shadow of britain

Chapter 110 Respect for the Channel Fleet

On the deck of the Beagle.

Elder covered the cracked tiger's mouth, sucking in air: "Damn it! It hurts!"

Arthur glanced at the sailors who were resting by the parapets and masts all around, pointed to several battleships on the sea ahead that were seven or eight times the size of the Beagle, and asked.

"What's the origin of this?"

Elder winked at Arthur and pouted. Seeing his appearance, Arthur took out a pipe from his pocket and lit it for him knowingly.

Elder took a breath before answering the question with satisfaction.

"You really asked the right person. General Edward Codrington, the former commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, the current commander of the Channel Fleet, and my uncle's old boss.

Back then, he also participated in the Battle of Trafalgar. At that time, he served as the commander of the Reserve Squadron under General Nelson, and led the army to severely damage the Spanish Navy flagship 'Prince of Asturias'.

As a veteran general with illustrious military exploits and outstanding achievements, if he hadn't made a small mistake in the past two years, he would not have been removed from the post of commander of the Mediterranean Fleet and transferred back to the domestic Straits Fleet as a mascot.

According to the normal development of admirals, a person with qualifications and military exploits like General Codlington should have been promoted to admiral by now. "

"Small mistake?" Arthur asked: "Is the Royal Navy so strict about the promotion of generals? Such an outstanding general was stuck in the promotion channel because of a small mistake? What did he do?"

Elder smashed his mouth with a pipe in his mouth: "It's not a big deal. During the Greek War of Independence in 1827, General Codrington, commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, led the joint fleet of Britain, France and Russia in Navarino. In the naval battle, all the sea power of the Ottoman Turkish Empire was destroyed.

If I remember correctly, in that battle, General Codrington sank and captured more than 60 ships of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, including three large battleships, and more than 20 ships without losing any ships. Cruisers and a whole bunch of messy ships. "

Arthur's eyelids twitched when he heard this: "You call this a trivial matter? Isn't this a beautiful battle? What's wrong with the Admiralty? It's fine if you don't commend him. The general is transferred back to the country to sit on the bench?"

Elder glanced at his good brother, and he pushed Arthur's chest with his shoulder.

"Arthur, why don't you understand? Scotland Yard should have this kind of thing, right? For example, your Scotland Yard police are born to investigate cases, but in some cases, whoever investigates is unlucky. And the Royal Navy's Generals are also born to win battles, but in some battles, whoever wins wins and loses, and General Codrington is a typical example of this situation."

When Arthur heard this, he frowned and thought for a while, but he soon understood.

"General Codrington's victory in the battle and dismissal should have something to do with the 'Continental Balance of Power Policy' set by the cabinet, right? The navy of the Ottoman Turkish Empire was defeated, and the eastern coast of the Mediterranean became the Russians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not want to see it."

Elder nodded slightly: "Arthur, it's really you. In fact, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Navy have issued many orders to General Codrington before, asking him to ignore the provocations from the Ottomans, and to do so in a peaceful manner as much as possible. way to solve the problem.

General Codrington also tried to mediate for peace. He drove the fleet into the Gulf of Navarino to deter the Ottoman army. Withdrawal from the Pennese Peninsula.

But the Ottomans obviously didn't like to listen to persuasion. Not only did they not withdraw their troops, they also killed the messenger sent by General Codrington, and then took the lead in firing at General Codrington's fleet.You should be able to imagine what happened next..."

Arthur wiped the sweat from his forehead: "No wonder General Codrington ordered the sinking of the Barbary pirate's ship without asking any questions. He really had reason to be so angry with the Ottomans. After winning the battle, he also made a fuss." Being so aggrieved, I guess I would have to find a place to vent.

However, fortunately, the French fat man was not on the pirate ship, otherwise, with General Codlington's posture, they might have been sunk together.After all, he may have a bit of a temper with the foreign ministry's policies. "

"Who said no?"

Elder shrugged his shoulders: "General Codlington's war career should be over. The most annoying thing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a general who doesn't listen to their orders. Oh, I can't say that, after all, there was another annoying general before. And Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, commanded by the Foreign Office and the War Office."

Colonel Fitzroy on the side heard this and couldn't help saying: "Elder, this is different. Outstanding generals in the army can be willful, but absolutely not in the Royal Navy."

Elder asked in a daze, "What's the reason?"

Colonel Fitzroy replied seriously: "Because there are generals who can fight in the Royal Navy, such as Richard Howe, John Jervis, Cuthbert Collingwood, William Cornwallis, whatever Finding one is a big name. But the Army has produced an Arthur Wellesley for hundreds of years, so we can't baby the Duke of Wellington."

After Colonel Fitzroy finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter on the ship.

The sailors booed and said: "Who says it's not? After all, in our Royal Navy, defeating the French is nothing unusual. But in the Army, a small Battle of Waterloo is blown into the sky."

Dumas, who had been resting by the mast, got up angrily when he heard this, "Please pay attention! It's just a little bit of luck for you British to win. If you have the ability, don't draw Prussian reinforcements. I think How did you win the Battle of Waterloo!"

Unexpectedly, as soon as he said this, the sailors not only did not refute, but nodded and said: "You Frenchman, among the things you said today, this is the most pleasant sentence."

Colonel Fitzroy also hurried up to calm his emotions: "Mr. Dumas, don't be angry. In fact, I still agree with the technical capabilities of the French, and Britain is not superior to your motherland France in all aspects. "

When Dumas heard the words, he also restrained his temper: "Mr. Colonel, you are really different from these vulgar sailors. You can tell from your conversation that you have received a considerable degree of higher education."

Colonel Fitzroy squinted and smiled: "That's right. Only the joint efforts of Britain and France can complete the most powerful weapon of the 19th century!"

"Oh?" Alexandre Dumas wondered, "What is the most powerful weapon in the 19th century?"

Seeing his bewildered expression, the sailors laughed so hard that their mouths crooked.

Arthur stepped forward sympathetically, and whispered in his ear: "Don't you know? Mr. Dumas, the most powerful weapon in the 19th century was the sea ship captured from France driven by the British."

Dumas was about to get angry when suddenly there was a burst of melodious military music on the sea.

It was the United Kingdom Royal Navy March - Heart of the Oak.

All the sailors who were lazily squatting on the boat stood up one after another, and even Elder, who had always been out of tune, restrained his face and stood at attention, paying attention to the flagship of the Channel Fleet, the Conqueror.

Only a hula sound was heard, and a springboard slowly stretched out from the side of the guardrail of the towering 'Conqueror', extending from top to bottom to the deck of the 'Beagle'.

Several officers in neat red and black uniforms of the Royal Navy and epaulettes walked down with tough steps.

They stood on the deck, glanced at it first, and then said to Colonel Fitzroy: "Robert, you did a good job today."

Colonel Fitzroy hurriedly stood at attention and saluted, "For Nelson!"

The officer nodded, and then asked, "I don't know, where is that Scottish Yard inspector, Mr. Arthur Hastings, at this time?"

At this time, Arthur, who was leaning against the guardrail and smoking a cigarette, heard this, and pushed the ashes in his pipe out of the boat, then raised his hand and said: "I am Arthur Hastings, you What's up?"

The officers walked up to him, glanced at his red-stained shirt and the blood-stained corner of his mouth, then nodded solemnly, and slowly raised their hands in salute.

"Mr. Hastings, Commander of the English Channel Fleet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Vice Admiral of the White Banner of the Royal Navy, Your Excellency Edward Codrington."

(End of this chapter)