Just as the iron boots of the Ming Dynasty Marine Corps were echoing and spreading across the land of Hiroshima, a fleet that had just begun to leave the Bungo Channel was heading northeast.
The leader of this fleet is the three-masted gunboat "Tsukuba". This is the "Malacca" gunboat that Japan purchased from Britain four years ago. Although it is now more than 22 years old, it is still the most elite warship in the Japanese navy.
.
Like the other 12 ships, the "Tsukuba" is also crowded with army soldiers. The more than 9,000 officers and soldiers of the Hiroshima town, as the "backward assault force", will launch an attack on the rear side of the Tokugawa rebels to cut them off.
The way back.
This is a battle plan that Yamagata Aritomo has planned for a long time. Once the plan succeeds, the Tokugawa rebel army will fall apart, and the reform government will be able to seize the initiative in the war and devote all its strength to Kyushu.
By that time, Japan's civil war will have ended. The country will have regained its unity, and then it will become prosperous and powerful.
"I hope that after this battle, the Japanese Civil War can end quickly and the world will be at peace from now on!"
Standing on the bridge of the "Nishiyama Maru", Nozu Michizuki, the chief of staff of the 11th Regiment, looked quite solemn. Although his attitude was the same as during the end of the war, his combat attitude was a bit negative, but he also
I know that if Japan wants to be strong and prosperous, it must be unified. So even if you don’t want to do some things, you still have to do them.
"We are born from the same roots, so why rush each other..."
Just when Nozu Michinuki was sighing like this, suddenly, a watchman on the top of the mast shouted.
"Multiple plumes of smoke found!"
Multiple plumes of smoke?
Did the Tokugawa rebels have warships?
The answer is of course no. As early as a few years ago, all the warships of each domain were "contributed" to the central government. Soon, Nozu Michizuki's doubts were solved.
What appeared in front of them was none other than the "China Fleet" of the British Royal Navy. The "China Fleet" is one of the ten fleets deployed by the British Royal Navy around the world. It is based in Hong Kong and is the headquarters of the Royal Navy.
It is the most important deterrent force in Asia. Its range of activities extends from Australia in the west to the Bering Strait in the north. It reaches Vladivostok, Russia, the Qing Dynasty, the coast of Japan and other vast areas.
More than ten days ago, this fleet arrived in Osaka and paid a "friend visit" to Osaka. At the same time, it expressed support for Tokugawa Shigenaki. Faced with this situation, Iwakura Tomoshi and others made the decision to invite the Ming fleet.
Decide.
This naturally further undermined the speculation of the British. Facing Japan, which had already fallen to the Ming Dynasty, the British naturally showed their true nature as a "shit stirrup". While expressing support for Tokugawa Shigenaki, when they learned that the Japanese navy had recently transported
After receiving information about the reinforcements of tens of thousands of troops in Nagoya, at the suggestion of Minister Parkes.
The commander of the "Chinese Fleet", Major General Riedel, made a decisive decision to attack. At this time, the flagship ironclad ship "Odisha" of the "Chinese Fleet" and the cruisers "Telia", "Curaco" and "Continental",
When the six warships "Encounter" appeared in front of the Japanese navy, the Japanese army and navy officers and soldiers on board all felt unprecedented pressure.
After all, the Japanese Navy at this time was extremely weak. Apart from a few old steam gunboats, only the "Tsukuba" gunboat purchased from the United Kingdom three years ago could be called a warship. The current Japanese Navy... simply
Not the navy twenty years later, even in the eyes of the Japanese themselves, the navy has no use at all except transporting supplies. In fact, this is also the current use of the Japanese navy - just to transport troops.
"It's simply vulnerable!"
Standing on the bridge of the "Odisha", Major General Riedel looked at the Japanese naval warships parked in the harbor with a mocking gaze. Except for the "Tsukuba" gunboat, most of the other warships were wooden-hulled gunboats.
It is said that there are even a few gunboats that were homemade by various local vassals in the past.
"Sir, if a battle breaks out, it will only take us ten minutes at most to destroy their fleet!"
Colonel Towell held the pipe in his hand and said confidently.
"It's just a bunch of clowns!"
"But these clowns may change the situation of the war. Our mission is to prevent them from landing in Nagoya. The Ming people are now in Hiroshima. If Tokugawa Shigenaki fails, they will soon attack Kyushu with the support of the Ming people.
By that time, Japan will be completely controlled by the Ming Dynasty, which will seriously threaten British interests in East Asia."
Faced with the aggressive expansion desire of the Ming Empire, the British Empire accepted the challenge! This is why the British sent this fleet to visit Japan, just to split Japan.
"Order them to anchor and stop sailing!"
While the "Odisha" hoisted the "anchor and stop sailing" signal flag, they also fired two blasts of cannon as a warning.
"What's happening here!"
When Nozu Michizuki learned this news from the British captain Galdi of the "Nishiyama Maru", he was shocked.
"How dare they order us to stop?"
"They're the Royal Navy!"
Gaudi, who did not dare to disobey, immediately complied and stopped the ship and dropped anchor.
"Baga, what do the British want to do?"
Matsumura Junzo, a navy lieutenant who had just graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis two years ago, stared at the approaching British fleet with his mouth open.
"What authority do they have to order us to stop driving?"
What power do they have? They are the British Royal Navy!
The six warships of the Chinese fleet came to a stop 400 meters away from the Japanese fleet headed by the "Tsukuba". All the cannons on the six warships were exposed, and they aimed their starboard guns at the belly of the Japanese ship.
At this time they put out the second signal:
"Stay where you are! Otherwise, you will bear all the consequences."
Faced with such a threat, the army and navy officers and soldiers on Japanese ships all felt an unprecedented sense of shame and anger.
"Damn it, we are Japanese, why do they order us!"
“And it’s still in Japan’s territorial waters!”
At this time, the Japanese army and navy officers and soldiers on board were all extremely angry, and there was a sudden uproar. There was a commotion on every ship. They even took out their rifles and aimed them at the British warships, as if they were ready to fight with the British at any time.
They were fighting to the death. At the same time, the officers were angrily protesting to the British captain.
"This is Japan's territorial waters. The British have no right to order us, yours, to set sail immediately."
Nozu Michinuki spoke to Captain Galdi in halting English.
At this time, the third signal was sent out on the "Odisha":
"All fleets weigh anchor and follow our fleet to Osaka!"
When they heard that they were going to Osaka, Nozu Michuki and the others were dumbfounded. They were being treated as prisoners of war!
"Regardless of international public law, they barbarically blocked the navigation of Japanese ships in Japan's territorial waters..."
In the face of the Japanese protests, Major General Riedel sneered.
"Raise the red flag and if they refuse to obey orders, attack!"
What is barbarism and what is barbarism? This is barbarism. Facing the red flag raised by the British to represent attack, the army and navy officers and soldiers on the Japanese fleet were all dumbfounded.
Perhaps because of his overwhelming anger, facing the domineering British monsters, Haruichiro Tetsuda, who was originally hostile to these Western monsters, directly picked up his rifle and pulled the trigger at the British warship.
Gunshots!
When it rang out on the sea, everyone was stunned. Not to mention the other Japanese soldiers on the ship, even the British were shocked.
Have these Japanese monkeys eaten the courage of bear hearts and leopards?
How dare you fire at a British Empire warship... Guns are also fire!
These Japanese monkeys actually fired the first shot. They were really... cooperative!
"Baga, who fired the shot!"
Now it's too late to find out who fired the gun. The moment the gunshot rang out, everything changed.
"The Japanese opened fire on us."
Major General Riedel said directly.
"Okay, now, gentlemen, let these Japanese monkeys feel the wrath of the Royal Navy."
This chapter has been completed!