"This is destined to be an expedition that attracts worldwide attention. It is the first time that an Eastern army has set foot on European soil. Since the 19th century, Western countries have been competing for colonies in Asia. The armies of Western countries have entered and left the Far Eastern countries. But now,

The military boots of the Chinese Expeditionary Force are about to hit the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris.

History is always so amazing.

Fifteen years ago, when the Western armies were parading in the Imperial City of the Qing Dynasty, who could have imagined that fifteen years later, the military boots of the Chinese Expeditionary Force would be heard in Europe and on the soil of France!"

The New York Times—"The Expedition That Captured the World's Attention"

On the sea, a huge fleet sailed with a gloomy silhouette. The bow of the merchant ship cut across the ocean, leaving only white waves. And around the merchant fleet, more than ten ships hung with blue sky and white sun all over the ground.

The thousand-ton-class warships under the Red Navy flag maintain the same average speed as merchant ships and provide escort for the huge merchant fleet.

These thirteen 1,300-ton escort ships are all "Jianghe-class" escort ships. This is China's most cutting-edge escort warship. However, although it is China's most cutting-edge escort warship, it does not look very advanced.

, can even be said to be poorly armed. For example, merchant ship standards were fully adopted during construction to speed up the construction. The weapons are only three 128 mm naval guns and several small-caliber single-barreled machine guns. However, it is a kind of power and mechanical performance with extremely high performance.

An excellent frigate that can perform long-range escort missions. The speed of 20 knots may not seem fast, but it is suitable for escorting merchant ships. It has two depth charge chute, 8 depth charge throwers and a hedgehog shell launcher.

It also makes it the natural enemy of submarines. If we look at anti-submarine warfare alone, this seemingly simple escort may be the most advanced anti-submarine escort ship in any country at this time.

This batch of thirteen warships were originally "simple ships" ordered by the Jiangsu Army and Navy Corps from Yingyoumen Shipyard. Each ship cost only one million yuan. However, due to the expedition, the navy did not have enough escort ships. The British and French

The two countries were unable to send fleets to escort, so they temporarily hoisted their naval flags and went out with the expeditionary force to provide escort missions for the huge expeditionary force fleet. However, for the escort fleet, at least before the fleet passed through the Suez Canal, they all

There is no need to consider fighting, but after the fleet sails through the Sui River, it is necessary to be more vigilant to prevent the fleet from being attacked by German and Austrian submarines.

Although the powerful Allied fleet has long controlled the sea control of the Mediterranean, the German and Austrian submarine forces are able to continuously attack from the bottom of the sea and sink warships, merchant ships, cruise ships, and troop carriers. As for China,

How to provide escort for the troop transport fleet is the most important thing.

In order to ensure the safety of the troop transport fleet, first of all, the Ministry of Transportation, in conjunction with the Ministry of War, the Ministry of the Navy, and naval transportation officials sent by France, formulated detailed transportation regulations. The countries that originally planned to transport export supplies included Britain, France, the United States, etc.

Merchant ships, whenever they were sent to France, British merchant ships were detained in order to expand the fleet. Then, according to transportation regulations, they were deployed in "formation" according to the type of materials. The troop transport ship was in the center of the fleet, and the middle one was

Military supplies are surrounded by merchant ships transporting consumer goods, but even so, almost as soon as the fleet passes through the Suez Canal. Except for the escort ships, the armed personnel of all merchant ships will be on duty day and night, concentrating on guarding the ocean.

Compared with any other ocean, the waves in the Mediterranean are not big, but they are not calm either. The waves are coming one after another towards this huge fleet flying the flag of the Chinese Navy. After sailing through the Suez Canal,

When entering the "calm" Mediterranean Sea, the weather here immediately gave the Chinese Expeditionary Force a blow. It seemed like a storm was brewing in acetic acid. The lead-gray clouds were low, and the meter-high waves were roaring violently.

.Even the 10,000-ton transport ships in the fleet were shaken this way and that...

Under such waves, at the bow of the Chinese merchant ship, the gunners operating the 75mm naval guns also wore inflatable life jackets and looked around from time to time, while on the mast, the lookouts held telescopes.

They looked around the sea level vigilantly, any wind and swells between the waves would attract their attention.

After all, whether they can detect German submarines in advance now is directly related to their own lives.

However, for the expedition officers and soldiers shipped by this fleet, they did not know that at this time, the sailors were acting as "gunners" on the deck. For these soldiers who had experienced a twenty-six-day voyage, they

Many of them are still enduring the "torture" of the sea.

The Army has always been landlubbers. For them, the sea seemed to exist only on maps and in words in the past. But now, in the past twenty-six days, they have been sailing on the sea, and the sea has been sailing on the sea for this group of people.

The ducks have never been polite. First there were huge waves in the South China Sea, and then there was the midsummer in the Indian Ocean. It can be said that God has dealt with them a lot since they boarded the ship.

At this moment, many officers and soldiers who were still unable to adapt to sailing were all seasick in the cabin. In the narrow cabin with only dim lights, there was a thick sour smell everywhere, which was vomiting.

The smell of food, sweat, their body odor, and even urine smell mixed together.

Just like an animal!

For the squadron, which had no expedition experience, on the fifth day of the voyage, they knew how "animals" traveled across the ocean. In fact, they were stuffed into merchant ships like animals.

Among them, merchant ships of two to three thousand tons, excluding those carrying thousands of tons of supplies, were packed into a battalion of troops, like animals...perhaps they were "given preferential treatment."

The harsh environment, the crowded space, and the cabin filled with strange smells are no less than torture for everyone. The kitchen on the ship cooks three meals a day and there is a lot left over every day. In the end, there is only

It can be poured into the sea. As for the "hard dishes" such as roast chicken that people used to rush for in the camp, almost no one will touch them now. Many people just eat porridge three times a day. Medical soldiers

They were still forced to take care of those patients in the cabin, even if those patients were sent to the crew cabin of the merchant ship, but even so, in the past twenty-six days, almost every troop carrier dropped the bodies of soldiers into the sea.

, during the twenty-six-day voyage, more than 360 people died of illness, but this kind of accident was unexpected.

The voyage caused the expeditionary force to completely lose its combat effectiveness at this moment, so that in the eyes of the most optimistic people, even if it arrived in France, it would be difficult for the expeditionary force to regain its combat effectiveness without a month of repairs. Fortunately, they did not need to use guns to fight at this time.

, even after arriving in France. According to the initial agreement, they can get two months of rest and recuperation. In short, in this war with nature, the expeditionary force is bound to lose.

But their commander Cai E was not affected at all. In fact, many officers were not affected at all. Most of them had the experience of studying in the East and the West by boat. Maybe they were already used to "seasickness". Of course, maybe it was possible.

It was because of their responsibilities that forced their will to overcome seasickness.

However, for the soldiers, the fact that these senior officers did not get seasick made them relieved. This officer is not an ordinary person after all. If you follow them, you should be able to win the battle! Sometimes, the Chinese are like this, they always like to find some excuses for their actions.

"good omen".

After entering the Mediterranean Sea, there was a storm-like storm. The dark clouds in the sky suddenly disappeared, and there was a bright sunny sky again. This scene was the "good omen" that the soldiers had been waiting for for a long time. Does this mean?

What about the future of the expeditionary force?….

"This weather is like the future of the expeditionary force!"

On the escort ship "Yangtze River", Xu Shuzheng, the chief of staff of the expeditionary force, was discussing the weather with French Army liaison officer Major Charlie.

"After the expeditionary force reaches France, it will definitely be despised by all countries, even France!"

When mentioning France, Xu Shuzheng emphasized. He even looked at Charlie specifically. Charlie, who was looking at him, waved his hands and said with some confusion.

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, please believe that as an ally of France, France will treat the Chinese Expeditionary Force fairly without any discrimination!"

Charlie's words seemed a bit thin. In response to his thin answer, Xu Shuzheng just smiled. He looked at the sunny Mediterranean Sea again.

"Contempt, that is inevitable. Before the expeditionary force has proven itself, you, the French, and the British, will not take a serious look at the Chinese ** team. Discrimination... Hum, let him go, the Chinese have a saying

As the saying goes, knowing shame is almost like courage! Charlie, would you like to make a bet with me?"

Different from the reticent person in the past, since the expedition of the expeditionary force, he has communicated more extensively with these French liaison officers. Unlike Cai E, who only speaks Japanese, Xu Shuzheng, who had prepared to study in Germany, had studied German by himself. After the Battle of Lanshan,

He also hired a tutor to learn French. When he boarded the ship, his French was stammering, and now his French even has a Lyon accent. The reason is simple: Charlie is from Lyon.

"bet?"

Charlie was stunned and looked at the chief of staff who he rated as "extremely smart" with some surprise.

"What to bet on?"

"I bet you will discriminate against the expeditionary force!"

Xu Shuzheng still had a smile on his face as he spoke, as if he didn't care at all about the coming discrimination.

"ah?"

"However, I dare say that after one battle, you will know that France needs the Chinese Expeditionary Force! By then..."

Sneering, Xu Shuzheng stopped talking. In his opinion, the next thing would be simple.

Simple!

In Cai E's heart, nothing is simple. Cai E, who stayed in the captain's cabin of the "Qiantang River", looked out the window from time to time, thinking in his mind how long it would take for the troops to recover if they were sent to France like this.

come over.

According to his original idea, the expeditionary force should gain military prestige from the moment it set foot on French soil. But now, after "losing" an average of ten kilograms, most of the officers and soldiers have a sallow complexion. How can they look good?

It's already good enough to step off the troop transport ship.

As for the military power of the expeditionary force, China’s national power!

I'm afraid there is no door!

With his brows furrowed, Cai E sighed deeply as he thought about what he might face after arriving in France. The agreement was an agreement, and the reality was reality. After arriving in France, the expeditionary force would simply be "under the control of others". Those who always discriminated against Orientals

How could the Westerners treat the expeditionary force well?

As the commander of the expeditionary force, Cai E even believes that perhaps, after arriving in France, the first battlefield of the expeditionary force may be how to deal with "allies" and how to prevent the French from using the Chinese expeditionary force as cannon fodder. This may be the key

He needs to really face the problem.

After the weather improved, the fleet, which had withstood the test of wind and waves, sailed forward smoothly. Some officers and soldiers in good physical condition walked on the deck to breathe the fresh air of the Mediterranean. After dozens of days of journey and adding coal along the way, they witnessed

The overseas scenery has made these officers and soldiers who went abroad for the first time not as fussy about new things as they were at first. However, after learning that they will arrive at the Port of Marseille in France tomorrow, they can't help but be excited about the next "trip to France".

"Full of curiosity.

At this time, most of the army officers and soldiers were crowded on the deck, breathing the fresh air and talking about everything about France. Some people even scooped up the "Sino-French Dialogue Manual" and learned French there. For some of them,

, they quite hope that in France, like the legend among sailors, "French women can get into bed with a man without coaxing"...

Compared with them, the officers and soldiers of the army and navy on the escort ship were not in such a good mood. At this time, everyone's hearts were squeezed into a small ball. Their mission was to escort the expedition force to Marseille safely, but in this seemingly

German submarines that may be lurking under the calm sea may appear at any time and sink merchant ships transporting officers and soldiers.

These escort ships stirred up water on the calm sea and marched in a single column. According to the navigation instructions, the "Huaihe" escort ship was located at the outermost layer of the entire formation. As early as the merchant fleet sailed out of the Suez Canal,

They continued to receive warnings from the British Mediterranean Fleet and the French Fleet, saying that there were many German submarines in the area. Almost every few hours, telegrams would come in saying that a merchant ship had been sunk in a certain sea area.

For the officers and soldiers on the "Huaihe", this is their first "combat mission". Although this fleet flies the navy flag, in fact, they are a group of rookies, but this group of rookies

Extremely responsible. Although the battle warning has not yet been issued, in the past two days, all sailors have been guarding the naval guns, machine guns, and depth charges. Even when they rest at night, they are only at the gun positions.

While resting, the gunners stared at the sea to ensure that they would not miss any waves.

While they were looking at the sea there, under the bridge of the "Huaihai", a sergeant was sitting in front of a machine. He was wearing headphones and listening to something with all his concentration. Suddenly, he heard an unusual sound.
To be continued...