In the waters behind the Second Federal Fleet.
"Full sails! Full speed ahead!"
"After closing the distance, lengthen the battle line and line up in a single file. Even if they ram us, block them in front! Don't let any enemy ship escape!"
The Rose Fleet, which had been following closely, made a new tactical arrangement at this time. Lucat, with a cold expression, calmly issued the order: after missing the Second Fleet a few days ago, they did not return home, but soon changed direction and slowly followed behind the Second Fleet.
Now, the Second Fleet has fallen into the trap. All the Rose Fleet has to do is block their escape route and leave all the warships of the Second Fleet stranded at sea.
In contrast, the Yan Kingdom fleet emerged from the back of Chalmers Island. During its stay on Chalmers Island, Qin Ze gradually exchanged for more soldiers and then had them begin to renovate Chalmers Island. At the same time, the fleet was anchored in the waters north of Chalmers Island. The Federation's Second Fleet came from the south, so unless they circled around to the north of Chalmers Island, they would definitely not be able to detect the fleet's presence.
Just now, as the soldiers on the island spotted the Second Fleet, the fleet, which was always ready for battle, reacted quickly, swarming out like a pack of hunting wolves.
However, this battle is different from the past. The purpose of this battle is to capture as many warships and weapons as possible brought by the Delta Federation. Therefore, it is necessary to force them to abandon ship and land on the island. Then, the newly formed army on Charme Island will annihilate all the Golts. This will serve as a rehearsal for the future full-scale landing on the Salisno Continent.
At this moment, the ironclad warship, now in combat mode, had already lowered its sails. The power generated by steam was continuously transmitted to the propellers at the bottom of the ship. Under the surface of the sea, undercurrents surged, and the powerful propulsion propelled the massive steel warship swiftly forward!
As a result, billowing white smoke rose from the sea, and the sheer power these steel behemoths displayed stunned the Goths on the other side.
Xia Liyan was no longer calm. He stared at the warships in disbelief, now he understood everything.
The so-called complete collapse of Yan Kingdom's coastal defense now seems to be a complete collapse of the allied forces. Otherwise, how can we explain the presence of Yan Kingdom people here, while the allied forces are nowhere to be seen?
No! That's not right. There were also those Shenglu people, but they... were participants in this ambush!
"Marshal! The fleet following us has accelerated!" At this moment, a private reported in a panic.
Xia Liyang was jolted, his face turning completely pale. Humphrey, standing beside him, looked alarmed and understood what was happening, adding:
"We've all misjudged you, Marshal! The fleet following us is probably from Shenglu! They're cooperating with the Yan Kingdom to ambush us!"
Xia Liyang knew perfectly well, but it was too late to say anything then.
The Yan Kingdom fleet was advancing aggressively ahead. Those strange warships were too fast, and our fleet had no time to turn around and retreat. Even if we retreated under their fire, we would probably be attacked from the rear.
Under these circumstances, Xia Liyang gritted his teeth and said:
"They are well prepared, and we don't have enough battleships. Once we are surrounded, we may be completely wiped out."
"We have no choice but to evacuate!"
"Have the escort ships hold off the Yan Kingdom fleet, and the transport ships charge backwards!"
But plans often change, and Xia Liyang underestimated the speed at which the opposing warships were approaching.
Driven by steam power, the ironclad warships possessed speeds beyond Xia Liyan's comprehension, and similarly, the comprehensively upgraded range of their cannons was something Xia Liyan could not have anticipated at all.
They were still far apart, but suddenly a deafening artillery barrage erupted!
Boom boom boom!
The Yan Army's first naval artillery barrage was aimed at the Second Fleet!
"No way! Are you kidding me! Launching artillery fire at this distance?!" Xia Liyang was horrified, his expression collapsing as if he had been struck by a heavy blow.
In an instant, explosions began to ring out from all around.
With a "whoosh," as if struck by an explosive bomb, Xia Liyang's mind went blank and his whole body stiffened.
"It's an explosion! Marshal! Their shells are exploding!!" Humphrey, standing nearby, looked at their own warship, which had been hit by a shell, with a look of fear on his face.
Although only a dozen or so warships were hit in this round of shelling, the power of these explosive shells has already instilled fear in Humphrey.
One can imagine the terrible casualties that would be suffered by our side after the enemy ships had completed their rangefinding and fired several rounds of shells.
"Marshal!" Humphrey grabbed Xia Liyan's arm and shouted.
Xia Liyan finally came to his senses, while Humphrey shouted in a panic, "Marshal! Most of our fleet consists of transport ships and we don't have the capability for naval warfare!"
"If we keep fighting like this, we're finished!"
Xia Liyan was naturally aware of this problem. The escort ships capable of naval warfare were now lined up in battle formations, while the transport ships were being protected in the rear. If the fighting continued like this, the transport ships would inevitably perish after the escort ships were destroyed.
And behind...
He turned around abruptly to look behind him, and sure enough, just as he had thought, the ambush was a joint operation between the two countries. The enemy ships behind him were stretching out their lines, their clear purpose being to create an encirclement.
"Damn it! These bastards! They actually betrayed us!" Xia Liyang shouted angrily.
Just then, boom boom boom!
In an instant, the second round of shelling began!
Almost instantly, a series of explosions nearly shattered Xia Liyan's eardrums. Compared to the first round of shelling, this time the number of friendly warships hit was significantly greater.
Humphrey roared:
"Marshal! This can't go on!"
"We're not far from Chalmers Island. Have the escort ships charge directly towards the Yan Kingdom fleet ahead to block their fire! Let our main force attempt to land on Chalmers Island!"
"Only after we get to the island can we..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xia Liyang roared:
"fart!"
"Their warships are hidden behind Chalmers Island, and you've also seen some buildings that shouldn't be there!"
"This means that Chalme Island has been occupied by the Yan Kingdom, and the island is full of their people!"
"Our arrival on the island is also a trap they've set for us!"
Humphrey said urgently, "But what can we do?"
"Can our transport ships fight them at sea?! By ramming them?! That probably wouldn't even result in mutual destruction!"
"Once we get to the island, our army will at least have the strength to fight them, and we might be able to take Chalme Island!"
Hearing this, Xia Liyan was immediately deflated, and at that moment the third round of shelling began.
The deafening explosion made Xia Liyang stagger, but the next moment, he gritted his teeth and roared:
"Beach landing!"
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