Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Chapter 462 Triumph! The Iteration of Warships
Two warships were locked in combat in the rocky waters off the Nagasaki Goto Islands in the Eastern Ocean, one after the other.

The Vulcan cannons of the cruiser 'Lushan' opened fire intensively.

The Japanese cruiser "Fuji" was hit by numerous bullets, and its entire hull was riddled with holes.

Even the cockpit was smashed, and the ship's power unit and steam pipes were hit, causing a sharp drop in power.

It originally had a power source, but it lost its function after being hit by a bullet.

With only one remaining propulsion unit struck in the steam pipes, the cruiser 'Fuji' is slowing down more and more.

Although the cruiser "Lushan" lost the protection of gunboats and frigates, it was completely unharmed.

Furthermore, in terms of firepower and speed, it was far superior to the Japanese 'Fuji'.

After all, the firepower configurations of the two warships are not on the same level, and there is a significant generational gap.

at last,

The cruiser 'Lushan' bypassed the 'Fuji' and ran ahead of it.

Then,

The Lushan used its thickest armor section to angle and block the Fuji cruiser, forcing it to stop.

at this time,

The two ironclad frigates of Ximentang caught up from behind, following the route of the 'Lushan'.

The two ironclad frigates had a very clear objective: to form an A-angle from both sides, one on the left and one on the right, to trap the cruiser 'Fuji'.

The three warships finally cornered the cruiser 'Fuji', forcing it to stop.

this moment,
Sato Kichigo knew that the Eastern Fleet was completely finished and annihilated.

He gritted his teeth, intending to use the same method as the previous 'Eastern Ship'—to perish together with it—by directly ramming the enemy's warship and taking a Daqian ship down with him.

but,

Just as he was preparing to fight to the death, a colonel beside him hurriedly shouted, "General, the Daqian fleet has stopped shelling. They've given signal flags. What are they trying to do?"

Sato Kichigo quickly used his binoculars to look at the flag signals on the 'Lushan'.

According to the flag signals of the Eastern Fleet, the flag signal of the 'Lushan' at this time would have meant 'surrender'.

Moreover, after the enemy ceased fire, the flagship's main guns were pointed directly at the 'Fuji', and then it signaled its surrender with flags.

The meaning is clear: they want the main battleship of the Eastern Fleet, the "Fuji," to surrender.

Damn it—!
How did the people in the Daqian Fleet know the flag signals of the Dongyang Fleet?
Sato Kichigo was taken aback and filled with doubt.

The flag signals of the Eastern Fleet are frequently changed, and the flag signals currently used by the Daqian people are those of the Eastern Fleet today.

Could it be that the Japanese sailors who were recently captured taught the Daqian people flag signals?
Soon, Yoshigo Sato understood.

This is definitely not a coincidence.

The flag signals displayed by the Daqian Fleet at this moment were indeed the same flag signals used by the Eastern Fleet today.

Because at this point, the flag signals changed to 'stop sailing' and 'surrender'!
This is a Japanese flag signal demanding the other side 'surrender'.

Sato Kijigo turned to look at his subordinates and found that everyone remained silent.

but,

From everyone's expressions, it's clear that their inner thoughts are very complex.

Kichigo Sato and Naoki Sakata have different personalities.

Naoki Sakata revered the Bushido spirit, preferring to die in battle rather than surrender.

When he learned that the Eastern Fleet was facing overwhelming artillery fire, Naoki Sakata believed that it would be the greatest honor to die for the Eastern Empire.

But Sato Kichigo did not want to die.

Moreover, the other side had already signaled for him to surrender.

Moreover, the other side has already ceased fire, clearly wanting to give him a chance to survive.

surrender!

Without even thinking, Sato Kichigo immediately ordered the flag bearers to respond with flag signals.

Immediately afterwards, the warship raised a white flag.

All the ship's cannons had their muzzles covered with white cloth, and they surrendered without resistance.

The remaining commanders of the Eastern Fleet all lowered their heads and remained silent; no one stepped forward to object.

It's obvious that nobody wants to die.

Surrender is the only chance to survive.

The flagship 'Fuji' chose to surrender, and by then the battle was essentially over.

The remaining cargo ships, gunboats, and other vessels of the Eastern Fleet ceased their resistance.

The trend is over!

All Japanese knew that if they continued to resist, they would be sunk.

Therefore,
When the Ximentang fleet raised the 'surrender' flag, the other ships hoisted white flags and chose to surrender.

On the outskirts of the 'Reef Area', the flagship of the Eastern Fleet, the 'Kansai', was besieged by four cruisers and twelve fast attack ships of the 'Storm' from the Saimon-do fleet.

Finally, it was riddled with holes by the 'Vulcan Cannon'.

With both steam engines completely destroyed, Captain Watanabe Nokura surrendered after the final flag signal of surrender was given by the ship's captain, Nishimondo.

He did not choose to surrender, but still wanted to resist.

Finally, it was completely sunk by the main guns of the Ximentang's main warship.

Resisting means death!
Chen Jie had already given a death order before the battle even began.

The commander of the Eastern Fleet only needed to resist and sink the ships directly without reporting to his superiors.

So after the 'Kansai' resisted, it slowly sank into the sea.

With the surrender of the main battleship 'Fuji', none of the three major fleets of the entire East Asia fleet escaped.

The battle on the sea was nearing its end.

Outside the 'Reef Area', the sea surface is littered with burning ships, and floating with planks and various wreckage from warships.

Under the sunlight, the raging flames around them had been extinguished, but many ships floating on the sea were emitting thick black smoke.

Many Japanese soldiers struggled and cried for help in the sea.

The Ximentang fleet has achieved a great victory!

All the sailors and crew on the capital ships, including Marines, cheered with joy.

This was the first real naval battle fought on the open sea since the establishment of the Ximentang Fleet.

Defeat the three major fleets of the Eastern Ocean!

The Second Fleet of Ximentang accomplished its mission, creating a miracle for the Great Qian Navy.

After the flagship Fuji surrendered, the cruiser Lushan approached it and set up rope ladders and gangplanks.

Sato Kichigo, along with the remaining commanders of the Eastern Fleet, boarded the 'Lushan'.

Next,
All the Japanese officers were bound hand and foot and imprisoned in the cabins of the "Lushan".

Meanwhile, Ximen Tang's soldiers boarded the Japanese flagship "Fuji" and took control of it.

The steam engine power unit of the cruiser 'Fuji' was destroyed.

Therefore, the 'Lushan' had no choice but to tow it away from the reef area and back to the previous battlefield.

Chen Jie ordered the Ximentang fleet to rendezvous and begin rescuing the Japanese soldiers who had fallen into the water.

The mines in Ximentang, Shandong, are in dire need of a large workforce.

These Japanese soldiers who fell into the water were the best laborers.

Sending them to mine for atonement is also a way to give them a chance to survive.

Half an hour later.

Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet, Yoshigo Sato, was brought to the cabin of the cruiser "Taishan" with his hands and feet bound.

Chen Jie sat calmly in his chair, looking at Sato Kijiro kneeling on the ground.

Standing beside him were Zhang Wenbo, Jack Bonaparte, and other commanders of the Simond Fleet.

When Kichigo Sato saw Jack Bonaparte, his expression changed drastically.

"Jack Bonaparte!? It's you! What are you doing here? Have you already sided with the Great Qian people?"

"Damn it, how is this possible? You are the heir to the noble French Bonaparte family, how could this happen?"

"No, this isn't real, this absolutely isn't real."

"You possess noble European royal blood, so why would you side with the Great Qian people?"

Jack Bonaparte said calmly, "Mr. Kijiro Sato, it's been a long time. I didn't expect to run into you here."

"No need to make a fuss. It is my honor to serve my lord, and it is also the hope for the rise of our Bonaparte family." Clearly, the two knew each other.

In Sato Kichigo's mind, the Great Qian Dynasty was a weak and powerful nation.

The Daqian people are a cowardly and foolish people; they are prone to infighting and lack unity.

The reason why the Eastern Empire dared to attack the Great Qian and occupy the northeast of the Great Qian Dynasty was because they looked down on the Great Qian people.

Therefore,
When he saw Jack Bonaparte defect to the Daqian, he couldn't accept it.

Sato Kichigo took a deep breath and said, "Could it be that the French Allied Forces have already—?"

Jack Bonaparte smiled calmly and said:

"That's right! I led the French coalition army to surrender to our lord!"

“Mr. Sato, haven’t you noticed that the warship you’re standing on is the most advanced cruiser in the British Empire?”

"This is only the second fleet under our lord's command; all the ships are from the Western Allied Forces."

"Since the Duke of Waldersee's defeat, the First Western Allied Army has been completely annihilated."

Sato Kichigo shouted excitedly, "Mr. Jack Bonaparte, you are the heir to the Bonaparte family, why did you betray the French Empire!"

"You possess the noblest bloodline, so why should you submit to the Great Qian people?"

Jack Bonaparte said calmly:
"I have not betrayed the Bonaparte family; I am still the heir to the family."

“Mr. Sato, you have been in Europe for many years and should be well aware of the situation of our Bonaparte family.”

“The parliament destroyed our Bonaparte family and even tried to kill me, wanting to completely abolish our Bonaparte family.”

"Do you think I would continue to be loyal to the European Parliament? Or would I dedicate my life to the enemy?"

Upon hearing this, Sato Kichigo was taken aback.

He quickly realized his predicament and finally lowered his head, saying:

“I was just wondering last time why the European Parliament kicked your Bonaparte family out.”

"It turns out that the Western Waldersee Allied Forces were completely defeated by the Daqian people. All of this is true."

"What I want to know is, how is Duke Waldersee now?"

At this time,

Chen Jie smiled calmly and said:
“Sato Kichigo, right? Duke Waldersee is doing very well now, and he’s also the commander of the Western Allied Forces, Seymour, living a very leisurely life in Qingzhou, Shandong, Daqian.”

"You will soon be able to keep each other company. You are welcome to visit Daqian Shandong."

After hearing Chen Jie's words, Sato Kijigo finally turned his attention to Chen Jie.

He looked Chen Jie up and down, then took a deep breath and said:
"You are the commander of the Great Qian Fleet?"

Chen Jie said calmly:

“My name is Chen Jie! This war was started by you Japanese; you are the invaders.”

"So everything that happened today is what you deserve. This is the price you paid for your previous barbaric aggression."

"This is not India, nor South Asia, nor the African continent, but the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"Any attempt to invade us is doomed to failure."

"Lord Sato Kichigo, now you can only hope that in the future, your Emperor Meiji of the Eastern Empire will acknowledge the defeat in this war and compensate us for our losses!"

"Otherwise, the fleet of our Great Qian Dynasty will surely raze your Eastern Ocean Island to the ground!"

Chen Jie's words were righteous, eloquent, and powerful.

That unwavering belief in victory is unshakable.

After hearing this, Sato Kichigo couldn't help but take a deep breath and lower his head in silence.

Wait until the battlefield is cleared.

Chen Jie led the Ximentang Second Fleet and the French Allied Forces, along with the cargo ships seized by the Eastern Fleet and the captured troop transport ships, back to Hanlin Port for rest and reorganization.

In this naval battle, Ximentang achieved a complete victory, sinking sixteen cruisers of the Eastern Fleet and capturing eight.

Including the flagship of the Eastern Fleet, the "Fuji," more than 20,000 Eastern sailors and crew members were killed.

More than 40,000 Japanese Marines were killed and more than 30,000 were captured.

The Ximentang fleet suffered considerable losses, marking its greatest loss since its inception.

Not only were six ships sunk, but nearly two thousand people were killed in action.

therefore,

After resting for a night in Jeju Island, Seomundang did not hold a victory celebration banquet.

Of course, the fact that no celebration banquet was held does not mean that no awards were given.

Reward those who have made contributions!
This has always been the core value of all officers and soldiers in Ximentang.

The First Fleet suffered the greatest losses, but it also undertook the most difficult encirclement mission.

Whether it was the ironclad frigate or the 'Shark' multi-purpose transport ship, both successfully disrupted the formation of the Eastern Fleet.

The First Fleet played a crucial role in the final victory.

therefore,

The first squadron's officers and soldiers earned the most military merits.

As the commander-in-chief of the Second Fleet of Ximentang, Zhang Wenbo established his position because of this naval battle.

Judging from the outcome of this war, Simondal achieved a great victory.

but,

Chen Jie did not become complacent because of this victory.

In terms of the firepower of the ships on both sides, Ximentang had an absolute advantage.

Therefore, there is nothing to boast about in defeating the Eastern Fleet.

There are many areas that deserve summarization and improvement.

Firstly, the Ximentang Navy lacked practical combat experience. Once the situation exceeded the pre-set training parameters, the various flagships could not form a unified battle line.

At this point, the commander needs to make his own judgment to decide on the next course of action.

Once the fleet's formation became disordered, it felt like it was losing its composure.

in addition,

A very important point is that there is a huge gap in the overall quality of the sailors and crew of the Ximentang, and even the captain.

In comparison, the soldiers on the main flagship, having undergone intensive training in Shandong, are highly disciplined and able to execute various tasks effectively.

However, the crews and soldiers of other gunboats, ironclad frigates, etc., did not have enough training time and were much less disciplined than those of the main flagship.

This is a problem that requires time to work out and is difficult to solve in a short period of time.

After all, naval combat experience is gained through one naval battle after another; routine training can only provide various countermeasures.

Another core issue is the iteration of warships.

This naval battle clearly demonstrates that old-fashioned Western warships could no longer determine the outcome of a war.

The combat capability of the 'Storm' fast attack ship is on a completely different level from all other ships.

However, the Storm also has its weaknesses; it can only use concentrated fire to attack isolated ships.

Therefore,
To unleash the full combat potential of the 'Storm' fast attack ship, it is essential to scatter the enemy warships.

Once the enemy warships form a 'turtle formation', limiting the speed of the 'Storm', it will be difficult to achieve absolute dominance.

This is why the 'Storm' fast attack ship can only be used as a spearhead, but cannot become a main battle ship.

The other gunboats were clearly no longer keeping up with the development of the Simon's fleet and had to be changed.

The next focus is on modifying the gunboats.

Not only should the speed of gunboats be increased, but their combat effectiveness should also be enhanced to gradually replace the old-style gunboats.

If these problems are solved, the combat effectiveness of the Ximentang fleet will be elevated to another level.

Before new gunboats are put into service, the old gunboats can be used to break the blockade of the Daqian Dynasty's sea areas.

in addition,

In future naval battles, the composition of the Simond Fleet will be crucial.

Gunboats, fast attack ships, cruisers, destroyers, battleships, etc.

Each has its own function and needs to work together to maximize the power of warships at all levels.

The ships that were sunk the most this time were 'armored frigates'!
Chen Jie was thinking that he needed to improve the defense of the 'Ironclad Frigate' and increase its speed.

Once the Ximentang fleet is re-equipped with the latest warships, it will be time to completely crush the other five major fleets of the East.

(End of this chapter)