Empire Conquest
Chapter 147 - 143 A Dream of Millet

Chapter 147: Chapter 143 A Dream of Millet

East of Two-car Strait, the "Wuzhou" Heavy Cruiser.

"Captain on deck!"

When the duty officer shouted out, a Colonel in uniform strode into the command bridge; he was Wei Jun, the captain of the "Wuzhou."

It was nearly 2 a.m. on the 27th.

Ten minutes earlier, the on-duty communication advisor had called and woken him from his sleep, saying he had received a dispatch from the Zu Island base ordering him to the bridge immediately.

Reluctantly leaving his warm bed made Wei Jun want to curse, but he held back.

Yesterday evening, after breaking away from the Third Aviation Mixed Fleet, the cruiser squadron led by the "Wuzhou" raced at their top speed of thirty-five knots for seven hours, only arriving at the western entrance of the Two-car Strait just after one in the morning. During the voyage, four light cruisers each deployed two seaplanes to monitor the strait. They were actually sent to scout the nearby sea area, each seaplane carrying hundreds of illumination flares.

Because both the boilers and the steam turbines were operating beyond their limits, the fleet had slowed down immediately upon arrival.

No captain, including Wei Jun, wanted to be paralyzed on the sea surface during combat due to a boiler explosion or a steam turbine failure, becoming a target for enemy ships.

After another half-hour had dragged on, and the eight seaplanes had safely returned, Wei Jun finally retired to his captain’s quarters.

Without delay, the seaplanes failed to locate any enemy ships in the sea area east of the strait.

Since they were on a surveillance mission, ensuring immediate reporting upon spotting enemy ships, Wei Jun had not expected to definitely engage the enemy.

In that case, remaining concealed was essential.

For this, Wei Jun had already arranged for the eight cruisers to disperse, all maintaining radio silence, only to transmit if enemy ships were spotted.

In his view, even if he did not sleep until dawn, at least he could lie down and rest for a while.

Little did he suspect that he wouldn’t fall asleep before receiving a call from the communication advisor.

"Just received, Commander’s orders, relayed from Zu Island base."

"Commander?"

The communication advisor didn’t elaborate, just handed the message to Wei Jun.

The signature on the message left no room for explanation.

Indeed, it was an order from Bai Zhizhan. The cruiser squadron led by the "Wuzhou" was to use radar to search and monitor the Two-car Strait, and immediately attack upon detecting enemy ships, maintaining a distance for engagement but not to become locked in a death struggle, promptly reporting to the flagship after making contact.

What was this about!?

The issue was that the order was internally contradictory!

"Report!"

The communication officer suddenly shouted, startling Wei Jun.

Another dispatch had arrived, this time from the "Changzhou" Heavy Cruiser.

The "Wuzhou" and the "Changzhou" were both tasked with covering the "Imperial Capital" and "Peijing" respectively. For this reason, both ships were equipped with radar.

Although the radar was mainly used for anti-air, searching for enemy aircraft in the sky, it possessed a certain sea-search capability, albeit not as prominent. The detection range of less than twenty kilometers was not as good as a lookout’s view; during daylight, it was essentially useless. But at night, that was a different story.

The "Changzhou" had also received the order and was now accelerating to catch up.

Four heavy cruisers, a total of thirty-six main guns.

It seemed like a lot, but they were just fire sticks.

In front of the Saiyi Navy’s battleships, the 200 mm naval guns of a heavy cruiser were nothing but fire sticks, weren’t they?

In a real battle, even if you fired the guns right against the belly of a battleship, you couldn’t penetrate the thick armor; at most, it would be akin to scratching an itch for the battleship.

Threat-wise, heavy torpedoes would be more significant.

Unfortunately, the "Wuzhou" class was the last Treaty Type heavy cruiser in the Empire’s navy, and they had omitted the normally unnecessary torpedo launchers in their design.

But the orders were clear.

"Captain?"

"The Commander has already issued the order, execute it."

After the Wei Jun issued the order, the Communication Advisor didn’t ask any further and immediately took action.

Then, the battle alarm sounded.

At this moment, inside the Two-car Strait, the flagship of the Permanent Fleet, the "Damen" number.

Just past dawn, Takano returned to the Command Bridge.

In the afternoon, actually at dusk, upon receiving the battle report from the Fifth Air Corps, Takano fainted on the spot, and nearly didn’t make it.

In just over ten minutes, the Fifth Air Corps suffered a devastating blow, and the two carriers that carried their hopes were suddenly no more!

Even if Takano didn’t have a heart condition, something like this could have triggered one.

In fact, Takano being overwhelmed was due to acute distress.

What could he say?

Lan Yun and Sawa were the Commanders he had selected, both known for their steadiness, and before this, no one could have imagined that these two would capsize in a gutter.

Where had things gone wrong?

Takano racked his brains, but he couldn’t figure it out.

If the annihilation of the Mobile Fleet was due to a trap, the Liangxia Navy had been ready for a long time, with four carriers not returning to Chengjiang Port, lying in wait south of Foot Island, catching the Mobile Fleet off guard. The question is, how did the third Aviation Mixed Fleet, commanded by a silver-spoon, annihilate the Fifth Air Corps?

If even a spoiled heir could be so formidable, who else could defeat the Liangxia Navy?

Besides, Sawa had made no mistakes.

Although it was incomprehensible, Takano had to admit that the Saiyi Navy had lost the opportunity to turn defeat into victory, and the situation could be said to be gone.

What followed was no longer a quest for victory, but for not being defeated!

So then, how to achieve being undefeated?

During the few hours he lay down to rest, Takano had been pondering this question.

Of course, it wasn’t time for despair yet, and hope remained very significant, the future could even be considered bright.

When it came to solutions, in fact, they were right in front of him.

If he could take this opportunity to give the Newland Federation and the Bulan Kingdom a reason to join the war, no matter the losses, it would be worth every penny.

That’s why Takano hadn’t ordered the four Fast Battleships heading south.

If the four "Jingangs" entered the territorial waters of Nanzhu Country and were then attacked by the Liangxia Fleet, wouldn’t that be handing a reason to go to war on a plate to the Newland Federation?

Even if he missed this opportunity, it didn’t matter.

After gaining the initiative, the Liangxia Navy would certainly try to take over the Sado Islands and Watcher Strait, then face the choice of moving south or east.

By that time, the Liangxia Empire would naturally present the Newland Federation with a reason to start a war.

After the last major war, the Liangxia Empire of today is no longer the Liangxia Empire of the past. Having broken out of the Xu Sea and the Flame Sea, no matter which direction it advances in, the Liangxia Navy will face two tigers blocking the way. For the Liangxia Navy, the only choice is who to start the war with first.

At present, it seems the Liangxia Navy is focusing on the East Ocean, essentially choosing to face down the Newland Federation first.

Even if he was deluding himself, at least Takano could let himself rest at ease for a few hours.

In fact, it was just a few hours.

Tanimoto remembered Takano’s instructions, to wake him half an hour before the Main Battle Corps left the Two-car Strait and entered the East Ocean, to decide what to do next.

Three options.

Head north to rendezvous with the Second Main Battle Corps and the Third Air Corps, then go to Watcher Strait to intercept the Domestic Fleet, or retreat to the Saiyi homeland.

Evade to the east, to Liuhuang Island, located at the southern end of the Volcanic Islands, right next to the North Ma Islands, and hold the hub of the West East Ocean.

Go south to Tuk Fortress, relying on this painstakingly maintained naval base of over ten years, to defend the strategic passage heading south, and decide the battle with the Liangxia Navy in the Southwest East Ocean far from home.

Takano didn’t make a decision yesterday, only hoping to gather more intelligence.

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