On December 2, 1850, the Imperial Emperor Long Yufei attended the commissioning ceremony of the "First Emperor", the first ship of the "Qin-class" battleships of the Imperial Navy, at the Guangzhou Military Port. This was the first battleship of the Imperial Navy's 'Qin-class' battleship to enter service. In the next three months, the remaining seven battleships of the 'Qin-class' battleships will also be delivered to the 1st and 5th fleets of the Imperial Navy.

Admiral Sun Hao, chief of the General Staff, Vice Admiral Liu Zhongming, chief of operations, Admiral Wei Yong, commander of the 1st Fleet, Vice Admiral Xu Hai, chief of staff, and Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet, all accompanied the emperor to attend the ceremony.

"The 'Qin-class' battleship is really mighty!" Standing on the dock, looking at the tall and mighty warship, Long Yufei was full of emotion, he never thought that under his leadership, the Chinese Empire could develop to the point where it is now. It was able to build such a powerful warship one step ahead of the West.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" After the Qin-class battleships entered service, the empire had the trump card against the British. According to the information we have received, the British are also actively developing warships with a displacement of tens of thousands of tons. However, it seems that there has not been much progress so far. The 'Qin-class' battleship will definitely make those British jaws drop! Admiral Sun Hao was also smiling.

Long Yufei nodded, with the eight 'Qin-class' battleships in service, the 'Temperary-class improved' cruisers and the 'Tiangang-class improved' destroyers will also be commissioned in the first half of next year. At that time, the strength of the Imperial Navy will once again have a rapid development. The total number of capital ships will be doubled. This would give the Imperial Navy an overall lead over the British Navy.

"Let's go. Let's go on the battleship and see! Long Yufei said. Then he was the first to board the gangway and board the battleship 'The First Emperor'. As the lead ship of the 'Qin-class' battleships, the 'First Emperor' is the most eye-catching. Undoubtedly, it was a tall mast and three twin 280mm guns. A powerful main gun that can tear any advanced warship in the world to shreds.

"A giant ship of tens of thousands of tons, this is really exciting! Lao Wei, I really envy you! Vice Admiral Lu Haipeng, commander of the 5th Fleet, said with envy.

"What is there to envy, wait another two months, and your 5th fleet will also be assigned a warship of the same class!" Admiral Wei Yong said with a smile. A total of eight 'Qin-class' battleships were built, with two main fleets. Four ships were given each.

After visiting the battleship 'Shi Huang', Emperor Long Yufei went to the Guangzhou Shipyard. The Imperial Navy's next class of main battleships, the 'Western Han class' battleships, is under intense construction. Compared to the 'Qin-class' battleships. The 'Western Han class' battleships had a larger displacement, thicker armor, and more powerful firepower. Because the 305-mm gun was still developed, so. The 'Western Han class' battleships will carry five twin 280 mm guns. This will give the 'Western Han class' battleships the most powerful firepower in the world. Once the 'Western Han class' battleship was put into service. The Imperial Navy will once again throw off the British and firmly occupy the first position in the world.

"How long will it take for the 'Western Han class' battleship to be launched? When will I be able to enter the service? Long Yufei asked.

"Your Majesty, according to the current construction schedule, the 'Western Han class' battleships will be launched at the end of 1851. Outfitting and sea trials, it will take about a year. By the end of 1852, the lead ship of the 'Western Han class' battleships would enter service. The remaining seven will also enter service in the first half of 1853! The director of the shipyard said to Long Yufei.

Long Yufei nodded. In order to strengthen the strength of the Imperial Navy and ensure that the Imperial Navy is invincible in future wars. The 'Western Han class' battleships also received an order for eight ships.

In addition to the 'Western Han class' battleships, the more powerful 'Eastern Han class' battleships are also beginning to be designed. According to Long Yufei's requirements, the 'Eastern Han class' battleships will be more powerful, which is not only reflected in the displacement and armor, but also the firepower of the 'Eastern Han class' battleships will also be more powerful. On the 'Eastern Han class' battleships, the Imperial Navy will begin to carry triple 305 mm guns, making the 'Eastern Han class' battleships have more powerful firepower. However, the 'Eastern Han class' battleships do not know when they will be able to start construction, and if they are put into service, it is estimated that they will not be able to wait until 1855 or even 1856. By then, the war may have already begun. If it had been a qiē shun lì, the empire might have won the war.

Although, the capital of the empire was moved to the city of Huaxia. However, Guangzhou was still the largest shipbuilding base and industrial center in the empire. Of course, a new shipyard is being built in the city of Huaxia. The future 'Eastern Han class' battleships will be built in the shipyard located in Huaxia City.

After attending the commissioning ceremony of the battleship "Shihuang" and inspecting the construction progress of the "Western Han class" battleship, Emperor Long Yufei did not stay too much in Guangzhou, but took a special train and prepared to return to Huaxia City by train.

As soon as he got on the train, Long Yufei found that General Luo Hongtao, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, was already waiting for him on the special train. Long Yufei immediately realized that something big had happened. Otherwise, General Luo Hongtao, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, would not have rushed to Guangzhou.

"Majesty!" Admiral Luo Hongtao flew a military salute to Long Yu.

"If there's anything, sit down and talk about it!" Long Yufei said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Admiral Luo Hongtao nodded and sat on a sofa in the special train. Next to him were General Sun Hao, Chief of the General Staff, and Lieutenant General Liu Zhongming, Chief of Operations.

"Your Majesty, according to the latest information we have, after attending the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal, the British Foreign Secretary, the Earl of Granville, and the French Foreign Secretary, Count Valewski, went to London, England, together. In addition, the Russian Foreign Minister, Count Nesherro Die, and the US Secretary of State, Daniel Brown. Webster also secretly arrived in London. Admiral Luo Hongtao said with a stern face.

"The officials in charge of diplomacy from these countries actually went to London. Looks like they've made a big move! Long Yufei frowned.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This secret meeting was presided over by the British. Under the leadership of the British, Britain, France, Russia, and the United States have formed a military alliance, which is called the North Atlantic Military Alliance. Admiral Luo Hongtao continued.

"Haha! It seems that the pressure of the empire has made these countries have to hold together. You don't have to guess to know that their alliance must be aimed at the empire! Long Yufei said with a smile. The alliance of the four parliaments of Britain, France, Russia and the United States has long been expected by him. It's just that he didn't expect it to be so soon. The Suez Canal had just opened, and they couldn't wait to form an alliance.

Admiral Luo Hongtao nodded.

"Your Majesty, this so-called North Atlantic military alliance will probably pose a huge threat to us!" The Chief of the General Staff, General Sun Hao, was a little worried. Although the Chinese Empire is very strong, Britain, France, Russia, and the United States are also powerful countries. Britain and France, in particular, are world-class powers. The military alliance formed by these four countries was enough to pose a substantial threat to the Chinese Empire. Once war breaks out, it may not be easy for the Chinese Empire to win.

Long Yufei nodded, and then said, "Isn't the Foreign Minister in the West?" Since Britain, France, Russia, and the United States want to form an alliance and contain the empire, then the allies of the empire in Europe must have been terrified! Let the Foreign Secretary approach the allies of the Empire and prepare to form the same military alliance against the North Atlantic Military Alliance! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty! We'll do our best to contact the Foreign Secretary! Admiral Luo Hongtao said.

"Chief of Staff, how is the expansion plan going? Now, our enemies have joined forces. It is estimated that it will not be long before the real war will be. When the time comes, the empire must ensure that there is enough military strength to do so. Long Yufei's face was gloomy. Originally, he planned to let the empire develop steadily for a few more years, so that the empire's economic and industrial strength could be raised to a higher level. But now it seems that the enemies of the empire will not give the empire this chance at all!

"Your Majesty, by next year, the Empire's expansion plan will be completed. The army of the empire will be increased by twenty infantry corps, 700,000 men. The size of the Navy's capital ships will also double from what it is now! Whether it's the army or navy, the empire has enough strength to meet the challenges of the enemy! Admiral Sun Hao said.

Long Yufei shook his head: "If the next war breaks out, I'm afraid it will not be a small-scale war, but a world war." If the future empire wants to win the war, it must invest more troops. From now on, the General Staff will begin to establish an effective mobilization plan. Once war breaks out, the empire must be able to obtain a steady stream of troops. In addition, various arsenals also need to step up production and reserve more weapons and ammunition to prepare for future wars! ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Admiral Sun Hao nodded.

Long Yufei knew that the next war broke out might be a world war. This big war will not end anytime soon. This will be a great challenge and test for the empire. The empire must be fully prepared for this. Although, the empire also had allies in Europe. However, the empire was too far away from Europe, and in the event of a war, Europe's allies would be under siege. It will be very difficult for the Empire to rescue them. Therefore, the empire needs to be more powerful.

"Huzi, send a report to the major shipyards of the Navy and ask them to further speed up the construction." Long Yufei said. Because of the approaching crisis, the Imperial Navy also needs more warships.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Li Hu, the chief of the guard, commanded. (To be continued......)

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