Section 40 Tactical Research

After receiving the order, Ding Ruchang first sent someone to send the angel into the cabin to rest. Everyone spoke in the war room to discuss the next step of the war. "Have you heard the emperor's will? We are allowed to use our own authority to do so. How to fight this battle and where to fight? Let's express our great views?"

"There is no need to say how to fight, wherever you fight. As long as you encounter the Japanese fleet, no matter where it is, just open fire! If you sink one ship, it is only one ship. Is it necessary to have such trouble to the Japanese fleet?"

Zhang Ying's words caused everyone to chuckled. Although he was rude and unruly, he was very brave in combat. Because of his like a ship leader, the Guanghong he led would be like a mad dog once he fought with the enemy, and his courageous spirit of fearlessness was first-class in the Qing fleet. But these words were bold and bold, and there was no connection with Ding Ruchang's words. Therefore, others ignored him and considered the overall situation of how to kill the most enemies at the lowest cost.

After a moment of crusade, some people suggested leaving the Fenghou Waterway and going south of Kyushu to find the Japanese main fleet to fight to the decisive battle; some people suggested that there was no need to be such trouble, set off from the Fenghou Waterway and head north to Tokyo Bay, directly attacking the enemy's capital, forcing the Japanese fleet to go to war. At that time, on the broad sea, with its own powerful deterrent force, we would not be afraid of being able to wipe out the enemy's main force.

Fang Boqian sat in the corner, his heart was deep. This time, the emperor sent someone to issue an order to scold him in public, and also waived the position of Anshan Lake manager and was transferred to Wansu manager. Although they were nominally responsible for the management, they were transferred from the Huzi-class battleship to the first-class gunboat, which was no matter how you looked at it, and it was not counted. There were rumors in the naval fleet that it was because of his inability to face the enemy that the Xiaguan Battle failed to achieve full results, and almost all the unfavorable responsibility for the war was put on him! This was his own people abroad. If he could not make a great contribution to reverse the situation before returning to the local area, even if the court did not deal with it, I think he would not have any face to meet his classmates from the Naval Academy, right?

"I think," he pondered for a long time and said slowly, "It is better to let the Japanese army take the initiative to fight than to find the enemy to fight. But the destination does not have to be in Tokyo Bay. Because if that is the case, our army will face the most important problems that may arise when raiding from a long distance, and the powerful coastal defense fortifications at Yokosuka Port. At that time, our army will be in trouble and will not be beautiful."

"What do Yi Tang think?"

"I think it's better to list Kobe as a target instead of attacking Tokyo." Fang Boqian said, "The Hanshin area is Japan's most important port base, and there is also the Hanshin Steel Company near Osaka Prefecture. It is the largest strategic base of the Japanese army. If it can be occupied or destroyed by our army, it will have a great intention. According to Fang Mou's opinion, these two places are definitely something that the Japanese cannot afford to lose."

"...When the news of our army's dispatch comes out, Japanese warships will inevitably follow. At that time, whether in the Seto Inland Sea or in the Osaka Bay, our army can occupy the first place in the geographical advantage. The victory can exceed 70%.

Ding Ruchang pondered for a long time, stood up and looked carefully on the chart in the war room, "What if our army headed for Kobe, the enemy ship ignored it, or could not guess our army's intentions at all?"

"Absolutely not!" Fang Boqian said firmly, "The Hanshin area is the fundamental location of Japan, and the Japanese army will never sit idly by. As for not guessing our army's actions, it is a worry that adults are too concerned. As long as our warships orbit Shikoku Island and enter the Kii Waterway, the purpose of this trip will be obvious. How can the Japanese army not save it?"

"What about you? What do you say?" Ding Ruchang turned to ask the others.

"I think, Yido's words make sense, but if I were the commander of the Japanese army, I would never do this." Qiu Baoren, who was both the Naval Academy, retorted. He was the Wanlie leader. After speaking, he smiled bitterly at his classmates and friends. Zhengrong said, "The Japanese fleet was hit by our army outside the sea of ​​Shigaoguan. If we rashly follow our army into the Kii waterway, located in the narrow waters of Osaka Bay, waiting for our army to wait for us. The result of this battle is unknown. So if I was a Japanese chief, I would not have done this trick. Since I could not stop the enemy ships, I would simply give up the Hanshin site and ambush the ships in Shumoto, Mihara and other places on Awaji Island. When our army returns successfully, we will launch an attack and let the old things in Shigaoguan waterway repeat here."

"Yitang, what do you think Biaochen's words?"

"Brother Qiu's words are reasonable, but they can't be slaughtered. The Hanshin area is originally a must-attack for our navy. This conquest can also use this to destroy the Japanese fleet to rescue them. It can be said that they kill two birds with one stone. As for what Lord Qiu said, since we can predict the enemy's opportunity first, we should just use the tricks to defeat Kobe and Osaka first." After that, Fang Boqian added a resentful sentence, "There is no harm in both sides."

"That's it, I just said, why do you want so much? Fuck the little Japanese hard first!" Zhang Ying clapped like thunder, "Little Fang, this little guy, this time he was right, he must do it!"

Ding Ruchang smiled bitterly and looked around. Seeing that no one expressed his objection, he immediately decided, "Okay! Since that's the case, let's prepare according to the words of Guan Guan. Tomorrow morning, our army will raise fire and start fighting."

When everyone returned to their ship, Fang Boqian was completely sleepy and ordered people to take the chart again. He held a magnifying glass and looked at it carefully in the bright light outside the cabin. From the anchorage to Zhoufangtan, exiting the Fenghou waterway, and then the flat Pacific Ocean, circling the southwest of Shikoku Island, is the Kiyi waterway. On the surface, it seems to be unstoppable, but Qiu Baoren's words are not wrong. If there is any problem, where will it be? Will the Japanese really abandon Hanshin and ignore it? If not, what else can they think?

Fang Boqian has been in Weihai Naval Academy for many years. He is always smart and is a first-class student among the same period. However, when it comes to career development, he seems to have suffered the most setbacks. This kind of downfall can only be understood but not expressed in words. On the surface, among the students of the same period, Liu Buchan has the highest rank, and is less than 30 years old, and he is already the leader of the iron-clad ship of the Yuan-class iron-clad ship. But everyone knows that his official position is entirely due to personal gain - Minister of Military Affairs, Shen Baozhen, who is in charge of the navy under the order, is he his uncle. With this relationship, are he still afraid of no way to advance?

In addition to Liu Buchan, he belongs to him, but this is just on the surface. In fact, the most important future is Deng Shichang. As we all know, he is the emperor's beloved general. This time he went to the Jinqing Strait with the Beiyang Navy. It was the angel who sent the order that the naval fleet was attacked, and Deng Shichang, who served as the gun and artillery commander, took the lead in firing artillery. Although he failed to reverse the defeat in the end, it also played a role in stabilizing the morale of the army to a great extent, making the Japanese fleet unable to do its best.

Fang Boqian recalled and thought: In terms of ability, he was not inferior to Deng Zhengqing; in terms of talent, he was even better than him, why could he not do this? On the ship with him, the sailors and soldiers felt at ease? He shook his head randomly, put these thoughts aside, focused on the charts, and thought about how to fight this battle well. There are many difficulties in going to Kobe. Should the Japanese army be ambushed and blocked after the Qing army bombed Hanshen and other places? Can't we take precautions on the way forward?

Thinking of this, Fang Boqian was shocked: If that were the case, the situation would be very bad. All he could think of was only after the war, but the sea route before the war was completely a blank in defense. The so-called fooling me once, the fault lies with you; fooling me twice, the fault lies with me! If the scene of the Xiaguan waterway being attacked by the enemy again, I might as well stop fighting and hitting my head to death on the turret!

If the Japanese army really want to set up an ambush along the way, there are too many places to choose from. Hitsunoshima, Urai Island, Okashima, and even Himejima, Kokuto Peninsula, Sada Kokura Peninsula and other places in the Toyogo Waterway can all be ambushed off the ships in advance and teach their own fleets a painful lesson.

Fang Boqian asked himself, many of these things were worrying about themselves. After all, the Qing army's patrol gunboat had already left to the front line of the Guodong Peninsula. The possibility of the enemy setting up an ambush here is very small, but you should not be careless. When you set off tomorrow, you should discuss it with Lord Ding. Before you come up with a solution, the fleet should not move lightly.

After hearing Fang Boqian's words, Ding Ruchang became a little worried, "If this is the case, what should we do?"

"I think it's better to take one or two first-class gunboats as forwards and set out first. Once there is a policeman, I'll send a message immediately, so that the subsequent main fleet can take precautions."

This is of course a very safe method, but for the leading ships, it is facing considerable danger. Ding Ruchang was about to think about who to be the leader, but Fang Boqian took the initiative to ask for the battle. "Sir, this method was thought of by the humble official. Why not just let the humble official Wansu take the lead as the forward position?"

Ding Ruchang nodded, "Okay. Since that's the case, please help Brother Yitang to work harder." He said, "But you are the only one ship, and I'm afraid that there will be no one. I'll let Lord Zhang's Guanghong take you along. We can take care of each other."

"Yes!" Fang Boqian placed his right arm on his chest and bowed, "Since that's the case, I'll thank you sir."

The tactical agreement was made that the Wansu and Guanghong each made a loud whistle sound and left the port first. Four miles behind them, the Qing army fleet headed by the Poyang Lake. The waters of the Fenghou waterway were narrow, and the Qing army fleet could not be deployed, so they had to arrange in a single shape and slowly sail to the southeast.

...
Chapter completed!