World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"Heading 130, maintain speed 30 knots," Lin Haisheng ordered. "Gunner, target Kirishima, it's getting too close."

"11,000 units away! We're in optimal firing range!" Wang Zhenguo reported.

"All ships fire at once!"

The eight main guns of the Fuxing roared once more. This time, due to the closer distance, the firing accuracy was greatly improved. Eight 381mm armor-piercing shells flew through the air for less than twenty seconds before landing around the Kirishima.

Both shots hit directly.

The first shot hit the Kirishima's forward funnel, blasting the massive cylinder to pieces. Black smoke and steam billowed out, severely impairing observation from the bridge.

The second shot was even more lethal—it struck the base of the Kirishima's forward main gun turret. Although it failed to penetrate the turret armor, the enormous impact completely jammed the turret's rotating mechanism. Two of the Kirishima's main guns were instantly rendered useless.

"Hit! Two hits!" A brief cheer erupted on the bridge of the Fuxing-class destroyer.

But Lin Hai didn't smile. He knew that this victory had come at a huge cost. And...

"The Kongo is turning!" the observer suddenly shouted. "They're trying to take over the T-series!"

Lin Haisheng rushed to the port side. Sure enough, the Kongo did not continue the pursuit, but turned to port, attempting to aim its entire broadside at the stern of the Fuxing. Once it gained control of the T-shaped bow, its eight main guns could fire simultaneously without any obstruction.

"Hard to right! Emergency turn!" Lin Haisheng practically roared.

The Fuxing bullet train began another sharp turn. But this time, the turning speed was noticeably slower—the prolonged operation at full power had pushed the engines to their limits.

"Captain, the turning speed is only two-thirds of normal!" Navigation Officer Zhou Zhiwei said anxiously.

"Never mind! Keep spinning!" Lin Haisheng stared at the nautical chart. "Vice Commander Chen, send a telegram to the Yangtze: 'The swarm is in hot pursuit; we urgently need assistance.'"

"But Captain, it was just sent ten minutes ago..."

"Send it again!" Lin Haisheng interrupted him. "Tell them we might not be able to hold out for another twenty minutes."

Chen Qiming gritted his teeth and ran to the radio. The dial tone of Morse code sounded again, this time with a more rapid rhythm.

The bridge of the Kongo-class frigate.

Kato Yusaburo looked at the Fuxing bullet train struggling to turn, and a smile finally appeared on his lips.

"Their engines are at their limit." He lowered his binoculars. "Order the entire fleet to concentrate fire on the stern of the enemy ships. Shoot out their rudders, and they'll be stuck in circles on the sea."

"Sir, the Kirishima reports damage to its forward main gun turret..."

"Let them keep firing with the rear main guns!" Kato waved his hand impatiently. "What about the Haruna and Hiei?"

"We are readjusting our formation and can fire again in three minutes."

"Three minutes..." Kato glanced at the clock. "That's enough. Within three minutes, we need to disable the Fuxing.

He walked to the megaphone: "Main guns, attention! Target: enemy ship's stern, distance 10,500. All guns fire simultaneously—fire!"

The Kongo's six main guns roared deafeningly. Six armor-piercing shells flew toward the stern of the Fuxing with almost a straight trajectory.

This time, Lady Luck was on the Japanese side.

The first shot nearly missed, shrapnel penetrating the outer wall of the stern steering gear compartment. The second shot hit the stern deck directly, blowing away an anti-aircraft gun. The third shot…

"boom!!!"

The third 356mm armor-piercing round struck the drive shaft protective shield of the right propeller of the Fuxing bullet train. Although it failed to penetrate the armor, the enormous impact caused the drive shaft to bend slightly.

In the engine room, Liu Mingde felt the vibrations beneath his feet suddenly become irregular.

"What's going on?" he yelled into the intercom.

"Starboard driveshaft malfunction! Rotation speed dropped by 10 percent!" The monitor's reply was tinged with alarm.

"Damn it!" Liu Mingde slammed his fist on the control panel. "Report to the bridge! Starboard propulsion is damaged; top speed may drop to 28 knots!"

28 sections. This means they will no longer be able to use speed to escape the pursuit of the King Kong-class monsters.

The bridge of the Fuxing high-speed train.

Upon hearing Liu Mingde's report, Lin Haisheng's face turned pale for the first time.

28 knots. Compared to the four Kongo-class destroyers with a top speed of 30 knots, this was tantamount to a death sentence.

"Captain..." Chen Qiming's voice trembled.

Lin Hai closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, there was no more hesitation in them, only determination.

"Attention all ships." His voice boomed through the loudspeaker, "Starboard power is compromised; we can no longer outrun the enemy by speed. From this moment forward, the Fuxing will engage in its final battle."

He paused, his voice becoming even more resolute: "I demand that everyone who can still fight hold their post. Artillerymen, fire every shell at the enemy. Damage control teams, plug every leak. Engine room crews, let the remaining boilers unleash their last bit of power."

"We may not be able to leave this sea alive. But each and every one of us will become an eternal monument to the Lanfang Navy. Forty-four years ago, our ancestors lost their homes in Pontianak. Today, we are here to tell them with blood and fire—the people of Lanfang have returned. And they will never leave again."

Silence fell over the bridge. Then, Zhao Wenyuan was the first to raise his hand and salute. Then everyone else followed suit.

There were no grand pronouncements, no tearful lamentations. Only an iron-willed silence and a burning flame in their eyes.

Lin Haisheng returned the salute, then turned around: "Gunner, target: King Kong, fire all guns at once. This time, we won't hide."

"But Captain, if we stop and exchange fire..."

"Then let's engage in a firefight," Lin Haisheng said calmly. "Use the Fuxing's armor to withstand their shells. Trade our main guns for theirs. One to one, we win. One to two, we win big. Even one to four..."

He smiled, a smile with a chilling calm: "Then we have cleared the way for Bismarck's formation."

Wang Zhenguo understood. He stood at attention and saluted: "Yes, Captain! All guns ready!"

The Fuxing began to decelerate, its hull slowly turning, aiming its port side at the Kongo. This was the most classic and brutal form of battleship combat—broadside firing until one side sank.

On the Kongo, Kato Yusaburo was stunned when he saw this scene, and then burst into laughter.

"They've given up! They've given up running away and want to duel us!" He laughed until tears streamed down his face. "Good! Very good! Then let them know that the Imperial Navy's gunnery is the best in the world!"

"Attention all ships! Broadside firing formation! 9800 meters, all guns firing simultaneously—fire!"

Almost at the same time, the eight main guns of the Fuxing bullet train roared.

The two giant ships, less than ten kilometers apart, were engaged in the most brutal artillery battle of the era.