You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

On the same afternoon.

Tianjin Port, Dagukou Wharf.

A cargo ship named "Fuji Maru" sounded its horn and slowly sailed out of the breakwater toward the eastern sea.

On the surface, this cargo ship was no different from ordinary merchant ships that traveled between Daxia and the Japanese mainland.

But in reality, its background is frighteningly grand.

This ship belongs to the "Xingya Yuan" (Reform and Development Institute), a merchant guild secretly controlled by the Japanese imperial family.

The ship was not carrying plundered coal or iron ore, which are major industrial raw materials.

In the lower hold, thousands of camphor wood chests, carefully wrapped in moisture-proof oil paper and straw, were neatly stacked.

These boxes contain priceless national treasures that the Japanese invaders looted from the Palace Museum, major libraries, and the homes of high-ranking officials who hadn't managed to escape after occupying Beiping.

Bronze ware, calligraphy and paintings, and official kiln porcelain.

There are even some extremely precious rare and fragmentary calligraphy and paintings.

In addition to these cultural relics and ancient books, the ship also had a special vault filled with looted gold bars and boxes of jewelry.

This is a true royal treasure ship.

The officer in charge of escorting this priceless treasure was Colonel Kujo Kore, a noble officer from the Japanese Imperial Guard Division.

At only 28 years old, he was able to become a colonel. This Kujo Kore was naturally a relative of the Emperor.

At this moment, Colonel Kujo, dressed in a crisp woolen military uniform and wearing white gloves, stood on the corridor outside the bridge, enjoying the sea breeze.

He came from a prestigious family and had an inherent arrogance about him.

He knew nothing about the massacre that took place in the Bohai Sea yesterday.

The North China Front Army reacted too slowly and failed to issue timely navigation ban notices to various ports.

Colonel Kujo viewed this escort mission as an easy way to gain prestige.

Once these treasures are safely transported back to Japan and presented to His Majesty the Emperor, his military rank will definitely be promoted another level.

"Colonel, it's windy. Please go back to your cabin and rest."

A second lieutenant from the Imperial Guard Division standing nearby spoke respectfully.

"It's alright."

Colonel Kujo waved his hand, watching the receding coastline, a contemptuous sneer appearing on his lips:

"The people of Bactria simply do not know how to appreciate these works of art."

These treasures can only be best protected and studied within the Empire.

We are saving East Asian culture.

Heh heh heh, hahaha!

The cargo ship "Fuji Maru" sailed smoothly on the sea.

A few hours later, it was getting dark.

High in the clouds, a HE-115 seaplane carrying out a routine patrol mission emerged from the clouds.

The navigator in the back seat used binoculars to scan the sea below.

"Captain, we have spotted a lone cargo ship at two o'clock."

Without escort vessels, its speed is approximately ten knots.

The captain immediately pushed down the control stick and descended to confirm the altitude.

"Judging from the paint scheme, it's a Japanese merchant ship."

Immediately send a telegram to Qingcheng Port, reporting the coordinates.

The radio waves quickly traversed space and returned to the headquarters of the 33rd Army Corps.

At this time, only half a day had passed since the destroyer "Haifeng" returned to Qingcheng Port, and it had just been refueled and replenished with ammunition.

Before Captain He Bin could even disembark and have a hot meal, he received a direct order from headquarters to launch an attack.

"Everyone, cancel your leave and return to your posts immediately."

He Bin grabbed the megaphone on the bridge and shouted the order:

"Ignite the boiler, prepare to depart."

We have work to do again.

The "Haifeng" once again became a lone wolf on the sea, tearing through the surface of the ocean at a ferocious speed of over thirty knots, heading straight for the target area.

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the sea, casting a golden-red glow.

The cargo ship "Fuji Maru" is still sailing slowly.

Colonel Kujo stood at the bow of the ship, holding a glass of red wine, admiring the sunset over the sea.

Suddenly, a fast-moving black dot appeared on the horizon ahead.

The black dot rapidly enlarged, and a slender, elegant gray warship emerged from the waves.

"Colonel, a warship has been spotted ahead!"

The captain, holding binoculars, loudly reported to the captain.

Colonel Kujo took a sip of red wine, looking very relaxed.

"What's the panic?"

It must be an escort warship sent by the Joint Fleet to pick us up.

We signaled with lights to identify ourselves.

The searchlights on the cargo ship began to flash.

However, the opposing warships ignored their signals and instead accelerated towards them.

The distance has been reduced to two kilometers.

Colonel Kujo finally made out the outline of the warship.

That was not any type of destroyer in the Imperial Navy.

On the towering mast, a Great Xia military flag stood out conspicuously in the sea breeze.

"What?!"

Colonel Kujo dropped his wine glass onto the deck and shattered it.

The arrogance on his face vanished instantly, replaced by extreme terror.

"Great Xia warships? How is this possible?!"

"Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!"

Colonel Kujo drew his command sword from his waist and roared at the top of his lungs.

The dozens of Guards Division soldiers on board, responsible for escorting the shipment, frantically raised their rifles and lay prone on the ship's side.

On the destroyer "Haifeng".

He Bin held up his binoculars, looked at the Japanese officer waving his sword at the bow of the cargo ship, and sneered.

"Those ignorant fools."

He Bin put down his binoculars, too lazy to even use the 127mm main gun.

"Foredeck, 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun, ready for horizontal firing."

Target: enemy ship's bridge.

"Fire!"

"Thump thump thump—!"

The twin-mounted 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns emitted a crisp and dense roar.

This medium-caliber rapid-fire cannon, originally designed to deal with high-speed fighter jets, now places merchant ships within its firing range. For it, this is almost an insulting ease, like using a dragon-slaying sword to peel fruit.

A string of high-explosive shells, trailing red tracers, instantly crossed the sea.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The bridge of the "Fuji Maru" was instantly covered by a barrage of shells.

The thin steel plate and glass were easily torn apart.

The upper half of the entire bridge was cut off in half.

Colonel Kujo, standing on the outer corridor, didn't even manage a scream.

A 40mm high-explosive shell hit him directly in the chest.

For this arrogant Japanese nobleman from a prestigious family, bloodline could not change his ultimate fate.

Colonel Kujo was instantly blown to pieces, his body flying into the sea along with shredded planks.

The Imperial Guards soldiers who were lying on the ship's side, ready to resist, were also swept down by flying shrapnel.

"Stop the ship! Lower the flag! We surrender!"

The surviving Japanese captain was terrified and scrambled to the signal mast.

He ripped down the Japanese flag and then frantically waved a white sailor suit.

The "Haifeng" slowly approached.

Fully armed army soldiers quickly boarded the ship and took control of all key locations.

The remaining Japanese soldiers and crew were all taken to the foredeck.

The company commander leading the team, carrying a flashlight, walked into the cargo ship's hold.

When he pried open the first camphor wood chest, he was completely stunned.

Under the beam of a flashlight, a bronze tripod with an ancient shape and covered in verdigris lay quietly in the shockproof straw.

The company commander swallowed hard and waved for the soldiers to continue opening the boxes.

Beautifully framed calligraphy and paintings.

A crystal-clear jade cabbage, an exquisite ivory carving.

When the specially designed safety compartment door was cut open with an acetylene torch, the golden light nearly blinded the soldiers.

Stacks of gold bars were neatly arranged, and boxes of dazzling jewelry were displayed.

"Company Commander, this...this ship is loaded with national treasures!"

A soldier said in a trembling voice.

The message was quickly transmitted back to Qingcheng Port via encrypted telegram.

Inside the General Headquarters.

Lin Feng looked at the telegram in his hand, so excited that his breathing became rapid.

Cutting off the Japanese army's arms transport was merely a tactical victory.

But intercepting this Japanese royal treasure ship has a completely different meaning!

Those gold and jewels can be exchanged for system points to support his subsequent industrial construction.

And those bronzes, calligraphy and paintings, and ancient books.

That is the legacy of five thousand years of civilization of the Great Xia people!

In the original timeline of history, countless national treasures like these were looted by the Japanese and taken back to their homeland, forever lost overseas.

Now, these priceless treasures have returned to the hands of the Great Xia people intact.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

Lin Feng is genuinely happy now. He had thought that sinking a few of the Japanese cargo ships would be a good result.

Unexpectedly, we caught a big fish.

This battle to disrupt diplomatic relations was like Qin Shi Huang touching an electrical wire – he won so badly he was completely overwhelmed!