Chapter 131 Sadness

At 5:05 a.m. on May 27, 1905, Togo Hirahachiro, the commander of the Combined Fleet, sent a telegram from Zhenhai Bay to the base camp.

"Reaining the alarm that the enemy fleet was found, the joint fleet immediately dispatched to destroy it. Today, the weather is sunny and the waves are high."

This short telegram was drafted by Akiyama Zhenzhi. To some extent, Akiyama Zhenzhi also has the demeanor of some writers. At least this telegram carries some words of ancient poetry.

The waves are high, the ships are bumpy, and the cannons are not easy to aim at, but the shooting technology of the Russian fleet is worse than that of the combined fleet, so it is beneficial to Japan. This is not like talking nonsense in order to regain face after the Battle of the Dadonggou Sea. This "saying that my shooting skills are better than that of the Russians" is proof.

The cruiser fleet of the Russian Far East Fleet has fought fiercely with the guns of the Japanese cruiser many times, and it turns out that the hit rate of the Russian fleet is only 26% of that of the Japanese fleet. After the combined fleet destroyed the Far East Fleet, it tripled its hit rate in the next training. Even if the hit rate of the Baltic Fleet from afar was not reduced, it was only equivalent to that of the Japanese fleet.

In fact, compared with the hit rate shown by the Baltic Fleet in the Hull incident, the gunners of the Russian Far East Fleet in Lushun can almost be regarded as "shooters". And compared with the Russians, the joint fleet also has an advantage. The fleet uses Shimose explosives in the Battle of Dadonggou. This explosive destructive force is several times that of the black gunpowder used by the Russians, and now it can also add the influence of waves.

The town bay at 5 a.m. is already very lively, and the main ships of the joint fleet, which are now preparing to sail to the horse, are even more busy.

"Quick! Hurry up! Throw it all down, throw it all down!"

With the roar of the army Cao, the sailors surging on the deck were desperately throwing a bag of expensive "British charcoal" piled up on the ship into the sea. These Welsh anthracite bought at a high price were originally prepared to rush to Hokkaido to use it in case the Russians did not go to the Tsushima Strait, and It's not used now.

"Two days!"

Almost every time a bag of British charcoal is thrown away, Yamaguchi Bridge muttered in his heart that a bag of "British charcoal" is 50 kilograms. Although a ton of British charcoal in the United Kingdom is only 30 yuan, if the freight is included, it is worth at least 2 yuan per ton. This is not the price of a coal bag, but it can no longer care so much.

In order to seize the time, the flagship of the joint fleet, Mikasa, participated in throwing coal, except for the gunners. Why doesn't the gunner have to do this kind of thing? That's because I'm afraid that the coal ash will run into my eyes, which will affect the aiming in the naval battle soon after.

After throwing the coal, all the officers and soldiers changed into three new military uniforms inside and outside. The new military uniform of the Japanese fleet was also learned from the British before the war. This is not only to boost morale, but to wear a new military uniform can more or less reduce wound infection at the time of injury. At this time when there is no way to prevent and control wound infection, this is a very effective measure to save the lives of combatants.

While they were nervously preparing, the main force of the combined fleet led by the battleship Mikasa sailed out of the town bay, and the warships moored in many ports also left the port one after another. The Japanese joint fleet with 140 warships and 18,000 sailors began to sail towards the horse.

Under the scorching sun, in the battle map room of the Royal Garden, while Ye Zugui was reporting, the naval staff officer slowly pointed from one point to another point on the chart with a pencil, and began to express his opinions.

"...It can be said that when the bad commander of the bad fleet is on the bad battlefield again, even if it is God's blessing, tomorrow!"

The young staff officer paused his words, and his face was full of self-confidence and some helplessness.

"Tomorrow! The Royal Russian Navy will still cease to exist, at least as a maritime military force with deterrent power before, it will disappear!"

When the young trainee staff officer was reporting and explaining, the contradiction between self-confidence and helplessness attracted Chen Moran's attention. Looking at the young naval officer, Chen Moran nodded. To some extent, he was still very satisfied with the navy, at least they were aware of many problems.

Maybe its navy is not strong, but at least it is very clear on many issues. In this case, the navy will at least not make wrong decisions.

"So!"

He paused and turned his eyes to His Majesty. At this time, he could not suppress his excitement. As a trainee staff officer, he could report directly to His Majesty before he graduated from the sea school. On this alone, he believed that his future road in the navy had been paved, and he must seize this opportunity.

"For the long-term stability of the empire, we must consider a decisive battle with the navy in a few months!"

In a word, in exchange for the surprise of the whole battle map room, everyone turned their eyes to this bold young man, and Chen Moran was even more involved in thinking. Now even a young man can see the potential fuse of war between China and Japan, so who can't see it?

"Anyway, I think let the Coastal Defense Command do some work first. Your Majesty, we now need to consider who will win the war, but the threat to us after this war!"

The silent Chen Moran frowned and finally took a deep breath.

"In any case, the threat is imminent."

After saying that, Chen Moran looked at the naval officers in the room and looked straight at them. Chen Moran's voice became extremely low.

"It can be thought that from now on, in Asia, in the Far East, China and Japan will be a threshold that cannot be bypassed. Confrontation or war will be the most direct choice between China and Japan in the future. When the two countries start, I just hope..."

He paused for a moment and stared at the officers.

"The Royal Navy can live up to the name of the imperial guard, live up to my share, and fight bravely!"

The words are heavy but unquestionable.

"If... then please let the Chinese people and the sea remember that the Chinese navy has not failed the trust of the empire and the people!"

At the end of the words, Chen Moran gently bowed deeply to the naval officers. His words and deeds undoubtedly showed the fact that if the war broke out, the navy must fight to the last person.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that we will live up to your majesty's trust!"

A few minutes later, he left the war room with heavy footsteps and walked on the flat grass of the Royal Garden. Chen Moran lit a cigarette, walked with his arms in his arms, and thought down. Is it right or wrong to do so? From the beginning, I never missed any opportunity to make full use of every opportunity.

When I was anti-Qing, I took advantage of the national dissatisfaction caused by the external neutrality of the Russian War. During the Japanese-Russian War, I took advantage of such an opportunity to take chestnuts from the fire, bringing rich and unimaginable rewards to China by speculative diplomacy and adventure, but... the price is that in the next ten years, China will go to a comprehensive confrontation with Japan. Now China... There is no question about defeating Japan on land. The root of the problem is at sea. Although the navy has a "depretment strategy", if it really goes to war, what you can do is to let the navy die. Even if all of them are killed, it must not let the navy avoid the war and protect the ship. China can't afford to avoid it, and the people can't accept it. The only thing they can do is to let the navy... Chen Moran, who was strolling and thinking on the ping, did not realize that he had unconsciously walked to the open area. At this time, the open area was full of hundreds of citizens who came to visit the other garden. When people saw His Majesty's figure in sight, their eyes were full of surprises, but more surprises.

"Grassmen... Meet Your Majesty..."

A messy voice only shocked Chen Moran and withdrew his mind. What was reflected in Chen Moran's eyes were hundreds of citizens kneeling on the grass. They were kneeling there and did not even dare to raise their heads.

"...Long live, long live, long live..."

The people's kneeling and the people's shouts, looking in front of them and hearing in the ears, Chen Moran's mood is fluctuating there, looking at these "grass people" who don't even dare to look up. This is what they call themselves, grass people... How familiar this term is!

They are grass-roots people, grass-roots, yes... Could it be that this is what I hope for? Somehow, looking at these "grass-roots people" and feeling their awe. Unexpectedly, Chen Moran found that there was no joy in his heart.

No!

Isn't this...isn't this what you want to see? I am the emperor of this empire and the founder of this empire. I should have enjoyed this awe, but I should have... But why can't I be happy when I see their obedience?

Looking at these awe-inspiring, timid and jubilant faces, they... They are their compatriots, their own subjects, no... No, they are the common people. Didn't they say that themselves? But why can't I accept this noun?

Once upon a time, didn't you also be a grassroots in the grassroots? But why do I forget now that the grassroots also have grassroots dreams and wishes? If I... my empire, mine, my... the previous ideas come to my mind one by one, when I have power, what is my former grassroots pursuing?

"The grassroots, the grassroots..."

Repeating these two words on his lips, Chen Moran did not say exemption or flatness, but just said these two words with a sad look, which once disgusted him.

Finally, Chen Moran didn't say anything. Instead, he turned around and left, leaving only a background for these people, a background that seemed to be a little sad.

(to be continued)