Chapter 956

Over the vast ocean, gunsmoke and flames obscured the sky’s original color. Dozens of warships battled fiercely.

After annihilating twenty warships that had advanced to prepare for landing, Li Wei, leading his remaining ten warships, charged head-on into the fleet led by Wilson.

After the battle just now, the morale of the Great Yu Empire soldiers reached its peak. Each of them had a determined gaze, appearing to disregard life and death.

In contrast was Wilson’s mood. He watched helplessly as twenty warships were completely sunk by the Great Yu Empire warships right before his eyes.

In all his years commanding naval operations, he had never suffered such a massive defeat.

“Full speed ahead! We must destroy them!”

Wilson had already ordered the remaining fifty-six warships to reassemble. He would, with absolute numerical superiority, sink all ten of these warships.

In contrast, Dick’s eyes were fixed on the Great Yu Empire warships. He said to Wilson, “If we can capture one and bring it back to Britain, sacrificing all our warships would be worth it.”

“Dick, this is my battlefield! I don’t care about your politicians’ tricks! What I need to do now is defeat my enemy!” Wilson said angrily.

With that, he picked up his telescope and walked to the bow of the ship, staring intently at the movements of the Great Yu Empire warships.

Fifty-six warships, under his command, formed a pocket shape, attempting to encircle Li Wei’s ten warships.

Wilson’s objective was quickly noticed by Li Wei. Before the encirclement was completed, he decisively moved eastward, breaking out of the still incomplete encirclement.

Then, he led his warships northward, maneuvering behind the northern blockade line, and fiercely bombarded the twenty warships emerging from the military port.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

A dense rain of shells instantly covered the enemy’s warships. Amidst the explosions, several warships ignited with towering flames. One of the warships’ ammunition depots was directly hit.

In the violent explosion, the entire ship was blown into the sky.

However, these people became clever after the first batch of warships was destroyed by the Great Yu Empire. Facing the Great Yu Empire warships, they adopted a chaotic, every-man-for-himself formation.

Similarly, a wave of shells poured down on the Great Yu Empire’s warships.

However, the Great Yu Empire warships, operating at full power, moved very quickly at sea. Although they aimed at the Great Yu Empire’s warships, after their shells were fired, these shells could only land behind the Great Yu Empire’s warships.

“Damn it!” Wilson let out a roar. In this round of attack, they were again thwarted. After losing two warships, the Great Yu Empire warships were evidently more cautious. This time, they continuously used their power advantage to bombard their warships.

Dick’s face also changed. Now, he no longer hoped to capture a Great Yu Empire warship. He only wished they could achieve victory this time.

However, his wish was destined to remain unfulfilled. Ahead of them, their combined fleet quickly turned into burning bonfires at sea. At this point, the Great Yu Empire warships passed through the flames, appearing before them like demons.

Now, they had only half their military strength left. At the same time, the eight Great Yu Empire sailing warships that were in the military port rushed out of the military port. They rendezvoused with the smoke-belching warships, forming a large fleet.

After all, leading them was a first-rate sailing warship. Its broadside alone, with one hundred and thirty cannons, was enough to inspire fear. Moreover, closely following were second-rate warships. Now, the Great Yu Empire was preparing for a decisive battle with them.

“Wilson, we should retreat now. This battle cannot be fought any longer,” Dick shouted.

Forty warships easily eliminated by the Great Yu Empire. This made Dick completely lose confidence.

Wilson’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. He had never imagined such a day would come for them. The British navy, which once rampaged across the seas without restraint, had actually been defeated by a navy only recently established.

However, despite his unwillingness, he currently had no way to regain the advantage.

Looking at the rapidly approaching Great Yu Empire warships, Wilson said desperately, “It’s too late! Do you think we can outrun these warships?”

Dick immediately fell silent. Clearly, they had lost from the very beginning.

“Order all warships to engage freely! Facing this type of warship in formation is simply a disaster!” Wilson’s gaze was firm. Fighting to the death without retreating had always been the tradition of the British Navy. As the highest-ranking general this time, he likewise could not disgrace the British Navy.

Thus, in desperation, Wilson decided to fight the Great Yu Empire to the bitter end. Although he knew he could not achieve victory, sinking as many Great Yu Empire warships as possible would be enough to salvage his dignity.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

Cannon fire once again echoed on the sea. This time, the British warships completely lost their combat discipline. British warships fought independently, scattering across the ocean.

This scene made Li Wei frown.

The British warships arranged in formation were like a natural target, which was very advantageous for them. However, in such a dispersed state, the warships were like beans scattered on the ground, a complete mess.

Coupled with the numerical advantage, it was difficult for them not to be attacked by others while attacking.

“Circular formation.” Li Wei gave the order.

Facing this situation, only all-around firing could maximize the sinking of enemy warships. Moreover, steamships were very agile; forming various formations was simple. Once the battle turned unfavorable, they could completely switch from formation to free engagement.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

After quickly completing the formation, the Great Yu Empire warships opened fire fiercely. The intense firepower immediately damaged several enemy warships, especially the first and second-rate sailing warships, whose firepower was exceptionally fierce.

However, this time Wilson was determined to fight to the death. They pressed closer to the Great Yu Empire warships regardless of losses.

Upon reaching firing range, the remaining over thirty warships opened fire on Li Wei’s warships.

“Thump, thump, thump…”

Dense shells landed on the Great Yu Empire warships. Instantly, two sailing warships burst into flames, and three steamships also suffered some damage.

Seeing this, Li Wei shouted, “Return fire! Immediately return fire!”

No sooner had his words fallen than the first mate suddenly ran up from below deck and said anxiously, “Captain, it’s bad! We don’t have many shells left!”

“I said, why was this round’s firepower so weak? Damn it! Why didn’t you conserve it?!” Li Wei swore furiously.

The first mate said aggrievedly, “You were the one who ordered to hit them hard, hit them fiercely, and not to save ammunition! After these two rounds of fighting, our single ship alone fired one thousand seven hundred shells!”

Li Wei, hearing this, stamped his foot in anger. “We’re about to win! If we retreat now, these eight sailing warships simply cannot hold them off!”

Just as he was anxious, a cheer suddenly came from the flag signalman on the mast. The soldiers on the ship also cheered loudly.

Li Wei looked in the direction the soldiers were gazing and was instantly overjoyed.

At the military port exit, a warship completely covered in iron armor was slowly approaching the battlefield.