World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Looking at all this, Zhang Zhen felt a mix of emotions. Today's victory was glorious, the greatest victory since the founding of the Lanfang Navy. But looking at the burning wreckage, the floating corpses, and the struggling survivors on the sea, he felt no joy, only heaviness.

That's how war is. The victors write history, the vanquished sink to the bottom of the sea. And whether they win or lose, the dead never return.

He turned and headed towards the bridge to send a telegram to Dubai. But before leaving, he took one last look at the sea.

The morning sun had already bathed the sea in its light, making it sparkle. If it weren't for the burning wreckage and oil slicks, what a beautiful day it would have been.

"It's over," Zhang Zhen said softly.

But he knew this was just the beginning. The outcome of this naval battle would reshape the entire Far East. The Japanese navy's elite forces were wiped out, and the Lanfang Navy gained fame in a single battle. The seeds of subsequent diplomatic maneuvering, strategic adjustments, and even new conflicts would all be sown today.

But that's for later. Right now, he needs to clean up the battlefield, tally the results, and then bring the news of victory home.

Back in the captain's cabin, Zhang Zhen picked up a pen and began drafting the telegram:

"To Commander-in-Chief Chen Feng of Lanfang: From 6:40 AM to 7:52 AM this morning, my Bismarck formation engaged the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet in waters near 125 degrees east longitude and 28 degrees north latitude. The results are as follows..."

He paused for a moment, looking out at the azure sea and sky.

Then he continued writing:

"In this battle, all officers and men of the Fuxing fought bravely and held out for forty minutes against the attack of four Kongo-class destroyers, buying crucial time for our fleet. Captain Lin Haisheng and his men demonstrated the highest courage and spirit of sacrifice of the Lanfang Navy."

"Rear Admiral Zhang Zhen, aboard the battleship Yangtze River. 8:00 AM."

After writing the telegram, he pressed the send button. The ticking of the Morse code transmitted the outcome of this naval battle, which would determine the fate of the nation, to Dubai, thousands of miles away.

In that sea area where the battle had just ended, lifeboats were still shuttling back and forth, "saving" every life that could still be saved.

A short while later, the communications officer strode in, holding a newly translated telegram: "Sir, urgent telegram from Dubai! Signed personally by the President!"

"read."

The communications officer cleared his throat and read aloud: "To Rear Admiral Zhang Zhen, Commander of the East China Sea Task Force: I am delighted to learn of the great victory our naval officers and soldiers achieved in the East China Sea, sinking four enemy capital ships. Therefore, I hereby order the establishment of the East China Sea Forward Command, effective immediately, with you as its commander-in-chief, fully responsible for all operational matters in the East China Sea theater. All our naval vessels in the East China Sea are under your command. The families of those who sacrificed their lives in this battle will be treated with the utmost care by the nation; the wounded officers and soldiers will receive the best possible medical treatment. I hope you will continue your efforts, expand the victory, and enhance our national prestige. President of the Lanfang Republic, Chen Feng."

There was a few seconds of silence on the bridge, then a suppressed cheer erupted.

Several young staff officers patted each other on the shoulder, their faces showing excitement. But Zhang Zhen's face remained expressionless. He walked to the nautical chart, looking at the dense markings on it—black crosses representing sunken enemy ships, red arrows representing fleeing enemy ships, and blue circles representing friendly vessels.

Full responsibility. These four words signify power, but also an immense responsibility.

"Return the telegram to Dubai," Zhang Zhen said, and the bridge immediately fell silent. "Telegram: Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zhen, obeying orders. Our forces have taken control of the East China Sea battlefield and are expanding our gains. The Fuxing is heavily damaged and is being towed back to port. Casualties are being tallied, and details will be reported later. Our troops are in high spirits and will certainly live up to the nation's trust."

The communications officer quickly took notes, then asked, "Sir, what encryption level are needed?"

"Highest."

"yes!"

After the communications officer left, Zhang Zhen looked at Chen Qiming: "Old Chen, what do you think?"

Chen Qiming, the deputy captain of the Yangtze River and Zhang Zhen's longtime partner, stroked his chin. "The pressure is immense. We've won, but while the main force of the Japanese Combined Fleet has been severely damaged, they still have many ships on their home territory. And..."

"And the army hasn't even moved yet," Zhang Zhen continued. "Four Kongo-class battleships have sunk, but Japan still has more than a dozen old battleships and armored cruisers, plus coastal defense batteries and air force in Taiwan, Okinawa, and the mainland. We only have four capital ships; we can't afford a war of attrition."

"Yes. So the president put you in full charge, which means very clearly—you need to expand the gains, but you can't be reckless. It's hard to strike the right balance."

Zhang Zhen nodded, his gaze returning to the nautical chart. He traced the chart from the Yangtze's current position northeastward, then turned westward toward the Japanese archipelago.

"Order all ship captains to convene an emergency operational meeting on the Yangtze in one hour. At the same time, send a telegram to the submarine force to inquire about their positions and combat readiness."

"yes!"

On the East China Sea, the battlecruiser Fuxing, at 8:40 AM

The cruiser Jiangsu slowly approached, squeezing white foam into the seawater between the two giant ships. (How are cruisers named?)

Lin Hai stood on the sloping bridge, his left arm in a sling across his chest, his face covered in cigarette ash and blood. His uniform was torn in several places, but his spine was ramrod straight.

"Captain, the Jiangsu has sent a signal asking if we can begin towing operations." Communications officer Li Jing's voice was very soft, and her own forehead was also wrapped in gauze.

Lin Hai nodded: "Reply: Okay. Thank you for the support, brother ship."

"Yes."

Zhao Wenyuan climbed up from the lower deck. The director was soaked through, it was hard to tell if it was seawater or sweat. He held a water bottle and handed it to Lin Hai: "Have some water, Captain. The medical team said you've lost a lot of blood and need to replenish your fluids."

Lin Hai took the water bottle and took a big gulp. The warm water flowed over his dry throat, bringing a brief sense of comfort.

"How's the situation down here?" he asked.

"The fire is basically under control, but water is still entering the starboard side. The damage control team is using pumps to drain the water, but the angle of inclination is too great, so the effect is limited." Zhao Wenyuan wiped his face. "The good news is that the engine room can still operate. That old bastard Liu Mingde is tough; he was just knocked unconscious by the shockwave, but he's awake now and cursing."

Lin Haisheng rarely showed a smile: "It's good that you can curse."

He walked to the broken porthole and looked out at the Jiangsu, which was lowering its towline. The massive ship, weighing tens of thousands of tons, looked exceptionally majestic in the morning light, with almost no signs of damage on its hull.

"The gap is huge," Lin Haisheng murmured.

"What?" Zhao Wenyuan didn't hear clearly.

"I'm saying, the gap is huge." Lin Hai turned around. "We risked our lives, sacrificing over three hundred people, just to barely hold off four Kongo-class destroyers for forty minutes. But the Bismarck-class destroyers arrived and sent them all to the bottom of the sea in just thirty minutes. That's the gap in technology, the gap in the times."