() That evening, Liu Fu, who was having a meeting with several ministers at the Presidential Palace, received a telegram with only four words: You are God.
However, this kind of Western humor did not make Liu Fu happy. It was not that he could not understand the meaning of the telegram, but that there was a small problem waiting for Liu Fu's final decision. This trouble was not from Japan or the British.
But the French.
In March 1899, mainland intelligence officers sent news that the French planned to occupy Guangzhou Bay. Guangzhou Bay at that time actually had nothing to do with Guangzhou. Guangzhou Bay at that time was near Leizhou Peninsula, which is now Zhanjiang City.
Why do the French want to occupy Guangzhou Bay? In fact, this is all the sequelae of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. After the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894, Japan and the Qing government signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki. The treaty stipulated that the Qing government would
The Liaodong Peninsula was ceded to Japan. Russia, Germany and France were not happy when they saw that Japan had taken such a big advantage. The three countries combined would not be able to occupy such a good place for the time being, but they could not take advantage of it.
Japan, as a result, six days after the treaty was signed, these three countries forced Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to the Qing Dynasty on the grounds that neighbors should be friendly and not go too far.
As a result, the Japanese returned Liaodong to the Qing Dynasty, and the Russians regarded themselves as heroes and came to seek benefits. The Qing Dynasty also planned to rely on the Russians to help resist the Japanese, and did not dare to offend them. As a result,
Dalian and Port Arthur were leased to the Russians.
The Germans looked at it and said, oh, this can't be done. I also participated in breaking up the fight, and I have to share in the benefits. Qingzheng Fu looked at it, and he couldn't afford to offend him. Hey, you should just take the Jiaozhou Bay first.
Play.
The Frenchman looked at it and said, let me go. You two will benefit, but what about me? No, I have to find a place to occupy. As a result, after looking at the map for a long time, I finally settled on Guangzhou Bay, and
The reason given by Qing Zhengfu is that the French fleet needs a port for adding water and coal and a warehouse for storing coal. Guangzhou Bay is suitable. Lease it to me and sign a 99-year contract first.
Russia, Germany and France were all satisfied, but Liu Fu was not happy anymore. This Guangzhou Bay is too close to Hainan Island. He also has a Shilu iron mine on Hainan Island. If the French occupy Guangzhou Bay, one day he will
After wandering around for a while, he discovered this large iron mine. If he didn't rob Liu Fu, he would be embarrassed to say that he had any brains.
Now, according to the telegrams from submarines sent to several major ports in Vietnam (called Annam at that time) to monitor French warships, French warships are gathering in Da Nang, Vietnam, probably to receive the Guangzhou Bay. The French are ready to take action.
Liu Fu has not yet decided whether to fight the French or not.
Fighting, it is easy to expose one's own strength. Once the strength is exposed, the destruction of the Japanese fleet and the unexpected loss of the American fleet some time ago may be associated with Taiwan's government. By then, it will cause public outrage, even if it is short-term.
There is nothing they can do against Taiwan, but even if it is economic sanctions, Taiwan will still suffer. After all, Taiwan is an island. No matter how rich the products are, some things still need to be imported, and sugar and camphor, which account for a large part of Taiwan's economy, also need to be exported.
If we don't fight, the Shilu Iron Mine will be in danger. Taiwan can still overcome the lack of other raw materials. Once there is a shortage of iron ore, Taiwan's military industry, railways, shipbuilding, etc. will all stop.
After discussing with several government ministers for several days, Liu Fu finally decided to fight. If exposed, the Japanese would definitely know who destroyed their own fleet, and the Americans would not be sure who it was.
Even if you have suspicions, it is not easy to find evidence. After all, on the surface, there is no conflict between Taiwan and the Americans, and they cooperate more than undermine each other. They should be in the category of good relations. Taiwan has no motive.
To sneak attack the US warships. For the sake of our own national defense and industrial lifeline, this risk is worth taking.
At the end of March, a secret fleet composed of 50 "Tuna" submarines quietly set out from Citong Port. Except for the two commanders of this submarine fleet: Wu Mingxue and Shi Renjie, no one knew where they were going.
Training or fighting.
The entire unit followed the route to Hainan Island, using the cargo ship disguised as the "Helena Shipping Company" to haul ore as a cover. They dived during the day and surfaced at night. They unknowingly came to the waters northeast of Da Nang and lurked.
Come down.
Since we don’t know when the French will take action or which route they will take, these submarines can only be resupplied by freighters coming at night, and take turns to monitor the activities of the French fleet outside Da Nang. The submarine force has been lurking for more than half a month, and Da Nang
There was still no movement from the French fleet in the port. Every day, in the No. 005 boat that served as the flagship of the fleet, Wu Mingxue could be heard yelling and cursing.
In the early morning of April 22, the submarine force that was taking over the shift finally received the telegram from the surveillance submarine, and the French finally set off. There were a total of 3 cruisers, 4 gunboats and 2 auxiliary ships, heading northwest at a speed of 10 knots, heading towards
Went to Qiongzhou Strait.
"It's finally out. The Frenchman was too slow and took a month to set off." Wu Mingxue complained about the French's efficiency and ordered that the submarine force set off immediately and headed due north.
The surface speed of the "Tuna-class" submarine exceeds 13 knots and the underwater speed reaches 17 knots. Compared with the French fleet's slow economic speed of 10 knots, it can reach the calculated ambush position first and set up a formation.
Waiting for the French to fall into the trap themselves.
Due to Liu Fu's request, it was best to eliminate the French fleet in Vietnamese waters, so Wu Mingxue chose the sea area 50 nautical miles north of Da Nang on the chart to lurk, while receiving position information from the surveillance submarine, while adjusting the position of the ambush circle
.
At noon on April 22nd, the French fleet appeared on the sea level under the scorching sun. The commander of the fleet, Vice Admiral Geert de la Bidolière, was sailing on his flagship "Basgue".
His pet dog was walking on the deck. In the view of Lieutenant General Bidollière, this was just an armed parade. What was about to confront his fleet were just a few small boats from the Qing Dynasty. It was estimated that they would not even be able to use cruisers.
Four gunboats can solve the battle. The rest is to bombard, then land, and then capture. It's that simple.
"General, a torpedo was found on the starboard side!!!" Suddenly, a battle alarm sounded on the watchtower, and his deputy captain was lying on the command tower and shouting loudly to himself.
"Impolite Maasai people..." Lieutenant General Bidollière was very dissatisfied with his subordinates shouting at him. He turned to look at the sea and cursed.
"Boom...boom..." Before Mr. Lieutenant General could see clearly what those white straight lines on the sea were, his ship began to explode violently, and the poor general and the general's pet dog were directly hit by a huge explosion.
The shock wave was thrown into the sea.
As the "Basgue" exploded, several French cruisers and gunboats that followed began to explode, like a string of big fireworks.
"Well, this time it was good. The first wave of attacks all hit the target. It seems that everyone is already familiar with this combat method. Practice makes perfect." Under the sea, in the No. 005 submarine that had just fired four torpedoes, Wu Mingxue smiled.
Looking at the periscope, observing the results of the battle, he said to the deputy captain next to him.
"But this kind of battle is meaningless. No one can see anyone else. Can this be considered a sneak attack?" The vice-captain did not praise him, but refuted his captain.
"Sneak attack? No need to ask! This is obviously a sneak attack. What's wrong, were you sleeping when the president was giving us a lecture? War is not acting. You can get up again after you die. As long as you can destroy the enemy, any method will do. Look.
You still need to study harder, I will make a report when I get back." Wu Mingxue was very dissatisfied with his deputy having such heroic ideas.
"Don't...Captain...I..." The deputy captain begged quickly when he heard that he was going to be suspended for study.
"Don't be nagging, let's talk about it when we get back. Now give the order to the fleet and fire another wave of torpedoes to make them sink faster. After the attack, clear the sea surface as usual. The first team is responsible for monitoring the sea surface." Wu Mingxue interrupted the deputy captain's plea.
.
The quality of the French warships is still good. Except for the 4 gunboats, which are relatively small and have sunk to the bottom of the sea, the remaining 3 cruisers and 2 auxiliary ships are still floating on the water, although 2 ships have capsized.
But at least it's still floating.
Just as the French sailors were busy rescuing themselves, a large white track appeared on the sea and charged at high speed towards the unsinked warships.
When the French sailors on several French warships saw so many torpedoes, they stopped busy and hugged any nearby objects that could fix themselves, waiting for the end of the world. Some sailors had already begun to pray loudly. God has not
Any reaction, it is high in the sky, silently watching everything that happens on the sea: explosions, sinking, crying, praying, begging for mercy, machine gun fire...
