Chapter 20 Thunderbolt Out Of The Blue

Seeing He Yongxing light his third cigarette, Bai Zhizhan couldn't help but sigh.

In the past ten or so minutes, the length of time it took to smoke two cigarettes, He Yongxing had revealed to Bai Zhizhan some extremely explosive news.

The fleet battle that took place yesterday was both anticipated and the result of a series of mishaps.

At just past nine in the morning, which was when the 21st Sub-fleet was navigating through the Watcher Strait, more precisely, in the North Channel heading east, the Imperial Navy Headquarters issued an order to halt operations and sent the telegram to the fleet flagship. Next, the message should have been relayed by the fleet flagship to the flagships of each sub-fleet. It was at this point that an incident occurred, which could hardly be called unexpected—the fleet flagship was using a shortwave radio.

This was a mistake that didn't break any communication regulations, but its impact was extremely significant.

At that time, if the 21st Sub-fleet hadn't gone to the North Channel but had continued eastward in the Maze Channel, they would have been within the working range of the shortwave radio and would certainly have received the telegram. By turning into the North Channel, the distance had increased somewhat, going beyond the range of the radio.

To maintain secrecy, and because the contingency plan included an assault to East Ocean through the North Channel, the 21st Sub-fleet did not report back to the fleet flagship.

Moreover, according to the records of the fleet flagship, the telegraphic order from Navy Headquarters was relayed using shortwave radio because the Communication Advisor was afraid of occupying the longwave radio for too long in case there were new orders or changes to the orders.

A series of coincidences led to the situation spiraling entirely out of control.

Crucially, after ten o'clock, upon receiving news from the 21st Sub-fleet that they had engaged with the first Battle Patrol Squad in East Ocean according to plan, something utterly unexpected and incomprehensible happened.

The Domestic Fleet Commander committed suicide by shooting himself in his cabin.

This turn of events almost spelled doom for the 21st Sub-fleet.

Since Navy Headquarters had already issued the order to end combat operations, and the flagship had relayed the order, the other sub-fleets of the domestic fleet had every reason to withdraw to their home port. There was no need to risk supporting the 21st Sub-fleet, let alone go against military orders to battle the enemy.

Fortunately, the Commander of the 11th Sub-fleet felt that the situation had changed and that the decision should be made by Navy Headquarters.

It was for this very reason that the domestic fleet did not retreat and, after receiving the telegram from Navy Headquarters, proceeded into the Watcher Strait as originally planned.

The reason was quite simple: Navy Headquarters clearly stated in its reply to the 11th Sub-fleet to appoint He Yongxing as the acting commander of the Domestic Fleet.

This order was to alleviate the concerns of the other Sub-fleet Commanders, urging them to assist the 21st Sub-fleet to the best of their abilities.

Desertion in the face of the enemy during combat was a crime that could lead to the extermination of one's entire clan.

Even though the Empire had already abolished collective punishment, abandoning one's commander during battle was still a capital offense with extremely severe consequences.

Regrettably, because the communications center of the "North River" had been destroyed, He Yongxing still did not receive this telegram in time.

As previously mentioned, it was only after the battle with the first Battle Patrol Squad had ended and after moving to the "Lu River," did he receive this telegram.

In fact, this whole series of errors and miscommunications explained one of Bai Zhizhan's lingering doubts.

In the Imperial Navy, where factions were distinct and the hierarchy strict, how could a Sub-fleet Commander of junior rank and experience command the obedience of three main force Sub-fleet Commanders who were superior in status, reputation, and influence, directing the entire domestic fleet as easily as moving one's own arm?

In the afternoon, He Yongxing had assured that the other sub-fleets would do their utmost to help the 21st Sub-fleet break through.

Clearly, everything hinged on this telegram.

According to the unwritten rule, no matter how fierce the internal struggles were, once on the battlefield and engaged with the enemy, unconditional obedience to the command was mandatory.

Anyone engaging in factional struggles during combat was a public enemy of the Imperial Navy, of the entire Empire!

Yet, Bai Zhizhan had a new question.

"Commander He, why did the Navy Headquarters cancel the combat operation?" Bai Zhizhan paused slightly, then mustered the courage to continue, "And why so suddenly, with no warning at all, let alone advance notice. Otherwise, yesterday's fleet battle could have been completely avoided."

"Do you think that to engage the enemy in battle, the Navy Headquarters deliberately delayed sending the telegram?"

Bai Zhizhan said nothing; his very raising of this question indicated the presence of such suspicion.

"If it had been planned well in advance, yesterday's fleet decisive battle might have had a different outcome," said He Yongxing as he took out a neatly folded piece of paper and tossed it in front of Bai Zhizhan.

Bai Zhizhan, caught off guard, was startled when he unfolded it.

It was a top-secret document, more precisely, a handwritten top-secret cipher.

Certainly, it was a cipher that has been encrypted twice; He Yongxing personally deciphered it.

It was He Yongxing's handwriting that Bai Zhizhan recognized, on the special paper used for copying cipher texts.

This type of paper would dissolve upon contact with water, and the writing on it would disappear within seconds.

Writing a top-secret cipher on such paper meant that, should a battleship be sunk, there was no worry about top-secret documents stored in safes or carried by commanders falling into enemy hands.

At the top of the paper, the words "Top Secret" were printed.

"Don't worry, maybe by tomorrow, this will no longer be a secret."

After He Yongxing said this, Bai Zhizhan picked up the cipher again.

Really, it was out of curiosity.

The content was brief, just one sentence. Because it needed to be decoded by a commander who had the right keys, such ciphers usually contained very little text.

Wild II had secretly signed the surrender edict; the Tiaoman Empire might soon be defeated; His Majesty has already authorized the Cabinet Chief to prepare for a ceasefire. Please return immediately.

There was no signature on the cipher, but the fact that the "Lu River" had received it indicated it definitely came from the Imperial Navy Headquarters.

The Emperor of the Tiaoman Empire, Wild II, had secretly signed a surrender edict?!

Bai Zhizhan shivered involuntarily.

Last year, after the Ter Empire had been defeated and surrendered, if there was still a glimmer of hope left, then after the Tiaoman Empire's defeat and surrender, there was hardly any hope left.

Even if the Liangxia Empire was strong and capable in combat, it couldn't possibly take on all the Great Powers alone!

"This... this is..."

"From yesterday early morning."

Bai Zhizhan let out a breath and forcibly controlled his fluctuating emotions. After setting down the cipher, he cupped his face with both hands and vigorously rubbed.

Now, everything made sense.

The Domestic Fleet's reprisal was not an isolated action, but the start of an overall strategic retaliation.

The strategic retaliation didn't just involve the Imperial Navy and Army, but also included the Tiaoman Empire; the battlefield spanned both Giant Continent and West Continent, aiming to completely reverse the strategic situation and defeat the Luosha Empire within a few months, opening up the transportation route between Liangxia and Tiaoman Empires.

After Tiaoman's withdrawal, did the reprisal still make sense?

Without the Tiaoman Empire holding the enemy in check on the West Continent, the Liangxia Empire, despite its utmost effort, might not be able to defeat the Luosha Empire in just a few months.

Moreover, what if the Luosha Empire was defeated?

Among all the Great Powers, the Luosha Empire was merely the weakest link!

At this juncture, one had to seriously consider a question even if reluctant to admit it.

How could the war be ended with dignity, or rather, how could the impacts of a defeat be minimized to the greatest extent possible?