Among the three warships, the first one was the Wavebreaker captured by Xiang Ying and the others. Now it has become the flagship of the Ryukyu Navy after simple repairs. The remaining two are clippers that broke out together and can be regarded as meritorious warships.
The three battleships are not as good as the towering Glory in terms of tonnage, volume, and number of guns, and are not even as good as the inferior frigates. However, the pride that the three battleships exude from the inside out can be smelled in the sea breeze. arrived.
Three short warships cruised back and forth around six huge top European warships. From a distance, they looked like three hounds guarding a group of grazing buffaloes.
Although the buffalo is huge, its murderous aura is far inferior to that of a short hunting dog.
General Bruce was helpless. In the past few days, he kept sending semaphores to merchant ships flying European flags, expressing his willingness to buy clean water, food and other supplies.
All the kind responses from European merchant ships were dispersed by these three hunters. Under the threat of these Chinese crew members, all European merchant ships did not dare to approach them.
"Shame, this is the shame of the whole of Europe. Where is our pride, our glory, are we still a superior race, to be bullied by these yellow-skinned monkeys..."
Rear Admiral Bruce was wandering around on the deck like a trapped tiger, but not a single sailor responded to him. On the contrary, the captains of the ships under him, as well as the staff adjutant, etc., all advised him with one voice.
"Retreat. It's useless for us to stay here. We can evacuate to Shanghai or Hong Kong. At least we will have a shelter from the wind, and we won't have to go through such trouble with supplies..." People tried to persuade them one after another.
At this time, a captain who had just returned from Shanghai said with a gloomy face, "Your Majesty General, Shanghai is not safe for us either. I just came from Shanghai. There have been many 'accidents' in the French Concession. Many merchants' warehouses have been inexplicably opened." There was a fire and our detectives couldn't catch the arsonist..."
"Hey... thinking on my heels, I can guess who is setting the fire. They are threatening businessmen from various countries in Shanghai... but their threats are very effective. I have contacted many European businessmen during the procurement period, but not many Willing to provide us with funding.”
"Hey..." Bruce sighed, "This is the fate of losers. If we are the winners now, I'm afraid they won't be like this. But is Hong Kong really safe? I don't want to watch the British laugh at me even if I'm killed. Face."
Just as there was a quarrel on the deck, the lookout at the top of the Glory suddenly shouted, "South... there is a fleet approaching from the south... Among them are British warships, which are basic frigates..."
"What, the British frigate is here, what do they want to do? Do you remember the scene six years ago? Britain is going to intervene."
The faces of the officers on the deck were suddenly filled with hope. The British warships came so blatantly, most likely to support the French army. Maybe six years later there would be another British-French allied force entering Ryukyu.
But hope comes and goes quickly. When the fleet got closer, the lookout suddenly exclaimed, "Oh God, the ship in the middle of the fleet is flying the 'Xiao' flag, and the ships guarding it on the left and right are flying. One is Prussian and the other is American..."
"Oh, damn the British guys, this is a betrayal, a shameless betrayal. Are they actually acting as watchdogs for Xiao Letian?" Lookout was so lucky that he almost threw the telescope into the sea.
Yes, this belated fleet was Xiao Letian who came from the Lion City. On the ninth day after the war, Xiao Letian finally came back, and Naha finally found their master.
Almost at the same time, there was cheering on board the Wavebreaker, and the melodious conch horn sounded throughout the bay. The horns on Nanshan, Zhongshan, and Qixing Mountains also sounded at the same time. There was deathly silence in the entire Naha Bay. Those merchants from various countries who had just arrived thought that something was going on. The war is about to start again.
"Are the French going to war again? Are reinforcements coming? God, why can't I get rid of my greedy bad habits... Hurry up and lift anchor, let's get out of here..."
There was a commotion on the dock, and some foreign merchants even didn't even want the final payment for their goods. They boarded the ship as if they were running away, but the tsunami-like cheers that followed stopped them in their tracks.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...Prime Minister...Uuuuuu...Prime Minister..." The whole city of Naha burst into tears. People chanted the Prime Minister's name and began to rush towards the pier.
They had no idea where the source of this noise was. People in the whirlpool just felt that there were waves of shouting in all directions, and the whole city had gone crazy.
"The Prime Minister is back...the expeditionary force is back...With the Prime Minister here, Ryukyu will not sink...Prime Minister."
The huge crowd formed a torrent of parades, and among the crowds there were countless wooden signs with photos of the Prime Minister's victories in Europa.
When Golden Eye Snapper brought the large volume of the most detailed European newspaper and the translation of the Lion City back to Naha, King Shangtai and Fan Jian had a brief meeting and decided to print and distribute it in large quantities. This kind of victory report can best comfort People's hearts after the bloody battle.
During these nine days, various victory flyers were posted all over the streets and alleys, especially those spontaneously formed shrines to worship Xiao Letian. It was a gathering place for such flyers, and college students who had obligations every day The preacher explains to the illiterate people.
In the mid-19th century, Europeans had already formed an inherently strong impression on the world. Backward nations did not even dare to imagine that one day they would be able to defeat these Western bandits. A draw would be a matter of national celebration.
In such a gloomy era, Xiao Letian's victory was like a ray of sunshine shining through the gloomy clouds, and it was impossible not to attract public attention.
Thousands of people shed tears and held up placards and began to march throughout the city. The pier could no longer be crowded, so people walked up the mountain. In the end, all places on Zhongshan, Nanshan, and Qixing Mountains that could overlook the pier were filled with people.
At that moment, there was only one voice between heaven and earth: "Prime Minister... Prime Minister... Prime Minister..."
Xiao Letian on the sea had already heard the shouts accompanying the wind. He had already put on his military uniform and stood at the bow of the ship. Behind him was a regiment of officers as neat as tofu cubes. The voyage across the earth had turned them into excellent sailors, no matter what. No matter how the ship bumped, their feet stood there as if they had taken root.
Even Xiao Hexin, who had an injured leg, insisted on standing there with crutches. No matter who persuaded him, he would not listen. "I left Ryukyu standing, and I will come back standing... I am not a cripple, and I don't need you." Special care." Xiao Hexin's eyes turned red as he roared.
The appearance of Xiao Letian caused a commotion in the French fleet. The flagship Glory even adjusted the angle of its hull, as if to launch an attack. Seeing that the momentum was not good, the Wavebreaker and the other two warships quickly adjusted their hull posture and tilted the ship diagonally. He stepped in and stood between the Prime Minister and the French fleet.
"All French battleships get back... This is not a warning, this is an order... Get back, get back immediately..." The Wavebreaker was filled with curses, and the flagman kept sending this strongly worded order.
"Notify Naha Port...notify Shuri Fort...get ready for battle. If the French warships dare to move again, we will sink them immediately..."
Murderous orders were passed on one after another, all using clear-coded semaphores. The French could see them clearly. It was only then that the French calmed down.
On the Glory, General Bruce was surrounded by a group of senior officers. People were urging him "No, General, please calm down... The British have escorted Xiao Letian, and we have no chance to make a move..."
Bruce lunged forward like a dog with red eyes: "Oh God, it's this criminal who insulted France. I want to avenge the cavalry battalion... I want to avenge the expeditionary force... I want to avenge the envoy... I want to avenge the emperor." Your Majesty takes revenge."
"Don't stop me, reload... and blow up Xiao Letian." Bruce roared on the deck like a vicious dog. Countless soldiers beside him were dumbfounded. They had never seen the major general so hysterical.
"The General is drunk... Everyone returns to their respective posts. No artillery fire is allowed without orders... Everyone retreats and stops all threatening actions... French warships will not fire at the Prime Minister of Ryukyu... This is the semaphore , buy it and send it out..."
The two adjutants carried Bruce to the left and right and walked towards the single cabin. As they walked, they whispered, "Okay, General, all the sailors have seen your performance. Your performance can be seen by His Majesty the Emperor... You You can rest now."
Darling, Bruce was acting for a long time. In order to prove to Napoleon III that he was still useful and a ferocious hunting dog, Bruce had no choice but to act like this in front of all the sailors.
If a failed general can prove his loyalty to the emperor, then it will be easy for him to make a comeback. Wasn't there such a philosopher once said?
"The vicious dog guarding the door always barks when facing a guest. Even if the vicious dog is very familiar with the guest, even if his tail is wagging when he barks, the routine barking is still unavoidable, because the dog always has to bark. Use this method to prove your loyalty to the master and prove that you are still useful, thereby avoiding the consequences of being cooked..."
Now Bruce is the evil dog who wants to prove himself, and Xiao Letian is the evil guest who shocked the whole of Europe.
The brave actions of the Wavebreaker and the other two warships were praised by the two British warships. The British navy of this era pursued the spirit of the reef. No matter how violent the waves were, they must bravely break them, even if they both died together.
"Such a weak navy, but possessing such a strong fighting spirit, Ryukyu's navy must not be underestimated in time... Well, I will record this in the voyage diary and pass it to London..."
Thinking of this, the British captain adjusted the spotless white gloves on his hands and proudly ordered, "The battleships cut into the French formations and announced to them Napoleon III's retreat order... Send a flag to tell them that the order in the Ryukyu waters will now be controlled by the British Empire." The Royal Navy is responsible..."
Crazy, really fucking crazy, Xiao Letian watched helplessly as the two British frigates rushed in while grazing the side of the French ship. They almost collided with each other. The two British frigates cut the entire French battleship to death. Like a snake split in two.
Note: I wish you all a happy Children's Day, and please give me monthly tickets and subscriptions at the beginning of the new year... It's so embarrassing to run naked, brothers and sisters, please wear some underpants.
