She changed Europe

Page 37

PS1: Sorry, I almost forgot to update.

Chapter 133 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 68 Two Naval Commanders

"Cod and herring, which are active in the North Atlantic during this season, will be affected by sea temperature and ocean currents. They will choose to migrate to some near-shore areas with warmer sea temperatures to overwinter in preparation for spawning in the following spring."

Although cod has a more delicate texture and is richer in protein, I would recommend herring more. After all, Nordic countries have experience in pickling herring, and as one of the foods with the longest shelf life during long ocean voyages, I highly recommend that every naval officer try it. Tirpitz, in a monotone voice, solemnly introduced his knowledge of fish. This knowledge was so formal that Tegthof didn't know how to respond, as it was too academic. (The concept of protein was proposed in 1838 by the scientist Jöns Berzelius.)

"Damn it! Don't mention pickled herring to me." The stench of herring is known to everyone from Ireland to the Khitan.

"Speaking of ocean voyages, has Tirpitz ever had such an experience?" It's a bit heartbreaking, but Prussia, like Austria-Hungary, was already in the second half of the 19th century and didn't even have a single sea colony. One was in the Baltic Sea bathtub, the other in the Adriatic Sea bathtub.

“No…” Tirpitz said succinctly, lowering her gaze back to her book. Although there was no change in her expression, the experienced Tegthof immediately saw the resentment hidden beneath the girl’s calm exterior.

“I have been there, and I saw quite a few interesting sights.” Tegthoff turned to the side, closed one eye, and looked at the silver-haired girl in front of her with a playful smile, because she noticed that the girl moved her body slightly when she heard her speak.

“She would be so much cuter if she were just a little more frank,” Tegerthoff murmured.

"Back then, I escorted my benefactor, His Majesty Ferdinand, to the New World. You know him as the current Emperor of Mexico, Maximilian I." Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, also known as Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph von Habsburg-Lorraine, is indeed the younger brother of the current Emperor Joseph of Austria-Hungary and the uncle of Gisela.

Ferdinand was a very important figure for the Austro-Hungarian Navy, as it was during his tenure as Governor-General of Italy that the Austro-Hungarian Navy was perfected and developed. Before that, although the empire had a navy, it was not a fully-fledged force. It was also during the time when this Archduke, who was enthusiastic about naval development, served as Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Hungarian Navy that he appointed and promoted the exceptionally talented Trockhoff.

Historically, this Grand Duke was unfortunate. Encouraged by Napoleon III and in order to fulfill his wife's dream of becoming Empress, he defied the opposition of the vast majority of the Habsburg family and arrived in Mexico on May 28, 1864. He then entered Mexico City under the escort of the French army to inherit the throne and establish the Second Mexican Empire.

Unfortunately, his reign as emperor did not last long. He was dethroned in 1867 due to the retreat of the French army and the rebellion of the Republicans, and was eventually executed on June 19 of that year.

Of course, Ferdinand in this worldview was much luckier. A skilled socialite, he upheld the glorious traditions of the Habsburg family. Soon after arriving in Mexico City, his handsome appearance, elegance, and charm won the hearts of the only two sorcerers in Mexico, making them his mistresses. With the protection of his harem of sorcerer mistresses, his reign as emperor was naturally very comfortable. Even after the French army withdrew completely, with the help of his lovers, he was able to easily suppress the Republican uprising.

Then, the merciful Mexican emperor, after arresting the Republican uprising leaders, made a decision completely opposite to his own historical experience: he released the uprising leaders without charge.

“I know that. The emperor of the Mexican Empire, your royal family has once again spread to the New World, and I didn’t expect it to take root and sprout.” Tirpitz raised his head and commented in what he thought was a relatively objective tone.

Because the Habsburg family had ruled Spain and Portugal, the New World had mixed feelings about this royal family.

On the one hand, they hated the Habsburg family's exploitative identity, and on the other hand, they longed to be part of that great empire so that they could have a much higher international status than they did now.

"Alright! I won't discuss your methods for consolidating power too much; I'll focus on the issue of ocean voyages." After all, it's a bit embarrassing to talk about politics through sex. (You'll have plenty of opportunities to see this in the future.)

"At that time, the fleet we dispatched consisted of a total of four frigates."

Of course, they're all sailing frigates. As for armored ships, armored cruisers, and cutting-edge naval technology, sorry, our empire is already building them. You'll have to make do for now, little brother. When has your Emperor Joseph ever lied to you?

Ferdinand must have had countless things he wanted to say to his brother at that moment. "I'm the former naval commander, do you think I don't know how many ironclad ships our fleet has? So what if he's unhappy that I ran away to Mexico to become emperor? Is it really that big of a deal?" Although he wanted to curse his brother's mother, he realized that his mother was his own mother…

"We passed through the Adriatic Sea, crossed the Mediterranean Sea, resupplyed at the Strait of Gibraltar, then headed south along the African coast to Cape Verde, then crossed the Atlantic to Guyana, where we resupplyed again, and continued north along the American coast into the Gulf of Mexico, reaching Veracruz. My benefactor disembarked there and entered Mexico City under the protection of the local French forces, while I led the fleet back."

"I know this route. We can take advantage of both ocean currents and trade winds, which can greatly increase the cruising speed of warships." Tirpitz listened with great interest to his senior's explanation. Undoubtedly, every naval officer harbors a dream of long-distance ocean voyages.

"The fleet's compasses malfunctioned one after another when passing through the Bermuda region of the Florida peninsula. Fortunately, the locals we hired guided us to sail towards the shore, avoiding that mysterious area called Bermuda. The American told us that the magnetic field in this area is abnormal and ships often go missing." Tegthof paused slightly because her excellent vision allowed her to see Princess Gisela, who had invited her here.

At this moment, Gisela was sitting barefoot on the dock, staring blankly at the sea where the sky met the water. Her striking fox ears drooped down, making her look particularly cute.

“I’m sorry, Tirpitz, we’ll talk again next time.” Tegthof interrupted her conversation with Tirpitz, as she still had some questions that she needed to confirm with the princess.

"Your Highness Gisela..." As Tegthof left, Tirpitz glanced back at Gisela on the dock before reopening the book on his lap.

PS1: I forgot to update again QAQ

Chapter 134 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 69 The Battle of Flensburg (1)

1869 January 2

A coalition fleet consisting of 10 small armored frigates and 8 transport ships sailed out of the port of Flensburg under the cover of night fog. Their objective was to quickly break through the blockade of the Danish fleet in Flensburg Bay, deliver troops to the southern side of Arles Island, and assist the army in completing the encirclement of tens of thousands of Danish troops on Arles Island.

Tegethoff was given a critical mission and commanded the fleet to navigate on a sea with very low visibility. To avoid collisions between her own fleet and the enemy fleet, she specifically ordered that two kerosene lamps be lit at the bow and stern of the warships.

"Miss Tirpitz, how confident are we in breaking through the Danish blockade?" Tegerthof put down his binoculars, put them away, and tossed them to the first mate beside him.

"Fifty percent. Nighttime attacks are a double-edged sword, and the fog will obstruct visibility. I don't think our escort ships will be able to protect the transport ships well if they are discovered by the Danish fleet." Tirpitz made a self-consistent and reasonable judgment based on the facts before him. Although such words seemed somewhat demoralizing, there was no time for empty formalities with the operation imminent.

“That’s true, but we’re not the only ones facing the fog. They face the same difficulties, and I have a backup plan…” Tegethoff paused here, then snapped her fingers with a smile.

Her adjutant loaded a signal flare into the chamber and fired it into the sky. Although visibility was low, the white light that pierced the darkness and the loud explosion were enough to alert both their own forces and the enemy.

As if it had been planned in advance, as the flagship lit up with a signal flare, the same white light also rose from the 10 escort ships at the same time.

“You’re going to expose the fleet’s location.” Tirpitz frowned. Although she didn’t think the woman in front of her was the kind of person who would act recklessly without considering the consequences, her duty as the deputy commander of the fleet required her to point out this concern.

"Separate the transport ships from us, extinguish all lights, and hide them all in the fog. When the battle begins, sail from the northeast towards Arles Island." Tegthoff's tactics were simple. In Chinese parlance, it was called "luring the tiger away from the mountain." Of course, it could also be described in a more tragic way: sacrificing oneself to protect one's own transport ships during the landing.

"Using all the warships as bait? You've got some serious skills." Tirpitz closed his eyes, pursed his lips, and said in a serious tone.

"Do you know a famous quote from Sun Tzu, the greatest master of the art of war from the East?" Tegthof rubbed the tip of her nose. Although her pronunciation in Chinese was a little strange, there were no Chinese citizens present, so no one would criticize her pronunciation.

"Bamboo shoots?" The retroflex and alveolar consonants are a problem for many locals, let alone Westerners like Tirpitz who are very familiar with the language. In their eyes, it is a complete linguistic disaster.

"Yes, Sun Tzu said, 'Place them in a desperate situation and they will live; place them in a hopeless situation and they will survive.' Of course, Tegethoff's recitation of this famous quote from Sun Tzu is thanks to the translation and admonition of a certain princess who wishes to remain anonymous."

"Put them in a desperate situation..." Tirpitz thought that Tegthoff's choice to say this at this moment clearly indicated that he was prepared to sacrifice himself. For some reason, Tirpitz regretted boarding this ship. After all, if he could, Tirpitz would never have chosen such a reckless tactic. Unfortunately, now that the arrow had been released, there was no turning back.

"War is still as troublesome as ever," the girl sighed, gently touching her silver hair and biting her lip.

Meanwhile, aboard the Danish Navy flagship HMS Copenhagen, which was blockading Flensborg Bay, Admiral Stike, the naval commander, was comfortably enjoying dinner prepared by the ship's chef in his private cabin. Unlike the dire situation of the army, the Danish Navy was living a very comfortable life.

Following the defeats on land, Denmark, a country with a long coastline, saw more and more clearly the crucial role the Danish navy played in the outcome of the war. With absolute naval superiority, the allied forces would never be able to set foot on Funen, let alone Zealand, where Gobenhago was located. This became Denmark's biggest leverage in delaying peace negotiations.

Following this line of thinking, while soldiers on the front lines were experiencing reduced rations and the rest of the nation was tightening their belts, the navy continued to live a comfortable and easy life.

"As expected, steak is better with a bit of blood." The general elegantly cut the medium-rare steak on his plate. As an old Danish nobleman, even while in the military, he had not forgotten etiquette and the dignity of a nobleman.

After carefully chewing the beef in his mouth, the admiral picked up his wine glass, wanting to take a sip of the sweet wine. Although there are rules in the military that prohibit drinking while on duty, rules are rules but people are flexible. Besides, he was an admiral, the highest-ranking officer in the Danish Navy, and no one knew the navy better than him.

At this moment, a few urgent knocks broke the pleasant atmosphere that the general had created to enjoy the meal.

"Please come in." The general frowned slightly, somewhat displeased, but not to the point of taking his anger out on his subordinates who were performing their duties.

"General, several bright lights have appeared on the sea. Our ship's observers believe these lights are signal flares. The news of the Allied fleet's departure coincides with the intelligence the British gave us a few days ago." Under the instructions of Prime Minister Palmerston, British intelligence secretly revealed the first part of the Allied forces' intentions to the Danes, namely the specific time of the fleet's departure. However, they did not mention the fleet's purpose or its intention to transport troops to Arles Island.

Britain's considerations were not complicated. If the Danish fleet had the strength to stop the Allied navy, then Denmark would have the ability to continue fighting. In that case, it would be a very reasonable strategy for Britain to provide covert assistance. Of course, if the Danes could not do it, Britain would never get involved in Denmark's mess. But in any case, this favor was done to the Danish government.

"The British Empire is indeed our most reliable ally. Hoss has ordered our fleet to assemble and pounce on these adorable lambs." The admiral's lips curled into a smile, the candlelight casting her shadow onto the wall. He appeared as tall and imposing as a giant.

"Horses, don't rush, this glass is for you." The general looked at the meticulous young man in front of him and handed him a glass of wine.

"Sir, this is wine..." Clearly, the young man was a conscientious soldier who couldn't afford to be negligent while on duty, but she couldn't refuse her superior's request at the moment...

PS1: I almost slipped on the stairs on my way home from get off work today QAQ

Chapter 135 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 70 The Danish Navy is Invincible! (Please vote and add to your collection)

"Cheers! This is our early celebration. The Royal Danish Navy dominates the North Sea and commands the waves of the world!" The admiral raised his glass and clinked it against the young man's glass.

As the admiral said, the Royal Danish Navy did indeed have its own pride, which can be traced back to the small fleet of Norse Vikings in the 9th century AD. In 1397, the Kalmar Union was established, expanding its territory to a vast area including Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, and parts of Germany. At that time, a unified and powerful navy was formed—the Common Fleet, which is the predecessor of the current Royal Danish Navy, and subsequently established Denmark's maritime hegemony in the Nordic region.

With Sweden's independence in 1523, the Royal Danish Navy began to decline. After the First Norse War, the Kalmar War, the Second Norse War, the Scanian War, and the Great Norse War, its dominance of the Nordic seas was ceded to Sweden, but it remained a formidable naval force in Europe at the time.

"To our great His Majesty Christian, and to Queen Victoria, who ruled Britain across the seas." He finished speaking and downed his drink in one gulp. The young man named Hoss hesitated for a moment before also swallowing his blood-red liquor.

Clearly, they had no reason not to win against the weak allied fleet...

at the same time--

"My lord! The Danes have taken the bait." The first mate beside Tegerthof relayed what he had seen from the observation tower to the blonde woman in front of him.

“Then we should move too. Tell them to keep up with the speed of the ‘Prussian,’ and we’ll engage them from the bow.” Tegerthof pulled his military cap back up from under his arm and glanced at Tirpitz to the side.

At this moment, Tirpitz had obediently put on the helmet she had found somewhere and was leaning on the railing next to the ship's helm, peering at the distant sea. In any case, for Tirpitz, who was just starting out, this was her first battle after leaving the military academy.

However, this somewhat comical scene obviously amused Tegthoff. Although she knew that this girl had only recently graduated and had little combat experience, she did not expect that Tirpitz would also have moments of nervousness. When she learned about Tirpitz's impassioned speech at the Prussian General Staff, she thought she was the kind of "reckless woman" like herself.

"Don't get your hopes up too high; what's above your head won't stop the naval guns." While warships of this era had gradually abandoned purely wooden hulls in favor of new armored hulls, most countries still maintained the tradition of using sails for propulsion. This meant that many crew members had to be exposed on the unarmored deck. In an era of increasingly advanced naval guns, the deck became increasingly unsafe.

“I’m just doing this in case.” Tirpitz’s tone remained calm, but her actions contradicted her demeanor.

On a foggy night, the Allied navy, led by Tegerthof, charged in a near-straight line toward the Danes who had been waiting for them. The horizontal part of the "T" was honored to be handed over to the Danes by the goddess of victory.

During the day, such a formation would have been tantamount to suicide, but the night and dense fog saved the Allied fleet. By the time the Danes, who had already set up their formation, saw the enemy ships and were preparing to unleash their first salvo, the Allied ships, small and weak, were already close enough to be right in their faces.

"What are they trying to do? Are they planning some kind of boarding maneuver?" The Danish admiral on the Copenhagen looked at this straightforward tactic with surprise and joked with his colleagues. After all, boarding maneuvering was a naval tactic abandoned by European countries centuries ago. With superior guns and speed, who would engage in boarding maneuvering with a bunch of large targets like this? (Spanish Armada)

"Prepare for a salvo!" Dozens of cannons on one side of the Copenhagen were almost simultaneously aimed at the Allied flagship "Prussian" charging towards them. As an aging first-class sailing battleship, the Copenhagen was technologically inferior to naval powers like Britain and France, but even so, its armament and displacement were far superior to that of the small armored frigate before them.

"Fire!" With the command of the Danish Navy's gunnery chief, the old cannons billowed up a cloud of gray smoke, and the shells they spat formed a terrifying cannon curtain that covered the entire Prussian ship from bow to stern.

The shells struck the metal hull of the Prussian with a loud clang, and the violent shaking made the soldiers on board feel as if their ship was about to fall apart. Many soldiers were hit by shells and died instantly, or were knocked over by the violent shaking and fell into the sea. Even so, the Prussian continued to rush towards the enemy at high speed.

The small frigate stood in stark contrast to the massive sailing battleship, and the soldiers on board could only hope that Miss Tegthoff's tactics would work wonders.

As the two ships drew closer, the Danes realized what the warship was up to.

"Turn the rudder quickly, hoist the sails and move at full speed!" the officers on the Gobenhago roared, but the wind was not something that could be controlled by human power, nor was it something they could simply manipulate at will.

The surging waves lifted the bow of the Prussian high, revealing the menacing metal ram. As the Copenhagen shuddered violently, tons of seawater rushed into the warship in an instant.

"Damn it! Where did these lunatics crash into?!" The general, barely managing to steady himself by holding onto the handrail, roared at his adjutant beside him.

"These were the three lowest watertight compartments." Such an impact would have been fatal for the Copenhagen.

"What about the other warships!" As the fleet commander, the admiral's eyes couldn't be fixed solely on his flagship. He strained his eyes and noticed that his own ships had also suffered the same impact.

"Damn it! Damn it! These lunatics actually thought of using such outdated and crooked methods." The old general completely abandoned his aristocratic demeanor, uttering a lot of vulgar words to insult his opponent.

At this moment, Tergerthof stood tall with her head held high, her cloak fluttering in the wind, like a statue, calmly standing on the deck, watching the tilting Gobenhag. Although she was not tall, in the hearts of Tirpitz and all the Allied naval soldiers, her figure was as majestic as a giant. She was the symbol of the pride and glory of the German navy, the flag that led to victory!

PS1: Denmark was also a traditional maritime power, just not as extraordinarily powerful as Britain at this time.

Chapter 136 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 71 Laying the Foundation for Victory (Vote Requested)

While the two navies were locked in fierce combat, five transport ships of the German allied forces, guided by compasses, concealed themselves in darkness and fog, quickly and quietly crossing the blockade of the Royal Danish Navy and heading towards a wider sea area.

After successfully completing the ramming, Ms. Tegerthof directed the warship to adjust its attitude in preparation for a salvo from the side guns to completely destroy the Copenhagen, but then the accident happened.

By sheer coincidence, a shell from the Copenhagen struck the mast of the Prussian. With a cracking sound, the tens-of-meters-long mast collapsed, crashing heavily onto the nearby Copenhagen, thus creating a natural bridge between the two ships.

Seemingly driven by the marine genes that have existed in humankind for thousands of years, the extremely ancient tactic of boarding action was staged once again. Soldiers from both sides picked up their weapons at the same time and rushed to both ends of the fallen mast to "passionately" exchange fire with their firearms, making the scene extremely tense.

"What the hell!" Tegthoff exclaimed, somewhat amused by the scene before her, and helplessly ruffled her short blond hair. Her gaze, of course, returned to Tirpitz, who was wearing a "helmet."

“The deck is no longer safe.” Tegthoff walked up to Tirpitz, grabbed her collar with one hand and pulled her up. Although Tirpitz was much taller than Tegthoff, she was far less imposing than the old-school naval commander.

"What are you trying to do! I want to join the battle!" Tirpitz raised an eyebrow, his expression serious.

"Stay inside and don't come out." Unfortunately, Tegthof completely ignored Tirpitz's insistence and, relying on his superior strength, somewhat recklessly threw Tirpitz into the cabin before locking the captain's cabin door.

"I am the deputy commander, I have the right to participate in the battle!" Of course, no matter how loudly she shouted, it had no effect, because her voice was completely drowned out by the locked door and the shouts of battle from the deck.

"Little brats are such a hassle!" Tegthof took out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, expertly flicked one up with her finger, and lit it. She gently put it in her mouth, took a match from her other pocket, and lit the cigarette.

“After all, His Highness entrusted me with protecting you, and besides, you don’t have much combat experience. It shouldn’t happen here.” Tegerthof took a deep breath and exhaled a ring of smoke. Seeing Tirpitz reminded him of his deceased sister; if she were still alive, she would be about Tirpitz’s age.

Although Tegthof is a mage, her naval service means she rarely uses her mage armor, leaving it unused and without even a mage weapon. Therefore, she must fight like an ordinary person. Tirpitz is in a similar situation; a mage without combat experience or weapons has little advantage over a fully armed ordinary mage.

"Give me a rifle," Tegthof called to a sailor beside her. Of course, she didn't forget to check her own sidearm beforehand—a silver revolver made in Texas. This weapon was a farewell gift from her benefactor, the current Emperor of Mexico.

"Have our men stand on both sides for crossfire cover and try to saw off the masts." Their warships are smaller than the enemy's, and their sailors are also at a disadvantage. If they were to engage in boarding action, they would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses. The tactic they need most now is to delay, to stall until the Copenhagen on the other side falls silent.

Unlike the army's rigorous shooting training, the naval soldiers' gunfire sounded somewhat chaotic, but a bullet is a bullet, and it will kill if it hits a person. Some of the crew members on the Copenhagen who attacked were quickly hit and fell into the sea. The seawater in February is icy cold, and even if one falls in with minor injuries, the frigid water can easily draw heat away from a person, causing them to die from the combined effects of their wounds and the extreme cold.

The sound of cannons echoed across the sea, accompanied by sporadic gunfire and shouts of battle.

While calmly directing operations, Tegerthof also kept a close eye on the battlefield situation. Almost all of the Allied frigates were under attack by Danish warships. Although the ramming tactic was remarkably effective, the quality and number of their warships were far inferior to those of the Danish navy, and this tactical advantage failed to expand their gains.

The battle continued for several hours until the crew of the Prussian saw the Gobenhagen completely disappear beneath the surface. This small naval engagement then came to an end. After losing seven warships, the Danish Navy withdrew from Flensburg Bay and retreated towards the fleet port south of Aals.

But they were unaware that the port they were about to reach had already been taken over by thousands of Prussian troops who had landed.

Their fleet was attacked by coastal artillery before it even entered the port. Faced with this sudden attack, the Danish Royal Navy admiral, who had been transferred from the Copenhagen to the Småland, chose to abandon Arles Island and begin retreating towards Funen and Zealand.

As the sun pierced the darkness, the tens of thousands of Danish troops stationed dutifully in the Arles fjords were predictably attacked from behind their lines.

The Danish army, whose morale had already been severely damaged by the fall of Dupur Fortress, surrendered after a brief resistance under the orders of its commander. General Moltke's brilliant tactic was realized with the perfect coordination of the Allied army and navy.

Unlike the two Battles of Misonde, this time the allied forces acted decisively, capturing Arles Island with only a few hundred men and incidentally taking tens of thousands of Danish troops retreating from the Jutland Peninsula prisoner. Across the sea from Arles Island lay Funen Island, completely exposed to the allied forces. However, what surprised the Danes most was the defeat of their own fleet. The allied forces, with the small boats they had once scorned, defeated the Danish navy, which they considered invincible. Denmark thus lost its bargaining power in the final negotiations.

1869年2月5日，丹麦国王/克里斯蒂安九世宣布丹麦无条件投降。1869年3月25日丹麦首相蒙拉德，在普奥两国的大使以及英国仲裁大使的面前签署了投降协定。

The Second Schleswig War, which lasted for more than two months, came to an end. After the war, the Kingdom of Denmark lost 40% of its territory and 38.5% of its population, while Holstein and Schleswig were divided and occupied by Prussia and Austria.

PS1: Only a few more chapters until the end of Volume 2 0v0!

Chapter 137 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 72 The Future of Denmark (Seeking Votes)

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark —

The shift in the wind was so swift that it caught most people off guard. Politicians who had once clamored for war on the streets were now labeled as traitors and had their names hung on lampposts by the indignant public. They vented their simple anger with their fists, kicks, and insults.

Keep in mind that it has only been less than two months since the event began...

At this moment, an old man dressed in thick winter clothes walked into an attic building on the side of the street, carrying his cloth bag. Because of his advanced age, the three-story attic was an extremely long "trial" for him.