Empire Conquest
Chapter 241 - 237: Intelligence Six Days Late

Chapter 241: Chapter 237: Intelligence Six Days Late

"Commander!"

As the communication advisor delivered the telegram, the "Jingang" was turning to reduce its speed.

Not to change course, but to rendezvous with a tanker for a second refueling session. There was no other choice; they would enter the landing zone by tomorrow night, necessitating full-speed sailing in the meantime, so they had to refuel beforehand, filling the fuel tanks to ensure they could return to the homeland after the battle.

After this refueling session, the four tankers would return to the pipeline.

These were Newland Federation tankers, and the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom couldn’t afford to offend Newland Federation now.

Requisition?

That was merely diplomatic jargon, taking on responsibility, so that the Newland Federation would not be liable for supplying fuel to Saiyi’s battleships.

The crux wasn’t international implications, but domestic within the Newland Federation.

Since Congress had not approved any bills related to the war, even the President had no authority to command the tanker owners. If the orders came from the Grey Palace, to put it gravely, that would constitute an undeniable act of war, and the Newland President would be impeached.

The Saiyi Imperial Kingdom stepped in to requisition, making these issues nonexistent.

A telegram from the Military Command Department.

Liangxia’s Navy’s landing forces had already seized the beachhead positions and started to push towards the hinterlands of the island; all the landing crafts carrying equipment and supplies amassed in the landing zone, more precisely, in the open seawaters outside the beachhead positions, consisted of tens of ships protected by several destroyers.

These ships, they were all lambs to the slaughter!

Additionally, the combat operation had been finalized, codenamed "Heavenly Wind."

Centuries ago, on the Giant Continent, a horde of grassland cavalry that had conquered much of the world gathered across Shuangma Strait, preparing to cross the sea to attack the Saiyi Imperial Country. An unexpected typhoon struck, sending hundreds of ships to the bottom of the sea, and the Saiyi Imperial Country narrowly escaped disaster.

Legend has it that it was a mighty wind raised by the Amaterasu to protect her people.

Thus, "Heavenly Wind" became an auspicious sign for the Saiyi Imperial Country.

According to Tanimoto’s plan, the Permanent Fleet would launch a surprise attack on the night of the 19th, shelling the landing zone ships and enemies on the beaches. The time to retreat would depend on the situation, ensuring not to arrive later than the early hours of the 20th. As the Permanent Fleet arrived and initiated the attack, the defense forces would simultaneously launch a reprisal, striving to force the landing enemies back into the sea overnight, smashing Liangxia Navy’s attempt to capture Liuhuang Island in one fell swoop!

If successful, they could certainly hold out for several months.

Redrafting combat plans, preparing combat materials, and organizing fighting troops would all take months, not to mention the time required to assault Liuhuang Island itself.

Initially, Lan Yun had little hope for a successful assault on the landing zone.

Going to their deaths was certain, but achieving victory was another matter entirely.

Without a carrier, the shore-based air force couldn’t play a role and couldn’t achieve aerial superiority—how could they possibly fight?

Even with four fast battleships, it was unlikely they would make it to the landing zone successfully; they might be sunk hundreds of kilometers away from Liuhuang Island.

Let’s not forget, just over twenty days ago in the Flame Sea, the Mobile Fleet had faced defeat!

What happened next, however, gave Lan Yun a glimmer of hope.

Tanimoto not only didn’t hide the news of Li Zhong’s death but also fully exploited the situation by intentionally leaking it, practically serving it to Liangxia’s intelligence officers, letting Liangxia’s Navy know that Li Zhong had perished and that the garrison on Liuhuang Island had turned into a disordered mob.

Additionally, Tanimoto anticipated that Liangxia Navy would initiate their operation to land on Liuhuang Island ahead of schedule.

At the earliest, on the afternoon of the 16th; if delayed, it would definitely happen by the morning of the 17th.

Indeed, Liangxia Navy launched their landing operation on the morning of the 17th. Because the operation was so rushed and the time allocated was too short, the preparatory artillery fire before landing inflicted minimal casualties on the defenders, who still possessed sufficient combat strength.

Tanimoto had judged the situation accurately and laid an almost perfect trap; Liangxia Navy had not unraveled it.

Moreover, Tanimoto hadn’t put too much pressure on the defending forces.

Their only task was to hold out until the Permanent Fleet arrived; once the Permanent Fleet broke into the landing zone, they would counterattack and crush the landing enemies.

Tanimoto had also assured all officers that after the battle ended, the battleships would arrange for them to return home.

To ensure the execution of orders, Tanimoto had asked the Prime Minister for a handwritten decree and personally delivered it to the headquarter, requesting the Army’s unconditional cooperation.

It was exactly for this reason that the defense forces had been steadfastly holding their positions.

As a result, the Saiyi Marine Corps, which had landed in Liuhuang Island, could not advance inland as planned, with the main force still positioned at the beachhead.

Up to this point, everything had been progressing according to Tanimoto’s deployment, developing in the direction he had predicted.

Thinking about this, Lan Yun couldn’t help but sigh.

Just over twenty days ago, Tanimoto was still a Major Staff Advisor whom few generals respected.

Who could have predicted that at the critical moment of the Imperial Country’s peril, the one to stand up and save the Navy and the Imperial Country would be such an unremarkable character.

"Commander!"

The Communication Advisor suddenly shouted from behind, causing Lan Yun to shiver several times.

However, the Communication Advisor didn’t mince words, and when Lan Yun turned around, he handed over the telegram in his hand, which was trembling slightly.

A newly received telegram?

Lan Yun was very puzzled, having already noticed the tense expression on the Communication Advisor’s face.

Taking the telegram, Lan Yun’s hands also began to tremble.

Indeed, it had just been received, and it was a piece of intelligence related to the Saiyi Navy.

"Commander?" the Communication Advisor softly reminded Lan Yun.

The other chief Staff Advisors from the Fleet Headquarter had come out, all staring at Lan Yun, or more accurately, waiting for Lan Yun to issue new orders.

Everyone’s expression was extremely solemn; they must already know the content of the telegram.

"How much fuel is left in the ships?" Lan Yun glanced at the telegram again before returning it to the Communication Advisor, though he actually wanted to tear the piece of paper to shreds.

"The four main battle ships still have two-thirds of their fuel reserves, and the cruisers have over sixty percent."

"If we don’t refuel, can we return to our homeland after completing the combat mission?"

"Absolutely no problem, we just need to fill some of the fuel tanks with seawater, so after returning to our homeland, we will definitely need to thoroughly clean those tanks, which would mean..."

Lan Yun looked at the Nautical Advisor impatiently.

"Returning home definitely won’t be a problem." the Nautical Advisor immediately concluded.

"Go and issue the orders. Cancel tonight’s refueling operation, have all ships immediately enter combat readiness, and assign more personnel to enhance air lookout."

The Nautical Advisor didn’t delay further, exchanged a glance with the Communication Advisor, and then walked away.

"Commander, any more orders?" asked the Communication Advisor, as he was going to issue the orders, so he might as well send them all at once if there were others.

Lan Yun let out a sigh, shook his head, and waved his hand.

The Communication Advisor didn’t ask further, and the other Staff Advisors tactfully returned to the Command Bridge.

That telegram, or rather, the intelligence, had been delayed by a full six days!

In six days, a carrier battle group could travel thousands of kilometers.

Perhaps it was all needless worry.

That carrier might have been undergoing repair and then went to the open sea for testing, which explained why the Saiyi Navy’s secrecy was so well maintained.

Of course, it was just one carrier.

Even if that legendary Saiyi naval commander was directing it, he might not dare to take a single carrier deep into the ocean to meet unpredictable challenges.

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