Chapter 22

The Allied Fleet of Britain, France, and other nations approached the coast of the Great Qing like a fast-moving mass of dark clouds. This coalition fleet brought together advanced warships from multiple countries. Heavily armed and with their hulls gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, they resembled a pack of iron beasts pressing forward aggressively, attempting with overwhelming force to smash through the coastal defenses of the Great Qing in a single blow, achieve a total blockade, and plunge the nation once again into the abyss of enslavement. Su Ran had long since received intelligence of the impending attack, and the Great Qing Navy stood ready. Gunner crews at the coastal batteries stared fixedly at the horizon, their eyes filled with determination and resolve, their fingers resting on the triggers as they waited like leopards for their prey to enter optimal firing range, prepared to open fire at any second. Aboard the warships, naval officers and soldiers stood tall and upright in their uniforms, their expressions resolute. Bearing the belief of defending their homes and country, they fearlessly welcomed the impending fierce battle, as if the warships beneath their feet formed the final line of defense protecting the Great Qing. As the Allied Fleet entered range, the coastal batteries of the Great Qing opened fire first. Deafening roars echoed like muffled thunder across the sea surface. Cannonballs streaked across the sky like shooting stars, wailing through the wi…