The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 982 Sister Victoria, Brother Ji Du said: It's time to end!
The sinking of the Orion was like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of the British fleet's officers and men. The wreckage and oil slicks floating on the sea glowed with an apocalyptic red light under the setting sun, and the air was filled with the deathly stench of gunpowder and blood.

Vice Admiral Fisher stood on the bridge of HMS Invincible, his uniform soaked with sweat and gunpowder, observing the desperate situation on the battlefield through his binoculars. The Pacific Navy's torpedo attack had achieved unexpected results, not only sinking the Royal Navy's Australian fleet flagship HMS Orion, but also severely damaging two Dreadnought-class destroyers—it seemed that the British Empire had not only neglected the role of small wooden aircraft in recent years, but also failed to give sufficient attention to the impact of torpedo technology development on naval warfare.
"Raise the flagship's flag and order all ships to move closer to me!"

Fisher, who had previously served as the Director of Naval Ordnance, had no time to regret his past oversights, because now a greater responsibility rested on his shoulders: "Reorganize the battle lines and continue the fight!"

The staff moved swiftly, flag signals and light lights flashing in the twilight. The British fleet began to regroup, with four Invincible-class battlecruisers, two still-combat-ready Dreadnought-class, four Majestic-class, and four Duncan-class forming a new battle line. Sailors mechanically carried shells, their faces etched with exhaustion, but their eyes still gleaming with the last vestiges of fighting spirit.

On the bridge of the Tianjing, Luo Xinhua lowered his binoculars, a slight smile playing on his lips. "The British aren't giving up," he said, turning to Deng Shichang. "Order all ships to maintain suppressive fire and not give them a chance to breathe."

Deng Shichang strode over: "Admiral, the First Lightning Strike Column has run out of ammunition and requests to withdraw."

“Accurate.” Luo Xinhua turned to the nautical chart, tracing an arc with his finger. “Order the second and third torpedo columns to prepare for the second strike, target—” His finger slammed down on the mark representing the British rapid formation, “the British’s new flagship!”

Night fell, but the naval battle continued. Searchlight beams pierced the darkness, and the tracer beams of shells drew brilliant paths across the sea. At 19:25 PM, the Taiping Navy's armored cruiser "Xihai" led the Second Torpedo Squadron into the right flank of the British fleet.

"Full speed ahead!" Rear Admiral Lin Yongsheng, captain of the Xihai, roared from the bridge. This 14200-ton behemoth was like a sharp knife, plunging straight into the heart of the British fleet. Three Jinshan-class light cruisers, six county-class destroyers, and eight torpedo boats followed closely behind, launching torpedoes in a salvo at a distance of 3000 meters.

Their target this time was four Majestic-class destroyers that were preparing to rendezvous with the Invincible and Dreadnought-class fleet, as well as the light cruisers and destroyers escorting them.

The four main and secondary guns of the British Majestic-class battleships opened fire fiercely, shells exploding around the Xihai, sending plumes of water flying. A 10-inch shell struck the conning tower squarely, killing Rear Admiral Lin Yongsheng instantly. The Xihai, however, stubbornly completed its torpedo salvo. Subsequently, the light cruisers, destroyers, and torpedo boats following the Xihai also launched their own torpedo attacks.

On the sea, hundreds of torpedoes, leaving white trails, rushed toward the four "Majestic" class torpedoes that were twisting and turning on the surface of the sea, trying to avoid them!

"Torpedo hit!" The observer's shout echoed on the bridge of the "Tianjing". Two 533mm torpedoes, specifically designed for patrol vessels, struck the "Weiyan" on its starboard side, and the 16000-ton battleship began to slowly list. Sailors on deck jumped overboard to escape, and the sea was instantly filled with struggling figures.

Meanwhile, Fisher commanded HMS Invincible and HMS Indomitable to launch a pincer attack on the Tianjing, a Dreadnought-class battleship that was being heavily damaged by torpedoes. The two battlecruisers' 16 12-inch main guns formed a straddle-fire pattern at a range of 5000 meters. Two minutes later, a shell struck the Tianjing's aft deck, causing a fire.

Luo Xinhua was knocked to the ground by the explosion, blood streaming down his forehead. He struggled to his feet, grabbed the megaphone, and shouted: "Damage control personnel, all in position! Main guns, continue firing!"

At 19:30 PM, the naval battle entered its most intense phase.

The Taiping Navy's "Beijing" engaged in a duel with the British "Dreadnought," exchanging fire at a distance of 5000 meters, with 305mm and 12-inch shells clashing. An armor-piercing shell from the "Beijing" penetrated the forward main gun turret of the "Dreadnought," triggering an explosion in the ammunition magazine. The 18000-ton behemoth was engulfed in flames on the sea. The "Dreadnought's" retaliatory fire destroyed two of the "Beijing's" secondary gun turrets.

At 19:45, while HMS Invincible was busy attacking the Tianjing, the Pacific Navy's battleship Jintian surprisingly rushed to within 3000 meters of Invincible. A salvo then hit Invincible's bridge, and the conning tower was also affected. Vice Admiral Fisher was seriously wounded. The British fleet, having lost command again, began to fall into chaos.

However, just when the Taiping army thought victory was in sight, the remaining British destroyers suddenly launched a final torpedo attack.

"Torpedo! 45 degrees to port!" The lookout's scream pierced the night sky.

Sixteen British destroyers emerged from the smoke and approached the Taiping army's battle line at a speed of 30 knots. Ignoring the interception of their secondary guns, they fired a salvo of 64 torpedoes at a distance of 2000 meters.

Captain Cai Tinggan of the Jintian roared, "Hard starboard! Evade!"

But it was too late. Two torpedoes struck the starboard side of the "Kinda," the explosions tearing through the armor belt and sending seawater surging into the engine room. Within three minutes, the "Kinda" listed more than 20 degrees, and ten minutes later, it lost all power. Captain Cai Tinggan ordered the ship abandoned. Sailors jumped into the sea, and the surface was immediately filled with struggling figures.

Another "Qianlong II" battleship, the "Yongan", was also hit in the bow by a torpedo, which opened a hole more than ten meters long. Seawater rushed in and the speed dropped sharply to 12 knots.

However, this successful "torpedo attack" could not reverse the decline of the British fleet. At 20:05, the British ships, having lost their flagship twice, began to retreat with smoke trails.

"Admiral!" Deng Shichang exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the smoke billowing over the sea, "The British have begun their retreat!"

Luo Xinhua wiped the blood from his forehead and looked into the distance—the remaining British warships were turning southeast, speeding away, leaving trails of smoke. Of the four Invincible-class battlecruisers, only HMS Indomitable remained combat-ready, covering the withdrawal of two Dreadnought-class and two Majestic-class battlecruisers from the battlefield. The four Duncan-class battlecruisers were all intact, each leading a group of cruisers and destroyers to cover the rear.

"We can't catch up," Luo Xinhua sighed. His losses were considerable: of the four Qianlong II-class submarines, the Tianjing was heavily damaged, the Beijing was moderately damaged, the Jintian was sunk, and the Yong'an was damaged. Of the four Donghai-class submarines, the Xihai had sunk; even if they caught up and fought again, it was uncertain who would win!
The Coral Sea gradually calmed, leaving only burning wreckage and floating lifeboats. This naval battle, lasting nearly five hours, ended in a resounding victory for the Taiping navy. Britain lost its flagship HMS Orion, two Dreadnought-class and two Majestic-class battleships; the Taiping navy paid the price with the sinking of the battleship Jintian, the armored cruiser Xihai, two light cruisers, and six destroyers. March 13, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Prime Minister's Office.

Luo Yaoguo stood before the world map, his finger gently tracing the Pacific region. Outside the window, spring sunshine shone brightly, but his brow was furrowed.

"Premier," the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chaoyue said softly, "the South Pacific Fleet has achieved a great victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea."

“I know.” Luo Yaoguo turned around, the sunlight casting a shadow on his aged, dignified face. “But the cost was not small. Of the four ‘Qianlong II’ ships, one was sunk and three were damaged, and one armored patrol ship was sunk.” He walked to his desk and picked up a telegram. “What’s more troublesome is that German Chancellor Bismarck called yesterday, hoping that we would continue to put pressure on Britain.”

Wu Chaoyue seemed thoughtful: "What Germany means is..."

"Their intelligence agents discovered that the Royal Navy's Australian fleet had not returned to India, and they hope we can annihilate it in the South Pacific so that India can't keep the pearl on Victoria Palace!" Luo Yaoguo sneered. "But this won't do us any good. The Pacific Ocean is already ours, it's time to quit while we're ahead."

He walked to the window, gazing at the blooming peach blossoms in the courtyard: "No one wants Germans to dominate Europe. Except the Germans themselves!" He paused, then added, "I intend to use the connections of the Papacy to have Pope Leo XIV mediate. The Foreign Ministry should prepare a plan for secret peace talks!"

Wu Chaoyue smiled knowingly: "The Prime Minister's insight is brilliant. Britain is too weak and Germany is too strong; neither is in our interest."

Luo Yaoguo nodded, his gaze returning to the map. The azure of the Pacific Ocean occupied almost half the map, a "sea" won with the blood of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom soldiers. India, with its 300 million people, was now a bargaining chip in the peace negotiations between the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Britain, the European troublemaker.

Europe cannot do without Great Britain!
Without Great Britain, Europe would have been unified!
One month later, in the Vatican City, Rome.

Pope Leo XIV, whose real name was Paul de Doria, was the biological father of Maria Clementina de Doria, the wife of Luo Yaoguo. After many years as a cardinal, he finally became the Pope.

He was sitting in his study in the Vatican Palace, slowly unfolding a letter from the East. The familiar handwriting on the parchment made his aged fingers tremble slightly.

To my most respected father-in-law, Paul de Doria:

By the time you open this letter, the smoke of battle in the Coral Sea will have cleared. Just last month, a naval battle took place there that could change the course of the world. Strangely enough, at the moment the 'Tianjing' was hit by a shell, I heard Ji Du's revelation—this war must end.

Ji Du said: If this war continues, it will only allow Wilhelm of Germany to reap the benefits.

And my dear fifth sister, Queen Victoria, should understand this now. The British Empire needs to preserve its strength to maintain the balance of power in Europe, just as we need a complete India to ensure peace in Asia.

Father-in-law, you often say that war is a continuation of politics. Now, it is time for politics to take over the reins of war. I implore you, in the name of the Holy See, to invite Queen Victoria's envoy to Rome. Let us, under God's watchful eye, strive for a dignified peace between East and West.

Your forever son-in-law,

Luo Yaoguo

March 15, 1886, in Tianjing (Nanjing)

The Pope gently placed the letter on the ivory-inlaid table and turned to look out the window at the white doves circling in St. Peter's Square. A cardinal standing nearby noticed tears welling up in the old man's eyes.

"Prepare two edicts," the Pope suddenly said, his voice hoarser than usual. "One to Queen Victoria, saying that Christ's servant requests her to consider peace; the other," he paused, "to that 'war emperor' in Berlin, reminding him that God abhors greed."

The cardinal hesitated, saying, "Holy See, the German Empire is unlikely to accept such a mediation."

The Pope turned to look at the cardinal: "Do you think Luo Yaoguo's claim that he received revelation from Christ is a lie?"

(End of this chapter)