The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 937 Today, it's a fight to the death!
Under the blazing midday sun, the azure sea steamed with moisture, blurring and distorting the outlines of the scattered islands of the Riau Islands in the distance. The massive hull of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's flagship, the battleship "Fujian," sliced ​​through the South China Sea, the 16000-ton steel behemoth leaving a snow-white trail on the blue surface. On the bridge, the rising heat, carrying the smells of coal smoke and engine oil, clung to everyone's skin.

Rear Admiral Liu Buchan, the fleet's chief of staff, walked steadily, clutching a newly translated telegram, and strode quickly to Admiral Ji Qingyuan, the fleet's admiral, who was standing by the railing. Ji Qingyuan did not turn around; his eyes, accustomed to death and injury, remained fixed on the northern horizon where the sea met the sky—the direction of Kota Bharu, the place where iron and blood met.

"Admiral, urgent message from 'Skyhawk III'." Liu Buchan's voice was not loud, but it instantly froze the already tense atmosphere on the bridge.

Ji Qingyuan slowly turned to the side, took the telegram, the thin paper trembling slightly between his calloused fingers: "Enemy main fleet spotted! Location: X degrees X minutes North latitude, X degrees X minutes East longitude, heading northeast, speed approximately 14 knots. Visual identification: 6 large battleships (suspected to be Sovereign-class or Majestic-class), 12 small battleships (smaller than Sovereign-class, likely Centurion-class), 6 large cruisers (Hurricane-class or Rafale-class). Total: 24 capital ships. Repeat, 24 capital ships!"

The bridge was deathly silent. 24 capital ships! This number weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like a lead weight.

Admiral Ji Qingyuan's brows furrowed deeply. He remained silent for a few seconds before speaking, his voice low and heavy: "The British... they really have a deep pocket." He handed the telegram back to Liu Buchan, his gaze returning to the nautical chart table, which clearly marked the strength of their fleet: six "Hailong II" battleships (including the "Fujian"), the backbone of the South Sea Fleet, displacing over 16000 tons, equipped with four twin 240mm 45-caliber main gun turrets, their thick carburized armor belts being their reliance on challenging British giants; four "Jingyuan"-class armored cruisers (210mm main guns) and four "Zhenhai"-class armored cruisers (200mm main guns) were the fleet's sharpest weapon. These 14 capital ships were all the resources the South Sea Fleet could muster to confront the British capital ships head-on at this moment.

As for the other 10 Zhenhai-class ships classified as "armored cruisers"... Ji Qingyuan knew their limitations. Their speed barely reached 14 knots, and their 200mm main guns were only the outdated 35-caliber, their range and accuracy significantly inferior to the advanced 40-caliber and 45-caliber British naval guns. They were adept at bombarding beaches and supporting landings, but in the face of the main fleet's artillery battles, they probably wouldn't even be reliable as human shields to draw enemy fire.

"How is the landing operation going?" Ji Qingyuan suddenly asked, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Liu Buchan immediately replied: "Urgent telegram from the Marine Corps! Very successful! At least 27 battalions have successfully landed and are consolidating their beachhead positions! The remaining enemy forces at Kota Bharu Fortress have been cleared out, and our landing forces are advancing at full speed towards Kota Bharu city in two columns! The follow-up transport convoy is unloading heavy equipment!"

Upon hearing the good news from the Marines, Ji Yuanqing's brow furrowed even more. The Marines had won the battle on land with their blood, and victory was within reach! Therefore, the Navy at sea could not afford to back down! Now was not only a time of high morale for the Marines, but also a time for the Malayan Chinese to rise up in rebellion. If they could build momentum, sweeping all the way to Singapore would be within their grasp!

Losing a few battleships is perfectly acceptable as long as Singapore can be captured.

Moreover, the "Hailong II" is a floating steel fortress that is not easy to sink.

"Good!" Ji Qingyuan slammed his hand on the edge of the chart table. "Since the Marines are making such rapid progress, our Navy can't afford to falter at this crucial moment! Chief of Staff, devise an interception route! Target—30 nautical miles south of Kota Bharu! We must stop Hood's fleet there and not let them get a single step closer to the landing zone!"

"Yes, sir!" Liu Buchan straightened his back, his voice booming. He quickly turned to the navigator and operations staff, issuing a series of orders like a flowing stream: "Calculate the intersection of enemy and friendly course! Adjust course to XXX degrees! Increase the entire fleet to combat speed! Load armor-piercing shells into the main guns! Activate boiler pressure ventilation! Raise the 'The Great Wall Will Never Fall' flag!"

The massive hull of the "Fujian" trembled slightly, its steam turbines roared deafeningly, and its smokestacks billowed even thicker black smoke. A huge, blood-red battle flag embroidered with the words "The Great Wall Will Never Fall" fluttered wildly in the wind atop the mainmast!
Almost simultaneously, several thousand meters above the "Fujian," in the thin clouds at the edge of the Riau Islands, a British Falcon-class airship was struggling to maintain its stability. Through Captain James's binoculars, he clearly saw the steel fleet below, adjusting its course, billowing smoke, and charging menacingly towards them. More than ten capital ships formed an imposing battle line, and he recognized the silhouette of the leading giant—the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's "Sea Dragon"-class battleship, repeatedly mentioned in intelligence reports!
“My God…they’ve spotted us? No, they’ve changed course! Their target…is…to intercept General Hood’s main force!” Wilson’s heart pounded, a chill running down his spine. “Quick! Record! The Taiping army’s main fleet has been spotted! Location…heading southeast! Estimated speed over 18 knots! Number of capital ships…at least 14! Confirmed to include 'Sea Dragon' class! Repeat, 'Sea Dragon' class!” He practically roared the order to the airship pilot, “Turn immediately, full speed west, to find our fleet!”

The airship clumsily changed direction, its internal combustion engine roaring as it desperately tried to escape the airspace that was about to become a hellish place.

An hour and a half later, the flagship of the British Far East Fleet, the battleship HMS Sovereign.

Inside the command tower, the atmosphere was equally somber. Admiral Hood, a extinguished pipe dangling from his lips, stood before a massive nautical chart, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the location of Singapore. He had just finished listening to the detailed report sent back by the Falcon airship.

"Fourteen capital ships... at least six of which are their newest 'Sea Dragon' class. They're very fast and heading straight for us." The fleet chief of staff, a rear admiral with graying hair, spoke with a hint of anxiety, but more so with confidence in his own strength. "General, we have 24 capital ships! The advantage is on our side! I suggest we immediately change course and engage them head-on to annihilate the Taiping Navy's main force in one fell swoop! This will completely eliminate their threat to Singapore and the Strait of Malacca!"

Hood slowly shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the nautical chart, as if trying to see through the paper to the beachhead of Kota Bharu. "Chief of Staff, that's not how the accounts are calculated." He took off his pipe, his voice deep and clear, "It's not 24 against 14, but 14 against 14."

The chief of staff was taken aback: "General?" Hood pointed sharply at Kota Bharu: "Our primary objective is to safeguard the passage of the Strait of Malacca, and... to prevent the Taiping Rebellion from gaining a firm foothold in Malaya! The landing at Kota Bharu has already begun, and on a considerable scale! Once they establish themselves there, given the vast number of Chinese on the Malay Peninsula..." He paused, a deep worry flashing in his eyes, "...it will spread like wildfire, completely shaking our foundations in the Far East! That's far more terrifying than losing a few warships!"

He turned around, his gaze sweeping across the faces of all the officers on the bridge, each word ringing with conviction: "Therefore, we cannot allow their landing forces to get too comfortable! We must strike their beachhead immediately, destroy their transport fleet, and delay or even crush their landing operation!"

"Order!" Hood's voice suddenly rose, filled with unquestionable authority. "First patrol detachment (4 Typhoon-class ships) and second patrol detachment (6 Hurricane or Rafale-class ships), led by the Typhoon, immediately break away from the main formation and head north at full speed! Target—Kota Bharu landing site! Give them a good beating! Use your 203mm guns and rapid-fire guns to send the Taiping Army and their supplies to the bottom of the sea! Operation code: 'Beachhead Thunder'!"

"Yes, General!" the communications officer shouted, and the signalman quickly ran to the signal flag position.

Hu De took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the southern sea where the "Fujian" might attack, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit: "As for the main force of the Taiping Army... we'll deal with them with our remaining 14 capital ships! Raise the 'Z' flag! Signal the entire army with flags—" He paused, his voice like the clash of steel: "The Empire needs everyone to fulfill their duties!"

A huge, striking white flag, embroidered with a bright red "Z" in the center, was suddenly unfurled atop the mainmast of HMS Sovereign, braving the tropical sea breeze! This legendary battle flag, originating from the Nelson era, instantly ignited the fighting spirit of the entire British fleet! The ship's horns blared in response to the flagship's call, thicker black smoke billowed from the funnels, and the cannons roared. The fleet began to change formation, heading towards its destined adversary—the Pacific Ocean was too small to accommodate two superpowers!

The bridge of the "Fujian" ship.

"Admiral! Urgent telegram from 'Skyhawk-8'!" A communications officer practically rushed in, his voice urgent. "The British main fleet... has split up! Approximately eight high-speed cruisers have broken away from formation and are heading due north! Their target... is most likely the Kota Bharu beachhead!"

Ji Qingyuan and Liu Buchan's eyes met instantly, both seeing the sharpness in each other's eyes.

"As expected!" Ji Qingyuan sneered. "That old bastard Hu De, trying to sever our lineage! Chief of Staff!"

"Understood!" Before Ji Qingyuan could finish speaking, Liu Buchan immediately ordered the communications officer: "Immediately telegraph the 'Jingyuan'! The second armored patrol squadron (4 'Jingyuan'-class ships and 4 'Zhenhai'-class ships) immediately detach from its main force and rush at full speed to reinforce the Kota Bharu waters! They must intercept the British armored patrol detachment and cover the landing site and transport convoy! Tell them that the lives of the landing forces are entrusted to them!"

Radio waves, carrying a heavy mission, pierced through the sea and sky.

Immediately afterward, Liu Buchan looked at Ji Qingyuan, his words hesitant: "Admiral, the Third Landing Squadron has also been equipped with quite a few ships, which can hold the line if necessary..."

Ji Qingyuan immediately made a decision: "Send a telegram to the third landing detachment immediately! Order: All mobile gunboats and torpedo boats, at all costs, to entangle the British cruisers heading north! Use your guns and your torpedoes! Hold them back! Buy time for the 'Jingyuan' and 'Zhenhai'! Tell them that reinforcements are coming soon! The 'Jingyuan' fleet is on its way at full speed!"

The order was quickly coded and issued. One can imagine the immense courage it must have taken for the small, poorly armed Zhenhai-class and Wuxian-class destroyers, along with other destroyers around 1000 tons, in the waters near Kota Bharu to carry out this near-suicidal order!

However, Ji Qingyuan didn't care—even after all these years, the child soldiers who had fought their way out of Jintian Village still didn't understand the principle that "compassion cannot govern an army"? He calmly raised his binoculars, his gaze locked onto the horizon ahead, where the remaining 14 giant ships of the British main fleet were slowly emerging with overwhelming momentum.

"Order all ships," Ji Qingyuan's voice remained calm, "Maintain battle line! Course unchanged! Target—British battle line! Today, it's a fight to the death!"

(End of this chapter)