Chapter 7 Sinking

The passageways to the navigation bridge and the hatches leading to the open deck were all sealed shut, with damage control personnel on guard at every watertight door.

Passing the officers' mess, Bai Zhizhan grabbed some food.

It had been over six hours since his shift started at four in the morning, and during that time, he had endured over two hours of sea breeze atop the mast.

However, reminiscing about the bloody scene at the medical center, as if the dismembered limbs were frozen before his eyes, the stench of blood that lingered long in his nostrils, and the groans that wouldn't leave his ears, Bai Zhizhan threw up everything he had eaten upon leaving the officers' mess.

By the time he made it back to the command bridge, it was already ten twenty.

The gun battle raged on, although the North River was no longer demonstrating the heroic valor from earlier.

The shell that destroyed more than half of the navigation bridge also damaged the main rangefinder installed above it! Using the auxiliary rangefinder on top of the aft bridge, the main gun's firing precision, or rather hit rate, significantly dropped, with several volleys failing to hit the enemy vessel.

Inside the command bridge, Combat Staff Advisor Gui Boyong was issuing orders through the internal phone.

He Yongxing stood by the nautical chart table as several staff officers briefed him on the combat situation.

"Bai Zhizhan, you're just in time, quickly... what happened to you?" The Nautical Advisor walked over and was startled when he took a clear look at Bai Zhizhan.

Pale-faced and covered in blood, he looked like an evil spirit who had just crawled out of hell—quite a frightening sight.

Noticing the Nautical Advisor's expression, Bai Zhizhan reached up to his face and wiped it. "It's not my blood, I'm not injured."

"Clean yourself up quickly." The Nautical Advisor handed a handkerchief to Bai Zhizhan and, as Bai wiped off the blood, continued, "Take the spare nautical charts to the aft bridge and follow the commands of Major Luo Dingbang. The communications center is down, so we have to transmit orders through the Nanjiang."

Bai Zhizhan nodded in agreement. Major Luo Dingbang was the North River's second mate, staying behind at the aft bridge during the battle.

That Major Luo Dingbang was commanding the flagship indicated that Captain Zhang Zhuguo, a Colonel, and the first mate who followed him to the navigation bridge had lost their ability to command.

"Look!"

At that moment, a staff officer shouted. Following that, there was a stir on the bridge.

To the southeast, a ball of fire rolled into the sky, more accurately, a cloud of smoke.

It was too bright—even from over ten kilometers away, it was clearly visible!

As everyone watched the fireball to the east, Gui Boyong had already grabbed the telephone handset. After listening intently for a moment, he put it down.

"Commander He, the lookout reports, visually observing a large explosion at the front hull section of the enemy's fourth ship, near the bridge. It appears to be a main gun magazine detonation!"

"Keep watching and report back after confirmation!"

"Yes!"

Without further ado, Gui Boyong picked up the handset and gave the order to Li Mingbo at the lookout.

Bai Zhizhan approached a porthole and peered through binoculars in the direction of the smoke.

Since the Queen Mary and Reprisal had been repelled, the fourth enemy vessel was now effectively in the second position.

It was likely the Lion.

This battleship had served as Betty's flagship in the great naval battle over two years ago.

The smoke from the explosion obscured the view, but one could barely make out flames raging fiercely behind it.

"It's been confirmed, the fourth enemy vessel suffered a violent explosion after being hit and is rapidly sinking."

Sinking!?

Bai Zhizhan turned to look at the Combat Staff Advisor, and just then, his gaze met Commander He Yongxing's.

He Yongxing walked straight over, inspecting Bai Zhizhan closely, and finally nodded, his expression seeming to recognize Bai Zhizhan.

The smoke dissipated, and upon seeing clearly through the telescope, Bai Zhizhan was dumbstruck.

In fact, he hadn't seen anything clearly.

But it didn't matter anymore.

The fourth enemy ship was broken in two, with the bow section already gone from the surface, leaving the stern section protruding out of the water, sinking at a discernable speed to the naked eye.

That was a battlecruiser with a displacement close to thirty thousand tons. How tremendous a blow must it have taken to break it in two and sink it within minutes?

Just with cannon fire, it would be impossible.

The armor-piercing bullets fired by the Nanjiang's 400mm Main Gun weighed less than a ton and contained several kilograms of explosives at most, enough to blast a large hole in a ship's hull. Bullets capable of blowing a battlecruiser in half simply didn't exist; or rather, couldn't be created.

There was only one situation that could cause a battlecruiser to sink rapidly.

The Main Gun ammunition magazine was hit, and the tens of tons of stored ammunition detonated!

How long had they been firing!?

Bai Zhizhan subconsciously pulled out his pocket watch to look.

Twenty-four minutes past ten. Starting from the first salvo fired by the North River, exactly half an hour had passed!

Immediately afterwards, Bai Zhizhan's guess was confirmed.

Gui Boyong walked over to He Yongxing and said, "According to reports from the lookout tower, the fourth enemy ship is the 'Queen Mary.' The 'Nanjiang's' armor-piercing bullet directly hit the second turret and after penetrating several decks, exploded in the Main Gun magazine below."

"Contact the Nanjiang to fire at the third enemy ship, to alleviate the pressure on the flagship. Don't forget, let the acting captain inform the entire crew about the sinking of the enemy ship."

After Gui Boyong left, He Yongxing beckoned Bai Zhizhan over.

"Commander He."

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm not hurt; it's not my blood." Faced with He Yongxing's concern, Bai Zhizhan had to repeat what he had said earlier to the Nautical Advisor.

He Yongxing looked Bai Zhizhan over again and, after seeing the gas mask on Bai Zhizhan's waist, realized that he had been to the Navigation Bridge.

"We've won this battle; I will personally apply for commendation and a Promotion Order for you."

Bai Zhizhan was clearly shocked, but after noting He Yongxing's stern demeanor, he quickly said, "I've only done what a staff advisor should do, and if we've won a victory, it's all thanks to Commander He's command and leadership. I, a mere advisor, dare not take any credit."

"You're being too modest."

Having said that, He Yongxing made Bai Zhizhan feel that any further modesty would seem hypocritical.

"What do you think our chances of winning are?" He Yongxing suddenly asked a highly sensitive question, leaving Bai Zhizhan even more at a loss.

The Nautical Advisor came over with a spare nautical chart. Seeing that He Yongxing was speaking with Bai Zhizhan, he tactfully did not approach to interrupt.

It was clear to everyone that after accurately predicting the encounter with the Battle Patrol Squad, Bai Zhizhan had gained He Yongxing's favor, at the very least making him seem like promising material.

To be regarded highly by He Yongxing, even if not meteorically rising, would mean an unpredictable future!

"What's wrong, afraid to say it, or can't say it?"

"Commander He..."

Bai Zhizhan was in a quandary, as this was hardly a question a junior advisor could answer offhandedly.

He Yongxing still stared at Bai Zhizhan, only he didn't urge, giving him plenty of time to think it through before giving an answer.

Just at this moment, the Command Bridge became lively again.

In the distance, two plumes of smoke appeared, as both the fifth and sixth enemy ships were struck. In the blink of an eye, the two battleships were engulfed in a hail of gunfire!