Empire Conquest
Chapter 370 - 366 Who Wins and Who Loses

Chapter 370: Chapter 366 Who Wins and Who Loses

Regarding the outcome of the "Northwest East Ocean Battle," there was not much controversy over whether it was a win or lose at the tactical level or at the campaign and strategic levels.

But when it came to propaganda, that was another story.

Bai Zhizhan received the news on his way back, the Newland Navy Department publicly claimed that they had sunk four of Liangxia Navy’s carrier fleet!

Which four?

The "Longjiang," "Mo River," "Imperial Capital," "Peijing."

Although they did not hide their own losses, admitting that three carriers had been sunk and one severely damaged, only the "Fenjin" remained intact. Based on the outcome of sinking four of Liangxia Navy’s carrier fleet, the Newland Navy declared itself the true victor of this naval battle.

This assertion itself was problematic.

Let’s not forget, the Newland Navy also lost five battleships, one battleship was heavily damaged, and two heavy cruisers were sunk.

It is clear that even though Liangxia Navy lost four carriers, simply by calculating the total tonnage of the lost warships, the Newland Navy did not win.

Moreover, Liangxia Navy only lost one carrier and had two severely damaged.

From a short-term perspective, it was pretty much a tie for both sides.

After the naval battle, the Newland Navy was left with just one operational carrier, the "Fenjin," to organize an attack, they had to call in two smaller carriers from the Sunset Ocean to the East Ocean. Because the two small fleet carriers had limited combat power, even with three carriers, it was uncertain if the Newland Navy could organize an attack in the East Ocean.

Liangxia Navy was also left with only the "Peijing." To reorganize and launch another attack, they had to bring the poorly conditioned "Heng River" into action, and they only had two carriers as well. From a tactical standpoint, it was difficult to achieve a decisive impact with just two fleet carriers.

Even without carriers, the Newland Navy could use shore-based air force to counter the shipborne air force carried by the two carriers.

Thus, both sides could be said to have fought to a draw at the campaign level.

Of course, the Newland Navy would not admit this in their propaganda.

According to the news released by Newland media, the Newland Navy was the victor, claiming that after this naval battle, Liangxia Navy had lost the capacity to launch campaign-level offensives, abruptly halting their strategic expansion after the start of the war, effectively stabilizing the situation in the East Ocean.

The reality, however, was quite the opposite of this representation.

It later came to light that on the very day of the 13th, Rofuss had signed a presidential decree authorizing the newly appointed Army Commander of the East Ocean, Vice Admiral Mike, to prepare the garrison in Nanzhu Country for retreat, ensuring a swift withdrawal to Ao Country when necessary.

That is to say, at that time, Rofuss had already decided to give up on Nanzhu Country, or at least not to defend this colony to the death.

Given the situation, the Newland Army would not have been able to defend Nanzhu Country against an offensive by Liangxia forces, and Ao Country held far greater strategic value than Nanzhu Country.

In short, Ao Country could not be forsaken for the sake of Nanzhu Country.

At the campaign level, the Newland Navy also suffered a disastrous defeat.

The same was true at the strategic level.

In its external propaganda, the Newland Authority continuously emphasized that it had thwarted the offensive momentum of the Liangxia Navy, shattering the myth of their invincibility.

Was that really the case?

Several months later, Liangxia Navy would receive four large carriers and four fast battleships. If they managed to repair the two heavily damaged fleet carriers by then, along with the four fast battleships, they would possess seven carriers and ten fast battleships, as well as about ten old battleships.

Inside Chengjiang Port, nine battleships had been salvaged, among which the repair work on two "Longxing" class ships would certainly be completed within the year, and the rest of the seven battleships could basically be repaired by New Calendar 101, with the four less damaged ones rejoining the fleet in the first half of the year.

That is to say, by the end of June New Calendar 101, the Imperial Navy would have 7 carriers, 10 fast battleships, and 6 "Longxing" class battleships, plus 4 new heavy cruisers, 4 long-range cruisers, 8 light cruisers, and nearly 20 large destroyers.

If everything went smoothly, the first large-scale, long-range submarine built with Tiaoman technology could have been delivered to the Imperial Navy by June.

Newland Navy?

The earliest they could get the "Ethe" would be the beginning of Year 102 of the New Calendar.

Even if the "Lek" were repaired within a few months, the Newland Navy would only have two carriers.

There could be at most two fast battleships by the first half of next year, while the other four wouldn’t be built and delivered until Year 102 of the New Calendar.

As for the old-style battleships that were already difficult to use as the main force, even if the entire Sunset Ocean Fleet were deployed, there would only be about a dozen.

It was clear that even by Year 102 of the New Calendar, the Newland Navy might not achieve superiority in terms of military force, let alone gain the strategic initiative.

By Year 103 of the New Calendar, even if the Newland Federation had completed war mobilization and new warships started to be produced in droves, they still might not secure the strategic initiative.

Starting from Year 102 of the New Calendar, the Imperial Navy’s new warships would begin to be produced en masse!

Unless the Imperial Navy received a heavy blow and suffered massive losses, such as several carriers being sunk, the Newland Navy, especially the number of principal warships like carriers and fast battleships, could exceed that of the Imperial Navy even before the moment of defeat.

In fact, the Newland Navy, having fought with all its might in the Northwest East Ocean Battle, was eyeing this very point.

To set a good example and mobilize the Allies.

On the morning of October 14th, Bai Zhizhan had just woken up, and while he was having breakfast, his Communication Advisor delivered the news received late last night.

The Prime Minister of Bulan Kingdom, Chur, had formally declared war on the Liangxia Empire yesterday afternoon local time, which was the night of the 13th according to Imperial time.

Influenced by this, Liu Xiangdong had personally led the First Fleet into the Flame Sea.

Though it was called a fleet, and moreover the "First" Fleet, the main force was actually four heavy cruisers, as well as the "Sea Dragon," which had not been scrapped due to the outbreak of the war.

It was indeed very meager, but sufficient to deal with the colonial armies deployed by the Great Powers around the Flame Sea.

Furthermore, based on the Sixth Bureau’s estimates, the Bulan Royal Navy’s Fan Flame Ocean Fleet would not immediately enter the Flame Sea, as they would wait for the carrier battle group to arrive.

This fleet’s main force comprised several decrepit armored cruisers built before the outbreak of the previous war.

If Chur wanted to make an impact, he would need to deploy carriers to the Fan Flame Ocean soon.

As for whether to venture into the Flame Sea, it would depend on whether he had enough confidence and could gain corresponding benefits.

As of now, it was still uncertain.

The Flame Sea was a mediterranean sea, surrounded entirely by land and islands. Even if the sea area was vast, fleets could easily fall prey to attacks from shore-based air forces.

Without carriers, sending a fleet meant a certain death.

Furthermore, sending carriers over was no easy feat.

Not to mention anything else, logistical support was a major issue, and with the Tiaoman Navy eager to try their luck, the Bulan Royal Navy might not dare to divide their forces.

If Rofuss didn’t offer enough benefits, Chur might not be willing to take risks for them.

As a result, it was quite normal for delays of several months to occur.

However, the declaration of war by the Bulan Kingdom against the Empire meant that it was no longer possible to import oil from Boss Bay, and it also meant that all shipping routes through the Fan Flame Ocean were cut off.

This was not good news at all!

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