Empire Conquest
Chapter 438 - 434 Strategic Adventure

Chapter 438: Chapter 434 Strategic Adventure

After waiting a few hours, we finally received a reply telegram from the Navy headquarter, signed by Zheng Jiangming.

However, this reply telegram was of little practical significance.

No intelligence on the "Fenjin" had been received. The last confirmed report, from three months ago, indicated that the "Fenjin" had departed from Treasure Harbor with a few destroyers as escort, carrying dozens of ship-borne aircraft and over a hundred rookie pilots for training in the waters east of the Howay Islands.

Moreover, in mid-December of last year, it was very likely that the "Fenjin" was still east of the Howay Islands, acting as a transfer platform for tactical aircraft.

However, at that time, it’s also possible that there was an escort aircraft carrier operating in that area.

After that, no more intelligence related to the "Fenjin" had been received.

There’s reason to believe that the "Fenjin" definitely did not enter the Sunset Ocean through the Wangxi Canal, otherwise, local intelligence personnel would have discovered it by now.

After reading the telegram, Bai Zhizhan directly flipped open a world map.

To go from East Ocean to Fan Flame Ocean, there are only two routes: one is to go around the south of Aus; the other is through the Sunset Ocean.

If it’s the former, there’s nothing much to say.

Based on the time estimation, the "Fenjin" might still be en route and hasn’t arrived at Aus yet, but it would definitely arrive soon.

If it’s the latter, then it gets complicated.

Since the "Fenjin" did not go through the Wangxi Canal, it could only go south through the Joint angle, which is to say, it went to the South Sunset Ocean, and then entered the Fan Flame Ocean through Far View Cape.

The lengths of these two routes are not much different; the latter is just slightly longer.

Yet, the distance being longer simply means a few more days of sailing.

Which route to choose has nothing to do with the distance; it’s determined by strategic needs.

As previously mentioned, in terms of strategy in the Fan Flame Ocean, the Bulan Kingdom is primarily employing delay tactics.

The Newland Federation is now too preoccupied with their own issues, and it’s uncertain whether they can influence the Bulan Kingdom.

If the Bulan Kingdom is in charge, both sides will try to avoid a decisive battle with the Imperial Fleet, aiming to wear down the Imperial Navy in the Fan Flame Ocean for a year and a half.

With the "Fenjin" heading to the Fan Flame Ocean, plus the three Bulan carriers, the only countermeasure for the Imperial Navy would be to dispatch a Special Mixed Fleet.

Then, it would be impossible to attack Guan Island in the near future.

Or to put it another way, we might have to temporarily give up the strategic offensive in the East Ocean.

Of course, according to the original plan, this was meant to be a feint.

However, even with two Special Mixed Fleets, since they are operating independently, they might not find an opportunity for a decisive battle and cannot guarantee to seize control of the sea in the Fan Flame Ocean through fleet engagements.

If it gets dragged on for half a year, that would be troublesome!

"If you were Cunningham, what would be your first concern?"

"That would be worry."

Bai Zhizhan did not respond; it amounted to the same thing.

Zhou Yongtao pondered for a bit before saying, "This entire set of tactics has two key points. One is the mutual cooperation between the two navies. That’s between him and Spur, and it’s not something we can manage. The other point is on our side, which is whether we can discover them in time."

"Why?"

"All this display of force by the Bulan Kingdom has only one true purpose: to make us believe that they will defend Lion Spring City at any cost. Only by believing this will we think that Cunningham will bring the Fleet over as quickly as possible, causing us to arrange our fleet to participate in the operation to attack Lion Spring City. We would enter the Fan Flame Ocean only after taking the city. No matter what, it will take a considerable amount of time."

"But in the end, we found out that the Bulan Fleet never came at all," Bai Zhizhan added.

"And then our guard would be lowered."

Bai Zhizhan sighed with relief. If he let down his guard, impending doom would follow.

"Proving this conjecture shouldn’t be difficult."

"Is there a way?"

Zhou Yongtao smiled and said, "Since we can’t send ships into the Flame Sea, and it’s very difficult to send aircraft, all the Bulan Royal Navy can do is closely monitor all the straits leading to the Fan Flame Ocean, preventing us from slipping into the Fan Flame Ocean without being detected. If needed, they’ll even use naval mines to blockade these straits. As for surveillance, well, they don’t need planes, just a few submarines will suffice."

At that, Bai Zhizhan furrowed his brow even tighter.

"We’ll send a few destroyers to the southern Xunfeng Strait, drop a bunch of deep water bombs when they get there, and have seaplanes and patrol aircraft monitor the area. I bet we’ll definitely scare up a few Bulan submarines with those deep water bombs, and they’ll appear in the open waters south of the strait."

"What’s the bet?"

"A hundred bucks."

Without saying much, Bai Zhizhan took out a hundred-yuan bill and handed it to Zhou Yongtao.

Zhou Yangtao was taken aback, not understanding Bai Zhizhan’s intentions.

They had just made a bet, and the outcome had yet to be decided.

"Isn’t this what you and Li always do? Take it, I believe you’re bound to win, and I hope so too. Now, go make the arrangements."

"Okay, I’ll go find Li."

After Bai Zhizhan made his instructions clear, Zhou Yongtao was very direct.

Arranging tasks for the Air Force was Zhou Yongtao’s responsibility, but moving ships within the fleet required Li Mingbo’s approval, and Zhou Yongtao didn’t have that authority.

Once Zhou Yongtao had left, Bai Zhizhan sat down.

He had already thought of this, and agreeing to the bet was only to avoid dampening Zhou Yongtao’s enthusiasm.

Just as Zhou Yongtao had analyzed, if the Bulan Fleet had not rushed over at full speed, they would definitely closely monitor those straits.

There was only one goal.

To immediately adjust the tactics for defending Lion Spring City upon spotting the Imperial Fleet breaking into the Fan Flame Ocean and, if necessary, even proactively abandon Lion Spring City.

Lion Spring City was an island fortress; without fleet protection, even an army of a million could not defend it.

In fact, the Bulan Kingdom’s homeland was essentially a national-level island fortress.

This was why, for the hundreds of years around the Industrial Revolution, the Bulan Kingdom always prioritized its Navy and established its national strategic security on a powerful Navy.

For the Bulan Kingdom’s Commander and the commanders of the Bulan Royal Navy, they certainly knew the secrets of defending an island fortress well.

The key lay in one point: the real fortress wasn’t the fortress itself but the mobile fortification, namely the Fleet. Therefore, they absolutely couldn’t lose the fleet for the sake of defending a fortress.

That’s why, without absolute certainty, the Bulan Royal Navy might even consider retreating step by step to Jibu Fortress, just like during the last great war.

Relying on the vast Xuan Continent, with the Narrow Sea to the north and control of the Xifan Canal, holding Jibu Fortress was even easier.

Over the past 200 years, Jibu Fortress had only been captured once, and that was after Chen Bingxun’s martyrdom when the Imperial Army cut off its ground supply lines. After months of Bulan troops’ desperate defense, they ultimately surrendered due to running out of bullets and food, or, to put it accurately, they signed a pact beneath the walls with the Empire.

All in all, with insufficient strength, the likelihood of the Bulan troops stubbornly defending Lion Spring City was not high.

Following this theory, perhaps Cunningham had long made the decision to abandon Lion Spring City but was too concerned with face to admit and announce it publicly.

Then, was there any reason to waste time at Lion Spring City?

In fact, it was only after clarifying this issue that Bai Zhizhan had the resolve to follow Chen Bingxun’s example and break into the Fan Flame Ocean in advance!

At this point, Bai Zhizhan finally fully understood why Chen Bingxun had taken the risk back then.

At least from a strategic perspective, there was value and necessity to take the risk, and the rewards of a successful gamble were far too tempting.