Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 294 Chinese Navy Enters Tokyo Bay! Japanese Emperor Kneels in Shock!

Shihinai

"Commander, Wu Wanli led his troops on a 241-mile raid, annihilating the entire US reinforcement regiment and successfully capturing the Chaoding Bridge! They also blitzed and routed the ROK 9th Division, liberating Hengcheng, and the submarine battle group is secured!!!"

"The Chinese Navy's operation in the Gulf of Tokyo has also been approved domestically. After receiving the Soviet warships, the Chinese Navy will approach the Gulf of Tokyo at full speed!!!"

At this moment, a staff officer from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army rushed in, carrying two telegrams and loudly reporting.

"What!?"

Upon hearing this, the boss paused for a few seconds, his eyes widened, and he immediately stood up and shouted.

"I knew Wu Wanli was capable!"

"Ninety percent of the warships of the new China today were built by him, one shot at a time!"

"That was a great play!"

"However, we are currently fighting in Korea, and we have already exhausted all our strength against the US forces on the peninsula."

"If it weren't for Wu Wanli's exceptional fighting skills, we would have lost many comrades during this strategic retreat."

"In this situation, it's best not to take any risks!"

Upon hearing this, Chief Chen was stunned for a few seconds, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes as he spoke.

"Clap!"

At the same time, a crisp sound rang out.

A young operations staff officer near the door dropped his red and blue pencil onto the operations map.

He didn't bend down to pick it up; instead, he stared wide-eyed at the staff officer who had just read the telegram, as if he had been struck hard in the chest by an invisible battering ram.

His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but all that came out was a hissing sound of gasping for breath.

In the frozen air, this slight sound was like a thunderclap, instantly tearing apart the silence of the entire command core of the General Staff.

"Wait! We don't know much about the navy, but... liberating Yokogawa!?"

"This...it's only been a few days?!"

Upon hearing this, the Chief of the General Staff abruptly turned his head and asked.

After saying that, he took two quick steps forward, grabbed another telegram draft from the staff officer's hand, and his hand trembled slightly.

"Suwon was only captured a few days ago? Old Fan, you do the math for me!"

"When was the telegram regarding the Soviet conditions sent to Wu Wanli officially confirmed?!"

The Chief of the General Staff suddenly looked at the operations director in the corner, who was wearing thick glasses and buried in his notebook, and asked.

Director Fan was so startled by the unprecedented urgency in the voice that he almost jumped up. He frantically flipped through the logbook in his hand, not even bothering to push his glasses up his nose.

"Reporting to the General Staff!"

"It was...it was 11:27 PM the night before last!"

"All told... less than forty-eight hours!"

The operations chief's voice was high-pitched and shrill, each word spoken with an incredulous tremor.

"Take Hengcheng in forty-eight hours!?"

"Can our navy now fully receive the warships and submarines promised by the Soviet Union?"

"Not only that... Is the navy so powerful because Wu Wanli has built up its naval strength that it's now poised to march on Tokyo Bay?"

"Oh my God..."

"Hengcheng! That's Hengcheng!"

"The Seventh Steel Brigade needs to first annihilate a few thousand US reinforcements, and then quickly take over the heavily fortified city guarded by the ROK Ninth Division!"

"Ahead lies the formidable Chaoding Bridge, in the middle a magnificent and impregnable city, and behind us are tens of thousands of pursuing troops!"

"How...how did Wu Wanli achieve such results in such a short time with his meager resources!"

"This isn't just a matter of fighting fiercely; this is a true blitzkrieg!"

The Chief of the General Staff suddenly looked up, his pupils behind his glasses dilated with shock as he exclaimed.

The words were unspoken, but they had already resonated in everyone's hearts.

Forty-eight hours ago, the almost impossible task of conquering Hengcheng was officially confirmed.

And now, it's actually succeeded!

"A 241-mile raid! Seize Chaoding Bridge in a swift attack!"

"Is this something a human would do?! Is the Seventh Steel Brigade made of iron?"

"No!"

Even the strongest iron will be worn smooth!

"That was 241 li of muddy mountain road! Carrying heavy weapons! They broke through the US Army's replenishment regiment and the ROK 9th Division!"

"Not only that, they are being pursued by Ridgway's tens of thousands of elite troops!"

"A divine intervention! This is practically a divine intervention on the battlefield!"

Another veteran staff officer of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army slammed his hand on the edge of the huge Hengcheng defense situation sand table and said excitedly.

The staff officer was from the north, and usually spoke in a deep, muffled voice, but at this moment he burst out with a low growl with a strong local accent, filled with extreme excitement born of extreme fear.

"That's right..."

"At Chaoding Bridge, the American troops dismantled the bridge planks, waiting to attack while the bridge was halfway across!"

"That kid Wu Wanli actually dared to lead a small number of elite troops to infiltrate and seize the American heavy armor!"

"Not only that, he also drove the captured American heavy armored vehicles back to attack their command post and river defenses!"

"After capturing Chaoding Bridge, without resting at all, they continued their blitzkrieg, defeating Han Jiu's division and liberating Hengcheng!"

"Such audacity! Such skill!"

"Looking through the entire history of wars, both ancient and modern, from around the world, is there a second example like this?!"

After carefully reading the details of the battle report, Commander Chen adjusted his glasses and praised it.

Upon learning the details, the entire operations room was as if boiling oil had been doused with cold water, becoming even more shocked and excited!
All eyes were fixed on that telegram, which was both light and heavy.

"God!"

"Although the U.S. Army replenishment regiment is mostly composed of new recruits, it is still a fully equipped regiment!"

"Artillery, tanks, machine guns, bazookas, rocket launchers, etc., none of them are inferior to the main force of the US Army!"

"Wu Wanli, leading the Seventh Steel Brigade, is he really going to just eat us up like that?"

"If it was captured by force, that would be understandable, after all, there are also miracles created by sacrifice and fighting spirit."

"But... he even used their tanks as a vanguard to attack Hengcheng?!"

"Since China doesn't have the armored forces for blitzkrieg, they just captured the enemy and then launched a blitzkrieg!"

"This...this is simply..."

A veteran staff officer of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army was so moved that he stopped mid-sentence, his fingers gesturing excitedly in the air as if Wu Wanli were right in front of him.

"We've done far more than just march back to Hengcheng!"

"They chased after the remnants of Han Jiu's army and broke through Hengcheng with an armored torrent!"

"He used cannons to plow a huge hole in the city gate tower of Hengcheng!"

"They didn't blast open the gate, they didn't climb up! They blasted down the city wall and stormed in!"

"Wu Wanli led his armored corps comrades, driving tanks and armored vehicles, and stormed into the city in high spirits!"

"Amazing! Amazing!"

"It has the same domineering spirit as Huo Qubing when he personally led his iron cavalry to raid the Xiongnu royal court!"

"Destroy the enemy army and seal the Wolf Mountain!"

The head of the logistics and transportation department of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army spoke with a face full of fervor and incredulous emotion.

The Chief of the General Staff looked at the details of the battle report, his knuckles turning white from gripping the paper tightly, his voice low and deep, as if he were savoring the weight of each word.

After muttering for a few seconds, he suddenly raised his head and looked at the boss and Chief Chen, his face a mixture of ecstasy and excitement.

"From the moment we landed until today, Wu Wanli led the Seventh Steel Brigade to capture three key towns—Pyeongtaek, Sunam, Suwon, and Hoengseong—within ten days!"

"Annihilate the elite US airborne regiment, wipe out the entire US reinforcement regiment, and rout and severely damage the prisoners of the ROK 9th Division!"

"Without saying a word, they easily seized US armored forces and established their own spearhead of attack!"

"Not only that, he also fulfilled the Soviets' difficult additional condition, securing a submarine battle group for the navy!"

"Commander, Chief Chen, this victory cannot be explained by common sense!"

"Miracle!"

"This is a miracle achieved with an iron will and unpredictable tactical thinking!"

"Ten days! Just ten days!"

"He not only completely thwarted Ridgway's attempts against our army south of the Han River, but also used this isolated force to smash the enemy's carefully constructed steel defense line to pieces!"

"Its strategic value in enhancing China's national prestige and elevating its international standing far surpasses the liberation of a few cities!"

"This is a devastating blow to the morale of the entire UN forces!"

"And it also bought our main force an invaluable respite and time to regroup!"

"A victory that even left the Soviets speechless and forced them to part with a small portion of their naval reserves!"

"Now, this kid has really blown us out of the woods! He's mastered submarine technology!"

"What...what kind of achievement is this?!"

"It was like a thunderbolt that swept across the sky! A raging torrent that split the earth and cleaved mountains!"

"Looking across the entire army, who else?! Who else could achieve such a magnificent and awe-inspiring victory?!"

"Boss, Chief Chen, you must be overjoyed too, right?"

The Chief of the General Staff's hand, clutching the battle report, trembled slightly, and he immediately praised it loudly.

At this moment, heavy breathing filled the operations room.

All the staff officers stopped their discussion, their chests heaving, their eyes fixed on the two central leaders like torches.

"Simply joy cannot be summed up!"

"It's worth it!"

"It was worth it!!"

"Trade ten Soviet mechanics engineers for Wu Wanli's fifty years?"

"How could a Soviet advisor say such a thing!"

"Even if you offered us the golden dome of the Klinthouse in exchange, we would never agree!"

"Comrade Wu Wanli alone is better than an iron army that is fully armed and ready to fight!"

"He is an important part of the Great Wall of National Defense of our new China!"

The boss's tightly pursed lips finally curled into an extremely sharp upward angle as he spoke with unwavering certainty.

"The boss is right!"

What does it mean to say, "If only the Flying General of Longcheng were here, the barbarian horses would not dare to cross the Yin Mountains"?

"This is!"

"Comrade Wu Wanli is the Flying General of our Volunteer Army!"

"As long as he is on the front lines, he can make the enemy bleed like rivers and tremble with fear!"

"It would make Ridgway tremble with fear, and make MacArthur unable to sleep soundly in Tokyo!"

Chief Chen's eyes, which had witnessed countless battles, swept over the excited staff officers, and he praised them with a touch of excitement.

"report!"

The staff officer who had initially delivered the telegram had just slipped out during a lull, but now he rushed back in like a whirlwind, carrying a manila document bag.

"Sir! This is the specific document outlining the requirements for the Navy to receive the Soviet-supplied fleet and to carry out related missions in the Gulf of Tokyo!"

The staff officer's voice was slightly out of breath from running, but his excitement was undiminished.

Everyone's eyes were instantly drawn to the file folder, which the staff officer handed to the general and Chief Chen with both hands.

The general and Chief Chen exchanged a glance, and the deep concern for the new front in Chief Chen's eyes remained.

But at that moment, a clear, knowing glimmer flashed in the depths of both of their eyes, as if the clouds were about to part and the sun was about to shine through.

The light was sharp yet steady.

The boss reached out his thick, calloused hand, steadily took the document bag, opened it, and began to read it with Chief Chen.

Both of them watched intently, without exchanging a single word or exchanging a single utterance.

The entire operations room was so quiet that only the occasional crackling of charcoal popping in the stove and the muffled thuds of a dozen or so hearts pounding violently could be heard.

A powerful and tacit understanding surged between the two commanders in the silent exchange of glances.

The staff officers could even see the top-secret imprint of the document, which, illuminated by the firelight, seemed to exude an invisible weight.

The silence that lasted only a few seconds felt like enduring a long winter.

"So this is how the navy achieves its goals..."

"I think it's a good idea. This way, the Chinese Navy can enter Tokyo Bay at full speed to fulfill its domestic requirements, while avoiding the possibility of fighting on the Japanese islands!"

"To subdue the enemy without fighting—that is the highest level of skill!"

"Then I have nothing to worry about. The naval operation is already underway."

May God bless my valiant army, that it may ride the winds and waves with all its might, and reach the other shore!

Finally, the boss raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the eagerly awaiting staff, and spoke with a calm and unwavering tone, like a boulder rolling across the earth.

"Can the Chinese navy, sailing at full speed into Tokyo Bay, still avoid war and subdue the enemy without a fight?"

"Boss, we don't have any young boys in China right now. How could Japan possibly surrender without a fight?"

"Besides, there are many American soldiers up there!"

"If we don't fight, will the Chinese navy just swagger into Tokyo Bay?"

Upon hearing this, the Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army immediately asked.

"You'll find out then. We don't need to be too curious about the navy's affairs beforehand; it'll be happening soon anyway..."

"Old Chen, you're well-educated, so I'll leave the task of drafting the commendation for the Seventh Steel Brigade to you!"

The boss smiled and said.

"no problem!"

"Relevant personnel, draft orders immediately!"

Chief Chen nodded, then spoke in a deep voice.

"Yes!"

The operations director and several confidential staff officers practically jumped up, grabbed their pens and paper, and held their breath in concentration.

Their pens hovered over the paper, eagerly awaiting the award decree that was destined to be recorded in history.

"Chief Executive's Telegram No. 197, Jiazi!"

"Comrade Wu Wanli and all officers and soldiers of the Seventh Steel Corps: I have just learned that your unit, with the momentum of a rainbow and the might of a thunderbolt, has marched 241 li of mountain road day and night without regard for fatigue since the great victory at Suwon!"

"Break through the obstacles along the way, seize the Chaoding Railway Bridge, and thwart the UN forces' double-pronged and insidious plan to use the Chaoding Bridge as a natural barrier and launch an aerial attack!"

"Furthermore, using captured enemy heavy armor as a vanguard, they launched a shocking surprise attack behind enemy lines, severely damaging the US reinforcement regiment's core position on the east bank of the Han River, capturing the core codebook, and annihilating the enemy regimental commander, chief of staff, and several thousand others!"

"Immediately, riding the momentum of their great victory, they swept through the defeated Third Regiment of the Ninth Division of the Han Army with an iron torrent, and in one fell swoop, they rushed straight to the fortified city of Hengcheng!"

"At this critical moment, facing the anti-tank traps and minefields that the enemy in Hengcheng had deliberately laid deep, your command made a brilliant judgment!"

"We decisively bombarded the city with heavy artillery, creating a huge breach in what the enemy thought was their fortified defenses!"

"The entire army charged through the breach, infiltrated and divided the enemy, killed countless enemies, captured the defensive map of the 9th Division of the Han Army and seized all the city's reserves, thus achieving the complete liberation of Hengcheng!"

"In this battle, from the raid on Chaoding Bridge to the liberation of Hengcheng, your unit, in a desperate situation of extreme exhaustion and being attacked from both sides, broke through three lines of defense by the US and South Korean forces with unimaginable iron will and unparalleled tactical wisdom!"

"Completely undermine the core of the UN forces' defenses south of the Han River, gaining valuable strategic initiative and material reserves for the overall situation!"

"What is particularly striking is that Comrade Wu Wanli not only completed the core mission assigned by the headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to 'flash and retreat while preserving the main force,' but also used thunderous means to achieve the original goal of capturing Hengcheng in ten days in exchange for Soviet aid."

"His bravery and decisiveness, his exquisite military tactics, his extraordinary courage and perseverance make him a shining example in the history of our army of winning with fewer troops, overcoming the strong with the weak, and defying adversity!"

"How magnificent! Your unit, with a small and isolated force of less than 10,000 men, has achieved a result that even a frontal assault by 100,000 strong troops would find difficult to match!"

"How impressive! Comrade Wu Wanli is like a god in battle, with keen insight into the smallest details. His military tactics have reached a level of complete mastery, beyond the comprehension of even the gods!"

"Loyalty! All officers and soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade endured hunger and cold, braved frost and snow, charged forward with minor wounds, and fought to the death with serious injuries, fulfilling their sacred oath to defend their homeland with their blood, and forging an insurmountable heroic high ground with their bodies!"

"His achievements will shake the world and his name will be remembered in history!"

"This is truly the glory of all the Chinese people, and a torch for oppressed nations around the world to fight against tyranny!"

"This order is hereby issued to commend your unit and to circulate a commendation throughout the entire army, so that we may learn from your unit's fighting spirit of 'not fearing strong enemies and daring to unsheathe the sword'!"

"Comrade Wu Wanli and all officers and soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade must place the safety of themselves and their personnel as their top priority!"

"Preserve your life to serve others, and establish lasting merit!"

"If only the Flying General of Longcheng were here, the barbarian horses would never dare to cross the Yin Mountains! The ambition of the Kunpeng soaring ten thousand miles should not be wasted on the waves of the Han River!"

"This is my deepest wish! I eagerly await your triumphant return!"

"Headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army!"

"Make sure to include both my name and the boss's name on the commendation telegram to show that it's taken seriously!"

Chief Chen adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and spoke fluently and naturally.

With his background as a graduate of the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy and having studied in the Soviet Union, he possessed an extremely high level of education.

"Yes!"

The operations chief quickly agreed and headed towards the radio station with his shorthand notes.

....................................

Beijing, Sino-Soviet Conference on Korean Military Equipment
Secretary-General Wang sat upright on one side of the large conference table, the purple clay teacup in front of him no longer steaming.

He stood ramrod straight, his gaze calm and serene, fixed on the urgent battle report on the table, which had just been delivered by the confidential staff and whose ink seemed to carry the smell of gunpowder.

Across the table, Soviet advisor Major General Vladimir's fingers were unconsciously tapping lightly on the gleaming surface.

Beneath his habitually diplomatic and dignified Slavic face, there seemed to be a subtle hint of doubt.

"Comrade Vladimir, this is a confirmation telegram from the headquarters."

"Comrade Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Brigade has liberated Hengcheng!"

Secretary-General Wang gently pushed the telegram in front of Vladimir and said.

"Liberate Hengcheng!?"

Vladimir repeated the sentence unconsciously, his thick eyebrows furrowing slightly as usual, and a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes.

He paused for a few seconds before picking up the telegram and scanning it with a professional scrutiny.

Initially, the focus was on routine, quick browsing.

But just a few seconds later, that scrutinizing gaze suddenly froze, as if nailed to the paper with a steel nail.

"A 241-mile raid, swiftly seizing Chaoding Bridge!"

"Annihilate the entire US reinforcement regiment and capture its armored forces and command codebook!"

"Defeat Han's Ninth Division and swiftly liberate Hengcheng!"

As Vladimir read, his originally straight back unconsciously leaned forward, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the telegram turned slightly white from the force.

On that dignified face, all the carefully maintained calm and diplomatic demeanor were instantly shattered, replaced by a mixture of astonishment and disbelief, which ultimately froze into a state of extreme shock and stagnation.

"This...is this true?"

After Vladimir finished reading, he suddenly raised his head, his pupils dilated slightly due to the intense emotional fluctuations, and his voice became somewhat urgent and uncontrollable.

"To capture four major cities—Pyeongtaek, Sunam, Suwon, and Hoengseong—in such a short time, and all while being surrounded and pursued by tens of thousands of American troops!?"

"How could they possibly, how could they possibly, after such a long-distance raid under such harsh conditions, achieve such a high-intensity, continuous breakthrough?!"

Vladimir's gaze swept back eagerly to the telegram, as if trying to find any trace of possible exaggeration.

However, the telegram contained only cold and cruel facts.

Seizing the Chaoding Bridge, fighting fiercely to capture the river defenses, storming and destroying the US military command post, driving away the fleeing troops and breaking into the city... this has exceeded his understanding of an "outstanding military general".

"Absolutely true, Comrade Vladimir."

"Comrade Wu Wanli and his iron-willed warriors, with their courage and incredible tactical wisdom, carved a bloody path out of a desperate situation!"

"They tore through the layers of encirclement by the US military, and Hengcheng is now in the hands of our Volunteer Army!"

Secretary-General Wang felt a surge of pride in the strength of the motherland's military and said.

"Oh my God!"

"my Lord!"

Vladimir subconsciously uttered a soft exclamation in Russian, a rare display of his genuine emotion.

He put down the telegram, placed his hands on the edge of the table, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the surging emotions stirred up by the battle report.

A few seconds later, he looked up and his gaze toward Secretary-General Wang had completely changed.

All the doubts, probing, and even a sense of superiority that had existed before were now replaced by a complex emotion that bordered on awe.

"Secretary-General Wang, I must admit, I am deeply shocked!"

"From the initial surprise landing at Pyeongtaek Port to the tactical layout for capturing Suyun."

"From recognizing and countering the American incendiary bomb traps in the Battle of Suwon, to this textbook-level lightning raid and annihilation battle!"

"Comrade Wu Wanli is not only an absolute king of soldiers, but also a genius general who is great in both strategy and tactics!"

"His battlefield intuition, decisiveness, grasp of timing, and precise control over the limits of the troops' endurance are simply godlike!"

"Most importantly, his elite soldier combat skills and genius tactics have repeatedly combined to achieve their effect in battle!"

"Take that earlier battle report, for example, about shooting down an American warplane with his superb marksmanship..."

"This is the fighting power of a top-tier soldier!"

"Afterwards, the American troops were provoked and attacked twice by him using decoy tactics with army anti-aircraft guns. The first time, he used only half the firepower to make the enemy underestimate him, and the second time he unleashed full firepower and annihilated the American troops..."

"This demonstrates excellent tactics!"

"Rommel, Guderian, MacArthur, Montgomery, and so on... none of them could replicate Comrade Wu Wanli's brilliance!"

"They may be a step ahead of Wu Wanli in strategy, but their ability to combine their elite soldiers' combat prowess with tactics on countless occasions is truly unique in the world!"

"This is true art of war! MacArthur and Ridgway lost to him, and it's no wonder they were defeated!"

Vladimir reviewed the details of the battle report again and praised it lavishly.

Secretary-General Wang listened to the Soviet advisor's heartfelt, almost aria-like praise, maintaining a polite smile and nodding slightly.

"Comrade Ivanovich's assessment is very apt. Comrade Wu Wanli is indeed one of the outstanding representatives emerging from the younger generation of generals in our army."

"His victory is an epitome of the courage and bloodshed of all the volunteer soldiers who were not afraid of the enemy."

Secretary-General Wang said.

Vladimir seemed still immersed in the enormous shock brought by the battle report, and his resolute face even showed a red glow that was almost excited.

"Secretary-General Wang, I now feel that during the last meeting, I offered too low a price—ten divisions of fully equipped light Soviet weapons in exchange for Comrade Wu Wanli's fifty years of guidance!"

"If you agree now, I'm willing to add ten more to the existing fleet! No, even fifteen! Our latest MiG fighter jets!"

"Such a remarkable young general who can change the balance of the battlefield deserves this price!"

"What do you think?"

He picked up the small vodka glass on the table and, as if on a whim, spoke in a seemingly casual but actually probing tone.

Secretary-General Wang's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes instantly turned as sharp as ice.

"Comrade Vladimir, you have a great sense of humor."

"But regarding Comrade Wu Wanli, I must make it clear to you that this is not a matter that can be measured by any price."

"It's impossible to exchange ten military factories or a hundred of the most advanced aircraft."

"He is a son of the Chinese people and an outstanding general trained by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army."

"His loyalty, his values, and his roots will forever remain on the land of his birth and upbringing!"

"Let this kind of joke remain just a joke."

Secretary-General Wang leaned slightly forward, his elbows resting comfortably on the table, but every word he uttered was clear and firm.

In an instant, the hall seemed to quiet down, with only the click of the grandfather clock becoming clearer.

Vladimir's forced, warm smile froze almost imperceptibly, as if struck by a Siberian chill.

A shadow crossed the depths of his eyes, but his strong self-control as a seasoned diplomat made the strangeness disappear almost instantly.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

"Secretary-General Wang is right. I made an inappropriate joke."

Vladimir forced an even bigger, more hearty smile and downed the last bit of vodka in his glass to cover his embarrassment.

"Revolutionary camaraderie is above all else, I completely understand! I totally understand!"

"How can your country easily let go of a national treasure like Comrade Wu Wanli?"

"It was my oversight; I'll punish myself with a drink!"

Vladimir raised the empty glass and said.

"Now, let's get back to the main topic."

"Comrade Secretary-General Wang, since Comrade Wu Wanli has fulfilled our additional conditions and liberated Hengcheng, the Soviet Union's promise of free submarine assistance is certainly valid!"

"There's no doubt about that!"

"The handover arrangements for the six submarines, as well as the draft plan for the deployment of the technical guidance team, are here."

"Please inform your navy of the specific handover area. We are preparing to rendezvous with the Soviet Pacific Fleet detachment in the high seas near XX degrees north latitude and XX degrees east longitude in the Sea of ​​Japan."

"As agreed, we will deliver one cruiser, four destroyers, and six submarines."

"The handover ceremony will be held there. Our escort fleet will ensure the safety of the handover area until your fleet has taken over and has a basic self-defense capability."

Vladimir said.

"Thank you for keeping your promise, Soviet comrades. We will immediately arrange for the navy to carry out the takeover plan."

Secretary-General Wang carefully examined the contents of the document, then solemnly put it away and responded.

"very good!"

"Comrade Secretary-General Wang, I must immediately give a detailed report to the Moscow side."

"The results of this battle, especially the combat capabilities and value demonstrated by Comrade Wu Wanli, which exceeded all our expectations, are crucial!"

"This relates to our assessment of the overall strategic situation in the Far East, and I think the comrades in the Kremlin will certainly be very interested in it!"

"I will recount his bravery and miracles in detail. See you next time."

Vladimir stood up, his face still bearing that amiable smile, and extended his hand to shake hands firmly with Secretary-General Wang.

"Then, I look forward to our next productive meeting."

"Farewell!"

After speaking, Vladimir picked up his military cap, put it on straight, and strode out of the meeting hall with standard military steps.

....................................

At noon on the same day, in international waters of the Sea of ​​Japan.

Amidst the surging waves, the two fleets broke through the fog and slowly approached.

The massive bow of the Chinese Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, the Wanli, cuts through the deep blue waters, with fighter jets arrayed on the deck and gun barrels standing menacingly.

Xiao Zhenhua stood in the bridge command room, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

Beside him, Captain Li Hongbo's face was tense, and he subconsciously placed his hand on the pistol at his waist, looking into the distance.

The habits he had developed on the battlefield in the army were still unchanged at this time.

At the forefront of the opposing fleet, a cruiser flying the Soviet flag led the way, followed closely by four destroyers like escort shark hunters.

Further behind, six dark, narrow spines quietly emerged from the water—six brand-new submarines!
These are the very pieces of equipment the Soviet Union promised to deliver!

"Confirmed! Signalman! Raise the 'receive' flag!"

Xiao Zhenhua raised his binoculars and took a look, then immediately gave the order.

In an instant, the order was transmitted.

Special signal flags were immediately raised on the mainmast of the "Wanli".

A moment later, the Soviet cruiser responded with a light signal.

The handover ceremony took place amidst the howling sea breeze, simple yet solemn.

Russian commands and Chinese instructions briefly met in the air.

The documents were signed shortly afterward.

"Board these warships! Raise the five-star red flag!"

Xiao Zhenhua waved his hand and immediately shouted.

Several elite Chinese naval teams, already prepared, sped towards the warships in high-speed boats like arrows released from a bow!
They skillfully climbed the warship's cold, slippery gangway and headed straight for the mainmast!
At the highest point of the ship, the Soviet hammer and sickle flag was slowly lowered!
Swish!
A bright five-star red flag flutters proudly in the wind atop the cruiser's mainmast!

Almost simultaneously, on the backs of four other destroyers, six lurking steel black sharks, the same fiery Chinese red bloomed simultaneously!

The entire surface of the high seas was instantly illuminated by a surging red starlight!

The sounds of clashing steel and roaring waves seemed to fall silent for a moment.

On the decks and by the portholes of all the Chinese warships, sailors filled every inch of space.

Countless gazes were fixed on the masthead of the newly joined warship!
"It's done! It's fucking done!"

"Cruisers! Destroyers! And submarines!"

A deafening roar erupted from the deck of the Wanli aircraft carrier.

The young Chinese naval soldiers pounded on the cold steel hull of the ship, their eyes burning with emotion.

"Commander Xiao! Captain Li! Look! The Five-Starred Red Flag! Our Chinese national flag has been planted!"

An old naval soldier, his face stained with sea salt, pointed with trembling fingers at the five-star red flag fluttering on the Soviet cruiser, his voice choked with emotion.

"It's worth it!"

"In these ten days, Comrade Wu Wanli used his blood and flesh to carve out a powerful weapon for our navy on land!"

Captain Li Hongbo slammed his fist on the command platform. Admiral Xiao Zhenhua's chest heaved violently as he removed his military cap, stared at the striking crimson, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Set up an ambush in Anyang!"

"Hirasawa strikes!"

"A great victory at Shuainan!"

"Suwon-Breaking Airborne Brigade!"

"Flash attack on Hengcheng again!"

"Comrade Wu Wanli led the Seventh Steel Brigade to fight their way through countless bloody pits and bloody cities!"

"They fought with the courage of bayonets drawn! They blossomed in the heart of the Korean battlefield with an indomitable will!"

"They displayed overwhelming might, making the enemy tremble and the Soviets envious!"

"These gunboats! These ironclad ships! These deep-sea blades! We can't beg for them!"

"It was thanks to Wu Wanli! It was thanks to the sacrifices of millions of volunteer soldiers! They fought their way out of the hands of the Americans and Soviets!"

"Unconditional aid? It's made of priceless blood and flesh!"

Xiao Zhenhua took a deep breath and shouted loudly.

"Salute to Captain Wu!"

"Salute to the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Corps!"

"Salute to the comrades of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army!"

"Long live!!!"

The roar was carried by the gale to every resolute ear. A tsunami-like scream erupted once more from the deck.

Countless burning, patriotic hearts, at this moment, on the frigid Sea of ​​Japan, within the brand-new steel fortress, are tightly connected with that army war god far away in Hoengseong, Korea! Grateful!

admire!

My blood was surging wildly in my chest, almost bursting!

"Crack!"

In an instant, the command room door was violently kicked open.

"Reporting to Commander Xiao! Reporting to Captain Li! Urgent reply from home!"

"Approved!"

"My entire task force shall depart immediately!"

"Full speed! Immediately! No mistakes allowed!"

"Marching into Tokyo Bay!!!"

"Repeat! Target—Tokyo Bay!!!"

The aviation communications officer of the "Wanli" aircraft carrier, clutching a telegram, practically lunged at Xiao Zhenhua and Li Hongbo as he shouted.

The telegram was as brief as a knife!

It was as urgent as a fire burning on one's own!
The entire command room fell silent for a moment, and then an even more violent surge of passion ignited everyone's nerves!
"Target, Tokyo Bay!?"

"I see... to subdue the enemy without fighting, is that right?"

Xiao Zhenhua's eyes widened, and he quickly took a look before nodding in understanding.

"Comrades, it's our turn to make a move!"

He took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze, as if trying to inhale the majestic spirit of this sea into his lungs.

"Give orders to the entire fleet!"

"Raise the flag! Main boiler at full power! All turbines at maximum speed!"

"Destroyers advance to provide alert! Submarine battle group submerge and stand by!"

"Board correction! Target due east!"

"Move into Tokyo Bay!!!"

Xiao Zhenhua suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, like two unsheathed swords, as he shouted towards the vast expanse of water and sky ahead.

The order spread throughout the formation like a landslide and a tsunami!
"Uuuuuu——"

The aircraft carrier Wanli sounded its horn!

sharp!

long!

With a boundless fighting spirit that could tear the heavens apart!
Immediately following behind, the Soviet cruiser, which had just been painted in Chinese red and was equipped with eight 203mm guns, roared thunderously!

Four destroyers fired their engines in unison!

Like a pack of wolves howling at the moon!

Boom!

The powerful turbines propelled the giant propellers to spin at high speed, and the violent force churned the sea!
The massive ship, weighing tens of thousands of tons, shuddered violently. Its bow seemed to be violently pulled up by an invisible giant hand, and it crashed into the rolling waves in front of it!
The massive mixed formation cut two vast, white, rolling tracks, crushing the surging waves!

Like a giant, tempered steel blade, it cleaved through the deep blue sea and sped toward Tokyo Bay, the heart of the Japanese archipelago, at top combat speed!

The newly raised five-star red flag fluttered in the wind atop the mast of the flagship "Wanli," resembling a burning battle flag!

Ahead lies Japan!

It's Tokyo Bay!

....................................

Meanwhile, within Tokyo Bay, the water rippled gently.

The warm sun, unusually, melted away some of the chill of early winter, sprinkling its rays onto the boundless sea, spreading a layer of shattered gold.

Emperor Hirohito, wearing a heavy woolen overcoat, accompanied by the Empress and Crown Prince Akihito, strolled along the stone railing of the Tokyo Bay breakwater, surrounded by attendants and the Minister of the Interior.

The sea breeze carried a slightly fishy smell and a biting chill, ruffling the thin clothes of the group.

The Emperor's gaze swept across the vast sea, reaching the distant horizon where the water met the sky. Mist rose in his eyes, and a wave of sadness washed over him.

How illustrious was the Empire's combined fleet?

Giant ships, like mountains, with cannons like a forest, plow through the deep blue, displaying their might in all directions!

That scene seemed as glorious as yesterday.

"Akihito..."

"The empire was once glorious, and if it weren't for the United States' involvement in the war, China would have had no chance of winning!"

Emperor Hirohito spoke to the Crown Prince beside him in a deep, melancholy voice.

Crown Prince Akihito did not respond immediately; his thin lips pressed into a stubborn line.

He faced the sea breeze and gazed towards the Korean Peninsula on the vast ocean.

"Your Majesty is certainly right about the glory of the Imperial Navy."

"But you've also heard..."

"On the peninsula, a Chinese man named Wu Wanli repeatedly defeated the elite main force of the US military in direct combat!"

After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke softly, his tone as firm as a rock.

The Emperor abruptly turned his head, his incredulous gaze piercing the young Crown Prince like a needle.

"Take Pingtaek Port, Sunam Castle, and Suwon Castle, for example, which are all nearby!"

"The US fleet capsized off the coast of Pyeongtaek, and the airborne troops were wiped out in Suwon!"

"They can even seize US battleships and heavy aircraft carriers with blood and fire!"

"Isn't China's army combat capability strong enough?"

Emperor Akihito lowered his voice and reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Hirohito's body swayed almost imperceptibly, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the stone railing instantly turned bloodless.

His lips moved, and his Adam's apple bobbed laboriously, as if an invisible giant hand was choking his breath.

"madness!"

"What good is it if the Chinese army is as strong as a god?!"

"If China wants to set foot on the main island of my divine nation, it needs an invincible fleet that can traverse the oceans. It will never be able to threaten the foundation of my Yamato people!"

"They don't! They don't! They don't!!"

After a long pause, Hirohito finally managed to squeeze out a rebuttal through gritted teeth, suppressing his frustration and embarrassment.

The last few words became a roaring echo, crashing against the empty bay and creating an eerie silence.

Minister of the Imperial Guard Fujita Naonori and others lowered their heads, remaining silent as stones, with only the howling sea wind echoing their silence.

Before the words were even finished, it was as if fate's cruelest mockery pierced the horizon!
"Look! Father—look! What's that?!"

Crown Prince Akihito's exclamation suddenly rose in pitch, carrying a sharpness that was almost frightening, something even a young boy couldn't comprehend!

He pointed with all his might toward the horizon!

From the depths of the mist at the horizon, a magnificent landscape suddenly bursts forth!
At first it was a wisp, then a patch, and finally it formed an indestructible, wave-splitting steel wall!

What a terrifying lineup that was!

The most eye-catching thing is the Wanli aircraft carrier, which is so huge that it is breathtaking, sailing proudly at the front!

The flight deck, wide enough to stretch across the entire horizon, gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, and the anti-aircraft gun barrels along its edges, as dense as comb teeth, pointed straight to the sky.

Its bridge stands tall, and a brand-new, blood-red five-star red flag, fluttering in the wind, ignites the entire sea frontier against the boundless blue sky!

Wanli!
The three bold and powerful characters of the ship's emblem were a striking sight to every witness!

Right next to it was another steel beast forged from destruction!
The menacing triple-gun turret resembles a frozen thunder fortress!

The sixteen-inch super-thick cannon barrels pointed diagonally into the sky, every outline etched with silent symbols of conquest and destruction!

On the hull, a jagged, old scratch seemed to have been deliberately preserved by time.

It was the very warship that had once accepted the Empire's unconditional submission!
The name "Missouri" is etched on steel, yet now it arrives flying a red flag, like a vessel carrying the tombstones of two eras and the new Chinese king on those tombstones!

Behind them stretched a formidable, raging sea of ​​steel.

The new destroyer, with its Soviet-style angular mast, cleaved through the blue waves, its cold torpedo tubes reflecting a poisonous glow in the shimmering light.

Like a ghost, the submarine, hidden deep within, only reveals its black back on the surface of the sea, silently cutting through the waves with a deadly aura!

It was a crimson raging tide!

An invincible army burning with the will to be reborn!
The torrent unleashed by the Chinese naval fleet tore through the vast blue waves with overwhelming force, carrying with it an absolute pressure capable of crushing everything, and roared toward Tokyo Bay!

It's frozen!
Time, space, air, heartbeat...

Everything was frozen in an instant when this torrent of steel suddenly descended!
Every muscle on Emperor Hirohito's face was stiff; all his arrogance, fear, exposed dignity, and wishful thinking froze instantly!

His mouth was agape, his pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, and all he could see in his field of vision was the overwhelming, stark white void that made his soul leave his body!

Beneath the Japanese Empress's exquisite makeup, the last vestiges of imperial elegance vanished!
Her frail body trembled violently, her legs were as weak as overcooked noodles, and if she hadn't been leaning against the cold stone railing, she would have collapsed like a rag doll.

She covered her cherry lips, but a piercing, desperate sob uncontrollably escaped from between her fingers.

The guards and servants by the stone railing, and the ordinary Tokyo citizens who were leisurely watching the sea from the embankment...

Everyone who witnessed this scene felt as if their most primal fears had been triggered!
stone carving?

puppet?

Do not!
It was more like horrifying suffocation!

The frozen screams exploded silently in the throats of these Japanese people!

An unprecedented tremor ran through every bone in Emperor Hirohito's body!

He felt as if he had returned to that humiliating day of surrender nine years ago, and the fear was repeating itself!
"The Chinese army has come to settle scores with us!"

"Damn it, the American troops have disappeared!"

"It's over, we can't stop them now!"

"Those things we did in Kyoto, China..."

"Oh no! Could they be doing the same thing in Tokyo too!?"

"Kneel...kneel down!! Everyone kneel down!!"

Hirohito's voice changed, completely distorted into an inhuman shriek!

He used the last of his strength to let out a final roar for survival at all the standing human figures!

He disregarded all decorum and the glory of a divine race with an unbroken lineage for millennia!

"Save your life! Kneel down! Bow your head!"

He was incoherent, shouting orders wildly while demonstrating himself first.

This once high and mighty "human god" knelt down regardless of the steel fleet that was crushing Tokyo Bay.

Emperor Hirohito's forehead slammed heavily against the cold concrete embankment, his body curled up into a humble sphere, praying for his life!

The Japanese Emperor was the first to kneel down before the Chinese naval warship!
It was as if an invisible switch had been completely flipped!

"Plop! Plop! Plop!"

The chain reaction broke out instantly!

Empress Nagako collapsed to her knees, while Crown Prince Akihito, bewildered and helpless, was violently dragged down by his attendants!
Fujita Naonori and all his accompanying guards, the Minister of the Interior...

The civilians on the embankment, who were relatively close by, were stunned by the colossal ship that exceeded all limits of their imagination...

A vast expanse of grass, instantly cut down like wheat by a giant scythe!

The heads of these Japanese people were pressed firmly against the cold, filthy ground, and the entire breakwater area on the east coast of Tokyo Bay was filled with cries of agony!
That was a collective collapse when the Last Judgment arrived!

That was a collective submission to absolute military power!

A collective bow in the face of life and death!

The backbone of the nation, which once prided itself on being a "divine country," crumbled completely in the face of these Chinese warships, which symbolize steel and will!
In stark contrast to this apocalyptic surrender were several American flags fluttering abruptly in the distance at the harbor.

Several American soldiers patrolling the area had clearly also spotted the outline of the large fleet appearing on the horizon. They showed no surprise, nor did they kneel down.

On the contrary, they casually leaned against jeeps or containers, chewing gum, with undisguised, almost mocking, sneers on their lips.

One of the Black soldiers even gave a long, flippant whistle in the direction where the Emperor was kneeling.

Meanwhile, the chaos lasted only a few dozen seconds!
"Snap! Snap! Snap snap snap—!!!"

Blinding white light flashed wildly from all sorts of tricky angles! Suddenly, a large group of people carrying cameras and scrambling for the best positions appeared in some well-camouflaged areas outside the breakwater!

The flashes of the spotlight and the screech of the mechanical shutter instantly drowned out the sobs of some people!
He's a reporter!
A group of Western media reporters poised to pounce!

The Associated Press's portly reporter was the fastest, his large frame displaying an unusually swift movement!

Ignoring the possibility of trampling the kneeling crowd, he nimbly leaped onto the top of a shipping container like a monkey!

He was snapping away at the top of his head with his camera!

The camera greedily devours the chaotic spectacle along the entire eastern shore of Tokyo Bay.

In the most prominent position are the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince, who are in the most humble posture, pressed close to the ground, symbolizing the Yamato national polity!

In the distance, an invincible fleet of giant ships, bearing the five-star red flag, surges forth from the sea!
In the foreground are Japanese civilians crawling like maggots! A single photograph freezes the collapse of imperial dignity and the sudden emergence of the new Eastern behemoth's military power into an eternal horror!
An AFP reporter, a blond man with an elegant mustache, showcased stunning compositional artistry!

Like the most experienced hunter, he precisely found the perfect angle at a gap in the breakwater!
The camera is set up steadily!

Lower the camera angle!

The massive bow of the "Wanli" aircraft carrier, with its rough lines and huge cannons, occupies most of the foreground of the picture, and its cold, hard metal structure is full of an extremely oppressive sense of dominance!
Below the bow of the ship, like an ant crawling at the feet of a giant beast, was Emperor Hirohito, who was kowtowing on the ground!
The scene was filled with unparalleled visual impact and symbolism—the newly born Eastern dragon was trampling the old "god" under its feet with supreme power!
The strict sense of order, the cool color scheme, and the perfect triangular composition precisely convey the core theme that the reporter wanted to express.

A powerful, centralized, and terrifying military force, exuding an imperial aura, is rising from the depths of the raging East Sea, forcefully and domineeringly intruding into the heart of the world stage! Dangerous and unstoppable!
"That's wonderful! This is absolutely perfect for bashing Chinese people!"

"I've already decided on the title for this photo shoot: The Empire's Contempt!"

"Propagate the Chinese people as a tyrannical and authoritarian empire, create a sense of Chinese threat, and make them hate me to death."

An AFP reporter looked at the photos of the Chinese navy in his camera and grinned slyly.

As the camera shifts, a deep engine roar comes from afar on the concrete road further out of the breakwater.

A command vehicle led the way, followed by two American jeeps full of military police, which unequivocally separated the crowds and people on the edge of chaos, and stopped not far from this kneeling "spectacle".

The car door opened, and a pair of dusty military boots stepped down first, landing heavily on the concrete floor with a dull thud.

MacArthur, leaning on his signature gold-plated oak cane, dressed in a sharp suit, and smoking a nearly never-ending corncob pipe, strode out with steady steps.

Behind him followed several solemn-looking U.S. military officers.

The first thing MacArthur saw, hidden behind his Ray-Ban sunglasses, was the “Emperor” kneeling on the embankment like a shrimp.

The corners of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly, a hint of understanding, contempt, and triumphant pleasure welling up within him.

He certainly knew that the Chinese navy was coming; China had already officially notified him.

The Chinese navy came specifically to exchange prisoners, and the warships carried many American prisoners.

He knew even better that the Emperor would come to "relax" on this day.

All of this was his masterpiece!

No prior warning?
of course not!
How could we possibly let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness Japan's "living god" completely crumble in the face of uncontrollable forces?

Through this devastating moment, the Emperor's authority was utterly crushed into the dust!

Break their spines!

Is there still a sliver of delusion remaining in Japan?
Take it all away!

This was precisely the crucial, bloody stroke in MacArthur's mind!
For China, this also represents the scenario mentioned earlier where Japan was forced to submit without a fight.

Many Japanese people still believe that China only won because of the United States and that it has no strength of its own.

Only the Chinese naval fleet swaggering into Tokyo Bay, with the Emperor kneeling in a display of majesty, was enough to proclaim to the whole of Japan.

The new China is no longer the China of the past!

At this time, the new China was not only invincible in its army, but also had a strong foundation for its navy to take shape!

MacArthur strolled slowly to the group of kneeling royals, smoke from his pipe swirling around his head, looking as relaxed as if he were walking in his own garden.

His gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, drifted over the back of the Emperor's head, which was pressed against the cold ground, where the heavy crown once adorned.

Hirohito trembled!
Although he was kneeling, his eyes were fixed on the pair of dusty leather boots out of the corner of his eye!
And that familiar corncob pipe!

The tide of humiliation instantly turned into raging lava!
All the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly in an instant!

MacArthur knew!

He knows everything!
He did it on purpose!!!
A surge of overwhelming anger, mixed with the boundless humiliation of being mocked, erupted like a volcano deep within his veins!
"what--!"

A short, distorted, inhuman roar suddenly burst from the depths of his throat!

The next second, His Majesty the Emperor's body convulsed violently twice, and his expensive woolen coat could no longer contain the surging resentment and despair!
Hirohito's eyes suddenly rolled back, and his massive body slumped to the side and fainted as if all the bones had been removed!
"His Majesty!"

The Japanese empress let out a terrified scream.

The chaos escalated immediately!
The eunuchs scrambled forward to help him up!
MacArthur's gaze lingered for less than a second on the faces of the unconscious Emperor and his terrified Empress, a gaze that was condescending and devoid of any warmth.

He turned away indifferently, his gaze no longer lingering on the mess that symbolized the pinnacle of Japan, but instead casting his deep gaze upon the sea and sky!

MacArthur looked at the Chinese naval fleet that had already sailed into the depths of Tokyo Bay, flying the crimson five-star flag and appearing increasingly majestic like a mountain!

Behind the wisps of smoke from his pipe, for the first time, a complex and intensely apprehensive solemnity appeared in the depths of MacArthur's sharp, eagle-like eyes!
This is the legendary Chinese navy that miraculously annihilated the US escort fleet outside Pyeongtaek Port!

Although this fleet is still young and disorganized, it carries the invincible momentum of the great victory on the peninsula, like a tempered giant sword pointing straight at the heart of the Pacific!
The frenzy it unleashed represented the will and the power of the awakening of a new China...

All of this was so heavy that even a veteran like MacArthur felt an indescribable, chilling unease!

This was no longer the poorly equipped East Asian peasants he knew; this was a giant dragon about to break free from the mire and grow ferocious claws!
It cuts through the waves, stirring not only the waters of Dongying Bay, but also the turbulent waves of the entire world!
At this moment, the entire Chinese naval fleet is cutting into the core waters of Tokyo Bay at full speed!

They proclaim their existence to the world in the most unquestionable manner!

The heavy armored bow of the "Wanli" aircraft carrier resembled a giant axe, brutally cleaving through the ten-thousand-ton blue waves!

The giant, fan-shaped waves crashed against the breakwater, producing a deep, earth-shaking roar!

The spray reached several stories high!
The cold, salty mist, carrying the scent of steel and gunpowder, rushed towards the kneeling man's face, stinging like needles!

The red and green flags of the signalmen high on the island fluttered rapidly, conveying the fleet's advance instructions with precision and coldness, demonstrating the precise and efficient operating rhythm inside this giant ship!

The enormous flight deck reflected a cold, hard metallic sheen in the bleak winter sunlight!

The numerous towing vehicles on top resembled busy worker ants, and the wings of several newly painted jet fighters had been opened and secured next to the bomb racks, ready to go!

Even before it took off, the violence and majesty it exuded were enough to send chills down the spines of the most fanatical militarists!
The massive hull of the USS Missouri turned slightly, revealing the terrifying triple sixteen-inch guns on its sides!
One by one, the dark muzzles of the cannons slowly rose, emitting a dull and ear-piercing "squeak" sound of metal friction driven by the robust hydraulic mechanism!

Like an ancient behemoth twisting its ferocious head, it casts the most brutal gaze upon Tokyo!
It serves as a reminder to everyone—this is a ship that once accepted Japan's unconditional surrender!

The pointer of history, with its mocking markings, once again points to the same sea!
This time, however, the flags fluttering on the deck were replaced with... a crimson five-pointed star, stained with the blood of countless heroes!
The new destroyers that followed also displayed a completely new look!
The ship's hull, a perfect blend of Soviet style and Chinese paintwork, cuts through the deep blue!

The new twin 100mm dual-purpose gun turret rotates slightly with the ship's attitude, and the muzzle flashes with a sharp light.

The sailors' figures are clearly visible next to the rocket depth charge launcher at the stern, their operations meticulous, demonstrating the rigor and confidence within the steel torrent amidst the howling sea breeze!
Six dark submarines, like silent, ghostly assassins, left faint tracks on the sea.

Although most of their massive hulls are submerged, the exposed command tower masts resemble shark fins, exuding a suffocating aura of death.

Wherever it passed, the seawater seemed to darken by a third!
At this moment, the cries of anguish and chaos on the breakwater had not yet subsided, and the camera shutters of Western journalists were still tirelessly snapping away at the film.

They recorded every symbolic image of the Emperor lying on the ground, the Empress in terror, and the Chinese fleet pressing down on them.

....................................

Meanwhile, in prisoner-of-war camps near Tokyo Bay

The cold wind, carrying the salty, pungent seawater, whipped against a group of ragged figures confined on the east side of the dock.

One hundred and twenty-seven Chinese People's Volunteer Army prisoners of war huddled together like withered grass forgotten in the frost.

They were once the sharpest spearhead of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, but now they are trapped in a cage of steel and humiliation.

None of these tough men laid down their weapons while they were conscious and physically fit!
They were on that hellish battlefield, their blood staining the mountain ridges, exhausted and unconscious, when death temporarily blinded them, and they were brutally bound and dragged away from their homeland by the surging American troops!
When they awoke from the excruciating pain and darkness, the cold iron chains were like venomous snakes coiling around them, making even biting their tongues to commit suicide a luxury!
My throat was filled with the dry, metallic taste of blood, and the weakness brought on by the daily torment.

"Want to starve to death?"

"Don't even think about it!"

"We'll force it in for you!"

The American guard chuckled as he tossed the hard, crunchy piece of black bread into the cell, saying with a laugh.

"Exactly! Save your breath!"

"If your navy doesn't dare to come and exchange prisoners of war, you still have other uses!"

"Washington journalists need 'cooperative' prisoners of war to take a nice photo!"

"You will then be displayed as 'trophies' in American newspapers, your bowed heads on display!"

The American guard kicked the iron bars of the cage hard.

He was met with only deathly silence.

Hunger strike became the last and only option for these tough men!

The food rotted and became moldy in the cage, but no one touched it!
Their bodies visibly withered, their eye sockets sunken, and their cheekbones high.

Their wrists and ankles, bound for a long time with rough ropes, had their skin rubbed raw, revealing the stark white bones beneath, blending into the dark red of the surrounding frozen soil!
The deathly silence of despair was suddenly ripped apart by several roaring military trucks!
In an instant, the iron gate was slammed open.

The biting cold wind mixed with the pungent smell of gasoline rushed in.

"Get up! You damned Chinamen! Let's go!"

"Consider yourselves lucky, your country's navy has come to pick you up!"

The American guards roughly drove the group of prisoners of war, who were so weak they could barely stand, away with the butts of their rifles.

They were held by the arms, like sacks of grain that had lost their weight, and were roughly shoved and thrown into the rickety truck bed.

The wheels rolled over the cold concrete surface of the Tokyo Bay pier, producing a dull, monotonous echo.

The car door opened, and the icy sea breeze, carrying an even louder wave of noise, rushed into our ears!

On the dock, the flashes of light were as dazzling as stars!

"Get off the bus! All of you, stand up straight!"

The head of the U.S. military police shouted sternly.

In that numb moment driven by humiliation, a splash of Chinese red on a distant warship suddenly struck a pair of murky, desperate eyes!
The sea is no longer the foreign, repulsive salty sea!
That's the scent of my mother from afar!
Directly in front of the pier!

On the vast and magnificent Tokyo Bay, a massive warship, as majestic as a mountain, stands proudly!

It cleaved through the vast waves, its bow stirring up whitecaps like snow!
The most impressive thing is the top of its mast—a huge five-star red flag!

So pure and unadulterated red!

So hot!

Like a burst of crimson magma, it ignited the entire dark and cold sea surface!

That was a call from the deepest part of one's bloodline!
The Volunteer Army soldiers, who were extremely weak from starvation, experienced a violent tremor!

"Red flag...our...five-star red flag?"

At the very front row, a volunteer soldier with severely ulcerated wrists, who could only stand with the help of others, uttered a few words from deep in his throat as if in a dream.

His chapped lips moved, and his cloudy eyes first showed disbelief and confusion.

Immediately afterwards, a monstrous wave, like a volcanic eruption, surged from the depths of his soul and swept over his lifeless heart!

"Red flag! The red flag of our motherland!"

"It's the Chinese Navy! It really is our Chinese Navy!"

"It's not a dream! It's not a dream!"

A hoarse voice burst forth from a throat, instantly infecting all the withered bodies!

From within his body, which had been bound by ropes and was on the verge of death, a terrifying power suddenly erupted from somewhere!
The wrist bone, worn down and regrown with new flesh, and the ankle, with its bone exposed and flesh turned outwards, seemed to have been instantly injected with scorching magma!

"Go home...we want to go home!"

"We must continue to fight for our motherland!"

They ignored the excruciating pain of their skin being torn open again!

Ignoring the threat of guns being within arm's reach!

They even ignored the life force that was being pushed to its limit and was about to be completely exhausted!

All they could see was that burning sea flag!
They roared like wild beasts, using every last bit of their strength.

Dragging their wounded bodies, they rushed and stumbled toward the fiery flag!

They rushed towards the pier where the warships were moored! They rushed towards their homeland!
Her steps were so unsteady, yet so resolute!
He stumbled with every step, and struggled to get up every time he fell.

On the faces of these volunteer soldiers, stained with blood and mud, turbid tears streamed down their faces, washing away the traces of humiliation!
In an instant, the entire dock fell silent!

All that remains are the sudden, desperate footsteps of these captured "lambs" rushing toward the five-star red flag and the overwhelming shock that erupts after being suppressed to the extreme!
Standing at the forefront of the flagship "Wanli's" broad command deck, Commander Xiao Zhenhua had already seen everything clearly!
The telescope slipped silently from his hands and fell heavily onto the cold deck!

For the first time, the naval commander's imposing body trembled uncontrollably in front of his soldiers!
His eyes, which had seen through countless storms, were now filled with tears!
He saw it!

He saw the shocking details on these soldiers heading towards their homeland!

That's not the self-degradation of those who surrender!

Their tattered uniforms barely covered their bodies, and every inch of their exposed skin was covered with purplish-blue bruises and deep bloodstains from the repeated binding and rubbing of crisscrossing ropes!
Especially the exposed wrists and ankles, which were repeatedly and cruelly twisted, dragged, and fixed with rough ropes, leaving the flesh deeply embedded and the bones visible!
Those are medals of unyielding spirit, forcibly imprisoned by violence! Not shackles of self-abandonment by cowards!
Their eye sockets were sunken like dry wells, and their cheeks were horribly hollowed out!

Every step forward consumes the last bit of life energy that has already been exhausted by the fast!
Those were no ordinary prisoners of war; they were tragic warriors who, in dire straits, burned their entire souls and dignity, refusing to become lambs to the slaughter on the enemy's chopping block!
Xiao Zhenhua suddenly raised his head, his chest heaving violently!

A searing pain, like molten lava, and a raging inferno that surged to the top of his head tore apart his steely will!
"Comrades—!"

"The motherland has come to welcome you home!"

"You are not prisoners! Nor are you cowards!"

"You fought to the death to serve your country on the battlefield! You shed your last drop of blood! Even when you were wounded, unconscious, and captured, you would rather die than surrender! You fasted to show your resolve! Even with iron chains on your bodies, your indomitable spirit could not be dulled!"

"You are heroes of our motherland! You are upright and honorable sons and daughters of China!"

Xiao Zhenhua snatched the high-powered metal megaphone with a stand from the political commissar beside him, rushed to the bow of the ship, and shouted it out with all his might.

Before he finished speaking, an invisible torrent that had been building up for too long was completely swept away!

"Waaah... Mother! Mother!"

A captured soldier, shot in the leg, suddenly knelt on the cold pier, his forehead slamming against the ground, blood instantly staining the cold wooden planks!

"Our motherland...has not forgotten us!"

A soldier next to him, who was so thin he was just skin and bones, could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, tears mixed with blood gushing out!

"Woo..."

The volunteer soldiers on the shore burst into a deafening, overwhelming cry after suppressing their emotions to the extreme!

That's not weakness!
That was washing away the marks of humiliation with blood and tears!
Amidst a sea of ​​sorrowful tears, suddenly, a hoarse, weak voice, yet carrying boundless stubbornness, seemed to rise with difficulty from the depths of the soul:

"Five-star...red flag..."

Then came the second and third trembling voices, stubbornly joining in.

"Fluttering in the wind!"

"How loud the victory song is!"

On the shore, a group of withered figures, as if they had struggled back from the edge of hell, straightened their chests, which were covered with marks from their strangulation!
With his last ounce of strength, amidst tears and blood, he aimed at the five-starred red flag fluttering in the sea breeze!

Towards the giant steel ship flying the same flag!
They sang the most indomitable and passionate chorus of their lives!
"Sing of our beloved motherland!"

"From this day forward, we will march towards prosperity and strength!"

The sound was initially faint and intermittent. But it spread like wildfire!
The naval soldiers on board were already in tears!

"The five-star red flag flutters in the wind..."

On the flagship "Wanli," a young naval soldier responded with tears in his eyes, followed by all the naval soldiers on the warship—commanding officers, signalmen, and even those in the engine room!

All the sons and daughters of China who could hear this tragic song straightened their backs!
The sound shook the heavens!

The sea and sky were stirred!
Countless Western journalists watching were captivated by this heart-wrenching scene!
The cameras in their hands had never felt so heavy! The flashbulbs were going off incessantly!
Yet I cannot record the overwhelming shock and indescribable shame that overwhelmed me at that moment!

The images of those withered yet determined Chinese prisoners of war standing tall, the deep, bone-revealing marks from their bindings, and the burning flame of faith in their eyes after being washed by tears!

"My God...look at their wrists!"

"How long were they tied up... for their bones to be exposed!"

A veteran war correspondent for The Times put down his camera, his voice trembling.

"I'd rather starve than cooperate..."

"What kind of belief... could make a man willingly let himself starve to death?"

The Reuters reporter muttered to himself, forgetting to take notes for the first time.

Another AFP reporter looked down at the shocking red in his lens.

The fluttering five-star red flag, and the tears streaming down the faces of Chinese prisoners of war, made even redder by the red flag!

The sound of camera shutters slowed down, and more reporters put down their cameras, silently gazing at the crimson sea!
Not far away, on the UN forces' temporary command post.

MacArthur, with his signature corncob pipe dangling from his lips and his face ashen, stood at the very front of the reviewing stand, staring intently at the awe-inspiring red tide on the dock and the sea!

The singing was like an invisible steel needle, piercing through his hard marshal's uniform and penetrating the core of his pride!
A shrill noise erupted behind me.

A dozen or so American officers, who had been captured and returned, were excitedly waving their arms and complaining to their own men.

"Steak! Where's the delicious steak?!" "Red wine! Oh my god, I miss the damn rich aroma of Bordeaux!"

"God, give us a clean bed, not this damn cot!"

"Hey! Gentlemen of reporters! Take a couple more cool photos of me! I want the girls in my hometown to see that I'm still alive!"

MacArthur sighed and slowly turned around.

His gaze swept over his comrades who had just been exchanged back, who, though covered in dust and dirt, were still full of energy and even complaining about the food and wine.

He sighed again and turned to look at the dock.

There, a group of Chinese soldiers, emaciated, with tears still lingering in their sunken eyes, their wrists and ankles bearing shocking marks of binding and strangulation, were so weak they could barely stand.

But there was only one thing on their faces: gushing tears and a burning faith, harder than steel, burning as they looked at the five-star red flag on the ship!

The sea breeze carried their hoarse yet deafening chorus, a final burst of life force dedicated to their flag and their country!
The intense visual impact made this powerful and influential five-star general of the US military feel inexplicably dizzy!

A chill ran from the corner of his mouth, where he held a pipe, to the depths of his heart.

He took the corncob pipe out of his mouth, and the hard wood felt damp and cold.

"belief……"

"A belief that one would rather starve than bow down..."

MacArthur murmured absentmindedly, his voice so soft it was instantly carried away by the sea breeze.

A profound, unprecedented question crashed into MacArthur's heart like a Siberian cold front.

"God is my witness...can these Chinese people...really be defeated?!"

MacArthur looked at the Chinese volunteer soldiers boarding the ship in the distance, his eyes filled with shock.

“Woo————————”

In an instant, the whistle of the Wanli aircraft carrier sounded a long blast as it returned to port!

The long, powerful flute melody resonated throughout Tokyo Bay!
It heralds victory and the return of heroes!

The sailors straightened all the five-star red flags on the ships and raised them high to the very top!

Masts stand like a forest, and red flags flutter in the wind!
The signal flags for returning to port were raised at the same time!

The warship's massive hull slowly turned around amidst the powerful roar of its engines!

Break through the sea and crush the waves!
Heading towards our motherland! Braving the waves!

The Chinese heroes, scarred yet standing tall, were carefully, almost carried and held, by the naval soldiers as they boarded the solid deck of their motherland!
Commander Xiao Zhenhua personally helped up the last emaciated soldier who was about to climb onto the pier!
The withered fingers of the volunteer soldier trembled, yet gripped the cold steel hull of the flagship tightly and with unwavering affection!

The cold metallic touch felt like a mother's burning palm!

"go home!"

Xiao Jingguang only managed to say two words before he could say no more. He could only press down hard on the soldier's arm, which was wrapped in bandages but was trying to salute the national flag!

The massive Chinese task force has begun its move!
The sea was cleaved with magnificent and imposing wakes! The fleet was arrayed in a disciplined formation!

Like a crimson dragon awakening in the Pacific Ocean!
Heading towards the warm and sturdy coastline of our motherland, we will overcome all obstacles!
The five-star red flag fluttered proudly in the wind on the bow and masthead of every warship!

Someone in the group of reporters quietly pressed the shutter, capturing this scene that will surely shake the world.

The ship's silhouette faded into the distance.

The last anti-submarine ship in the fleet, the "Endeavour," had a small five-star red flag at its stern that turned into a flickering flame at the horizon!

Like an inextinguishable spark, it sounded its final whistle to bid farewell to the ocean!

"Waaaaah——————————"

(End of this chapter)