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Piaotian Literature of the Fourth Empire of China www.piaotia.com Chapter 447 The Three Kingdoms United Fleet Sets Sail

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    "Your Majesty, the Imperial Army has suffered heavy losses in this war, losing a quarter of its troops. The empire's finances have fallen into an unsustainable state. If possible, can you consider starting from  Retreat from Eastern Siberia and trade space for time. In this way, the pressure on logistics can also be reduced!" said the Russian Prime Minister, Sergei Vitte.  Russia is the country with the largest land area in the world, but now, this has caused a lot of trouble for the Russian army.  Although some sections of the Trans-Siberian Railway are open to traffic, their capacity is limited.  This makes it take a long time for the Russian support troops and logistics supplies to reach Irkutsk.  If it can retreat westward and shorten the logistics supply line, this will be very beneficial to the Russian army.  At the same time, it can also increase the logistical pressure on China, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.  Sergey Witte saw this and made such a suggestion.

    "What? Take the initiative to retreat? How can this be done? These lands were captured little by little by our ancestors, how can we give up on our own initiative! No, this is absolutely not possible!" Tsar Nicholas II said stubbornly.  The Russian royal family has an unimaginable obsession with land.  This is also the reason why Russia has been able to develop from a small European country to the largest country in the world in terms of territory.

    "Your Majesty, this is only temporary! After the navy defeats the Chinese navy, we will be able to launch a counterattack, defeat the Chinese in one fell swoop and regain the lost land!" Army Minister Alexey Nikolayevich Kuropa  Turgeon also advised.

    However, Tsar Nicholas II hesitated and shook his head.

    "Now, the whole of Europe and even the whole world are watching Russia's jokes. If we take the initiative to retreat, it will make Russia the laughing stock of the whole world. This is absolutely not possible! If there is a lack of troops on the front line, then we will send more troops.  Send more troops from Europe! If that's not enough, we can arm more troops!" Tsar Nicholas II was very stubborn.

    "Your Majesty, we must leave enough troops in Europe to guard against the Germans and the Austro-Hungarian Empire! Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire have very close relations with China, and they have always coveted the empire's territory.  If the empire draws a large number of troops from Europe, doesn't that give them a chance?" Sergey Witte said.

    "Hmph! The Germans and the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Do they dare to attack the empire at this time? If they dare, Britain and France will definitely not sit idly by! The Germans will at most make us and the Chinese lose out. They  If you really want to start a war, I'm afraid you won't have the courage!" Tsar Nicholas II said disdainfully.  Although he is a little stubborn and willful, he is not a fool.  The current war with China is not just a matter of Russia, but also involves Britain and France.  If Germany dares to act rashly at this time, Britain and France will definitely attack Germany.  Even though Germany is getting stronger and stronger now, if it is fighting Britain, France and Russia at the same time.  Germany certainly has no confidence in winning.  So, before you are completely sure.  Germany will not launch an attack on Russia.

    Nicholas II brought up this reason, and Sergey Vitte had to shut up.  He did not want to see a large number of Russian soldiers, like cattle, being driven onto the battlefield and then killed by the Chinese.  However, Nicholas II had made up his mind and there was nothing he could do.  As for the financial pressure, with a large loan from the UK, it can be sustained for a while.  As for how to return it in the future, it is difficult to say.  If China is defeated and a large amount of war compensation can be obtained from China, then it will be easy to solve it together.  If it fails, there is nothing you can do.

    "Don't worry! Although the Imperial Army suffered miserably in the previous war, we will not continue to lose. I believe that Grand Duke Nicholas, as long as he has enough troops and logistical support, he will be able to give us  What a surprise!" said Tsar Nicholas II.  I don¡¯t know how he came to this conclusion, or maybe it was just his imagination.

    Britain also had to adjust its plan because of Russia's disastrous defeat in Ulan-Ude.  Britain is really worried that Russia will make peace with China alone because of heavy losses.  In that case all British plans would be useless.  In order to cheer up Russia, Britain decided that the three-nation joint fleet, which had been prepared, would conduct an expedition to China as soon as possible to seize maritime hegemony in one fell swoop and lay the foundation for defeating China.

    On the evening of April 27, London time, the Prime Minister, the Marquess of Salisbury, summoned Lord Walter Kerr, the Lord Admiralty Minister, to inquire about the specific plan for the three-nation joint fleet expedition to China.

    "Have all the warships from all countries arrived now? When can they?" asked the Marquis of Salisbury.

    "Your Excellency Prime Minister, all fleets from all countries have arrived, and all haveThe troops gathered at the Portsmouth naval port.  Including our nineteen battleships, the Russians' ten battleships, and the French's five armored cruisers.  A total of twenty-nine battleships, ten armored cruisers, forty-five cruisers, seventy-two destroyers, and twenty transport ships.  Your Excellency, this is definitely the most powerful fleet ever built.  I have full confidence in them. This time, we will definitely be able to defeat the Chinese Navy!  Lord Walter Kerr, the Lord Admiralty, said with pride. Although this is a joint fleet composed of three European countries, it is led by the United Kingdom. The commander of the fleet is also a British commander, led by the British Admiral.  Sir Algernon MacLennan Lyons became the commander of the combined fleet. The deputy commander was the Grand Admiral of the Russian Navy, Grand Duke Alexandrovich. After all, the Russian Navy sent ten battleships, so he should be in this position. The fleet's  The Chief of Staff is still held by the British Navy, and is held by Admiral Sir Frederick William Richards. Originally, this position should be assigned to the French. However, the proportion of the French Navy in the Combined Fleet is actually  Too small. At the same time, most of the materials used by the combined fleet are from the United Kingdom. The position of chief of staff is very suitable for the British to hold. Although France is somewhat dissatisfied with this, it does not have too many  Calculate. Who told the French Navy to embark on the wrong path? When all countries were desperately developing battleships, they instead developed cruisers and torpedo ships, which resulted in the current bitter consequences. Even if the French Navy starts to catch up from now on  , it will probably take a lot of time to return to the ranks of the world's naval powers.

    "I am very happy that you have such confidence! Then, I wish you a triumphant return." The Marquis of Salisbury said with a smile.  Russia's successive defeats put great pressure on Britain.  The British House of Lords and House of Commons have already questioned the Marquess of Salisbury. If the Navy cannot win, he may be ousted again.

    "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, please rest assured that the Navy will definitely win!" Lord Walter Kerr, Lord Admiralty Minister, assured.  Although he had no factual basis, anyone would feel strong confidence if they saw the huge steel fleets parked in Portsmouth Military Port.  Although the Chinese naval warships are advanced, the combined fleet of the three countries has an overwhelming advantage in terms of numbers.

    "So, what's the specific battle plan? Singapore has fallen, and the navy is in the Far East. There will be no place for supplies! If the Chinese navy avoids fighting, I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble!" Salisbury  The Marquis raised his own question.  Originally, the British wanted to use Singapore as a supply base.  However, China captured Singapore first.  This allowed the Far East fleets of the three countries to complete their last supply in India.

    "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, we have already considered this issue. There are twenty large transport ships in the fleet for this reason. Moreover, our fleet can be obtained in Gibraltar, Suez Canal, and India.  Supplies. As long as you pass through the Strait of Malacca and enter the South China Sea, there will be no supplies. At this time, the supplies carried by the large transport ships are enough for the fleet. As for the Chinese who avoid fighting, we will not give them this opportunity.  .After entering the South China Sea, if the Chinese dare not fight us, the fleet will go directly to Beihai City in China. Here and nearby are important shipbuilding bases for the Chinese Navy. If this place is destroyed, China's shipbuilding strength will be greatly reduced.  It will be a big discount. If the Chinese don¡¯t dare to fight, we don¡¯t mind going all the way north and turning all China¡¯s coastal cities into ruins, just like they did in Japan!¡± Lord Walter Kerr, Lord Admiralty, said with a smile.

    "Okay, this plan is very good! In this case, I feel relieved!" The Marquis of Salisbury's face was full of smiles, and the wrinkles on his face looked like a chrysanthemum.

    "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, we also urge the British to urge the Americans! The United States and China have declared war for so long, but they have remained silent! Such behavior is a complete betrayal of the Pacific Alliance!" said Lord Walter Kerr, the Lord of the Admiralty.

    "I will summon the American Ambassador to the United Kingdom tomorrow!" The Marquis of Salisbury flashed a flash of anger. This rogue behavior of the United States also made him very dissatisfied.

    On the morning of April 28, the combined fleet composed of Britain, France and Russia set out from Portsmouth Military Port and sailed into the ocean.  They will cross the Strait of Gibraltar, enter the Mediterranean Sea, and then enter the Indian Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea. After India completes supplies, they will go directly to the Strait of Malacca and enter the South China Sea, and have a decisive battle with the Chinese Navy!  (To be continued.)

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