Rebirth of the Spanish Empire.

Chapter 46 The Deterrence of the Combined Fleet

At this time, the combined fleet directly ignored the small Black Sea guard ship and sailed arrogantly on the maritime border of the Russian Empire.

The news about the combined fleet's intrusion into territorial waters was also transmitted to the Russian Black Sea Fleet as far away as the Sevastopol Fortress.

“Damn it, sound the alarm quickly, notify all members of the Black Sea Fleet, and prepare to fight the British.

Also, this news must be conveyed to St. Petersburg immediately: the damn British have entered the territorial waters of our Russian Empire. "

Ivanovich, the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, grabbed the military uniform beside the bed, put it on quickly, and hurriedly ordered his adjutant to pass the news to St. Petersburg.

There is a huge gap between the strength of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the strength of the Combined Fleet.

Once the Russian Black Sea Fleet took the initiative to attack, the only result would be annihilation of the entire army. However, as a noble soldier loyal to the Tsar, and with a sense of noble honor, Ivanovich was ready to sacrifice.

Alarms began to sound throughout the Sevastopol port, and merchants in the port and naval soldiers in the fleet all hurriedly returned to their posts.

Because there is generally no danger in the Black Sea of ​​the Russian Empire, the training of the Black Sea Fleet soldiers is generally relatively lax.

Ivanovich quickly walked to the broadcasting platform, straightened the microphone on the table, and began to deliver the message to the naval officers of the Black Sea Fleet:
  "Soldiers, we must prepare for battle immediately. Now the British fleet has entered the territorial waters of our Russian Empire.

This is a provocation to our Russian Empire, and we may have to fight the British fleet at any time.

Now our country's sovereignty has been seriously violated. Even if the opponent's strength is several times ours, we should face the difficulty.

Therefore, soldiers, the time has come to serve your country. The dignity of the Russian Empire is inviolable.

Now everyone, please return to your combat positions immediately and adjust your combat status. I will wait here for the order from His Majesty the Tsar. We must be ready to attack at any time. "

Black Sea Fleet Commander Ivanovich immediately gave an emergency speech. In the Russian navy, the proportion of nobles is much larger than that in the Russian army, and the loyalty to the royal family is naturally extremely high.

After there was no sound on the radio, all the Russian naval officers quickly returned to their combat posts amidst the sound of sirens.

The ammunition from the ammunition warehouse was quickly moved out, followed closely by the ironclad ships. Thick black smoke gradually floated out from several warships.

In the tense atmosphere, all the Black Sea Fleet officers looked serious with a hint of panic. However, no one present showed any fear.

The British naval raid was almost indistinguishable from colonial countries, which made these naval officers feel angry and humiliated.

Before the formal opening, a tragic and death-defying atmosphere had gradually begun to permeate the Black Sea Fleet.

"Damn British guys, please send a telegram to the government officials in St. Petersburg and ask them to make a decision as soon as possible. We cannot let the British trample on the dignity of our Russian Empire like this."

Ivanovich urged the telegraph operator eagerly. Now that such a big thing has happened, although he is full of enthusiasm, he finally understands that the adults in St. Petersburg must make the decision on this matter.

"Yes, Your Excellency Commander, I have sent the telegram as quickly as possible."

The telegraph operator, who was less than thirty years old, was sweating profusely and replied to Ivanovich inarticulately.

"Then you still have time to reply to me? Send it quickly!"

……

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Something bad is going on.

Black Sea Fleet Commander Ivanovich received news that the British Royal Navy had violated the territorial waters of our Russian Empire. "

An official from the Liaison Department rushed directly into the palace in a hurry.

He didn't care about the harsh hierarchy in the Winter Palace at this time, because there was really no room for any delay in this matter.

Rather than breaking the etiquette of the Winter Palace, he was more afraid of delaying the battle report and was sent to Siberia to grow potatoes.

The guards outside the Winter Palace did not stop him. They just followed closely behind. Because of what the Liaison Department official said, they didn't dare to make any small moves.

Finally arriving at the palace entrance, the liaison officer was stopped by two guards standing guard. This place is not something you can just break into if you want to.

"I urgently need to report to Your Majesty. This matter is of great importance."

The liaison officer hurriedly took out the telegram in his hand and handed it to one of the Guardsmen.

"Please deliver it to His Majesty as soon as possible. This is extremely urgent information."

The guard glanced at the telegram in the liaison's hand suspiciously, and then nodded. Whether this matter is true or not is not something that a guard should consider. If it is really an urgent report, then he will inevitably be punished for procrastination.

The guards carried their guns and ran quickly towards the inner hall of the palace.

In the palace, Tsar Alexander II and Prime Minister Gorchakov were discussing matters.

The guard suddenly came to the door out of breath, then took out the information in his arms and said to Alexander II:

"Your Majesty, there is an urgent report from the front line, and a liaison officer rushed it all the way."

The guard bent down and stretched out his hand. He handed the telegram in his hand to Alexander II.

Alexander II, who received the telegram, glanced at Gorchakov suspiciously, then opened the telegram and read it.

Gorchakov also looked at the telegram in the Tsar's hand suspiciously, and the whole hall became strangely quiet.

"Damn it, these hateful British guys, what do they think the Russian Empire is? How dare they humiliate us like this."

Alexander II threw the cup in his hand angrily, and then looked at Gorchakov, the anger in his eyebrows unable to be concealed.

"Look, look what these damn British have done. We must fight back immediately. The Russian Empire will not allow such a big insult."

Gorchakov took the telegram in his hand and read the content described in the telegram with a solemn expression.

“Dear Your Majesty, the British Royal Navy has appeared within our country’s territorial waters in the Black Sea.

The number of their warships is several times that of ours, and we cannot give the opponent an effective counterattack. "

May I ask, Your Majesty, whether we should fight back or stay put and continue to confront them."

Although there are only a few hundred words in the telegram, the message conveyed in it is indeed huge.

Not to mention the irritable Alexander II, even Gorchakov felt very angry.

"Your Majesty, if the Black Sea Fleet attacks, this matter will become too serious, and their lives will only be sacrificed in vain."

Although Gorchakov was angry at this time, he still remained calm and said to Alexander II.

"Then tell me, what should we do now? Are we just going to let these hateful British people show off their power and wander around in front of our house?"

Alexander II also lost his cool at this time. As the Russian Tsar, the Russian Empire led by him has never suffered such humiliation so far.

"Your Majesty, the top priority is to seek help. We need to unite our allies: the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Let them issue diplomatic condemnations to the British.

If we send the Black Sea Fleet to fight, it is likely to result in the complete annihilation of the Black Sea Fleet. It's totally not worth it.

We need to put sufficient diplomatic pressure on them internationally.

Once our Black Sea Fleet is completely wiped out, the enemy will definitely become more arrogant, and we have nothing to do about it. "

Gorchakov calmly analyzed the situation.

Although the old minister was also very angry in his heart, the actual situation forced him to calm down and think about other solutions.

"But we must respond to the British behavior, otherwise we will lose a lot of people."

Alexander II took a deep breath.

At this time, he had regained his senses, but regarding this matter, he could not just let it pass easily.

“Today, allowing the Black Sea Fleet to continue to confront the British cannot weaken the Russian Empire’s face.

But let them refrain from opening fire on the Royal Navy and giving those nasty Brits an excuse to start a war. "

In this regard, Gorchakov said.

Nowadays, this is the only solution. After all, the "European troublemaker", the British Empire, always comes so suddenly, leaving them unprepared.

…………

(End of this chapter)