Chapter 2 Preparing for the Enemy

Command Bridge.

The telephone rang three times before the Combat Staff Advisor picked up the receiver.

"Command Bridge, this is the Combat Staff Advisor…"

Major General He Yongxing, nicknamed "East Ocean Tiger," stood behind the forward portside window.

Behind him, several senior staff members were gathered around the nautical chart table, discussing in hushed tones.

Staring at the albatrosses that kept soaring nearby, hovering and reluctant to leave, He Yongxing's thoughts had already drifted far away.

Seventeen years ago, after graduating from the Imperial Naval Academy, He Yongxing had sailed through here aboard a battleship to enter the East Ocean. In the subsequent half year, this fleet, with eight new battleships at its core, totaling more than forty ships, and all painted black, completed a circumnavigation under the watch of the entire world. Back then, here, there had also been several albatrosses following behind the battleship.

At that time, the Imperial Navy, like the blazing sun in the sky, was powerful enough to make the whole world tremble!

But now?

To say there was still a chance to turn defeat into victory would be nothing but self-deception.

The officers and soldiers below may not understand, but He Yongxing certainly knew.

The Imperial Navy's Domestic Fleet, including the 21st Sub-fleet, had a total of twenty-four Main Battle Ships, which was of comparable size to the forces at the start of the war four years ago. Because it included twelve Super Dreadnoughts and four new battlecruisers, the combat strength was even more formidable than at the start of the conflict.

However, the adversary of the Domestic Fleet, that is, the Joint Fleet, had thirty-six Main Battle Ships, and could dispatch over twenty more if necessary.

The Domestic Fleet lacked not only battleships but also ammunition, fuel, and provisions.

For this expedition alone, it had taken three months just to gather food and other provisions, to much grumbling, and it had not been until the resignation of the logistics chief to take responsibility that civilian discontent was placated.

To drag things out was surely a path to certain death.

Mobilizing all forces for a decisive battle against the enemy, there might still be a glimmer of hope.

In terms of combat tactics, since it was going to be a decisive battle, they just needed to find the Enemy Fleet and engage; what was there to discuss?

"Commander He!"

The sudden call from behind jolted He Yongxing out of his reverie, pulling his thoughts back.

"The lookout reports a sighting of an Enemy Fleet to the southeast, preliminarily identified as six large Battleships, suspected to be the previously separated first Battle Patrol Squad."

Reporting to He Yongxing was Colonel Gui Boyong, the Combat Staff Advisor.

Turning to glance at Gui Boyong, He Yongxing then picked up a pair of binoculars to look toward the southeast.

After searching for a while, he managed to see a few indistinct smoke plumes, whose numbers were still unclear at this time.

It was really too far; the enemy ships were still below the horizon line.

Perhaps, the lookouts at the top of the mast could see the enemy vessels.

"Commander He?"

Not only Gui Boyong, but dozens of staff officers at the headquarters were all staring at He Yongxing, waiting for the Commander to issue orders.

"Contact the lookout tower, and after getting a clear identification, report back."

After He Yongxing finished speaking, Gui Boyong didn't leave immediately; he hesitated slightly before he turned and walked over to his post.

"What time is it now?" He Yongxing asked after Gui Boyong had returned to his station.

"It's almost nine-thirty."

He Yongxing's eyebrows twitched a few times; he seemed to have thought of something. "Contact the three ships behind us, raise the Medicine Flag, and forbid the use of radio."

As Commander He Yongxing issued his orders, Gui Boyong signaled to the Communication Advisor a few times.

"Tell the 'Ji River' and 'Gui River' to slow down. Make sure they stay beyond the enemy fleet's lookout range."

"Any other orders?"

"That's it for now, give the order!"

Gui Boyong didn't ask any more questions, he grabbed the handset and personally issued the orders to the Lookout Chief. As for the other commands, they were communicated by the Communication Advisor.

At this time, inside the lookout tower.

When the phone rang, the Lookout Chief immediately picked up the handset.

"Yes... yes... yes!" After saying "yes" three times, the Lookout Chief finally put down the handset. "Lieutenant Bai, headquarter has ordered us to report only after identifying the enemy ships."

"My name is Bai Zhizhan, just call me 'Bai'."

Bai Zhizhan continued to observe the smoke columns to the southeast through his forty-powered binoculars, unfazed by the reply from the Command Bridge.

"Li, are you sure it's six smoke columns?"

Through the binoculars, one could clearly see the black smoke drifting up from under the horizon, but due to the heading, the smoke columns at the back were obscured, making it impossible to count them clearly.

"Bai... I'm a few years older than you, so I won't stand on ceremony. As Brother Li, I have been a lookout for so many years, these 'Eagle Eyes' of mine are not just for show." The Lookout Chief let out a chuckle and said, "By the way, my name is Li Mingbo, if you don't mind, you can call me 'Brother Li'."

"Brother Li..."

"What's this all about!?"

Just as Bai Zhizhan was speaking, Li Mingbo suddenly exclaimed.

Turning his head, Bai Zhizhan immediately understood.

Behind the lookout tower, the Medicine Flag, also known as the "Sunrise Shining Sea," the Saiyi Navy's naval ensign, was swiftly rising to the top of the mast.

At the same time, the Red Blood Battle Flag was being lowered on the other side of the mast.

"Brother Li, it's time to fight!"

Bai Zhizhan kept his excitement in check and picked up the portable binoculars to look back.

The two trailing battleships of the formation, the "Ji River" and the "Gui River," had already started to slow down, and the "Ji River" unfurled the flag signal for "Complete Victory."

The three ships following the "North River," namely the "Nanjiang," "Lu River," and "Yuejiang," did not slow down; they also raised the Medicine Flag simultaneously.

Seen from a distance, these four ships were the four battlecruisers of the "Jingang" class in the second Battle Patrol of the Joint Fleet.

Of course, the Medicine Flag was not a magician's cape possessing deceptive magic.

In terms of external appearance, especially the superstructure, the "North River" class and the "Lu River" class shared many similarities with the Saiyi Navy's "Jingang" class. The reason was simple: the original design of the "Jingang" class came from the Bulan Navy's "Tiger," and the "Lu River" class also referenced the overall layout of the "Tiger." The "North River" class was an enlarged and improved version of the "Lu River" class, with no significant changes to the overall layout.

The most distinctive feature of the "North River" class was the rear turret positioning of the two main gun turrets.

From the front, because the "North River" class also had a tripod mast and adopted a gradient color camouflage, at a glance, it indeed looked quite similar to the "Jingang" class. Even though the Command Tower of the "North River" was quite tall and the angle of the bow's overhang was greater, different from the "Jingang" class, by the time one could see the Command Tower and the bow, they would definitely be within combat range, and it's likely the battle would have already been decided, making camouflage pointless.

The key was whether they could get close to the enemy fleet before being detected!

"Bai, look down!"

Alerted by Li Mingbo, Bai Zhizhan turned and looked ahead.

The two main gun turrets were rotating swiftly, and the four gun barrels were also moving up and down, indicating that the gunners were checking the movement mechanism of the turrets and main guns.

In addition, the secondary gun turrets located outside the bridge and Command Tower began to rotate.

All these were tasks that had to be done before the battle commenced.