1890 King of Southeast Asia

After replenishing in Hong Kong on March 15, the Beiyang Cruiser Squadron was scheduled to set sail on the 16th. During this period, the British did not allow the fleet officers and soldiers to disembark!

Because the journey was long and there was no rush, there were no replenishment points along the way. To be honest, General Deng Shichang, the captain of the Zhiyuan ship, who was also the general and the person in charge of this squadron, did not understand this operation, and did not know where the future of this squadron lay.

"Sir, the Laiyuan ship sent a message that the fresh water supply has been completed and it is ready to set sail." Assistant Chen Jinkui reported to Deng Shichang.

"Du Chen, you have been to the United States. What does America look like?" Deng Shichang did not order the voyage, but asked. (The first mate of the Zhiyuan ship, who was left with a child, was recalled.)

"Sir, I was recalled after just one trip to the United States. It should be because the United States is a beautiful country, but the people there are very rude, bullying the weak is the norm, and discrimination is very serious." Chen Jinkui didn't know what the captain meant, so he could only answer conservatively.

"Hehe." Deng Shichang smiled miserably.

"I have been to the United Kingdom, where there are chimneys everywhere and the industry is developed. The so-called strong ships and powerful guns can be mass-produced..." Deng Shichang seemed to have said something nonsense, and then stopped.

"Forget it, set sail!" Deng Shichang walked out of the command room and watched the soldiers operating various machines in an orderly manner. Thick smoke came out of the chimneys, but it was not because of the use of inferior loose coal, but it was a normal situation when the machine was started.

The four warships lined up and slowly set sail. Deng Shichang was now at the bow, looking ahead, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Du Chen, you have studied in the United States and the Naval Academy. I have also been abroad. A few years ago, the United States was still an agricultural country, like us. But do you know? Now, it has become an industrial country, and we..." Deng Shichang said to the first mate again.

The first mate did not answer, nor did he know how to answer.

"I don't know what the court wants to do this time! The main fighters have no strategic goals, let alone tactical goals. They rashly divide their troops without knowing the enemy situation and go on an expedition across thousands of miles? The two ships have insufficient range and no coal carriers. The Lord Zhongtang said that they are not allowed to meet the enemy." Deng Shichang felt bitter and had never seen such a game!

"Sir, we soldiers just follow orders." The first mate said.

"Alas~ What's there to fight about Nanhua? We share the same language and race. It would be better if there were more Nanhua in the world! Britain has more than 30 million square kilometers of land. With other powers, how much of this world belongs to Han?" Deng Shichang said what was in his heart.

"My Lord, be careful with your words!" The first mate looked around, but no one noticed.

"Alas~"

On the 21st, Liu Yiming and Charles boarded an old cruiser of more than 1,000 tons of the British Navy and headed north along the route of the Beiyang Squadron.

Why do you know the route of the Beiyang Fleet's southward movement? Please, they have no cover-up and cannot cover it up. It is a popular route. Can you sink merchant ships of several countries?

The whole world knows that the Qing Dynasty has a cruiser fleet heading south. The biggest reactions to this are from the Netherlands and Japan.

The Netherlands is afraid that this fleet is coming to help Nanhua. After all, Palembang has received many telegrams from Bali before, all asking for help. But the Netherlands did not dare to jump to the Qing Dynasty (before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, Westerners believed that the Qing Dynasty was a second-rate power, stronger than the United States...), but turned around and began to discuss the purchase of warships with Britain.

Will the British become the biggest winner?

Japan is excited.

In Yokohama Port, Yewaisheng is drinking with a group of friends (literally) to celebrate this event.

"Mr. Yewaisheng, your plan is successful! The Beiyang Navy has already moved south! Congratulations on your promotion!" said Hu Peng.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Yewaisheng is really smart! But what is the benefit for us to do this?" said Gou You.

"Hahaha, you are too flattering. Yewaisheng is just helping Lord Ito and the Emperor. How can he have any merit...hahaha." Yewaisheng said modestly with pride.

"As for the effect...hehe, do you know the current situation of Nanhua and what he has been doing recently?" Yewaisheng kept it a secret.

"Mr. Yewaisheng, please don't keep us hanging. How can we know?" said Hu Penger.

"That's right, Mr. Yewaisheng, please tell me quickly," said Gou Youer.

"Nanhua has been emigrating since the Dutch were driven away!" said Yewaisheng.

"Immigration?"

"Immigration? For what?"

"After Nanhua won, the war was not over. We can only immigrate in large numbers, select soldiers, train soldiers, and prepare for the next battle." Yewaisheng said.

"Then...what does it have to do with your operation? Wouldn't it be better to drive away the white people?" said a man in the corner.

"Hmph! When Nanhua was first established, I followed the order of Lord Ito and went south to discuss cooperation, but was rejected by that Liu Yiming! Hmph!" Yewaisheng slapped the wine glass on the table and said.

"Hmph, now that the two sides are about to go to war, Nanhua will have no choice but to cooperate with the Empire of Japan. At that time, it will not be so easy..." Yewaisheng said meaningfully.

"Cooperate with Nanhua? What cooperation? What are the benefits?" asked the dog friend.

"Cooperation, of course, is to take what each needs. Nanhua needs manpower, soldiers, workers, women, all of which we can provide. As for the benefits..." Yewaisheng glanced at the wine glass.

"Mr. Yewaisheng, please!" Fox friend immediately poured him a glass of wine.

"There are only three million Chinese in Nanhua. If we can immigrate six million people, the Yamato people will have an overwhelming advantage. With the addition of soldiers composed of Yamato people, how can the Chinese compare? That is 140,000 square kilometers, and it is not barren land, but fertile soil. How much rice can be grown, and there are countless gold mines and spices. It is simply a treasure!" Yewaisheng drank a glass of wine excitedly.

A table of fox friends' eyes glowed with fantasy...

"Besides..." Yewaisheng was keeping it a secret again.

"Besides what? Yewaisheng, please tell me!" Gouyouer scratched his head anxiously.

"Don't spread it. I heard that Nanhua ordered four of the most advanced warships from Britain." Yewaisheng said cautiously.

"Ah! Doesn't that mean we have to speed up and kill him in one blow before his navy comes back?" Hupenger said.

"Sha Bijun is right. We should hurry up to immigrate and seize power after the warship sets sail. Then we can not only get a rich island, but also four most advanced warships. Maybe we can even compete with the one in the west..." Yewaisheng said, "And the Chinese in Southeast Asia are very rich. They don't deserve these wealth."

A group of people laughed like wolves, as if victory was just around the corner.

…………

On the 24th, after three days of sailing, the British warship Liu Yiming was on met his target in the waters south of Jinou - four warships from the Beiyang Navy to Jingjing!

"Sir, Jingyuan reported that a British warship was found ahead and requested to stop the ship. They said someone wanted to come to communicate." Chen Jinkui reported to Deng Shichang.

"Oh?" Deng Shichang picked up the telescope, stood forward, and observed the British warship.

"See what they want to do! Send an order to approach the British ship and slow down." Deng Shichang thought about it and said.

The fleet slowly slowed down, and the Zhiyuan moved forward and headed towards the British warship. The two warships slowly approached each other until they were about one to two chains away, and both ships stopped.

The British warship sent a flag signal to indicate that someone would be sent on board soon, and then Liu Yiming and Charles took a small boat and slowly sailed towards the Zhiyuan.

Deng Shichang did not doubt why the British brought a yellow man, but only thought that he was the British translator.

"Such a young lieutenant colonel?" Deng Shichang asked in confusion...

"Hello, Lieutenant Colonel, I am the captain of this warship and the commander of this squadron, Deng Shichang. Excuse me, your ship stopped us, what's the matter?" After Charles climbed onto the warship, Deng Shichang asked in English...

"Hello, Commander, there is something, but the protagonist is not me. Isn't it a coincidence that the other person is also Commander, Commander Liu, you tell me!" Charles looked at the ship with interest, full of British flavor, and then said.

"Commander Liu?" Deng Shichang was confused. There shouldn't be a Chinese commander in the UK, right?

"Sir Deng, I am Liu Wanhua, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South China, and the commander of a small unit." Liu Yiming stood up and stretched out his hand.

"Sir Liu..." Deng Shichang shook hands with Liu Yiming with mixed feelings. Liu Yiming said that he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and even boarded a British warship. To put it bluntly, this was a diplomatic incident, but he, Deng Shichang, was just a soldier!

"Sir Liu, what are you doing here?" Deng Shichang asked.

"Oh! My goal is the same as yours, I came for South China." Liu Yiming said.

"Sir Deng, don't talk first. If my guess is correct, you should have no idea about your trip to the south this time?" Liu Yiming said.

"Humph! Ridiculous, how can I explain my military secrets to you?" Deng Shichang pretended to be tough, but he was already a little panicked inside. What is the most terrible thing about war? It means that when you are halfway through executing your plan, the enemy has seen through your cards and your tactics, and you still don't know what cards the enemy has in hand.

"Hehe, don't get me wrong, Lord Deng. I'm not trying to find out secrets, but you've been exposed. As everyone knows, Beiyang has more than 70 ships, excluding auxiliary ships, and more than 20 main battleships. Among them, the Badayuan and Chaoyang are the main combat ships, and among them, the Dingzhen and Dingzhen ships have the strongest combat power." Liu Yiming said.

"But this time when you go south, not only do you not have the two strongest warships of Dingzhen, you don't even have an auxiliary warship. You only have four cruisers to Zhijingjing. It doesn't look like you are going to fight a serious war."

"It's not convenient here. Let's talk in my cabin! How about it?" Hearing this, Deng Shichang thought of Li Hongzhang's order and said.

"Please..." Deng Shichang invited.