Wild North America 1846

Chapter 362 Expedition Third Squadron

The British sent a total of 5 officers on the iron-clad destroyer "Spring Moon", a Royal Navy Commodore Phillips, a Colonel Henry Hughes, a Major Campbell and two captains. Aristocratic background, the most inferior is the status of a noble bastard.

The aristocratic concubine mentioned here is only to distinguish the eldest son who has the right to inherit the noble title, who is also the son of the noble wife of the royal family, and is the second, third or fourth male heir of the family, not a child born to a lover or concubine. Those are two concepts.

The British aristocracy has followed the "primogeniture system" since the Middle Ages. Other sons can only find other jobs, and there is very little property that can be inherited from the family.

The British Royal Navy is a place where the nobles gather together. Even His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, is gilded here, and he is proud of his service experience in the Royal Navy. The status of the Royal Navy is evident.

The steam ironclad warships combined with the subversive technological advantages of the new breech-loading artillery displayed by the Royal Navy of the Tang Dynasty in the North American war attracted great attention from the British Royal Navy, so this very high-level military observation team was sent to accompany the ship , It can be described as well-intentioned.

"I hope so, my dear Mr. General." Brigadier General Phillips shrugged his shoulders and leaned his body on the console, which could relieve the numbness of his feet after standing for a long time.

Since sailing early in the morning

He has been standing here for more than 4 hours, and there is still an hour before lunch, but his stomach is already unbearably hungry.

In the steel-clad bridge of a battleship

Only the captain or fleet commander has a command position, which is a free-standing bar-like high chair anchored to the floor.It is located a little later on the left side of the helmsman. Sitting in the command position has a higher view than standing, and can have a very clear overview of the overall situation.

Now this command position belongs to Rear Admiral Mo Chengcai, the commander of the Third Squadron and the captain of the "Chunyue". Major General Mo Chengcai did not sit in the command position, but stood upright. It is also from early morning to now that there are four It has been many hours, and despite the wind and waves, my feet are like nails, and I don't move.

From the bottom of his heart, Brigadier General Phillips admired Major General Mo Chengcai's excellent military qualities, as well as his excellent command and combat ability.When the two were communicating, he restrained the arrogance and conceit that the Royal Navy has always had, and had a rare dialogue with an equal attitude, which is really extremely rare.

It would be impossible to keep a senior officer in the Royal Navy of the British Empire from exuding superior arrogance.

The Frenchman is the European naval fleet that cooperates most with the British Royal Navy. During the Crimean War, during the Second Opium War that invaded China, and in various crises that intervened in the situation in South Asia and the Near East, the combined British and French fleet Can be seen from time to time.

Even so
The arrogance of the British Royal Navy still made the French Marshal Duke Berthier's nose smoke, and he couldn't help but cursed; "I swear, I will never work with that piece of shit on the other side of the strait again, in the name of God For the sake of it, I really want to lose 10 years of life."

Commodore Phillips was able to communicate with an equal attitude only because the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Tang had won respect with its strength. In the field of steam ironclad warships, unlike the British Royal Navy who was groping in the dark, they were already on the right path.

Major General Mo Chengcai carefully observed the sea surface with the copper binoculars in his hand. There were a lot of sails off the coast of Virginia, and there were many cargo ships on the sea surface. This is an important route for transporting cotton from the south to Europe. There are more than a dozen ships or even more every day. Cotton ships pass here.

Coupled with some other coastal trading ships and the transoceanic cargo ships of the Tang Kingdom, this golden sea area is very lively.

There is a fixed lookout post on the top of the mast of the armored destroyer "Spring Moon". Those who can serve as lookout posts are very experienced sergeants, and they require sharp eyes, which are far beyond ordinary people.

Their daily meal standard is the same as that of the deputy captain. They eat meat offal and fish three times a day, and they also have a special supply of cod liver oil to keep their eyes sharp in dim light or at night, and to be the first to spot the enemy. "Hawkeye".

The navigator and combat staff officer on the warship both had the duty to search for the enemy, but it was only a supplement to the lookout post. Originally, Major General Mo Chengcai was not required to go into battle in person, but he did so anyway, showing a meticulous and responsible attitude.

"Excuse me if it's convenient, Mr. General, the atmosphere on your bridge is really dull, I think we can have some light talk." After holding back for a long time, Commodore Phillips still spoke.

Under the condition of hunger, both feet were numb, and he felt more and more that every minute in this silent bridge was suffering, and the time was so long that he could hardly see the edge.

"What do you want to talk about?" Major General Mo Chengcai put down the binoculars in his hand and looked over.

Commodore Phillips immediately jumped up with joy. Although he had served in the Royal Navy for many years, the lazy arrogance of aristocratic children was everywhere in his bones. He thought for a moment and said;

"Anything is fine. You can talk about the current situation in British Canada. Prime Minister Temple has pushed the "British North America Act" through Parliament, trying to merge the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia into a federation. Becoming a self-governing dominion under the British and seeking to let other provinces join in, does the Tang Kingdom have no opinion on this? And the general’s own tendency?”

"Well...I don't want to comment on the affairs of the British, but in Quebec, where there are a lot of Frenchmen, I'm afraid the opposition is very strong, right?"

"That's right, General, at least in the next 5-10 years, I don't think Quebec will join the Canadian Confederation. In fact, no one in the British upper class cares about Quebec. Those French guys have nothing but perfume and women. Perhaps their Lover culture is interesting, what do you think?"

"Please forgive me, in Eastern culture, a lover is a heresy that is immoral and has been unanimously criticized by social customs. Any officials and nobles in the Tang Empire who are contaminated with a lover will be ruined, so I cannot agree with your opinion." Major General Mo Chengcai replied straightforwardly.

His words suffocated the lively atmosphere just now. Brigadier General Phillips looked at him with barbara eyes, and couldn't believe that the topic would die so quickly.

So, with a forced dry cough, he said: "Ahem, the differences between Eastern and Western cultures are indeed impressive, which reflects the importance of continuing to deepen mutual understanding. But before we move on to a new interesting topic, can we How about a cup of hot coffee? It would be even better with a light snack."

"No problem, Mister Star Officer, please make a trip." Major General Mo Chengcai agreed straightforwardly, and gave orders immediately.

The lieutenant star officer immediately put his legs together, gave a military salute with a "snap", and repeated the order and replied; "Yes, sir, a cup of hot coffee and a small snack."

"Yes, that's right."

"Please wait a moment, I'll be here soon."

not for a while
The lieutenant officer came in with a tray, which was padded with white cotton cloth. On it were two coffee cups and a pot of coffee, as well as a small plate of fried buns stuffed with scallion oil and meat, and a small plate of biscuits.

The two cups of coffee are naturally the commander and the most honorable Brigadier General Phillips. As for Colonel Henry Hughes and Major Campbell standing behind, I can only say sorry.

This is, after all, the bridge of a battleship, not a café.

"God bless, I love these little mince buns, now I find that the Royal Navy of the British Empire can borrow more from their counterparts, such as cooks..."

Talking room

Commodore Phillips had already eaten two fried buns stuffed with scallion oil and meat. He couldn't help but lick the oil stains on his fingertips. It was so delicious!
This action made Colonel Henry Hughes standing behind couldn't help but twitched his eyelids, and silently turned his gaze to Major Campbell, his lips moved slightly.

It should mean; please be a human being, Your Excellency the General!
If you are an officer, you can eat as long as you want, and you still insist on talking in front of us, is this really appropriate?

What impresses the British the most is the delicacy and variety of Chinese food. The British really don’t understand why Chinese food requires so many seasonings, and there are different cooking methods. The same ingredients can present different delicacies. Amazing.

Now there is a trend among the upper class in London, which is to hire an extra Chinese cook, who can cook General Tso’s chicken for the guests during the annual fox hunting event in autumn, plus a dim sum spring roll, and fried rice. That's even better, sure to win the house.

The rapid rise of the Tang Kingdom in North America also brought Chinese, Chinese medicine and Chinese food culture into the European and American world earlier, forming a very strong radiation influence.

Major General Mo Chengcai raised his coffee cup to signal; "May the friendship between the Tang Empire and the British Empire last forever, long live!"

"OK, it's worth taking a big sip." Brigadier General Phillips raised his coffee cup and took a big sip, sipped the taste and then nodded; "Well, authentic Colombian premium coffee, just brewed I wouldn't pay a penny for such a waiter who was a little undercooked and didn't fully bring out the rich and deep taste of the coffee itself."

The British guy was really venomous, and inadvertently hurt the innocent lieutenant star officer next to him.The young man could only pretend that he didn't hear it, and concentrated on watching the busy sea ahead, but his face stiffened.

Rear Admiral Mo Chengcai looked at him dumbfounded. He was full of MMBs in his heart, but he still kept a social smile on his face and said, "Not everyone is qualified to use a naval lieutenant as an attendant. Frankly speaking, I think coffee Well brewed, we can enjoy it as a battle coffee."

"No, no, no... Your Excellency, don't lower the standards of nobles at any time. This is my advice to you." Brigadier General Phillips replied in a very beating tone, and then pointed to fry Baozi said; "If you don't mind, then I will continue to start."

There were only five buns in this small plate, Brigadier General Phillips killed two as soon as he came up, and there were three left, so he was polite out of basic courtesy.

"Please, Mr. General, here are the snacks prepared for you." Major General Mo Chengcai replied politely, not planning to touch these snacks at all.

"Great, then I won't be polite." Brigadier General Phillips immediately started directly...

Colonel Henry Hughes standing behind couldn't bear to look directly at him. Not only was there a bunch of MMB in his heart, but also countless grass and mud horses flew over his head. He really couldn't bear it!

The tempting aroma of the pan-fried meat stuffed buns made him swallow several times, and the seducer's stomach became more and more hungry. He felt that such a boss was simply not human, so why not shout?

Suddenly, the alarm bells sounded
The lookout post on the top of the mast reported through the brass horn; "Report to the commander; a three-masted galleon was spotted 40 degrees to the right front of our ship, suspected to be an armored battleship of the US Northern Federation Navy, heading northeast, a distance of 36 chains, Whether to pursue, please instruct."

"Battle alert, right rudder 40 degrees to pursue." Major General Mo Chengcai immediately issued a battle order decisively.

"As ordered, battle alert, right rudder 40 degrees pursuit."

After the lieutenant stellar officer repeated the order aloud, he immediately rang the copper bell hastily.

The battle alarm issued by the copper bell spread throughout the ship, and the officers and soldiers of the ship who were resting in the cabin immediately rushed out of the cabin and rushed to their battle positions, and the atmosphere of the whole ship became tense in an instant.

"Raise the battle flag."

"As ordered, raise the battle flag"

"The boiler room is boosted, and the whole ship pursues at a speed of 13 knots."

"As ordered, the boiler room is boosted, and the whole ship pursues at a speed of 13 knots."

"Report the preparation status of each gun position?"

"Report sir, the No. 1 main gun on the bow is fine."

"Report sir, the No. 2 main gun on the bow is fine."

"Report sir, the No. 3 main gun on the stern is fine."

"Report sir, the No. 4 main gun at the stern is fine."

"Report sir, the secondary gun on the port side is fine."

"Report sir, the starboard side secondary gun is good."

"Report sir, the pressure of boilers No. 1~6 in the boiler room continues to increase, and the current speed is 9.5 knots. It is expected to reach a pursuit speed of 20 knots in 13 minutes. The report is over."

A series of reports from each battle station were crisp and neat, showing a very high quality of combat training. In just seven or eight minutes, the whole ship quickly entered a first-level combat readiness state.

Thick black smoke rose from the two tall and thick chimneys of the "Spring Moon" armored destroyer, one in front and one in the back, and drew a clear turning track on the sea, chasing towards the northeast.

The two iron-clad destroyers "Ice" and "Hanye" following behind immediately noticed the change. The battle flag raised by the flagship had already explained everything. The battle siren was sounded, followed by billowing smoke from the chimney.

Having participated in the war for more than a year, this expeditionary third squadron has experienced more than a dozen naval battles, large and small, and performed hundreds of military patrol missions. It has already tempered its keen fighting instincts. The small fleet composed of three steam ironclad ships Commodore Phillips was impressed by the way he adjusted his course as if he were one.

To put it bluntly, the navy is a ship with hundreds of people playing. The shortest version affects the upper limit of the combat level of the entire ship.

This includes the navigation department, the engine department, the observation department, the combat artillery positions and the commander's command ability. The shortcomings of any department will affect the combat effectiveness of the entire ship.

Commodore Phillips saw and remembered the high-quality combat capabilities displayed by the expeditionary fleet of the Tang Empire. In the end, he would form a detailed report and submit it to the British Royal Navy Headquarters for evaluation.

This is not only to evaluate the overall combat capability of the Datang Kingdom fleet, but also to evaluate the development route and potential of its steam ironclad warships, the power of artillery and armor-piercing capabilities, the opponent's naval combat capabilities, and whether it is suitable for the British Royal Navy in the remaining 19th century. The development route in the next nearly 40 years?
In this regard, the British Royal Navy has a profound heritage.

They have never been stingy about learning from the advanced navies of the world. In the era of sailing warships, the British Royal Navy learned from the advantages of Spanish sailing ships and Dutch sailing ships, and achieved glory across the world's oceans.

Today, this excellent tradition has been inherited and has already formed a practice.

(End of this chapter)