This war between the Chinese Empire and the Japanese Empire has attracted the attention of all countries in the world. In particular, the navies of both sides are about to start the world's largest naval showdown since the Battle of Tsushima. Countless naval powers are paying attention to what the actual combat effect of dreadnoughts will be.

After all, before the British Navy's 'Dreadnought' battleship was put into service, the battleships of various navies were all pre-dreadnoughts with two main guns. However, the appearance of the battleship 'Dreadnought' immediately swept a large number of former dreadnoughts equipped by the navies of various countries into the garbage heap. It's just that the strength of the dreadnought is completely based on paper data. The real combat power of the dreadnought has not been tested in real combat.

This time the number of capital ships of the Chinese Navy was small, but two battleships and two battlecruisers were real dreadnoughts. In the face of the former dreadnoughts of the Japanese Navy, what kind of combat power can these dreadnoughts burst out? Almost all maritime powers are waiting to see. Britain, Germany, France, the Kingdom of Italy, the United States and other maritime powers have all sent observation ships to the warring waters to prepare to observe this naval battle, so as to provide a better theoretical basis for their own country's naval development.

Most countries are optimistic about the Japanese Navy, after all, although the Japanese Navy does not have dreadnoughts, they have too many capital ships, more than the Chinese Navy. Coupled with the quality of the Japanese Navy, it is absolutely world-class. The First Sino-Japanese Naval Battle and the Battle of Tsushima, two large-scale naval battles, gave the Japanese Navy an opportunity to exercise. The Japanese Navy, tempered by the flames of war, was definitely much stronger than the Chinese Navy, which had lost a defeat in the First Sino-Japanese Naval Battle.

Of course, this is just popular belief. The German Navy, however, firmly believes that the Chinese Navy will surprise all countries. Although the number of capital ships of the Chinese Navy is small, the German-made battleships have excellent performance. In particular, the defense of the metamorphosis is definitely among the top in the world. If the Chinese Navy adopts the right tactics, it may not be so easy for the Japanese Navy to win.

On the Yellow Sea, a huge fleet is sailing westward. This is the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet, which departed from Sasebo Naval Base and was preparing for a decisive battle with the Chinese Navy. A total of more than seventy warships and supply ships, large and small. It makes this fleet look immense. In the entire Far East, this is undoubtedly the strongest navy deservedly.

On the battleship Katori, the flagship of the Japanese Combined Fleet, the commander of the Combined Fleet, Goro Ijiin, was in high spirits. He also dreamed that one day he would be able to lead the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy to defeat a strong enemy at sea and achieve immortal feats like Admiral Heihachiro Togo. Originally, he thought that after the Battle of Tsushima, the position of the Japanese Navy in the Far East would no longer be challenged, and that he would remain in the position of commander of the Combined Fleet for a few years, and then transfer to another post. Unexpectedly. Now the opportunity has come. Although, in his eyes, the strength of the Chinese Navy is too weak, and there is no comparison with the combined fleet of the Japanese Navy at all. However, if they can win this battle, his status in the Japanese navy will be greatly enhanced.

"Stupid Shina people, the Imperial Japanese Navy will let you know. Who is the master of the Far Eastern Seas. Your naval path has been cut off since the First Sino-Japanese Naval War. Right now. Once again, I will destroy your navy, and you will lose all confidence in reviving your navy. Ijiin Goro muttered to himself.

"Your Excellency, Commander, a telegram from the intelligence services." A staff officer sent a telegram to Goro Ijiin.

After reading the telegram, Admiral Goro Ijiin couldn't help but frown tightly.

"What do you mean by that? Some of the battleships had already left the port, while the others remained in Port Arthur. In the case that it was already inferior to the combined fleet of the Great Japanese Empire, they dared to disperse to use battleships. Isn't this self-defeating? "Ijiin Goro is a little confused.

Although Japan's spy network was strangled in China by the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Security Bureau, the vast majority of the spy network was destroyed. However, the Japanese have been operating in China for many years, and there are still many spies lurking. This time. The war between Japan and the Chinese Empire was very important for Japan. Therefore, the Japanese intelligence agencies once again issued an order to the hidden spies, asking them to fully cooperate with the Japanese Navy and win the battle.

Of course, it is not so easy for these Japanese spies to find out the news. The Empire's Military Intelligence and Security Bureaus have already opened their nets, waiting for them to come to the door. It was also the task of the Military Intelligence and the Security Service to use this war to destroy the Japanese intelligence agencies. These Japanese are too deep. If they hadn't taken the initiative to expose it, it would have been undetectable at all.

"Order our destroyers to go out and search the Yellow Sea for traces of the Chinese people. The main force of the fleet, continue to advance westward. Ijiin Goro ordered. In the vast sea, if you want to destroy the opponent's fleet, you must first find the opponent's warship. For the Navy of this era, it is undoubtedly looking for a needle in a haystack.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." The staff officer nodded, ready to turn and leave.

"By the way, send a telegram to our British allies, asking them to help us with intelligence on the China Navy." Ijiin Goro said.

Britain was an ally of Japan, and the British supported the operation against the Imperial Chinese Navy this time. Therefore, the provision of intelligence support to the Japanese Navy was also promised by the British Navy. When China and Japan declared war, more than 20 warships, large and small, of the British Navy's Far East Fleet, had already entered the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Although they will not directly participate in the war, they will have no problem providing intelligence support to the Japanese Navy.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." The staff officer immediately left.

At this moment, the broken fleet of the Imperial Navy, which was being remembered by Admiral Goro Ijiin, was sailing on the sea. Relying on the advantage of speed and range, the warships of the Imperial Navy could roam freely in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. In addition, more than a dozen German-flagged merchant ships were on standby at sea, providing intelligence to the Imperial Navy on the one hand, and various war supplies for the Imperial Navy on the other. After all, the maximum range of the 'B-class' destroyer is only 6,000 nautical miles, and if it fights at sea for a long time, it will not last long.

On the afternoon of January 24, 4608 (10) of the Yellow Emperor Era, a Japanese merchant ship "Hinomaru" flying the plaster flag was sailing at sea, and this merchant ship was transporting rice from Treasure Island to Japan. Japan has a scarcity of land and has never been self-sufficient in food. After the First Sino-Japanese War and the Treasure Island was obtained from China, the high-quality rice from the Treasure Island became an important supplement to Japan's grain.

"Captain, now that we have entered the Yellow Sea, will we encounter the warships of the Chinese people? When we left the port again, the people from the Ministry of Transport warned us to be careful against the warships of the Chinese people. The first mate of the 'Hinomaru' said with some concern.

"What is there to worry about? The warships of the Chinese must have been cowering in the harbor, and at most they were operating in the western waters of the Yellow Sea. The combined fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy was invincible. The people of China must have been frightened. The captain said nonchalantly.

The captain of the Hinomaru was a veteran of the Sino-Japanese Naval Battle, and after retiring from the army, he became the captain of the merchant ship. He believes that the backbone of the Chinese navy has already been broken in the First Sino-Japanese Naval Battle, and there is nothing to be afraid of at all.

The first mate nodded, as if agreeing with the captain's point of view.

However, in less than half an hour, a small black dot appeared on the sea to the west. Then, the small black dot got closer and closer, and the Japanese sailors on the merchant ship 'Hinomaru' could clearly recognize that it was a warship. On the warship, the blue background dragon flag of the Chinese Navy was hoisted.

"The China Navy, hell, how did you come across the China Navy?" The captain of the merchant ship 'Hinomaru' cursed.

A merchant ship loaded with rice has a speed of only 10 knots, which is impossible at all, and if you want to escape, it is simply impossible.

"Captain, what do you think that's that?" A water pointed to the sea in the distance and shouted.

The captain immediately looked over, but then the whole person was stunned. What appeared in his eyes was a huge battleship like a hill, and compared with this battleship, the capital ships of the Japanese Navy were completely smaller.

"The battleships of the Chinese people, the battleships of the Chinese people are coming." The captain wanted to cry without tears, and he knew that this time he would never be able to escape.

"Commander, the destroyer 'Oichi' has called and found a Japanese merchant ship." On the battlecruiser 'Longyao', the communications officer reported to Admiral Cheng Biguang.

"Let the 'O-ichi' sink the other side, don't waste time, the main fleet of the Japanese Navy has already appeared in the Yellow Sea." Cheng Biguang commanded expressionlessly.

"Yes, Commander." The communications officer nodded.

After receiving the order, the destroyer Oichi rushed to a distance of less than two kilometers from the merchant ship Hinomaru, and the two twin rapid-fire guns on the battleship aimed at the Hinomaru.

"Captain, the people of China are going to open fire on us." The sailors on the Hinomaru exclaimed.

"Bastard, we are merchant ships, and those people dare to attack us." The captain scolded angrily.

"Boom! Rumble! Rumble! ”

The destroyer 'Yiyi' opened fire, and two twin 105-mm guns frantically poured fire on the wooden merchant ship, and in less than five minutes, the merchant ship was hit with holes everywhere and quickly sank into the sea.

The Imperial Navy's raid on the merchant ships and transport ships of the Japanese had already begun. (To be continued.) )

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