Chapter 11 Encirclement and Interception

Although the "Lu River" had set its rudder hard over, due to limited sailing speed, the rudder's effectiveness was very low, and it couldn't turn quickly.

Inside the command bridge of the flagship, Bai Zhizhan and others watched as two torpedoes shot toward them from the starboard side, but there was nothing they could do.

The "Lu River" was trying hard to turn to starboard, attempting to align its bow with the incoming torpedoes.

As the front torpedo neared, everyone thought it was the end since the wake indicated it would hit the bow.

Yet, the explosion did not occur.

Immediately after, a wake appeared on the left side of the battleship.

What happened?

Did it pass underneath because it was set too deep?

While everyone was shocked, Bai Zhizhan had already rushed to the open gallery on the left side of the command bridge, raising his binoculars to look toward the stern.

There was no explosion.

Relief only came to the officers and men who had come to the open deck when they saw the wake that had nearly grazed the stern and was now extending into the distance.

After that, the communication advisor brought news that had just been received.

It wasn't just the "Lu River" under attack; six torpedoes had been fired at the "North River" and the "Nanjiang," with one hitting the "Nanjiang."

Fortunately, this torpedo also failed to detonate.

As there were no enemy ships nearby and the eight torpedoes all came from the same direction and were fired simultaneously, it was clear they came from a long-range submarine.

It must be said, the submarine commander was too greedy.

Had he focused on just one, or maybe two battleships, firing four torpedoes at a single battleship, he would have definitely achieved a different result.

Having just ended the battle with the First Battle Patrol Squad, the men of the 21st Sub-fleet were cautious, not letting down their guard.

The 21st Sub-fleet had no anti-submarine warships, so encountering a submarine meant they could only flee.

Back inside the bridge, He Yongxing immediately issued the order to return to base, using the route planned by Bai Zhizhan, heading directly for the Maze Channel.

That submarine, having launched a surprise attack, would surely report the positions of the 21st Sub-fleet. Before long, the Fast Battle Squad to the south and the Second Battle Patrol Squad moving southward would receive the news. If they did not leave now, East Ocean would become the last resting place for the 21st Sub-fleet and the thousands of Imperial Navy soldiers.

He Yongxing's concerns were not unfounded.

As the 21st Sub-fleet moved away, a periscope emerged above the water's surface and moments later, a black submarine surfaced, sending an urgent telegram.

At that time, east of Watcher Strait, about twenty kilometers east of the Maze Channel exit, the flagship of the Joint Fleet Fast Battle Squad, "Queen Yisha."

Cunningham stopped the communication advisor who was walking over with the telegram, not letting him disturb Betty.

After receiving the news that the First Battle Patrol Squad had encountered the 21st Sub-fleet and engaged in fierce combat, Betty had been standing next to the nautical chart table.

Subsequent messages brought both good and bad news.

The worst news was that the First Battle Patrol Squad had been defeated; three battlecruisers were sunk, and the other three also severely damaged, including thousands of soldiers killed, with over three thousand officers and men on just the three sunken battlecruisers.

Having suffered such tremendous losses, the only achievement was heavily damaging the enemy's flagship.

In fact, the credibility of this battle report from the "Tiger" was questionable because, according to reports from "Reputation" and "Reprisal," after the firefight ended and the "Tiger" had withdrawn from combat, there were no signs that the 21st Sub-fleet's lead ship was heavily damaged, and the 21st Sub-fleet's sailing speed had not decreased, indicating that it was not slowed due to damage to the lead ship.

Additionally, there's no way to confirm whether the lead ship is definitely the flagship "North River," as it might be the sister ship "Nanjing."

Of course, that's not to say there aren't any pieces of good news.

The greatest news came from three Main Force Squads.

About half an hour ago, the flagship "Binzhou" of the First Main Force Squad reported that three Main Force Squads, which include a total of twelve battleships of the Newland Navy, were en route at full speed, expecting to arrive by evening, by when they would be able to replace the Fast Battle Squad and completely block the Maze Channel.

Furthermore, the Fourth Main Force Squad of the Saiyi Navy is also about to depart from the Nabal Military Port, with an estimated time of arrival tonight.

By the latest tomorrow dawn, the Joint Fleet would be able to assemble sixteen battleships, five fast battleships, and four battlecruisers east of the Watcher Strait. As long as they make full use of the easily defended and hard-to-attack environment within the strait, they could easily handle the Domestic Fleet's counterattack from the Liangxia Empire.

In a few days, once the Fifth and Sixth Main Force Squads from the Bulan Kingdom join in, the Joint Fleet will gain a compelling numerical advantage.

The crux of the matter is whether they can block the Watcher Strait before the reinforcements arrive.

To speak of it, they still had to blame that sudden storm, or more accurately, the suddenly veering typhoon.

To avoid the typhoon, all of the Joint Fleet's battleships were withdrawn which resulted in only the battlecruisers and fast battleships with sufficient speed being able to return on time.

What really infuriated Betty was that those cowards of the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom, under the pretense of cleaning the boilers, let the Second Battle Patrol Squad remain in the Nabal Military Port instead of following the original plan of deploying with the First Battle Patrol Squad. Otherwise, the First Battle Patrol Squad wouldn't be facing the formidable 21st Sub-fleet alone.

Cunningham could fully understand Betty's feelings.

What enraged Betty wasn't the loss suffered; after all, more than two years ago, she had also been defeated by the weaker Public Sea Fleet Battle Patrol squad compared to the 21st Sub-fleet. The real issue was that the disintegration of the First Battle Patrol Squad disrupted the battle deployment.

If things didn't go well, the Fast Battle Squad could even find themselves caught between two fires!

Additionally, Gunter had already been killed in action for his country, so Betty had to shoulder the blame.

However, now was not the time for complaints.

After delivering the telegram to Betty, Cunningham had gone to mark out the areas mentioned in the telegram on the chart and also plotted the course of the 21st Sub-fleet.

"Andrew, do you think the 21st Sub-fleet will come this way?" Betty, having put down the telegram, asked Cunningham standing across from her.

"That's not the key issue."

Betty's eyebrows were tightly knitted, signaling Cunningham to continue.

Had it not been for Cunningham's youth and previous experience limited to serving only on destroyers without having commanded a main battleship, it wouldn't have been Gunter's turn to command the First Battle Patrol Squad.

After accepting the appointment from the Ministry of Navy to become the Commander of the East Ocean Fleet, the first thing Betty did was transfer Cunningham to serve as the Combat Staff Advisor of the fleet. Following that, she personally dismissed the Fleet Chief of Staff, allowing the Combat Staff Advisor to exercise the duties of the Chief of Staff.

Betty held Cunningham in high esteem, and he had never let Betty down.

"Our job is to remain here and block the channels leading from the Xu Sea into the East Ocean, turning the Domestic Fleet of the Liangxia Empire into caged beasts."

"We are talking about six battlecruisers. Even if the leading ship is severely damaged, there are still five others."

"The Second Battle Patrol Squad has already set out and is now heading south at full speed. Although Yamashita lacks ambition, his subordinate Major Takano is no mediocrity."

Betty frowned but didn't contest Cunningham's perspective.

"Victory is earned through battle, and a gambler who often stakes his fortune and life will certainly not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Hearing Cunningham say this, Betty finally nodded.

The Joint Fleet belonged to the Alliance Group, and as victory drew near, no one wanted to give up on seizing a greater share of the spoils of war.

So, was Major Takano of the Second Battle Patrol Squad really such a bold and audacious gambler?