North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 210 The Beginning of the Naval Battle!

"Feng Zicai, Shi Dakai, Old Martinez, Vic... and brothers from the California National Guard and the California Marine National Guard!!!"

Azu raised a large bowl of wine to send off the troops who were about to set off on their expedition.

"Unlike our previous skirmishes, this is a real war!"

With a passionate tone, Azu addressed the 15,000-strong army led by several men, shouting, "This is California's first true war! The outcome of this war is a matter of California's dignity, and even more so, its future!"

"The tiny Republic of New Grenada has shamelessly and openly ambushed me and the first governor of California!"

"This is an extremely shameless act of war!"

"Now, the entire United States, including California, has officially declared war on the Republic of New Grenada!"

"The New Grenada Republic Army has killed and wounded so many of our brothers!"

"We must make them pay for their crimes in blood!!"

"Bang...!" Azu raised the wine bowl high, drank it all in one gulp, and then smashed the bowl on the ground to pieces!
"Blood for blood...!"

"Blood for blood...!"

……

Fifteen thousand soldiers, high in morale and speaking with resounding voices.

The shouts of 15,000 people soared to the heavens, making everyone's blood boil!

They simultaneously raised their bowls high and drank them down in one gulp. Then, they smashed them to pieces!

After drinking the farewell wine, Azu patted Feng Zicai, Shi Dakai, Old Martinez, and Vic heavily on the shoulders.

"Gentlemen, this war is entirely in your hands!"

"With Shi Dakai as the vanguard, Feng Zicai as the commander-in-chief of the entire army, old Martinez as the artillery commander, and Vic as the naval commander!"

"I hope the four of you will work together and fight with full force to demonstrate your military might and dignity!"

"According to our established battle plan, we will resolve the New Grenada Republic as quickly as possible and seize the Isthmus of Panama!"

"I look forward to welcoming your triumphant return here soon!"

"Don't worry, boss!"

Feng Zicai, Shi Dakai, and the other three replied in unison, "Whether it is equipment or training level, our California National Guard has an overwhelming advantage."

"If we still can't win, boss, just chop off our heads!"

"What would I do with your heads? What I want is victory, to achieve the greatest results with the fewest casualties!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Azu quickened his pace and came to Robert E. Lee, who was going to war with the army.

Robert E. Lee, who had only been in California for a month or so, volunteered to join the army this time.

Being unfamiliar with the area, he needed to gain a direct understanding of the California National Guard's equipment, training level, and tactics through this battle.

Otherwise, as the principal of the military academy, he would find it difficult to truly train a high-caliber officer corps.

Moreover, Robert E. Lee personally participated in the formulation of this detailed battle plan.

Therefore, he absolutely had to go on this expedition!
"Colonel!" Azu patted Robert E. Lee on the shoulder as well: "This time, you are the chief of staff of this team. Although you have only been in California for a short time, I hope you can make full use of your abilities to assist in commanding this force and achieve victory quickly and well!"

"Yes, Sir...!"

Robert Lee gave a military salute before saying, "Governor, please await news of our victory!"

"Haha!" Azu laughed, "Then I'll wait and see!"

……

"Beep beep beep beep...!"

Soon after, 15,000 soldiers quickly boarded the ship.

A powerful fleet consisting of a fast steam cruiser, six frigates, six patrol ships, and dozens of transport ships, with smokestacks like a forest and white sails like clouds.

All the ships sounded their deafening horns, their chimneys spewing out thick black smoke that blotted out the sky, and countless giant sails filled with sea breeze as they gradually left Clarke Pier.

A powerful fleet, dark and imposing like a storm cloud, covered the vast sea!
Countless San Francisco citizens, including Azu, watched as this powerful fleet embarked on its journey!

"What a pity...!"

Edgar Allan Poe, standing next to Azu, couldn't help but say, "I was once a soldier, and I rarely encountered such a grand scene in my life."

"Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to lead troops into battle and achieve great things on the battlefield."

Ah Zu laughed and said, "Ellen, your battlefield is in California, in politics!"

"You don't need to personally fight on the front lines to achieve great things!"

"Your contribution is no less than that of these soldiers who charged into battle!"

Edgar Allan Poe shook his head slightly: "What man wouldn't want to achieve glory on the battlefield?"

"Boss, even you, if conditions allowed, would definitely lead the army into battle personally, right?"

Azu smiled and nodded: "Yes! I just left California for a full six months, and I still have a lot to take care of when I get back."

"At this time, I really can't get away. Otherwise, I would definitely go into battle in person this time!"

"That's right! What man doesn't dream of fighting on the battlefield? That's a man's romance!"

Azu patted Edgar Allan Poe on the shoulder and said, "In Panama, a place that is extremely humid and hot, teeming with mosquitoes and rampant with infectious diseases, there is no room for romance whatsoever!"

"Fighting in such an environment would be incredibly agonizing... I hope Shi Dakai and Feng Zicai can end this war as quickly as possible and suffer less!"
-
To protect the slower transport ships, this powerful fleet on its expedition maintained a speed of only about ten knots on the sea.

The battlefield, which should have taken about ten days to reach, was delayed for more than twenty days.

When the fleet passed through San Diego, it also joined up with the U.S. Pacific Squadron.

Now, the new commander of this fleet is none other than the former fleet chief of staff—Wayne Hunter!
This former colonel was promoted to brigadier general and chief of staff after being transferred to the Home Fleet under General Paparo King.

Shortly after Andrew Webber, the former commander of the Pacific Fleet, was removed by then-Vice President Abraham Lincoln, Wayne Hunter was transferred back to the Pacific Fleet to serve as its commander.

This former fleet chief of staff had a good relationship with California and Azu.

It was precisely because Abraham Lincoln valued this point that he transferred him back to the Pacific Fleet.

Upon receiving orders from Washington, Wayne Hunter personally led more than ten warships to join the California fleet.

As a result, this fleet became even larger and more powerful.

……

The soldiers, with nothing to do on the ship, could only wipe their weapons clean and rehearse all possible battle scenarios.

For example, at this moment, Feng Zicai, Shi Dakai, Martinez, Vic, and Robert E. Lee were on the command platform of the flagship "Guangzhou" ship, deducing possible battle situations.

"Beep beep beep...!"

Just then, a piercing siren suddenly sounded from the tall watchtower overhead.

"Report! Ahead, about ten nautical miles away, we've spotted one... no, three... large sailing ships...!"

"Correction again... A large fleet spotted ten nautical miles ahead... a total of seventeen large sailing ships...!"

Upon hearing the lookout's report, Vic and the others quickly raised their binoculars and looked ahead.

"Seventeen large sailing ships...could they be the navy of the New Grenada Republic...?"

In Vic's and the others' view, a vast expanse of densely packed sails gradually appeared below the sea level.

"Report... Confirmed that the other party is flying the flag of the Republic of New Grenada, as well as the naval ensign...!"

"Report confirmed, encounter with the main fleet of the New Grenada Republic Navy...!"

"The main fleet...!" Navy Commander Vic clapped his hands excitedly, "Finally, we've run into something decent...!"

"Pass on my orders...!"

Having already simulated naval battles countless times, Vic gave the order almost without hesitation.

"Order! All coast guard warships, accelerate to full speed and deploy into battle formation...!"

"Order: All transport ships turn around and move away from the battlefield...!"

"Order: Pacific Fleet, protect the transport convoy and keep it away from the battlefield...!"

"Order: All warships, prepare for battle!!"

"Order: Maintain a distance of more than 5,000 yards from the enemy ships and make full use of our range advantage...!"

"Order, all artillery ready... Sink them...!" One order after another, transmitted instantly throughout the entire fleet through lights and flag signals.

Upon receiving the signal flags from the flagship "Guangzhou," the black smoke billowed from one cruiser, six frigates, and six patrol vessels of the California Coast Guard became even thicker.

Plumes of black smoke shot straight into the sky!

These thirteen fast armored warships, all powered by high-speed steam engines, began to accelerate little by little, heading towards the New Grenada Republic Navy, ten nautical miles away.

Meanwhile, dozens of transport ships began to turn around to avoid the impending naval battle.

The Pacific Squadron, led by Brigadier General Wayne Hunter, was in a very difficult position!

"Damn it... those California Coast Guard officers actually ordered us to protect the transport ship and stay away from the battlefield...!"

The chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet, filled with resentment, put down his binoculars: "Fuck... who's the navy, them or us?"

"This mere coast guard is simply going too far!"

"Since when did it become the Coast Guard's turn to command the U.S. Navy...?"

"This is outrageous! By what right do they order us around...?"

Surrounding Fleet Commander Wayne Hunter, a group of fleet staff officers were all talking at once, hurling insults at the arrogant California Coast Guard.

Commander Hunter, however, remained unmoved. After lowering his binoculars, he shouted in a deep voice, "Enough! Shut up, all of you! What's all this noise about...?!"

Although Brigadier General Hunt had only recently been promoted to brigadier general, he had been transferred to command the Pacific Fleet for an even shorter period.

But Hunter had served as the chief of staff of the Pacific Fleet for a long time, and was quite familiar with both the people and the warships.

Most of his old subordinates still respected him.

Upon hearing the general's reprimand, the staff officers quickly shut their mouths.

Hunter looked around and said in a deep voice, "You want to charge in and start a battle?"

All the advisors nodded in agreement.

Such a large-scale naval battle is an extremely rare opportunity!

Some people may serve in the navy their entire lives and never encounter such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Who would want to miss such an opportunity to sink enemy ships, earn merit and receive awards, and bring glory to their ancestors?

"Heh!" Hunter chuckled coldly. "I'd love to too. Who wouldn't want an opportunity like that?"

"But can we keep up with the California Coast Guard's speed?"

As they spoke, the coast guard ships, which had accelerated to over 20 knots, had already left the Pacific Squadron far behind.

Upon seeing the coast guard vessel's incredibly high speed, the staff officers immediately became somewhat disheartened.

Their ships are too fast; by the time we catch up, the battle will probably be over!
Brigadier General Hunter continued, "Many of you have experienced the power of the California Coast Guard's shells!"

"They can fire from 10,000 yards away."

"With our firing range of two or three thousand yards, even if we charge up, what can we do?"

"Charge into the middle of the California Coast Guard fleet and the New Grenada Navy, getting shelled from both sides...?"

Upon hearing Brigadier General Hunter's words, the staff officers buried their heads in their chests, dejected and unable to utter a single word for a long time.

"Sigh...!" Brigadier General Hunter sighed deeply before saying, "Whether it's the Coast Guard or the Navy, in this world, ultimately, everything is determined by strength!"

"Look at that 3,000-ton fast armored cruiser...tsk tsk tsk!"

Brigadier General Hunt gazed at the distant silhouette of the "Guangzhou" through his binoculars, almost drooling with envy.

"Such a powerful warship, let alone our Pacific Fleet, there is absolutely no warship in the home fleet that can match it!"

"Such a powerful warship would not be at a disadvantage even if it encountered the invincible English Armada...!"

"Hiss...!" Commodore Hunter swallowed hard, his mouth watering. "If our Pacific Fleet had one or two cruisers as powerful as these, we wouldn't have the audacity to give orders to our navy...!"

"Fortunately, it was General Paparo King who had the foresight to order several cruisers and frigates from the Huamei Shipyard long ago...!"

"If we wait another year or two, we'll be able to have such powerful warships too!"

"Ahem...!" The fleet chief of staff couldn't help but interject, "General, what should we do now?"

"What do we do?" Brigadier General Hunter reluctantly lowered his binoculars and said calmly, "Follow orders: protect the transport ship and keep it away from the battlefield...!!!"

"Yes, Sir...!"

The staff officers, all dejected, went to issue the orders.

Moments later, a dozen or so ships from the Pacific Squadron, protecting dozens of transport ships, gradually moved away from the battlefield.

……

Meanwhile, the main fleet of the Republic of New Grenada Navy had already spotted the approaching coast guard fleet!
"General Alonso... American steam warships are charging towards us!"

"What's the panic...!" Vice Admiral Alonso, commander of the Pacific Fleet of the Republic of New Grenada, with three general's stars on his shoulders, said in a deep voice, "Pass on my order: seize the 'T' formation, deploy into battle formation, and prepare for engagement...!"

The term "T" refers to the practice in the era when naval guns dominated naval warfare. All warships were arranged in a row as much as possible, concentrating the guns on one side of the ship to launch a concentrated barrage against the enemy fleet that was charging in column.

With the superior firepower of a line-ahead formation, it undoubtedly has a huge inherent advantage over a column formation, which is at a disadvantage in terms of firepower.

The main fleet under the command of Lieutenant General Alonso of New Grenada was to seize the "T" formation and use its superior formation to concentrate fire on the enemy's steam fleet charging forward.

General Alonso's orders quickly spread throughout the entire New Grenada fleet.

Seventeen sailing warships, ranging from several hundred to over a thousand tons, began to turn in turn, vying for the "T" prefix.

Meanwhile, the California Coast Guard fleet, located seven or eight thousand yards away, began to turn almost simultaneously.

What are they doing...?

Through his telescope, General Alonso spotted unusual movements from the enemy fleet and asked in bewilderment, "They're still seven or eight thousand yards away. Why are they turning around at such a distance...?"

"What are they trying to do? This is completely beyond the firing range of the ship's guns... What on earth are they doing...?"

Under Alonso's watchful eye, the coast guard fleet under Vic's command formed a long, straight line at an extremely fast pace.

Thirteen warships, with hundreds of dark cannons on their port sides, were aimed at the New Grenada fleet, seven thousand yards away!
At a distance of 7,000 yards, whether it's a 203mm naval gun, a 155mm naval gun, or even a 100mm naval gun, they all come into range.

"Report: Our fleet is fully in position!!"

Upon hearing the staff officer's report, Vic raised his binoculars and gave the order without hesitation.

"All of them! Target the enemy flagship 'Bogotá' and unleash a barrage of fire!!"

"fire……!"

"fire……!"

"fire……!"

……

At Vick's command, hundreds of rifled breech-loading cannons roared almost simultaneously!

"Boom boom boom boom...!"

"Boom boom boom boom...!"

"Boom boom boom boom...!"

For the first time in history, hundreds of powerful rifled breech-loading cannons roared like the god of war!

Its immense power even caused the surrounding seawater to boil!
Smoke rose up, even obscuring large swathes of the sky!
……

"Report! Enemy fleet spotted, firing...!"

"What...?" General Alonso, in his shock, also spotted the enemy fleet. Countless dark cannons were erupting with countless blinding bursts of fire.

"How could they possibly be at such a distance...? Have these American sailors gone mad...?"

"Boom boom boom boom...!"

“Swish, swish, swish, swish…!”

First, you see the flash of the cannon muzzle, then the deafening roar of the cannon, and the piercing whistling of the shells!
“Swish, swish, swish…!”

Hundreds of powerful high-explosive shells, a few seconds later, traversed a distance of seven thousand yards and rained down on the New Grenada Navy flagship, the "Bogotá".

"Boom, boom, boom, boom...!"

Even at such a great distance, even on the turbulent sea, even in a state of constant movement, those hundreds of shells, even with only a few percent hit rate.

That's enough to give the flagship "Bogotá" a good beating!

(End of this chapter)