World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Zhang Zhen understands what "high density of ordinary people" means—and the readers understand it too.

He continued to peruse the plan. It was very detailed, even calculating how many shells would be needed for each salvo, the estimated area of ​​buildings to be destroyed, and the number of casualties.

War, when reduced to numbers and tables, appears particularly ruthless.

"Sir," Vice Captain Chen Qiming approached and lowered his voice, "we just received a report from the submarine force. After the successful attack on Kure Harbor last night, the U-19 formation has withdrawn as planned and is now maneuvering towards the Tsushima Strait, preparing to intercept any Japanese ships that may be heading south through the Korea Strait."

"Has the outcome been confirmed?"

"Confirmed. Three Tenryu-class light cruisers were sunk—Tatsuta, Tenryu, and Yubari. Another destroyer was damaged but escaped back to port." Chen Qiming paused. "However... the submarine also reported that the Japanese port's anti-submarine patrols were significantly strengthened after the attack, and they were almost detected."

Zhang Zhen nodded. This was expected. No matter how weak the Japanese navy was, it had to react after being attacked on its own doorstep.

"Send a message to the submarine force: The results were brilliant, but be careful. Your main task for the next few days is surveillance, not attack. I want you to be like ghosts, letting the Japanese know you're there, but not being able to find you."

"clear."

Zhang Zhen looked at the nautical chart again. His finger traced from the Yangtze River's current position to the west coast of Kyushu, then turned north, crossed the Tsushima Strait, entered the Sea of ​​Japan, and finally stopped in Tokyo Bay.

"What will Tokyo's reaction be after we appear off the coast of Kyushu?" he asked, as if talking to himself, or as if asking Chen Qiming.

Chen Qiming thought for a few seconds: "Shock, panic, and then... infighting."

"Internal strife?"

"Yes. The navy will advocate avoiding war and preserving strength. The army will advocate for a decisive battle and may even demand that the navy launch an attack. The two sides will blame each other, argue, and even..." Chen Qiming did not finish his sentence.

"They might even hope the other person goes to their death," Chang Chen finished for him.

The bridge fell silent. Only the low hum of the machinery and the cries of seagulls in the distance could be heard.

Zhang Zhen walked to the communications station: "Signal to all ships: a combat meeting will be held in one hour. Also, send a message to Dubai, reporting that my fleet is about to arrive at its designated position and begin its deterrence patrol mission."

"yes!"

The communications officer began operating the radio. The beeping Morse code transmitted the fleet's movements to the command center thousands of miles away.

Zhang Zhen picked up the cup of cold tea again and took a sip. The tea was bitter, but it was refreshing.

Outside the window, the morning mist was dissipating. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, scattering across the sea, making it shimmer. The bows of four giant ships cleaved the water, leaving four white contrails that stretched to the horizon.

In the direction the flight path pointed, the Japanese archipelago was awakening in the morning light.

That country was unaware that the four warships that had destroyed its navy were already at its doorstep.

Nagasaki, Mitsubishi Shipyard office building, 8:00 AM

Shipyard manager Kenichi Matsumoto stood by his office window, holding a newly delivered copy of the *Nagasaki Shimbun*. The headline on the front page was shocking: "Major Defeat in the East China Sea! Main Force of the Combined Fleet Annihilated!"

The smaller print below provides more details: "The Ministry of the Navy issued a battle report last night confirming the sinking of the four ships Kongo, Hiei, Haruna, and Kirishima, and the death of Vice Admiral Tomosaburo Kato, Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet..."

Matsumoto's hands trembled. He wasn't a soldier, just a businessman, but he knew what those four Kongo-class ships meant. Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard had built two of them—Hiei and Kirishima. He remembered the grand occasion when those warships were launched, the workers' cheers, and the pride on the faces of the naval commanders.

And now, they've sunk. Sunk in the East China Sea, sunk under the cannons of a country called Lanfang.

"Manager!" The secretary rushed in, forgetting to knock. "Emergency notice from the port authority! All ships are ordered to leave port immediately! All ships undergoing repairs in the dock, those that can be moved, move them immediately; those that cannot be moved... sink them on the spot!"

"What?" Matsumoto turned around, unable to believe his ears. "Sinked on the spot? Why?"

"I don't know! But the notification said it was a direct order from the Ministry of the Navy! And..." The secretary's voice trembled, "And the port authority said they received a warning from Tokyo that the Lanfang fleet might... might appear off the coast of Kyushu very soon!"

Matsumoto felt a wave of dizziness. He grabbed the windowsill to keep from falling.

Outside the window, Nagasaki Harbor was in chaos. Dozens of merchant ships were hurriedly weighing anchor, their horns blaring incessantly. In the dock, workers were frantically repairing several old destroyers and cargo ships, trying to get them moving again.

Further away, on the streets of Nagasaki, a commotion was brewing. The news had clearly spread, and the citizens were in a panic. Some were carrying their luggage and running out of the city, while others gathered at the port to see what was happening.

"Manager, what do we do?" the secretary asked. "There are still three merchant ships under construction at the shipyard, and two destroyers undergoing refitting..."

Matsumoto took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "Notify all workers to stop work immediately. Pack all the blueprints, documents, and valuable tools that can be taken away, and prepare to move them. As for the ships in the dock... do as the port authority says."

"But the losses from sinking those ships under construction would be too great..."

"If it sinks, we can salvage it; if it's blown up, everything's gone!" Matsumoto roared. "Hurry!"

The secretary was so frightened that she trembled and ran out immediately.

Matsumoto stood alone by the window, gazing at the shipyard he had run for twenty years. Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard was one of the largest shipbuilding companies in Japan, and most of the warships built after the Russo-Japanese War were constructed here. It witnessed the rise of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and also... its demise.

The phone rang. Matsumoto answered it; it was a dedicated line from Mitsubishi's headquarters in Tokyo.

"Matsumoto-kun, you already know about the situation, right?" The voice on the other end of the phone was that of the managing director at headquarters.

"Understood. Evacuation and... sabotage are being organized."

"Listen, this isn't destruction, it's preservation." The managing director's voice was serious. "Fixed facilities like docks, cranes, and slipways can't be taken away, but critical equipment, blueprints, and technical data must all be transferred. Especially the design blueprints for those two new destroyers; they represent the future hope of the navy and must not fall into enemy hands."

"I see."

"Furthermore, and most importantly..." the managing director paused, "technical personnel. All experienced engineers, designers, and skilled workers should be put on the transfer list. People are the shipyard's most valuable asset. Equipment can be rebuilt, but without people, everything is lost."