♂!
Avoiding embarrassing topics, everyone turned their attention to the sea in the north. As expected, a black spot gradually became clear at the end of the blue water.
The Duke of Newcastle stood beside Zai Chun and explained to the young emperor the history of Portsmouth Naval Port and the geographical terrain here, and from time to time he also interspersed some tidbits from the history of naval warfare.
It must be said that the Duke is a very approachable person and is very eloquent. Zai Chun was quickly attracted to him.
Now not only Xiao Letian, but also the people around Xiao Letian felt the "special care" from the British side. Everyone noticed the sense of distance exuded by the Duke.
You still can't tell what's wrong with this. You find no fault with the Duke in terms of etiquette. After all, Zai Chun is the emperor, and Xiao Letian is just a Chinese head of state who has not been recognized by the European powers, or another emperor.
It is actually normal to be more enthusiastic towards Zai Chun and less towards Xiao Letian, but the problem now is not just about whom to talk to more and less to, but the Duke of Newcastle's faintly revealed plan to alienate each other.
Keeping boasting about Britain's strength to Zai Chun is not just bragging, but hoping to instill the impression that Britain is invincible to Zai Chun, and trying to influence Zai Chun by showing strength.
Being able to make a thirteen-year-old Qing emperor become a British fan will be of great benefit to future negotiations and business between the two countries.
At that time, the Qing's reforms will draw heavily on British experience, use British standards, borrow British funds, and employ British talents... By then, British capital will be able to hold a large number of shares or joint ventures in Qing enterprises. , or sole proprietorship. Anyway, with the emperor's backing, wouldn't the market open up?
Ship after ship of British industrial products began to be dumped along mainland China, and more and more pounds poured into the Qing Dynasty and turned into shares that could earn permanent dividends for hundreds of years.
You have me, and I have you. This kind of cooperation is a model of semi-colonialism. Ruling China with the Manchu royal family, digging the endless gold mine of the Han people... This ideal makes you laugh when you think about it.
In order to achieve this goal, the Duke of Newcastle will spare no effort to instill in Zaichun the strength of British industry, the friendship and intimacy between the nobles of the two countries, and of course the strong naval strength of Britain.
Who else is willing to deal with these Chinese people at this moment? The Duke could only give out a little bit of his saliva politely, but 90% of it would still be sprayed on Zai Chun, and his compliments and polite words would rush toward Emperor Tongzhi like waves.
Xiao Letian maintained sufficient diplomatic etiquette on the surface, with a smile on his lips, but in his heart he had already begun to curse.
"You bitch, you are so arrogant. You really treat me as a Chinese as a piece of food. Is it so obvious to poach you?" However, Xiao Letian has to admit that the British in this era are clearly poaching you. strength.
"Your Majesty, please take a look...the royal fleet has already set up a square formation waiting for your review...Thirteen times nine...a total of one hundred and seventeen first-class battleships are waiting for your Majesty's review..."
Everyone on the deck grabbed the telescopes on their chests and looked at the blue ocean three kilometers away. Just outside the Isle of Wight, on the English Channel, endless warships had formed a phalanx.
They are all first-class main battleships. Facing the combined fleet is the latest iron-armored steam battleship. Although it is not a pure iron-armored battleship like the Zhiyuan, this design of a wooden hull covered with iron armor is still considered an advanced warship in the world at that time. .
Behind these iron-clad steamships are sailing battleships full of historical mottled feelings. There is even a rare five-masted sailing ship. The gun doors on both sides are all open, and the cannons are black holes that look like the sea. Strange eyes.
Further away are large cruisers. These battleships, known for their cruising speed, have larger sails and slender hulls. Although on the surface, they have fewer guns than battleships and their combat effectiveness is slightly lower.
But in the eyes of naval experts, these cruisers are the major contributors to safeguarding British maritime interests.
The reason is simple, because at this time, Britain has absolute control of maritime hegemony, and no one from the European powers dares to challenge the British Royal Fleet. In other words, a life-and-death battle at sea like Trafalgar will last for a period of time. Will not appear.
In this way, battleships have much less use. On the contrary, these cruisers with fast speed, long cruising time and good firepower have become popular.
The vast ocean requires them to travel here and there to declare Britain's military force. It is definitely not suitable for pirates like flies to expect battleships to strangle them. At this time, cruisers are needed to teach them a lesson.
Even at special moments, these fast cruisers can temporarily play a role as pirates, attacking rival merchant ships on the vast and uninhabited high seas.
Anyway, cruisers are very useful, and a large number of them were displayed today.
Getting closer and closer, Zai Chun's hands started to shake with excitement. He had never seen such a spectacular scene of so many warships gathering together.
The Chinese officials were also silent at this moment. The anger they had just accumulated because of the Duke of Newcastle's request for instructions was now replaced by a chill deep in their hearts.
"Oh my God! There are too many, too many... 117 ships? There are actually 117 ships..." Luo Huo, who was born in the army, is unfamiliar with the navy. In his mind, he may have gathered thirty or forty warships. Together they become a very powerful fleet.
Unexpectedly, Britain would immediately put on a more spectacular scene today. 117 warships anchored in the open sea, forming a neat square formation like soldiers standing in a military posture.
Xiang Ying's finger bones turned white while holding the telescope. He said with great excitement, "You don't understand... you don't know the background of the British Navy. This is what wooden warships are like. As long as they are properly maintained, even if you don't use them for a hundred years, bad!"
"Europeans began to explore the sea in the 15th century. Can you imagine how many warships Britain had to accumulate over the years? Not to mention 117, I wouldn't be surprised even if the number triples now!"
The combined fleet is getting closer and closer to the naval review area, gradually approaching from three kilometers to two kilometers, one kilometer, eight hundred meters, six hundred meters...
In the end, people didn't even need telescopes to see clearly the proud naval soldiers on the opposite deck. Almost all the British officers and soldiers were experiencing the VIPs coming from the east. God knows how long they had their arms raised.
The entire square array was arranged into a nine by thirteen rectangular square array on the sea. This square array did not face the Zhiyuan in a cross section, but faced the Zhiyuan at an angle.
At first no one knew what the significance of such a formation was, but when they got closer, everyone present was shocked!
