World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

Zhang Zhen walked back to the chart table and traced the route from Nagasaki to Taiwan with his finger. This was a traditional trade route. Since the Meiji era, Japanese merchant ships had followed this route, transporting domestic industrial products to the south and bringing back grain and raw materials from the south to the mainland.

Now, that shipping route has been cut off by him. Or rather, cut off by four Bismarck-class battleships.

"Sir," Chen Qiming asked in a low voice, "Should we... intercept them?"

Under international law, belligerent states can intercept and inspect neutral merchant ships, and if the ship is an enemy vessel, they can seize or sink it. However, in practice, directly sinking a merchant ship can cause significant diplomatic controversy, especially when there may be innocent civilians on board.

Zhang Zhen did not answer immediately. He recalled what President Chen Feng had told him before he left Dubai: "What we want is to force Japan to negotiate. Military operations must be precise and restrained, putting pressure on the Japanese, but without inciting their determination to fight to the death."

On the other hand, if Japan's sea transport routes are not cut off, they will not truly feel despair and will not seriously negotiate. It's a delicate balance.

"Send a signal," Zhang Zhen finally ordered. "Use an internationally recognized channel to warn the cargo ship: This is the Lanfang Navy's operational area. Order it to stop immediately for inspection. If it refuses or attempts to escape..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "We can fire warning shots."

"clear."

The order was sent out via radio. A few minutes later, the cargo ship replied in English: "This is the Japanese merchant ship 'Kasuga Maru.' We are sailing on an international route and have the right to pass. Please abide by international law."

Very assertive. Or rather, very naive.

Zhang Zhen sneered: "Tell them to either stop the ship or face the consequences."

After the second warning was issued, the cargo ship fell silent. But it did not change course, and even increased its speed slightly—from 12 knots to 14 knots, clearly trying to speed up its escape.

"They're running," the radar officer reported.

"Then give chase," Zhang Zhen said calmly. "Yangtze and Yellow River ships, continue patrolling as planned. Huaihe and Pearl River ships, turn left 30 degrees, heading 150, speed 25 knots, intercept that cargo ship."

"yes!"

The two Bismarck-class battleships began to turn. The 14-ton behemoths drew graceful arcs across the sea, accelerating southeastward. Although battleships could reach a top speed of 30 knots, 25 knots was more than enough to catch a merchant ship that was going to be ...

Thirty-five nautical miles, with a speed difference of 25 knots to 14 knots, means it would only take less than two hours to catch up.

Zhang Zhen didn't go to the bridge; instead, he went into the fire control room. He wanted to see with his own eyes how this "cat and mouse" game would end.

Captain's cabin, 11:00 AM, on the Japanese merchant ship "Kasuga Maru"

Captain Matsuda Koji stared into the distance; two enormous points of light were rapidly approaching, at least twice the speed of the Kasuga Maru. The distance had already shrunk from thirty-five nautical miles to twenty-eight nautical miles, and was still decreasing.

"Captain, they've signaled again!" The radio operator rushed in, holding a newly received message. "They're ordering us to stop immediately, or they'll take 'all necessary measures'!"

Matsuda's hands were trembling. He was fifty-five years old and had been a sailor for thirty years, rising from a seaman to a captain, experiencing typhoons, pirates, and even blockades during the Russo-Japanese War. But never before had he been hunted down by two battleships like this.

"Reply to them..." his voice was hoarse, "Reply to them that we are civilian vessels, protected by international law. Ask them to comply..."

"Captain!" the first mate rushed in, his voice trembling with tears. "Lookout report! Funnels in sight! Battleships! At least two! Less than twenty nautical miles away!"

Matsuda rushed to the porthole and raised his binoculars. On the horizon, two enormous dark shapes were rapidly growing larger, the black smoke billowing from their chimneys like two plumes of smoke, particularly glaring against the azure sea.

That was a battleship. Bigger and more terrifying than any ship he had ever seen in his life.

"What do we do, Captain?" The more than twenty crew members on board gathered outside the captain's cabin, their faces filled with fear. They were merchant ship crew members, not soldiers; they had no weapons, no armor, and no speed to even escape.

Matsuda closed his eyes. The faces of his wife and two daughters flashed through his mind. His eldest daughter was getting married this year, and his youngest daughter was still in middle school. He had promised them that after this trip, he would retire, return to Nagasaki, open a small shop, and live a peaceful life.

but now……

"Send a telegram." He opened his eyes, his gaze filled with despair. "Send an international distress signal. Say we're being pursued by the Lanfang warship, and request..."

"Ask whom?" the first mate asked bitterly. "The British are at war, the Americans are watching and waiting. Who will come to our rescue?"

Matsuda was speechless. Yes, who would come to the rescue of a Japanese merchant ship? In the East China Sea, the Lanfang Navy was king. They sank the Combined Fleet, bombarded Yokosuka, and now sinking a merchant ship was as easy as crushing an ant.

"Captain, they're getting closer! Fifteen nautical miles!" came the lookout's scream.

Matsuda slumped into his chair. He looked at a family photo of the four of them on the table. In the photo, he was embracing his wife and daughter, smiling so happily. It was taken three years ago on the Nagasaki beach; the sun was shining brightly that day, and the sea breeze was warm.

"Slow down," he finally said, his voice barely a sigh. "Signal...we surrender."

"captain!"

"I said slow down! Surrender!" Matsuda roared, tears finally streaming down his face. "Do you want to die? Do you want to be torn to pieces by 380mm shells? Do you want to sink in this sea and never be found?"

The crew fell silent. No one wanted to die, especially not in such a pointless way.

The Kasuga Maru began to slow down. The black smoke from the funnel thinned, and the ship's speed dropped from 14 knots to 10 knots, then to 5 knots, and finally came to a near stop on the sea surface.

Matsuda walked onto the deck, watching the two giant ships draw closer. Now he could see them clearly without binoculars—dark gray hulls, tall superstructures, and massive gun barrels. On the mast of one of the ships, the Lanfang naval ensign fluttered in the wind.

Three days ago, that flag was completely unfamiliar to him. But now, he knew what it meant: it meant the new master of the East China Sea, the terminator of the Imperial Navy, and also... the end of his ship.

A small boat was launched from the battleship and sailed toward the Kasuga Maru. On board were more than a dozen Lanfang sailors, all carrying rifles and wearing dark blue naval uniforms.

Matsuda straightened his captain's uniform and stood by the gangway. As the small boat approached and Officer Lanfang boarded the Kasuga Maru, he bowed deeply.

"I am Captain Matsuda Koji of the Kasuga Maru. We... surrender."