Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 1237
The Fourth Fleet has five sailing warships at Lushunwei's naval base, and the Ministry of the Navy allocated the latest ironclad ship "General Fubo" to the Fourth Fleet, as well as many supply ships.In order to transport nearly [-] officers and soldiers to the Far West, the Ministry of the Navy organized three troop carriers and two supply ships for the Fourth Fleet.

This time, the number of military ships heading to Europe reached more than a dozen.

In addition, twenty merchant ships of Western companies are also preparing to sail.

The merchant ships of Western companies not only purchase goods in the north of the mainland, but also purchase Suzhou embroidery in the south of the Yangtze River, and then purchase spices and other goods in Nanyang, and then transport them to London City to earn a high price difference.

The directors of the Western Company couldn't help being very surprised to see that the fleet sent by the Admiralty was no less than the complete Fourth Fleet.

The Fourth Fleet only sent five sailing gunboats to escort their merchant fleet back from the City of London. They thought they would be escorted by these five ships to the City of London again.

But in addition to these five sailing warships, there is another steel monster on the sea who will follow them to the city of London-the ironclad ship General Fubo.

The iron-clad ship General Fubo did not follow the fleet in Tianjinwei, but joined the large fleet heading for Europe in the waters near Lushunwei.The iron-clad ship General Fubo also comes with two supply ships dedicated to it.

After the merger of the naval fleet and the ships of Western companies, a fleet of more than 30 ocean-going ships was formed.

"What kind of terrible monster is this? It's still emitting black smoke. It's as long as two or three of our big ships, right? And the hull is made of steel. Isn't this the Dongfang?" Huaxia on the deck of the Western Company's merchant ship The merchants were amazed at the General Fubo, which was like a fortress of steel, sailing alongside the merchant ship.

The 94-meter-long hull is unparalleled. Due to the defects in the material structure, wooden sailboats can hardly reach such a length.With such an ironclad escort, the people of the Western Trading Company feel extremely at ease.

"It's not the Dongfang. This is a newly launched steamship, the General Fubo, which was taken from Ma Yuan, the general Fubo of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Dongfang is bigger than the General Fubo, but the Dongfang is not a warship. The designed structure does not have such a thick armor." The director who had greeted the officers and soldiers of the Fourth Fleet in advance pointed to the armor layer protecting the side guns in the middle of the General Fubo.

"Such a ship must be very strong, even if it encounters a storm at sea, it will not be easily sunk. It is unbelievable that such a heavy ship can float on the sea." Many sailors and crew members were deeply surprised.

They never thought that a ship made of a lot of metal could sail. In their intuitive impression, a ship made of steel would sink to the bottom of the sea the moment it was launched.

"Those soldiers on the General Fubo are really lucky guys. They can actually become the crew members of the first ironclad ship. After the General Fubo joins our Fourth Fleet, I am afraid that the three sailing battleships Wei, Shu, and Wu will have to do it." It’s inferior. The hull is made of steel and has a special armor layer, so it can sail smoothly without wind, how can ordinary artillery hurt it.”

Not only the people on the merchant ships, but the naval soldiers on the five sailing warships of the Fourth Fleet also envied the crew of the ironclad general Fubo.

When they returned from the city of London, they found that the Admiralty had an unprecedented warship, all of which were cannons weighing more than 40 pounds.

Strong ships and sharp guns, such a configuration is the pursuit of all naval soldiers, and they wish they could serve on the General Fubo.

"They seem to be watching us?"

On the iron-clad ship General Fubo, many sailors raised their heads proudly when they saw the curious eyes from the directors and employees of the Western Trading Company.

They are notable for their status as ironclad soldiers, but they also cherish their work as crew members of ironclad ships.

"What would the distant Western Ocean look like?"

At this time, Li Dingguo, who was still an experienced soldier in the navy, was cleaning the deck, full of longing for the unknown West.

In the eyes of this group of trainee soldiers who are not yet 20 years old, they shoulder the glorious mission of the empire on this journey to the West.A sense of sacred mission is often more effective than all gold and silver treasures.

"This voyage to the West will increase the salaries of all officers and soldiers by [-]%. It's really a beautiful job."

"The Ministry of the Navy increased our salary by [-]% during our voyage to the West. I'm afraid there will be wars in the West."

"What if a war breaks out? Our ironclad ship will not be sunk. As long as we are still on this ironclad ship, we will be safe and sound."

Some veterans who have been on the battlefield are not so easily moved by the sense of mission. They care more about their salary, and how to win the war and survive.

"The first time you go out to sea, you will go as far as the Western Ocean. You trainee soldiers must be mentally prepared." When a navy second lieutenant was patrolling the deck, he chatted with Li Dingguo and other trainee soldiers.

"What psychological preparation?" Li Dingguo and other recruits asked.

"It is impossible for pirates to attack such a large fleet during endless voyages, but grounding, storms, diseases, and mental torture are all difficulties that our navy will encounter. To participate in the local war, be prepared to sacrifice." Said the second lieutenant.

"Sir, don't scare us. Didn't the other ships of the Fourth Fleet come back from the West?" a trainee soldier asked.

"That's because you didn't see the list of sacrifices. There must be a loss of personnel across tens of thousands of miles of ocean." Said the second lieutenant.

The ensign's words frightened several trainee soldiers who had never been on the battlefield.

However, Li Dingguo, who was once adopted by Zhang Xianzhong as his adopted son, has seen many lives and deaths since he was a child. Be prepared to fight and die! Both the sea and the enemy will be conquered by our ironclad ships!"

The second lieutenant nodded in satisfaction: "The men of our Admiralty must have such an aura! This is the first time our iron-clad ship Admiral Fubo has set out on an expedition. We must not be underestimated by Westerners, but we must stand up in front of them and let us They fear us!"

"Yes!" A few midshipmen answered with their heads held high while leaning on mops.

Although they don't know whether a war with the local kingdom will break out in the so-called Western Ocean, their curiosity about the unknown world still prevails.

In the East China Sea, a fleet of more than 30 large ships passed by in the vast sea. Many fishermen in the southeast coastal area reported to the local government that they saw a huge fleet passing by and strange billowing black smoke...

(End of this chapter)