Chapter 1110 The frightened Royal Navy (first update, please subscribe)
North Atlantic Ocean, British Isles, London
Although it was early in the morning, on the streets of London, there were occasionally groups of people standing on the roadside. Most of them were surrounding people holding newspapers, looking at the shocking news reports in the newspapers.
"The Ming Empire sneak attack on the Peru-Bolivia Federation!"
“The Ming Empire’s ambitions are clearly revealed!”
"Enemy of the civilized world: The Ming Empire used its atrocities to prove its ambition to the world!"
"Civilization and barbarism collide again: Where should the British Empire go?"
"The Ambition of a Barbarian Empire—New World!"
…
Danger!
Just like newspapers and public opinion in other countries in the world like to attract the attention of readers with unconventional news, the British public opinion circle is no exception. Moreover, the British public opinion circle in this era has quite an "imperial consciousness". Since the "Cuban Crisis", the British public opinion circle has
Public opinion generally believes that the Ming Empire is a threat to the British Empire's world hegemony.
Like the public opinion circles around the world, when the British set their sights on Havana, the sudden war in Peru-Bolivia, especially its dramatic outcome, shocked everyone.
Before this, the whole world thought that the empire’s goal was Havana, but what about now?
All of them were shocked - the Ming Empire actually occupied the Peru-Bolivia Federation.
This move of building a plank road to covertly conceal Chencang and blind everyone's eyes. At the same time, the dramatic way of fighting and the reversal of the results are also incredible.
After the results of the South Pacific naval battle came out, everyone was shocked. The Imperial Navy, which was at an absolute disadvantage, not only did not fail, but unexpectedly sank 11 of the opponent's warships, including two battleships and four, with zero losses.
With more than 53,000 tons of warships including armored ships, the Imperial Navy's victory exceeded everyone's expectations.
It can even be said that it subverted everyone's understanding of naval warfare. In other words, it set off a naval technological revolution overnight, and this revolution eliminated all old warships overnight. This naval battle of the Imperial Navy was not only
Shocked the world.
What's more important is to tell almost everyone a fact - the era of naval technological revolution has arrived!
"The Ming Empire Navy!"
Astley Cooper, the First Lord of the Admiralty of the British Empire who once swore that "the Royal Navy of the British Empire still firmly rules the seas", still looked at the evidence with incredible astonishment until this moment.
“It really exceeded our expectations!”
Unexpected!
After receiving telegrams from the British Naval Attaché in the Ming Empire from Zhongdu, especially telegrams about the "South Pacific Naval War" from the Royal Navy observers in Lima.
He and the entire top brass of the Royal Navy were in extreme shock. What surprised them was not only the reversal of the disparity in strength in the "South Pacific Naval Battle", but more importantly, the naval technology revealed in the naval battle.
The Royal Navy was restless.
After all, for the British Empire, since Nelson, the Royal Navy has been the fundamental guarantee of the British Empire's world hegemony. For this reason, Britain has been very sensitive to maritime challengers for many years.
"Technology! The reason why they were able to win the naval battle this time with an absolutely inferior ship tonnage and firepower was not just because they were more well-trained, but more importantly, they possessed the world's first-class naval technology.
!”
"The world's top naval technology?"
William Ewart Gladstone asked rhetorically.
"Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, the victory of this naval battle is not so much a naval victory as a technical victory. Just as all the intelligence said, technological progress eliminates everything! After all,
This result is really amazing! The world's first-class naval technology. This is not an exaggeration. After all, in this naval battle, the Ming Empire Navy finally exposed all their secret weapons-from rapid-fire cannons to torpedoes.
Each of these weapons alone can shock the world. It can also change the course of the war, just like it does now."
When answering the Prime Minister's question, Astley Cooper, as the First Sea Lord, felt mixed emotions.
The "Battle of the South Pacific" is undoubtedly the ultimate warning for the British Royal Navy. In the past, the Royal Navy only faced challenges, but what about now?
But it was a comprehensive threat. On the way to Downing Street, he even imagined what would happen if the Royal Navy and the Imperial Navy were fighting instead?
The result is the same misery!
Rapid-fire cannons and torpedoes are really powerful.
Especially torpedoes, which scared the shit out of the Royal Navy. Isn't naval warfare supposed to be about everyone blasting me with one shot after another for a long time, and then depending on luck?
But torpedoes are completely different. After a torpedo ship launches several torpedoes, even if only one torpedo can hit the warship, then even a battleship will be vulnerable. It will sink into the sea in the blink of an eye.
Can such a naval battle still be fought?
Astley Cooper even hated the Imperial Navy in his heart. No matter what weapon you develop, you have to come up with a torpedo.
How can such a naval battle be fought? The fleet built by everyone using the wealth of the treasury is likely to be destroyed in a torpedo attack.
William Ewart Gladstone took another careful look at the intelligence brought by the Sea Lord. Looking at the contents of the intelligence, when he first received the message, he and everyone else even thought it was a telegram.
Wrong, could it be that the Ming Empire was completely wiped out, but the Peruvian-Bolivia navy did not suffer any losses?
After all, the strength of the two sides is too disparity!
But in the end, after several repeated confirmations, he did not deny the fact that the Ming Empire Navy was the winner of this naval battle with great disparity in strength.
"Indeed, for now, one thing that is certain is that they have always relied on technological superiority to win wars. From their expedition to Chile, to Argentina, France and Brazil, this is true for almost all the wars of the Ming Empire. This is true every time.
In a war, they will win the war through technological superiority, and the same is true for this naval battle."
Granville George Leveson-Gower nodded in agreement, and then pointed to the telegram in his hand.
"However, the top priority now is that one issue we need to consider now is the conflict of interests between the Ming Empire's expansion in South America and the British Empire, and the next development direction between them and the United States. Will the Ming Empire invade Peru because of the conflict?
-The Bolivian Federation leads to total war!"
Everyone knows that if it leads to a full-scale war, Britain will definitely open champagne here to celebrate. Of course, how likely is this?
"I don't think Americans will go to war with the Ming Empire for Peru!"
Astley Cooper said.
"The reason why the United States is willing to rush to the front in this "Cuban Crisis" is because Cuba is close at hand. If the Ming Empire is allowed to take the opportunity to control Cuba, the threat to the United States will be direct, especially after the Ming Dynasty takes control of Cuba.
The Empire will also threaten the Federation's own security together with the Confederate States of America, but..."
He paused for a moment, and when the Prime Minister's eyes turned to him, he continued.
"In fact, the United States was not prepared for war. Whether it was sea power or land power, they were far from the opponents of the Ming Empire. For this reason, even though the Ming Empire occupied Hawaii, the United States' reaction seemed
Strong, but not tough. After all, Hawaii is too far away from the United States. That is, in Cuba, because it poses a direct threat to the United States, the United States will dispatch almost all the main force of the navy to ensure that Cuba is not controlled by the Ming Empire...
"
Taking a deep breath, Astley Cooper continued.
"For the United States, Peru, like Hawaii, is an extremely distant place. Americans may have direct conflict or even war with the Ming Empire over Cuba, but they will never be willing to fight against the Ming Empire over distant Hawaii and Peru.
After all, the empire's war, in the eyes of most Americans, has nothing to do with them! Moreover, the technological superiority of their navy that they have demonstrated now is enough to deter the United States."
Originally, there was only a slight gap in strength, but now? It is not just a gap in strength, but also a comprehensive backwardness in technology. In this case, as long as the Americans are not stupid, they will not
Maybe take risks.
"For the United States, at present, the most likely choice is to negotiate to ensure that Cuba is not controlled by the Ming Empire without a war."
"Indeed, Marshal!"
Gower, the foreign minister, while agreeing, said to the point.
"I believe that for the United States, not only will they not go to war with the Ming Empire because of the demise of Peru, they will even use it as a bargaining chip in exchange for the empire's concessions from Cuba and even Hawaii! After all, this is the most advantageous option for the United States.
Even, in my opinion, this is why the Ming Empire chose to invade Peru, because they wanted to use compromise in Cuba in exchange for their expansion in Peru!"
The diplomats of the British Empire in this era are without exception elites who are proficient in diplomacy. Of course they can tell at a glance what the Americans will choose!
"This is the worst outcome for the British Empire!"
As Prime Minister, Gladstone said with a tone full of regret.
"What we need is an America that goes to war with the Ming Empire! If the United States chooses to avoid going to war, then how can they help the British Empire maintain order in the Americas?"
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!