Time goes back to December 7, 1914.

In the East China Sea, about a hundred nautical miles east of Zhoushan, a fleet carrying the rising sun flag was forming a search formation, running back and forth on the sea, searching for something unknown.

"Is there no news yet?" Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, Goro Ijuin, was on the battleship Kongo, looking at the time anxiously.

"Report, no trace of the enemy has been found yet!" Captain Shouzang Shuzo, the captain, lowered his head and did not dare to say anything.

Ijuin Goro is a relatively gentle fleet commander. Of course, this gentleness is compared to the Japanese who frequently punch and kick their subordinates.

However, the intense search for many days had almost exhausted Ijuin Goro's patience. The fleet staff had just been slapped twice, so Matsuoka Shuzo was cautious.

"Has the radio received the message?" Ijuin Goro held the telescope himself and looked at the place where the sea and the sky meet.

"The report from the Military Command is normal. There are no warships docking at the ports in southeastern China." The fleet staff officer said softly.

"Then where can they go? It has been forty-eight hours since they disappeared from the Penghu Islands. According to the speed of the Chinese, they should have arrived long ago."

"We have been waiting here for five days. In the past two days, the fleet has dispersed in a search formation, greatly increasing the possibility of exposure."

"Even if we continue to shell Chinese fishing boats, we can no longer hide."

Ijuin Goro was a little crazy. As the commander of the combined fleet, he carried out simple tasks with full confidence.

It was obviously a very simple war with a very different combat power, but now it seems to be failing.

If you fail, you must find someone to hold you accountable. His position as commander of the combined fleet is just right.

"Hoshino is sending a signal!" On the mast, a sweaty soldier shouted.

"Reply!" Goro Ijuin immediately picked up the telescope.

About ten nautical miles southeast of the King Kong, a ship was transmitting signals with flashes of light.

"After this battle, all warships must be equipped with radios." Ijuin Goro looked at it and put down the telescope.

Only light can be seen from this distance, but it is 12 o'clock at noon and the sun is shining brightly, so it would be good to see light.

"Report, Hoshino sent out a signal and encountered an enemy!" It was still the sweaty soldier on the mast.

"Yoshi! Order, the fleet is concentrated in the direction of Hoshino." Ijuin Goro shouted loudly.

"Your Excellency, Commander, why don't you assemble your team first?" Shougang Shuzo asked with a surprised look on his face.

"No need! The enemy doesn't know where they are. Just form a team on the way." Ijuin Goro waved his hand.

The main force comparison is four to two. In terms of single ship performance, they have two warships equipped with 343mm cannons, which is a great advantage.

Even if he gives up a little lineup advantage, Ijuin Goro is confident of winning.

The only thing that worries him is that the enemy will escape. After all, the enemies are all new ships, and the ships in his hand are of varying degrees of newness. It is really difficult to escape with all his heart.

"Hai!" Songgang Xiuzang held it in for a long time, then lowered his head and agreed.

"Left full rudder!" Songgang Xiuzang ordered.

"Full left rudder!" the helmsman repeated, turning the steering wheel.

The Kongo drew a large circle and rushed towards the cruiser Hoshino.

The other warships also turned around one after another, and the scattered formation slowly became concentrated in the process, but it seemed a bit disorganized.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, the fleet successfully rendezvoused with the cruiser Hoshino.

Battleships have taller masts and can see farther, so they can detect and strike first.

This is also the reason why a lot of illegal buildings were built in Japan later.

"Discovered a fleet, bearing, 067, too far away to determine the identity of the target!" The observer observed with a high-magnification telescope.

But the distance was too far to see the signs on the ship clearly.

"Yo Xi! The fleet turned fifteen degrees to the right and accelerated to sixteen knots. During the acceleration process, the fleet formed a battle formation."

"The battleships are separated by four chains and arranged in a battle line."

Ijuin Goro gave the order excitedly.

Under normal circumstances, there would be no fleets from other countries in this sea area, so Ijuin Goro directly ordered the pursuit in a battle formation.

He guessed correctly, the fleet pursuing the direction was the Chinese Return Fleet, and the commander of the fleet was his senior, Master Deng.

That's right, Mr. Deng was sent out to pick up the ship again. He was not originally planned to come. Who knew the Japanese would take action.

Therefore, Master Deng, who was fishing and relaxing in Lushunkou and had withdrawn from the front line, was put into an airship and sent to Nanhua to serve as the commander of the fleet.

…

Regarding the Chinese fleet.

Long before Ijuin Goro discovered the Chinese fleet, the Chinese fleet discovered the Japanese fleet.

There is no way, the coal-fired boilers or oil-coal mixed-fired boilers used by the Japanese produce thick smoke when burning.

One ship was inconspicuous, so the Chinese fleet did not detect the Hoshino, but the smoke column of a fleet could not be hidden by the Tibetan capital.

"Report, Japanese pirate fleet discovered!"

"The Kongo-class Kongo and Hiei, the Kawachi-class Kawachi, and the Aki-class Aki, four battleships have been confirmed."

"Cruisers Shimakaze, Hoshino... have been confirmed."

"Destroyer..."

While Japan was still approaching, the Chinese navy had already identified the target based on the shape of the ship.

It's not that the Chinese navy is more advanced or better trained, but that several reconnaissance airships have flown over the Japanese several times in the past forty-eight hours.

In order to hide themselves, the airship often squatted behind the clouds and stared at the Japanese naval ships.

After comparing it with the information obtained by intelligence personnel, the Japanese warships were finally confirmed.

"The Japanese pirates have turned, but this formation..." Sa Dingming, captain of the battleship Pinghai, stammered.

"Are the Japanese pirates trying to get in, but they didn't form a team in advance? Are they really treating Deng as a soft persimmon?" Mr. Deng has turned gray on his temples, but his words are still full of energy.

"Command the fleet to turn one compass point to the right...the speed is twelve knots. The fleet moves in unison and maintains the formation. Don't fall behind. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed!"

Lord Deng observed the speed of the Japanese and then looked at the chart.

The two sides were separated by more than ten nautical miles and began to make adjustments.

At 1:30 in the afternoon, Goro Ijuin noticed something was wrong.

The speed of this fleet (which has not yet been identified) is slower than expected. If this continues, the two sides will be staggered.

But this is a critical moment for the entire team, and blind adjustments may cause chaos.

It was not until 1:45, when the distance between the two sides increased to 12.5 nautical miles, which was farther than originally, that the Japanese fleet adjusted its formation.

"The Chinese are cunning and cunning. The fleet will turn thirty degrees to the right, heading 193, and the speed will remain unchanged."

"The boiler warehouse is pressurized and prepared for forced pressure ventilation."

Ijuin Goro gritted his teeth, feeling that he had been tricked.

"The fleet turns three compass points to the right, heading 216, and advances three. The destroyer fleet forms a separate formation and staggers away from the main fleet." Lord Deng looked at the chart and ordered.

Ten past two.

"Your Excellency, Commander, the enemy fleet has begun to speed up."

"In addition, the lookout just used the reflection to determine their identity - the fleet that China purchased from Nanhua."

Songgang Xiuzang stepped forward to report.

"Yoshi, since we are sure that we are the enemy, let's get started!" Ijuin Goro nodded happily and smiled.

"Order, cruisers and destroyers move forward to seize the Chinese fleet."

"The entire main fleet is advancing at a speed of twenty knots. The boiler rooms are prepared and ready for strong pressure ventilation at any time."

"Conduct final inspections at each combat position and prepare for battle."

Ijuin Goro issued the order to prepare for battle, and the Japanese fleet moved nervously.

The Japanese cruisers and destroyers quickly increased their speed to more than 25 knots and slowly approached the Chinese fleet.

The four battleships of Japan's main fleet belong to three classes and have different speeds. Among them, the Aki increased its speed to the limit before barely keeping up with the pace.

At 2:45 in the afternoon, the two fast cruisers of the Japanese Empire were only 11 kilometers away from the Chinese naval fleet, and were already within the effective range.

"The attack begins!" Ijuin Goro laughed loudly.

As soon as the cruiser starts bombarding, the Chinese have to consider whether to be passively attacked or to fight back.

Fighting back will affect your speed, and being beaten passively will affect your morale.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The 152mm rapid-fire cannon on the Japanese cruiser began to spray water on the Chinese fleet.

"Sir, do you want to speed up?" Sa Dingming looked at the water columns rising everywhere, feeling a little worried.

"Speed ​​up? No, fight back! Each ship uses its main guns to fight back." Mr. Deng was still staring at the chart and looking at the direction of the fleet.
To be continued...