Chapter 174 Apology and Guarantee

On the Indian Ocean between the southeastern tip of India and the west of Ceylon, Manar Bay is 130 to 275 kilometers wide and 60 kilometers long. The Adam Bridge, composed of a series of coral reefs and shoals between Danush Kodi in India and Talaimanal in Ceylon, has blocked the Poke Strait. In the past two centuries, there have been only a few small tonnage wooden sails. The ship passes through here. Most of the time, in Manar Bay, there are only fixed barges connecting the Indian mainland and Ceylon, as well as small boats and fishing boats for pearl pickers.

However, today, the beads of the wooden boat were surprised to see that the coal smoke of Manar Bay was in the air. Four warships were lined up in a row, moored in the calm bay, and five other ships stopped by the ship.

Although there is no anti-wave peninsula in Manar Bay, most of the time, it is calm in Manar Bay. That's why the Naval Staff chose this place as the last coal replenishment station of the Second Fleet. Five Italian coal ships were waiting for the Second Fleet a few days ago.

When the 14 warships of the Second Fleet sailed into Manar Bay in a row, the sailors could clearly see the green coastline of Ceylon. For the officers and soldiers on this "wandering fleet", looking at the green island more than ten kilometers away and navigating for nearly two months, they were all eager to feel down-to-earth. Everyone hopes to rest on land for a day or a day.

But this is just an illusion. Along the way, except for a fuel replenishment in Sicily and the officers and soldiers get a two-day rest, the land has no longer any contact with them. Britain refuses the Second Fleet to replenish fuel in any British and colonial ports, and even Italy, which previously agreed to add coal, is also on the fleet. After crossing the Suez Canal, the second ship refused to refuel in its colony of Somalia.

It is never easy to refuel at sea. Even in the calm bay, the coal- transport ship must carefully approach the warship that needs to be replenished. During the whole process, both sides must carefully control the ship, and then start to use the sling to put 100 bags in the cloth bag. About kilograms of coal slid onto the battleship deck, and then the sailors poured bags of coal into the coal tank.

"The British who said the dog!"

While the sailors on the five battleships led by Dingyuan were preparing to sling, they cursed the British with all their words in their hearts. It was the shadow of the British political axe that made the ports refuse the request of the fleet to enter the port, which made the fleet a "wandering fleet".

"Come on, now we have to seize the time!"

The sailors roared from time to time. Everyone knew that it was not a proper thing to refuel in Mannar Bay. The British colonial fleet could appear here at any time, and then asked the fleet to leave here with a flag.

"Your officer, it will take at least 36 hours for the fleet to complete the coal reing!"

He nodded, but Cheng Biguang didn't say anything. He just looked around the sea with a telescope and searched for any possible target.

Returning to the heart is like an arrow. This sentence may be appropriate for others, but it must not be used on him. If he can choose, he hopes to be slower. It is better to walk only 100 nautical miles a day. Only in this way can officers and soldiers get more time to understand and master these is still very good for them. A strange warship.

Warships are machines. If you want to maximize the combat effectiveness of warships, mastering warships is one of the most basic principles. Six months ago, the fundamental reason why Russia's Second Pacific Fleet was defeated in the Battle of the Sea was that there were too many new ships and too many novices. New ships There are many faults, and the sailors are not proficient in the warships, which is an important reason for the defeat of the Second Pacific Fleet, and now its own situation is not much better than that of the Second Pacific Fleet.

"Jingyuan can win. At least they know more about warships than the sailors of Jingyuan!"

Thinking of this, Cheng Biguang couldn't help muttering in his heart.

In the tropics, coal loading is definitely a test for sailors. Whether it is Britain, France or any colonial country, when they are refueling in the tropics, they often choose to hand over the task of coal loading to the local indigenous workers for various reasons, but for the Second Fleet, it is simply There is no such condition.

At nine o'clock in the morning, under the burning of the tropical heat, whether it is the cargo tank of the coal ship or the coal tank of the warship, it has become an oven, and the thermometer hanging on the bulkhead has even exceeded 50 degrees. At this time, the sailors working in the coal tank are all shirtless. In order to avoid being exhaled by coal ash, there are The sailors bit gauze in their mouths, and some covered their mouths and noses with strips of cloth.

Sweat kept coming out of his calm body. At this time, like every comrade-in-arms around him, he was a black man who had been completely made of coal ash. Only where sweat gushed out from time to time could show some skin color.

"Ma Fu just fainted!"

After a shout, the medical soldiers standing in the coal tank immediately put down the sling, and several sailors covered with coal ash hurriedly lifted the fainted Ma Fucai to the soft net.

Those who are tired and faint will be sent up, cool down with cold water and refreshed with cool oil, but when they wake up, they will immediately re-enter the coal cabin to work, and the sailors with heatstroke will be carried to the medical cabin.

"Grit your teeth and hold on..."

Every time I move the coal bag, the words of the squad leader during the training of the recruits constantly appear in my calm mind, as long as I grit my teeth. It is the duty of the boiler soldiers to transport coal and my task... Sweat drips from the coal to the coal, looking at the occasionally scattered high-quality Welsh anthracite, I calmly feel that my eyes seem to A little fuzzy, he shook his head, and quickly grabbed the kettle hanging on the string. After two or three mouthfuls, he drank a pot of cold water with salt and sugar. He raised his head and only saw that Lie said it was on the top of his head.

When he lowered his head again and was ready to lift another bag of coal, he only felt that it was dark in front of him, and he lost consciousness.

"Calm down, hurry up, lift him up..."

Listening to the shouts from the coal tank, the gunners who were training at the port gun looked gloomy. For any warship, replenishing coal is the task of all sailors, usually pouring out, but now? In order to save their physical strength, hundreds of boiler soldiers took on everything.

In the port gun compartment, the temperature is expressed to 45.5 degrees, and how much will it reach in the boiler compartment? It's just an oven, but even after working in the oven for more than ten days, they still have to take on all the tasks of moving coal.

In the tropical voyage, the furnace soldiers have always been the hardest. On the warship, the sailors can clearly distinguish the identity of the furnace soldiers. Without exception, their faces are yellow and their bodies are thin, which makes people not know how they persisted, but even so, the moment After the order to replenish fuel, the furnace soldiers took the initiative to undertake all the tasks of moving coal.

"Our task is to burn the boiler. It's really up to you. You have to train for an extra hour, and you can always be accurate..."

No one complained, but... "A cruiser was found on the port side!"

Suddenly, the silence in the bay was broken, and the gunners who were training were immediately busy. Was this an enemy ship or... More than half an hour later, a dilapidated cruiser of about 2,000 tons could not even see what color the original paint was, even with only a chimney, appeared in the sight of the officers and soldiers. Medium.

"Ship, it's the British [***] ship!"

Looking at the meter flag from the telescope, Cheng Biguang frowned, and it was time to come.

"How long will it take?"

"The fastest time is 30 hours!"

This is the last fuel replenishment of the fleet. Next time, the location of the fuel replenishment is the Pearl River Estuary in Guangdong. Of course, if they can reach the Pearl River Estuary safely.

Although it is only an old cruiser of about 2,000 tons, everyone understands what the rice flag hanging on that warship means. Such a small ship with the fastest speed may only reach 14 knots. In the face of this huge ship composed of 13 warships, armored cruisers and protective cruisers. When the team was in the team, they couldn't help saying that with the signal that "this place is the territorial sea of British India, and warring ships are prohibited from entering", then the cruiser spitting soot appeared in the sight of the fleet.

"Your officer?"

"Tell them that this place is located on the high seas, and according to public international law, our fleet enjoys the right of harmless passage!"

A sentence came out of Cheng Biguang's mouth, and then he turned his head to the captain and ordered.

"Contact the Admiralty immediately and ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with the British side to fight for us at least..."

After a moment of meditation, a time came out of Cheng Biguang's mouth.

"36 hours!"

More time must be bought.

"The British ship once again sent a signal, asking our fleet to immediately withdraw from Manar Bay!"

"Tell them that this is the high sea!"

"The British ship repeats its requirements again!"

At this time, looking at the approaching British cruiser, whether it is the Second Fleet or the British naval officers and soldiers on the cruiser Fields, they all know that the dilapidated cruiser Fields represents the entire British Royal Navy.

"All the main guns of the fleet turn to aim at the Philippine ship!"

An order was spit out from Cheng Biguang's mouth, and the next moment, the commander's command tower of Dingyuan was completely in a dead silence.

"Hur, please repeat the order!"

"All main guns turn to aim at the Philippine ship!"

In the face of the doubts of his subordinates, Cheng Biguang categorically repeated that when he gave this order, his heart tightened. He understood that he had to take the risk of doing so, but at this time, he could only gamble. If he listened to the threat of the British, the fuel of the fleet was not enough to drive to the mouth of the Pearl River, let alone The demand for fuel in a naval battle that can break out.

"All main guns of the fleet are aimed at the Philippine ship!"

With the order, five battleships, two armored cruisers and six British protective cruisers of the Second Fleet turned around and aimed at the cruiser Fields, which was only three or four kilometers away.

"The Chinese are aiming at us!"

Suddenly, almost the moment when they saw the cannons of 13 warships aiming at themselves, all the officers and soldiers of the British Royal Navy on the cruiser Fieldes were boiling. In addition to anger, they felt more fear. The 24 10-inch naval guns alone could take them in front of themselves. Tear it to pieces.

"Tell them, let them withdraw from the sea..."

"Captain, let's retreat!"

"Yes, this is indeed the high sea..."

"Our telegraph machine is only 100 miles away. If we don't receive the telegram, we will get angry. If we really fight, maybe we will become missing!"

"Yes, withdraw temporarily, and then send a telegram to London to settle accounts with the Chinese!"

Continuous pers of persuasion echoed on the cruiser Fieldes. At this time, no one was willing to bet that the Chinese dare not fire.

"Cheng Hengqi!"

He almost gritted his teeth and hummed, and then Liang Dunyan rarely said a rude word. Of course, in his heart, now Zhu Erdian, the British ambassador to China, is sitting in front of him and really swearing. Isn't it detrimental to the national dignity?

"You are crazy!"

With the protest in his hand, if Cheng Biguang was in front of him, Liang Dunyan believed that he would kill him with one shot. He worked hard to negotiate with the countries, first from the Suez Canal, then from the Malacca Strait. Then, for the second fleet, he almost begged his father to tell him. It's milk.

But now when Cheng Hengqi was replenishing coal, he almost sank a British cruiser, to be precise, "threatening to sink a British [***] ship!"

"Minister Liang, Britain has made the strongest protest to your country on this matter, and the British political axe will retain the power to take further action!"

"This..."

Although he was annoyed, Liang Dunyan knew that he had to support Cheng Biguang at this time, but he had to exonerate him first.

"Well, Your Excellency, your minister, first of all, according to what I have learned so far, at that time, the Second Fleet of China's Zhenyang Fleet was refueling on the high seas, and your cruiser suddenly appeared in that sea area. Please understand that for a national navy in a state of war, it is The most reasonable choice!"

Then Liang Dunyan turned his words around again and said in an extremely stern tone.

"In the face of any provocation, I believe that the Chinese Royal Guards Navy will respond with the most resolute action. I need to remind you that for the Chinese Royal Guards Navy, there is no possibility of lowering the flag or compromise. When the Zhenhai ship returns home, the queen lives in the ship with the body of a daughter, and she still has it in mind. With the heart of coexistence, Jingyuan's lonely ship faces the strong enemy, and still fights until the enemy retreats. I believe that although the second fleet passes through the ocean, its loyalty to the country can be learned from the ocean!"

Liang Dunyan's words only made Zhu Erdian's expression change slightly. As a Chinese interpreter, he had to admit that since the Chinese Empire, he no longer knew about this country. If the British minister had made such a protest in the past, I'm afraid that the other party would have... But this Shi Liang Dunyan did not leave any opportunity for Zhu Erdian to think, but continued to speak.

"We firmly believe that there is a friendship and future between China and the United Kingdom. Although your country has repeatedly harmed China's interests, His Majesty still believes that in the end, China and the United Kingdom can move towards cooperation, just like the cooperation between your country and Japan, even more extensive, but how does the United Kingdom repay our country? What about it? You forbid our fleet to replenish fuel in your ports. Of course, this is your power. We can be angry, but we have no choice. But if you try to prevent our fleet from refueling in the high seas, is it still your power?

"Both India and Ceylon are British territory, and the Gulf of Manar is also..."

"Three nautical miles of territorial sea, this is the principle of territorial sea proposed by your country. Please forgive my ignorance. I don't know when the British territorial sea has expanded to 3.5 nautical miles!"

"In any case, your behavior violates the most basic international principles. We must maintain the security of our territorial waters!"

"You have the right to supervise, but you don't have the right to expel our fleet on the high seas!"

As soon as the words sank, Liang Dunyan then emphasized a sentence.

"Our country will protest to your country about this!"

"You..."

In meditation, Zhu Erdian looked at Liang Dunyan, but failed to speak for a moment. He understood that his protest was more based on the British power, and what about the other party's protest?

This is playing a scoundrel.

"In international exchanges..."

"In international exchanges, China has paid too much tuition fees, Your Excellency the Ambassador!"

Silence, both of them were silent. They looked at each other. Finally, Zhu Erdian spit out a sentence after a while.

"If I say that the Royal Navy may stop your second fleet in Malacca..."

"In that case, the Second Fleet will only fight back!"

"If all this really happens, you need to face the main fleet of the Royal Navy!"

Proud words came out of Jurdian's mouth. The Royal Navy, since the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy has been the power of the United Kingdom. Wherever the Royal Navy goes, it is the interests of Britain. The powerful Royal Navy has established the status of Britain today. Similarly, the invincible Royal Navy is also It's the pride of Britain.

"At that time, we had to fight with all our strength, Your Excellency, please remember that we yearn for peace, but it does not mean that we will give up the war. We will fight with all our strength, not take the initiative to fight! The choice of war is in another country, not in China!"

After a moment of silence, Liang Dunyan specially emphasized another sentence.

"At that time, we will have to choose allies that can help China win. At the same time, we will do everything possible to mobilize the army to the maximum extent and open up a suitable front in the land battlefield that is most beneficial to China. I think no country will doubt the combat effectiveness of the Royal Guards Army now. As if we don't doubt our will!"

Threat! This is a very obvious threat. From Liang Dunyan's words, Zhu Erdian understands that he means something. The so-called ally is probably Germany, and they may lose the sea in the war, but they are likely to open up battlefields in India and Myanmar. The Royal Navy is the pride of Britain, but the army and the scars of the Boer War It's not clear yet. Those farmers have almost made Britain bleed. If... "Britain needs an apology!"

"China needs a guarantee!"

(to be continued)