Chapter 690: Gunfire at Sea (Second update, please subscribe)

Just as the iron boots of the Ming Marines were echoing and spreading on the land of Hiroshima, a fleet that had just left the Bungo Channel was heading northeast.

Leading the fleet is the three-masted gunboat "Tsukuba", which was purchased by Japan from Britain four years ago as the gunboat "Malacca". Although it is now more than 22 years old, it is still the most elite warship of the Japanese Navy.

Like the other 12 ships, the Tsukuba was also packed with army soldiers. More than 9,000 officers and soldiers of the Hiroshima Garrison, as the "rear shock force", would launch an attack from the flank and rear of the Tokugawa rebel army and cut off their retreat.

This was a battle plan that Aritomo Yamagata had been planning for a long time. Once the plan succeeded, the Tokugawa rebel army would collapse, and the Meiji government would be able to seize the initiative in the war and put all its strength into Kyushu.

By that time, Japan's civil war will be over, the country will be unified again, and then it will be able to become prosperous and strong.

"I hope that after this battle, the Japanese civil war will end quickly and the world will be at peace from now on!"

Standing on the bridge of the Nishiyama Maru, Nozu Michitsugu, the chief of staff of the 11th Regiment, looked quite solemn. Although his attitude towards combat was a bit negative, just like his attitude during the anti-shogunate war, he also knew that if Japan wanted to become rich and strong, it had to be unified. So there were some things that had to be done even if they didn't want to.

"We are of the same roots, why are we so anxious to hurt each other..."

Just as Nozu Michitsugu uttered this exclamation, suddenly, a lookout on the top of the mast shouted.

"Multiple columns of smoke were spotted!"

Multiple columns of smoke?

Did the Tokugawa rebels have warships?

The answer is of course no. A few years ago, all the warships of the various feudal domains were "contributed" to the central government. Soon, Nozu Michitsugu's doubts were solved.

The one presented before them was none other than the British Royal Navy's "China Fleet". The "China Fleet" is one of the ten fleets deployed by the British Royal Navy around the world. It is headquartered in Hong Kong and is the Royal Navy's most important deterrent force in Asia. Its range of activities extends to Australia in the west and the Bering Strait in the north. It also covers a vast area including Vladivostok in Russia, the Qing Dynasty, and the coast of Japan.

A dozen days ago, this fleet arrived in Osaka, paying a "friend visit" to Osaka and expressing support for Tokugawa Shigemitsu. Faced with this situation, Iwakura Tomomi and others decided to invite the Ming fleet.

This naturally further supported the British speculation. Faced with Japan, which had already turned to the Ming Dynasty, the British naturally played their role of "troublemakers". While expressing support for Tokugawa Shigemitsu. After learning that the Japanese Navy was transporting nearly 10,000 troops to reinforce Nagoya, at the suggestion of Minister Parkes,

Rear Admiral Redel, commander of the "China Fleet", made a decisive decision to attack. When the "China Fleet's" flagship ironclad ship "Odyssa" and cruisers "Talia", "Kulaco", "Continental" and "Encounter" appeared in front of the Japanese Navy, the Japanese army and navy officers and soldiers on board all felt unprecedented pressure.

After all, the Japanese navy at that time was weak. Apart from a few old steam gunboats, the only ship that could be called a warship was the "Tsukuba" gunboat purchased from Britain three years ago. The current Japanese navy... was not the navy that would be in 20 years. Even in the eyes of the Japanese themselves, the navy had no use at all except for transporting supplies. In fact, this was also the current use of the Japanese navy - just transporting troops.

“It’s simply too vulnerable!”

Standing on the bridge of the "Odissa", Rear Admiral Redel looked at the Japanese naval warships anchored in the harbor with a mocking look. Except for the "Tsukuba" gunboat, most of the other warships were wooden-hulled gunboats, and there were even a few that were homemade gunboats by local feudal domains in the past.

"Sir, if a battle breaks out, it will only take us ten minutes at most to destroy their fleet!"

Colonel Tao Weier said confidently, holding a pipe in his hand.

"They're just a bunch of clowns!"

"But these clowns may change the situation of the war. Our mission is to prevent them from landing in Nagoya. The Ming people are now in Hiroshima. If Tokugawa Shigeki fails, they will soon attack Kyushu with the support of the Ming people. By that time, Japan will be completely controlled by the Ming country, which will seriously threaten Britain's interests in East Asia."

Faced with the aggressive expansionist desire of the Ming Empire, the British Empire accepted the challenge! This is why Britain sent this fleet to visit Japan, just to split Japan.

"Order them to drop anchor!"

While hoisting the "anchor down" signal flag on the "Odissa", they also fired two blank shots as a warning.

“What is going on!”

Nozu Michitsugu was shocked when he learned the news from the British captain of the "Nishiyama Maru", Gordy.

"How dare they order us to stop?"

"They are the Royal Navy!"

Not daring to disobey, Gordi immediately stopped the ship and dropped anchor.

"Baga, what are the British going to do?"

Junzo Matsumura, a lieutenant commander who had just graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis two years ago, stared at the approaching British fleet in amazement.

"What right do they have to order us to stop driving?"

What power do they have? They are the British Royal Navy!

The six Chinese warships sailed to a point 400 meters away from the Japanese fleet led by the Tsukuba and stopped. All the cannons on the six warships were exposed, and the starboard guns were aimed at the belly of the Japanese ships.

At this time they sent out a second signal:

"Stay where you are! Otherwise, you will bear all the consequences."

Faced with such a threat, the army and navy officers and soldiers on the Japanese ships all felt unprecedented shame and anger.

"Damn it, we are Japanese, who have the right to order us around!"

"And it's in Japan's territorial waters!"

At this time, the Japanese army and navy officers and soldiers on the ship were all extremely angry. Suddenly, there was a commotion on every ship. They even took out their rifles and aimed them at the British warships, as if they were ready to fight the British to the death at any time. At the same time, the officers angrily protested to the British captain.

"This is Japan's territorial waters. The British have no right to order us. Yours, set sail immediately."

Nozu Michitsu spoke to Captain Gordy in halting English.

At this time, the Odysseus sent out a third signal:

"All ships raise anchor and follow my fleet to Osaka!"

When they heard that they were going to Osaka, Nozu Michitsugu and the others were all dumbfounded. They were being treated as prisoners of war!

"Disregarding international public law, barbarically blocking Japanese ships from sailing in Japanese territorial waters..."

In response to the Japanese protests, Major General Redel sneered.

"Raise the red flag, and if they refuse to obey orders, attack!"

What is barbarity? What is brutality? This is brutality. Facing the red flag raised by the British, which represents attack, the officers and soldiers of the Japanese fleet were all dumbfounded.

Perhaps it was because he was so angry that he faced the domineering British devils. Tengda Haruichiro, who was already full of hostility towards these Western devils, simply picked up his rifle and pulled the trigger at the British warship.

Gunshot!

When the roar sounded on the sea, everyone was stunned. Not only the other Japanese soldiers on the ship, but even the British were frightened.

Are these Japanese monkeys so bold as to be brave?

They actually dared to fire at the warships of the British Empire...guns are also fire!

These Japanese monkeys actually fired the first shot, they are really...cooperative!

"Baga, who fired the gun?"

It was too late to find out who fired the gun now. Everything changed the moment the gunshot rang out.

"The Japanese opened fire on us."

Major General Redel said directly.

"Well, now, gentlemen, let these Japanese monkeys feel the wrath of the Royal Navy."

(End of this chapter)