The sun never sets in America

Chapter 358 American Conflict

On the vast Atlantic Ocean, the four cruisers of Han's fifth patrol formation were conducting daily patrols.

As the earliest batch of steam armored cruisers, this class is also called the Constellation class, mainly codenamed after the ancient Chinese constellations.

The Constellation class only has a weight of 1,500 tons. In today's era where weights of more than 2,000 tons are common, it is no longer that impressive.

Although it is still a relatively advanced cruiser from a global perspective, it is even still stuck at the top of the second echelon of cruisers.

However, in the Americas, where the pressure of competition is extremely high, this kind of warship has actually fallen behind. Although some cabinet ministers suggested that it should be "stronger with age", in the future territory of the Han Navy, this kind of warship only has 1,500 tons. The battleship actually has no possibility of survival.

In the future shipbuilding program of the Han Navy, it is clearly mentioned that the construction of a 3,000-ton fast cruiser will be built to safeguard more and more overseas interests.

Of course, having new ships does not mean that old ships will be abandoned. In fact, the Han Navy has always hoped to upgrade the old Constellation class to cope with this increasingly complex world.

On the Taibai Star, as the captain, He Yongwen is doing what he has to do every day, maintaining the Atlantic Ocean Channel and performing routine patrols.

"Turn right..."

"Turn right..."

In fact, he didn't know that the main reason why the Han navy on the opposite side was able to achieve such uniform command was because of wireless telegraphy.

Today was his first time commanding a fleet patrol. He Yongwen took it very seriously and even got up very early, just to maintain the best condition.

One group believes that the U.S. Navy is very powerful and should be treated with caution so as not to capsize in the gutter.

Just when He Yongwen was busy with matters related to Rose Island and was about to leave, the Beidou Star on patrol outside sent a series of messages about the U.S. Navy.

The Han cruise fleet opposite had only four ships, but it gave him the feeling that the main fleet of Han was approaching the city.

"See if they improve."

Therefore, everyone has a feeling that they are not surprised by U.S. warships.

…………

As He Yongwen himself said:

"From a command point of view, the U.S. Navy opposite is like primitive people. They still use the old-fashioned mast flag to convey messages. However, our navy has achieved a comprehensive lead in information technology. This will bring great benefits to the entire Han Navy. Incredibly huge advantages.”

On the Soldier Tom, Lieutenant Colonel Salem acted very calmly and did not even show the slightest surprise after learning that there was a Han naval ship ahead.

Salem's heart was constantly undergoing intense exercise, just like a fierce football match. Just in the first half, he was sweating and exhausted.

It can even be said to be very suitable! !

After all, a cruise fleet of the Han Dynasty has this level. The strength of the main fleet can be imagined how terrifying it will be. I am afraid that even the British may not be as smooth as them in command, right? ?

He Yongwen sent a telegram to Rose Island as usual, and the reply was also very formulaic, trivial information such as "whether the supplies are sufficient" and "what are the needs on the island".

On the sea, when two American warships flying the Stars and Stripes flag and four Chinese warships flying the Blue Dragon flag, they looked like ordinary people greeting each other, and they came into face-to-face contact.

After all, there are so many staff officers in the large fleet, and the messengers can adjust the combat plan and even the movement trajectory at any time.

The entire Rose Island is only more than thirty square kilometers in size, but it is Han's only territory in the Atlantic Ocean.

As the first cruise fleet to install wireless telegraphy, the Fifth Cruiser Fleet, with the blessing of wireless telegraphy, has a larger and faster command method and command speed than in the flag era.

But it is obvious that as the Han Dynasty's navy entered a period of replacement, the old navy in the early days were increasingly unable to keep up with the times, and it was almost inevitable that they would be eliminated by the younger ones.

In this way, the unkillable Tom has become a national hero in the United States, and even the latest stamp is named after him.

Looking at the four small Han fleets opposite, which had a unified command and no loopholes, Salem's eyes flashed with a hint of gloom.

Although this feeling was not as strong as expected, it still caused Salem's heart to surge violently like a huge wave.

The Hawker cruiser, as the first ship of the Hawke class, is only six years old. It is still a backbone in the traditional sense. However, due to the large-scale progress in the world's naval shipbuilding technology, early American cruisers like this , in fact, it has become increasingly out of step with the times.

Following He Yongwen's order, the four cruisers formed a patrol formation and headed southwest, intending to have a real contact with their American friends.

Of course, it is still very qualified to be used as a simple patrol ship.

Judging from the current situation, he is doing pretty well, at least there are no major problems.

A hint of contempt flashed at the corner of He Yongwen's mouth. Regarding the US Navy, the Han Navy basically had two factions.

The other faction is actually the young faction like He Yongwen. Although they also attach great importance to the U.S. Navy, they obviously do not attach as much importance to it as the veteran faction, and even have "contempt and ridicule"! !

This Rose Island was fought for when the Atlantic Treaty was signed, but it is too small. There are only a few stilt houses and a small lighthouse on it. The total garrison is only two squads with about 20 people. Normally, The job is to patrol and farm. Card B

Even the lighthouse was insisted on being built by the navy. The euphemistic claim was that it could be seen clearly at night, but in fact it was to show its attitude to the surrounding Britain and the United States. Rose Island was the sacred territory of the Han Dynasty. Although it was small, it could not be infringed.

He Yongwen is regarded as the acting commander of this cruise fleet. The reason why he is the acting commander is because the real cruise commander is ill and hospitalized. As his deputy, He Yongwen naturally has the opportunity to take his place.

He Yongwen is not surprised at all by the appearance of the US Navy. After all, according to the rules of daily patrols, the probability of their cruise ships encountering US warships is basically above 50%, or even more.

As a veteran navy who has served for more than ten years, he must understand that commanding such a small fleet is not that easy.

Next to the Hawk is Soldier Tom, and the name has a lot of origin. He was an American combat hero in the Han-American War. He stood alone for more than forty-eight hours. Even the Han military was impressed by his courage. He was so moved that after the war, his remains were retrieved from the artillery fire and returned to the United States.

Four Han naval cruisers flying the blue dragon flag are sailing around an island in the Atlantic Ocean. This small island is the "Rose Island", the symbol of Han Dynasty in the Atlantic Ocean.

He Yongwen stood up in the captain's room, looked at Rose Island on the left, and said in a frivolous tone:

After all, it is nothing new for the navies of China and the United States to meet in the Atlantic Ocean. Everyone has developed a set of tacit rules and regulations.

"Let's go meet our American counterparts!!"

It can be said that this is a battleship that represents the spirit of the United States. Although it is a cruiser, its status in the US military is no different than that of a battleship, or even more so.

But it is almost impossible for such a small fleet to enjoy such treatment.

Of course, these words were said later. At this moment, He Yongwen was struggling fiercely in his heart. He knew that if he did it, it would probably intensify the conflict between the two countries, and he would probably become a sinner.

Although these young men were also accused by the elders of being "arrogant" and "ignoring the heights of the sky".

Fleet Adjutant Hu Bin seemed to see He Yongwen's thoughts and took the initiative to ask:

"Commander He, what are your plans? If you imitate the French and build an American ship, you will be remembered forever?"

Listening to Hu Bin's teasing, He Yongwen said helplessly: "I just planned to sink the American ship on the opposite side here. After all, it is still some distance from the American home port. Even if we do it, they don't know. Even if they know, What evidence is there to say that we did it? After all, the US military does not have wireless telegraphy."

When He Yongwen talked about wireless telegraphy, he became energetic. If you ask how the Han Navy can widen the gap with the U.S. Navy.

It's not a Qin-class battleship or a so-called 350mm gun, but a telegraph. This can be clearly seen from the command just now.

"I understand what you mean, Commander He. You want to do something big, but you don't want to make things big."

When He Yongwen heard this, his rather thick skin suddenly turned red.

Hu Bin then said:

"Since I don't want to make a big fuss, and I also want to be famous in the navy and army, I have a way, but I don't know Commander He, do you dare to use it??"

"Junsheng, tell me quickly!!"

He Yongwen directly called out Hu Bin's first name, which shows how much his heart was fluctuating.

"Surround and chase!!"

Hu Bin's three short words made He Yongwen's eyes light up, and then he heard:

"According to the Atlantic Treaty, each fleet patrolling the high seas must be proportioned. The two ships in front of us are probably part of the US patrol fleet, but judging from the scene just now, they should be specifically responsible for this part. As long as our military does not It's okay to have fun with other American warships!!" The word "play" appeared in He Yongwen's mind, and he had an idea in an instant.

After looking at Hu Bin, He Yongwen then ordered: "Notify the other three warships to deploy in a battle formation to surround the US warship."

At the end, he added:

"Surround but don't fight. This time we will make the Americans lose face!"

Hu Bin looked at the high-spirited He Yongwen and wanted to say something, but in the end he endured it. He understood that at this time, He Yongwen could no longer persuade him.

Salem was observing the movements of the Han warships on the opposite side. Seeing that they were quite disciplined, the huge stone in his heart suddenly relaxed.

After all, at this time, he was really afraid that the Han people would play the French trick of "my ship is ordered to ram into yours". If this happened, he, Salem, would become an American celebrity.

Just when Salem thought the matter was about to end, the Han warships on the opposite side suddenly changed their appearance and surrounded the two warships from the left and right sides. Before they could react, the muzzles of the warships turned around and dozens of warships were fired. The cannon was also aimed at them.

"Fake, are these Han people crazy? Do they want to go to war with the United States?"

"Fake!!"

On the Soldier Tom, Salem used English curses over and over again, almost all of which started with F.

"Fake, quickly, turn the artillery!!"

"Click, click!!"

As the earliest batch of American ironclads, the Soldier Tom and the Hawke obviously did not install rotating turrets. They could only use the ancient method of moving the artillery. Not to mention the slow speed, if it was a real war, they might have suffered no less than five rounds. Artillery.

"Fake, damn Han dog!!"

The frightened Salem was swearing. At this time, he had completely lost his composure and became extremely sensitive. It seemed that as long as the Han navy made any move next, he would think that the two countries were at war.

But what surprised him was that the Han warship on the opposite side did not make any other moves after encircling them. Instead, it kept accelerating the encirclement, as if urging them to move forward.

Salem was extremely panicked and couldn't understand the meaning. He wanted to "go home" now and hide in New York Harbor. He swore that he never wanted to see these Han bastards again.

"Quick, speed up!!"

"The target is New York, we have to go back quickly!!"

Although he didn't know the specific meaning of the Han people, Salem thought it was the best outcome to not attack them now.

Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean, a strange scene occurred.

The four Han warships, like companions, constantly accompanied the two American cruisers in the middle, without stopping for a moment, and they cooperated closely along the way, which made Salem panic.

If the command just now was still a small test, then after such a long period of companionship, any fool would know that the Han people must have mastered a communication technology that the Americans did not know, otherwise they would not have been able to cooperate so closely.

After casually glancing at the mast of the Han warship, Salem quickly forgot about it and just urged again and again:

"Quick, quick..."

"Tell everyone, we will be safe when we return to New York!!"

The two American cruisers were like panicked deer, just running with their heads down, with only one idea in their minds: getting rid of the hungry Han wolves around them.

On the sea, the fleet combination like a sandwich kept approaching New York Harbor.

In New York Harbor, everyone was a little lazy because of their vacation, and there were people everywhere on the beach.

"Dad, look, our big ship!!"

On the beach, children who were playing in the sand jumped up and down with excitement when they saw the soldiers Tom and Hawk who fled in panic.

"Yeah, this is our navy."

Old Taylor hugged little Taylor with a smile on his face, looking at the two panicked warships as if they were doing some kind of drill.

As everyone knows, in the sea off New York, more than a dozen American warships are searching for the four Chinese cruisers that have embarrassed the US Navy.

.............................................

"Fake, this is what your navy told me. The Han people are trying to drive you away from dogs, and they are driving you into New York. Now you tell me that they can't be found..."

“You have thrown America’s face into it!!”

Secretary of the Navy Boris wiped the saliva that Lincoln sprayed on his face and said with a look of shame:

"I'm sorry, Mr. President, this time it was our navy's mistake. I shouldn't have allowed two warships to patrol together. It should have been four, or even five..."

"Faq, is this a matter of the number of warships? This is a matter of dignity!!"

"Look at the French, what they did in the face of the British threat, they resisted like warriors, while you guys ran away like children..."

At this time, Lincoln was like a rooster with "exploded feathers", and his whole person was full of anger.

He had thought about the conflict between China and the United States, and even how it would conflict, but he never thought that the contact would be in such an almost "humiliating" way, which could be said to be a huge blow to Lincoln.

So much so that at this moment he even wants to start a war! !

Boris swallowed the saliva in his throat and answered tremblingly:

"Mr. President, we will definitely punish those involved, and they will be tried by a military court!!"

"Our navy will give an explanation to all Americans..."

Listening to Boris's words, Lincoln said sarcastically: "How can I tell all Americans that our navy has just been driven back to New York by the Han Navy like prey in the Atlantic Ocean??"

"Or do you think this is not a shame?"

"Or, do you resign, or do I resign??"

Lincoln's words were like a sharp sword, piercing Boris's heart, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

He understood that this matter was impossible and not allowed to be announced. Once it was announced, the wave of opposition in the United States would be enough to make him and Lincoln drink a few bottles.

Lincoln softened for a moment and then said:

"The current situation in Europe is very abnormal. The news I just received is that the Russian army violated the treaty and once again appeared in the Black Sea on a large scale. After France launched the Napoleon, it refused to deal with the British..."

"The British guys have too much to take care of themselves now. We must stay calm at this time. Even if we have to start a war with those damn Han guys, we have to do it as late as possible..."

“Damn, America’s time is running out!!”

Lincoln talked about the situation in Europe, and the more he talked, the more he felt that war might not be far away. Ever since the Napoleon was launched, he had barely slept for a few days. Lincoln knew very well that once there was a war in Europe, the British would be held back. More than 80% of the Han people will go to war with them.

That's why he said "time is running out." Although he had full confidence in the reborn American navy and army, it was the Han army that could win the war with Russia and had such war advantages that the American army could not match.

No matter how you look at it, prolonging the war for one more day will be the best way to accumulate U.S. strength.

On the contrary, the sooner the war breaks out, the greater the pressure will be on the United States.

Thinking of this, Lincoln made a decision that he considered very humiliating:

"This matter must be sealed. We cannot intensify conflicts on our own and eventually ignite a war!!"

"Even if there is a war, we have to wait for at least one year, at least one year!!"

Lincoln ultimately pinned his hopes on the reserves.

(End of this chapter)