulate in Singapore, Fidnar. I was authorized by the U.S. government to come to Manila to deal with our dispute! I hope we can solve the problem satisfactorily! ”

Lin Daxin nodded, then took out a piece of paper on the desk and handed it to Fidnar, "Mr. Consul, this is my request, as long as you and the United States agree, I very much hope that my four northeastern provinces and the Philippines can be friends with you America." ”

Fidnall took the paper handed over by Lin Daxin and looked down to see that there was an agreement written in Chinese and English. After looking at it from beginning to end, a look of surprise leaked from his face, and then he raised his head and said calmly, "Governor Lin, can you let me talk to Mr. Major General alone?" ”

Lin Daxin nodded and said to the 1 adjutant in the office: "Arrange a quiet room for Mr. Consul and Mr. Major General!" ”

The adjutant nodded and said, "Yes!" Handsome! ”

And then to Fidnar and George? Dewey said in English, "Two gentlemen, please come here!" Then he walked out of Lin Daxin's office with two people.

These adjutants are the adjutants of Lin Daxin's governor's palace in the four northeastern provinces, and each of them was selected in the entire Dingbei Army and the Northeast Navy, not only to help Lin Daxin deal with some daily official business, but also to be responsible for Lin Daxin's last layer of security work, all of which have been specially trained to block bullets. Lin Daxin, such an adjutant, has 16 people around him, and only 6 people came to the Philippines this time, and the military ranks of these adjutants are currently captain.

The adjutant led Fidnall and George? When Dewey arrived in an unoccupied room, the adjutant exited the room and closed the door casually.

Fidner facing George after the door closed? Dewey said: "Mr. Major General, let me ask you at home, does our United States still have a chance to obtain the Philippines?" ”

George? Dewey smiled bitterly and said: "The Philippines, we in the United States don't think about it, the problem now is that we must immediately reach an understanding with Lin Daxin and prevent that Lin Daxin from sending a fleet to the Pacific coast of our United States!" If that happens, it will be a disaster for us in the United States! ”

Fidnall frowned and said, "Mr. President sent me a telegram and also ordered me to reach a settlement with Lin Daxin!" Mr. Major General, the Philippines is very important to us in the United States, and since the Philippines can no longer be obtained by force, can we buy the Philippines from Lin Daxin? ”

George? Dewey shook his head and said: "According to what I know after I came to Asia, Lin Daxin is a super-rich man, and he is even known as the richest man in the world, and he will not sell the Philippines, which has 1.5 million Chinese!" ”

Fidnall said with some surprise: "Mr. Rear Admiral, I am personally very curious, how strong is the fleet under Lin Daxin?" We in the United States still have six all-steel battleships in Cuba, and in the next two years there will be eight new all-steel battleships in service. ”

George? Dewey shrugged his shoulders and said: "Mr. Consul, maybe you don't know that Lin Daxin's fleet captured not only our 3 American all-steel battleships, but also 6 Queen Margaret-class all-steel battleships of the Italian Navy. When these warships captured by Lin Daxin join his fleet, he will have 18 all-steel battleships, and he will also have 12 ironclad battleships that have been modified and are not inferior in combat power to ordinary all-steel battleships! ”

Fidnall asked: "Is there any hope that our 3 all-steel battleships captured by the United States will be redeemed from Lin Daxin?" ”

George? Dewey said: "I think there is very little hope, Lin Daxin is really not short of money!" ”

Fidnall sighed and said: "It seems that I can only agree to Lin Daxin's requests, but fortunately he didn't put forward any excessive conditions." (To be continued......)