The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 940: Is "Hidden Dragon" roughly equivalent to "Bismarck"?

On October 15, 1883, the room of the British wartime cabinet meeting was filled with smoke.

Prime Minister Gladstone's fingers tapped out a dull rhythm on the battle report sent from Singapore. Outside the window, thick fog over the Thames, carrying industrial soot, stained the London sky a leaden gray.

"Gentlemen, Kota Bharu has fallen." His voice was low and hoarse, as if each word was squeezed out from between his teeth. "The Sikh battalion has been completely wiped out, Colonel Arthur Harding has died a heroic death... The Taiping Army's armored forces are rampaging across the Malay Peninsula!"

At this point, the Prime Minister turned his gaze to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. This cousin of Queen Victoria was a member of the German branch of the Hanoverian royal family, yet he went to Britain to become the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Since 1865, he had been keeping an eye on the British Army, which had a history of rebellion, for his cousin, and was deeply trusted by the Queen. Faced with the Prime Minister's questioning gaze, he remained silent without batting an eye.

First Lord of the Navy Hugh Childs rose to smooth things over for "Prince George," saying, "Your Excellency, although the situation on land is unfavorable, naval superiority remains in our hands!" His voice trembled slightly with excitement. "In the 'Battle of Malaya,' the Royal Navy sank three of the Taiping Army's capital ships and severely damaged nine others! The Far East Fleet still retains 22 capital ships, completely controlling the sea!"

Lord Northbrook, First Sea Lord, immediately added: "Currently, the Taiping Navy has only 11 capital ships left in the South Seas. Although most of them are new and advanced vessels, their total number is only half that of the Far East Fleet. As long as the Far East Fleet continues its attacks and cuts off their sea supply lines, the Taiping army landing will collapse without a fight! Moreover, our Typhoon-class destroyers performed excellently in the Battle of Kota Bharu during the Malayan campaign! This proves the value of high-speed capital ships! The Admiralty recommends placing additional orders for high-speed ships."

Gladstone's gaze swept across the assembled crowd, finally settling on Chancellor of the Exchequer Randolph Churchill: "The budget for additional capital ships?"

丘吉尔翻开账簿：“‘无敌级’战列巡洋舰首批4艘需要花费900-1000万英镑，每增加一艘，就需要追加180-200万英镑！‘台风级’后续舰‘狂风级’单舰造价约80-90万镑……”

“Two more Invincible-class destroyers,” Gladstone said decisively. “Tell Armstrong Shipyard that I want the Invincible-class in service within 12 months! As for the Tornado-class…”

Lord Northbrook seized the opportunity to unveil the blueprints: "'Tornado-class' - 13500 tons standard displacement, Parsons steam turbine propulsion, speed 26.5 knots, four twin 9.2-inch main guns, 6-inch Harvey steel main armor..."

Gladstone suddenly interrupted: "Can you catch up with the Taiping Army's 'Jingyuan-class' ships?"

“Of course!” Blasi said confidently. “The top speed of the ‘Jingyuan’ class is only 24 knots, and the ‘Tornado’ can leave them in 2.5 knots! If we turn on the high-pressure ventilation, the ‘Tornado’ class might even reach 27.5 knots! As long as we maintain a certain distance, our 9.2-inch guns will be enough…”

“Very good.” Gladstone made the decision. “Then start construction on four ships immediately, with a unit price not exceeding 750,000! Also, telegraph Admiral Hood—cut off the Taiping Army’s maritime supply lines at all costs!”

At the end of the meeting, an attendant brought over the latest edition of The Times, with a bold black headline on the front page: "Royal Navy's Great Victory in Malaya! Three Enemy Capital Ships Sinked, Seven Severely Damaged!"

Gladstone smiled slightly and handed the newspaper to his secretary: "Send it to all the colonies, so that the whole world knows—the British Empire still rules the seas!"

At the same moment, in the operations room of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Prime Minister's Office, the smell of sandalwood mixed with the burning tobacco condensed in the air.

Luo Yaoguo stood with his back to a huge map of Southeast Asia, his brow furrowed. Shi Dakai, the Minister of War, was drawing arrows on the map with a red pencil—heading south from Kota Bharu, through muddy rubber plantations, straight to Kuala Lumpur.

"The Nanyang Legion is making rapid progress." Shi Dakai's voice was hoarse but excited. "Li Rong sent a telegram: Chinese militia have taken control of the main roads, and armored tractor columns are advancing a hundred miles a day! The remnants of the British army are retreating towards Singapore!"

Minister of the Navy Wang Yan suddenly sighed: "No matter how well we fight on land, it's all for nothing if our sea supply is cut off! Hu De's main fleet has twice as many ships as ours. Once his fleet finishes resupplying in Singapore, he will definitely continue his attack on Kota Bharu!"

总参谋长朱八展开伤亡清单：“‘镇远级’沉3伤7，‘海龙二型’伤3……南洋舰队现在能出动的战列舰只剩3艘！另外还有4条‘靖远’和4条‘镇海’。”

Naval Chief of Staff Ding Ruchang suddenly suggested, "How about we transfer two 'Hailong II' class destroyers from the South Pacific Fleet to reinforce the South Pacific?"

"Absolutely not!" Wang Yan objected sternly. "The Australian fleet is eyeing us covetously. If we take away two more ships, who will protect the Rabaul base?"

"Would it be feasible to transfer battleships from the Eastern Pacific Fleet?"

"It's even worse! The US Eastern Fleet has returned. Their Independence-class destroyers have been upgraded with 254mm main guns. Without the Sea Dragon II, no other ship can withstand them!"

The sounds of debate echoed in the confined operations room. Luo Yaoguo suddenly coughed, as if making a huge decision: "Where is the 'Tianjing,' the first ship of the 'Qianlong' class?"

Ding Ruchang was taken aback: "They've just completed sea trials, but haven't officially entered service yet, and the officers and soldiers aren't getting enough time to gel..."

“That’s enough.” Luo Yaoguo paused, then slashed his finger across the Indian Ocean. “Let them break into the Indian Ocean and disrupt diplomatic relations! If Hu De is left unchecked, the British Empire’s maritime lifeline will be stained with blood; if we divide our forces to pursue and annihilate them…” He slammed his hand toward the Strait of Malacca, “our South Sea Fleet can seize the opportunity to take control of the sea!”

Shi Dakai gasped: "A 2-ton behemoth operating alone? That's too risky!"

"It's a gamble from the start," Luo Yaoguo sneered. "The British are betting we wouldn't dare use our national treasures as bait, but I'm going to do the opposite!"

He knew that the Third Reich's navy had done something similar in the past; their Bismarck had boldly ventured into the Atlantic and sunk the Hood, but the result was not pleasant. However, the British didn't have aircraft carriers now, so their only option to encircle the Tianjing was to deploy a battleship squadron! And the Tianjing, with a standard displacement of nearly 2 tons, was probably the most powerful battleship in the world at the time, so it would certainly be safe.
October 20, 1883, Surabaya Port, Java.

Night fell over this second-largest naval base in Southeast Asia. The harbor was sparsely lit, with only the searchlights of a few patrol boats occasionally sweeping across the dark water. The battleship "Tianjing," moored at Pier 3, resembled a slumbering steel behemoth, its massive 19800-ton hull appearing hazy in the moonlight.

Captain Luo Xinhua stood on the flybridge, his gaze sweeping over the busy sailors on the deck. The four twin 280mm main gun turrets had completed their final calibration, their barrels slightly raised in the night, as if ready to unleash their deadly power at any moment.

"Reporting, Captain, the 'Jingyuan' is in position!" The adjutant strode over and said in a low voice, "Commander Wang said we can depart at any time." Luo Xinhua nodded and looked at the armored cruiser "Jingyuan," which was also darkened and concealed not far away. This armored cruiser, equipped with 210mm main guns, would serve as an escort for the "Tianjing" on this dangerous commerce raiding mission. Although Luo Yaoguo wanted the "Tianjing" to go alone, Admiral Ji Qingyuan of the South Sea Fleet dared not let his eldest son, Luo, take the risk alone, so he dispatched the "Jingyuan," and even had Deng Shichang board the "Jingyuan" as its captain to partner with Luo Xinhua.

"Order all cabins to prepare for departure." Luo Xinhua's voice was deep and firm. "Heading southeast, destination—Lombok Strait!"

The deep rumble of the triple-expansion steam engines echoed within the "Tianjing," while the smoke billowing from the funnels was deliberately kept to a minimum. The massive anchor slowly rose, stirring up murky seawater. The two warships glided out of the harbor like ghosts and disappeared into the night.

October 22, Lombok Strait.

On both sides of the narrow strait, steep cliffs acted as natural barriers, concealing the tracks of the "Tianjing" and "Jingyuan" in shadow. Luo Xinhua stood on the bridge, his binoculars scanning the two banks—no lights, no signals, only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

"Captain, once we pass the Lombok Strait, we'll be in the Indian Ocean," the navigator whispered a reminder.

Luo Xinhua took a deep breath: "18 knots, heading due west!"

The steam turbines of the "Tianjing" roared deafeningly, and the ship's speed quickly climbed to 18 knots. The bow cleaved through the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, leaving a long white contrail behind it.

On October 24, 80 nautical miles south of Sumatra.

"Airship spotted!" The lookout's shout suddenly shattered the silence.

Luo Xinhua suddenly raised his binoculars—in the southeastern clouds, a blurry outline was slowly moving. It was a British Navy Falcon-class reconnaissance airship, its hull painted in gray-blue camouflage, almost blending into the sky.

"If only we had an airplane right now!" Luo Xinhua put down his binoculars. "Full speed ahead to avoid a collision! Hard left!"

The massive airship, Tianjing, tilted violently, its steam turbines roaring as it propelled its propellers, trying to shake off the eyes in the sky. But the airship had already spotted them and was adjusting its course, relentlessly pursuing them.

"Captain, should we fire?" the gunnery officer asked urgently.

Luo Xinhua shook his head: "The distance is too far, the hit rate is too low, and it will only expose our firepower configuration." He turned to the communications officer, "Send a telegram to 'Jingyuan,' maintain formation, full speed westward!"

At the same moment, on the Falcon-class airship.

British observer Tom stared intently at the two warships below, his pencil rapidly sketching on the drawing board.

"Record it!" he shouted. "Two Taiping warships spotted! One is suspected to be a 'Hailong II' battleship, and the other is a 'Jingyuan'-class armored cruiser! Heading due west, speed approximately 18 knots!"

The airship pilot nervously maneuvered the rudder: "Should we get closer?"

"No!" Duncan shouted, "The 88mm guns on the 'Jingyuan' can shoot down airships! Maintain distance and continue tracking!"

He quickly completed the sketch, stuffed the drawing into the letterbox, and tied it to the leg of a military carrier pigeon.

"Quickly! Fly back to Singapore!"

The carrier pigeon flapped its wings and flew high, speeding off in the northeast direction.

October 25, Singapore, headquarters of the British Far East Fleet.

General Hu grabbed the sketch, his gaze sweeping across the paper, his face instantly darkening.

"A 'Hailong II' and a 'Jingyuan' have entered the Indian Ocean?" He slammed his fist on the table. "What are they trying to do? Disrupt diplomatic relations?"

The chief of staff strode forward: "General, the Indian Ocean shipping lanes are our lifeline! If we allow these two ships to operate freely, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Hood took a deep breath and quickly made a decision: "Order the 'Hound Squadron' to attack immediately! Under the command of Brigadier General Alfred Hawkins, make sure to sink these two enemy ships!"

"Hounds" was a newly formed rapid reaction force of the British Far East Fleet, consisting of the battleship HMS Sovereign, the second-class battleship HMS Warrior (Centurion-class), the armored cruiser HMS Hurricane, and three light cruisers. Its original objective was to disrupt shipping lanes between Kota Bharu and Cam Ranh Bay/Brunei Bay.

Hood's gaze swept across the nautical chart, and his finger tapped heavily on the central Indian Ocean: "Tell Hawkins that we must not allow the Taiping Army's warships to threaten our shipping lanes!"

(End of this chapter)