Chapter 118 Seducing the Enemy

With Li Mo's departure, Zhiyuan finally sank in the violent explosion, and the battle ahead finally reached the most critical moment.

At 15:04, the flagship of Beiyang Marine Division Dingyuan was shot and caught fire.

At 15:20, four cruisers from the vanguard of the first guerrilla fleet surrounded Zhiyuan, causing Zhiyuan to sink, and Deng Shichang died.

At 15:25, after the sinking of Zhiyuan, Jiyuan and Guangjia suddenly turned around and left the combat area, driving the whole Beiyang Fleet formation into chaos.

At 15:30, Songdao, the flagship of the Combined Fleet, was hit and caused an explosion of ammunition piled up on the deck.

At 15:45, Dingyuan was besieged by many ships of Yoshino and Naniwa. The hull was shot in many places and unable to command the battle.

At 16:10, the Beiyang Marine Division Jingyuan was injured, withdrew from the battle, and sailed to Dalu Island. The flagship Matsushima also sent a signal of "the movement of each ship" at the same time, representing that the Beiyang Marine Division has completely entered the stage of their respective battles.

However, Yidong Hengyou did not expect that after the Beiyang ships fighting each other were forced to the desperate road, they became more and more brave, especially Zhenyuan. Under the leadership of Lin Zengtai, he not only blocked most of the fire of the ship against Dingyuan, but also assisted Dingyuan to put out the fire, and took the initiative to launch a fierce attack on the enemy.

Under its leadership, the 305mm cannons of Zhenyuan and Dingyuan continued to hit the ship's main battle, and immediately hit several warships in this battle, forcing the Yan Dao to withdraw from the battle for a while.

At 17:05, Jingyuan and Laiyuan recovered part of their combat effectiveness after emergency repair, and then threw themselves into the war again. Jingyuan saw that Dingyuan was no longer unable to command the battle, so he had no choice but to raise the command flag and began to collect the ships.

At this time, six small torpedo ships, including Pingyuan and Guangbing, which had been fighting on the periphery, surrounded them one after another after seeing the flagship signal. Reconsolidate the situation.

At 17:30, Jingyuan sank, but the fleet also paid a lot of price. Although it was said that it had not sunk, the waves lost its combat effectiveness. The flagships Matsushima, Yoshino and Birui were broken, Akagi and Nishikyomaru were small, and the rest of the ships were also scarred.

Especially the two giant ships, Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, left a deep impact on the ships of the Japanese navy. In the face of the siege of four or five warships, it was a sneak attack. Moreover, Dingyuan still failed to sink the other side when he lost the front main gun soon after the beginning. With two shells hit the No. 4 gun position of Songdao. It caused a fire and caused the deck to tilt, and almost fell into the same command chaos as the Beiyang Marine Division. Ito Hengyou also had to order the Matsushima to temporarily leave the battle.

17:40, seeing that the results could not be expanded, Ito Hengyou first sent a signal to leave the battle, and then did not wait for the four forwards of the first guerrillas to come back, so he began to withdraw south with the main array. At the same time, the four cruisers led by Yoshino also quickly left the battle, and soon caught up with the front. .

The six ships of the Beiyang Fleet, Ding, Zhen, Jing, Lai, Ping and C once rose up to chase, but in front of the high-speed Japanese fleet, they finally gave up the pursuit and watched the ship escape.

So far, this battle, which lasted nearly five hours, is known as the largest after entering the steam era. The most fierce battle has ended, and the naval battle has also had a far-reaching impact on the navies of various countries. As a result of the main battle of the navy, the ship Nishikyomaru was destroyed and almost sank. Yoshino, Birui and Akagi were seriously injured, Matsushima lost its combat effectiveness, and other ships were also severely damaged. The Beiyang Fleet was far away, Jingyuan, super brave, and Yangwei sank. After escaping, it was stranded and destroyed, and the rest of the ships were seriously injured.

A British naval battle expert in later generations once commented: "The result of the Dadonggou naval battle is the product of the ignorance of the naval battle theory of both sides: if I knew more about the naval warfare theory, I would not dare to challenge the Beiyang Fleet with stronger strength and indestructible ironclad ships; and false If the Beiyang Fleet knows more about the theory of naval warfare, how can it still be defeated by a "score" of 0:5 with a large ship cannon?

As the Beiyang Marine Division gathered the fleet and began to return, several naval observation ships of various countries under the banner of neutrality, which had been paying attention to this naval battle, also returned one after another. Whether it was the Beiyang Marine Division or the observation ships of the great powers, they did not notice that the two had been looking at the battlefield from afar, hanging the flag of Chile and neutrality. The destroyer of the flag has followed the Japanese fleet.

"It's our turn!"

In the battle room of the North Star, Chen Ping threw the wooden boat in his hand and took a deep breath.

At the same time, Long Guozhang also quickly stood up and strode to the flagship bridge above. As the commanders of the ships left one after another, only ten minutes after the end of the Battle of the Yellow Sea, the Pacific Fleet rose to anchor and set sail.

Thirty minutes later, the two ships of the Sky Survey and the Sea began to accelerate and raise the Qing Dragon Flag. One horse took the lead in blocking the retreat route of the Japanese fleet--

The flagship of the joint fleet, the Matsushima.

Idong Hengyou exhaled, looked at several warships with black smoke around him, and frowned.

Although he was the winner of this naval battle, the image left by the Beiyang Marine Division was too profound, especially the two ironclads. Although the speed was a little slow, relying on the tonnage, cannon caliber, rough and thick armor, they actually survived under their carefully arranged tactics and gave themselves to their flagship. It's unforgivable to cause harm!

"Fack!" Idong Hengyou scolded, and then turned to Omoto, who was blackened by ash, and said, "Omoto, as an excellent officer who has studied in France, what do you think of this battle?"

"Mr. Commander." After knowing that he had a salute, Omoto continued to say, "With all due respect, although our warships are fast and the speed of artillery has suppressed the Beiyang Fleet, at the same time, we lack decisive decisive power and large warships such as Dingyuan and Zhenyuan of the China Fleet. I believe you have seen that although we have gained more advantages in the naval battle, we still can't sink two large warships. If it hadn't been for their command, something would have gone wrong. I believe it would have been a more difficult battle!"

Idong Hengyou nodded and agreed, "Yes, if we also have two large ironclad ships, I believe that our combined fleet of the Empire can completely annihet the Beiyang Fleet!"

"Yes, sir. Therefore, I suggest that the Admiralty should immediately take His Majesty the Emperor's suggestion to introduce that kind of 10,000-ton battleship. Now that countries are expanding their navies on a large scale, we can't lag behind this time!"

"Mr. Omoto said very much, but don't worry, His Majesty the Emperor had ordered two larger capital ships from Britain a few months ago than the Chinese people. I believe that the day when the empire took off is coming!" After saying that, Ito Hengyou laughed and said, "Maybe Mr. Omoto will be the captain of the first battleship in our country!"

"Thank you for your praise." Hearing that he had ordered two battleships larger than Dingyuan Town, Omoto knew that he had forgotten the bitter battle just now and shouted excitedly, "It is Omoto's lifelong goal to be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Yo Xi!" Idong Hengyou laughed, but before he finished laughing, the shouts of the mast sentry came to his ear. Two Chinese cruisers were found at two o'clock!"

"Fack!" Yidong Hengyou scolded, "Nonsense, how can there be a cruiser here? Can their warships fly? You can go around in front of us!"

Omoto also quickly raised the telescope, but the head tower flyover is much shorter than the mast. He can only see a few columns of smoke, and he can't see the national flag hanging by the other party.

"I think it may be that the battle just now made the soldiers too nervous. Please calm down." Omoto knew that he couldn't see clearly, so he put down the telescope first, but he didn't believe that there would be a Daqing cruiser here, so he quickly persuaded him.

This is the sudden signal that Yoshino, which has been in the front, suddenly hit the enemy. At the same time, the two ships, Akitsuzhou and Takachiho, also began to accelerate at the same time, ready to intercept the enemy. The Wave Speed, which originally belonged to the guerrilla group, had to follow the front slowly because of serious injury.

At this time, Idong Hengyou really believed that he had really met the Chinese warship. Is it the two Chinese warships that broke away first? Omoto knew that he remembered the Jiyuan and Guangjia that suddenly turned away during the battle, and said subconsciously.

"Fack! The two warships want to ambush our joint fleet. They really underestimate us!" As the distance got closer and closer, Yidong Hengyou cursed and raised the telescope at the same time.

However, when he saw the two warships that had appeared on the horizon, he was stunned. After searching for a long time, he didn't remember which list of warships he had seen, and there were photos of these two warships.

Omoto knew that he was also stunned, but compared with Ito Hengyou's frown, Omoto felt that the two warships were a little familiar, but he couldn't remember them for a while.

"Report, the Chilean lightning strike ship is back!"

At this time, the staff came to report that the Chilean lightning striker, which had been following the fleet since its departure, returned to the left side of the fleet. At the same time, another mine attack ship of the same class, which also flew the Chilean flag, appeared on the right side of the rear of the fleet.

Seeing the high-floating Chilean navy flag, Omoto suddenly remembered the Chilean navy that had visited not long ago. He thought that as a liaison officer, he had personally boarded the other party's three cruisers to visit. Isn't it the two of them that appeared in front of him at this time?

Omoto knew it and immediately shouted, "Commander, those are two Chilean warships."

"No, it's a Chilean warship bought by the Chinese!" Omoto's words reminded Ito Hengyou of the fact that the Chilean navy came to promote warships. At this time, he saw the dragon flags flying by the two warships, and finally knew why the bearded Chilean officer said that the two warships had already bought!

It turned out that the buyer was from China. No wonder he increased the price no matter how he was, and the other party did not agree to sell these two warships. In the end, he only got the other three older cruisers.

Since you can't buy it, just sink it! Yidong Youheng showed a cruel smile at the corners of his mouth and ordered, "Order the first guerrillas to use the speed to drag them down, and be sure to arrive until this time."

"Yes."

With the order of Ito Yuheng, the accelerated Yoshino, Akitsusu and Takachiho were immediately changed to a fan-shaped formation.

"Wow, the little Japanese still look up to us." In the overpass of the command tower of the Sky Survey, Xiao Zhitian held up his telescope and looked at the three Japanese cruisers, laughing at the same way.

"Left rudder, full speed! Inform the sea patrol, follow me to seize the T position, prepare for each gun position, and fight!"

With the signal of the Sky Survey, the Sea Survey followed the Sky Survey like a shadow to hang a beautiful arc on the sea, forming a beautiful T with the Yoshino, which took the lead.

"The distance is 6,300 meters, and the speed of the enemy ship is 20 knots." The first mate of the Sky Survey took the telephone, stared at the Yoshino, and shouted.

"six thousand meters!"

"Five thousand meters!"

"Four kilometers! Enter the range!" With the voice of the first mate, the guns kept adjusting their posture according to the instructions.

When the first mate reported to enter the range, Xiao Zhitian blushed and stamped his feet and shouted. Fire the gun! Hit me hard! Let Xiao Yuben know the strength of our Pacific Fleet!"

Several staff officers behind him had white eyes and wanted to tell the boss that now we are hanging the Qing Dragon Flag, saying that I didn't know that we were the Pacific Fleet.

However, the captain of the ship at this time is very popular, especially the Pacific Fleet is now popular with Li's flying feet, so the staff have to watch the captain jump up and down like a monkey without demeanor.

As soon as the voice fell, the main gun roared at the same time before and after the Sky Survey, and the Sea Patrol also broke out two loud noises. As the main gun opened fire, the other secondary guns were also full of fire, and steel whirlwinds swept the nearest Yoshino like raindrops.

The two ships, the Sky Survey and the Sea Patrol, were originally the cutting-edge Dome Cruiser ordered by the Chilean Navy in France. Although the displacement is only half of the Yoshino, the firepower is not weak. In addition to a 150mm main gun installed in the four earbuds in the front and rear, a 120mm single-tube rapid fire is also installed in the front and rear. Cannon, in this way, after seizing the T position, you can have four cannons of more than 100mm at the same time, plus two 57mm rapid-fire guns installed on both sides, each ship can fire six guns at the same time.

The two warships were twelve guns. At this time, Yoshino was still using the bow posture against the enemy. Only three guns could fire. Suddenly, it fell into passivity, and the bow was hit by fire.

As the distance got closer and closer, there was a rainstorm all around Yoshino, and thick columns of water rose to the sky. Fortunately, the tonnage of this warship, which has just been launched, is larger than that of the cruiser and the cruiser of the sea combined, so it can still support it for a while in the face of heavy rain attacks.

At this time, the two-winged Akizusu and Takachiho rushed up quickly, and immediately the shells flew across the sea, and the pressure of the two ships, the sky patrol and the sea patrol suddenly increased greatly.

"Boom!"

A shell hit the port side of the Sky Surveyor, which made the warship tremble suddenly. After Xiao Zhitian stabilized himself, he raised his binoculars and looked at the three Japanese cruisers getting closer and closer. He smiled grimly, "Left rudder, retreat at full speed as planned, and the tail gun hit me hard!"

With the order, the Sea Patrol and the Sky Patrol drew a huge arc at the same time, turned the rudder and began to retreat, and the main gun of the ship also began to roar.

"Won to run!"

Seeing the two prey turning at the same time, Yidong Hengyou sneered and couldn't sink the two giant ships, Dingyuan and Zhenyuan, which made him very regretful. Although the naval battle gained an advantage, the goal was not completed. This was already a great dereliction of duty. Unexpectedly, he was disturbed by two small ambush, and he was immediately angry. He shouted and ordered Yoshino's three ships to block each other at all costs.

Although the three Yoshino ships are faster, the French-made cruiser and the sea patrol ship adheres to the special arrangement of the French diamond-shaped installation of four guns. Even when retreating, the stern direction of the ship can still have three cannons to attack, and the firepower is not much weaker than the three chasing warships, not to mention the three ships of Yoshino. The war was also injured, so it couldn't give full play to its speed advantage for a while, and the two formations were tied.

"Ha ha, do you think the little devil will commit suicide by cutting his abdomen if he finds a head in our pocket after a while? Don't let us fight again?" Xiao Zhitian held up his telescope, looked at the three ships that were getting closer and closer to him, and laughed at the staff around him.

"Cut the abdomen? That's not too cheap for them!" The staff officer sneered: "That bunch of guys are still going to beat them up."

"Haha."

(to be continued)