Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

On the Kuwu Sea (Okhotsk Sea), four first-class cruise ships with forty guns belonging to the North Navy of Xia Junzhen escorted two military transport ships of [-] materials loaded with officers and soldiers of the Longxiang Army. The posture of the road column is speeding away in the north-northeast direction.At the visual distance in front of and behind this small fleet, there are also a first-class messenger ship with eighteen guns clearing the way.

According to the order of the Privy Council, it is a major mission of the Zhenbei Navy to explore the waters north of Kunai Island and look eastward for the Fusang Continent, but the fleet appearing on the Kunai Sea is obviously performing another equally important mission , That is to block the sea of ​​​​Kunwu, destroy the coastal ports of the Russians, and prevent the Russians from going to sea.

In view of the possibility of a land battle to destroy the Okhotsk port established by the Russians on the Kunai Sea, the Dragon Army had to be mobilized to act together.However, since the [-]st Brigade of the [-]rd Division of the Longxiang Army affiliated to the Zhenbei Navy had to undertake the defense of Ezodi, Nankuwu Island, and the South Thousand Islands, its strength was relatively tight.Therefore, after transferring an infantry regiment of the brigade and a ranger sentry under the brigade, and after some coordination, the White Corps, the Artillery Corps and two divisions were seconded from the Eighth Division of the Longxiang Army belonging to the Heilongjiang Neihe Navy Division. It is a ranger sentry.Therefore, it can be regarded as a joint operation of the two major navies.

"Second Letter's fleet has found out clearly that the Raksha people only own a few small fishing boats." Nangong Youwei, the captain of the flagship [Handan], complained to his immediate superior, the first division of the Third Cruise Fleet. Said Wei Youping, the leader of the fleet. "My lord admiral actually wants to use a squadron of cruise ships to go out, it's simply killing chickens with a knife."

"Killing a chicken with a sledgehammer? Baldy Mao, you mean those people from the Heilongjiang Navy." Obedient and listening, Wei Youping certainly knew what Nangong Youwei wanted to express. "I haven't arrived. You can't beat a fart with three sticks on weekdays. Now that there is no one around, you are now chewing right and wrong. What do the superiors think, but you can figure it out as a mere sixth-rank."

Nangong Youwei blinked, and asked mysteriously: "Master Guan Dai, so it is true that Admiral Chu lost to Heilongjiang Lord Chen in drinking, and that's why he was forced to share the work with him?"

"Where did you hear that Chen Zhima rotten millet?" Wei Youping glared at Nangong Youwei. "Use your brains hard, do you think military affairs are a trifling matter? Drinking and losing, thanks to you, you can figure it out."

Nangong Youwei said a little dissatisfied: "Yazodi and Nankuwu Island are not very threatening, the Fubo Army is enough to guard the area, and the third division (Longxiang Army) can completely draw out, why use Heilongjiang's People and horses, if it's not because the admiral lost the bet and deliberately gave up the credit, then the problem inside is really serious."

Hearing Nangong Youwei's accusation that Chu Jin and other troops have a tendency to join forces with other troops, Wei Youping's expression became serious: "Nonsense, what do you know. Do you think the admiral doesn't want to have only the third division (Longxiang Army)? Guangwei and Xuanwei The army was abolished, and the Longxiang Army expanded its personnel from five divisions to eight divisions, and which division received more than half of the recruits. These new recruits into the Longxiang Army used to be landlubbers, and they were overwhelmed as soon as they boarded the ship. , without some training, how can it be used for cross-sea expeditions."

Nangong Youwei was stunned, obviously he didn't expect the reason to be so simple, he smiled coyly: "My lord, look at my stinky mouth, why don't I hit myself twice and you calm down?"

Seeing Nangong Youwei who really raised his hand and was about to give him two slaps, Wei Youping waved his hand impatiently: "Why am I angry, but remember to stop talking nonsense, in case it really reaches the ears of the admiral, the admiral will There are a lot of people, so I have to suggest that the Ministry of War will promote you to one rank, and become the leader of the squadron of the tutelary palace."

The management of the tutelary squadron sounds like the mid-level of the navy in name, but in fact it can only manage a few third-class letter ships and a few miscellaneous ships that are not suitable for long-distance sailing, not to mention cruisers that are much higher than the rank , Cruiser Squadrons, even letter ships, military transportation ship squadrons are incomparable, not even the captains of third-class cruisers of the same rank, and the captains of fourth-class cruisers and first-class cruisers of one lower rank Living a good life is the last position in the navy that people don't want to take.

Nangong Youwei was really frightened, and murmured: "I will say that in front of you, my lord, and I dare not speak indiscriminately outside."

"I know, you usually only say a gourd with a sawed mouth." Wei Youping said this, and looked Nangong Youwei up and down again. "By the way, brother Yongchen, why are you talking so much today? Is there something good you're holding back in your heart so you can't vomit quickly."

"How can I keep something good in my heart?" Nangong Youwei rubbed his neck. "It's a good thing, my lord. I heard that the Department of Warships has re-determined the class of cruise ships from the original second class to third class. Are you going to give us a new ship next?"

Wei Youping said jokingly: "That's the case, but the ship is still under construction, so you can't wait?"

"That's it?" Nangong Youwei said unabashedly. "With 48 guns, it's six guns behind the fourth-class cruisers with 54 guns. It can be regarded as a great power at sea, and it's not like you have to follow the cruiser to pick up leftovers."

Back when I lived in Dongning, the 28-gun boats of the Xia Army Navy were once the main force in naval battles, but time has passed, and now the [-]-gun cruisers are just running errands behind the main cruisers, and they can only live in the mountains without a king. How could it not make Wei Youping, who was still a gunner when the three provinces attacked Taiwan, feel a lot of emotion.

"There is still a difference." After sighing for a while, Wei Youping responded. "The 40-class fourth-class cruiser is a three-deck gunship, while the 32-class first-class cruiser is a double-deck gunship. This is a big difference. And the fourth-class cruiser is equipped with eighteen guns. Twenty cent (28 pound) short guns, twenty eighteen and a half cent (24 pound) long guns, and sixteen fifteen cent (24 pound) long guns. The short cannons and [-] [-]-point long cannons are far inferior to the opponent in terms of firepower, which means they are just taking the lead in the secondary position."

"My lord, the lower officials don't think so." Nangong Youwei retorted. "Currently the imperial court has only 28 squadrons of cruisers. Based on the calculation of two ships in a squadron, it is only 56 ships. It is just a drop in the ocean to distribute them in the entire ocean. Moreover, the cost of cruisers is high. To build a cruiser, cruise ship Several ships could be built, so the imperial court did not dare to build more. Therefore, the officials thought that in the future, the new first-class cruise ships would be the most important ones on the oceans. battlefield."

Wei Youping said nonchalantly: "Then you are not willing to transfer you to be the captain of a fourth-class cruiser?"

Both the captain of the fourth-class cruiser and the captain of the first-class cruiser are of the sixth rank, but in principle, those who have not been the captain of the fourth-class cruiser before being promoted from the fifth rank can only serve as the commander of the squadron of the tutelary government or work in the Naval Academy. Those who have passed the fourth-class cruiser captain can go to the Privy Council to take up a post, and can also be promoted to the third-class cruiser captain, with a wider range of choices.

Therefore, Nangong responded awkwardly: "My lord, don't be joking, it is always a good thing to be the captain of a cruiser."

While talking, the lookout sentry roared towards the deck: "Signal from [Xinsu NO.40], there are several fishing boats ahead."

Wei Youping's expression became serious: "Send a signal, let [Kangsu No. 18] go forward to escort the ship to lose the ship, and the rest of the ships will fight the wind to meet them. We must not send one ship back to report."

Looking at [Xinsu NO.40], which cut through the waves and arrived like a sharp arrow, several Russian fishing boats with one or two masts working at sea were dumbfounded.The Russian fishermen had never seen such a fast boat before, so they were stunned and did not respond. However, seeing several large ships with white sails approaching in the distance, these Russians finally panicked.You must know that on the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, Russia has not yet had such a powerful sea force, and there is not even a merchant fleet that can sail long distances. From this, we can know that the menacing opponent is not from its own country.On the treacherous sea, in the era of the strong preying on the weak, since the person who came here was not one of his own, ten times out of ten it was full of great dangers.

After seeing the crisis, several fishing boats started to turn around in unison, using sails and oars together, trying to get out of the danger before the enemy came.It's just that [Xinsu NO.40] was faster than these Russian fishermen imagined. Under their horrified eyes, they passed the fastest fishing boat, turned around, and crossed in front of these unarmed boats.

"Qin Weiting, this bastard, actually wants to make a living by himself." Looking at the gunpowder smoke from [Xinsu No. 40] after the bombardment, Nangong Youwei roared jealously. "Too alone, too alone!"

Wei Youping said with a smile: "Brother Yongchen, you're just a hundred steps away. The cruise ship still has a chance to pick up the leftovers, but Qin Weiting has no chance to hit a real target, maybe he's overwhelmed a long time ago. It’s a rare opportunity, let him practice first.”

Nangong Youwei admitted helplessly: "That's true. There have been fewer pirates on the Beiyang Sea these years. My brothers are almost getting moldy. If you have an opportunity, you always grab it. But [Xinsu NO. 40] That is to say, the Oros people who bully others have no guns, and if we really want to go to the port, it will depend on us to deal with the fort.”

"Brother Yongchen, don't take it lightly." Wei Youping said. "The second letter fleet was afraid that the Oros people would find out, so they didn't dare to get too close, so they don't know much about the situation of the port fortress, but the fortress is built of earth and stone, unlike ours, which only has wooden shells. A little more is better.”

Nangong Youwei nodded and said: "My lord, don't worry, the lower officials have their own opinions, and they won't take risks lightly. You have to escort the army ship to the shore first, and then make plans after transporting the Longxiang army ashore."

Of course, Nangong Youwei is not afraid of the Russian forts. What he relies on is the ten [-]-cent long guns on each side of the four first-class cruise ships, which are enough to overwhelm most coastal forts in this era.

At this time, the lookout sent an urgent report: "My lord, the Oros has surrendered."

Wei Youping's expression changed: "Send a flag to ask [Xinsu No. 40] to send the prisoners here, and I will personally interrogate them."