North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 174 Fleet sortie, sortie!
Four days later, Azu, who was in seclusion "recovering from his injuries," received a message.

"Boss, General Andrew Webber, who just took office, has already made his move!"

Azu took a sip of aged Macallan whisky and asked unhurriedly, "Is it proceeding according to plan?"

Victoria nodded: "Yes! It's the same old trick, disguise ourselves as our ships and launch a surprise attack on the Pacific Fleet's warships."

"After causing casualties, they will have a reason to blockade the coast and attack us!"

Ah Zu chuckled: "There's really no originality at all!"

“It’s not entirely without originality!” Victoria replied. “This time, the Pacific Squadron disguised themselves as an armed merchant ship and launched a surprise attack on themselves.”

"In this way, they cannot possibly fail, and they will definitely find a reason to start a war."

Azu nodded: "Therefore, we don't need to ruin their plans."

At this point, Azu changed the subject: "Has our letter been delivered to Klein and the Vice President yet?"

“It was sent out a week ago!” Victoria replied. “If all goes well, it should reach the Vice President and Klein in about a week.”

Azu replied, "It seems that this battle between us and the Pacific Fleet is now inevitable!"

"But as long as the Freemasons don't use this to manipulate public opinion, we can fight this battle without restraint!"

Azu continued, "It's not convenient for me to show my face in public right now, so please go and inspect the strait fortress on my behalf."

"The artillery produced by the naval gun factory has been gradually deployed to the strait fortress."

"With the power of our artillery, although we only have about ten cannons now, it is enough to block the narrow strait."

"But that is the key to protecting our foundation, and we cannot afford to lose it!"

"Therefore, we must ensure that the fortress is absolutely free of any problems."

Victoria nodded: "Don't worry, Boss, I will go and inspect it myself."

"Moreover, old Martinez has been stationed at the fortress, so there won't be any problems."

Azu continued, "Have Old Ma train diligently and don't be stingy with shells! Firstly, to deter the enemy, and secondly, to improve the combat effectiveness of our fortress."

"Okay, BOSS!"

Azu added, "During this period, we should recall all ships that can return to the bay area. We should minimize the chances of being attacked by the Pacific Fleet."

"understand!"

Azu asked, "How many of our coast guard ships have been launched now?"

Vic replied, "Five ships have already been launched, including three 500-ton patrol vessels and two 1,500-ton frigates."

“Our coast guard has been conducting intensive training on these five ships. However, none of these five ships are equipped with artillery and are not combat-ready.”

Azu said, "We can only temporarily retreat for a while. As long as their warships can't enter the bay area, they won't cause us any major damage."

"Once our fortresses are equipped with enough cannons, our warships will be able to be equipped with cannons one after another."

"That will be the time for us to strike back!"

Azu continued, "Although the Pacific Fleet has 27 ships, most of them are patrol boats and shallow-draft gunboats of a few hundred tons, with low combat effectiveness."

"The only ships truly capable of fighting are four frigates of just over a thousand tons! Two are old-fashioned sailing warships, and two are paddle steam warships."

"With our existing five ships, equipped with our rifled breech-loading guns, coupled with the high speed of our warships and carburized armor... we are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the Pacific Squadron!"

"Based on the production capacity of our naval gun factory, we will be able to equip all our warships with naval guns by May."

“When the time comes…!” At this point, Azu slammed his hand heavily on the table.
-
Meanwhile, General Andrew Webber, who had only been in office for a few days, received an urgent report from his staff officer, Major Klaus.

"General, our two patrol boats were subjected to a shameless attack by an armed merchant ship of the Huamei Company during the course of their mission!"

General Andrew Webber showed no surprise, and simply asked in a deep voice, "What are our losses?"

"Our two patrol boats were seriously damaged. Of the officers and men on board, eight were dead and fifteen were wounded...!"

"Alas...!" Andrew Webber closed his eyes in anguish.

"General...!" Major Klaus exclaimed indignantly, "The officers and men of the fleet who have learned of this are all extremely angry about this shameless sneak attack!"

"General, I think we should launch a counterattack against Huamei Company immediately!"

"How should we retaliate?" Andrew Webber asked calmly.

Major Klaus answered without hesitation: "General, we should immediately blockade the California coast and seize all Hua Mei Company ships. If they dare to resist, sink them on the spot!"

"We should also send warships into the bay area and demand a reasonable explanation from Huamei Company!"

"Otherwise, we could simply bombard Huamei Company's businesses."

"Furthermore, we should report Huamei Corporation's shameless actions to the Navy Department, Congress, and the President as soon as possible, so that they can put pressure on that Chinese governor of California."

"Pressure...?" Andrew Webber sneered. "That Chinese governor, would he succumb to pressure?"

"Based on our analysis of that governor's character, he will definitely not yield!"

Major Klaus said in a deep voice, "Therefore, we can use this to push for the United States to formally declare war on California!"

"We must complete the unfinished mission of Brigadier General George Phillips."

"This time, the organization will absolutely not let public opinion get out of control again... Once the people's emotions are provoked, I think even the president will be unable to refuse to go to war under the overwhelming public opinion...!"

Andrew Webber continued, "This was all part of your plan. Did I, a puppet, really need to give the order myself?"

"Yes, General!" Major Klaus snapped to attention. "Without your order, not a single ship or soldier in the Pacific Fleet will carry out this plan!"

"You're trying to pin all the blame on me...!" Andrew Webber's voice turned incredibly cold and piercing.

"General, if our plan succeeds, you will be a hero of the entire United States and the organization!"

Major Klaus, head held high, declared matter-of-factly, "As long as we can eradicate that Chinaman and the huge cancer that is Huamei Industrial, you will be an American hero remembered by history!"

"Hero... Hehehe!"

Andrew Webber didn't waste any more words: "Bring out the battle plan!"

Klaus placed the battle plan he had prepared long ago on Andrew Webber's desk.

General Weber didn't even look at it, and immediately picked up his pen and signed his name on it with a few quick strokes.

After signing, Andrew Webber said, "Major Klaus, for the organization, my mission is complete, isn't it? My family...!"

“Rest assured, General!” Klaus replied, “Your family is perfectly safe. They will appear before you unharmed after this operation is completed!”

"I've done everything you asked!" Brigadier General Andrew Webber, beyond furious, slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "You...you still won't release them?"

"General, please remain calm!" Klaus replied calmly, "As long as you cooperate unconditionally with the organization, I guarantee your family will be unharmed! For them, this period of time has simply been a pleasant vacation..."

Andrew Webber was too exhausted to complain anymore, and simply waved his hand wearily: "Go down and carry out your plans!"

"Yes, General!!"

After Klaus left, Andrew Webber opened the drawer of his desk and took out an ivory Colt revolver loaded with bullets.

General Andrew Webber stared blankly at the gun on the table, his face contorted with struggle for a long time.

In the end, he put the gun away. He wasn't sure if they would spare his family even if he chose to commit suicide.

He wasn't sure if he could preserve the military honor he had pursued all his life if he committed suicide.

When he truly became a pitiful victim, forced to engage in dirty conspiracies, Andrew Webber finally realized how terrible and shameless the organization he had once joined, this organization deeply intertwined with the United States, really was.

At that moment, he was incredibly envious of that lucky guy, Paparo King!
But now, nothing we say, think, or do will change anything!
"It's too late, too late...!"

Andrew Webber closed his eyes with a sigh of relief and slumped into his chair.

……

After receiving the order personally signed by General Andrew Webber, the countless tall smokestacks of the twenty or so warships docked in the San Diego naval port began to belch thick black smoke, and the countless masts began to raise their white sails!

Thousands of naval soldiers, bustling about like countless ants, began rapidly loading supplies, gunpowder, and shells onto the warships.

A few hours later, when the boilers were boiling, the supplies were full, and all the officers and soldiers were in position, the twenty warships set sail in a grand procession, leaving the naval port and heading towards the boundless sea.

Their first action was to blockade the California coast and seize all of the Chinese American Company's ships.

Any ship that dares to resist the U.S. Navy shall be sunk!
Most of the officers and soldiers had heard about the Huamei Company's attack on their warships.

This wasn't the first time they'd heard of something like this!
Last time, it was proven that a foolish army general was secretly sowing discord between the navy and the Huamei Company.

But is this time for real?
Most officers and soldiers embarked on the journey with doubts and hesitations in their hearts.

But military orders are absolute, and they cannot tolerate the slightest questioning or resistance.

In just two days, this fleet, which was virtually invincible on the western coast of the United States, completed its blockade of the California coast.

Most of the patrol boats were carrying out a coastal blockade operation. Any ship, regardless of whether it belonged to Huamei Company or not, would be forcibly stopped and boarded for inspection as soon as it came into their sight.

If the ship is not belonging to Huamei Company, and the goods and personnel being transported are not from Huamei Company, it will be released after a strict inspection.

However, if it is a ship belonging to Huamei Company, carrying Huamei Company personnel and goods, then it will definitely be seized.

The patrol boats carrying out the blockade mission along the coast did their utmost to carry out orders.

However, a mere dozen or so patrol boats and shallow-water gunboats are still far too few for California's coastline, which stretches for more than 1,200 nautical miles.

Each patrol boat needs to blockade a vast area of ​​sea spanning hundreds of nautical miles. Intercepting and searching every vessel is simply impossible.

To the surprise of the patrol boat crew, they had barely spotted any of Huamei Company's ships during their mission.

They did seize a lot of goods produced by Huamei Company, but those were all transported by other ships.

The only thing missing was the magnificent ship and its people!

It's important to know that Westminster Shipping is undoubtedly the largest shipping company in all of California.

Huamei Shipping Company's merchant ships account for at least half of all merchant ships in California.

Normally, these patrol boats encounter Huamei Shipping Company's ships most often at sea, so they are very familiar with them.

But now, while carrying out the blockade mission, they haven't encountered a single ship from the Huamei Shipping Company.

This is too strange!

The captains and sailors of these patrol boats breathed a sigh of relief upon not encountering any ships or personnel from the Huamei Company.

To be honest, these captains and soldiers had gotten along very well with the ships and people of Huamei Company before this.

Furthermore, the armed merchant ships of the Huamei Company would occasionally cooperate with the Pacific Fleet to hunt down pirates at sea.

These captains and soldiers had no desire to have any conflict with Huamei Shipping Company!
It would be best if we didn't encounter any ships from the Huamei Company.

Meanwhile, a fleet consisting of four frigates and five gunboats, led by the flagships HMS Portsmouth and HMS Savannah, had reached the narrow San Francisco Strait.

Across the narrow strait, only three or four kilometers wide, Commodore Andrew Webber, who was personally leading his fleet out in full force, was standing on the conning tower of his flagship, the HMS Portsmouth, observing through his binoculars the fortified battery complex that had just been erected on the southern shore of the strait!

Through his telescope, General Weber was astonished to discover that the massive, dark cannons on the newly built fortress battery were already pointing directly at his fleet.

"Fuck...!"

Commodore Andrew Webber put down his binoculars and cursed, "Can anyone tell me what the hell this fortress battery complex is all about?"

A group of staff officers followed behind the general, observing the distant fortress through binoculars.

An aide chimed in, “General, as far as I know, this brand-new fortress belongs to the California Maritime National Guard and was just built…!”

"According to our intelligence, just over half a month ago, this gun emplacement was not equipped with any cannons at all...!"

"No cannons?" Brigadier General Andrew Webber roared angrily. "What's that dark pipe? Is it some kind of damn chimney?"

Unlike Brigadier General George Phillips, Commodore Andrew Webber, who usually keeps a low profile, becomes extremely irritable once he enters a state of command and combat, like a lion ready to rage at any moment!

Another staff officer counted the number of cannons and said, "General, there are only a dozen or so cannons deployed on this fortress. If we force our way through...!"

"Trying to force your way through the fortress's fortifications, especially in such a narrow strait... are you out of your mind?"

Andrew Webber angrily shouted, "Fuck... How did a moron like you become a fleet staff officer? Even my piglets are smarter than you!"

Under General Weber's curses, all the staff officers fell silent for a moment, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Finally, Major Klaus said in a deep voice, "General, no matter what, we can't be scared off by the fortress, can we?"

Andrew Webber continued observing through his telescope, replying without turning his head: "Major Klaus, you have no right to interrupt when I'm commanding the fleet in battle!"

Brigadier General Weber was quite polite to Major Klaus; at least he didn't start cursing right away.

But they didn't give him any face at all!

"Uh...!" Major Klaus knew that at this moment, he, who knew nothing about naval warfare, really had no right to interrupt.

But he couldn't help but say, "General, I suggest we send out one or two shallow-draft gunboats to test the firepower of the coast guard fortress."

General Andrew Webber lowered his binoculars again, pondered for a moment, and then gave the order: "Pass on my command to send two of the fastest shallow-draft gunboats to attempt to cross the San Francisco Strait!"

"Remember, charge at full speed! Don't try to engage the turrets in a direct firefight... I don't think my captains are that stupid!"

At this moment, Klaus interjected, "As far as I know, our navy's fortress garrison on the north shore also has two shallow-draft gunboats."

"General, should we send an order to have those two shallow-draft gunboats also attack at the same time...!"

Another staff officer said, "General, our fortress garrison on the north shore of the strait has lost contact."

"We are unable to contact the fortress garrison by land or sea. Our communication channels have been cut off by the California National Guard."

"The fortress garrison has no idea that we have started our operations!"

Brigadier General Andrew Webber said, "Our communication with the fortress garrison will certainly be cut off! That Chinese guy is so cunning, would he leave us the North Shore Naval Fortress?"

"In fact, I suspect that our naval fortress on the north shore has already been captured by that Chinese guy!"

Major Klaus interjected again: "That Chinese guy was assassinated and seriously injured, and it's only been ten days or so. His injuries can't possibly have healed so quickly."

"Without that Chinese guy's unified command, Huamei Corporation and the California National Guard are no threat."

Andrew Webber gave Major Klaus a cold look: "Major, if you are so sure and so confident, then I order that you personally lead those two shallow-draft gunboats to test the enemy's firepower!"

(End of this chapter)