What neither Fisher nor Mahan knew was that a piece of intelligence had been sent out from London three days before the Combined Fleet attacked.

In the next three days, the Empire carried out a full mobilization. First, the Empire dispatched more than 500 airships, about 40% of which were exchanged for bombers from France and Rome. Then, according to the plan, the Navy divided the Atlantic Ocean south of the equator into countless small squares, each of which was searched by a warning airship.

As early as the beginning of the war, the Empire had built more than 3,000 watchtowers on all the coastlines on both the north and south banks of the Empire. Each watchtower was manned by six people on duty in turn. All the watchtowers were equipped with telephones and high-power telescopes. Of course, the Empire also sent out a large number of patrol ships.

Not only that, even merchant fleets sailing on the sea, although they do not undertake the mission of maritime search, will still take the initiative to undertake the search mission when they are sailing on the sea.

Although the cargo ship "Princess of France" flew the flag of a Venezuelan merchant ship, in fact, the company it belonged to was an overseas company of the Tang Dynasty Merchant Shipping Bureau. After the outbreak of the war, in order to solve the problem of insufficient merchant ships, the Imperial Commerce Bureau reached a secret agreement with the Merchant Shipping Bureau. The Merchant Shipping Bureau registered a new shipping company in Venezuela and sent dozens of merchant ships to engage in material transportation. It was through these merchant ships from "neutral countries" that the empire was able to transport millions of tons of materials to Europe and France.

As usual, the French Princess, loaded with cloth, flour, beef and other supplies, left Huizhou Port and headed north, heading directly to France. When the merchant ship crossed the equator, as usual, the crew stood on the side with binoculars to search the sea.

"This is the responsibility of every one of us, even if we are not from the Ming Dynasty."

Captain Ding Deyong said with a serious expression.

"The prerequisite for victory is to obtain first-hand intelligence! We discovered the enemy's ships and reported the intelligence to the Imperial Military, so that the Imperial Military can make corresponding deployments and win the war."

First mate Li Fan nodded, agreeing with this point.

"Yes, so in this war, each of us must do our best!"

In fact, they did not undertake the mission of alert and search, but they still took the initiative to take on this responsibility. All this fully demonstrates the results of decades of efforts of the empire: the empire has established and improved a complete set of national systems. At this time, the people of the Ming Dynasty not only have a national concept, but have also become modern citizens.

"I remember when I was studying at the Merchant Marine School, my teacher once said that the difference between a modern country and an ignorant country is essentially that the former is composed of modern citizens who have a sense of national identity, and this is first reflected in the mobilization system of the citizens."

When mentioning "modern citizens", Ding Deyong seemed a little proud.

"From this point of view, the fact that the Empire was able to repeatedly defeat Chile, Argentina, and the Brazilian Empire at that time was not a big miracle. Because after stripping off the packaging of modern material civilization, the Brazilian Empire was still a backward and ignorant slave empire. Everything was just operated according to the hobbies of the emperor and his trusted ministers. The purpose of governing the country was just to rule the ordinary people. The purpose had nothing to do with the country, let alone the people. It was just a means for officials and governors to be promoted. Although there were a few talented people among its officials and governors, most of them were mediocre, or even stupid. It can even be said that the monarch was mediocre and the ministers were stupid. Therefore, the failure of the Brazilians was not a big surprise. The Empire was able to mobilize the entire people to fight a war. Although the Empire was more of a military technology crusher in the war, this mobilization ability itself was the key to their victory in the war."

Putting down the telescope in his hand and looking at the vast ocean, compared to soldiers who like to look at problems from a military perspective and politicians who like to look at problems from a political perspective, as a merchant ship captain Ding Deyong prefers to look at problems from other aspects.

"So in my opinion, rather than saying that the Empire won a military victory, it would be more of a victory in terms of system, or a victory for the people!"

"A victory for the people?"

When Li Fan was surprised, he heard the captain say again.

"That's right, it's the victory of the people, the victory of the country and the people as one!"

Nodding, Ding Deyong's expression became more serious. He looked at the crew members on the ship who were from the Tang Dynasty like him, and then said.

"So, I would say that what China needs most right now is not just the army, factories and fleets, but education. When national education is successful, the country will naturally succeed. Otherwise... the Tang Dynasty will be nothing more than the second Qing Dynasty! In fact, this is also the biggest difference between the Ming Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty."

He lowered his eyelids and looked at the undulating sea. Only after coming to this country will he realize the difference between this country and the Tang Dynasty.

Maybe in the past ten years, Datang has built factories and schools, but what? Datang is still the same place with a new soup but the same substance. In fact, everything in the family has never changed. The so-called change of dynasties is just a change of flags. There has never been much difference between Datang and Qin. It is nothing more than the replacement of the Manchu emperor with a Han emperor.

Does such a country have any future?

"So... Captain, do you think that the Tang Dynasty is still an ignorant country?"

Looking at the captain, Li Fan asked.

Facing the first mate's question, Ding Deyong just smoked his cigarette quietly, staring at the sea, and did not speak. He only spoke after taking a deep puff of cigarette.

"Isn't it? Never mind, let's not talk about this one."

Gazing at the sea, Ding Deyong suddenly grinned.

"In fact, after learning that the Tang Dynasty declared war on Britain, I was also very excited, because we all know that war will change many things. Thousands of officers willing to sacrifice for the country will emerge, and many outstanding young people will become soldiers! Maybe... maybe one day I will witness the birth of the true national spirit in China!"

After that, Ding Deyong fell silent, and Li Fan was silent as well. The two of them looked at the sea thoughtfully, as if they saw their homeland far away. There, on the battlefield heading south, those young people armed with the "national spirit" were fighting hard. Perhaps those young people would change that country...

Just as this thought came to their minds, suddenly, several columns of smoke appeared on the sea in the distance. A sharp-eyed sailor saw the smoke and immediately shouted loudly.

"Captain, we have spotted several columns of smoke, at least twenty or more, and the course should be south!"

The crew's shouts made Ding Deyong shout quickly.

"Quick, send a telegram immediately..."

Almost at the same time, a destroyer was heading towards them at full speed in the distance, and the merchant ship's engineer sent a telegram in plain code: "American fleet spotted, heading due south."

The telegram was also intercepted by the Allied fleet. After receiving this news, Fisher frowned slightly.

The fleet was exposed, this was expected, he thought for a while and then said.

"Well, the prelude to the era has begun..."

The new book "I am a tyrant in Ming Dynasty" is about to be released. I beg you to continue to support me! Thank you! ! ! I have set up a book club: 739209015. Welcome everyone to join and discuss the plot of the new book together.