On the battleship 'Fuxi', the flagship of the Imperial Navy, Marshal Cheng Biguang was listening to the battle reports from the front. The detachment and the 2nd battleship detachment combined to inflict heavy damage on the British Navy's battle cruiser detachment in one fell swoop, sinking six battlecruisers and a number of heavy cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers. It can be said that the Imperial Navy made a good start to this naval battle.

"Marshal, the British have already lost six battle cruisers, including two formidable 'Admiral-class' battle cruisers. There are only 18 capital ships left in the British Navy. And we lost only one, we already have three more than the British in this regard. Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong, chief of staff, said with a happy face.

Everyone knows very well that this naval battle is very important, and they all want to desperately win this naval battle. However, even before the start of the naval battle, everyone was confident. But who will be able to pack a ticket until the naval battle is over? After all, the strength of the enemy is strong. At the same time, there are too many uncertainties in naval warfare. Any small factor can lead to a complete defeat in a naval battle.

"Well, General Lee, they did a good job this time. Having dealt with the six battlecruisers of the British, our odds were undoubtedly much greater. As long as you plan carefully, you may not be able to win this naval battle. Marshal Cheng Biguang said.

Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong also nodded, he also knew this truth. Before the end of the naval battle, the words could not be too full. Otherwise, once an accident happens, it will not end well.

"Send a telegram to General Lee and pursue them in the direction where David Beatty had fled. The main force of the British should be in that direction. Cheng Biguang and Yuan Shuai ordered. After solving the six battle cruisers of the British Navy, the chances of victory for the Imperial Navy were undoubtedly much greater.

"Yes. Marshal. Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong nodded.

"Order the main fleet, speed up. The distance between us and the detachment was reduced to within twenty nautical miles. As soon as the British are spotted, they will attack immediately. This time, we won't give them any more chances. Marshal Cheng Biguang said. The strength of the Imperial Navy is now stronger than that of the British Navy. In particular, the 'Three Emperor-class' battleships have already achieved such a great victory before they have entered the battle. Next, as long as the fight continues step by step, the Imperial Navy should easily win the final victory.

"Yes, Marshal." Lieutenant General Liu Guanxiong immediately conveyed the order.

The main fleet of the Imperial Navy, consisting of three 'Three Emperor-class' battleships, two 'Pinghai-class' battleships and four 'Zhonghua-class' battleships, also began to accelerate. The British Navy, although with heavy losses. However, they still have a total of eighteen capital ships, which is still not to be underestimated. Slight negligence. This could lead to the loss of the Imperial Navy's efforts in this crucial naval battle.

The battlecruisers "Hood" and "Howe", protected by two 'Danae-class' light cruisers and two 'R-class' destroyers, quickly fled north. The current Marshal David Beatty no longer has the same vigor as when he led the battle cruiser detachment to set off. Instead, it is like a lost dog.

The powerful expeditionary fleet battlecruiser detachment, now there are only two battlecruisers left. This made Marshal David Beatty even want to die. At the time of the Battle of Jutland, it was also the battle cruiser detachment he led that paid a heavy price. And this time. Not only did he fail to prove himself, but he also paid a greater loss.

On the battlecruiser 'Hood'. Marshal David Betty stood on the bridge with a gloomy face. He regretted it a little now. If he had known, he should not have been so conceited and arbitrary. If he had not led the battle cruiser detachment alone, but acted with the main fleet. Perhaps, there would not have been this fiasco. If the British Navy's expeditionary fleet had not divided its forces, it was still unknown who would have killed the deer. It's just that. It's too late to say that now.

"Marshal, a telegram from the battlecruiser 'Royal Princess'. Their battleship was already badly damaged, the waterline armor had been pierced in several places, and the battleship was already about to sink. 'Anson'. The Rodney and the Tiger had already sunk before the Royal Princess sank. A staff officer reported to Field Marshal David Beatty.

"I see!" David Betty nodded. His eyes were closed. The sinking of six battle cruisers was undoubtedly a heavy blow for him. This inevitably made him feel remorseful. After all, such losses are already very large.

"No, I haven't lost yet, the expeditionary fleet still has eighteen capital ships, we and the Chinese, and we still have the strength to fight." If we're lucky, we won't be able to win. Marshal David Beatty thought to himself.

He knew that the fate of the Royal Navy and the British Empire was in his hands. If he conceded defeat now, the British Empire would be doomed. For the future of the British Empire, he had no choice but to fight to the death. Not to mention, as he said, the Royal Navy expeditionary fleet, although it suffered heavy losses. However, the number of capital ships in his hands is still quite large. It's enough to fight with the Chinese Navy. With a bit of luck, it's entirely possible to turn the tide.

"Send a telegram to Admiral Charles Marden, asking him to lead the main fleet and approach the sea fifty nautical miles south of Ceylon, where we will rendezvous. After accumulating the strength of the motherland, he will fight to the death with the Chinese. Marshal David Betty ordered. He wasn't one to give in easily. Especially at this time, even more so.

"Yes, Your Excellency." The staff officer immediately went to telegraph.

About a hundred nautical miles west of Ceylon, a huge fleet is sailing on the sea. The core of the fleet is the capital ships that seem to float on the surface of the sea. Including five 'Revenge class' battleships of the Royal Navy, five 'Queen Elizabeth class' battleships, and four 'Iron Duke class' battleships. This is the workhorse of the Royal Navy.

The detachment of battle cruisers led by Marshal David Betty was so fast that the main fleet led by Admiral Charles Marden was left far behind. This made Admiral Charles Madden a little worried, fearing that the battle cruiser detachment under Marshal David Betty would suffer. After all, this time the opponent is the Chinese. The strength of the Chinese Navy is no worse than that of the Germans, the opponent of the British Navy in the Battle of Jutland, or even stronger.

Unfortunately, Marshal David Betty did not heed his advice. This left General Charles Marden helpless and could only pray to God secretly. Pray for God to bless the Royal Navy and bless the British Empire.

Admiral Charles Madden was apprehensive after receiving a telegram from Marshal David Betty purporting an encounter with a detachment of the Chinese Navy. The Chinese navy may not be as easy to deal with as David Betty imagined.

Sure enough, a telegram was soon received that the battle patrol detachment had suffered a loss, and the battlecruiser 'Queen Mary' had been sunk.

In order to strengthen the battle cruiser detachment, General Charles Marden ordered two 'prestige' battle cruisers to rush to support.

The tonnage of the 'prestige-class' battlecruisers was relatively small, only more than 32,000 tons, which was more than 1,000 tons less than even the 'Tiger' battlecruisers. However, the 'prestige' battlecruisers took both firepower and high speed to the extreme. The Prestige-class battlecruisers reached a speed of 31.5 knots, which was slightly faster than the Admiral-class battlecruisers. However, in order to maintain this speed, only three twin 381 mm guns were deployed, which was one less than the 'Admiral' battlecruisers. In terms of defense, the 'Prestige' battlecruisers were even weaker. The deck armor was only 64 mm, the thickest part of the waterline armor was only 178 mm, the turret armor was only 229 mm, and the conning tower armor was only 254 mm. Such armor is extremely weak part-time. However, this was also in line with the usual philosophy of the British Navy's battlecruisers, which was to have a thin crust and a big filling.

Even the Chinese Navy's 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers were able to tear through their weak armor with ease. Of course, the 381mm main guns of the 'Prestige-class' battlecruisers can also tear through the armor of the 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers. However, if the 'Prestige-class' battlecruisers and the 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers go head-to-head, the 'Longyao-class' with its four-seat twin main guns seems to have a slight advantage! With one more main turret, the firepower will be stronger, and the probability of hitting the opponent will naturally be higher.

Shortly after dispatching the 'Prestige' battleship, Admiral Charles Madden received a new telegram. However, after reading the telegram, General Charles Madden was completely dumbfounded.

"'Anson', 'Rodney', 'Tiger', 'Princess Royal', 'Lion', 'Queen Mary' were sunk. How is this possible? Charles Madden could not believe the result either. After all, the battle patrol detachment led by Marshal David Betty had eight powerful battle cruisers! The speed of the battlecruiser is originally an advantage, even if you can't beat the opponent, you can escape with the speed advantage, how can you lose so badly?

Charles Madden would know that Marshal David Betty would not joke about it. He knew that the Royal Navy, or rather the British Empire, was probably in trouble this time. (To be continued.) )

PS: The forty-fourth is here, ask for a monthly pass and a reward!