Chapter 177: Battle for Prestige
"Your Majesty, it seems the French do indeed wish to resolve this through negotiations. The only sticking point now is their demand for an apology and even reparations," Edward Grey stated.
"No... I absolutely cannot agree to such conditions. Though these twenty thousand British heroes are important, the honor of the British Empire is paramount," George III declared. He couldn't possibly agree to the French demands; it would be a humiliation for Britain, and how could he then face his ancestors?
"Your Majesty, please don't be hasty. This is still negotiation, and negotiation implies room for maneuver. However, I believe we cannot allow the French military to continue to be so arrogant. We must push back against their arrogance to gain an advantage in the negotiations to come," Prime Minister William Pitt interjected.
"What do you suggest?" George III inquired.
"Your Majesty, since the Navy has expressed difficulties and pressures in carrying out a rescue operation, perhaps we should hold off on rescuing the Army for now. With twenty thousand troops on land, they should be able to defend themselves adequately. Instead, we need to focus on the Navy engaging the French at sea. Only by defeating the French Navy in naval battles can we suppress Napoleon's arrogance," Pitt suggested.
"Engage the Navy, you say?" George III turned to Hood.
"Your Majesty, the Navy is fully capable of this," Hood responded confidently, meeting George III's gaze.
Suppressing the French Navy without directly rescuing the Army was a feasible strategy. After all, rescuing the Army would require them to approach the coast, putting them at risk of attack from French coastal artillery, whereas engaging the French Navy would not have this drawback.
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The conflict between the French Republic and the British Empire was inevitable, despite both sides attempting to avoid it. Their pride would not allow for too many concessions, and thus, war became unavoidable.
Subsequently, Prime Minister William Pitt delivered a public address condemning the lack of negotiation sincerity from the French side. Consequently, the British government was compelled to resist. Pitt then officially read out the decree issued by King George III in front of the public.
Upon receiving this news, France refused to be outdone. Simultaneously, major cities in France erupted into protests against Britain, supporting war against England. Despite many citizens having just begun to enjoy improved living conditions, they were reluctant to see their lives disrupted by war.
However, the British have secretly stirred up internal strife in France and boldly encroached upon French territory, which is simply intolerable. At this time, the French people, known for their fiery spirit, erupted in angry protests across the country.
In response, French leader Napoleon ordered the French army and navy to enter a state of highest readiness. The navy stationed at Dunkirk stood ready to repel any potential attacks from the British navy. Simultaneously, the French army gathered in the Netherlands, prepared to attack and coordinate with the navy to annihilate the British army encamped at Middelburg.
In reality, both sides had entered a state of war after declaring war. The conflict was on the brink of erupting. However, both sides exercised great restraint, confining the fighting to the Netherlands, disappointing other countries. After all, the more aggressively England and France fought, the greater the decline in the strength of their countries, which would benefit others.
But both the British and the French were well aware that, given their current situations, they simply could not afford a large-scale war. The current campaign was nothing more than a face-saving battle for honor, where neither side would back down.
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Located in the southeast corner of London, the London Port Naval Base is the main port for the British mainland fleet, providing direct access to the English Channel. Over a decade ago, during the war between the British government and the French Bourbon dynasty, the British fleet launched from here and dealt a devastating blow to the French navy, establishing Britain's naval dominance. Now, within the London Port, masts lined the docks once again, with flags fluttering in the wind.
The Royal Navy's mainland fleet was preparing for another expedition, aiming to secure a great victory for Britain. Inside the naval base, Vice Admiral Evans, Deputy Commander of the mainland fleet, was analyzing the upcoming war with Marshal Hood, the main commander of the mainland fleet, who had hurried over from Buckingham Palace.
"For this battle, Marshal Hood, the naval fleet is fully prepared. Ten battleships and twenty cruisers have all arrived. This time, our main force is fully deployed and will surely annihilate the French navy. The entire Eastern Atlantic belongs to the British Empire," Vice Admiral Evans exclaimed enthusiastically, though he appeared humble in front of Marshal Hood, who enjoyed a far-reaching reputation.
"General Evans, this battle is of utmost importance. We must win decisively. Otherwise, the prestige of the British Empire will suffer severe losses," Marshal Hood said solemnly.
"Yes, Marshal Hood," Evans nodded. He understood the importance of this naval battle. However, he also believed that the British navy had overwhelming superiority compared to the French. Victory in this naval battle would undoubtedly belong to the British navy.
"Evans, we must not underestimate the French. Although their navy is weaker than ours, they still have seven battleships as their main force, and this battle is taking place right at their doorstep. We must be cautious," Hood said.
As a soldier, one could afford to take risks, but as a commander, one must always remain calm. With the advancement of artillery technology, the destructive power of ship cannons was increasing, leading to faster sinking rates of warships. In modern naval battles, a fleet could be lost in just one day.
However, this caution only made Hood more vigilant. He was not one to shy away from battle. Since the British navy defeated the Spanish Armada, they had embarked on the path to dominate the oceans, a journey that had spanned several decades. During this time, countless countries had attempted to challenge British naval supremacy, but without exception, they had been sent to the bottom of the sea by the Royal Navy's cannons.
Hood believed the French would meet the same fate.
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On the morning of January 22nd, the Royal Navy's mainland fleet departed from the London Naval Base and entered the English Channel, preparing for a decisive battle with the French navy.
At this moment, the entire main force of the British navy had assembled. It was divided into the First Battleship Squadron, including two of the most powerful London-class battleships in the British navy, HMS *London* and HMS *Wales*.
HMS *London* was the flagship of this fleet and also of the entire mainland fleet commanded by Marshal Hood, who was also the British Minister of the Navy.
The London-class battleships were the most powerful battleships in Britain, equipped with three decks, 30 32-pound Armstrong cannons, and 50 28-pound cannons, with a displacement of up to 5,500 tons.
Unfortunately, these warships were very costly, with each one costing nearly £6 million, making them difficult for the British government to afford, not to mention the subsequent maintenance costs.
Therefore, although these warships were extremely powerful, the British government had only built five of them. Three remained in the mainland fleet, while the other two were stationed in the Atlantic Fleet and the Mediterranean Fleet.
In addition to the First Battleship Squadron, there was also the Second Battleship Squadron, commanded by Hood's deputy, Admiral Evans, including the battleship HMS *Oxford*, which was also a London-class battleship.
Apart from the London-class battleships, the British navy also had many other warships. While they were not as powerful as the London-class, they were still formidable.