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Text Chapter 1075 Archduke Ferdinand

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    "Order all ships to remain on alert. In addition, those warships in the Italian Sea that have been controlled will return immediately. Let the battlecruiser Wang Ben lead a few light cruisers and destroyers to escort these warships back to Port Said!" Admiral Li Haitao  ordered.  Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire is now considered an ally of China, the Austro-Hungarian navy suddenly appeared in this sea area. It is better to remain cautious until their true intentions are clear.  Originally, the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy planned to attack the Italian Navy together with the Austro-Hungarian Navy, but they did not expect that the Italian Navy would seek death on its own, and the Austro-Hungarian Navy also chose to sit back and watch the fight.  Therefore, this made General Li Haitao wary of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  Although, the possibility of the Austro-Hungarian Navy launching an attack on them was very small, almost non-existent.

    "Yes, Commander!" Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Wu Zhiyuan immediately issued the order.  In less than ten minutes, the four captured Italian Navy battleships, as well as some armored cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers, began sailing southeast, preparing to head to Port Said.  Port Said has become an important base for the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet. However, there is no large shipyard and it can only repair some small warships.  Those seriously damaged battleships had to go to the large shipyards in Singapore for repairs.

    The battlecruiser Wang Ben, together with several light cruisers and destroyers, also escorted these captured battleships and also monitored these battleships.  Although the Indian Ocean Fleet has dispatched many officers and soldiers to board the captured warships, and collected the weapons of the Italian naval officers and soldiers on the warships.  But at the moment, the Indian Ocean Fleet does not have enough manpower to drive these warships, so it still has to rely on Italian naval officers and soldiers.  However, they will be monitored by Chinese naval officers and soldiers armed with weapons.

    Several battleships of the Chinese Navy¡¯s Indian Ocean Fleet also adjusted their positions and formed a battle line to remain alert.  At the same time, they contacted the navy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and asked them about their purpose of coming here.

    Appearing in the north of the Chinese Navy¡¯s Indian Ocean Fleet is the Austro-Hungarian Empire¡¯s navy, which consists of four ¡®Joint Forces¡¯ class battleships as the main force, as well as nearly thirty cruisers and destroyers.  After the main fleet of the Italian Navy left Willis and headed south, Archduke Ferdinand personally led the main fleet of the Austro-Hungarian Navy from Astre and bombarded Venice, an important coastal city in northern Italy.  However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy did not take advantage here.  Although the main force of the Italian Navy has left, the Italian Navy's coastal defense forces still have very strong defenses here.  In the Port of Venice, the Italian Navy's coastal defense forces deployed dozens of large-caliber coastal defense guns with very powerful firepower.  Although the Austro-Hungarian Navy destroyed many coastal fortifications of the Italian Navy's coastal defense forces, it also suffered a lot of shells and lost several light cruisers and destroyers.  In order to avoid more losses, Archduke Ferdinand had to lead the Austro-Hungarian Navy to stop the attack on Venice.  However, he did not want to return to Astre.  So he chose to go south.  In Archduke Ferdinand's view, the strength of the Italian Navy's main fleet and the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet should be about the same, and the naval battle between the two sides will definitely be very tragic.  After the Indian Ocean Fleet of the Chinese Navy and the main fleet of the Italian Navy are both damaged, the Austro-Hungarian Navy can wait for a while and take a big advantage.  But he did not expect that when he led the Austro-Hungarian Navy to the battle waters, the battle was already over. Among the six battleships of the Italian Navy, except for two that were sunk, the remaining four all attacked the Chinese Navy.  Surrender.

    On the battleship United Forces, the flagship of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, Archduke Ferdinand regretted it very much.  He had no idea that the Italian Navy would be so vulnerable. The Chinese sank two battleships of the Italian Navy without even sinking a single battleship, and captured four battleships.  If the Austro-Hungarian Navy had not had so many worries before and had directly fought a decisive battle with the Italian Navy, maybe the Austro-Hungarian Navy would have won a brilliant victory.  If the Austro-Hungarian Navy can also capture four Italian Navy battleships, then the Austro-Hungarian Navy can add four powerful battleships and even dominate the entire Mediterranean.

    Archduke Ferdinand was a staunch supporter of the navy. It was with his support that the Austro-Hungarian Navy developed. It was also he who transformed the Austro-Hungarian Empire from a land power to a maritime power and became the overlord of the Mediterranean.  The hope he had always had was now seeing the opportunity slip away from him, which made him very angry.

    Archduke Ferdinand was the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz.  Carl, brother of Emperor Joseph I.  Son of Archduke Ludwig.  The emperor's only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, became the heir to the throne after committing suicide due to mental illness in 1889.  Because he advocated expanding the Austro-Hungarian dual empire consisting of Austria and Hungary into Austria, Hungary and Yugoslavia by annexing the Kingdom of Serbia.The Three Yuan Empire composed of husbands.  After becoming Archduke Ferdinand's deputy commander-in-chief of the Austrian army in 898, he actively promoted the expansion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the Balkans and attempted to establish the United States of Greater Austria.  At the same time, Archduke Ferdinand also actively developed the navy in an attempt to establish the maritime hegemony of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Mediterranean.  Especially after Germany began to build battleships aggressively to challenge Britain's maritime hegemony, the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed suit and built the 'United Forces' class battleships.

    However, due to financial constraints, the Austro-Hungarian Empire only built the ¡®United Forces¡¯ class battleship.  Fortunately, the navies of various countries near the Mediterranean are not very powerful. The four ¡®United Forces¡¯ battleships of the Austro-Hungarian Empire can be considered a very powerful force.

    After the outbreak of the World War, the Austro-Hungarian Empire focused its main energy on the war against Russia. Because the trigger that triggered the war was different, Archduke Ferdinand was not assassinated.  However, the war with Russia on land was handled by the army generals, and Archduke Ferdinand had to work with the naval commander Anton.  Feng.  Together with Admiral House, he commanded the Austro-Hungarian Navy.  However, due to the influence of its strength, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy could only float around in the small pond of the Adriatic Sea.  This time Italy joined the Entente, which was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  But Archduke Ferdinand never expected that he originally wanted to get something cheap, but in the end he couldn't get anything.

    "Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Chinese drove away those captured Italian warships!" Anton.  Feng.  Admiral House came to Archduke Ferdinand and said.  Looking at the departing Italian Navy battleships, his eyes were full of regret.

    "Damn it! Those Italians were so inexperienced that they surrendered to the Chinese so quickly. It is simply a shame for Westerners!" Archduke Ferdinand cursed.

    "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what should we do now? The Chinese have already sent a telegram asking us about our intentions. How should we reply to them?" Anton.  Feng.  Admiral House asked.

    "Damn! Do those yellow-skinned monkeys really regard the Mediterranean as their inland sea? The Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy has the right to sail freely in the Mediterranean. Tell them that the Austro-Hungarian Empire's navy is cruising normally!" Ferdinand  The Archduke said angrily.

    "Well, Your Excellency, China is our ally after all. Moreover, the strength of the Chinese Navy's Indian Ocean Fleet has greatly surpassed ours. We need to ease the relationship with China. In addition, the empire's consumption in the war is very large.  His Majesty the Emperor has already planned to ask China for help and let China transport various combat materials to us through the Mediterranean. If it offends the Chinese navy, it will cause great trouble for the empire's plan." Anton.  Feng.  Admiral House reminded.

    After hearing this, Archduke Ferdinand frowned immediately.  The current Austro-Hungarian Empire is also full of crises. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire is one of the main countries of the Allied Powers, it is actually just a follower of Germany.  Moreover, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's army was weak in combat effectiveness. If it were not for the support of Germany, they would have been defeated by Russia long ago.  Relying on the assistance of the German army, the Austro-Hungarian Army fought several victorious battles and defended its territory.  But now, the betrayal of the Italians has plunged the southwestern border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire into war again.  In addition, the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Greece are also ready to move, and these are always threatening the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  After China's power expanded to the Mediterranean, it was also a huge help to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  At least, the Kingdom of Greece and the Kingdom of Serbia did not dare to act rashly.  China captured Sicily and its navy annihilated the main force of the Italian navy, which shocked these two countries.  If they dare to join the Allies at this time, they will inevitably be besieged by the Austro-Hungarian Empire and China.  With the strength of these two small countries, they simply cannot hold on.  Therefore, the war launched by China in the Mediterranean was a great favor to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

    "Send a telegram to the Chinese to congratulate them on their victory in this naval battle. In addition, I hope to meet with their commander to discuss matters related to jointly resisting the Allied navy in the Mediterranean and attacking Italy!"  Archduke Ferdinand made the right choice after suppressing the anger in his heart.  To be able to become the crown prince of this huge country in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was not a fool. He naturally knew that he could not make small gains at the expense of big gains.
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