Chapter 181: Incompetent Navy

"It's the British, the British are attacking!"

"Damn it, where is our navy? Why aren't they stopping them?"

"Enough talk, let's get out of here. If we don't escape now, it'll be too late."

During the British naval bombardment, shipyards, naval academies, and ports were primary targets. These buildings were completely within the British naval gunfire range.

Building after building was destroyed in the shelling. Houses were reduced to rubble by direct hits. The 32-pounder shells were extremely powerful, leaving massive craters in the ground with each explosion. Anyone or anything within the blast radius of these shells stood no chance.

The British navy bombarded the port of Dunkirk for nearly three hours. During this time, they fired over a thousand shells in total.

After the bombardment ended, almost ninety percent of Dunkirk's port buildings lay in ruins, the ground pockmarked with large craters. Casualties were severe. Military personnel, workers, and even civilians within the port suffered heavy losses. Limbs severed by shell explosions littered the streets.

"Admiral Hood, the bombardment has been completed. Dunkirk, the main port of the French navy, has been completely destroyed by us," Vice Admiral Evans reported proudly to Hood.

"Good, this way, the French navy has been dealt a severe blow, widening the gap between them and our navy," Hood said satisfactorily.

"Order the warships to raise sails for retreat. At the same time, all cruisers should increase vigilance. Beware of the French navy's fleet returning," Hood continued to command.

Now that they had completed their strike on Dunkirk's port, all that remained was a safe retreat, marking the successful conclusion of this operation. It would be a shame to incur unnecessary losses at this final stage.

Despite earlier successes in the war, where the British navy had destroyed one battleship and three cruisers of the French navy, the fleet under Vice Admiral Villeneuve en route to Middleburg had not been eliminated. This fleet consisted of six battleships and a dozen cruisers.

Now, due to the bombardment of Dunkirk's port, the ammunition within the British warships was nearly depleted. This was not the time Hood wanted to encounter the main French fleet.

With Hood's orders issued, the British warships quickly raised their sails and departed the scene. For the British navy, the gains from this operation were already substantial. There was no need to wait for the main French fleet and risk the significant potential benefits along with the enormous risks.

Therefore, with caution, Hood chose to leave.

However, in reality, the response from the French navy was remarkably slow.

This was evident from the defense of Dunkirk's port. As the main port of the French naval fleet, Dunkirk naturally had considerable defensive capabilities. Despite Vice Admiral Villeneuve taking away a large number of warships, leaving the port defenses somewhat depleted, there were still numerous coastal artillery batteries. Yet, during the five to six hours of engagement with the British warships, these coastal batteries did not fire a single shot until they were destroyed.

...

Paris, France, inside the Palace of Versailles.

Napoleon was immersed day and night in his office. The war between France and Britain had broken out, which was within Napoleon's expectations but also beyond his expectations.

However, regardless of the circumstances, Britain was a powerful country. This required Napoleon to be doubly cautious in confronting them.

"Ah, these damn British. They never let one relax," Napoleon cursed in frustration. From before he came to power until now, the British had been plotting against France, exhausting everyone in the nation.

"Consul Napoleon!" Suddenly, someone knocked on Napoleon's office door. It was Napoleon's secretary.

"What is it? What's the matter?" Napoleon asked, noticing the secretary's nervous demeanor.

"Consul Napoleon, it's about the navy," the secretary said tremblingly.

"The navy? Has Vice Admiral Villeneuve's fleet engaged the British navy? How is the battle going?" Napoleon asked, still looking down.

"Consul Napoleon, no... it's not about Vice Admiral Villeneuve's fleet. It's about Dunkirk," the secretary said softly, then placed the report gently in front of Napoleon and quickly retreated, as if Napoleon were a fierce beast.

"What happened?" Napoleon noticed the secretary's abnormal behavior and asked in confusion. He then suspiciously picked up the report and examined it carefully.

"Bang!"

After a quick glance, Napoleon's expression darkened. Finally, he slammed the report fiercely on his desk.

"Where is that useless Bit? I want him executed!" Napoleon roared, like a wild beast provoked.

"Reporting, Consul Napoleon. After Rear Admiral Bit's flagship was sunk, he clung to a piece of driftwood and washed ashore. Later, he was found by patrolling soldiers and has already been taken to the field hospital," the secretary replied.

"That incompetent idiot! Why wasn't he drowned? Four warships sunk, along with the destruction of Dunkirk's port. With such a disgraceful record, how dare he still live?" Napoleon slammed the table and stood up, shouting in anger.

"You immediately send someone to the field hospital, bring that brainless idiot Bit to me. I want to interrogate him personally." His face flushed red with rage, veins bulging from his forehead.

The Battle of Dunkirk was so humiliating that Napoleon even suspected that even if he could find a pig to command, it would be better than his command.

"Yes, Consul. I will do it immediately." Upon hearing Napoleon's command, the secretary felt like he had been granted a reprieve. He had been looking for an opportunity to escape Napoleon's presence, but he hadn't expected Napoleon to offer him a chance directly.

"Also, inform Villeneuve to coordinate with the Dutch army. The British navy is formidable, but their army is weak. Since we've suffered defeat at sea, we must make up for it on land. Tell Villeneuve he has already failed once, and this is his last chance." Napoleon said grimly.

As the saying goes, 'The hero of the enemy is our foe.' Conversely, it is also true. Because of Bit's foolish command, the French navy not only lost four warships and numerous other vessels but also suffered the loss of their crucial naval base, Dunkirk's port.

Napoleon was almost bursting his own lungs with rage, but the British were jubilant. 

Immediately after the Battle of Dunkirk, Admiral Hood's fleet sent a detailed report to London. In his report, Hood meticulously detailed the outcome of the battle.

In London, there was a king waiting for news just like Napoleon, and that was King George III. However, unlike Napoleon, he awaited good news.

Upon receiving the news, King George III was so overwhelmed that he forgot to maintain his regal demeanor. He shouted in excitement, telling everyone he met about the victory of the British navy. He loudly praised Hood as a great admiral and the pride of the British navy.

At the same time, his worries about the war dissipated somewhat with this victory. After all, France was a powerful country, and going to war with such a country required careful planning. Since the start of the war, King George III had been worried day and night, fearing that the British army would face defeat.

But with Hood's report finally arriving, he could finally get a good night's sleep.

"Your Majesty!"

Inside the palace, Prime Minister William Pitt slowly approached King George III. With a smile on his face, he said to King George III, "Your Majesty, I've heard that we've recently won a great victory."

"Of course, this is true. This news has spread throughout the world. Now the whole world has witnessed the glory of the British navy," King George III replied proudly.